Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to apparatus to secure a baby pacifier and related methods. In various implementations, the apparatus may include a strap securable to a pacifier. The strap may include one or more magnets secured thereabout to provide a closure mechanism and an attachment mechanism.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to apparatus to secure a baby pacifier and related methods. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A number of pacifier retention devices are available that may allow the pacifier to be attached by pin or clamp, for example, to an article of clothing to secure the pacifier to the article of clothing. The pin or clamp may have various undesirable characteristics. For example, the pin or clamp may cause damage to the item to which the pin or clamp is attached. It may be difficult to engage/disengage the pin or clamp from the item to which the pin or clamp is attached. Furthermore, the pin or clam may only be attachable to certain types of items or surfaces. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    These and other needs and disadvantages are overcome by the methods disclosed herein. Additional improvements and advantages may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of the present disclosure. 
         [0006]    A pacifier retention apparatus is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the pacifier retention apparatus includes a strap having a strap end and an opposing strap end, and a magnet disposed about the strap end and an opposing magnet disposed about the opposing strap end to secure magnetically the strap end to the opposing strap end. In various aspects, the pacifier retention apparatus may include a ring received upon the strap intermediate of the strap end and the opposing strap end. The ring may be adapted to engage a pacifier to secure the pacifier to the strap. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1A  illustrates by perspective view an exemplary implementation of a pacifier retention apparatus; 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B  illustrates by side view an exemplary implementation of a portion of pacifier retention apparatus; 
           [0009]      FIG. 1C  illustrates by perspective view an exemplary implementation of a portion of a pacifier retention apparatus; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2A  illustrates by top view an exemplary implementation of a portion of the pacifier retention apparatus of  FIG. 1B ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2B  illustrates by cut-away end view an exemplary implementation of a portion of the pacifier retention apparatus of  FIG. 2A  in a particular position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2C  illustrates by cut-away end view an exemplary implementation of a portion of the pacifier retention apparatus of  FIG. 2A  in a position alternative to that in  FIG. 2B ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  illustrates by top view an exemplary implementation of portions of the pacifier retention apparatus of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  illustrates by cut away side view an exemplary implementation of portions of the pacifier retention apparatus of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3C  illustrates by cut away side view an exemplary implementation of portions of the pacifier retention apparatus of  FIG. 1A  secured to a material strip; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3D  illustrates by cut away side view an exemplary implementation of portions of the pacifier retention apparatus of  FIG. 1A  secured to a magnetically attractive material; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3E  illustrates by cut away side view an exemplary implementation of portions of the pacifier retention apparatus of  FIG. 1B  secured to a material strip; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4A  illustrates by top view an exemplary implementation of portions of the pacifier retention apparatus of  FIG. 1A  including the display strip; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4B  illustrates by side view an exemplary implementation of portions of the pacifier retention apparatus generally in accordance with  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4C  illustrates by side view an exemplary implementation of portions of the pacifier retention apparatus generally in accordance with  FIG. 4A  with the display surface positioned alternate to that in  FIG. 4B ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5A  illustrates by cut-away view an exemplary implementation of a strap; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5B  illustrates by cut-away view another exemplary implementation of a strap; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  illustrates by cut-away view an exemplary implementation of a ring; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  illustrates by perspective view another exemplary implementation of a ring engaged with a pacifier. 
       
    
    
       [0025]    The Figures are exemplary only and the implementations illustrated therein are selected to facilitate explanation. The number, position, relationship and dimensions of the elements shown in the Figures to form the various implementations described herein, as well as dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, flow and similar requirements are explained herein or are understandable to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. Where used in the various Figures, the same numerals designate the same or similar elements. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “forward,” “rear,” “first,” “second,” “inside,” “outside,” and similar terms are used, the terms should be understood in reference to the orientation of the implementations shown in the drawings and are utilized to facilitate description thereof. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    Apparatus and methods for the retention of a pacifier are disclosed herein. In various aspects, the pacifier retention apparatus includes a strap that has a strap end and an opposing strap end. A magnet may be attached to the strap proximate the strap end, and an opposing magnet may be attached to the strap proximate the opposing strap end to allow the strap end to be magnetically secured to the opposing strap end. In various aspects, a pacifier may be engaged with the strap generally between the strap end and the opposing strap end. Some aspects include a ring that is received upon the strap. The ring may then be attached to the pacifier such that the pacifier is engaged with the strap via the ring. 
         [0027]    The magnet and the opposing magnet may allow the pacifier retention apparatus to be secured to various items such as, for example, clothing and appliances. For example, a material layer may be placed between the magnet and the opposing magnet, and the magnet and opposing magnet magnetically secured to one another with the material layer interposed therebetween, so that, in this manner, the strap is generally removeably secured to the material layer. The material layer may be, for example, a portion of an article of clothing such as a shirt, and, accordingly, the strap may be generally removeably secured to the article of clothing. In various aspects, the material layer may be formed of a generally non-magnetically attractive material. 
         [0028]    The strap may be removeably secured to a magnetically attractive material by attaching the strap end, the opposing strap end, or both magnetically to the magnetically attractive material by placing the magnet and/or the opposing magnet proximate the magnetically attractive material. The magnetically attractive material may be, for example, a portion of an appliance such as a refrigerator so that, in this way, the strap could be removably secured to the appliance. 
         [0029]    The methods, in various aspects, may include securing magnetically a strap end of a strap to an opposing strap end of the strap with a pacifier secured to the strap and the pacifier disposed between the strap end and the opposing strap end. The methods, in various aspects, may include interposing a material layer between the strap end and the opposing strap end and securing the strap end to the opposing strap end thereby securing the strap to the material layer. The methods, in various aspects, may include securing magnetically at least one of the strap end and the opposing strap end to a magnetically attractive material thereby securing the strap to the magnetically attractive material. 
         [0030]    The Figures referenced herein generally illustrate various exemplary implementations of the pacifier retention apparatus and associated methods. These illustrated implementations are not meant to limit the scope of coverage, but, instead, to assist in understanding the context of the language used in this specification and in the claims. Accordingly, variations of the pacifier retention apparatus and methods that differ from these illustrated implementations may be encompassed by the appended claims. 
         [0031]      FIG. 1A  illustrates an implementation of the pacifier retention apparatus  10 . As illustrated, the pacifier retention apparatus  10  includes strap  20  and ring  40 . The pacifier retention apparatus  10  is illustrated as it may be used with a pacifier  400 . Strap  20  may be generally flexible to allow strap end  22  and opposing strap end  23  to be engaged and disengaged with one another, and, thus, strap  20  made of fabric, cloth, various plastics, leather, and/or other materials and combinations of materials as would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. The strap  20 , in some implementations, may be generally inelastic, while, in other implementations, the strap  20  may be formed at least in part of rubber based or other stretchable material so as to be generally elastic. Ring  40  may be made of generally soft and/or compliant materials such as cloth, ribbon, flexible plastics, and so forth, or may be made of hard plastics, metal, and suchlike. Ring  40  may be adapted to engage ring  402  of pacifier  400  to secure ring  40  to strap  20 . With ring  402  engaged with ring  40 , ring  40  may be adapted to allow the release of ring  402  from engagement with ring  40  so that pacifier  400  may be removed from the pacifier retention apparatus  10 . 
         [0032]    With continuing reference to the embodiment of pacifier retention apparatus  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1A , strap  20  has strap end  22  and opposing strap end  23 . Magnet  32  and opposing magnet  33  are attached to the strap  20  generally proximate the strap end  22  and strap end  23 , respectively, (see  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B) so that strap end  22  may be magnetically secured to strap end  23  by magnetic forces between magnet  32  and magnet  33  when magnet  32  and magnet  33  are placed proximate one another. 
         [0033]    Strap end  22  is magnetically secured to strap end  23  in  FIG. 1A , so that the strap  20  defines an enclosed region  24  bounded by the strap  20 . A bar  425  passes through enclosed region  24  so that the pacifier retention apparatus  10  may thus be secured to the bar  425 . Bar  425  may be, for example, a rail of a crib, a handle such as that on a cabinet or drawer, a strap on a child&#39;s car seat, diaper bag, lady&#39;s handbag, or other feature to which it may be desirable to secure the pacifier retention apparatus  10 . 
         [0034]    Luminescent material  60  is disposed about the strap surface  25  of strap  20  to facilitate visual location of the pacifier retention apparatus  10  by a user under low light conditions. In this implementation of pacifier retention apparatus  10 , the luminescent material  60  is generally in the form of stitching of luminescent thread that is generally disposed about the strap  20 . In other implementations, the luminescent material  60  may be in the form of various luminescent paints, luminescent dyes, and suchlike that may be incorporated in the material of the strap  20  and/or ring  40  in various ways. In still other implementations, the luminescent material  60  may be included in various attachments to the strap  20  and/or ring  40  such as beads, rivets, ornamentations, and so forth or otherwise disposed about the pacifier retention apparatus  10 . A display strip  510  that defines display surface  511  is located about band  20  (see  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, and  4 C). The name of the child to whom pacifier retention apparatus  10  belongs may be displayed upon the display surface of display strip. 
         [0035]    The implementation illustrated in  FIG. 1A  includes pacifier  400 , which is secured to strap  20  by ring  40 . Various other implementations may or may not include pacifier  400 . Pacifier  400 , in this implementation, includes pacifier ring  402  that is attached to shield  406 , and nipple  408  extends forth from shield  406  generally opposite pacifier ring  402 . Ring  40  engages pacifier  400  by passing through aperture  404  of pacifier ring  402 . Strap  20  passes through ring aperture  44  of ring  40  so that ring  40  is engaged with the strap  20 , and the ring  40  is located generally between strap end  22  and opposing strap end  23 . Thus, in this illustrated implementation, the pacifier  400  is secured to strap  20  by ring  40  such that the pacifier  400  is generally located intermediate of strap end  22  and opposing strap end  23 . In other implementations, the pacifier  400  may include a handle or other such feature(s) that allow the pacifier to be grasped in lieu of pacifier ring  402 , and ring  40  may be adapted to attach to the handle in such implementations. In other implementations, the ring  40  may attach to the shield  406  of the pacifier  400 . (see  FIG. 7 ) 
         [0036]    In some implementations such as that generally illustrated in  FIG. 1A , ring  40  may slideably receive strap  20  through aperture  44 , so that ring surface  45  and strap surface  25  slide with respect to one another. In such an implementation, the ring  40 , and pacifier  400  that may be attached to ring  40 , may then be slideably positioned along strap  20  between strap end  22  and opposing strap end  23 . 
         [0037]    In other implementations, ring  40  may be secured to strap  20 , so that the location of the ring  40  with respect to strap  20  is generally fixed. Ring  40 , in various implementations, may be secured to strap  20  by rivet, by stitching, by adhesively securing a portion of ring surface  45  of ring  40  to strap surface  25  of strap  20 , combinations thereof, or attached in other ways. In such an implementation, the pacifier  400  is secured at a generally fixed location along the strap  20 . 
         [0038]    As illustrated in the implementation of pacifier retention apparatus  100  of  FIG. 1B , ring  140  may be secured to strap  120  such that strap  120  does not pass through aperture  144  defined by ring  140 . A portion of strap  120  is illustrated in  FIG. 1B . As illustrated, a portion of ring surface  145  of ring  140  is biased against a portion of strap surface  125  of strap  120  and secured thereto so that ring  140  is generally held at a generally fixed location about strap  120 . The ring  140  is engaged with pacifier ring  402  such that ring  140  passes through aperture  404  of the pacifier ring  402  and pacifier ring  402  passes through ring aperture  144  of ring  140  thereby securing pacifier  400  to strap  120 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1B . 
         [0039]    In some implementation, such as the implementation of pacifier retention apparatus  200  illustrated in  FIG. 1C , the ring, such as ring  40 ,  140 ,  740  may be omitted, and strap  220  may be passed through aperture  404  of pacifier ring  402  of pacifier  400 . Accordingly, the pacifier  400  may be slideably positioned along strap  220 , only a portion of which is illustrated in  FIG. 1C . 
         [0040]      FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 C further illustrate detailed of the implementation of pacifier retention apparatus  100  of  FIG. 1B .  FIG. 2A  illustrates ring  140  generally secured to strap surface  125  of strap  120 . Luminescent material  160  is incorporated into strap  120  and into ring  140  in this implementation. 
         [0041]      FIG. 2B  illustrates by cross-sectional view ring  140  and strap  120  of pacifier retention apparatus  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2B , portions of ring surface  145  are biased against portions of strap surface  125  and secured thereto. The ring  140 , in this implementation, is formed as a link  141  having a link end  142  and an opposing link end  143 , and is made of a generally flexible material to allow link end  142  and opposing link end  143  to be positionable between position  153  wherein link end  142  and link end  143  are biased against one another (see  FIG. 2C ) and position  151  wherein link end  142  and link end  143  are separated from one another as in  FIG. 2B . As illustrated in  FIG. 2B , link  141  may include hook fastener  147  generally proximate link end  142  and loop fastener  149  generally proximate opposing link end  143 . In  FIG. 2B , link end  142  is generally separated from link end  143  to allow pacifier ring  402  to be admitted to or released from the aperture  144  of ring  140 . In other implementations (not shown), snaps, buttons, and other fasteners may be used in lieu of hook fastener  147  and loop fastener  149 . In other implementations (not shown), a plurality of links may be secured to strap  120  such that the links in combination with portions of strap  120  form the ring  140 . 
         [0042]    When link end  142  and opposing link end  143  are biased against one another in position  153  such that hook fastener  147  is engaged with loop fastener  149 , link end  142  is removeably secured to link end  143  to form ring  140 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2C . Link end  142  is engaged with link end  143  in  FIG. 2C  so that link  141  forms ring  140  with pacifier ring  402  (illustrated in cross-section) generally secured within aperture  144  of ring  140 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a portion of strap  20  proximate strap end  22  of pacifier retention apparatus  10  (see  FIG. 1A ). As illustrated in  FIG. 3A , magnet  32  is secured internally within strap  20  generally proximate strap end  22 . This is further illustrated in  FIG. 3B  wherein strap  20  is formed of fabric layer  81  and fabric layer  83 . Fabric layer  81  is secured to fabric layer  83  by stitching (not shown), adhesive (not shown), or in other ways with magnet  32  interposed internally between fabric layer  81  and fabric layer  83 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3B . Strap end  22  and strap end  23  may be positioned with respect to one another such that magnet  32  and magnet  33  are magnetically coupled with one another thereby securing strap end  22  to strap end  23  (see  FIG. 1A ). As illustrated in  FIG. 3B , strap end  22  is oriented generally parallel to strap end  23  and strap end  22  is biased against strap end  23 . The poles of magnet  32  and magnet  33  are oriented so that strap end  22  may be magnetically secured to strap end  23  by magnet  32  and magnet  33  in this orientation. The poles of magnet  32  and magnet  33  may be oriented in various ways and the orientation may be chosen so that strap end  22  and strap end  23  may be magnetically secured to one another in various orientations with respect to one another. 
         [0044]    Magnet  32  and magnet  33  may be formed of any suitable magnetic material such as various metals, metal alloys, ceramics, and so forth that forms a permanent magnet. In other implementations (not shown), magnet  32  and/or magnet  33  may be secured to the strap surface  25  of strap  20  or otherwise incorporated into strap  20  in various ways that allow magnet  32  and magnet  33  to be coupled magnetically with one another when strap end  22  is brought into the proximity of strap end  23 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 3C  illustrates attachment of pacifier retention apparatus  10  (see  FIG. 1A ) to a material layer  90 . The material layer  90  may be, for example, part of an article of clothing such as a shirt or dress, and the pacifier retention apparatus  10  may be secured thereto as illustrated in  FIG. 3C . Material layer  90  need not be formed of a magnetically attractive material. For example, material layer  90  may be formed of one or more layers of fabric, may be a portion of an article of clothing, or may be some generally non-magnetic material to which it may be desirous to secure the pacifier retention apparatus  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3C , material layer  90  has surface  91  and opposing surface  93 . The material layer  90  is interposed between the strap end  22  of strap  20  and strap end  23  of strap  20 . Magnet  32  and magnet  33  are magnetically coupled to one another so that the strap end  22  and the strap end  23  are secured to one another by the magnetic forces between magnet  32  and magnet  33 . Material layer  90  is then clamped between the strap end  22  and strap end  23  by the magnetic forces between magnet  32  and magnet  33  such that strap end  22  biases against surface  91  and strap end  23  biases against opposing surface  93 , which frictionally secures strap  20  and, thus, pacifier retention apparatus  10  to the material layer  90 . By overcoming the magnetic forces between magnet  32  and magnet  33 , the user may separate strap end  22  from strap end  23 , and, thereby, release the pacifier retention apparatus  10  from the material layer  90 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 3D  illustrates attachment of pacifier retention apparatus  10  (see  FIG. 1A ) to a magnetically attractive material  95 . The magnetically attractive material  95  may be a metal or other material to which a magnet such as magnet  32  or magnet  33  adheres my magnetic force. In various implementations, the magnetically attractive material  95  may be steel and may, for example, be part of an appliance such as a refrigerator or dishwasher to which it may be desirable to fasten the pacifier retention apparatus  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3D , magnetically attractive material  95  has surface  94 . As illustrated, the strap end  22  of strap  20  and strap end  23  of strap  20  are magnetically secured to one another. Magnet  33  is in magnetic contact with magnetically attractive material  95  so that strap  20  of pacifier retention apparatus  10  is secured by magnetic forces to surface  94  of magnetically attractive material  95 . By overcoming the magnetic forces between magnet  33  and magnetically attractive material  95 , the user may remove the pacifier retention apparatus  10  from surface  94  of magnetically attractive material  95 . By overcoming the magnetic forces between magnet  32  and magnet  33 , the user may separate strap end  22  from strap end  23 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 3E  illustrates an implementation of the attachment of strap  120  of pacifier retention apparatus  100  (see  FIG. 1B ) to material layer  190 . As illustrated, material layer  190  has surface  191  and opposing surface  193 . The material layer  190  is interposed between the strap end  122  of strap  120  and the opposing strap end  123  of strap end  120 . Magnet  132  and magnet  133  are magnetically coupled to one another so that the strap end  122  and the opposing strap end  123  are secured to one another by the magnetic forces between magnet  132  and magnet  133 . Material layer  190  is then clamped between the strap end  122  and strap end  123  by the magnetic forces between magnet  132  and magnet  133  such that strap end  122  biases against surface  191  and strap end  123  biases against opposing surface  193 , which frictionally secures strap  120  and, thus, pacifier retention apparatus  100  to the material layer  190 . 
         [0048]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3E , strap end  122  is generally faced toward strap end  123  and strap end  122  is generally overlapped with strap end  123 . The poles of magnet  132  and magnet  133  are oriented so that strap end  122  may be magnetically secured to strap end  123  in this orientation. 
         [0049]      FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, and  4 C illustrate a display strip  510  that defines a display surface  511 . The display strip  510  may be disposed about the strap surface  25  of strap  20  of pacifier retention apparatus  10  (see  FIG. 1A ) in various ways or may otherwise be included in strap  20  of pacifier retention apparatus  10 . Display surface  511  of display strip  510  may be utilized to identify a particular person associated therewith. As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , one or more alphanumeric characters  520  may be attached to the display surface  511  of the display strip  510 , and the alphanumeric characters  520  may be surfaced with adhesive and/or otherwise formed to be attachable to the display surface  511  of display strip  510 . In some implementations, a collection of alphanumeric characters  520  may be provided to allow the user to form names and so forth by selecting specific alphanumeric characters  520  from the collection, and then attaching the specific alphanumeric characters  520  to the display surface  511 . In other implementations, the one or more alphanumeric characters  520  may be formed upon the display surface  511  by writing upon display surface with ink, marker, or other such writing utensils, or may be formed upon display surface  511  in other ways as would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. 
         [0050]    In this implementation illustrated in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, and  4 C, the display strip  510  lies partly within pocket  516  defined by cover  515  and portions of strap surface  25  of strap  20 . Cover  515  may be secured to strip surface  25  about three sides with one side left unsecured to form a pocket entry  517  into pocket  516 . Cover  515  is formed of translucent material so that any alphanumeric characters  520  secured to display surface  511  are visible through cover  515 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4A . Cover  515  may protect display surface  511  and any alphanumeric characters  520  upon display surface  511 . 
         [0051]    Display strip  510  is positionable between a position  530  and a position  535  in the implementation of  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, and  4 C. As illustrated in  FIGS. 4B and 4C , the display strip  510  is hingedly secured to the strap surface  25  of strap  20  by attachment  513 . Display strip  510 , in some implementations, may be secured at attachment  513  by stitching, adhesive, rivets, or suchlike, and display strip  510  may be flexible so as to flex about attachment  513  to be generally hingedly secured to strap  20 . In other implementations, display strip  510  may be generally rigid and attachment  513  may be in the form of a hinge or similar structure to secure hingedly display strip  510  to the strap  20 . In still other implementations, the attachment  513  may be omitted, and the display strip  510  may be inserted into pocket  516  through pocket entry  517 . Display strip  510  may be configured such that the display strip  510  is generally securely retained within pocket  516  upon insertion therein. 
         [0052]      FIG. 4B  illustrates the display strip  510  in position  530  where it lies external to pocket  516 . With the display strip  510  in position  530 , one or more alphanumeric characters  520  may be disposed about display surface  511  of display strip  510 . The display strip  510  may then be pivoted generally about attachment  513 , flexed, and/or otherwise manipulated to insert strip  510  into pocket  516  through pocket entry  517 . 
         [0053]    When the display strip  510  in this implementation is slidaeably received within pocket  516 , the display strip is in position  535 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4C . In position  535 , portions of display strip  510  including the alphanumeric characters  520  that may be formed upon display surface  511  may lie within pocket  516 . In some implementations, display strip  510  may be generally secured within pocket  516  so as to be substantially non-removable from pocket  516 , while other implementations may allow the display strip  510  to be removed from pocket  516  and placed into position  530 , for example, for cleaning and or changes of the alphanumeric characters  520  upon display surface  511 . 
         [0054]    A cross-sectional view of an implementation of strap  580  of a pacifier retention apparatus is illustrated in  FIG. 5A . In this implementation, strap  580  has a generally rectangular shape. A cross-sectional view of another implementation of strap  590  in another pacifier retention apparatus is illustrated in  FIG. 5B . In this implementation, strap  590  has a generally circular shape. The strap portion of the pacifier retention apparatus may assume other shapes in cross-section such as an oval shape, various polygonal shapes, and so forth in various implementations. 
         [0055]    A ring  640  in another implementation of a pacifier retention apparatus is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , ring  640  may be made of generally hard material such as a hard plastic, metal, or wood, or combinations thereof, and adapted to engage pacifier ring  402  by including a gap  642 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In this implementation, the ring  640  may flex under the application of sufficient force to allow the pacifier ring  402  to pass through gap  642  and be received within aperture  644 . Other structures may be provided in other implementations of the ring and/or the ring may be configured in other ways to allow the pacifier ring  402  to be received within an aperture thereof. 
         [0056]    In still other implementations, such as that illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the shield  706  of pacifier  700  may include one or more holes  712 , and a ring  740  may pass through one of the one or more holes  712  to attach to the pacifier  700 . While only a portion of ring  740  is illustrated in  FIG. 7 , it should b understood that ring  740  may, in turn, be secured to a strap portion of a pacifier retention apparatus (not shown) so that pacifier  700  may be secured to the strap portion of the pacifier retention apparatus by ring  740 . 
         [0057]    In operation, the pacifier retention apparatus, such as pacifier retention apparatus  10 ,  100 ,  200  may be secured to a pacifier such as pacifier  400 . In various implementations, the pacifier retention apparatus includes a ring such as ring  40 ,  140 ,  640 ,  740  and the pacifier may be secured to the pacifier retention apparatus by engagement of the ring with a pacifier ring such as pacifier ring  402 . The ring may also be engaged with a strap such as strap  20 ,  120 ,  580 ,  590  so that the ring secures the pacifier to the strap of the pacifier retention apparatus. 
         [0058]    For example, ring  640  may be engaged with the pacifier ring by passing the pacifier ring into aperture  644  though gap  642 . The pacifier ring may be removed from engagement with ring  640  by passing the pacifier ring from aperture  644  through gap  642 , for example, to allow the pacifier and/or pacifier retention apparatus to be cleaned. 
         [0059]    As a further example, with link end  142  and opposing link end  143  of link  141  separated from on another, the pacifier ring may be passed into aperture  144  of ring  140 . Then, link end  142  may be biased against link end  143  such that hook fastener  147  is engaged with loop fastener  149  so that link end  142  is removeably secured to link end  143  thereby forming ring  140  with ring  140  engaged securely with the pacifier ring. When engaged with ring  140 , the pacifier passes through aperture  144  of ring  140 . 
         [0060]    The pacifier retention apparatus may be secured to a magnetically attractive material such as magnetically attractive material  95 . The magnetically attractive material may be a portion of an appliance such as a refrigerator, washing machine, or bathroom cabinet to which it may be desirable to fasten the pacifier retention apparatus  10 , and the pacifier may or may not be secured to the pacifier retention apparatus when so fastened. 
         [0061]    For example, strap end  22  of strap  20  and the opposing strap end  23  of strap  20  may be magnetically secured to one another by placing magnet  32  and magnet  33 , which are located about strap end  22  and strap end  23 , respectively, into magnetic contact with one another. At least one of magnet  32  and magnet  33  may then be brought into contact with the magnetically attractive material to secure magnetically the pacifier retention apparatus to the magnetically attractive material. By overcoming the magnetic forces that secure the pacifier retention apparatus  10  to the magnetically attractive material  95 , the pacifier retention apparatus  10  may be removed from the magnetically attractive material  95 . By overcoming the magnetic forces between magnet  32  and magnet  33 , the user may separate strap end  22  from opposing strap end  23 . 
         [0062]    As a further example, strap end  22  of strap  20  may be brought into contact with the magnetically attractive material to secure magnetically the pacifier retention apparatus to the magnetically attractive material. 
         [0063]    The pacifier retention apparatus may be secured to, for example, an article of clothing such as a shirt or dress of the child. For example, a material layer such as material layer  90 , which has surface  91  and opposing surface  93  and which may be a portion of an article of clothing, may be placed between the strap end  22  of strap  20  and the opposing strap end  23  of strap  20 . Magnet  32  and magnet  33  are magnetically coupled to one another so that the strap end  22  and the opposing strap end  23  are secured to one another by the magnetic forces between magnet  32  and magnet  33  with the material layer clamped between the strap end  22  and strap end  23  by the magnetic forces between magnet  32  and magnet  33 . This secures strap  20  and thus pacifier retention apparatus  10  to the material layer. By overcoming the magnetic forces between magnet  32  and magnet  33 , the user may separate strap end  22  from opposing strap end  23  and thereby release the pacifier retention apparatus  10  from the material layer. 
         [0064]    The pacifier retention apparatus may be secured about a bar such as bar  425 . Using pacifier retention apparatus  10  as an example, with strap end  22  and strap end  23  set apart from one another, the strap  20  is placed about the bar  425 , and then strap end  22  and strap end  23  are magnetically secured to each another such that the bar  425  passes through enclosed region  24  defined by the strap  20 . In this manner the pacifier retention apparatus  10  may be generally secured about the bar  425 . 
         [0065]    A display strip having a display surface, for example display strip  510  with display surface  511 , is located about the pacifier retention apparatus in various implementations. Alphanumeric characters, such as alphanumeric characters  520 , may be attached to the display surface, or characters may be written upon the display surface or otherwise formed upon the display surface, for example, to identify the child to whom the pacifier retention apparatus belongs. 
         [0066]    Luminescent material, such as luminescent material  60 , is disposed about the pacifier retention apparatus to facilitate visual location of the pacifier retention apparatus by a user under low light conditions in various implementations. Accordingly, the pacifier retention apparatus glows in the dark to facilitate locating of the pacifier retention apparatus. The glow of the luminescent material may facilitate locating the pacifier retention apparatus, for example, in a darkened bedroom, unlighted vehicle at night, and other such low light conditions. 
         [0067]    The foregoing along with the accompanying Figures discloses and describes various exemplary implementations. Upon study thereof, one of ordinary skill in the art may readily recognize that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as defined in the following claims.