(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organizati Inerational Bureau {O00 A (10) International Publication Number WO 2004/108029 Al (43) International Publication Date 16 December 2004 (16.12.2004) (51) International Patent Classification’: AGLF 5/58, AGIB (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every AGIC 5/14, 7008, 11/00, GODB 15/00, 19/04 Kin of national prowction available): NE L, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BW, BY. BZ,CA, CH, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DZ, EC, BE, BG, PCT/KR2004/001213 GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, 1D, 1 KG, KP, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, Ut, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NA, NI, NO, NZ, OM, PG, PH PL, PT,RO,RU, SC. SD, SE, ‘TR.TH,TZ,UA, UG. U @1) International Application Number: (22) International Filing Date: 21 May 1004 (21.05.2004) 25) Filing Language: English (8H) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every (26) Publication Language: English Kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GUI, GM, KE, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD, SI ao eae 2W), Barasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TI, 20-2003-0018285 11 June 2003 (11.06.2003) KR European (AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DP, DK, PE, ES, Fl 10-2004-0015800 9 March 2004 (09.032004) KR FR, GB, GR, HU, IB, IT, LU, MC, NL, PL, PT, RO, SE SK, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, C1, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), (1D) Applicant and m) KIM, Yun-Keun [KR/KR}; #1-1110 Bundang putished: Obelist, 245-1 Seohyun dong, Bundang-2u, Gyeonggi-do, wi itermational search report Seongnam si 463-824 (KR) For two-leser codes and other abbreviations, reer to the "Guid (74) Agents: KIM,Dong-Jin etal; 61h F., Youngpoong Bldg., ance Notes on Codes and Abbreviations" appearing at the begin- 142, Nonhyn-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-749 (KR). ning of each regular issue ofthe PCT Gazette. (ss Ti INGLISH PRONUNCIATION CORRECTING DEVICE, 201 (57) Abstract: The present invention eas 1 an aglsh pronunciation coectng deve, and more particu to an English pronunciation sonectng device, which en conect ser’ English promancatons and can eventual enable wero pronounes BB Ensish won natal ke nave English speaker by loving the wsrto wear it and practice ponourng English words The © inglich pronunciation comecting device ncies a supporting uni, which spoiGoned ina ers mou between fot teeth ad solr eth, and ral cavity extension units, which ae atached tothe supporting ui and are pu in atleast one side ofthe ser ips. ‘Thotfoe, user can corrct or inprovehiyher English pronunciation and ean comely recognize English words spoken by English speakers by wearing an English pronunciation conctng device by praticing pronouncing English word with hivter mouth B sretcod tom ear fo car wih ths English pronanciaion someting device. = < a a Ss 2 Ss = rtea] [4] [5] [6] 7 [8] WO 2004/108029 1 PCT/KR2004/001213 Description GLISH PRONUNCIATION CORRECTING DEVICE Technical Field ‘The present invention relates to an English pronunciation correcting device, and pre particularly to an English pronunciation correcting device with which a user can practice pronouncing English words with wearing it within his/her mouth, thereby allowing the user to correct English pronunciation and eventually to pronounce English words like a native English speaker. Background Art English speakers are more likely to pronounce English words spreading their lips horizontally or with their lips stretched from ear to ear, while Asian language s are mpre likely to pronounce their native tongues, such as Korean or Japanese, pursing their lips or with their lips pursed. Therefore, Asians, such as Koreans and Japanese, do not seem to have as well-trained mouth muscles or nerves as English speakers’, so they may feel unnatural when horizontally stretching their lips, or they may have difficulty in horizontally stretching their lips for long periods. For the foregoing reasons, most Asians are not good at assuming the same lip postures as English speakers do when speaking English. Thus, Asians are unable to pronounce English words like native English speakers. Disclosure of Invention An aspect of the present invention is to provide an English pronunciation correcting device which a user can wear in his/her mouth so that he/she can practice English pronunciation with his/her lips horizontally stretched and can eventually practice English words as native English speakers do, According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an English pronunciation correcting device comprising: a supporting unit, which is positioned in a user's mouth between front teeth and molar teeth; and oral cavity extension units, which are attached to the supporting unit and are put in at least one side of the user's lips. Description of Drawings FIG. | is a perspective view of an English pronunciation correcting device according (o an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the English pronunciation correcting device of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an English pronunciation correeting deviceWO 2004/108029 2 PCT/KR2004/001213 19] {10} (uy {12} U3] U4] us] [16] [17] according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the English pronunciation correcting device of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is side sectional view of an English pronuni ion correcting device according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the English pronunciation correcting device of FIG. 5. Best Mode for carrying out the Invention A Korean word is pronounced on a syllable-by-syllable basis: that is, a consonant ‘(or consonants) and a vowel constituting each syllable are pronounced together as the ninimum unit for pronunciation, while an English word is pronounced on a phoneme- by-phoneme basis: that is, phonemes can be pronounced independently from one another, For example, Koreans pronounce an English word ‘system’ as if it consists of three syllables ‘si-seu-tem’, but English speakers pronounce it as According to rules of Korean pronunciation, ‘system’ should be pronounced as tem Since phonemes of an English word are pronounced separately from one another, English speakers are more likely to stretch their lips from ear to ear when speaking English. On the other hand, nce a Korean word is pronounced on a syllable-by-syllable basis, Koreans are more likely to purse their lips than to spread their lips when speaking Korean. English speakers may look as if they are smiling even though they are not. On the other hand, Koreans may look as if they are angry about something even though they are not or may look blank or expressionless. This is why English speakers habitually stretch their 1s horizontally, but Koreans hal ally purse their lips. Snce the mouth, the ears, and the bra of human beings are connected to one another via nerves, people learn a language by menprizing sounds of each word, mouth shapes to pronounce cach of the sounds, and the meaning(s) of each word in as- sociation with one another. In this regard, some English sounds that are generally pronounced by English speakers with their mouths pursed may be easily recognizable because lip postures that English speakers assume when pronouncing them are similar {o lip postures that Koreat s generally assume when speaking Korean. On the other hand, Koreans may have difficulty in pronouncing and recognizing some English sounds that are generally pronounced by En, peakers with their mouths stretched from ear to ear because Koreans are not familiar with lip posturesWO 2004/108029 3 PCT/KR2004/001213 [18] U9] [20] Ru [22] [23] ‘that English speakers usually take when pronouncing those English sounds and do not have any sound information associated with the lip postures in their brai Koreans may feel unnatural or have a difficulty in horizontally stretching their lips for long periods. Like those who used not to work out regularly and get quickly exhausted with sudden exercise, Koreans may get easily fatigued with horizontally stretching the lips from ear to ear. ‘Therefore, the present invention provides an English pronunciation correcting device that helps a user horizontally stretch his/her lips for long periods. More specifically, the user can wear the English pronunciation apparatus in his/her mouth and practice horizontally stretching his/her lips. Then, the user's mouth muscles and nerves used for stretching the mouth sideways are stimulated and well trained. Once the mouth muscles and nerves are well trained, the user can pronounce English words as easily and naturally as English speakers do. An English pronunciation correcting device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the ac- companying drawings. Referring to FIGS. | and 2, the English pronunciation correcting device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, a supporting unit 100 formed in almpst the same arch shape as a row of tecth, a front teeth unit 100f is disposed at the center of the supporting unit 100 and contacts front teeth of a user when the user wears the English pronunciation correcting device, molar teeth units 100] and 100r are disposed at both sides of the supporting unit 100 and contact molar teeth of the user when the user wears the English pro- nunciation correcting device, and a groove is formed in the supporting unit 100 along a longitudinal direction of the supporting unit 100 so that the front teeth and mplar teeth of the user can fit in the English pronunciation correc ig device. Oral cavity extension units 201 and 202, which are attached to the supporting unit 100 between the molar teeth units 1001 and 100r and the front teeth unit 100f, are formed as horns having an increasing width toward the mlar teeth units 1001 and 100r. A state in which the supporting unit 100 is worn by a user will now be described. First, when the user wears the English pronunciation correcting device, the user's front and mplar teeth fit in the groove formed in the supporting unit 100, and the oral cavity extension units 201 and 202 are placed at both sides of the user's 6 $0 that they can help the user horizontally stretch for long periods.WO 2004/108029 4 PCT/KR2004/001213 [24] [25] (26) 27] [28] 291 [30] ion corr ‘Therefore, while the user wears the English pronun ing device, the supporting unit 100 of the English pronunciation correcting device keeps stimulating, is 201 muscles and nerves around the user’s mouth, and the oral cavity extension uni and 202 keeps the user's mputh stretched horizontally. ‘Therefore, the oral cavity extension units 201 and 202 are preferably disposed nearer to the molar teeth units 1001 and 100r than to the front tecth unit 100r so that they can horizontally stretch the user's mouth as much as possible. In addition, the oral cavity extension units 201 and 202 are preferably formed as, homs so that they can be easily placed at both sides of the user's lips. ‘The user can learn English speakers’ ways of assuming different lip postures to pronounce English words and their English pronunciations and ean correct his/her English pronunciation by using the English pronunciation correcting device to practice pronouncing English words with his/her lips stretched from ear to ear. English speakers move the jaw more widely when speaking than Koreans do. In the exemplary embodiment, once the user wears the English pronunciation correcting, device i his/her mouth, the English pronunciation correcting device applies force to the mplar teeth of the user, thereby forming an empty space in the oral cavity of the user. Therefore, the user can learn to correctly pronounce English words while moving his/her jaw as widely as English speakers do when speaking. English pronunciation correcting devices according to other exemplary. em- bodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, Referring to FIG. 3, an English pronunciation correcting device includes supporting units 101 and 102, which are obtained by dividing the supporting unit 100 of FIG. 2, and oral cavity extension units 201 and 202, which are disposed at each of the supporting units 101 and 102. ‘The supporting units 101 and 102 preferably have a length of 3 - 5 cm so that they can only cover small and big molar teeth. Therefore, when a user wears the English pronunciation correcting device in his/her mouth, the supporting units 101 and 102 are placed in the user's mouth to cover the small and big mplar teeth, and the oral cavity extension units 201 and 202 are put in at least one side of the user's lips outside the user's nputh, Therefore, the user can freely move his/her tongue and lips and thu: n practice English sounds that are made by using the front teeth and lips. Accordingly, the user can eventually differentiate a'v' sound from ab’ sound, a 'f sound from a'p' sound, and an‘ yund from an 'r’ sound and to pronounce consonants, such as th, m, s, and 2,WO 2004/108029 5 PCT/KR2004/001213 (321 [33] (34) [35] [36] [37] [38] and vowels, such as a, ¢, y, and i, like a native English speaker. Referring to FIG. 5, supporting units 100 and 102 are formed to be streamlined toward big nplar teeth units 101L and 102L, respectively, so that they can be more firmly attached to teeth of a user and can enhance the user's comfortableness with wearing them when the English pronunciation correcting device is positioned in the user's mouth, Oral cavity extension units 201 and 202 are preferably attached to the supporting units 100 and 102, respectively, so that they can be disposed nearer to the big molar teeth units LOLL and 102L, respectively, than to small nplar teeth units 101 and 102S, respectively. The oral cavity extension units 201 and 202 are preferably formed as horns so that they can be easily put in at least one side of the user's lips when the English pro- nunciation correcting device is positioned in the user's mouth, Referring to FIG. 6, coupling units 201a and 202b are formed at oral cavity extension units 201 and 202, respectively, and a plurality of holes 301, 303, 305, 311, 313, and 315, to which the coupling units 201a and 202b can be coupled, are formed at the supporting units 101 and 102 so that the oral cavity extension units 201 and 202 can be attached to various portions of supporting units 101 and 102, respectively. an be suited for different ‘Therefore, the English pronunciation correcting devi sizes of mouths by adjusting the locations of the oral cavity extension units 201 and 202 attached to the supporting units 101 and 102, respectively. Accordingly, the user's comfortableness with wi ing the English pronunciation correcting device can be enhanced. In addition, the English pronunciation correcting device can also be fitted in different sizes of mouths with the supporting units 101 and 102 adapted for each us nputh . More specifically, the supporting units 101 and 102 are soaked in hot water with a predetermined temperature, and then they remained in the air until they are slightly cooled down to avoid any burn on the user's mouth, The user bites the supporting units 101 and 102 with his/her upper and lower teeth, and then the supporting uni s 101 and 102 are slightly adapted according to the shape of the user’ nouth, Thereafter, the supporting units 101 and 102 are soaked in cold water so that their current shapes can be maintained. The supporting units 101 and 102 may be formed of thermoplastic resin so that they can be easily adapted. While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinaryWO 2004/108029 6 PCT/KR2004/001213 [39] without skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made the: departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Therefore, it is to be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention, ‘The scope of the invention is given by the appended claims, rather than the preceding description, and all variations and equivalents which fall within the range of the claims are intended to be embraced therein, Industrial Applicability As described above, according to the present invention, a user can correct or improve his/her English pronunciation and can correctly recognize English words spoken by English speakers by practicing pronouncing English words with his/her nputh stretched from ear to ear with wearing an English pronunciation correcting device .uw [3] [41 15] [6] WO 2004/108029 7 PCT/KR2004/001213 Claims An English pronunciation correcting device comprising: ‘a supporting unit, which is positioned in a user's mouth between front teeth and nplar teeth; and oral cavity extension units, which are attached to the supporting unit and are put in at least one side of the user’ ps. The device of claim 1, wherein the supporting unit is divided into a plurality of sub-supporting units, and the oral cavity extension units are attached (0 each of the plurality of sub-supporting units. The device of claim 1, wherein locations of the oral cavity extension units attached to the supporting unit are adjustable. The device of claim 1, wherein the supporting unit is formed of a material that is thermally deformable. The En; th pronunciation correcting device of claim 4, wherein the supporting unit is formed of thermoplastic resin. The English pronun ion correcting device of claim 1, wherein the oral cavity extension units are formed as horns.13 WO 2004/108029 PCT/KR2004/001213 [Fig. 1] 100R 100 100F213 WO 2004/108029 PCT/KR2004/001213 [Fig. 3] 102L 202 102S 201 [Fig. 4] 102 101 101L NN 102L 1018 1028S — 201 202313 WO 2004/108029 PCT/KR2004/001213 [Fig. 5] 101 TOIL 1018S 201 [Fig. 6] 202aINTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT International application No. PCT/KR2004/001213 ‘A. CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER IPCT AGIF 5/58, A61B 1/24, AGIC 5/14, 7/08, 11/00, GO9B 15/00, 19/04 According to Intemational Patent Classification (PC) or to both national classification and IPC B._ FIELDS SEARCHED ‘Minimum documentation searched (classifiation system followed by classification symbols) IPCT AGIF 5/58, AGIB 1/24, AGIC 5/14, 7/08, 11/00, GOB 15/00, 19/04 ‘Documentation searched other than minimum docamentaton to the extent that such documents are included inthe fields searched ‘Korean patents and applications for inventions since 1975, ‘Korean utility models end applications for utility models since 1975, ecironie data base consulted during the intermational search (name of data base and, where practicable, search terms used) KIPASS, CA €. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT Category* Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, ofthe relevant passages Relevant to claim No. Y ‘WO 98/34574 Al (WIPSS PRODUCTS, INC.) 13 August 1998 (13-08-1998) 16 See page 4, line 13-page 5, line 25; Figs. 5-6 Y IP 2002-17670 A (Horiguchi Shojf) 22 January 2002 (22-01-2002) 16 See the whole document A IP 10-293528 A (Ueno Naoki) 04 November 1998 (04-11-1998) 16 See the whole document A 43P7-219421 A (Shinya Satomi) 18 August 1995 (18-08-1995) 16 See the whole document A WO 0228308 Al (Ito, Gakejf) 11 April 2002 (11-04-2002) 16 See the whole document Farther documents are listed in the continuation of Box C. Be] Sc patent amity sone. 7 — Spal exngorer of cled osama Tar dosnt paced ach ical ing to TG “av dame dfing he general sate of hea whit coded” not noi wh he apiton bt ced inden to botanical erence the prior ary unyng te inventon atropine bt pbs on or arenes "x° Secumet of paler ese he cme vention cam Sing oe corded novel or came be considered invlvesn vette octet wich ay Sow ous on pry ci) or whch &_ Sap en te dosament taken lone Gide esas he pucaton Gf cinton oor -y" document of tulrrleract te aimed vento cannot te spec ssn as eed) Considered molve an ivetve ep when te document “ot Goma feng snr ewe, 5, exhbton ore onined wh one oc moe oe sch cen ombintion ems Feingobvios tom pos sil nt at “P* Goment pis porto the intron ling ae i ater dune member ane pata ly ‘han the prot dat aed ais fie acta completion of ie neal ach Dats of naling ofthe iteration search report 27 AUGUST 2004 (27.08.2008) 30 AUGUST 2004 (30.08.2004) ‘Nang and aling addres of the ISAER ‘atria io ‘Korean nllctal Property Otis 520 Dunsan-dong, Seo, Daejeon 302-01, LEE, Sun Kuk yy Repubicor ores simile No, $2-49472-7140 Telephone No. §242-481-5587 ‘Form PCT/ISA/210 (second sheet) January 2004)INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT Information on patent family members [international application No. PCT/KR2006/001213 Patent document Publication Patent family Publication cited in search report date member(s) date Wo 98/94574 At 43-08-1998 US 5636379 A 10-06-1997 AU 2121697 At 26-08-1998, CA 2251672 AA 18-08-1998 uP 2002-17670 A 22-01-2002 us 2002022211 AA 21-02-2002 JP 10-293528 A 04-11-1998 NONE uP 7-219421 A 18-08-1995 NONE: WO 02/28308 At 11-04-2002 US 2004013093 AA 22-01-2004 UP 2002102255 A2 (09-04-2002 AU 200192207 AB 15-04-2002 EP 1320393 AI 02-07-2003 ‘Form PCI/ISA/210 (patent family annex) (January 2004)