Flavored and medicated therapeutic mouthpiece

• US 6,068,475 A
• Filed: 02/11/1999
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank S. Stoyka Jr
• Original Assignee: Frank S. Stoyka Jr
• Inventors: Stoyka, Frank S. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Philogene, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US09/248,714
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 433/80, 433/6, 433/37, 433/48, 433/216, 433/215, 128/863, 128/859, 128/861
• US Class Current: 433/80
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/063 Medicament applicators for teeth or gums, e.g. treatment with fluorides
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/02 Teething rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/44 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0092 for holding medicines in, or fixing medicines on, a tooth, e.g. holder containing medicines fixed on a tooth medicament applicators for teeth or gums A61C19/063

Abstract

A flavored and medicated therapeutic mouthpiece for causing a mouth to salivate and for dispensing medicine to heal wounds and sores within the mouth. The flavored and medicated therapeutic mouthpiece includes a pliable U-shaped member insertable into a mouth of a user. A first flavored coating is disposed on the U-shaped member. A second flavored coating or a layer of medicine may also be applied to the U-shaped member. The U-shaped member may be hollow and have a cold temperature storage medium stored therein.

Claims

1. A mouthpiece, comprising:

a pliable U-shaped member insertable into a mouth of a user;

a first flavored coating being disposed on said U-shaped member; and

wherein said U-shaped-member has a substantially hollow interior, said wall portions of said U-shaped member being porous such that only molecules smaller than a predetermined size are permitted to pass through pores of said U-shaped member, a quantity of second medicine being disposed substantially throughout said hollow interior of said U-shaped member, said pores of said U-shaped member permitting passage of said second medicine therethrough.

2. The mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said U-shaped member having a generally J-shaped cross-section, said U-shaped member including a bottom wall portion, an integrally joined inner wall portion perpendicularly extending from said bottom wall portion along an inner periphery thereof, and an integrally joined outer wall portion perpendicularly extending from said bottom wall portion along an outer periphery thereof.

3. The mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said U-shaped member has a tooth receiving channel.

4. The mouthpiece of claim 3, wherein said first flavored coating is disposed in one portion of said tooth receiving channel.

5. The mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said first flavored coating has a sour taste for causing the mouth to salivate.

6. The mouthpiece of claim 1, further comprising a second flavored coating being disposed on said U-shaped member.

7. The mouthpiece of claim 6, wherein said second flavored coating having a sweet taste.

8. The mouthpiece of claim 1, further comprising a quantity of first medicine being disposed on said U-shaped member.

9. The mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said U-shaped member has a pair of side openings into said hollow interior thereof adapted for permitting insertion of said second medicine therethrough.

10. The mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said U-shaped member has a substantially hollow interior, a non-toxic cold temperature storage medium being disposed substantially throughout said hollow interior of said U-shaped member.

11. The mouthpiece of claim 10, wherein said cold temperature storage medium comprises a gel-like compound characterized by an ability to remain cold for an extended period of time in ambient conditions.

12. The mouthpiece of claim 10, wherein said cold temperature storage medium becomes cold when agitated.

13. The mouthpiece of claim 1, further comprising a non-toxic cold temperature storage medium being disposed substantially throughout said hollow interior of said U-shaped member, said cold temperature storage medium having a molecular size greater than said pores of said U-shaped member.

14. The mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said U-shaped member has a substantially hollow interior, a non-toxic cold temperature storage medium being disposed substantially throughout said hollow interior of said U-shaped member.

15. The mouthpiece of claim 14, wherein said cold temperature storage medium comprises a gel-like compound characterized by an ability to remain cold for an extended period of time in ambient conditions.

16. The mouthpiece of claim 14, wherein said cold temperature storage medium becomes cold when agitated.

17. The mouthpiece of claim 14, further comprising a non-toxic cold temperature storage medium being disposed substantially throughout said hollow interior of said U-shaped member, said cold temperature storage medium having a molecular size greater than said pores of said U-shaped member.

18. A mouthpiece, comprising:

a pliable U-shaped member insertable into a mouth of a user, said U-shaped member having a generally J-shaped cross-section;

said U-shaped member including a bottom wall portion, an integrally joined inner wall portion perpendicularly extending from said bottom wall portion along an inner periphery thereof, and an integrally joined outer wall portion perpendicularly extending from said bottom wall portion along an outer periphery thereof;

said outer wall portion having a height greater than that of said inner wall portion;

said U-shaped member having a tooth receiving channel formed between said inner and outer wall portions;

said U-shaped member generally conforming in use to at least one of the upper teeth and the lower teeth of the mouth of the user whereby said bottom wall portion abuts the occlusal surfaces of the teeth, said inner wall portion abuts the lingual surfaces of the teeth, and said outer wall portion abuts the buccal surfaces of the teeth and the adjacent gingival surface of the mouth when said U-shaped member is positioned within the mouth of the user;

a first flavored coating being disposed in one portion of said tooth receiving channel;

said first flavored coating having a sour taste for causing the mouth to salivate;

a second flavored coating being disposed in another portion of said tooth receiving channel;

said second flavored coating having a sweet taste;

a quantity of first medicine being disposed in another portion of said tooth receiving channel;

said U-shaped member having a substantially hollow interior;

said wall portions of said U-shaped member being porous such that only molecules smaller than a predetermined size are permitted to pass through pores of said U-shaped member;

a quantity of second medicine being disposed substantially throughout said hollow interior of said U-shaped member, said pores of said U-shaped member permitting passage of said second medicine therethrough;

said U-shaped member having a pair of side openings into said hollow interior thereof adapted for permitting insertion of said second medicine therethrough;

a non-toxic cold temperature storage medium disposed substantially throughout said hollow interior of said U-shaped member;

said cold temperature storage medium comprising a gel-like compound characterized by an ability to remain cold for an extended period of time in ambient conditions;

wherein said gel-like compound becomes cold when agitated;

said cold temperature storage medium having a molecular size greater than said pores of said U-shaped member; and

a second U-shaped member having a unique color different than a color of said U-shaped member.

19. A mouthpiece, comprising:

a pliable U-shaped member insertable into a mouth of a user;

a first flavored coating being disposed on said U-shaped member; and

wherein said U-shaped member has a substantially hollow interior, a non-toxic cold temperature storage medium being disposed substantially throughout said hollow interior of said U-shaped member.