ANTI-SNORING AND ANTI-CHOCKING APPARATUS AND METHOD

Abstract

Provided is also an apparatus and method for preventing, reducing, or curing snoring, snoring-related apnea, and/or chocking during snoring, the apparatus comprising a cap body, a cap strap, a chin support belt, an cap edge of the cap body, a first belt buckle, a cavity, a chin support plate, a second belt buckle, and flat straps. The cap opening and the cap strap are disposed on the cap edge of the cap body. The first belt buckle is disposed on the cap strap. The chin support plate with a cavity in the center is disposed on the chin support belt. Both ends of the chin support belt are flat straps with a belt buckle. An elastic belt or a locking belt is disposed between the two sides of the cap opening on the cap edge of the cap body.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2006/001864 with an international filing date of Jul. 27, 2006, which is based on Chinese Patent Application No. 200510028613.7 filed Aug. 9, 2005. The contents of these specifications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the field of sleeping aids and methods for improve sleep quality, and more particularly to an anti-snoring and anti-chocking apparatus and method for prevention and elimination of snoring and snoring-related chocking.

2. Description of the Related Art

Snoring is a common phenomenon. Severe snoring may cause choking, transient apnea, or even sudden death. Research indicates that there are many reasons for snoring, including but not limited to airway obstruction and diseases of the central nervous system. Airway obstruction may be caused by a poor muscle tone of the nose, the pharynx, and the tongue which results in turbulent airflow.

Snoring adversely influences the quality and the length of sleep not only of the snoring person but also of other persons exposed to it; it increases the overall sleep time and decreases the amount of deep sleep. In consequence, snoring leads to headaches, fatigue, sleepiness, loss of memory and to more serious diseases, such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and may therefore shorten one's life time.

Various treatment methods are conventionally employed to control snoring, such as surgical correction and medication. However, more simple methods that are widely applicable remain to be developed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One objective of the invention is to provide anti-snoring and anti-chocking apparatus and method of using the same that are capable of preventing, reducing, or curing snoring, snoring-related apnea, and/or chocking during snoring and help to improve sleeping efficiency

In certain embodiments of the invention, an anti-snoring and anti-chocking apparatus comprises a cap body (1); a cap strap (2); a chin support belt (3); cap edge (4) of the cap body (1); a first belt buckle (5); a cavity (6); a chin support plate (7); a second belt buckle (8); and flat straps (9).

In a class of this embodiment, the cap opening (10) and the cap strap (2) are disposed on the cap edge (4) of the cap body (1).

In a class of this embodiment, the cap strap (2) is symmetrically disposed on the cap edge (4) of the cap body (1).

In a class of this embodiment, the first belt buckle (5) is connected to the cap strap (2).

In a class of this embodiment, the main body of the chin support belt (3) is the chin support plate (7) with the cavity (6) in the center.

In a class of this embodiment, both ends of the chin support belt (3) are the flat straps (9) having the second belt buckle (8).

In a class of this embodiment, an elastic belt (11) is disposed between the two sides of the cap opening (10) on the cap edge (4).

In a class of this embodiment, a pair of locking belts for inter-buckling are respectively disposed on both sides of the cap opening (10) on the cap edge (4).

In a class of this embodiment, the locking belt disposed on both sides of the cap opening (10) comprises a strip having Velcro tapes or belt buckles disposed thereon.

In certain embodiments of the invention, a method for preventing, reducing, or curing snoring, snoring-related apnea, and/or chocking during snoring comprises providing a means for supporting the lower chin of a patient a) to enable the patient to breathe through the nose, b) to prevent the patient's oral cavity from drying out, and c) to place the pharynx and the tongue of the patient in appropriate physiological positions so as to reduce relaxation of the pharynx and swelling of the tongue during sleep.

In certain embodiments of the invention, a method for preventing, reducing, or curing snoring, snoring-related apnea, and/or chocking during snoring comprises providing the apparatus as described herein to a patient in need thereof to be worn during sleep.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of an anti-snoring and anti-chocking apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention, in which 1 indicates cap body; 2—cap strap; 3—chin support belt; 4—cap edge; 5—first belt buckle; 6—cavity; 7—chin support plate; 8—second belt buckle; 9—flat strap; 10—cap opening; and 11—elastic belt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Detailed description will be given below in conjunction with accompany drawing and particular embodiments.

A method for eliminating and/or reducing snoring, snoring-related chocking, and transient apnea related to snoring comprises providing means for supporting the lower chin of a patient, such as a cap described herein, so as to 1) enable the patient to breathe through the nose during sleep, 2) cause his oral cavity not to dry out and contain a higher amount of saliva, 3) place the patient's pharynx and tongue in appropriate physiological positions, and/or 4) reduce relaxation of the patient's pharynx and swelling of the patient's tongue.

The anti-snoring and anti-chocking apparatus comprises a cap body, a cap strap and a chin support belt. The cap edge of the cap body matching with a head of a patient is in the shape of an adjustable retracting mouth, and a cap opening and the cap opening-belt are disposed thereon. The cap strap is symmetrically disposed on the cap edge of the cap body, and a first belt buckle is attached thereto. The main body of the chin support belt is a chin support plate with a cavity in the center. Both ends of the chin support belt are flat straps having a belt buckle. The adjustable retracting mouth on the cap edge of the cap is composed of a cap opening disposed on the cap edge of the cap body. An elastic belt disposed between two sides of the cap opening or a pair of locking belts, and Velcro tapes or belt buckles disposed on the locking belt for inter-buckling, so as to match with the head of a patient. The cavity in the center of the chin support plate on the chin support belt may be elongated, elliptical or rectangular.

During use of the anti-snoring and anti-chocking apparatus, the cavity in the middle of the chin support belt is aligned with the lower chin of a patient, and both ends of the chin support belt pass through the first belt buckle of the cap strap and are inter-buckled or self-buckled, so as to support and fix the lower chin. This ensures that the patient does not breathe with his mouth open, his pharynx and tongue are in appropriate physiological positions, his oral cavity does not dry out during breathing, pharynx relaxation is reduced, and a swelling of the tongue does not occur. This reduces and/or eliminates snoring and snoring-related choking.

Adding a cap strap and the chin support belt to a cap implements a simple and reasonable structure, low cost, convenient production, and significant anti-choking effect. After prolonged use, the apparatus and method of the invention gradually corrects the habit of breathing though the mouth, and restores breathing through the nose. There is no discomfort or side effects during use of the apparatus according to the invention.

Safety and quality of sleep are ensured, which helps to improve and maintain a high level of patient's health and mood. The apparatus and method of the invention are economical and have wide applicability. They are applicable to the treatment, cure, and prevention of snoring and snoring-related problems.

EXAMPLE 1

As shown in FIG. 1, an anti-snoring and anti-chocking apparatus comprises a cap body 1, a cap strap 2, and a chin support belt 3. The cap edge 4 of the cap body 1 is adjustable, and the cap opening 10 and the cap opening-belt 2 are disposed thereon. The cap strap 2 is symmetrically disposed on the cap edge 4 of the cap body, and a belt buckle 5 is attached thereto. A chin support plate 7 with a cavity 6 in the center is disposed on the chin support belt 3. Both ends of the chin support belt 3 are flat straps 9 having a belt buckle 8. The cap opening 10 is disposed on the cap edge 4 of the cap body 1, and an elastic belt is disposed between the two sides of the cap opening 10. Moreover, a pair of locking belts for inter-buckling are respectively disposed on both sides of the cap opening 10, and Velcro tapes or belt buckles for inter-buckling are disposed on an end of the locking belt. The cavity 6 in the center of the chin support plate 7 on the chin support belt 3 is elongated, elliptical or rectangular.

This invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein and modifications for various applications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. While this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.

Claims

1. An anti-snoring and anti-chocking apparatus comprising: wherein

a cap body (1);

a cap strap (2);

a chin support belt (3);

a cap edge (4) of the cap body (1);

a first belt buckle (5);

a cavity (6);

a chin support plate (7);

a second belt buckle (8); and

flat straps (9);

said cap opening (10) and said cap strap (2) are disposed on said cap edge (4) of said cap body (1);

said cap strap (2) is symmetrically disposed on said cap edge (4) of said cap body (1);

said first belt buckle (5) is attached to said cap strap (2);

said chin support plate (7) with said cavity (6) is disposed on said chin s upport belt (3); and

both ends of said chin support belt (3) comprise said flat straps (9) with said second belt buckle (8).

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein an elastic belt (11) is disposed between the two sides of said cap opening (10) on said cap edge (4).

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a pair of locking belts for inter-buckling are respectively disposed on both sides of said cap opening (10) on said cap edge (4).

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said locking belt disposed on both sides of said cap opening (10) comprises a strip having Velcro tapes or belt buckles disposed thereon.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said locking belt disposed on both sides of said cap opening (10) comprises a strip having Velcro tapes or belt buckles disposed thereon.

7. A method for preventing, reducing, or curing snoring, snoring-related apnea, and/or chocking during snoring comprising providing a means for supporting the lower chin of a patient a) to enable the patient to breathe through the nose, b) to prevent the patient's oral cavity from drying out, and c) to place the pharynx and the tongue of the patient in appropriate physiological positions so as to reduce relaxation of the pharynx and swelling of the tongue.

8. A method for preventing, reducing, or curing snoring, snoring-related apnea, and/or chocking during snoring comprising providing the apparatus of claim 1 to a patient in need thereof to be worn during sleep.