MOUTHGUARD ASSEMBLY
A mouthguard assembly that includes a U-shaped body, a protective member, and a trough member. The body includes a posterior wall, an anterior wall, and a middle bite portion disposed between the posterior wall and the anterior wall. The posterior wall and the anterior wall extend from the middle bite portion to define a groove. The protective member is at least partially embedded within the body, if not completely embedded within the body. The protective member comprises a rigid material composition that provides added protection to a user of the mouthguard assembly and a degree of rigidity to the body. The trough member can be a cushioning member that cushions the force of an impact or a brace member that braces a user's teeth. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating the mouthguard assembly.
This application is a non-provisional patent application that claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/080,216, filed Sep. 18, 2020, and to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/237,573, filed Aug. 27, 2021. U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/080,216 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/237,573 are both hereby incorporated by reference as if fully recited herein.
TECHNICAL FIELDExemplary embodiments relate generally to mouthguard assemblies and methods for manufacturing mouthguard assemblies.
BACKGROUNDPlayers of contact sports (e.g., football, basketball, hockey, etc.), often experience impacts to their heads and bodies during the course of a match. These impacts may occur, among other reasons, due to the player falling, hitting objects (e.g., soccer balls), and/or colliding with other players. To protect themselves, players often wear protective equipment to deflect and/or cushion these impacts.
Mouthguards are a common piece of protective equipment designed to protect the user's mouth (e.g., teeth and soft tissues). In the event the user experiences a blow to the head, a mouthguard can help redistribute the force of the blow, thereby minimizing the risk of broken or lost teeth, as well as injuries to the user's lips, tongue, gums, and cheeks.
Conventional mouthguards typically feature a unibody design, fabricated as a single piece. This means that the mouthguard will exhibit a flexural rigidity that is reflective of the material used to fabricate it. A soft (i.e., flexible) mouthguard may be relatively comfortable to wear, but offers less protection in the event of a direct impact to the user's head. Soft mouthguards may also degrade or fail quicker than a hard mouthguard. Hard (i.e., rigid) mouthguards may serve as a better brace against an impact but may be less comfortable for the user to wear or bite against.
What is needed is a mouthguard that is comfortable for the user to wear or bite against, but can also resist/minimize/disperse the force of an impact before it is transferred to the user's teeth. Accordingly, those skilled in the art continue with research and development efforts in the field of mouthguard design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONDisclosed are mouthguard assemblies that include a body, a protective member, and a trough member. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing the same.
In one embodiment, the mouthguard assembly includes a U-shaped body that includes a posterior wall, an anterior wall, and a middle bite portion disposed between the posterior wall and the anterior wall. The posterior wall and the anterior wall extend from the middle bite portion to define a groove. The protective member is at least partially embedded within the body and the protective member includes a rigid material composition. The trough member is received in the groove of the body and defines a trough for receiving at least part of a dental arch.
In one embodiment, the mouthguard assembly includes a U-shaped body that includes a posterior wall, an anterior wall, and a middle bite portion disposed between the posterior wall and the anterior wall. The posterior wall and the anterior wall extend from the middle bite portion to define a groove. The protective member is at least partially embedded within the body and the protective member includes a rigid material composition. The trough member is a brace member and is received in the groove of the body. The brace member defines a trough for receiving at least part of a dental arch.
In one embodiment, the mouthguard assembly includes a U-shaped body that includes a posterior wall, an anterior wall, and a middle bite portion disposed between the posterior wall and the anterior wall. The posterior wall and the anterior wall extend from the middle bite portion to define a groove. The protective member is at least partially embedded within the body and the protective member includes a rigid material composition. The trough member is a cushioning member and is received in the groove of the body. The cushioning member defines a trough for receiving at least part of a dental arch.
Further features and advantages of the mouthguard assembly and methods disclosed herein, as well as the structure and operation of various aspects of the present disclosure, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures.
In addition to the features mentioned above, other aspects of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments, wherein like reference numerals across the several views refer to identical or equivalent features, and wherein:
Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, specific details such as detailed configuration and components are merely provided to assist the overall understanding of these embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.
The present disclosure relates to mouthguard assemblies that may be worn by a person (herein referred to as a “user”) to protect his/her mouth in the event of physical contact, such as during the play of contact sports like football and hockey. The mouthguard assemblies disclosed herein each comprise multiple components that, when assembled, impart different qualities and benefits to overall mouthguard assembly.
Embodiments of the Mouthguard AssemblyReferring to
The body 20 may be generally U-shaped and includes an anterior wall 24, a posterior wall 26, and a middle bite portion 28. Groove 30 is defined therebetween. The protective member 40 may be embedded within the body 20 and the cushioning member 46 may be applied to the groove.
As shown in
Design considerations for the protective member(s) 40 may include, for example, which teeth are most vulnerable based on the types of impacts the user is likely to experience. For example, the mouthguard assembly 100 may include a single protective member 40 extending from the anterior wall 24 to the posterior wall 26 that encompasses the user's eight forwardmost teeth (i.e., the user's central incisors, lateral incisors, canines, and first premolars) (e.g.,
As shown in
The cushioning member 46, and perhaps also the body 20 to some degree (specifically the groove 30), defines a trough 48 in the mouthguard assembly 100 that is configured to receive a user's teeth, thereby enabling the user to wear the mouthguard assembly 100. For this reason, the cushioning member 46 is considered a type of “trough member.”
The trough 48 may be shaped as appropriate to provide varying degrees of fit. The term “fit” can range from a stock (i.e., loose) fit to a custom (i.e., tight) fit. For example, in various embodiments, the trough 48 may be fabricated in a stock fit that only generally corresponds to the curvature of a user's teeth (
The overall size of the mouthguard assembly 100 may be varied as needed to accommodate different users (e.g., youth and adult sizes). In one embodiment, the mouthguard assembly 100 may have a length of about 2 inches to about 3 inches, preferably about 2.5 inches; a width of about 2 inches to about 3 inches, preferably about 2.5 inches; and a height of about 0.5 inches to about 1 inch, preferably about 0.75 inches. A mouthguard assembly 100 with of this size may be suitable for an adult user.
Referring to
Referring to
The brace member 70 defines a number of external sides that are external to trough 78. These sides include labial side 80, buccal sides 82 and 84, incisal side 86, and lingual side 88 (see also
The height of the posterior wall 72 and the anterior wall 74 may, but need not, be a limiting feature. These walls 72, 74 may be fabricated at various heights to accommodate different users or to encompass varying degrees of tooth surface. A relatively tall anterior wall 74 may reach up to the user's gums, whereas a relatively short anterior wall 74 may only encompass part of the user's labial and/or buccal tooth surfaces. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the height of the posterior wall 72 may vary in the same way.
The fit of the trough 78 may, but need not, be a limiting feature. In various embodiments, the fit can range from a stock (i.e., loose) fit to a custom (i.e., tight) fit. For example, the trough 78 may be fabricated in a stock fit that only generally corresponds to the curvature of a user's teeth 10. In other embodiments, the trough 78 may be fabricated in a custom fit that features individualistic depressions and curves that more closely matches the shape of a single user's teeth 10. In the embodiment shown, which is a preferred embodiment, the trough 18 is essentially a negative impression of a user's teeth 10.
The number of teeth that the brace member 70 is configured to encompass may, but need not, be a limiting feature. The embodiment shown features a brace member 70 that is designed to encompass the front ten teeth of a user's upper dental arch—both central incisors, both lateral incisors, both canines, both first premolars, and part of both second premolars (best shown in
Referring to
The degree to which the body 50 encompasses the brace member 70 may, but need not, be a limiting feature. In the embodiment shown, the body 50 encompasses all of the labial side 80 and the buccal sides 82, 84 of the brace member 70, extends around the incisal side 86, and tapers off at the brace member posterior wall 72 (best shown in
In the embodiment shown, it is contemplated since the body 50 does not encompass the brace member posterior wall 72, the extra space afforded to the user may enable greater tongue freedom, thereby making it easier for the user to talk, breathe, and swallow.
Referring to
Referring to
In the embodiment shown, the mouthguard assembly 300 includes a generally U-shaped protective member 60 (
Other embodiments may differ by having shorter or smaller protective members 60. For example, it is contemplated that a protective member 60 that only covers the labial side 80 may be provided, or a protective 60 member that only covers the labial and buccal sides 80, 82, 84. Variations such as these will not result in a departure from the scope of the present disclosure.
Other embodiments may also differ by having multiple protective members 60, instead of just one. For example, it is contemplated that a mouthguard assembly 300 may be provided with a protective member 60 configured to cover the left buccal side 82 and another protective member 60 configured to cover the right buccal side 84. Variations such as these will not result in a departure from the scope of the present disclosure.
Referring back to
In various embodiments, it is also contemplated that the protective member 60 may be directly received against an external surface of the brace member 70, instead of being embedded within the body 50. In such cases, it is contemplated that an appropriate indent may be provided within the groove 58 of the body 50 to accommodate the protective member 60.
Referring to
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the body 50, the brace member 70, and the protective member 60 may be scaled up or down in size to accommodate different users. For example, the mouthguard 300 may be fabricated in small, medium, and large sizes to account for the differences in the dental arches 10 of youth and adult users, or between male and female users.
The means by which the body 50 is attachable to the brace member 70 may, but need not, be a limiting feature. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there may be several methods that are suitable for joining these two parts. In the embodiment shown, for example, the brace member 70 and the body 50 are joinable by way of a cantilever snap fit joint (best shown in
At this point, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mouthguard assembly 300 of the present disclosure provides a modular solution for oral/dental protection, which may be desirable for several reasons. For one, rather than replacing an entire mouthguard when one part of the mouthguard degrades or fails, the user can simply replace that part. Further, the modularity of the mouthguard assembly 300 may enable the user to switch between configurations that are better suited for certain instances. For example, it may be the case that relatively thicker mouthguard assemblies are better suited for particularly high-impact contact sports like football or hockey, but relatively thinner mouthguard assemblies are better suited for contact sports like basketball and soccer. By switching between thicker or thinner bodies 50, a multisport athlete can configure the mouthguard assembly 300 to an appropriate level of protection while only needing one custom part—the brace member 70. This negates the need for multiple custom mouthguards which may only be suitable for a limited number of sports.
Optionally, for either the mouthguard assembly of the first embodiment 100 or the second embodiment 300, it is contemplated that flavorings may be injected to impart a flavor when the user is wearing the mouthguard assembly. Such flavorings may be injected into the bodies of the mouthguard assemblies and/or in a different component. It is contemplated that doing so would encourage people to wear the mouthguard assembly regularly. Those of ordinary skill in the art would know various flavorings that may be suitable for such a purpose.
Referring to
Items 90 may be embedded into a mouthguard assembly 100, 300 by: forming cutouts by removing portions of the mouthguard assembly body 20, 50 (e.g., from the front); applying a bonding agent (e.g., Permabond) to the inside of those cutouts; inserting items 90 into those cutouts (i.e., embedding); placing the removed portions back into those cutouts (e.g., over the items 90); and applying heat (e.g., from a flame) to fuse the removed portions back with the mouthguard assembly and smooth out the exterior surface.
In an alternative embodiment, items 90 may be embedded into a mouthguard assembly by: warming up a portion of the mouthguard assembly to make it more pliable; physically pushing the items 90 into the warmed-up portion of the mouthguard assembly body 20, 50 until the items 90 are at least partially embedded within the mouthguard assembly; allowing the warmed up portion to cool such that the items 90 are at least semi-held in place; and applying a thin layer of laminate (e.g., EVA copolymer) over the mouthguard assembly 100 to seal the item 90 in place.
To further increase the visual appeal of the mouthguard assembly 100, 300, it is also contemplated that mouthguard assembly bodies 20, 50, protective members 40, 70, cushioning members 46, and/or brace members 70 may be colorized (either in part or in its entirety). Similarly, insignia, logos, and/or text may also be provided on any given surface of a body 20, 50, protective member 40, 60, cushioning member 46 and/or brace member 70 as desired. In one embodiment, decals may be integrated into the mouthguard assembly 100, 300 by applying a decal to the exterior surface of a mouthguard assembly 100, 300 and applying a thin layer of laminate over the decal to seal the decal in place.
Material CompositionThe material composition of the mouthguard assembly body, such as the body 20 of the first embodiment 100 or the body 50 of the second embodiment 300, may include a material, or a blend of materials, that exhibits high durability, low compression, and limited degrees of flexibility. Several polymeric materials (i.e., plastics) may be suitable for such use. For example, vinyl polymers such as those based on polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyvinyl acetate may be appropriate. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, these polymers are commercially available in a wide variety of resin formulations, many of which may be used to form a mouthguard assembly body. Furthermore, it is also contemplated that vinyl copolymers may be suitable as well. Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers, in particular, are known to exhibit the desired properties described above, in addition to being generally flex-crack and puncture resistant, biocompatible, and with minimal moisture absorption. Still further, since EVAs tend to be malleable at temperatures below the boiling point of water, and will set once cooled, it is contemplated that EVAs may be used to fabricate “boil-and-bite” type mouthguards if desired. One example of a suitable EVA copolymer may include ELVAX™ available from E. I. Du Pont de Nemours Co., Wilmington, Del., 19898 (e.g., the 300, 400, and 700 series resins). The present disclosure provides several embodiments of a mouthguard assembly 100, 300 that feature EVA copolymer bodies (
Other types of polymeric materials that may be suitable for the fabrication of the mouthguard assembly body 20, 50 may include, for example, silicone elastomers (e.g., polydimethylsiloxane) (shown in
Particularly regarding the second embodiment 300 of the mouthguard assembly, it is contemplated that the body 50 may be fabricated from a material that is generally softer than the brace member 70. Such a material may exhibit a shore A hardness ranging from, for example, about 30 to about 80; or more preferably from about 40 to about 70. Here, it is contemplated that polymeric materials such as soft thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic styrenic elastomers, thermoplastic olefins, combinations thereof, and/or the like may be suitable.
The body 20, 50 of the mouthguard assembly 100, 300 is generally shown throughout this disclosure as being formed in a single, continuous phase (i.e., from a material substantially devoid of pockets of air/liquid). It is contemplated, however, that the body 20, 50 may be formed from a foam-based material (which includes pockets of air). Doing so may result in a mouthguard assembly body 20, 50 that is less dense and possibly available for impregnation with additives such as flavorings.
The material composition of a protective member, such as the protective member 40 of the first embodiment 100 or the protective member 60 of the second embodiment 300, may be fabricated from a material that exhibits high strength and rigidity. Ideally, the protective member 40, 60 should be able to absorb the force of an impact without fracturing or deforming. Polymeric materials that may be suitable for such use can include, for example, polycarbonate (
Other materials that may be suitable for forming the protective member 40, 60 may include, for example, glass fiber nylon, ceramics, and/or wood-based materials. In particular, it is contemplated that glass fiber nylon may be suitable for the protective member 60 of the second embodiment 300.
The cushioning member 46 of the first embodiment 100 may be fabricated from a material that is soft (e.g., hardness of about Shore 25A to about Shore 95A) and non-toxic. The material may be the same material used to fabricate the body 20 of the first embodiment 100 (e.g.,
The material composition of the brace member 70 of the second embodiment 300 may, but need not, be a limiting feature. It is contemplated that a semi-rigid material may be preferred so that the brace member 70 may be comfortable to wear while also sufficiently rigid to resist a significant degree of involuntary movement. Suitable semi-rigid materials may exhibit a flexural modulus ranging from about 1,800 MPa to about 2,400 MPa, or more preferably from about 2,050 MPa to about 2,130 MPa. Such a material may provide enhanced retention to a user's dental arch compared to softer, less rigid materials. An example of a semi-rigid material that may be suitable for the brace member 70 can include acrylate/methacrylate polymeric compositions. Such a composition may include, but is not limited to, methacrylated oligomers and monomers, photo initiators, colorants/dyes, absorbers, combinations thereof, and/or the like. One specific type of material that may be suitable for the brace member is E-Guard dental material, available from EnvisionTEC, Inc. of Dearborn, Mich. Alternatively, it is also contemplated that the brace member may be fabricated from an overmolded shape memory material.
Fabrication MethodsReferring to
Blocks 230, 240, and 260 may be performed using any suitable forming process, the suitability of which will likely depend, at least in part, on the desired material composition of the mouthguard assembly component. For example, mouthguard assembly components that comprise a polymeric, rubber, and/or silicone-based composition may be formed using a plastic forming process such as, but not limited to, additive manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing), injection molding (including reaction injection molding), compression molding, vacuum casting, and thermoforming (e.g., vacuum forming and pressure forming). For mouthguard assembly components that comprise a metallic composition (namely, the protective member), forming processes such as casting, forging (e.g., closed die forging), subtractive manufacturing (e.g., turning, drilling, and milling), and additive manufacturing may be appropriate.
Blocks 250 and 270, in a similar sense, may utilize any suitable joining process and/or means. In general, this is likely to entail the use of adhesives (e.g., in liquid form or as a pressure-sensitive tape), but may also include the use of mechanical fasteners (rivets, bolts, screws, etc.), interference fits (i.e., press fit, friction fit, etc.), and/or welds (including metal-to-plastic bonding processes such as laser and/or ultrasonic welding). Examples of adhesives that may be suitable here can include, for example, epoxies, cyanoacrylates, silicone-based adhesives, and UV cure adhesive systems.
In some embodiments of the method, blocks 240 and 250, and/or blocks 260 and 270 may be performed simultaneously. That is to say, the mouthguard assembly body 20 and/or cushioning member 60 may be joined as it is formed.
Referring to
This step may be performed by first creating a first impression of the user's teeth (block 212). This generally entails putting an appropriate amount of impression material (e.g., alginate or polyvinylsiloxane) into an impression tray, inserting the impression tray into a person's mouth (e.g., the user), pushing the impression tray against the person's teeth such that the impression material completely surrounds the person's teeth and gums, waiting until the impression material sets (e.g., becomes an elastic solid), and then removing the impression tray from the person's mouth. At which point, a negative imprint of the person's teeth and gums may be defined in the set impression material.
Referring to
Referring to
The first dental tray 94 may then be placed back onto the first dental model 92, and the previous steps (blocks 212-216) may be repeated using the first dental model 92 with the first dental tray 94 still on it. That is to say, a second impression may be created that is a negative imprint of the first dental model 92 with the first dental tray 94 on it (instead of someone's teeth) (block 218). A second dental model 96 may then be made from the second impression (block 220,
As shown, a second dental tray 98 that encompasses the front eight teeth of the user's maxillary dental arch may result in a protective member 40 that encompasses the same (
At this point, protective member 40 may be formed based on the second dental tray 98 (block 230). Any suitable forming process may be used, including the forming processes previously described. Since the protective member 40 comprises a metallic composition (e.g., vitallium), however, it is contemplated that metal forming processes such as casting, forging (e.g., closed die forging), subtractive manufacturing (e.g., turning, drilling, and milling), and additive manufacturing may be appropriate here. Further, it is also contemplated that retention beads 99 may be used to improve retention between the protective member 40 and the mouthguard assembly body 20.
From here, the protective member 40 may be placed back onto the second dental model 96 and the body 20 may be formed by vacuum forming sheets of polymeric material (e.g., EVA copolymer) around the protective member 40 and second dental model 96. This step may also involve cutting away any excess. As a result, this process not only forms the mouthguard assembly body 20 (block 240), but also simultaneously joins it to the protective member 40 (block 250). To improve retention, metal liquid bonding agent (e.g., Permabond® available from Permabond LLC of Pottstown, Pa.) may also be used to bind the protective member 40, and the mouthguard assembly 100 may be placed into pressurized hot water for approximately 5 minutes to 15 minutes, but preferably about 10 minutes, to help cure the metal liquid bonding agent. Those of ordinary skill in the art of mouthguard fabrication would know various other ways of affixing the protective member 40 into the mouthguard assembly 100 such as, for example, heat molding the protective member 40 into the surrounding mouthguard material (since the mouthguard material preferably has a lowing melting point than the protective member 40), or bonding it via adhesive into the mouthguard material, or applying an additional polymer layer over the protective member 40 as it rests on the surface of the body 20 to secure the protective member 40 between the body 60 and the polymer layer.
An appropriate amount of denture liner (e.g., PermaSoft Denture Liner) may then be applied on top of the protective member 40 (along the trough 48) and bonded to it, thereby simultaneously forming and joining the cushioning member 46 (blocks 260 and 270). This step may entail applying the denture liner in a liquid/gel form and bringing the mouthguard assembly 100 into contact with the user's teeth and gums to allow the denture liner to conform to the shape.
As a final step, the mouthguard assembly 100 may be polished and finished (block 280), thereby completing the method for manufacturing the mouthguard assembly 100.
Other methods of forming a mouthguard assembly body 20, 50 may include, for example, conventional plastic forming techniques such as casting, injection molding, compression molding, and the like may be suitable. It is further contemplated that additive manufacturing techniques (i.e., 3D printing) may also be suitable. These methods may be particularly suitable for forming the body 50 of the second embodiment 300.
Other methods of forming a protective member 40, 60 may include, for example, conventional plastic forming techniques such as casting, injection molding, compression molding, and the like may be suitable. It is further contemplated that additive manufacturing techniques (i.e., 3D printing) may also be suitable. These methods may be particularly suitable for forming the protective member 60 of the second embodiment 300.
In embodiments where one or more protective members 40, 60 are embedded completely within the body 20, 50 (having no exposed side, e.g., ref. no. 42), it is contemplated that an overmolding process may be suitable for fabrication (
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that fabrication of the brace member 70 of the second embodiment 300 may be achieved in a variety of ways without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, conventional plastic forming techniques such as casting, injection molding, compression molding, and the like may be suitable. It is further contemplated that additive manufacturing techniques (i.e., 3D printing) may also be suitable.
Any embodiment of the present invention may include any of the features of the other embodiments of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may practice the invention. Having shown and described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to the described invention. Many of those variations and modifications will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed invention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention only as indicated by the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A mouthguard assembly comprising:
- a U-shaped body comprising a posterior wall, an anterior wall, and a middle bite portion disposed between the posterior wall and the anterior wall, wherein the posterior wall and the anterior wall extend from the middle bite portion to define a groove;
- a protective member at least partially embedded within the body, the protective member comprising a rigid material composition; and
- a trough member received in the groove of the body that defines a trough for receiving at least part of a dental arch.
2. The mouthguard assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective member extends across at least the anterior wall and the middle bite portion of the body.
3. The mouthguard assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective member extends across the body to cover at least a user's central incisors, lateral incisors, canines, and first premolars.
4. The mouthguard assembly of claim 1, wherein the trough is configured for a tight custom fit.
5. The mouthguard assembly of claim 1, wherein the trough is configured for a loose stock fit.
6. The mouthguard assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the body, protective member, and trough member comprises a flavoring that a user can taste when wearing the mouthguard assembly.
7. The mouthguard assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one of jewels, identification labels, and small electronics embedded within the body.
8. A mouthguard assembly comprising:
- a U-shaped body comprising a posterior wall, an anterior wall, and a middle bite portion disposed between the posterior wall and the anterior wall, wherein the posterior wall and the anterior wall extend from the middle bite portion to define a groove;
- a protective member at least partially embedded within the body, the protective member comprising a rigid material composition; and
- a brace member received in the groove of the body that defines a trough for receiving at least part of a dental arch.
9. The mouthguard assembly of claim 8, wherein the protective member is embedded completely within the body.
10. The mouthguard assembly of claim 8, wherein:
- the brace member comprises a posterior wall, an anterior wall, and a middle bite portion;
- the body is configured to encompass the anterior wall and the middle bite portion of the brace member; and
- the body is configured to taper off in thickness around the posterior wall of the brace member.
11. The mouthguard assembly of claim 8, wherein:
- the brace member defines a bottom side that comprises a pair of cantilever arms; and
- the body and the protective member each include aligned, corresponding holes that are suitable for indexing the cantilever arms.
12. The mouthguard assembly of claim 8, wherein the trough of the brace member is a negative impression of at least a portion of a user's dental arch.
13. The mouthguard assembly of claim 8, wherein the brace member comprises a material having a flexural modulus ranging from about 1,800 MPa to about 2,400 MPa.
14. A mouthguard assembly comprising:
- a U-shaped body comprising a posterior wall, an anterior wall, and a middle bite portion disposed between the posterior wall and the anterior wall, wherein the posterior wall and the anterior wall extend from the middle bite portion to define a groove;
- a protective member at least partially embedded within the body, the protective member comprising a rigid material composition; and
- a cushioning member applied to the groove of the body that defines a trough for receiving at least part of a dental arch.
15. The mouthguard assembly of claim 14, wherein the groove of the body defines an indent and the protective member is embedded in this indent with one side exposed.
16. The mouthguard assembly of claim 15, wherein the cushioning member covers, in its entirety, the exposed side of the protective member.
17. The mouthguard assembly of claim 14, wherein the body comprises EVA copolymer.
18. The mouthguard assembly of claim 14, wherein the cushioning member comprises acrylic polymer.
19. The mouthguard assembly of claim 14, wherein the protective member comprises vitallium.
20. The mouthguard assembly of claim 8, wherein:
- the body comprises at least one of thermoplastic elastomer, thermoplastic styrenic elastomer, and thermoplastic olefin;
- the protective member comprises glass fiber nylon; and
- the brace member comprises at least one of acrylate polymer and methacrylate polymer.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 20, 2021
Publication Date: Mar 24, 2022
Inventor: Siegfried Settele (Dublin, OH)
Application Number: 17/479,723