ANTI-SNORETRAININGDEVICEANDMETHODOFUSINGTHESAME
Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to a device and method for training a person to stop snoring and to reduce or eliminate bruxing (i.e., grinding of teeth), and clenching of teeth. Background of the Invention
Aside from the strain that snoring often places on relationships, it may also be associated with many other biological problems and disorders, including sleep apnoea, where breathing actually stops for short periods during sleep.
Snoring is caused by the soft palate vibrating as air is sucked into the mouth over the top side of the tongue. To avoid snoring, the mouth must remain closed during sleep and the tongue must be in the correct position behind the teeth at or against the roof of the mouth.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a anti-snore training device to improve the location of the mandible (lower jaw) and help protect the integrity of the temporo mandibular joint (T.M.J.), improve tongue posture by causing the tip of the tongue to assume its correct rest position against the rugae in the hard palate, thereby assisting in achieving a correct swallowing pattern which consequently may also reduce or eliminate habitual mouth breathing (that is the tendency to breath constantly through the mouth) and thereby facilitating unimpeded entry and easy nasal respiration by training the mouth to assume a correct sleeping posture.
Consequently, it may also help asthma, hayfever and allergy sufferers. Further, it may be used to prevent open bites developing during orthopaedic and/or orthodontic therapy. It may also increase lung capacity and help slow the formation of second or double chin.
The present invention provides a device comprising a chin rest or support engageable under the chin and strap means adapted to bear against the head at a location substantially opposite the chin, so as to urge the lower jaw towards the upper jaw.
The chin rest can be made of same material, or another than that of the strap means. The strap means is preferably adjustable in length, and may be made of stretchable or elastic material, or alternatively formed of two bands adjustable in length by fastening means such as metal or plastic clips, buckles or like. According to a simplified embodiment of the invention, the device is of unitary or even one-piece elastic or stretchable material construction. Such a device is easy to adjust on the head of the wearer or user. It is also inexpensive to manufacture. Further features and advantages of the invention will be brought into evidence in the description which follow with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a side profile view of a person's head with the device in a first preliminary position in which one loop thereof is around the person's neck;
Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 with the device in a second preliminary position with another loop thereof running from the chin to the top of the head; Figure 3 is a view similar to that of the preceding figures with the device in its operative position on the wearer's head; and
Figure 4 illustrates a front view of another embodiment of the device in position on a wearer's body. Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention
Anti-snore training device for mitigating or eliminating snoring according to a first embodiment of the invention, as illustrated on figures 1-3, is of one single piece elastic or stretchable material construction. It comprises two loops, a so-called first loop 1 and a so-called second loop 2 which is shorter in circumferential length than the firsgt loop.
The first and second loops are joined by a wider connecting zone or band of material forming a chin rest or support 3 adapted to be engaged under and laterally around the chin area and thus support the mandible or lower jaw. When positioned on the wearer the chin rest 3 "cups" the chin.
As illustrated on figure 1, the wearer first passes the second, longer loop 2 over his head and pulls it down so that it extends around his neck. The first loop l and the chin rest 3 are brought to the position illustrated in Figure 1 in which the connecting zone is substantially in circumferential alignment with the adam's apple and the first loop protrudes forward therefrom or may hang against the wearer's chest.
As illustrated on figure 2, the wearer then pulls the first or shorter loop 1 thereby stretching the same and positions it so that the remote portion of the loop substantially diametrically opposite the connecting zone 3 bears against the highest point of his head, substantially in the plane of symmetry of the skull. Thus, the top of the first loop sits snugly obliquely around the head slightly forwardly of the ears and the chin rest 3 bears under the chin and extends laterally around the chin area and cups the same.
Thereupon the wearer pulls the second loop 2 from its initial position around the neck (counterclockwise as illustrated) up over his head as indicated by the arrow in Figure 3 beyond the second loop until it sits snugly forwardly of the first loop 1 and forwardly of the wearer's ears in the position illustrated on figure 3. In this position the second loop lies in a substantially vertical plane. Both loops 1 and 2 and the chin rest 3 may then be further adjusted to enhance wearer comfort and ensure the best retention on the head during sleep.
The straps are preferably as thin as possible as
SUBSTITUTESH regards both band width and thickness as the strength of the elastic material will permit thereby avoiding tear or rupture in use.
In its operating position the resultant force applied to the underside of the lower jaw with chin rest is sufficient to oppose gravitation force.
The material is preferably washable but nonshrinking under normal washing and drying conditions.
The embodiment of the device is preferably made of LYCRA, silicone, rubber, stretch jersey or any sufficiently stretchable and strong material.
The present device treats snoring in three highly effective ways. First, it firmly supports the lower jaw, ensuring that the tongue sits in the correct position, that is to say behind the teeth and subjacent the roof of the mouth. Secondly, it prevents the jaw from drooping or opening and the tongue from curling back toward the rear of the mouth, partially or fully obstructing the airway. Thirdly, the device induces or results in nasal breathing by training the mouth to assume the correct sleeping posture on its own, that is without further use the device, which has been found to be possible in most cases.
Thus, the present invention not only provides means to eliminate or greatly diminish snoring by donning the anti-snore training device nightly, but also trains the jaw and tongue so that snoring is overcome through temporary use of the device.
To this end a procedure or method has been devised to train the person's jaw and tongue.
The anti-snore device is worn during sleep for a first period of one week to two months and preferably two weeks. Thereafter, for a second period of from one to three months and preferably one month, it is only to be worn for a duration of say one hour before going to sleep. In this one-hour exercise period, the following series of exercises is repeated six times.
A. The wearer positions the tip of his tongue against the rugae of the hard palate, that is the rough area on the roof of one's mouth, just behind the front teeth of the upper jaw. B. The wearer inhales slowly and continuously through his nose for 5 to 15 seconds and preferably 10 second by slowing counting to 10.
C. He then exhales slowly and continuously through his nose, again for 5 to 15 seconds and preferably 10 seconds by slowing counting to 10.
D. When saliva wells up in his mouth, the wearer clenches on his back teeth, feeling the muscles on the sides of his jaw contracting, and then swallows deeply. Then he resumes breathing as described at B and C.
Furthermore, to achieve optimal results a properly constructed and designed dental splint may have to be worn during sleep. Such dental splints are well known to those skilled in the art and will not be described herein. By means of these exercises the user will be able to maintain the correct freeway space, that is the correct distance, usually 2-4 mm, between the incisal edges of the upper and lower teeth are spaced or separated so as to achieve neuromuscular relaxation. The present invention thus provides a simple and economic device and method to overcome snoring avoiding more constraining treatments.
The embodiment of the device shown on figure 4 comprises, in addition to the same structural elements as the embodiment previously described and illustrated, two long straps 4, 5 extending from the front of the forwardmost, second loop 2 in a zone straddling the plane of symmetry of the skull. The second or forward and first or rearward loops 1, 2 and straps 4, 5 respectively, are joined together at this location by a small skull cap or pad 6 preferably made of the same material as that of the loops.
The two straps 4, 5 are long enough to extend under the arm pits, and around the wearer's back (not shown) and then to be securely tied or fastened by a Velcro fastening means, preferably at the middle of the wearer's chest as shown. In the operative position the straps 4,5 lie substantially at the level of the armpits. The straps urge the head forwardly about 10° to 25° and preferably about 15°. This arrangement is devised so that the cervical spine remains straight and does not bend in such way that it could cause obstruction of the airway. If necessary a cervical brace (made of plastic foam material and well known in the art) may also be worn to prevent the head from leaning too far forwardly.
Before using the anti-snore training device according to the invention, a respiratory specialist may be consulted to ensure that the nasal passages are wide enough to allow breathing through the nose.
Such a device is intended to be worn during sleep but may be worn during waking hours especially during periods of stress. Various modifications may be incorporated in the device embodiments of which have been described and illustrated herein without extending beyond the scope of the invention defined the appending claims.