Athletic mouthguard with customizable color insert

Abstract

This invention relates to a protective mouthguard for use by athletes that incorporates a color customizable feature, allowing users to customize the visible color of the mouthguard. The invented protective mouthguard has a u-shaped base that will fit inside of a user's mouth. The front surface of the mouthguard can be visible when the mouthguard is worn by the user inside of his mouth. A colorable strip is placed inside a cavity in the front wall of the mouthguard and is visible through holes that are placed in the front wall.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A mouthguard comprising:
 a base unit formed in a shape to conform to a user's mouth; and   a tether extending from said base unit, said tether detachably secured to said base unit.   
     
     
         22 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said tether is composed of the same material as said base unit. 
     
     
         23 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said tether is initially integral with said base unit and capable of being detached upon the application of a predetermined pull force on an attachment site at the bottom of said base unit. 
     
     
         24 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said tether is capable of being reattached to said base unit at said attachment site. 
     
     
         25 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said tether includes a breakaway feature at said attachment site. 
     
     
         26 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said breakaway feature comprises perforations on said tether near a point of attachment at said attachment site. 
     
     
         27 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said breakaway feature comprises a smaller diameter of tether material proximal to said attachment site and a larger diameter of tether material distal to said attachment site. 
     
     
         28 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 24 , wherein said attachment site includes a hole into which said tether can be inserted after being initially detached from said base unit. 
     
     
         29 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said hole in said attachment site is shaped differently from a proximal end of said tether to allow a friction fit between said tether and said hole in said attachment site. 
     
     
         30 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said hole in said attachment site is oval in shape and said proximal end of said tether is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         31 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said hole in said attachment site is cylindrical in shape and said proximal end of said tether is oval in shape. 
     
     
         32 . A mouthguard comprising:
 a base unit formed in shape to conform to a user's mouth; and   a tether having a distal end extending from said base unit, said tether having a wrap around detail at said distal end of said tether, said wrap around detail comprising an opening in said tether and a ratchet detail.   
     
     
         33 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 32 , wherein said tether is composed of the same material as said base unit. 
     
     
         34 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 32 , wherein said opening is a sufficient size to allow said base unit to pass through said opening and create a loop in said tether. 
     
     
         35 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 32 , wherein said ratchet detail comprises at least one pair of ratchets on opposing sides of said opening in said tether. 
     
     
         36 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 35 , wherein said ratchets are located on said distal end of said tether such that when said tether is looped around an object through said opening, said distal end of said tether adjacent said opening engages said ratchets to secure said tether to said object. 
     
     
         37 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 36 , wherein said tether is capable of being detached and reattached to said base unit at an attachment site at the bottom of said base unit. 
     
     
         38 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 37 , wherein said tether has a minimum pull force required to detach said tether from said base unit at said attachment site. 
     
     
         39 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 38 , wherein said wrap around detail has a minimum pull force required to break away said wrap around detail from an object around which said tether is looped. 
     
     
         40 . The mouthguard as recited in  claim 39 , wherein said minimum pull force required to break away said wrap around detail from an object around which said wrap around detail is looped is greater than said minimum pull force required to detach said tether from said base unit at said attachment site.