Sports mouthguard and mouthguard connector

Abstract

A mouthguard includes a curved member that is receivable within the mouth of a user, a connector that is engageable with the curved member or affixed to the curved member, and a retaining device that is coupled to the connector and is affixable to an item worn by the user. Ther retaining device includes mating fasteners that are situated on the connector and that are engageable with one another. A mouthguard holder includes an elongated member having a slot or opening into which a mouthguard is received and a retaining device that is coupled to the elongated member. The retention device includes a clip or fasteners that are coupled to the elongated member. The clip is affixable to an item worn by the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mouthguard, which comprises:
 a curved member that is configured to be at least partially receivable within the mouth of a user;   a connector, the connector being one of selectively engageable with the curved member and affixed to the curved member; and   retaining means for selectively affixing the connector to an item worn by the user.   
     
     
         2 . A mouthguard as defined by  claim 1 , wherein:
 the retaining means is a retaining device that is coupled to the connector;   wherein the retaining device includes mating fasteners, each mating fastener of the mating fasteners being at least one of affixed to the connector, embedded within the connector and affixable to the item worn by the user.   
     
     
         3 . A mouthguard as defined by  claim 2 , wherein:
 the connector includes a first axial end and an oppositely disposed second axial end; and   wherein the mating fasteners include at least a first fastener and a second fastener, the first fastener and the second fastener being engageable with one another, the first fastener being one of affixed to the connector, embedded within the connector and affixable to the item worn by the user, the second fastener being one of affixed to the connector, embedded within the connector and affixable to the item worn by the user.   
     
     
         4 . A mouthguard as defined by  claim 2 , wherein:
 the connector includes a first axial end and an oppositely disposed second axial end; and   wherein the mating fasteners include at least a first magnet and a second magnet, the first magnet and the second magnet being magnetically attractable to one another, the first magnet being one of affixed to the connector and embedded within the connector, the second magnet being one of affixed to the connector and embedded within the connector, the first magnet and the second magnet being separated from one another along the axial length of the connector.   
     
     
         5 . A mouthguard as defined by  claim 2 , wherein:
 the connector includes a first axial end and an oppositely disposed second axial end; and   wherein the mating fasteners include at least one hook fastener and at least one loop fastener, the hook fastener being one of affixed to the connector and embedded within the connector, the loop fastener being one of affixed to the connector and embedded within the connector, the hook fastener and the loop fastener being separated from one another along the axial length of the connector.   
     
     
         6 . A mouthguard as defined by  claim 2 , wherein:
 the connector includes a first axial end and an oppositely disposed second axial end; and   wherein the mating fasteners include at least one hook fastener and at least one loop fastener, the hook fastener being one of affixed to the connector, embedded within the connector and affixable to the item worn by the user, the loop fastener being one of affixed to the connector, embedded within the connector and affixable to the item worn by the user.   
     
     
         7 . A mouthguard as defined by  claim 1 , wherein:
 the retaining means is a retaining device that is coupled to the connector;   wherein the retaining device is formed as a clip, the clip being selectively affixable to the item worn by the user.   
     
     
         8 . A mouthguard as defined by  claim 7 , wherein:
 the clip includes a first clamping member and a second clamping member, the first clamping member and the second clamping member being hingedly connected to one another, the first clamping member and the second clamping member defining a space therebetween for selectively receiving therein a portion of the item worn by the user so as to removably affix the retaining device and the connector coupled thereto to the item worn by the user.   
     
     
         9 . A mouthguard as defined by  claim 8 , wherein:
 the clip further includes at least one spring interposed between and in engagement with the first clamping member and the second clamping member, wherein at least the first clamping member is biased inwardly towards the second clamping member by the spring.   
     
     
         10 . A mouthguard as defined by  claim 7 , wherein:
 the clip includes a first resilient clamping member and an oppositely disposed second resilient clamping member, the first resilient clamping member and the second resilient clamping member defining a space therebetween for selectively receiving therein a portion of the item worn by the user so as to removably affix the retaining device and the connector coupled thereto to the item worn by the user.   
     
     
         11 . A mouthguard as defined by  claim 7 , wherein the connector includes a surface; and
 wherein the clip includes a resilient clamping member, the resilient clamping member and the surface of the connector defining a space therebetween for selectively receiving therein a portion of the item worn by the user so as to removably affix the retaining device and the connector coupled thereto to the item worn by the user.   
     
     
         12 . A mouthguard as defined by  claim 1 , wherein:
 the curved member and the connector are integrally formed as a single component.   
     
     
         13 . A mouthguard holder for securing a mouthguard to an item worn by a user, which comprises:
 an elongated member having a first axial end, a second axial end disposed opposite to the first axial end, a top surface and a bottom surface disposed opposite to the top surface; and   retaining means for selectively affixing the elongated member to the item worn by the user;   wherein the elongated member is selectively engageable with the mouthguard.   
     
     
         14 . A mouthguard holder as defined by  claim 13 , wherein:
 the retaining means is a retaining device that is coupled to the elongated member; and   wherein the retaining device includes mating fasteners, each mating fastener of the mating fasteners being at least one of affixed to the elongated member, embedded within the elongated member and affixable to the item worn by the user.   
     
     
         15 . A mouthguard holder as defined by  claim 14 , wherein:
 the mating fasteners include at least a first fastener and a second fastener, the first fastener and the second fastener being engageable with one another, the first fastener being one of affixed to the elongated member, embedded within the elongated member and affixable to the item worn by the user, the second fastener being one of affixed to the elongated member, embedded within the elongated member and affixable to the item worn by the user.   
     
     
         16 . A mouthguard holder as defined by  claim 14 , wherein:
 the mating fasteners include at least a first magnet and a second magnet, the first magnet and the second magnet being magnetically attractable to one another, the first magnet being one of affixed to the elongated member and embedded within the elongated member, the second magnet being one of affixed to the elongated member and embedded within the elongated member, the first magnet and the second magnet being separated from one another along the axial length of the elongated member.   
     
     
         17 . A mouthguard holder as defined by  claim 14 , wherein:
 the mating fasteners include at least one hook fastener and at least one loop fastener, the hook fastener being one of affixed to the elongated member and embedded within the elongated member, the loop fastener being one of affixed to the elongated member and embedded within the elongated member, the hook fastener and the loop fastener being separated from one another along the axial length of the elongated member.   
     
     
         18 . A mouthguard holder as defined by  claim 14 , wherein:
 the mating fasteners include at least one hook fastener and at least one loop fastener, the hook fastener being one of affixed to the elongated member, embedded within the elongated member and affixable to the item worn by the user, the loop fastener being one of affixed to the elongated member, embedded within the elongated member and affixable to the item worn by the user.   
     
     
         19 . A mouthguard holder as defined by  claim 13 , wherein:
 the retaining means is a retaining device that is coupled to the elongated member; and   wherein the retaining device is formed as a clip, the clip being selectively affixable to the item worn by the user.   
     
     
         20 . A mouthguard holder as defined by  claim 19 , wherein:
 the clip includes a first clamping member and a second clamping member, the first clamping member and the second clamping member being hingedly connected to one another, the first clamping member and the second clamping member defining a space therebetween for selectively receiving therein a portion of the item worn by the user so as to removably affix the retaining device and the elongated member coupled thereto to the item worn by the user.   
     
     
         21 . A mouthguard holder as defined by  claim 20 , wherein:
 the clip further includes at least one spring interposed between and in engagement with the first clamping member and the second clamping member, wherein at least the first clamping member is biased inwardly towards the second clamping member by the spring.   
     
     
         22 . A mouthguard holder as defined by  claim 20 , wherein:
 a portion of the first clamping member is coupled to the first axal end of the elongated member and a portion of the second clamping member is coupled to the second axial end of the elongated member.   
     
     
         23 . A mouthguard holder as defined by  claim 19 , wherein:
 the clip includes a first resilient clamping member and an oppositely disposed second resilient clamping member, the first resilient clamping member and the second resilient clamping member defining a space therebetween for selectively receiving therein a portion of the item worn by the user so as to removably affix the retaining device and the elongated member coupled thereto to the item worn by the user.   
     
     
         24 . A mouthguard holder as defined by  claim 19 , wherein:
 the clip includes a resilient clamping member, the resilient clamping member and the top surface of the elongated member defining a space therebetween for selectively receiving therein a portion of the item worn by the user so as to removably affix the retaining device and the elongated member coupled thereto to the item worn by the user.   
     
     
         25 . A mouthguard holder as defined by  claim 13 , wherein:
 the elongated member includes an opening formed therein that extends between and through the top surface and the bottom surface thereof, the opening being configured to receive at least a portion of the mouthguard.