Mouth guard for increasing strength and stamina

A mouth piece assembly (20) for relaxing muscles associated with a jaw of a person having teeth (22). The assembly includes a mouth piece body (24) having a cross-section presenting a pocket (38). The mouth piece body (24) is engaged to the teeth (22) of the person and the person's vertical dimension of occlusion is measured and compared to a predetermined range of 19±2 mm. At least one calibrating member (44) is inserted into the pocket (38) of the mouth piece body (24) to increase the height of the mouth piece body (24) so that the person's vertical dimension of occlusion is increased into the range of 19±2 mm. While wearing the resulting mouth piece assembly (20), the person experiences increased strength, stamina, and balance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to International Application No. PCT/US2009/063800 filed on Nov. 10, 2009, entitled “Mouth Guard for Increasing Strength and Stamina”. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

A mouth piece assembly for relaxing muscles associated with a jaw of a person having teeth.

2. Description of the Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,581 (hereinafter referred to as the '581 patent), issued to Nobutaka Yoshida on Oct. 27, 1998, shows a mouth piece assembly including a mouth piece body. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the '581 patent, the mouth piece body presents a pocket and a member disposed in that pocket.

The mouth piece assembly of the '581 patent functions to protect the molars of a person. The mouth piece body is formed by molding a resin with an insert piece interposed in an intermediate position. After the resin solidifies, the insert piece is removed to define the pocket. A softenable material is then injected into the pocket and solidified to define the member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

The invention provides a mouth piece assembly wherein the mouth piece body includes a retainer in the pocket for receiving and retaining at least one calibrating member in the pocket of the mouth piece body to increase the height of the mouth piece body for increasing the vertical dimension of occlusion of the person into a predetermined range when the person's teeth are clenched against the mouth piece assembly.

The invention improves on the prior art mouth piece assemblies because the calibrating members can be inserted into the pocket of the mouth piece body to customize the height of the mouth piece assembly. The height of the mouth piece assembly can be custom fitted to any person to increase that person's vertical dimension of occlusion into a predetermined range, and thereby, increase that person's strength, stamina, and balance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a mouth piece assembly20for relaxing muscles associated with a jaw of a person having teeth22is generally shown inFIGS. 1-8. The mouth piece assembly20is preferably used on the lower teeth22of a person.

The mouth piece assembly20includes a mouth piece body24, generally indicated, extending through a U-shape from a first end26to a second end28. The mouth piece bodies24of the exemplary embodiments are of a polymeric material deformable at a temperature above human body temperature. The human body temperature includes those temperatures that the human body might reach during physical activity.

In the exemplary embodiments ofFIGS. 1-8, the mouth piece body24has a cross-section extending between the first and second ends26,28defining a top wall30and a pair of side walls32spaced from one another and extending downwardly away from the top wall30to distal ends34. The cross-section further includes a cross-member36disposed between the top wall30and the distal ends34of the side walls32and interconnecting the side walls32to present a pocket38. The pocket38is defined by the top wall30, the side walls32, and the cross-member36. Additionally, the mouth piece body24presents a channel40on the lower side of the cross-member36opposite the pocket38for engaging the lower teeth22of the person. It should be appreciated that the pocket38of the mouth piece body does not have to be enclosed by the cross-member36.

The mouth piece body24further includes a retainer36in the pocket38for receiving and retaining at least one calibrating member44in the pocket38of the mouth piece body24to increase the vertical dimension of occlusion of the person with the teeth22clenched against the mouth piece body24into the range of nineteen plus or minus two millimeters (19±2 mm or 17 to 21 mm). In order to maximize the relaxation of the muscles associated with the jaw and optimize the neurological efficiency for increasing strength, the vertical dimension of occlusion is preferably in the range of 19±2 mm. Relaxing the muscles associated with the jaw and optimizing the neurological efficiency has been found to improve a person's strength, stamina, and balance. The vertical dimension of occlusion is preferably obtained by measuring the distance from the gum line at the upper central incisor to the gum line at the lower central incisor when the teeth22are clenched against the mouth piece body24.

Similar to the mouth piece body24, the calibrating members44are of a material deformable at a temperature greater than the human body temperature. Once the calibrating members44have been inserted into the pocket38of the mouth piece body24, the mouth piece assembly20is submerged in hot water at a temperature above the human body temperature (preferably above 110 degrees Fahrenheit) for thirty to sixty (30-60) seconds to heat and melt the calibrating members44and the mouth piece body24. Once heated, the mouth piece assembly20is submerged in cold water for approximately five (5) seconds and quickly inserted into the mouth of the person. The teeth22of the person are then clenched on the mouth piece body24to conform the mouth piece body24and the calibrating members44to the teeth22of the person. The mouth piece body24and calibrating members44will reharden in the conformed position to provide a comfortable mouth piece assembly20that is custom-fitted to give that person a vertical dimension of occlusion in the range of 19±2 mm.

FIGS. 2-5show a first embodiment of the mouth piece assembly20. Referring toFIG. 3, the cross-member36of the mouth piece body24has a cross-section presenting an L-shape including a long leg46integrally connected to one of the side walls32. The long leg46extends in parallel relationship with the top wall30to the other side wall32, and a short leg48abuts the other side wall32and extends downwardly away from the top wall30. As can be seen inFIG. 4, the L-shaped cross-member36can be pulled downwardly to present an access42for inserting the calibrating members44into the pocket38of the mouth piece body24.FIG. 5shows the mouth piece body24and the calibrating members44after being melted and conformed to the teeth22of the person in the process described above.

FIGS. 6-8show a second embodiment of the mouth piece assembly20. As best shown inFIG. 7, before being melted and conformed to the teeth22of the person, each of the calibrating members44of the second embodiment has a tubular shape, and the cross-member36arcs downwardly away from the top wall30. As shown inFIG. 6, both the first and second ends26,28of the mouth piece body24are open to define the access42for inserting the calibrating members44into the pocket38of the mouth piece body24. Upon entering the access42, the calibrating members44snake through the pocket38to the position shown inFIG. 6.FIG. 8shows the calibrating members44after being melted and conformed to the teeth22of the person in the process described above. It should be appreciated that the cross-member36is just an exemplary embodiment of the retainer, and that other means may be used as the retainer, for example, buttons, notches, or a friction material in the mouth piece body24for holding the calibrating members44in the pocket38of the mouth piece body24.

A method for relaxing muscles associated with a jaw of a person having teeth22using a mouth piece assembly20is further included. The mouth piece assembly20includes a mouth piece body24of a polymeric material deformable at a temperature above human body temperature formed into a U-shape extending between a first end26and a second end28. The mouth piece body24of the exemplary embodiments further has a cross-section extending between the first and second ends26,28defining a top wall30and a pair of side walls32extending downwardly away from the top wall30and a cross-member36disposed between the top wall30and the distal ends34and interconnecting the side walls32to present a pocket38defined by the top wall30, the side walls32, and the cross-member36. The cross-section further presents a channel40on the lower side of the cross-member36opposite the pocket38for engaging the lower teeth22of the person.

The method begins with the step of measuring the vertical dimension of occlusion of the person with the teeth22being clenched. As explained above, the vertical dimension of occlusion is obtained by measuring the distance from the gum line of the upper central incisor to the gum line of the lower central incisor when the teeth22are clenched. The method continues with the step of comparing the measured vertical dimension of occlusion of the person to a predetermined range of 19±2 mm. The method continues with the step of inserting at least one calibrating member44into the pocket38of the mouth piece body24for increasing the vertical dimension of occlusion of the person into the predetermined range when the person's teeth22are clenched against the mouth piece body24. Similar to the mouth piece body24, each of the calibrating members44is of a material deformable at a temperature greater than the human body temperature and has a predetermined thickness. The calibrating members44of the exemplary embodiments each have a thickness of one to two (1-2) mm, but any other thickness can be used. When determining the number of calibrating members24to insert into the pocket38of the mouth piece body24, the thickness of the mouth piece body24should be accounted for. For example, if the measured vertical dimension of occlusion of the person is 13 mm, the thickness of the mouth piece body24is 2 mm, and each of the calibrating members44is 2 mm thick, then two calibrating members44should be inserted into the pocket38of the mouth piece body24to increase the vertical dimension of occlusion of the person with the teeth22clenched against the mouth piece body24to 19 mm.

In the first embodiment if the mouth piece assembly20, the method further includes the step of pulling the short leg48downwardly to move the long leg46to provide the access42for inserting the calibrating members44into the pocket38of the mouth piece body24.

In the second embodiment of the mouth piece assembly20, at least one of the first and second ends26,28of the mouth piece body24is open to provide the access42for inserting the calibrating members44into the pocket38of the mouth piece body24.

When the correct number of calibrating members44are inserted into the pocket38of the mouth piece body24, the method continues with the step of heating the mouth piece body24in water at a temperature greater than the human body temperature (preferably at 110 degrees Fahrenheit) for 30-60 seconds to soften and melt the material of the mouth piece body24and the calibrating members44. Once heated, the mouth piece body24continues with the step of cooling the mouth piece body24in cool water for approximately 5 seconds. The method is completed with the step of engaging the mouth piece body24to the teeth22of the person to conform the mouth piece body24and the calibrating members44to the teeth22of the person in response to the teeth22of the person being clenched against the mouth piece body24.

EXAMPLE

A study was conducted comparing the strength of the test subjects under four different conditions: without a mouth piece and with their teeth unclenched (unclenched); without a mouth piece assembly and with their teeth clenched (clenched); with a common mouth guard (common mouth guard); and with the mouth piece assembly of the exemplary embodiment (exemplary mouth piece assembly). The common mouth guard was fitted to the test subjects according to the manufacturer's specifications. The mouth piece assembly of the exemplary embodiment was formed and fitted to the test subjects using the method described above so that the test subjects each had a vertical dimension of occlusion in the range of 19 plus or minus 2 mm.

The test subjects participated in upper body and lower body strength tests under each of the above conditions. The upper body test was an elbow flexion/extension, and the lower body test was a knee extension/flexion. Prior to the testing, each of the subjects was warmed up and the testing machine was properly calibrated. The order of testing each of the above conditions was randomized. Each of the subjects did sets of five repetitions for each of the above conditions with a three minute rest period between each of the sets. Four criteria were measured during each test: peak torque/body weight (PT/BW), max repetition work (MRW), total work (TW), and average power (AP). The data was then normalized with unclenched teeth position used as the baseline. The other three conditions were evaluated as improvements (positive) or degradations (negative) from the unclenched position. Below are charts depicting the results of the upper body and lower body strength tests.

As can be seen from the above tables, the mouth piece assembly of the exemplary embodiment provided a significant increase in strength in both the upper body and lower body tests when compared to the other three conditions. The mouth piece assembly of the exemplary embodiment has also been found to provide similar benefits to the user's balance and stamina.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the appended claims. That which is prior art in the claims precedes the novelty set forth in the “characterized by” clause. The novelty is meant to be particularly and distinctly recited in the “characterized by” clause whereas the antecedent recitations merely set forth the old and well-known combination in which the invention resides. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the inventive novelty exercises its utility. The use of the word “said” in the apparatus claims refers to an antecedent that is a positive recitation meant to be included in the coverage of the claims whereas the word “the” precedes a word not meant to be included in the coverage of the claims. In addition, the reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are not to be read in any way as limiting.