Mouth insert for one-way breathing

Abstract

A one-way breath training device has a mouth insert engaged to a cage housing a movable baffle. The mouth insert has an air hole extending from a first end to a second end. The baffle moves within the cage between a backstop having air pathways therethrough to the second end of the mouth insert. The cage has one or more guidance tracks which the baffle moves along. When a user attempts to inhale through their mouth, the inflow of air pulls the baffle against the second end and blocks the air hole to prevent further air from entering the air hole. When a user exhales through the mouth insert, the outflowing air pushes the baffle against the backstop of the cage thereby opening the air hole and air pathways for the exhaled air to escape.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A one-way breath training device, comprising:
 a mouth insert having an air hole defined through the mouth insert from a first end to a second end, wherein the first end is configured to engage a person's mouth and the second end defines an impact surface;   a cage attached to the second end and configured for the passage of air, the cage having at least one guiding track and a backstop; and   a baffle housed within the cage and movable between the backstop and the impact surface.   
     
     
         2 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 1 , wherein the second end further comprises a means for removably attaching the cage to the mouth insert. 
     
     
         3 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 2 , wherein the removable attachment means comprises a groove defined about a perimeter of the second end and a ridge defined about a perimeter of a proximal end of the cage, wherein the groove is configured to receive the ridge. 
     
     
         4 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 1 , wherein the first end further comprises a means to removably engage a mouthpiece. 
     
     
         5 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 4 , wherein the mouthpiece engagement means comprises a retaining ring formed at a proximal end of the first end, the retaining ring configured to frictionally engage an inner surface of an opening defined through the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         6 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one guiding track comprises a plurality of guiding tracks. 
     
     
         7 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 6 , wherein each of the guiding tracks defines a curvature extending from a distal end of the cage to a proximal end of the cage. 
     
     
         8 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 7 , wherein the curvature of each of the guiding tracks is configured to minimize friction between an outer edge of the baffle and each of the guiding tracks. 
     
     
         9 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 7 , wherein the curvatures are configured to center the baffle in the cage. 
     
     
         10 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle comprises a free-floating disc having rounded edges. 
     
     
         11 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle comprises a substantially oval-shaped disc. 
     
     
         12 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 1 , wherein the cage, when the baffle is against the backstop, comprises a plurality of air pathways defining a cross-sectional area that is substantially equal to a cross-sectional area of the air hole. 
     
     
         13 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 1 , wherein normal inspiration causes a pressure differential in the air hole sufficient to move the baffle. 
     
     
         14 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 13 , wherein the baffle moves against the impact surface and covers the air hole when a negative pressure differential is created by air being sucked through the air hole. 
     
     
         15 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 1 , wherein the cage defines a depth of between about four times and about ten times a thickness of the baffle. 
     
     
         16 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle is configured to completely block air passage through the air hole when the baffle is positioned against the impact surface. 
     
     
         17 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 16 , wherein the baffle generates an audible alert when the air hole is completely blocked. 
     
     
         18 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one opening defined through the backstop to allow air to enter the cage. 
     
     
         19 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 1 , wherein the mouth insert further comprising an elongated portion connecting the first end to the second end, wherein the air hole extends through the elongated portion from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         20 . The one-way breath training device of  claim 19 , wherein the elongated portion is sized to accommodate a user's lips circumvolving the first end.