US2178128A - Antisnoring device - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 31, 1939. D. H. WAITE ANTISNORING DEVICE Filed March 20, 1937 INVENTOR. DONALD f7. WAITE A TTORNEY Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AN TISNORING DEVICE Application March 20, 1937, Serial No. 132,143

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a means for minimizing and preventing. the unpleasant habit of snoring, and the provision of an inexpensive,

easily manipulated device for accomplishing this purpose.

It is generally known and understood that snoring occurs during sleep, when the person is not aware of his annoyance to anyone and everyone within his sound range, thereforefno matter how penitent the offender may be, outside means must be used if he is to overcome or limit his ailiiction. It is an object of this invention to provide such a device.

Quite naturally, when the mouth is open and the person-is asleep, the danger of swallowing devices of this nature is apparent. It is an object of this invention to provide a device which may be used with safety, and which will not slip or move out of adjustment during sleep, and also one which therefore cannot be swallowed.

Snoring generally occurs while the mouth is open, and breathing is done through the mouth. The passage. of air through the mouth causes a vibration or fluttering of the uvula or soft palate,

and of the diaphragm, which in turn cause the sonorous respiration which is. known as snoring. Mouth breathing, giving rise to snoring, has long been recognized as injurious for numerous reasons. One of these is that the membranes of the mouth become dry and parched, whereas the normal condition is moist. Another is that a suflicient amount of air is not drawn in through the nasal passages to accomplish proper and necessary hygienic irrigation of these passages. In

fact, the entire hygienic toneof the oral and nasal cavities is very low when breathing is done through the mouth, and susceptibility to disease encouraged.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a device which will preserve the natural moist state of the mouth, even though the. habit of mouth breathing has been formed, and which, at the same time, will also encourage the proper 5 passage of air through the nose.

The invention contemplates such other and further objects as will appear as the description of my invention proceeds.

In attaining the foregoing objects, together with such further benefits, advantages and capabilities as may hereafter appear. .and as are inherently possessed thereby, I use by way of example only, the construction shown in the preferred form in the accompanying single sheetof drawings. Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows the device in place and as worn in practice;

Fig. 2 is a plan view; and 5 Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the device, which comprises a mouthpiece 10 II], is made from a single sheet of flexible material such as Pyralin, Celluloid, or any other suitable material, and is preferably transparent.

It is so shaped as to conform to the physical anatomy of the front of the mouth between the 15 teeth and the lips when worn by the individual as shown in Fig. 1. For example, the mouthpiece I0 is narrowed at the top and the bottom by cut-outs II and I2 in order to comfortably fit in between the teeth and the lips of the wear- 2o er, and to fit under the medial web of the upper lip and gum. In the central portion of the mouthpiece lil there is a diversion area l5 bordered by numerous small perforations 13. At the outward ends of the mouthpiece l0, which ends are 25 enlarged to fit firmly between the teeth and lips to prevent movement of the device, and in the lower quadrant thereof, are several perforations or saliva slots l4, comparatively larger than the perforations I3. 30

V The manner of using the device is as follows: The wearer inserts the mouthpiece Ill between the teeth and lips in the front of the mouth before going to sleep. If the device is of a transparent material, then it is scarcely noticeable 5 when worn. Likewise, due to the warmth of the breath and the mouth, the material softens con-' siderably and conforms easily to the contour of the mouth, so that the wearer loses consciousness of the fact of having the device in his mouth. 40 When the wearers mouth opens during sleep, by

habit or otherwise; then only the .central porthe uvula or soft palate. Thenumber of perforations I 3, of course, may be varied, but there should be. few enough to restrict the amount of air coming through in an inhalation and to 55 diffuse it to prevent vibrations which set up sonorous respiration. The device, at the same time, prevents a rapid evaporation of the moisture in the mouth by effectively providing a closure. It is well-known that the salivary glands are active during sleep, and that the proper flow of saliva and other mouth secretions is essential to maintain the moist condition within the mouth. This is provided for in the device by the larger holes and slots l4, which permit the normal circulation of saliva and mouth secretions. The enlarged ends of the mouthpiece I provide sufiicierit pressure to hold the device in place without slippage, and at the same time permit freedom of movement of the teeth and jaws. Because of the conformance in shape to the anatomy of the wearer there is no danger of slip page in use and hence no danger of swallowing.

It will also be seen that the restricted inhalation through the holes l3 and the diversion area l5 encourages a flow of air through the nasal passages, thereby encouraging good habits as well as correcting and eliminating annoying ones.

When normal habits have beenestablished, further use of the device may be dispensed with.

It is now believed that in describing the construction of the invention and its use, the same have become thoroughly apparent.

I claim:

1. An antisnoring device comprising a, flexible mouthpiece adapted to be worn between the teeth and lips, said device being provided with an air stream zone having a plurality of relatively small perforations for controlling and diffusing the air stream and a plurality of relatively larger perforations separated from the air stream zone for permitting circulation of saliva and mouth secretions.

2. An antisnoring device comprising a flexible mouthpiece adapted to be worn between the teeth and lips, said device being provided with an air stream zone having a plurality of relatively small perforations for controlling and diffusing the air stream, a plurality of relatively larger perforations separated from the air stream zone for the circulation of saliva and mouth secretions and having cut-out portions to fit under the medial web of the upper lip and gum of the wearer. 3. An antisnoring device comprising a flexible mouthpiece adapted to be worn between the teeth and lips, said device having a. plurality of relatively small unrestricted perforations arranged in spaced groups adjacent the center thereof forming an air-stream zone and a diversion area between said groups of perforations, and a plurality of relatively larger perforations separated from said groups and said diversion area and away from the air-stream zone.

4. An antisnoring device comprising a. flexible mouthpiece adapted for placement between the teeth and lips, said device formed of a sheet material and provided with a central diversion area, a plurality of groups of relatively small unrestricted perforations adjacent said diverson area forming an air-stream zone, relatively larger perforations separated from said groups and diversion area and away from the air-stream zone, and cut-out portions adapted to fit the human anatomy at the front part of the mouth between the teeth and the gums.

DONALD H. WAITE.

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