GB2376899A

GB2376899A - Lower jaw region muscle exerciser

Info

Publication number: GB2376899A
Application number: GB0114513A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Bernard Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-14
Filing date: 2001-06-14
Publication date: 2002-12-31
Also published as: GB0114513D0

Abstract

Toning apparatus for the tongue and/or jaw muscles comprises an orally-insertable body shaped such that the body can be worked in the mouth to exercise lower jaw region musculature. The body may comprise laterally-extending arms 12,13 projecting from each side of a central portion 11 such that the body can be gripped between the teeth and the tongue can be worked against the central portion 11. The body may comprise sack 21 having an aperture 23 for connecting the users mouth to the sack 21 so that the user can exchange air with the sack 21 by exertions which exercise tongue and/or jaw muscles. The body may alternatively take other forms (Figures 1 and 5).

Description

MUSCLE EXERCISER This invention relates to means for exercising the muscles of the tongue and jaw with the intention of enhancing the appearance or profile of the jaw and of providing physiotherapy for those muscles, for example following dental or other surgery.

According to one aspect of the present invention, toning apparatus for the tongue and/or jaw muscles comprises an orally-insertable body shaped such that the body can be worked in the mouth to exercise lower jaw region musculature.

In one embodiment, the body is shaped such that, when inserted in the mouth, the tongue can be worked against the body to exercise lower jaw region musculature involved in manipulating the tongue. The body may be adapted to be held by the users teeth and, preferably, the body includes laterally-extending arms projecting from each side of a central portion which allow the body to be gripped between the teeth. The central portion is preferably shaped so as to receive the frontal regions of the tongue while performing the exercising action; the tongue receiving portion may be essentially U-shaped or more preferably, in the form of an annulus whereby the tongue can be inserted within the aperture thus defined. In use, the apparatus according to this embodiment is inserted in the mouth (and gripped by the teeth if the body element is shaped to permit this) and the tongue is worked against the body, e. g. by pressing against the body element or by rolling over contours of the body element. Of course, the precise nature of the exercise movement will depend on the shape employed for the body element. The muscles of the underside of the jaw and of the tongue are thus exercised, and the hardness of the material from which the apparatus is formed may be selected according to the degree of resistance required for optimal exercise. In order to vary the hardness, the apparatus may comprise a cavity filled with an inert gel or other material by virtue of which the resistance of the apparatus, at least in that part which defines the cavity, can be enhanced or reduced.

In another embodiment, the orally-insertable body comprises sealing means for allowing the apparatus to be sealed in a user's mouth, a sack connected to the sealing means, the toning apparatus having an aperture connecting the user's mouth with the sack so that the

user can exchange air with the sack by exertions which exercise tongue and/or jaw muscles. In use, the actions of blowing air into and drawing air from the apparatus of this embodiment exercises tongue and/or jaw musculature. Preferably, the sealing means has a face which allows the sealing means to be placed against the outer surface of the teeth with the result that the apparatus is only partially located in the mouth. Also, the sealing means may have one or more depressions to fit the user's lips to enable them to assist in the sealing action. The transverse width of the apparatus in the user's mouth is advantageously large enough to prevent excessive puckering of the user's lips around the apparatus. For example, the width could span across the width of several teeth. Preferably, the sack is relatively hard to stretch so that continued exhalation into the sack by the user causes little or no expansion of the sack.

Over a prolonged period of use, for example several months, the muscles of the jaw and/or of the tongue would be toned whereby the appearance of the jaw line would be enhanced, especially from the side and front views. There may also be a physiotherapeutic benefit or the apparatus may be used to stimulate secretion of saliva, thereby enhancing the digestive process or assisting in generating an appetite for food.

The overall dimensions of the apparatus may be such as to prevent accidental passage of the apparatus into the windpipe. Advantageously, the body is formed of a mastication-resistant material, which is preferably a rubber-based substance, for example a silicon rubber which may be reinforced with a fibrous material to enhance its mastication resistance. The material may be impregnated with a flavouring material or a colouring material to stimulate the human sensors of taste, sight or smell.

Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment; Figure 2 is an isometric view of a second embodiment;

Figure 3 is an isometric view of a third embodiment; Figure 4 is an isometric view of a fourth embodiment, the embodiments of Figures 1 to 4 all having parts to be gripped between the teeth; Figure 5 is an isometric view of another embodiment without teeth-engaging parts; and Figure 6 is an isometric view of another embodiment without teeth-engaging parts.

With reference to Figures 1 to 4, the apparatus as shown consists of a central portion 11 having laterally-extending arms 12,13 which, with the apparatus inserted in the mouth, can be gripped between the teeth of the upper and lower jaws. In Figure 1, the central portion has a cavity 14 for receiving the tongue; the cavity may comprise a depression or alternatively may extend as a through-cavity from the front to the back, the body portion thus defining an aperture. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the tongue-receiving part is by way of being a U-shaped formation 15 optionally having forwardly and/or rearwardly extending lip formations 16. In Figure 3, the central tongue-engaging part is constituted by a raised formation 17 whereas in Figure 4 the apparatus is dumbbell shaped with the central neck portion 18 providing exercise for the tongue. The embodiment shown in Figure 5 comprises a domed structure, the essentially flat lower surface 19 including a serrated or grooved region 20 for engaging with the tongue. This embodiment is particularly suitable for forming as a hollow outer shell, the cavity being filled with a gel material.

The embodiment of Figure 6 is a sack 21 terminating in a sealing end 22 which has an aperture 23 providing a flow path into the sack. The sealing end 22 also has top and bottom face depressions 24 and a flat end face 25. In use the sealing end 22 is placed in the user's mouth with the end face 25 resting against the outer surfaces of the user's teeth. The user's lips fit into the depressions 24 to assist in sealing the device in the user's mouth.

The user may then inhale and exhale, forcing air into and from the sack.

Claims

Claims 1. Toning apparatus for the tongue and/or jaw muscles, the apparatus comprising an orally-insertable body shaped such that the body can be worked in the mouth to exercise lower jaw region musculature.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the body is shaped such that, when inserted in the mouth, the tongue can be worked against the body to exercise lower jaw region musculature involved in manipulating the tongue.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the body includes laterally-extending arms projecting from each side of a central portion and which allow the body to be gripped between the teeth.
4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the body is shaped so as to receive the frontal regions of the tongue while performing the exercising action.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 as dependent on claim 3, in which the central portion of the body is shaped to receive the frontal regions of the tongue.
6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the tongue receiving portion is U-shaped or in the form of an annulus whereby the tongue can be inserted within the aperture thus defined.
7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising a cavity filled with an inert gel or other material.
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the orally-insertable body comprises sealing means for allowing the apparatus to be sealed in a user's mouth, a sack connected to the sealing means, the toning apparatus having an aperture connecting the user's mouth with the sack so that the user can exchange air with the sack by exertions which exercise tongue and/or jaw muscles.

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9. Apparatus according to claim 8, in which the sealing means has a face which allows the sealing means to be placed against the outer surface of the teeth with the result that the apparatus is only partially located in the mouth.
10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9, in which the sealing means has one or more depressions to fit the user's lips to enable them to assist in the sealing action.
11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the transverse width of the apparatus in the user's mouth is large enough to prevent excessive puckering of the user's lips around the apparatus.
12. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 11, in which the sack is relatively hard to stretch so that continued exhalation into the sack by the user causes little or no expansion of the sack.
13. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the body is formed of a mastication-resistant material.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13, in which the mastication-resistant material comprises a rubber-based substance.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14, in which the rubber-based substance is reinforced with a fibrous material to enhance its mastication resistance.
16. Apparatus according to any of claims 13 to 15 in which the mastication-resistance material is impregnated with a flavouring material or a colouring material to stimulate the human sensors of taste, sight or smell.
17. Toning apparatus for the tongue and/or jaw muscles, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any of Figures 1 to 6.