Oral apparatus for optimising user performance

Abstract

The present invention relates to optimising the performance of a user at an activity by providing oral apparatuses which provide different separation distances between the user's upper and lower jaw and enable a user to select the apparatus which gives the optimal performance.

1 . A kit comprising:
 oral apparatus including at least one bite portion configured to receive a pad; and   a plurality of pads, each pad being configured to attach to the at least one bite portion wherein at least two of the plurality of pads have different depths.   
     
     
         2 . The kit as recited in  claim 1  wherein the oral apparatus is configured such that, when inserted into a user's mouth, the bite pad is situated between the teeth of the upper and lower jaw of the user. 
     
     
         3 . The kit as recited in  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the bite portion is removably connectable to a pad. 
     
     
         4 . The kit as recited in any one of the preceding claims wherein the depth of a pad is between 1 and 12 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The kit as recited in any one of the preceding claims wherein the bite portion is provided with an attachment means and each of the pads is provided with complementary attachment means. 
     
     
         6 . The kit as recited in  claim 5  wherein one of the attachment means and complementary attachments means comprises a female member and the other of the attachment means and complementary attachments means comprises a male member. 
     
     
         7 . The kit as recited in  claim 6  wherein the female and male member are held in frictional engagement or comprise a complementary thread attachment or the male member includes an enlarged head receivable within a chamber of the female member. 
     
     
         8 . The kit as recited in any preceding claim wherein the oral apparatus further comprises a restriction means situated, such that, when inserted into the user's mouth the restriction means is situated between the user's teeth and buccal mucosa, the restriction means extending past the depth of a pad when attached to the bite portion. 
     
     
         9 . The kit as recited in any one of  claims 1  to  7  wherein the oral apparatus comprises a mouthguard and the bite portion forms part of the base of the mouthguard. 
     
     
         10 . The kit as recited in any one of  claims 1  to  7  wherein the oral apparatus comprises a mouthguard and the bite portion forms part of a side wall of the mouthguard. 
     
     
         11 . The kit as recited in  claim 10  wherein the pads have an L-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         12 . The kit as recited in any one of the preceding claims wherein the oral apparatus and bite pads are made from one or more of the group comprising silicon, TPE or EVA. 
     
     
         13 . A kit comprising a plurality of pads, each pad being configured to attach to a bite portion of an oral apparatus wherein at least two of the plurality of pads have different depths. 
     
     
         14 . A kit comprising two oral apparatuses each apparatus including at least one bite pad the bite pad of one apparatus having a different depth to the bite pad of the other apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The kit as recited in  claim 14  wherein each oral apparatus is configured such that, when inserted into a user's mouth, the bite pad situated between the teeth of the upper and lower jaw of the user. 
     
     
         16 . The kit as recited in  claim 14  or  claim 15  wherein the depth of a bite pad is between 1 and 12 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The kit as recited in any one of  claims 14  to  16  wherein the oral apparatus further comprises a restriction means situated, such that, when inserted into the user's mouth the restriction means is situated between the user's teeth and buccal mucosa, the restriction means extending past the depth of a pad when attached to the bite portion. 
     
     
         18 . The kit as recited in any one of  claims 14  to  16  wherein the oral apparatus comprises a mouthguard and the bite pad forms part of the base of the mouthguard. 
     
     
         19 . The kit as recited in any one of the preceding claims wherein the oral apparatuses are made from one or more of the group comprising silicon, TPE or EVA. 
     
     
         20 . A method of selecting an oral apparatus from a kit as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  13  comprising the steps of:
 a) inserting oral apparatus having pads of an initial depth into a user's mouth; 
 c) measuring the user's performance at an activity; 
 d) inserting the oral apparatus with pads of a second depth into the user's mouth; 
 e) measuring the user's performance at an activity with the pads of a second depth; and 
 f) determining the oral apparatus causing the optimal performance. 
 
     
     
         21 . A method of selecting an oral apparatus from a kit as claimed in any one of  claims 14  to  19  comprising the steps of:
 a) selecting an oral apparatus; 
 b) inserting the oral apparatus into a user's mouth; 
 c) measuring the user's performance at an activity; 
 d) inserting the other oral apparatus into the user's mouth; 
 e) measuring the user's performance at an activity with the other oral apparatus in the user's mouth; and 
 f) determining the oral apparatus causing the optimal performance.