Dental Coupling Member With Compact Lower-Jaw Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oral appliances face challenges in finely adjusting the position of the lower jaw without increasing the size of the connecting member and are prone to positional deviation due to vibrations during use.
Innovation Solution
A dental coupling member with a cylindrical outer and rod-shaped inner, featuring a stopper mechanism to adjust the slide width, and a sleeve with male and female screw connections to regulate the position of the lower jaw, ensuring stability and adjustability without enlarging the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a nut is disposed at the connecting portion between the sleeve and the rod to adjust the length, then the position of the lower jaw can be adjusted, but the size of the connecting member increases causing discomfort to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the adjustment function and connection function into a single integrated structure. The groove formed on the rod surface serves both as a connection interface with the sleeve and as an adjustment mechanism, eliminating the need for a separate nut component. This merging of functions reduces the overall size of the connecting member while maintaining adjustability of the lower jaw position.
Solution Approach 2:
The rod is nested within the sleeve, with the groove on the rod surface allowing the sleeve to engage and adjust the rod's position. This nested configuration allows the adjustment mechanism to be compact and integrated within the existing structural boundaries, avoiding the need for external adjustment components that would increase the overall size.
2Volume of moving object
If the connecting member size is reduced for user comfort, then discomfort is reduced, but the ability to finely adjust the lower jaw position becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The groove on the rod surface is designed with specific local geometric characteristics that enable fine adjustment. The groove's dimensions, depth, and profile are optimized to provide precise control over the rod's movement relative to the sleeve, allowing fine adjustment of the lower jaw position despite the compact overall size of the connecting member.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the upper and lower mouthpieces are connected by a rotatable connecting member, then the positions are not fixed allowing tongue protrusion and beverage ingestion, but the mouthpieces may accidentally shift from optimal position due to vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting member is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow controlled movement. The groove-sleeve interaction enables the rod to move and rotate within defined limits, providing adaptability for tongue protrusion and beverage ingestion. Simultaneously, the mechanical engagement between the groove and sleeve creates natural stopping points that prevent excessive movement and maintain optimal positioning during use, addressing the reliability concern.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A
AI summary
A dental coupling member which can easily adjust the position of the lower jaw of the user without increasing the size of the coupling member is provided. The dental coupling member is attached to upper and lower oral appliances to couple them, and regulates displacement of the lower oral appliance to rear side. The dental coupling member has; an outer which is a cylindrical member having a through hole, to be attached to one oral appliance; an inner having a rod-shaped insertion portion to be inserted into an interior of the cylindrical portion and slidably held by the outer, the inner to be attached to the other oral appliance; and a stopper adjustably positioned inside the cylindrical portion, the stopper serve to limit a slide width of the insertion portion inside the cylindrical portion by adjustment of its position along the axial direction of the cylindrical portion.