Patent Publication Number: US-2012045729-A1

Title: Illuminated orthodontic retainer and case therefor

Description:
This application is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 12/007,506, filed Jan. 11, 2008, and which will mature into U.S. Pat. No. 7,997,898, on Aug. 16, 2011. The present invention relates to an illuminated orthodontic retainer and case therefor. The inventive retainer is intended to illuminate a portion of the tongue of the user for aesthetic purposes. The case is intended to releasably enclose the retainer to provide storage. The subject invention includes remotely actuated indicators to allow the user to easily find the retainer and case. In the prior art, orthodontic retainers are well known and are used for the purpose of facilitating straightening of the user&#39;s teeth and aligning their bite. For this purpose, such retainers have a palatal vault portion typically custom made of a soft plastic material that underlies the palate of the user and has wiring surrounding the palatal vault and specifically designed to engage specified teeth so that when the retainer is worn, the specified teeth are straightened so that the user&#39;s bite is corrected. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Heretofore, orthodontic retainers have been limited in their construction to merely facilitating correction of the user&#39;s bite. With the advent of tattoos and the use of illumination means on clothing including hats and shirts, there has evolved a desire on the part of the consuming public to use the human body as a “canvas” on which artistic designs are displayed. Within the mouth, grilles are sometimes designed to fit over the teeth for aesthetic reasons. Additionally, sometimes teeth are capped with aesthetic designs including the use of precious stones and other features. Many of these aesthetic products such as tooth caps, tattoos, and others are either irreversible or expensive and/or difficult to reverse. As such, if an invention could be devised permitting marking of the body for aesthetic reasons, but in which the marking is not permanent, such an invention would be attractive to the consuming public. It is with this thought in mind that the present invention was developed. 
     People often misplace items. This is true of retainers and their cases. If it were possible to devise a retainer and its case incorporating audible and visual indicators that could be remotely actuated so that the user could easily find them when needed, it would be advantageous. 
     The following prior art is known to Applicants: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,864 to Buckner et al. discloses a bio-feedback data acquisition tooth guard and the method of its manufacture and use. This device is designed to evaluate, detect and treat people who suffer from the chronic grinding of teeth known as “bruxing.” The apparatus includes a pressure sensor contained therein and electronics for detecting activation of a sensor due to bruxing. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,995 to Schwartz discloses a phosphorescent dental appliance that is made of a material permitting it to glow in the dark. The Schwartz device is activated through shining of light thereon and is made of a phosphorescent material. The device of Schwartz does not contemplate the illumination means and pattern that are disclosed in the present invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,575 to Hilliard discloses a method and apparatus for orthodontic treatment that includes a removable orthodontic aligner. The Hilliard device contemplates the addition of auxiliary devices removably attachable thereto which include ornamental or decorative designs. Hilliard fails to teach or suggest the illumination means contemplated in the present invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,606 to Baillie-Hamilton discloses light emitting device and arrays thereof. Baillie-Hamilton fails to contemplate the use of illumination means in the environment contemplated in the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an illuminated orthodontic retainer and case therefor. The present invention includes the following interrelated objects, aspects and features: 
     (1) In a first aspect, the present invention contemplates modifications to an orthodontic retainer as commonly used by orthodontists in facilitating the straightening of a person&#39;s teeth and alignment of their bite. 
     (2) In such an orthodontic retainer, the structures include a maxillary palatal vault made of a material such as soft plastic and molded to closely match the contours of the palate of the patient. About the periphery of the maxillary palatal vault, a plurality of wires are provided in specific locations so that when the retainer is worn, those wires interact with the patient&#39;s teeth to cause the teeth to be straightened and the bite to be aligned. 
     (3) The present invention consists of a modification of the structure of a standard orthodontic retainer. In particular, the present invention is mounted on the undersurface of the maxillary palatal vault, the surface opposite the palate and facing the patient&#39;s tongue. 
     (4) The invention consists of a source of light or illumination means, a source of power comprising a small battery to provide power for the illumination means, and a frame beneath the illumination means that allows pattern means comprising a template to be slid into the frame or removed therefrom. 
     (5) The template consists of a design such as a heart, a letter of the alphabet, a symbol, or other design that, when the illumination means is activated, shines the pattern onto the top of the tongue of the user. 
     (6) The template can be made in such a manner that the design displayed on the user&#39;s tongue is of any desired color or color combination. Alternatively, the color of the displayed design may be created by the color of the illumination means or by an additional template consisting of an optical translucent filter providing the desired color. 
     (7) An on-off switch is provided at a suitable location to facilitate activating and deactivating the device. 
     (8) If desired, the maxillary palatal vault may be made of a thickness allowing the illumination means, the battery and the wiring to be imbedded therewithin, with the light exposed downwardly, and with the frame adjacent the lower surface of the maxillary palatal vault. 
     (9) Additional advantageous features are provided. The retainer may be provided with a small electrical circuit allowing activation of an audible and/or visual indicator to allow the user to easily find the retainer. Preferably, activation is through a wireless transmitter/receiver combination with the receiver being mounted on the retainer and including a controller to control activation and deactivation of the audible/visual indicators. A wireless transmitter may be incorporated in a key FOB, cellular telephone, or any other desired means. 
     (10) An additional option is a tubular indicator removably mountable on the wire of the retainer. For this purpose, the tubular indicator has an elongated slot allowing it to be placed over the retainer wire. The tubular indicator has a plurality of small lights such as LEDs mounted thereon and, if desired, an audible indicator such as a horn or beeper. The indicator(s) may be activated in the same manner as described above in paragraph (9). 
     (11) Additionally, the case for the retainer may have incorporated therein visual/audible indicators to allow the user to easily locate the case and the retainer contained therein. The manner of actuation of the audible/visual indicators on the case is the same as described above with reference to paragraph (9). 
     As such, it is a first object of the present invention to provide an illuminated orthodontic retainer. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a device in which illumination means is imbedded in the maxillary palatal vault of the retainer. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a device in which a battery is also imbedded in the maxillary palatal vault with wiring connecting the battery and illumination means. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a device in which a template is slidably received on the vault. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a device in which the template may easily be removed and replaced with a template bearing another design. 
     It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide such a device in which an audible/visual indicator is either permanently mounted on the retainer or removably mounted on its wire, or both. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a device in which a case is provided to house the retainer and the case has mounted thereon visual/audible indicators. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a device in which the audible/visual indicators may be remotely actuated using a wireless transmitter/receiver. 
     These and other objects, aspects and features of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the appended drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a bottom view of the inventive illuminated orthodontic retainer. 
         FIG. 2  shows a front view of the inventive retainer. 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a top view of the tongue with an illuminated design visible thereon. 
         FIG. 6  shows an enlarged bottom view of the vault showing the frame used to removably retain a template under the illumination means. 
         FIG. 7  shows a top view of the retainer to which is removably attached a slotted tube indicator device. 
         FIG. 8  shows an enlarged view of the slotted tube indicator device. 
         FIG. 9  shows a rear view of the retainer with the slotted tube indicator device mounted thereon. 
         FIG. 10  shows a schematic representation of electrical circuitry used in connection with the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  shows a front perspective view of the inventive case. 
         FIG. 12  shows a top view of the case in a first variation in which LED lights are employed. 
         FIG. 13  shows a variation on the view of  FIG. 12  in which LED strips are employed. 
         FIG. 14  shows a bottom view of the case of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 15  shows a bottom view of the case of  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , the retainer of the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral  10  and is seen to include a maxillary palatal vault  11  having peripheral wires  13  ( FIG. 2 ) arranged in a manner well known to those of ordinary skill in the art to facilitate straightening of teeth and alignment of the bite. As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the vault  11  has embedded therein illumination means  15  consisting of a light such as a thin light emitting diode (LED) or a plurality of pixels that may be formed by a single lightbulb and a pixelated lens such as commonly seen on a vehicle tail light. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , a battery  17  is also embedded in the vault and electrical wires  19  and  21  complete a circuit between the illumination means  15  and the battery  17 . Additionally, a switch  23  is schematically shown in  FIG. 1  and may be of any desired design such as a pushbutton switch, a toggle switch, or any other switch that may be miniaturized so that it can be mounted on the vault  11  without irritation to the mouth of the user. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , a frame  25  is located on the vault  11  surrounding three sides of the illumination means  15 . As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the frame  25  comprises an inverted L-shaped cross-section that provides a recess allowing removable receipt of a template  27  (FIGS.  1  and  3 ). The template may be of any desired material and preferably includes a specially shaped opening such as the heart-shaped opening  29  seen in  FIG. 1 . Such an opening results in a heart-shaped lighted area  31  displayed on the tongue  3  of the user.  FIG. 5  also shows a dotted line  33  that shows the outline of the template  27 . The template  27  may be made of any desired material including opaque materials and translucent materials. When the template  27  is made of an opaque material, the light may only shine through an opening within the shape, for example  29  ( FIG. 1 ). In that embodiment, the color of the design  31  displayed on the tongue  3  will correspond to the color of the light emanating from the illumination means  15 . That color may easily be determined by providing a light of a desired color or a white light with a translucent filter mounted thereover. 
     In similar fashion, the template  27  may be made of a translucent material in any desired color. For example, the template could be made of a material that is opaque except for a translucent portion in a desired shape and made in a desired color. 
     The design that creates the design  31  on the tongue  3  as seen in  FIG. 5  may be any desired design, shape and/or color to result in a desired display on the user&#39;s tongue. 
     The battery  17  may be any desired type of battery with smaller and lighter batteries being more desirable. Batteries used for hearing aids and watches are suitable for use in association with the present invention. 
     If desired, the vault  11  may be made of a material that carries a desirable flavor such as cherry, blueberry, orange, etc. If desired, alternatively, a flavor packet may be attached to the palatal vault  11  of the retainer  10 . The frame may be made of any suitable plastic or metal so long as it does not have any sharp edges that could cut the tongue or mouth of the user. As explained above, the illumination means  15  may comprise any miniature light suitable for embedding in the vault  11 . Examples of such lights include light emitting diodes (LED) and lights covered by pixelated filters to cause light diffusion and uniformity of display. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 7-15  which depict additional features of the present invention. With reference first to  FIGS. 7-9 , a tubular indicator  30  includes a longitudinal slot  31  and a plurality of LED lights  33 . An audible indicator  35  such as a beeper, horn or other similar device including a recorded voice programmed on a voice synthesizer chip is also shown mounted on the outer surface of the tubular indicator  30 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the wire  12  of the retainer  10  receives the tubular indicator  30  by inserting the wire  12  within the interior of the indicator  30  via the slot  31 .  FIG. 7  also shows an alternative in which an audible indicator  37  and a visual indicator  39  are mounted on the palatal vault  11  of the retainer  10 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 10 , a circuit to facilitate activation of the indicators is shown. This circuit is applicable to either the indicators  37 ,  39  mounted on the palatal vault  11  or those mounted on the tubular indicator  30 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the circuit  40  includes a battery  41 , a light indicator  43  associated with an on-off switch  45 , and a sound indicator  47  associated with an on-off switch  49 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 10 , the circuit  40  also includes a receiver/controller  50  including an antenna  51  to allow wireless communication with the transmitter  53  via its antenna  55 . The antennas may be located within transmitter and receiver housings or may extend outwardly therefrom. The conductor  57  allows the controller to send signals to the on-off switch  45  to control the position of on-off switch  45 . Similarly, the conductor  59  allows the controller to send signals to the on-off switch  49  to control the position of on-off switch  49 . The transmitter  53  may consist of a key FOB, a separate housing with an actuation button, or any other suitable wireless transmitter including one incorporated into a cellular telephone. The transmitter has its own battery power source. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 11-15 , a case is generally designated by the reference numeral  60  and includes a lid  61  and a body  63  ( FIGS. 11 ,  12  and  14 ). As shown in  FIGS. 11 ,  12  and  14 , a plurality of LED lights are installed on the lid  61  and body  63  ( FIG. 14 ). Alternatively, the lid  61  can be replaced with a lid  61 ′ that includes a plurality of LED light strips  67  ( FIG. 13 ). Similarly, the body  63  can be replaced with a body  63 ′ ( FIG. 15 ) having a plurality of LED strips. The circuit shown in  FIG. 10  can be used to activate the lights shown in  FIGS. 11-15 . Additionally, the case  60  can also be provided with an audible indicator also actuated in the same manner as depicted in the circuit of  FIG. 10 . 
     Based upon the aspects of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 7-15 , the user of the inventive retainer  10  can store the retainer within a case  60  and the retainer and/or the case can include audible and visual indicators to allow them to be easily located so that they will not be lost. This is especially true with respect to those who are visually or hearing impaired. 
     As such, an invention has been disclosed in terms of preferred embodiments thereof which fulfill each and every one of the objects of the invention as set forth hereinabove, and provide a new and useful illuminated orthodontic retainer of great novelty and utility. 
     Of course, various changes, modifications and alterations in the teachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof. 
     As such, it is intended that the present invention only be limited by the terms of the appended claims.