Abstract:
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.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the provisional application entitled “Protective Container for Oral Appliances”by Patricia M. Brooks, Ser. No. 61/619,419 filed on Apr. 3, 2012 and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The summary above, and the following detailed description will be better understood in view of the enclosed figures which depict details of various embodiments. It should however be noted that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings and that the drawings are provided merely as examples. Like reference numerals refer to like parts. 
         FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of the container in the open position. 
         FIG. 2  shows a close-up of one embodiment of the container emphasizing the retaining cord. 
         FIG. 3  shows a close-up of one embodiment of the container emphasizing the strap and clip. 
         FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of the container with the removable hard inner liner fitted in the container. 
         FIG. 5  shows a close-up of one embodiment of the container emphasizing a portion of the removable hard inner liner. 
         FIG. 6  shows a close-up of one embodiment of the container emphasizing a portion of the removable hard inner liner. 
         FIG. 7  shows another embodiment of the container with a net mesh pouch and elastic lip. 
         FIG. 8  shows an embodiment of the rear of the container and the hinge. 
         FIG. 9  shows an embodiment with the closed zipper adjacent the strap. 
         FIG. 10  shows an embodiment with an oral appliance. 
         FIG. 11  shows an embodiment with an oral appliance inside a liner. 
         FIG. 12  shows one use of an embodiment worn on the waste of a user. 
         FIG. 13  shows a flow chart demonstrating some of the uses of the protective container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of the protective container for oral appliances  10  with the outer zip-able cover arranged as two clam shell halves also called container halves  110 . A zipper handle  115  zips together the zipper teeth  117  to close the outer zip-able cover halves  110 . The outer zip-able cover halves meet in the back at a hinge  120  which enables the container halves  110  to open allowing access to the interior space of the container  112 . 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 strap  130  is secured to the cover at the back near the hinge  120 . A clip  140  attached to the strap  130  allows the container  10  to 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 zipper  115  and opens the two cover halves  110  providing access to the interior  112  of the container  10 . The user then places the oral appliance and possible accessories or dental supplies into the interior  112  of the container  10  and closes the zipper  115 . The user then attaches or clips the container  10  to an article of clothing, a backpack, fanny pack or other item for safe-keeping and transport. The strap  130  and clip  140  enable the container  10  to be securely transported while reducing the risk of loss. 
       FIG. 2  shows a close-up of one embodiment of the container  10  with a retaining cord  150 . 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 cord  150  is anchored at both corners  152  of the cover halves  110  near the hinge  120 . The elastic retaining cord  150  is stretched or tensioned across the hinge  120  in the interior space  112 . The retaining cord  150  can be pulled out from proximity with the hinge  120  while an oral appliance is placed in the interior space  112  of the container  10 . The elasticity of the retaining cord  150  restrains the oral appliance (not shown) toward the hinge  120  and reduces the risk of the oral appliance falling out of the container  10 . 
     In use, the user simply pulls the retaining cord  150  away from the hinge  120  and loops the retaining cord  150  over or around the oral appliance. Once released, the natural elasticity of the retaining cord  150  holds the oral appliance against the hinge  120  and the interior  112  of the container  10 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a detail of the strap  130  and clip  140  of one embodiment of the container  10 . The strap  130  attaches to the container  10  and the outer zip-able cover halves  110  near the hinge  120  of  FIGS. 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 clip  140  is depicted as a carabiner. Other versions of clip  140  are possible. 
       FIG. 4  shows one embodiment of the container  10  with a removable hard inner liner  160 . The container  10  may be used with or without the hard removable inner liner  160 . The hard removable inner liner  160 , or simply liner  160  for short, is similar to the outer zip-able cover halves  110  in that it also has two clam shell like halves  164  that come together to enclose the liner interior  168 . The liner  160  can be made of a single piece of plastic with a live hinge and compliant catch to hold it closed. Other versions of the liner  160  can be made of metal with other types of hinges and closures. Other embodiments of the liner  160  can use the outer zip-able cover halves  110  of  FIG. 1  to hold the liner closed when the zip-able halves force the liner halves  164  together. 
       FIG. 5  shows a close up view of one embodiment of the removable hard inner liner  160  fitted into the outer zip-able cover halves  110  of the container  10 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a close up view of one embodiment of the removable hard inner liner  160  fitted into the outer zip-able cover halves  110  of the container  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The hard inner liner, simply called the liner,  160  is composed of two removable hard inner liner halves  164 . Notches  165 , of which one is shown, are near the hinge area in the liner interior  168 . The retaining cord  150  passes through the notch  165  into the interior of the liner  168  to retain the liner inside the container  10 . The retaining cord  150  can be used simultaneously to hold an oral appliance, not shown, inside the liner. 
       FIG. 7  shows a view of one embodiment of the container  10  with a mesh net pouch  170  on one of the outer zip-able cover halves  110 . The mesh net pouch  170  has one or more elastic lips  175  to help keep the contents of the mesh net pouch  170  from 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 in  FIG. 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. In  FIG. 7  the contents are depicted as a toothpick and two floss devices. 
     In use, the user opens the container  10  to expose the mesh net pouch  170 . The user pulls the elastic lip or lips  175  away from the mesh net pouch  170  to place materials into, or retrieve materials from, the mesh net pouch  170 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a rear view of one embodiment of the container  10 . 
       FIG. 9  shows an embodiment where the zipper handle  115 , in the closed position is adjacent the strap  130  and clip  140 . In this embodiment, when the container  10  is worn on the waist for example, a user can unzip the zipper handle  115  without removing, unclipping or repositioning the container  10 . 
       FIG. 10  shows an oral appliance  180  inside the container  10 . The elastic retaining cord  150  stretches across the oral appliance  180  and holds it inside the container  10 . In this configuration, the container  10  can be opened in any position without the oral appliance falling out. In some embodiments, the oral appliance  180  can even be retrieved with one hand. Note that in  FIG. 10  the 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. 11  shows an oral appliance  180  inside a liner  160  which is itself inside the container  10 . The elastic retaining cord  150  stretches across the oral appliance  180  and holds it inside the liner  160 . This resulting tension also holds the liner  160  inside the container  10 . In this configuration, the container  10  can still be opened in any position without the oral appliance falling out. The liner  160  also is restrained inside the container  10 . There are environments where a user may choose to have additional protection of the oral appliance. In such cases, the liner  160  can be employed. In situations where the extra protection is not required, the container  10  can be used without the liner  160 . In some embodiments, the oral appliance  180  can even be retrieved with one hand, while the liner  160  remains constrained in the container  10 . 
       FIG. 12  shows one situation described for  FIGS. 10 and 11 . In  FIG. 12 , the container  10  is suspended from a belt or belt loop of a user. The clip  140  attaches to the belt or belt loop and the container  10  hangs from strap  130 . In this situation, the zipper handle  115  is in the closed position when the zipper handle is adjacent the strap  130 . A simple downward pull on the zipper handle  115  allows the user to open the container  10 , 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 halves  110  can be of a fabric, plastic or a combination of the two. The removable hard inner liner  160  can be made of plastics, metals or other materials. Materials can be man-made or natural. 
     Material sets can be chosen for all components; container  10 , outer zip-able halves  110 , zipper  115 , and teeth  117 , hinge  120 , strap  130 , clip  140 , retaining cord  150 , removable hard inner liner  160 , mesh net pouch  170  and elastic lip  175  so that the container  10  and all components are washable. For example a material set can be chosen so that the container  10  and components can be put into a washing machine. Furthermore, the hinge  120  can be made from a number of materials. The hinge could be the same material as the outer zip-able halves  110 , 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 appliances  180  with the embodiments described above. In one method, the user places the oral appliance  180  into the interior space  112  of the closable clam-shell like container  10 , and retains the oral appliance  180  inside the interior space  112  with the elastic retaining cord  150 . The user then closes the container  10 , and attaches the container to clothing or luggage with the strap  130  and clip  140 . 
     In another method the user places the oral appliance  180  in a remove-able hard inner liner  160 , and fits the liner  160  into the interior space  112  of the container  10  constraining both the oral appliance  180  and remove-able hard inner liner  160  inside the interior space  112  with the elastic retaining cord  150 . 
     In still another method of use, the user stores dental supplies or accessories of the oral appliance  180  in a pouch  170  attached inside the interior space  112 . The pouch  170  contains items inside the container interior  112 , while the elastic lip  175  keeps the items within the pouch  170 . 
     Some of the uses of the protective container for oral appliances  10  can also be described in flow chart form. In  FIG. 13  the user begins by opening the protective container for oral appliances  10  at block  1010 . At block  1020  the user decides whether to use a liner for additional protection of the oral appliance  180 . If no additional protection is required the user retains the oral appliance  180  in the interior space  112  of the container with an elastic retaining cord  150  at block  1030 . If additional protection is required, the user places the oral appliance in a hard inner liner  160  and constrains both the oral appliance  180  and liner  160  in the interior space  112  of the container  10  with the elastic retaining cord  150  at blocks  1040  and  1050 . At  1060  the 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 pouch  170  at block  1070 . At block  1080 ,  1090  and  1100 , the user closes the container  10 , attaches it to clothing or luggage with the strap  130  and clip  140 , and transports the protected oral appliance  180 . 
     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. 
                                           Reference   Description/Alternate Terms                                10   Container           Clam shell like container           Protective container for oral appliances       110   Outer zip-able cover           Two container halves       112   Interior of outer zip-able cover           Interior space           Container interior       115   Zipper, Zipper Handle           Closure       117   Zipper teeth       120   Hinge       130   Strap       140   Clip       150   Retaining cord           Elastic retaining cord       152   Corners of cover halves       160   Removable hard inner liner           Liner       164   Removable hard inner liner halves           Clam shell like liner halves       165   Notch in hard inner container for retaining cord 150       168   Liner interior       170   Mesh net pouch           Pouch       175   Elastic lip of mesh net pouch       180   Oral appliance       1010   Opening clam shell container       1030   Placing the oral appliance in a closable clam shell like           container       1030   Retaining the oral appliance with an elastic retaining cord       1040   Placing the oral appliance in a liner       1050   Constraining the appliance and liner in the interior space           w/cord       1070   Storing accessories in a pouch in the interior space       1090   Attaching the container to clothing or luggage       1100   Transporting oral appliance                    
Glossary of References Used in Figures