Consumable pacifier

A consumable pacifier for an infant is provided herein. The invention provides a consumable gelatinous nipple where the gelatinous nipple may also contain a nutrient. The base of the gelatinous body is trapped between a seat and retainer. A variety of flavors and nutrients may be infused in the consumable gelatinous nipple.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a consumable pacifier for an infant. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pacifier for providing a consumable gelatinous nipple where the gelatinous nipple contains a nutrient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A popular treat for adults and children alike is the gummy bear. The traditional gummy bear is made from a mixture of sugar (sucrose C12H22O11), glucose syrup, starch (starch is a polymer of glucose, C6H12O6), flavoring, food coloring, citric acid (C6H8O7), and gelatin. Gelatin is an incomplete protein.

Food products containing gelatin are prepared by mixing a gelatin-containing mix with boiling water, then adding additional ingredients and cooling the resultant mixture to solidify the product.

Gelatin is a protein derived from collagen, the connective tissue of animals. Gelatin is a protein with unique gelling properties. As gelatin is heated it becomes soluble, and forms a protein matrix that traps water within it. Gelatin is a widely used food ingredient and has been used to modify the texture of food product such as desserts, ice cream and frozen confections.

Gelatin is a type of hydrocolloid—a long chain of complex sugars called polysaccharides. A hydrocolloid is defined as a type of mechanical mixture where one substance is dispersed evenly throughout water. A hydrocolloid has colloid particles that spread throughout water, and depending on the quantity of water available, can behave as a gel or liquid. Many hydrocolloids can change their physical behavior and characteristics with the addition or elimination of heat. Hydrocolloids have the ability to thicken and form gels at very low concentrations.

Gummy bears ordinarily contain mostly empty calories, but recently gummy bears containing multivitamins have also been produced to provide nutrients. Additionally, gummy bears containing the cavity-fighting additives, such as xylitol, have also been produced as well as additives to help the immune system.

A number of inventions have been directed toward providing pacifiers for providing nutrients and or medicine, including U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,321 for “Gel Dispensing Pacifier” to MacVane, U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,734 for “Medication Dispensing Pacifier” to Noble and U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,705 for “Medication Dispensing Pacifier” also to Noble. In addition, there have been inventions directed toward pacifiers for providing treats to children, including U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,283 for “Frozen Confection Holder For Toddlers” to Shorey. However, nowhere in the prior art is there a pacifier for providing consumable pacifier for an infant. Furthermore, nowhere in the prior art is there a pacifier for providing a consumable gelatinous nipple where the gelatinous nipple contains a nutrient.

A number of pacifiers are formed of BPAs, PVC, parabens or phthalates that may contain harmful chemicals. An additional concern is unknown allergies, such as latex allergies.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a pacifier for providing a consumable pacifier for an infant. In addition, there is a need a pacifier for providing a consumable gelatinous nipple where the gelatinous nipple contains a nutrient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An infant's pacifier for providing a consumable nipple, comprises a consumable gelatinous body having a base and a nipple axially spaced from the base. The base has an outer diameter extending orthogonally from an axis and is defined by a bottom surface and a top surface axially spaced from said bottom surface to form a thickness. A generally bulbous nipple extends from the top surface of the base. The nipple has a peak diameter being the widest diameter of the nipple.

A shield has a back wall and a side wall extending orthogonally from the back wall. The back wall has a diameter extending orthogonally from the axis and is defined by a back face and a land axially spaced from the back face to form a wall thickness. The land is defined by a bore diameter extending orthogonally from the axis. The side wall has a height and is defined by a bore and outer surface radially spaced from the bore to form a side wall thickness. The bore extends orthogonally from the land and has a wall height. A seat is formed from the bore and the land. The seat is adapted to receive the base of the consumable gelatinous body where the base of the consumable gelatinous body is in contact with the seat. The outer surface is at least partially threaded. The shield is of sufficient diameter to prevent said pacifier from being drawn into an infant's mouth.

A cover has a front wall and a flange extending orthogonally from the front wall. The front wall has a diameter extending orthogonally from the axis and is defined by a front face and a retainer axially spaced from the front face to form a cover thickness. The retainer is defined by a diameter extending orthogonally from the axis. The flange has a flange height and is defined by an at least partially threaded inner surface and an outer surface radially spaced from the at least partially threaded inner surface to form a flange thickness. An aperture is disposed in the cover about an axis that has a diameter larger than said peak diameter of the nipple to permit the nipple to be disposed through the aperture.

A handle extends from the back face of the shield. The at least partially threaded inner surface of the cover is adapted to threadedly engage the at least partially threaded outer surface of the shield where the base of the consumable gelatinous body is trapped between the seat and the retainer.

The pacifier further comprising an elastomeric seal having a seal aperture and outer diameter, the seal is fixedly attached to the cover aperture at the outer diameter and the seal aperture is adapted to permit the nipple to be disposed through the seal aperture. The pacifier may comprise a consumable nipple adapted to contain nutrients. Nutrients may include cavity fighting additive, vitamins, and or additives to help the immune system.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from analysis of the following written description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As used herein, the term “gelatinous” shall refer to a product that resembles a product containing gelatin, rather than a product specifically containing gelatin—a common jellying agent. The properties of the gelatinous or “gummy” nipple may be modified as appropriate or necessary.

Referring now toFIG. 1, a side view of an embodiment of the pacifier10according to the principles of the present invention is shown. The pacifier10for an infant comprises a gelatinous nipple22, a shield30, a cover50a handle70. Referring now also toFIGS. 2A and 2B, a consumable nipple, comprises a consumable gelatinous body20having a base21and a nipple22axially spaced from the base21. The base21has an outer diameter23extending orthogonally from an axis A-A and is defined by a bottom surface24and a top surface25axially spaced from said bottom surface24to form a thickness26. A generally bulbous nipple22extends from the top surface25of the base21. The nipple22has a peak diameter27, being the widest diameter of the nipple22.

Referring now also toFIGS. 3A-3C, a shield30according to the principles of the present invention is shown in side and top views, respectively. The shield30has a back wall31and a side wall32extending orthogonally from the back wall31. The back wall31has a back wall diameter33extending orthogonally from the axis and is defined by a back face34and a land35axially spaced from the back face34to form a wall thickness36.

The land35is defined by a bore diameter37extending orthogonally from the axis. The side wall32has a height39and is defined by a bore38and outer surface40radially spaced from the bore38to form a side wall thickness41. The bore38extends orthogonally from the land35and has a wall height39. A cavity42is formed from the bore38and the land35. The cavity42is adapted to receive the base21of the consumable gelatinous body20where the base21of the consumable gelatinous body20is in contact with the cavity42. The outer surface40is at least partially threaded by and contains threads43. The shield30is of sufficient diameter33to prevent said pacifier10from being drawn into an infant's mouth.

Referring now also toFIGS. 4A-4C, a cover50according to the principles of the present invention is shown in top, bottom and side views, respectively. The cover50has a front wall51and a flange52extending orthogonally from the front wall51. The front wall51has a diameter53extending orthogonally from the axis and is defined by a front face54and a retainer55axially spaced from the front face54to form a cover thickness62. The retainer55is defined by a diameter56extending orthogonally from the axis. The flange52has a flange height57and is defined by an at least partially threaded inner surface58and an outer surface63radially spaced from the at least partially threaded inner surface63to form a flange thickness59. An aperture60is disposed in the cover50about an axis where the aperture60has a diameter61larger than said peak diameter27of the nipple22to permit the nipple22to be disposed through the aperture60.

A handle70, which may be in the shape of a ring, extends from the back face34of the shield30to permit the infant to clutch the pacifier10. The at least partially threaded inner surface58of the cover50is adapted to threadedly engage the at least partially threaded outer surface40of the shield30where the base of the consumable gelatinous body20is trapped between the cavity42and the retainer55.

The pacifier10further comprising an elastomeric seal80comprised of suitable material having a seal aperture81and outer diameter82, the seal80is fixedly attached to the cover aperture60at the outer diameter82of the seal80and the seal aperture81is adapted to permit the nipple22to be disposed through the seal aperture81.

Referring now also toFIG. 5, a perspective exploded view of the pacifier10according to the principles of the present invention is shown, revealing how the pacifier10is assembled. The base21of the consumable gelatinous body20is disposed within the cavity42of the shield30. The cover50passes over the nipple22where the aperture81of the seal.80is large enough and the material of the seal80is pliable enough to permit the peak diameter27of the nipple22to pass though the aperture81. The threaded inner surface58of the cover50threadedly engages the threads43of the outer surface40of the shield30. As the cover50threadedly engages the shield30, the base21of the consumable gelatinous body20is compressed between the land35of the shield30and the retainer55of the cover50, securing the base21of the consumable gelatinous body20within the cavity. After the nipple22of the consumable gelatinous body20is exhausted, the body20may be replaced with another body20of the same or a different flavor, color or a body20having nutrients as may be appropriate by simply unscrewing the cover50from the shield30.

The pacifier10may comprise a consumable nipple22adapted or infused to contain nutrients. Nutrients may be selected from the group consisting of a cavity fighting additive, one of more vitamins, a multivitamin or additives to help the immune system.

The shield30and cover50may be comprised of any suitable material known in the art, although any plastics not containing BPAs, PVC, parabens or phthalates are preferred. It is also contemplated that safe, recycled materials may be employed in the shield30and cover50of the present invention.

The present invention permits the infant to enjoy a safe pacifier10with a pleasant flavor that may also contain nutrients in the consumable nipple22.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes the preferred structure and control system for the present invention. However, one skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the invention.