Abstract:
A jaw exercising device which includes an outer frame having spaced apart cross members and an inner frame with spaced apart cross members coupled to the outer frame for movement therealong and outwardly extending blades for engaging the jaws of a patient carried by adjacent cross members of the outer and inner frame.

Description:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a jaw exercising device and more particularly to a jaw exercising device in which the jaw can be manually exercised 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Jaw exercising devices are used by patients recovering from injuries to the bones and muscles of the face and neck, from reconstructive surgery, arthritis, radiation therapy among other things to improve the facial muscles. 
     Jaw exercising devices have taken many forms, from bite pads such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,560, to wedge-shaped plastic bodies which engage the teeth such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,535. Other devices such as that exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,420 are designed to provide motion to the jaw or resist motion of the jaw. U.S. Pat. No. 3,721,439 provides an exercising device which resists motion of the jaw to control the muscular effort required to close the jaw. These active devices are rather complex and expensive to manufacture. There is a need for a simple, economical, easy to operate, jaw exercising device. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a jaw exercise device which can be used in one configuration to assist and increase the opening of the jaw, and in another configuration to resist closure of the jaw. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an economical, easy-to-operate, jaw exercising device. 
     The foregoing and other objects of the invention are achieved by a jaw exercising device which includes and an outer frame having spaced-apart cross members and an inner frame with spaced-apart cross members, coupled to the outer frame for movement therealong. Outwardly extending blades, which are designed to fit into the mouth of a patient, are affixed to two adjacent inner and outer cross members. The blades are moved apart either by engaging the other set of adjacent cross members with the fingers of one hand and moving the inner frame along the outer frame, or by employing resilient coupling means connected between the other set of adjacent cross members. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a jaw exercising device in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the jaw exercising device of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the jaw exercising device employing resilient coupling means. 
     FIG. 4 is a view showing a patient using the jaw exercising device employing resilient coupling means. 
     FIG. 5 is a view showing a patient using the jaw coupling device operated by the patient. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying figures. Turning now to the drawings wherein like components are designated by like reference numerals throughout the various figures. Attention is directed to FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show a jaw exercising device  10  for exercising the facial and jaw muscles to improve the mobility of the temporal mandibular joint and to strengthen the muscles. The exercising device  10  includes an outer frame  12 , which has a pair of spaced parallel rails  13  and  14 , a first cross member or crossbar  16 , and a second parallel cross member  17  which forms a handle. Member  17  is preferably shaped to be comfortably held by the hand of a patient during exercise as will be presently described. 
     An inner frame  21  is coupled to the outer frame for reciprocating movement between the cross members  16  and  17 . The inner frame  21  includes first and second cross members  22  and  23 . The cross member  23  is preferably shaped so that it can be easily grasped by the fingers of the patient. In one embodiment, the member  23  includes a cushioning sleeve. In another embodiment, the frame member  23  carries a rotatable cylindrical member. A pair of connecting members  24  and  26  extend between and are connected to the inner handles  22  and  23 . The inner frame may be formed as a monolithic structure. 
     The connecting members  24  and  26  are each formed with a longitudinally extending channel  27  which is shaped to receive the rails  13  and  14  of the outer frame, and permit sliding movement of the connecting members relative to the rails  13  and  14 . The spacing between the rail members  24  and  26  and the depth of the channels  27  are selected so that the inner frame is securely held within the outer frame  12  during operation of the device. Although not shown, the channel  27  may be replaced by an enclosed passageway through which the members  13  and  14  extend. 
     Removable and replaceable rigid metal blades, such as stainless steel blades, designed to fit into the mouth and against the upper and lower front teeth are secured to the outer rail cross member  16  and to the inner rail cross member  22 . The blades  28  and  29  may be secured to the rails by a means of fastening screws  31  and  32  which extend through holes in the curved ends  33  and  34  of the blades  28  and  29 . It is of course apparent that the blades  28  and  29  may be attached to the cross members  16  and  22  by other suitable means. The blades  28  and  29  are perforated  35  and receive nipples formed on one surface of molded disposable pads  36 ,  37 . The pads  36 ,  37  can be of any suitable plastic material such as ethylene vinyl acetate, a plastic used in athletic dental protection, or other suitable plastic such as silicone rubber or latex-free rubber. 
     The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used to assist in opening the jaws. The blades are separated by moving the inner frame relative to the outer frame. More particularly, the member  23  is grasped by the fingers of the hand of a patient while the member  17  rests on the thumb or in the palm. This is illustrated in FIG. 4, where the blades are between the teeth of the patient. The patient can then close the fingers to move the inner frame downwardly to separate the blades and force the jaw open. The amount of force is, of course, controlled by the patient. 
     In the event continuous gentle, resistive pressure is desired, the device includes resilient coupling means which couple the members  17  and  23  to resiliently urge them to move towards one another, causing the blades to move apart. Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 3, the coupling means includes two elastic or rubber bands  41  and  42  which wrap around the crossbars  23  and  17  and are anchored to fastening means  43 . Thus, as the blades  28  and  29  are moved towards one another, they must overcome the pull of the elastic bands. This will resist closure of the jaw. This is illustrated more clearly in FIG. 5 where the jaw exercising device  10  is merely held in the hand of the patient. The use of the elastic bands to provide the resistive force is an option generally used only when the person directing the use of the device suggests a stage of continuous and gentle pressure. The amount of force can of course be varied by changing the size or number of the bands which are used. 
     The invention now being fully described, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.