Oral cavity bowway adaptive adjusting tooth socket for stopping snore

By designing an adaptive adjustable brace connection mechanism and adjustment hole structure, the problem that existing anti-snoring braces cannot adapt to different oral arch widths has been solved, achieving stable wearing and improved comfort, and reducing the risk of dislodgement and muscle function damage.

CN121242812APending Publication Date: 2026-01-02SHENZHEN GEMESNO TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202511353629.9
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-09-22
Publication Date
2026-01-02

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing anti-snoring braces cannot adapt to different oral arch widths, leading to discomfort and potential myofunctional damage, and there is a risk of them falling off during sleep.

Method used

An oral archway adaptive adjustment brace was designed. By combining the adaptive base, brace components and connecting mechanism, and utilizing the cooperation of trapezoidal clasps, raised sliding buckles and adjustment holes, the position of the upper and lower jawbones can be adjusted and adapted, ensuring a stable fit of the brace under different oral cavity tension and archway widths.

Benefits of technology

It achieves stable wear under different oral conditions, avoids falling off, reduces snoring and sleep apnea, improves wearing comfort and durability, and reduces the risk of damage to muscle function.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of oral tooth sockets, in particular to an oral bow adaptive adjusting tooth socket for stopping snore, which comprises an adaptive foundation, the adaptive foundation is used for fixedly adjusting the relative position relation of a connecting mechanism and a tooth socket assembly, and a connecting part is used for adjusting the tooth socket tension between an upper part and a lower part; the tooth socket assembly is composed of an upper tooth socket and a lower tooth socket and used for fixing the position of the mandible at different tooth positions adaptive to the foundation, and latticed lines and a plurality of T-shaped protrusions are distributed on the two sides of the upper tooth socket and the two sides of the lower tooth socket; the connecting mechanism is respectively connected with the tooth socket assembly and the adaptive foundation and is divided into an asymmetrical U-shaped upper part and an asymmetrical U-shaped lower part, trapezoidal latches are arranged on two sides of the U-shaped upper part and the U-shaped lower part, a plurality of adjusting holes are formed in the U-shaped bottom end, convex slide fasteners are arranged on two sides of the adjusting holes, and the tooth socket assembly can be clamped at different tooth positions of the adaptive foundation by the connecting mechanism. The distance between the upper jaw and the lower jaw is adjusted by moving the tooth positions and the connecting hole positions, and the device adapts to different oral cavity bow channel widths.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of dental braces technology, and more particularly to an oral arch adaptive adjustable brace for snoring prevention. Background Technology

[0002] An anti-snoring mouthguard is a medical device worn inside the mouth. Its core working principle is to mechanically move or elevate the mandible / tongue, thereby widening the upper airway and reducing tissue vibration (snoring) and collapse (apnea) caused by airflow through narrowed areas during sleep. Early devices were typically made of rigid materials (such as acrylic), were non-adjustable, uncomfortable, and prone to causing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discomfort and permanent tooth displacement, making them difficult to popularize. Modern anti-snoring mouthguards have seen significant advancements in personalized design, adjustability, materials science, and comfort.

[0003] Chinese Patent Publication No. CN118750260A discloses a dental brace assembly for preventing snoring in the human mouth, including an upper dental brace, a lower dental brace, and a connector. The upper dental brace and the lower dental brace are respectively connected above and below the connector. The lower surface of the upper dental brace is provided with a first adjustment mechanism, and the upper surface of the connector is provided with a second adjustment mechanism. The first adjustment mechanism and the second adjustment mechanism cooperate to adjust the forward and backward displacement of the lower dental brace.

[0004] Therefore, it is evident that the aforementioned mouthguard assembly for preventing snoring in the human mouth has the following problems:

[0005] 1. Existing products can only adjust the relative position of the mandible in one direction, which has obvious functional defects and a small range of applicability.

[0006] 2. It cannot fit the tooth surface and adapt to the open mouth during sleep, posing a risk of falling off.

[0007] 3. The width of the oral arch varies from person to person. The fixed arch of the anti-snoring device may cause discomfort to people who are not suitable for it, and long-term wear may cause muscle damage. Summary of the Invention

[0008] Therefore, the present invention provides an oral arch adaptive adjustment brace for snoring, which overcomes the problem that the prior art can only be adjusted in one direction and cannot adapt to the width of the oral arch and the mouth opening.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides an oral arch adaptive adjustment brace for snoring prevention, comprising:

[0010] The adaptive base consists of an upper adaptive body, a lower adaptive body, and a connecting part. The adaptive base is used to fix the relative positional relationship between the adjustment connecting mechanism and the braces assembly. The upper and lower adaptive bodies are U-shaped structures. The connecting part is used to connect the upper and lower parts of the adjustable braces and adjust the braces tension between the upper and lower parts.

[0011] The braces assembly consists of an upper brace and a lower brace, used to fix the position of the mandible at different tooth positions on the adaptive base. The upper and lower braces have grid-like patterns and several T-shaped protrusions distributed on both sides.

[0012] The connecting mechanism, which is connected to the braces assembly and the adaptation base respectively, is divided into an asymmetrical U-shaped upper part and a U-shaped lower part. The upper and lower parts of the U-shape are provided with trapezoidal locking teeth on both sides, and several adjustment holes are opened at the bottom of the U-shape. The adjustment holes are provided with protruding sliding buckles on both sides. The connecting mechanism can engage the braces assembly at different tooth positions on the adaptation base.

[0013] Furthermore, square slots are provided on both sides of the U-shaped upper and lower bodies, one side of which is toothed, and an arc-shaped notch is provided at the bottom of the U-shaped upper and lower bodies, with locking strips on both sides of the arc-shaped notch.

[0014] Furthermore, the bottom end of the arc-shaped notch is fitted to the bottom ends of several radially distributed adjustment holes, and the width of the arc-shaped notch, the amplitude of the adjustment holes, and the distance between the protruding sliding buckles on the upper part of the adjustable brace are greater than the width of the arc-shaped notch, the amplitude of the adjustment holes, and the distance between the protruding sliding buckles on the lower part of the adjustable brace.

[0015] Furthermore, the adjustment hole is composed of a circular hole and a rectangular hole, with the circular hole and the rectangular hole connected on one side, and a plurality of the adjustment holes are arranged radially with the other side of the rectangular hole as the center;

[0016] The circular hole is used to eliminate stress concentration at the sharp corner of the rectangular hole. The stress concentration is positively correlated with the radius of the circular hole and negatively correlated with the length of the rectangular hole.

[0017] Furthermore, the radially arranged adjustment holes form a series of preset flexible hinges on the rigid material at the bottom of the U-shape. When the oral arch exerts a compressive force F on the braces, the deformation preferentially occurs along the flexible hinges.

[0018] The deformed flexible hinge generates a restoring force Fr to return to its original shape. The restoring force Fr is proportional to the deformation δ, Fr=k*δ, where k is the equivalent stiffness of the entire flexible hinge system.

[0019] Furthermore, the maximum strain εmax of the flexible hinge system is the ratio of half the thickness of the connecting mechanism to the equivalent radius of curvature of the plurality of the adjustment holes;

[0020] The maximum strain εmax needs to be less than the maximum allowable strain of the brace material, and the stress concentration factor determined by the radius of the circular hole and the length of the rectangular hole is less than the preset value.

[0021] Furthermore, the ratio of the thickness of the connecting mechanism to the maximum allowable strain determines the effective length of the flexible hinge;

[0022] The equivalent radius of curvature is positively correlated with the effective length, and the maximum strain εmax is negatively correlated with the effective length. The maximum strain εmax that the flexible hinge system can generate is controlled by the effective length.

[0023] Furthermore, the connecting mechanism is capable of engaging the dental brace assembly at different tooth positions on the adaptable base;

[0024] When the oral archway exerts a squeezing force F on the brace under different tooth positions, the trapezoidal teeth at both ends of the connecting mechanism U-shape and the square groove of the adaptable base are provided with a first force point F1 and a second force point F2, and the first force point F1 and the second force point F2 are located on both sides of the U-shape.

[0025] The protruding sliding buckles on both sides of the adjustment hole of the connecting mechanism and the locking strip adapted to the foundation are provided with a third force point F3 and a fourth force point F4, which are located on both sides of the arc-shaped notch of the adapted foundation.

[0026] The connecting mechanism applies a compressive force in the same direction to the adaptable base through four points of force at different tooth positions on the adaptable base.

[0027] Furthermore, the upper and lower parts of the U-shape are provided with a plurality of connecting holes between the trapezoidal teeth and the protruding sliding buckle, and the plurality of connecting holes are engaged with the T-shaped protrusion;

[0028] Several of the connecting holes are distributed with several adjustment points in the transverse direction of the oral cavity arch, which can adjust the fitting position with the T-shaped protrusion to change the transverse width of the braces assembly.

[0029] Furthermore, the upper and lower U-shaped parts of the connecting mechanism are fitted and connected to the upper and lower dental braces through connecting holes, and are engaged and connected to the upper and lower adaptive bodies through the protruding sliding buckles and the trapezoidal locking teeth;

[0030] The trapezoidal teeth engage with the square slots, and the protruding sliding buckles are slidably connected to the two side strips of the arc-shaped notch; the braces assembly is connected to the connecting mechanism via a T-shaped protrusion, and a V-shaped recess is provided at the bottom of the lower braces.

[0031] The connecting mechanism adjusts the engagement position of the trapezoidal teeth and the square slot, as well as the sliding position of the protruding sliding buckle and the two side strips of the arc-shaped notch, to engage the dental aligner assembly in different tooth positions according to the foundation.

[0032] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are that the present invention can adjust the distance between the upper and lower jaws by moving the teeth, and can adjust the distance between the upper and lower jaws simultaneously or separately; the connecting part can provide a 180-degree rotational force with the connecting part of the adapting body behind the brace as the force point when the brace is closed, so as to adapt to the oral cavity opening during sleep, fit the gum tightly and prevent the brace from falling off.

[0033] Furthermore, the position of the mandible and hyoid bone is directly related to the patency of the upper airway. Mandibular retraction causes the tongue to fall back and block the pharyngeal airway, resulting in snoring. This device adjusts the relative position of the upper and lower braces in the fixed brace assembly under different tooth positions, thereby adjusting the relative distance between the maxilla and mandible. It can gradually and slightly move the position of the mandible forward to find the best balance between anti-snoring effect and comfort.

[0034] Furthermore, the core principle of anti-snoring oral braces lies in mechanically moving or elevating the mandible / tongue, thereby widening the upper airway and reducing tissue vibration (i.e., snoring) and collapse (i.e., sleep apnea) caused by airflow passing through narrowed areas during sleep. When assembling the adaptation base, brace components, and connecting mechanism, this device adjusts the relative position of the lower and upper braces by adjusting the trapezoidal teeth of the connecting mechanism within the square slots of the adaptation base. This further alters the relative distance between the mandible and maxilla, thus preventing snoring. Simultaneously, the protruding sliding buckles slide on the clips, preventing any impact on the tightness of the connection between the adaptation base and the brace components.

[0035] Furthermore, the grid-like pattern, V-shaped indentation, arc-shaped notch, and adjustment hole are all designed to better adjust the width of the adjustable braces for users with different oral arch widths, allowing the braces to better adapt to the oral arch and reducing the reaction force required to reduce the braces width. In the human jaw structure, the maxilla is typically wider than the mandible. The aim is to match the wider maxilla, ensuring connection stability and coverage. The arc-shaped notch and adjustment hole provide greater lateral adjustment margin for the wider maxilla.

[0036] Furthermore, the common cause is insufficient arch width (too narrow), often accompanied by posterior crossbite (upper teeth biting inside the lower teeth) or deep overbite. Therefore, this device reduces discomfort by narrowing the arch and avoids damage to muscle function. At the same time, when worn, it adapts to the reaction force at the connection point of the main body so that it can effectively fit the teeth when the mouth is open or closed, without the risk of falling out or dropping.

[0037] Furthermore, this device, through the setting of adjustment holes, concentrates the stress concentration points after the bow track is adaptively adjusted to the adjustment holes and the arc-shaped notch. The stress concentration distribution adjustment in the upper part is greater than that in the lower part. The V-shaped recess compensates for the smaller stress concentration distribution adjustment in the lower part compared to the upper part, ensuring that deformation mainly occurs in the predetermined area, thus implementing an active and controllable stress management strategy. When force is transmitted from the tool to the rectangular hole, stress will concentrate from the sharp corner of the rectangular hole, while the adjacent circular hole acts as a smooth transition zone, which can effectively inhibit the initiation and propagation of cracks from the sharp corner, greatly improving the durability and fatigue resistance of the component.

[0038] Furthermore, the radially arranged adjustment holes form a series of pre-set flexible hinges on the rigid material at the bottom of the U-shape. When the oral canal exerts a compressive force F on the braces, deformation will preferentially occur along these hinges, ensuring the symmetry and predictability of the deformation and avoiding uncontrollable torsion. By setting circular holes with a large radius r, the maximum stress σmax at the sharp corners can be significantly reduced, keeping it far below the material's fatigue limit, thereby greatly improving the product's durability and service life.

[0039] Furthermore, during wear, the user's oral arch width is smaller than the initial width of the braces, thus applying a compressive force to the braces. This force forces the U-shaped arm of the connecting mechanism to elastically bend along radial hinges centered on the other side of the rectangular hole, causing deformation. Ultimately, this allows the braces width to adaptively adjust to match the user's oral arch width. Because the deformation is shared by multiple hinges, the stress is evenly distributed, avoiding excessive local pressure and improving wearing comfort. Attached Figure Description

[0040] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of the oral arch adaptive adjustment brace in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of the oral arch adaptive adjustment brace in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 3 This is a side view of the oral arch adaptive adjustment brace in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the basic front view structure in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the front view of the connecting mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the front view of the braces assembly in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the force exerted on the lower brace by the width of the oral cavity arch in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram showing the force points of the connecting mechanism and the adapting foundation when the brace deforms at different tooth positions in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] In the diagram: 11-Adapt to upper body, 12-Adapt to lower body, 13-Connecting part, 14-Square slot, 15-Arch-shaped notch, 16-Clamping strip, 21-Upper toothed sleeve, 22-Lower toothed sleeve, 23-T-shaped protrusion, 31-U-shaped upper part, 32-U-shaped lower part, 33-Trapezoidal locking tooth, 34-Adjustment hole, 35-Protruding sliding buckle, 36-Connecting hole. Detailed Implementation

[0049] To make the objectives and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described below with reference to embodiments; it should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely for explaining the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0050] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0051] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inner", "outer", etc., which indicate directions or positional relationships, are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. This is only for the convenience of description and is not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0052] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0053] Please see Figures 1-8 As shown, Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of the oral arch adaptive adjustment brace in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of the oral arch adaptive adjustment brace in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3This is a side view of the oral arch adaptive adjustment brace in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the basic front view structure in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the front view of the connecting mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the front view of the braces assembly in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the force exerted on the lower brace by the width of the oral cavity arch in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the force points of the connecting mechanism and the adapting foundation when the brace deforms under different tooth positions in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] This invention provides an oral arch adaptive adjustment brace for snoring prevention, comprising:

[0055] The adaptive base consists of an upper adaptive body, a lower adaptive body, and a connecting part. The adaptive base can adjust the distance between the upper and lower jaws in the oral cavity and adapt to different oral cavity openings. The upper and lower adaptive bodies are U-shaped structures, and the connecting part is used to connect the two ends of the U-shape of the upper and lower adaptive bodies.

[0056] The upper and lower adaptive bodies serve as the basic components of the adjustable braces, and are used to fix and adjust the relative positional relationship between the connecting mechanism and the braces assembly.

[0057] The connecting part is used to connect the upper and lower parts of the adjustable brace and adjust the brace tension between the upper and lower parts;

[0058] The upper and lower bodies are provided with square slots on both sides of the U-shape, one side of which is toothed. The bottom of the upper and lower bodies is provided with an arc-shaped notch, and the arc-shaped notch is provided with locking strips on both sides.

[0059] Specifically, the present invention adjusts the distance between the upper and lower jaws by moving the teeth, and can adjust the distance between the upper and lower jaws simultaneously or separately; the connecting part can provide a 180-degree rotational force with the connecting part of the adapting body behind the brace as the force point when the brace is closed, so as to adapt to the oral cavity opening during sleep, fit the gum tightly and prevent the brace from falling off.

[0060] The braces assembly consists of an upper brace and a lower brace, used to fix the position of the mandible at different tooth positions on the adaptive base. The upper and lower braces have grid-like patterns and several T-shaped protrusions distributed on both sides.

[0061] The braces assembly is connected to the connecting mechanism via the T-shaped protrusion, and a V-shaped recess is provided at the bottom of the lower braces.

[0062] Specifically, the position of the mandible and hyoid bone is directly related to the patency of the upper airway. When the mandible retracts, the tongue falls back and blocks the pharyngeal airway, causing snoring. This device adjusts the relative position of the upper and lower aligners in the fixed aligner assembly under different tooth positions, thereby adjusting the relative distance between the maxilla and mandible. It can gradually and slightly move the position of the mandible forward to find the best balance between anti-snoring effect and comfort.

[0063] The connecting mechanism, which is connected to the braces assembly and the adaptation base respectively, is divided into an asymmetrical U-shaped upper part and a U-shaped lower part. The connecting mechanism can engage the braces assembly at different tooth positions on the adaptation base.

[0064] The upper and lower parts of the U-shape are provided with trapezoidal teeth on both sides, and the bottom of the U-shape at the upper and lower parts of the U-shape is provided with several adjustment holes, and protruding sliding buckles are provided on both sides of the adjustment holes;

[0065] Specifically, the connecting mechanism adjusts the engagement position of the trapezoidal teeth and the square slot, as well as the sliding position of the protruding sliding buckle and the two side strips of the arc-shaped notch, to engage the dental brace assembly in different tooth positions according to the foundation.

[0066] The adjustment hole consists of a circular hole and a rectangular hole, with the circular hole and the rectangular hole connected on one side, and a plurality of the adjustment holes arranged radially with the other side of the rectangular hole as the center;

[0067] Specifically, the bottom end of the arc-shaped notch is fitted to the bottom ends of several radially distributed adjustment holes.

[0068] The trapezoidal teeth engage with the square slot, and the protruding sliding buckle slides with the two side strips of the arc-shaped notch.

[0069] The upper and lower parts of the U-shape are provided with a plurality of connecting holes between the trapezoidal teeth and the protruding sliding buckle, and the plurality of connecting holes are fitted with the T-shaped protrusion;

[0070] The connecting holes are distributed with several adjustment points in the transverse direction of the oral arch, which can adjust the fitting position with the T-shaped protrusion and thus change the transverse width of the braces assembly.

[0071] The upper and lower U-shaped parts of the connecting mechanism are fitted and connected to the upper and lower dental braces through the connecting holes, and are engaged and connected to the upper and lower adaptive bodies through the protruding sliding buckles and the trapezoidal locking teeth.

[0072] Specifically, the core principle of anti-snoring oral braces lies in mechanically moving or elevating the mandible / tongue, thereby widening the upper airway and reducing tissue vibration (i.e., snoring) and collapse (i.e., sleep apnea) caused by airflow passing through narrowed areas during sleep. When assembling the base, brace components, and connecting mechanism, this device adjusts the relative position of the lower and upper braces by adjusting the trapezoidal teeth of the connecting mechanism within the square slots of the base, further altering the relative distance between the mandible and maxilla to achieve an anti-snoring effect. Simultaneously, the protruding sliding buckles slide on the clips, preventing any impact on the tightness of the connection between the base and brace components.

[0073] The width of the upper arc-shaped notch, the amplitude of the adjustment hole, and the spacing of the raised sliding buckle are greater than those of the lower arc-shaped notch.

[0074] Specifically, the mesh pattern, V-shaped indentation, arc-shaped notch, and adjustment hole are all designed to better adjust the width of the adjustable braces for users with different oral arch widths. This allows the adjustable braces to better adapt to the oral arch and reduces the reaction force required to reduce the braces' width. In the human jaw structure, the maxilla is typically wider than the mandible. The aim is to match the wider maxilla, ensuring connection stability and coverage. The arc-shaped notch and adjustment hole provide greater lateral adjustment margin for the wider maxilla.

[0075] To accommodate different bow widths, several adjustment holes can be used as movable gap adjustments, and the narrowing of both ends of the adapting body can be used for movable support. The braces are made of 70-degree elastic EVA material and can be opened or closed laterally.

[0076] The adaptable body is made of elastic plastic. When worn, the reaction force at the connection of the adaptable body ensures that it can effectively fit the teeth when the mouth is open or closed, without the risk of falling off. When the braces are closed, the connection of the adaptable body at the back of the braces is the point of force and there is a 180-degree rotational force.

[0077] Specifically, the problem is usually due to insufficient arch width (too narrow), often accompanied by posterior crossbite (upper teeth biting inside the lower teeth) or deep overbite. Therefore, this device reduces discomfort by narrowing the arch and avoids damage to muscle function. At the same time, when worn, it adapts to the reaction force at the connection point of the main body so that it can effectively fit the teeth when the mouth is open or closed, without the risk of falling off.

[0078] This device uses the adjustment holes to concentrate the stress concentration points on the adjustment holes and the arc-shaped notch after the bow track is adapted. The stress concentration distribution adjustment in the upper part is greater than that in the lower part. The V-shaped recess compensates for the smaller stress concentration distribution adjustment in the lower part, ensuring that the deformation mainly occurs in the predetermined area, thus implementing an active and controllable stress management strategy.

[0079] The circular hole, without sharp corners, serves to eliminate stress concentration. When force is transmitted from the tool to the rectangular hole, stress tends to concentrate at the sharp corners. The adjacent circular hole acts as a smooth transition zone, effectively inhibiting crack initiation and propagation from the sharp corners, thus greatly improving the durability and fatigue resistance of the component.

[0080] The adjustment hole consists of a circular hole (Z1) and a rectangular hole (Z2), with one side of the circular hole (Z1) and the rectangular hole (Z2) connected to form a structure similar to a "keyhole". Several adjustment holes are arranged radially with the other side (Z21) of the rectangular hole (Z2) as the center.

[0081] The radially arranged adjustment holes form a series of pre-set flexible hinges on the rigid material at the bottom of the U-shape. When the oral arch exerts a compressive force F on the braces, deformation will preferentially occur along these hinges, ensuring the symmetry and predictability of the deformation and avoiding uncontrollable torsion.

[0082] The circular hole (Z1) serves to eliminate stress concentration at the sharp corners of the rectangular hole (Z2). This is based on the stress concentration factor formula. In the formula, Kt is the stress concentration factor, which indicates how many times the maximum stress at the notch is greater than the nominal stress;

[0083] In the formula, r is the radius of the circular hole, and d is the length of the rectangular hole.

[0084] For example, if Kt = 3, it means that the actual maximum stress at the notch's sharp corner is 3 times the average stress of the part. Kt is always greater than 1, and for an ideal, smooth, notch-free part, Kt = 1.

[0085] The stress concentration factor Kt mentioned in the implementation needs to be less than the preset value.

[0086] In the formula, A and B are empirical coefficients obtained through theoretical calculations, finite element analysis, or fitting of physical experimental data. Their specific values ​​depend on the type of notch (e.g., a circular hole, an elliptical hole, or a U-shaped groove on a plate) and the overall geometry of the part.

[0087] By setting a circular hole with a large radius r, the maximum stress σmax at the sharp corner can be significantly reduced, making it far below the fatigue limit of the material, thereby greatly improving the durability and service life of the product.

[0088] The deformed hinge will generate a restoring force Fr that attempts to return to its original shape. This force is proportional to the deformation δ, Fr = k * δ, where k is the equivalent stiffness of the entire hinge system.

[0089] This resilience ensures that the braces can gently and continuously conform to the user's dental arch, providing stable retention while avoiding the discomfort caused by rigid pressure.

[0090] Furthermore, the design of the flexible hinge follows the material strain formula εmax=y / R. Where y is the distance from the material surface to the neutral layer (approximately equal to half the thickness t of the connecting mechanism), and R is the equivalent radius of curvature when the hinge bends.

[0091] To ensure the material operates safely within its elastic range, εmax < εa (where εa is the material's maximum allowable strain). Therefore, the material bridge between adjacent adjustment holes constitutes the effective length Lh of the hinge. During design, Lh must be sufficiently long so that the natural bending radius, i.e., the equivalent radius of curvature R when the hinge bends, is sufficiently large, thereby controlling the maximum strain εmax within a safe range.

[0092] This relationship can be approximated as Lh∝t / εa, providing a theoretical basis for setting the minimum spacing of the adjustment holes.

[0093] like Figure 8 As shown, the connecting mechanism can engage the brace assembly at different tooth positions of the adapting base. When the oral arch exerts a squeezing force F on the brace at the different tooth positions, the brace assembly bends, causing the connecting mechanism to bend. The trapezoidal teeth at both ends of the connecting mechanism's U-shape squeeze the square groove of the adapting base towards the inside of the U-shape. The protruding sliding buckles on both sides of the adjusting hole of the connecting mechanism squeeze the two side locking strips of the arc-shaped notch of the adapting base.

[0094] The trapezoidal teeth at both ends of the U-shaped connecting mechanism and the square groove of the base are provided with a first force point F1 and a second force point F2, and the first force point F1 and the second force point F2 are located on both sides of the U-shape.

[0095] The protruding sliding buckles on both sides of the adjustment hole of the connecting mechanism and the locking strip of the adaptable foundation are provided with a third force point F3 and a fourth force point F4, which are located on both sides of the arc-shaped notch of the adaptable foundation.

[0096] During wear, the user's oral arch width Wo is less than the initial width Wd of the braces, thus applying a compressive force F to the braces. This force forces the U-shaped arm of the connecting mechanism to elastically bend along the radial hinges centered on the other side (Z21) of the rectangular hole, generating a deformation δ. Ultimately, the braces width adaptively adjusts to a width Wf that matches the user's oral arch, where Wf = Wd - 2δ. Because the deformation is shared by multiple hinges, the stress is evenly distributed, avoiding excessive local pressure and improving wearing comfort.

[0097] The connecting mechanism described in this invention can engage the braces assembly at different tooth positions on the adaptive base, thereby achieving initial adjustment of the mandibular protrusion. When the width Wo of the oral arch is less than the total width of the braces system after wearing, a subsequent adaptive process will be triggered.

[0098] When the user's narrow oral cavity arch exerts a compressive force F on the braces assembly, the braces assembly first undergoes bending deformation. This bending deformation causes the connecting mechanism that is fitted with it to undergo coordinated deformation.

[0099] The deformation of the U-shaped part of the connecting mechanism causes its two arms to tend to converge inwards towards the U-shape. This tendency translates into two distinct mechanical actions:

[0100] Action 1: The trapezoidal locking teeth located at the ends of the two arms of the U-shaped part of the connecting mechanism apply a continuous clamping force Fcl along the meshing path towards the side wall of the square locking groove on the adapting base. This force significantly increases the static friction between the trapezoidal locking teeth and the tooth surface of the square locking groove, thereby providing an additional, reliable anti-displacement locking mechanism for the entire system while adapting to the width, ensuring the stability of the tooth position adjustment under sleep vibration.

[0101] Action 2: The bottom end of the U-shaped part of the connecting mechanism expands outward due to the shrinking deformation, causing the protruding sliding buckles on both sides of its adjustment hole to generate an outward squeezing contact force Fco on the two side clips that adapt to the arc-shaped notch of the base.

[0102] The two mechanical actions Fcl and Fco mentioned above together constitute the system's internal response to external compression F. This is a dynamic equilibrium process.

[0103] The greater the compressive force F, the greater the deformation of the connecting mechanism, resulting in larger Fcl and Fco. The continuously increasing Fcl enhances the locking force of the tooth surface and prevents slippage; while Fco means that the retaining strip at the arc notch provides crucial lateral support and guidance for the deformation of the connecting mechanism, avoiding instability and twisting of the connecting mechanism and ensuring that the deformation always proceeds along the predetermined path.

[0104] The entire system transforms external extrusion energy into internal compressive and supporting forces through its own elastic deformation, eventually reaching a state of equilibrium where the rebound force equals the extrusion force.

[0105] During implementation, a slight gap δg must exist between the raised sliding buckle and the arc-shaped notch retaining strip, and δg < δmax (δmax is the displacement requirement of the connecting mechanism under maximum deformation). This ensures smooth assembly when not under stress and also ensures that effective support can be formed in a timely manner after being stressed, leaving a margin for elastic deformation.

[0106] The technical solution of the present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of the present invention is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principles of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after these changes or substitutions will all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0107] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dental arch adaptive adjuster for anti-snoring, characterized in that, include: The adaptive base consists of an upper adaptive body, a lower adaptive body, and a connecting part. The adaptive base is used to fix the relative positional relationship between the adjustment connecting mechanism and the braces assembly. The upper and lower adaptive bodies are U-shaped structures. The connecting part is used to connect the upper and lower parts of the adjustable braces and adjust the braces tension between the upper and lower parts. The braces assembly consists of an upper brace and a lower brace, used to fix the position of the mandible at different tooth positions on the adaptive base. The upper and lower braces have grid-like patterns and several T-shaped protrusions distributed on both sides. The connecting mechanism, which is connected to the braces assembly and the adaptation base respectively, is divided into an asymmetrical U-shaped upper part and a U-shaped lower part. The upper and lower parts of the U-shape are provided with trapezoidal locking teeth on both sides, and several adjustment holes are opened at the bottom of the U-shape. The adjustment holes are provided with protruding sliding buckles on both sides. The connecting mechanism can engage the braces assembly at different tooth positions on the adaptation base.

2. The oral arch adaptive adjustment brace for anti-snoring according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper and lower bodies are provided with square slots on both sides of the U-shape, one side of which is toothed. The bottom of the upper and lower bodies is provided with an arc-shaped notch, and the arc-shaped notch is provided with locking strips on both sides.

3. The oral arch adaptive adjustment brace for anti-snoring according to claim 2, characterized in that, The bottom end of the arc-shaped notch is attached to the bottom end of several radially distributed adjustment holes. The width of the arc-shaped notch, the amplitude of the adjustment holes, and the distance between the protruding sliding buckles on the upper part of the dental brace are greater than the width of the arc-shaped notch, the amplitude of the adjustment holes, and the distance between the protruding sliding buckles on the lower part of the dental brace.

4. The oral arch adaptive adjustment brace for anti-snoring according to claim 3, characterized in that, The adjustment hole consists of a circular hole and a rectangular hole, with the circular hole and the rectangular hole connected on one side, and a plurality of the adjustment holes arranged radially with the other side of the rectangular hole as the center; The circular hole is used to eliminate stress concentration at the sharp corner of the rectangular hole. The stress concentration is positively correlated with the radius of the circular hole and negatively correlated with the length of the rectangular hole.

5. The oral arch adaptive adjusting brace for anti-snoring according to claim 4, characterized in that, The radially arranged adjustment holes form a series of preset flexible hinges on the rigid material at the bottom of the U-shape. When the oral arch exerts a compressive force F on the braces, the deformation preferentially occurs along the flexible hinges. The deformed flexible hinge generates a restoring force Fr to return to its original shape. The restoring force Fr is proportional to the deformation δ, Fr=k*δ, where k is the equivalent stiffness of the entire flexible hinge system.

6. The oral arch adaptive adjustment brace for anti-snoring according to claim 1, characterized in that, The maximum strain εmax of the flexible hinge system is the ratio of half the thickness of the connecting mechanism to the equivalent radius of curvature of the adjustment holes. The maximum strain εmax needs to be less than the maximum allowable strain of the brace material, and the stress concentration factor determined by the radius of the circular hole and the length of the rectangular hole is less than the preset value.

7. The oral arch adaptive adjusting brace for anti-snoring according to claim 6, characterized in that, The ratio of the thickness of the connecting mechanism to the maximum allowable strain determines the effective length of the flexible hinge; The equivalent radius of curvature is positively correlated with the effective length, and the maximum strain εmax is negatively correlated with the effective length. The maximum strain εmax that the flexible hinge system can generate is controlled by the effective length.

8. The oral arch adaptive adjustment brace for anti-snoring according to claim 3, characterized in that, The connecting mechanism can engage the dental brace assembly at different tooth positions on the adaptable base; When the oral archway exerts a squeezing force F on the braces under different tooth positions, the trapezoidal teeth at both ends of the connecting mechanism U-shape and the square groove of the adaptable base are provided with a first force point F1 and a second force point F2, and the first force point F1 and the second force point F2 are located on both sides of the U-shape. The protruding sliding buckles on both sides of the adjustment hole of the connecting mechanism and the locking strip adapted to the foundation are provided with a third force point F3 and a fourth force point F4, which are located on both sides of the arc-shaped notch of the adapted foundation. The connecting mechanism applies a compressive force in the same direction to the adaptable base through four points of force at different tooth positions on the adaptable base.

9. The oral arch adaptive adjustment brace for anti-snoring according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper and lower parts of the U-shape are provided with a plurality of connecting holes between the trapezoidal teeth and the protruding sliding buckle, and the plurality of connecting holes are fitted with the T-shaped protrusion; Several of the connecting holes are distributed with several adjustment points in the transverse direction of the oral cavity arch, which can adjust the fitting position with the T-shaped protrusion to change the transverse width of the braces assembly.

10. The oral arch adaptive adjustment brace for anti-snoring according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper and lower U-shaped parts of the connecting mechanism are fitted and connected to the upper and lower dental braces through connecting holes, and are engaged and connected to the upper and lower adaptive bodies through the protruding sliding buckles and the trapezoidal locking teeth; The trapezoidal teeth engage with the square slots, and the protruding sliding buckles slide with the two side strips of the arc-shaped notch; the braces assembly is connected to the connecting mechanism via a T-shaped protrusion, and a V-shaped recess is provided at the bottom of the lower braces. The connecting mechanism adjusts the engagement position of the trapezoidal teeth and the square slot, as well as the sliding position of the protruding sliding buckle and the two side strips of the arc-shaped notch, to engage the dental aligner assembly in different tooth positions according to the foundation.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Tooth socket assembly for preventing human oral cavity from snoring

    CN118750260A