Diving Mouthpiece Arch Support Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing diving regulator mouthpieces require users to bite and tighten their teeth to retain the device, which can strain masticatory muscles and affect breathing efficiency, and customizable mouthpieces often require the same user to mold them, limiting reuse and precision.
Innovation Solution
A mouthpiece with a tubular connection and a bite portion that supports the entire upper dental arch, featuring a U-shaped cross-section and a hollowed central portion with a protruding border, allowing it to be securely wedged in the mouth without requiring biting, and can be customized using dental molds and 3D printing techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mouthpiece is retained by biting on lateral portions of dental arch, then the mouthpiece can be held in place, but masticatory muscles are strained and breathing efficiency is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The mouthpiece is divided into distinct functional zones: a wide central portion that contacts the entire upper dental arch for primary retention, and lateral portions that extend toward the molars for secondary stabilization. This segmentation allows different regions to perform different retention functions, eliminating the need for masticatory muscle engagement while maintaining secure positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention mechanism transitions from a one-dimensional lateral bite contact to a two-dimensional broad contact surface across the entire upper dental arch. The central portion's width and curvature are designed to engage multiple teeth simultaneously, distributing retention forces across a larger area and eliminating the need for vertical biting forces that strain masticatory muscles.
2Adaptability or versatility
If customizable mouthpieces are molded by the same user, then the mold can be permanent or deletable, but the process requires user precision and limits reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The mouthpiece is pre-formed with a deletable mold structure that can be easily reset. The deformable material is prepared in advance with specific thermal or mechanical properties that allow it to be softened and remolded multiple times. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for users to achieve high precision during each molding attempt, as the material itself compensates for minor variations in user technique.
Solution Approach 2:
The mold's physical parameters (temperature, hardness, deformability) are changed to enable easy resetting. By controlling the material's thermal or mechanical state, the mold can transition between a rigid permanent form and a soft deletable form, allowing multiple customizations with consistent precision without requiring advanced user skill.
3Reliability
If the bite portion has a U-shaped cross section wrapping the teeth, then the mouthpiece gets stuck to the entire dental arch, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The U-shaped cross-section design merges the central portion and lateral portions into a single continuous structure that wraps around the entire upper dental arch. This unified geometry creates multiple contact points simultaneously, enhancing retention reliability without requiring separate components or complex assembly procedures.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Mouthpiece of diving regulator of aqualung and/ or snorkel comprising a tubular connection portion (2) wherein said tubular connection portion has a through hole (3) internally engaged at a distal portion (4) with a complementary tubular portion of said aqualung and/ or snorkel to allow the air passage; and a bite (5) connected to said tubular connection portion at the lower edge (6) of the proximal end (7) extending complete arch acting as a support for a dental arch.