Patent Publication Number: US-11638679-B2

Title: Combined toy and pacifier assembly and pacifier attachment device for use therein

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present application relates to a combined toy and pacifier assembly and a pacifier attachment device for use therein and, in particular, to a pacifier attachment device that universally couples a toy to a pacifier. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Pacifiers are commonly used for small children. Due to the small size of most pacifiers, it is difficult for a child to locate the pacifier in his or her playpen or crib. Moreover, conventional pacifiers can easily fall through the slats in the child&#39;s crib or playpen. In order to reduce the risk of the pacifier falling through the slats of the crib or playpen and to enable a child to easily locate the pacifier in his or her crib or playpen, U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,740 describes a pacifier is securely attached to a stuffed toy which may be in the form of an animal or other geometric shape. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an improved combination of a pacifier with a stuffed toy and specifically, the attachment device for attaching the pacifier to the stuffed toy. 
     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a pacifier attachment device that universally couples a toy to a pacifier. 
     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a pacifier attachment device that removably couples a toy to a pacifier such that the pacifier may be easily replaced, or the toy may be washed without the pacifier attached, or the pacifier may be washed without also washing the toy. 
     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a combined toy and pacifier assembly that increases a child&#39;s enjoyment and entertainment of using a pacifier by coupling a toy, such as, a stuffed-animal or a stuffed geometric shape, to the pacifier. 
     The above and other objectives of the present invention are achieved by a pacifier attachment device comprising: a pacifier attachment device for releasably attaching a pacifier to a toy, the pacifier attachment device comprising an integrally-formed substrate formed from a flexible and elastic polymer material, wherein the integrally formed substrate includes a strap having a first strap portion and a second strap portion, and a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling the first strap portion with the second strap portion, said coupling mechanism being integrally formed with the strap. The strap includes a hinge portion between the first and second strap portions. In some embodiments, the hinge portion is a living hinge and wherein the hinge portion has a first thickness and the first and second strap portions have a second thickness greater than the first thickness. In other embodiments, the hinge portion has the same thickness as the first and second strap portions. 
     In certain embodiments, the coupling mechanism comprises a post member extending from a surface of the first strap portion, and a through opening provided in the second strap portion, the post member includes a locking end portion. The locking end portion has a greater span than the remainder of the post member and a greater span than a size of the through opening, and the post member is adapted to be inserted into the through opening so as to releasably retain the second strap portion between the first strap portion and the locking end portion of the post member. In certain embodiments, the post member and the through opening are disposed on their respective first and second strap portions at substantially equal distances from the hinge portion. 
     In certain embodiments, one of the first and second strap portions has a greater length than the other of the first and second strap portions, and the one of the first and second strap portions includes first and second retaining tabs extending from its opposing side edges and provided adjacent a free end of the one of the first and second strap portions. In such embodiments, the first and second retaining tabs are adapted to be inserted into a toy and to be retained within the toy when the pacifier attachment device is securely coupled with the toy. In some embodiments, each of the first and second retaining tabs has a T shape. 
     In some embodiments, wherein the flexible and elastic polymer material includes one or more of silicone, plastic, resin and rubber. In addition, the locking end portion is dome shaped. 
     A toy assembly adapted to be releasably coupled to a pacifier is also described. The toy assembly includes a three-dimensional plush toy, and the above-described pacifier attachment device securely coupled with the plush toy. The plush toy may have a three-dimensional animal shape including at least a body and a head extending from the body in a longitudinal direction, and the pacifier attachment device is securely coupled to the head of the plush toy and extends from the head of the plush toy substantially in the longitudinal direction. 
     Moreover, a combined toy and pacifier assembly is described. The combined toy and pacifier comprises a toy, a pacifier comprising a connector with a through aperture, a pacifier base and a pacifier nipple, wherein the connector is coupled to a first surface of the pacifier base and the pacifier nipple extends from a second surface of the pacifier base opposing the first surface, and the pacifier attachment device securely coupled with the toy. The toy is releasably coupled with the pacifier using the pacifier attachment device by passing the strap of the pacifier attachment device through the aperture in the connector of the pacifier and releasably coupling the first portion of the strap with the second portion of the strap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features and aspects of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a right front perspective view of a combined toy and pacifier assembly including a pacifier attachment device, a pacifier and a toy; 
         FIG.  2    is a bottom view of the combined toy and pacifier assembly; 
         FIG.  3    is a top view of the combined toy and pacifier assembly; 
         FIG.  4    is a right side view of the combined toy and pacifier assembly; 
         FIG.  5    is left side view of the combined toy and pacifier assembly; 
         FIG.  6    is right front perspective view of the combined toy and pacifier assembly with the pacifier removed; 
         FIG.  7    is a right front perspective view of the pacifier attachment device; 
         FIG.  8    is a bottom view of the pacifier attachment device; and 
         FIG.  9    a left front perspective view of the pacifier attachment device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description of certain embodiments will be made in reference to the accompanying drawings. In the detailed description, explanation about related functions or constructions known in the art are omitted for the sake of clearness in understanding the concept of the invention, to avoid obscuring the invention with unnecessary detail. 
       FIGS.  1 - 6    illustrate various s of a combined toy and pacifier assembly  100 . The combined toy and pacifier assembly  100  includes a plush toy  105 , a pacifier attachment device  110 , and a pacifier  115 . The toy  103  is exemplary illustrated as a stuffed-animal duck, though it may be any animal, any geometric shape, any three-dimensional shape or any other toy suitable for a young child, particularly for an infant. As further described herein, the combined toy and pacifier assembly  100  is designed to attach the toy universally to any pacifier including a pacifier ring or including any other suitable attachment member or connector, such as a loop or an opening through which the pacifier attachment device  110  may be passed. As shown in  FIGS.  1 - 6   , the stuffed-animal toy  105  includes a head, a body and four legs, and the pacifier attachment device  110  is coupled to the head of the stuffed animal toy, and in particular, to a projecting portion of the head of the stuffed animal toy, such as a duck bill. 
     The assembly  100  of the invention may be sold as the combined toy and pacifier assembly shown in  FIGS.  1 - 6   . In some cases, a plush toy assembly including the toy with the pacifier attachment device, and not eluding the pacifier, may be provided so that a user can use any pacifier already owned by the user e plush toy assembly. In yet other cases, the plush toy assembly may be sold together with the pacifier but can also be used with other pacifiers. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1 - 6   , the pacifier  115  includes a pacifier ring  116 , a pacifier base  117  and a pacifier nipple  118 . The pacifier base  117  comprises a substantially flat annular ring-shaped member or flange and includes a first surface and a second opposing surface. As discussed above, the pacifier ring  116  comprises a ring-shaped member or any other suitable attachment member that includes a loop or an opening through which the pacifier attachment device  110  may be passed. The pacifier ring  116  is coupled to the first surface of the pacifier base  117  using a suitable coupling mechanism, and the pacifier nipple  118  is coupled to, or extends from, the second, opposing, surface of the pacifier base  117 . The pacifier ring  116  may be coupled to the pacifier base  117  so as to allow the pacifier ring to rotate relative to the pacifier base  117  and/or to otherwise move  116  relative to the pacifier base  117  within a certain movement range. 
     The pacifier  115  to be coupled to the plush toy  105  may be any suitable pacifier used by young children. As further described herein, the pacifier attachment device  110  is securely coupled to the toy  105  and can be releasably coupled to the pacifier  115 . When the toy  105  is coupled to the pacifier  115  via the pacifier attachment device, the pacifier  115  can be inserted into a child&#39;s mouth and the child can play with, or otherwise be entertained by, the toy  105 . In addition, the child can hold the toy so as to prevent losing the pacifier, and due to the larger size of the combined toy and pacifier assembly, the assembly is prevented from falling through the slats of the child&#39;s crib or playpen. 
       FIGS.  7 - 9    illustrate various views of the pacifier attachment device  110 . The pacifier attachment device  110  includes a strap member  120 , a post member  125 , an opening or a through aperture  130 , a first tab member  135  and a second tab member  137 . The first and second tab member  135 ,  137  extend from side edges of the strap member  120  at one end of the strap member  120 . 
     The strap member  120  includes a first strap portion  140  and a second strap portion  145  with a hinge portion  150  disposed therebetween. The strap member  120 , and each component of the strap member  120 , is constructed from an elastic and flexible material, such as plastic, rubber, silicone, or other suitable material, which is preferably water proof or water resistant. In the illustrative embodiment shown in  FIGS.  7 - 9   , the first and second straps  140 ,  145  are integrally formed with the hinge portion  150  of the strap member  120 . 
     In some embodiments, the coupling mechanism for coupling the first and second straps  140 ,  145  as well as the first and second tab members  135 ,  137  are integrally formed with the strap member  120 . The coupling mechanism shown in  FIGS.  7 - 9    includes the post  125  and the aperture  130 . Natural polymer materials, such as rubber, synthetic polymer materials, such as plastic, silicone, resins, mixtures of such materials or any other suitable flexible elastic, and preferably water proof, materials may be used for forming the integral components of the pacifier attachment device  110 . Methods such as injection molding, compression molding or any other suitable techniques may be used to form the pacifier attachment device  110 . By forming the pacifier attachment device  110  as a singular integral piece, the present invention avoids use of small parts and pieces that may become detached from the pacifier attachment device and avoids use of adhesives or other coupling materials. 
     The first strap portion  140  includes a first strap end  141  and first side edges  142 . The second strap portion  145  includes a second strap end  146  and second side edges  147 . In some embodiments, a width of the first strap portion  140  is substantially equal to a width of the second strap portion  145 . As shown in  FIG.  8   , the length of the first strap portion is smaller than the length  140  of the second strap portion  145 . The second strap portion  145  includes the first and second tab members  135 ,  137  extending from its side edges  147  at the end portion that extends beyond the length of the first strap portion  140 . The tab members are described in more detail below. 
     The hinge portion  150  of the strap member is bendable so as to allow the first and second strap portions to bend relative to one another as shown in  FIGS.  7  and  9   . Although in the embodiment shown in  FIG.  7   , the thickness of the hinge portion  150  is substantially the same as the thicknesses of the first and second strap portions  140 ,  145 , in other embodiments, the thickness of the hinge portion  150  may be made smaller than the thicknesses of the first and second strap portions  140 ,  145  to form a living hinge. In such embodiments, the thickness of the hinge portion  150  may be reduced by forming a recess or a notch in the hinge portion  150 , preferably on the same surface of the hinge portion  150  as the surface of the first strap portion  140  from which the post member  125  extends. Also in some embodiments, the width of the hinge portion  150  may be made smaller than the width of the first and second strap portions  140 ,  145 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  9   , the post member  125  includes a support portion  155  and a locking end portion  160  extending from the support portion  155 . The support portion  150  extends from, and is coupled to, the first strap portion  140 , and in some illustrative embodiments, the support portion  155  is integrally formed with the first strap portion  140 . In the illustrative embodiment shown in  FIG.  9   , the support portion  155  has a cylindrical shape. However, in other embodiments, the shape of the support portion  155  is not limited to the cylindrical shape, and other shapes may be used, such as far example a support portion with a square or rectangular cross-section. The support portion  155  may be disposed in a central area of the first strap portion  140  and extends from one of the surfaces of the first strap portion  140 . However, in some embodiments, the support portion  155  may be disposed at a position closer to the first strap end  141  or closer to the hinge portion  150 . The looking end portion  160  shown in the illustrative embodiment of  FIGS.  7  and  9    comprises a dome shape with a rounded top so that the support portion  155  and the locking end portion  160  have an overall mushroom shape. However, in other embodiments, other shapes of the locking end portion  160  may be used, such as a pyramid shape with an angled top surface or other suitable shapes. The locking end portion  160  is integrally formed with the support portion  155 . 
     As shown, the locking end portion  160  has a span or width that is greater than a span or width of the support portion  155  and is greater than the remainder of the post member  125 . The span or width of the locking end portion  160  is also greater than a diameter or width of the aperture  130 . In some embodiments, the span or width of the support portion  155  is substantially the same or smaller than the diameter or width of the aperture  130 . 
     The aperture  130 , which is a through aperture, is disposed in a central area of the second strap portion  145  that aligns with the position of the post member  125  when the hinge portion  150  is in a bent state and first and second strap portions  140 ,  145  abut one another. As discussed above, the post member  125  may be positioned closer or further away from the hinge portion  150 . In such cases, the position of the aperture  130  in the second strap portion  145  is correspondingly shifted so as to align with the post member  125  when the first and second strap portions  140 ,  145  are moved to abut one another. In such configurations, the post member  125 , and specifically, the support portion  155 , and the aperture  130  are each disposed on their respective first and second strap portions  140 ,  145  at substantially equal distances from the hinge portion  150 . 
     Although in the attachment device of  FIGS.  7 - 9   , the post member  125  extends from the first strap portion  140  and the aperture  130  passes through the second strap portion  145 , in other embodiments, the post member  125  may be provided to extend from the second strap portion  145  and the aperture  130  may pass through the first strap portion  140 . In either configuration, when the strap member  120  is bent about the hinge portion  150  and a length of the first strap portion  140  is disposed parallel to a length of the second strap portion  145 , the locking end portion  160  is aligned with the through aperture  130  and is positioned to be inserted into the aperture  130 . 
     The locking end portion  160  is constructed from a material that is sufficiently flexible and elastic so as to squeeze through the aperture  130 , but also sufficiently rigid so that the second strap portion  145  is secured between the locking end portion  160  and the first strap portion  140  in a locked position. In the embodiments in which the post member  125  is provided on the second strap portion  145  and the aperture is provided in the first strap portion  140 , the first strap portion  140  is releasably secured between the locking end portion and the second strap portion  145 . 
     As a result, the locking, end portion  160  releasably locks the second strap portion relative to the first strap portion. The locking end portion  160  therefore removably holds the first strap portion  140  and the second strap portion  145  together, so as to enable releasable locking of the strap member  120  around the pacifier ring  116 . This construction allows releasing of the locking between the locking end portion  160  and the aperture by squeezing the flexible and elastic locking end portion  160  and passing it through the aperture  130  so as to release the post member  125  from the aperture  130 . This allows the strap member  120  to be disengaged from the pacifier ring. 
     The above-described construction of the pacifier attachment device allows for attachment and detachment of the pacifier to and from the toy so as to allow washing/cleaning of either the pacifier or the toy separately, and to allow for replacement of the pacifier with a new one to be attached to the toy. 
     In the attachment device of  FIGS.  7 - 9   , the first tab member  135  and the second tab member  137  extend in opposite directions from the second side edges  147  adjacent to the second strap end  146  of the second strap portion  145 . In other embodiments, the first and second tab members  135 ,  137  may instead extend from the side edges  142  of the first strap portion  140  near the strap end  141 . In the illustrative embodiment shown in  FIGS.  7 - 9   , each of the first and second tab members  135 ,  137  has a T-shape, each of the tab members comprising a central projection extending from the respective side edge  147  of the second strap, and side projections extending from opposing side edges adjacent an outer edge of the central projection. 
     As discussed above, when the first strap portion  140  and the second strap portion  145  are coupled together, the second strap end  146  extends beyond the first strap end  141  and the tab members  135 ,  137  extend from the second strap end  146  that extends beyond the first strap end. When the pacifier attachment device  110  is secured to the toy, the tab members  135 ,  137  are disposed inside the toy&#39;s outer envelope and assist in retaining the pacifier attachment device  110  attached to the toy  105 . The T-shape of the tab members in the embodiment shown further assists in securely retaining the attachment between the pacifier attachment device  110  and the toy  105 . In other embodiments, the shape of the first and second tab members  135 ,  137  may be any other suitable shape that allows for the first tab member  135  and the second tab member  137  to secure the strap member  120  to the toy  105 . 
     In order to secure the strap member  120  to the toy  105 , the strap end with the tab members, i.e., the second strap end  146  in  FIGS.  7 - 9   , is inserted between two pieces of open fabric in the toy  105 . For example, as illustrated in  FIGS.  1 - 6   , the second strap end  146  is inserted between two pieces of fabric forming the mouth or duck bill of the toy  105 . However, in other embodiments, the second strap end  146  may be inserted into any location of the toy  105  that is suitable for securing the strap member  120  to the toy  105 . The pieces of open fabric are then stitched together around the first tab member  135  and the second tab member  137 , thereby securing the strap member  120  to the toy  105 . In some embodiments, the stitching does not pass through the strap member  120 , while in other embodiments, additional stitching may be provided to stitch the strap member to the outer envelope of the toy  105 . In other embodiments, adhesive bonding, stitching or other means of securing the toy to the strap member  120  or a combination of these methods may be used in addition to, or instead of, the method described above. 
     Moreover, while in the illustrative embodiment of  FIGS.  7 - 9   , the first and second tab members are provided on the second strap end  126 , in other embodiments, the tab members may be provided on the first strap end  141  so that the first strap portion  140  is attached to the toy. 
     While embodiments of the invention have been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.