Oral function improvement device

Abstract

Provided is an oral function improvement device in which the opening force for opening tip parts of a pair of arm parts by a biasing member can be easily adjusted. An oral function improvement device 10 comprises: a base part 20; a pair of arm parts 40, 40 having, at tip parts 43, bite parts 48 held in the mouth or the teeth, the arm parts being rotationally supported by the base part 20 so that the tip parts 43, 43 approach and separate from each other; and a biasing member 50 that biases the tip parts 43, 43 of the pair of arm parts 40, 40 in the separating direction, each arm part 40 having a biasing force receiving part with which the biasing member 50 comes in contact and which receives the biasing force, and the biasing force receiving part being configured to be displaceable along the extension direction E of the arm part 40.

Description

Oral function improvement device

[0001] The present invention relates to an oral function improvement device for improving lip-closing force and / or bite force.

[0002] Having the mouth open on a daily basis, known as a gaping mouth (lip incompetence), makes it easier for bacteria and viruses to enter the mouth, leading to inconveniences such as tooth decay, periodontal disease, colds, and influenza, and can also lead to facial distortion. One way to eliminate this gaping mouth is to train the orbicularis oris muscle to improve lip closure.

[0003] Furthermore, the bite force required to bite down with teeth is important for maintaining life, but it can weaken with age or in the event of an accident, etc. In such cases, it may be desirable to strengthen the masticatory muscles to improve bite force.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 listed below describes an orbicularis oris muscle strengthening device that includes a case, a pair of upper and lower support members housed inside the case, with base ends connected to each other and tip ends that can move apart in the vertical direction, mouthpieces placed at the tip of each support member, and a spring member that urges the tip ends of the pair of support members in a direction that moves them apart. The spring member is a torsion coil spring consisting of a central coil portion and a pair of rod-shaped portions extending from both ends of the central coil portion.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-280902

[0006] In order to train the orbicularis oris muscle and the masticatory muscles, it is necessary to apply an appropriate load to the orbicularis oris muscle and the masticatory muscles according to the current state of the user. In the orbicularis oris muscle strengthening device of Patent Document 1, the force with which the tips of the pair of upper and lower support members open together can be adjusted by appropriately replacing the spring member, which is a torsion coil spring.

[0007] However, replacing the spring member requires disassembling the case and removing the spring member, which is a complicated process, and it is not easy to adjust the opening force of the pair of support members.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an oral function improving device that can easily adjust the force with which the biasing member opens the tips of a pair of arms.

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an oral function improvement device for improving lip-closing force and / or bite force, comprising a base portion, a pair of arms each having a gripping portion at its tip that is held by the mouth or teeth and is rotatably supported by the base portion so that the tip portions move toward and away from each other, and a biasing member that biases the tip portions of the pair of arms in directions that move them away from each other, each arm portion having a biasing force receiving portion against which the biasing member abuts and receives the biasing force, and the position of the biasing force receiving portion or the attachment position of the biasing member is configured to be displaceable along the extension direction of the arm portion.

[0010] In the present invention, the force that opens the tip ends of a pair of arms can be easily adjusted by simply displacing the position of the force receiving portion of each arm or the mounting position of the force member appropriately along the extension direction of the arm.

[0011] 11 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of an oral function improvement device according to the present invention. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the oral function improvement device. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the oral function improvement device with a portion of the case removed. FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the case of the base part constituting the oral function improvement device. FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of the arm part constituting the oral function improvement device. FIG. 16 is a plan view of the oral function improvement device in a state in which the opening force between the tip ends of the pair of arms is smaller than that shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 17 is a plan view of the oral function improvement device in the state of FIG. 6 with a portion of the case removed. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrows A-A in FIG. 6. FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of a usage state of the oral function improvement device according to the present invention. FIG. 19 is a plan view of the oral function improvement device in a state in which the opening force between the tip ends of the pair of arms is larger than that shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 19 is a plan view of the state of FIG. 10 with a portion of the case removed. FIG. 19 is a plan view of a state in which the pair of arms have been rotated from the state shown in FIG. 7 in a direction in which the tip ends approach each other against the biasing force of the biasing member ... 18 is a plan view of the oral function improvement device according to the present invention when measuring lip closure force using a lip closure force measuring device. FIG. 19 is a plan view of the state of FIG. 14 with a part of the case removed. FIG. 20 is a plan view of the state of FIG. 14 with a part of the case removed. FIG. 21 is a plan view of the state of FIG. 16 with a part of the case removed. FIG. 22 is a plan view of the state of FIG. 16 with the rotor returned to its initial position from the state of FIG. 16. FIG. 23 is a plan view of the state of FIG. 18 with a part of the case removed. FIG. 24 is a schematic perspective view of a first modified example of the oral function improvement device according to the present invention. FIG. 25 is a schematic explanatory view showing a modified aspect of the first modified example. FIG. 26 is a schematic perspective view of a second modified example of the oral function improvement device according to the present invention. FIG. 27 is a schematic perspective view of a third modified example of the oral function improvement device according to the present invention. FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the oral function improvement device according to the present invention. FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the oral function improvement device with a part of the case removed. FIG. 29 is an enlarged perspective view of a first case of a base part of the oral function improvement device.38. This figure shows an enlarged perspective view of the second case of the base part constituting the oral function improvement device, as viewed from a direction different from that of FIG. 24. This figure shows an enlarged perspective view of a moving tool constituting the oral function improvement device. This figure is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of arrows D-D in FIG. 25. This figure is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of arrows G-G in FIG. 25, with the arms omitted. This figure is a plan view of the oral function improvement device, in which the opening force between the tip ends of the pair of arms is smaller than that in FIG. 38. This figure is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of arrows H-H in FIG. 25, with the arms omitted. This figure is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of arrows I-I in FIG. 25, with the arms omitted. This figure is a cross-sectional view of the oral function improvement device, in which the opening force between the tip ends of the pair of arms is larger than that in FIG. 32. 44 is a plan sectional view of the device in the state of FIG. 38 when the second case is removed. 45 is a plan view of the structure of the second case side when the first case is removed when the device in the state of FIG. 38 is removed. 46 is a sectional view of the device in the state of FIG. 38 when the arm unit is omitted, corresponding to the sectional view along arrows H-H in FIG. 25. 47 is a sectional view of the device in the state of FIG. 38 when the arm unit is omitted, corresponding to the sectional view along arrows I-I in FIG. 25. 48 is a sectional view of the device in the state of FIG. 39 when the pair of arms are rotated in a direction in which the tip ends approach each other against the biasing force of the biasing member. 49 is a plan view of the device in the state of FIG. 44 when the lip-closing force is measured using a lip-closing force measuring instrument. 49 is a plan view of the device in the state of FIG. 44 when the second case is removed. 49 is a plan view of the device in the state of FIG. 44 when the lip-closing force is measured using an oral function measuring instrument.

[0012] (One Embodiment of Oral Cavity Function Improvement Device) Hereinafter, one embodiment of an oral cavity function improvement device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, this oral function improvement device 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as "improvement device 10") is intended to improve oral functions including lip closure force, which is the force used by the orbicularis oris muscle to close the mouth, and occlusal force, which is the force used by the masticatory muscles to bite food with the teeth.

[0014] This improvement device 10 is mainly composed of a case-shaped base portion 20 consisting of a first case 21 and a second case 22, a pair of arm portions 40, 40 having a gripping portion 48 at a tip portion 43 that can be held in the mouth or teeth (in this embodiment, the gripping portion 48 is held by the upper lip 1 and the lower lip 2) and that are rotatably supported on the base portion 20 so that the tip portions 43, 43 move toward and away from each other, and a biasing member 50 that biases the tip portions 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 in directions that move them away from each other.

[0015] The biasing member 50 is a so-called torsion spring, which is made up of a wound portion 51 around which a wire is wound and a pair of arms 52, 52 extending from both ends of the wound portion 51.

[0016] An oral function measuring device 15 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "measuring device 15") for measuring lip-closing force and / or occlusal force is connected to the improvement device 10 via a connecting member 55. This measuring device 15 is mainly composed of a base portion 60 consisting of a first case 61 and a second case 62, a rotating body 80 rotatably supported on the base portion 60, a rotating display body 90 rotatably supported on the base portion 60 and arranged coaxially with the rotating body 80, and a rotation biasing member 100 that biases the rotating body 80 to rotate in a predetermined direction.

[0017] The connecting member 55 is in the form of a string that extends to a predetermined length, and one end 56 of the extending direction is ring-shaped and connected to the improving device 10 side, while the other end 57 has a hook portion with a larger diameter than the other portion and is connected to the rotating body 80.

[0018] The rotational biasing member 100 is a so-called torsion spring, which is made up of a wound portion 101 around which a wire is wound and a pair of arms 102, 102 extending from both ends of the wound portion 101. As shown in Fig. 7, the rotating body 80 is rotationally biased in a rotational biasing direction R by the rotational biasing force of the rotational biasing member 100.

[0019] First, the base portion 20 of the elevating device 10 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 2, 4, 7, 8, etc. The first case 21 and second case 22 constituting the base portion 20 each have a plate-shaped base portion 23 that has a predetermined width and extends a predetermined length, and a peripheral wall 24 that extends from the periphery of the base portion 23 (see Figure 4). The base portions 23 and peripheral walls 24 of both cases 21 and 22 are shaped to fit together.

[0020] 4, the width direction of the base portion 20 is designated as "W", and the extending direction of the base portion 20 that is perpendicular to the width direction W in a plan view is designated as "E". In addition, of the peripheral walls 24 of each of the cases 21 and 22, both side portions in the width direction W are slightly bulged so as to form a convex curved surface, making it easier to grip the base portion 20.

[0021] A pair of rotation support portions 25, 25 that rotationally support the pair of arm portions 40, 40 are erected on both sides in the width direction W of the base portion 23 of each of the cases 21, 22 on the base end (one end) side in the extension direction E. The rotation support portion 25 provided on the first case 21 side is substantially cylindrical, and the rotation support portion 25 provided on the second case 22 side is substantially columnar and is inserted into the rotation support portion 25 on the first case 21 side.

[0022] Furthermore, a spring support portion 26 that supports the wound portion 51 of the biasing member 50 is erected on the tip end (other end) side in the extension direction E and in the center in the width direction W of the base portion 23 of each of the cases 21 and 22. The spring support portion 26 on the first case 21 side is generally cylindrical, and the spring support portion 26 on the second case 22 side is generally columnar and is inserted into the spring support portion 26 on the first case 21 side (see FIG. 8 ).

[0023] Furthermore, a substantially cylindrical fixing portion 27, through which a fixing device 27a such as a bolt is inserted, is erected between the pair of rotation support portions 25, 25 of the base portion 23 of each of the cases 21, 22. By inserting the shafts of the fixing devices 27a such as bolts into these fixing portions 27, 27 and fastening them with nuts or the like, the two cases 21, 22 are joined together and integrated, thereby forming the case-shaped base portion 20.

[0024] The internal space of the case-shaped base portion 20 accommodates the pair of arms 40, 40 except for their tip portions 43, 43, and also accommodates the entire biasing member 50. The fixed portion 27 is fitted with a ring-shaped one end 56 of a connecting member 55, which is connected to the elevating device 10.

[0025] Furthermore, a notched groove 28 is formed in the peripheral wall 24 of each of the cases 21, 22 at the base end in the extension direction E and at the center in the width direction W. This notched groove 28 forms an insertion hole through which the connecting member 55 can be inserted when both cases 21, 22 are integrated to form the base portion 20.

[0026] Furthermore, a pair of protrusions 29, 29 each having a generally L-shaped projection are provided on the base end of the peripheral wall 24 of each case 21, 22 in the extension direction E, which is located on both sides in the width direction W. When the cases 21, 22 are integrated to form the base portion 20, the protrusion 29 on the first case 21 side and the protrusion 29 on the second case 22 side are integrated to form a fitting portion 30 having a generally T-shaped projection as shown in Figure 2. This fitting portion 30 is adapted to be detachably fitted into a fitting portion 69 (see Figure 2) on the measuring device 15 side, and the measuring device 15 is detachably attached to and detached from the measuring device 10 via the fitting portions 30, 69.

[0027] In addition, an arm insertion / removal opening 31 is formed at the tip of the peripheral wall 24 of each case 21, 22 in the extension direction E and in the center in the width direction W, allowing the pair of arm portions 40, 40 to be inserted and removed from within the base portion 20.

[0028] Furthermore, a wide, generally elongated cylindrical rotation restricting portion 32 is erected on the base 23 of each case 21, 22 at a position aligned with the arm insertion opening 31 and at the center in the width direction W. This rotation restricting portion 32 is disposed between the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 (see FIGS. 3 and 7 ) and restricts the pair of arm portions 40, 40 from rotating excessively in the direction in which the tip ends 43, 43 approach each other.

[0029] Furthermore, arm receiving portions 33 each having a protrusion extending in the width direction W are provided on the base portion 23 of each case 21, 22, between the rotation support portion 25 and the spring support portion 26 and at a location closer to the rotation support portion 25. As shown in Figure 8, each arm receiving portion 33 is disposed on the outside of both sides of the pair of arms 40, 40 in the thickness direction T (which can also be said to be the height direction), and receives the arm portion 40 when it tilts, suppressing the tilt of the arm portion 40 and stabilizing its posture.

[0030] Furthermore, an elongated hole-shaped opening 34 extending along the width direction W is formed in the center of the base 23 of each case 21, 22, between the spring support portion 26 and the arm receiving portion 33. As shown in Figures 6 and 10, a pair of arms 52, 52 of the urging member 50 are exposed from this opening 34, and the arms 52 can be operated through the opening 34.

[0031] Next, the arm portion 40 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 5, 7, etc. The improving device 10 of this embodiment includes a pair of arms 40, 40 that are separate and independent from each other, and each arm portion 40 has an arm body 41 that extends linearly over a predetermined length, and a base end portion 42 and a tip end portion 43 provided at both ends of the arm body 41 in the extension direction E.

[0032] One side of the arm body 41 in the width direction W, i.e., the surface facing the arm body 41 of the other arm portion 40, is referred to as the "inner surface 41a," and the other side of the arm body 41 in the width direction W, i.e., the surface opposite the inner surface 41a, is referred to as the "outer surface 41b."

[0033] The base end 42 of the arm 40 is substantially cylindrical. When the rotation support portion 25 of the base portion 20 is inserted into this base end 42, the pair of arm portions 40, 40 are rotatably supported by the base portion 20 so that the tip ends 43, 43 move toward and away from each other. More specifically, the pair of arm portions 40, 40 rotate around a rotation center C that is the radial center of the base end 42 and the rotation support portion 25.

[0034] Furthermore, the pair of arms 40, 40 have the same shape and are housed and disposed in the internal space of the case-shaped base 20 with both surfaces in the thickness direction T upside down. That is, one arm 40 is disposed with its base end side in the thickness direction T (the end side where the first protrusion 45 is provided) facing the base 23 of the first case 21 and its tip end side in the thickness direction T (the end side where the second protrusion 46 is provided) facing the base 23 of the second case 22, while the other arm 40 is disposed with its base end side in the thickness direction T facing the base 23 of the second case 22 and its tip end side in the thickness direction T facing the base 23 of the first case 21.

[0035] Furthermore, the tip end 43 of the arm portion 40 is provided, via an inclined portion 43a, inside the inner surface 41a of the arm body 41. Furthermore, a protruding attachment portion 44 protrudes from the outer surface of the most distal end portion of the tip end 43. Furthermore, recesses 47 of a predetermined depth are formed on both sides of the arm portion 40 in the thickness direction T, in a range from the base end 42 side to the most distal end of the tip end 43.

[0036] The gripping portion 48 attached to the tip 43 of each arm 40 is made up of a main body 48a having a generally U-shaped frame shape so as to sandwich the upper lip 1 or the lower lip 2, and a mounting portion 48b having a generally square frame shape connected to the main body 48a. The mounting portion 44 is inserted into the mounting portion 48b, thereby attaching the gripping portion 48 to the tip 43 of the arm 40.

[0037] Each arm 40 has a biasing force receiving portion that the biasing member 50 contacts to receive the biasing force, and the position of the biasing force receiving portion or the attachment position (which can also be called the arrangement position) of the biasing member is configured to be displaceable along the extension direction E of the arm 40 (see FIG. 7 ). In this embodiment, the biasing force receiving portion is made up of a plurality of protrusions 45, 46 that are provided along the extension direction E of the arm 40. Note that "provided along the extension direction of the arm" does not only mean that the protrusions are provided from the base end to the tip in the extension direction of the arm (toward one end in the extension direction), but also means that the protrusions are provided in the opposite direction, i.e., from the tip to the base end in the extension direction of the arm (toward the other end in the extension direction).

[0038] More specifically, a first protrusion 45 is provided on the inner surface 41a of the arm body 41 at a position adjacent to the base end 42. Furthermore, a second protrusion 46 is provided on the inner surface 41a of the arm body 41 at a position adjacent to the first protrusion 45 and farther away from the base end 42 than the first protrusion 45.

[0039] The first protrusion 45 is disposed on the base end side of the arm main body 41 in the thickness direction T (toward the base 23 of the cases 21 and 22), and the second protrusion 46 is disposed overall closer to the tip end of the arm main body 41 in the thickness direction T, while partially overlapping the first protrusion 45 (see FIG. 5). In other words, the multiple protrusions 45, 46 are provided at different positions from each other in the thickness direction T of the arm part 40.

[0040] 5 , the first protrusion 45 has a stepped portion cut out in the middle in the thickness direction T, and an outer edge 45a of the stepped portion has a convex curved surface. The arm 52 of the biasing member 50 engages with and abuts against this outer edge 45a, thereby receiving the biasing force of the biasing member 50. In other words, the outer edge 45a of the first protrusion 45 serves as the "biasing force receiving portion" of the present invention. Furthermore, a thin plate-shaped detachment prevention portion 45b projects from the base end side of the outer edge 45a of the first protrusion 45 in the thickness direction T, and this detachment prevention portion 45b prevents the arm 52 engaged with the outer edge 45a of the first protrusion 45 from detaching.

[0041] Furthermore, the second protrusion 46 has an outer periphery 46a that is convexly curved over the entire thickness direction, and the arm 52 of the biasing member 50 engages with and abuts against this outer periphery 46a, thereby receiving the biasing force of the biasing member 50. In other words, the outer periphery 46a of the second protrusion 46 forms the "biasing force receiving portion" of the present invention.

[0042] When the biasing member 50 is mounted on the base portion 20, the wound portion 51 of the biasing member 50, which is a torsion spring, is fitted onto the spring support portion 26 of the base portion 20, and the pair of arms 52 are engaged with the outer edges 45 a of the first protrusions 45 (see FIG. 7) or the pair of arms 52 are engaged with the outer peripheries 46 a of the second protrusions 46 (see FIG. 11). As a result, the tip ends 43 of the pair of arms 40 are biased in directions moving away from each other.

[0043] That is, when the arm portion 52 of the biasing member 50 abuts against the outer edge portion 45a of the first protrusion 45 that forms the biasing force receiving portion, or abuts against the outer periphery 46a of the second protrusion 46 that forms the biasing force receiving portion, the biasing force F from the biasing member 50 acts on the arm portion 40 via the biasing force receiving portion, so that the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 are biased in a direction moving away from each other (it can also be said that the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 are biased in a direction opening from each other).

[0044] As described above, when the urging member 50 is mounted on the base portion 20, the winding portion 51 of the urging member 50 is positioned closer to the tip portions 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 than the protrusions 45, 46, which are the urging force receiving portions (see Figures 7 and 11).

[0045] When the pair of arms 52, 52 of the urging member 50 are engaged with the outer edge portions 45 a, 45 a of the first protrusions 45, 45, the pair of arms 52, 52 are brought close to each other, which causes the winding portion 51 to twist and elastically deform, and the pair of arms 52, 52 may be displaced in a direction separating them in the axial direction of the winding portion 51. This may cause the arms 52 to come off the outer edge portions 45 a of the first protrusions 45, but in this case, the arms 52 are received by the anti-detachment portions 45 b of the first protrusions 45, preventing the arms 52 from coming off the outer edge portions 45 a of the first protrusions 45.

[0046] The biasing force receiving portion can be displaced along the extending direction E of the arm portion 40 by engaging the arm portion 52 of the biasing member 50 with the outer edge portion 45a of the first protrusion 45 or with the outer periphery 46a of the second protrusion 46. Note that the structure of the biasing force receiving portion that can be displaced along the extending direction E of the arm portion 40 is not limited to the following embodiment (other embodiments will be described in modified examples below).

[0047] Furthermore, the distance from the base end 52a of the arm 52 of the biasing member 50, which is a torsion spring, to the portion that abuts against the biasing force receiving portion (abutting portion 52b) is configured to be variable.

[0048] In this embodiment, the arm 52 is configured to be displaceable between two distances: the distance from the base end 52a of the arm 52 to the abutment portion 52b that abuts against the outer edge 45a of the first protrusion 45, which is the force-receiving portion, when the arm 52 is engaged with the outer edge 45a of the first protrusion 45 as shown in Figure 7 (hereinafter referred to as the "first distance"); and the distance from the base end 52a of the arm 52 to the abutment portion 52b that abuts against the outer edge 46a of the second protrusion 46, which is the force-receiving portion, when the arm 52 is engaged with the outer periphery 46a of the second protrusion 46 as shown in Figure 11 (hereinafter referred to as the "second distance").

[0049] In addition, the first distance from the base end 52a of the arm portion 52 to the abutment portion 52b shown in Figure 7 is shorter than the second distance from the base end 52a of the arm portion 52 to the abutment portion 52b shown in Figure 11.

[0050] Furthermore, the force (opening force) that causes the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40, which are biased by the biasing member 50, to move away from each other and open them varies depending on the relationship in length between the biasing force receiving portion (which can also be said to be the point of action) that receives the biasing force F of the biasing member 50 and the center of rotation C of the arm portion 40, i.e., the general relationship between rotational moments.

[0051] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 7, when the first distance is longer than the second distance and the length L1 between the biasing force receiving portion and the rotation center C is shorter than the length L2 between the biasing force receiving portion and the rotation center C in Fig. 11, the opening force between the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 is smaller than the case in Fig. 11. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 11, when the second distance is shorter than the first distance and the length L2 between the biasing force receiving portion and the rotation center C is longer than the length L1 between the biasing force receiving portion and the rotation center C in Fig. 7, the opening force between the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 is larger than the case in Fig. 7.

[0052] Next, the measuring device 15 connected to the measuring device 10 via the connecting member 55 will be described in detail with reference to Figure 1 and Figures 14 to 19. As shown in Figure 1, the first case 61 constituting the base portion 60 has a cylindrical portion 65, and a rotating body 80 is rotatably supported by the cylindrical portion 65. The other end 57 of the connecting member 55 is connected to the rotating body 80.

[0053] A spring accommodating portion 66 is provided inside the cylindrical portion 65, and the wound portion 101 of the rotation biasing member 100 is accommodated in the spring accommodating portion 66, with one arm portion 102 engaging with a predetermined location of the spring accommodating portion 66. Furthermore, the other arm portion 102 of the rotation biasing member 100 engages with the rotating body 80 to rotationally bias the rotating body 80 in a predetermined direction.

[0054] By pulling the measuring device 15 relative to the measuring device 10, the rotating body 80 is rotated against the rotational biasing force of the rotational biasing member 100 via the connecting member 55 (see Figures 16 to 19).

[0055] A support shaft (not shown) is provided in the second case 62 constituting the base portion 60, and a rotary indicator 90 is rotatably supported on the support shaft. The rotary indicator 90 is disposed coaxially on the rotary body 80 and is provided with a protruding rotation amount display portion 95. When the rotary body 80 rotates in a direction against the rotational biasing force of the rotational biasing member 100 (a direction opposite to the rotational biasing direction R), the rotary indicator 90 rotates in conjunction with the rotary body 80 (see FIGS. 16 and 17 ).

[0056] By visually checking the rotation amount display 95 provided on the rotating indicator 90 through the opening 72 formed in the second case 62, the amount of rotation of the rotating body 80 from the initial position of the rotating body 80 shown in Figures 14 and 15 (the position of the rotating body 80 before the measuring device 15 is pulled relative to the improving device 10) can be grasped (see Figure 16). As a result, it becomes possible to measure the degree to which oral function has been improved by the improving device 10.

[0057] 9, the user holds the clamped portions 48, 48 between the upper lip 1 and the lower lip 2 to temporarily hold the improvement device 10 in the mouth, and in this state pulls the measuring device 15 via the connecting member 55. When the user subsequently removes the clamped portions 48, 48 from the mouth because they can no longer withstand the pulling force from the measuring device 15, the index shown on the rotation amount display unit 95 is the lip-closing force. Note that when the clamped portions 48, 48 are held between the upper and lower teeth, the index shown on the rotation amount display unit 95 is the bite force.

[0058] Furthermore, even if the rotary display body 90 rotates in conjunction with the rotor 80 and then returns to its initial position due to the rotational biasing force of the rotational biasing member 100, the O-ring 110 interposed between the support shaft of the second case 62 and the shaft hole 93 of the rotary display body 90 restricts the rotation of the rotary display body 90 and holds it in that position (see FIGS. 18 and 19). Therefore, the rotation of the rotation amount display unit 95 is restricted, making it easy to check the measurement result obtained by the measuring device 15.

[0059] 2, the cases 61 and 62 constituting the base portion 60 are integrated via fasteners 70a such as bolts and nuts, forming a frame-shaped fitting portion 69. The protruding fitting portion 30 on the improving device 10 is inserted into or removed from the frame-shaped fitting portion 69 from the width direction W (horizontal direction), thereby detachably fitting the two fitting portions 30 and 69. As a result, the improving device 10 and the measuring device 15 are connected to each other and integrated as shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, or the improving device 10 and the measuring device 15 are separated as shown in FIGS. 2 and 14.

[0060] (Variant example) The shapes, structures, layouts, etc. of the base portion, the first case and second case constituting the base portion, the arm portion, the force-receiving portion and protrusion provided on the arm portion, the force-applying member, the connecting member, etc. constituting the oral function improvement device of the present invention, and the base portion, rotating body, rotating display body, rotation force-applying member, etc. constituting the oral function measuring instrument are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0061] In this embodiment, the base portion 20 has a convex curved bulge shape on both sides in the width direction W, and is case-shaped in its internal space to accommodate everything except the tip portions 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 and the entire urging member 50. However, the base portion may be in the form of a case, such as a rectangular case, an elliptical case, a circular case, or the like, or may be in the form of a plate of a predetermined shape instead of a case.

[0062] Furthermore, the improvement device 10 of this embodiment has a pair of separate and independent arm portions 40, 40 whose base ends 42, 42 are not connected to each other but are separated from each other. However, the pair of arm portions may also be formed as a single member by connecting their base ends to each other, as long as their tip ends are configured to move toward and away from each other.

[0063] Furthermore, the arm portion 40 in this embodiment has a shape that extends in an approximately straight line overall, including the arm main body 41 that extends a predetermined length, but the arm portion may also extend in a stepped manner, an arc-like manner, or a curved manner, for example.

[0064] Furthermore, although the biasing force receiving portion in this embodiment is composed of two protrusions 45, 46 provided in the extending direction of the arm portion 40, the number of protrusions may be three or more. Furthermore, although the outer edge 45a and outer periphery 46a of the protrusions 45, 46 are convexly curved, the shape of the protrusions may be, for example, semicircular, arc-shaped, rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, etc.

[0065] Furthermore, as a structure that allows the biasing force receiving portion to be displaced in the extension direction of the arm portion, a structure in which a protrusion 200 forming the biasing force receiving portion is displaced by a sliding structure along the extension direction of the arm portion 40 may be used, as shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 7. For example, a guide rail may be provided on the arm portion 40 side, and the protrusion 200 itself may be a slider that slides on the guide rail. In the case of this structure, it is preferable to provide a lever or the like that can slide the protrusion 200 from outside the base portion.

[0066] In addition, multiple locking holes may be formed at predetermined intervals along the extension direction of the arm portion, and locking protrusions that lock into the locking holes may be formed on the side of the urging force receiving portion, allowing the urging force receiving portion to be displaced in the extension direction of the arm portion.

[0067] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the spring force receiving portion is configured to be displaceable along the extension direction E of the arm portion 40 (see Figures 7 and 11), but the mounting position of the spring force member relative to the base portion or the arm portion may also be configured to be displaceable along the extension direction of the arm portion.

[0068] 20, for example, a slider 210 having a support shaft 211 is provided so as to be slidable relative to a base portion. A wound portion 51 of a biasing member 50 is supported on the support shaft 211 of the slider 210. The biasing member 50, which is a torsion spring, is disposed between a pair of arms 40, 40, and the wound portion 51 is located closer to the base end 42 of the arm 40, which is a layout opposite to that of the embodiment shown in FIGS.

[0069] In addition, the tip ends 52c, 52c of a pair of arm portions 52, 52 of the urging member 50 are bent in different directions toward one end or the other end of the thickness direction of the arm portion 40, and abut against the inner surface of the corresponding arm portion 40, urging the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 in a direction moving away from each other.

[0070] By appropriately sliding the slider 210, the positions of the tip ends 52c, 52c of the pair of arm portions 52, 52 relative to the pair of arm portions 40, 40 can be displaced along the extension direction of the arm portion 40.

[0071] 21 shows a modified embodiment of the embodiment shown in FIG. 20. In this case, tip ends 52c, 52c of a pair of arms 52, 52 of a biasing member 50, which is a torsion spring, are curved to form a generally R-shape so that their extreme ends are close to each other. Meanwhile, as shown in the cross-sectional explanatory view taken along arrows B-B in FIG. 21, a slide groove 212 is formed on the inner surface of each arm 40, which slidably receives tip end 52c of arm 52 of biasing member 50.

[0072] When the slider 210 is slid appropriately, the tip 52c of the arm 52 slides while making sliding contact with the slide groove 212, and the positions of the tip 52c, 52c of the pair of arms 52, 52 relative to the pair of arms 40, 40 are displaced along the extension direction of the arm 40.

[0073] Furthermore, although the biasing member 50 in this embodiment is a torsion spring, the biasing member may also be, for example, a coil spring interposed between a pair of arms. That is, as shown in Figure 22, a slide groove 220 is formed on one end surface in the thickness direction of each arm portion 40, and a roughly U-shaped arm-side slider 230 is slidably attached to each slide groove 220.

[0074] Both longitudinal ends of the coil spring 240 are supported by protrusions 231, 231 of the arm-side slider 230. Furthermore, the pair of arm-side sliders 230, 230 are supported by the base-side slider 250 via pins 232, 232 so as to be movable up and down. Furthermore, the base-side slider 250 is disposed slidably relative to the base portion.

[0075] By sliding the base side slider 250 appropriately, the pair of arm side sliders 230, 230 slide accordingly, and the coil spring 240 supported by the pair of arm side sliders 230, 230 slides, so that the mounting position of the coil spring 240 is displaced along the extension direction of the arm portion 40.

[0076] In addition, the pair of arm-side sliders 230, 230 slide up and down relative to the base-side slider 250 in accordance with the amount of rotation of the pair of arm portions 40, 40, and the amount of compression of the coil spring 240 changes.

[0077] Furthermore, the biasing member 50, which is a torsion spring, and the coil spring 240 in this embodiment bias the pair of arm portions 40, 40 by themselves, but the biasing member may also be, for example, in a form such as that shown in Figure 23.

[0078] The biasing member 260 shown in Figure 23 is made of rubber, elastomer, elastic material, or soft material and has a generally cylindrical shape. This biasing member 260 has a plurality of voids 261 formed therein, allowing it to bend and deform. In addition, a base-side slider 270, which is slidably disposed relative to the base portion, has a shaft portion 271 and supports the biasing member 260. For ease of explanation, one of the pair of arms 40, 40 is omitted in Figure 23.

[0079] By sliding the base-side slider 270 appropriately, the biasing member 260 slides accordingly, and the attachment position of the biasing member 260 is displaced along the extension direction of the arm portion 40 .

[0080] In addition, the biasing member 260 abuts against the inner surfaces of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 when the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 are separated from each other, and when the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 rotate in a direction toward each other, it flexes and deforms through the gap 261, thereby biasing the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 in a direction separating them from each other.

[0081] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the oral function improvement device 10 holds the clamping portion 48 between the upper lip 1 and lower lip 2 to improve lip-closing force, which is one of the oral functions, but the oral function improvement device may also hold the clamping portion 48 between the upper and lower teeth to improve biting force, which is another oral function.

[0082] (Operation and Effect) Next, the operation and effect of the improving device 10 configured as described above will be described.

[0083] The state shown in Figures 6 and 7 is when the arm portions 52, 52 of the biasing member 50, which is a torsion spring, are engaged with the first protrusions 45, 45 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40, and the opening force between the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 is smaller (weak load) than in the state shown in Figures 10 and 11.

[0084] On the other hand, the state shown in Figures 10 and 11 is when the arm portions 52, 52 of the urging member 50 are engaged with the second protrusions 46, 46 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40, and the opening force between the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 is greater (strong load) than in the state shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[0085] In the states shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 10 and 11, the measuring device 10 and the measuring instrument 15 are connected and integrated via the fitting portions 30 and 69.

[0086] Then, in a weak load state in which the opening force between the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 is small as shown in Figures 6 and 7, a spring operating tool (not shown) is inserted into the opening 34 of the base portion 20, and the spring operating tool is used to perform operations such as pushing or hooking the arm portion 52 of the spring member 50, thereby disengaging the arm portion 52 of the spring member 50 from the first protrusion 45 and releasing the engagement, and at the same time, engaging the arm portion 52 with the second protrusion 46, thereby transitioning to a strong load state in which the opening force between the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 is large as shown in Figures 10 and 11.

[0087] On the other hand, in a state of a high load in which the opening force between the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 is large as shown in Figures 10 and 11, by inserting a spring operating tool into the opening 34 of the base portion 20 and appropriately performing the same operations as described above, the arm portion 52 of the spring member 50 can be disengaged from the second protrusion 46 to release the engagement, and the arm portion 52 can be engaged with the first protrusion 45, thereby transitioning to a state of a low load in which the opening force between the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 is small as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[0088] When using the lifting device 10, the user holds the gripping portions 48, 48 between the upper lip 1 and the lower lip 2 of the mouth, as shown in Fig. 9. The biasing force of the biasing member 50 then moves the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arms 40, 40 apart and apart, opening the user's mouth. Thereafter, the user closes their mouth by bringing the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arms 40, 40 close together against the biasing force of the biasing member 50, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

[0089] Thereafter, the action of opening the pair of arm portions 40, 40 (action of opening the mouth) due to the biasing force of the biasing member 50 and the action of the user closing the pair of arm portions 40, 40 against the biasing force of the biasing member 50 (action of closing the mouth) are repeated alternately.

[0090] Note that Figure 12 shows a state in which the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 are closed together when a weak load is applied and the opening force between the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 shown in Figures 6 and 7 is small, and Figure 13 shows a state in which the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 are closed together when a strong load is applied and the opening force between the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 shown in Figures 10 and 11 is large.

[0091] By alternately repeating the above-described "mouth opening action" and "mouth closing action," the user's orbicularis oris muscle is strengthened, improving lip-closing strength. As a result, the so-called "open mouth" can be eliminated. Furthermore, when the user bites the bite portion 48 between the upper and lower teeth, the user's masticatory muscles are strengthened, improving bite force, and this can be used for rehabilitation to improve masticatory strength.

[0092] In the lifting device 10 of the present invention, each arm portion 40 has a spring force receiving portion against which the spring member 50 abuts and receives its spring force, and the spring force receiving portion is configured to be displaceable along the extension direction E of the arm portion 40 (see Figures 7 and 11).

[0093] That is, according to this improvement device 10, the biasing force receiving portion of each arm portion 40 is configured to be displaceable along the extension direction E of the arm portion 40, so that the force that opens the distal ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 can be easily adjusted by simply displacing the position of the biasing force receiving portion appropriately along the extension direction E of the arm portion 40. As a result, an appropriate load can be applied to the orbicularis oris muscle and the masticatory muscles according to the user's current condition, thereby training the orbicularis oris muscle and the masticatory muscles, thereby efficiently improving lip-closing force and bite force. Note that the same effect can be obtained even when the attachment position of the biasing member is configured to be displaceable along the extension direction of the arm portion.

[0094] In addition, in this embodiment, the biasing member 50 is a torsion spring consisting of a wound portion 51 and a pair of arms 52, 52 extending from both ends of the wound portion 51, and the distance from the base end 52a of the arm 52 to the part that abuts the biasing force receiving portion is configured to be variable (see Figures 7 and 11).

[0095] According to the above aspect, the distance (the above-mentioned first distance and second distance) from the base end 52a of the arm portion 52 of the biasing member 50, which is a torsion spring, to the abutment portion 52b that abuts against the biasing force receiving portion is configured to be displaceable, so that by appropriately displacing the abutment portion 52b of the arm portion 52 that abuts against the biasing force receiving portion, the force that opens the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 can be adjusted, and a structure for adjusting the opening force can be easily provided.

[0096] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the biasing force receiving portion is made up of a plurality of protrusions 45 and 46 provided along the extending direction E of the arm portion 40.

[0097] According to the above aspect, the spring force receiving portion consists of a plurality of protrusions 45, 46 arranged along the extension direction E of the arm portion 40, so that the force that opens the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 can be adjusted by simply abutting the arm portion 52 of the spring member 50, which is a torsion spring, appropriately against different protrusions 45, 46, making it possible to adjust the opening force more easily.

[0098] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the base portion 20 is formed in the shape of a case having an opening 34 through which the arm portion 52 of the biasing member 50 can be operated.

[0099] According to the above aspect, the base portion 20 is case-shaped with an opening 34, and the arm portion 52 of the urging member 50 can be operated through the opening 34. Therefore, while the case-shaped base portion 20 protects the pair of arm portions 40, 40 and the urging member 50 and prevents them from falling off, the arm portion 52 of the urging member 50 can be operated through the opening 34 to abut the arm portion 52 against different protrusions without replacing the urging member 50, making it easier to adjust the force that opens the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40.

[0100] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the wound portion 51 of the biasing member 50 is disposed closer to the tip portions 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 than the biasing force receiving portion.

[0101] According to the above aspect, the winding portion 51 of the urging member 50 is positioned closer to the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 than the urging force receiving portion, so the winding portion 51 can be positioned in a location on the base portion 20 where there is relatively more space (on the base end portion 42 side of the arm portion 40, there is less space on the base portion 20 due to the rotational support structure of the arm portion 40), and the space on the base portion 20 can be used effectively.

[0102] At the same time, it becomes easier to ensure the contact distance between the arm portion 52 and the spring force receiving portion, making it easier to adjust the force that opens the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 (if the winding portion 51 is positioned on the base end 42 side of the arm portion 40, it becomes difficult to ensure the contact distance between the arm portion 52 and the spring force receiving portion, making it difficult to adjust the force that opens the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40).

[0103] In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 2, 6, etc., an oral function measuring device 15 for measuring lip closing force and / or bite force is detachable from the base portion 20 via fitting portions 30, 69.

[0104] According to the above aspect, the oral function measuring device 15 for measuring lip closing force and / or occlusal force is detachable from the base portion 20 via the fitting portions 30, 69, so that the lip closing force and occlusal force improved by the oral function improvement device 10 can be measured.

[0105] 24 to 46 show other embodiments of the oral function improving device according to the present invention. Note that parts that are essentially the same as those in the above embodiment are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0106] The oral function improvement device 10A of this embodiment (hereinafter also referred to simply as "improvement device 10A") differs from the improvement device 10 of the previous embodiment mainly in the shapes of the base portion 20A and the pair of arm portions 40A, 40A, and further has a structure in which the biasing member 50A can be moved by a moving tool 300.

[0107] In addition, an oral function measuring device 15A (hereinafter simply referred to as "measuring device 15A") for measuring lip closing force and / or occlusal force is connected to this improvement device 10A via a connecting member 55, but the shape and structure of this measuring device 15A are also different.

[0108] Furthermore, the biasing member 50A in this embodiment is a torsion spring like the biasing member 50 in the previous embodiment, but as shown in Fig. 24, the pair of arms 52 are bent inward so that their tip ends 53, 53 in the extension direction approach each other. The bent portion of each arm 52 on the tip end 53 side in the extension direction is referred to as a "bent portion 54."

[0109] As shown in Figure 29, the moving device 300 is mainly composed of an operating section 301, a support section 303 connected to the operating section 301, and a retaining section 305 provided on the support section 303 and having a pair of protrusions 309, 309, and this moving device 300 will be described in detail later.

[0110] First, the base portion 20A of the improvement device 10A will be described in detail. As shown in Figures 24 to 28, the first case 21 and the second case 22 constituting the base portion 20A each have a plate-shaped base portion 23 that extends a predetermined width and a predetermined length, and a peripheral wall 24 that stands upright from the periphery of the base portion 23. Compared to the cases 21 and 22 of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 23, the first case 21 and the second case 22 have a generally rectangular shape that is elongated and extends in a predetermined direction.

[0111] 25, the width direction of the base portion 20 is designated as "W", and the extension direction of the base portion 20 that is perpendicular to the width direction W in a plan view is designated as "E". The width directions and extension directions of members other than the base portion 20A, such as the arm portion 40A and the moving tool 300, are also designated as "W" and "E", respectively.

[0112] As shown in Figures 24 and 27, on the inner surface of the first case 21, near the tip end in the extension direction E and at the center in the width direction W, there is protruded an axis guide portion 121 having an approximately rectangular frame shape that slides and guides the support portion 303 of the moving device 300.

[0113] 27 and 28, on the inner surfaces of the first case 21 and the second case 22, near the base ends in the extension direction E and in the center in the width direction W, there are protruding arm support portions 122, 122 having an approximately disk shape that support the base ends 42, 42 of a pair of arm portions 40A, 40A, as shown in FIG.

[0114] 25, a receiving portion 123 having a generally square hole shape is provided at the base end of the base portion 20A in the extending direction E, which receives the protruding portion 163 of the measuring device 15A. The protruding portion 163 is inserted into and received in the receiving portion 123, thereby enabling the measuring device 15A to be attached to and detached from the base portion 20A.

[0115] 28, a cylindrical shaft 125 stands upright from the tip end surface of the arm support 122 provided on the second case 22. As shown in Fig. 30, this shaft 125 is inserted into the base ends 42, 42 of the pair of arm sections 40A, 40A to support the base ends 42, 42 in rotation relative to each other. The shaft 125 has inserted therein the shaft of a fixing device 127a, such as a nut.

[0116] 24 and 28 , an elongated slide hole 127 having a constant width and extending a predetermined length along the extension direction E of the second case 22 is formed in the center of the width direction W of the base 23 of the second case 22 near the tip end in the extension direction E of the base 23 of the second case 22. An operating unit 301 of a moving tool 300 is slidably arranged on the front side of the slide hole 127 in the base 23 of the second case 22.

[0117] Also, as shown in Figure 24, the base 23 of the second case 22 has a slide recess 128 formed on the outer periphery of the slide hole 127, which is a recess formed at a predetermined depth from the outer surface of the base 23 and which slidably receives the operating part 301 of the moving device 300.

[0118] The width of this slide recess 128 along the width direction W is slightly wider than the width of the slide hole 127, and supports the operating part 301 of the moving tool 300 so that it does not fall out of the slide hole 127. In addition, the length of the slide recess 128 along the extension direction E is formed longer than the length of the slide hole 127 so that the length is sufficient to ensure a desired sliding amount for the operating part 301 of the moving tool 300.

[0119] Furthermore, a plurality of scales 129, 130 are formed on one side edge of the slide recess 128 in the width direction W. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 32 , the scale 129 is formed at a position closer to the base end of the second case 22 in the extension direction E, and the scale 130 is formed at a position closer to the tip end of the second case 22 in the extension direction E.

[0120] 28, 34, etc., a pair of slide guide grooves 131, 131 having a constant width and a recessed groove shape extending a predetermined length along the extending direction E of the second case 22 are formed on the inner surface of the base 23 of the second case 22 at locations spaced a predetermined distance from both side edges of the slide hole 127 in the width direction W. A pair of protrusions 309, 309 provided on the retaining protrusion 309 of the moving tool 300 are slidably inserted into the pair of slide guide grooves 131, 131 to guide the sliding movement of each protrusion 309.

[0121] In addition, the inner surface of the base portion 20A is provided with a raised portion 133 that the protrusion 309 overcomes when the force-applying member 50 moves due to the sliding operation of the operating portion 301 of the moving device 300, and the position of the force-applying receiving portion or the mounting position of the force-applying member 50 is displaced along the extension direction of the arm portion 40A.

[0122] In this embodiment, a raised portion 133 that the protrusion 309 of the moving tool 300 rides over is provided midway in the extension direction E of each slide guide groove 131. As shown in Figures 28, 34, etc., this raised portion 133 has an apex 133a that protrudes the highest from the inner surface of the base 23, an inclined surface 133b that gradually thickens the raised portion 133 from the apex 133a toward the base end side in the extension direction E of the second case 22, and a movement restricting portion 133c that is located on the opposite side of the inclined surface 133b across the apex 133a and is perpendicular to the surface direction of the base 23. Note that the movement restricting portion 133c has a function of restricting movement of the moving tool 300, which will be described in detail later.

[0123] 28, 34, etc., a protrusion 134 extending a predetermined length is provided on the side edge of each slide guide groove 131 on the slide hole 127 side in the width direction W. This protrusion 134 functions to help guide the slide of the protrusion 309 inserted into the slide guide groove 131, and also prevents the protrusion 309 from jumping out of the slide guide groove 131.

[0124] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 28, 34, etc., a pair of rotation guide grooves 135, 135 are provided on the inner surface of the base 23 of the second case 22, near the outside of both ends of the extension direction E of the slide hole 127, and are formed in the shape of a recessed groove of a constant width and a predetermined length in an approximately arc shape, and are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the center of the slide hole 127 (the center of the extension direction E and the width direction W).

[0125] In order to mount the moving device 300 on the base part 20A, after the retaining portion 305 of the moving device 300 is passed through the slide hole 127, when the moving device 300 is rotated, a pair of protrusions 309 provided on the retaining portion 305 enters these pair of rotation guide grooves 135, 135, thereby guiding the rotational movement of the pair of protrusions 309, 309. Furthermore, at the circumferential tip of each rotation guide groove 135, at a position adjacent to the slide guide groove 131, a raised portion 135a is formed.

[0126] 28, a movement restricting portion 136 is provided between one end of the slide hole 127 in the extension direction E (the end near the base end of the second case 22) and the circumferential base end of the rotation guide groove 135 arranged near the base end of the second case 22. This movement restricting portion 136 has the function of restricting the movement of the moving tool 300, which will be described in detail later.

[0127] Next, the pair of arm portions 40A will be described in detail. As shown in Figure 24, each arm portion 40A has a thin, approximately cylindrical base end portion 42 that is bent via a bent portion 141 toward the opposite side from the mounting portion 44 at the base end side in the extension direction E of the arm main body 41 and one end side in the thickness direction. Note that the pair of arm portions 40A have the same shape, as in the above embodiment. In addition, a pair of approximately arc-shaped protrusions 142 are provided on the outer peripheral edge portion on the axial end side of the base end portion 42 of each arm portion 40A.

[0128] 30 , the pair of protrusions 142, 142 on the base end 42 of one arm portion 40A and the protrusions 142, 142 on the base end 42 of the other arm portion 40A are opposed to each other, and the shaft portion 125 provided on the second case 22 is inserted into the base end portions 42, 42, whereby the base end portions 42, 42 are rotationally supported by the shaft portion 125. In other words, the base end portions 42, 42 of the pair of arm portions 40A, 40A are rotationally supported by the same shaft portion 125. Furthermore, the base end portions 42, 42 and the shaft portion 125 have the same rotation center C.

[0129] 30 , when the base ends 42, 42 of one arm portion 40A, 40A are rotatably supported by the shaft portion 125, the protrusions 142, 142 are arranged opposite each other in the axial direction. As a result, the protrusions 142, 142 are arranged on the outside of the ring-shaped one end 56 of the connecting member 55, so that the one end 56 of the connecting member 55 is protected.

[0130] 24, 33, 39, etc., the base end 143 of the arm body 41 of the arm section 40A is hollowed out to make it thin. A first protrusion 145 is provided on the inner surface 41a of the arm body 41 at a position adjacent to the base end 143, and protrudes by a predetermined length beyond the thin base end 143. This first protrusion 145 has a flat surface.

[0131] A curved spring locking portion 145a is provided at one end (the end on the base end 143 side) of the flat first protrusion 145 in the extension direction E. Furthermore, a second protrusion 146 having a curved outer periphery is provided on the inner surface 41a of the arm body 41 at a position adjacent to the other end of the first protrusion 145 in the extension direction E.

[0132] 33 and 37, a portion of the arm 52 of the urging member 50A closer to the base end 52a than the bent portion 54 is engaged with the spring engaging portion 145a of the first protrusion 145, and as shown in Fig. 39, the bent portion 54 of the arm 52 of the urging member 50A is engaged with a predetermined location on the flat surface portion of the first protrusion 145, and as shown in Fig. 43, a portion of the arm 52 of the urging member 50A closer to the base end 52a than the bent portion 54 is engaged with the second protrusion 146. In other words, the spring engaging portion 145a of the first protrusion 145, the flat surface portion of the first protrusion 145, and the second protrusion 146 form a biasing force receiving portion that receives the biasing force F of the biasing member 50A.

[0133] 24, a protruding portion 147 protrudes from the side edge of the other end in the thickness direction on the inner surface 41a side of the arm main body 41, in a range including the base end portion 143, the first protrusion 145, and the second protrusion 146. This protruding portion 147 prevents the arm portion 52 of the biasing member 50A, which is engaged with the spring locking portion 145a of the first protrusion 145, the flat surface portion of the first protrusion 145, and the second protrusion 146, which form the biasing force receiving portion, from jumping outward in the thickness direction of the arm portion 40A, thereby maintaining the locked state of the arm portion 52 with respect to each portion.

[0134] Next, the moving tool 300 that moves the urging member 50A will be described in detail. As shown in Fig. 29, the moving tool 300 of this embodiment is mainly composed of an operating unit 301 that is exposed from the slide hole 127 formed in the base unit 20A and is arranged to be slidable relative to the slide hole 127, a support unit 303 that is connected to the operating unit 301, is arranged inside the base unit 20A, and supports the urging member 50A, and a retaining unit 305 that is provided on the support unit 303, is arranged on the back side of the slide hole 127 in the base unit 20A, and extends in a direction intersecting the extending direction E of the operating unit 301.

[0135] In this embodiment, the operating unit 301 is disposed on the front side of the slide hole 127 formed in the base unit 20A and has a generally long plate shape extending in a predetermined direction. More specifically, the operating unit 301 is formed to a length that allows it to cover the slide hole 127 formed in the second case 22 that constitutes the base unit 20A during the slide operation, as shown in Figures 32, 34, 35, 38, 40, and 41.

[0136] The bottom side of the operating unit 301 in the thickness direction fits into a slide recess 128 formed in the second case 22, and is guided by the slide recess 128. Furthermore, the operating unit 301 has both side portions 301a, 301a in the extension direction E that are thin plates, and a central portion 301b in the extension direction E is raised so as to be thicker than both side portions 301a. A marker 301c is formed on the central portion 301b.

[0137] Furthermore, the operating unit 301 in this embodiment is arranged on the front side of the slide hole 127 and protrudes from the surface of the base 23 of the second case 22 in which the slide hole 127 is formed. However, for example, the slide recess provided around the slide hole may be formed deeper from the surface of the base of the second case, and the top of the operating unit 301 housed in the slide recess may be recessed from the surface of the base of the second case (a configuration in which the operating unit does not protrude from the surface of the base of the second case). In other words, the operating unit may be exposed from the slide hole and may be gripped and operated by the user from outside the base.

[0138] 29, the support part 303 has a shaft shape that extends to a predetermined length in a substantially cylindrical shape. The tip part 303a of the support part 303 in the axial direction (extension direction) has two circumferentially opposing portions cut into flat surfaces, and the tip part 303a is inserted into the shaft guide part 121 of the base part 20A and is guided therein.

[0139] Furthermore, when the moving device 300 is attached to the base unit 20A, the portion of the support unit 303 between the operating unit 301 and the anti-slip unit 305 is positioned within the slide hole 127 of the base unit 20A as shown in Figure 31, and forms a guide portion 303b that is slidably guided.

[0140] Furthermore, a plurality of (four in this example) protrusions 307 are disposed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction and extend in the axial direction of the support portion 303 from a position on the periphery of the support portion 303 that is closer to the axial tip side than the retaining portion 305. As shown in Figures 33 to 37 and 39 to 43, the support portion 303 is inserted into the wound portion 51 of the urging member 50A to support the urging member 50A when the moving tool 300 moves. In this embodiment, the plurality of protrusions 307 provided on the outer periphery of the support portion 303 press the wound portion 51 of the urging member 50A from the radially inner side, causing the support portion 303 to support the wound portion 51.

[0141] The retaining portion 305 provided midway in the axial direction of the support portion 303 has a generally long plate shape extending perpendicular to the extension direction E of the operating portion 301 when viewed from the axial direction of the support portion 303. The retaining portion 305 is also formed to be longer than the length along the extension direction of the slide hole 127. Therefore, by inserting one end of the retaining portion 305 in the extension direction E obliquely into one end of the slide hole 127 in the extension direction E, and then inserting the other end of the retaining portion 305 in the extension direction E into the other end of the slide hole 127 in the extension direction E, the retaining portion 305 can pass through the slide hole 127.

[0142] Furthermore, a pair of projections 309 , 309 with curved outer peripheries protrude from both ends of the retaining portion 305 in the extending direction E toward the inner surface of the second case 22 .

[0143] 34 and 40, the anti-slip portion 305 is configured to overlap both side edges on the back side of the slide hole 127 (both side edges in the width direction W that intersect with the extension direction E of the slide hole 127) when the extension direction E of the operating portion 301 and the extension direction E of the slide hole 127 are aligned.

[0144] When the moving device 300 having the above-described configuration is attached to the base portion 20A, the following steps are taken, for example.

[0145] First, one end of the retaining portion 305 in the extension direction E is inserted obliquely from the front side of the slide hole 127 to one end of the slide hole 127 in the extension direction E, so that one end of the retaining portion 305 in the extension direction E is positioned on the back side of the slide hole 127, and the support portion 303 is pushed in until it abuts against one end of the slide hole 127 in the extension direction E. Thereafter, the other end of the retaining portion 305 in the extension direction E is inserted obliquely from the front side of the slide hole 127 to the other end of the slide hole 127 in the extension direction E, so that the other end of the retaining portion 305 in the extension direction E is positioned on the back side of the slide hole 127, and the retaining portion 305 passes through the slide hole 127.

[0146] As a result, a pair of protrusions 309, 309 provided on the retaining portion 305 enters the circumferential base ends of the rotation guide grooves 135, 135. In this state, the operating portion 301 is gripped and the retaining portion 305 is rotated in a predetermined direction. As a result, the protrusions 309, 309 rotate within the pair of rotation guide grooves 135, 135, and as the protrusions 309, 309 attempt to climb over the raised portions 135 a, 135 a of the rotation guide grooves 135, 135, the retaining portion 305 is flexed and deformed.

[0147] Thereafter, when the protrusions 309, 309 overcome the raised portions 135a, 135a of the rotation guide groove 135, the deformed anti-slip portion 305 elastically returns to its original shape, and the protrusions 309, 309 enter the slide guide grooves 131, 131 with a clicking sensation (a sense of moderation), and the moving device 300 is attached to the second case 22 that constitutes the base portion 20A (see Figures 31, 34, and 40).

[0148] The moving tool 300 is configured so that the biasing member 50A can be moved by operating the operating unit 301 to slide the support unit 303 along the slide hole 127. Also, by operating the operating unit 301 to slide the support unit 303 along the slide hole 127, the biasing member 50A moves via the support unit 303, and the distance from the base end 52a of the arm unit 52 to the portion that abuts on the biasing force receiving portion can be changed.

[0149] 32 to 37 are states in which the arms 52, 52 of the biasing member 50A, which is a torsion spring, or in this case, the portions of the arms 52, 52 closer to the base ends 52 a, 52 a than the bent portions 54, 54, as shown in Fig. 33, are engaged with the spring engaging portions 145 a, 145 a of the first protrusions 145, 145 of the pair of arm portions 40A, 40A, and the opening force between the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40A, 40A is smaller (weak load) than in the states shown in Figs. 38 to 43. Note that, as shown in Fig. 32, the marker 301 c of the operating unit 301 of the moving device 300 is aligned with the scale 129 of the base unit 20A.

[0150] 38 to 43 show a state in which the arm portions 52, 52 of the urging member 50A (here, as shown in Fig. 39, the bent portions 54, 54 of the arm portions 52, 52) are engaged with the first protrusions 145, 145 of the pair of arm portions 40A, 40A, or, as shown in Fig. 43, a portion of the arm portions 52, 52 closer to the base ends 52a, 52a than the bent portions 54, 54 is engaged with the second protrusions 146, 146 of the pair of arm portions 40A, 40A, and the opening force between the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40, 40 is greater (strong load) than in the state shown in Figs. 32 to 37. Note that, as shown in Fig. 38, the marker 301c of the operating unit 301 of the moving device 300 is aligned with the scale 130 of the base unit 20A.

[0151] When switching from the weak load shown in Figures 32 to 37 to the strong load shown in Figures 38 to 43, the operating part 301 of the moving device 300 is pinched and the moving device 300 is moved toward the tip end of the extension direction E of the base part 20A.

[0152] Then, the operating part 301 slides within the slide recess 128 of the base part 20A, and the tip part 303a of the support part 303 is guided by the axis guide part 121, and the guide part 303b of the support part 303 is guided by the slide hole 127, and the support part 303 slides (see Figure 41).

[0153] Then, the support portion 303 that supports the winding portion 51 of the urging member 50A moves the winding portion 51 of the urging member 50A toward the tip end of the base portion 20A, and in response, moves the pair of arm portions 52, 52 of the urging member 50A toward the tip ends 43, 43 in the extension direction E of the arm portions 40A, 40A.

[0154] Accordingly, the pair of protrusions 309, 309 of the moving device 300 slide toward the tip end of the base portion 20A within the pair of slide guide grooves 131, 131 of the base portion 20A, and then the pair of protrusions 309, 309 are pressed against the inclined surfaces 133b, 133b of the pair of raised portions 133, 133, causing the anti-slip portion 305 to flex and deform.

[0155] Thereafter, when the pair of protrusions 309, 309 climb over the tops 133a, 133a of the pair of raised portions 133, 133 and reach the movement restricting portions 133c, 133c, the anti-slip portion 305 elastically returns to its original position and enters the area between the tops 133a, 133a and the tip end of the slide guide grooves 131, 131 in the extension direction E, accompanied by a clicking sensation (see Figure 42).

[0156] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 39, the bent portions 54, 54 of the arms 52, 52 of the urging member 50A are engaged with the first protrusions 145, 145 of the pair of arms 40A, 40A, and as shown in Figure 38, the marker 301c of the operating unit 301 is aligned with the scale 130 of the base unit 20A, making it possible to switch to the high load structure shown in Figures 38 to 43.

[0157] On the other hand, when switching from the strong load shown in Figures 38 to 43 to the weak load shown in Figures 32 to 37, the operating part 301 of the moving device 300 is pinched and the moving device 300 is moved toward the base end part in the extension direction E of the base part 20A.

[0158] Then, as shown in Figures 33 and 35, the support portion 303 supporting the wound portion 51 of the urging member 50A slides, moving the wound portion 51 of the urging member 50A toward the base end portion of the base portion 20A, and following this, moving the pair of arm portions 52, 52 of the urging member 50A toward the base ends 42, 42 in the extension direction E of the arm portions 40A, 40A.

[0159] Accordingly, the pair of protrusions 309, 309 of the moving device 300 slides toward the base end of the base portion 20A within the pair of slide guide grooves 131, 131 of the base portion 20A, and then the pair of protrusions 309, 309 are pressed against the movement regulating portions 133c, 133c of the pair of protrusions 133, 133, causing the anti-slip portion 305 to flex and deform.

[0160] Thereafter, when the pair of protrusions 309, 309 climb over the tops 133a, 133a of the pair of raised portions 133, 133 and reach the inclined surfaces 133b, 133b, the anti-slip portion 305 elastically returns to its original position and enters the area between the tops 133a, 133a of the slide guide grooves 131, 131 and the base end portion in the extension direction E, accompanied by a clicking sensation (see Figure 36).

[0161] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 33, the portions of the arms 52, 52 of the urging member 50A that are closer to the base ends 52a, 52a than the bent portions 54, 54 become engaged with the spring engaging portions 145a, 145a of the first protrusions 145, 145 of the pair of arm portions 40A, 40A, and as shown in Figure 32, the marker 301c of the operating portion 301 is positioned in alignment with the scale 129 of the base portion 20A, making it possible to switch to the weak load structure shown in Figures 32 to 37.

[0162] In the weak load structure shown in Figures 32 to 37, in the state before use of the improving device 10A shown in Figure 33 and in the state when the improving device 10A is in use shown in Figure 37, the portions of the arms 52 of the urging member 50A that are slightly closer to the tip ends 53 than the bent portions 54 are engaged with the spring engaging portions 145a of the first protrusions 145 that form the urging force receiving portions of the pair of arms 40A, and the urging force F from the urging member 50A acts on the pair of arms 40A.

[0163] As a result, the reaction force from the spring locking portions 145a, 145a of the first protrusions 145, 145 acts on the arms 52, 52 of the spring member 50A, causing the entire moving device 300 to move toward the center of rotation C of the base ends 42, 42 of the pair of arm portions 40A, 40A via the spring member 50A.

[0164] However, even in such a case, as shown in Fig. 35, the guide portion 303b of the support portion 303 of the moving tool 300 abuts against the inner peripheral edge of one end of the slide hole 127 in the extension direction E and the movement restricting portion 136 provided on the base portion 20A, thereby restricting further movement of the moving tool 300. As a result, as shown in Fig. 33, the moving tool 300 can be maintained in a predetermined position, in this case, the marker 301c can be maintained in a position aligned with the scale 129.

[0165] Furthermore, in the heavy-load structure shown in Figures 32 to 37, in the state before use of the improving device 10A shown in Figure 39, the bent portions 54, 54 of the arm portions 52, 52 of the urging member 50A are engaged with predetermined locations on the flat surface portion of the first protrusion 145, and the urging force F from the urging member 50A acts on the pair of arm portions 40A, 40A.

[0166] However, in this case, the biasing force F is directed perpendicular to the extending direction E of the arm portion 40A, and therefore the reaction force from the first protrusion 145 is also directed perpendicular to the extending direction E of the arm portion 40A, and the entire moving tool 300 does not move toward the rotation center C of the base ends 42, 42 of the pair of arm portions 40A, 40A via the biasing member 50A. Therefore, the moving tool 300 is maintained in the position shown in FIG.

[0167] On the other hand, when the improving device 10A is in use in the heavy load structure shown in Figure 43, the portions of the arms 52, 52 of the urging member 50A that are closer to the base ends 52a, 52a than the bent portions 54, 54 engage with the second protrusions 146, 146, and the urging force F from the urging member 50A acts on the pair of arms 40A, 40A, and the reaction force from the second protrusions 146, 146 acts on the arms 52, 52 of the urging member 50A.In this case, the entire moving device 300 moves toward the rotation center C of the base ends 42, 42 of the pair of arms 40A, 40A via the urging member 50A.

[0168] In the above case, as shown in Figure 42, the protrusion 309 provided on the anti-slip portion 305 of the moving device 300 abuts against the movement restriction portion 133c having a vertical surface shape of the raised portion 133 provided on the base portion 20A, thereby restricting further movement of the moving device 300. As a result, as shown in Figure 38, the moving device 300 can be maintained in a predetermined position, in this case, the marker 301c can be maintained in a position aligned with the scale 130.

[0169] Next, the measuring device 15A connected to the measuring device 10A via the connecting member 55 will be described in detail.

[0170] As shown in FIG. 25, the base portion 60A constituting the measuring device 15A of this embodiment has a protrusion 163 that is inserted into and received in the receiving portion 123 provided on the base portion 20A of the measuring device 10A.

[0171] Furthermore, since the connecting member 55 is constantly pulled by the rotational force of the rotational force member 100, as shown in Figures 33 and 39, the protrusion 163 of the measuring device 15A is inserted into and received in the receiving portion 123 of the improving device 10A, and the measuring device 15A is in contact with the improving device 10A, and this state is the initial position of the rotating body 80 (the position of the rotating body 80 before the measuring device 15A is pulled relative to the improving device 10A).

[0172] Furthermore, the first case 61 constituting the base part 60A is provided with a plurality of locking portions 161. The second case 62 is formed with a plurality of locking holes 162 into which the plurality of locking portions 161 lock. Therefore, by locking the plurality of locking portions 161 of the first case 61 with the plurality of locking holes 162 of the second case 62, the base part 60A can be assembled as shown in FIG.

[0173] When using the measuring device 15A configured as described above, with the measuring device 15A in the initial position, the user holds the gripping portions 48, 48 between the upper lip 1 and the lower lip 2 to temporarily hold the measuring device 10A in the mouth, as shown in Figures 44 and 45. The rotation amount display unit 95 of the measuring device 15A is aligned with its initial position, i.e., at one circumferential end of the opening 72 of the base unit 60.

[0174] In this state, the measuring device 15A is pulled relative to the measuring device 10A via the connecting member 55. Then, the rotating body 80 rotates in the direction opposite to the rotational biasing direction R against the rotational biasing force of the rotational biasing member 100, and in conjunction with this, the rotational display body 90 also rotates in the direction opposite to the rotational biasing direction R, and the rotation amount display unit 95 moves within the opening 72 of the base unit 60, as shown in FIG.

[0175] When the user removes the lifting device 10A from the mouth beyond the lip closing force of the user, the temporary holding of the lifting device 10A by the mouth is released, and the pulling force from the connecting member 55 no longer acts on the rotating body 80.

[0176] Then, the rotating body 80 rotates in the rotational biasing direction R due to the rotational biasing force of the rotational biasing member 100 and returns to its initial position, but the rotating display body 90 is held in that position without rotating due to the frictional force of the O-ring 110 arranged between the support shaft 73 of the base part 60A and the shaft hole 93 of the rotating display body 90. As a result, by visually checking the rotation amount display part 95 through the opening 72 of the base part 60, it becomes possible to grasp the amount of rotation of the rotating body 80 from its initial position and measure the lip closing force.

[0177] (Operations and Effects of Other Embodiments) Next, operations and effects of the improving device 10A having the above-described configuration will be described.

[0178] That is, in the improvement device 10A of this embodiment, the operating part 301 of the moving tool 300 is operated to slide the support part 303 along the slide hole 127 as shown in Figures 32 and 38, thereby making the urging member 50A movable as shown in Figures 33 and 39.

[0179] Therefore, the position of the biasing force receiving portion or the attachment position of the biasing member can be displaced along the extending direction E of the arm portion 40A. This allows the user to easily adjust the force that opens the tip ends 43, 43 of the pair of arm portions 40A, 40A by simply operating the moving device 300 without using tools or the like, thereby improving user convenience.

[0180] In addition, in this embodiment, the operating unit 301 is arranged on the front side of the slide hole 127 and extends in a predetermined direction, and the support part 303 of the moving device 300 is provided with a slip-out prevention part 305 that is arranged on the back side of the slide hole 127 in the base part 20A and extends in a direction intersecting the extension direction E of the operating unit 301, and the slip-out prevention part 305 is configured to overlap both side edges on the back side of the slide hole 127 when the extension direction E of the operating unit 301 and the extension direction E of the slide hole 127 are aligned, as shown in Figures 34 and 40.

[0181] According to the above aspect, after the anti-slip portion 305 of the moving device 300 is passed through the slide hole 127 of the base part 20A, the moving device 300 is rotated, so that the slide hole 127 is sandwiched on both the front and back sides by the anti-slip portion 305 that overlaps both side edges on the back side of the slide hole 127, with the operating part 301 arranged on the front side of the slide hole 127 and the extension direction E of the operating part 301 aligned with the extension direction E of the slide hole 127, and the moving device 300 can be attached to the base part 20A in an anti-slip state.

[0182] Furthermore, since the moving device 300 can be attached by rotating it relative to the base portion 20A as described above, a configuration that allows the position of the urging force receiving portion or the mounting position of the urging member to be displaced can be realized with a simple structure.

[0183] Furthermore, when the moving device is attached to the base portion using a so-called snap-fit ​​structure consisting of a flexible locking piece and a locking recess into which the locking piece engages, the base portion tends to become thick. However, since the moving device 300 in this embodiment can be attached by rotating it relative to the base portion 20A as described above, the thickness of the base portion 20A can be made thinner, and therefore the improving device 10A can be made less bulky in the axial direction of the rotation axis (here, the axis portion 125) of the arm portion 40A, making it possible to make it more compact.

[0184] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the operating portion 301 is formed to a length that allows it to cover the slide hole 127 when it is slid, and the anti-slip portion 305 is formed to be longer than the length along the extension direction E of the slide hole 127 and has a protrusion 309 that protrudes toward the inner surface of the base portion 20A, and the inner surface of the base portion 20A is provided with a raised portion 133 that the protrusion 309 overcomes when the urging member 50A moves due to the sliding operation of the operating portion 301 and the position of the urging force receiving portion or the mounting position of the urging member is displaced along the extension direction E of the arm portion 40A.

[0185] According to the above aspect, as shown in Figures 32, 34, 35, 38, 40, and 41, the operating portion 301 is formed so as to cover the slide hole 127 when it is slid, so that the inner peripheral edge of the slide hole 127 becomes invisible, thereby improving the appearance of the base portion 20A.

[0186] Furthermore, when the operating portion 301 is slid, and the biasing member 50A moves, and the position of the biasing force receiving portion or the mounting position of the biasing member is displaced along the extension direction E of the arm portion 40A, the protrusion 309 overcomes the raised portion 133, so that the displacement of the position of the biasing force receiving portion or the mounting position of the biasing member can be reliably sensed with a clicking sensation (a sense of moderation).

[0187] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 34 and 40, the anti-slip portion 305 is formed to be longer than the length along the extension direction E of the slide hole 127, making it easier to flex and deform, and enhancing the above-mentioned clicking sensation when the position of the biasing force receiving portion or the mounting position of the biasing member is displaced.

[0188] In addition, in this embodiment, the urging member 50A is a torsion spring consisting of a winding portion 51 and a pair of arms 52, 52 extending from both ends of the winding portion 51, and the support portion 303 of the moving device 300 is inserted into the winding portion 51, and by operating the operating portion 301 to slide the support portion 303 along the slide hole 127, the urging member 50A moves via the support portion 303, and the distance from the base end 52a of the arm portion 52 to the portion that abuts the urging force receiving portion can be changed.

[0189] According to the above aspect, by sliding the operating portion 301, the winding portion 51 of the urging member 50A is moved via the support portion 303, and the pair of arms 52, 52 are moved following the winding portion 51, thereby displacing the distance from the base end 52a of the arm 52 to the point where it abuts on the urging force receiving portion, as shown in Figures 33 and 39.Therefore, even if the sliding amount of the moving device 300 is small, the position of the urging force receiving portion can be reliably displaced.

[0190] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 30, 33, 39, etc., the base ends 42, 42 of the pair of arm portions 40A, 40A are rotatably supported by the same shaft portion 125, and one end 56 of a connecting member 55 connecting the improvement device 10A and the measuring instrument 15A is disposed between the base ends 42, 42 of the pair of arm portions 40A, 40A and is connected to the shaft portion 125.

[0191] According to the above aspect, the one end 56 of the connecting member 55 is disposed between the base ends 42, 42 of the pair of arm portions 40A, 40A and is connected to the common shaft portion 125, so that it is not necessary to provide a separate structure for connecting the one end 56 of the connecting member 55 to the elevating device 10A, thereby simplifying the structure and saving space of the elevating device 10A. Furthermore, because the one end 56 of the connecting member 55 is disposed between the base ends 42, 42 of the pair of arm portions 40A, 40A, it is possible to reliably prevent the one end 56 of the connecting member 55 from coming off the shaft portion 125.

[0192] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modified embodiments are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention, and such embodiments are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0193] 1...upper lip, 2...lower lip, 10, 10A...oral function improvement device (improvement device), 15, 15A...oral function measuring device (measuring device), 20, 20A...base portion, 21...first case, 22...second case, 30...fitting portion, 34...opening, 40, 40A...arm portion, 42...base end portion, 43...tip end portion, 45...first protrusion portion, 46...second protrusion portion, 48...holding portion, 50, 50A...urging member, 51...winding portion, 52...arm portion, 60, 60A...base portion, 80...rotating body, 90...rotating display body, 100...rotational urging member, 300...moving device, 301...operating portion, 303...support portion, 305...anti-slip portion.

Claims

1. An oral function improvement device for improving lip-closing force and / or bite force, comprising: a base portion; a pair of arms having gripping portions at their tips that are to be held by the mouth or teeth and that are rotatably supported on the base portion so that the tip portions move toward and away from each other; and a biasing member that biases the tip portions of the pair of arms in directions that move them away from each other, wherein each arm portion has a biasing force receiving portion that is contacted by the biasing member and receives the biasing force, and the position of the biasing force receiving portion or the attachment position of the biasing member is configured to be displaceable along the extension direction of the arm portion.

2. The oral function improvement device according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a torsion spring consisting of a wound portion and a pair of arms extending from both ends of the wound portion, and the distance from the base end of the arms to the part that abuts against the biasing force receiving portion is configured to be variable.

3. The oral function improving device according to claim 2, wherein the biasing force receiving portion comprises a plurality of protrusions provided along the extension direction of the arm portion.

4. An oral function improving device as described in claim 2 or 3, wherein the base portion is in the shape of a case having an opening, and the arm portion of the biasing member can be operated through the opening.

5. An oral function improving device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the winding portion of the biasing member is positioned closer to the tip end of the pair of arm portions than the biasing force receiving portion.

6. An oral function improvement device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an oral function measuring device for measuring lip closing force and / or occlusal force is detachably attached to the base portion via a fitting portion.

7. The base portion has a moving device that enables the biasing member to be moved, and the moving device has: an operating portion that is arranged slidably relative to the slide hole so as to be exposed from the slide hole formed in the base portion; and a support portion that is connected to the operating portion, is arranged inside the base portion, and supports the biasing member; and an oral function improvement device as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the biasing member is configured to be movable by operating the operating portion to slide the support portion along the slide hole.

8. The oral function improvement device of claim 7, wherein the operating part is arranged on the front side of the slide hole and extends in a predetermined direction, and the support part of the moving tool is provided with a retaining part that is arranged on the back side of the slide hole and extends in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the operating part, and the retaining part is configured to overlap both side edges on the back side of the slide hole when the extension direction of the operating part and the extension direction of the slide hole are aligned.

9. The oral function improvement device of claim 8, wherein the operating part is formed with a length that enables it to cover the slide hole when slid, the anti-slip part is formed longer than the length along the extension direction of the slide hole and has a protrusion that protrudes toward the inner surface of the base part, and the inner surface of the base part is provided with a raised part that the protrusion overcomes when the urging member moves due to the sliding operation of the operating part and the position of the urging force receiving part or the mounting position of the urging member is displaced along the extension direction of the arm part.

10. The oral function improvement device of claim 7, wherein the biasing member is a torsion spring consisting of a winding portion and a pair of arms extending from both ends of the winding portion, the support portion of the moving device is inserted into the winding portion, and by operating the operating portion to slide the support portion along the slide hole, the biasing member moves via the support portion, and the distance from the base end of the arm to the portion abutting the biasing force receiving portion can be changed.

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