GB2181957A - Teething dummy - Google Patents

Abstract

The teething dummy has a removable teat held in a two part casing. Holes in the dummy are positioned to direct small amounts of medicated teething fluid, gel, or other substance held in the teat onto the gums of a teething infant. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Teething Dummy An infant dummy or soother is used mainly to comfort young children. They are not filied or refillable with any kind of food or medication, and are simply held in the mouth, or sucked by the infant as a comforter.

When infants are teething the present approach is to rub teething gel onto the painful gums. This method is not easily done and the gel can be sucked off by the child before the effects of the medication can be felt. This invention endeavours to hold a small amount of gel, and direct it to painful gums in the infants mouth. Through the continuous sucking motion on the teat, the gel is applied to the gums for a longer period than if applied by hand. Once the reservoir of fluid or gel has been used, the dummy can be refilled to supply a further period of comfort.

The present invention is a three part dummy, which splits allowing the teats to be interchanged or replaced when necessary. The splitting or opening of the dummy body enables medicated teething fluid or gel to be placed inside the teat and then reassembled. The body is made of two halves which lock together when assembled, and when placed in the childs mouth enable it to suck and withdraw the fluid or gel which is specially aimed at the painful gums by the various and interchangeable teats.

The interchangeable tests have the suckling hole at various positions. For example; when the front teeth are causing pain, teats with holes in the middle would be used (Figure 1 & Figure 2). Later in the teething stage when the back teeth are causing pain, teats with suckling holes at the sides and towards the end would be used (Figure 8)..

This invention is to allow small amounts of soothing gel to be sucked out by the infant in a natural way, squeezing the gel onto the painful gums. Like an ordinary dummy, once the child is pacified or drops off to sleep, the dummy can be safely left in the infants mouth without the need of parental supervision.

Figure 1. First teat used when front teeth are causing pain, suckling hole shown as open.

Figure 2. Same teat shown through 90" angle.

Figure 3. Shows outer case in cross-section, which holds the teat in position when the inner case is placed inside and turned to lock itself in position.

Figure 4. Inside view of the outer case through 90" angle.

Figure 5. Inner case with dummy ring part 3, for holding the inner case when assembling and removal from the mouth.

Figure 6. Inner case and dummy ring through 90" angle.

Figure 7. Inner case and dummy ring through 90" turn.

Figure 8. Second interchangeable teat, used when back teeth are causing pain.

Figure 9. Shows the complete and assembled teething dummy in cross-section.

Figure 10. Shows the complete and assembled teething dummy as an artist impression.

Referring to the diagrams, the teething dummy comprises of part 1, a latex rubber teat with open suckling holes, which is pushed into the outer casing, made of plastic or nylon, part 2.

The teething dummy is fully assembled when the inner case part 4 is placed inside the outer case, part 2, and turned either clockwise or anticlockwise and stops to lock the teething dummy together.

Part 3 is the dummy ring which is assembled to part 4, the inner case, during manufacture and is not designed to be removed. Part 3, the dummy ring, pivots an axis (X-X). The dummy ring part 3 functions to enable the inner casing, part 4, to be held and turned inside the outer casing, part 2. Also to facilitate the removal of the complete teething dummy from the infants mouth.

1. The teething dummy comprises of a rubber teat placed into an outer plastic housing or case. This can be filled and refilled with medicated teething gel or fluid, which is then held together and locked in position by inserting the inner case inside the outer case completing the assembly. The teething dummy is refillable and reusable at any stage or time.

2. The teething dummy as claimed in claim 1, where interchangeable teats are fitted where various positions of the suckling holes are located for different functions; i.e.: delivery of fluids or directing gel in the mouth.

3. The teething dummy as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, where in different fluids or gels or foods can be used for non medicated purposes, can be used with standard teats and suckling holes in the normal position.

4. The teething dummy as claimed in 1,2 and 3, where interchangeable teats can be used specifically for directing teething fluid or gel to specific parts of the mouth. Such teats which are not specified or drawn due to future research and development.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Teething Dummy An infant dummy or soother is used mainly to comfort young children. They are not filied or refillable with any kind of food or medication, and are simply held in the mouth, or sucked by the infant as a comforter. When infants are teething the present approach is to rub teething gel onto the painful gums. This method is not easily done and the gel can be sucked off by the child before the effects of the medication can be felt. This invention endeavours to hold a small amount of gel, and direct it to painful gums in the infants mouth. Through the continuous sucking motion on the teat, the gel is applied to the gums for a longer period than if applied by hand. Once the reservoir of fluid or gel has been used, the dummy can be refilled to supply a further period of comfort. The present invention is a three part dummy, which splits allowing the teats to be interchanged or replaced when necessary. The splitting or opening of the dummy body enables medicated teething fluid or gel to be placed inside the teat and then reassembled. The body is made of two halves which lock together when assembled, and when placed in the childs mouth enable it to suck and withdraw the fluid or gel which is specially aimed at the painful gums by the various and interchangeable teats. The interchangeable tests have the suckling hole at various positions. For example; when the front teeth are causing pain, teats with holes in the middle would be used (Figure 1 & Figure 2). Later in the teething stage when the back teeth are causing pain, teats with suckling holes at the sides and towards the end would be used (Figure 8).. This invention is to allow small amounts of soothing gel to be sucked out by the infant in a natural way, squeezing the gel onto the painful gums. Like an ordinary dummy, once the child is pacified or drops off to sleep, the dummy can be safely left in the infants mouth without the need of parental supervision. Figure 1. First teat used when front teeth are causing pain, suckling hole shown as open. Figure 2. Same teat shown through 90" angle. Figure 3. Shows outer case in cross-section, which holds the teat in position when the inner case is placed inside and turned to lock itself in position. Figure 4. Inside view of the outer case through 90" angle. Figure 5. Inner case with dummy ring part 3, for holding the inner case when assembling and removal from the mouth. Figure 6. Inner case and dummy ring through 90" angle. Figure 7. Inner case and dummy ring through 90" turn. Figure 8. Second interchangeable teat, used when back teeth are causing pain. Figure 9. Shows the complete and assembled teething dummy in cross-section. Figure 10. Shows the complete and assembled teething dummy as an artist impression. Referring to the diagrams, the teething dummy comprises of part 1, a latex rubber teat with open suckling holes, which is pushed into the outer casing, made of plastic or nylon, part 2. The teething dummy is fully assembled when the inner case part 4 is placed inside the outer case, part 2, and turned either clockwise or anticlockwise and stops to lock the teething dummy together. Part 3 is the dummy ring which is assembled to part 4, the inner case, during manufacture and is not designed to be removed. Part 3, the dummy ring, pivots an axis (X-X). The dummy ring part 3 functions to enable the inner casing, part 4, to be held and turned inside the outer casing, part 2. Also to facilitate the removal of the complete teething dummy from the infants mouth. CLAIMS

1. The teething dummy comprises of a rubber teat placed into an outer plastic housing or case. This can be filled and refilled with medicated teething gel or fluid, which is then held together and locked in position by inserting the inner case inside the outer case completing the assembly. The teething dummy is refillable and reusable at any stage or time.

2. The teething dummy as claimed in claim 1, where interchangeable teats are fitted where various positions of the suckling holes are located for different functions; i.e.: delivery of fluids or directing gel in the mouth.

3. The teething dummy as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, where in different fluids or gels or foods can be used for non medicated purposes, can be used with standard teats and suckling holes in the normal position.

4. The teething dummy as claimed in 1,2 and 3, where interchangeable teats can be used specifically for directing teething fluid or gel to specific parts of the mouth. Such teats which are not specified or drawn due to future research and development.