Protective container for oral appliances
View Patent ↗A closeable clam shell type container with a retaining cord provides a protective enclosure for the storage and transport of oral appliances. A strap and clip allow the container to be attached to clothing and packs. Material choices allow versions that are machine washable. Some versions include a removable hard inner liner to provide further protection of oral appliances.
1. A protective container for oral appliances comprising:
two container halves;
the two container halves joining at a hinge, the hinge spanning between two corners of the two halves to form a clam-shell like container;
a closure adapted to close the two container halves forming an interior space inside the two container halves;
an elastic retaining cord in the interior space between the two corners, the elastic retaining cord anchored at both corners;
a strap having two ends, one end attached to the two container halves; and
a clip attached to the other end of the strap.
2. The protective container for oral appliances of claim 1 wherein the elastic retaining cord is adapted to retain an oral appliance inside the interior space.
3. The protective container for oral appliances of claim 2 wherein the elastic retaining cord is tensioned across the hinge in the interior space.
4. The protective container for oral appliances of claim 1 wherein the closure is a zipper.
5. The protective container for oral appliances of claim 4 wherein the zipper in a closed position, is located near the strap and clip, facilitating opening of the container when the container is clipped near the waist of the user.
6. The protective container for oral appliances of claim 4 wherein the zipper in a closed position, is located near the strap and clip, such that when the container is clipped near the waist, the oral appliance is accessible without unclipping or repositioning the container.
7. The protective container for oral appliances of claim 1 further comprising a pouch attached in the interior space; the pouch adapted to contain items inside the interior space, the pouch further having an elastic lip.
8. The protective container for oral appliances of claim 2 further comprising a remove-able hard inner liner comprising two clam-shell like liner halves that open and close at a liner hinge; the liner defining a liner interior, the liner adapted to fit into the interior space formed inside the two container halves, the liner further adapted to accommodate the elastic retaining cord inside the liner interior; the elastic retaining cord stretched across the liner hinge within the liner interior to hold the liner within the interior space.
9. A protective container for oral appliances comprising:
two container halves;
a hinge joining the two container halves to form a clam-shell like container;
a closure adapted to close the two container halves forming an interior space inside the two container halves;
a strap having two ends, one end attached to the two halves;
a clip attached to the other end of the strap;
a remove-able hard inner liner comprising two clam-shell like liner halves that open and close at a liner hinge; the liner forming a liner interior, the liner adapted to fit into the interior space formed inside the two container halves;
an elastic retaining cord inside the interior space; the elastic retaining cord adapted to stretch across the liner hinge within the liner interior to hold the liner within the interior space; and the remove-able hard inner liner further comprising notches at the liner hinge, the notches adapted to allow the elastic retaining cord to enter the liner interior.
10. The protective container for oral appliances of claim 9 wherein the elastic retaining cord is tensioned across the hinge.
11. The protective container for oral appliances claim 9 wherein the closure is a zipper.
12. The protective container for oral appliances of claim 11 wherein the zipper in a closed position, is located near the strap and clip, facilitating opening of the container when the container is clipped near the waistline of a user.
13. The protective container for oral appliances of claim 11 wherein the zipper in a closed position, is located near the strap and clip, such that when the container is clipped near the waistline of a user, the oral appliance is accessible without unclipping or repositioning the container.
14. The protective container for oral appliances claim 9 wherein the remove-able hard inner liner is a single piece of plastic material, the liner hinge being a live hinge.
15. The protective container for oral appliances of claim 9 further comprising a pouch in the interior space; the pouch adapted to contain items inside the interior space, the pouch further having an elastic lip.
16. The protective container for oral appliances of claim 9 further comprising a mesh net pouch in the interior space; the mesh net pouch adapted to contain items inside the interior space, the mesh net pouch further having an elastic lip.