Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the U.S. provisional patent application entitled “Teething, Imbibing, and Entertainment Apparatus and Methods”, having Ser. No. 61/054,148, filed May 18, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to teething, imbibing, and entertainment apparatus and methods. More specifically, the present invention relates to teething, imbibing, and entertainment apparatus and methods for infants and children utilizing fluids, wherein such fluids may be room temperature, warmed, chilled, frozen, and/or partially-frozen fluids. 
         [0003]    It is known to use freezable liquid filled devices for the purpose of soothing teething pain. Such devices typically include a sealed reservoir in which a freezable liquid is located. A user may chew on the device and the frozen liquid to apply a cold surface to the gums. Once the liquid melts, the device is typically washed and placed into a freezer to allow the contained liquid to be re-frozen for future use. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Briefly stated, in one aspect of the present invention, a method of soothing teething is provided. This method includes: filling an apparatus with a fluid; altering a temperature of the fluid contained in the apparatus; and imbibing the fluid through the nipple of the apparatus. This apparatus includes: a nipple including at least one nipple cavity; and a shaft, the shaft including at least one shaft cavity, the shaft cavity in fluid communication with the nipple cavity. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a teething, imbibing, and entertainment apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 1B  is an exploded view of the attachment of a nipple to the teething, imbibing, and entertainment apparatus of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the teething, imbibing, and entertainment apparatus of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the teething, imbibing, and entertainment apparatus of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the nipple of the teething, imbibing, and entertainment apparatus of  FIG. 1A  taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of the nipple of the teething, imbibing, and entertainment apparatus of  FIG. 1A  taken along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the teething, imbibing, and entertainment apparatus of  FIG. 1A  taken along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional view of the teething, imbibing, and entertainment apparatus of  FIG. 1A  taken along lines  7 A- 7 A of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of the teething, imbibing, and entertainment apparatus of  FIG. 1A  taken along lines  7 B- 7 B of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a magnified view of one embodiment of a coupling mechanism for coupling a nipple to the teething, imbibing, and entertainment apparatus of  FIG. 1A ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the shaft extension of the teething, imbibing, and entertainment apparatus of  FIG. 1A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Certain terminology may be used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “lower” and “upper” and “top” and “bottom” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. 
         [0018]    Where a term is provided in the singular, the inventors also contemplate aspects of the invention described by the plural of that term. As used in this specification and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, e.g., “a handle” includes a plurality of handles. Thus, for example, a reference to “a method” includes one or more methods, and/or steps of the type described herein and/or which will become apparent to those persons skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure. 
         [0019]    Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods, constructs and materials are now described. 
         [0020]    Referring first to  FIG. 1A , depicted is a teething, imbibing, and entertainment apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the teething apparatus  100 ). In the depicted embodiment, the teething apparatus  100  includes, inter alia, a nipple  102 , a shaft  104 , handles  106 , a cap  108 , and supports  124 . 
         [0021]    The shaft  104  and handles  106  include shaft and handle cavities  634  and  636 , respectively, as depicted in  FIG. 6 , in which a fluid, or a frozen fluid, may rest or flow therethrough. The shaft and/or handle cavities  634  ( FIG. 6) and 636  ( FIG. 6 ), respectively, are in communication with a nipple cavity  438  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), which allows the fluid to flow freely from the shaft and/or handle cavities  634  ( FIG. 6) and 636  ( FIG. 6 ), respectively, to the nipple cavity  438  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). From the nipple cavity  438  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), fluid may flow through one or more apertures  122  to the exterior of the nipple  102 . This fluid communication allows a person (e.g., an infant or child) to imbibe a liquid or other fluid contained within the teething apparatus  100  via the nipple  102 . Such fluid may be room temperature, warmed, chilled, partially-frozen, or fully-frozen. The temperature of the fluid may be altered (e.g., heated, cooled, frozen, etc.) either prior or subsequent to filling of the teething apparatus  100  as further described herein. 
         [0022]    In one aspect of the depicted embodiment of the present invention, the teething apparatus  100  may be filled with a fluid via bore  640  ( FIG. 6 ) located in the support base  126 . In the depicted embodiment of the present invention, the bore  642  is a tapered, substantially cylindrical bore passing completely through the support base  126 . The inwardly facing surfaces (i.e., the surfaces facing the axis of the teething apparatus  100 ) taper slightly inward from a first diameter to a second diameter as the bore  642  progresses from an exterior surface of the support base  126  to an interior surface thereof. The bore  642  is designed to mate with a cap  108 , which includes a first cap portion  136  and a second cap portion  640 , to form a substantially watertight seal. 
         [0023]    More specifically, the outwardly facing surfaces (i.e., the surfaces facing away from the axis of the teething apparatus  100 ) of the second cap portion  640  are substantially cylindrical and are tapered slightly inward as they progress from an exterior surface of the support base  126  to an interior surface thereof. The similarly tapered inwardly facing surfaces of the bore  642  and outwardly facing surfaces of the second cap portion  640  seal the bore  642  in a substantially watertight manner when the second cap portion  640  is inserted therein and open the bore  642  when the second cap portion  640  is removed therefrom. This allows the teething apparatus  100  to be filled with a fluid by removing the cap  108  from the bore  642 , pouring a fluid into the teething apparatus  100  through the bore  642 , and replacing the cap  108  such that a substantially watertight seal is formed. 
         [0024]    As better seen in  FIG. 2 , cap  108  also includes a substantially rectangular first cap portion  136 . A proximal end of the first cap portion  136  is affixed to an external surface of the support base  126  in order to irremovably attach the cap  108  to the teething apparatus  100 . Tethering of the cap  108  to the support base  126  may be achieved by molding cap  108  at the same time that support base  126  and any other components coupled thereto are molded such that support base  126 , any other components molded thereto, and cap  108  are one piece. In one aspect of the present invention, this attachment of cap  108  to support base  126  prevents or minimizes the potential of an injury to an infant or child caused by swallowing of or choking on the cap  108  when it is removed from the bore  642 . That is, the likelihood of the swallowing of or choking on the cap  108  is minimized, since an infant or child cannot place the cap  108  and the remainder of the attached teething apparatus  100  into his or her mouth due to the size of such remainder. Alternatively, any other suitable means including, but not limited to, a flexible, linear attachment or a hinge may couple the cap  108  to the support base  126  without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0025]    Furthermore, in the depicted embodiment of the present invention, the distal end of the cap  108  includes a tab  128  to facilitate opening and closing of the bore  642  via the insertion and removal of the cap  108 . The tab  128  is in the form of a small flap that extends beyond the edge of the first cap portion  136  to an extent that allows enough material for a user of the teething apparatus  100  to easily grasp such tab  128 . This grasping allows the user to more easily remove and/or the insert cap  108  into the bore  642 . Although one form of the cap  108  is described herein with specificity, virtually any other type of cap or similar mechanism for opening and closing a bore or port such as the bore  642  may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention, without affecting the utility of the present invention. 
         [0026]    Although cap  108  and bore  640  are described herein with specificity, alternate apparatus (other than cap  108  and bore  640 ) for allowing teething apparatus  100  to be filled and unfilled may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0027]    The filled teething apparatus  100  may then be used with the contained liquid at its present temperature, or, alternatively, the filled teething apparatus  100  may be placed in a refrigerator or freezer to partially or completely cool or freeze the liquid prior to use. Or, the filled teething apparatus  100  may be placed in a microwave or other heating device to raise the temperature of the contained liquid. Once the contained liquid is brought to the desired temperature, a non-frozen liquid may be sucked, or otherwise imbibed, by the user through apertures  122  of nipple  102  for a variety of purposes. For example, when used by an infant or child, a chilled liquid may act to soothe teething pain. As another example, a heated liquid may act to soothe pain associated with a sore throat or other malady particularly when the heated liquid includes one or more soothing ingredients such as, but not limited to, honey. In yet another example, a child may just enjoy imbibing a liquid via teething apparatus as an alternative to imbibing such liquids via a more traditional children&#39;s cup (e.g., a sippy cup) regardless of whether the child is teething or sick. A child may prefer to imbibe liquid from teething apparatus  100  for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, ease of use, ease of holding handles  106 , and the aesthetics of exterior features  110 . 
         [0028]    When teething apparatus  100  is filled with a fully frozen liquid, a user obviously cannot suck, or otherwise imbibe, the frozen liquid through apertures  122  of nipple  102 . Teething apparatus  100  is designed for such use in that the child may bite or chew on the exterior of teething apparatus  100 , which also acts to soothe teething pain. As the teething apparatus  100  is bitten or chewed, and/or held by the user, and/or maintained in an ambient temperature, the frozen liquid will slowly melt such that a slow, controlled supply of slushy liquid is formed. The child may imbibe this slushy liquid through apertures  122  of nipple  102  as it is formed to further soothe teething and/or for enjoyment purposes. 
         [0029]    The type of liquid use in conjunction with teething apparatus  100  may also enhance the enjoyment of using teething apparatus  100 . For example, a child user of teething apparatus  100  is more likely to enjoy such use when the contained liquid is a sugary liquid such as juice, chocolate milk, or the like. However, teething apparatus  100  may also be used with plain water or any other liquid without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0030]    The support base  126  includes a plurality of supports  124  protruding outwardly therefrom and surrounding the bore  642  and the cap  108  therein. In the present embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the support base  126  includes four supports  124 , each approximately in register with one of the handles  106 , and positioned in a substantially rectangular configuration. The distal end of each support  124  includes a substantially flat support end  132 , opposite the support base  126 , that extends beyond the plane of the cap  108  when such cap is fitted within the bore  642 . Thus, the teething apparatus  100  can be oriented with the nipple  102  extending upwardly, with the supports  124  and the substantially flat support ends  132  functioning as a foundation, which rest on a horizontal support surface. The inverted orientation of the teething apparatus  100  with the nipple  102  oriented upwardly, is useful when cooling or freezing a liquid contained within the teething apparatus  100 . The inverted orientation requires minimal space within a refrigerator or freezer, and minimizes leakage of liquid from the nipple  102  that might occur in other orientations of the teething apparatus  100 . Additionally, the supports  124  also function as an easily accessible, rough feature for the young child to use for teething. However, alternate embodiments of supports  124  and/or support ends  132  may be omitted and/or substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, support ends  132  may be located in a common plane with the cap  108 , when such cap is fitted within the bore  642 , such that the cap  108  also contacts the support surface. This alternative embodiment provides additional stability for the teething apparatus  100  when oriented with the nipple  102  extending upwardly. Or, in yet another example, supports  124  and support ends  132  are omitted. In this example, the teething apparatus  100  may be positioned with the nipple oriented horizontally, upwardly, or downwardly during cooling, heating, or freezing without departing from the scope of the present invention. In still another example, a support surface may be formed integral to one or more handles  106  such that teething apparatus may be easily rested upon a side without departing from the scope hereof. 
         [0031]    The teething apparatus  100  also includes a central shaft  104 . In the embodiment of the present invention depicted in  FIG. 1A , the shaft  104  is substantially cylindrical and has an ovate cross section, the latter of which is substantially identical to the cross section of the shaft extension  148  ( FIG. 9 ). However, alternate embodiments of the present invention are envisioned in which the cross-sectional dimensions of the shaft  104  and the shaft extension  148  vary. 
         [0032]    Shaft  104  also includes a hollow interior in the form of a shaft cavity  634 , as depicted in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 6 , which is also substantially cylindrical with an ovate cross section. The shaft  104  has a uniform inner diameter d 1  that is approximately equal to the uniform inner diameter d 2  of shaft extension  148 . The shaft  104  also includes a first shaft end  112  and a second shaft end  114 . 
         [0033]    The first shaft end  112  is coupled to, inter alia, the proximal end  144  of the shaft extension  148 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the shaft extension  148  is also substantially cylindrical with an ovate cross section as depicted in the cross-section view of  FIG. 9 . The shaft extension  148  includes a hollow interior in the form of a shaft extension cavity  650  as depicted in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 6 . The uniform inner diameter d 2  of shaft extension  148  is approximately equivalent to the uniform inner diameter d 1  of shaft  104 . This uniformity of the interior dimension of shaft  104  and shaft extension  148  has a plurality of benefits including, but not limited to, ease of transfer of a partially frozen fluid from the shaft  104  to shaft extension  148  to the nipple  102  via shaft extension aperture  146 . That is, the uniformity of the interior dimensions provides a smooth, continuous inwardly facing surface of the shaft  104  and the shaft extension  148  along which a cleaning mechanism (e.g., a bottle brush, a rag, etc.) or a frozen or partially-frozen fluid may easily slide without obstruction. The material from which teething apparatus  100  is fabricated further facilitates such sliding as discussed in further detail below. 
         [0034]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the first shaft end  112  is also coupled to one or more first handle ends  116 . In the depicted embodiment of the present invention, there are four first handle ends  116  connected to the first shaft end  112  at the approximate 0, 90, 180 and 270 degree positions in relation to the axis of the shaft  104  near the first shaft end  112  as most easily seen in the top and bottom views of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , respectively. First handle ends  116  are connected at an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the axis of first shaft end  112 . The connection of the first handle ends  116  to the first shaft end  112  is such that the shaft cavity  634  of the shaft  104  is in fluid communication with the handle cavities  636  of the handles  106  such that when the shaft cavity  634  and/or the handle cavities  636  are filled with fluid, that fluid will flow freely from the handle cavities  636  into the shaft cavity  634  or vice versa. Although four handles are depicted, alternate embodiments of the present invention are envisioned in which the handles are omitted (i.e., a user holds the apparatus by gripping shaft  104 ) or a varying quantity of handles are substituted. Also, although the four handles are equidistantly spaced at the 0, 90, 180 and 270 degree positions in relation to the axis of the shaft  104 , alternate spacing may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0035]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the second shaft end  114  is coupled to the second handle ends  118 . In the depicted embodiment of the present invention, there are four second handle ends  118   a - 118   d  connected to the second shaft end  114  at the approximate 0, 90, 180 and 270 degree positions in approximately perpendicular relation to the axis of the shaft  104  near the second shaft end  114 . The connection of the second handle ends  118  to the second shaft end  114  is such that the shaft cavity  634  of the shaft  104  is in fluid communication with the handle cavities  636  of the handles  106  such that when the shaft cavity  634  and/or handle cavities  636  are filled with fluid, that fluid will flow freely from the handle cavities  636  into the shaft cavity  634  or vice versa. Although four handles are depicted, alternate embodiments of the present invention are envisioned in which the handles are omitted (i.e., a user holds the apparatus by gripping shaft  104 ) or a varying quantity of handles are substituted. Also, although the four handles are equidistantly spaced at the 0, 90, 180 and 270 degree positions in relation to the axis of the shaft  104 , alternate spacing may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0036]    In the depicted embodiment of the invention, the diameter of each of the handles  106  decreases as the handle  106  extends from the second handle end  118  to the first handle end  116 , as depicted in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  6 . Consequently, the diameter of the handle cavity  636  likewise decreases as handle  106  extends from the second handle end  118  to the first handle end  116 . Preferably, the decrease in the diameter of each handle cavity  636  ( FIG. 6 ) is gradual and uniform to provide a smooth interior surface for the handle cavity  636  ( FIG. 7 ). The uniform decrease in the diameter of the handle cavity  636  minimizes the size of any pieces of ice or slush that may enter shaft cavity  634  as the frozen liquid within the handle cavity  636  melts since large ice or slush pieces can potentially block the shaft cavity  634 , thereby preventing or hindering the passage of ice and/or slush from shaft cavity  634  into nipple  102 . This blockage may prove undesirable to a user with a short attention span if such blockage prevents passage of slush and/or ice into nipple  102  such that it may be sucked, or otherwise imbibed, through aperture  122  of nipple  102 . However, alternate embodiments of the present invention having handles  106  having handle cavities  636  with uniform diameters are also envisioned. 
         [0037]    In some alternate embodiments of the present invention, the connection of first handle ends  116  to shaft  104  is staggered relative to the axis of shaft  104 . That is, each first handle end  116  is connected to shaft  104  at a different longitudinal point of the axis of shaft  104 . This staggering prevents or minimizes slush and/or ice jams that may occur as a frozen fluid contained within teething apparatus  100  begins to melt, thereby causing the slush and/or ice to slide down the handles  106  toward first handle ends  116  due to gravitational forces. If more than one first handle end  116  of a plurality of handles  106  is located at the same longitudinal point relative to the axis of shaft  104 , such slush and/or ice from the plurality of handles  106  may collide as it enters shaft  104 , thereby forming a nearly solid mass of slush and/or ice. Such a solid mass may then act to prevent or hinder the passage of ice and/or slush from shaft cavity  634  into nipple  102 . This blockage may prove undesirable to a user with a short attention span if such blockage prevents passage of slush and/or ice into nipple  102  such that it may be sucked, or otherwise imbibed, through aperture  122  of nipple  102 . However, alternate embodiments of the present invention having non-staggered first handle ends  116  (such as that depicted in  FIGS. 1A-9 ) are also envisioned. Some such embodiments may include valves or other components to prevent or minimize the potential of an ice and/or slush jam. Additionally, such handles may include handles having decreasing diameters designed to prevent or minimize the potential of an ice and/or slush jam as discussed in greater detail above. 
         [0038]    In a further embodiment of the invention, the handles  106  include an exterior surface feature  110  at the approximate midpoint of the handles  106 . The exterior features  110  are roughened, or raised portions located on the surface of the handle  106 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the exterior features  110  can include, for example, a matrix of cubic protrusions  110   a  encircling the handle  106 , a plurality of attached rings  110   b  encircling the handle  106 , a matrix of hemispherical protrusions  110   c  encircling the handle  106 , or a matrix of tetrahedron protrusions with outwardly oriented apexes  110   d  encircling the handle  106 . Other embodiments of the exterior features  110  are contemplated, which provide similar function, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, exterior features  110  may be omitted, or the quantity of exterior features  110  may be varied, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, exterior features  110  may be made from the same material, or a different material, than that of handles  106  without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0039]    The exterior features  110  provide an additional teething surface a young child may bite on, as well as enhanced gripping of the handles  106  by the young child. The location of the exterior features  110  at approximately the midpoint of the handles  106  facilitates access to such features for teething thereupon by the young child. The exterior features  110  are positioned at the outward extremes of the teething apparatus  100 , as clearly shown in the top and bottom views of the teething apparatus  100  in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . However, alternate locations of exterior features  110  may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0040]    The shaft and handle cavities  634  ( FIG. 6) and 636  ( FIG. 6 ), respectively, are in fluid communication with the nipple cavity  438  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) via the shaft extension cavity  650  ( FIG. 6 ), which allows the fluid to flow freely from the shaft and/or handle cavities  634  ( FIG. 6) and 636  ( FIG. 6 ), respectively, through the shaft extension cavity  650  into the nipple cavity  438  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). In one embodiment, the distal end  150  of the shaft extension  148  is completely open to allow maximum flow of fluid from shaft cavity  634  and/or handle cavities  636  to the nipple cavity  438  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) by passage through shaft extension cavity  650 . However, alternate embodiments of the present invention are envisioned in which the distal end  150  of the shaft extension  148  is essentially closed, but includes one or more apertures for passage of fluid, slush, and/or ice from shaft extension cavity  650  into nipple cavity  438  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). 
         [0041]    In alternate embodiments of the invention, the shaft extension  148  of the teething apparatus  100  that slides into the nipple  102  may be of varying length so as to extend into the nipple cavity  438  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) to varying degrees. The shaft extension  148  may extend into the nipple cavity  438  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) only sufficiently to provide attachment of the nipple  102  thereto, or the shaft extension  148  may extend near the distal end of the nipple  102 . One advantage of the extension of the shaft extension  148  to near the distal end of the nipple  102  is to provide additional teething/biting resistance, beyond the resistance provided by only by the material of the nipple  102 . The additional resistance is desirable in that it assists the child&#39;s emerging teeth break through the gums. As mentioned above, the distal end of shaft extension  148  may be open-ended to allow maximum flow of the liquid and/or frozen solids from the shaft cavity  634  to nipple cavity  438  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), or it may be essentially closed with slits or apertures therein to allow a lesser quantity of fluid, slush, and/or ice to pass from shaft cavity  634  to nipple cavity  438  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). 
         [0042]    As also depicted in  FIGS. 1A-5  and  8 , the nipple  102  includes a stop flange  180  at its proximal end to limit insertion of the nipple  102  into the mouth of a young child. The stop flange  180  additionally provides an easily grasped portion of the nipple  102  to assist with insertion of the shaft extension  148  into the nipple cavity  438  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), as well as removing the nipple  102  from the shaft extension  148 . In some embodiments of the present invention, stop flange  180  includes one or more stop flange apertures  182 , which allow passage of saliva therethrough during use of teething apparatus  100 . However, alternate embodiments of the present invention are envisioned in which stop flange  180  and/or stop flange apertures  182  are omitted. 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the shaft extension  148  may also include an exterior, integrated ring seal  130  that encircles the perimeter of the shaft extension  148 . The ring seal  130  on the shaft extension  148  seats in a groove  190  in the interior surface of the stop flange  180  ( FIG. 8 ), when the shaft extension  148  is inserted therein. The ring seal  130  provides a substantially watertight seal between the shaft extension  148  and the nipple  102 , while allowing detachment of the nipple  102  from the shaft extension  148 . This detachment facilitates cleaning of the teething apparatus  100 . Further, this detachment allows the teething apparatus  100  to be used with a variety of nipples  102 , which allows the nipple  102  of the teething apparatus  100  to be customized to the likes, age, and/or size of a particular user. Additionally, although the attachment of nipple  102  to shaft extension  148  is described herein with specificity via ring seal  130  and groove  190 , alternate methods and/or apparatus for attachment of same may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0044]    As depicted in the cross-sectional views of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , nipple  102  includes proximal and distal nipple sections  402  and  404 , respectively. As best seen in the cross-sectional views of  FIGS. 7A and 7B , proximal and distal nipple sections  402  and  404 , respectively, have ovate cross sections having inner diameters d 3  and d 4 , respectively. As seen in  FIGS. 4 ,  7 A, and  7 B, inner diameter d 3  is less than inner diameter d 4 . The difference between these diameters allows a user of teething apparatus  100  to hold nipple  102  internal to his or her mouth by inserting distal nipple section  404  into the mouth to a location beyond the teeth and/or gums and at least partially closing his or her mouth around nipple  102 . The larger width of distal nipple section  404 , as compared to the width of proximal nipple section  402 , prevents, or minimizes, slippage of nipple  102  from the user&#39;s mouth. However, alternate forms of nipple  102  may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. The ease of attachment and removal of nipple  102  to the shaft extension  148  accommodates use of a variety of nipples  102  with teething apparatus  100 . Varying forms and/or sizes of nipples  102  may be substituted to accommodate the preferences, age, size, etc. of the user. 
         [0045]    Similarly, as depicted in  FIG. 5 , the depth of proximal and distal nipple sections  402  and  404 , respectively, have diameters d 5  and d 6 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , inner diameter d 5  is less than inner diameter d 6 . The difference between these diameters allows a user of teething apparatus  100  to hold nipple  102  internal to his or her mouth by inserting distal nipple section  404  into the mouth to a location beyond the teeth and/or gums and at least partially closing his or her mouth around nipple  102 . The larger depth of distal nipple section  404 , as compared to the depth of proximal nipple section  402 , prevents, or minimizes, slippage of nipple  102  from the user&#39;s mouth. However, again, alternate forms of nipple  102  may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. The ease of attachment and removal of nipple  102  to the shaft extension  148  accommodates use of a variety of nipples  102  with teething apparatus  100 . Varying forms and/or sizes of nipples  102  may be substituted to accommodate the preferences, age, size, etc. of the user. 
         [0046]    As also depicted in the cross-sectional views of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , nipple  102  includes a pair of apertures  122 . In the depicted embodiment, each aperture  122  is in the form of a slit located at the approximate horizontal and vertical midpoints of the front and back of distal nipple section  404 . Aperture  122  allows fluid, slush, and/or ice present in nipple cavity  438  to pass therethrough to the mouth of a user. The slit configuration prevents or minimizes the potential for leakage of fluid, slush, and/or ice from the teething apparatus  100  when it is not in use and/or when the temperature of the contained fluid is being altered. Although the depicted embodiment includes two apertures, a varying quantity of apertures may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. Additionally, although the depicted apertures  122  are in the form of slits, varying configurations including, but not limited to, spherical, hemispherical, and ovate apertures may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0047]    Construction of the above described embodiment of the teething apparatus  100  without the nipple  102  is preferably achieved first by fabrication of essentially mirror image halves of the apparatus and then joining the mirror image halves together. Preferably, the mirror image halves of the teething apparatus  100  are defined by a plane bisecting the shaft  104  and the pair of opposed handles  106 . The tethered cap  108  is, of course, attached to only one of the halves of the apparatus. Each of the halves of the teething apparatus  100  includes a portion of the support base  126  containing two supports  124 , such that joining the halves produces a total of four supports  124  oriented in an approximately rectangular configuration. The four supports  124  function as a foundation to support the invented teething apparatus, as described above. A plan view of the surface of one of the halves to be jointed to fabricate the apparatus is represented in  FIG. 6 . Thus, essentially all of the cavities, apertures and bores, for the above described embodiment of the teething apparatus  100 , are formed upon joining of the two mirror image halves. Consequently, the fabrication of the above described teething apparatus  100  is simplified and more economical. However, alternate methods of manufacturing may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0048]    The teething apparatus  100  without the nipple  102 , including the shaft  104 , the handles  106 , the cap  108  and the shaft extension  148 , may be constructed of various materials, including, but not limited to: silicone (flexible to semi-rigid), latex, polyurethane, or other flexible, semi-rigid, or rigid plastic or rubber-type material. In some embodiments of the present invention, at least the shaft extension  148  may be fabricated of a material that is more rigid than the nipple  102  to make it easier to push, slide, or otherwise connect the nipple  102  to the shaft extension  148 . 
         [0049]    Methods of delivering a heated, cooled, frozen, and/or partially-frozen liquid to a user&#39;s teeth, gums, mouth, and/or throat are also envisioned. One such method includes the steps of filling an apparatus such as that disclosed herein with a fluid. The fluid may be heated, cooled, frozen, and/or partially frozen prior to or subsequent to placing the liquid into the apparatus. Thereafter, the user sucks, chews, squeezes, twists, or otherwise manipulates the nipple and/or the body of the apparatus, thereby creating forces that cause one or more apertures to at least partially open such that the liquid, slush, and/or ice contained in the apparatus may pass therethrough. For example, a user may cause the liquid, slush, and/or ice to pass through the aperture via squeezing, sucking, suckling, biting, and/or chewing on the body of the nipple. Alternatively, a user may squeeze the body of the apparatus, thereby pressurizing the liquid, slush, and/or ice contained therein and forcing same through one or more apertures. Once the liquid, slush, and/or ice passes through the aperture(s), such material is located external to the apparatus at which point it may pass into the mouth of the user and contact the teeth, gums, mouth, and/or throat of the user. Such passage may occur at least in part due to the gargling, suckling, swallowing, or other similar action of the user. 
         [0050]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Category: 1