Antisnoring device

Oct. 31, 1939.

2,178,128

D. H. WAITE

ANTISNORING DEVICE

Filed March 20, 1937

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ATTORNEY

Patented Oct. 31, 1939

2,178,128

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,178,128

ANTISNORING DEVICE

Donald H. Waite, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Warren A. Casey, Robert M. Walsh, and said Donald H. Waite, as trustees

Application March 20, 1937, Serial No. 132,143

Claims. (Cl. 128—136)

This invention relates to a means for minimizing and preventing the unpleasant habit of - snoring, and the provision of an inexpensive, easily manipulated device for accomplishing this 5 purpose.,

It is generally known and understood that snoring occurs during sleep, when the person is not aware of his annoyance to anyone and everyone within his sound range, therefore, no mat1θ ter how penitent the offender may be, outside means must be used if he is to overcome or limit his affliction. It is an object of this invention to provide such a device.

Quite naturally, when the mouth is open and ¹⁵ the person is asleep, the danger of · swallowing devices of this nature is apparent. It is an object of this invention to provide a device which may be used with safety, and which will not slip or move out of adjustment during sleep, and also 20 one which therefore cannot be swallowed.

Snoring generally occurs while the mouth is open, and breathing is done through the mouth. The passage of air through the mouth causes a vibration or fluttering of the uvula or soft palate, ²⁵ and of the diaphragm, which in turn cause the sonorous respiration which is known as snoring. Mouth breathing, giving rise to snoring, has long been recognized as injurious for numer₃₀ ous reasons. One of these is that the membranes of the mouth become dry and parched, whereas the normal condition is moist. Another is that a sufficient amount of air is not drawn in through the nasal passages to accomplish proper and nec₃₅ essary hygienic irrigation of these passages. In fact, the entire hygienic tone of the oral and nasal cavities is very low when breathing is done through the mouth, and susceptibility to disease encouraged.

₄₀ It is among the objects of the invention to provide a device which will preserve the natural moist state of the mouth, even though the. habit of mouth breathing has been formed, and which, at the same time, will also encourage the proper 45 passage of air through the nose.

The invention contemplates such other and further objects as will appear as the description of my invention proceeds.

In attaining the foregoing objects, together 50 with such further benefits, advantages and capabilities as may hereafter appear, and as are inherently possessed thereby, I use by way of example only, the construction shown in the preferred form in the accompanying single sheet of 55 drawings. Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows the device in place and as worn in practice;

Fig. 2 is a plan view; and 5

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3—3 in Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the device, which comprises a mouthpiece 10 10, is made from a single sheet of flexible material such as Pyralin, Celluloid, or any other suitable material, and is preferably transparent. It is so shaped as to conform to the physical anatomy of the front of the mouth between the 15 teeth and the lips when worn by the individual as shown in Fig. 1. For example, the mouthpiece 10 is narrowed at the top and the bottom by cut-outs II and 12 in order to comfortably fit in between the teeth and the lips of the wear- 20 er, and to fit under the medial web of the upper lip and gum. In the central portion of the mouthpiece 10 there is a diversion area 15 bordered by numerous small perforations 13. At the outward ends of the mouthpiece 10, which ends are 25 enlarged to fit firmly between the teeth and lips to prevent movement of the device, and in the lower quadrant thereof, are several perforations or saliva slots 14, comparatively larger than the perforations 13. 30

The manner of using the device is as follows: The wearer inserts the mouthpiece 10 between the teeth and lips in the front of the mouth before going to sleep. If the device is of a transparent material, then it is scarcely noticeable 35 when worn. Likewise, due to the warmth of the breath and the mouth, the material softens considerably and conforms easily to the contour of the mouth, so that the wearer loses consciousness of the fact of having the device in his mouth. ₄q When the wearer’s mouth opens during sleep, by habit or otherwise, then only the .central portion of the device 10, containing the diversion area 15 and perforations 13, are exposed, thus permitting limited inhalation and exhalation of 45 air through the perforations 13. The size and number of the perforations 13 control the air flow. These perforations 13 diffuse or break up the air stream, cut down the volume of air passing therethrough as well as reduce its velocity, 50 and so aid in the elimination of vibration of the uvula or soft palate. The number of perforations 13, of course, may be varied, but there should be few enough to restrict the amount of air coming through in an inhalation and to 55

SO diffuse it to prevent vibrations which set up sonorous respiration. The device, at the same time prevents a rapid evaporation of the moisture’in the mouth by effectively providing a closure. It is well-known that the salivary glands are active during sleep, and that the proper flow of saliva and other mouth secretions is essential to maintain the moist condition within the mouth. This is provided for in the device by the larger holes and slots 14, which permit the normal circulation of saliva and mouth secretions. The enlarged ends’ of the mouthpiece 10 provide sufficient pressure to hold the device in place without slippage, and at the same time permit freedom of movement of the teeth and jaws. Because of the conformance in shape to the anatomy of the wearer there is no danger of slippage in use and hence no danger of swallowing.

It will also be seen that the restricted inhalation through the holes 13 and the diversion area 15 encourages a flow of air through the nasa passages, thereby encouraging good habits as well as correcting and eliminating annoying ones. When normal habits have been established, further use of the device may be dispensed with.

It is now believed that in describing the construction of the invention and its use, the same have become thoroughly apparent.