Patent Publication Number: US-2022225744-A1

Title: Sports mouthguard carry case

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a mouthguard carry case, and relates more particularly to a sports accessary for improved oral hygiene in the form of a sports mouthguard storage and carry case. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     There are a large number of prior art sports mouthguard storage and carry case products available in the worldwide market for sports accessories. Most are simple, moulded plastic products, with a single-hinged flip-top lid, that require two hands to open. Most are only slightly ventilated or unventilated, and are typically airtight units that do not promote mouthguard drying or sanitation. A wet mouthguard placed into an airtight or poorly ventilated storage case, where it will not dry, is very susceptible to the spread of oral bacteria that collects on the mouthguard when in use. 
     The present invention was developed with a view to providing an improved sports mouthguard carry case that can be easily opened and closed with one hand. Advantageously the improved sports mouthguard carry case is also well ventilated so as to permit the mouthguard to dry more quickly, hence stifling the spread of oral bacteria and promoting oral hygiene. 
     References to prior art in this specification are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be taken as an admission that such prior art is part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a mouthguard carry case comprising:
         an outer shell having a hollow interior defined by an open top, an open bottom and a plurality of side walls;   an inner shell having a hollow interior defined by a top wall, a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls, the inner shell being slidably received within the hollow interior of the outer shell and being movable between an open position in which a mouthguard can be placed inside the hollow interior of the inner shell, and a closed position in which the inner shell is substantially received within the hollow interior of the outer shell.       

     Preferably the outer shell is of substantially rectangular configuration, and the inner shell is likewise of substantially rectangular configuration so as to be received within the outer shell with a friction fit. Advantageously the hollow interior of the inner shell forms an inbuilt mouthguard cradle for the mouthguard. So rather than hinging open from one side of the carry case, as in most prior art carry cases, the inner shell can be popped upwards out of the outer shell while being held in one hand, exposing the mouthguard cradle. 
     Preferably at least one portion of a side wall of the inner shell is ventilated to permit the flow of air and other fluids into and out of the carry case. Preferably both the inner and outer shells are ventilated to the maximum allowable to ensure strength and durability. Typically the ventilated portion of the side wall of the inner shell is provided with plurality of ventilation apertures arranged in a rectangular array. 
     In an illustrated embodiment the outer shell comprises four substantially planar side walls of substantially equal length, with rounded protrusions at each corner to facilitate a better grip in one hand. 
     Preferably the inner shell comprises a substantially U-shaped open portion in the top wall and a matching substantially U-shaped open portion in the bottom wall, wherein both open portions open to one side of the substantially rectangular inner shell. Preferably the top wall and bottom wall of the inner shell are of substantially planar configuration. Preferably the inner shell is formed with an interior side wall of substantially U-shaped configuration extending around, and connecting, the U-shaped open portions of the top and bottom walls. Preferably the other three sides of the substantially rectangular inner shell are substantially open so as to provide easy access to the mouthguard cradle, within which a mouthguard can be received when the inner shell is in the open position. Preferably two sides of the inner shell, adjacent to, and on either side respectively of, the interior side wall, are formed with a partial side wall so as to form together with the interior side wall the mouthguard cradle within the inner shell. In the illustrated embodiment the interior side wall is formed by five substantially planar wall segments, wherein a central wall segment of the interior side wall is provided with the plurality of ventilation apertures arranged in a rectangular array. 
     Advantageously the central wall segment faces an open ventilation space formed on the one side of the inner shell between the interior side wall and a first side wall of the outer shell. The height of the first side wall is of reduced dimensions relative to the other three side walls, which further enhances the free flow of air and other fluids through the ventilation apertures in the central wall segment. 
     Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Likewise the word “preferably” or variations such as “preferred”, will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the working of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment of a sports mouthguard carry case, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is top plan view of a preferred embodiment of a sports mouthguard carry case according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the sports mouthguard carry case of  FIG. 1  with the inner shell in a closed position; 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the sports mouthguard carry case of  FIG. 1  with the inner shell in an open position; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevation of the sports mouthguard carry case of  FIG. 3  with the inner shell in an open position; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation of the sports mouthguard carry case of  FIG. 3  with the inner shell in an open position; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear elevation of the sports mouthguard carry case of  FIG. 3  with the inner shell in an open position; 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevation of the sports mouthguard carry case of  FIG. 2  with the inner shell in a closed position; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear elevation of the sports mouthguard carry case of  FIG. 2  with the inner shell in a closed position; 
         FIG. 9  is a side elevation of the sports mouthguard carry case of  FIG. 3  with the inner shell in an open position showing a mouthguard received in the inner shell; 
         FIG. 10  is a rear elevation of the sports mouthguard carry case of  FIG. 3 , with the inner shell in an open position, showing a mouthguard positioned in the inner shell; 
         FIG. 11  is top plan transparent view of the sports mouthguard carry case of  FIG. 2 , with the inner shell in a closed position, showing a mouthguard positioned in the inner shell; and, 
         FIG. 12  is section view of the sports mouthguard carry case of  FIG. 2 , with the inner shell in a closed position, showing a mouthguard positioned in the inner shell. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A preferred embodiment of a sports mouthguard carry case  10  in accordance with the invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 12 , comprises an outer shell  12  having a hollow interior defined by an open top, an open bottom and a plurality of side walls  14 . In this embodiment the outer shell  12  is of substantially rectangular configuration and comprises four substantially planar side walls  14  of substantially equal length, with rounded protrusions  16  at each corner to facilitate a better grip in one hand. 
     The mouthguard carry case  10  further comprises an inner shell  18  having a hollow interior defined by a top wall  20 , a bottom wall  22  and plurality of side walls  24 . The inner shell  18  is slidably received within the hollow interior of the outer shell  12  and is movable between an open position, as shown in  FIG. 2 , in which a mouthguard  50  can be placed inside the hollow interior of the inner shell  18 , and a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 3 , in which the inner shell is substantially received within the hollow interior of the outer shell (see also  FIGS. 9 to 12 ). 
     Preferably the inner shell  18  is similarly of substantially rectangular configuration so as to be received within the outer shell  12  with a friction fit. Advantageously the hollow interior of the inner shell  18  forms an inbuilt mouthguard cradle  40  for the mouthguard. So rather than hinging open from one side of the carry case, as in most prior art carry cases, the inner shell  18  can be popped upwards out of the outer shell  12  while being held in one hand, exposing the mouthguard cradle  40 . 
     Preferably at least one portion of a side wall  24  of the inner shell  18  is ventilated to permit the flow of air and other fluids into and out of the carry case  10 . Preferably both the inner and outer shells are ventilated to the maximum allowable to ensure strength and durability. 
     The improved sports mouthguard carry case  10  was developed as a more hygienic and simple to use carrier than is typically available. The mouthguard carry case  10  comprises a fully ventilated design so each surface of a sports mouthguard is subject to air flow when stored. Improved air flow allows for a sports mouthguard  50  (see  FIGS. 9 to 12 ) to dry more quickly hence stifling the spread of oral bacteria that is collected on the mouthguard when in use. Enhanced ventilation also allows for the mouthguard  50  to be treated with any type of sanitising protocol and replaced immediately into the mouthguard carry case  10 , where it is (again) well ventilated and will dry quickly, as opposed to a wet mouthguard being placed into an airtight or poorly ventilated storage case where it will not dry, consequently exposed to additional hygiene risks. 
     Preferably the inner shell  18  comprises a substantially U-shaped open portion  28  in the top wall  20  and a matching substantially U-shaped open portion  30  in the bottom wall  22 , wherein both open portions  28 ,  30  open to one side of the substantially rectangular inner shell  18 . In this embodiment the top wall  20  and bottom wall  22  of the inner shell  18  are of substantially planar configuration. Preferably the inner shell  18  is formed with an interior side wall  24   a  of substantially U-shaped configuration extending around, and connecting, the U-shaped open portions  28 ,  30  of the top and bottom walls. 
     Preferably the other three sides of the substantially rectangular inner shell  18  are substantially open so as to provide easy access to the mouthguard cradle  40 , within which a mouthguard  50  can be received when the inner shell is in the open position (see  FIGS. 3 and 5 ). Preferably two sides of the inner shell  18 , adjacent to, and on either side respectively of, the interior side wall  24   a , are formed with a partial side wall  24   b  so as to form together with the interior side wall  24   a  the mouthguard cradle  40  within the inner shell  18 . In the illustrated embodiment the interior side wall  24   a  is formed by five substantially planar wall segments, wherein a central wall segment  26  of the interior side wall  24   a  is provided with the plurality of ventilation apertures  34  arranged in a rectangular array. 
     The central wall segment  26  faces an open ventilation space  36  formed on the one side of the inner shell  18  between the interior side wall  24   a  and a side wall  14   a  of the outer shell  12 . The height of the side wall  14  is of reduced dimensions relative to the other three side walls  14 , which further enhances the free flow of air and other fluids through the ventilation apertures  34  in the central wall segment  26 . 
     Preferably the outer shell  12  and inner shell  18  are both manufactured from a suitable rigid or semi-rigid moulded plastics material, such as a polyethylene or polycarbonate, which may be transparent or opaque. 
     Now that a preferred embodiment of the mouthguard carry case has been described in detail, it will be apparent that the described embodiment provides a number of advantages over the prior art, including the following:
         (i) It can be operated with one hand rather than two, making for safer, simpler function and ease of use.   (ii) It has a fully ventilated design so that each surface of a sports mouthguard is subject to air flow when stored.       

     It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention. For example, in the illustrated embodiment the outer shell and inner shell are of substantially rectangular configuration. However this is not essential to the invention, and is more of a design feature to give the improved sports mouthguard carry case a more rugged aesthetic. The case may be of any suitable shape and configuration. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment described.