Baby's Pacifier

Abstract

A baby's pacifier exercise or teething device including a tube of resilient flexible material. The tube may be formed in a ring having one or more intertwined loops. The tube also may be filled with a material, such as bunched or crumpled sheet plastic, which generates an audible crinkling sound as the tube is deformed.

Description

This invention relates to pacifiers for infants and particularly to pacifiers which also may be used as teething rings. Normally, infants while teething will tend to bite, suck or chew on most any handy object sufficiently rigid to provide comfort during its teething stage. Infants also frequently require pacifiers whether they are teething or not. Accordingly, a wide variety of teething devices and pacifiers which tend to fascinate and occupy an infant's attention have been proposed and employed in the prior art. It is among the primary objects of my invention to provide a combined teething device, exerciser and pacifier of improved construction which is easier for the uncoordinated infant to grasp and manipulate and is satisfying to him.

One embodiment of the invention consists of a flexible rubber or plastic tube or other structure which contains material capable of producing an audible noise when the tube is deformed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tube is filled with a thin sheet of crumpled plastic material which will produce a crinkling or rustling sound when deformed in response to deformation of the tube. In the preferred embodiment, the ends of the tube are connected together to define a smooth endless ring. The ring may consist of a double winding or double loop arranged in a loose overhand knot. In another embodiment of the invention, the sound-producing material may be omitted with the tube or other similar, elongate member being arranged in a multiple loop defined by the overhand knot having its free ends connected to each other. Although this arrangement may not generate the audible crinkling sound, depending on whether the crinkling material is included, it does provide a structure which may be manipulated easily by the infant for exercise and for development of his dexterity.

The construction of the device avoids use of separable, relatively small parts which might become loosened by the infant's chewing on the device. Obviously, if such a part did work loose, it would present considerable danger to the infant who might swallow it. Accordingly, one of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a pacifier or teething device which is completely safe, cannot be injurious to the child, and which cannot be accidentally swallowed due to its width and elasticity.

A further object of the invention is to provide an infant's pacifier which may be grasped easily by the infant at any portion of the device and which does not require him to seek out a special handle or other grasping location. It may be picked up easily from the flat surface of a crib mattress by a relatively uncoordinated infant.

A further object of the invention is to provide an infant's pacifier which is of simple design and economical construction.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an infant's pacifier which can be used for teething and which produces a pleasant sound, audible both to the ear and by bone conduction of sound through the gums and jawbones, and which fascinates and holds an infant's attention while the device is chewed on or is otherwise manipulated. The device may be used by the infant himself and need not be manipulated or controlled by an adult.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overall view of the invention as embodied in a teething ring having a plurality of intertwined loops defining a loose overhand knot; and

FIG. 2 is a section taken through the connection between the free ends of the tube as viewed along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

As shown in the drawings, the illustrative embodiment of the invention includes a tube 10 which is formed from a resilient deformable material such as rubber, plastic or other similar material which is soft and which may be fabricated conveniently in a tubular or hollow form. The material should be non-toxic and should be hard enough, even when deformed, to satisfy an infant's teething requirements. Surgical gum rubber is ideally suited for the device in that it displays these desirable characteristics and may be washed, autoclaved or boiled for cleaning. The outside diameter of the tube preferably is between 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch so that it may be grasped and chewed easily by an infant.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hollow interior 12 of the tube 10 is filled with a material which will generate an audible sound when deformed. The filler material 14 lies in contact with the inner surface of the tube 10 so that the material is deformed as the tube 10 is bent, squeezed, bitten or otherwise manipulated and deformed by the infant. A wide variety of filler materials may be employed. I have found that a thin, plastic film, marketed under the name "Trycite" by Dow Chemical Co. or other similar plastic material is quite suitable. The Trycite is rolled or bunched up and stuffed into the hollow interior 12 of the tube in the bunched-up configuration. When squeezed or otherwise deformed, it generates a crackling or rustling sound, presumably from snapping, buckling or rubbing together of the surfaces of the Trycite film.

In one preferred embodiment, the ends of the tube 10 are connected to each other to define an endless ring. The ring, as shown, includes a double-intertwined loop which may be formed by tying the tubes in a loose overhand knot and then connecting the free ends of the tube together. Although this configuration is desirable, any number of single loop or multiple loop configurations may be employed. In this embodiment of the invention, the sound-producing crumpled sheet may or may not be included. The configuration of the device defined by the loose overhand knot having its free ends connected to each other enables the infant to grasp the diametrically opposite portions of adjacent loops and pull them apart. This tightens the overhand knot and provides exercise for the infant. The resilience of the device will cause the pulled-apart loops to return to the configuration shown in the drawing when the infant releases the device with one or both of his hands. An additional advantage of this configuration is that when the infant inserts his hand or fingers between adjacent loops, the resilience of the loop will tend to grip his hand. The device thus tends to remain with the infant if he releases it with one of his hands, provided that his other hand or fingers are disposed between adjacent loops. This reduces the likelihood that it may fall inadvertently from his bed or crib if he releases the device or if his naturally jerky or uncoordinated movements would cause the device to fall from his grip.

When connecting the ends of the tube 10, it is important that no special fittings are employed which might become loosened as a result of the infant's manipulation or chewing and which could thus present a possible danger of swallowing by the infant. One preferred connection is shown in FIG. 2 in which one end of the tube is reduced about its outer diameter as shown at 16 and the other end of the tube 10 is counterbored as shown at 18. The ends 16 and 18 are mated and may be bonded together by heat. In some instances, the material from which the tube 10 is fabricated may permit these parts 16, 18 to be mated simply in a snug interference fit without requiring application of heat, glue or other securing techniques. It is important that the final connection between the ends of the tube 10 is smooth and continuous about the external surface of the tube. The outer surface may be smooth or textured to present a more interesting feel to the infant's hand and tongue. The textured surface may enhance the infant's grip on the device.

Although the ring pacifier is preferred, the noise generating characteristics of the invention may be embodied in a length of flexible tubing in which the ends of the tube are sealed. The seal preferably is integral with the material from which the tube is formed and does not include any separate parts which may become loosened. Configuration other than tubular also may be employed.

The invention may be modified in a number of ways to enhance the attractiveness of the pacifier to the child. For example, the tube may be fabricated from variously colored materials. Additionally, the tube may be fabricated from a clear or translucent material with the filler material 14 being of selective colorful design which is visible through the tube 10. Thus, I have provided an exercise toy which gives practice in grasping, hand movements, and more sophisticated manipulation through oral, tactile and auditory stimulation caused by the deformation and crackling of the plastic filler.

In addition to the foregoing features of the invention, my device tends to retain its shape even when abused by the child. The infant may grasp it easily and place it easily in his mouth. A further safety feature resides in the tendency of the looped configuration to spring back to a generally circular shape. If the child gags, the ring, which is larger than the child's mouth, will spring out of his mouth. Further infant safety is provided by the soft construction which precludes the infant from jabbing himself with sharp or hard edges.

The device thus flexes responsively to the spastic and jerky hand and arm movements of an infant, thereby allowing him to retain his hand-hold or keep the teether at his mouth for chewing satisfaction.

It should be understood that the foregoing description is intended merely to be illustrative of my invention and that other embodiments and modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit.

Claims

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An infant's pacifier comprising: a resilient, flexible, generally elongated member intertwined in a plurality of loops defining a loose overhand knot, the free ends of said member being connected smoothly together so that said member is endless, said loops being biased toward each other so that they tend to lie adjacent each other.

2. An infant's pacifier as defined in claim 1 further comprising: said member comprising a tube; and a noise generating material disposed within and along said tube, said material being adapted to generate an audible noise in response to flexure of said tube.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said noise generating material comprises thin plastic sheet material bunched within said tube and adapted to flex in response to flexure of said tube, said sheet material being adapted to generate said noise when flexed.

4. An infant's pacifier comprising: a resilient, flexible tube intertwined in a plurality of loops defining a loose overhand knot, the free ends of said tube being connected smoothly together so that said tube is endless; and a noise generating material comprising a thin plastic sheet of material bunched within said tube and adapted to generate an audible noise when flexed, said bunched sheet material being arranged within said tube as to be flexible in response to flexure of said tube.

5. An infant's pacifier comprising: a resilient, flexible, generally elongated member intertwined in a plurality of loops defining a loose overhand knot, the free ends of said member being connected smoothly together so that said member is endless, said elongated member being between approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch in cross sectional dimension; said plurality of loops being of sufficiently large dimensions as to preclude an infant from swallowing the pacifier.