WO2022245410A1

WO2022245410A1 - Protective mouthpiece sleeve

Info

Publication number: WO2022245410A1
Application number: PCT/US2022/015330
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joshua Kaufman
Original assignee: Joshua Kaufman
Priority date: 2021-05-21
Filing date: 2022-02-04
Publication date: 2022-11-24

Abstract

The protective mouthpiece sleeve disclosed herein may help to reduce the risk of infection caused by contact with bacteria and viruses. The elastic and form-fitting design provides the capability and functionality to install over the top of an existing mouthpiece that is attached to a breathing apparatus to provide an added layer of protection to the apparatus. Reusability of the mouthpiece sleeve is directly related to the choice and combination of silicone materials, dimensions, and processing. The rib and retaining ring feature built into the bottom interior area of the sleeve provides grip to assist with holding the sleeve in place during use.

Description

PROTECTIVE MOUTHPIECE SLEEVE

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates in general to mouthpiece covers, and, more specifically, to a protective mouthpiece sleeve.

COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK NOTICE

[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent application may contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.

[0003] Certain marks referenced herein may be common law or registered trademarks of third parties affiliated or unaffiliated with the applicant or the assignee. Use of these marks is by way of example and should not be construed as descriptive or to limit the scope of this invention to material associated only with such marks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Snorkeling is the activity of swimming through a body of water while using a snorkel, usually while face-down near the surface of the water. The snorkel itself is usually a J- shaped tube having a mouthpiece at one end while the other end is exposed to air above the water, allowing the user to breathe. Scuba diving is a similar activity instead implementing a contained air supply and allowing a user to swim under the water surface. The mouthpiece on a scuba apparatus allows the user to breathe in the contained air supply, in the same way that a snorkel device allows a user to breathe open air above the water.

[0005] Both snorkeling and scuba diving are popular recreational activities, especially around beaches and open waters where tourists frequent. As a result, a number of tour companies and recreational companies provide services in which a user may rent snorkeling or scuba diving equipment for temporary use.

[0006] The problem, though, arises from the fact that snorkel and scuba regulator mouthpieces are actually placed in a user’s mouth, and the nature of rental equipment is such that multiple different users will be using the equipment over time. It is required, then, that these mouthpieces are sanitized between uses, though such sanitizing may be unreliable or undesirable.

[0007] By way of example, some chemicals or cleaners used in the cleaning of mouthpieces may be harsh to the user if their residue is left in the component, or their smell may be offensive to the user. On the other hand, there may arise situations in which the mouthpieces are not properly or actually sanitized between uses.

[0008] Thus, there is a need in the art for a protective mouthpiece sleeve that may comprise a flexible and sanitary cover to fit over a snorkel or scuba mouthpiece. The protective mouthpiece sleeve may further comprise an antimicrobial layer or an antimicrobial material of construction, and may be removeable and cleanable so as to provide a mechanism for infection prevention and defense. It is to these ends that the present invention has been developed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] To minimize the limitations in the prior art, and to minimize other limitations that will be apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention describes a protective mouthpiece sleeve.

[0010] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a protective mouthpiece sleeve that may comprise a main body.

[0011] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a protective mouthpiece sleeve that may comprise a plurality of bite covers.

[0012] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a protective mouthpiece sleeve that may comprise a breathing hole.

[0013] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a protective mouthpiece sleeve that may comprise a sealing neck.

[0014] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a protective mouthpiece sleeve that may comprise a multi-layer construction.

[0015] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a protective mouthpiece sleeve that may comprise an outer layer.

[0016] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a protective mouthpiece sleeve that may comprise an inner layer.

[0017] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a protective mouthpiece sleeve that may comprise an insulating layer.

[0018] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a protective mouthpiece sleeve that may comprise a resilient material of construction.

[0019] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a protective mouthpiece sleeve that may comprise a water-proof material of construction. [0020] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a protective mouthpiece sleeve that may comprise a reusable material of construction.

[0021] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a protective mouthpiece sleeve that may comprise an antimicrobial layer.

[0022] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a protective mouthpiece sleeve that may comprise an antimicrobial material of construction.

[0023] These and other advantages and features of the present invention are described herein with specificity so as to make the present invention understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art, both with respect to how to practice the present invention and how to make the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of these various elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a protective mouthpiece sleeve, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a front plan view of a protective mouthpiece sleeve, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a rear plan view of a protective mouthpiece sleeve, as contemplated by the present disclosure; [0028] FIG. 4 is a left side elevation view of a protective mouthpiece sleeve, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a right side elevation view of a protective mouthpiece sleeve, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a protective mouthpiece sleeve, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of a protective mouthpiece sleeve, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 8 is a first overall view of a protective mouthpiece sleeve installation on an exemplary snorkel, as contemplated by the present disclosure; and

[0033] FIG. 9 is a second overall view of a protective mouthpiece sleeve installation on an exemplary snorkel, as contemplated by the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] Certain terminology is used in the following description for reference only and is not limiting. The words “front,” “rear,” “anterior,” “posterior,” “lateral,” “medial,” “upper,” “lower,” “outer,” “inner,” and “interior” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the invention, and designated parts thereof, in accordance with the present disclosure. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” are not limited to one element, but instead should be read as meaning “at least one.” The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. [0035] The protective mouthpiece sleeve disclosed herein may comprise a flexible and sanitary cover to fit over a snorkel or scuba mouthpiece. The protective mouthpiece sleeve may further comprise an antimicrobial layer or an antimicrobial material of construction, and may be removeable and cleanable so as to provide a mechanism for infection prevention and defense.

[0036] The illustrations of FIGS. 1 - 9 illustrate a protective mouthpiece sleeve, as contemplated by the present disclosure. The device may comprise, generally, a main body 100 comprising a sealing neck 102, a plurality of bite covers 104, and a breathing hole 106.

[0037] The main body 100 may comprise any shape appropriate to fitting snugly over a snorkel 108 or scuba mouthpiece. In one embodiment the main body 100 may be substantially Y-shaped, though may vary in height, width, and circumference as desired, to fit over most common mouthpieces known in the industry. The main body 100 may further comprise a flexible and waterproof material of construction having an internal cavity so that it may be removably installed over the snorkel 108 or scuba mouthpiece.

[0038] The sealing neck 102 of the main body 100 may comprise a substantially circular or oval opening that may fit over the base of an exemplary mouthpiece of a snorkel 108 or scuba device. The sealing neck 102 may further comprise an internal ridge or a secondary retaining ring, such as a spring molded into the sealing neck 102 of the main body 100, to provide a water-tight seal for the main body 100 against the exemplary mouthpiece. The internal ridge or retaining ring may further serve to hold the protective mouthpiece sleeve in place over the exemplary mouthpiece.

[0039] The plurality of bite covers 104 of the main body 100 may comprise two opposing lateral extensions of the main body 100 meant to cover the bite wings of an exemplary mouthpiece. The breathing hole 106 of the main body 100 may comprise an opening through the main body 100 substantially positioned between the plurality of bite covers 104 and contiguous with the opening of the sealing neck 102. By this design a user may bite down on the plurality of bite covers 104 and breathe through the breathing hole 106 when the sealing neck 102 is installed on an exemplary mouthpiece.

[0040] The main body 100 may further comprise a plurality of layers adhered to one another to provide additional features and characteristics to the main body 100. In one embodiment the main body 100 may further comprise an outer traction layer, which may be a layer comprising some texture or other grip-enhancing features, to improve a user’s ability to grip the device. In another embodiment the main body 100 may further comprise an inner insulating layer, which may be a layer comprising some insulating material, to reduce the effect of cold water on the device.

[0041] To begin making the protective mouthpiece sleeve an appropriate machine or device may stamp out sheets of main body 100, perhaps cut from a larger sheet of material, and then an appropriate machine or device may mold or fold the main body 100, perhaps by the use of a formed mold or injection mold. The forming of the main body 100 may be made by any appropriate physical means such as, for example, heating, welding, gluing, or any other similar mechanism.

[0042] To begin using the device a user may grasp the sealing neck 102 of the main body

100 and pass it over an exemplary mouthpiece such that the sealing neck 102 wraps snugly around the base of the mouthpiece. The plurality of bite covers 104 may then be placed over each of the bitewings of the exemplary mouthpiece such that the breathing hole 106 is aligned with the breathing opening of the exemplary mouthpiece. The user may then place the main body 100 into its mouth, biting down on the plurality of bite covers 104, and breathing through the breathing hole 106 of the main body 100. Removal the main body 100 from the exemplary mouthpiece is the reverse of installation.

[0043] The protective mouthpiece sleeve may be substantially constructed of any suitable material or combination of materials, but typically is constructed of a resilient material or combination of materials such that the device is easily manufactured, insulating, and reusable. As an example, and without limiting the scope of the present invention, various exemplary embodiments of the protective mouthpiece sleeve may be substantially constructed of one or more materials of silicone, plastic, acrylic, polycarbonate, fabric, steel, aluminum, brass, fiberglass, carbon fiber, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments the various components of the device may be coated, lined, or otherwise insulated to prevent contamination of the device.

[0044] In one embodiment the protective mouthpiece sleeve may comprise a resilient material of construction that either comprises a material having antimicrobial properties or comprises a layering of antimicrobial material or coating. Antimicrobial properties comprise the characteristic of being antibacterial, biocidal, microbicidal, anti-fungal, anti-viral, or other similar characteristics, and the oligodynamic effect, which is possessed by copper, brass, silver, gold, and several other metals and alloys, is one such characteristic. Copper and its alloys, in particular, have exceptional self-sanitizing effects. Silver also has this effect, and is less toxic to users than copper. Some materials, such as silver in its metallic form, may require the presence of moisture to activate the antimicrobial properties.

[0045] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS I CLAIM:

1. A protective mouthpiece sleeve, comprising: a main body; wherein said main body comprises a sealing neck, a plurality of bite covers, a breathing hole, and an internal cavity; and wherein said main body is shaped to fir over a snorkel mouthpiece.

2. The mouthpiece sleeve of claim 1, wherein said sealing neck is reversibly installed onto a base of said snorkel mouthpiece; wherein said plurality of bite covers are reversibly installed onto one each of a bitewing of said snorkel mouthpiece; and wherein said breathing hole is aligned with a breathing tube of said snorkel mouthpiece.

3. The mouthpiece sleeve of claim 2, wherein said sealing neck further comprises a sealing mechanism.

4. The mouthpiece sleeve of claim 3, wherein said sealing mechanism is an internal ridge.

5. The mouthpiece sleeve of claim 3, wherein said sealing mechanism is a spring molded into said main body.

6. The mouthpiece sleeve of claim 3, wherein said main body comprises a resilient material of construction.

7. The mouthpiece sleeve of claim 3, wherein said main body comprises a silicone material of construction.

8. The mouthpiece sleeve of claim 3, wherein said main body further comprises an antimicrobial layer.

9. The mouthpiece sleeve of claim 3, wherein said main body further comprises an antimicrobial material of construction.