Mouthguard assembly

Abstract

A mouthguard assembly that includes a U-shaped body, a protective member, and a trough member. The body includes a posterior wall, an anterior wall, and a middle bite portion disposed between the posterior wall and the anterior wall. The posterior wall and the anterior wall extend from the middle bite portion to define a groove. The protective member is at least partially embedded within the body, if not completely embedded within the body. The protective member comprises a rigid material composition that provides added protection to a user of the mouthguard assembly and a degree of rigidity to the body. The trough member can be a cushioning member that cushions the force of an impact or a brace member that braces a user's teeth. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating the mouthguard assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mouthguard assembly comprising:
 a U-shaped body comprising a posterior wall, an anterior wall, and a middle bite portion disposed between the posterior wall and the anterior wall, wherein the posterior wall and the anterior wall extend from the middle bite portion to define a groove;   a protective member at least partially embedded within the body, the protective member comprising a rigid material composition; and   a trough member received in the groove of the body that defines a trough for receiving at least part of a dental arch.   
     
     
         2 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the protective member extends across at least the anterior wall and the middle bite portion of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the protective member extends across the body to cover at least a user's central incisors, lateral incisors, canines, and first premolars. 
     
     
         4 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the trough is configured for a tight custom fit. 
     
     
         5 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the trough is configured for a loose stock fit. 
     
     
         6 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the body, protective member, and trough member comprises a flavoring that a user can taste when wearing the mouthguard assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 1  further comprising at least one of jewels, identification labels, and small electronics embedded within the body. 
     
     
         8 . A mouthguard assembly comprising:
 a U-shaped body comprising a posterior wall, an anterior wall, and a middle bite portion disposed between the posterior wall and the anterior wall, wherein the posterior wall and the anterior wall extend from the middle bite portion to define a groove;   a protective member at least partially embedded within the body, the protective member comprising a rigid material composition; and   a brace member received in the groove of the body that defines a trough for receiving at least part of a dental arch.   
     
     
         9 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the protective member is embedded completely within the body. 
     
     
         10 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the brace member comprises a posterior wall, an anterior wall, and a middle bite portion;   the body is configured to encompass the anterior wall and the middle bite portion of the brace member; and   the body is configured to taper off in thickness around the posterior wall of the brace member.   
     
     
         11 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the brace member defines a bottom side that comprises a pair of cantilever arms; and   the body and the protective member each include aligned, corresponding holes that are suitable for indexing the cantilever arms.   
     
     
         12 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the trough of the brace member is a negative impression of at least a portion of a user's dental arch. 
     
     
         13 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the brace member comprises a material having a flexural modulus ranging from about 1,800 MPa to about 2,400 MPa. 
     
     
         14 . A mouthguard assembly comprising:
 a U-shaped body comprising a posterior wall, an anterior wall, and a middle bite portion disposed between the posterior wall and the anterior wall, wherein the posterior wall and the anterior wall extend from the middle bite portion to define a groove;   a protective member at least partially embedded within the body, the protective member comprising a rigid material composition; and   a cushioning member applied to the groove of the body that defines a trough for receiving at least part of a dental arch.   
     
     
         15 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the groove of the body defines an indent and the protective member is embedded in this indent with one side exposed. 
     
     
         16 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the cushioning member covers, in its entirety, the exposed side of the protective member. 
     
     
         17 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the body comprises EVA copolymer. 
     
     
         18 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the cushioning member comprises acrylic polymer. 
     
     
         19 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the protective member comprises vitallium. 
     
     
         20 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the body comprises at least one of thermoplastic elastomer, thermoplastic styrenic elastomer, and thermoplastic olefin;   the protective member comprises glass fiber nylon; and   the brace member comprises at least one of acrylate polymer and methacrylate polymer.