GB1569129A

GB1569129A - Anti-snoring device

Info

Publication number: GB1569129A
Application number: GB3017676A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Rata M A
Current assignee: Rata M A
Priority date: 1977-07-19
Filing date: 1977-07-19
Publication date: 1980-06-11

Description

(54) ANTI-SSORING DEVICE (71) I, MARGARET ADELAIDE ROTA, a British subject, of Lattice Cottage, 32 Mar ket Street, Swavesey, Cambridgeshire, gngland, do hereby declare the invention, Wr which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be perfted, to be particularly de tå in and by the following state- ment: This invention relates to a device for re ducking the tendency to snore.

Many people suffer from a predilection to snore which can cause considerable irritation to others when they are attempting to sleep in close proximity. However no successful attenat appears to have been made to overcatne this problem by a simple device. The present invention is based upon the realisation that snoring is caused by the sagging the t lower jaw in a direc- tion which is generally downwardly and backwardly towards the throat and that this relative movement of the lower jaw causes a constriction of the air passages in the throat resulting in the characteristic snoring noise. To overcome this problem, the invention provides a device for reducing the tendency of the wearer to snore which comprises an arcuate body member of thermoformable plastics material shaped to fit within the mouth, the body member having a channel-shaped portion which is mouldable to fit the teeth or gums of one jaw of the wearer and another portion located so as to be capable of engaging the teeth or gums of the other jaw and restricting sagging of the lower jaw and constriction of the air passages in the throat during sleep.

Preferably, the channel-shaped portion is arranged to fit the teeth or gums of the lower jaw. Because the device is constructed from a thermoformable plastics material, it may be readily moulded to the shape of the lower teeth or gums of the user in order to provide a snug fit, after immersing the device in hot water immediately before use. The other portion may be in the form of a flange which is located so as to extend in front of and in close proximity to the upper teeth or gums when the wearer is awake. When the wearer falls asleep, the tendency of the lower jaw to sag is counteracted by this flange making contact with the fronts of the upper teeth or the gums of the upper jaw. Thermoformable plastics materials which may be used in the construction of the device include polyamides (e.g. nylon) polyvinyl chloride and polyolefines, including polyethylene and polypropylene.

One embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanynig drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the device from above, Figure 2 is a view taken along the line II-II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation looking in the direction of the arrow Y in Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a front elevation taken in the direction of the arrow X in Figure 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the device comprises a body section 1 having an arcuate shape in plan and an inverted channel shape (as seen in Figure 2) in cross-section comprising downwardly extending flanges 2 and 3. The downwardly extending flanges 2 and 3 of the body section 1 are dimensioned to extend in front of and behind, respectively, the lower teeth or gums of the wearer. Welded or otherwise attached to the forward part of the upper surface of the body member 1 is a projection or flange 4 which is shaped and dimensioned so as to extend in front of, and in close proximity to the upper teeth or gums when the jaws of the wearer are in their normal position. Preferably the projection or flange 4 is formed as an integral part of the device by e.g. moulding the entire device in one piece from thermoformable plastics material. The height of the projection 4 is such that when the lower jaw drops open, as is common during sleep, the projection still rests upon or is engaged on the front surface of the teeth or gums of the wearer thereby preventing the jaw sagging backwardly and constricting the wearer s air passages in the throat.

As indicated in the drawings, the projection 4 and/or other parts of the device may be formed with an aperture 5 or a plurality of apertures in order to make the structure lighter and/or reduce the impedance to breathing through the mouth when wearing the device. However, one of the advantages of the device is that it encourages breathing through the nose rather than through the mouth.

As the device is moulded in a thermoformable material, the entire device is placed in hot water just before use. The device can then be moulded with the fingers to a comfortable conforming fit to the teeth and gums of the wearer.

In addition to the reduction of the tendency to snore, another benefit arising from wearing the device of the present invention is that it prevents teeth grinding which is a serious cause of damage to teeth, and especially to dental caps, bridges and fillings.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A device for reducing the tendency of the wearer to snore which comprises an arcuate body member of thermoformable plastics material shaped to fit within the mouth, the body member having a channelshaped portion which is mouldable to fit the teeth or gums of one jaw of the wearer and another portion located so as to be cap able of engaging the teeth or gums of the other jaw and restricting sagging of the lower jaw and constriction of the air passages in the throat during sleep.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the channel-shaped portion is arranged to fit the teeth or gums of the lower jaw and the other portion is a flange arranged to extend in front of and in close proximity to the teeth or gums of the upper jaw so as to be engaged thereby in the event that the lower jaw begins to sag.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the flange is apertured so as to permit the wearer to breathe through the mouth.

4. A device for reducing the tendency of the wearer to snore, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. on the front surface of the teeth or gums of the wearer thereby preventing the jaw sagging backwardly and constricting the wearer s air passages in the throat. As indicated in the drawings, the projection 4 and/or other parts of the device may be formed with an aperture 5 or a plurality of apertures in order to make the structure lighter and/or reduce the impedance to breathing through the mouth when wearing the device. However, one of the advantages of the device is that it encourages breathing through the nose rather than through the mouth. As the device is moulded in a thermoformable material, the entire device is placed in hot water just before use. The device can then be moulded with the fingers to a comfortable conforming fit to the teeth and gums of the wearer. In addition to the reduction of the tendency to snore, another benefit arising from wearing the device of the present invention is that it prevents teeth grinding which is a serious cause of damage to teeth, and especially to dental caps, bridges and fillings. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A device for reducing the tendency of the wearer to snore which comprises an arcuate body member of thermoformable plastics material shaped to fit within the mouth, the body member having a channelshaped portion which is mouldable to fit the teeth or gums of one jaw of the wearer and another portion located so as to be cap able of engaging the teeth or gums of the other jaw and restricting sagging of the lower jaw and constriction of the air passages in the throat during sleep.