GB2352185A

GB2352185A - Sound producing infant's dummy

Info

Publication number: GB2352185A
Application number: GB9917005A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan John Holliman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-07-21
Filing date: 1999-07-21
Publication date: 2001-01-24
Also published as: GB9917005D0

Abstract

The present invention provides an infant's dummy which has a mouth-insertable portion and a guard plate portion to prevent swallowing of the dummy, wherein the dummy incorporates a tracking signal sensing means and a position identifying signal emitting means to enable location of the dummy when mislaid.

Description

2352185

AN IMPROVED INFANTS DUMMY Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved infants dummy, being a dummy of the type that is adapted to be part inserted into the mouth of an infant as a comforter.

Background to the Invention

Infants dummies are relatively simply but extremely effective devices for comforting the infant, mitigating boredom or hunger or other stresses and for that reason represents and extremely valuable tool for the parents or minder of a young infant. A dummy may often be one of the few means to keep an infant from wailing or screaming, as infants frequently do and can, therefore, help to preserve the parent or minder's sanity. The importance of the dummy cannot therefore be underestimated.

The design of the dummy has not altered substantially over the years and generally comprises a mouth inserted portion that is generally teatshaped and of a comparatively soft polymeric material protruding inwardly from a guard plate of a more rigid polymeric material that serves to guard against swallowing of the dummy. The dummy may also have a handle attached to the outer face of the dummy.

A problem which arises with the dummy and which has not previously been effectively addressed is the frequent loss of the dummy. Clearly, an infant cannot be expected to continuously keep hold of its dummy and is prone to dropping it at frequent intervals around the home or wherever the infant may be. The dummy may fall in any of a wide range of different places and not be easily locatable and leading to panic situations where the infant is inconsolable and the parents are frantic. It is a general objective of the present invention to seek to mitigate or overcome this problem.

1 Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided an infant's dummy which has a mouth-insertable portion and a guard plate portion to prevent swallowing of the dummy, wherein the dummy incorporates a signal sensor and a position identifying 5 signal emitter means.

The signal sensor is suitably an acoustic transducer receptive to specific sound signals such as clapping or whistling.

The position-identifying signal emitter means suitably comprise a sonic emitter responsive to reception of a signal by the signal sensing means.

The sonic signal emitted by the position-identifying signal emitter is suitably a readily audible melody.

Preferably the sensor and an emitter are positioned together on the dummy, housed behind the guard plate. Suitably the housing for the sensor/emitter and any further parts of the body of the dummy on the outer face of the dummy are so adapted as to not be insertable into the mouth of the infant. Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 are, respectively, a side elevation view of the preferred 20 embodiment of dummy, a plan view from above, an end elevation view and a plan view from below.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to the Figures, the illustrated dummy comprises a body of a suitable polymeric material comprising a soft polymeric teat-shaped portion 1 to be inserted into 2 the mouth of the infant and projecting substantially perpendicularly from a relatively more rigid polymer guard plate 2 for preventing swallowing of the dummy. On the alternate face of the guard plate 2, the outer face, there is a further dummy body component 4. Again, this is suitably formed of a rigid polymeric material and houses within it an acoustic signal receiving transducer and circuitry and an acoustic signal emitter together forming locating device 5.

This locating device 5 may be suitable comprise a microchip-based device with substantially the same components and circuitry as existing available locator devices found on key fobs and the like and which have a signal sensor to respond to whistling and clapping of hands and an emitter to emit an audible signal to assist in location of the lost key fob. Accordingly, the man skilled in the art will readily be able to supply the necessary means for bringing about this invention. Nevertheless, the invention is not obvious in view of this known prior art not only in view of the fact that this concept has never been applied in this particular field before but also in view of the possible perceived prejudice against adoption of such a facility for dummies in that child safety is a consideration.

The device of the present invention is suitably protected against any risks to child safety by the cunning positioning of the locating device 5 within the body of the dummy behind the guard plate 2 and safely encased within the polymeric material of the dummy.

The acoustic position-identifying signal is suitable emitted through small apertures 6 in the outer dummy body portion 4.

The outer dummy body portion 4 may also serve as the anchor for the handle 3 of the dummy.

3 The acoustic signal emitted by the device 5 is suitably a melody and may, for example, play a nursery rhyme tune or the like and serve as a further entertaining novelty for the infant.

4 S 0ES-Pe-tP71'0A1 - /4v T447prato:vi\jrq,-o-zs oumlyry.

Ro - 1. Sioe- Ewx1auca 6-(4. 2. 0/-0,'? 6 cj - 3 EW Llo-&W Of Ob'f 5odC R(-4. it W)Cbme-atii a4a/).

5--l tzabco or tjkefe a4 cro- ch;p Wtit be hWeo.

Claims

1 An infant's dummy which has a mouth-insertable portion and a guard plate portion to prevent swallowing of the dummy, wherein the dummy incorporates a signal sensor and a position identifying signal emitter means.

2. A dummy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal sensor is an acoustic transducer receptive to specific sound signals such as clapping or whistling.

3. A dummy as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein position-identifying emitter 10 comprises a sonic emitter responsive to reception of a signal by the signal sensor.

4. A dummy as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sonic signal emitted by the emitter is a readily audible melody.

5. A dummy as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sensor and emitter are positioned together on the dummy housed behind the guard plate.

6. A dummy as claimed in claim 5 wherein the housing for the sensor/emitter and any further parts of the body of the dummy on the outer face of the dummy are so 20 adapted as to not be insertable into the mouth of the infant.

7. A dummy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.