US4979516A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure sensitive mouth piece
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-03-30
•
Granted: 1990-12-25
•
Expires: 2009-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A pressure sensitive mouth piece has a pressure detector-sound unit assembly mounted on or embedded in the molded bite guard. When a patient clenches or bruxes his teeth, the pressure detector senses that condition and activates the sound unit to emit a tone audible to the patient. The patient is thereby alerted that he is clenching or bruxing his teeth so he can stop. Alternatively, a mechanical clicker can be embedded in the mouth piece and will emit an audible tone when the patient clenches or bruxes his teeth.
Inventors
- 👤 II James G. Abraham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:41
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/56; A61F5/566; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/22; A61B5/224; A61B5/228; A61F2005/563
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A pressure sensitive mouth piece comprising: (a) a premolded bite guard means to be worn between a patient's upper and lower teeth for preventing contact between the patient's upper and lower teeth; and (b) means attached to the bite guard means and directly responsive to pressure from the patient's teeth for emitting a tone audible to the patient when the patient grinds his teeth and exerts pressure on the bit guard.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A pressure sensitive mouth piece comprising: (a) a premolded bite guard means to be worn between a patient's upper and lower teeth for preventing contact between the patient's upper and lower teeth; and (b) means attached to the bite guard means and directly responsive to pressure from the patient's teeth for emitting a tone audible to the patient when the patient grinds his teeth and exerts pressure on the bit guard.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 1 wherein the bit guard means is plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 1 wherein the bite guard means is rubber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 1 wherein the means for emitting a tone comprises: (a) a pressure detector; and (b) a sound unit connected to the pressure detector whereby when a patient grinds his teeth the pressure detector is activated to effect the audible tone to emit from the sound unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The pressure sensitive bite guard of claim 4 wherein the sound unit comprises: (a) a speaker means; (b) an integrated circuit means for activating the speaker means; and (c) a power supply means for powering the integrated circuit means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 4 wherein the pressure detector and the sound unit are each attached to a surface of the bite guard.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The pressure sensitive bite guard of claim 4 wherein the pressure detector and the sound unit are each embedded within the bite guard.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
A pressure sensitive mouth piece comprising: (a) a bite guard adapted to be worn over a patient's teeth, and (b) a pressure detector embedded in the bite guard, (c) a pressure detector comprising a mechanical member having a fixed upper arm joined to a movable lower arm, said movable lower arm having a bend point whereby when the patient clenches or bruxes, the movable lower arm flexes about the bend causing an audible click that can be detected by the patient.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
A pressure sensitive mouth piece comprising: (a) a bite guard adapted to be worn over a patient's teeth, and (b) a pressure detector embedded in the bite guard, (c) a pressure detector comprising a mechanical member having a fixed upper arm joined to a movable lower arm, said movable lower arm having a bend point whereby when the patient clenches or bruxes, the movable lower arm flexes about the bend causing an audible click that can be detected by the patient.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 8 wherein the fixed upper arm is slightly concave to provide a sound chamber whereby the audible click is amplified.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
A pressure sensitive mouth piece comprising: (a) a bite guard means to be worn between a patient's upper and lower teeth for preventing contact between the patient's upper and lower teeth; (b) a pressure detector attached to the bite guard means; and (c) a sound unit attached to the bite guard means and connected to the pressure detector whereby when a patient clenches or bruxes his teeth the pressure detector senses that condition and activates the sound unit to emit an audible tone which is perceptible to the patient.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
A pressure sensitive mouth piece comprising: (a) a bite guard means to be worn between a patient's upper and lower teeth for preventing contact between the patient's upper and lower teeth; (b) a pressure detector attached to the bite guard means; and (c) a sound unit attached to the bite guard means and connected to the pressure detector whereby when a patient clenches or bruxes his teeth the pressure detector senses that condition and activates the sound unit to emit an audible tone which is perceptible to the patient.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 10 wherein the bite guard means is made of plastic.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 10 wherein the bite guard means is made of rubber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 10 wherein the sound unit is embedded within the bite guard means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 10 wherein the sound unit is attached to the surface of the bite guard means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 10 wherein a plurality of sound units and pressure detectors are disposed within the bite guard means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 15 wherein a sound unit and a pressure detector are disposed in each lateral area of the bite guard means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 10 wherein the pressure detector is a piston-type switch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
68 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 17 wherein the piston-type switch comprises: (a) a cylindrical housing, (b) a rod member movably mounted in the cylindrical housing, (c) spring means associated with the rod member whereby the rod member is biased to extend from the cylindrical housing, and (d) a metal plate carried by the rod member whereby when the switch is closed the sound unit is activated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 10 wherein the sound unit is connected to the pressure detector by means of connector wires.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 10 wherein the sound unit includes a speaker means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 20 wherein the sound unit further includes an integrated circuit means connected to the speaker means whereby the audible tone is emitted by the speaker means when the integrated circuit means is activated.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 21 wherein the sound unit further includes a power supply means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 22 wherein the power supply means is a battery.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 23 wherein the battery is a 1.5 volt circular battery.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 10 wherein the pressure detector is spring a switch.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
55 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 25 wherein the spring switch comprises: (a) a switch base, (b) a switch arm connected to the switch base, said switch arm including a contact point therein, and (c) a contact member insulated from the switch base whereby when the switch is closed, the sound unit is activated.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 10 wherein the sound unit comprises a power supply means, an integrated circuit means connected to the power supply means and a speaker means connected to the integrated circuit means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pressure sensitive mouth piece of claim 27 wherein the power supply means is a battery and the speaker means is a piezoelectric speaker.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4041937A
Cited
US4178589A
Cited
US4390028A
Cited
US4402326A
Cited
US4521186A
Cited
US4488873A
Cited
US4629424A
Cited
US4593686A
Cited
US4842519A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-24 | 1994-06-25 | 1994-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-24 | 1998-06-25 | 1998-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-24 | 2002-06-25 | 2002-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |