GB2491183A

GB2491183A - A gum shield with nutrimental compartment

Info

Publication number: GB2491183A
Application number: GB1108954.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Richard Brady
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-05-27
Filing date: 2011-05-27
Publication date: 2012-11-28
Also published as: GB201108954D0

Abstract

A gum-shield 100 comprising a body 102 adapted to embrace a user's upper teeth and gums, the body comprising a compartment 104 therein and an opening 106 connecting the compartment to an external surface of the body, the compartment storing nutrimental substance. Preferably the nutrimental substance is contained in an energy gel, a sachet or a soluble tablet and the gum shield is substantially U-shaped in plan. Optionally the compartment may extend along the U-shape and the opening may be adjacent one of the distal ends of the legs of the U â shape. Alternatively the gum shield may comprise a pair of compartments each containing nutrimental substance therein.

Description

"A GUM-SHIELD"

INTRODUCTION

The present invention relates to a gum-shield. In particular, it relates to a gum-shield comprising a body adapted to embrace a user's upper teeth and gums, the body comprising a compartment therein and an opening connecting the compartment to an external surface of the body.

Such gum-shields are known for wear in sports such as rugby, hockey or the like to protect the wearer's teeth and gums. Known gum-shields are in general just a solid piece of plastic molded to fit snugly around the upper teeth of the wearer.

It is an object therefore of the present invention to provide a gum-shield that overcomes at least some of the above-mentioned problems

STATEMENTS OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a gum-shield comprising a body adapted to embrace a user's upper teeth and gums, the body comprising a compartment therein and an opening connecting the compartment to an external surface of the body wherein a nutrimental substance is located within the compartment.

In this way, the user may dispense a small amount of the nutrimental substance into his mouth from the gum-shield. This allows the wearer to obtain the nutrimental benefits of the substance without the need to obtain a food-stuff etc. Thus the wearer can refresh himself at will while wearing the gumshield. This is particularly useful where the nutrimental substance is an energy gel, as the gum-shield of the invention then allows the wearer to quickly re-energise himself while wearing the gum-shield.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a gum-shield in which the compartment is substantially enclosed within the body. In this way, the nutrimental substance within the compartment can be released from the compartment in a controlled manner through the opening.

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In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a gum-shield further comprising a sachet containing the nutrimental substance, the sachet being situated in the compartment. The use of a sachet in this manner allows for convenient distribution and sale of the nutrimental substance and recharging of the compartment when required.

In a further embodiment of the invention there is provided a gum-shield in which the gum-shield is substantially U-shaped in plan, and the compartment extends substantially along the U-shape. In this way, the compartment takes advantage of the shape of the gumshield to provide a large area therefore, thereby maximizing the storage area available for the nutrimental substance.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention there is provided a gum-shield in which the opening is located substantially adjacent one of the distal ends of the legs of the U-shape. This is a particularly convenient arrangement for the gumshield of the invention.

Furthermore, this construction provides for a decreased risk of excess nutrimental substance remaining on the gum shield, once is had been expressed therefrom.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a gum-shield in which the compartment comprises an indentation in the body, the indentation having a soluble tablet located therein, which tablet comprises the nutrimental substance. In this way, an alternative distribution method for the nutrimental substance is provided. The tablet will dissolve slowly in the wearer's saliva, providing a slow, but substantially constant release of the nutrimental substance into the wearer's mouth until the tablet is fully dissolved.

In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a gum-shield in which the nutrimental substance comprises a gel. This is a particularly suitable method of providing a useful nutrimental substance to sportspersons during sporting activity, the gel being suitable for controlled release of the substance within the compartment. Preferably, the gel is an energy gei providing a high energy nutrimental substance.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention there is provided a gum-shield comprising a pair of compartments, each having an opening connecting the compartment to the external surface of the body and each having a nutrimental substance therein. In this way, two different types of nutrimental substance may be loaded into and subsequently discharged from the gum shield.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figs. 1(a), (b) and (c) are perspective and detail views of the gum-shield according to the invention; Figs. 2(a), (b) and (c) are perspective and detail views of an alternative embodiment of the gum-shield according to the invention; and Fig. 3 is a top view of a further embodiment of the gum-shield according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figs. 1(a), (b) and (c) thereof, there is shown a gum-shield indicated generally by the reference numeral 100, comprising a body 102 adapted to embrace a user's upper teeth and gums (not shown), the body 102 comprising a compartment 104 therein and an opening 106 connecting the compartment 104 to an external surface of the body. The compartment is filled with a nutrimental substance, for example an energy gel.

The body 102 is substantially similar in shape and size to a standard gum-shield, and comprises a substantially U-shaped channel, the channel being adapted to receive the wearer's upper teeth, with indentations 108 for each tooth. The compartment 104 runs substantially along the U-shape, under the base of the channel part thereof. The opening 106 is located adjacent the distal end of one of the arms of the U-shape, and provides a fluid path from the compartment. The compartment will take the form of a tube within the gum-shield.

Fig. 1(c) is a detail view of the area surrounded by box A showing the opening 106 at one end of the substantially U-shaped compartment 104.

In use, a nutrimental substance, such as an energy gel, is loaded into the compartment 104 via the opening 106 prior to use of the gum-shield 100. The user may then, during wear, force the nutrimental substance from the gum-shield 100 via the opening 106, by either sucking, or by biting down on the sum-shield 100 between the upper and lower teeth, or by a combination of both.

After use, the gum-shield 100 and compartment 104 may be cleaned out and re-filled for subsequent re-use.

Referring now to Figs. 2(a) and (b), which like parts have been given the same reference numerals as before, there is shown an alternative embodiment of gum-shield, indicated generally by the reference numeral 200. The gum-shield 200 of Fig. 2 is substantially similar to that shown in Fig. 1, having a body 102 adapted to embrace a user's upper teeth and gums (not shown), the body 102 comprising a compartment 104 therein and an opening 106 connecting the compartment 104 to an external surface of the body, except for a second aperture 202 located on the opposite arm of the U-shaped body to the opening 106.

Referring now to Fig. 2(c), there is shown a sachet 204 of nutrimental substance adapted to be inserted into the compartment 104 of the second embodiment of gum-shield 200 through aperture 202. The use of a sachet in this manner allows the nutrimental substance in the gum-shield 200 to be refilled easily. Additionally, it reduces the level of cleaning required after use as it will not be necessary to remove residue of nutrimental substance from within the compartment. The sachet comprises a main body that tapers to an outlet 206, which is dimensioned to engage with the opening 106 for reiease of the nutrimental substance. in use, the gum-shield 200 operates in a similar manner to gum-shield 100, with nutrimental substance exiting the sachet through outlet 206 and then exiting the compartment 104 through the opening 106, and thus entering the user's mouth.

In an alternative embodiment, similar to those shown in Figs. I and 2, the gum shield may comprise a pair of compartments, each having at least one opening connecting the compartment to the external surface of the body. Preferably, each compartment occupies approximately one half of the space occupied by the single compartments described in relation to Figs. I and 2, with a dividing partition located at the front part of the compartment. One or both of the pair of compartments may comprise a single opening therefrom, allowing a nutrimental substance to be loaded and discharged therethrough. Additionally or alternatively, one or both of the pair of compartments may be adapted to receive a sachet of nutrimental substance, similar to as described in relation Fig. 2, so that the compartment in question comprises a first aperture for loading the sachet into the compartment and a second aperture for discharging the nutrimental substance from the sachet into the user's mouth. Preferably the sachets would be inserted through apertures adjacent the front of the mouth-guard and the nutrimental substance would exit the compartments through apertures located adjacent the ends of the gum-shield.

Referring now to Fig. 3, in which like parts have been given the same reference numerals as before, there is shown a further embodiment of gum-shield according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 300. The gum-shield 300 comprises a standard solid gum-shield body 302, having a U-shape. The outer side of each of the distal ends of the U-shaped body 302 comprises an indentation 304, the indentation 304 having a soluble tablet 306 located therein, which tablet comprises the nutrimental substance. In use, the tablets 306 will dissolve in the user's mouth under the action of the saliva therein, and thus release the nutrimental substance into the user's mouth. Once mostly or totally dissolved, the tablets can be replaced. Such tablets may take the form of an energy tablet. In an alternative embodiment to that shown in Fig. 3, the indentation is located on the underside of the gum-shield. In either embodiment, the indentation may be covered by one or more retaining flaps, that would at least partially cover the tabled when inserted in the indentation. The flaps would allow saliva to enter the indentation so as to dissolve the tablet. In a preferred configuration, there are four flaps which together form a substantially circular cover for the indentation. Each flap is substantially a quadrant and the apices of the quadrants meet at the centre, such that a tablet may be pushed through at that meeting point and so into the indentation. During insertion, the tablet would cause the flaps to deflect in to the indentation, but on full insertion of the tablet, the flaps would be free to return to their normal position covering the indentation and substantially plumb with the surface of the gum-shield.

Throughout the specification, the term energy gel has been used to describe a nutrimental gel comprising a concentrated amount of carbohydrates. Such energy gels have been described as a hybrid between energy bars and sports drinks. The gels are intended to give "fuel" to athletes so that they are able to sustain their energy levels during an endurance activity. They can be described as concentrated, syrupy carbohydrate. Exemplary energy gels are on the market under the name EnergyGel' and Isogel' so by High5 (H5 Ltd). Similarly, the term energy tablet refers to a nutrimental tablet comprising a concentrated amount of carbohydrates, that will dissolve slowly under the action of saliva in a user's mouth. Exemplary energy tablets are sold under the name Sport Beans® by Jelly Belly®. Both the energy gel and energy tablet may comprise substances such as glucose, caffeine, taurine, maltodextrine, fruit juices or fruit juice derivatives and the like.

In the specification the terms comprise', comprises', comprised' and comprising' or any variation thereof and the terms include', includes', included' or including' or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be afforded the widest possible interpretation.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment herein described, but may be varied in both construction and detail within the terms of the claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A gum-shield comprising a body adapted to embrace a user's upper teeth and gums, the body comprising a compartment therein and an opening connecting the compartment to an external surface of the body wherein a nutrimental substance is located within the compartment.
2. A gum-shield as claimed in claim I in which the compartment is substantially enclosed within the body.
3. A gum-shield as claimed in claim I or 2 further comprising a sachet containing the nutrimental substance, the sachet being situated in the compartment.
4. A gum-shield as claimed in any preceding claim in which the gum-shield is substantially U-shaped in plan, and the compartment extends substantially along the U-shape.
5. A gum-shield as claimed in claim 4 in which the opening is located substantially adjacent one of the distal ends of the legs of the U-shape.
6. A gum-shield as claimed in any preceding claim in which the compartment comprises an indentation in the body, the indentation having a soluble tablet located therein, which tablet comprises the nutrimental substance.
7. A gum-shield as claimed in any preceding claim in which the nutrimental substance comprises an energy gel.
8. A gum-shield as claimed in any preceding claim in which the nutrimental substance comprises a soluble tablet.
9. A gum shield as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a pair of compartments, each having an opening connecting the compartment to the external surface of the body and each having a nutrimental substance therein.