Device for training of face, lip and throat muscles

Abstract

A device for therapeutic includes a rigid screen (1) that is insertable behind the upper and lower lips of a user's mouth, the screen having a compound curvature and in a horizontal plane generally U-shaped profile, and in a vertical plane a convexo-concave cross-sectional profile that is gradually flattening from a central mid region towards the left and right ends (12, 13) thereof, the ends extended to reach at least past the premolar teeth on each side in the upper and lower jaws of the user when applied. A handle is attached to extend forward from a central mid region in the convex front face of the screen, the handle including a rigid stem (2) projecting from the front face at a neutral angle with respect to upper (5) and lower (6) halves of the screen (1), diverging from the stem in the vertical view.

Claims

1. A device for training face, lip and throat muscles, the device comprising a rigid screen (1) configured to be inserted behind both upper and lower lips in a user's mouth, having a length between the screen ends (12, 13) configured to pass premolar teeth of the user in each side of the mouth when the screen (1) is applied, a pulling handle including a rigid stem (2) having a grip (3) attached to a front side (4) of the screen, operative for transfer of a tension load to the lips in use of the device, wherein the screen (1) is of compound curvature comprising generally U-shaped projections in both horizontal and vertical views respectively, the screen (1) in the vertical view having a convexo-concave sectional profile by which the screen (1), on a concave rear side of the screen, encloses an intermediate angle () between upper (5) and lower (6) halves of the screen, the convexo-concave sectional profile gradually flattening towards the ends (12, 13) of the screen (1).

2. The lip and face muscles training device of claim 1, wherein the intermediate angle () amounts to the order of 120-140 at a central region of the screen.

3. The lip and face muscles training device of claim 2, wherein the intermediate angle () ranges from approximately 120 at a vertically mid region where the screen halves (5, 6) meet, to approximately 140 at upper and lower edges (10, 11) of the screen (1), in a slightly S-shaped sectional profile of the screen (1).

4. The lip and face muscles training device of claim 1, wherein a texture (14; 15) is applied onto the front side (4) of the screen.

5. The lip and face muscles training device of claim 4, wherein the texture is a regular or irregular coarse surface structure (15) molded into the front side, or applied through abrasive blasting.

6. The lip and face muscles training device of claim 1, wherein the stem (2) is a flat geometry with its major dimension (w) being horizontal.

7. The lip and face muscles training device of claim 1, wherein a grip (3) is attached in a free end of the stem (2), the grip angled out of a longitudinal direction (L) of the stem.

8. The lip and face muscles training device of claim 1, wherein a lug (7) for attachment of an instrument is formed in a region where the grip (3) attaches to the stem (2).

9. The lip and face muscles training device of claim 1, wherein an upper recess (16) and an opposite lower recess (17) is formed, respectively, in upper and lower edges of the screen (1).

10. The lip and face muscles training device of claim 2, wherein a texture (14; 15) is applied onto the front side (4) of the screen.

11. The lip and face muscles training device of claim 3, wherein a texture (14; 15) is applied onto the front side (4) of the screen.

12. The lip and face muscles training device of claim 10, wherein the texture is a regular or irregular coarse surface structure (15) molded into the front side, or applied through abrasive blasting.

13. The lip and face muscles training device of claim 11, wherein the texture is a regular or irregular coarse surface structure (15) molded into the front side, or applied through abrasive blasting.

14. The lip and face muscles training device of claim 6, wherein the stem (2) is a flat geometry with its major dimension (w) being horizontal.

15. The lip and face muscles training device of claim 2, wherein a grip (3) is attached in a free end of the stem (2), the grip angled out of a longitudinal direction (L) of the stem.

16. The lip and face muscles training device of claim 2, wherein an upper recess (16) and an opposite lower recess (17) is formed, respectively, in upper and lower edges of the screen (1).

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail with reference made to the appended schematic drawings. In the drawings,

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the oral screen of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a front face view of the oral screen of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a view from above, and

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view and vertical projection in a vertical plane through the central mid-portion of the oral screen depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(6) With reference to the drawings, the lip and face muscles training device of the present invention comprises a screen 1 to which a pulling handle comprising a stem 2 and a grip 3 is attached in a central mid region of a front face 4 of the oral screen 1.

(7) As illustrated in FIG. 4, the stem 2 extends in a horizontal plane L that intersects the oral screen and divides the same into an upper half 5 and lower half 6.

(8) Basically, the upper and lower halves 5 and 6 are mirrored images of each other, but need not be perfectly identical. However, a substantially symmetrical design will permit a user to shift the device 180 in use, which may be desired in order to facilitate gripping about the stem by a less flexible hand, e.g.

(9) Notably, for reasons discussed above, the stem 2 has a flat geometry wherein the horizontal width w of the stem transverse to its longitudinal extension is several times greater than its vertical height h. As a non-limiting advice to the skilled person the width w of the stem may be in the order of 10-15 mm, whereas the thickness or height h may amount to approximately 3 mm.

(10) The grip 3, in the illustrated embodiment shaped as an eye, attaches to a free end of the stem 2 via a curved region R that directs the eye out of the longitudinal extension L of the stem 2. In the drawings the grip 3 is formed to point down below the plane of the stem, but may in other embodiments alternatively be pointing upwards above the plane of the stem.

(11) Axially inside of the grip 3, as viewed in the longitudinal direction towards the screen 1, a lug 7 is formed as an opening in the stem 2. The lug 7 may be located in or near the curved region R and is adapted for attachment of a tension measuring instrument, or a tension load applying device (none of which is shown in the drawings).

(12) Returning to the screen 1, the same is provided a composite curvature including a generally U-shaped horizontal projection (see FIG. 3) and a generally U-shaped or S-shaped vertical projection (see FIG. 4). More precisely, the left and right wings 8 and 9 of the screen extend curved in the longitudinal direction L sufficiently to reach beyond the premolar teeth on each side of the mouth of a user in applied position. To this purpose, the extension l of the screen in the longitudinal direction should at least amount to 30 mm in an oral screen intended for adult persons. In a children's oral screen, the same measure can be in the order of 22-25 mm, e.g.

(13) As best seen in FIG. 4, the screen 1 has a curved cross-sectional profile and projection in the vertical plane, enclosing an intermediate angle a between the upper and lower halves of the screen. The intermediate angle a is the result of the upper and lower screen halves 5 and 6 diverging from a normal N to the horizontal plane L and to the stem 2, which attaches to the screen 1 at right angles to the normal N or, in other words, at a neutral angle with respect to the diverging upper and lower halves of the screen. In particular, the intermediate angle a may vary along the vertical extension of the screen. More precisely, on each side of the horizontal plane L, the curvature of the screen 1 in a vertical view may be composed of multiple intermediate angles a varying between an intermediate angle a.sub.min at a vertical mid region and an intermediate angle a.sub.max towards the upper and lower ends 10 and 11 of the vertical profile and projection of the screen. In the illustrated and preferred embodiment the varying intermediate angle forms a slightly S-shaped profile wherein a.sub.min corresponds to a deviation d.sup.+ from the normal N in the order of 25-35, whereas a.sub.max corresponds to a deviation d.sup. from the normal N in the order of 15-25. Thus on average the upper and lower halves 5 and 6 of the screen 1 enclose an intermediate angle a (max and min) of approximately 130, although varying from about 120 at the central mid region to about 140 towards the upper and lower ends of the vertical profile and projection depicted in FIG. 4.

(14) Notably however, the curvature applied to the screen as explained above reduces towards the rear ends 12 and 13 of the screen, which are generally flat if viewed in vertical sections near the ends 12 and 13.

(15) The screen 1 and the stem 2 with the grip 3 are integrated into a one-piece element, such as a molded article produced in a suitable moldable material. All edges, in particular the edge running unbroken around the screen 1, are rounded and smooth and the average thickness of the entire device may be in the order of about 3 mm, approximately.

(16) In the production of the lip and face muscles training device of the present invention, a texture is applied onto the front face 4 of the screen 1. The texture can be a regular or irregular pattern imprinted in the front face during molding, such as the ribbons, ridges or grooves 14 illustrated in FIG. 1. The texture can alternatively be a random pattern that is imprinted during molding or applied through abrasive blasting after molding, such as the coarse surface structure 15 illustrated in FIG. 3.

(17) It will be realized that the texture applied to the front face of the screen enhances sensorimotor stimulation of the lips as the screen is pressed against the inside of lips under the tension load applied via the stem during use of the device. To the same purpose of enhanced stimulation, but through a maximized activation area, the screen is additionally designed to cover a vertical distance v between the upper and lower ends 10 and 11 of the vertical profile (see FIG. 4) amounting to about 30-35 mm in the adult version, and about 25 mm in the children's version of the device. In order to permit the screen to be sized as suggested, reliefs in form of generally V-shaped recesses 16 and 17 are formed in both upper and lower edges of the screen, respectively, to accommodate for the skin lugs or lip bands that connect the upper and lower lips to the adjacent gum.

(18) From the above a skilled person will realize that modification of details are possible without departing from the scope and teachings of the invention as reflected in the claims and description.