US3386732A - Oral facial exerciser - Google Patents

Description

June 4, 1968 B. N. ROBINS 3,386,732

ORAL FACIAL EXERCISER Filed July 29, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 OUADRA rus LABII SUPERIOR/S Beffy N. Robins 0 INVENTOR.

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J1me 1968 B. N. ROBINS ORAL FACIAL EXERCISER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 29, 1966 Beffy N. Robins INVENTOR.

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TRIANGULARIS W 8 M a J Attorney:

exercising device, and is more particularly concerned with apparatus and an associated method for strengthening and tightening the muscles of the face, jowl, and lip area.

provide a method, utilizing the apparatus of the instant invention, wherein a complete exercising of the facial muscles can be achieved through specific movements of the lips, against the resistance of the exercising device.

illustrating the device inserted under the upper lip;

nited States Pate 3,386,732 ORAL FACIAL EXERCISER Betty N. Robins, 17365 Westover Road, Southfield, Mich. 48075 Filed July 29, 1966, Ser. No. 568,813 7 Claims. (Cl. 272-57) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQS An elongated slightly flexible generally non-compressible arcuate member which is insertable between either lip and the underlying gum area for use in the strengthening of the surrounding facial muscles through a selective tensioning and relaxing of the lip over the outward bulge created by the member.

The instant invention generally relates to an oral It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide exercising apparatus which can be readily introduced into the mouth and which, through a movement of the lips against the resistance of the exercising device, produce a limited stressing of predetermined muscles so as to effect strengthening thereof.

Another significant object of the instant invention is to In conjunction with the above objects, it is also a Furthermore, an important object of the instant invention is to provide a device which is inexpensive, small, easily carried on ones person, and capable of being quickly and easily inserted and removed.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device or apparatus of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view of the muscular system of a face FIGURE 3 is a side view with the device positioned as in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a partial front view of a face illustrating the muscular system wherein the exercising device has been inserted below the lower lip;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view through a face illustrating the upper position of the device;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the device;

FIGURE 7 is a front view of a face with the modified form inserted within the mouth; and

FIGURE 8 is a side view, partially in cross-section,

illustrating the modified form of device in position.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the exercising device or apparatus comprising the instant invention. This exerciser 10 is to preferably be formed of a plastic or rubber composition which is shape sustaining and relatively rigid in nature, while at the same time being capable of a slight degree of flexing so as to facilitate its introduction into and removal from the mouth of the user. The exerciser It) is to have a generally convex or arcuate configuration conformable to the curvature of the upper and lower gum areas 12 and 14 so as to lie thereagainst, beneath the lips, as suggested in FIGURES 5 and 8. The longitudinal inner surface 16 of the exerciser 10 is flat or slightly concave so as to seat snugly against the appropriate gum and associated teeth. The outer surface 18 of the exerciser 10' is convex, foaming upper and lower substantially parallel smooth generally transversely arcuate longitudinal edges and an outwardly convex face therebetwcen generally paralleling the inner surface 16, so as to smoothly bulge the corresponding lip 20 or 22, as well as the particular muscles involved, outwardly thereover. The opposed surfaces 16 and 18, as will be readily appreciated from the drawings, are smooth and uninterrupted along the full length of the exerciser, forming a member of generally constant cross-section.

With reference to FIGUERS 1 through 4, it will be noted that the exerciser 10', to the opposite sides of the arcuate center section 24, is offset upwardly as at 26 with the opposite exremities 28 of the device 10 continuing along approximately the same curvature so as to lie against the rigid gum area of the mouth beneath the particular muscles involved. The upward offset portion 26 to the opposite sides of the central portion 24 is of particular significance in insuring a positioning of the outer portions 28 of the exerciser 10 beneath the appropriate muscles while at the same time positioning the central portion 24 completely beneath the associated lip, either upper 20 or lower 22, for both retaining the exerciser 10 and effecting the movement necessary so as to exercise the muscles.

FIGURES 2, 3 and 5 illustrate the positioning of the exerciser or exercising device 10 beneath the upper lip 26 and against the upper gum and tooth area 12. In this position, it will be noted that the device 10 underlies the orbicularis oris, quadratus labii superioris, and zygornaticus muscles which, upon appropriate strengthening, will reduce sagging and wrinkling of the skin in the cheek and cheek bone areas of the face, as well as reduce the vertical lines or wrinkles around the lip area.

The actual exercising procedure subsequent to the insertion of the device it) beneath the upper lip 20, consists of dropping the lower jaw as far down as possible, then moving upper lip 20 down over the outer surface 18 of the device 10, drawing lip 20 inwardly against the resistance of the device 10, and simultaneously moving the corners of the mouth upward in the manner of a smile. This action produces a downward pull on the lip muscles (orbieularis oris), and an upward and outward pull on the other aforenamed muscles to produce the desired strengthening effect. This device 10, as with other exercising apparatus, should of course only be used for a limited period of time on an approximate schedule.

It will be noted from illustration in FIGURE 2, that with the exception of the winking muscle (orbicularis oculi), and forehead muscle (frontalis); all the larger muscles of facial expression are seen to converge towards the lips and corners of the mouth, and freely interdigitating with the sphincter-like orbicularis Oris muscle, or lip muscle.

FIGURES 4 and 8 illustrate the positioning of the device It? between the lower lip 22 and the lower gum and tooth area 14, the device it in this position underlying the orbicularis oris, triangularis, and quadratus labii inferioris muscles. The strengthening of these latter muscles will avoid sagging in the chin and jowl area, reduce vertical lines on lower lip area, and assist in firming of the upper neck area. In use, after the exerciser has been positioned beneath the lower lip 22, the lip is moved upward over the smooth convex outer surface 18 of the device 10 and, while retaining the lower lip in this position with teeth together through a continuous upward pressure against the resistance of device 10, the corners of the month are moved upward, again generally in the nature of a smile. Thus, it will be apparent that the actual facial manipulations are quite similar, differing only in the particular lip involved. Further, it will .be noted that the device 10, whether used beneath the upper lip 20 or the lower lip 22, retains the same general orientation with the extremities 28 eing offset upwardly in both positions.

When the device 10 is utilized beneath the lower lip 22 for a strengthening of the orbicularies oris, triangularis, and quadratus labii inferioris muscles, the instant invention also contemplates the provision of a shield or plate 30, which will overlie the outside of the upper lip, as best seen in FIGURES 7 and 8. This plate 30 is arcuately formed so as to generally follow the curvature of the upper lip and bear firmly thereagainst upon a positioning of the exerciser 10 beneath the lower lip. In order to effect this, it will be noted that the plate 30 spans the central portion 24 of the exerciser in inwardly spaced relation thereto, thereby defining an opening or space 32 for retaining the mouth partially open. This enables use of the device for an advanced exercise wherein, because the mouth is retained partially opened, and additional stress is introduced into the particular muscles involved. This upper lip retaining plate 30 can be releasably engaged with the exerciser 10 in any manner, such as through an engagement of the depending portions 34 thereof within slots in the upper surface of the exerciser 10. On the contrary, the plate 30 can be integrally formed with the exerciser 10 if so desired, this of course necessitating the provision of a second exerciser without a plate thereon for use beneath the upper lip 20.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a unique oral facial exercising device has been defined, in conjunction with a unique method of utilizing the exerciser and manipulating the facial elements for achieving a strengthening of the face muscles in a manner which tends to eliminate wrinkles, sagging, and the like.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and ac-' cordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An exercising device for strengthening the facial muscles comprising an elongated arcuate member having spaced inner and outer faces and being insertable between the lower lip and corresponding lower gum of a user, and a holding plate fixed centrally to said member and orientated generally vertically thereabove and generally longitudinally thereof for engagement over the upper lip, said plate being rigid, arcuate, and having the lower edge thereof spaced above and slightly inward of said member along the central portion thereof so as to define an aperture therebetween.

2. The method of strengthening the facial muscles comprising the steps of inserting a substantially rigid elongated narrow member longitudinally between only one lip and the corresponding gum area and stressing the lip by sequentially moving the lip over the member and inward therebeyond, and relaxing the lip, the stressing of the lip over the member including simultaneously an upward and outward movement of the edges of the mouth through a tensioning of the surrounding muscles as in the act of smiling.

3. An exercising device for strengthening the facial muscles comprising an elongated generally constant crosssection arcuate member insertable beneath a lip and over the underlying gum area of a user, said member being of a shape sustaining generally solid non-compressible nature capable of a slight lateral flexing along the length thereof, said member having spaced substantially parallel smooth generally transversely arcuate longitudinal edges, a generally planar inner face adapted to seat against the gum area, and an outer face generally paralleling said inner face and being outwardly convex relative therto between the longitudinal edges, said outer face being adapted to have the lip positioned thereagainst and moved thereover, both of said faces having smooth uninterrupted surfaces along the full iength of said member.

4. The device of claim 3 including a lip plate affixed to said member generally centrally thereof and projecting upwardly therefrom to a substantial height for engagement over the outer surface of an upper lip upon a positioning of the member beneath a corresponding lower lip.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein said member includes opposite longitudinal end portions laterally offset from the central portion thereof for engagement beneath predetermined areas of selected facial muscles toward the opposite sides of the month of a user upon an engagement of the central portion centrally beneath a lip of a user and against the underlying gum area.

6. The device of claim 5 including a plate-like portion afiixed centrally along said member and projecting upwardly therefrom beyond the lower lip upon a positioning of the arcuate member between the lower lip and the corresponding gum area, said plate-like portion being generally arcuate in shape.

'7. The device of claim 3, including a plate-like portion affixed centrally along said member and projecting upwardly therefrom for a substantially distance so as to extend beyond the lower-lip upon a positioning of the arcuate member between the lower lip and the corresponding gum area, said plate-like portion being generally arcuate in shape.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,091,237 5/1963 Skinner 12860 3,103,217 9/1963 Butler et al. 128-436 3,286,576 11/1966 West 128136 3,295,519 1/1967 Gerber 128-136 766,367 8/1904 Mayes 12876 1,691,785 11/1928 Remensnyder. 2,249,721 5/ 1939 Morris. 2,685,287 2/1954 Golfier. 2,800,898 7/1957 Greenblum. 2,842,119 7/1958 Walton 128-76 3,118,667 1/1964 Barons. 3,224,441 12/ 1965 Monaghan.

FOREIGN PATENTS 24,867 1/ 1900 Great Britain. 694,348 7/1953 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Examiner.

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