BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] A mouth piece assembly for relaxing muscles associated with a jaw of a person having teeth.

2. Description of the Prior Art

[0002] US Patent No. 5,826,581 (hereinafter referred to as the '581 patent), issued to Nobutaka Yoshida on October 27, 1998, shows a mouth piece assembly including a mouth piece body. As best shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the '581 patent, the mouth piece body presents a pocket and a member disposed in that pocket.

[0003] The mouth piece assembly of the '581 patent functions to protect the molars of a person. The mouth piece body is formed by molding a resin with an insert piece interposed in an intermediate position. After the resin solidifies, the insert piece is removed to define the pocket. A softenable material is then injected into the pocket and solidified to define the member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

[0004] The invention provides a mouth piece assembly wherein the mouth piece body includes a retainer in the pocket for receiving and retaining at least one calibrating member in the pocket of the mouth piece body to increase the height of the mouth piece body for increasing the vertical dimension of occlusion of the person into a predetermined range when the person's teeth are clenched against the mouth piece assembly.

[0005] The invention improves on the prior art mouth piece assemblies because the calibrating members can be inserted into the pocket of the mouth piece body to customize the height of the mouth piece assembly. The height of the mouth piece assembly can be custom fitted to any person to increase that person's vertical dimension of occlusion into a predetermined range, and thereby, increase that person's strength, stamina, and balance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mouth piece assembly;

[0008] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the mouth piece assembly;

[0009] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the mouth piece assembly taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2 and showing a tooth;

[0010] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the mouth piece assembly similar to Figure 3 and showing the access to the pocket for inserting and removing the calibrating members to and from the pocket;

[0011] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the mouth piece assembly similar to Figure 3 and showing the calibrating members melted and conformed to the teeth of the person;

[0012] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the mouth piece assembly;

[0013] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment taken along line 7-7 of Figure 6 and showing a tooth; and

[0014] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the mouth piece assembly similar to Figure 7 and showing the calibrating members melted and conformed to the teeth of the person.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a mouth piece assembly 20 for relaxing muscles associated with a jaw of a person having teeth 22 is generally shown in Figures 1-8. The mouth piece assembly 20 is preferably used on the lower teeth 22 of a person.

[0016] The mouth piece assembly 20 includes a mouth piece body 24, generally indicated, extending through a U-shape from a first end 26 to a second end 28. The mouth piece bodies 24 of the exemplary embodiments are of a polymeric material deformable at a temperature above human body temperature. The human body temperature includes those temperatures that the human body might reach during physical activity. [0017] In the exemplary embodiments of Figures 1-8, the mouth piece body

24 has a cross-section extending between the first and second ends 26, 28 defining a top wall 30 and a pair of side walls 32 spaced from one another and extending downwardly away from the top wall 30 to distal ends 34. The cross-section further includes a cross- member 36 disposed between the top wall 30 and the distal ends 34 of the side walls 32 and interconnecting the side walls 32 to present a pocket 38. The pocket 38 is defined by the top wall 30, the side walls 32, and the cross-member 36. Additionally, the mouth piece body 24 presents a channel 40 on the lower side of the cross-member 36 opposite the pocket 38 for engaging the lower teeth 22 of the person. It should be appreciated that the pocket 38 of the mouth piece body does not have to be enclosed by the cross-member 36.

[0018] The mouth piece body 24 further includes a retainer 36 in the pocket

38 for receiving and retaining at least one calibrating member 44 in the pocket 38 of the mouth piece body 24 to increase the vertical dimension of occlusion of the person with the teeth 22 clenched against the mouth piece body 24 into the range of nineteen plus or minus two millimeters (19 ± 2 mm or 17 to 21 mm). In order to maximize the relaxation of the muscles associated with the jaw and optimize the neurological efficiency for increasing strength, the vertical dimension of occlusion is preferably in the range of 19 ± 2 mm. Relaxing the muscles associated with the jaw and optimizing the neurological efficiency has been found to improve a person's strength, stamina, and balance. The vertical dimension of occlusion is preferably obtained by measuring the distance from the gum line at the upper central incisor to the gum line at the lower central incisor when the teeth 22 are clenched against the mouth piece body 24.

[0019] Similar to the mouth piece body 24, the calibrating members 44 are of a material deformable at a temperature greater than the human body temperature. Once the calibrating members 44 have been inserted into the pocket 38 of the mouth piece body 24, the mouth piece assembly 20 is submerged in hot water at a temperature above the human body temperature (preferably above 1 10 degrees Fahrenheit) for thirty to sixty (30- 60) seconds to heat and melt the calibrating members 44 and the mouth piece body 24. Once heated, the mouth piece assembly 20 is submerged in cold water for approximately five (5) seconds and quickly inserted into the mouth of the person. The teeth 22 of the person are then clenched on the mouth piece body 24 to conform the mouth piece body 24 and the calibrating members 44 to the teeth 22 of the person. The mouth piece body 24 and calibrating members 44 will reharden in the conformed position to provide a comfortable mouth piece assembly 20 that is custom-fitted to give that person a vertical dimension of occlusion in the range of 19 ± 2 mm.

[0020] Figures 2-5 show a first embodiment of the mouth piece assembly

20. Referring to Figure 3, the cross-member 36 of the mouth piece body 24 has a cross- section presenting an L-shape including a long leg 46 integrally connected to one of the side walls 32. The long leg 46 extends in parallel relationship with the top wall 30 to the other side wall 32, and a short leg 48 abuts the other side wall 32 and extends downwardly away from the top wall 30. As can be seen in Figure 4, the L-shaped cross-member 36 can be pulled downwardly to present an access 42 for inserting the calibrating members 44 into the pocket 38 of the mouth piece body 24. Figure 5 shows the mouth piece body 24 and the calibrating members 44 after being melted and conformed to the teeth 22 of the person in the process described above.

[0021] Figures 6-8 show a second embodiment of the mouth piece assembly

20. As best shown in Figure 7, before being melted and conformed to the teeth 22 of the person, each of the calibrating members 44 of the second embodiment has a tubular shape, and the cross-member 36 arcs downwardly away from the top wall 30. As shown in Figure 6, both the first and second ends 26, 28 of the mouth piece body 24 are open to define the access 42 for inserting the calibrating members 44 into the pocket 38 of the mouth piece body 24. Upon entering the access 42, the calibrating members 44 snake through the pocket 38 to the position shown in Figure 6. Figure 8 shows the calibrating members 44 after being melted and conformed to the teeth 22 of the person in the process described above. It should be appreciated that the cross-member 36 is just an exemplary embodiment of the retainer, and that other means may be used as the retainer, for example, buttons, notches, or a friction material in the mouth piece body 24 for holding the calibrating members 44 in the pocket 38 of the mouth piece body 24.

[0022] A method for relaxing muscles associated with a jaw of a person having teeth 22 using a mouth piece assembly 20 is further included. The mouth piece assembly 20 includes a mouth piece body 24 of a polymeric material deformable at a temperature above human body temperature formed into a U-shape extending between a first end 26 and a second end 28. The mouth piece body 24 of the exemplary embodiments further has a cross-section extending between the first and second ends 26, 28 defining a top wall 30 and a pair of side walls 32 extending downwardly away from the top wall 30 and a cross-member 36 disposed between the top wall 30 and the distal ends 34 and interconnecting the side walls 32 to present a pocket 38 defined by the top wall 30, the side walls 32, and the cross-member 36. The cross-section further presents a channel 40 on the lower side of the cross-member 36 opposite the pocket 38 for engaging the lower teeth 22 of the person.

[0023] The method begins with the step of measuring the vertical dimension of occlusion of the person with the teeth 22 being clenched. As explained above, the vertical dimension of occlusion is obtained by measuring the distance from the gum line of the upper central incisor to the gum line of the lower central incisor when the teeth 22 are clenched. The method continues with the step of comparing the measured vertical dimension of occlusion of the person to a predetermined range of 19 ± 2 mm. The method continues with the step of inserting at least one calibrating member 44 into the pocket 38 of the mouth piece body 24 for increasing the vertical dimension of occlusion of the person into the predetermined range when the person's teeth 22 are clenched against the mouth piece body 24. Similar to the mouth piece body 24, each of the calibrating members 44 is of a material deformable at a temperature greater than the human body temperature and has a predetermined thickness. The calibrating members 44 of the exemplary embodiments each have a thickness of one to two (1-2) mm, but any other thickness can be used. When determining the number of calibrating members 24 to insert into the pocket 38 of the mouth piece body 24, the thickness of the mouth piece body 24 should be accounted for. For example, if the measured vertical dimension of occlusion of the person is 13 mm, the thickness of the mouth piece body 24 is 2 mm, and each of the calibrating members 44 is 2 mm thick, then two calibrating members 44 should be inserted into the pocket 38 of the mouth piece body 24 to increase the vertical dimension of occlusion of the person with the teeth 22 clenched against the mouth piece body 24 to 19 mm.

[0024] In the first embodiment if the mouth piece assembly 20, the method further includes the step of pulling the short leg 48 downwardly to move the long leg 46 to provide the access 42 for inserting the calibrating members 44 into the pocket 38 of the mouth piece body 24.

[0025] In the second embodiment of the mouth piece assembly 20, at least one of the first and second ends 26, 28 of the mouth piece body 24 is open to provide the access 42 for inserting the calibrating members 44 into the pocket 38 of the mouth piece body 24. [0026] When the correct number of calibrating members 44 are inserted into the pocket 38 of the mouth piece body 24, the method continues with the step of heating the mouth piece body 24 in water at a temperature greater than the human body temperature (preferably at 1 10 degrees Fahrenheit) for 30-60 seconds to soften and melt the material of the mouth piece body 24 and the calibrating members 44. Once heated, the mouth piece body 24 continues with the step of cooling the mouth piece body 24 in cool water for approximately 5 seconds. The method is completed with the step of engaging the mouth piece body 24 to the teeth 22 of the person to conform the mouth piece body 24 and the calibrating members 44 to the teeth 22 of the person in response to the teeth 22 of the person being clenched against the mouth piece body 24.

[0027] EXAMPLE

[0028] A study was conducted comparing the strength of the test subjects under four different conditions: without a mouth piece and with their teeth unclenched (unclenched); without a mouth piece assembly and with their teeth clenched (clenched); with a common mouth guard (common mouth guard); and with the mouth piece assembly of the exemplary embodiment (exemplary mouth piece assembly). The common mouth guard was fitted to the test subjects according to the manufacturer's specifications. The mouth piece assembly of the exemplary embodiment was formed and fitted to the test subjects using the method described above so that the test subjects each had a vertical dimension of occlusion in the range of 19 plus or minus 2 mm.

[0029] The test subjects participated in upper body and lower body strength tests under each of the above conditions. The upper body test was an elbow flexion/extension, and the lower body test was a knee extension/flexion. Prior to the testing, each of the subjects was warmed up and the testing machine was properly calibrated. The order of testing each of the above conditions was randomized. Each of the subjects did sets of five repititions for each of the above conditions with a three minute rest period between each of the sets. Four criteria were measured during each test: peak torque/body weight (PT/BW), max repetition work (MRW), total work (TW), and average power (AP). The data was then normalized with unclenched teeth position used as the baseline. The other three conditions were evaluated as improvements (positive) or degradations (negative) from the unclenched position. Below are charts depicting the results of the upper body and lower body strength tests. Upper Body

Condition PT/BW (%) RW (ft-lbs) TW (ft-lbs) AP (watts)

Unclenched 0 0 0 0

Clenched 1.25 2.94 18.87 2.65

Common Mouth 1.63 4.06 16.33 4.22 Guard

Exemplary Mouth 2.35 6.12 30.94 6.12 Piece Assembly

[0030] As can be seen from the above tables, the mouth piece assembly of the exemplary embodiment provided a significant increase in strength in both the upper body and lower body tests when compared to the other three conditions. The mouth piece assembly of the exemplary embodiment has also been found to provide similar benefits to the user's balance and stamina.

[0031] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the appended claims. That which is prior art in the claims precedes the novelty set forth in the "characterized by" clause. The novelty is meant to be particularly and distinctly recited in the "characterized by" clause whereas the antecedent recitations merely set forth the old and well-known combination in which the invention resides. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the inventive novelty exercises its utility. The use of the word "said" in the apparatus claims refers to an antecedent that is a positive recitation meant to be included in the coverage of the claims whereas the word "the" precedes a word not meant to be included in the coverage of the claims. In addition, the reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are not to be read in any way as limiting.