Abstract:
A consumable pacifier for an infant is provided herein. The invention provides a consumable gelatinous nipple where the gelatinous nipple may also contain a nutrient. The base of the gelatinous body is trapped between a seat and retainer. A variety of flavors and nutrients may be infused in the consumable gelatinous nipple.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a consumable pacifier for an infant. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pacifier for providing a consumable gelatinous nipple where the gelatinous nipple contains a nutrient. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A popular treat for adults and children alike is the gummy bear. The traditional gummy bear is made from a mixture of sugar (sucrose C12H22O11), glucose syrup, starch (starch is a polymer of glucose, C6H12O6), flavoring, food coloring, citric acid (C6H8O7), and gelatin. Gelatin is an incomplete protein. 
     Food products containing gelatin are prepared by mixing a gelatin-containing mix with boiling water, then adding additional ingredients and cooling the resultant mixture to solidify the product. 
     Gelatin is a protein derived from collagen, the connective tissue of animals. Gelatin is a protein with unique gelling properties. As gelatin is heated it becomes soluble, and forms a protein matrix that traps water within it. Gelatin is a widely used food ingredient and has been used to modify the texture of food product such as desserts, ice cream and frozen confections. 
     Gelatin is a type of hydrocolloid—a long chain of complex sugars called polysaccharides. A hydrocolloid is defined as a type of mechanical mixture where one substance is dispersed evenly throughout water. A hydrocolloid has colloid particles that spread throughout water, and depending on the quantity of water available, can behave as a gel or liquid. Many hydrocolloids can change their physical behavior and characteristics with the addition or elimination of heat. Hydrocolloids have the ability to thicken and form gels at very low concentrations. 
     Gummy bears ordinarily contain mostly empty calories, but recently gummy bears containing multivitamins have also been produced to provide nutrients. Additionally, gummy bears containing the cavity-fighting additives, such as xylitol, have also been produced as well as additives to help the immune system. 
     A number of inventions have been directed toward providing pacifiers for providing nutrients and or medicine, including U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,321 for “Gel Dispensing Pacifier” to MacVane, U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,734 for “Medication Dispensing Pacifier” to Noble and U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,705 for “Medication Dispensing Pacifier” also to Noble. In addition, there have been inventions directed toward pacifiers for providing treats to children, including U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,283 for “Frozen Confection Holder For Toddlers” to Shorey. However, nowhere in the prior art is there a pacifier for providing consumable pacifier for an infant. Furthermore, nowhere in the prior art is there a pacifier for providing a consumable gelatinous nipple where the gelatinous nipple contains a nutrient. 
     A number of pacifiers are formed of BPAs, PVC, parabens or phthalates that may contain harmful chemicals. An additional concern is unknown allergies, such as latex allergies. 
     Therefore, there is a need to provide a pacifier for providing a consumable pacifier for an infant. In addition, there is a need a pacifier for providing a consumable gelatinous nipple where the gelatinous nipple contains a nutrient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An infant&#39;s pacifier for providing a consumable nipple, comprises a consumable gelatinous body having a base and a nipple axially spaced from the base. The base has an outer diameter extending orthogonally from an axis and is defined by a bottom surface and a top surface axially spaced from said bottom surface to form a thickness. A generally bulbous nipple extends from the top surface of the base. The nipple has a peak diameter being the widest diameter of the nipple. 
     A shield has a back wall and a side wall extending orthogonally from the back wall. The back wall has a diameter extending orthogonally from the axis and is defined by a back face and a land axially spaced from the back face to form a wall thickness. The land is defined by a bore diameter extending orthogonally from the axis. The side wall has a height and is defined by a bore and outer surface radially spaced from the bore to form a side wall thickness. The bore extends orthogonally from the land and has a wall height. A seat is formed from the bore and the land. The seat is adapted to receive the base of the consumable gelatinous body where the base of the consumable gelatinous body is in contact with the seat. The outer surface is at least partially threaded. The shield is of sufficient diameter to prevent said pacifier from being drawn into an infant&#39;s mouth. 
     A cover has a front wall and a flange extending orthogonally from the front wall. The front wall has a diameter extending orthogonally from the axis and is defined by a front face and a retainer axially spaced from the front face to form a cover thickness. The retainer is defined by a diameter extending orthogonally from the axis. The flange has a flange height and is defined by an at least partially threaded inner surface and an outer surface radially spaced from the at least partially threaded inner surface to form a flange thickness. An aperture is disposed in the cover about an axis that has a diameter larger than said peak diameter of the nipple to permit the nipple to be disposed through the aperture. 
     A handle extends from the back face of the shield. The at least partially threaded inner surface of the cover is adapted to threadedly engage the at least partially threaded outer surface of the shield where the base of the consumable gelatinous body is trapped between the seat and the retainer. 
     The pacifier further comprising an elastomeric seal having a seal aperture and outer diameter, the seal is fixedly attached to the cover aperture at the outer diameter and the seal aperture is adapted to permit the nipple to be disposed through the seal aperture. The pacifier may comprise a consumable nipple adapted to contain nutrients. Nutrients may include cavity fighting additive, vitamins, and or additives to help the immune system. 
     Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from analysis of the following written description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of the pacifier according to the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a side view of a consumable gelatinous body according to the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a top view a consumable gelatinous body according to the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is a side view of a shield according to the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  is a top view of a shield according to the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is a top view of a cover according to the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4B  is a bottom view of a cover according to the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4C  is a side view of a cover according to the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective exploded view of the pacifier according to the principles of the present invention, revealing how the pacifier is assembled. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As used herein, the term “gelatinous” shall refer to a product that resembles a product containing gelatin, rather than a product specifically containing gelatin—a common jellying agent. The properties of the gelatinous or “gummy” nipple may be modified as appropriate or necessary. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a side view of an embodiment of the pacifier  10  according to the principles of the present invention is shown. The pacifier  10  for an infant comprises a gelatinous nipple  22 , a shield  30 , a cover  50  a handle  70 . Referring now also to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , a consumable nipple, comprises a consumable gelatinous body  20  having a base  21  and a nipple  22  axially spaced from the base  21 . The base  21  has an outer diameter  23  extending orthogonally from an axis A-A and is defined by a bottom surface  24  and a top surface  25  axially spaced from said bottom surface  24  to form a thickness  26 . A generally bulbous nipple  22  extends from the top surface  25  of the base  21 . The nipple  22  has a peak diameter  27 , being the widest diameter of the nipple  22 . 
     Referring now also to  FIGS. 3A-3C , a shield  30  according to the principles of the present invention is shown in side and top views, respectively. The shield  30  has a back wall  31  and a side wall  32  extending orthogonally from the back wall  31 . The back wall  31  has a back wall diameter  33  extending orthogonally from the axis and is defined by a back face  34  and a land  35  axially spaced from the back face  34  to form a wall thickness  36 . 
     The land  35  is defined by a bore diameter  37  extending orthogonally from the axis. The side wall  32  has a height  39  and is defined by a bore  38  and outer surface  40  radially spaced from the bore  38  to form a side wall thickness  41 . The bore  38  extends orthogonally from the land  35  and has a wall height  39 . A cavity  42  is formed from the bore  38  and the land  35 . The cavity  42  is adapted to receive the base  21  of the consumable gelatinous body  20  where the base  21  of the consumable gelatinous body  20  is in contact with the cavity  42 . The outer surface  40  is at least partially threaded by and contains threads  43 . The shield  30  is of sufficient diameter  33  to prevent said pacifier  10  from being drawn into an infant&#39;s mouth. 
     Referring now also to  FIGS. 4A-4C , a cover  50  according to the principles of the present invention is shown in top, bottom and side views, respectively. The cover  50  has a front wall  51  and a flange  52  extending orthogonally from the front wall  51 . The front wall  51  has a diameter  53  extending orthogonally from the axis and is defined by a front face  54  and a retainer  55  axially spaced from the front face  54  to form a cover thickness  62 . The retainer  55  is defined by a diameter  56  extending orthogonally from the axis. The flange  52  has a flange height  57  and is defined by an at least partially threaded inner surface  58  and an outer surface  63  radially spaced from the at least partially threaded inner surface  63  to form a flange thickness  59 . An aperture  60  is disposed in the cover  50  about an axis where the aperture  60  has a diameter  61  larger than said peak diameter  27  of the nipple  22  to permit the nipple  22  to be disposed through the aperture  60 . 
     A handle  70 , which may be in the shape of a ring, extends from the back face  34  of the shield  30  to permit the infant to clutch the pacifier  10 . The at least partially threaded inner surface  58  of the cover  50  is adapted to threadedly engage the at least partially threaded outer surface  40  of the shield  30  where the base of the consumable gelatinous body  20  is trapped between the cavity  42  and the retainer  55 . 
     The pacifier  10  further comprising an elastomeric seal  80  comprised of suitable material having a seal aperture  81  and outer diameter  82 , the seal  80  is fixedly attached to the cover aperture  60  at the outer diameter  82  of the seal  80  and the seal aperture  81  is adapted to permit the nipple  22  to be disposed through the seal aperture  81 . 
     Referring now also to  FIG. 5 , a perspective exploded view of the pacifier  10  according to the principles of the present invention is shown, revealing how the pacifier  10  is assembled. The base  21  of the consumable gelatinous body  20  is disposed within the cavity  42  of the shield  30 . The cover  50  passes over the nipple  22  where the aperture  81  of the seal.  80  is large enough and the material of the seal  80  is pliable enough to permit the peak diameter  27  of the nipple  22  to pass though the aperture  81 . The threaded inner surface  58  of the cover  50  threadedly engages the threads  43  of the outer surface  40  of the shield  30 . As the cover  50  threadedly engages the shield  30 , the base  21  of the consumable gelatinous body  20  is compressed between the land  35  of the shield  30  and the retainer  55  of the cover  50 , securing the base  21  of the consumable gelatinous body  20  within the cavity. After the nipple  22  of the consumable gelatinous body  20  is exhausted, the body  20  may be replaced with another body  20  of the same or a different flavor, color or a body  20  having nutrients as may be appropriate by simply unscrewing the cover  50  from the shield  30 . 
     The pacifier  10  may comprise a consumable nipple  22  adapted or infused to contain nutrients. Nutrients may be selected from the group consisting of a cavity fighting additive, one of more vitamins, a multivitamin or additives to help the immune system. 
     The shield  30  and cover  50  may be comprised of any suitable material known in the art, although any plastics not containing BPAs, PVC, parabens or phthalates are preferred. It is also contemplated that safe, recycled materials may be employed in the shield  30  and cover  50  of the present invention. 
     The present invention permits the infant to enjoy a safe pacifier  10  with a pleasant flavor that may also contain nutrients in the consumable nipple  22 . 
     The foregoing discussion discloses and describes the preferred structure and control system for the present invention. However, one skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the invention.