Mouth Protector Material

Abstract

This uniquely constructed mouth protector material is designed to minimize damage and protection deficiencies associated with conventional athletic mouthpieces includes elastomer impregnated carbon fiber and resilient thermoplastics for encompassing the teeth. Each mouth protector material includes a thickness of elastomer infused carbon fiber overlain by and fused to pliable thermoplastics instantly disintegrating, deflecting and dissipating destructive forces directed to the head and mouth of a wearer so as to minimize damage. The device is designed to protect both the upper or lower teeth and brain by instantaneous absorption, reflection and disintegration of blows to the head and mouth of a wearer thereby optimizing protection.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following application relates to application Ser. No. 62/073,238. The present invention relates to a mouth protector material particularly designed to minimize discomfort and protection deficiencies associated with conventional mouthpieces.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

Athletes such as football players, boxers and basketball players typically wear a mouth piece made of rubber or urethane on the upper teeth that minimizes the impact associated with blows to the jaw, mouth or chin. A conventional mouth protector material is constructed with a moldable plastic or rubber. Typically, the device is preheated allowing the user to bite into the device.

Such materials, however, have numerous disadvantages. Conventional mouth guard material typically allow impact to the jaw and head to pass through to the underlying tissue resulting in significant discomfort. In addition, they lack high force reflective properties and force disintegrating qualities in a single entity thereby increasing inconvenience and increasing the possibility of significant injury to brain and oral tissues. Furthermore, each of the above described disadvantages discourage some athletes from wearing mouth protectors resulting in decreased compliance with mouth protector regulation in sports. The present invention overcomes the above described disadvantages of conventional mouth guard material by providing a mouth protector material that is comfortable to wear, enhances protection and minimizes concussions.

For these objects, in the prior art there are no known approaches and production methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mouth protector material for athletes and others requiring the above described characteristics. The device comprises a thickness of carbon fiber that has been made pliable by the addition of elastomers superimposed by and fused to a thickness of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, rubber, plastic or a similar equivalent, as well as other man-made materials, molded to receive and overlay the upper or lower teeth so as to minimize damage to the wearer. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mouth protector amalgamation that increases protection to the wearer. It is another object of the present invention to provide a mouth protector that deflect, dissipate and disintegrate harmful energy to the head and mouth utilizing a single appliance.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a mouth protector that advances athlete compliance with mouth guard regulation. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3, the present invention relates to a mouth protector material designed for protecting both upper or lower teeth and the brain.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the protective device according to the present invention includes an elastomeric carbon fiber 1, that is interfaced with and fused to resilient thermoplastics 2, can be adapted over either upper or lower teeth for the specific object of reflecting, dissipating and disintegrating force to the head and mouth thereby minimizing discomfort to a wearer.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a second embodiment is disclosed. The second embodiment includes a thickness of elastomeric carbon fiber compound 1, which is adapted over the teeth of a wearer to diminish the possibility of injury to a wearer.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a third embodiment is disclosed. The third embodiment includes two thicknesses of resilient compound 2 and 3, enveloping elastomeric carbon fiber 1, which is molded to conform to either the upper or lower teeth thereby optimizing protection to a wearer.

The above described device is preferably constructed with elastomeric carbon fiber or a similar equivalent and a resilient conformable thermoplastic material manufactured under the tradename ELVAX or a similar equivalent. A mold is made of the wearer's upper or lower teeth so that the mouthpiece according to the present invention can be molded thereto and according to the details of construction enumerated above.

As is readily apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a mouth protector material that instantaneously dissipates, deflects and disintegrates damaging impact to the brain and mouth while increasing athlete compliance with mouth protector regulation in a single appliance.

Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto that do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the follow claims.

Claims

1. A material for producing a mouth protector for securing to either upper or lower teeth of a wearer, each tooth including a crown portion that terminates at a gum line, said mouth protector material comprising: elastomer infused carbon fiber overlaid by and fused to resilient thermoplastics so as to minimize discomfort and enhance protection to a wearer.

2. A material for producing a mouth protector for securing to either upper or lower teeth of a wearer, each tooth including a crown portion that terminates at a gum line, said mouth protector material comprising: a thickness of elastomer infused carbon fiber enveloped by and fused to resilient thermoplastic components.

3. A material for producing a mouth protector for securing to either upper or lower teeth of a wearer, each tooth including a crown portion that terminates at a gum line, said mouth protector material comprising: a single thickness of elasticized carbon fiber.