Invalidity dossier
US 4718662
Tongue positioning and exercising device
Current assignee: Individual
Added 9/23/2026, 3:05:30 PM
Active provider: DeepSeek · deepseek-flash
Patent summary
Title, assignee, inventors, filing/issue dates, abstract, and a plain-language overview of the claims.
Patent Overview: US 4,718,662 — "Tongue Positioning and Exercising Device"
Bibliographic data (as supplied): U.S. Patent No. 4,718,662; application no. US06/813,413; inventor Richard B. North; original and current assignee listed as "Individual"; priority/filing date 1985-12-26; publication (grant) date 1988-01-12; anticipated expiration 2005-12-26; legal status "Expired - Fee Related." Classification: A63B23/03 and A63B23/032 (exercising apparatus for face muscles, for insertion in the mouth); A63B2208/12 (specially adapted for children).
Purpose: The device is a dental appliance worn temporarily between the upper and lower teeth to elevate and exercise the peripheral tongue against the upper alveolar ridge, encouraging proper tongue-musculature function during rest and swallowing. Stated goals include strengthening tongue musculature for speech-sound production and correction of defective speech sounds, improving tongue/lip strength for extended brass and woodwind playing, reducing dental decay by keeping the tongue above the upper teeth during swallowing of food, and correcting tongue-thrust swallowing. The background notes adverse effects of habitual tongue thrusting (dental deformation, malocclusion, relapse after orthodontic treatment) and cites U.S. Pat. No. 3,259,129 as a remedial device delivering an electric charge to the tongue when improperly located.
Plain-language scope (from the abstract and description): A device with an outer frontal marginal area clenched between the teeth; tongue supporting members extending inwardly and upwardly from that margin to position the tongue tip against the upper alveolar ridge. Concavo-convex supporting portions incline approximately 15–35 degrees from horizontal, with a V-shaped open area between inner edges to receive the tongue frenulum, and openings (7, 8) permitting saliva passage. A central portion (9) is of lesser transverse section than the supporting members. A modified form (FIGS. 6–7) adds an upward rim (1A') and downward-projecting projections (10, 11) that cause tongue discomfort (negative stimuli) if the tongue is improperly located below the device.
Not established by this excerpt: The full claim language and exact claim scope; the complete description (marked as excerpted); any prosecution history, prior-art analysis beyond the single cited patent, validity, enforcement, ownership transfers, or litigation. The source excerpt does not show the drawings' details.
Generated 10/1/2026, 9:51:48 PM
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Litigation summary
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Proceedings on file (0)
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PTAB challenges
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Assignment history
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Prior art
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Obviousness
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Extensions
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Derivative works
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