Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
THUMB SUCKING HABIT CORRECTION DEVICE
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to devices for preventing and deterring thumb
sucking
habit/behavior.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Babies have natural rooting and sucking reflexes, which can cause them to put
their thumbs or
fingers into their mouths. Although these habits are extensions of the child's
innate desire to
suck, some children carry the habit well beyond the age when the child is
weaned from breast
or bottle-feeding (1). Except where the context of usage indicates otherwise,
the term "thumb
sucking" is hereafter used to denote sucking one's thumb, index finger, or any
other manual
digit.
Thumb sucking poses several risks to health (2). When a thumb sucking problem
persists
through the arrival of permanent teeth, the result is crooked teeth that may
require expensive
and time-consuming orthodontic treatment, e.g. braces. The most common adverse
effects is
malocclusion of the developing dentition (3-6). Atypical root resorption (7),
mucosal trauma (8),
and abnormal facial growth have also been reported (9). Another physical risk
associated with
thumb sucking is alopecia which occurs in thumb sucking children who
simultaneously pull on,
twist and pull out their hair. Several studies show that children usually stop
the hair play when
they stop sucking (10-12). Children who thumb suck also may be at increased
risk of accidental
poisoning (13). Thumb sucking can also cause digital hyperextension, a
deformity which may
require surgical correction (14, 15). Infection around nail, called
paronychia, also is a potential
complication of thumb sucking.
Psychological consequences of thumb sucking cannot be underestimated. In one
study,
children rated photographs of thumb sucking peers as less intelligent, happy,
attractive, likable,
and fun, and less desirable as a friend (16). Parent's nagging and reprimands
to thumb sucking
can also cause unhappiness, resentment, and insecurity (17).
Thumb sucking is a recognized problem, and various attempts to overcome this
problem are
known in the art. Options include physical barriers, orthodontic appliances
and aversive taste
treatments. For example, one of the orthodontic solutions proposes various
dental appliances
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which fit in the roof of the thumb sucker's mouth. These appliances have
prongs extending
downwardly from the roof of the mouth, to prevent inserting one's thumb into
the mouth. Such
devices are uncomfortable and affect the speech of the child, thus these
devices are seldom
used.
Aversive taste treatments are used to stop thumb sucking involve applying
various bitter-tasting
liquids to the thumb. The theory here is that the thumb suckers, associating a
bitter or
unpleasant taste during thumb sucking, will stop thumb sucking. In reality,
however, the thumb
sucker can wash hands, removing the bitter taste. Younger children just become
irritable with
bitter taste in their mouth.
Physical barriers examples are shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 1,345,783 and
2,684,065. Such
hand appliances generally have attempted to inhibit thumb sucking either by
causing the wearer
discomfort when attempting to insert thumb into mouth, or by preventing the
thumb sucker from
forming an airtight seal around the thumb. These devices prevent the soothing
feeling from
thumb sucking and thus reducing thumb sucking.
Other devices intended to prevent thumb sucking or to otherwise protect
various portions of the
hand or fingers include U.S. Pat. No. 2,783,759 (glove for preventing thumb
sucking); U.S. Pat.
No. 5,228,142 (overwrap for fingers and hands); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,405
(thumb sucking
deterrent device). Such devices are often bulky and difficult to use.
Previous inventors focused on techniques that will prevent the child to be
able to put thumb or
fingers in the mouth. Previous devices either made it impossible to bend the
elbow beyond
certain point or they covered finger/thumb or hand so that child cannot put
finger/thumb in the
mouth. Most of earlier interventions were also large and bulky and difficult
to use or hide. These
kinds of inventions targeted abrupt cessation of a habit. However this
approach is quite stressful
for the child and could lead to crying, irritability or even sleepless nights
because the child is
unable to put finger/thumb in her mouth.
This background information is provided for the purpose of making known
information believed
by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No
admission is
necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding
information constitutes
prior art against the present invention.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a thumb sucking habit
correction device. In
accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device
for prevention or
treatment of thumb/finger sucking, comprising: an elbow sleeve member,
configured for snug fit
on a portion of a lower arm, an elbow and a portion of an upper forearm of a
wearer; and one or
more elongated elastic members, each having a first end portion and a second
end portion, said
first and second end portions are configured to be attached to an outer
surface of the sleeve
member, such that the one or more elastic members extend longitudinally over
back of the
elbow to provide a resistance force upon bending of the elbow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The invention will now be described by way of an exemplary embodiment with
reference to the
accompanying simplified, diagrammatic, not-to-scale drawings. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 depicts a side view of the device in accordance with an embodiment of
the invention over
a wearer's arm.
FIG. 2 depicts a side view of the device in accordance with an embodiment of
the invention over
a wearer's arm, when the elbow is bent.
Fig. 3 depicts a side view of the device in accordance with another embodiment
of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for preventing and/or correcting
thumb sucking
habit/behavior, examples of which are depicted in Figures 1, 2, and 3. As
shown in Figs 1 and
3, an example of the device of the present invention comprises a sleeve member
1 that can
extend over mid arm to cover elbow. It is made up of a fabric or leather or
any other durable
material that is comfortable to wear. Elbow sleeve can be just a tube (Fig. 1)
or an open piece of
fabric that can be folded to make a tube with help of VelcroTM 4 or other
types of fasteners so
that the sleeve fits snuggly (Fig 3). The back portion of the sleeve member
can be reinforced
with leather or additional padded cloth.
In one embodiment, the end portions of the one or more elastic members can be
attached to the
sleeve via VelcroTM fasteners (2). The outside surface of back of the sleeve
will have multiple
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areas of VelcroTM surface (2 in Figures 1, 2 & 3). Figures 1, 2 and 3 show
elastic strip 3
attached on the outer surface of back of the elbow sleeve via VelcroTM 2.
The elastic strip(s) 3 at the back of elbow sleeve create variable resistance
to bend elbow. As a
result, greater bending will produce greater resistance. It is important to
recognize that the
extreme elbow bending is needed during thumb sucking, thus the resistance
force from the
elastics will be minimal when elbow is not folded/bent to the extreme. This
feature allows free
function of hand without restriction for most of other activities. In order to
generate desired force
of resistance needed, various options are available.
Following factors will change the force of resistance.
1. Length elastic strips-Longer length will increase the resistance
2. Width of elastic strips- wider strip of elastic strips will increase the
resistance
3. Numbers of elastic strips-Greater number of elastic strips will increase
the
resistance
The device of the present invention has been intentionally created in a way
that it does not
suddenly stop thumb sucking, as a child would be still able to insert
thumb/fingers in his/her
mouth. This device will gradually but increasingly make it difficult for the
child to insert
fingers/thumb in the mouth. So, instead of abruptly stopping the habit, it
discourages the child to
suck thumb and helps to prevent or stop the habit gradually. Abrupt cessation
of thumb sucking
is stressful for the child and can lead to rejection of the device.
The device of the present invention would reduce the duration of thumb sucking
immediately.
Later on, it would stop the habit altogether as the pleasure of thumb sucking
is counterbalanced
by tiredness from resistance to bend the elbow. The device would cause very
subtle changes
and gradually creates a force of resistance to bend the arm at elbow. The
amount of effort
needed to put finger/thumb in mouth can be increased slowly or quickly
depending on tolerance
of the child. It also ensures that thumb and fingers come out of the mouth as
soon as child falls
asleep and thus minimizing the effect of thumb sucking on teeth and skin
irritation on hands
from saliva that would otherwise will occur if thumb/fingers stay in the mouth
all night.
The device of the present invention can be hidden in child's clothes, so it
can be worn all the
time. This will increase the compliance to use this device and more easily
tolerated by the child.
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It can also be used at home or when travelling. The resistance applied to
elbow bending can be
gradually increased very easily by parents without any technical knowhow.
PATENT CITATIONS
Cited Patent Filing date Publication Applicant Title
date
US1345783 Aug 27, 1917 Jul 6, 1920 Byron Kelly Thumb-sucking
Ernest preventer
US2225896 Aug 2, 1937 Dec 24, 1940 Dean Thumb guard
Belknap
Hobart
US2498122 Mar 27, 1947 Feb 21, 1950 Haniuk Digit sucking
Nicholas K deterrent
US2536633 Mar 15, 1948 Jan 2, 1951 Fitch Robert Antithumb-
sucking device
US2633126 Jan 21, 1952 Mar 31, 1953 Progressive Antithumb-
Products Inc sucking device
US2684065 May 18, 1953 Jul 20, 1954 Umbenhower Thumb or finger
Frank G guard for
infants and
children
US2783759 Oct 28, 1954 Mar 5, 1957 Doyless Hill Glove for
Luther preventing
thumb sucking
US4396014 Feb 12, 1981 Aug 2, 1983 Michael Thumb-sucking
Pace discouragement
device
US4665907 Dec 11, 1985 May 19, 1987 Leverette Apparatus for
Charles R inhibiting digit
sucking
US5010901 Sep 20, 1985 Apr 30, 1991 Pales Jaime Device for
preventing
sucking of
thumb or finger
US5228142 Aug 16, 1990 Jul 20, 1993 Yoswein Overwrap for
Mcgreen fingers and
Rebecca hands and
method for
using it
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US5578066 Aug 29, 1995 Nov 26, 1996 Gober; Giles
Device to
D. discharge
habitual finger
sucking
US5797405 May 13, 1997 Aug 25, 1998 Brock; Thumb
sucking
Lunetta R. deterrent device
and method
USD416650 Oct 13, 1998 Nov 16, 1999 Child's thumb
guard
USD447289 Oct 26, 2000 Aug 28, 2001 Demetrius T
Thumb
Reid protectant
Citing Patent Filing date Publication Applicant Title
date
US9433329 Jan 16, 2015 Sep 6, 2016 Jb Wash
Collectives, cloth
Llc
US20140034067 Aug 6,2013 Feb 6, 2014 Margo K. Tube To
Brilliant Prevent
Thumb
Sucking
U520150196171 Jan 16, 2015 Jul 16, 2015 Joribeth Wash
Joseff cloth
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