U.S. patent application number 11/805521 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-27 for mouthpiece with soft low-friction overlay.
Invention is credited to Eric Anderson, Scott Alan Peters.
Application Number | 20080289638 11/805521 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40071248 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080289638 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Peters; Scott Alan ; et
al. |
November 27, 2008 |
Mouthpiece with soft low-friction overlay
Abstract
A mouthpiece made of a relatively rigid thermoplastic substrate
having a shape generally complementary to the wearer's dental arch;
a layer of compliant, slippery material overlaid on the outer
surface of the mouthpiece.
Inventors: |
Peters; Scott Alan; (Long
Beach, CA) ; Anderson; Eric; (Long Beach,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATENT LAW & VENTURE GROUP
2424 S.E. BRISTOL, SUITE 300
NEWPORT BEACH
CA
92660
US
|
Family ID: |
40071248 |
Appl. No.: |
11/805521 |
Filed: |
May 22, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/861 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 5/566 20130101;
A63B 71/085 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
128/861 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/08 20060101
A63B071/08 |
Claims
1. A mouthpiece apparatus comprising: a substrate having a U-shaped
cross section with a convex outer surface, the substrate formed to
fit over one of an upper set and a lower set of a user's teeth; and
an overlay portion of a slippery foamed polymer; the foamed polymer
tenaciously applied as a compliant layer to an outer convex surface
of the substrate.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mouthpiece portion is made
of a relatively rigid thermoplastic material having a shape
generally complementary to a user's dental arch.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the substrate has a chemically
reactive outer surface.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the reactive outer surface is
coated with a first coating comprising a hydrophilic prepolymer
intermediate, which is capable of forming a polyurethane-polyurea
hydrogel-forming polymer, and which contains terminal isocyanate
groups, such that at least a portion of said terminal isocyanate
groups are covalently bonded to the surface of said substrate,
forming covalent polyurea bonds and thereby resulting in the
formation of a tie coat of a polyurethane-polyurea hydrogel-forming
polymer, that adheres to the surface of the substrate, and wherein
at least a portion of the terminal isocyanate groups of said
polyurethane-urea prepolymer intermediate are present in the
polyurethane-polyurea hydrogel-forming polymer, such that they
remain free to react with other species.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first coating is overcoated
with a foamed second coating comprising a moisture-containing
hydrogel-forming compound, further containing isocyanate-reactive
chemical functional groups, such that a barrier coat of a hydrogel
is formed upon the application of the second coating to the tie
coat of the first coating.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Present Disclosure
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to the field of dental
devices and, more particularly, to a mouthpiece having a relatively
rigid thermoplastic substrate portion and a soft, low-friction
overlay portion.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art Including Information
Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
[0004] Brown, U.S. D354,346 discloses a design for an oral
condom.
[0005] Johnson, U.S. D388,514 discloses a design for a protective
mask.
[0006] Atz, U.S. D529,615 discloses a design for a novelty
mouthpiece.
[0007] Jacobs, U.S. Pat. No. 3,312,218 discloses a protective
mouthpiece which may be molded at a temperature higher than body
temperature to conform to the wearer's teeth and gums, and which,
after cooling, will be tough, resilient and shape-retaining at body
temperatures.
[0008] Jacobs, U.S. Pat. No. 4,044,762 discloses an athletic mouth
guard for use by participants in contact sports to simultaneously
protect and topically treat the teeth. The mouth guard is a
generally U-shaped channel molded preferably from a composition of
thermoplastic resin and a fluoride compound such as sodium
fluoride, stannous fluoride, or sodium fluorosilicate. The fluoride
compound is released from the molded resin mouth guard to the
wearer's teeth over extended periods of use.
[0009] Harding, U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,731 discloses an elastic and
flexible oral prophylactic that conforms to the mouth. The hygienic
appliance may incorporate texture and flavor, and includes
impermeable and permeable embodiments.
[0010] Esqueda, U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,605 discloses a soft and
pliable mask for the lower face for the prevention of disease,
comprised of a molded mask and straps or bands to hold it in place.
Breathing passages are provided. A cavity at the bottom fits around
the chin and the top edge may be thicker, or reinforced, to provide
close adhesion around the nose.
[0011] Johnson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,649 discloses an invention that
relates to a protective mask, and more particularly to a protective
mask usable during the act of oral sex or during the performance of
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to protect a wearer against infection
with communicable diseases including viral diseases such as the
human immune virus which leads to the development of acquired
immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The mask is formed by an
elongate, generally planar membrane of a tough film material
having, when lying flat, a longitudinal axis and an outline
configuration which is asymmetrical about that axis, the outline
configuration having a lateral extension portion for extending
downwardly and rearwardly over the chin of a wearer. The mask is
securely wrapped in place over the lower face of a wearer while
permitting free movement of the jaw, lips and tongue of the wearer
and includes a flaccid pouch-like central portion.
[0012] Burr et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,043 discloses a condom
designed for oral-genital sex includes, in one aspect, a device
adapted to be worn in the mouth of the person practicing oral sex.
The device includes a tubular member having one closed end and
formed of thin, pliant, impervious material. Joined to the open end
of the tubular member are two or three flanges extending generally
radially outwardly and spaced closely together. The flanges are
curved out of a plane transverse to the axis of the tubular member
to define a channel adapted to receive the upper and lower lips of
an average person. The device is gripped by placing the lips within
the channel, and closing the jaws slightly to compress and retain
the open end of the device. The tubular member may be formed to
extend into the mouth of the wearer, for the purpose of performing
fellatio. A penis may be inserted into the tubular member without
making contact with the lips or mouth or tongue of the wearer. In
an alternative form of the invention, the tubular member may extend
outwardly from the flanges and the mouth, so that the tongue of the
wearer may be extended into the tubular member to perform
cunnilingus without making direct contact with the vulva. In
another aspect of the invention, there is provided a shield formed
as a planar oval from pliant, impervious material, the shield being
shaped and adapted to be placed over the genital area. The shield
includes a central opening from which a tubular condom extends, so
that the assembly may be employed for oral sexual contact as well
as intercourse without the risk of skin-to-skin contact. In a
modification of this embodiment, the shield is provided as a
separate component, with a flange surrounding the central opening.
The flange is provided with means for engaging and sealing with the
outer circumferential edge portion of a typical prior art male
condom, so that the shield may be joined temporarily to a
commercially available condom for the practice of safe sex.
[0013] Williams, U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,592 discloses a disposable
protective barrier formed of an elongated planar membrane
comprising a strong virus impermeable film prevents the exchange of
body fluids during oral sex. In one embodiment, the invention
provides a protective mask that shields the facial area of the
wearer, including the mouth, side face, the front of the nose, and
the front and under chin, from undesirable exposure to infection
carrying microorganisms, while permitting unrestricted freedom of
movement of the wearer's jaw, lips, nose, and tongue. Another
embodiment of the invention provides a brief that uses any of
various securing means that may include variable strap size and
contoured thigh placement. Materials that exhibit plastic cohesive
attraction to human skin are employed to secure the mask or brief
to the wearer, thereby ensuring that the garment stays in the
desired position for greater protection when in use.
[0014] Daley, U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,681 discloses a prophylactic
device for oral sex comprising a body portion with a reservoir
extending from one side and peripheral portion extending from an
opposite side thereof.
[0015] Bloodsaw, U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,016 discloses an oral condom
which protects the user from contracting sexually transmitted
diseases while engaging in oral, vaginal or anal sex. The oral
condom provides an improved protective mask which is capable of
protecting the facial area of a user from undesirable exposure to
infection carrying microorganisms. The oral condom is shaped like
an oval with two lateral leg portions which are attached to two ear
attachments respectively. The oral condom includes conformed
portions for the lips so that the lips can be more easily moved in
a natural way and an extended portion for the tongue so the tongue
can move in a natural way and not be hindered by the oral
condom.
[0016] Hopkins et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,486 discloses a method
of manufacturing a facial prophylactic from a fluid impervious
stretchable material comprises working the material while in a
liquid state to regions of different thicknesses and elasticities
to form a mask having a thinner tongue receiving portion generally
centrally of the mask and a thicker main portion peripherally of
the tongue receiving portion. The overall mask has a one piece
construction and is free of any seams penetrating through the
mask.
[0017] Fenton, U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,633 discloses an adjustable oral
device for placement within the mouth of a user to reduce or
eliminate snoring. The device comprises an upper member having a
substantially curved shape and defining an upwardly oriented
channel for receiving at least some of the upper teeth of a user; a
lower member having a substantially curved shape and defining a
downwardly oriented channel for receiving at least some of the
lower teeth of a user; wherein the upper member is adjustably
coupled by the user to the lower member in a spaced relationship
such that the lower member is positioned relative to the upper
member so that when the user's teeth are retained within the
device, the user's lower jaw is biased substantially forward of its
normal biting or resting position to reduce snoring. The device can
include an anterior tongue space between the upper and lower
members, and can further include moldable material positioned
within at least one of the channels for substantially conforming to
a shape of the teeth, thus allowing the device to be customized for
individual users.
[0018] Hussey, U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,187 discloses a thin, flexible
shield for the mouth to protect against transmission of STDs
(Sexually Transmitted Diseases) during cunnilingus and oral-anal
sex. A shield is held over the mouth either alone or in a holder
assembly by mounting devices which retain the mask against the face
of the user. The holder assembly may consist of one or two rings
interlocked with each other or with the shield to grip the
shield.
[0019] Johnson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,052 discloses a versatile
disposable film protective mask includes an outlined boundary, a
top pair of primary film strings, two top pairs of secondary film
strings/ear loops, a bottom pair of primary film strings, a
well-defined chin guard having chin guard receptors, jaw webs,
cheek webs, an oral cavity web having oral cavity receptors and a
reversible half-oval shaped flaccid oral cavity pouch. In a
preferred embodiment, the versatile disposable film protective mask
further includes a thin lining for those who are allergic to the
film and to absorb liquids, i.e. saliva and/or perspiration
produced by the wearer of the mask. The versatile disposable film
protective mask can also be employed as a resuscitation mask, a
dental dam, a male G-string flaccid pouch with a disposable film
flaccid pouch harness or a female G-string flaccid pouch with a
disposable film flaccid pouch harness. The versatile disposable
film protective mask is employable for protecting the wearer
against oral and genital infections with communicable diseases
including viral diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
which has been known to lead to the development of Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The mask is also employable for
protecting the wearer against other oral and genital infections and
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's).
[0020] Ochel, U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,981 discloses a mouthguard
including a U-shaped upper bite plate which removably fits over
upper teeth of a person, the upper bite plate including an upper
lingual side, an upper buccal side and a lower side which connects
together the upper lingual and buccal sides in a U-shaped
cross-sectional configuration, the lower side having a lower
exposed surface, and the entire upper bite plate being made from a
soft, deformable and edible gummi candy; and a U-shaped lower bite
plate which removably fits over lower teeth of the person, the
lower bite plate including a lower lingual side, a lower buccal
side and an upper side which connects together the lower lingual
and buccal sides in a U-shaped cross-sectional, the upper side
having an upper exposed surface, and the entire lower bite plate
being made from a soft, deformable and edible gummi candy.
[0021] Tyler, U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,269 discloses a two piece
pliable, edible, flavored mouthpiece to be worn by one consenting
adult performing oral sexual activities such as cunnilingus and
fellatio, and the like, on another consenting adult. The mouthpiece
can be formed from pliable flavored edible materials such as but
not limited to starch jellied candies, gelatin candy (i.e. Gummy
Bears.TM.), starch gelatin, licorice, chewing gum, and the like.
The mouth piece includes a top U-shaped single piece set for
fitting about the front top and partial top side teeth of the
wearer, and a bottom U-shaped single piece set for fitting about
the front bottom and partial bottom side teeth of the wearer. The
wearer clenching down customizes the fit of the mouthpiece therein
and changes the sharp hard edges of the teeth to be soft and
rounded. Each piece uses more material adjacent to between the
front teeth, tapering to less material toward the back of the side
teeth. Optionally, at least one of the top and bottom teeth members
can have a half circular through hole, through a center portion of
the front teeth section to allow a portion of another person's body
part such as a tip portion of a person's tongue, nipple, toes,
fingers, clitoris, penis, and/or body fluids to pass
therethrough.
[0022] Hostettler et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,016 discloses a
process for the preparation of slippery, hydrophilic polyurethane
hydrogel coating compositions, and materials composed of a
polymeric plastic or rubber substrate or a metal substrate with a
coating of a slippery, hydrophilic polyurethane hydrogel thereon,
such that the coating composition tenaciously adheres to the
substrate, are disclosed. The coating compositions and coated
materials are non-toxic and biocompatible, and are ideally suited
for use on medical devices, particularly, catheters, catheter
balloons and stents. The coating compositions, coated materials and
coated devices demonstrate low coefficients of friction in contact
with body fluids, especially blood, as well as a high degree of
wear permanence over prolonged use of the device. The hydrogel
coating compositions are capable of being dried to facilitate
storage of the devices to which they have been applied, and can be
instantly reactivated for later use by exposure to water.
[0023] Schwartz, U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,995 discloses a
glow-in-the-dark plastic dental appliance typically for pediatric
dental patients, and method of constructing the appliance.
According to a preferred method of the invention, the dental
appliance is constructed by first forming an impression of a
patient's upper or lower dentition and constructing a cast from the
impression. The appliance is thermoformed over the cast, typically
using a vacuum or pressure thermoforming machine and a sheet, plate
or disc of thermoformable plastic impregnated or coated with a
phosphorescent material. The appliance is capable of glowing in the
dark for a limited period of time after exposure to a light source
and as the appliance is worn on the patient's dentition, and is
capable of repeated phosphorescence throughout the dental treatment
period.
[0024] Zacco, U.S. Pat. No. 7,143,767 discloses a mouthpiece and
method for reducing snoring comprising a mouthpiece body of a
thermoplastic material having a shape generally complementary to
the person's dental arch, including a posterior end having two
spaced apart members positioned toward the back of the person's
dental arch when properly worn, and an anterior end having an
airway opening therethrough, the anterior end positioned when
properly worn to support the person's lips spaced apart so that air
flows through the airway opening; and a substantially rigid
protective mold of a thermostable material, the protective mold
protecting at least a periphery of the mouthpiece body.
[0025] The related art described above discloses various types of
mouthpieces for a variety of purposes. However, the prior art fails
to disclose a mouthpiece that has a soft, low-friction overlay. The
present disclosure distinguishes over the prior art providing
heretofore unknown advantages as described in the following
summary.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0026] This disclosure teaches certain benefits in construction and
use which give rise to the objectives described below.
[0027] In human sexual behavior fellatio is a common practice.
However, this practice can be uncomfortable when the giver is
inexperienced, when there is not enough lubrication, and when sharp
tooth edges are inadvertently involved. The presently described
apparatus is a solution to this difficulty. A mouthpiece of the
type used by athletes in contact sports is used as a substrate and
may be molded to the dental formation of a user's mouth, as is well
known in the art, and as is described in several of the references
sited herein. An overlay of a soft and relatively slippery material
is placed onto the substrate and forms the primary contact surface
with the male organ.
[0028] A primary objective inherent in the above described
apparatus and method of use is to provide advantages not taught by
the prior art.
[0029] Another objective is to provide a mouthpiece that reduces
friction during fellatio.
[0030] A further objective is to provide such a mouthpiece that
provides a soft and yielding surface to any object in contact
therewith including sore gums.
[0031] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by
way of example, the principles of the presently described apparatus
and method of its use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] Illustrated in the accompanying drawings is at least one of
the best mode embodiments of the present invention In such
drawings:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the presently described
apparatus; and
[0034] FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0035] The above described drawing figures illustrate the described
apparatus and its method of use in at least one of its preferred,
best mode embodiment, which is further defined in detail in the
following description. Those having ordinary skill in the art may
be able to make alterations and modifications to what is described
herein without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, it
must be understood that what is illustrated is set forth only for
the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as a
limitation in the scope of the present apparatus and method of
use.
[0036] Described now in detail is a mouthpiece apparatus with a
relatively rigid substrate portion and an overlay portion of a
soft, low-friction material. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the various
aspects of the inventive mouthpiece herein described. Therefore,
now referring to these figures, the present invention comprises a
substrate portion 10 and an overlay portion 20 where the overlay
portion 20 is attached to the substrate portion 10 by thermal
bonding, polymer welding, adhesive bonding or any other prior art
technique that results in an intimate and monolithic formation of
the two portions so that they are inseparable.
[0037] The substrate portion 10 of the present invention is
U-shaped as shown in FIG. 1 and also has a U-shaped cross section
as shown in FIG. 2. The prior art teaches this substrate portion in
great detail including the shape and material that such a substrate
portion may be comprised of. Please refer to Jacobs, U.S. Pat. No.
3,312,218 which is hereby incorporated by reference into this
disclosure.
[0038] The overlay portion 20 is a polymer with the characteristics
of: high adhesion to the substrate during the assembly process, and
a soft and compliant texture with a low-friction or slippery
surface. This overlay portion 20 is preferably produced by making
at least a portion of an outer surface of the substrate chemically
reactive by affixing reactive chemical functional groups to it.
Next, the treated substrate is coated with a first coating 22
comprising a hydrophilic prepolymer intermediate, which is capable
of forming a polyurethane-polyurea hydrogel-forming polymer, and
which contains terminal isocyanate groups, such that at least a
portion of said terminal isocyanate groups are covalently bonded to
the surface of said substrate, forming covalent polyurea bonds and
thereby resulting in the formation of a tie coat of a
polyurethane-polyurea hydrogel-forming polymer, that adheres to the
surface of the substrate, and wherein at least a portion of the
terminal isocyanate groups of said polyurethane-urea prepolymer
intermediate are present in the polyurethane-polyurea
hydrogel-forming polymer, such that they remain free to react with
other species. Finally, the overlay portion 20 is coated with a
second coating 24 comprising a moisture-containing hydrogel-forming
compound, further containing isocyanate-reactive chemical
functional groups, such that a barrier coat of a hydrogel is formed
upon the application of the second coating to the tie coat of the
first coating. If the second coating is foamed, i.e., aerated, the
resultant is a slippery surface that is soft and compliant. The
overlay process is taken in part from Hostettler et al, U.S. Pat.
No. 6,265,016 which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
[0039] As shown in the figures, the assembly of the mouthpiece
results in the overlay portion 20 being placed on the convex
surfaces of the substrate portion 10. In use, the substrate portion
10 may be heated to a point of softening such that an interior
surface 12 may be impressed by the teeth of a person that will wear
the apparatus. This process of customizing a mouthpiece for a
particular person is very well known in the art.
[0040] In use, the upper and-or the lower teeth of a user are
covered by one of the described apparatus. The apparatus, as worn,
is able to cushion the gums of the user against painful contact
from the opposing dental formations when speaking and chewing. The
apparatus is also able to provide safe and pleasurable oral sex
activity.
[0041] The enablements described in detail above are considered
novel over the prior art of record and are considered critical to
the operation of at least one aspect of the apparatus and its
method of use and to the achievement of the above described
objectives. The words used in this specification to describe the
instant embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of
their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special
definition in this specification: structure, material or acts
beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an
element can be understood in the context of this specification as
including more than one meaning, then its use must be understood as
being generic to all possible meanings supported by the
specification and by the word or words describing the element.
[0042] The definitions of the words or drawing elements described
herein are meant to include not only the combination of elements
which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure,
material or acts for performing substantially the same function in
substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result.
In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent
substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the
elements described and its various embodiments or that a single
element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim.
[0043] Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a
person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised,
are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope
intended and its various embodiments. Therefore, obvious
substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the
art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.
This disclosure is thus meant to be understood to include what is
specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually
equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and also what
incorporates the essential ideas.
[0044] The scope of this description is to be interpreted only in
conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here,
that each named inventor believes that the claimed subject matter
is what is intended to be patented.
* * * * *