Abstract:
A jaw-strengthening device has a first receiver that receives a first row of teeth having first and second molar sections, a first air chamber within the first receiver positioned in a first molar section of the first receiver, a second air chamber within the first receiver positioned in a second molar section of the first receiver, and an egress valve, that permits egress and prevents ingress of air, in communication with the first and second air chambers, a second receiver that receives a second row of teeth having first and second molar sections, a third air chamber within the second receiver positioned in a first molar section of the second receiver, a fourth air chamber within the second receiver positioned in a second molar section of the second receiver, and an ingress valve in communication with the third and fourth air chambers.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of mouth guards and jaw-strengthening devices. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Humans have the need for a strong jaw for athletics, in addition to appearance. Toned jaw muscles help tighten the facial skin and define the jawline. Jaw muscles also impact the ability eat harder foods without discomfort or strain. Jaw exercises may also help with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. The TMJ is surrounded by a series of muscles that control the movement of the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw. On closing, the masseter, anterior and middle temporalis, medial pterygoid, and superior head lateral pterygoid muscles are activated. To open the joint again, the inferior head of lateral pterygoid, anterior digastric and mylohyoid muscles play a part. 
     There have been many devices created to strengthen the jaw, from rubber inserts that are pressed on with the teeth in order to strengthen the closing of the TMJ, to springs and other resistance attached to orthodontics, to strengthen the opening of the TMJ. Typically the latter are used in conjunction with alignment rods to retrain the movement of the upper and lower jaw relative to one another, to improve orthodontic treatment and jaw alignment over time. Resistance means such as springs may be present between the upper and lower jaw such that compressive force is required to close the jaw, strengthening the closing muscles. 
     There are drawbacks in the prior art, however, as springs and other metal components may cause harm to the inside of the user&#39;s mouth, and alignment rods require braces to be installed on the teeth. Many of the resistance means are set, such that the amount of resistance is not variable. 
     Based on the foregoing, there is a need in the art for a jaw strengthening device that has no exposed components which may injure the mouth, and which may be inserted and removed as desired in order to perform jaw strengthening exercises. Furthermore, the ability to vary the resistance has the benefit of allowing the user to increase the intensity of the exercise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A jaw-strengthening device has a first receiver configured to receive a row of teeth having first and second molar sections, the first receiver having a first air chamber within the receiver positioned in a first molar section, a second air chamber within the receiver positioned in a second molar section, and an egress valve, configured to permit egress of air and prevent ingress of air, in communication with the first and second air chambers, a second receiver configured to receive a second row of teeth, the second receiver having a third air chamber within the receiver positioned in a first molar section, a fourth air chamber within the receiver positioned in a second molar section, and an ingress valve, configured to permit ingress of air and prevent egress of air, in communication with the third and fourth air chambers, wherein the first and third air chambers are in communication, and wherein the second and fourth air chambers are in communication. 
     In an embodiment, the device has a lip guard positioned on an outside of the ingress valve, configured to retain a lip and prevent the lip from closing the ingress valve. It may also have a lip guard positioned on an outside of the egress valve, configured to retain a lip and prevent the lip from closing the egress valve. In an embodiment, the egress valve has a plurality of resistance settings wherein the egress air is restricted more for a higher resistance, and restricted less for a lower resistance. The egress valve may have a plurality of holes configured to permit egress of air from the egress valve and a slider configured to selectively cover the holes. 
     The upper and lower receivers may terminate in rear terminals, wherein the upper and lower receivers are connected at each side at the rear terminals, and air channels pass through the terminals. The air chambers may be resilient and open when no force is applied thereto. The air chambers may form bladders to temporarily retain air. The first and second receivers are molded to fit the rows of teeth. Finally, spring hinges may connect the rear terminals of the first and second receivers, wherein the spring hinge is configured to provide resistance. 
     The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the jaw-strengthening device, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the jaw-strengthening device positioned within the mouth, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the jaw-strengthening device in an open position, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the jaw-strengthening device in a closed position, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the jaw-strengthening device, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the jaw-strengthening device in a closed position, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a detail view of the air ingress and egress valves of the jaw-strengthening device, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the jaw-strengthening device in an open position, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of the jaw-strengthening device in an open position, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the jaw-strengthening device has an appearance similar to a mouth guard, and is adapted to be fitted within the mouth. An upper jaw receiver  5  is generally semicircular, terminating at an open rear with a terminal  8  on each side, and has an upper groove  6  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) on the top to accommodate the teeth of the upper jaw. The lower jaw receiver  10  is generally semicircular, has an open rear comprising lower terminals  12 , and has a lower groove  11  (not shown) on the bottom to accommodate the lower teeth. The upper and lower jaw receivers  5 ,  10  have sections generally corresponding to the teeth that are enclosed, namely an incisor section  14  in the front, a canine section  16  and a molar section  18  near the terminals  8 ,  12 . The upper and lower jaw receivers  5 ,  10  are connected to each other at the terminals by a hinge  20  on each side. In an embodiment, the hinge is an extension of the material of the upper and lower jaw receivers. In another embodiment, the hinge has a spring hinge  22  biasing the strengthener into an open position, wherein a force is required to compress the spring hinge  22  and close the strengthener between the teeth. 
     Intermediate each of the canine section  16  and the terminals  8 ,  12  of the upper and lower receivers  5 ,  10 , generally coinciding with the molar section  18  of a row of teeth, are compressible upper air chambers  25  on the upper receiver  5  and lower air chambers  30  on the lower receiver  10 . Within the air chambers are bladders  24 ,  29  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) that retain air. The lower air chambers  30  of the lower receiver are in communication with an lower air channel  26  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) that passes from the lower air chamber  30  through the canine section  16  of each side of the lower receiver  10  and terminates with an air ingress valve  32 , a one-way valve that permits the ingress, but not egress, of air. The upper receiver  5  has upper air chambers  25  in communication with an upper air channel  27  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) through the canine section  16  of the upper receiver  5  and terminating in an air egress valve  34 , a one-way valve that permits egress, but not ingress, of air. The upper air chambers and lower air chambers are in communication by a terminal air channel  28  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) passing through the hinge at the rear. The air channels are resilient to withstand the compressive forces of the jaw as the air chambers are compressed, in order to prevent the air channels from collapsing. 
     Other configurations of air chambers may be used. In an embodiment, air chambers are only present either on the upper receiver or on the lower receiver, but not both, wherein the ingress and egress valves are both on the same receiver. In another embodiment, the ingress valve  32  is on the upper receiver  5  and the egress valve  34  is on the lower receiver  10 . In another embodiment, the upper receiver  5  or lower receiver  10  has both the ingress and egress valves  32 ,  34  thereon. So as to prevent the lips from blocking the ingress valve  32 , a further lip groove for accommodating the lip may be present below the ingress valve to retain the lower lip and prevent the lip from obstructing the ingress valve. A similar lip groove may be present above the egress valve, but this is not critical as the egress valve will not be substantially blocked by being covered by the lip due to the exiting air flow. 
     The air chambers have resilience such that they return to an open or inflated position if no force is applied. Depending on the strength of the rubber used, there may be a significant mechanical compression resistance of air chambers as they are compressed in the form of distortion of the air chamber material itself. The rubber composition may be varied to provide greater or less resistance and durability. A harder durometer rubber will provide greater resistance and durability than a softer durometer rubber. 
     In one embodiment the egress valve has a fixed resistance. In another embodiment the egress valve  34  has variable resistance, such that the air exits the air chamber faster or slower thus decreasing or increasing the resistance, respectively. In an example the adjustable egress valve  34  has a slider  38  and a number of egress ports  36 , each sized to permit a certain air flow, wherein the slider rests in a track  40  over the ports  36  and may be slid across to cover all, some or none of the ports thereby varying the resistance of the egress. 
     The upper  5  and lower receivers  10  may be formed for a particular person&#39;s mouth or bite to custom fit the teeth, and may be made of a heat-deformable plastic or rubber to effect a molding to the bite, or from other non-toxic materials known in the art to take and hold a mold of the teeth. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the jaw-strengthening device is shown within the mouth, wherein the upper and lower grooves (not shown) fit over the upper and lower teeth, respectively, and the ingress valve  32  and egress valve  34  are unblocked by the lips that rest underneath the ingress valve  32  and above the egress valve  34 . In another embodiment, the ingress  32  and egress valves  34  are flush with the front of the upper  5  and lower receivers to permit the user to close his or her mouth. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the jaw-strengthening device is shown in an open position, wherein the mouth of the wearer is open. In this position, the resilient upper bladder  24  and lower bladder  29  expand to their open size, producing an area of low pressure within the bladders  24 ,  29 . The ingress valve  32  draws air in along airflow marked A and through the lower channel  26  as the lower bladder  29  expands, and through the terminal channel  28  as the upper bladder  29  expands. The draw of the expanding bladders  24 ,  29  pushes aside a flapper (not shown) within the valve  32  to fill the chambers and equalize the pressure. The flapper (not shown) prevents the egress of air through the ingress valve  32 . Despite a low pressure within the bladders  24 ,  29 , no air ingresses through the one-way egress valve  34 . The spring hinge  22  is open in this position. The ingress and egress valves are one-way valves and may be selected from a number of designs known to those skilled in the art. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the jaw-strengthening device is shown in a closed position, wherein the mouth of the wearer is closed. In this position, the upper and lower chambers are compressed and the bladders  24 ,  29  therein are compressed. The air in the system passes from the lower bladder  29 , through the terminal channel  28 , into the upper bladder  24 , through the upper channel  27  and egresses through the egress valve  34 , along the airflow marked B. The egress valve provides varying resistance to the outflow of air, wherein the resistance is either preset or is adjustable through a mechanism such as a slide  38  and a series of ports  36 . The spring hinge  22  is compressed in this position. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a top view of the upper receiver  5  is shown, with a groove  6  for retaining the teeth running along the top. The upper bladders  5  on each side are shown in stippled lines, along with terminal channels  28  and upper channels  27 . The egress valve  34  is shown in cutaway view wherein the upper channels  27  are connected to the valve opening  40 , which communicates with the environment through a plurality of egress ports  36 , which may be selectively blocked by slider  38 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , the valves  32 ,  34  are shown in detail view, and the slider  38  has been positioned over two of the four ports  36  in this embodiment increasing the resistance of air exiting the system as the jaw is clenched. The slider  38  moves within a track (not shown) and may be slid to block all ports  36  to increase resistance or leave all ports open to reduce resistance. 
     In an embodiment, the jaw-strengthening device is shown in an open position, wherein a piston  50  is shown biasing the device in the open position. One or more pistons are attached to the jaw-strengthening device such that force is required to overcome the biasing force of the piston to transition the device into the closed position. The placement of the piston  50  is shown wherein a single piston is towards the front of the device near the valves  32 ,  34  in  FIG. 8  or a plurality of pistons are positioned near the mid-section or hinge section as in  FIG. 9 . In an alternative embodiment, one or more pistons  50  are used in combination with the spring hinge  22 . 
     The jaw strengthener has the benefit of increasing fellatio performance and endurance, rehabilitating the jaw and corresponding muscles after a trauma such as a broken jaw/surgery or other injury, allowing musicians such as saxophone players to play longer with more comfortability, and decrease susceptibility to knock outs for fighters and athletes. 
     The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims.