US3929548A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for customizing mouthpiece retainer for underwater breathing apparatus
Assignee: Farallon Industries Inc
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Filing: 1974-08-21
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Granted: 1975-12-30
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Expires: 1994-08-21
Abstract
Abstract The retainer portion of the mouthpiece of an underwater breathing apparatus includes at least a portion made of a thermoplastic material. The retainer is customized to the bite of the user by heating the mouthpiece to render the retainer plastic. The retainer, while plastic, is gripped by the teeth of the user to form an impression of the users bite in the thermoplastic material of the retainer. In one embodiment, the thermoplastic portion of the retainer comprises only a sleeve of thermoplastic material which is affixed over the conventional rubber retaining member. In an alternative embodiment, the thermoplastic retainer is formed as an integral molded portion of the mouthpiece.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph B Shamlian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:30
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62B; A62B9/00; A62B9/06; B; B63; B63C; B63C11/00; B63C11/02; B63C11/18; B63C11/186
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
THE METHOD OF CUSTOMIZING THE RETAINING PORTION OF A MOUNTHPIECE OF AN UNDERWATER BREATHING APPARATUS TO THE BITE OF THE INDIVIDUAL USER COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: HEATING A BLANK OF THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL AS AN INDIVIDUAL PORTION OF THE RETAINING PORTION OF THE MOUTHPIECE TO A TEMPERATURE SUFFICIENT TO RENDER THE BLANK THERMOPLASTIC, PLACING THE MOUTHPIECE IN THE MOUTH OF THE USER WHILE AT AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE COMPATIBLE WITH USE WITHIN THE MOUTH OF THE USER AND WHILE IN A THERMOPLASTIC STATE, BITTING DOWN ON THE BLANK THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL WHILE IN THE THERMOPLASTIC STATE TO SQUEEZE AND COMPRESS THE BLANK SO AS TO CAUSE THE BLANK TO FLOW AND TO FORM AN IMPRESSION OF THE USERS BITE IN THE THERMOPLASTIC BLANK AND ALLOWING THE IMPRESSED BLAND TO COOL, WHEREBY THE RETAINER PORTION OF THE MOUTHPIECE IS CUSTOMIZED TO THE BIT OF THE USER.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
THE METHOD OF CUSTOMIZING THE RETAINING PORTION OF A MOUNTHPIECE OF AN UNDERWATER BREATHING APPARATUS TO THE BITE OF THE INDIVIDUAL USER COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: HEATING A BLANK OF THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL AS AN INDIVIDUAL PORTION OF THE RETAINING PORTION OF THE MOUTHPIECE TO A TEMPERATURE SUFFICIENT TO RENDER THE BLANK THERMOPLASTIC, PLACING THE MOUTHPIECE IN THE MOUTH OF THE USER WHILE AT AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE COMPATIBLE WITH USE WITHIN THE MOUTH OF THE USER AND WHILE IN A THERMOPLASTIC STATE, BITTING DOWN ON THE BLANK THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL WHILE IN THE THERMOPLASTIC STATE TO SQUEEZE AND COMPRESS THE BLANK SO AS TO CAUSE THE BLANK TO FLOW AND TO FORM AN IMPRESSION OF THE USERS BITE IN THE THERMOPLASTIC BLANK AND ALLOWING THE IMPRESSED BLAND TO COOL, WHEREBY THE RETAINER PORTION OF THE MOUTHPIECE IS CUSTOMIZED TO THE BIT OF THE USER.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the blank and mouthpiece are initially separate members and including the step of affixing the blank member of thermoplastic material to the mouthpiece of the underwater breathing apparatus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the mouthpiece has at least one retaining member projecting from the mouthpiece, and wherein the step of affixing the blank of thermoplastic material to the mouthpiece comprises fitting the blank over the retaining member.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
224 words
The method of customizing the mouthpiece of an underwater breathing apparatus of the type having a pliable flange extending outwardly from the end of a breathing tube, such flange to be received between the lips and the frontal surface of the user''s teeth and having a pair of retaining portions extending outwardly from the flange on opposite sides of the breathing tube, such retaining portions being shaped and dimensioned for gripping in between the upper and lower teeth of the user for holding the mouthpiece in the user''s mouth and for holding the upper and lower teeth apart to facilitate breathing through the breathing tube, the steps of: heating a blank of thermoplastic material as a portion of the retaining portions of the mouthpiece to a temperature sufficient to render the blank thermoplastic; placing the mouthpiece in the mouth of the user while at an elevated temperature compatible with use within the mouth of the user and while in a thermoplastic state; biting down on the blank of thermoplastic material while in the thermoplastic state to squeeze and compress the blank so as to cause the blank to flow and to form an impression of the user''s bite in the thermoplastic blank; and allowing the impressed blank to cool, whereby the retainer portion of the mouthpiece is customized to the bite of the user.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
224 words
The method of customizing the mouthpiece of an underwater breathing apparatus of the type having a pliable flange extending outwardly from the end of a breathing tube, such flange to be received between the lips and the frontal surface of the user''s teeth and having a pair of retaining portions extending outwardly from the flange on opposite sides of the breathing tube, such retaining portions being shaped and dimensioned for gripping in between the upper and lower teeth of the user for holding the mouthpiece in the user''s mouth and for holding the upper and lower teeth apart to facilitate breathing through the breathing tube, the steps of: heating a blank of thermoplastic material as a portion of the retaining portions of the mouthpiece to a temperature sufficient to render the blank thermoplastic; placing the mouthpiece in the mouth of the user while at an elevated temperature compatible with use within the mouth of the user and while in a thermoplastic state; biting down on the blank of thermoplastic material while in the thermoplastic state to squeeze and compress the blank so as to cause the blank to flow and to form an impression of the user''s bite in the thermoplastic blank; and allowing the impressed blank to cool, whereby the retainer portion of the mouthpiece is customized to the bite of the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the blank and the mouthpiece are initially separate members and including the step of affixing the blank member of thermoplastic material to the mouthpiece of the underwater breathing apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the mouthpiece has at least one retaining member projecting from the mouthpiece, and wherein the step of affixing the blank of thermoplastic material to the mouthpiece comprises fitting the blank over the retaining member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |