Protective container for oral appliances

A closeable clam shell type container with a retaining cord provides a protective enclosure for the storage and transport of oral appliances. A strap and clip allow the container to be attached to clothing and packs. Material choices allow versions that are machine washable. Some versions include a removable hard inner liner to provide further protection of oral appliances.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING

Not applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of containers for oral appliances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently a of number oral appliances exist for use in orthodontia, prosthetics and protection. There is a need for securing and protecting these appliances when not in use. There is also a need for enabling easy user access to these appliances when needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the protective container for oral appliances, also referred to simply as the container, has an outer zip-able cover. The outer zip-able cover is like a clam shell with two halves hinged in the back closing with a zipper at the sides and front. A strap attached to the container at the back near the hinge provides a way to attach the container via a clip to a belt, belt loop, back pack or the like. This allows the container to be easily carried reducing the risk of loss. When the container is unzipped and opened, a retaining cord is exposed. This retaining cord is attached to the interior at the back of the container approximately parallel to the inside surface of the hinge.

The retaining cord is useful for constraining an oral appliance from falling out of an open container. Examples of oral appliances include, but are-not limited to, mouth guards, retainers, dental braces, dentures, bridges and prosthetics.

In another embodiment, a hard inner liner, also clam shell in shape, fits inside the container. The oral appliance fits inside this hard inner liner. The hard inner liner adds additional protection to the oral appliance reducing possibility of crushing or breakage if the container is dropped or stepped upon. The hard inner liner is also hinged at the rear. The hard inner liner further has a notch at opposite sides of the liner hinge to allow the retaining cord to fit inside the liner. This allows the hard inner liner to close more tightly. The retaining cord acts to constrain both the hard inner liner and the oral appliance inside the container. The combination of the pieces allows for easy storage and retrieval. The retaining cord on the inside of the container holds the hard inner liner securely in the zip-able cover.

In another embodiment, the container has a mesh net pouch attached to one or both sections of the clam shell to provide storage for dental supplies. Examples of dental supplies include, but are-not limited to, floss, toothpicks, dental wax or gum. An elastic cord at the open end of the mesh net pouch acts to retain the dental supplies in the pouch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows one embodiment of the protective container for oral appliances10with the outer zip-able cover arranged as two clam shell halves also called container halves110. A zipper handle115zips together the zipper teeth117to close the outer zip-able cover halves110. The outer zip-able cover halves meet in the back at a hinge120which enables the container halves110to open allowing access to the interior space of the container112. In one embodiment, the two clam shell halves and the hinge are formed from a single piece of material. In other embodiments the two container halves and hinge can be separate pieces that are joined together. The term clam shell or clam shell like is not be understood as specifying a particular shape, as many shapes are possible. While a zipper is shown in the following figures, other types of closures such as hook and latch, button and hole, and other types of closures are also possible A strap130is secured to the cover at the back near the hinge120. A clip140attached to the strap130allows the container10to be attached to a belt, belt loop, backpack, luggage or other items. This attachment reduces the risk of loss.

In use, the user unzips the zipper115and opens the two cover halves110providing access to the interior112of the container10. The user then places the oral appliance and possible accessories or dental supplies into the interior112of the container10and closes the zipper115. The user then attaches or clips the container10to an article of clothing, a backpack, fanny pack or other item for safe-keeping and transport. The strap130and clip140enable the container10to be securely transported while reducing the risk of loss.

FIG. 2shows a close-up of one embodiment of the container10with a retaining cord150. The retaining cord is typically made of a stretchable elastic material, making it an elastic retaining cord, but it can be made of other materials. The retaining cord150is anchored at both corners152of the cover halves110near the hinge120. The elastic retaining cord150is stretched or tensioned across the hinge120in the interior space112. The retaining cord150can be pulled out from proximity with the hinge120while an oral appliance is placed in the interior space112of the container10. The elasticity of the retaining cord150restrains the oral appliance (not shown) toward the hinge120and reduces the risk of the oral appliance falling out of the container10.

In use, the user simply pulls the retaining cord150away from the hinge120and loops the retaining cord150over or around the oral appliance. Once released, the natural elasticity of the retaining cord150holds the oral appliance against the hinge120and the interior112of the container10.

FIG. 3shows a detail of the strap130and clip140of one embodiment of the container10. The strap130attaches to the container10and the outer zip-able cover halves110near the hinge120ofFIGS. 1 and 2. The strap can be made of a number of materials including but not limited to, an elastic loop, a braid, a cord or an extension of the hinge material itself. The clip140is depicted as a carabiner. Other versions of clip140are possible.

FIG. 4shows one embodiment of the container10with a removable hard inner liner160. The container10may be used with or without the hard removable inner liner160. The hard removable inner liner160, or simply liner160for short, is similar to the outer zip-able cover halves110in that it also has two clam shell like halves164that come together to enclose the liner interior168. The liner160can be made of a single piece of plastic with a live hinge and compliant catch to hold it closed. Other versions of the liner160can be made of metal with other types of hinges and closures. Other embodiments of the liner160can use the outer zip-able cover halves110ofFIG. 1to hold the liner closed when the zip-able halves force the liner halves164together.

FIG. 5shows a close up view of one embodiment of the removable hard inner liner160fitted into the outer zip-able cover halves110of the container10.

FIG. 6shows a close up view of one embodiment of the removable hard inner liner160fitted into the outer zip-able cover halves110of the container10ofFIGS. 1 and 2. The hard inner liner, simply called the liner,160is composed of two removable hard inner liner halves164. Notches165, of which one is shown, are near the hinge area in the liner interior168. The retaining cord150passes through the notch165into the interior of the liner168to retain the liner inside the container10. The retaining cord150can be used simultaneously to hold an oral appliance, not shown, inside the liner.

FIG. 7shows a view of one embodiment of the container10with a mesh net pouch170on one of the outer zip-able cover halves110. The mesh net pouch170has one or more elastic lips175to help keep the contents of the mesh net pouch170from falling out. In another embodiment the container has a mesh net pouch attached to one or both sections of the clam shell to provide storage for dental supplies or accessories. While a mesh net pouch is shown inFIG. 7, other types of pouches are possible. For example a solid fabric pouch or pleated pouch with an elastic lip for closure can be used in conjunction with or in place of the mesh net pouch. Examples of dental supplies include, but are not limited to, floss, toothpicks, dental wax or gum. InFIG. 7the contents are depicted as a toothpick and two floss devices.

In use, the user opens the container10to expose the mesh net pouch170. The user pulls the elastic lip or lips175away from the mesh net pouch170to place materials into, or retrieve materials from, the mesh net pouch170.

FIG. 8shows a rear view of one embodiment of the container10.

FIG. 9shows an embodiment where the zipper handle115, in the closed position is adjacent the strap130and clip140. In this embodiment, when the container10is worn on the waist for example, a user can unzip the zipper handle115without removing, unclipping or repositioning the container10.

FIG. 10shows an oral appliance180inside the container10. The elastic retaining cord150stretches across the oral appliance180and holds it inside the container10. In this configuration, the container10can be opened in any position without the oral appliance falling out. In some embodiments, the oral appliance180can even be retrieved with one hand. Note that inFIG. 10the oral appliance is depicted as a mouth guard. Examples of other oral appliances include, but are not limited to, retainers, dentures, partials, bridges, orthodontic head gear.

FIG. 11shows an oral appliance180inside a liner160which is itself inside the container10. The elastic retaining cord150stretches across the oral appliance180and holds it inside the liner160. This resulting tension also holds the liner160inside the container10. In this configuration, the container10can still be opened in any position without the oral appliance falling out. The liner160also is restrained inside the container10. There are environments where a user may choose to have additional protection of the oral appliance. In such cases, the liner160can be employed. In situations where the extra protection is not required, the container10can be used without the liner160. In some embodiments, the oral appliance180can even be retrieved with one hand, while the liner160remains constrained in the container10.

FIG. 12shows one situation described forFIGS. 10 and 11. InFIG. 12, the container10is suspended from a belt or belt loop of a user. The clip140attaches to the belt or belt loop and the container10hangs from strap130. In this situation, the zipper handle115is in the closed position when the zipper handle is adjacent the strap130. A simple downward pull on the zipper handle115allows the user to open the container10, in many cases, with just one hand.

Not only are metals such as aluminum, steel, brass and other alloys suitable, but also many different types of plastics, polymers, fabrics and composites work well. A mix of materials is also possible. For example the outer zip-able cover halves110can be of a fabric, plastic or a combination of the two. The removable hard inner liner160can be made of plastics, metals or other materials. Materials can be man-made or natural.

Material sets can be chosen for all components; container10, outer zip-able halves110, zipper115, and teeth117, hinge120, strap130, clip140, retaining cord150, removable hard inner liner160, mesh net pouch170and elastic lip175so that the container10and all components are washable. For example a material set can be chosen so that the container10and components can be put into a washing machine. Furthermore, the hinge120can be made from a number of materials. The hinge could be the same material as the outer zip-able halves110, a separate hinge assembly, a stretchable or expandable material, or a number of other implementations known to those skilled in the art.

There are a number of ways of protecting and containing oral appliances180with the embodiments described above. In one method, the user places the oral appliance180into the interior space112of the closable clam-shell like container10, and retains the oral appliance180inside the interior space112with the elastic retaining cord150. The user then closes the container10, and attaches the container to clothing or luggage with the strap130and clip140.

In another method the user places the oral appliance180in a remove-able hard inner liner160, and fits the liner160into the interior space112of the container10constraining both the oral appliance180and remove-able hard inner liner160inside the interior space112with the elastic retaining cord150.

In still another method of use, the user stores dental supplies or accessories of the oral appliance180in a pouch170attached inside the interior space112. The pouch170contains items inside the container interior112, while the elastic lip175keeps the items within the pouch170.

Some of the uses of the protective container for oral appliances10can also be described in flow chart form. InFIG. 13the user begins by opening the protective container for oral appliances10at block1010. At block1020the user decides whether to use a liner for additional protection of the oral appliance180. If no additional protection is required the user retains the oral appliance180in the interior space112of the container with an elastic retaining cord150at block1030. If additional protection is required, the user places the oral appliance in a hard inner liner160and constrains both the oral appliance180and liner160in the interior space112of the container10with the elastic retaining cord150at blocks1040and1050. At1060the user decides if there are dental supplies or accessories needed for the oral appliance. If dental supplies or accessories are needed, the user stores them in the pouch170at block1070. At block1080,1090and1100, the user closes the container10, attaches it to clothing or luggage with the strap130and clip140, and transports the protected oral appliance180.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to what has been described herein above merely by way of example. Although this invention has been described in terms of certain embodiments, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, including embodiments that do not provide all of the features and advantages set forth herein, are also within the scope of this invention. While there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other embodiments, changes, and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. Rather, the scope of the present invention is defined only by reference to the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

ReferenceDescription/Alternate Terms10ContainerClam shell like containerProtective container for oral appliances110Outer zip-able coverTwo container halves112Interior of outer zip-able coverInterior spaceContainer interior115Zipper, Zipper HandleClosure117Zipper teeth120Hinge130Strap140Clip150Retaining cordElastic retaining cord152Corners of cover halves160Removable hard inner linerLiner164Removable hard inner liner halvesClam shell like liner halves165Notch in hard inner container for retaining cord 150168Liner interior170Mesh net pouchPouch175Elastic lip of mesh net pouch180Oral appliance1010Opening clam shell container1030Placing the oral appliance in a closable clam shell likecontainer1030Retaining the oral appliance with an elastic retaining cord1040Placing the oral appliance in a liner1050Constraining the appliance and liner in the interior spacew/cord1070Storing accessories in a pouch in the interior space1090Attaching the container to clothing or luggage1100Transporting oral appliance
Glossary of References Used in Figures