EP1490012B1 - Pacifier - Google Patents

Abstract

Sucking device comprises a sucking body (1) and shaft (2). The sucking body is equipped with a recess (4) extending in a longitudinal direction of the sucking device. The recess, when viewed in longitudinal direction, ends flat towards the anterior free end (1a) of the sucking body.

Description

The invention relates to a sucker, in particular a soother, for babies or toddlers.

Pacifiers for babies or toddlers are available in the market in a variety of different designs and sizes. Such suckers generally have a suction body, a connecting part or a shaft and a lip plate or a mouth plate connected directly or indirectly to the shaft. The absorbent body and the shaft are generally made of elastomers or rubber. The absorbent body and the shaft usually have an internal cavity filled with air, which is why these parts are generally very bulky.

It has been found that the use of prior art soothers can lead to malalignment of the teeth as well as malformations in the jaw. However, if the baby / toddler is not provided with a soother, this often leads to the baby / toddler sucking on the thumb, on the finger or on other objects, which generally causes even more serious tooth misalignments, in particular frontally open bites and lateral bites become.

From the DE 200 22 126 U1 is a sucker known, which consists of an insertable into the mouth absorbent body and a shield, which are made in one piece with each other. The suction part has the shape of a spoon, wherein on the side facing the mouth in use of the absorbent body, a bead is formed.

The WO 98/02132 discloses a soother with a suction body on which a shaft is provided, with which the absorbent body is attached to a shield. The bladder-shaped absorbent body is provided with a concave, rounded recess which is adapted to the shape of the tongue tip of a toddler and for receiving serves the tongue tip. A disadvantage of this soother is that the tongue is pushed through the recess on the absorbent body dorsally backwards into the oral cavity, that is forced into a position which contradicts the physiological tongue position when sucking or sucking, in which the tongue is placed forward above Calming the toddler is hardly possible with this soother, as the child can neither suckle nor suckle.

The FR-A-1 463 140 discloses a nipple formed of a stem and an absorbent body. The absorbed in the mouth absorbent body has a directly adjoining the shaft thickening, which merges into a over the remaining length of the absorbent body extending recess, wherein the transition of the thickening in the recess serves as a tongue stop.

From the DE 201 00 392 U1 is a sucker known, which is also formed of a shaft and an absorbent body. In this known sucker, the hollow absorbent body is formed approximately spherical and has on its underside a recess for receiving the tongue.

It is the object of the invention to provide a nipple, in particular a pacifier or a drinking or bottle nipple, which is favorable from an orthodontic point of view, at the same time stimulating the baby / toddler to a uniform suction or to serve the immobilization.

According to the invention this object is achieved by the feature combination of claim 1. The sucker according to the invention has, in particular, a suction body, a shaft or a connecting part, wherein the absorbent body is provided with a recess running in the longitudinal direction of the sucker, the depression, seen in longitudinal section, running flat towards the front free end of the absorbent body.

If the teat is designed as a soother, it also has a lip plate or a mouth plate indirectly or directly connected to the shaft.

The front free end of the absorbent body is that end which, seen in the longitudinal direction of the teat, is furthest from the shaft. In other words, it represents the end that first enters the oral cavity when the teat is inserted into the mouth. Unlike the prior art after the DE 200 22 126 U1 Thus, the absorbent body does not have the shape of a spoon, with the in Fig. 2 This document showed strong curvature of the depression in the front area. Rather, the elongated depression in the absorbent body of the teat according to the invention is formed scoop-shaped, ie with a stronger notch or a convex curvature in the rear region, which expires flat or slightly curved towards the front end. Consequently, there is no bead in the front region of the absorbent body.

The tongue of the baby or toddler thus does not encounter resistance when sucking or sucking and is braked. Rather, the tongue can place itself in the direction of its physiologically normal position - at the level behind the upper anterior teeth.

Due to the introduced deformation (depression), a smaller volume is achieved in the absorbent body, in particular a smaller thickness, than in conventional suction cups, both in the hollow body and in the hollow body-free version.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by the feature combination of independent claim 2. The sucker according to the invention, which can be designed both as a calming and as a feeding or bottle sucker, also here has a suction body and a shaft, wherein the absorbent body comprises a flat bottom, which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the nipple , The absorbent of the nipple according to the invention thus extends at least with respect to its underside flat, so that here too the tongue does not encounter resistance. Since the absorbent body extends substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the teat, the absorbent body is continuously along its length on the upper side of the tongue.

According to a preferred embodiment, the ratio of the maximum height h of the absorbent body to its length I is at most 0.7, preferably at most 0.6 and more preferably at most 0.5. "Height" in connection with the invention means the sum of those distances which have the highest point of the absorbent body and the lowest point of the absorbent body to the longitudinal axis of the teat. The terms "top" and "bottom" refer to that position of the nipple, which occupies this when it is inserted into the mouth of a baby or toddler.

The sucker formed according to the preferred embodiment thus has a relatively flat absorbent body in relation to its longitudinal extent. There is thus no excessively "bulbous" element in the baby's mouth.

The inventive design of the nipple is further achieved the advantage that the toddler automatically the nipple in the correct position in the Introduces oral cavity. Namely, it would reverse the nipple, ie with the depression pointing upward into the oral cavity, the absorbent body would press due to the curvature of the shaft or the connecting part down on the tongue, which the baby immediately felt uncomfortable and the position Corrected accordingly.

The absorbent body and the stem of the nipple according to the invention are preferably integrally formed with one another, both in hollow body form and as a full mold, that is to say they are made of the same material and merge into one another without a connecting seam. The inventive construction of the soother makes it possible to form the absorbent body and the shaft both with and without internal cavity.

When inserting the nipple into the oral cavity of the baby or toddler, the tongue lays automatically in the depression and pushes the absorbent body against the roof of the mouth. Here, the absorbent body, whether formed from solid material or as a hollow body, due to the existing in the absorbent recess fits the palate.

Since it may be possible to dispense with the cavity filled with air, the suction body and the shaft of the vacuum cleaner according to the invention can be manufactured with a smaller volume, in particular smaller thickness, than most vacuum cleaners available on the market today. According to another embodiment, the absorbent body and the stem may be made in two-component form, that is, made of different materials and bonded together.

The inventive design of these parts is particularly recommended because it can malposition and / or Kieferanomalien, such as the so-called "frontal open bite" can be prevented or reduced. Namely, the teat, as well as, for example, the thumb stuck in the mouth, acts as a foreign body between the rows of teeth of the upper and lower jaw. If such foreign bodies exert pressure on the teeth for longer periods of time, it can lead to tooth position changes. Thus, a permanent pressure of about 0.25 Newton per cm ² root surface is sufficient to move anterior teeth. Usually, these are protruded (moved forward), with the pivot point in the upper Root third lies. In particular, the upper anterior teeth may additionally be intruded (moved into the jaw).

Depending on the extent of the movement, the jawbone can also be deformed. This creates the already described above open bite. Since the root surface of the deciduous teeth is by far none, correspondingly less permanent pressure is needed to change the position of the teeth. Any exercise of pressure in the oral cavity, i. between the rows of teeth, should therefore be largely avoided.

The fact that the depression is substantially constant over the entire length of the absorbent body allows the tongue to move forward along the absorbent body to its natural position, without encountering resistances such as e.g. Bulges or bulges to push. The ability to move the tongue more freely minimizes the pressure on teeth and jaws.

Preferably, the shaft, seen in longitudinal section, an angled shape. The angled shape may be either as a sharp kink or as a bend. In the case of a teat, in the case of a teat, the stem generally forms the connection between the absorbent body and the bottle body or a cavity of the teat upstream of the bottle body.

Starting from the lip shield, in this embodiment, the shaft initially extends horizontally between the lips and the rows of anterior teeth of the upper and lower jaw, and then rises obliquely upward in the direction of the palate with a bend or bend behind the upper incisors. As a result, the suction part is higher (ie, cranial) than an imaginary horizontal between the exit point of the shaft from the lip shield and the absorbent body. The term "higher". is here related to that position of the nipple, which he occupies when he is introduced in the correct position in the mouth of the baby or toddler. In this case, the recess having the side of the absorbent body is directed towards the tongue.

Due to the angled shape of the shaft causes the absorbent body is guided in the palatal curvature of the upper jaw and rests on the palate.

The upper and lower incisors can approach each other due to the angled, much thinner shaft maximum, being less obstructed than in the case of a horizontally extending shaft.

The course of the angled shaft follows the so-called sagittal anterior tooth stage. As a result, the formation of a lukewarm bite caused by excessive sucking on the pacifier with a conventional shaft is best prevented, but at least reduced.

In addition, the absorbent body is automatically attached to the roof of the mouth.

As already mentioned, it is favorable if the absorbent body, in particular the shaft, is designed with the smallest possible dimensions. In this context, it has proved to be advantageous if the absorbent body is designed so that it tapers conically towards its front free end, viewed from above or from below. This allows a comfortable insertion of the absorbent body into the oral cavity of the baby or toddler.

According to a preferred embodiment, the absorbent body and the shaft together have a length of about 15 to 32 mm, in particular from about 15 to 30 mm and particularly preferably from about 24 to 28 mm. Investigations have shown that the length and width of the part of the jaw relevant for suckling in the infant or toddler increases only insignificantly until the onset of the milk teeth. Also, the latitudinal growth in the later months of life is only a few millimeters, so that the specified length ranges for the sucking, ie absorbent body plus shaft, for all ages of the infant or child, in which it uses a nipple, are sufficient. The relatively small length of the suction part corresponds more to the mamilla of nursing women, which generally has a length of between 5 and 15 mm, on average 11 mm.

As already mentioned, the shape and size of the shaft is also essential for preventing the occurrence of misaligned teeth. Seen in cross-section, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the nipple, the shaft generally has the shape of a rectangle with rounded edges or an elliptical cross-section. When the nipple is inserted into the oral cavity, the shaft extends from the lip shield located outside of the mouth inwardly into the oral cavity to the absorbent body which rests against the palate. The shaft thus passes between the upper and lower rows of teeth of the front teeth, which exert a pressure on the shaft in the closed position of the mouth. It only requires minor mouth-closing movements and the front teeth react to the shaft as a permanent pressure body. Consequently, it is favorable if the shaft offers the teeth as little as possible attack surface. It is therefore necessary to minimize the shaft of the nipple in width and height.

On the other hand, the shaft can not be made arbitrarily narrow and thin. The production of vacuum cleaners must comply with strict standards issued by the European Committee for Standardization in Brussels. In particular, the standards also include requirements for the strength of such suckers. For reasons of mechanical strength, the specified reference values for width and thickness of the shaft are thus set.

Preferably, the shaft has a width of about 3 to 15 mm, preferably from about 3 to 13 mm and in particular from about 7 to 12 mm. In shanks of this width can be achieved with the usual suction materials in general sufficient mechanical stability and strength.

The stem should be as thin as possible, as is feasible in terms of materials and manufacture, in any case taking into account the standards for pacifiers and feeding and bottle nipples for infants and toddlers, where such exist. The thickness of the shaft should not exceed 4 mm. Again, the requirement for mechanical stability defines a lower limit. Depending on the material used, the thickness should be at least about 0.5 mm. Particularly preferred in practice is the range of about 1 to 3 mm for the thickness of the shaft. In the case of a shaft with an inner hollow body, the thickness of the shaft is preferably about 4 to 6 mm.

Suitable materials for the production of the absorbent body and / or the shaft of the nipple according to the invention are vulcanizates based on natural rubber latex, natural rubber or synthetic polyisoprene or blends thereof or else thermoplastic elastomers. These materials meet in particular the requirements set forth in the above standard with regard to mechanical stability as well as with regard to compatibility. Of course, silicone can be used as an alternative for the production of the said parts.

Furthermore, it is possible to manufacture the shaft from plastics such as polypropylene. Optionally, a so-called high performance plastic can be used to meet the requirements regarding small dimensions with high mechanical load capacity.

In order to counteract the closing movements of the mouth as little resistance as possible, it has proved favorable if the degree of hardness of the material for the absorbent body and the shaft is below 50 Shore A, in particular between 30 and 45 Shore A, the range between 35 and 45 Shore A is most preferred. These hardnesses can be achieved, for example, by using rubber or elastomers as materials for the absorbent body and the shank.

Fig. 1

eine Draufsicht auf einen erfindungsgemäßen Beruhigungssauger;

Fig. 2

eine Unteransicht des Beruhigungssaugers nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Beruhigungssaugers nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Saugers, der als Ernährungs- bzw. Flaschensauger ausgebildet ist

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht auf den Saugkörper mit Schaft eines dritten Ausführungsbei- spieles eines erfindungsgemäßen Beruhigungssaugers;

Fig. 6

einen Längsschnitt durch den Saugkörper nach Fig. 5 mit Schaft entlang der Schnittlinie VI-VI in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7

einen Querschnitt durch den Saugkörper entlang der Schnittlinie VII-VII in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8

einen Längsschnitt durch eine abgewandelte Ausführungsform des Saugkör- pers nach Fig. 5; und

Fig. 9

einen Querschnitt durch den Saugkörper nach Fig. 8 entlang der Schnittlinie IX-IX in Fig. 8.

The invention will be described below with reference to several embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a plan view of a soother according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a bottom view of the soother after Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the soother after Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4

A second embodiment of a nipple according to the invention, which is designed as a food or bottle vacuum cleaner

Fig. 5

a plan view of the absorbent body with shaft of a third embodiment of a soother according to the invention;

Fig. 6

a longitudinal section through the absorbent body after Fig. 5 with shank along the section line VI-VI in Fig. 5 ;

Fig. 7

a cross section through the absorbent body along the section line VII-VII in Fig. 6 ;

Fig. 8

a longitudinal section through a modified embodiment of the Saugkör- pers Fig. 5 ; and

Fig. 9

a cross section through the absorbent body after Fig. 8 along the section line IX-IX in Fig. 8 ,

Like this in the Fig. 1 to 3 1, the pacifier according to the invention has a suction body 1, a shaft 2 adjoining the rear end of the absorbent body 1, and a lip shield 3 connected directly or indirectly to the shaft 2. In the perspective of Fig. 1 and 2 It can be seen that the absorbent body 1 tapers conically from its rear end to its front free end. This results in a certain streamlined shape of the absorbent body 1 in the direction of the suction movement into the oral cavity.

On the side of the absorbent body 1, which is directed downwards when using the soother (see the bottom view in FIG Fig. 2 ), there is an elongated recess 4, which extends over the entire length of the absorbent body 1 in the embodiment shown. The shape of the recess 4 is best in the perspective view of Fig. 3 to recognize. When properly inserted into the oral cavity, the soother must be inserted so that the depression 4 is directed downwards, ie: towards the tongue (caudal), thus in the position in Fig. 3 is shown.

Like this in the FIGS. 2 and 3 can be clearly seen, the absorbent body 1 at its front free end no bead or the like. Rather, the depression 4 runs flat towards the front end of the soother, so that the depression 4 is formed like a blade. The tongue of the baby or toddler can thus move without resistance along the absorbent body 12.

The shaft 2 is here provided with an angled shape designed as a bend 2a, which causes the absorbent body 1 is above the point of exit of the shaft 2 from the lip shield 3. The shaft 2 is thus suitably preformed, so that the absorbent body 1 is already aligned towards the palate, without any additional pressure must be generated by tongue or teeth. However, according to an alternative embodiment, the shaft 1 may also be straight.

In Fig. 4 a further embodiment of a nipple is shown in longitudinal section, which is designed as a feeding or bottle nipple. The nutritional extractor also has a suction body 1, to which a shaft 2 connects. In contrast to the above with respect to the Fig. 1 to 3 described embodiment, the nutritional teat no lip shield. Rather, the shaft 2 is, as is common practice in food vacuum cleaners, in its rear region into a hollow body 5, which may be integrally formed with the shaft 2.

In the Fig. 4 shown length L includes the length of the absorbent body 1 and the shaft 2. The transition from the shaft 2 to the hollow body 5 is located at the point where the lips of the child rest with inserted into the mouth sucker. At its end opposite the shaft 2, the hollow body 5 can be connected to a screw ring or a pressure cap (not shown), via which the nipple is connected to a drinking vessel, such as a drinking bottle. Alternatively, the sucker is connected via the hollow body 5 directly to the drinking vessel.

In the nipple, the shaft 2 and the absorbent body 1 on an inner cavity (not shown), which is in communication with the interior of the hollow body 5 and thus with the interior of the bottle.

The absorbent body 1 of the food vacuum cleaner is also provided with a longitudinally extending recess 4, the flat to the front end of the absorbent body 1 or expires in the illustrated embodiment with only a slight curvature.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the recess 4 can also be omitted, so that the underside of the absorbent body extends flat in the longitudinal direction of the teat. The ratio of the height h of the absorbent body 1 to its length I is preferably at most about 0.6. Like this in the Fig. 4 can be seen, the height h is composed of the height h _{1 of} the highest point above the longitudinal axis and the height h _{2 of} the lowest point of the absorbent body below the longitudinal axis.

In the Fig. 5 to 7 is the absorbent body 1 and the shaft 2 of a third embodiment of a soother shown in the Fig. 1 to 3 similar to the embodiment shown. Also in this third embodiment, a recess 4 is formed on the underside of the absorbent body 1, which expires starting from the front end near the lip plate, not shown, to the free end 1a of the absorbent body 1 and tapers, in particular the in Fig. 6 shown longitudinal section along the line VI-VI in Fig. 5 through the absorbent body 1 shows.

Furthermore, in this third embodiment, the lateral edges 1b of the absorbent body 1, which delimit the recess 4 in the longitudinal direction, pulled down, in particular as in Fig. 7 illustrated cross section through the absorbent body 1 along the line VII-VII in Fig. 6 shows. The edges 1b drawn down are designed so that they taper towards the edge region (cf. Fig. 7 ). By the tapered lateral edges 1b is achieved on the one hand, that the nipple is aligned during insertion of the tongue in the oral cavity. On the other hand, a smooth transition between the underside of the teat into the palate surface is provided by the tapering edge regions of the absorbent body 1 for the tongue.

By the tapering to the free end 1a towards the absorbent body 1 on the one hand and by the gently inserted into the nipple in the palate area edges 1b on the other hand ensures that the tongue without noticeable resistance in the Groove 4 can slide along, whereby the natural sucking and sucking movement of the tongue is not affected.

Like the cut in Fig. 6 further shows, the shaft 2 in this modified embodiment has a straight shaft portion 2b, which extends in the longitudinal direction A of the nipple. The straight shaft section 2b merges into an angled support section 2c, which runs at a predetermined angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the straight shaft section 2b. The angle at which the support portion 2c extends relative to the straight shaft portion 2b, is chosen so that the upper jaw and the lower jaw and the upper and lower front teeth are arranged in their physiologically correct position to each other and are supported by the support portion 2c when the Sucker is held in the mouth.

The angled support portion 2c merges into a shank transition 2d, which is also angled, but with a smaller inclination angle than the angled support portion 2c. The length and the angle of inclination of this transitional portion 2d are chosen so that the absorbent body 1 rests evenly on the palate with suckers held in the mouth, without the need for a force on the absorbent body 1 must be applied by the tongue of the child.

In the 8 and 9 is a modified embodiment of the in the Fig. 5 to 7 shown third embodiment, wherein Fig. 8 a longitudinal section through this modified embodiment, the in Fig. 6 shown longitudinal section corresponds.

As Fig. 8 shows, the shaft 2 in this modified embodiment corresponds to the shaft 2 in the third embodiment and also has a straight shaft portion 2b, an angled support portion 2c and a transition portion 2d, with which the shaft 2 passes into the absorbent body 1. Compared with the transition of the shaft 2 in the absorbent body 1 in the third embodiment, however, the absorbent body 1 is formed stronger in this modified embodiment.

Due to the greater material thickness, a thickening in the form of a saddle 1c is formed on the underside of the absorbent body 1. This saddle 1c merges into the depression 4 formed on the underside of the absorbent body 1, which extends as far as the free end 1a of the absorbent body 1, the depression 4 being less strongly formed by the saddle 1c and having a smaller depth, such as Fig. 9 shows, in which a cross section through the absorbent body 1 along the line XI-XI is shown.

By the saddle 1c is achieved that the sucker is pressed by the tongue of the child with little force against the palate, thus maintaining its optimal for the sucking and suckling movement of the tongue position in the oral cavity.

Claims (22)

1. A teat including a suction body (1) as well as a shaft (2), wherein the suction body (1) is provided with a recess (4) extending in longitudinal direction of the teat, characterized in that the recess (4) extends across the entire length of the suction body (1) and tapers off flat towards the front free end (1a) of the suction body (1) viewed in longitudinal section.
2. A teat including a suction body (1) as well as a shaft (2), characterized in that the suction body (1) has a flat bottom extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the teat.
3. The teat according to claim 2, characterized in that the ratio of the maximum height h of the suction body to its length 1 is at most 0.7, preferably at most 0.6 and particularly preferred at most 0.5.
4. The teat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is formed as a pacifier, which has a lip guard (3) directly or indirectly connected to the shaft.
5. The teat according to claim 4, characterized in that the shaft (2) has an angled shape viewed in longitudinal section.
6. The teat according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction body conically tapers towards its front free end (1a) viewed in plan view.
7. The teat according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shaft (2) has a width of about 3 to 15 mm, preferably 3 to 13 mm.
8. The teat according to claim 7, characterized in that the shaft (2) has a width of about 7 to 12 mm.
9. The teat according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shaft (2) has a thickness of about 0.5 to 6 mm and preferably 0.5 to 4 mm.
10. The teat according to claim 9, characterized in that the shaft (2) has a thickness of about 1 to 3 mm.
11. The teat according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction body (1) and the shaft (2) have a total length of about 15 to 32 and preferably about 15 to 30 mm.
12. Teat according to claim 11, characterized in that the suction body (1) and the shaft (2) have a total length of about 24 to 28 mm.
13. The teat according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction body (1) is manufactured from a vulcanization product based on natural rubber, natural rubber-latex or synthetic polyisoprene or blends thereof or from silicone or from a thermoplastic elastomer.
14. The teat according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shaft (2) is manufactured from a vulcanization product based on natural rubber, natural rubber-latex or synthetic polyisoprene or blends thereof or from silicone or from a thermoplastic elastomer.
15. The teat according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the shaft is manufactured from plastic.
16. The teat according to at least one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the suction body is formed as a hollow body.
17. The teat according to at least one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the teat is formed as a solid body.
18. The teat according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction body (1) has edges (1b) laterally extended down, which laterally delineate the recess (4), wherein the edges (1b) preferably taper towards the edge end viewed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the suction body (1).
19. The teat according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that a saddle-shaped elevation (1c) is formed at the transition of the shaft (2) to the suction body (1) at the bottom of the suction body (1), which transitions to the recess (4).
20. The teat according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shaft (2) is angled several times and has a straight shaft section (2b), an angled support section (2c) joining thereto, which is inclined at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the straight shaft section (2b), as well as a similarly angled transitional section (2d) joining to the support section (2c), with which the shaft (2) transitions to the suction body (1).
21. The suction body according to claim 20, characterized in that the angle, at which the angled support section (2c) extends inclined relatively to the longitudinal direction of the straight shaft section (2b), is selected such that the support section (2c) holds and supports the upper and lower jaw or upper and lower front teeth in a physiologically correct position relatively to each other.
22. The suction body according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the angle, at which the transitional section (2d) extends inclined relatively to the longitudinal direction of the straight shaft section (2b), is selected such that the suction body (1) evenly abuts the palate with the teat inserted.

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