US 12,213,805 B2
Mouth guard having low-profile printed circuit board for sensing and notification of impact forces
Anthony M. Gonzales, Canoga Park, CA (US); Robert M. Merriman, Gilbert, AZ (US); Susan M. Merriman, Gilbert, AZ (US); and Christopher T. Cooper, Stittsville (CA)
Assigned to Force Impact Technologies, Inc., Gilbert, AZ (US)
Filed by Force Impact Technologies, Inc., Gilbert, AZ (US)
Filed on Nov. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/510,226.
Application 18/510,226 is a continuation of application No. 18/143,900, filed on May 5, 2023, granted, now 11,826,169.
Application 18/143,900 is a continuation of application No. 18/176,379, filed on Feb. 28, 2023, granted, now 11,819,341.
Application 18/176,379 is a continuation of application No. 17/816,942, filed on Aug. 2, 2022, granted, now 11,607,171, issued on Mar. 21, 2023.
Application 17/816,942 is a continuation of application No. 16/723,263, filed on Dec. 20, 2019, granted, now 11,432,767, issued on Sep. 6, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/782,965, filed on Dec. 20, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0081737 A1, Mar. 14, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/11 (2006.01); A63B 71/08 (2006.01); B29C 51/12 (2006.01); B29C 51/26 (2006.01); B29C 51/30 (2006.01); G01C 17/02 (2006.01); G01C 19/00 (2013.01); G01P 15/00 (2006.01); G06F 3/01 (2006.01); G06F 3/16 (2006.01); H05K 1/02 (2006.01); H05K 1/18 (2006.01); H05K 3/28 (2006.01); B29K 23/00 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01); B29L 31/52 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 5/682 (2013.01) [A61B 5/1126 (2013.01); A61B 5/4064 (2013.01); A61B 5/742 (2013.01); A61B 5/7455 (2013.01); A63B 71/085 (2013.01); B29C 51/12 (2013.01); B29C 51/266 (2013.01); B29C 51/30 (2013.01); G01C 17/02 (2013.01); G01C 19/00 (2013.01); G01P 15/00 (2013.01); G06F 3/016 (2013.01); G06F 3/16 (2013.01); H05K 1/028 (2013.01); H05K 1/189 (2013.01); H05K 3/284 (2013.01); A61B 2503/10 (2013.01); A61B 2560/0214 (2013.01); A61B 2562/0219 (2013.01); A63B 2220/40 (2013.01); A63B 2220/53 (2013.01); A63B 2225/50 (2013.01); B29K 2023/083 (2013.01); B29K 2909/14 (2013.01); B29L 2031/52 (2013.01); B29L 2031/768 (2013.01); H05K 2201/09027 (2013.01); H05K 2201/10037 (2013.01); H05K 2201/10106 (2013.01); H05K 2201/10151 (2013.01); H05K 2201/10159 (2013.01); H05K 2201/10545 (2013.01); H05K 2203/1322 (2013.01); H05K 2203/1327 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mouth guard system for detection of impact forces, comprising:
a main body configured to receive teeth from the maxilla region of the user, the main body including a front portion that is configured to generally follow a contour of the teeth and is located in front of the teeth;
a printed circuit board embedded within the main body and including at least a force sensor, a battery, and a charging coil, the printed circuit board having a middle portion and two end portions, the two end portions being connected to the middle portion by respective bridge portions, the two bridge portions have widths that are measured within the front portion of the main body, the widths of the two bridge portions being smaller than a width of the middle portion that is measured within the front portion of the main body;
wherein the bridge portions are configured to allow the printed circuit board to be fitted to the main body and accommodate for physical variations in the main body across different users of the mouth guard system; and
wherein the force sensor is mounted in the middle portion of the printed circuit board, the battery and the charging coil are each mounted in one of the two end portions of the printed circuit board.