Device to prevent mouth-breathing

Application filed December 4, 1919. Serial No. 342,374.

To aTl whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Richard H. Jefferies, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices to Prevent Mouth-Breathing; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains, to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for preventing mouth breathing and one object of the invention is to provide a simple ancj. practical device which will eliminate the habit of breathing through the mouth and at the same time will assist in harmonizing the facial features of the wearer, by more evenly balancing the muscles of expression.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and the arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

I attain these objects by constructing the form as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which—

Figure 1, is a view showing the application of my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the form.

Similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

Reference is' now had to the drawing in which the device is shown comprising a single sheet of material, preferably silk, although I maxwell use cotton fiber material or even paper?

The central portion 1 of the sheet is solid and t>f sufficient size to cover the lips of a wearer. The portions of the sheet above and below the central portion are provided with longitudinal slits. These slits are formed to provide upper and lower strips 2 and 3 respectively, said strips being connected at their outer ends by two transverse strips 4 which are formed by cutting out at each end of the solid central portion a comparatively large piece of the sheet.

The central portion 1 and the upper and lower strips are connected by the short necks 5 which serve to retain the parts in proper relative position.

One face of the entire sheet is covered with a suitable adhesive substance to per- 55 mit attaching the sheet to the face. Each end 6 of the upper strip 2 is extended beyond the extreme end of the sheet to form an ear which may be easily lifted when it is desired to remove the sheet or form. 60

In using the device the lips are closed and the central portion 1 of the form is placed thereon, thereby holding them in proper position. The upper and lower strips are then attached to the portions of 65 the face above and below the lips and the end strips 4 are attached to the cheeks, the sheet being of such a length as to cover the muscles controlling the expression of the face.. The sheet is slightly curved through- 70 out its length so as to conform with the curve of the alveolus of the jaws and teeth thereby providing a natural corrective for irregularities of the teeth said sheet and lips, acting as an elastic band on the front 75 of the teeth while the elasticity of the tongue creates a slight outward pressure on them.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing 80 the construction and application of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and dimensions may be resorted to without 85 departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the claimed invention.