Reusable customizable breathing apparatus mouthpiece with bitewings
First Claim
1. A reusable customizable mouthpiece wherein a core member comprises:
- a substantially rigid non-formable core that provides a rigid shape to said mouthpiece extending from a proximal in-mouth end toward a position short of a distal outside end and forming part of a horizontal passageway with a U-shaped member that forms said complete mouthpiece of a type with a front portion forming a breathing hole and at least one rear customizable bitewing portion;
wherein said rear customizable bitewing portion initially provides a formable hollow cavity, wherein said formable cavity may be empty, partially, or completely filled, and wherein said bitewing portion extends beyond said hollow cavity and may form open or closed distal flaps along a horizontal bite plane;
and wherein a channel or channels are provided that extend from said front portion toward and into said cavity such that said channel allows for a fluid such as a gas or a liquid to flow into and out of said cavity;
said formable portion comprising an integral set of bitewings with formable upper and lower surfaces and flanges having upwardly-extending and downwardly-extending flange portions with upper and lower edges, respectively, and providing inside surfaces spaced for formable engagement with opposite side surfaces of said user'"'"'s teeth, and wherein said formable hollow cavity portion may or may not contain a filling material that allows for complete or partial return to an original position and dimension of said bitewing after said mouthpiece has been used for engagement with said user'"'"'s teeth by one or more users.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A customizable and reusable mouthpiece for diving use having a passageway-forming front member extending from a proximal in-mouth end to a distal outside end and a U-shaped formable back member is described. The back member provides a hollow cavity portion located in the bitewing section that may be partially filled with a gel-like or other suitable substance configured to provide custom moldability at substantially all points of contact between the mouthpiece and the teeth such that the mouthpiece is securely gripped by the teeth. The mouthpiece requires pressure relief channels so that air or fluids may enter into and be forced out of the hollow cavity providing a bellows-like action that provides a means for the bitewing and materials of composition to return to essentially its original shape. Reusability of the mouthpiece, more specifically the bitewings is directly related to the choice and combination of materials, dimensioning and processing.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A reusable customizable mouthpiece wherein a core member comprises:
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a substantially rigid non-formable core that provides a rigid shape to said mouthpiece extending from a proximal in-mouth end toward a position short of a distal outside end and forming part of a horizontal passageway with a U-shaped member that forms said complete mouthpiece of a type with a front portion forming a breathing hole and at least one rear customizable bitewing portion;
wherein said rear customizable bitewing portion initially provides a formable hollow cavity, wherein said formable cavity may be empty, partially, or completely filled, and wherein said bitewing portion extends beyond said hollow cavity and may form open or closed distal flaps along a horizontal bite plane;
and wherein a channel or channels are provided that extend from said front portion toward and into said cavity such that said channel allows for a fluid such as a gas or a liquid to flow into and out of said cavity;
said formable portion comprising an integral set of bitewings with formable upper and lower surfaces and flanges having upwardly-extending and downwardly-extending flange portions with upper and lower edges, respectively, and providing inside surfaces spaced for formable engagement with opposite side surfaces of said user'"'"'s teeth, and wherein said formable hollow cavity portion may or may not contain a filling material that allows for complete or partial return to an original position and dimension of said bitewing after said mouthpiece has been used for engagement with said user'"'"'s teeth by one or more users. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 33, 34, 35, 38, 39)
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- 15. A reusable customizable mouthpiece comprising a front portion forming a breathing hole and at least one mount portion extending rearwardly therefrom for positions between a user'"'"'s teeth, said mount portion having upper and lower surfaces and defining at least one opening therethrough extending between said upper and lower surfaces, said mount portion opening for mounting upper and lower bitewings to such mount portion, each of said mount portions being dimensioned to extend rearwardly between molars of said user to a rear portion of a user'"'"'s mouth, thereby to support said bitewings in extended intimate customized tooth engagement along substantially a full extent of said user'"'"'s at least one tooth, on each side of said user'"'"'s mouth, extending from said rear of said mouth and terminating near one or more front molars, providing intimate contact between said at least one tooth and said bitewings while said diver'"'"'s mouth is in a relaxed, partially-opened position, thereby eliminating fatigue of a jaw or mouth region of said user.
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20. A method for making a reusable customizable mouthpiece assembly by;
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providing a preformed rigid core member comprising a substantially rigid non-formable core that provides a rigid shape to said mouthpiece extending from a proximal in-mouth end toward a position short of a distal outside end and forming part of a horizontal passageway with a U-shaped member that forms said complete mouthpiece of a type with a front portion forming a breathing hole and at least one rear customizable portion;
providing upper and lower bitewings, wherein said bitewings comprise hollow cavity portions formed during mold injection or other suitable means and wherein said bitewings are formable and reusable and may be attached to mount portions. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for making a reusable customized mouthpiece comprising:
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forming a substantially rigid front member which extends from a proximal in-mouth end forwardly toward a distal outside end and forms a horizontal passageway;
thereafter molding a formable U-shaped back member onto said front member to form a complete mouthpiece, providing said back member with a forward middle portion secured to said front member proximal end in position for a formable custom moldable engagement with a user'"'"'s forward teeth and a pair of bitewings with hollow cavities and pressure relief channels connected to said hollow cavities, wherein said bitewings extend from a middle portion of said mouthpiece rearwardly to pass between said user'"'"'s molars and terminate at a rear of a mouth providing each bitewing with an inner and an outer upstanding flange and a substantially horizontal bite portion extending therebetween, providing said bite portion with formable custom moldable upper and lower surfaces and said flanges having upwardly-extending and downwardly-extending flange portions with upper and lower edges, respectively, and providing inside surfaces spaced for formable custom moldable engagement with opposite side surfaces of said user'"'"'s teeth, said outer flanges extending forward to merge with said middle portion. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 36, 37)
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27. A system for making a reusable customizable mouthpiece assembly by;
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providing a preformed rigid core member comprising a substantially rigid non-formable core that provides a rigid shape to said mouthpiece extending from a proximal in-mouth end toward a position short of a distal outside end and forming part of a horizontal passageway with a U-shaped member that forms said complete mouthpiece of a type with a front portion forming a breathing hole and at least one rear customizable portion;
providing upper and lower bitewings, wherein said bitewings comprise hollow cavity portions formed during mold injection or other suitable means and wherein said bitewings are formable and reusable and may be attached to mount portions. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A system for making a reusable customized mouthpiece comprising:
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forming a substantially rigid front member which extends from a proximal in-mouth end forwardly toward a distal outside end and forms a horizontal passageway;
thereafter molding a formable U-shaped back member onto said front member to form a complete mouthpiece, providing said back member with a forward middle portion secured to said front member proximal end in position for a formable custom moldable engagement with a user'"'"'s forward teeth and a pair of bitewings with hollow cavities and pressure relief channels connected to said hollow cavities, wherein said bitewings extend from a middle portion of said mouthpiece rearwardly to pass between said user'"'"'s molars and terminate at a rear of a mouth providing each bitewing with an inner and an outer upstanding flange and a substantially horizontal bite portion extending therebetween, providing said bite portion with formable custom moldable upper and lower surfaces and said flanges having upwardly-extending and downwardly-extending flange portions with upper and lower edges, respectively, and providing inside surfaces spaced for formable custom moldable engagement with opposite side surfaces of said user'"'"'s teeth, said outer flanges extending forward to merge with said middle portion. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification