Mouth Opening Training Device With Slidable Jaw Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mouth-opening training devices struggle to perform continuous rotational and anterior sliding movements smoothly, failing to accurately trace the trajectory of natural mandibular mouth-opening movements due to difficulty in simultaneous operation of levers and handgrip.
Innovation Solution
A mouth-opening training device with a slidable, openable, and closable connection between upper and lower members, featuring a sloped upper member and bulge portion on the lower member, allowing the lower member to move as the upper member opens, and an adjustable angle mechanism to align with the natural mandibular movement trajectory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate levers and handgrip are used for rotational movement and anterior sliding movement, then both movements can be trained, but the operations cannot be performed smoothly simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the handgrip mechanism and lever mechanism into a single integrated structure where the handgrip serves dual functions. The handgrip's rotational movement directly drives both the anterior sliding movement (through gear-rack engagement) and the rotational movement (through lever connection), eliminating the need for separate independent operations and enabling smooth simultaneous execution of both movements.
2Device complexity
If connecting portion is provided at center of rotational movement, then structural simplicity is achieved, but the trajectory does not match actual mandibular movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic connecting portion that moves along a curved trajectory rather than remaining fixed at the center. The connecting portion's position changes during operation, following an arc-shaped path that replicates the natural mandibular movement trajectory. This dynamic adjustment allows the device to accurately trace the actual mouth-opening movement path while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity through the use of guide slots and movable connections.
3Productivity
If levers and handgrip are operated at the same time, then continuous movement is achieved, but the operation becomes difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gear-rack mechanism as an intermediary between the handgrip's rotational input and the lever's sliding output. The gear-rack engagement automatically coordinates the timing and magnitude of both movements, converting the user's simple rotational handgrip operation into synchronized rotational and sliding movements. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the need for the user to independently control multiple components, making continuous operation smooth and easily controllable.
Data Source
AI summary
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a mouth-opening training device with which continuous rotational movement and anterior sliding movement of the temporomandibular joint can be performed smoothly, the device thereby being capable of guiding the movement of the mandible so as to trace an actual mandibular mouth-opening movement. The mouth-opening training device is provided with: an upper member, the base end of which is grasped and the tip of which can engage with a user's maxilla; a lower member, the tip of which can engage with the user's mandible and a portion of which is in contact with the upper member so as to allow sliding; and a connecting section for connecting the upper member to the lower member so as to allow sliding and allow opening and closing. As the tip of the upper member is opened with respect to the tip of the lower member, the lower member moves in the direction of the tip.