US20150224385A1

US20150224385A1 - Labial Connector

Info

Publication number: US20150224385A1
Application number: US14/611,262
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl Allen Barnes, SR.
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-02-12
Filing date: 2015-02-01
Publication date: 2015-08-13

Abstract

A uniquely constructed labial connector designed to enhance protection to the anterior teeth and tongue, and maximize compliance with mouth protector regulations in sports, includes a resilient material overlaying the labial and incisal surfaces of the anterior teeth of a wearer, commencing vertically at the lingual-incisal line angle and terminating at a predetermined distance below the gum line and extending horizontally canine to canine. The device is designed to protect either the upper or lower anterior teeth while optimizing clear speech, thereby minimizing the probability of injury to the teeth and other oral tissues while maximizing athlete compliance with mouth protector regulation.

Description

BACKGROUND

The following non-provisional specification is related to provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/965989, Filing Date Feb. 12, 2014, Applicant, Carl A. Barnes, Sr., a US citizen, Residence; 3652 Merritt Anne Dr., Baton Rouge, La., Titled, “Mouth Protector”. The present invention relates to a labial connector particularly designed to optimize protection of a wearer's anterior teeth while not interfering with clear speech and comfort, interferences associated with conventional mouthpieces.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

Athletes such as football players, boxers and basketball players typically wear a mouthpiece on the upper teeth that minimizes impact associated with blows to the jaw, mouth or chin. A conventional mouthpiece includes a labial connector that covers the anterior teeth, front and back, is substantially u-shaped and is constructed with a moldable plastic. Typically, the device is preheated allowing a user to bite into the device to form a mold of the teeth. Such devices, however, have numerous disadvantages. The interior side walls typically contact the palatal region of the mouth resulting in significant discomfort and gagging. In addition, the conventional mouthpiece completely encompasses both the front and rear surfaces of the anterior teeth thereby interfering with clear speech. Accordingly, certain athletes such as quarterbacks must speak clearly when communicating signals to teammates, must repeatedly remove the mouthpiece while speaking and reinsert it which is burdensome, inconvenient and exposes the wearer to germs. Furthermore, each of the above described disadvantages discourages some athletes from wearing mouthpieces thereby resulting in increased frequency of brain and tooth related injuries. The present invention overcome the above described disadvantages of conventional mouthpieces by providing a labial connector that minimizes interference with clear speech, is comfortable to wear, minimizes damage to anterior teeth and enhances compliance to regulation requiring mouth protection.
Various mouthpieces and mouth guards exist in the prior art. Most notably, U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,524 issued to Barnes, Sr., relates to a method and apparatus for minimizing damage to a wearer, The apparatus includes a central bridge section which covers only the bottom two thirds of the anterior teeth,
Intentionally avoiding contact with incisal surfaces of the anterior teeth when the device is worn.
The present invention is distinguishable in that its' labial connector, i.e. central bridge section, is designed purposefully to overlay and enhance protection to incisal surfaces of the incisors and canines, not avoid them, and at the same time optimizing protection to the wearer's tongue. The unique design result in maximum protection against blows thereto, minimum discomfort to a wearer and allows the wearer to speak clearly.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a labial connector suitable for athletes and others in need of a device capable of protecting hard and soft tissue in the oral cavity from blows to the mouth, chin, or head. The device comprises a resilient material overlaying anterior teeth, including incisors and canines, extending horizontally from canine to canine and vertically commencing at the lingual-incisal line angle and terminating at a predetermined distance below the gum line so as to maximize protection to a wearer. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a labial connector that enhances protection to the lips, anterior teeth and tongue of a wearer.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a labial connector that will not interfere with dear speech.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a labial connector that will enhance conformity to mouthpiece regulations in sports.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a labial connector that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment hen considered with the attached drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, is a frontal view of the upper anterior teeth with the labial connector according to the present invention mounted thereon.

FIG. 2, is a plan view of the present invention mounted on the upper anterior teeth.

FIG. 3, is a plan view of the second embodiment mounted on the upper anterior teeth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the present invention relates to a labial connector designed for protecting the incisal edges of either the upper or lower anterior teeth and the tongue, The upper or lower dental arch typically include anterior teeth 5, such as central and lateral incisors and possibly canine teeth. The teeth extend into the gums at a point that is sometimes referred to as the gum line 4.
Each tooth includes labial, front, and lingual, back, surfaces with a biting surface there between.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the labial connector according to the present invention includes a mouth guard material 2, overlaying the labial and incisal surfaces of the anterior teeth 5, commencing at the lingual-incisal line angle 1, covering the biting edges of the anterior teeth 3, exposing the lingual surfaces of the wearer's anterior teeth terminating at a predetermined distance below the gum line 4, thereby maximizing protection of the wearer's dentition and allowing dear speech, resulting In reduced probability of injury to the hard and soft tissues in the oral cavity and increased compliance among athletes. Additionally, referring now to FIG. 3, a second embodiment is disclosed. The second embodiment includes mouth guard material 2, molded to conform to the labial surfaces of the anterior teeth of a wearer 5, commencing at the labial-incisal line angle 3, of the anterior teeth which is discernible from the lingual-incisal line angle 1, terminating at a predetermined distance below the gum line 4, to protect the wearer's anterior teeth, thereby optimizing comfort and minimizing damage, resulting in decreased probability of injury and enhanced compliance with regulations requiring mouth protection.
The above described device is preferably constructed with a resilient conformable thermoplastic material such as ethylene vinyl acetate or any other similar equivalent. The appliance may also be constructed with Kevlar™ or any other carbon fiber material suitable for a mouth protector. A mold is made of the wearer's upper or lower teeth so that the mouthpiece according to the present invention can be molded thereto and according to the details of construction enumerated above.
As easily apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a labial connector capable of protecting hard and soft tissues within the oral cavity of the wearer while exposing the teeth and other structures to the tongue allowing dear speech and comfort. Furthermore, the device is considerably more useful than conventional mouth protectors, resulting in decreased probability of oral injuries and increased compliance among athletes. Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A labial connector for securing to the anterior teeth of a wearer, including incisors and canines, said labial connector comprising: a resilient material molded to conform to the anterior teeth, said connector commencing at the lingual-incisal line angle fully covering the labial surface of anterior teeth terminating at a predetermined distance below the gum line so as to maximize protection to the wearer's oral tissues and minimize discomfort.

2. A labial connector for securing to the anterior teeth of a wearer, including incisors and canines, said labial connector comprising: a resilient material molded to conform to the anterior teeth, said connector commencing at the labial-incisal line angle fully covering the labial surface of anterior teeth terminating at a predetermined distance below the gum line so as to maximize protection to the wearer's oral tissues and maximize clear speech resulting in increased compliance among athletes.