U.S. patent application number 14/347250 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-28 for oral apparatus for optimising user performance.
This patent application is currently assigned to OPRO International Limited. The applicant listed for this patent is OPRO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED.. Invention is credited to Anthony Lovat.
Application Number | 20140238419 14/347250 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44993355 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140238419 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lovat; Anthony |
August 28, 2014 |
ORAL APPARATUS FOR OPTIMISING USER PERFORMANCE
Abstract
The present invention relates to optimising the performance of a
user at an activity by providing oral apparatuses which provide
different separation distances between the user's upper and lower
jaw and enable a user to select the apparatus which gives the
optimal performance.
Inventors: |
Lovat; Anthony;
(Hertfordshire, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
OPRO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED. |
Hertfordshire |
|
GB |
|
|
Assignee: |
OPRO International Limited
Hertfordshire
GB
|
Family ID: |
44993355 |
Appl. No.: |
14/347250 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
September 17, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2012/052291 |
371 Date: |
March 26, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/862 ;
128/861 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 71/085 20130101;
A63B 2225/09 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
128/862 ;
128/861 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/08 20060101
A63B071/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 26, 2011 |
GB |
1116537.0 |
Jan 6, 2012 |
GB |
1200157.4 |
Claims
1. A kit comprising: oral apparatus including at least one bite
portion configured to receive a pad; and a plurality of pads, each
pad being configured to attach to the at least one bite portion
wherein at least two of the plurality of pads have different
depths.
2. The kit as recited in claim 1 wherein the oral apparatus is
configured such that, when inserted into a user's mouth, the bite
pad is situated between the teeth of the upper and lower jaw of the
user.
3. The kit as recited in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the bite
portion is removably connectable to a pad.
4. The kit as recited in any one of the preceding claims wherein
the depth of a pad is between 1 and 12 mm.
5. The kit as recited in any one of the preceding claims wherein
the bite portion is provided with an attachment means and each of
the pads is provided with complementary attachment means.
6. The kit as recited in claim 5 wherein one of the attachment
means and complementary attachments means comprises a female member
and the other of the attachment means and complementary attachments
means comprises a male member.
7. The kit as recited in claim 6 wherein the female and male member
are held in frictional engagement or comprise a complementary
thread attachment or the male member includes an enlarged head
receivable within a chamber of the female member.
8. The kit as recited in any preceding claim wherein the oral
apparatus further comprises a restriction means situated, such
that, when inserted into the user's mouth the restriction means is
situated between the user's teeth and buccal mucosa, the
restriction means extending past the depth of a pad when attached
to the bite portion.
9. The kit as recited in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the oral
apparatus comprises a mouthguard and the bite portion forms part of
the base of the mouthguard.
10. The kit as recited in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the oral
apparatus comprises a mouthguard and the bite portion forms part of
a side wall of the mouthguard.
11. The kit as recited in claim 10 wherein the pads have an
L-shaped cross-section.
12. The kit as recited in any one of the preceding claims wherein
the oral apparatus and bite pads are made from one or more of the
group comprising silicon, TPE or EVA.
13. A kit comprising a plurality of pads, each pad being configured
to attach to a bite portion of an oral apparatus wherein at least
two of the plurality of pads have different depths.
14. A kit comprising two oral apparatuses each apparatus including
at least one bite pad the bite pad of one apparatus having a
different depth to the bite pad of the other apparatus.
15. The kit as recited in claim 14 wherein each oral apparatus is
configured such that, when inserted into a user's mouth, the bite
pad situated between the teeth of the upper and lower jaw of the
user.
16. The kit as recited in claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the depth of
a bite pad is between 1 and 12 mm.
17. The kit as recited in any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein the
oral apparatus further comprises a restriction means situated, such
that, when inserted into the user's mouth the restriction means is
situated between the user's teeth and buccal mucosa, the
restriction means extending past the depth of a pad when attached
to the bite portion.
18. The kit as recited in any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein the
oral apparatus comprises a mouthguard and the bite pad forms part
of the base of the mouthguard.
19. The kit as recited in any one of the preceding claims wherein
the oral apparatuses are made from one or more of the group
comprising silicon, TPE or EVA.
20. A method of selecting an oral apparatus from a kit as claimed
in any one of claims 1 to 13 comprising the steps of: a) inserting
oral apparatus having pads of an initial depth into a user's mouth;
c) measuring the user's performance at an activity; d) inserting
the oral apparatus with pads of a second depth into the user's
mouth; e) measuring the user's performance at an activity with the
pads of a second depth; and f) determining the oral apparatus
causing the optimal performance.
21. A method of selecting an oral apparatus from a kit as claimed
in any one of claims 14 to 19 comprising the steps of: a) selecting
an oral apparatus; b) inserting the oral apparatus into a user's
mouth; c) measuring the user's performance at an activity; d)
inserting the other oral apparatus into the user's mouth; e)
measuring the user's performance at an activity with the other oral
apparatus in the user's mouth; and f) determining the oral
apparatus causing the optimal performance.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to oral apparatus and in
particular, though not necessarily, oral apparatus for use during
sporting activities.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] Mouthguards are commonly used in sports to protect a user's
teeth and associated structures (such as the dental arches, and
upper and lower jaws) from injury as a result of a force being
applied to the mouth.
[0003] Mouthguards commonly available today fall within one of
three categories: the stock mouthguard which is supplied to the
user in the form in which it is to be used; self-mouldable
mouthguards which can be moulded by the user so that the inside of
the mouthguard adapts to the shape of the user's teeth; and custom
mouthguards which are moulded by a professional to suit the
characteristics of the user.
[0004] In more recent years the physiological effect of a
mouthguard has been recognised and designs have been adapted so
that a physiological benefit is provided to the user through the
use of a mouthguard or even an oral apparatus which has minimal
protective features. For example, WO 2009/012243 describes a
mouthguard which reduces the pressure at the temporomandibular
joint as the user bites onto the mouthguard thereby reducing the
amount of a stress hormone released by a user using the
apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention
there is provided a kit comprising oral apparatus including at
least one bite portion configured to receive a pad and a plurality
of pads, each pad being configured to attach to the at least one
bite portion wherein at least two of the plurality of pads have
different depths. By providing interchangeable pads the distance
that the pads maintain between the teeth of the upper and lower jaw
of a user may be varied by changing the depth of the pads attached
to the bite portion enabling an optimal depth to be selected for
the user.
[0006] Optionally, the oral apparatus is configured such that, when
inserted into a user's mouth, the bite pad is sited between the
teeth of the upper and lower jaw of the user.
[0007] Preferably, the bite portion is removably connectable to a
pad. By having removable pads different pads may be selected
depending on the activity to be undertaken by a user. Also it
enables experimentation to determine the optimal depth of pad to be
used for an activity.
[0008] The depth of a pad may be between 1 and 12 mm.
[0009] The bite portion may be provided with an attachment means
and each of the pads is provided with complementary attachment
means. Optionally, one of the attachment means and complementary
attachments means comprises a female member and the other of the
attachment means and complementary attachments means comprises a
male member. The female and male member may be held in frictional
engagement or comprise a complementary thread attachment or the
male member includes an enlarged head receivable within a chamber
of the female member.
[0010] Preferably the oral apparatus further comprises a
restriction means situated, such that, when inserted into the
user's mouth the restriction means is situated between the user's
teeth and buccal mucosa, the restriction means extending past the
depth of a pad when attached to the bite portion. The presence of
this restriction means reduces the spread or lateral movement of
the pad when it is depressed by a user's teeth by forming a
physical barrier to the spread. This means that the depth of the
pad is not significantly altered in use and/or stops the pad moving
from between the teeth into the space between the teeth and the
buccal mucosa.
[0011] The oral apparatus may be a mouthguard and the bite portion
may form part of the base or part of a side wall of the mouthguard.
Where the bite portion forms part of a side wall of the mouthguard
the pads may have an L-shaped cross-section.
[0012] The oral apparatus and bite pads may be made from one or
more of the group comprising silicon, TPE or EVA.
[0013] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention
there is provided a kit comprising a plurality of pads, each pad
being configured to attach to a bite portion of an oral apparatus
wherein at least two of the plurality of pads have different
depths.
[0014] In accordance with a third embodiment of the present
invention there is provided a kit comprising two or more oral
apparatuses each apparatus including at least one bite pad the bite
pad of each apparatus having a different depth to the bite pad of
the other apparatuses. This enables a user to determine an optimal
depth of bite pad for an activity and select an oral apparatus for
future use in the activity.
[0015] Each oral apparatus may be configured such that, when
inserted into a user's mouth, the bite pad situated between the
molar teeth of the upper and lower jaw of the user.
[0016] The depth of a bite pad is preferably between 1 and 12
mm.
[0017] Advantageously, the oral apparatus further comprises a
restriction means situated, such that, when inserted into the
user's mouth the restriction means is situated between the user's
teeth and buccal mucosa, the restriction means extending past the
depth of a pad when attached to the bite portion. The presence of
this restriction means reduces the spread or lateral movement of
the pad when it is depressed by a user's teeth by forming a
physical barrier to the spread. This means that the depth of the
pad is not significantly altered in use and/or stops the pad moving
from between the teeth into the space between the teeth and the
buccal mucosa.
[0018] The oral apparatus may comprise a mouthguard and the bite
pad forms part of the base of the mouthguard.
[0019] The oral apparatuses may be made from one or more of the
group comprising silicon, TPE or EVA.
[0020] In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention
there is provided a method of selecting an oral apparatus from a
kit in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention
comprising the steps of: [0021] a) inserting oral apparatus having
pads of an initial depth into a user's mouth; [0022] c) measuring
the user's performance at an activity; [0023] d) inserting the oral
apparatus with pads of a second depth into the user's mouth; [0024]
e) measuring the user's performance at an activity with the pads of
a second depth; and [0025] f) determining the oral apparatus
causing the optimal performance.
[0026] As will be understood by the skilled person this method may
be performed multiple times with any number of pads having
differing depths.
[0027] In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention
there is provided a method of selecting an oral apparatus from a
kit in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention
comprising the steps of: [0028] a) selecting an oral apparatus;
[0029] b) inserting the oral apparatus into a user's mouth; [0030]
c) measuring the user's performance at an activity; [0031] d)
inserting the other oral apparatus into the user's mouth; [0032] e)
measuring the user's performance at an activity with the other oral
apparatus in the user's mouth; and [0033] f) determining the oral
apparatus causing the optimal performance.
[0034] As will be understood by the skilled person this method may
be performed multiple times with any number of oral apparatuses
having differing depths.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0035] FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate oral apparatus in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] FIGS. 5a to 5d illustrate how a user's performance at an
activity might vary with a depth of a mouthguard;
[0037] FIGS. 6 to 9 illustrate oral apparatus in accordance with
another embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 10 illustrates a mouthguard in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 11 illustrates a pad in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 12 is a front view of the mouthguard of an embodiment
of the present invention engaged with the pad of an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 13 is a side view of the mouthguard of an embodiment of
the present invention engaged with the pad of an embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0042] FIG. 14 is a rear view of the mouthguard of an embodiment of
the present invention engaged with an embodiment of the pad of the
present invention; and
[0043] FIG. 15 illustrates a pad for attachment to a mouthguard in
accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0044] FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate a support member 12 of an apparatus
in accordance with the present invention.
[0045] The support member 12 has two plates 14 connected by an
integral connecting portion 13. The plates 14 are positioned
relative to each other so that when the oral apparatus is inserted
into a mouth they sit between molars in the mouth. The connecting
portion maintains the relative positioning of the two plates
14.
[0046] The connecting portion 13 has a substantially semi-circular
shape. The connecting portion 13 is also on a substantially lower
plane than the receiving portions 14 when the device 10 is oriented
for use. Thus, the connecting portion 13 includes sloping parts.
This enables the connecting portion to run around the gumline of
the user when the oral apparatus is inserted into a mouth and
provide minimal interference to the user. The skilled person will
understand, however, that the connecting portion may take any
suitable form. For example, the connecting portion may be a plate
configured to be substantially in contact with the roof of a mouth
when the oral apparatus is inserted into the mouth.
[0047] The one or more apertures 28 are present through the plates
14 of the apparatus.
[0048] The apparatus is further provided with removable pads (not
shown). An upper and lower pad is provided for each plate 14. The
upper and lower pads are configured to connect to each other
through one or more of the apertures 28 present through the plates
14. The pads may connect to each other in any suitable way. For
example, the upper pad may be provided with one or more male
members and the lower pad may be provided with one or more
complementary female members such that the upper and lower pads are
held in communication with one either side of the plate.
Alternatively the upper pad may be provided with one or more female
members and the lower pad may be provided with one or more
complementary male members. In this way pads can be attached to be
present above and below the receiving portion 14.
[0049] The support member 12 may be made from any suitable
material. Examples of materials include silicon, a thermoplastic
elastomer (TPE) or Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). It is advantageous
for the plates 14 to be more resilient than the pads in order to
help the pads maintain their shape and additionally help the
distance between the teeth of the upper and lower jaw to be
maintained.
[0050] It has been found that the performance of a user in an
activity is related correlated to the distance that is maintained
between the teeth of the upper and lower jaws of a user hereinafter
referred to as separation distance. FIGS. 5a to 5d show how the
performance of a user performing four different activities differs
with separation distance. As can be seen, the same separation
distance may result in different performance effects in same user
depending on the activity that is being undertaken. Additionally,
it has been noticed that the optimal separation distance may be
different for different users performing the same activity. Namely,
the optimal separation distance is dependent on the user and the
activity.
[0051] Thus, it is desirable to determine the separation distance
which is optimal for a user performing a particular activity. This
is achieved using the above device by the user measuring their
performance at an activity. For example, if the user is a
weightlifter the measure of their performance may be the amount of
weight they can lift in their chosen competitive discipline, the
more weight they can lift the better their performance. The
apparatus with a first set of upper and lower pads attached to each
plate is then inserted into the user's mouth and the user's
performance at the activity remeasured. The separation distance
maintained by the oral apparatus may be further varied using pads
of different depths and measuring the user's performance at the
activity at each separation distance.
[0052] Once the user has the results they can compare their
performance at different separation distances. The user can then
determine the depth of pads required to provide them with optimal
performance and will know to use this depth when performing this
activity in future. If the user wishes to carry out more than one
activity then they can vary the depth of the pads attached to the
plates according to the activity. This allows a user to achieve
optimal performance in both activities whilst only requiring one
apparatus.
[0053] Thus, by enabling the pads to be removeably attached to the
plates 14 of the device pads of different depth sizes may be
selected. This allows the separation distance to be optimised for
each user without requiring separate custom devices to be
manufactured for each user.
[0054] In another embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9 the plates
14 do not include apertures but are provided with integral pads 16
having a depth equal to the separation distance. The pads 16 may be
provided above or below the plate surface when the apparatus is in
use. Alternatively the plate may form the pad and have a depth d.
The user is provided with multiple apparatus each having a
different depth d. The user can then perform the same method to
determine the optimal separation distance for an activity as
described above. However, rather than alternating the pads they can
measure the performance achieved with each apparatus and determine
the apparatus which provides them with the optimal performance.
[0055] In a further embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 15 the
oral apparatus is a mouthguard. A mouthguard 20 in accordance with
the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 9. The mouthguard 20
has an outer wall 22 which, in use, is adjacent to the buccal
surfaces of at least one of the user's teeth; an inner wall 24
which, in use, is adjacent to the lingual or palatal surface of at
least one of the user's teeth and a base 26 joining the inner and
outer walls and adjacent to the occlusal surface of at least one of
the user's teeth when in use. The outer wall 22, inner wall 24 and
base 26 all have at least an external surface and an internal
surface. The internal surface is the surface of the mouthguard 20
closest to the user's teeth when the mouthguard 20 is in use and
the external surface is the surface of the mouthguard 20 opposite
to the internal surface.
[0056] The base 26 of the mouthguard 20 has a depth A which is the
distance between its internal surface (adjacent to the occlusal
surface of at least one of the user's teeth when in use) and its
external surface (opposite the external surface).
[0057] The mouthguard 20 is provided with cavities 28 in the rear
region of the external surface of the outer wall 22 of the
mouthguard 20. The rear region of the mouthguard 20 being the
region that is no further forward than the position of premolar
teeth within a user's mouth. This may be, for example, 5 mm from
the rear end 23 of the mouthguard. Each cavity 28 is configured to
receive, and hold in frictional engagement, a projection from a pad
as described below with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.
[0058] A pad 30 suitable for attachment to the mouthguard 20 of
FIG. 9 is illustrated in FIG. 10. The pad 30 has a body with an
L-shaped cross-section and a first inner face 34 and a second inner
face 36. The first inner face 34 of the body has projections 32
which extend out of a surface of the pad 30. The projections 32 are
situated such that, when the mouthguard 20 and pad 30 are in
engagement the pad's first inner face 34 is brought into contact
with the external surface of the outer wall 12 of the mouthguard 20
and the pad's second inner surface 36 is brought into contact with
the external surface of the base 26 of the mouthguard 20 as
illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13.
[0059] The projections 32 are shaped such that they can be held in
frictional engagement with the cavities 28 of the mouthguard
20.
[0060] The depth of the pad 30 is considered the distance between
the surface of the pad 30 adjacent the base 26 of the mouthguard 20
(i.e. the second inner face) and the opposite surface. This
distance is marked B in FIG. 10.
[0061] As can be seen from FIGS. 11 to 13 when the pads 30 are
attached to the mouthguard 20 the effective depth of the base 26 of
the mouthguard 20 i.e. the distance that teeth from the upper and
lower jaw are separated when the mouthguard 20 is inserted into a
mouth is increased so that it is equal to the combined depth of the
base 26 of the mouthguard 20 and the pad 30.
[0062] Although the pads have been described as having an L-shaped
cross-section it will be understood that they may have any suitable
cross-section. For example, they may have a rectangular
cross-section. If the pads are provided with a rectangular cross
section the projections will protrude from the face of the pad to
be in contact with the external surface of the base of the
mouthguard. Additionally, the cavities in the mouthguard to receive
the projections will be present in the base of the mouthguard
rather than the outer wall of the mouthguard.
[0063] Optionally, rather than the first inner surface of a pad
having an L-shaped cross-section being brought into contact with
the outer wall of the mouthguard the pad and mouthguard cavities
may be positioned so that the first inner surface of the pad is
brought into contact with the external surface of the inner wall of
the mouthguard.
[0064] The mouthguard is illustrated as being configured to receive
two individual pads one on either side of the rear of the
mouthguard. However, pads may be placed in any suitable
configuration along the base of the mouthguard. For example, the
mouthguard may be configured to receive a pad, such as that
illustrated in FIG. 14, which extends around the entire length of
the base of the mouthguard. In such a configuration the mouthguard
and pad may be provided with further receiving means and
projections respectively. For example, the mouthguard may be
provided with receiving means in the base at the front of the
mouthguard. Alternatively, the mouthguard may be configured so that
one or more pads may be received at the front of the mouthguard. As
will be understood by the skilled person, any number of pads of any
number of sizes may be used.
[0065] The pads may be of any suitable depth to provide the optimal
effective depth for the base of the mouthguard. Preferably the pads
have a have a depth of between 1 mm and 12 mm and the base of the
mouthguard has a depth of between 2 mm and 4 mm.
[0066] The pads may be made from any suitable resilient material
for example they may be made from silicon, a thermoplastic
elastomer (TPE) or Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA).
[0067] Although the pads have been described as being held in
frictional engagement with the mouthguard it should be understood
that the projections and receiving means might be any suitable
complementary shape which allows the pad and mouthguard to be
removeably connectable. For example, the each projection may be
provided with a portion having a widened cross-section at the end
furthest from the body of the pad, for example a spherical shape
may be placed at the end of the projection. Each cavity may
comprise a neck whose diameter is less than the diameter of the
widened cross-section and an enlarged receiving chamber to receive
the portion of the projection with a widened cross-section, the
enlarged receiving chamber being distant from the external surface
of the mouthguard.
[0068] In another example, the pad may be connected to the base of
the mouthguard by a ball and socket joint having the female member
on the mouthguard and the male member on the pad. The pad may then
be connected to the mouthguard and rotated into position. In an
alternative embodiment the pad may be connected to the mouthguard
using a sliding joint.
[0069] Any other suitable fastening means may be used which enables
the pads to be removably connected to the mouthguard.
[0070] Preferably plastic inserts are provided and placed within
any cavity present in the mouthguard during shaping of the
mouthguard. The plastic inserts have a shape corresponding to the
shape of the cavity and are made from any material which does not
undergo deformation at the temperature at which the mouthguard is
shaped to a user's teeth. In this way the shape of the cavity is
maintained whilst the material of the mouthguard is deformable
enabling the pads to be retained by the mouthguard after shaping
has occurred.
[0071] Although the invention has been described with the
mouthguard being provided with receiving means and one or more pads
being provided with projections to be received by the receiving
means the skilled person will understand that one or more
projections may be present on the external surface of the
mouthguard and received by a corresponding cavity or cavities in a
pad to hold the pad in contact with the external surface of the
mouthguard in any configuration described above.
[0072] In a further embodiment the user is provided with multiple
mouthguards having bases with differing depths d. As with the
second embodiment the user may alternate between the mouthguards in
order to determine the mouthguard which provides the desired
performance.
* * * * *