Athletic mouthpiece capable of sensing linear and rotational forces and protective headgear for use with the same

• US 6,941,952 B1
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BrainLinc, LLC
• Original Assignee: Gus A. Rush III
• Inventors: Rush, Gus A. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Dahbour, Fadi H.
• Application Number:
  US11/000,917
• Time in Patent Office: 285 Days
• Field of Search: 128/861, 128/862, 128/859, 128/848, 128/845, 128/857, 602/902, 604/77, 298/961, 298/961.1, 433/6, 433/48, 433/37, 2/5, 2/61, 2/66, 242/1, 220/5, 290/9
• US Class Current: 128/861
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/085 Mouth or teeth protectors A63B71/081 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/909 Head protector, e.g. helmet, goggles

Abstract

A mouthpiece assembly for use in detecting impact forces on the neck and head of a user is disclosed. The mouthpiece assembly includes sensors which determine linear and rotational impact forces on the user. The mouthpiece assembly includes a mouth guard having a channel sized to receive the upper teeth therein. A raised dome portion extends from the mouth guard and is adapted to be positioned adjacent the roof of the mouth. The sensors are located in the raised dome portion and the mouth guard or in other locations of the mouthpiece if mouthpiece sensors are required. An indicator is provided to provide a visual and/or audible indication when the magnitude of an impact exceeds a threshold value.

Claims

1. A sensing mouthpiece assembly for sensing impact forces on a head of a user, wherein the user has a mouth with a hard palate and a set of upper teeth having at least one molar located on each end of the set, the mouthpiece assembly comprising:

a mouth guard shaped to receive the set of the upper teeth therein, wherein the mouth guard includes a channel sized to receive the upper teeth therein, the channel being configured such that the mouth guard is releasably secured to the at least one molar;

a raised dome portion extending from the mouth guard, wherein the raised dome portion is shaped to conform to at least a portion of the hard palate of the mouth of the user;

at least one linear force sensor for measuring linear forces exerted on the head of the user during an impact event, wherein the least one linear force sensor is positioned in at least one of the mouth guard and raised dome portion;

at least one rotational force sensor for measuring rotational forces exerted on the head of the user during an impact event, wherein the least one rotational force sensor is positioned in at least one of the mouth guard and raised dome portion; and

at least one indicator operatively connected to the at least one linear force sensor and the at least one rotational force sensor, wherein the at least one indicator provides an indication when at least one of the linear force sensor and the rotational force sensor detects a force greater than a predetermined value.

2. The sensing mouthpiece according to claim 1, wherein the mouth guard and the raised dome portion are formed from a rigid material.

3. The sensing mouthpiece according to claim 2, wherein the rigid material is a plastic material.

4. The sensing mouthpiece according to claim 2, further comprising:

a soft material located in the channel, wherein the set of upper teeth contact the soft material when the set of teeth are positioned in the channel.

5. The sensing mouthpiece according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connector strap extending from the mouth guard, wherein the connector strap is adapted to secure the mouthpiece to a protective helmet.

6. The sensing mouthpiece according to claim 5, wherein the at least one indicator is connected to the connector strap.

7. The sensing mouthpiece according to claim 5, wherein the at least one indicator comprising:

a first indicator positioned on the connector strap; and

a second indicator connected to the connector strap, wherein the second indicator is adapted to be located on the protective helmet spaced from the first indicator.

8. The sensing mouthpiece according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting signals from the at least one rotational sensor and the at least one linear sensor to a remote receiver, wherein the at least one indicator is connected to the remote receiver, wherein the remote receive and the at least one indicator are remotely located from the mouthpiece, wherein the transmitter transmits signals from the rotational sensor and the linear sensor to the remote receiver to operate the indicator.

9. The sensing mouthpiece according to claim 1, wherein the at least one linear force sensor includes at least one accelerometer, wherein the accelerometer is positioned in at least one of the mouth guard and raised dome portion.

10. The sensing mouthpiece according to claim 1, wherein the at least one rotational force sensor includes at least one accelerometer, wherein the accelerometer is positioned in at least one of the mouth guard and raised dome portion.

11. A combination protective helmet and mouthpiece for sensing impact forces on a head of a user, wherein the user has a mouth with a hard palate and a set of upper teeth having at least one molar located on each end of the set, the combination comprising:

a protective helmet for covering for at least a portion of the head of the user; and

a sensor mouthpiece assembly comprising;

a mouth guard shaped to receive the set of the upper teeth therein, wherein the mouth guard includes a channel sized to receive the upper teeth therein, the channel being configured such that the mouth guard is releasably secured to the at least one molar;

a raised dome portion extending from the mouth guard, wherein the raised dome portion is shaped to conform to at least a portion of the hard palate of the mouth of the user;

at least one linear force sensor for measuring linear forces exerted on the head of the user during an impact event, wherein the least one linear force sensor is positioned in at least one of the mouth guard and raised dome portion;

at least one rotational force sensor for measuring rotational forces exerted on the head of the user during an impact event, wherein the least one rotational force sensor is positioned in at least one of the mouth guard and raised dome portion; and

at least one indicator operatively connected to the at least one linear force sensor and the at least one rotational force sensor, wherein the at least one indicator provides an indication when at least one of the linear force sensor and the rotational force sensor detects a force greater than a predetermined value.

12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the mouth guard and the raised dome portion of the mouthpiece are formed from a rigid material.

13. The combination according to claim 12, wherein the rigid material is a plastic material.

14. The combination according to claim 12, wherein a soft material is located in the channel, wherein the set of upper teeth contact the soft material when the set of teeth are positioned in the channel.

15. The combination according to claim 11, further comprising:

a connector strap extending from the mouth guard, wherein the connector strap is adapted to secure the mouthpiece to the protective helmet.

16. The combination according to claim 15, wherein the at least one indicator is connected to the connector strap.

17. The combination according to claim 15, wherein the at least one indicator comprising:

a first indicator positioned on the connector strap; and

a second indicator connected to the connector strap, wherein the second indicator is adapted to be located on the protective helmet spaced from the first indicator.

18. The combination according to claim 11, further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting signals from the at least one rotational sensor and the at least one linear sensor to a remote receiver, wherein the at least one indicator is connected to the remote receiver, wherein the remote receive and the at least one indicator are remotely located from the mouthpiece, wherein the transmitter transmits signals from the rotational sensor and the linear sensor to the remote receiver to operate the indicator.

19. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the at least one linear force sensor includes at least one accelerometer, wherein the accelerometer is positioned in at least one of the mouth guard and raised dome portion.

20. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the at least one rotational force sensor includes at least one accelerometer, wherein the accelerometer is positioned in at least one of the mouth guard and raised dome portion.

21. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the protective helmet comprising:

at least one sensor for detecting selected motion of the head of the user wearing the protective helmet.

22. The combination according to claim 21, wherein the at least one sensor is operatively connected to the at least one indicator, wherein the at least one indicator provides an indication when the at least one sensor detects a force greater than a predetermined value.

23. The combination according to claim 22, further comprising:

a connector strap extending from the mouth guard, wherein the connector strap is adapted to secure the mouthpiece to the protective helmet.

24. The combination according to claim 23, wherein the at least one indicator is connected to the connector strap.

25. The combination according to claim 23, wherein the at least one indicator comprising:

a first indicator positioned on the connector strap; and

a second indicator connected to the connector strap, wherein the second indicator is adapted to be located on the protective helmet spaced from the first indicator.

26. The combination according to claim 22, further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting signals from the at least one sensor, the at least one rotational sensor and the at least one linear sensor to a remote receiver, wherein the at least one indicator is connected to the remote receiver, wherein the remote receive and the at least one indicator are remotely located from the mouthpiece, wherein the transmitter transmits signals from sensor, the rotational sensor and the linear sensor to the remote receiver to operate the indicator.