Tongue strengthening device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12290716-B2
Application number	US-202318206022-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2023
Priority date	Jun 6, 2022
Publication date	May 6, 2025
Grant date	May 6, 2025

Abstract

Disclosed is a tongue strengthening device that includes a handle on one end and a bulb structure on the other end. The bulb is resiliently flexible, and enables a user to exercise their tongue by repeatedly compressing and releasing the bulb. Provided is a system or kit that includes multiple tongue strengthening devices having different compression specifications that allow a patient to graduate to devices which are harder to compress as the patient gains tongue strength.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tongue strengthening device comprising a handle and a bulb;
wherein the bulb has a first side and a second side defining a built-in user feedback mechanism to define extents of exercise motion when the first side and second side of the bulb are compressed to touching; and
wherein the handle comprises one or more grooves configured to attach rubber bands that provide a user with feedback regarding how far to insert the bulb-end into their mouth.

2. The tongue strengthening device of claim 1 , wherein the handle is flexible.

3. The tongue strengthening device of claim 1 , wherein the handle is overmolded with silicone.

4. The tongue strengthening device of claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises one or more holes and the one or more holes are filled with silicone.

5. The tongue strengthening device of claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises grooves configured to allow a small elastic band to be placed as a tactile aid for proper placement in the mouth.

6. The tongue strengthening device of claim 1 , wherein the bulb has a wall thickness and the wall thickness can vary from 0.1 mm to solid.

7. The tongue strengthening device of claim 1 , wherein the bulb comprises an interior cavity, the interior cavity is not fluid-filled.

8. The tongue strengthening device of claim 1 , wherein the bulb comprises a built-in user feedback mechanism to define extents of motion.

9. The tongue strengthening device of claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a first end and a second and the second end comprises a hole for attaching accessories.

10. A tongue strengthening system comprising:
a plurality of tongue strengthening devices, wherein individual tongue strengthening devices of the plurality of tongue strengthening devices comprise different elasticity and/or compressibility ratings;
wherein each tongue strengthening device comprises a handle and a bulb, wherein each bulb on each tongue strengthening device in the plurality of tongue strengthening devices comprises a wall thickness and interior cavity geometry and each wall thickness and interior cavity geometry for each of the bulbs is different; and
wherein each of the bulbs for each tongue strengthening device in the plurality of tongue strengthening devices has a different resistance.

11. The tongue strengthening system of claim 10 , wherein the different resistance is provided by material compression.

12. A tongue strengthening system comprising:
a handle and a first bulb having a first compression strength property wherein the first bulb is configurable to be replaced with a second bulb having a second compression strength property wherein the first compression strength property and second compression strength property are different; and
wherein each bulb of the first and second bulbs comprises a wall thickness and interior cavity geometry and each wall thickness and interior cavity geometry for each bulb is different; and
wherein each bulb has a different resistance.

13. The tongue strengthening system of claim 12 , wherein the handle is flexible.

Assignees

• Univ Colorado Regents

Inventors

• Cuadrado Elizabeth
• Treat Aaron
• Morrison Joshua W
• Elliott Robert

Classifications

• A63B21/0004

  Exercising devices moving as a whole during exercise (bar bells or dumb bells A63B21/072; on wheels A63B22/20) · CPC title

• A63B21/0085

  using pneumatic force-resisters · CPC title

• A63B21/4035

  for operation by hand · CPC title

• A63B23/032 Primary

  for insertion in the mouth · CPC title

• A63B2071/0694

  Visual indication, e.g. Indicia · CPC title