Abstract:
An infant teething device is provided and includes a plurality of teething elements, wherein each of the plurality of teething elements is constructed via a cylindrical tube-like structure to form a continuous ring-like structure which defines a center cavity, wherein the plurality of teething elements are associated with each other such that the cylindrical tube-like structure of one of the plurality of teething elements pass through the center cavity of an adjacent teething element of the plurality of teething elements, wherein the center cavities of each of the plurality of teething elements include a diameter of sufficient size to snugly fit over a human hand and loosely associate with a wrist of a human arm.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to an infant teething device and more particularly to an easily and conveniently tetherable infant teething device which doubles as esthetically pleasing jewelry. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Teething devices (such as teething rings) are well known and are used by babies to help alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with baby teeth cutting through the gums. Such a device is generally intended to be held by the infant in his/her mouth and ‘chewed’ to stimulate the gums and to help the teeth cut through. Typically, the teething device is carried by the caregiver and given to the child as needed. 
         [0003]    Unfortunately however, current teething devices have disadvantages associated with them. For example, current teething devices are typically small in size and as such, they become easily lost or dropped on the ground. One approach to address these issues is to tether the teething device to the clothing of the baby using a separate tethering device. However, when tethered to the clothing of the baby the teething device tends to drag on the ground while the baby is crawling around, thus picking up dirt and other pathogens which are then transferred to the baby&#39;s mouth. This is undesirable because it is unsanitary and can make the infant ill. Additionally, because tethering devices used to tether the teething device to the infant are usually compression fit devices, which are easily pulled off clothing by the baby, the issue of the device becoming lost is still not solved. 
         [0004]    Another approach involves tethering the teething device to either the clothing or the body of the caregiver. When tethered to the body of the caregiver, a separate wrist strap which is connected to the teething device via a tether is typically used. This is undesirable for several reasons. First, this still requires the use of a separate element, i.e. the wrist strap, which can become lost. Second, the wrist straps are not esthetically pleasing. And third, the wrist straps are typically made of poor quality and are connected using Velcro® or snaps which can break or become loose when pulled on by the infant. When connected to the clothing of the caregiver, a pin or a compression device connected to the teething device via a tether is typically used. This is also undesirable for multiple reasons. First, this still requires the use of a separate element, i.e. the pin or compression element. Second, the pin or compression device is typically not esthetically pleasing and when pulled on by the infant can either become loose (compression device) or damage the caregivers clothing. In fact, if the pin device fails and becomes loose without the caregiver noticing, the infant can become severely injured. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    An infant teething device is provided and includes a plurality of teething elements, said plurality of teething elements including a first teething element, a second teething element and a third teething element, wherein each of the plurality of teething elements is constructed via a cylindrical tube-like structure to form a continuous ring-like structure which defines a center cavity, wherein the first teething element and third teething elements are associated with the second teething element such that the cylindrical tube-like structures of the first teething element and the third teething element pass through the center cavity of the second teething element, wherein the center cavities of the first teething element, the second teething element and the third teething element include a diameter of sufficient size to snugly fit over a human hand and loosely associate with a wrist of a human arm. 
         [0006]    An infant teething device is provided and includes a plurality of teething elements, wherein each of the plurality of teething elements is constructed via a cylindrical tube-like structure to form a continuous ring-like structure which defines a center cavity, wherein the plurality of teething elements are associated with each other such that the cylindrical tube-like structure of one of the plurality of teething elements pass through the center cavity of an adjacent teething element of the plurality of teething elements, wherein the center cavities of each of the plurality of teething elements include a diameter of sufficient size to snugly fit over a human hand and loosely associate with a wrist of a human arm. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are numbered alike: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a teething device illustrating the teething elements associated with each other in accordance with a first embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the teething elements of the teething device of  FIG. 1  disassociated from each other; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the teething device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4A  is a planar view of the teething device of  FIG. 1  associated with the wrist of a caregiver and configured as a bracelet; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4B  is a planar view of the teething device of  FIG. 1  associated with the wrist of a caregiver and configured as a teething device; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a teething device illustrating the teething elements associated with each other and including one type of stimulating element in accordance with a second embodiment; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a teething device illustrating the teething elements associated with each other and including another type of stimulating element in accordance with a second embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    In accordance with the present invention, a first embodiment of a teething device  100  is shown and includes several teething elements  102 ,  104 ,  106  securingly associated together in a loop like fashion. As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  each of the teething elements  102 ,  104 ,  106  are constructed of cylindrical ‘tube’ like structures  108 ,  110 ,  112 , respectively, which may be solid or hollow and which are bent inward toward themselves and which are connected to themselves in a smooth and continuous fashion to form ring-like shapes which define teething element cavities  114 ,  116 ,  118  having teething element cavity planes P 1 , P 2 , P 3 , respectively. For illustration purposes,  FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of teething elements  102 ,  104  and  106  separated from each other and showing cavity planes P 1 , P 2  and P 3  as intersecting cylindrical tube structures  108 ,  110  and  112 , respectively. 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first teething element  102  is associated with the second teething element  104  such that at least a portion of the cylindrical ‘tube’ like structure  108  is disposed within the teething element cavity  114  to intersect the teething element cavity plane P 1 . Additionally, the second teething element  104  is associated with the first teething element  102  such that at least a portion of the cylindrical ‘tube’ like structure  110  is disposed within the teething element cavity  116  to intersect the teething element cavity plane P 2 . In a similar fashion, the second teething element  104  is associated with the third teething element  106  such that at least a portion of the cylindrical ‘tube’ like structure  110  is disposed within the teething element cavity  118  to intersect the teething element cavity plane P 3 . Additionally, the third teething element  106  is associated with the second teething element  104  such that at least a portion of the cylindrical ‘tube’ like structure  112  is disposed within the teething element cavity  116  to intersect the teething element cavity plane P 2 . 
         [0017]    In accordance with the present invention, each of the teething element cavities  114 ,  116  and  118  include a cavity diameter d that is sized to snugly pass over the hand of a caregiver to be loosely associated with the wrist area of the caregiver, as shown in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B . This prevents the teething elements  102 ,  104 ,  106  from inadvertently slipping off of the wrist while allowing the teething device  100  to be configured as a bracelet which is esthetically pleasing and as a teething device that is securely and loosely associated with the wrist of the caregiver. One advantage of the present invention is that a caregiver can appear in formal or informal dress while wearing the teething device  100  as jewelry. When the baby is in need of the teething device  100 , the caregiver simply slides the first teething element  102  and second teething element  104  off of his/her arm such that only the third teething element  106  remains on his/her arm, thereby tethering the first teething element  102  and the second teething element  104  to the caregiver. The caregiver is not required to search through a bag to locate a teething ring. The baby is then free to grab, play and chew on the teething elements  102 ,  104 ,  106  while the caregiver holds the baby. This design is also advantageous because the use of multiple teething elements  102 ,  104 ,  106  provides enough length to the teething device  100  to allow the baby to move about in the arms of the caregiver without the caregiver having to assume an uncomfortable position. If the baby drops the teething device  100 , the teething elements  102 ,  104 ,  106  do not fall to the floor and in fact, remain attached to the caregiver. 
         [0018]    In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, a teething device  200  is shown in  FIG. 5  and includes a plurality of teething elements  202 ,  204 ,  206  securingly associated together in a loop like fashion similar to the teething device  100 . In a similar manner to teething device  100 , at least one of the teething elements  202 ,  204  and  206  are constructed of cylindrical ‘tube’ like structures  208 ,  210 ,  212 , respectively, which are bent inward toward themselves and which are connected to themselves in a smooth and continuous fashion to form ring-like shapes which define teething element cavities  214 ,  216 ,  218  having teething element cavity planes P 1 , P 2 , P 3 , respectively. 
         [0019]    In accordance with a second embodiment, at least one of the cylindrical ‘tube’ like structures  208 ,  210  and  212  may include a hollow portion  220  having at least one stimulating element  222  disposed within the hollow portion  220  to produce a noise when the cylindrical ‘tube’ like structures  208 ,  210  and  212  are moved. This advantageously provides aural (acoustic) stimulation to the infant. It is contemplated that all or one of the teething elements  202 ,  204 ,  206  may include the stimulating element  222  and that any stimulating element  222  suitable to the desired end purpose may be used, such as ball bearings, metal, stone, glass particulates, and/or an electronic sound element. For example,  FIG. 5  shows ball bearings being used as the sound element  222  in third teething element  206  where the ball bearings are allowed to traverse freely about the entire hollow portion  220 . It should be appreciated that although the stimulating element  222  is shown herein as being related to sound stimulation, it is contemplated that the stimulating element  222  may be any type of stimulating element suitable to the desired end purpose, such as a vibrating element, a vibrating and sound making element or a stimulating element that causes the teething elements  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  202 ,  204  and  206  to vibrate (see  FIG. 6 ), make a sound and/or light up. Additionally, the teething elements  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  202 ,  204  and  206  may include a stamped or hammered external portion to give texture to the surface of the element. 
         [0020]    Also, in accordance with the present invention, the teething elements  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  202 ,  204  and  206  may be constructed from any material or combination of materials suitable to the desired end purpose, such as rubber and/or plastic. However, the teething elements  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  202 ,  204  and  206  are preferably constructed from sterling silver for several reasons, including but not limited to its structural properties and/or its perceived anti-bacterial, medical and therapeutic properties. Additionally, it is contemplated that the teething elements  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  202 ,  204  and  206  may be constructed of one material (such as plastic) and coated with another material (such as sterling silver). Furthermore, although teething devices  100 ,  200  are shown as having three teething elements  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  202 ,  204  and  206 , it is contemplated that the teething devices  100 ,  200  may have any number of teething elements suitable to the desired end purpose, such as one, two or more teething elements. 
         [0021]    Moreover, the ‘tube’ like structures  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212  may be constructed of any size tubing and material width suitable to the desired end purpose. For example, the ‘tube’ like structures  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212  may be constructed of about 6.5 mm diameter (or width if rectangular and/or triangular shaped) tubing having an about 0.5 mm material wall width. It should be appreciated that the tube diameter could vary in size to be within the range of about 5 mm to 8 mm and the material width could vary by about −0.3 mm and +1.5 mm. Ideally, the ‘tube’ like structure should have a diameter sized to fit comfortably within the mouth of the infant and should have a wall sized such that the infant cannot collapse the tube wall by biting down on the tube. Additionally, although disclosed herein as being constructed from cylindrically shaped ‘tube’ like structures, the teething elements  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  202 ,  204  and  206  may be constructed from any shaped structure as desired. For example, the teething elements may be shaped from a rectangular structure or a triangular structure or any combination of the rectangular shaped, triangular shaped and/or cylindrical shaped structure. 
         [0022]    While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention.