Patent Publication Number: US-2022233408-A1

Title: Retractable Pacifier System

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to pacifiers, more particularly to pacifier systems employing retractable nipple elements. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Pacifiers are commonly used as an effective way to sooth and calm infants and young children. Pacifiers can be found in numerous shapes, sizes, and designs. Although there are many choices available, a common set of features is typically demanded by consumers. 
     Among these features, safety is the primary requirement. Many safety concerns can be addressed by the dimensions of the pacifier to prevent choking or allow for mouth breathing. Another consideration that continues to be an area of innovation is in the safety aspects of ensuring the pacifier is sanitary and clean. 
     Another feature demanded by the market is that any pacifier system be simple and easy to use. The pacifier should also have a small part count and eliminate areas that are difficult to maintain in a clean state. 
     Ever increasing market pressures also demand that pacifiers also be low cost. Lowering costs can be achieved by reducing part count, reducing the number of manufacturing steps, and reducing the number of materials used in manufacturing. 
     Many previous developments have been set forth in an attempt to provide a solution; however, prior developments have provided only partial solutions and there remains a considerable need for a pacifier system that can provide a sanitary, simple, and cost-effective solution. 
     One previous development, for example set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 9,198,836, entitled PACIFIER WITH RETRACTABLE NIPPLE, provides a retractable nipple for protecting the nipple in an attempt to maintain cleanliness. However, the nipple is attached to a shaft with a threaded portion, and requires an additional cup area for the shaft to slide into and out of. The threaded portion and the interior of the cup area can be highly difficult to clean. The threaded portion must be disassembled for cleaning while the cup area would likely require a soaking followed by cleaning with a special tool capable of reaching inside the cup area. 
     Furthermore, the threaded portion, the nipple, the shaft, and the cup area represent a high part count which would increase manufacturing complexity, increasing the number of manufacturing steps, and ultimately increasing costs of production. Yet further, the sliding action of the nipple and the shaft within the cup housing could potentially wear the shaft and nipple creating micro plastics that might be ingested by a child. 
     Another previous development, for example set forth in US PGPub No. 2018/0235846, entitled COMPRESSIBLE PACIFIER, provides a nipple attached to a compressible neck. This previous solution does provide a reduced part count and simplicity by utilizing a one-piece nipple and compressible neck. However, the compressible neck must be compressed by pushing on the outer surface of the nipple, which increases the risk that the nipple is contaminated and makes the retractable feature difficult to use for sanitary purposes. 
     Solutions have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any complete solutions, and solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art. Thus, there remains a considerable need for a pacifier system that can provide a sanitary, simple, and cost-effective solution. 
     SUMMARY 
     A pacifier system and methods, providing a sanitary, simple, and cost-effective solution, are disclosed. The pacifier system and methods can include: a shield; a shaft coupled to the shield; a nipple coupled to the shaft; and a membrane coupled between the shield and the shaft, the membrane providing a retracted configuration creating a storage cavity for the nipple based on the shaft being pulled away from the shield, and the membrane providing an extended configuration with the nipple exposed and extended past the shield based on the shaft being pressed toward the shield and the membrane inverting from the retracted configuration. 
     Other contemplated embodiments can include objects, features, aspects, and advantages in addition to or in place of those mentioned above. These objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description, along with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The pacifier system is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which like reference numerals are intended to refer to like components, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of the pacifier system in a first embodiment and in a retracted configuration. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the pacifier system of  FIG. 1  in an extended configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the pacifier system of  FIG. 1  in the retracted configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the pacifier system of  FIG. 1  in the extended configuration. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the pacifier system of  FIG. 1  in the retracted configuration. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the pacifier system of  FIG. 1  in the extended configuration. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the pacifier system of  FIG. 1  in the retracted configuration. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the pacifier system of  FIG. 1  in the extended configuration. 
         FIG. 9  is a back view of the pacifier system of  FIG. 1  in the retracted configuration. 
         FIG. 10  is a back view of the pacifier system of  FIG. 1  in the extended configuration. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system along the line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system along the line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 13  is a front isometric view of the pacifier system of  FIG. 1  in the retracted configuration. 
         FIG. 14  is a front isometric view of the pacifier system of  FIG. 1  in the extended configuration. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system in a second embodiment and in the extended configuration. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system of  FIG. 15  in the retracted configuration. 
         FIG. 17  is a front isometric view of the pacifier system of  FIG. 15  in the extended configuration. 
         FIG. 18  is a front isometric view of the pacifier system of  FIG. 15  in the retracted configuration. 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system in a third embodiment and in the extended configuration. 
         FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system of  FIG. 19  in the retracted configuration. 
         FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system in a fourth embodiment and in the extended configuration. 
         FIG. 22  is a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system of  FIG. 21  in the retracted configuration. 
         FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system in a fifth embodiment and in the extended configuration. 
         FIG. 24  is a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system of  FIG. 23  in the retracted configuration. 
         FIG. 25  is a back isometric view of the pacifier system in a sixth embodiment and in the extended configuration. 
         FIG. 26  is a back isometric view of the pacifier system in a seventh embodiment and in the extended configuration. 
         FIG. 27  is a flow chart of a method of manufacturing the pacifier system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration, embodiments in which the pacifier system may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the pacifier system. 
     When features, aspects, or embodiments of the pacifier system are described in terms of steps of a process, an operation, a control flow, or a flow chart, it is to be understood that the steps can be combined, performed in a different order, deleted, or include additional steps without departing from the pacifier system as described herein. 
     The pacifier system is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the pacifier system and provide numerous specific details to give a thorough understanding of the pacifier system; however, it will be apparent that the pacifier system may be practiced without these specific details. 
     In order to avoid obscuring the pacifier system, some well-known system configurations and descriptions are not disclosed in detail. Likewise, the drawings showing embodiments of the system are semi-diagrammatic and not to scale and, particularly, some of the dimensions are for the clarity of presentation and are shown greatly exaggerated in the drawing FIGs. As used herein, the term “coupled” is defined as physical connection between elements. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , therein is shown a top view of the pacifier system  100  in a first embodiment and in a retracted configuration. The pacifier system  100  is depicted having a front  102  and a back  104 . 
     The front  102  can be the portion of the pacifier system  100  facing a user while being used orally. The back  104  can be the portion of the pacifier system  100  facing away from the user while being used orally. 
     The pacifier system  100  can include a shield  106 . The shield  106  can include both a shield front surface  108  and a shield back surface  110 . The shield  106  can generally divide the pacifier system  100  between the front  102  and the back  104 . 
     The shield back surface  110  and the shield front surface  108  can both transition into a shield peripheral surface  112 . The shield front surface  108  can transition from a slightly convex shape to a rounded edge  114  between the shield front surface  108  and a shield interior surface  116 . The shield interior surface  116  and the rounded edge  114  are described in greater detail with regard to  FIGS. 11 and 12  below. 
     The shield  106  is further shown having air holes  118  extending through the shield  106  from the shield front surface  108  to the shield back surface  110 . The shield  106  can prevent a user from lodging the pacifier system  100  within an airway and the air holes  118  can enable a user to breath from the mouth while the pacifier system  100  is being used orally. 
     In the retracted configuration, the back  104  is shown to include a membrane  120  coupled to the shield back surface  110  on one end and coupled to a shaft  122 . The pacifier system  100  can transition from the shaft  122 , which is depicted cylindrical in shape, to a protrusion handle  124 . 
     The protrusion handle  124  has been advantageously discovered to decrease part count over other prior developments which included the use of handles, for example. The protrusion handle  124  can extend laterally away from the shaft  122  increasing in diameter and providing a comfortable gripping surface. 
     The membrane  120 , more particularly, is depicted having a membrane back surface  126  extending from the shield back surface  110  to the shaft  122  leaving a shaft back portion  128  exposed between the membrane  120  and the protrusion handle  124 . 
     The membrane  120  can be coupled to the shaft  122  and the shield  106  with hinge points  130  including a shaft hinge point  132  and a shield hinge point  134 . The shaft hinge point  132  can contact the entire perimeter of the shaft  122 , and likewise, the shield hinge point  134  can contact the shield  106  in an unbroken connection around the full perimeter of the membrane  120 . 
     Coupling the shaft  122  to the shield  106  with the membrane  120  without holes therein provides a storage cavity  136  for sanitary storage and protection of other elements of the pacifier system  100  such as the nipple  202  of  FIG. 2  and the shaft  122 . The membrane  120  extending unbroken from the shield  106  to the shaft  122  can increase isolation of the storage cavity  136  from the environment by forming an environmental barrier with the membrane back surface  126 . 
     As is depicted in the retracted configuration, a shaft hinge point back surface  138  is an exposed surface of the shaft hinge point  132  while a shield hinge point back surface  140  is an exposed surface of the shield hinge point  134 . When the pacifier system  100  is converted from the retracted to the extended configuration, the membrane  120  will invert as the shaft  122  is moved toward the front  102 . 
     The conversion from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration can be accomplished as a step rather than a smooth slide. That is the shaft  122  can be pressed until it reaches a resistance threshold, after which, the shaft  122  will move forward with little effort at all. It has been discovered that providing the membrane  120  with the step style movement improves on prior developments that included a sliding action by allowing the pacifier system  100  to either be in the retracted configuration or in the extended configuration but not in a slidable position therebetween. 
     It is to be understood that the shaft  122  being pulled away from the shield or the shaft being pressed toward the shield can be accomplished with or without the use of the protrusion handle  124 . That is, embodiments without the protrusion handle  124 , with other types of handles, or no handle at all are contemplated and would not deviate from the pacifier system  100  described herein. 
     Providing a step style movement improves cleanliness by reducing the likelihood that the shaft  122  will partially move when unintended. Furthermore, the pacifier system  100  will tend not to convert to the extended configuration when the pacifier system  100  is dropped for example, but can easily do so when the protrusion handle  124  is intentionally pushed and the resistance threshold is overcome. 
     Yet furthermore, the membrane  120  has been discovered to reduce part count by providing a travel stop for the shaft  122  when it is pulled into the retracted configuration. That is, the membrane  120  can have a more or less fixed size, and when the protrusion handle  124  is pulled, the shaft  122  will travel backward until the membrane  120  is fully inverted with the membrane back surface  126  exposed. 
     When fully inverted, the membrane  120  will no longer allow the shaft  122  to travel towards the back  104 . This improvement unexpectedly reduces the part count of previous developments which relied on stopper members or similar structures to prevent rearward travel of the shaft  122 . 
     For the purposes of this application, the term “invert” or “inverted” means that the surfaces of the membrane are put in opposite positions. That is, when the membrane  120  is in the retracted configuration having the membrane front surface  208  of  FIG. 2  facing the shaft  122  and the membrane back surface  126  facing away from the shaft  122 , an inverted membrane  120  would have the membrane back surface  126  facing the shaft  122  and the membrane front surface  208  facing away from the shaft  122  to provide the extended configuration. Conversely, when the membrane  120  is in the extended configuration having the membrane front surface  208  facing away from the shaft  122  and the membrane back surface  126  facing toward the shaft  122 , an inverted membrane  120  would have the membrane back surface  126  facing away from the shaft  122  and the membrane front surface  208  facing toward the shaft  122  providing the retracted configuration. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , therein is shown a top view of the pacifier system  100  of  FIG. 1  in an extended configuration. The pacifier system  100  is depicted having the protrusion handle  124  pressed in toward the shield  106  inverting the membrane  120  and forcing the shaft  122  out of the storage cavity  136  of  FIG. 1 . 
     The shaft  122  can be seen coupled to a nipple  202 . The nipple  202  can extend laterally away from the shaft  122  and terminate in a rounded tip. However, other nipple shapes are contemplated and nipples having other shapes, sizes, or configurations do not deviate from the pacifier system  100  as described herein. 
     The nipple  202  is shown exposed and extended past the shield  106 . The nipple  202  is directly connected to a shaft front portion  204 . The shaft front portion  204  can be the portion of the shaft  122  between the shaft hinge point  132  and the nipple  202 . The shaft hinge point  132  can divide the shaft  122  between the shaft back portion  128  of  FIG. 1  and the shaft front portion  204 . 
     The shaft hinge point  132  is shown with a shaft hinge point front surface  206  exposed while the shaft hinge point back surface  138  of  FIG. 1  would be folded between the membrane  120  and the shaft back portion  128 . Furthermore, the membrane  120  can have a membrane front surface  208  exposed and directly in contact with the shaft hinge point front surface  206 . 
     It has been discovered that the membrane front surface  208  exposed while in the extended configuration and not exposed while in the retracted configuration provides many improvements over prior developments. One major improvement is that since the membrane front surface  208  is exposed it can be cleaned easily while in the extended configuration. 
     When placed in the retracted configuration, the membrane front surface  208  will invert and form the storage cavity  136  for the nipple  202 , thus the storage cavity  136  can be easily cleaned unlike the interior of the cup area in prior developments, which can be highly difficult to clean. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , therein is shown a bottom view of the pacifier system  100  of  FIG. 1  in the retracted configuration. The bottom view of the pacifier system  100  in the retracted configuration is shown to be similar to the pacifier system  100  as described in  FIG. 1  above with the exception that the air holes  118  of  FIG. 1  are not shown in the bottom area of the shield  106 . It is contemplated that the air holes  118  could be repositioned within the shield  106  without departing from the description of the pacifier system  100  as provided herein. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , therein is shown a bottom view of the pacifier system  100  of  FIG. 1  in the extended configuration. The bottom view of the pacifier system  100  in the extended configuration is shown to be similar to the pacifier system  100  as described in  FIG. 2  above with the exception that the air holes  118  of  FIG. 1  are not shown in the bottom area of the shield  106 . It is contemplated that the air holes  118  could be repositioned within the shield  106  without departing from the description of the pacifier system  100  as provided herein. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , therein is shown a side view of the pacifier system  100  of  FIG. 1  in the retracted configuration. The side view of the pacifier system  100  in the retracted configuration is shown to be similar to the pacifier system  100  as described in  FIG. 1  above with the exception that only a single air hole  118  is shown extending through a side area of the shield  106 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , therein is shown a side view of the pacifier system  100  of  FIG. 1  in the extended configuration. The side view of the pacifier system  100  in the extended configuration is shown to be similar to the pacifier system  100  as described in  FIG. 2  above with the exception that only a single air hole  118  is shown extending through a side area of the shield  106 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , therein is shown a front view of the pacifier system  100  of  FIG. 1  in the retracted configuration. The pacifier system  100  is shown with the nipple  202  surrounded laterally by the shield  106  and fully retracted within the storage cavity  136 . 
     Between the shield  106  and the nipple  202 , the membrane  120  can also be seen. The membrane  120  can be coupled to the shield  106  with the shield hinge point  134 , and more particularly, a shield hinge point front surface  702  can be seen and can form one surface of the shield hinge point  134  together with the shield hinge point back surface  140  of  FIG. 1 . 
     The rounded edge  114  of the shield  106  is also visible from the front view. However, it is to be noted that the rounded edge  114  does not contact the shield hinge point  134  as will be shown and described in  FIG. 11  below. The shield  106  is further depicted having the air holes  118  within the shield front surface  108 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , therein is shown a front view of the pacifier system  100  of  FIG. 1  in the extended configuration. The pacifier system  100  is shown with the nipple  202  extended out of the storage cavity  136  of  FIG. 1  and immediately surrounded by the shield hinge point front surface  702  portion of the membrane  120 . 
     The shield hinge point front surface  702  can be in direct contact with the shaft  122  of  FIG. 1 . The shield  106  is further depicted having the air holes  118  of  FIG. 1  within the shield front surface  108 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , therein is shown a back view of the pacifier system  100  of  FIG. 1  in the retracted configuration. The pacifier system  100  is depicted with the protrusion handle  124  surrounded by the shield  106  and with the air holes  118  extended through the shield back surface  110 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , therein is shown a back view of the pacifier system  100  of  FIG. 1  in the extended configuration. The pacifier system  100  is depicted with the protrusion handle  124  surrounded by the shield  106  and with the air holes  118  extended through the shield back surface  110 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , therein is shown a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system  100  along the line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 7 . The shield interior surface  116  and the membrane  120  are shown forming the storage cavity  136  for the nipple  202  therein. It is to be understood that the membrane  120  forms the storage cavity  136  for the nipple  202  with or without other elements such as the shaft  122  or the shield interior surface  116 , and in some embodiments, the membrane  120  can be the sole element forming the storage cavity  136  for the nipple  202 . 
     The storage cavity  136  can be comprised of the shield interior surface  116  and the membrane front surface  208 . The membrane front surface  208  can further include the shield hinge point front surface  702  and the shaft hinge point front surface  206 . 
     The storage cavity  136  can extend to house the shaft front portion  204  together with the nipple  202  when the pacifier system  100  is in the retracted configuration. The rounded edge  114  of the shield  106  can be extended further forward or further past the nipple  202  for protection. 
     The shield interior surface  116  can extend between the shield hinge point front surface  702  to the rounded edge  114 . The rounded edge  114  can extend from the shield interior surface  116  to the shield front surface  108 . 
     The storage cavity  136  can be wider near the shield interior surface  116  and narrower near the membrane front surface  208 . It has been discovered that the wider storage cavity  136  near the shield interior surface  116  allows for the nipple  202  to be concealed without contacting the shield interior surface  116  or any portion of the storage cavity  136  while still allowing the shaft hinge point front surface  206  to be concealed within the narrower portion of the storage cavity  136 . No contact between the storage cavity  136  and the nipple  202  or the shaft  122  is shown except for the contact between the shaft hinge point front surface  206  and the shaft front portion  204 . 
     It has been discovered that utilizing the membrane  120  to form the storage cavity  136  has many unforeseen improvements because the membrane  120  can be used to precisely determine the distance the shaft  122  moves, no stopper member is needed to stop the nipple  202  from retracting too far. This further reduces unsanitary contact between elements and simultaneously reduces manufacturing complexity and part count. Furthermore, when the membrane  120  is combined with the shield interior surface  116  to form the storage cavity  136 , a larger cavity with the shape of the nipple  202  mirrored in the shield interior surface  116  can be used. 
     The membrane  120  can be coupled to the shield interior surface  116  with the shield hinge point  134 . The shaft  122  can be coupled to the membrane  120  with the shaft hinge point  132 . The shaft hinge point  132  can separate the shaft front portion  204  from the shaft back portion  128 . 
     The membrane  120  is shown with the membrane back surface  126  exposed and the membrane front surface  208  forming a large portion of the storage cavity  136 . The membrane  120  is shown bisecting the shaft  122  at the shaft hinge point  132  between the protrusion handle  124  and the nipple  202  to create the shaft front portion  204  and the shaft back portion  128 . 
     The membrane  120  can be inverted to provide the extended configuration by folding at the hinge points  130 . The material thickness at the hinge points  130  is thinner with respect to the rest of the membrane  120  in order to create a hinge line where the material naturally wants to fold. As shown, the hinge points  130  can be about half of the cross-sectional thickness of the other portions of the membrane  120 . 
     The shaft hinge point  132  is shown angled and extend over the shaft front portion  204  toward the shield  106 . The shield hinge point  134  is shown angled and extended away from the shield interior surface  116  and extended toward the shaft  122 . 
     The protrusion handle  124  is seen coupled to the shaft back portion  128 . The shaft  122 , the nipple  202 , and the protrusion handle  124  are shown to be hollow which reduces material costs and makes the nipple  202  more pliable. 
     The pacifier system  100  can be formed as a single piece of material such as silicon, latex, rubber, or other appropriate material. Being formed as a single piece should be understood to mean that the pacifier system  100  can be formed without adhesive seams or mechanical coupling components such as threaded portions or pins. 
     One such method of forming as a single piece can be through injection molding during which all elements of the pacifier system  100  can be formed with one single piece of material. The pacifier system  100  can have characteristics of being formed by injection molding including seams created by an injection mold and surface irregularities created by injection ports. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 12 , therein is shown a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system  100  along the line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 8 . The membrane  120  is shown inverted with the membrane front surface  208  exposed from between the shield interior surface  116 . The hinge points  130  are also shown inverted with the shaft hinge point  132  angled and extended over the shaft back portion  128  toward the protrusion handle  124 , while the shield hinge point  134  being angled and extended over the shaft back portion  128  and between the shield interior surface  116  toward the nipple  202 . 
     The membrane  120  is shown to have no contact with the shield interior surface  116  except for the contact between the shield hinge point  134  and the shield interior surface  116 . The membrane  120  can couple the shield  106  to the shaft  122 . 
     The membrane  120  can be coupled to the shaft  122  with the shaft hinge point  132  between the shaft front portion  204  and the shaft back portion  128 . The membrane  120  can be coupled to the shield  106  with the shield hinge point  134  coupled between the shield back surface  110  and the shield interior surface  116 . More particularly, the shield hinge point  134  is shown with the shield hinge point front surface  702  in contact with the shield interior surface  116  while the shield hinge point back surface  140  is in contact with the shield back surface  110 . 
     The protrusion handle  124  can be floating with respect to the shield  106  meaning that the protrusion handle  124  is not in contact with the shield  106  when in the extended configuration but is spaced apart therefrom. The membrane  120  has been discovered to provide a precise amount of motion and a robust physical placement of the protrusion handle  124  and the nipple  202  with respect to the shield  106 . 
     That is, the nipple  202  and the protrusion handle  124  only move the length of the membrane  120  and no more, thus the stopper members of prior developments are not needed. Furthermore, since the membrane  120  fully circumscribes the shaft  122 , the position of the shaft  122  with respect to the shield  106  is quite rigid allowing for precise placement of the shaft  122 , in either the retracted or extended configurations, without the need for sliding elements, commonly found in prior developments, to maintain alignment between the shaft  122  and the shield  106 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 13 , therein is shown a front isometric view of the pacifier system  100  of  FIG. 1  in the retracted configuration. The nipple  202  is shown fully retracted within the storage cavity  136  without contacting the shield interior surface  116 . 
     The rounded edge  114  of the shield  106  can extend past the nipple  202  as is the shield front surface  108 . The shield front surface  108  extends from the rounded edge  114  in a convex shape toward the shield peripheral surface  112 . The protrusion handle  124  together with the shaft back portion  128  are fully pulled back away from the shield  106 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 14 , therein is shown a front isometric view of the pacifier system  100  of  FIG. 1  in the extended configuration. The shaft front portion  204  and the nipple  202  are shown extended away from the shield front surface  108 . 
     The shaft  122  is coupled to the shield  106  with the membrane  120  therebetween. Particularly, the membrane  120  is coupled to the shaft  122  with the shaft hinge point  132  while the membrane  120  is coupled to the shield  106  with the shield hinge point  134  of  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 15 , therein is shown a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system  1500  in a second embodiment and in the extended configuration. The pacifier system  1500  is shown having a shield  1502  coupled to a shaft  1504  with a membrane  1506 . 
     The shield  1502  can include a shield front surface  1508  and a shield back surface  1510  opposite the shield front surface  1508 . The shield front surface  1508  can be the portion of the pacifier system  1500  facing a user while being use orally. 
     The shield back surface  1510  can be the portion of the pacifier system  1500  facing away from the user while being used orally. The shield  1502  can generally divide the pacifier system  1500  between a front and a back. 
     The shield back surface  1510  and the shield front surface  1508  can both transition into a shield interior surface  1512 . Between the shield interior surface  1512  and the shield front surface  1508 , the shield  1502  can include a shield rounded edge  1514  for smoothly transitioning from the shield front surface  1508  to the shield interior surface  1512  and thereby prevent unnecessary ware on components of the shaft  1504  and provide additional comfort to the user. 
     The shield front surface  1508  and the shield back surface  1510  can further transition into a shield peripheral surface  1516 . The shield peripheral surface  1516  is shown being rounded between the shield front surface  1508  and between the shield back surface  1510 . 
     The shield  1502  and the shaft  1504  can be coupled to the membrane  1506  with hinge points. More particularly, the shield  1502  can be coupled to the membrane  1506  with a shield hinge point  1520 . 
     The shield hinge point  1520  can include a shield hinge point front surface  1522  facing the same general direction as the shield front surface  1508 . The shield hinge point  1520  can further include a shield hinge point back surface  1524  generally facing the same direction as the shield back surface  1510 . 
     Furthermore, the membrane  1506  can be coupled to the shaft  1504  with a shaft hinge point  1528 . The shaft hinge point  1528  is shown having a shaft hinge point front surface  1530  generally facing the same direction as the shield front surface  1508 . The shaft hinge point  1528  can also include a shaft hinge point back surface  1532  generally facing the same direction as the shield back surface  1510 . 
     Between the shaft hinge point front surface  1530  and the shield hinge point front surface  1522 , the membrane  1506  can include a membrane front surface  1536  exposed to the front of the pacifier system  1500 . Likewise, between the shaft hinge point back surface  1532  and the shield hinge point back surface  1524 , the membrane  1506  can include a membrane back surface  1538  exposed to the back of the pacifier system  1500 . 
     The coupling of the membrane  1506  to the shaft  1504  by way of the shaft hinge point  1528  can bifurcate the shaft  1504  into a shaft front portion  1542  and a shaft back portion  1544 . The shaft front portion  1542  can extend from the shaft hinge point  1528  up to and include a nipple  1546 . 
     The shaft back portion  1544  can extend from the shaft hinge point  1528  up to and include a handle  1548 . The shaft back portion  1544  is shown to have a reduced cross-sectional thickness of the material forming the shaft  1504  near the membrane  1506  even while the shaft  1504  has a larger diameter. The shaft  1504  can be hollow for increased comfort, pliability, and reduced material during manufacturing, which helps to reduce costs. The handle  1548  is also shown as open-ended allowing the inside of the shaft  1504  to be accessible from the handle  1548 . 
     The handle  1548  can be a protrusion handle with a protrusion  1550  extending away from and around the shaft  1504 . Furthermore, the handle  1548  can include a ring  1552  directly attached to the protrusion  1550 . It is contemplated that the handle  1548  can be formed of the protrusion  1550 , the ring  1552 , or a combination of both. 
     The ring  1552  can be formed as a single piece with the protrusion  1550 , in which case the ring  1552  would bend when moved from its resting position. Other contemplated embodiments can include a hinged ring which would pivot when moved from its resting position. 
     The handle  1548  can be pressed forward toward the shield  1502  placing the pacifier system  1500  in the extended configuration or pulled back away from the shield  1502  placing the pacifier system  1500  in the retracted configuration. As is depicted in the extended configuration, the shaft hinge point front surface  1530  together with the membrane front surface  1536  is extended forward past the shield front surface  1508 . 
     When the pacifier system  1500  is converted from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration, the membrane  1506  will invert as the shaft  1504  is moved toward the back. The conversion from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration can be accomplished as a step rather than a smooth slide. 
     That is the shaft  1504  can be pressed until it reaches a resistance threshold, after which, the shaft  1504  will move forward with little effort at all. It has been discovered that providing the membrane  1506  with the step style movement improves on prior developments that included a sliding action by allowing the pacifier system  1500  to either be in the retracted configuration or in the extended configuration but not in a slidable position therebetween. 
     Providing a step style movement improves cleanliness by reducing the likelihood that the shaft  1504  will partially move when unintended. Furthermore, the pacifier system  1500  will tend not to convert to the extended configuration when the pacifier system  1500  is dropped for example, but can easily do so when the handle  1548  is intentionally pushed and the resistance threshold is overcome. 
     Yet furthermore, the membrane  1506  has been discovered to reduce part count by providing a travel stop for the shaft  1504  when it is pushed into the extended configuration. That is, the membrane  1506  can have a more or less fixed size, and when the handle  1548  is pushed, the shaft  1504  will travel forward until the membrane  1506  is fully inverted with the membrane front surface  1536  exposed. 
     When fully inverted, the membrane  1506  will no longer allow the shaft  1504  to travel forward. This improvement unexpectedly reduces the part count of previous developments which relied on stopper members or similar structures to prevent forward or rearward travel of the shaft  1504 . 
     The membrane  1506  can be inverted when the surfaces of the membrane are put in opposite positions. That is, when the membrane  1506  is in the retracted configuration having the membrane front surface  1536  facing the shaft  1504  and the membrane back surface  1538  facing away from the shaft  1504 , an inverted membrane  1506  would have the membrane back surface  1538  facing the shaft  1504  and the membrane front surface  1536  facing away from the shaft  1504  as is depicted in the extended configuration. 
     Conversely, when the membrane  1506  is in the extended configuration having the membrane front surface  1536  facing away from the shaft  1504  and the membrane back surface  1538  facing toward the shaft  1504 , an inverted membrane  1506  would have the membrane back surface  1538  facing away from the shaft  1504  and the membrane front surface  1536  facing toward the shaft  1504  as is depicted in the retracted configuration of  FIG. 16 , for example. 
     Pulling the handle  1548  backward can retract the shaft front portion  1542  including the nipple  1546  into a storage cavity  1554 . The storage cavity  1554  can be comprised of the shield interior surface  1512  and the membrane front surface  1536 . 
     As shown, in the extended configuration, the nipple  1546  is exposed and extended past the shield  1502 . Furthermore, the shaft hinge point  1528  can extend away from the shaft  1504  and toward the shield  1502  forming an angled step ending in the membrane front surface  1536 . The step formed by the shaft hinge point  1528  can help to prevent debris and larger objects from entering the storage cavity  1554  increasing the sanitation of the pacifier system  1500 . 
     The conversion between the extended configuration and the retracted configuration can be achieved by inverting the membrane  1506  which requires folding at the shield hinge point  1520  and the shaft hinge point  1528 . The material thickness of the shield hinge point  1520  is thinner with respect to the rest of the membrane  1506  in order to create a hinge line where the material naturally wants to fold. As shown, the shield hinge point  1520  can be about half of the cross-sectional thickness of the other portions of the membrane  1506  between the membrane front surface  1536  and the membrane back surface  1538 . 
     The shield hinge point  1520  is shown angled and extend orthogonally from the membrane  1506  to contact the shield back surface  1510 . In the extended configuration, the membrane  1506  can be substantially parallel to the shield interior surface  1512  and allow the shaft front portion  1542  to be thinner allowing for a smaller storage cavity  1554 , and a smaller nipple  1546 . This can provide better operability for use by smaller mouths as well as saving on manufacturing costs by reducing material. 
     The shaft back portion  1544  can be coupled between the shaft hinge point  1528  and the membrane back surface  1538  allowing the shaft back portion  1544  to angle up toward the membrane  1506  and creating a bulge in the shaft  1504  when in the extended configuration. The shaft  1504  can decrease in cross-sectional thickness as it stretches to reach the membrane  1506  in the extended configuration. 
     The bulge in the shaft  1504  can be partially extended beyond the shield front surface  1508  while beginning near the shield rounded edge  1514 . The pacifier system  1500  can be formed as a single piece of material such as silicon, latex, rubber, or other appropriate material. Being formed as a single piece should be understood to mean that the pacifier system  1500  can be formed without adhesive seams or mechanical coupling components such as threaded portions or pins. 
     One such method of forming as a single piece can be through injection molding during which all elements of the pacifier system  1500  can be formed with one single piece of material. The pacifier system  1500  can have characteristics of being formed by injection molding including seams created by an injection mold and surface irregularities created by injection ports. 
     The shield  1502  is further shown having air holes  1556  extending through the shield  1502  from the shield front surface  1508  to the shield back surface  1510 . The shield  1502  can prevent a user from lodging the pacifier system  1500  within an airway and the air holes  1556  can enable a user to breath from the mouth while the pacifier system  1500  is being used orally. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 16 , therein is shown a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system  1500  of  FIG. 15  in the retracted configuration. The storage cavity  1554  can extend to house the shaft front portion  1542  together with the nipple  1546  when the pacifier system  1500  is in the retracted configuration. The shield rounded edge  1514  can be extended further forward or further past the nipple  1546  for protection. 
     The shield interior surface  1512  can extend between the shield hinge point front surface  1522  to the shield rounded edge  1514 . The storage cavity  1554  can be wider near the shield interior surface  1512  and narrower near the membrane front surface  1536 . It has been discovered that the wider storage cavity  1554  near the shield interior surface  1512  allows for the nipple  1546  to be concealed without contacting the shield interior surface  1512  or any portion of the storage cavity  1554  while still allowing the shaft hinge point front surface  1530  to be concealed within the narrower portion of the storage cavity  1554 . No contact between the storage cavity  1554  and the nipple  1546  or the shaft  1504  is shown except for the contact between the shaft hinge point front surface  1530  and the shaft front portion  1542 . 
     It has been discovered that utilizing the membrane  1506  to form the storage cavity  1554  has many unforeseen improvements because the membrane  1506  can be used to precisely determine the distance the shaft  1504  travels, no stopper member is needed to stop the nipple  1546  from retracting too far. This further reduces unsanitary contact between elements and simultaneously reduces manufacturing complexity and part count. Furthermore, when the membrane  1506  is combined with the shield interior surface  1512  to form the storage cavity  1554 , a larger cavity with the shape of the nipple  1546  mirrored in the shield interior surface  1512  can be used. 
     The membrane  1506  is shown with the membrane back surface  1538  exposed and the membrane front surface  1536  forming a large portion of the storage cavity  1554 . The membrane  1506  is shown bisecting the shaft  1504  at the shaft hinge point  1528  between the handle  1548  and he nipple  1546  to create the shaft front portion  1542  and the shaft back portion  1544 . 
     The membrane  1506  is shown having a protuberance  1602  for maintaining the membrane  1506  in a substantially parallel relationship with the shield interior surface  1512  when in the extended configuration. That is, the protuberance  1602  can push the membrane  1506  out and away from the shaft  1504  when in the extended configuration allowing for a smaller shaft  1504  and smaller nipple  1546 , as previously noted. Because the shaft  1504  can be thinner and the nipple  1546  smaller, the storage cavity  1554  can also be smaller, which requires less material to manufacture and reduces costs. 
     Furthermore, the interior surface of the shaft  1504  is shown having an indentation  1604  at the point where the shaft hinge point  1528  contacts the shaft  1504 . The indentation  1604  can enable the shaft  1504  to stretch and reduce cross-sectional thickness of the material forming the shaft  1504  near the membrane  1506  when in the extended configuration. 
     The membrane  1506  can be inverted to provide the extended configuration by folding at the hinge points. The material thickness at the hinge points is thinner with respect to the rest of the membrane  1506  in order to create a hinge line where the material naturally wants to fold. 
     The shaft hinge point  1528  is shown angled and extend over the shaft front portion  1542  toward the shield  1502 . The shield hinge point  1520  is shown extended orthogonally away from the shield interior surface  1512  toward the shaft  1504  to create a right angled step within the storage cavity  1554 . 
     It is contemplated that the shaft hinge point  1528  can contact the entire perimeter of the shaft  1504 , and likewise, the shield hinge point  1520  can contact the shield  1502  in an unbroken connection around the full perimeter of the membrane  1506 . Coupling the shaft  1504  to the shield  1502  with the membrane  1506  without holes therein provides the storage cavity  1554  for sanitary storage and protection of many elements of the pacifier system  1500  such as the nipple  1546  and the shaft  1504 . The unbroken membrane  1506  extending around the shaft  1504  and the shield  1502  can help isolate the storage cavity  1554  from the environment by forming an environmental barrier with the membrane back surface  1538 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 17 , therein is shown a front isometric view of the pacifier system  1500  of  FIG. 15  in the extended configuration. The pacifier system  1500  is shown having the membrane front surface  1536  extended from the storage cavity  1554  exposing the shaft front portion  1542  therefrom. 
     The shaft hinge point  1528  is shown between the membrane front surface  1536  and the shaft front portion  1542  forming a stepped transition. The stepped transition can be extended past the shield front surface  1508 . The air holes  1556  are also clearly depicted within the shield  1502 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 18 , therein is shown a front isometric view of the pacifier system  1500  of  FIG. 15  in the retracted configuration. The nipple  1546  is shown fully retracted within the storage cavity  1554 . 
     The shield rounded edge  1514  and shield front surface  1508  can be positioned further forward than the nipple  1546  for protection. The handle  1548  can be seen with the ring  1552  affixed to the protrusion  1550 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 19 , therein is shown a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system  1900  in a third embodiment and in the extended configuration. The pacifier system  1900  is shown having a shield  1902  coupled to a shaft  1904  with a membrane  1906 . 
     The shield  1902  can include a shield front surface  1908  and a shield back surface  1910  opposite the shield front surface  1908 . The shield front surface  1908  can be the portion of the pacifier system  1900  facing a user while being use orally. 
     The shield back surface  1910  can be the portion of the pacifier system  1900  facing away from the user while being used orally. The shield  1902  can generally divide the pacifier system  1900  between a front and a back. 
     The shield back surface  1910  and the shield front surface  1908  can both transition into a shield interior surface  1912 . Between the shield interior surface  1912  and the shield front surface  1908 , the shield  1902  can include a shield edge  1914  for transitioning from the shield front surface  1908  to the shield interior surface  1912  and thereby providing a very small gap between the shaft  1904  and the shield  1902 . 
     The shield front surface  1908  can further transition into a shield peripheral surface  1916 . The shield peripheral surface  1916  is shown being flat up to the shield front surface  1908 . 
     The shield  1902  and the shaft  1904  can be coupled to the membrane  1906  with hinge points. More particularly, the shield  1902  can be coupled to the membrane  1906  with a shield hinge point  1920 . 
     The shield hinge point  1920  can include a shield hinge point front surface  1922  facing the shaft  1904  and between the shield  1902  and the membrane  1906 . The shield hinge point  1920  can further include a shield hinge point back surface  1924  generally facing the same direction as the shield peripheral surface  1916 . 
     Furthermore, the membrane  1906  can be coupled to the shaft  1904  with a shaft hinge point  1928 . The shaft hinge point  1928  is shown having a shaft hinge point front surface  1930  generally facing the same direction as the shield front surface  1908 . The shaft hinge point  1928  can also include a shaft hinge point back surface  1932  generally facing the same direction as the shield back surface  1910 . 
     Between the shaft hinge point front surface  1930  and the shield hinge point front surface  1922 , the membrane  1906  can include a membrane front surface  1936  following the contour of the shield back surface  1910 . Likewise, between the shaft hinge point back surface  1932  and the shield hinge point back surface  1924 , the membrane  1906  can include a membrane back surface  1938  exposed to the back of the pacifier system  1900 , and also following the contour of the shield back surface  1910 . 
     The coupling of the membrane  1906  to the shaft  1904  by way of the shaft hinge point  1928  can bifurcate the shaft  1904  into a shaft front portion  1942  and a shaft back portion  1944 . The shaft front portion  1942  can extend from the shaft hinge point  1928  up to and include a nipple  1946 . 
     The shaft back portion  1944  can extend from the shaft hinge point  1928  up to and include a handle  1948 . The shaft  1904  can be hollow for increased comfort, pliability, and reduced material during manufacturing, which helps to reduce costs. The handle  1948  is also shown as open-ended allowing the inside of the shaft  1904  to be accessible from the handle  1948 . 
     The handle  1948  can be a protrusion handle with a protrusion  1950  extending away from and around the shaft  1904 . Furthermore, the handle  1948  can include a ring  1952  directly attached to the protrusion  1950 . 
     The ring  1952  can be formed as a single piece with the protrusion  1950 , in which case the ring  1952  would bend when moved from its resting position. Other contemplated embodiments can include a hinged ring which would pivot when moved from its resting position. 
     The handle  1948  can be pressed forward toward the shield  1902  placing the pacifier system  1900  in the extended configuration or pulled back away from the shield  1902  placing the pacifier system  1900  in the retracted configuration. As is depicted in the extended configuration, the shaft hinge point front surface  1930  together with the membrane front surface  1936  is extended forward up to the shield back surface  1910 . 
     When the pacifier system  1900  is converted from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration, the membrane  1906  will invert as the shaft  1904  is moved toward the back. The conversion from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration can be accomplished as a step rather than a smooth slide. 
     That is the shaft  1904  can be pressed until it reaches a resistance threshold, after which, the shaft  1904  will move forward with little effort at all. It has been discovered that providing the membrane  1906  with the step style movement improves on prior developments that included a sliding action by allowing the pacifier system  1900  to either be in the retracted configuration or in the extended configuration but not in a slidable position therebetween. 
     Providing a step style movement improves cleanliness by reducing the likelihood that the shaft  1904  will partially move when unintended. Furthermore, the pacifier system  1900  will tend not to convert to the extended configuration when the pacifier system  1900  is dropped for example, but can easily do so when the handle  1948  is intentionally pushed and the resistance threshold is overcome. 
     Yet furthermore, the membrane  1906  has been discovered to reduce part count by providing a travel stop for the shaft  1904  when it is pushed into the extended configuration. That is, the membrane  1906  directly contact the shield back surface  1910  and preventing further forward travel. 
     When fully inverted, the membrane  1906  will no longer allow the shaft  1904  to travel forward. This improvement unexpectedly reduces the part count of previous developments which relied on stopper members or similar structures to prevent forward or rearward travel of the shaft  1904 . 
     The membrane  1906  can be inverted when the surfaces of the membrane are put in opposite positions. That is, when the membrane  1906  is in the retracted configuration having the membrane front surface  1936  mirroring the contour of the shield back surface  1910 , an inverted membrane  1906  would have the membrane front surface  1936  following the contour of the shield back surface  1910  as is depicted in the extended configuration. 
     Conversely, when the membrane  1906  is in the extended configuration having the membrane front surface  1936  following the contour of the shield back surface  1910 , an inverted membrane  1906  would have the membrane front surface  1936  mirroring the shield back surface  1910  as is depicted in the retracted configuration of  FIG. 20 , for example. 
     Pulling the handle  1948  backward can retract the shaft front portion  1942  including the nipple  1946  into the storage cavity  2002  of  FIG. 20 . The storage cavity  2002  can be comprised of the shield interior surface  1912  and the membrane front surface  1936 . 
     As shown, in the extended configuration, the shaft hinge point  1928  can extend away from the shaft  1904  and toward the shield peripheral surface  1516  forming a smooth transition between the shaft hinge point  1928  and the membrane  1906 . The conversion between the extended configuration and the retracted configuration can be achieved by inverting the membrane  1906  which requires folding at the shield hinge point  1920  and the shaft hinge point  1928 . 
     The material thickness of the shield hinge point  1920  is thinner with respect to the rest of the membrane  1906  in order to create a hinge line where the material naturally wants to fold. As shown, the shield hinge point  1920  can be about half of the cross-sectional thickness of the other portions of the membrane  1906  between the membrane front surface  1936  and the membrane back surface  1938 . The shield hinge point  1920  is shown as a dimple between the membrane  1906  and the shield  1902 . 
     The shaft back portion  1944  can be coupled to the shaft hinge point  1928  and the membrane back surface  1938 . The shaft back portion  1944  can have a larger cross-sectional thickness than the shaft front portion  1942  as it extends from the shaft hinge point  1928  to the handle  1948 . 
     The shaft front portion  1542  can include a thicker portion  1954  and a thinner portion  1956  with a sloping transition  1958  therebetween. The thicker portion  1954  can be in direct contact with the shield interior surface  1912 . The sloping transition  1958  can extend from the shield edge  1914  and the thicker portion  1954  to the narrower portion  1956 . 
     The pacifier system  1900  can be formed as a single piece of material such as silicon, latex, rubber, or other appropriate material. Being formed as a single piece should be understood to mean that the pacifier system  1900  can be formed without adhesive seams or mechanical coupling components such as threaded portions or pins. 
     One such method of forming as a single piece can be through injection molding during which all elements of the pacifier system  1900  can be formed with one single piece of material. The pacifier system  1900  can have characteristics of being formed by injection molding including seams created by an injection mold and surface irregularities created by injection ports. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 20 , therein is shown a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system  1900  of  FIG. 19  in the retracted configuration. A storage cavity  2002  is shown formed between the shield back surface  1910  and the membrane front surface  1936 . 
     The storage cavity  2002  can house the shaft front portion  1942  together with the nipple  1946  when the pacifier system  1900  is in the retracted configuration. The shield edge  1914  can be extended further forward or further past the nipple  1946  for protection. 
     The storage cavity  2002  can be formed between the membrane front surface  1936  and the shield back surface  1910 . No contact between the storage cavity  2002  and the nipple  1946  or the shaft  1904  is shown except for the contact between the shaft hinge point front surface  1930  and the shaft front portion  1942 . 
     It has been discovered that utilizing the membrane  1906  to form the storage cavity  2002  has many unforeseen improvements because the membrane  1906  can be used to precisely determine the distance the shaft  1904  travels, no stopper member is needed to stop the nipple  1946  from retracting too far. This further reduces unsanitary contact between elements and simultaneously reduces manufacturing complexity and part count. Furthermore, when the membrane  1906  is combined with the shield interior surface  1912  and the shield back surface  1910  to form the storage cavity  2002 , a larger cavity can be used. 
     The membrane  1906  is shown with the membrane back surface  1938  exposed and the membrane front surface  1936  forming a large portion of the storage cavity  2002 . The membrane  1906  is shown bisecting the shaft  1904  at the shaft hinge point  1928  between the handle  1948  and he nipple  1946  to create the shaft front portion  1942  and the shaft back portion  1944 . 
     The membrane  1906  can be inverted to provide the extended configuration by folding at the hinge points. The material thickness at the shield hinge point  1920  is thinner with respect to the rest of the membrane  1906  in order to create a hinge line where the material naturally wants to fold. The shaft hinge point  1928 , however is shown having the same thickness as the membrane  1906  due to the shaft hinge point  1928  not needing to fold as readily as is required for other embodiments described herein. 
     The shaft hinge point  1928  is shown angled and extend over the shaft front portion  1942  toward the shield  1902 . The shield hinge point  1920  is shown extended away from the shield  1502  and in line with the shield peripheral surface  1916 . 
     It is contemplated that the shaft hinge point  1928  can contact the entire perimeter of the shaft  1904 , and likewise, the shield hinge point  1920  can contact the shield  1902  in an unbroken connection around the full perimeter of the membrane  1906 . Unlike other embodiments described herein, the membrane  1906  can include air holes  2004  extended through both the membrane  1906  and the shield  1902 . The air holes  1956  in the membrane  1906  and the shield  1902  can align when the pacifier system  1900  is in the extended configuration. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 21 , therein is shown a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system  2100  in a fourth embodiment and in the extended configuration. The pacifier system  2100  is shown having a shield  2102  coupled to a shaft  2104  with a membrane  2106 . 
     The shield  2102  can include a shield front surface  2108  and a shield back surface  2110  opposite the shield front surface  2108 . The shield front surface  2108  can be the portion of the pacifier system  2100  facing a user while being use orally. 
     The shield back surface  2110  can be the portion of the pacifier system  2100  facing away from the user while being used orally. The shield  2102  can generally divide the pacifier system  2100  between a front and a back. 
     The shield back surface  2110  and the shield front surface  2108  can both transition into a shield interior surface  2112 . Between the shield interior surface  2112  and the shield front surface  2108 , the shield  2102  can include a shield rounded edge  2114  for smoothly transitioning from the shield front surface  2108  to the shield interior surface  2112  and thereby prevent unnecessary ware on components of the shaft  2104  and provide greater comfort to the user. 
     The shield front surface  2108  and the shield back surface  2110  can further transition into a shield peripheral surface  2116 . The shield peripheral surface  2116  is shown being rounded between the shield front surface  2108  and between the shield back surface  2110 . 
     The shield  2102  and the shaft  2104  can be coupled to the membrane  2106  with hinge points. More particularly, the shield  2102  can be coupled to the membrane  2106  with a shield hinge point  2120 . 
     The shield hinge point  2120  can include a shield hinge point front surface  2122  facing the same general direction as the shield front surface  2108 . The shield hinge point  2120  can further include a shield hinge point back surface  2124  generally facing the same direction as the shield back surface  2110 . 
     Furthermore, the membrane  2106  can be coupled to the shaft  2104  with a shaft hinge point  2128 . The shaft hinge point  2128  is shown having a shaft hinge point front surface  2130  generally facing the same direction as the shield front surface  2108 . The shaft hinge point  2128  can also include a shaft hinge point back surface  2132  generally facing the same direction as the shield back surface  2110 . 
     Between the shaft hinge point front surface  2130  and the shield hinge point front surface  2122 , the membrane  2106  can include a membrane front surface  2136  exposed to the front of the pacifier system  2100 . Likewise, between the shaft hinge point back surface  2132  and the shield hinge point back surface  2124 , the membrane  2106  can include a membrane back surface  2138  exposed to the back of the pacifier system  2100 . 
     The shaft  2104  can be comprised of a shaft outer member  2142  and a shaft inner member  2144 . The shaft hinge point  2128 , coupling the membrane  2106  to the shaft  2104 , can couple the membrane  2106  to the shaft outer member  2142 . 
     The shaft  2104  can further comprise a nipple  2146  and a handle  2148 . The shaft inner member  2144  can be in direct contact only with the nipple  2146  near the front of the pacifier system  2100 . Furthermore, the shaft inner member  2144  can be in direct contact with the handle  2148  near the back of the pacifier system  2100 . 
     The shaft outer member  2142  can transition from and extend between the nipple  2146  near the front of the pacifier system  2100  and the shaft hinge point  2128  of the membrane  2106 . The shaft inner member  2144  can be floating within the shaft outer member  2142  and the membrane  2106  by extending from the nipple  2146 , past the shield back surface  2110  without contacting the shaft outer member  2142 , the membrane  2106 , or the shield  2102 . The shaft inner member  2144  is therefore supported by the nipple  2146  only. 
     The shaft inner member  2144  can extend from the nipple  2146  up to and include the handle  2148 . The shaft outer member  2142  can be hollow, except for the shaft inner member  2144  running therethrough, for increased comfort, pliability, and reduced material during manufacturing, which helps to reduce costs. 
     The handle  2148  and the shaft inner member  2144  are solid allowing for increased structural rigidity. The handle  2148  can be a protrusion handle with a protrusion  2150  extending away from and around the shaft inner member  2144 . 
     The handle  2148  can be pressed forward toward the shield  2102  placing the pacifier system  2100  in the extended configuration or pulled back away from the shield  2102  placing the pacifier system  2100  in the retracted configuration. As is depicted in the extended configuration, the shaft hinge point front surface  2130  together with the membrane front surface  2136  is extended forward past the shield front surface  2108 . 
     When the pacifier system  2100  is converted from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration, the membrane  2106  will invert as the shaft  2104  is moved toward the back. The conversion from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration can be accomplished as a step rather than a smooth slide. 
     That is the shaft  2104  can be pressed until it reaches a resistance threshold, after which, the shaft  2104  will move forward with little effort at all. It has been discovered that providing the membrane  2106  with the step style movement improves on prior developments that included a sliding action by allowing the pacifier system  2100  to either be in the retracted configuration or in the extended configuration but not in a slidable position therebetween. 
     Providing a step style movement improves cleanliness by reducing the likelihood that the shaft  2104  will partially move when unintended. Furthermore, the pacifier system  2100  will tend not to convert to the extended configuration when the pacifier system  2100  is dropped for example, but can easily do so when the handle  2148  is intentionally pushed and the resistance threshold is overcome. 
     Yet furthermore, the membrane  2106  has been discovered to reduce part count by providing a travel stop for the shaft  2104  when it is pushed into the extended configuration. That is, the membrane  2106  can have a more or less fixed size, and when the handle  2148  is pushed, the shaft  2104  will travel forward until the membrane  2106  is fully inverted with the membrane front surface  2136  exposed. 
     When fully inverted, the membrane  2106  will no longer allow the shaft  2104  to travel forward. This improvement unexpectedly reduces the part count of previous developments which relied on stopper members or similar structures to prevent forward or rearward travel of the shaft  2104 . 
     The membrane  2106  can be inverted when the surfaces of the membrane are put in opposite positions. That is, when the membrane  2106  is in the retracted configuration having the membrane front surface  2136  facing the shaft outer member  2142  and the shaft inner member  2144  together with the membrane back surface  2138  facing away from the shaft  2104 , an inverted membrane  2106  would have the membrane back surface  2138  facing the shaft inner member  2144  of the shaft  2104  and the membrane front surface  2136  facing away from the shaft inner member  2144  of the shaft  2104  as is depicted in the extended configuration. 
     Conversely, when the membrane  2106  is in the extended configuration having the membrane front surface  2136  facing away from the shaft inner member  2144  and the membrane back surface  2138  facing toward the shaft inner member  2144 , an inverted membrane  2106  would have the membrane back surface  2138  facing away from the shaft  2104  and the membrane front surface  2136  facing toward the shaft  2104  as is depicted in the retracted configuration of  FIG. 22 , for example. 
     Pulling the handle  2148  backward can retract the shaft outer member  2142  including the nipple  2146  into a storage cavity  2154 . The storage cavity  2154  can be comprised of the shield interior surface  2112  and the membrane front surface  2136 . 
     As shown, in the extended configuration, the shaft hinge point  2128  can extend away from the shaft outer member  2142  and toward the shield  2102  forming an angled step ending in the membrane front surface  2136 . The membrane  2106  and the shaft outer member  2142  can be narrowed toward the nipple  2146  and wider toward the shield hinge point  2120 , which connects the membrane  2106  between the shield interior surface  2112  and the shield back surface  2110 . The shield interior surface  2112  can conversely can be angled to be narrower at the shield hinge point  2120  and widen toward the shield rounded edge  2114 . 
     The conversion between the extended configuration and the retracted configuration can be achieved by inverting the membrane  2106  which requires folding at the shield hinge point  2120  and the shaft hinge point  2128 . The material thickness of both the shield hinge point  2120  and the shaft hinge point  2128  is thinner with respect to the rest of the membrane  2106  in order to create a hinge line where the material naturally wants to fold. As shown, the shield hinge point  2120  and the shaft hinge point  2128  can be about half of the cross-sectional thickness of the other portions of the membrane  2106  between the membrane front surface  2136  and the membrane back surface  2138 . 
     The shield hinge point  2120  is shown extend from the membrane  2106  to contact the shield back surface  2110 . In the extended configuration, the membrane  2106  can be parallel to the shield back surface  2110 . 
     The pacifier system  2100  can be formed as a single piece of material such as silicon, latex, rubber, or other appropriate material. Being formed as a single piece should be understood to mean that the pacifier system  2100  can be formed without adhesive seams or mechanical coupling components such as threaded portions or pins. 
     One such method of forming as a single piece can be through injection molding during which all elements of the pacifier system  2100  can be formed with one single piece of material. The pacifier system  2100  can have characteristics of being formed by injection molding including seams created by an injection mold and surface irregularities created by injection ports. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 22 , therein is shown a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system  2100  of  FIG. 21  in the retracted configuration. The storage cavity  2154  can extend to house the shaft outer member  2142  together with the nipple  2146  when the pacifier system  2100  is in the retracted configuration. The shield rounded edge  2114  can be extended further forward or further past the nipple  2146  for protection. 
     The shield interior surface  2112  can extend between the shield hinge point front surface  2122  to the shield rounded edge  2114 . The storage cavity  2154  can be wider near the shield interior surface  2112  and narrower near the membrane front surface  2136 . 
     It has been discovered that the wider storage cavity  2154  near the shield interior surface  2112  allows for the nipple  2146  to be concealed without contacting the shield interior surface  2112  or any portion of the storage cavity  2154  while still allowing the shaft hinge point front surface  2130  to be concealed within the narrower portion of the storage cavity  2154 . No contact between the storage cavity  2154  and the nipple  2146  or the shaft outer member  2142  is shown except for the contact between the shaft hinge point front surface  2130  and the shaft outer member  2142 . 
     It has been discovered that utilizing the membrane  2106  to form the storage cavity  2154  has many unforeseen improvements because the membrane  2106  can be used to precisely determine the distance the shaft  2104  travels, no stopper member is needed to stop the nipple  2146  from retracting too far. This further reduces unsanitary contact between elements and simultaneously reduces manufacturing complexity and part count. The membrane  2106  is shown with the membrane back surface  2138  exposed and the membrane front surface  2136  forming a large portion of the storage cavity  2154 . 
     The membrane  2106  can be inverted to provide the extended configuration by folding at the hinge points. The material thickness at the hinge points is thinner with respect to the rest of the membrane  2106  in order to create a hinge line where the material naturally wants to fold. 
     The shaft hinge point  2128  is shown extend out away from the shaft outer member  2142  and the shaft inner member  2144 . The shield hinge point  2120  is shown extended away from and inline with the shield back surface  2110 . 
     It is contemplated that the shaft hinge point  2128  can contact the entire perimeter of the shaft  2104 , specifically the shaft outer member  2142 . Likewise, the shield hinge point  2120  can contact the shield  2102  in an unbroken connection around the full perimeter of the membrane  2106 . 
     Coupling the shaft  2104  to the shield  2102  with the membrane  2106  without holes therein provides the storage cavity  2154  for sanitary storage and protection of many elements of the pacifier system  2100  such as the nipple  2146  and the shaft  2104 . The unbroken membrane  2106  extending around the shaft outer member  2142  and the shield  2102  can help isolate the storage cavity  2154  from the environment by forming an environmental barrier with the membrane back surface  2138 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 23 , therein is shown a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system  2300  in a fifth embodiment and in the extended configuration. The pacifier system  2300  is shown having a shield  2302  coupled to a shaft  2304  with a membrane  2306 . 
     The shield  2302  can include a shield front surface  2308  and a shield back surface  2310  opposite the shield front surface  2308 . The shield front surface  2308  can be the portion of the pacifier system  2300  facing a user while being use orally. 
     The shield back surface  2310  can be the portion of the pacifier system  2300  facing away from the user while being used orally. The shield  2302  can generally divide the pacifier system  2300  between a front and a back. 
     The shield back surface  2310  and the shield front surface  2308  can both transition into a shield interior surface  2312 . Between the shield interior surface  2312  and the shield front surface  2308 , the shield  2302  can include a shield rounded edge  2314  for smoothly transitioning from the shield front surface  2308  to the shield interior surface  2312  and thereby provide greater comfort to the user. 
     The shield front surface  2308  and the shield back surface  2310  can further transition into a shield peripheral surface  2316 . The shield peripheral surface  2316  is shown being rounded between the shield front surface  2308  and between the shield back surface  2310 . 
     The shield  2302  and the shaft  2304  can be coupled to the membrane  2306  with hinge points. More particularly, the shield  2302  can be coupled to the membrane  2306  with a shield hinge point  2320 . 
     The shield hinge point  2320  can include a shield hinge point front surface  2322  facing the same general direction as the shield front surface  2308 . The shield hinge point  2320  can further include a shield hinge point back surface  2324  generally facing the same direction as the shield back surface  2310 . 
     Furthermore, the membrane  2306  can be coupled to the shaft  2304  with a shaft hinge point  2328 . The shaft hinge point  2328  is shown having a shaft hinge point front surface  2330  generally facing the same direction as the shield front surface  2308 . The shaft hinge point  2328  can also include a shaft hinge point back surface  2332  generally facing the same direction as the shield back surface  2310 . 
     Between the shaft hinge point front surface  2330  and the shield hinge point front surface  2322 , the membrane  2306  can include a membrane front surface  2336  exposed to the front of the pacifier system  2300 . Likewise, between the shaft hinge point back surface  2332  and the shield hinge point back surface  2324 , the membrane  2306  can include a membrane back surface  2338  exposed to the back of the pacifier system  2300 . 
     The coupling of the membrane  2306  to the shaft  2304  by way of the shaft hinge point  2328  can bifurcate the shaft  2304  into a shaft front portion  2342  and a shaft back portion  2344 . The shaft front portion  2342  can extend from the shaft hinge point  2328  up to and include a nipple  2346 . 
     The shaft front portion  2342  can be narrowed down from the shaft hinge point  2328  and have an angle substantially coplanar with membrane back surface  2338  when in the extended configuration. The narrowing of the shaft front portion  2342  from the membrane  2306  to the nipple  2346  can accommodate a larger nipple  2346  for larger mouths. The widening of the shaft front portion  2342  near the shaft hinge point  2328  can further provide a larger surface for larger mouths. 
     The shaft back portion  2344  can extend from the shaft hinge point  2328  up to and include a handle  2348 . The shaft  2304  can be hollow for increased comfort, pliability, and reduced material during manufacturing, which helps to reduce costs. The handle  2348  is also shown as open-ended allowing the inside of the shaft  2304  to be accessible from the handle  2348 . 
     The handle  2348  can be a protrusion handle with a protrusion  2350  extending away from and around the shaft  2304 . Furthermore, the handle  2348  can include a ring  2352  directly attached to the protrusion  2350 . 
     The ring  2352  can be formed as a single piece with the protrusion  2350 , in which case the ring  2352  would bend when moved from its resting position. Other contemplated embodiments can include a hinged ring which would pivot when moved from its resting position. 
     The handle  2348  can be pressed forward toward the shield  2302  placing the pacifier system  2300  in the extended configuration or pulled back away from the shield  2302  placing the pacifier system  2300  in the retracted configuration. As is depicted in the extended configuration, the shaft hinge point front surface  2330  together with the membrane front surface  2336  is extended forward past the shield front surface  2308 . 
     When the pacifier system  2300  is converted from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration, the membrane  2306  will invert as the shaft  2304  is moved toward the back. The conversion from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration can be accomplished as a step rather than a smooth slide. 
     That is the shaft  2304  can be pressed until it reaches a resistance threshold, after which, the shaft  2304  will move forward with little effort at all. It has been discovered that providing the membrane  2306  with the step style movement improves on prior developments that included a sliding action by allowing the pacifier system  2300  to either be in the retracted configuration or in the extended configuration but not in a slidable position therebetween. 
     Providing a step style movement improves cleanliness by reducing the likelihood that the shaft  2304  will partially move when unintended. Furthermore, the pacifier system  2300  will tend not to convert to the extended configuration when the pacifier system  2300  is dropped for example, but can easily do so when the handle  2348  is intentionally pushed and the resistance threshold is overcome. 
     Yet furthermore, the membrane  2306  has been discovered to reduce part count by providing a travel stop for the shaft  2304  when it is pushed into the extended configuration. That is, the membrane  2306  can have a more or less fixed size, and when the handle  2348  is pushed, the shaft  2304  will travel forward until the membrane  2306  is fully inverted with the membrane front surface  2336  exposed. 
     When fully inverted, the membrane  2306  will no longer allow the shaft  2304  to travel forward. This improvement unexpectedly reduces the part count of previous developments which relied on stopper members or similar structures to prevent forward or rearward travel of the shaft  2304 . 
     The membrane  2306  can be inverted when the surfaces of the membrane are put in opposite positions. That is, when the membrane  2306  is in the retracted configuration having the membrane front surface  2336  facing the shaft  2304  and the membrane back surface  2338  facing away from the shaft  2304 , an inverted membrane  2306  would have the membrane back surface  2338  facing the shaft  2304  and the membrane front surface  2336  facing away from the shaft  2304  as is depicted in the extended configuration. 
     Conversely, when the membrane  2306  is in the extended configuration having the membrane front surface  2336  facing away from the shaft  2304  and the membrane back surface  2338  facing toward the shaft  2304 , an inverted membrane  2306  would have the membrane back surface  2338  facing away from the shaft  2304  and the membrane front surface  2336  facing toward the shaft  2304  as is depicted in the retracted configuration of  FIG. 24 , for example. 
     Pulling the handle  2348  backward can retract the shaft front portion  2342  including the nipple  2346  into a storage cavity  2354 . The storage cavity  2354  can be comprised of the shield interior surface  2312  and the membrane front surface  2336 . As shown, in the extended configuration, the shaft hinge point  2328  can extend away from the shaft  2304  and toward the shield  2302  forming an angled step ending in the membrane front surface  2336 . 
     The conversion between the extended configuration and the retracted configuration can be achieved by inverting the membrane  2306  which requires folding at the shield hinge point  2320  and the shaft hinge point  2328 . The material thickness of the shield hinge point  2320  is thinner with respect to the rest of the membrane  2306  in order to create a hinge line where the material naturally wants to fold. As shown, the shield hinge point  2320  can be about half of the cross-sectional thickness of the other portions of the membrane  2306  between the membrane front surface  2336  and the membrane back surface  2338 . 
     The shield hinge point  2320  is shown angled and extend away from and in line with the shield back surface  2310  to contact the membrane  2306 . In the extended configuration, the membrane  2306  can narrow toward the shaft front portion  1542  and widen near the shield hinge point  1520 . 
     The shaft back portion  2344  can be coupled between the shaft hinge point  2328  and the membrane back surface  2338  allowing the shaft back portion  2344  to angle up toward the membrane  2306  and creating a bulge in the shaft  2304  when in the extended configuration. The shaft  2304  can decrease in cross-sectional thickness as it stretches to reach the membrane  2306  in the extended configuration. 
     The bulge in the shaft  2304  can be fully extended beyond the shield front surface  2308  while beginning near the shield rounded edge  2314 . The pacifier system  2300  can be formed as a single piece of material such as silicon, latex, rubber, or other appropriate material. Being formed as a single piece should be understood to mean that the pacifier system  2300  can be formed without adhesive seams or mechanical coupling components such as threaded portions or pins. 
     One such method of forming as a single piece can be through injection molding during which all elements of the pacifier system  2300  can be formed with one single piece of material. The pacifier system  2300  can have characteristics of being formed by injection molding including seams created by an injection mold and surface irregularities created by injection ports. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 24 , therein is shown a cross-sectional view of the pacifier system  2300  of  FIG. 23  in the retracted configuration. The storage cavity  2354  can extend to house the shaft front portion  2342  together with the nipple  2346  when the pacifier system  2300  is in the retracted configuration. The shield rounded edge  2314  can be extended further forward or further past the nipple  2346  for protection. 
     The shield interior surface  2312  can extend between the shield hinge point front surface  2322  to the shield rounded edge  2314 . The storage cavity  2354  can be wider near the shield interior surface  2312  and narrower near the membrane front surface  2336 . It has been discovered that the wider storage cavity  2354  near the shield interior surface  2312  allows for the nipple  2346  to be concealed without contacting the shield interior surface  2312  or any portion of the storage cavity  2354  while still allowing the shaft hinge point front surface  2330  to be concealed within the narrower portion of the storage cavity  2354 . No contact between the storage cavity  2354  and the nipple  2346  or the shaft  2304  is shown except for the contact between the shaft hinge point front surface  2330  and the shaft front portion  2342 . 
     It has been discovered that utilizing the membrane  2306  to form the storage cavity  2354  has many unforeseen improvements because the membrane  2306  can be used to precisely determine the distance the shaft  2304  travels, no stopper member is needed to stop the nipple  2346  from retracting too far. This further reduces unsanitary contact between elements and simultaneously reduces manufacturing complexity and part count. 
     The membrane  2306  is shown with the membrane back surface  2338  exposed and the membrane front surface  2336  forming a large portion of the storage cavity  2354 . The membrane  2306  is shown bisecting the shaft  2304  at the shaft hinge point  2328  between the handle  2348  and he nipple  2346  to create the shaft front portion  2342  and the shaft back portion  2344 . 
     The interior surface of the shaft  2304  is shown having an indentation  2404  at the point where the shaft hinge point  2328  contacts the shaft  2304 . The indentation  2404  can enable the shaft  2304  to stretch and reduce cross-sectional thickness when in the extended configuration. 
     The membrane  2306  can be inverted to provide the extended configuration by folding at the hinge points. The material thickness at the hinge points is thinner with respect to the rest of the membrane  2306  in order to create a hinge line where the material naturally wants to fold. 
     The shaft hinge point  2328  is shown angled and extend over the shaft front portion  2342  toward the shield  2302 . The shield hinge point  2320  is shown extended away from and in line with the shield back surface  2310 . 
     It is contemplated that the shaft hinge point  2328  can contact the entire perimeter of the shaft  2304 , and likewise, the shield hinge point  2320  can contact the shield  2302  in an unbroken connection around the full perimeter of the membrane  2306 . Coupling the shaft  2304  to the shield  2302  with the membrane  2306  without holes therein provides the storage cavity  2354  for sanitary storage and protection of many elements of the pacifier system  2300  such as the nipple  2346  and the shaft  2304 . The unbroken membrane  2306  extending around the shaft  2304  and the shield  2302  can help isolate the storage cavity  2354  from the environment by forming an environmental barrier with the membrane back surface  2338 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 25 , therein is shown a back isometric view of the pacifier system  2500  in a sixth embodiment and in the extended configuration. The pacifier system  2500  is depicted having a shield  2502  and a shaft  2504 . The shield  2502  can include a shield back surface  2510  including a bump stop  2518  for preventing the forward movement of the shaft  2504  when being placed into the extended configuration. 
     The shaft  2504  can include a handle  2548 , such as a protrusion handle, which can align with the bump stop  2518 . As the shaft  2504  is pressed forward toward the shield  2502 , the handle  2548  can contact the bump stop  2518  if pressed too hard and preserve a membrane coupling the shield  2502  to the shaft  2504 . 
     The handle  1548  can be a circular handle with a flat back portion  2550 . The flat back portion  2550  can further include a raised element  2554  providing texture, ready identification, and a pleasing design. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 26 , therein is shown a back isometric view of the pacifier system  2600  in a seventh embodiment and in the extended configuration. The pacifier system  2600  is depicted having a shield  2602  and a shaft  2604 . The shaft  2604  can include a handle  2648  including a protrusion  1550  and a triple ring  1552 . The triple ring  1552  can extend from the protrusion  1550  in three directions and away from the shaft  1504  for increased grip, which is important when users are still developing fine motor skills. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 27 , therein is shown a flow chart of a method of manufacturing the pacifier system  100  of  FIG. 1 . The method can include: forming a shield in a block  2702 ; forming a shaft coupled to the shield in a block  2704 ; forming a nipple coupled to the shaft in a block  2706 ; and forming a membrane coupled between the shield and the shaft, the membrane providing a retracted configuration creating a storage cavity for the nipple based on the shaft being pulled away from the shield, and the membrane providing an extended configuration with the nipple exposed and extended past the shield based on the shaft being pressed toward the shield and the membrane inverting from the retracted configuration in a block  2708 . 
     In one or more contemplated embodiment, the pacifier system can comprise: a shield; a shaft coupled to the shield; a nipple coupled to the shaft; and a membrane coupled between the shield and the shaft, the membrane forming a storage cavity for the nipple based on the shaft being pulled away from the shield, and the nipple being exposed based on the shaft being pressed toward the shield and the membrane inverting. Wherein the the shield includes a shield interior surface, and the shield interior surface forming a portion of the storage cavity; the membrane is coupled to the shaft with a shaft hinge point having a smaller cross-sectional thickness than the membrane; the membrane is coupled to the shield with a shield hinge point having a smaller cross-sectional thickness than the membrane; and further comprising a handle coupled to the shaft. 
     In one or more contemplated embodiment, the pacifier system can comprise: a shield; a shaft coupled to the shield, the shaft having a nipple and a handle; and a membrane coupled between the shield and the shaft, the membrane coupled to the shaft between the nipple and the handle, the membrane forming a storage cavity for the nipple based on the handle being pulled away from the shield, and the nipple being exposed based on the handle being pressed toward the shield and the membrane inverting. Wherein the handle is a protrusion handle extended radially away from the shaft; the system of claim  6  wherein the shield, the shaft, and the membrane are formed as a single piece; the system of claim  6  wherein the shield, the shaft, and the membrane are formed of silicone; and the system of claim  6  wherein the membrane is coupled to a shield back surface with a shield hinge point. 
     A method of manufacturing one or more contemplated embodiment of the pacifier system can comprise: forming a shield; forming a shaft coupled to the shield; forming a nipple coupled to the shaft; and forming a membrane coupled between the shield and the shaft, the membrane forming a storage cavity for the nipple based on the shaft being pulled away from the shield, and the nipple being exposed based on the shaft being pressed toward the shield and the membrane inverting. Wherein forming the shield includes a forming shield interior surface, and the shield interior surface providing a portion of the storage cavity; forming the membrane includes forming the membrane coupled to the shaft with a shaft hinge point having a smaller cross-sectional thickness than the membrane; forming the membrane includes forming the membrane coupled to the shield with a shield hinge point having a smaller cross-sectional thickness than the membrane; and further comprising forming a handle coupled to the shaft. 
     The method of manufacturing one or more contemplated embodiment of the pacifier system can further comprise: forming the shaft having a nipple and a handle; and forming the membrane coupled to the shaft between the nipple and the handle, the membrane providing the storage cavity for the nipple based on the handle being pulled away from the shield, and the nipple being exposed based on the handle being pressed toward the shield and the membrane inverting. Wherein forming the handle includes forming a protrusion handle extended radially away from the shaft; forming the shield, the shaft, and the membrane includes forming the shield, the shaft, and the membrane formed as a single piece; forming the shield, the shaft, and the membrane includes forming the shield, the shaft, and the membrane of silicone; and forming the membrane includes forming the membrane coupled to a shield back surface with a shield hinge point. 
     Thus, it has been discovered that the pacifier system furnishes important and heretofore unknown and unavailable solutions, capabilities, and functional aspects. The resulting configurations are straightforward, sanitary, simple, and cost-effective, uncomplicated, and effective, and can be implemented by adapting known components for ready, efficient, and economical manufacturing, application, and utilization. 
     While the pacifier system has been described in conjunction with a specific best mode, it is to be understood that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the preceding description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations, which fall within the scope of the included claims. All matters set forth herein or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted in an illustrative and non-limiting sense.