Patent Publication Number: US-6221093-B1

Title: Infant pacifier and pillow

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to infant pacifiers and more particularly pertains to a new infant pacifier and pillow for removably attaching a pacifier to a pillow. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of infant pacifiers is known in the prior art. More specifically, infant pacifiers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,014; U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,113; U.S. Pat. Des. No. 380,268; U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,589; U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,355; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,475,923. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new infant pacifier and pillow. The inventive device includes a cushion for removably attaching a pacifier to. The cushion comprises a pillow and a covering. The pillow is compressible and the covering encases the pillow. A pacifier for pacifying an infant comprises a nipple and a base. The base has a first side and a second side. At least one clip for receiving a strap is affixed to and extends away from the second side of the base of the pacifier. A bore for receiving a nipple is in the base. The nipple is elongate having a distal portion and a proximal portion. The distal portion of the nipple is fixedly coupled in the bore of the base. A strap for securing the pacifier to the cushion is secured by the clip to the base. The strap has two ends. Each of the ends has a fastener means thereon such that the first and second ends of the strap are fastenable together. 
     In these respects, the infant pacifier and pillow according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of removably attaching a pacifier to a pillow. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of infant pacifiers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new infant pacifier and pillow construction wherein the same can be utilized for removably attaching a pacifier to a pillow. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new infant pacifier and pillow apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the infant pacifiers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new infant pacifier and pillow which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art infant pacifiers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a cushion for removably attaching a pacifier to. The cushion comprises a pillow and a covering. The pillow is compressible and the covering encases the pillow. A pacifier for pacifying an infant comprises a nipple and a base. The base has a first side and a second side. At least one clip for receiving a strap is affixed to and extends away from the second side of the base of the pacifier. A bore for receiving a nipple is in the base. The nipple is elongate having a distal portion and a proximal portion. The distal portion of the nipple is fixedly coupled in the bore of the base. A strap for securing the pacifier to the cushion is secured by the clip to the base. The strap has two ends. Each of the ends has a fastener means thereon such that the first and second ends of the strap are fastenable together. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new infant pacifier and pillow apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the infant pacifiers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new infant pacifier and pillow which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art infant pacifiers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new infant pacifier and pillow which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new infant pacifier and pillow which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new infant pacifier and pillow which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such infant pacifier and pillow economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new infant pacifier and pillow which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new infant pacifier and pillow for removably attaching a pacifier to a pillow. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new infant pacifier and pillow which includes a cushion for removably attaching a pacifier to. The cushion comprises a pillow and a covering. The pillow is compressible and the covering encases the pillow. A pacifier for pacifying an infant comprises a nipple and a base. The base has a first side and a second side. At least one clip for receiving a strap is affixed to and extends away from the second side of the base of the pacifier. A bore for receiving a nipple is in the base. The nipple is elongate having a distal portion and a proximal portion. The distal portion of the nipple is fixedly coupled in the bore of the base. A strap for securing the pacifier to the cushion is secured by the clip to the base. The strap has two ends. Each of the ends has a fastener means thereon such that the first and second ends of the strap are fastenable together. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new infant pacifier and pillow that has a pacifier that is completely removable from the pillow so that the pillow is a toy by itself. Further the strap can be removed from the pacifier such that the pacifier is replaceable with other pacifiers. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new infant pacifier and pillow that has a fixed covering having indicia thereon to further enhance the enjoyment of the pacifier and pillow for the infant. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new infant pacifier and pillow according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, a new infant pacifier and pillow embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the infant pacifier and pillow  10  generally comprises a cushion for removably attaching a pacifier to. The cushion comprises a pillow  12  and a covering  14 . Preferably, the pillow  12  is compressible and is generally cylindrical in shape. The preferred embodiment of the pillow has first  16  and second opposing ends  18 , wherein the first and second opposing ends of the pillow are oriented generally parallel to each other. Ideally, the pillow is comprised of material selected from the group comprising foamed rubber material and cotton. The covering  14  encases the pillow. Preferably, the covering is made from material selected from the group consisting of cotton, rayon, silk or nylon. 
     In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of indicia  20  is located on an outer surface of the covering. The preferred embodiment depicts letters of the alphabet. 
     A pacifier  22  for pacifying an infant comprises a base  26  and a nipple  24 . The base  26  has a first side  28  and a second side  30 . The first side  28  and the second side  30  of the base are generally oval shaped. Preferably, the first side of the base is generally concave, and the second side of the base is generally convex. 
     A pair of clips  32  for receiving a strap are affixed to and extend away from the second side of the base of the pacifier. 
     A bore  34  for receiving a nipple is preferably in a central portion of the base  26 . 
     The nipple  24  is elongate having a distal portion  40  and proximal portion  42 . A first annular ridge  44  and a second annular ridge  46  are formed on the distal portion. The first annular ridge  44  is located between the second annular ridge and the proximal  42  portion of the nipple. The first and second annular ridges are adapted to secure the distal portion of the nipple in the bore  34  of the base such that the second annular ridge  46  is adjacent to the second side  30  of the base and the first annular ridge  44  is adjacent to the first side  28  of the base. The proximal portion  42  of the nipple extends away from the first annular ridge  44 . The proximal portion is generally bulbous shaped. 
     A strap  50  for securing the pacifier to the cushion is elongate and generally rectangular. The strap has a first end  52  and a second end  54 . The strap has a top surface  56  and a bottom surface  58 . A portion of the strap between the first and second ends of the strap is positioned between and secured by the pair of clips  32 . Preferably, the bottom surface  58  of the second end  54  of the strap has a hook and loop fastener means thereon, and the top surface  56  of the first end  52  of the strap has a hook and loop fastener means thereon. 
     In use, the pacifier  22  is strapped to the pillow  12  by way of the hook and loop fastening means. The pillow allows comfort for the infant who may grasp the pillow while sucking on the pacifier  22 . The indicia  20  on the pillow are preferably colorful and will aid in entertaining and pacifying the infant. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.