Thermosensitive mouth shield

Abstract

Provided is a mouth guard having an outer layer and inner layer and a foam insert layer configured to absorb impact forces. The insert layer is softer than and thicker than the outer layer and inner layer to provide increased force absorption. The outer layer includes a thermos-chromic material that changes color and transparency to provide indication of temperature inside of a user's mouth.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mouth guard configured to be fitted to teeth of a user, the mouth guard comprising:
 an outer layer that forms a lowermost layer and side walls defining a U-shape;   an insert layer formed of a shock absorbing foam disposed on an upper surface of the outer layer and extending between the sidewalls of the outer layer; and   an inner layer formed on the insert layer and extending between the sidewalls of the outer layer, the inner layer comprising a sidewall portion that extends along and adjacent the sidewalls of the outer portion, and an outer surface portion forming a flat surface extending in a U-shape and running parallel to a surface of the insert layer that is in contact with an inner surface of the inner layer,   wherein the outer layer is formed of a material harder than the insert layer and the inner layer, and the insert layer is formed of a material softer than the outer layer and the inner layer to absorb forces exerted on the outer layer and the inner layer.   
     
     
         2 . The mouth guard according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer comprises a a thermo-chromic material configured to change color in response to the outer layer reaching a temperature in excess of 100 degrees F. 
     
     
         3 . The mouth guard according to  claim 2 , wherein the thermos-chromic material is configured to change the color from a dark color to a transparent or semitransparent material, and the insert layer is formed of a bright color whereby the bright color is visible through the outer layer when semitransparent due to the temperature in excess of 100 degrees F. 
     
     
         4 . The mouth guard according to  claim 3 , wherein the inner layer abuts the outer layer at a front portion of the mouth guard configured to fit the front teeth of the user and be exposed through a user's mouth. 
     
     
         5 . The mouth guard according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer is thicker in a bit direction than the outer layer. 
     
     
         6 . The mouth guard according to  claim 5 , wherein the insert layer is thicker than the inner layer and the outer layer in the bit direction. 
     
     
         7 . The mouth guard according to  claim 6 , wherein a thickness of the outer layer is within the range of 1-2 mm, the thickness of the insert layer is within the range of 3.5-4.4 mm, and the thickness of the inner layer is within the range of 3.3-3.8 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The mouth guard according to  claim 2 , wherein the outer layer is configured to change from a dark color to a transparent color and has a thickness in a range of 1-1.5 mm along a front portion of the sidewall configured to face opposite a user's teeth, and the inner layer abuts the outer layer inside the front portion and has a bright color, and wherein the bright color and thickness of the front portion are configure to show the bright color when the temperature of the outer layer exceeds at temperature within a range of 100-102 degrees F. 
     
     
         9 . The mouth guard according to  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature visualization means for indicating a temperature change of the mouth guard. 
     
     
         10 . The mouth guard according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer and the inner layer is formed of an elastomeric polymer; and the insert layer is formed of a foam material.