Mouthguard

The present invention relates to a mouthguard, particularly for use during physical activities.

Mouthguards used during sports can absorb impacts to the head, preventing injuries to the teeth, oral cavity, cheeks, tongue, or jaw. Additionally, athletes using mouthguards can mitigate the biting force during explosive moments, to alleviate stress, enhance power, and thereby improve athletic performance.

However, the biting force exerted by athletes may cause deformation of the mouthguard, resulting in the narrowing of the breathing channels and consequently impeding the athlete's breathing.

The invention provides a mouthguard with better support to prevent the narrowing of airways, to ensure unobstructed breathing.

The mouthguard in the embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of spaced lateral bite wings and a channel. Each lateral bite wing has 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 pair of lateral bite wings and having a front end, a rear end, an upper wall, a lower wall, and a support portion. The support portion extends from the front end to the rear end to define a pair of airways penetrating from the front end to the rear end within the channel. Each airway has a front opening at the front end and a rear opening at the rear end.

In an embodiment, the support portion includes a pair of support walls connected to each other and symmetrical, and each support wall extends from the front end to the rear end and connects the upper wall and lower wall.

In an embodiment, each support wall is arc-shaped.

In an embodiment, the pair of support walls are axially symmetric with an X-shaped cross-section.

In an embodiment, 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. The upper support groove and the lower support groove are open at the front end and closed at the rear end.

In an embodiment, the mouthguard further includes a front lip guard positioned at the front end of the channel and extending outward, and the front lip guard includes a rear surface configured to face the user's lips during use.

In an embodiment, 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.

In an embodiment, a cross-sectional area of the front opening of each airway is larger than that of the rear opening.

In an embodiment, the upper wall defines an upper incisor occlusal surface. The lower wall defines a lower incisor occlusal surface, and both the upper incisor occlusal surface and the lower incisor occlusal surface are near the rear end.

In an embodiment, the channel includes an outer barrier wall on the upper wall and an inner barrier wall on the lower wall. The outer barrier wall extends from the front portion of one lateral bite wing to the other. 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.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

Referring to, this embodiment provides a mouthguard, which includes a pair of spaced lateral bite wingsand a channel. Each lateral bite wingincludes an upper dental occlusal surface, a lower dental occlusal surface, a front portion, and a rear portion. The channelis positioned between the front portionsof the lateral bite wingsand includes a front end, a rear end, an upper wall, a lower wall, and a support portion. The support portionextends from the front endto the rear endto form a pair of airwaysextending from the front endto the rear endwithin the channel. Each airwayincludes a front openinglocated at the front endand a rear openinglocated at the rear end.

Further, the support portionin this embodiment includes a pair of support walls. The pair of support wallsare connected to each other and symmetrical. Each support wallextends from the front endto the rear endand connects the upper walland the lower wall. In this embodiment, each support wallmay be arc-shaped, and the pair of support wallsare axially symmetric, with an X-shaped cross-section.

Additionally, the support portionforms an upper support groovebetween the pair of support wallsand the upper wall, and a lower support groovebetween the pair of support wallsand the lower wall. The upper support grooveand the lower support grooveare open at the front endof the channeland closed at the rear end. This design optimizes the overall weight of the mouthguard while maintaining the support function of the support portion.

The mouthguard in this embodiment further includes a front lip guardpositioned at the front endof the channeland extending outward. The front lip guardincludes a rear surfaceconfigured to face the user's lips during use. It is understood that the outer surfaceof the front lip guard, opposite the rear surface, can be formed with various decorative patterns through molding or coating processes. Additionally, the front lip guardmay include holes for attaching straps.

To improve the user's breathing efficiency while wearing the mouthguard during physical activities, the channeltapers inward from the front endto the rear end, such that a distance between the upper walland the lower wallat the front endis greater than that at the rear end. Furthermore, a cross-sectional area of the front openingof each airwayis larger than that of the rear opening. This geometric design of the channeland the airwaysreduces air pressure and increases airflow velocity, thereby enhancing the user's breathing efficiency.

Additionally, the upper walldefines an upper incisor occlusal surface, and the lower walldefines a lower incisor occlusal surface. Both the upper incisor occlusal surfaceand the lower incisor occlusal surfaceare near the rear endof the channel. The channelis also provided with an outer barrier wallon the upper walland an inner barrier wallon the lower wall. The outer barrier wallextends from the front portionof one lateral bite wingto the other. The inner barrier wall, positioned near the rear end, extends from the inner edgeof one lateral bite wingto the inner edgeof the other. This configuration ensures that when the user bites down on the upper incisor occlusal surfaceand the lower incisor occlusal surface, the lips are positioned between the outer barrier walland the front lip guard, while the upper and lower incisors are positioned between the outer barrier walland the inner barrier wall, thereby improving the stability of the mouthguard during use.

In summary, in this embodiment of the mouthguard, the support portionensures that the upper walland the lower wallof the channelare adequately supported under the user's biting force. This prevents the pair of airwaysfrom deforming and narrowing due to the forces applied on the upper incisor occlusal surfaceand the lower incisor occlusal surface, thereby ensuring unobstructed breathing for the user.

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.