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 brace member receivable in the groove of the body, the brace member 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 trough; and   a slot defined in at least one of the anterior wall and posterior wall of the brace member facing the trough, wherein the slot provides space for receiving a component of dental braces.   
     
     
         2 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the slot is a bracket slot that opens towards the trough of the brace member and extends to the top of the wall it is defined in. 
     
     
         3 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the bracket slot is defined in the anterior wall. 
     
     
         4 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the bracket slot is orientated at a rear-to-front downward angle. 
     
     
         5 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the bracket slot is defined in the posterior wall. 
     
     
         6 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the bracket slot extends entirely through the posterior wall. 
     
     
         7 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the slot is a wire slot that defines a top-side opening and extends horizontally across the wall it is defined in. 
     
     
         8 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the brace member further comprises an intermediary portion defined between the wire slot and the trough of the brace member. 
     
     
         9 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a protective member embedded within the body. 
     
     
         10 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 1 , 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.   
     
     
         11 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the trough of the brace member has a fitment ranging from about 50 microns to about 200 microns. 
     
     
         12 . 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 embedded within the body;   a brace member receivable in the groove of the body, the brace member 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 trough;   a slot defined in at least one of the anterior wall and posterior wall of the brace member facing the trough, wherein the slot provides space for receiving a component of dental braces; and   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.   
     
     
         13 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the brace member comprises a material composition having a Shore D hardness of about 20 to about 40. 
     
     
         14 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the brace member comprises a material composition having a flexural modulus of about 2050 MPa to about 2130 MPa. 
     
     
         15 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the brace member comprises a material composition having an ultimate flexural strength of about 79 MPa to about 85 MPa. 
     
     
         16 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the body comprises a material composition having a Shore A hardness of about 45 to about 65. 
     
     
         17 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the protective member comprises a thickness ranging from about 0.4 millimeters to about 0.7 millimeters. 
     
     
         18 . The mouthguard assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the protective member comprises a stainless steel material composition.