JP2013192698A - Training instrument for oral cavity function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To continuously perform training of a desired part of an oral cavity.SOLUTION: A training instrument 1 for an oral cavity function to be used by being inserted into an oral cavity includes: a base part 10 which has a plate shape extending in an insertion direction into the oral cavity and is inserted into the oral cavity; and an expansion part 20 disposed on the oral cavity inner side of the base part 10. On the upper surface and the lower surface of the base part 10, an upper side groove 11b and a lower side groove 12b are disposed. The upper side groove 11b and the lower side groove 12b are shifted in the longitudinal direction of the base part 10.

Description

  The present invention relates to a training device for training oral muscles and facial muscles including the tongue.

  When oral function declines due to aging, stroke, etc., the ability to chew and swallow will decline. The phenomenon is called “aspiration”). This aspiration can also cause aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia accounts for the top cause of death among elderly people, and it is an urgent task to prevent aspiration of patients and elderly people.

  Therefore, an attempt has been made to improve oral function by training the muscles related to the oral cavity for those who have decreased swallowing function. Specifically, it is common to perform training to improve the muscular strength of the lips and tongue and the sophistication of their movement.

  In this training, general-purpose items such as gauze and buttons are often processed and used according to the purpose of training, but in recent years, training equipment developed to further enhance the effectiveness of training is used. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  The training device of Patent Document 1 has a spoon-like stimulation part and a grip part that a user holds, so that the stimulation part is pushed up with a tongue while the stimulation part is inserted into the oral cavity. I do training and so on.

  The training device of Patent Document 2 has a tongue push-up portion and a rod-like portion that is gripped by the user, and performs training by performing a motion of pushing the tongue push-up portion with the tongue.

JP 2007-319303 A JP 2011-83524 A

  However, in the case of the training apparatus of Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is considered that the user has to hold the base part by hand, which is inconvenient and it is difficult to continue training.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to enable continuous training of a desired part without holding it by hand.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the training device can be reliably fixed using the front teeth of the user.

The first invention is a training device for oral function used by being inserted into the oral cavity,
A plate extending in the insertion direction into the oral cavity, and a base inserted into the oral cavity;
An elastic deformation part provided on the inside of the oral cavity of the base,
On the upper surface and the lower surface of the base, an upper locking portion and a lower locking portion that are locked by the user's front teeth are provided,
The upper locking portion and the lower locking portion are shifted in the longitudinal direction of the base portion.

  According to this configuration, when the user bites the base with the front teeth while the base is inserted into the oral cavity, the lower end of the upper front tooth is locked to the upper locking portion, and the upper end of the lower front tooth is the lower engagement. Lock to the stop. At this time, generally, the lower end of the upper front tooth and the upper end of the lower front tooth are displaced in the front-rear direction, but in the present invention, the upper locking portion and the lower locking portion are in the longitudinal direction of the base, That is, since it is shifted in the front-rear direction when inserted into the oral cavity, the upper and lower front teeth are securely locked to the upper locking portion and the lower locking portion only by the user naturally biting the base portion. . This makes it possible to prevent the elastic deformation portion from moving while being held at a desired site in the oral cavity without having to hold it by hand.

According to a second invention, in the first invention,
The upper locking portion and the lower locking portion are curved so as to correspond to the sequence of the front teeth of the user.

  According to this configuration, the plurality of front teeth can be naturally locked to the upper groove and the lower groove, so that it is difficult for the user to feel uncomfortable.

According to a third invention, in the first or second invention,
The upper locking portion and the lower locking portion are provided in a plurality so as to be aligned in the longitudinal direction of the base portion.

  According to this configuration, it becomes possible to adjust the amount of insertion of the elastically deformable portion into the oral cavity, so that the elastically deformable portion can be positioned at a desired site by a plurality of users having different genders, physiques, and the like. Become.

  According to a fourth invention, in any one of the first to third inventions, at least one of the upper locking portion and the lower locking portion is configured by a groove.

  According to this configuration, since the base portion is easily deformed, it is easy to fit the shape of the oral cavity.

  According to the first invention, the upper locking portion and the lower locking portion are provided on the upper surface and the lower surface of the base portion, respectively, and the upper locking portion and the lower locking portion are shifted in the longitudinal direction of the base portion. A user can fix an elastic deformation part to the desired site | part in an oral cavity only by biting a base naturally with a front tooth. Thereby, training of a desired part can be continuously performed without holding by hand.

  According to the second invention, since the upper locking portion and the lower locking portion are curved so as to correspond to the front teeth of the user, the training device can be used without causing the user to feel uncomfortable. It can be fixed securely.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, since the plurality of the upper locking portions and the lower locking portions are provided so as to be aligned in the longitudinal direction of the base portion, the position adjustment of the elastic deformation portion can be performed even if the user's gender, physique, etc. are different. And the elastically deformable portion can be positioned at a desired site.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the base portion is easily deformed along the shape in the oral cavity, the base portion can be fitted to the shape of the user's oral cavity, and the usability can be improved.

It is a side view of the training tool for oral cavity function concerning an embodiment. It is a figure explaining the use condition of the training apparatus for oral function. It is a top view of the training apparatus for oral function. It is a bottom view of the instrument for training of oral function. It is a side view which expands and shows the bulging part vicinity. It is an expanded sectional view near a bulging part. FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 in a state where the bulging portion is crushed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following description of the preferred embodiment is merely illustrative in nature, and is not intended to limit the present invention, its application, or its use.

  In the present specification, the “vertical direction” means the tongue and hard palate of a person (user) who performs training when the oral function training device 1 of the present invention is inserted into the oral cavity as shown in FIG. The “left-right direction” corresponds to the left-right direction of the person who performs training when the training instrument 1 is inserted into the oral cavity.

  FIG. 1 shows an oral function training device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The training device 1 is for training to train muscles related to the oral cavity and facial muscles. Specifically, the main purpose is to improve the muscular strength of the lips and tongue and the skill of their movements. It is suitable for training.

  Examples of a person to be trained using the training device 1 include a person whose swallowing function has been lowered due to a disease such as stroke, a person whose swallowing function has been lowered due to aging, and the like, but is not limited thereto. For example, a person who has a reduced swallowing function or a person who has a risk of lowering can be widely targeted.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the training device 1 includes a base 10 for fixing to a user during oral function training, and a bulging portion 20 as an elastic deformation portion provided in the base 10. It has. The base 10 and the bulging portion 20 are integrally formed using an elastic material. Examples of the material include, but are not limited to, silicone rubber, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic elastomer, natural rubber, and the like, and hardness that can be deformed when force is applied by the tongue. Various elastic materials in the range can be used.

  The base 10 is formed in a plate shape. The width (dimension in the left-right direction) of the base 10 is set to, for example, 20 mm to 30 mm, and the length is set to 80 mm to 90 mm. However, these dimensions are examples, and according to the gender and physique of the user. It is possible to change.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the use state of the training instrument 1, one side in the longitudinal direction of the base 10 is inserted into the oral cavity, and the other side goes out of the oral cavity. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the edge of the base 10 on one side in the longitudinal direction (the right side in FIGS. 3 and 4) is formed in an arc shape. This is a shape along the outer edge of the bulging portion 20. Moreover, the edge part of the other side (left side of FIG.3 and FIG.4) of the base 10 is also formed in circular arc shape.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of upper ridges 11 a are formed on the upper surface 11 of the base 10. As shown in FIG. 3, each upper ridge 11 a extends in the width direction of the base 10 and is gently curved so as to form an arc in plan view. The arc shape of the upper ridge portion 11a corresponds to, for example, a sequence of adult front teeth A and B (shown in FIG. 2). The upper ridge portions 11 a are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the base portion 10. An upper groove (upper locking portion) 11b is formed between the upper ridge portions 11a adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the base portion 10. Although details will be described later, the upper groove 11b is for fitting the front teeth A on the upper side of the user to be locked to the base 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of lower ridges 12 a are also formed on the lower surface 12 of the base 10. The number of the lower ridges 12a is larger than that of the upper ridges 11a, and the formation of the lower ridges 12a on the lower surface of the base 10 is greater than the formation range of the upper ridges 11a on the upper surface of the base 10. The range is wider.

  The lower ridge 12a has substantially the same curvature as the upper ridge 11a, and the lower ridge 12a is longer than the upper ridge 11a. By forming the lower ridge 12a, a plurality of lower grooves (lower locking portions) 12b are also formed on the lower surface 12 of the base 10. Although details will be described later, the lower groove 12b is for engaging the lower front tooth B of the user and locking it to the base 10.

  The upper ridge portion 11 a and the lower ridge portion 12 a are arranged so as to be shifted from each other in the longitudinal direction of the base portion 10. That is, the lower ridge 12a is not positioned directly below the upper ridge 11a. Accordingly, the upper groove 11b and the lower groove 12b are also shifted from each other in the longitudinal direction of the base portion 10. The shift amount between the upper groove 11b and the lower groove 12b is set in consideration of the shift amount in the front-rear direction between the lower end of the upper front tooth A and the upper end of the lower front tooth B of a general adult. It can be set to ˜2 mm. The shift amount between the upper groove 11b and the lower groove 12b is an amount corresponding to the shift amount in the front-rear direction between the lower end of the upper front tooth A and the upper end of the lower front tooth B.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the bulging portion 20 is provided on one side in the longitudinal direction of the base portion 10. The bulging portion 20 bulges downward from the lower surface 12 of the base portion 10, and as shown in FIG. 6, the inside is hollow and a hollow portion R is provided.

  On one side in the longitudinal direction of the base portion 10, a through-hole 13 that penetrates in the vertical direction (the thickness direction of the base portion 10) is formed in a portion corresponding to the bulging portion 20. The through hole 13 is circular and communicates with the hollow portion R of the bulging portion 20. By forming the through hole 13, the hollow portion R is opened. As shown in FIG. 6, a recess 11 c is formed around the through hole 13 on the upper surface 11 of the base 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a circular through hole 14 is formed at the end of the base 10 opposite to the bulging portion 20. The through-hole 14 is for hooking through a hook or the like when the training device 1 is stored, or for allowing a user to hold the training device 1 through a finger.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bulging portion 20 has a dome shape with a substantially circular cross-section in a direction orthogonal to the center line X extending in the bulging direction, and as a whole approaches the tip of the bulging direction. The cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the center line X is smaller. The bulging portion 20 has a peripheral wall portion 21 and an end wall portion 22. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the peripheral wall portion 21 is roughly divided into a base side region S1, an intermediate region S2, and a tip side region S3.

  The base side region S1 includes a base side first inclined wall portion 24 that extends downward from the lower surface 12 of the base portion 10, a base side second inclined wall portion 25 that is continuous with the lower end of the base side first inclined wall portion 24, and a base side. It has a base-side third inclined wall portion 26 that is continuous with the lower end of the second inclined wall portion 25. The base side first to third inclined wall portions 24 to 26 are inclined so as to approach the center line X as they go downward. The base-side first inclined wall portion 24 is thicker than the lower-side portion of the peripheral wall portion 21 relative to the base-side first inclined wall portion 24.

  The inclination angle α1 with respect to the center line X of the base side second inclined wall portion 25 is set to be larger than the inclination angle α2 with respect to the center line X of the base side third inclined wall portion 26, and the base side second inclined wall portion 25 is set. This has a gentler slope than the base-side third inclined wall portion 26.

  The base-side second inclined wall portion 25 and the base-side third inclined wall portion 26 constitute a first outer stepped portion 41 at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the outer surface of the bulged portion 20. As shown in FIG. 6, a first inner step portion 51 is formed on the inner surface of the bulging portion 20 corresponding to the first outer step portion 41.

  The wall thickness between the valley of the first outer step portion 41 and the valley of the first inner step portion 51 is thinner than the wall thickness of the base side second inclined wall portion 25 and the base side third inclined wall portion 26. Yes. A trough is the deepest part of the hollow used as a step part.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the intermediate region S <b> 2 includes an intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 that is continuous with the lower end of the base side third inclined wall portion 26, and an intermediate second inclined portion that is continuous with the lower end of the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30. Wall part 31.

  The intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 and the intermediate second inclined wall portion 31 are inclined so as to approach the center line X as they go downward. The inclination angle α3 with respect to the center line X of the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 is set to be larger than the inclination angle α2 with respect to the center line X of the base-side third inclined wall portion 26. However, the inclination is gentler than that of the base-side third inclined wall portion 26. The vertical dimension of the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 is set longer than the vertical dimension of the base-side third inclined wall portion 26.

  The inclination angle α4 with respect to the center line X of the intermediate second inclined wall portion 31 is set to be smaller than the inclination angle α3 with respect to the center line X of the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30, and the intermediate second inclined wall portion 31 is more The slope is tighter than that of the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30. In addition, the vertical dimension of the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 is set to be longer than the vertical dimension of the intermediate second inclined wall portion 31.

  The intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 and the intermediate second inclined wall portion 31 constitute a second outer step portion 42 at the intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the outer surface of the bulging portion 20. As shown in FIG. 6, a second inner step portion 52 is formed on the inner surface of the bulging portion 20 corresponding to the second outer step portion 42.

  The valleys of the second outer step 42 are located below the valleys of the second inner step 52, and the valleys of the second outer step 42 and the second inner step 52 are mutually in the vertical direction. They are offset. The thickness between the valley of the second outer stepped portion 42 and the valley of the second inner stepped portion 52 is thinner than the thickness of the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 and the intermediate second inclined wall portion 31.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the distal end side region S <b> 3 includes a distal end side first inclined wall portion 32 that continues to the lower end of the intermediate second inclined wall portion 31 and a distal end side that continues to the lower end of the distal end side first inclined wall portion 32. And a second inclined wall portion 33.

  The distal end side first inclined wall portion 32 and the distal end side second inclined wall portion 33 are inclined so as to approach the center line X as going downward. The vertical dimension of the tip side first inclined wall part 32 is set longer than the vertical dimension of the tip side second inclined wall part 33.

  An inclination angle α5 with respect to the center line X of the distal end side first inclined wall portion 32 is set to be larger than an inclination angle α4 with respect to the center line X of the intermediate second inclined wall portion 31, and The slope is gentler. The distal end side first inclined wall portion 32 and the distal end side second inclined wall portion 33 constitute a third outer stepped portion 43 at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the outer surface of the bulging portion 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a third inner step portion 53 is formed on the inner surface of the bulging portion 20 corresponding to the third outer step portion 43.

  The valley of the third outer step portion 43 is located below the valley of the third inner step portion 53, and the valley of the third outer step portion 43 and the valley of the third inner step portion 53 are mutually in the vertical direction. They are offset. The wall thickness between the valley of the third outer step 43 and the valley of the third inner step 53 is smaller than the wall thickness of the distal end side first inclined wall portion 32 and the distal end side second inclined wall portion 33. Yes.

  The inclination angle α3 with respect to the center line X of the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 is larger than the other inclination angles α1, α2, and α4 to α6, and therefore, the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 of the peripheral wall portion 21. Is the slowest. For this reason, when the bulging portion 20 is pushed in the center line X direction, the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 is most easily deformed, and the lower and upper sides of the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 are the intermediate first inclined portions. It becomes difficult to deform compared with the wall part 30.

  When the bulging portion 20 is pushed in the centerline X direction, the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 starts from the vicinity of the first outer stepped portion 41 and the first inner stepped portion 51 toward the inner side of the bulging portion 20 ( It is elastically deformed so that it bends in the state of use (see FIG. 7). At this time, the intermediate second inclined wall portion 31 is displaced upward while being elastically deformed by the upward bending of the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30, and the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 and the intermediate second inclined wall portion 30. The inclined wall portion 31 is folded so that the outer surfaces of both the inclined wall portions 30 and 31 are in contact with each other.

  As described above, each portion of the peripheral wall portion 21 is preferably inclined with respect to the center line X. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the peripheral wall portion 21 is viewed from the front end side, the boundary lines of the inclined wall portions 24 to 33 appear as circles, but the interval between the boundary lines is the distance between the inclined wall portions 24 to 33. It depends on the angle of inclination and vertical dimension. It is preferable that the interval between these boundary lines is not constant.

  The end wall portion 22 is connected to the lower end of the distal end side second inclined wall portion 33 and is smoothly curved so as to protrude downward.

  As shown in FIG. 4, two protrusions 30 a and 30 a are formed on the outer surface of the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 so as to be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the bulging portion 20. As shown in FIG. 7, the protrusion 30 a has an intermediate second inclined wall when the bulging portion 20 is pushed in the center line X direction and the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 and the intermediate second inclined wall portion 31 are folded. It abuts on the outer surface of the portion 31.

  Next, the case where the training apparatus 1 for oral function configured as described above is used will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the bulging portion 20 side of the base portion 10 is inserted into the user's oral cavity, and when the bulging portion 20 reaches the tongue, further insertion is stopped. In this state, the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the base 10 protrudes outside the oral cavity. At this time, since the upper groove 11b and the lower groove 12b are formed in the base 10 to facilitate bending deformation, the base 10 can be elastically deformed so as to correspond to the shape of the oral cavity.

  In FIG. 2, the phantom line indicates the shape of the bulged portion 20 before deformation, and the solid line indicates the shape after deformation.

  Then, the user bites the base 10 with the front teeth A and B. Then, the upper front tooth A is fitted and locked in the upper groove 11b, and the lower front tooth B is fitted and locked in the lower groove 12b. At this time, the upper groove 11b and the lower groove 12b are curved so as to correspond to the upper front teeth A and the lower front teeth B, respectively, so that the user simply bites the base portion 10 and the front teeth A, B comes to fit securely in both grooves 11b and 12b. Furthermore, in general, the lower end of the upper front tooth A of the user and the upper end of the lower front tooth B are shifted in the front-rear direction, but in this embodiment, the upper groove 11b and the lower groove 12b are moved in the front-rear direction of the user. Since they are shifted, the front teeth A and B can be surely fitted into the grooves 11b and 12b only by the user naturally biting the base 10 by this. As a result, the base 10 is stably fixed to the user.

  Further, when the position of the bulging portion 20 in the insertion direction in the oral cavity is adjusted, the base portion 10 may be taken in and out. In this case, the base portion 10 is provided with a plurality of upper grooves 11b and lower grooves 12b. Therefore, even after the position adjustment, the front teeth A and B are surely fitted into the grooves 11b and 12b only by biting the base 10. Therefore, for example, even if the same training apparatus 1 is used by a plurality of users having different genders, physiques, and the like, the bulging portion 20 can be disposed at a position suitable for each user.

  Thereafter, the user starts training. That is, the user first pushes the tongue by applying force to the tongue. Then, the bulging portion 20 is sandwiched between the tongue and the hard palate, and a force acts so as to crush the bulging portion 20 in the vertical direction. Since the bulging portion 20 is formed with the first outer step portion 41 and the first inner step portion 51 and the second outer step portion 42 and the second inner step portion 52, the force by the tongue is more than a predetermined value. Then, these step portions 41, 42, 51, 52 trigger the start of elastic deformation, and the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 is the first so that the distal end side region S3 in the bulging portion 20 approaches the base portion side region S1. While suddenly elastically deforming upward from the vicinity of the outer step portion 41 and the first inner step portion 51 (shown in FIG. 7), the intermediate second inclined wall portion 31 is suddenly displaced upward, The first inclined wall portion 30 and the intermediate second inclined wall portion 31 are folded over. Thus, the bulging portion 20 vibrates at the moment when sudden elastic deformation occurs, and this vibration is transmitted to the tongue and the hard palate, so that the user feels the vibration. Further, when the bulging portion 20 undergoes elastic deformation, a sound that can be heard by the user is also generated.

  Further, in this embodiment, in addition to the first outer step portion 41 and the first inner step portion 51, the second outer step portion 42 and the second inner step portion 52, the third outer step portion 43 and the third inner step portion. 53 is provided. Therefore, when the push-up force by the tongue is increased, the distal end side first inclined wall portion 32 and the distal end side second portion of the distal end side region S3 are triggered by the third outer stepped portion 43 and the third inner stepped portion 53 as a trigger for elastic deformation. The inclined wall 33 suddenly elastically deforms starting from the vicinity of the stepped portions 43 and 53. The bulging part 20 vibrates also by these things.

  The magnitude of the force required for the bulging portion 20 to start elastic deformation is the depth of the first to third outer step portions 41 to 43 and the first to third inner step portions 51 to 53 and the intermediate first inclination. It can be arbitrarily set depending on the wall thickness of the wall portion 30 and the like. If the force required to start deformation is too small, muscle training cannot be performed, and if the force required to start deformation is too large, the bulging portion 20 cannot be crushed. It is set so that it can be deformed over and over again.

  When the force of the tongue is removed in a state where the bulging portion 20 is elastically deformed as described above, the shape of the bulging portion 20 is restored by the elasticity of the bulging portion 20. At this time, in this embodiment, the recessed part 11c is formed around the through-hole 13, and the mucous membrane in the oral cavity does not block the through-hole 13 completely. As a result, external air easily enters the hollow portion R of the bulging portion 20 through the through-hole 13, and does not stick to the mucous membrane when the bulging portion 20 is restored. Therefore, the mucous membrane can be prevented from being damaged.

  Further, when the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 and the intermediate second inclined wall portion 31 are folded, the protrusions 30a and 30a abut against the outer surface of the intermediate second inclined wall portion 31 and the intermediate first inclined wall portion 30 and the intermediate It is possible to suppress excessive deformation with the second inclined wall portion 31. The abutment of the protrusions 30a and 30a applies a force in a direction to return both the wall portions 30 and 31, and the bulging portion 20 is reliably restored to the original shape.

  In this embodiment, the protrusions 30a and 30a are provided on the intermediate first inclined wall part 30, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, a protrusion (not shown) may be provided on the intermediate second inclined wall part 31.

  By repeating the above, it is possible to train oral muscles and facial muscles.

  In this way, when training, the user only needs to put power on the tongue until vibration occurs, so it is clear how much force can be applied during training to obtain the training effect. , Training can be performed effectively. Moreover, it is felt as an actual feeling that the occurrence of vibration is training.

  In addition, saliva secretion is promoted because the tongue is moved during training. Saliva in the oral cavity enters the upper groove 11b formed on the upper surface 11 of the base 10, and accumulates in the upper groove 11b. Therefore, it becomes difficult for saliva to leak out of the oral cavity.

  As described above, according to the oral function training apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the upper groove 11b and the lower groove 12b are provided on the upper surface 11 and the lower surface 12 of the base 10, respectively, and the upper groove 11b and the lower groove 12b are provided. Since the user is shifted in the longitudinal direction of the base 10, the user can fix the bulging portion 20 to a desired site in the oral cavity simply by biting the base 10 naturally with the front teeth A and B. Thereby, training of a desired part can be continuously performed without holding by hand.

  Further, since the step portions 41, 42, 51, 52 are provided in the hollow bulging portion 20 made of an elastic body, the step portions 41, 42, 51, 52 are triggered when a force is applied by the tongue. Thus, the bulging portion 20 can be suddenly elastically deformed. As a result, oral function training can be performed effectively, and motivation can be improved with the realization that training is being performed during training, and as a result, oral function can be effectively improved. Can do.

  In addition, since it is possible to train muscles around the mouth, it is possible to obtain a cosmetic effect of tightening the face.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the 1st-3rd outer side step parts 41-43 and the 1st-3rd inner side step parts 51-53 are provided in the outer surface and inner surface of the bulging part 20, respectively, Without limitation, one of the first to third outer step portions 41 to 43 and the first to third inner step portions 51 to 53 may be omitted.

  When the first to third outer step portions 41 to 43 are omitted, the outer surface of the bulging portion 20 becomes a smooth surface, but the first to third inner step portions 51 to 53 are triggered by the start of elastic deformation. As a result, the bulging portion 20 undergoes sudden elastic deformation. When the first to third inner step portions 51 to 53 are omitted, the inner surface of the bulging portion 20 becomes a smooth surface, but the first to third outer step portions 41 to 43 start elastic deformation. As a trigger, the bulged portion 20 undergoes sudden elastic deformation.

  In addition, it is only necessary that there is at least one step on the outer surface of the bulging portion 20, and it is also sufficient that there is at least one step on the inner surface.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where the bulging part 20 bulges below, you may bulge upward not only in this. Moreover, you may provide two bulging parts, the bulging part which bulges upwards, and the bulging part which bulges downwards.

  Moreover, when providing a some bulging part, you may arrange in the longitudinal direction of the base 10, and may arrange in the width direction.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the base 10 and the bulging part 20 are integrally molded, you may make it integrate, after forming separately, and forming separately. In this case, the base portion 10 and the bulging portion 20 can be formed from different materials.

  Further, the base 10 may be rod-shaped.

  Further, the distal end surface of the bulging portion 20 may not be curved, and may be a flat surface extending in a direction intersecting with the center line X, for example.

  It is also possible to perform training by pushing the bulging portion 20 with the tip of the tongue.

  In addition, with the upper and lower teeth engaged, the bulging portion 20 is disposed between the side surface of the back tooth and the inner surface of the cheek, the tip surface of the bulging portion 20 faces the cheek side, and the bulging portion is bulged by the cheek muscles. The protruding portion 20 may be elastically deformed by pressing the protruding portion 20 against the back teeth.

  Alternatively, the bulging portion 20 may be sandwiched between the upper lip and the lower lip and crushed up and down by the lips.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where the cross-sectional shape of the direction orthogonal to the centerline X of the bulging part 20 was circular, not only this but a cross-sectional shape may be polygonal shape.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the upper side latching | locking part and the lower side latching | locking part are made into the upper side groove | channel 11b and the lower side groove | channel 12b, respectively, it is not restricted to this, For example, with the upper side convex ridge part 11a and the lower side convex ridge part 12a It may be configured.

  As described above, the oral function training apparatus according to the present invention can be used to train oral-related muscles such as the tongue and facial muscles, for example.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Training apparatus 10 for oral function Base 11a Upper protrusion 11b Upper groove (upper locking part)
12a Lower ridge 12b Lower groove (lower locking part)
20 Swelling part (elastic deformation part)
R Hollow part X Center line

Claims (4)

In the training device for oral function that is used by being inserted into the oral cavity,
A plate extending in the insertion direction into the oral cavity, and a base inserted into the oral cavity;
An elastic deformation part provided on the inside of the oral cavity of the base,
On the upper surface and the lower surface of the base, an upper locking portion and a lower locking portion that are locked by the user's front teeth are provided,
The training tool for oral function, wherein the upper locking portion and the lower locking portion are shifted in the longitudinal direction of the base portion. The training device for oral function according to claim 1,
The upper-side locking portion and the lower-side locking portion are curved so as to correspond to the sequence of the front teeth of the user. The training device for oral function according to claim 1 or 2,
A training apparatus for oral function, wherein a plurality of the upper locking portions and the lower locking portions are provided so as to be aligned in the longitudinal direction of the base portion. In the oral function training device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
At least one of the said upper side latching | locking part and the said lower side latching | locking part is comprised by the groove | channel, The training tool for oral function characterized by the above-mentioned.

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