Mouthpiece to be worn by athletes

Nov. 17, 1953

2,659,366

A. J. SAVARESE

MOUTHPIECE TO BE WORN BY ATHLETES Filed Feb. 5, 1952

<img file="US2659366A_D0001.tif" />

Patented Nov. 17, 1953

2,659,366

UNITED

STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,659,366

MOUTHPIECE TO BE WORN BY ATHLETES Albert J. Savarese, Glendale, Calif.

Application February 5,1952, Serial No. 270,047 (Cl. 128—136)

Claims.

a mouthpiece to be portions of the appliances to be made of the metal alloy of 24 gage thickness. Each appliance is cast in one piece from a light-weight chrome cobalt alloy. This provides an appliance which is thin and shapely, avoiding undue bulk in the mouth.

The oral appliance 10 comprises a buccal U-shaped member 14 and a lingual U-shaped member 15, which are integrally connected at their rear ends by webs or loops 16. The lingual member 15 embodies a strip 15'. The buccal U-shaped member 14 is provided upon its lingual side with recesses or depressions 17, which receive the anterior teeth 17', and upon the same ; side with recesses 18 which receive the posterior teeth 18'. The anterior portion of the buccal member 14 extends down to the incisal ledge or bite of the anterior teeth 17', while the sides of the buccal member 14 terminate short of the occlusal ledge or bite of the posterior teeth 18'. The lingual U-shaped member 15 is provided upon its buccal side with recesses 19 to receive the anterior teeth 17' and upon the same side with recesses 20, to receive the posterior teeth IS . The recesses 17, 18, 19 and 20 are curved or shaped in horizontal cross section to correspond to the shape or curvature of the teeth forming sockets which accurately fit upon the teeth and have powerful mechanical holding engagement therewith. These recesses are also vertically inclined to correspond to the shape of the teeth, and the members 14 and 15 are also shaped to fit the gum. The accurate fit of the appliance upon the teeth securely- locks such appliance to the teeth. The anterior portion of the lingual member 15 terminates short of the bite of the anterior teeth 17’, and the sides of the lingual member 15 terminate short of the bite Posterior teeth, but may be nearer such bites than the anterior portion.

Ti! ^ΙθΓ^6Γ °^ΓΪ ^{appliance 1} &lt; includes a buccal U-shaped member 21, and a lingual u-shaped TJ^nt®^{SraIly connec}ted by bands or loops 23. The buccal member 2! is provided upon its lingual side with recesses 24 for receiving the lower anterior teeth 17α and unon the same .side with recesses 26 for receiving the ΙθΛηΗ^η Τ’” ^teetL ^l8a- ^bUCCal ^mber tn XhS Λ^{6 * * * *}”? ^{22 are incUned} °¹' curved 1” Z ¹ !!^Ci^On,^{flt the} surface of the teeth -- , , * ·~ ·· Tiis anterior recesses _nnJ^X^^{nd UP t0 the bite of the antei}’ior teeth 17α ^{26 termin}ate short of the bite of the posterior teeth iSa. The anterior r? cesses 27 terminate short of the bite of the an’ o?the bite^hof^aS ^the r^{CeSSeS 28 terminate} short or the bite of the posterior teeth. The lower anphance is similar to the upper appliance, and is 60 made to accurately fit the teeth and gum and will have secure locking engagement with the

My invention relates to worn by football players, boxers, athletes or the like.

As is well known, dental injuries rank high in college football and other football. Attempts have been made to provide a mouthpiece to lessen such injuries. The prior mouthpiece is formed of rubber and is held in place by suction. A mouthpiece of this character is not satisfactory as it is so bulky that it is inconvenient to wear, interferes with normal breathing, chewing or the like, and renders talking difficult. In order that the mouthpiece be held in place, the mouth must be held closed. The holding action, due to suction, is not sufficiently strong to hold against severe blows.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a mouthpiece or oral appliance which is made to accurately fit a set of teeth and the gum upon which it is applied. The appliance is rigid and strong and securely anchored to the teeth and will thereby distribute a blow delivered at any one point over the entire group of teeth, thereby absorbing the shock and preventing injury. The device is thin and will not inconvenience the user nor prevent proper breathing, talking or the like. The device is of simple construction and may be made cheaply and may be conveniently and quickly applied like the average dental bridge.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this aplication and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout

Figure 1 is a side elevation of upper and lower oral appliances, applied to models,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the upper and ' lower appliances, removed,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the lower oral appliance, applied to the model,

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the upper oral appliance, applied to the model, ‘

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 5—5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a similar view taken on line 6_-6 of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a front end elevation of the upper and tower appliances, applied to the models, and in the closed position, and, ^FR^&gt;^rw·^{8 * * * * * * iS} i ^transverse section taken on line

6—8 of Figure 1.

My invention embodies upper and lower oral appliances 10 and 11, shown applied to the teeth of upper and lower models 12 and (3. The models are formed from the stone or Plaster of

Pans, molded m the cavities of the impression elements, which cavities are made directly from the teeth and gums of the wearer, as is the prac^{m dentlst}7&gt;^ln making bridges, plates or the

Lin' ^T^^{e appliances a}re formed of a metal alloy which is capable of withstanding 1800 pounds pressure per square inch, and this enables and gum, as is obvious.

2,669,866 teeth. The anterior ends of the members l&lt; and 21 completely cover the anterior teeth.

The upper and lower oral appliances may be used together or separately. Each appliance not only protects the teeth but also protects the mms and jaws from fracture or injury. The appliance is not held in position by suction, but is held in place by mechanical retention, that is, gngftging about and. over the teeth and. gums m the bone area beyond the gingival margin of the teeth. Due to the manner of application of my device, the appliance will remain in place upon the wearer when struck or jolted. The appliance is constructed to allow all posterior teeth to come through and beyond the appliance so as not to interfere with the natural occlusal ledge or bite. The anterior teeth have their buccal surface covered to the incisal ledge or bite, for protection, but their lingual surface is partly uncovered, not to interfere with the normal bite. The appliance is constructed to accurately fit the teeth and gums of the individual wearer and to engage over or about all of the teeth in the group, sitting down in position upon the gum at the periphery of the mouth. The appliance will not interfere with the normal use or bite of the teeth, and will allow the wearer to properly breathe, speak, eat, cough and expectorate, with ease without removing the appliance. The _leetn ui aimara u. —------— wearer need not grip or hold the jaws together 30 from injuries due to blows applied to the face in order to hold either or both appliances in *«’« place. The mouth can be opened during violent exercise, such as running, and the appliance will not shift, loosen or fall out. The appliance ad- ----------------------heres to the teeth and gum, blending to the tissue 35 stantially U-shaped member being arranged and gives the wearer a comfortable and stable ....... ’ --——feeling of protection. The appliance is so thin and adheres so closely to the gum that the tongue cannot well differentiate between the gum and .

appliance. The appliance is highly polished and 40 ranged in a posterior position, the posterior ends will not tarnish and does not attract tartar and -- * **-”” &gt;-·»&gt;·-» will not give the wearer a gagging sensation, which will cause expectoration. The appliance also serves as a splint for treating jaw fractures, --------- _r----to keep the jaw in position after being set. Due ₄₅ adapted to substantially completely cover the to the high degree of stiffness and strength of - .... . ..... - ·—¹ *the appliance, any local blow or jolt to the teeth or jaw will be distributed over the entire area of the appliance and all teeth to which the appli- ----— ance is attached, thereby greatly reducing the ₅₀ the rear of the anterior teeth, tbe sides of the local effect of the blow at the point of impact ..... ’ ·- ·“* ^J ‘~^J which in turn drastically reduces or eliminates damage to the teeth or jaw.

It is to be understood that the form of my _ .

invention herewith shown and described is to 55 recesses being arranged inpairs and the:receseee be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.