Patent ID: 7931672
Filing Date: 2011-04-26
Classification: A61J

Abstract:
1. An intraoral orthodontic appliance, comprising: a base portion; a single-lobed bulb portion for insertion into the mouth of a child; and a neck portion connecting the base portion to the bulb portion; wherein the bulb portion is hollow and at least substantially closed at its distal end farthest from the neck portion, the bulb portion defining a lower wall that is adapted to be contacted by the tongue when the bulb is located in the mouth and the child sucks on the bulb, an upper wall opposite the lower wall, the upper wall adapted to contact the top of the palate when the child sucks on the bulb, and side regions that are located along the sides of the bulb and span the distance between the lower wall and the upper wall; wherein the lower wall, the upper wall and the side regions are each convex; wherein the upper wall is stiffer than the lower wall; wherein the bulb portion further comprises a plurality of spaced elongated ribs that are transverse to a plane that bisects the upper and lower walls and that are integrated into and on the inside surface of the upper wall; wherein the upper and lower walls are both stiffer than the side regions; and wherein at least partially as a result of the ribs, and the shapes and relative stiffnesses of the upper and lower walls and the side regions, when the lower wall is pushed generally upward by the tongue during a sucking action the side regions expand outward to cause lateral pressure against the palate, the alveolar ridge, and/or the teeth.