Abstract
An in-mouth barrier against entry of insects, pollen and particulates in to the open mouth of a user, particularly in strenuous outdoor exercises, needs to be comfortable and fully effective for various extents of an agape mouth, and ideally should require no conscious effort to re-position in even long durations. A filter frame surrounding a screen is formed to the dental arch so as to envelope both rows of teeth except possibly the molars. A flange on the frame holds the frame on the mandibular teeth and prevents the frame from moving down. The end of the flange lies under the tip of the tongue and prevents the frame from moving up. The frame thus remains comfortably inside the vestibule and covers the mouth for the various extents it may be opened to.
Claims
1. An apparatus for filtering breathing air comprising: a frame comprising a front and a rear, the frame dimensioned and configured to be positioned entirely inside the mouth of a user between the teeth and lips of the user, the frame comprising a central opening; a filter covering an entirety of the central opening of the frame; and a flange extending from the rear of the frame on a bottom portion thereof and comprising two bends; wherein the bends in the flange are configured such that the flange extends above the user's mandibular incisors before extending downward behind the mandibular incisors and then extending rearward for being located below the user's tongue during use in order to hold the apparatus in place.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hole in the flange configured to accommodate a tip of the tongue during use.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame is curved to conform to a dental arch of the user.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an in-mouth filter according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
(2) FIG. 2 is a side view of the in-mouth filter of FIG. 1;
(3) FIG. 3 is a front view of the in-mouth filter of FIG. 1;
(4) FIG. 4 is a back view of the in-mouth filter of FIG. 1;
(5) FIG. 5 is a cut away view showing the in-mouth filter of FIG. 1 seated in the mouth.
(6) FIG. 6 is a front view of the mouth when the in-mouth filter of FIG. 1 is seated in the mouth and the mouth is closed.
(7) FIG. 7 is a front view of the mouth when the in-mouth fitter of FIG. 1 is seated in the mouth and the mouth is open.
(8) FIG. 8 is a back view of the in-mouth fitter of FIG. 1, showing an alternative embodiment by virtue of having an oval hole.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(9) The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature to illustrate the general principles of the invention and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
(10) Referring now to the figures, in FIG. 1 is shown an in-mouth filter according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The in-mouth filter 10 includes a frame 12 that can be smoothly bent to fit around a user's dental arch so as to lie in the vestibule over the gums except possibly the portions of the gums beside the molars. The frame 12 has a centrally located depression 30 on both outer edges of it. The depressions are not necessarily of the same depth or shape.
(11) Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an in-mouth filter 10 having a frame 12 around a screen, or a surface 14 with holes, and a flange 16 proceeding from the frame 12.
(12) In further detail, referring to FIG. 1, the flange 16, generally no wider than the combined lengths of the average mandibular incisel edges, rises from an inner edge adjacent to one of the two depressions 30 of the frame.
(13) Referring now to FIG. 2, which is a side view of the in-mouth filter 10, the flange rises to a height above the frame, which height is more or less equal to one-half the height of an average size adult mandibular incisor. The flange then proceeds more or less perpendicularly to form the bend 18. The flange now proceeds through a distance that is greater than the average thickness of mandibular incisor edges to form the element 20 and then smoothly curves downward, producing a bend 22.
(14) Referring to FIG. 2, the flange 16 proceeds now from element 22 in a downward direction more or less beyond the frame 12 to form element 24. The flange 16 then continues in a smooth bend 26. The flange then proceeds a distance more or less equal to the distance between the centers of the elements 22 and 26 and forms element 28 which is more or less in a direction perpendicular to the frame 12.
(15) Referring to FIG. 1, the element 28 has an indent 32 at its end.
(16) FIG. 8 is another embodiment 50 of the invention, wherein the flange 16 of FIG. 1 has a hole 52 in the element 24 of FIG. 2 to accommodate the tip of the tongue.
(17) In yet another embodiment of the invention, wherein one long side of the frame 12 is a bite-guard for the mandibular teeth while the other long side is not necessarily a bite-guard but is positioned as before over the maxillary teeth. In this embodiment there is no need for a flange to engage the mandibular incisors; instead the flange starts out from the inner side of the bite-guard, descends in a smooth arch and then proceeds to an end as in the embodiment described above. In this, the flange would comprise more or less one-half the length of element 20 in FIG. 2, followed by elements 26 and 28.
(18) The foregoing embodiments relate to exemplary configurations of the invention to achieve the shielding of the mouth, from insects, pollen and particulates, for various extents to which a mouth may be opened; modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, although the foregoing embodiments are illustrative of a device for shielding from insects and airborne particulates a mouth that is open in various extents, it will be understood that the screen of present invention may employ various fillers or dust screens, in addition to or instead of, as would be clear to those knowledgeable in the art.
(19) Referring to FIG. 5, the user places the in-mouth filter 10 in front of the teeth but just inside the lips, with the flange 16 lying over the central and lateral mandibular incisors while the distal end 28 of the flange 16 lies under the tip of the tongue. The frame 12 is then bent if not already formed to conform to the contour of the dental arches and gums. In this manner, the piece extends into the buccal folds superiorly and interiorly of the cheek. The flange 16, which is now inwardly projecting, lies on the mandibular incisors and prevents the in-mouth fitter from sliding lower. The distal end 28 of the flange rests under the tip of the tongue so the in-mouth filter does not slide higher when the mouth is opened wider. In this manner, the user's mouth may be closed or agape and the in-mouth filter remains in position; FIG. 5 is a sideview of a user wearing the in-mouth filter. The curve introduced by the bending prevents lateral displacement of the in-mouth filter. The two rows of teeth, lips, cheeks, and tongue cooperate in keeping the in-mouth fitter aligned with the opening of the open mouth in a facile manner so that the in-mouth filter is comfortable and neither the whole nor a part of it is visible to onlookers when the mouth is closed, takes no attention from the wearer, attracts no attention, and prevents insects and particles from entering the open mouth. FIG. 6 shows a user with mouth closed. When the mouth is open, the device is barely visible. FIG. 7 shows a user with mouth open and the screen 40 made of a material of color that stands out, which is not the preferred color for the material for the screen. The screen 14 of FIG. 1 may be made of either mesh or surfaces with holes, having mesh and hole size preferably less than 6 microns so that all pollens are prevented from entering the mouth.
(20) In more detail, still referring to FIG. 1, the indentation 30 on both long edges of the frame 12 ensures that the frame, while seated in the mouth, does not dig into the inferior labial frenulum and the superior labial frenulum. Likewise, the indentation 32 on the distal end 28 of the flange 16 prevents the distal end 28 from digging in to the lingual frenulum.
(21) The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, the function that the mouth can be open with various gaps and still remain covered by the screen; this is necessary in prolonged athletic activity since the natural tendency is not for the mouth to be open with a fixed gap. Referring to FIG. 5, the tip of the tongue rests on the distal end 28 of the flange 16. Again, referring to FIG. 4, the frame 12 is not fixed in any manner to the upper teeth. Instead, the frame 12 is held firmly by the tongue and the mandibular incisors and the frame 12 has free play over the front of the upper teeth. This is what allows the mouth to be open with various gaps and fully shielding the mouth by filtering all air inhaled through the mouth. Another important aspect of the present invention is that even when the mouth is closed, the in-mouth filter frame stays in position in the vestibule and the flange under the tongue without discomfort. Still another important aspect of the invention is that the device is not obtrusive or noticeable by virtue of it being seated inside the lips and the lips having to be open only inch, more or less, during the hard breathing. Yet another advantage is that, by virtue of the absence of constraint to open the mouth to any extent, the user can engage in intelligible vocalization. Still another advantage of the present invention is that, by virtue of the frame of the device covering both the upper and lower teeth, the teeth are less prone to damage from impulsive forces such as occurs when the face hits ground or a hard object; this advantage is greater when the frame is rigid as when it is produced by pre-forming to the general user's digital arches and gums.
(22) In broad embodiment, the present invention is an in-mouth filter which is an in-mouth insect screen that prevents insects and particulates from entering an open mouth regardless of how wide the mouth is open during strenuous exercise, wide meaning the distance from the incisel edge of the maxillary central incisors to the incisal edge of the mandibular central incisors at the midline. In this respect, the device for filtering breathed air according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of preventing insects and particulates from riding or flowing in to an open mouth.
(23) While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. One such variation comprises the lower frame being a bite guard and the flange and other elements remaining more or less the same in dimensions and shapes; in such an embodiment or elsewhere, the flange instead of being integral to the lower frame may be removably coupled to the lower frame so that a formable frame with a removable flange would allow the coupling of a flange from a choice of flange sizes. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiments, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.
