US3924850A

US3924850A - Labial muscle exerciser

Info

Publication number: US3924850A
Application number: US444831A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas J Robertson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-02-22
Filing date: 1974-02-22
Publication date: 1975-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-09

Abstract

A device for exercising the labial muscle of the upper lip and for use in developing the hypotonic upper lip, the device generally comprising a band portion positioned between the upper lip and upper teeth, a tongue-like portion extending downwardly from the band portion and which fits over the outer surface of the lower lip. Means are provided for applying a force to the device generally in the forward direction which force acts against the force applied by the labial muscle of the upper lip in holding the device in the mouth.

Description

nited States Patent 1191 [111 3,924,850

Robertson 1 Dec. 9, 1975 LABIAL MUSCLE EXERCISER 3,805,771 4/1974 Wright 128/62 A [76] Inventor: Thomas J. Robertson, 637 Old State Road, Pevely, Mo. 63070 Primary ExaminerRichard J'. Apley Assistant Examiner-Joseph R. Taylor [22] Ffled' 1974 Attorney, Agent, or FirmRogers, Ezell & Eilers [21] Appl. No 444,831 i [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 272/57 H 51 I111. cl. A63B 23/00 A devlce exerclsmg the lam] muscle of the upper lip and for use in developing the hypotonic upper lip, the device generally comprising a band portion positioned between the upper lip and upper teeth, a

[58] Field of Search 84/465, 466; 128/136, 60, 128/147, 76 R, 62 A, 67; 272/57 H; 32/14 B,

20 tongue-like portion extending downwardly from the band portion and which fits over the outer surface of [56] References Clted the lower lip. Means are provided for applying a force UNITED STATES PATENTS to the device generally in the forward direction which 885,196 4/1908 Steil 128/136 force acts against the force ap lied by the labial mus- 6.732 6/1968 Robins cle of the upper lip in holding the device in the mouth. 3,547,433 l2/l970 Robins 3,744,485 7/1973 Worthy 272/57 H 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 LABIAL MUSCLE EXERCISER Background and Summary of the Invention This invention relates to an exercising device, and particularly such a device for use in exercising and strengthening the labial muscle of the upper lip.

The chief purpose of the device is to correct a condition known as a hypotonic upper lip found in children and adults, which condition is characterized by a short upper lip that exposes a substantial portion of the upper teeth. The labial muscle of the upper lip is very weak and for this reason use of the upper lip is minimal. With the hypotonic upper lip is often found a forward protrusion of the upper teeth which can be caused by the imbalance of muscle forces acting on the teeth in the oral cavity. With normal lip competency, tensioning of the labial muscle in the upper lip tends to develop a more natural balance of forces acting on the teeth to maintain the teeth in a relatively straight condition. However, a weak labial muscle is unable to maintain the balance, causing the upper teeth to protrude forwardly because the oral muscles are not in proper balance. Even if the teeth are straightened through orthodontic management, there is a strong possibility that they will revert back to their protruding state if the hypotonic condition is also not corrected. The device of this invention is exceptionally effective in correcting this condition.

There have been other devices used for the purpose of correcting the hypotonic lip, but each of those known to applicant have their disadvantages. One such device is an ordinary button of the type commonly used to fasten clothing. The button is placed behind the upper and lower lips and in front of the upper and lower teeth. A cord is connected through the holes in the button to extend forwardly between the lips. With the button in position the user applies tension on the cord and attempts to hold the button in his mouth by using the upper and lower lip muscles. The problems with this device are that the user must use both the upper and lower lips to hold it in his mouth wherein it is only the upper lip that has the hypotonic condition. The user is able to compensate for his weak upper lip by using the lower lip to hold the device in his mouth which defeats the very purpose of the device. Also, because of the excessive use of the lower lip in holding the button in the mouth, there often results an overdevelopment of the mentalis muscle found next to the chin. Often, with the button device, favorable results achieved in strengthening the labial muscle of the upper lip are discounted by the unfavorable overdevelopment of the mentalis muscle.

Another prior art device comprises a pair of spring members attached to the rear molars of the upper teeth by means of bands. The springs extend forward to the center of the mouth and are connected to an acrylic pad which is located between the upper teeth and upper lip and which by means of the spring members is biased so as to push the upper lip forward. To operate the device the user tries to press the spring biased pad against his upper teeth by means of his upper lip. The disadvantages of this device are that is must be permanently installed in the users mouth by an orthodontist at considerable discomfort, expense, and continued aggravation.

This invention overcomes these disadvantages in providing as its objects a labial muscle exerciser that minimizes the influence of the lower lip muscles and hence has minimal effect on the mentalis muscle while strengthening the upper lip, that is easy to use and may be placed in position at the will of the user without the need for permanent and expensive installation by an orthodontist, with which relative accurate measurements can be made of the labial muscle development progress ofthe user, and that is durable yet quite inexpensive to produce.

Generally, the exerciser of this invention comprises a band portion which fits in the mouth between the upper lip and upper teeth and which is contoured to fit along the maxillary arch. The band. is of sufficient length to make it possible to retain the band in this position by tensioning the labial muscle of the upper lip.

The exerciser also includes a tongue-like portion which extends downwardly from the band and over the outer surface of the lower lip to the location of the mentalis muscle just above the chin. Means are provided for exerting a force on the exerciser forwardly against the action of the labial muscle of the upper lip which, in a preferred embodiment of this invention, comprises a cord attached to the exerciser at a location just beneath the lower edge of the upper lip and approximately midway between the ends of the band portion.

Description of the Drawing FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a labial muscle exerciser of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the device of FIG. 1 as shown in position for use;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the position of the device relative to the user with the device in operation.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment In the drawing (FIGS. 1-3) there is shown a labial muscle exerciser 10 of this invention with FIGS. 4 and 5 depicting the device in position for use, and FIG. 6 depicting the device in operation. For ease in understanding the following description, the numeral 12 identifies the upper lip of the user wherein the labial muscle is located, the numeral 14 identifies the lower lip of the user, and the numeral 15 identifies the location of the mentalis muscle which as seen from the drawing is located in the front and just above the chin.

The exerciser 10 comprises a band portion 20 which is contoured as shown in the drawing to fit in the mouth along the maxillary arch between the upper lip and upper teeth. The total length of the band portion 20, which can be considered to comprise a central portion 21 and

arms

22 and 23 extending from opposite sides thereof, should be at least sufficient so as to allow the user to retain the exerciser in position by tensioning of the labial muscle in a manner to press the band portion against the front of the upper teeth. Since the labial muscle of those for whom use of the device is necessary is quite weak when use of the device is first initiated, it is preferred that the

arms

22 and 23 extend to at least the locations of the cuspids, thus providing sufficient contact with the upper lip for retention.

The contour of the band 20 conforming to the maxillary arch not only provides a comfortable fit but also maximizes the effectiveness of the labial muscle exer- 3 cise so that the entire upper lip participates. The shaping of the band portion 20 need not be precise but need only be contoured generally to the shape of a normal upper aw.

The exerciser also comprises a generally tongueshaped portion 25 which extends downwardly from the central portion 21 of the band 20. The width of the tongue portion 25 should be somewhat less than the width of the average mouth as it must extend downwardly over the front surface of the lower lip as shown in FIGS. 46. The tongue portion 25 is of sufficient length to extend downwardly to the location of the mentalis muscle and is contoured, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, such that its lower end rests against the mentalis muscle with the device placed in position but without force supplied as during operation (FIG. 5).

The exerciser I0 is preferably of one-piece construction and made of any suitable material such as plastic.

A cord 27 of any suitable material such as nylon is connected at one end to the exerciser 10 by means of holes 29 through which the cord is threaded and tied. The holes 29 are located about midway between the ends of the

arms

22 and 23 and just beneath the lower edge of the upper lip 12 with the device positioned in the mouth.

Operation and Use In operation, the exerciser of this invention is placed in the mouth with the band portion positioned between the upper lip 12 and the upper teeth and with the tongue portion 25 extending downwardly over the outer surface of the lower lip 14. With the exerciser in position, but without applying force to it by means of the cord 27, the lower end of the portion 25 rests against the mentalis muscle 15.

To operate the device the user, with his teeth in occlusion, applies tension on the cord 27, preferably in a directly forward direction (FIG. 6) requiring the tensioning and thus exercising of the labial muscle of the upper lip 12 to retain the band 20 in the mouth. The user applies as much force on the cord 27 as possible while still retaining the device in position by means of the labial muscle. At first only very slight force can be tion 25 discourages the user from placing the device between the lower lip and lower teeth as well as the upper lip and upper teeth which would have the adverse effect of overdeveloping the mentalis muscle.

It has been found that as some users first begin exercising with this device, the labial muscle of the upper lip is so weak that they are unable to retain the device with even the slightest force applied to the cord 27. The shape of the portion 25 which allows the lower end thereof to rest against the end of the mentalis muscle 15 allows such a user to press the lower end of the portion 25 against the mentalis muscle 15 by means of his finger, thus providing him some additional leverage to assist in retaining the device in position under some tensioning of the cord. This pressure on the mentalis muscle 15 also emphasizes to the beginning user the importance of reducing the use of the mentalis muscle during the exercises to a minimum.

Because the design of the device of this invention tends to isolate the upper lip for development, it is possible to obtain fairly accurate measurements of the progress of this development by use of a strain gauge connected in the cord 27. By measuring the amount of force required to pull the device from the users mouth against the force of his labial muscle, and by doing this periodically throughout the exercise program, it is possible to monitor the progress.

Hence, there has been described an improved labial muscle exerciser for use in developing the hypotonic upper lip, which tends to isolate the development of the upper lip without excessive stimulation of the mentalis muscle, which is durable, easy and inexpensive to use and which otherwise overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art devices and fulfills the objects heretofore set forth.

Various changes and modifications may be made in this invention, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A labial muscle exerciser comprising a band contoured to fit in the mouth along the maxillary arch between the upper lip and upper teeth, and a portion extending generally downwardly from the band, the generally downwardly extending portion having an upper portion and a lower portion extending at least somewhat rearwardly from the upper portion, said generally downwardly extending portion being formed to rest against the mentalis muscle with the exerciser in place without force applied forwardly against the action of the labial muscle of the upper lip.

2. The exerciser of claim 1 further comprising means connected to the exerciser for exerting a force for wardly against the action of the labial muscle of the upper lip.

3. The exerciser of claim 2 wherein the force exerting means is a cord connected to the exerciser at a location just below the lower edge of the upper lip and approximately midway between the corners of the mouth with the exerciser in place for operation.

4. The exerciser of claim I wherein the band is of at least sufficient length to extend between the cuspids.

5. The exerciser of claim I wherein the device is of one piece construction made of plastic.

6. The exerciser of claim 1 wherein the upper portion of the generally downwardly extending portion extends generally downwardly from, and no more rearwardly than, the band.

7. A labial muscle exerciser comprising a band contoured to fit in the mouth along the maxillary arch between the upper lip and upper teeth, the band being of at least sufficient length to extend between the cuspids, a portion extending downwardly from the band, the downwardly extending portion having an upper portion extending over the lower lip and a lower portion extending at least somewhat rearwardly from the upper portion toward the location of the mentalis muscle, the downwardly extending portion being formed to rest against the mentalis muscle with the exerciser in place without force applied against the action of the labial muscle of the upper lip, and means connected to the exerciser approximately midway between the ends of the band and just below the lower edge of the upper lip means includes a cord connected at one end to the exerciser.

9. The exerciser of claim 8 wherein the device 1s of one piece construct on age of plastic.

Claims

1. A labial muscle exerciser comprising a band contoured to fit in the mouth along the maxillary arch between the upper lip and upper teeth, and a portion extending generally downwardly from the band, the generally downwardly extending portion having an upper portion and a lower portion extending at least somewhat rearwardly from the upper portion, said generally downwardly extending portion being formed to rest against the mentalis muscle with the exerciser in place without force applied forwardly against the action of the labial muscle of the upper lip.

2. The exerciser of claim 1 further comprising means connected to the exerciser for exerting a force forwardly against the action of the labial muscle of the upper lip.

4. The exerciser of claim 1 wherein the band is of at least sufficient length to extend between the cuspids.

5. The exerciser of claim 1 wherein the device is of one piece construction made of plastic.

7. A labial muscle exerciser comprising a band contoured to fit in the mouth along the maxillary arch between the upper lip and upper teeth, the band being of at least sufficient length to extend between the cuspids, a portion extending downwardly from the band, the downwardly extending portion having an upper portion extending over the lower lip and a lower portion extending at least somewhat rearwardly from the upper portion toward the location of the mentalis muscle, the downwardly extending portion being formed to rest against the mentalis muscle with the exerciser in place without force applied against the action of the labial muscle of the upper lip, and means connected to the exerciser approximately midway between the ends of the band and just below the lower edge of the upper lip with the exerciser in place for operation, for exerting a force forwardly against the action of the labial muscle of the upper lip.

8. The exerciser of claim 7 wherein the force exerting means includes a cord connected at one end to the exerciser.

9. The exerciser of claim 8 wherein the device is of one piece construction made of plastic.