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US4334542A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Artificial palate device for electropalatograph

Assignee: Rion Co Ltd
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Filing: 1980-05-08
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Granted: 1982-06-15
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Expires: 2000-05-08
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Abstract

Abstract An artificial palate device of electropalatographs for electrically detecting and observing dynamic patterns of linguapalatal contacts during speeches by means of many tongue-contact sensing electrodes provided on a tongue-contacting surface of the device fitted intimately to the surface of hard palate of trainees of articulation study and speech training. The electrodes and lead wires connecting the electrodes to an electropalatograph display device are provided on a surface of base board preliminarily prepared with a flat, electrically insulative and flexible plate material and in a shape intimately adaptable when curved to the hard palate. As required, a flat metal foil easily deformable in sectional shape and retainable in its deformed shape is laminated in the other surface of the base board. The lead wires and metal foil are covered by an insulative layer.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kiyotoshi Takinishi
  • 👤 Masato Nakamura

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-22 19:42
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B19/00; G09B19/04; G09B19/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 160 words
An artificial palate device for use in electropalatograph speech training and the like comprising a flexible electrically insulative base board substantially in the shape and dimensions of a human hard palate, a plurality of tongue contact sensing electrodes provided as spaced from each other on one surface of said base board, a plurality of lead wires corresponding in number to said electrodes and provided on said one surface of the base board, said lead wires being connected respectively at one end to each of the electrodes and led out of the base board as insulated from each other and from other electrodes, and means for covering substantially the said one surface of the base board and having a plurality of through holes made at positions corresponding to those of the electrodes for exposing at least a part of the respective electrodes out of said layer, said device being capable of intimately fitting a human hard palate and being retained therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 160 words
An artificial palate device for use in electropalatograph speech training and the like comprising a flexible electrically insulative base board substantially in the shape and dimensions of a human hard palate, a plurality of tongue contact sensing electrodes provided as spaced from each other on one surface of said base board, a plurality of lead wires corresponding in number to said electrodes and provided on said one surface of the base board, said lead wires being connected respectively at one end to each of the electrodes and led out of the base board as insulated from each other and from other electrodes, and means for covering substantially the said one surface of the base board and having a plurality of through holes made at positions corresponding to those of the electrodes for exposing at least a part of the respective electrodes out of said layer, said device being capable of intimately fitting a human hard palate and being retained therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 161 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said base board is substantially trapezoidal in shape, said base board including a tip portion to be positioned inside front teeth when the device is fitted to the hard palate surface, a first pair of incisions adjacent said tip portion and at opposite ends of said tip portion, said first pair of incisions being symmetrical to each other with respect to an axial line passing through the center of said base board from the shorter top edge of said board to the longer bottom edge of said board, an expanded portion adjacent said first pair of incisions to be fitted to the hard palate surface between the side innermost teeth, and a second pair of incisions in said expanded portion adjacent and symmetrical to each other with respect to said axial line and said means for covering said one surface of said base board corresponds in shape to the shape of said base board.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said covering means comprises an electrically insulative material and the base board has a thickness of about 25 to 50μ.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 51 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said base board has a thickness of about 25 to 50μ, said covering means comprises a metal foil having a thickness of about 50μ and is capable of maintaining a deformed state when curved so as to restrict the self-restoring force of the board.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 12 words
The device according to claim 4 wherein said metal foil is aluminum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 12 words
The device according to claim 4 wherein said metal foil is tin.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1967815A Cited
US3572322A Cited
DE2337321A1 Cited
US4121573A Cited
US3888240A Cited
US4175338A Cited
US4112596A Cited
US4166465A Cited
US4166465B1 Cited
US4233987A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-06-14 1985-12-14 1986-06-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-06-14 1989-12-14 1990-06-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-06-14 1993-12-14 1994-06-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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