Claims:
What I claim is
1. A resilient U-shaped device fabricated of a pliable material for use in the mouth above the gum line, a flexible metallic base encased by said material, the legs of the U-shaped device having an inner springlike bias on insertion in the mouth, said device being adapted to fit closely over the indentation located at the top of the alveolar gum tissue on the upper jaw and at the bottom of the alveolar gum tissue on the lower jaw extending the entire length of the alveolar gum tissue on either jaw and covering in the vertical plane in either jaw approximately one-half of said tissue.
2. A resilient U-shaped device fabricated of a pliable material for use in the mouth above the gum line, a flexible metallic base encased by said material, the legs of the U-shaped device having an inner springlike bias on insertion in the mouth, said device being adapted to fit closely over the indentation located at the top of the alveolar gum tissue on the upper jaw and at the bottom of the alveolar gum tissue on the lower jaw extending the entire length of the alveolar gum tissue on either jaw and covering in the vertical plane in either jaw approximately one-half of said tissue and having formed thereon a plurality of depressions on its inner surface for suction gripping the gum tissue.
3. A cosmetic device as defined in claim 1, wherein a bulged portion or plumping area is formed on the exterior surface thereof to provide stretch and effective wrinkle elimination in desired regions of the face.
4. A cosmetic device as defined in claim 3, wherein the device is provided with retaining elements adapted for insertion between the teeth to provide additional security therefor.
5. A cosmetic device as defined in claim 4, wherein the body thereof is fabricated of silicone.
6. A cosmetic device as defined in claim 5, wherein said silicone encases a flexible metallic base member.
7. A cosmetic device as defined in claim 3, wherein the device is provided with clasp element means for partially encircling at least one tooth to provide additional security therefor.
8. A cosmetic device as defined in claim 7, wherein the body thereof is fabricated of silicone.
9. A cosmetic device as defined in claim 8, wherein said silicone encases a flexible metallic base member.
10. A resilient U-shaped cosmetic device fabricated of a resilient and pliable material having on its exterior surface a facial plumping element, said element being a pouch made of a self-sealing acconica-type material.
11. A cosmetic device as defined in claim 10, wherein said self-sealing material is "Por-o-seal."
12. A resilient U-Shaped cosmetic device for the upper jaw and a corresponding device for the lower jaw, each device being sufficiently extensive in length to cover the alveolar gum tissue from one end to the other, said device being adapted to fit closely over the indentation located at the top of the alveolar gum tissue on the upper jaw and at the bottom of the tissue on the lower jaw and to cover in the vertical plane in either jaw approximately one-half of said tissue, the lower edge of one device containing a magnetic element of a given directional polarity and the upper edge of the other device containing a magnetic element of opposing directional polarity.
Description:
The invention relates to a cosmetic device and, in particular, to such devices which are inserted in or added to the human body for functional or beautifying purposes.
It is known that older persons frequently adopt various measures to give themselves a more youthful appearance. The age of an individual is evidence by his stance, walk, voice timber and perhaps most obviously of all, by his facial appearance and, in particular, the presence or absence of lines and wrinkles, especially about the mouth, cheeks and chin. Elimination of these facial lines would be desirable to give the appearance of a younger person. To that end this invention contemplates a device that is inserted in the mouth to cause the skin to be slightly stretched in the critical areas of the face as above-mentioned. The device is normally held in the mouth by suction due in part to its own resilience when pressed against the gum areas therein. Optionally the device will have suction cavities to enhance its security and where upper and lower devices are employed they may be held in the mouth magnetically as will be described.
The device may provide special plumping elements for introducing additional stretch to those areas of the face in the region of the mouth where a somewhat unusual wrinkle problem exists. Provision is made for enabling the user to adjust the size of the elements as desired.
Alternatively, the device has holding shafts with bent tips which are adapted to be inserted between the teeth on each side of the mouth or prongs or clasps secured to the device and adapted to encircle the teeth for enhanced security of the device within the mouth.
One object of the invention is to provide a cosmetic device adapted for use within the human mouth for improving facial appearance.
Other objects and advantages of the invention may be appreciated on reading the following description of one embodiment thereof which is taken in conjunction with a drawing illustrating the improved cosmetic device, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of upper and lower prosthesis devices adapted to be held in the mouth by specially provided suction cups;
FIG. 1A is a section taken on the line 1A-1A of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing upper and lower prosthesis devices having specially provided plumping areas;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing upper and lower prosthesis devices held in place by repellent magnets;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a prosthesis held in place by a metal shaft with bent tip inserted between the teeth; and
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a prosthesis held in place by teeth encircling clasps.
Referring to FIG. 1, the upper device 1 and lower device 1a is shaped and resiliently formed so that the free ends tend to close when pulled from their normal positions. The device may be made of silicone or other pliable material providing a gentle suction hold when in place. The silicone covering encases a flexible metallic base 3 as shown in FIG. 1A. Essentially, the device serves as a spacer to cause the cheeks and upper and lower lip regions to puff out slightly thus eliminating many of the wrinkles there formed. To that end it extends entirely around the gum area of the jaw adhering to the alveolar tissue. Also the so-called double chin is at least partly rectified when the device is worn in the lower jaw. The device in either jaw extends from the gum line of the teeth to grooves naturally found at the bottom, and bottom, respectively, of the mouth thereby covering the maxilla musculus at the base and roots of the teeth, these areas being considered normally insensitive so that the user will not ordinarily be discomforted.
On the inside surface of the devices as shown in FIG. 1, depressions or suction cups 5 and 5a are provided in the pliable silicone covering which should be nearly, if not entirely, pressed out on application of the plastic device to the gum whereby air is expelled to thereby afford additional suction grip at corresponding locations on the gum.
On the exterior surface of the upper and lower device 4 and 4a, shown in FIG. 2, are critically located bulges or plumping areas 6 and 6a which are provided by pouches to afford additional facial stretching where especially needed. For example, in the device which is applied to the upper gum, the plumped area portions are situated thereon in front so as to stretch the upper lip and adjacent facial areas where lines frequently form vertically on the lip and extend diagonally from the nose region below the area of the face commonly considered to be the cheeks. When applied to the lower gum, the bulges or plumping areas 6a on the device might be located so as to erase similar lines which form on each side of the chin but would not appear under the lower lip, which is expected to have a normal indentation, as it would not be desired to puff out the lower lip for any cosmetic purpose. The pouches which provide the plumping areas are fabricated of a self-sealing acconica-type material, such as "Por-o-seal," permitting needle injection of the required amount of air or water on both into the pouch to plump the facial or chin area sufficiently to efface its unsightly lines or wrinkles or to eliminate to some degree the so-called double chin.
As shown in FIG. 3 the lower edge of the upper device 8 is provided with magnets 9 disposed with a given directional polarity and the upper edge of the lower prosthesis 8a is provided with magnets 9a of the same directional polarity. The resulting magnetic repulsion pushes the upper device upwardly and the lower device downwardly to afford their stabilization in the mouth of the user.
Optionally the device is provided with shafts 10, as shown in FIG. 4, thereby serving to further anchor it in place, the shafts having a bent tip 10a for insertion between the teeth on each side of the mouth. If desired, the device may be anchored in the mouth by employing clasps 12, as shown in FIG. 5, having laterally extending, segmental rings 12a to partially embrace adjacent teeth. These optional security features may be especially important where there is some abnormality in the teeth arrangement or the jaw structure.
Various modifications of the invention may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope and principle of the invention as defined in the following claims.