MOUTHGUARD

Abstract

A mouthguard includes a pair of spaced lateral bite wings and a channel. Each lateral bite wing includes an upper dental occlusal surface, a lower dental occlusal surface, a front portion, and a rear portion. The channel is positioned between the front portions of the lateral bite wings and includes a front end, a rear end, an upper wall and a lower wall. A support portion extends from the front end to the rear end to form a pair of airways within the channel. The support portion ensures that the upper wall and lower wall are sufficiently supported under the user's biting force to prevent deformation and narrowing of the airways, thereby ensuring unobstructed breathing for the user.

Claims

1. A mouthguard comprising: a pair of spaced lateral bite wings, each lateral bite wing having an upper dental occlusal surface, a lower dental occlusal surface, a front portion, and a rear portion; and a channel positioned between the front portions of the pair of lateral bite wings and having a front end, a rear end, an upper wall, a lower wall, and a support portion, wherein the support portion extends from the front end to the rear end to form a pair of airways extending from the front end to the rear end within the channel, and wherein each airway has a front opening at the front end and a rear opening at the rear end.

2. The mouthguard of claim 1, wherein the support portion includes a pair of support walls connected to each other and symmetrical, and wherein each support wall extends from the front end to the rear end and connects the upper wall and lower wall.

3. The mouthguard of claim 2, wherein each support wall is arc-shaped.

4. The mouthguard of claim 2, wherein the pair of support walls are axially symmetric with an X-shaped cross-section.

5. The mouthguard of claim 2, wherein the support portion forms an upper support groove between the pair of support walls and the upper wall, and a lower support groove between the pair of support walls and the lower wall, and wherein the upper support groove and the lower support groove are open at the front end and closed at the rear end.

6. The mouthguard of claim 1, further comprising: a front lip guard positioned at the front end of the channel and extending outward, wherein the front lip guard includes a rear surface configured to face the user's lips during use.

7. The mouthguard of claim 1, wherein the channel tapers inward from the front end to the rear end, causing a distance between the upper wall and lower wall at the front end to be greater than that at the rear end.

8. The mouthguard of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the front opening of each airway is larger than that of the rear opening.

9. The mouthguard of claim 1, wherein the upper wall defines an upper incisor occlusal surface, wherein the lower wall defines a lower incisor occlusal surface, and wherein both the upper incisor occlusal surface and the lower incisor occlusal surface are near the rear end.

10. The mouthguard of claim 9, wherein the channel includes an outer barrier wall on the upper wall and an inner barrier wall on the lower wall, wherein the outer barrier wall extends from the front portion of one lateral bite wing to the other, and wherein the inner barrier wall is near the rear end and extends from an inner edge of one lateral bite wing to the inner edge of the other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mouthguard of an embodiment according to the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a front view of the mouthguard in FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the mouthguard in FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a side view of the mouthguard in FIG. 1.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the mouthguard of FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a top view of the mouthguard in FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the mouthguard in FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 8, this embodiment provides a mouthguard, which includes a pair of spaced lateral bite wings 10 and a channel 20. Each lateral bite wing 10 includes an upper dental occlusal surface 11, a lower dental occlusal surface 12, a front portion 13, and a rear portion 14. The channel 20 is positioned between the front portions 13 of the lateral bite wings 10 and includes a front end 21, a rear end 22, an upper wall 23, a lower wall 24, and a support portion 25. The support portion 25 extends from the front end 21 to the rear end 22 to form a pair of airways 26 extending from the front end 21 to the rear end 22 within the channel 20. Each airway 26 includes a front opening 261 located at the front end 21 and a rear opening 262 located at the rear end 22.

[0025] Further, the support portion 25 in this embodiment includes a pair of support walls 251. The pair of support walls 251 are connected to each other and symmetrical. Each support wall 251 extends from the front end 21 to the rear end 22 and connects the upper wall 23 and the lower wall 24. In this embodiment, each support wall 251 may be arc-shaped, and the pair of support walls 251 are axially symmetric, with an X-shaped cross-section.

[0026] Additionally, the support portion 25 forms an upper support groove 252 between the pair of support walls 251 and the upper wall 23, and a lower support groove 253 between the pair of support walls 251 and the lower wall 24. The upper support groove 252 and the lower support groove 253 are open at the front end 21 of the channel 20 and closed at the rear end 22. This design optimizes the overall weight of the mouthguard while maintaining the support function of the support portion 25.

[0027] The mouthguard in this embodiment further includes a front lip guard 30 positioned at the front end 21 of the channel 20 and extending outward. The front lip guard 30 includes a rear surface 31 configured to face the user's lips during use. It is understood that the outer surface 32 of the front lip guard 30, opposite the rear surface 31, can be formed with various decorative patterns through molding or coating processes. Additionally, the front lip guard 30 may include holes for attaching straps.

[0028] To improve the user's breathing efficiency while wearing the mouthguard during physical activities, the channel 20 tapers inward from the front end 21 to the rear end 22, such that a distance between the upper wall 23 and the lower wall 24 at the front end 21 is greater than that at the rear end 22. Furthermore, a cross-sectional area of the front opening 261 of each airway 26 is larger than that of the rear opening 262. This geometric design of the channel 20 and the airways 26 reduces air pressure and increases airflow velocity, thereby enhancing the user's breathing efficiency.

[0029] Additionally, the upper wall 23 defines an upper incisor occlusal surface 231, and the lower wall 24 defines a lower incisor occlusal surface 241. Both the upper incisor occlusal surface 231 and the lower incisor occlusal surface 241 are near the rear end 22 of the channel 20. The channel 20 is also provided with an outer barrier wall 27 on the upper wall 23 and an inner barrier wall 28 on the lower wall 24. The outer barrier wall 27 extends from the front portion 13 of one lateral bite wing 10 to the other. The inner barrier wall 28, positioned near the rear end 22, extends from the inner edge 15 of one lateral bite wing 10 to the inner edge 15 of the other. This configuration ensures that when the user bites down on the upper incisor occlusal surface 231 and the lower incisor occlusal surface 241, the lips are positioned between the outer barrier wall 27 and the front lip guard 30, while the upper and lower incisors are positioned between the outer barrier wall 27 and the inner barrier wall 28, thereby improving the stability of the mouthguard during use.

[0030] In summary, in this embodiment of the mouthguard, the support portion 25 ensures that the upper wall 23 and the lower wall 24 of the channel 20 are adequately supported under the user's biting force. This prevents the pair of airways 26 from deforming and narrowing due to the forces applied on the upper incisor occlusal surface 231 and the lower incisor occlusal surface 241, thereby ensuring unobstructed breathing for the user.

[0031] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.