Pacifier apparatus

A pacifier apparatus comprising a plurality of framing elements forming a hollow-bodied member, a planar surface within an aperture defined by the hollow-bodied member, and a nipple assembly with a nipple extending through an opening in the planar surface from a first side of the planar surface beyond a second side of the planar surface.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to the field of child care accessories, specifically a hollow-bodied ball with an attached pacifier.

Parents and caregivers often use pacifiers to calm down a fussy or teething baby. However, when a baby opens its mouth the pacifier usually falls out and a parent or caregiver has to pick it up and put it back in the baby's mouth. Since babies are in the early stages of development, they have limited motor skills and cannot accomplish this task by themselves. Moreover, it can be very frustrating for both the baby and parent or caregiver when a pacifier repeatedly falls out over a short period of time.

Currently, there are several pacifiers on the market. Some pacifiers have small rings attached to them for easy handling by a parent or other caregiver, such as the Pacifiers for Day and Night Use manufactured by Born Free®. However, even with ring embellishments these pacifiers tend to be small and difficult for a baby or small child to handle or pick up if they fall out of his or her mouth. Traditional pacifiers also offer little interest to a baby or small child when not in the mouth, thus making it necessary for a parent or caregiver to have separate toys on hand to keep the child occupied and content.

What is needed is a large, hollow-bodied apparatus with an attached pacifier nipple such that a baby can hold the apparatus while sucking on the nipple. Such an apparatus can also have a removable teething device and embellishments that can keep a child interested in the apparatus when the pacifier nipple is not in the child's mouth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows an isometric view of the present device. An apparatus100can be comprised of a hollow-bodied member102. As shown inFIG. 1, a hollow-bodied member102can be generally spherical. In alternate embodiments, a hollow-bodied member102can be cubical, hexagonal or can have any other known and/or convenient geometry.

The hollow-bodied member102can comprise a plurality of framing elements104that can be interconnected. As shown inFIG. 1, the plurality of framing elements104can make up a substantial portion of the surface area of a hollow-bodied member102. In alternate embodiments, a plurality of framing elements104can take up any other known and/or convenient amount of the surface area of a hollow-bodied member102.

The framing elements104can be manufactured individually or in clusters and subsequently bonded together by adhesive, ultrasonic bonding or any other known and/or convenient method of bonding. Alternatively, a hollow-bodied member102can be made by injection molding. In yet another embodiment, each of a plurality of framing elements104can be formed by building upon a previously formed framing element104. A hollow-bodied member102can also be constructed by any other known and/or convenient means.

As shown inFIG. 1, in some embodiments some members of the plurality of framing elements104can be hexagonal and other members of the plurality of framing elements104can be pentagonal. However, in alternate embodiments at least one member of a plurality of framing elements104can have any other known and/or convenient geometry. Furthermore, some members of a plurality of framing elements104can have geometry different from that of other members of the plurality of framing elements104.

Each member of a plurality of framing elements104can have an aperture106. As shown inFIG. 1, each aperture106can be hexagonal. In alternate embodiments at least one aperture106can be square, triangular, pentagonal or can have any other known and/or convenient geometry. The geometry of an aperture106can be different than the geometry of its corresponding framing element104. As an example, inFIG. 1, some pentagonal framing elements104are depicted as having hexagonal apertures106. Alternatively, the geometry of an aperture106can be the same as the geometry of its corresponding framing element104. As an example,FIG. 1also shows some hexagonal framing elements104as having hexagonal apertures106.

Apertures106can also be adapted to receive a person's fingers and facilitate easy handling of the apparatus100. As depicted inFIG. 1, an aperture106of a member of a plurality of framing elements104can be different in size than another aperture106of another member of a plurality of framing elements104. Alternatively, all apertures106of a plurality of framing elements104can have the same size.

An aperture106in a framing element104can create an interior perimeter surface in the framing element104. With respect to the plane of a framing element104, the orthogonal interior perimeter surface can have any known and/or convenient degree of curvature. In other embodiments, the orthogonal interior perimeter surface of a framing element104can be planar. The orthogonal interior perimeter surface of a framing element104can be smooth, as shown in the embodiment inFIG. 1. Alternatively, the orthogonal interior perimeter surface of a framing element104can have ridges, indentations, raised portions or any other known and/or convenient surface characteristics.

A plurality of framing elements104can be made of plastic, metal, polymer or any other known and/or convenient material or combination of materials. Framing elements104can also be non-toxic, made of food-grade material, and/or have antibacterial properties inherent in the material and/or as a coating on some or all of a plurality of framing elements104. In other embodiments, framing elements104can have any other known and/or convenient properties or combination or properties. As shown inFIG. 1, framing elements104can be rigid, but in alternate embodiments framing elements104can be semi-rigid or flexible.FIG. 1shows framing elements104as having smooth exterior surfaces. In alternate embodiments, the exterior surfaces of framing elements104can have ridges, indentations, raised portions or any other known and/or convenient surface characteristics. At least one of a plurality of framing elements104can be opaque, semi-opaque or transparent, and at least one member of a plurality of framing elements104can have a level of transparency different from that of other members of a plurality of framing elements104. Additionally, all members of a plurality of framing elements104can be the same color. Alternatively, at least one member of a plurality of framing elements104can be a color different than other members of a plurality of framing elements104. In yet other embodiments, at least one member of a plurality of framing elements104can be multi-colored.

A hollow-bodied member102can also have a nipple assembly110and at least one substantially planar surface108having a front side and a back side. As shown inFIG. 2, a substantially planar surface108can have an opening112adapted to allow a nipple to pass through.FIGS. 1 and 2show a substantially planar surface108as hexagonal, however in alternate embodiments a substantially planar surface108can be square, circular, triangular or can have any other known and/or convenient geometry. As shown inFIG. 1, a framing element104can frame the perimeter edge of a substantially planar surface108. A substantially planar surface can also have a plurality of safety apertures114as defined in and required by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Office of Compliance, 16 C.F.R. 1511 (2003).

A substantially planar surface108can be made of plastic, metal, wood, polymer or any other known and/or convenient material or combination of materials, and can be rigid, semi-rigid or flexible. A substantially planar surface108can also be comprised of the same material as a plurality of framing elements104, as shown inFIG. 1. In alternate embodiments, a substantially planar surface108can be made of a different material or combination of materials than a plurality of framing elements104. A substantially planar surface108can be non-toxic, made of food-grade material, and/or have antibacterial properties inherent in the material and/or as a coating. In other embodiments, a substantially planar surface108can have any other known and/or convenient properties or combination or properties. In alternate embodiments, the exterior surface of a substantially planar member can be smooth or can have ridges, indentations, raised portions or any other known and/or convenient surface characteristics. A substantially planar member108can be opaque, semi-opaque or transparent. A substantially planar member108can also be one color or can be multi-colored.

FIG. 3depicts a sectioned view of an apparatus100comprised of a hollow-bodied member102and a nipple assembly110.FIG. 4depicts a portion of the sectioned view shown inFIG. 3, isolating the nipple assembly110. A nipple assembly110can comprise a nipple116, a plug member120and a nipple assembly cap122. A nipple116can be any known and/or convenient pacifier nipple adapted for use with a baby or small child, and can have any known and/or convenient geometry. A nipple116can also have a flange118at its base that can have a perimeter larger than an opening112of a substantially planar surface108.

As shown inFIG. 4, the perimeter of a nipple assembly cap122can be raised and can have any known and/or convenient degree of curvature. By way of a non-limiting example, the embodiment shown inFIG. 4has a rim extending out from the periphery of the nipple assembly cap122. In other embodiments, the perimeter of a nipple assembly cap122can be straight-edged and/or orthogonal to the plane of the body of the nipple assembly cap122. In yet alternate embodiments, the entire nipple assembly cap122can be bowl-shaped or can have any other known and/or convenient configurations. As shown inFIG. 4, the nipple assembly cap122can have a small orifice124that can allow air or liquids to travel in and out of the nipple assembly110. The small orifice124can be located proximal to the center of the nipple assembly cap122, or at any other known and/or convenient location.

The edges of a nipple assembly cap122can be secured to the back side of a substantially planar member108. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 3, the nipple assembly cap122is permanently coupled with the back side of the substantially planar member108via ultrasonic bonding. However, in alternate embodiments a nipple assembly cap122can be permanently bonded using adhesive or any other known and/or convenient method of permanent bonding. In yet other embodiments, a nipple assembly cap122can be removably coupled with the back side of a substantially planar member108such that a user can remove and/or replace a nipple116.

FIG. 5shows a cross-sectional view of a nipple assembly110, with the cross-section being parallel to the plane of a substantially planar member108. As shown inFIG. 5, the flange118of a nipple116can have a substantially elliptical perimeter with one disjoint. In other embodiments, a flange118can have a perimeter of any known and/or convenient geometry, and the perimeter can be continuous or can have multiple disjoints.

As shown inFIG. 4, a plug member120can be substantially tubular and can be substantially orthogonal to the interior planar surface of a nipple assembly cap122. The distal end of a plug member120can be coupled with and located proximal to the center of the interior surface of a nipple assembly cap. As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the proximal end of a plug member120can be open, and the plug member120can be positioned such that it does not block or cover the small orifice124, thus allowing air or fluid to pass through the plug member120and orifice124. A plug member120and/or a flange118can be rigid, semi-rigid or flexible, and can be made of plastic, metal, rubber or any other known and/or convenient material or combination of materials.FIG. 5depicts a plug member120as having a substantially elliptical geometry and a continuous perimeter. In other embodiments, the perimeter of a plug member120can have any known and/or convenient geometry and can be non-continuous.

Additionally, in one embodiment the perimeter of a plug member120can be smaller than that of a flange118such that the plug member120and flange118frictionally engage when the plug member120is pressed into the interior surface of a flange118. A plug member120and a flange118can be made of any known and/or convenient material or combination of materials such that when they are engaged, enough static friction is created to hold the engagement until a user pulls the plug member120out of the flange118. In other embodiments, a plug member120and a flange118can have threaded interior and/or exterior surfaces, such that the plug member120and flange118can couple with each other via a screw-type mechanism. In yet other embodiments, the outer surface of a plug member120can have at least one raised portion adapted to mate with at least one indentation in the interior surface of a flange118, thereby increasing the coefficient of static friction when a flange118and plug member120are engaged via a press-fit mechanism (as compared to a press-fit mechanism without such indentations and/or raised portions). Alternatively, a flange118and plug member120can be coupled with each other via any other known and/or convenient mechanism and/or method.

FIG. 6depicts a portion of a process of assembling one embodiment of an apparatus100. A nipple116having a flange118can be pushed through an opening112in the back side of a substantially planar member108of a portion of a hollow-bodied member102until the flange118comes into contact with the back side of the substantially planar member108. A nipple assembly cap122can then be placed over the back side of the substantially planar member108such that the plug member120is pressed into the flange118. As the plug member120is pressed into the flange118, the flange118is pushed against the back side of the substantially planar member108, thereby creating a frictional engagement between the flange118and both the plug member120and the back side of the substantially planar member108. This action secures the flange118and nipple116to the substantially planar member108. Subsequently, the edges of a nipple assembly cap122can be bonded to the back side of the substantially planar member108so that the entire nipple assembly110is secured to the back side of the substantially planar member108. Finally, as shown inFIG. 7, the remaining portion or portions of a hollow-bodied member102can be bonded together to create the finished apparatus100. In an alternate process, the nipple assembly cap122can be first pushed into the flange118of a nipple116and the entire nipple assembly110can subsequently be positioned within and bonded to a substantially planar member108. In other processes, an apparatus100can be assembled by any other known and/or convenient means.

In use, a baby can suck on the nipple116while gripping a hollow-bodied member102. If the baby drops the apparatus100on its lap or nearby, the apparatus100can be large enough for the baby to easily reach at least a portion of the hollow-bodied member102, pick it up and place the nipple116back into his or her mouth.

As shown inFIG. 8, an apparatus100can also have a teething device126in place of a nipple116. A teething device126can be substantially planar and tongue-shaped, as depicted inFIG. 8, or can have any other known and/or convenient geometry. A teething device126can also have a textured surface, as shown inFIG. 8, or can have a smooth surface or any other known and/or convenient surface characteristics. A teething device126can be non-toxic, medical grade, and/or free of bisphenol A (BPA), or can have any other known and/or convenient and safe properties. Moreover, a teething device126can be flexible, semi-flexible or rigid, and can be filled with a gel or liquid that can be refrigerated or frozen to provide cooling relief to a teething baby.

An apparatus100can also serve as a toy when a child is not using the nipple116or teething device126by having at least one desired embellishment140, such as crinkle paper, stuffed animals, musical implements, rattles and/or any other known and or convenient embellishment that can create an exciting apparatus for a small child or baby.