Vertical holder for oral appliances

Abstract

In some embodiments, an oral appliance holder includes a horizontal base having upward extending side lips and configured to hold liquid; and one or more receptacles opening in a direction away from the horizontal base and configured to hold one or more oral appliances in a vertical configuration above the horizontal base. In some embodiments, a first set of vertical walls extend from the horizontal base and the one or more receptacles are disposed between the first set of vertical walls. A cover can be provided and configured to interface with the horizontal base to create a seal between the cover, the horizontal base, and the first set of vertical walls. The cover, when closed, forms an enclosure along with the horizontal base and the first set of vertical walls such that the oral appliance, when present, rests on the one or more receptacles while being encapsulated within the enclosure.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An oral appliance holder, comprising:
 a horizontal base having upward extending side lips and configured to hold liquid; and   one or more receptacles opening in a direction away from the horizontal base and configured to hold one or more oral appliances in a vertical configuration above the horizontal base.   
     
     
         2 . The oral appliance holder of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more receptacles comprise one or more curvilinear concave receptacles. 
     
     
         3 . The oral appliance holder of  claim 1 , further comprising at least two vertical walls extending from the horizontal base, wherein the one or more receptacles are further disposed between the at least two vertical walls. 
     
     
         4 . The oral appliance holder of  claim 3 , further comprising at least two additional walls vertically disposed with respect to the horizontal base and perpendicularly disposed to the at least two vertical walls. 
     
     
         5 . The oral appliance holder of  claim 4 , wherein the at least two vertical walls are separated by a passageway extending between the at least two vertical walls. 
     
     
         6 . The oral appliance holder of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more receptacles comprises two curvilinear concave receptacles spaced apart from each other with an open region extending from a top end of the at least two additional walls and the two curvilinear concave receptacles to the horizontal base. 
     
     
         7 . The oral appliance holder of  claim 4 , wherein a top end of the at least two additional walls comprises the one or more receptacles. 
     
     
         8 . The oral appliance holder of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more receptacles comprises two curvilinear concave receptacles, and wherein the at least two vertical walls have a line of symmetry equidistantly spaced between each of the at least two vertical walls. 
     
     
         9 . The oral appliance holder of  claim 3 , wherein the at least two vertical walls are wider closest to the horizontal base than at a top end of the at least two vertical walls. 
     
     
         10 . The oral appliance holder of  claim 3 , wherein the at least two vertical walls have curvilinear sides with an apex at a point furthest from the horizontal base. 
     
     
         11 . The oral appliance holder of  claim 3 , wherein the horizontal base is rectangular in shape and the upward extending side lips are disposed on each of at least two oppositely disposed sides thereof, and wherein the at least two vertical walls extend from the horizontal base on the remaining two oppositely disposed sides of the horizontal base. 
     
     
         12 . The oral appliance holder of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover adapted to be coupled to the horizontal base. 
     
     
         13 . A method of using the oral appliance of  claim 1 , comprising:
 setting the horizontal base on a surface; and   hanging an oral appliance on a first of the one or more receptacles.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising closing a lid with respect to the horizontal base to enclose the oral appliance thereunder. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 removing the oral appliance from the oral appliance hanging device;   removing the oral appliance hanging device from the surface; and   removing liquid disposed on the horizontal base from the horizontal base.   
     
     
         16 . An oral appliance holder, comprising:
 a horizontal base having upward extending side lips and configured to hold liquid;   a first set of vertical walls extending from the horizontal base on opposite sides thereof;   one or more receptacles disposed between the first set of vertical walls and opening in a direction away from the horizontal base, the one or more receptacles configured to hold one or more oral appliances in a vertical configuration above the horizontal base proximate a middle of each of the one or more oral appliances; and   a cover configured to interface with the horizontal base such that a seal is created between the cover, the horizontal base, and the first set of vertical walls, wherein the cover, when closed, forms an enclosure along with the horizontal base and the first set of vertical walls such that the oral appliance, when present, rests on the one or more receptacles while being encapsulated within the enclosure.   
     
     
         17 . The oral appliance holder of  claim 16 , further comprising a second set of vertical walls perpendicularly disposed to the first set of vertical walls, wherein the one or more receptacles are disposed in the second set of vertical walls. 
     
     
         18 . The oral appliance holder of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a portal disposed between the first set of vertical walls and the second set of vertical walls.   
     
     
         19 . The oral appliance holder of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more receptacles comprises two spaced apart receptacles disposed in-line with each other. 
     
     
         20 . The oral appliance holder of  claim 19 , wherein each of the two spaced apart receptacles has two spaced apart concave curved sides.