Currently, extra-oral protection for the teeth and mouth is limited
to those sports in which the players are permitted to wear helmets,
such as ice hockey and football. Wire mesh "face cages" in
hockey and face masks in football require a helmet to which they are attached.
The present invention is unique in that it provides protection form
injury to brace and no-brace wearing athletes in sports in which
helmets are not used, either by custom, such as basketball, or by the
inherent nature of the game such as soccer. In the case of soccer,
use of the head to direct the ball is an integral part of the game,
and helmets cannot be worn as to do so would significantly alter the
character of the sport. As such, no means of extra-oral protection
from potentially catastrophic injury to the teeth with the attendant
pain and treatment costs, currently exists for the millions of soccer
or basketball players.
The invention comprises a strap system, enabling independent wear,
for supporting a grid-like plastic protector which overlies the mouth
of the user and by protruding outward truly protects the teeth and
mouth of the user, including those wearing braces. The invention
prevents impact to the mouth. The unique character of the invention
is it suitability for non-helmet sports. The strap system is designed
to facilitate easy and quick positioning of the mouth protector in
place and easy adjustment for comfort and stability.
The invention can of course be utilized in conjunction with an
intra-oral mouth guard. If used alone, however, in addition to its
superior ability to prevent injury to the teeth and mouth, the
invention, unlike an intra-oral guard, does not impede verbal
communication by the user, a significant consideration in team sports.
The efficacy of the invention is particularly acute in light of the
tremendous expansion in recent years of organized sports programs,
particularly soccer, among both genders. As part of that expansion,
participation begins at earlier ages and children as young as four
years of age, who now regularly engage in team sports. The invention
is particularly-attractive to the parents of such young children.
