Patents Assigned to SLEEPY, INC.
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Patent number: 9492310Abstract: A device for receipt in a user's mouth includes a tongue engagement element having a front region, a rear region, and side regions that define an opening for receiving a user's tongue, means for retaining the user's tongue in a forward position, and means for changing the size of the opening. The tongue engagement element is shaped such that when placed in a user's mouth, the rear region extends over the user's tongue and the front region extends under the user's tongue. A method of securing a tongue engagement element in a user's mouth includes moving an expanded tongue engagement element under a front region of a tongue and over a rear region of the tongue, and allowing the tongue engagement element to return toward a non-expanded state. The tongue engagement element acts to resist rearward motion of the tongue.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2013Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Sleepy, Inc.Inventors: Joshua Makower, Earl A. Bright, II, Eric Goldfarb, William Facteau, Ravinder D. Pamnani, Joseph Catanese, III, Theodore Bender, Imraan Aziz, Kyle Lamson, Michael Strasser, Jason Hegener
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Patent number: 9421073Abstract: An oral appliance includes a frame for mounting to a user's teeth and a tongue contacting retaining member extending from the frame and configured in use to limit movement of the tongue toward the user's throat when the user is exercising or sleeping to maintain an open air passageway. The retaining member is positioned relative to the frame such that in use the retaining member contacts the tongue in a zone behind the second molars and in front of the pharyngeal reflex region of the tongue. The retaining member is further configured to lightly contact the tongue, and to apply a restraining force to the tongue as the tongue begins to move toward the user's throat during exercise or as the user falls asleep.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2013Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: Sleepy, Inc.Inventors: Joshua Makower, James Blackburn Joslin, Michael Strasser, Clinton N. Slone, Earl A. Bright, II, Marc Spinali, Richard A. Carlson
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Publication number: 20140090654Abstract: A device for receipt in a user's mouth includes a tongue engagement element having a front region, a rear region, and side regions that define an opening for receiving a user's tongue, means for retaining the user's tongue in a forward position, and means for changing the size of the opening. The tongue engagement element is shaped such that when placed in a user's mouth, the rear region extends over the user's tongue and the front region extends under the user's tongue. A method of securing a tongue engagement element in a user's mouth includes moving an expanded tongue engagement element under a front region of a tongue and over a rear region of the tongue, and allowing the tongue engagement element to return toward a non-expanded state. The tongue engagement element acts to resist rearward motion of the tongue.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: SLEEPY, INC.Inventors: Joshua Makower, Earl A. Bright, II, Eric Goldfarb, William Facteau, Ravinder D. Pamnani, Joseph Catanese, III, Theodore Bender, Imraan Aziz, Kyle Lamson, Michael Strasser, Jason Hegener
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Patent number: 8474462Abstract: An oral appliance includes a frame for mounting to a user's teeth and a tongue contacting retaining member extending from the frame and configured in use to limit movement of the tongue toward the user's throat when the user is exercising or sleeping to maintain an open air passageway. The retaining member is positioned relative to the frame such that in use the retaining member contacts the tongue in a zone behind the second molars and in front of the pharyngeal reflex region of the tongue. The retaining member is further configured to lightly contact the tongue, and to apply a restraining force to the tongue as the tongue begins to move toward the user's throat during exercise or as the user falls asleep.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Sleepy, Inc.Inventors: Joshua Makower, James Blackburn Joslin, Michael Strasser, Clinton N. Slone, Earl A. Bright, II, Marc Spinali, Richard A. Carlson
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Publication number: 20130068235Abstract: An oral appliance includes a frame for mounting to a user's teeth and a tongue contacting retaining member extending from the frame and configured in use to limit movement of the tongue toward the user's throat when the user is exercising or sleeping to maintain an open air passageway. The retaining member is positioned relative to the frame such that in use the retaining member contacts the tongue in a zone behind the second molars and in front of the pharyngeal reflex region of the tongue. The retaining member is further configured to lightly contact the tongue, and to apply a restraining force to the tongue as the tongue begins to move toward the user's throat during exercise or as the user falls asleep.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2011Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: SLEEPY, INC.Inventors: Joshua Makower, James Blackburn Joslin, Michael Strasser, Clinton N. Slone, Earl A. Bright, II, Marc Spinali, Richard A. Carlson