US1953088A - Exercising device - Google Patents

Description

April 3, 1934. c, Q 'PURDY Y 1,953,088

EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Feb. ll, 1932 BY @'TRN EY Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXERCISING DEVICE charles G. Purdy, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Maud H. Purdy executrix of said Charles G. Purdy,

deceased The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in exercising devices and it pertains more particularly to devices especially designed and constructed for exercising the teeth,

5 gums and all other organs which under a natural diet would receive their exercise through the acts of mastication.

In a prior Patent Number 1,466,559, granted to me, August 28, 1923, I have shown such a device. but in the device of said patent, it is possible to exert traction `in one direction only and it has been found in actual practice that while the device of my prior patent produces many benecial results, it does not produce maximum ex- 15' ercising of the teeth, gums, jaws and other organs.

The device of the present application is an improvementv over that shown in my prior patent above mentioned in that it provides for subject- '20 ing the several organs to be exercised to traction in opposite directions thus insuringthe exercising of the several organs to a maximum degree.

It is one of the primary objects of the pres- 25' ent invention to provide a device which may be gripped between the teeth of the user and by movement of the head or body or both, subject the teeth, gums and jaws to traction in both a i push and pull direction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of this character which may be attached to a suitable support and which will occupy but little space when not in use.

Another object of theinvention resides in the provision of a mouthpiece which may be formed either corresponding to the articulation of the intended user, or which may be in the form of a relatively small block of rubber which will yield under biting pressure, and thereby conform to the articulation of the user.

A still further feature of the invention resides in means whereby the mouthpiece may be removably attached to the exercising device thus rendering the device capable for use with different mouthpieces.

With the above and other objects in view, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing, in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of use of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly insection, the section being taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2, and;

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the de vice comprises a frame 10. The frame consists of a base portion 11 having sides 12 the sides being spaced to provide an open end. The frame 10 may be supported from a wall or other suitable support by means of a bracket or the like 13, and while the frame is herein shown as rigidly carried by said bracket 13, it is obvious that the same may be pivotally mounted therein.

Connected to the sides of the frame 10 in any suitable manner as at 14, there is a plurality of resilient elements 15. These resilient elements are herein illustrated as in the form of coil springs and these coil springs are of such length that their inner ends when complementary springs are placed in alinement will be slightly spaced from each other as best illustrated in Figure 2.

A bar 17 is connected to the inner ends of the resilient elements 15, and said bar 17 projects as at 18 to a point beyond the outer end of the side members 12 of the frame 10.

The reference numeral 20 designates a mouthpiece and said mouthpiece is removably attached to the bar 17 by means of a cotter pin, set screw or the like 21.

This mouthpiece 20 may be of any desired type. I prefer to use a mouthpiece which has been preformed to correspond to the articulation of the intended user but I have found that this is not always necessary since in the case of firm teeth, and healthy gums, a mouthpiece formed of soft rubber which will yield under the bite of the user will suiiice.

When the mouthpiece is constructed to correspond with the articulation of the user, I prefer to employ a metal plate 25 about which the mouthpiece may be formed. This plate preferably has two arms 26 which are provided with perforations 27 in order that the mouthpiece may be anchored thereto. An opening 28 is provided to receive the fastening means 21 and it is to be understood that the end of the member 25 which is provided with the opening 28 will project beyond the mouthpiece in order to permit of attachment of the same to the bar 17.

In use, the device'is positioned as illustrated in Figure 1 and the mouthpiece 20 rrnly gripped between the teeth of the user. The user then moves his head in a backwards and forward direction and during these movements, the resil- LYSI ient elements 15 are placed under tension. When the head is moved forward, the tension of the resilient elements 15 is transmitted to the teeth by a push and when the head is moved in a rearward direction, the tension of the resilient elements 15 is transmitted to the teeth in the form of a pull thus providing for subjecting the teeth to traction in opposite, or push and pull directions.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides means by which the teeth, gums and other organs of the mouth are subjected to maximum exercise in both a push and pull direction and which tends to set up a free circulation therein and maintain a healthy state thereof.

While the invention has been herein described in its preferred form, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction herein illustrated and that it may be practiced in other forms Without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A device for exercising the teeth comprising a mouthpiece of suitable material, and means connected With the mouthpiece for exerting traction on said mouthpiece in opposite directions, said means comprising a plurality of coil springs each connected at one end to a support and`at the opposite end to said mouth-piece. 1

2. A device for exercising the teeth comprising a mouthpiece of suitable material, and means connected with the mouthpiece for exerting traction on said mouthpiece in opposite directions, said means comprising a frame, and a plurality of springs connected at one end to said frame, and at the other end to said mouthpiece.

3. A device of the character described comprising a U-shaped frame, a plurality of resilient members connected to the legs of the frame and extending inwardly thereof, and a mouthpiece connected to the inner ends of said resilient members.

4. A device of the character described comprising in combination with a suitable support, an open frame, a plurality of coil springs connected at one end to the sides of said frame, a bar carried by the inner ends of said springs, and a mouthpiece carried by said bar.

5. A device of the character described comprising in combination With a suitable support, an open frame, a plurality of coil springs connected at one end to the sides of said frame, a bar carried by the inner ends of said springs, and a mouthpiece carried by said bar, said mouthpiece being detachably connected to the bar.

CHARLES G. PURDY.

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