Abstract:
A facial muscle trainer for training the facial muscles of a person, having a C-shaped clamp with two legs, which are joined by a joint piece, as well as two bite surfaces being arranged at the ends of the legs, characterized in that the facial muscle trainer has at least one rib at at least one of the two legs running along the longitudinal direction of the leg, increasing the stiffness of the leg.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This invention claims benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/989,979, filed May 7, 2014; the entire content of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to an apparatus for training of the facial muscles and more specifically to a facial muscle trainer with a minimal number of parts. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Apparatuses for the training of the facial muscles are generally known. Examples of such training devices are contained in document number U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,696 or in document number DE 198 31 294 A1 which stems from the applicant. However, the disclosed solutions still have a rather large number of parts, complicating assembly and resulting in accordingly high costs. 
         [0004]    A solution which stems also from the applicant, but with, however, a reduced number of parts, is disclosed in document number DE 10 2004 016 286 A1, which is explicitly referred to, and the content of which is incorporated by reference herein. Although this solution represents an improvement over the aforementioned embodiments, it still has a rather large number of individual components. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The object of the invention is an improvement of the solution as shown in document number DE 10 2004 016 286 A1 in a way that the number of the individual parts is reduced to the most possible extent, without restricting the functionality. 
         [0006]    The object is solved by a facial muscle trainer according to the main claim. Advantageous embodiments can be taken from the dependent claims, the subsequent description, and the figures. 
         [0007]    The above is accomplished through the development of A facial muscle trainer according to the invention for training the facial muscles of a person comprises a C-shaped clamp with two legs which are joined by a joint piece, as well as two bite surfaces being arranged at the ends of the legs. It is characterized in that it has at least one rib at at least one of the two legs running along the longitudinal direction of the leg, increasing the stiffness of the leg. 
         [0008]    In this manner, the additional metal spring which is known from the art and in particular from the above mentioned document number DE 10 2004 016 286 A can be omitted. Thus, one component is dropped which is essential for the embodiments known in the art, and which results in costs on one hand, and which must be assembled on the other. Therefore, the facial muscle trainer according to the invention is more cost effective and further lighter, since the weight of the metal spring is not negligible depending on the desired stiffness. 
         [0009]    Preferable, the facial muscle trainer has at least one rib at each of both legs. 
         [0010]    Particularly preferred, each of the two legs has a multitude of ribs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is perspective view of an embodiment of the facial muscle trainer according to the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is side view of the facial muscle trainer according to  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the facial muscle trainer according to  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the facial muscle trainer according to the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a leg of the facial muscle trainer according to  FIG. 4 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an elastic body for the facial muscle trainer. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the facial muscle trainer according to the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of a leg of the facial muscle trainer according to  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    In the following, the invention is described more detailed by aid of the attached drawings. Reference numerals which have already been introduced or which are redundant are partially omitted. 
         [0020]    In  FIG. 1 , a perspective view, and in  FIG. 2 , a side view of an embodiment of the facial muscle trainer  1  according to the invention is depicted. It has two legs  2 ,  3  which are joined to each other by the joint piece  4 . At the ends of the legs  2 ,  3 , two bite surfaces  5 ,  6  are arranged. These serve for receiving the teeth of the user (not shown), who can train his facial muscles by the repeated opening and closing of the jaw. The facial muscle trainer  1  can have several ribs  7  at both legs  2 ,  3  which run along the longitudinal direction of the legs  2 ,  3 , and which enhance the stiffness of the respective leg  2 ,  3 . By variation of the width of the ribs  7 , they can be influenced with regard to their stiffness, which in turn determines the stiffness of the respective leg  2 ,  3 . 
         [0021]    According to a preferred embodiment, the facial muscle trainer  1  has at the inner side of both legs  2 ,  3  one or, as depicted, several, then in longitudinal direction of leg  2 ,  3  subsequently arranged, mountings  9  for an elastic body  8 , as shown in  FIG. 6  (omitted in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0022]    According to the depicted embodiment, the bite surfaces  5 ,  6  are limited by means of raised structures  10  in direction of the joint piece  4  and in direction of the tip. In this manner, end stops are provided which ensure that the user places his teeth onto the region provided therefore, namely the bite surfaces  5 ,  6 . An unintentional slipping off which would result in a shooting up of legs  2 ,  3 , thus representing a risk of injure, is therefore largely avoided. 
         [0023]    Preferably, the facial muscle trainer  1  is flattened at the outer region of the joint piece  4  so that it has feet  11  onto which it can be placed. This enables a space saving storage of the facial muscle trainer  1 . 
         [0024]    For the facial muscle trainer  1  depicted in  FIGS. 1-3 , the ribs  7  are arranged at the outsides of its legs  2 ,  3 . As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the outer ribs  7  can extend also into the region between the feet  11 . Also, such ribs, but being arranged at the inside, are possible (not shown). 
         [0025]    As can also be derived from these figures, the interspaces which are present between ribs  7  are purged with a silicone like material. Thus, a rounded surface is provided, since the ribs  7  which are located in the central region of the legs  2 ,  3  are higher than the ribs  7  which are arranged in the border regions of the legs  2 ,  3 . 
         [0026]    In this manner, both legs  2 ,  3  have at their outside beyond the bite surface  5 ,  6  a grip surface for holding with several fingers. By pressing with the fingers of preferably both hands of the user, the jaw force which is necessary for closing the facial muscle trainer can be supported and thus reduced. Further, a secure, slip-free holding of the facial muscle trainer  1  is ensured. 
         [0027]    As can further be derived from the figures, preferably, both legs  2 ,  3  are designed identically. Thus, the facial muscle trainer  1  can not be held the wrong way, since upper and under side are identical. This can particularly be seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  7 .  FIG. 2  further shows overlays from a silicone like material (hatched) which are purged onto the bite surfaces  5 ,  6 , which further avoid slipping off of the teeth (not shown), thus further increasing safety. 
         [0028]    In the embodiments shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 7 , the ribs  7  are arranged at the inner sides of the legs (no reference numeral). 
         [0029]    The embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4  shows only one single rib  7  which runs around the inner side, the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 7  shows two ribs running around the inside. 
         [0030]    The outsides of these embodiments are kept rather flat and are coated with a slip resistant overlay which has grooves ( FIG. 5 ) or neps ( FIG. 7 ). This can also be derived from the sectional views according to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 8 , wherein, however, the interior rib(s) is/are not depicted. 
         [0031]    From  FIG. 4 , the positioning of an elastic body  8  which is designed as a spring can be seen. It is arranged between both legs  2 ,  3 . Its position is determined by several mountings  9  which are arranged in longitudinal direction one after the other. Depending on the desired stiffness, the elastic body  9  can be placed closer to or further away from joint piece  4 , or it can be completely omitted. 
         [0032]    As shown, the facial muscle trainer according to the invention solves the problems of the state of the art by being manufactured as a one piece apparatus, so that the metal spring which was up to date necessary for stiffening can be omitted. An assembling is not necessary any more, and by means of the insert molding around the ribs as well as the coated bite surfaces, the facial muscle trainer is safe in terms of handling. 
       LIST OF REFERENCES 
       [0033]      1  facial muscle trainer 
         [0034]      2  leg 
         [0035]      3  leg 
         [0036]      4  joint piece 
         [0037]      5  bite surface 
         [0038]      6  bite surface 
         [0039]      7  rib 
         [0040]      8  elastic body 
         [0041]      9  mounting 
         [0042]      10  raised structures 
         [0043]      11  foots