Patent Publication Number: US-6905507-B2

Title: Teething pacifier

Description:
The present application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/620,501, filed Jul. 20, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,536. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates in general to pacifiers and, more particularly, to pacifiers which include a teething material associated therewith. 
   2. Background Art 
   Pacifiers which incorporate a teething material have been known in the art for many years. In particular, several of these pacifiers have included a teething ring positioned opposite a pacifying nipple to service both the pacifying and teething needs of an infant. Certain of these prior devices have even included contoured teething surfaces on the handle. 
   For instance, Verschoor, U.S. Pat. No. 3,267,937, discloses a ring pacifier having a nipple, a cap and a ring handle. The ring handle is made of teething material and further includes protuberances which are shaped as small ovals. The oval protuberances are spaced apart from each on both the top and bottom surfaces of the teething ring. Notably, the protuberances are simply raised portions of the teething ring, and consist of the same material as the underlying ring substrate. 
   Likewise, Colm, U.S. Pat. No. 2,717,603, discloses a teething pacifier having a nipple, a guard and a ring swingably mounted on a hub which extends from the rear side of the pacifier guard. The ring varies in width, having a larger diameter toward the middle and decreasing in diameter toward the split ends which connect into the hub. The ring is constructed of a teething material, and further includes ribs to provide a gum massaging location for an infant. The ribs are spaced apart and concentrated on the wider middle portion of the handle. However, the ribs do not extend around the entirety of the handle and thus leave portions of the teething ring without any contoured teething surface. Further, the ribs are simply extensions of the underlying teething material, not a distinct teething material. 
   Also somewhat similarly, Herbst, U.S. Pat. No. 3,669,117, describes a combination teether/pacifier device having a nipple, a guard and a teething ring portion. Each side of the teething ring includes inset curved wall portions emanating from the inside of the ring which are designed to contour to an infant&#39;s mouth. Each of those insets further includes spaced protuberances to form a roughened teething surface for an infant. Again, like the roughened or contoured surfaces in both Verschoor and Colm, the spaced protuberances are formed from the same material as the underlying ring. Moreover, the selective pattern of teething material is concentrated near the guard, a potentially undesirable location given an infant&#39;s propensity to put the entire pacifier into his or her mouth. 
   Accordingly, it is a goal in the art to provide a pacifier with a pacifying handle or ring which incorporates at least two different teething materials to increase an infant&#39;s teething experience, which different teething materials provide an infant with a different and varied teething feel on his or her gums. 
   It is also desirable to provide two different teething materials in an alternating pattern whereby an infant can access regions of both teething materials. 
   It is a further goal in the art to provide a pacifier with a teething handle which specifically directs an infants teething activities away from the guard or shield portion of the pacifier. Inasmuch as infants often have a propensity to place the entire guard or shield into their mouth, thus creating potentially dangerous situations, arranging the teething material on the teething handle to focus an infant away from the point where that handle connects with the guard or shield is desirable. 
   It is yet a further goal in the art to provide teething portions which are specifically textured or contoured to provide an infant with yet additional teething sensation. 
   These and other desirous characteristics of the present invention will become readily apparent in light of the present specification (including claims) and drawings. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a teething pacifier comprising a pacifier guard having two opposing sides, a nipple and a teething handle. The nipple extends from one side of the pacifier guard, while a connection hub is associated with the opposing side. The teething handle is pivotally connected to the hub, and includes a first teething material having a first hardness, and a second teething material having a hardness substantially similar to that of the first teething material. The handle preferably further includes a proximal portion positioned proximate the pacifier guard and a distal portion positionable away from the pacifier guard. 
   In one embodiment, the first and second teething materials are substantially hard. In another embodiment, the first and second teething materials are substantially soft. 
   The second teething material is molded over the first teething material to create a varied teething surface on the handle for infant teething thereon. The second teething material is preferably integrally bonded to first teething material 
   The first teething material may further include at least one recess into which the second teething material is molded. In an embodiment, the recess extends around the substantial entirety of the handle circumference. The second teething material may likewise extend around the substantial entirety of the handle circumference at one or multiple locations on the handle. Also in an embodiment, a portion of the second teething material extends above the surface of the first teething material. 
   Alternatively to or in addition to the at least one recess, the first teething material may further include other overmold enhancing surfaces to facilitate securing the second teething material to the handle. In one embodiment, the overmold enhancing surface includes a keyway extending around the handle for anchoring the second teething material to the handle. In another embodiment, the overmold enhancing surface includes at least one flat face extending at least partially around the handle. 
   The second teething material may be molded over the first teething material in at least two distinct regions on the handle to expose at least one region of first teething material. In an embodiment, the handle includes alternating regions of first teething material and second teething material. In another embodiment, at least two of the alternating regions of second teething material are at least partially connected by at least one region of second teething material. 
   In an embodiment, the second teething material takes the form of bands which expose at least one region of the first teething material. The bands may be spaced apart so as to create alternating regions of first and second teething material. Also in an embodiment, the overmolded bands decrease in width toward the proximal portion of the handle to direct an infant to teethe on the distal end of the handle—away from the pacifier guard. In yet another embodiment, one or more of the bands include a textured teething surface, such as bumps, protuberances, ridges, grooves, or knobs to provide an enhanced teething surface. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a teething pacifier according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the teething pacifier shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the teething pacifier shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the teething pacifier shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the handle of the teething pacifier shown in  FIG. 1  taken along the lines  5 — 5 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the teething pacifier shown in  FIG. 1  with the handle pivoted upwardly; 
       FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of a teething pacifier according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of a teething pacifier according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of the handle of the teething pacifier shown in  FIG. 8  taken along the lines  9 — 9 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of a teething pacifier according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a rear elevational view of a teething pacifier according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the handle of the teething pacifier shown in  FIG. 11 , taken along the lines  12 — 12 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the handle of the teething pacifier shown in  FIG. 11 , taken along the lines  13 — 13 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a rear elevational view of a teething pacifier according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 15  is a rear elevational view of a teething pacifier according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the handle of the teething pacifier shown in  FIG. 15 , taken along the lines  16 — 16 ; 
       FIG. 17  is a rear elevational view of a teething pacifier according to still another embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of the handle of a teething pacifier shown in  FIG. 17 , taken along the lines  18 — 18 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
   While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
   Pacifier  20  is shown in  FIGS. 1-6  as comprising guard  22 , nipple  24  and handle  26 . At the outset, it is noted that while the guard and nipple portions of teething pacifier  20  are shown in the drawings as having a specific construction and configuration, it is contemplated that any nipple and/or guard may be used in combination with the present invention—as long as a handle or teething element may be attached to some portion of the guard and/or nipple. Moreover, throughout this description and the drawings, like parts will be designated by like reference numerals. 
   Guard  22  is shown in  FIGS. 1-6  as comprising first side  27 , second side  28 , apertures  29  and connection hub  30 . As is well known in the art, apertures allow air to pass through guard  22  to help aerate the area of an infant&#39;s face contacted by guard  22  when an infant is sucking on nipple  24 . To this end, apertures  29  make take any form, as well as any shape and dimension, to further this end. Nipple  24  preferably extends from first side  27  of guard  22 , while connection hub  30  preferably extends from opposing second side  28  of guard  22 . 
   Connection hub  30  includes first side portion  32  and second side portion  34 . Connection hub  30  preferably includes apertures in both first side portion  32  and second side portion  34  to pivotally accept handle  26 . Those apertures may extend through the entirety of hub to create one throughway for handle  26 , or may extend only partially into the first and second side portions of connection hub  30  as sockets, depending on construction of handle  26 . Certainly, those with ordinary skill in the art with the present disclosure before them will recognize that hub may be constructed in any number of ways to allow the handle to be pivotably connected to the connection hub. 
   Further, while guard  22  is shown in all of the figures, it is contemplated that nipple  24  may be directly connected to connection hub  30 , either through guard  22 , or without any guard at all. In a scenario where the teething pacifier includes no guard, the connection hub or other handle receiving structure may act as a separation barrier between the nipple and the handle. Further, it is also contemplated that the guard is constructed in such a way as to obviate the need for a connection hub. In particular, the handle may be connected directly to the guard, while preferably maintaining pivotal movement of the handle relative to the guard. 
   Handle  26  is shown in  FIGS. 1-6  as comprising proximal portion  36 , distal portion  38 , substrate  40  and overmold  42 . Proximal portion  36  is positioned proximate connection hub  30 , at the point where handle  26  enters into connection hub. Proximal portion  36  includes first proximal portion  44  positioned proximate first side portion  32  of connection hub  30 , and second proximal portion  46  positioned proximate second side portion  34  of connection hub  30 . Notably, handle  26  may be constructed as a complete ring which extends entirely through connection hub  30 , or, in the alternative, as a C-shaped piece with two distinct ends. With a C-shaped handle construction having two ends, connection hub  30  may include sockets in both first side portion  32  and second side portion  34  to receive the free ends of the handle. However, in any handle construction, and is shown in comparing  FIGS. 1 and 6 , handle  26  is preferably pivotal relative to connection hub  30  and guard  22  to provide for teething on the handle in multiple handle orientations. 
   Distal portion  38  of handle  26  is positioned opposite connection hub  30 , and is preferably a portion of handle  26  which remains most remote from guard  22 . As can be seen from examining  FIGS. 1-4  and  6 , distal portion  38  of handle  26  preferably includes a larger diameter than proximal portion  36 . The larger diameter of distal portion  38  provides a larger teething surface for an infant, thus helping to direct an infant to teethe on distal portion  38  of handle  26 . Additionally, a varying handle diameter also provides an infant with additional shape and contour options in the teething process. However, it is certainly contemplated that handle  26  may be of a uniform diameter. It must also be noted that while handle  26  is shown taking a substantially ring or C-shaped configuration, handle  26  may likewise comprise a square, rectangle, or any other shape as would be contemplated by those with ordinary skill in the art. Further, while handle is shown as having a substantially round cross section, such as that shown in  FIG. 5 , that cross section may comprise any number of shapes or surface contours, depending on specific teething application. 
   Substrate  40 , shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , preferably comprises first teething material  50 . In the teething pacifier shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , first teething material  50  preferably comprises a rigid material, such as ABS, polycarbonate or polypropoleyne. Those with ordinary skill in the art will recognize that such a hard, rigid material functions as a desirable teething surface for infants. Further, as touched upon above, substrate  40  may vary in diameter to provide varying surface areas of teething material progressing from distal portion  38  of handle  26  to proximal portion  36  of the handle. 
   Overmold  42 , also shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , preferably comprises second teething material  52 . In contrast to the harder, rigid first teething material  50 , second teething material  52  is preferably formed from a softer material, such as dynaflex. Second teething material  52  provides a teething variation from first teething material  50 , allowing an infant to teethe on either or both of first teething material  50  and second teething material  52 , depending on infant preference, stage of tooth development, etc. 
   Second teething material  52  preferably comprises a series of bands  60 ,  62   a  and  b ,  64   a  and  b , and  66   a  and  b  molded over first teething material  50 . The bands preferably wrap around the entirety of substrate  40 , so that an infant may contact any given band independent of the pivotable position of handle  26 , and independent of the position of handle  26  in an infant&#39;s mouth. As can be seen from  FIGS. 1-6 , bands  60 ,  62   a  and  b ,  64   a  and  b , and  66   a  and  b  preferably decrease in width as they approach connection hub  30 . In particular, band  60  is preferably the widest, and is positioned on the distal-most portion  38  of handle  26 . Concentrating the wider bands on distal portion  38  of handle  26  provides a larger concentration of the desirable second teething material  52  in those locations, thus directing an infant to the distal portion of the handle. This is advantageous in the teething pacifier context as an infant is directed away from guard  22 , and directly to the teething handle  26 —thus minimizing the chance that an infant will place the entire guard into his or her mouth, a common and undesirable occurrence in the infant teething-pacifying context. 
   Of course, it is likewise contemplated that the bands need not all narrow in width as they approach connection hub  30 . Likewise, opposing bands, such as bands  62   a  and  62   b , or bands  64   a  and  64   b , need not have the same width. Further, it may be desired to place more distance between the different bands of second teething material  52  to expose larger regions of first teething material  50 . This will provide an infant with larger teething regions of first teething material  50 . 
   Second teething material  52  may further include textured teething surface  68 , shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . While textured teething surface  68  is shown in the drawings as comprising a series of bumps, protuberances or knobs, it is likewise contemplated that the textured teething surface may comprise any variation in surface continuity, such as ridges, depressions, or rings. Textured teething surface  68  provides an infant with yet another variation in the teething surface to further enhance the teething process. Furthermore, placement of textured teething surface  68  on band  60  additionally acts to direct an infant to distal portion  38  of handle  26 , and away from proximal portion  36  of handle  26  near guard  22 —yet another mechanism to keep an infant from placing guard  22  into his or her mouth. Of course, while textured teething surface  68  is shown only on band  60 , it is likewise contemplated that the textured teething surface may be placed on any or all of the other bands. Further, while not shown in the drawings, such a textured teething surface may also be placed on first teething material  50  as well. 
   Additionally, while not specifically shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , second teething material  52  may also vary in thickness. In particular, while second teething material  52  is shown as having a substantially uniform thickness in  FIGS. 1-6 , it is contemplated that those bands may vary in thickness to provide additional raised areas on handle  26 . Indeed, those raised areas provide yet additional teething variations for an infant, and may further focus an infant to a specific portion of handle. It is also contemplated, though also not shown in the drawings, to include additional teething materials beyond the first and second teething materials. 
   Of course, the specific pattern of second teething material  52  in  FIGS. 1-6  is just an example of the many different patterns in which a teething material may be overmolded onto another teething material. For instance, teething pacifier  70  is shown in  FIG. 7  as including handle  71  with first teething material  50 ′ and second teething material  52 ′. However, instead of the configuration of second teething material  52  in  FIGS. 1-6 , second teething material  52 ′ include bands  72   a  and  72   b ,  74   a  and  b ,  76   a  and  72   b  and  78   a  and  b . Thus, two wider bands  72   a  and  72   b  are positioned on distal portion  38 ′ of handle  71 , thus leaving a region of first teething material  50 ′ exposed at a point directly opposite the connection hub. 
   In another embodiment, teething pacifier  80  is shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  as including substantially the same guard, nipple and connection hub components, but as including a different handle  82  wherein the first and second teething materials are reversed. In particular, handle  82  comprises substrate  84  and overmold  86 . In contrast to substrate  40  of  FIGS. 1-6  which comprised first teething material  50 , substrate  84  preferably comprises second teething material  90 . Similarly, instead of an overmold constructed from second teething material  52 , overmold  86  comprises first teething material  92 . Like the first and second teething materials described above, second teething material  90  preferably is a softer material such as dynaflex, while overmold first teething material  92  preferably comprises a more rigid material such as ABS, polycarbonate or polypropylene. Forming substrate  84  from second teething material  90  may further increase flexibility of handle  82 . This may be advantageous for both infants and parents, as infants are teething on a less rigid handle which has more flexibility and give. 
   As can be seen from  FIG. 8 , the bands of first teething material  92 , like the bands of second teething material shown in  FIG. 7 , are preferably wider towards the distal end of handle  82 , and become narrower towards the proximal end of the handle—to direct an infant to the distal end of the handle for teething. However, as was discussed above in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-7 , it is likewise contemplated that any number of different band widths, thicknesses or patterns on substrate  84  may be used, as would be known by those with ordinary skill in the art with the present disclosure before them. Moreover, though not shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , both second teething material  90  and first teething material  92  may further include a textured teething surface, such as textured teething surface  68  shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
   Notably, overmolding a harder, more rigid first teething material  92  onto a softer, more compressive second teething material  90  may result in substrate bulging, such as that shown in FIG.  8 . The bulging is caused by the inherent compressibility of second teething material  90 , and may provide additional texture and/or handle thickness to provide even further teething variances for an infant. Of course, the extent of bulging depends on a number of factors, including the nature of the first and second teething materials, the width of the overmold bands, the outer diameter of the overmold bands, etc. These factors may be manipulated to provide a desirable amount of bulging or no bulging at all, depending on design preferences and teething requirements. Additionally, the overmold may include a combination of first and second teething materials, to provide further teething variations. 
   It is also contemplated that the handle may comprise a three layer structure, instead of the two layer structure shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . In particular, the handle may comprise an underlying substrate, which is coated by the second teething material, which is then overmolded with the first teething material. Such a construction may provide increased rigidity of the handle, if so desired. 
   Of course, the wider bands shown in  FIGS. 1-8  are not the only overmold construction. For instance, and as shown in  FIG. 10 , teething pacifier  100  includes handle  102 , which includes substrate  104  and overmold  106 . As can be seen from  FIG. 10 , instead of wider bands, overmold  106  comprises narrower rings placed in relatively close succession over substrate  104 . Further, the rings are preferably positioned on the distal portion of the handle, away from the connection hub and guard, to direct an infant to the distal portion of the handle. Further, the rings are shown as having a larger diameter towards the most distal point on the handle, with the rings becoming both narrower and of a lesser diameter as they approach the proximal ends of the handle and the connection hub. Such an overmold configuration provides yet another teething pattern for an infant. Of course, the space between the rings may be increased to expose larger regions of the substrate, as would be known by those of ordinary skill in the art with the present disclosure before them. Additionally, the rings may remain moveable on the substrate to allow adjustment of the distance between the rings, the size of the regions of substrate exposed by the rings, the grouping or concentration of the rings, etc. Such a construction allows a parent to create, in essence, their own teething pattern. 
   Further, substrate  104  may comprise either the first teething material, such as the substrate configuration shown and described in reference to  FIGS. 1-7 , or the second teething material, such as the substrate configuration shown and described in reference to  FIGS. 8-9 . Likewise, overmold  106  may comprise either the first or the second teething material, depending on the composition of substrate  104 . Additionally, it is contemplated that such a ring type of configuration may be placed over the overmold bands which are shown and described in  FIGS. 1-9 , to provide yet further texture and to teething material variation. Of course, those of ordinary skill in the art with the present disclosure before them will recognize that any number of different first and second teething materials configurations are possible to expose at least one region of both the first and second teething materials—whether those regions of first and second teething material are alternating, or whether the handle is simply divided into two halves, one half including the first teething material and the second half including a second teething material. 
   In another embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 11-13 , teething pacifier  120  includes substantially the same guard, connection hub and nipple components, but a different handle. In particular, handle  126  comprises substrate  128  and overmold  130 . Substrate  128  is formed from first teething material  132 , while overmold  130  is formed from second teething material  142 . First teething material  132  is preferably a material which is substantially similar to second teething material  142 . Specifically, it is preferred that the first and second teething materials have a similar hardness. Thus, it is contemplated that both first and second teething materials may be selected from a more rigid material, such as ABS, polycarbonate or polypropoleyne, which functions as a desirable teething surface for infants. However, it is also contemplated that the first and second teething materials may be selected from a softer material, such as dynaflex. Likewise, other materials having a different hardness are contemplated for use with the present invention, provided that the second teething material may be overmolded, or molded over the first teething material. 
   First teething material  132 , shown in  FIG. 11 , includes recessed regions  134 ,  136  and  138  and channel  140 . Recessed regions  134 ,  136  and  138  are formed into substrate  128 , and preferably extend around the circumference of handle  126  at selected points to provide molding regions for overmolding second teething material  142  onto first teething material  132 . In particular, the diameter of substrate  128  in the areas of the recessed regions is preferably less than the diameter of the substrate between those recessed regions. Moreover, as can be seen from  FIG. 11 , the recessed regions are preferably of a width or span which substantially matches the width or span of second teething material bands  144 ,  146   a  and  b ,  148   a  and  b , and  150   a  and  b . Notably, while shown as associated with only three of the bands of second teething material in  FIG. 11 , recessed regions preferably exist in conjunction with each band of second teething material. Aside from facilitating the overmolding of second teething material  142 , recessed regions  134 ,  136  and  138  likewise provide a more secure, integral relationship between the first and second teething materials. 
   Channel  140 , shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , likewise serves to facilitate overmolding of second teething material  142  onto first teething material  132 , while also enhancing the molded connection between the bands of second teething material and the first teething material substrate. In particular, second teething material  142  extends into channel  140  in first teething material  132  to anchor the bands of second teething material onto first teething material  132  and substrate  128 . Channel  140  may extend all the way around the entirety of the ring, or in the alternative, may span just the width of the bands of second teething material. 
   As shown in  FIG. 11 , second teething material  142  further includes textured teething surface  152 . Textured teething surface  152  provides an infant with additional contour to enhance the teething experience. 
   In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 14 , teething pacifier  160  is shown as including a larger, single region of second teething material  164  molded over substrate  162 . Second teething material  164  may further include textured teething surface  165 , to enhance the teething experience. Moreover, as discussed above, second teething material  164  is preferably positioned on the distal end of the teething ring to direct an infant away from the guard portion of the pacifier, which guard portion may be dangerous if placed in an infant&#39;s mouth. Additionally, the teething handle is shown as having two ends  166  and  168  that fit into sockets in the connection hub. Of course, in any of the embodiments shown or described, the handle may have a two-end configuration, or the handle may comprise a single, unitary piece, such as that shown in FIG.  11 . 
   In another alternative embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , teething pacifier  170  includes substrate  172 , preferably made from a first teething material, and bands of a second teething material  174 ,  176 ,  178  and  180  molded over substrate  172 . Like the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 11-13  and  FIG. 14 , the first and second teething materials preferably have a similar hardness, but may also be formed from differing teething materials. Moreover, the bands of second teething material may each further include textured teething surfaces  182 , shown as taking the form of bumps or protuberances extending outward from the different sides of the bands of the second teething material. However, in contrast to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 11-14 , the bands of second teething material shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16  is molded directly over the first teething material substrate  172 , without the any additional recessed regions or channels. Preferably, the overmolding forms an integral bond between the first and second teething materials, as would be know by those with ordinary skill in the art with the present disclosure before them. 
   In another alternative embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , teething pacifier  190  includes a handle  192  formed from first teething material  194  and second teething material  196 . First teething  194  preferably forms the handle substrate, while second teething material  196  is overmolded onto first teething material  194 . In particular, as shown in  FIG. 17 , second teething material  196  includes bands  198 , bands  200  and teething protruberances  202 . Bands  198  and  200  are preferably textured or ribbed, as shown in FIG.  17 . Although bands  198  and  200  may have a uniform texture, the bands may include any number of other different contours and textures, as would be known by those with ordinary skill in the art with the present disclosure before them. Moreover, while bands  198  and  200  are formed on opposing sides of handle  192 , second teething material bands  198  and  200  may be formed at any point on handle  192 . 
   Teething protruberances  202  are shown as formed as three circular shaped mounds on the distal portion of handle  192 . Preferably, teething protruberances  202  are formed on both the top and bottom portions of handle  192 . However, it is likewise contemplated that the teething protuberances may take any shape, may be placed at any location on the handle, and may take any desired number. However, it must be noted that it is desirable to have some contoured teething surface on the distal portion of the handle to provide an infant with a teething option away from the pacifier guard. 
   As can further be seen from  FIGS. 17 and 18 , while handle  192  is shown as substantially oval, first teething material  194  preferably includes an overmold enhancing surface, namely substantially flat face  204  spanning at least a portion of handle  192 . Flat face  204  facilitates molding second teething material  196  onto first teething material  194 , and provides an enhanced securement between the first and second teething materials. Moreover, as can be seen from  FIG. 17 , second teething material  196  may be molded over first teething material  194  in various regions without necessarily creating a differing contour. This may be done to facilitate the molding process for those regions which vary in contour, or to provide a second teething material having differing properties, such as color or material. 
   Further, like the teething pacifier described in  FIGS. 11-16 , first and second teething materials  194  and  196  are preferably the same or similar materials, so as to possess substantially similar hardnesses. However, as has been described with respect to  FIGS. 11-16 , it is also contemplated that the first and second teething materials may be formed from other similar materials, or, in the alternative, from differing materials. Moreover, it is likewise contemplated that first teething material  194 , and more particularly, handle  192 , may be altered in any number of ways as would be known by those of ordinary skill in the art to enhance either the molding process, or the integral connection between the first and second teething materials. For instance, both sides of first teething material substrate may be flattened. Likewise, a channel, such as that shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , may be formed into the first teething material substrate. Further, recessed regions, such as those shown in  FIG. 11 , may be formed into handle  192  proximate bands  198  and  200 . Of course, handle  192  may take not only an oval or circular shape, but also other non-circular or non-uniform shapes as would be desirable in the teething context. 
   The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited as those skilled in the art having the present disclosure before will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.