Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A mouthpiece oriented for an overbite comprising: U shaped body member having first and second ends and upper and lower portions; the first end formed in a generally oval shape and having an orifice formed therein; the second end extending away from the orifice and formed into two leg members, each having an outer end; a internal wing member formed on each leg member near the outer end thereof; the lower portion of the U shaped member extending outwardly toward the leg members more than the upper portion of the U shaped member to form an offset which reaches to the lower level of the internal wing members; the internal wing members having first and second ends; said wing members have a taper such that the first end farther from the orifice is smaller than the second end nearer the orifice; said wing members having a laterally extending surface bounded on either side thereof by substantially vertical curved walls for contacting the lateral surfaces of the user's cuspids and bicuspids.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A mouthpiece oriented for an overbite comprising: U shaped body member having first and second ends and upper and lower portions; the first end formed in a generally oval shape and having an orifice formed therein; the second end extending away from the orifice and formed into two leg members, each having an outer end; a internal wing member formed on each leg member near the outer end thereof; the lower portion of the U shaped member extending outwardly toward the leg members more than the upper portion of the U shaped member to form an offset which reaches to the lower level of the internal wing members; the internal wing members having first and second ends; said wing members have a taper such that the first end farther from the orifice is smaller than the second end nearer the orifice; said wing members having a laterally extending surface bounded on either side thereof by substantially vertical curved walls for contacting the lateral surfaces of the user's cuspids and bicuspids.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The mouthpiece claimed in claim 1 including wherein said U shaped body member has upper and lower front apron segments in which each of said aprons has a generally concave curved surface for fitting between the lips and gums of the user without contacting the user's frenum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The mouthpiece claimed in claim 2 wherein the upper and lower aprons each have first and second ends; adjacent the first and second end of each upper and lower apron is formed a "C" shaped surface adapted to avoid contact with the user's upper and lower and right and left cuspid eminences.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The mouthpiece claimed in claim 2 wherein the internal wing members have a range in size from, at the cuspid, about 6 to about 12 mm in width, from about 14 to about 40 mm in length and from about 2 to about 8 mm in thickness.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The mouthpiece claimed in claim 1 wherein the width of the offset ranges from about 3 to about 10 mm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mouthpiece claimed in claim 5 wherein said bite wing members have a length; and, wherein said offset width and said wing members length when added are substantially equal to a constant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mouthpiece claimed in claim 1 wherein said wing members vertical walls are curved in a direction to intersect each other to contact lateral surfaces of the user's upper and lower cuspids.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
131 words
A mouthpiece (oriented for an overbite) comprising: U shaped body member having first and second ends and upper and lower portions; the first end formed in a generally oval shape and having an orifice formed therein; the second end extending away from the orifice and formed into two leg members, each having an outer end; a internal wing member formed on each leg member near the outer end thereof; the internal wing members having first and second ends; said wing members have a taper such that the first end farther from the orifice is smaller than the second end nearer the orifice; said wing members having a laterally extending surface bounded on either side thereof by substantially vertical curved walls for contacting the lateral surfaces of the user's cuspids and bicuspids.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
131 words
A mouthpiece (oriented for an overbite) comprising: U shaped body member having first and second ends and upper and lower portions; the first end formed in a generally oval shape and having an orifice formed therein; the second end extending away from the orifice and formed into two leg members, each having an outer end; a internal wing member formed on each leg member near the outer end thereof; the internal wing members having first and second ends; said wing members have a taper such that the first end farther from the orifice is smaller than the second end nearer the orifice; said wing members having a laterally extending surface bounded on either side thereof by substantially vertical curved walls for contacting the lateral surfaces of the user's cuspids and bicuspids.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mouthpiece claimed in claim 8 wherein said wing members vertical walls are curved in a direction to intersect each other to contact lateral surfaces of the user's upper and lower cuspids.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The mouthpiece claimed in claim 9 including wherein said U shaped body member has upper and lower front apron segments in which each of said aprons has a generally concave curved surface for fitting between the lips and gums of the user without contacting the user's frenum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The mouthpiece claimed in claim 10 wherein the upper and lower aprons each have first and second ends; adjacent the first and second end of each upper and lower apron is formed a "C" shaped surface adapted to avoid contact with the user's upper and lower and right and left cuspid eminences.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The mouthpiece claimed in claim 8 wherein said internal wing members have upper and lower surfaces which have different lateral extent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mouthpiece claimed in claim 12 wherein the said difference in lateral extent is approximately equal to the width of the offset.