...that in the early 1940s GE engineer James Wright was charged with a task of utmost importance to the war effort: develop a cheap substitute for rubber that could be used to produce tires, gas masks and a whole host of military gear. Wright tackled the task diligently -- and wound up inventing Silly Putty.
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8100131 | Mouthguard A “boil and bite” mouthguard including projections to improve moulding of the mouthguard to the user's teeth is described. The mouthguard also includes a base-wall configuration that acts to minimise thinning of the base during moulding and use of the mouthguard... | 01/24/2012 |
| 8091555 | Mouth guard Mouth guards of varying designs. The mouth guard is generally moldable and has non-planar biting surfaces. In other embodiments, the mouth guard has base members or flanges that have means for retaining medicaments and the like. Other versions have thermochromic ele... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8074659 | Method and apparatus for protecting teeth, preventing the effects of bruxism and protecting oral structures from sports injuries A comfortable multiple layer mouth protector is provided for strength and ease of fit to minimize if not completely and gradually eliminate bruxism, with spring biasing keeping the maxillary and mandibular mouth protector arches in place and apart, eliminating snori... | 12/13/2011 |
| 8074658 | Composite performance enhancing tethered mouthguard A performance enhancing and force absorbing mouthguard adapted to fit the upper teeth of the mouth of an athlete wherein the mouthguard is unobstructably tethered and of a composite material. The first internal layer is a nonsoftenable flexible framework which will ... | 12/13/2011 |
| 8020562 | Combination chin protector and mouth guard The combination chin protector and mouth guard provides a device for protecting both the user's teeth and chin. The device is particularly adapted for use in combination with a motorcycle or motocross helmet, for example. The combination chin protector and mouth gua... | 09/20/2011 |
| 7963286 | Combination bite block, tongue depressor/retractor and airway A combination bite block, tongue depressor/retractor and airway for establishing and maintaining an open airway while preventing emergence clenching and the resulting dental and soft tissue damage associated with emergence clenching in procedures where anesthesia an... | 06/21/2011 |
| 7950394 | Mouthguard formed of propylene/alpha-olefin polymer elastomer A self-customizable dental appliance adapted to lie within the mouth of a person with a connecting arch or a u-shaped style base with upstanding labial and lingual walls. The appliance is formed of a semi-crystalline polypropylene alpha-olefin copolymer containing s... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7913695 | Mouth guard with fixed tether system An improved mouth guard designed for use with protective equipment such as helmets and other head gear is disclosed. The invention provides a convenient means to temporarily affix the mouth guard to sports equipment, or other object when the mouth guard is removed, ... | 03/29/2011 |
| 7882839 | Custom mouthguard A custom mouthguard has a resilient U-shaped body with an anterior wall and a posterior wall. A post dam on the posterior wall forms a seal with palatal tissue to increase retention of the mouthguard in a wearer's mouth. The increased retention allows a wearer to sp... | 02/08/2011 |
| 7841346 | Method and device for mandibular advancement An orthotic device (100) for retaining a patient's mandible in an advanced or protrusive position comprises an intraoral anterior mandibular abutment surface (125) for resisting mandibular retraction by abutting the gingiva covering the mandible and an... | 11/30/2010 |
| 7775214 | Sporting prophylaxis An interocclusal sports prophylaxis includes a core having an arch shaped occlusal plate with upwardly extending buccal and lingual walls. A labial force dispersal shield and molar framing braces extend downwardly from the plate at incisor and lingual zones of the p... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7708018 | Double quick release mouth guard assembly The present invention is a mouth guard which is worn to protect a person's teeth when the person is engaged in a sports activity such as football. A strap which has a quick release mating member at each end interconnects the mouth guard with a bar on a helmet worn b... | 05/04/2010 |
| 7556044 | Occlusal splint The present invention is directed to an improved form of a splint having a contact portion for maintaining the vertical separation of rearwardly opposed teeth in the oral cavity of a patient wearing the splint. The splint is provided with a contact portion for conta... | 07/07/2009 |
| 7549423 | Mouthguard having breathing holes incorporated therein The present invention is an improved mouthguard which has incorporated into it at least one and preferably a multiplicity of breathing holes which extend from the front of the mouthguard which can protrude through the wearer's mouth into the air and also provide a p... | 06/23/2009 |
| 7530355 | Mouth guard for braces The present invention provides an improved mouth guard (10) for braces having a U-shaped base portion (30) made from EVA or similar plastic having a melting point less than the boiling point of water, and an upper portion (20) extending generall... | 05/12/2009 |
| 7458377 | Method and apparatus for intra oral myofascial trigger point therapy A method is provided for relief of head, face and jaw pain by achieving the release of intra oral muscle spasms, trigger points, and myofascial dysfunction. The steps include locating intra oral treatment points, including locations of intra oral muscle spasms, trig... | 12/02/2008 |
| 7455064 | Regulator plug for the thermoformable dive mouthpiece The invention involves a plug for a dive mouthpiece. The plug comprises a plug portion and a handle portion. The plug portion has a plug-portion distal end and a plug-portion proximal end. The plug-portion includes an exterior surface, which is complementary in shap... | 11/25/2008 |
| 7448388 | Mandible positioning devices A mandible positioning device or pharyngeal airway adjuster has upper and lower bite blocks and a connection between the upper and lower bite blocks, the connection being manually adjustable for displacing the lower bite block relative to the upper bite block. The a... | 11/11/2008 |
| 7422017 | Mouthguard A mouthguard has a flexible frame, and has bite tabs extending from the rear surface of the frame for engaging the wearer's teeth. The bite tabs extending from the rear surface of the frame for engaging the wearer's teeth. A narrow split may be provided between the ... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7404404 | Anterior sextant dental bite tray apparatus An intraoral, flexible, hinged appliance which is an anterior resistance appliance, covering both anterior sextants of both arches (jaws), having the effect of an anterior bite plane, to facilitate orthodontic treatment. Each of the hinged sections consists of a rou... | 07/29/2008 |
| 7404403 | Oral appliance A sports guard 1 for placing in a mouth of a user is disclosed. The guard 1 includes generally a base member 2 having a generally U-shaped form corresponding to the outline of a jaw of a user defining an upper channel 10 within which an u... | 07/29/2008 |
| 7377782 | System and method for reimplanting avulsed teeth A system for reimplanting avulsed teeth includes a dental splint having a pre-shaped channel that releasably engages a dental arcade having one or more avulsed teeth. The avulsed teeth are reinserted into their sockets and the dental splint is positioned over the de... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7353828 | Double quick release mouth guard assembly The present invention is a mouth guard which is worn to protect a person's teeth when the person is engaged in a sports activity such as football. A strap which has a quick release mating member at each end interconnects the mouth guard with a bar on a helmet worn b... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7334581 | Methods and devices for improving breathing in patients with pulmonary disease Methods, apparatus, and kits for enhancing breathing in patients suffering from chronic pulmonary obstructive disease are described. The methods and apparatus rely on increasing flow resistance to expiration in a manner which mimics “pursed lip” breathing which ... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7328706 | Therapeutic and protective dental device useful as an intra-oral delivery system A dental device has a U-shaped carrier with at least one channel for embracing an arch of teeth. The carrier has recessed insets in the channel. Discrete inserts carrying a beneficial agent can fit into the insets and release the agent gradually. When the device is ... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7329274 | Conforming oral phototherapy applicator Oral phototherapy applicators are disclosed that sized and shaped so as to fit at least partially in a user's mouth and adapted to conform to the shape of at least a portion of the oral cavity and have at least one radiation emitter coupled to an applicator body to ... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7329273 | Tissue penetrating oral phototherapy applicator Oral phototherapy applicators are disclosed that are sized and shaped so as to fit at least partially in a user's mouth and have at least one radiation emitter coupled to an apparatus body to irradiate a portion of the oral cavity with phototherapeutic radiation, th... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7299804 | Three part composite performance enhancing mouthguard A performance enhancing and force absorbing mouthguard adapted to fit the upper teeth of the mouth of an athlete wherein the mouthguard is of a composite material. The first internal layer is a nonsoftenable flexible framework which will permit the mouthguard to hol... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7294141 | Pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining proper dentitions A pacifier, a system and a method for maintaining proper dentitions in a child are provided. The pacifier may have a bulb which is connected to an external shield by an isthmus. A child may suck on the bulb when the pacifier is worn in the mouth. The isthmus connect... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7243650 | Custom fitted mask configured for coupling to an external gas supply system and method of forming same According to one embodiment, a method of forming a custom fitted mask configured for coupling to an external gas supply system includes applying a first sheet of deformable material against a contact portion of a user's face surrounding the user's nostrils while the... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7223281 | Multi-directional oral phototherapy applicator Oral phototherapy applicators are disclosed that are sized and shaped so as to fit at least partially in a user's mouth and have at least one radiation emitting element coupled to an apparatus body to irradiate a portion of the oral cavity with phototherapeutic radi... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7210483 | Sporting prophylaxis An interocclusal sports prophylaxis includes a core having an arch shaped occlusal plate with upwardly extending buccal and lingual walls. A labial force dispersal shield and molar framing braces extend downwardly from the plate at incisor and lingual zones of the p... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7191779 | Snorkel with whistler Provided is a snorkel having a whistler. In one embodiment, the whistler is mounted on a breathing tube. A swimmer wearing the snorkel may seize the whistler by the mouth prior to making a clear, shrill sound by activating the whistler. ... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7178529 | Noctumal oral airway dilator An oral appliance (20) includes first and second mouthpiece elements (22,32) each equipped with adjustable ribs (30,40) on an anterior portion (24) and ramp surfaces (28,38) on each of its posterior arms (26). The ribs (2... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7171962 | Soft oral airway for intravenous anesthesia and method of use A soft oral airway comprising an elongate hollow tubular member having a proximal and a distal end, wherein the member comprises a soft flexible material and an opening at the distal end of the elongate tubular member for insertion into the mouth and pharynx of a pa... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7168950 | Orthodontic methods and apparatus for applying a composition to a patient's teeth Transfer apparatus is constructed for applying an orthodontic composition such as a bonding composition to selected areas of multiple teeth simultaneously. The selected areas of the teeth that receive the composition substantially correspond to areas of the teeth th... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7160111 | Mouthpiece devices and methods to allow UV whitening of teeth A plastic mouthpiece insert for allowing a wearer to whiten their teeth while getting a suntan, and have a generally oblong oval-rectangular opening with a curved rear end that abuts against the root surfaces of the frontal upper and lower teeth of the wearer. A rai... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7159591 | Kussick mandibular advancement appliance The invention provides for a prefabricated appliance for correcting many types of malocclusions particular useful for young children. The appliance for use for adults is called a mandibular advancement appliance. The appliance engages the front upper teeth of a pati... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7153237 | Apparatus for enhancing exercises and methods of using same The present invention relates to an apparatus for enhancing isometric and/or isotonic exercises and methods of using same. In particular, the apparatus for enhancing isometric exercises includes a substantially rigid annular exercising assembly which is placed in a ... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7146982 | Intraoral orthosis for preventing snoring The invention concerns an intraoral orthosis comprising an upper groove (2) and a lower groove (3) designed to line respectively an upper jaw and a lower jaw, said grooves (2, 3) being linked together by two tie rods (4) of such length th... | 12/12/2006 |