Abstract:
An apparatus for cleaning and storing pacifiers, comprising an essentially cylindrical body containing two compartments, the first being vertically disposed above the second. The first compartment is designed for cleaning a pacifier and has a water-tight, screw-on lid. The lid contains a channel for accommodating a strap which is used to conveniently attach the apparatus to a baby stroller or other location. The second compartment has a snap-on lid and is designed for the sanitary transportation of a spare pacifier.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims the priority benefits of U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/115,930, filed Jan. 14, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a portable pacifier container with a dual purpose of cleaning a pacifier and sanitarily transporting a spare pacifier. 
     Parents commonly use pacifiers to quiet and soothe crying infants. Because a pacifier is held in a child&#39;s mouth, it is particularly important that the pacifier is clean and germ-free. However, because an infant often allows a pacifier to fall out of its mouth, pacifiers are easily and frequently soiled. Unfortunately, when the infant is away from home or other readily-available sources of running water, it is often difficult for the parent to clean the soiled pacifier. Thus, an apparatus which allows a parent to clean a pacifier “on the go” offers great utility. 
     It is also important for parents to keep their child&#39;s pacifiers clean during transport. However, many parents just put the pacifier into an unsanitized pocket, diaper bag, purse, or the like. Not only does the pacifier have the potential of becoming soiled, it is often difficult for the parent to find and retrieve. Thus, there is a need not only for a portable cleaning apparatus but also for a container that will keep the pacifier clean and handy. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a portable apparatus which serves two primary functions: cleaning a soiled pacifier and hygienically and conveniently storing a clean pacifier for transport in a manner that allows for easy accessibility. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a container with two interior compartments: a wet cleaning chamber or compartment and a dry storage chamber or compartment. 
     The top compartment has a waterproof, screw-on top lid which allows the compartment to hold water or other pacifier rinsing fluid. The top lid also has a channel for holding a strap that can secure the apparatus to a stroller, infant car seat, diaper bag, or purse, for example, thereby keeping the apparatus conveniently accessible. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom compartment offers room to hold a spare pacifier and has a snap-on lid. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of a portable pacifier cleaner and container embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the exterior of a portable pacifier cleaner and container of the present invention with the top lid and the bottom lid removed. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of a portable pacifier cleaner and container of the present invention, showing a cleaning fluid in the top compartment and pacifiers in the top wet compartment and the bottom dry compartment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 shows a portable pacifier cleaner and container  10  embodying the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the invention includes essentially cylindrical body  12 , bottom lid  14  with opening protrusion  16 , top lid  18  with turning protrusion  20  and strap channel  22 , and strap  24  secured by hook-and-loop fastener (“velcro”) tabs  26 . 
     The apparatus can be constructed of any material, but plastic is preferred for its light weight and resistance against breakage. In a preferred embodiment, cylindrical body  12 , top lid  18  and bottom lid  14  may be manufactured of plastic by an injection molding process. Alternatively, parts may be made of a different material, such as rubber. In particular, bottom lid  14  can be made of rubber or a relatively soft polymeric material so that it is easier to use, is more resistant to breakage, and forms a better seal. 
     In a preferred embodiment, cylindrical body  12  is about 4 inches high and about 2½ inches in diameter. Top lid  18  is preferably secured to cylindrical body  12  by a threaded connection between cylindrical body  12  and top lid  18 , and bottom lid  14  is a snap-on lid. However, any alternative means known in the art may be used for removably securing lids  18  and  14  to cylindrical body  12 , such as by the use of hinges, buttons, hooks, or other fasteners. Top lid  18  and bottom lid  14  can also be attached to cylindrical body  12  so that they will not be lost when disengaged from cylindrical body  12 . 
     Protrusion  20  may be disposed on top lid  18  to assist a user in twisting top lid  18  off cylindrical body  12 . Similarly, protrusion  16  may be disposed in bottom lid  14  to assist a user in separating bottom lid  14  from cylindrical body  12 . In a preferred embodiment, integrated strap channel  22 , approximately one inch wide, is disposed in top lid  18 . However, strap  24  is optional and may be secured to cylindrical body  12  or top lid  18  in any known manner. In a preferred embodiment, strap  24  comprises an approximately 1 inch wide and 10 inch long strip of webbing made of nylon, propylene, or other textile material with hook and loop fasteners on the ends. However, strap  24  may be made of any material and may be of any dimension. Additionally, any known fastener may be used, such as snaps, hooks, or buttons; or the ends of strap  24  may be simply tied together. 
     Use of a strap allows the apparatus to be secured to a stroller, infant car seat, diaper bag, purse, or other convenient location. It allows the apparatus to remain easily accessible at all times. Without such an attachment mechanism, a pacifier container might be easily lost, or otherwise difficult to find among other infant items. While prior art products for cleaning pacifiers may be portable in size, none offer the convenience of the present invention, which offers three primary advantages: 1) a wet compartment for cleaning a pacifier, 2) a dry compartment for transporting a spare pacifier, and 3) a carrying strap which allows the apparatus to be easily within a parent&#39;s view and reach at all times. 
     While the preferred embodiment is described with a “wet” compartment on the top and a “dry” compartment on the bottom, variations in the configurations of the compartments within the contemplation of those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of the invention. The wet and dry compartments function independently. Unlike prior art products, the cleaning function of the apparatus (in the wet compartment ) is physically separated from the storage function (in the dry compartment). 
     FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of portable pacifier cleaner and container  10  with top lid  18  and bottom lid  14  removed. As in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 shows essentially cylindrical body  12 , bottom lid  14  with opening protrusion  16 , top lid  18  with turning protrusion  20  and strap channel  22 , and strap  24  secured by hook-and-loop fastener tabs  26 . Additionally, FIG. 2 shows external screw threads  30  on cylindrical body  12  and circumferential groove  36  on bottom lid  14 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, internal screw threads  28  in top lid  18  (shown in FIG. 3) mate with external screw threads  30  on cylindrical body  12 , allowing top lid  18  to be screwed onto cylindrical body  12 . Either top lid  18  or cylindrical body  12  may contain an o-ring  32  (shown in FIG. 3) to facilitate a watertight seal. In a preferred embodiment, bottom lid  14  snaps into place and is held in contact with cylindrical body  12  by the mating of a circumferential ridge  34  (shown in FIG. 3) along a lower inside edge of cylindrical body  12  with a circumferential groove  36  on bottom lid  14 . 
     One advantage of apparatus  10  is that it is completely washable. Strap  24  can be removed and easily cleaned by hand or in a clothes washing machine. Pacifier cleaner and container  10  can be disassembled for cleaning by hand or in an automatic dishwasher, and can therefore be sterilized after each use. 
     FIG. 3 shows a partial cross sectional view of a portable pacifier cleaner and container  10  according to the present invention, showing a cleaning fluid  38  in top compartment  40  and pacifiers  42  in each of top compartment  40  and bottom compartment  44 . FIG. 3 additionally shows essentially cylindrical body  12 , bottom lid  14 , top lid  18  with strap channel  22 , internal screw threads  28 , external screw threads  30 , o-ring  32 , circumferential ridge  34 , circumferential groove  36 , and partition  46 . 
     Fixed, solid partition  46  in the approximate center of cylindrical body  12  divides cylindrical body  12  into two compartments: wet top compartment  40  and dry bottom compartment  44 . As shown, wet compartment  40  has o-ring  32  which helps to seal top lid  18  to cylindrical body  12 , rendering wet top compartment  40  watertight. 
     While the apparatus is not designed to thoroughly sanitize a pacifier, it is helpful for rinsing the pacifier when no source of running water or other cleaning method is available. A soiled pacifier is simply placed into fluid  38  of top compartment  40 , top lid  18  is secured to cylindrical body  12 , and apparatus  10  is shaken gently to rinse the pacifier. The present invention offers a convenient means to clean a pacifier which is much more effective than alternative means such as wiping it on clothes or swabbing it with a diaper wipe and thereby leaving a distasteful chemical residue. A pacifier should not be stored in the liquid because prolonged submersion may adversely affect the silicone material used in many pacifiers. 
     Pacifier cleaning fluid  38  is preferably water but it may also be a very mild soap or other non-toxic cleaning solution. One advantage of the present invention is that cleaning solution  38  can be easily replaced when a water source does become available. Even where a water source is available, the apparatus of the present invention offers utility in that wet compartment  40  can hold a stronger cleaning fluid  38  for more thorough cleaning. After a pacifier is cleaned in fluid  38 , it can be rinsed with clear water before being given to a child or stored in dry compartment  44 . 
     While the principles of this invention have been described in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood clearly that these descriptions are made only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.