Abstract
A facial exercise apparatus for facial muscle and bone resistance training and method of use. The facial exercise apparatus includes one or more flexor arms and a mouthpiece stabilizer, each connected to a flexor head connector. The flexor arm(s) extend upward, downward, left or right from the flexor head connector, have contours to place the patient's lips, and provide a resistance force outward from the flexor head connector. In use, a patient places and bites down upon the mouthpiece stabilizer, places a portion of their lips along a contoured portion of one or more of the flexor arms, and pushes their lips toward the center of the flexor head connector against the resistance of the flexor arm(s). When done at regular intervals and increasing resistances, the apparatus can strengthen a patient's facial muscles and bone and reduce the cosmetic appearance of wrinkles on their face.
Claims
1. A facial exercise apparatus to perform resistance exercises for an at least one portion of a lip of a patient, the apparatus comprising: an at least one flexor arm, said at least one flexor arm having an upper component contoured to surround the at least one portion of the lip of the patient, perpendicularly connected to a flexing component capable of providing an at least one level of resistance against the at least one portion of said lip; an at least one flexor head having a substantially cylindrical portion, a front end and a rear end, said flexor head capable of receiving said at least one flexor arm on an at least one location along said substantially cylindrical portion of said at least one flexor head; and a mouthpiece stabilizer having a size and shape sufficient to fit within the mouth of said patient and capable of securing said apparatus to said face of said patient during a facial exercise when said patient bites down upon said mouthpiece stabilizer, said mouthpiece stabilizer capable of connecting to said flexor head at said rear end.
2. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least four flexor arms wherein said flexor head capable of receiving said at least four flexor arms radially at ninety-degree intervals along said substantially cylindrical portion of said flexor head.
3. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flexing component comprises an adjustable spring capable of adjusting a resistance against said at least one lip portion.
4. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flexor head is capable of rotating around a connection to said mouthpiece stabilizer.
5. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mouthpiece stabilizer is molded from an impression of a bite pattern of the patient.
6. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one flexor arm comprises at least one of a group of component parts, selected from the group of component parts consisting of a base connector, an interior compressor rod, a lock, an interior spring, an aperture, a resistance adjustment gauge, a case and a contoured lip holder having a lip holder back rear edge and a lip holder top front edge or combinations thereof.
7. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flexor head comprises at least one of a group of component parts, selected from the group of component parts consisting of a first connection port, a second connection port, a third connection port, a fourth connection port, an end cap, an end chamber, and a resistance adjustment gauge panel or combinations thereof.
8. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mouthpiece stabilizer comprises at least one of a group of regions, selected from the group of regions consisting of a teeth canal, a teeth support, a right arm, a left arm, and a mouthpiece front plate and further comprises a mouthpiece connector.
9. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexor arm further comprises a lip holder portion and said facial exercise is performed by securing said mouthpiece stabilizer within the mouth of said patient, placing a lip portion of said patient against said lip holder portion and flexing said flexor arm toward said flexor head against said resistance while said patient bites down upon.
10. The facial exercise apparatus of claim 6, wherein a resistance against a patient lip may be adjusted using said resistance adjustment gauge.
11. A method of strengthening facial muscles and reducing an appearance of wrinkles on a face of a patient, the method comprising: providing a facial exercise apparatus to a patient, said facial exercise apparatus comprising an at least one flexor arm, a flexor head having a substantially cylindrical portion and a front end and a rear end, and a mouthpiece stabilizer, said at least one flexor arm capable of being connected to said flexor head at an at least one location along said substantially cylindrical portion and said mouthpiece stabilizer capable of being connected to said flexor head at said rear end; specifying an at least one target facial area for improvement; securing said facial exercise apparatus within said mouth of said patient by having said patient insert said mouthpiece stabilizer into a mouth of said patient and bite down on said mouthpiece stabilizer; fitting said at least one flexor arm around an at least one lip portion of said patient; and instructing said patient to perform a set of resistance exercises for said at least one target facial area by moving said at least one lip portion toward said flexor head connector while said patient continually bites down on said mouthpiece stabilizer thereby exercising said at least one target facial area.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one flexor arm comprises an upper component contoured to surround an at least one portion of a lip of said patient selected from a group of portions consisting of an upper lip, a lower lip, a left portion, and a right portion or combinations thereof, perpendicularly connected to a flexing component capable of providing at least one level of resistance against said at least one lip portion, the mouthpiece stabilizer is capable of receiving said at least one flexor arm, and the mouthpiece stabilizer has a size and shape sufficient to secure said apparatus within a mouth of said patient when said patient bites down upon said mouthpiece stabilizer, said mouthpiece stabilizer capable of connecting to said flexor head.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the facial exercise apparatus further comprises a total of four flexor arms wherein said flexor head is capable of receiving said total of four flexor arms radially at ninety-degree intervals along said substantially cylindrical portion.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the facial exercise regimen is performed by a patient as part of a facial strength training regimen wherein said patient increases a strength of a facial bone or facial muscle using said facial strength training regimen over the course of an extended period of time.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the flexor head is capable of rotating around a connection to said mouthpiece stabilizer.
16. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of molding the mouthpiece stabilizer according to an impression of a bite pattern of said patient.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein said at least one flexor arm comprises at least one of a group of component parts, selected from the group of component parts consisting of a base connector, an interior compressor rod, a lock, an interior spring, an aperture, a resistance adjustment gauge, a case and a contoured lip holder having a lip holder back rear edge and a lip holder top front edge or combinations thereof.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein said flexor head comprises at least one of a group of component parts, selected from the group of component parts consisting of a first connection port, a second connection port, a third connection port, a fourth connection port, an end cap, an end chamber, and a resistance adjustment gauge panel or combinations thereof.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein said mouthpiece stabilizer comprises at least one of a group of regions, selected from the group of regions consisting of a teeth canal, a teeth support, a right arm, a left arm, and a mouthpiece front plate and further comprises a mouthpiece connector or combinations thereof.
20. The method of claim 11, wherein the facial exercise regimen is performed by a patient as part of a facial strength training regimen over the course of an extended period of time to treat at least one condition selected from a group of conditions comprising stroke palsy, idiopathic facial paralysis, Bell's palsy, and a cosmetic facial wrinkle or combinations thereof.
21. A facial exercise apparatus to perform resistance exercises for an at least one portion of a lip of a patient, the apparatus comprising: an at least one flexor arm, said at least one flexor arm having an upper component contoured to surround the at least one portion of the lip of the patient, perpendicularly connected to a flexing component capable of providing an at least one level of resistance against the at least portion of said lip; an at least one flexor head having a substantially cylindrical portion, a front end and a rear end, said flexor head capable of receiving said at least one flexor arm on an at least one location along said substantially cylindrical portion of said at least one flexor head; and a stabilizer connected to an end of said at least one flexor head, the stabilizer is capable of stabilizing the facial exercise apparatus in place, thereby isolating a targeted facial area during a strength training exercise.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The present facial exercise apparatus and method of use will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which like reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 is an angled perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the disclosed facial exercise apparatus;
[0024] FIG. 2 is an anatomical drawing of an exemplary right half of a patient's skull and left half of a patient's muscles from a front perspective cut-away view;
[0025] FIG. 3a is a front view of a patient using a preferred embodiment of the disclosed facial exercise apparatus;
[0026] FIG. 3b is a side cut-away view of a patient using a preferred embodiment of the disclosed facial exercise apparatus;
[0027] FIG. 4a is a front view of a patient using a preferred embodiment of the disclosed facial exercise apparatus with four flexor arms in the decompressed position;
[0028] FIG. 4b is a front view of a patient using a preferred embodiment of the disclosed facial exercise apparatus with four flexor arms in the compressed position;
[0029] FIG. 5a is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a flexor arm of the disclosed facial exercise apparatus;
[0030] FIG. 5b is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a flexor arm of the disclosed facial exercise apparatus;
[0031] FIG. 6a is a top-angled perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a flexor head connector of the disclosed facial exercise apparatus;
[0032] FIG. 6b is a top-angled perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a mouthpiece stabilizer of the disclosed facial exercise apparatus;
[0033] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a mouthpiece stabilizer when disassembled from a flexor head connector of the disclosed facial exercise apparatus; and
[0034] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of securing the disclosed apparatus to a patient in order to perform the disclosed exercises.
[0035] It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the disclosure to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] In describing the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The present disclosure, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions. Embodiments of the claims may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed to be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples set forth herein are non-limiting examples, and are merely examples among other possible examples. Specifically, the disclosed apparatus or device may be composed of one or many components. Various features and components of the disclosed apparatus may be combined into one or more components such that they have the same or substantially similar properties and functions of the disclosed apparatus. The terms user, patient, and exerciser may be used interchangeably to mean any living human with a face capable of using a device or apparatus as described herein. The method of use of the disclosed device may be described as one in an in- or outpatient setting or in the comfort of the patient's home or other comfortable or otherwise convenient setting. Furthermore, the disclosed device may be manufactured in such a way to be highly customizable and therefore complicated, such that a supervised exercise may be appropriate, or it may be sufficiently universal and simple such that an unsupervised exercise may be appropriate, or combinations thereof.
[0037] Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3a, 3b, 4a, and 4b, by way of example, and not limitation, therein is illustrated example embodiments of facial exercise apparatus 100. Facial exercise apparatus 100 may be referred herein as just apparatus 100. Apparatus 100 may be used to exercise patient face F. Although patient face F is shown in the drawings resembling feminine features of a healthy young adult female, the disclosure is not so limited, and apparatus 100 may be used to exercise any human patient's face, including, but not limited to: male and female adults, male and female children, male and female elderly adults, or unhealthy and symptomatic humans and combinations thereof.
[0038] In one embodiment, apparatus 100 may provide the following elements: flexor arm 110 (see FIGS. 1, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, and 5b), mouthpiece stabilizer 120 (see FIGS. 1, 3b, 4b, 6b, and 7), and a flexor head 130 (see FIGS. 1, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 6a, and 7). Further enhancing its capabilities, apparatus 100 may further include a plurality of flexor arms including upper flexor arm 110a, left flexor arm 110b, lower flexor arm 110c, and right flexor arm 110d (see FIGS. 1, 4a, and 4b). In addition, one or more flexor arm 110 may include a number of components or parts including flexor arm base connector 112, flexor arm interior compressor rod 114, flexor arm lock 116, flexor arm interior spring 111, flexor arm aperture 113, flexor arm resistance adjustment gauge 191, flexor arm case 119 and flexor arm contoured lip holder 195 having flexor arm lip holder back rear edge 115 and flexor arm lip holder top front edge 117 (see FIGS. 5a and 5b). Mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may include the areas, regions, parts, and/or components of mouthpiece teeth canal 128, mouthpiece teeth support 121, mouthpiece right arm 124, mouthpiece left arm 126, mouthpiece front plate 125, and mouthpiece connector 122 (see FIGS. 6b and 7). Flexor head 130 may include upper flexor head connection port 135b, left flexor head connection port 135a, right flexor head connection port 135c, lower flexor head connection port, flexor head end cap 139, flexor head end chamber 132, and flexor head resistance adjustment gauge panel 192 (see FIGS. 6a and 7). Various exercises described in more detail below may have positive effects of strengthening the bone and facial muscles of patient face F and may include the left and right bone pairs of zygomatic bones B1, maxilla bones B2, and mandible bones B3 and left and right muscle pairs of orbicularis M1, levator labil M2, zygomaticus minor M3, zygomaticus major M4, risorius M5, depressor labil inferioris M6, depressor anguli oris M7, and mentalis M8 as well as the orbicularis oris M8 (see FIG. 2). In some embodiments, in order to further enhance the capabilities of apparatus 100, the assembly or connection of mouthpiece stabilizer 120 to flexor head 130 therebetween flexor head end chamber 132 and mouthpiece connector 122 may require or involve flexor head connector rod 134 which may fit within flexor head connector spring 131 (see FIG. 7). Apparatus 100 may generally be assembled by connecting each of one or more flexor arm 110 and mouthpiece stabilizer 120 to flexor head 130 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1. Each of these constituent parts and components may be manufactured from various materials and require various methods of manufacture to produce apparatus 100, and while examples of such constituent parts and compositions may be described in detail above and below, the disclosed apparatus is not so limited.
[0039] In use, in an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed method, apparatus 100 may be secured to patient face F by first placing mouthpiece stabilizer 120 in the mouth of patient face F, and being so stabilized when a patient bites down upon mouthpiece stabilizer 120 (see FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, and 8). Once so stabilized, one or each flexor arm 110 may be placed such that flexor arm contoured lip holder 195 partially or substantially surrounds a portion of a lip of patient face F (see FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, and 8). Prior to or after this point in an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed method, the resistance of flexor arm 110 against a lip of patient face F may be adjusted or the measurement of the present resistance against a lip of patient face F may be viewed using flexor arm resistance adjustment gauge 191. An exemplary exercise that may be made possible as a result of the disclosed method may be performed by one or repetitive movements of the lip(s) of patient face F toward and away from flexor head 130, when the lip(s) of patient face F is so placed and/or fitted along flexor arm contoured lip holder 195 (FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, and 8), thereby moving the lip(s) of patient face F (such as open lips and closure of lips) against the resistance created by flexor arm 110, contracting and extending flexor arm 110 (compare FIGS. 4a and 4b or FIGS. 4a and 4b), and causing the various muscles, muscle groups, and bone pairs to engauge in strength training exercises (see FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, and 8).
[0040] Referring now specifically to FIG. 1, therein is illustrated an angled perspective view of a preferred embodiment of apparatus 100. One or more flexor arm 110 and mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may be connected via flexor head 130. Therein illustrated in FIG. 1 are upper flexor arm 110a, left flexor arm 110b, lower flexor arm 110c, and right flexor arm 110d. One or more flexor arm 110 may be substantially T-shaped, where the horizontal portion of the T may be so curved or contoured to comfortably fit a human lip and the vertical portion of the T may be substantially straight, the flexor arm 110 having a base with a means to connect to flexor head 130 and a contoured portion along the top designed and composed of materials to fit comfortably around a lip portion of patient face F. Mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may be U-shaped in order to comfortably and securely stabilize apparatus 100 into the mouth of patient face F, where a means to connect to flexor head 130 may be placed at the portion of mouthpiece stabilizer 120 so facing the front of patient face F. When so assembled into apparatus 100, flexor head 130 may extend cylindrically from its connection to mouthpiece stabilizer 120 outward and may contain one or more connections to accommodate one or more flexor arm 110 radially at approximately ninety-degree intervals around its cylindrical portion. Apparatus 100 may be assembled from one or more flexor arm 110, mouthpiece stabilizer 120, and flexor head 130 and each may be so detachably connected or each may be permanently fused or otherwise inseparably connected. Each of these constituent parts and components of apparatus 100 may be composed of various materials and require various methods of manufacture to produce apparatus 100, and while such constituent parts and compositions may be described in detail above and below, the disclosed apparatus is not so limited. Various other components or sub-pieces of one or more flexor arm 110, mouthpiece stabilizer 120, and flexor head 130 of a possibly preferred apparatus 100 may be identifiably illustrated therein FIG. 1, which are described in more detail below according to more detailed illustrations.
[0041] Referring now specifically to FIG. 2, therein is illustrated an anatomical drawing of an exemplary patient face F, the left half showing the right half of a patient's skull and the right half showing the left half of a patient's muscles from a front perspective anatomical cut-away view. The anatomical drawing of FIG. 2 is provided for illustrative purposes and the human face, and its muscles and bones, are not claimed as part of apparatus 100, but may be involved or required to exercise in the performing of method steps 810-850. Starting at the top of patient face F, on the left side of the anatomical drawing and the right side of patient face F may be found the right zygomatic bone B1, right maxilla bone B2, and right mandible bone B3. Each of these bones exist in pairs in a skull of a typical patient face F, each having a substantially similar, though mirror imaged left version. Starting at the top of patient face F, on the right side of the anatomical drawing and the left side of patient face F, may be found the muscles of left orbicularis M1, left levator labil M2, left zygomaticus minor M3, left zygomaticus major M4, left risorius M5, left depressor labil inferioris M6, left depressor anguli oris M7, and let mentalis M8 as well as the muscle orbicularis oris M8. Each left muscle illustrated therein FIG. 2 exist in pairs in a typical patient face F, each right muscle having a substantially similar, though mirror imaged right version. Each of these bones and muscles are important to providing the structure, support, strength, and appearance of a human face. Through use of apparatus 100 using the method steps 810-850, a patient may be able to strengthen, tone, define, and grow each of the various muscles illustrated therein FIG. 2, thereby strengthening the structure of patient face F, increasing the support provided to various features of patient face F, strengthening the bones and muscles of patient face F therein illustrated in FIG. 2, and bettering the cosmetic appearance of patient face F by increasing and toning the subcutaneous volume beneath the skin of patient face F.
[0042] Referring now specifically to FIG. 3a, therein is illustrated a front view of a patient face F using a preferred embodiment of apparatus 100. One or more flexor arm 110 and mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may be connected via flexor head 130. Therein illustrated in FIG. 3a are upper flexor arm 110a, left flexor arm 110b, lower flexor arm 110c, and right flexor arm 110d, each being placed on an upper lip portion, a left lip portion, bottom lip portion, and a right lip portion of patient face F, respectively. One or more flexor arm 110 may be substantially T-shaped, where the horizontal portion of the T may be so curved or contoured to comfortably fit a human lip and the vertical portion of the T may be substantially straight, the flexor arm 110 having a base with a means to connect to flexor head 130 and a contoured portion along the top designed and composed of materials to fit comfortably around a lip portion of patient face F. Mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may be U-shaped in order to comfortably and securely stabilize apparatus 100 into the mouth of patient face F, as one would a protective or corrective mouthpiece, where a means to connect to flexor head 130 may be placed at the portion of mouthpiece stabilizer 120 so facing the front of patient face F. When so assembled into apparatus 100, flexor head 130 may extend cylindrically from its connection to mouthpiece stabilizer 120 outward and may contain one or more connections to accommodate one or more flexor arm 110 radially around its cylindrical portion. Each of these constituent parts and components of apparatus 100 may be composed of various materials and require various methods of manufacture to produce apparatus 100, and while such constituent parts and compositions may be described in detail above and below, the disclosed apparatus is not so limited. Various other components or sub-pieces of one or more flexor arm 110, mouthpiece stabilizer 120, and flexor head 130 of a possibly preferred apparatus 100 may be identifiably illustrated therein FIG. 3a, which are described in more detail below according to more detailed illustrations.
[0043] It is contemplated herein that other combination, such as a six-flexor arm 110 and flexor head 130 and each being placed on an upper lip portion, an upper left lip portion, an upper right portion, bottom lip portion, a bottom left lip portion, and a bottom right lip portion of patient face F, respectively.
[0044] Referring now specifically to FIG. 3b, therein is illustrated a side cut-away view of patient face F using a preferred embodiment of apparatus 100. One or more flexor arm 110 and mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may be connected via flexor head 130. Therein illustrated in FIG. 3b are upper flexor arm 110a and lower flexor arm 110c, each being placed on an upper lip portion and bottom lip portion of patient face F, respectively. One or more flexor arm 110 may be substantially T-shaped, where the horizontal portion of the T may be so curved or contoured to comfortably fit a human lip and the vertical portion of the T may be substantially straight, the flexor arm 110 having a base with a means to connect to flexor head 130 and a contoured portion along the top designed and composed of materials to fit comfortably around a lip portion of patient face F. Mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may be U-shaped in order to comfortably and securely stabilize apparatus 100 into the mouth of patient face F, where a means to connect to flexor head 130 may be placed at the portion of mouthpiece stabilizer 120 so it faces outward from the front of patient face F from mouthpiece stabilizer 120. The patient may further secure apparatus 100 to patient face F by biting down upon mouthpiece stabilizer 120, and by so doing causing their upper teeth T1 to move downward upon mouthpiece stabilizer 120 and their lower teeth T2 to move upward upon mouthpiece stabilizer 120, thereby causing a pinching force upon mouthpiece stabilizer 120 in order to further stabilize apparatus 100. When assembled into apparatus 100, flexor head 130 may extend cylindrically from its connection to mouthpiece stabilizer 120 outward and may contain one or more connections to accommodate one or more flexor arm 110 radially around its cylindrical portion. Apparatus 100 may be assembled from one or more flexor arm 110, mouthpiece stabilizer 120, and flexor head 130 and each may be so detachably connected or each may be permanently fused or otherwise inseparably connected. Each of these constituent parts and components of apparatus 100 may be composed of various materials and require various methods of manufacture to produce apparatus 100, and while such constituent parts and compositions may be described in detail above and below, the disclosed apparatus is not so limited. Various other components or sub-pieces of one or more flexor arm 110, mouthpiece stabilizer 120, and flexor head 130 of a possibly preferred apparatus 100 may be identifiably illustrated therein FIG. 3b, which are described in more detail below according to more detailed illustrations.
[0045] Referring now specifically to FIGS. 4a and 4b, therein are illustrated a front view of a patient face F using a preferred embodiment of apparatus 100 with flexor arm 110a, left flexor arm 110b, lower flexor arm 110c, and right flexor arm 110d, each being placed on an upper lip portion, a left lip portion, bottom lip portion, and a right lip portion of patient face F, respectively, each flexor arm 110 in a decompressed position in FIG. 4a and in a compressed position in FIG. 4b. As illustrated, one or more flexor arm 110 may be substantially T-shaped, where a horizontal portion of the T may be so curved or contoured to comfortably fit a human lip and a vertical portion of the T may be substantially straight, each flexor arm 110 having a base with a means to connect to flexor head 130 and a contoured portion along the top designed and composed of materials to fit comfortably around a lip portion of patient face F. Since a horizontal portion of a T-shaped flexor arm 110, flexor arm lip holder assembly 118, may be designed such that it may extend and contract along a vertical portion of a T-shaped flexor arm 110, each flexor arm 110 may be extended outward from flexor head 130 as illustrated in FIG. 4a or may be contracted inward toward flexor head 130 as illustrated in FIG. 4b. By moving one or more flexor arm 100 inward toward flexor head 130, and outward away from flexor head 130, a patient face F may perform an exercise. By doing so repetitively, routinely, and as a part of a program to increase the strength, size, tone, and structure of the muscles of patient face F. By providing a mechanism to provide and/or increase a resistance outward from flexor head 130 therebetween a horizontal portion of the T, or flexor arm lip holder assembly 118, and a vertical portion of the T in one or more T-shaped flexor arm 110, such a repetitive or routine exercise program may offer increasingly noticeable results. Other components of apparatus 100 and their corresponding characteristics may be important to securing apparatus 100 to patient face F to perform an exercise using apparatus 100. Mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may be U-shaped in order to comfortably and securely stabilize apparatus 100 into the mouth of patient face F, where a means to connect to flexor head 130 may be placed at the portion of mouthpiece stabilizer 120 so facing the front of patient face F. When assembled into apparatus 100, flexor head 130 may extend cylindrically from its connection to mouthpiece stabilizer 120 outward and may contain one or more connections to accommodate one or more flexor arm 110 radially around its cylindrical portion. Various components and materials may be employed to allow travel of a horizontal portion of the T along the vertical portion of the T in a T-shaped flexor arm 110, which can be apparent from the details covered more specifically in other figures below.
[0046] Referring now specifically to FIGS. 5a and 5b, therein are illustrated an exploded view of a flexor arm 110 of a preferred embodiment of apparatus 100 and an assembled view of the same. As shown in figures described above, apparatus 100 may feature one or more flexor arm 110 which may be connected radially along the cylindrical portion of flexor head 130. Each flexor arm 110 may be further composed of constituent parts in order to perform the desired functions of apparatus 100. As illustrated in a disassembled state in FIG. 5a and in an assembled state in FIG. 5b, preferred embodiments of these component parts of flexor arm 110, from right to left in the drawings, may include flexor arm base connector 112, flexor arm interior compressor rod 114, flexor arm lock 116, flexor arm bias element, such as interior spring 111, flexor arm aperture 113, and flexor arm lip holder assembly 118. Flexor arm lip holder assembly 118 may further include the parts, components, portions and/or regions of flexor arm resistance adjustment gauge 191, flexor arm case 119, and flexor arm contoured lip holder 195 having flexor arm lip holder back rear edge 115 and flexor arm lip holder top front edge 117. Flexor arm lip holder assembly 118, when viewed from the side, may appear substantially J-shaped, having one side extending higher than the other. Depending on the desired comfort and exercises for the patient, a higher side may be placed either closer to the teeth or closer to the outer lip and flexor arm 110 or flexor arm lip holder assembly 118 may be manufactured to allow for rotating flexor arm 110 to accommodate such desires. When assembled, as illustrated in FIG. 5b, flexor arm base connector 112 may secure flexor arm interior compressor rod 114 which may then be connected movably to flexor arm lock 116. Flexor arm interior spring 111 may fit within flexor arm case 119 and against flexor arm lock 116 when flexor arm interior spring 111 is placed through flexor arm aperture 113. Resistance in flexor arm 110 during its compression may be provided by the force generated by flexor arm interior spring 111 when a lip portion of patient face F causes pressure against flexor arm contoured lip holder 195 and toward flexor head 130, thereby causing the movable connection of flexor arm lock 116 to move along flexor arm interior compressor rod 114 and thereby causing flexor arm interior spring 111 to compress and generate a corresponding force. Additionally, a mechanism may be provided to allow for an increase or a decrease in the spring force of flexor arm interior spring 111 through adjustment of flexor arm resistance adjustment gauge 191, thereby requiring a correspondingly additional or diminished pressure against flexor arm contoured lip holder 195 in order to move flexor arm lip holder assembly 118 toward flexor head 130. Each flexor arm 110 may be adjusted individually to accommodate the exercise required for its corresponding lip portion. Flexor arm 110 and various component parts of a preferred embodiment as illustrated therein FIGS. 5a and 5b may include or be manufactured from many contemplated compositions. By way of example and not limitation, flexor arm contoured lip holder 195 may be composed of a material that may rest comfortably against patient face F, such as a medical grade plastic or a siliconized or rubberized material. Furthermore, flexor arm lip holder assembly 118 may include one or more of a variety of materials and may even be manufactured as a single component, if so desired. While a preferable durable material for manufacture of flexor arm interior spring 111 may be a flexible metal alloy, flexor arm interior spring 111 may be manufactured from any number of materials known by one skilled in the art as appropriate for manufacturing a spring. Each remaining component of flexor arm 110 may be manufactured from metal or plastic, or other suitable materials and combinations thereof. It is contemplated that flexor arm lock 116 and flexor arm lip holder assembly 118 as well as flexor arm interior compressor rod 114 and flexor arm base connector 112 may be formed as one component or may be caused to become inseparably fused during manufacture and/or assembly. Additionally, each component of flexor arm 110 may be connected or assembled in a variety of ways including adhesion, male-to-female threading, or other methods of detachable or irreversible assembly known to those skilled in the art and/or combinations thereof.
[0047] Referring now specifically to FIGS. 6a and 6b, therein are illustrated a top-angled perspective view of flexor head 130 and mouthpiece stabilizer 120 of a potentially preferred embodiment of apparatus 100. Flexor head 130, in a potentially preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 6a, may include upper flexor head connection port 135b, left flexor head connection port 135a, right flexor head connection port 135c, lower flexor head connection port (not shown), flexor head end cap 139, flexor head end chamber 132, and flexor head resistance adjustment gauge panel 192. Flexor head 130 may form an overall substantially cylindrical shape with flexor head end cap 139 facing away from flexor end chamber 132. Radially around flexor head 130 may exist one or more apertures capable of receiving and/or connecting to flexor arm 110. These apertures may include upper flexor head connection port 135b, left flexor head connection port 135a, right flexor head connection port 135c, lower flexor head connection port (not shown), flexor head end cap 139. Each aperture may connect to one or more flexor arm 110, through a variety of means known to one skilled in the art including, but not limited to, threading as illustrated. Flexor head 130 may also include flexor head resistance adjustment gauge panel 192, which may allow for the adjustment of pressure outward from mouthpiece stabilizer 120, as described below and illustrated in more detail in FIG. 7. Flexor head adjustment gauge panel 192 may either allow for the monitoring of force or pressure between mouthpiece stabilizer 120 and flexor head 130, or may be used for the adjustment of the force or pressure between the same. Flexor head 130, and its listed components or parts may be manufactured from materials known by one skilled in the art to be appropriate for use in an exercise, medical or dental setting, including but not limited to medical grade metal alloy or plastic, and may each exist as separate assembled parts or may be manufactured as a single component, and/or combinations thereof. Mouthpiece stabilizer 120, in a potentially preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 6b, may include the areas, regions, parts, and/or components of mouthpiece teeth canal 128, mouthpiece teeth support 121, mouthpiece right arm 124, mouthpiece left arm 126, mouthpiece front plate 125, and mouthpiece connector 122. Mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may further include a small connecting portion protruding from mouthpiece front plate 125, upon which may be connected and/or affixed mouthpiece connector 122. Mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may be substantially U-shaped and may be manufactured according to best accommodate the size and shape of a typical adult human. Alternatively, mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may manufactured in a variety of shapes and sizes and may even be custom manufactured for individual patients based on molds, molded impressions, or otherwise formed impressions of a patient's bite pattern, similar to how custom dentures or “invisible” orthodontia may be manufactured, in order to better secure apparatus 100 during use. The areas, regions, parts, and/or components of mouthpiece stabilizer 120, which may include mouthpiece teeth canal 128, mouthpiece teeth support 121, mouthpiece right arm 124, mouthpiece left arm 126, mouthpiece front plate 125, and mouthpiece connector 122, may be formed from individual parts and assembled into one unit or may be manufactured as one component of apparatus 100, and/or combinations thereof. Mouthpiece stabilizer 120, and its listed components, may be manufactured from one or more suitable materials including but not limited to medical or dental grade plastic or a siliconized or rubberized material such that it may be preferable to manufacture in order to provide increased comfort and stability to a patient during use. Flexor head end chamber 132 may be designed to receive and connect securely to mouthpiece stabilizer 120 at mouthpiece connector 122 through a variety of mechanisms that may be apparent to one skilled in the art including, but not limited to, threading or a push in and turn to lock mechanism with female notches radially within flexor head end chamber 132 capable of receiving corresponding protruding radially arranged male portions of mouthpiece connector 122. It is further contemplated that female notches radially within flexor head end chamber 132 may be more numerous than protruding radially arranged male portions of mouthpiece connector 122, thereby allowing for more numerous arrangements of radially extending one or more flexor arm 110, i.e. be removed spun at increments of e.g. 45 degrees. It is contemplated herein that flexor head 130 and mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may be manufactured as one component or may include two or even several substituent components which may be assembled. While as illustrated herein, flexor head 130 is substantially cylindrical, it is contemplated herein that flexor head 130 may come in a variety of three-dimensional shapes including, but not limited to triangular, rectangular, or other polygonal prisms. Furthermore, while flexor head 130 is illustrated herein to include three shown and four total flexor head connection ports, one skilled in the art may recognize the need for more or fewer such ports to accommodate more or fewer flexor arms 110, depending on a variety of factors. The disclosure is not so limited to the example illustrated provided and the corresponding description.
[0048] Referring now specifically to FIG. 7, therein is illustrated an exploded view of a optional embodiment of mouthpiece stabilizer 120 when disassembled from flexor head 130 to expose optional included features of an optional embodiment. Flexor head 130, in an optionally preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 7, may include upper flexor head connection port 135b, left flexor head connection port 135a, right flexor head connection port 135c, lower flexor head connection port (not shown), flexor head end cap 139, flexor head end chamber 132, and flexor head resistance adjustment gauge panel 192. Flexor head 130 may form an overall substantially cylindrical shape with flexor head end cap 139 facing away from flexor end chamber 132. Radially around flexor head 130 may exist one or more apertures capable of receiving and/or connecting to flexor arm 110. These apertures may include upper flexor head connection port 135b, left flexor head connection port 135a, right flexor head connection port 135c, lower flexor head connection port (not shown), flexor head end cap 139. Each aperture may connect to one or more flexor arm 110, through a variety of means known to one skilled in the art including, but not limited to, threading as illustrated in FIG. 6a. Flexor head 130 may also include flexor head resistance adjustment gauge panel 192, which may allow for the adjustment of pressure outward from mouthpiece stabilizer 120. Mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may be substantially U-shaped and may be manufactured according to best accommodate the size and shape of a typical adult human. Alternatively, mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may manufactured in a variety of shapes and sizes and may even be custom manufactured for individual patients based on molds or impressions of a patient's bite pattern, similar to how custom dentures or “invisible” orthodontia may be manufactured, in order to better secure apparatus 100 during use. Mouthpiece stabilizer may include mouthpiece connector 122, which may be formed from individual parts and assembled into one unit or may be manufactured as one component of apparatus 100, and/or combinations thereof. In the potentially preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 therebetween flexor head 130 and mouthpiece stabilizer 120 may exist flexor head connector rod 134 which may fit within or press against flexor head connector spring 131 when assembled, thereby generating a force either inward toward mouthpiece stabilizer 120 or outward away from mouthpiece stabilizer 120, depending on configuration. Resistance adjustment gauge panel 192 may be configured to either monitor resistance generated by a patient during exercise or to increase or decrease resistance of the mechanism. With this optional feature, a patient may perform additional exercises by utilizing the inward or outward force and resisting it, thereby exercising additional muscle and bone structures of patient face F.
[0049] Referring now specifically to FIG. 8, therein is illustrated a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed exercise method. Each step in the disclosed method may be performed by a medical professional, a dental professional, an instructor, a supervisor, or the patient her or himself, and/or combinations thereof. At first exercise method step 810, one may provide apparatus 100, as described herein, to a patient. Apparatus 100 may include one or more flexor arm 110, flexor head 130, and a mouthpiece stabilizer 120. Then, at second method step 820, one may secure apparatus 100 within the mouth of the patient by having the patient insert mouthpiece stabilizer 120 into the mouth of patient face F. At third method step 830, securing or stabilizing apparatus 100 may be accomplished by instructing the patient to bite down on mouthpiece stabilizer 120. Once so secured, at fourth method step 840, one may fit one or more flexor arm 110 around an at least one lip portion of patient face F. Finally, one may, at fifth method step 850, instruct the patient to perform a set of resistance exercises by moving their lips or portions of lips toward the flexor head 130 and the patient may so do, thereby causing facial exercises of the disclosed method to be performed.
[0050] The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments. Having thus described exemplary embodiments, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.
