GB2292688A

GB2292688A - Childrens' dummies

Info

Publication number: GB2292688A
Application number: GB9417145A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Hale
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-08-25
Filing date: 1994-08-25
Publication date: 1996-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 2014-08-25
Also published as: GB9417145D0; GB2292688B

Abstract

A dummy 10 is disclosed consisting of a teat 12, a flange 14 and a handle 16. The teat 12 is attached to the flange 14 and is wider in one dimension than in the other. The teat 12 is formed from a thermoplastic rubber compound. The teat 12 has a bulbous extremity IS and a relatively thin neck 20. The neck 20 is dotted with raised knobbles 22 which together form a gum massager. <IMAGE>

Description

CHILDRENS' DUMMIES Childrens' dummies have been in existence for many years.

These days, most dummies consist of a teat attached to a flange, the latter of which prevents the dummy from being swallowed. The dummy acts as a comforter for the child, being a familiar object and has the advantage of preventing the child from making as much noise as might otherwise be the case.

One time of life at which being able to silence one's child would be a boon is the teething stage. Devices in the form of rings with raised knobbles on its surface have been devised, which are placed in the child's mouth, have been used, with the intention that the child should bite down on the ring and massage his gums on it. This is thought to alleviate the irritating sensation caused by emergent teeth. However, these devices have not been altogether successful, since the child tends to discard them in favour of his familiar dummy and then continue to suffer gum irritation.

The present invention addresses this problem and accordingly provides a child's dummy incorporating a gum massager. As one familiar device serves both functions of dummy and gum massager, there is little danger of the child continuing to suffer irritated gums, since recourse to his familiar dummy will give immediate relief.

The dummy will usually comprise a teat and a flange, in which case the gum massager is preferably incorporated in the teat. More preferably, the gum massager is incorporated in the teat adjacent the flange. This arrangement ensures that the gum massager is correctly placed to massage the gums.

The teat may include a bulbous extremity and a relatively narrow neck by which it is attached to the flange. This helps to secure it in the mouth. The gum massager is, in this case, preferably incorporated into the neck.

To make for a definite orientation of the dummy within the mouth, the neck may be flattened in one dimension. The bulbous extremity may also be flattened in that dimension.

The teat may be formed from rubber, and is preferably a thermoplastic. The gum massager may, as is common, comprise a plurality of raised knobbles.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

As can be seen, the dummy 10 consists of a teat 12, a flange 14 and a handle 16. The handle 16 may be articulated to the flange 14 so that it will lie flat against the flange 14 when not being held. The flange 14 and handle 16 are both injection moulded from thermoplastic resin. The flange 14 is made larger than even the largest child's mouth, to ensure that the dummy 10 cannot accidentally be swallowed. The flange 14 is oval in shape, the figure being a view from the longest side.

The teat 12 is attached to the flange 14 in known manner and the teat 12, in common with the flange 14, is wider in the dimension illustrated in the figure than it is in the perpendicular dimension. The teat 12 is formed from a thermoplastic rubber compound.

The teat 12 has a bulbous extremity 18 and a relatively thin neck 20. The neck 20 is dotted with raised knobbles 22 which together form a gum massager. The knobbles 22 are formed close to the flange 14, this being the appropriate position to massage the gums when the dummy 10 is being used.

The provision of a single device which serves the purpose of dummy and gum massager reduces the chances that the child will find the gum massager more uncomfortable than the irritation of emergent teeth. The dummy 10 is a familiar thing, a thing of comfort, and the child is much more likely to turn to it in times of discomfort.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A child's dummy incorporating a gum massager.

2. A dummy according to claim 1 comprising a teat and a flange, the gum massager being incorporated in the teat.

3. A dummy according to claim 2 in which the gum massager is incorporated in the teat adjacent the flange.

4. A dummy according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which the teat includes a bulbous extremity and a relatively narrow neck by which it is attached to the flange.

5. A dummy according to claim 4 in which the gum massager is incorporated into the neck.

6. A dummy according to claim 4 or claim 5 in which the neck is flattened in one dimension.

7. A dummy according to claim 6 in which the bulbous extremity is also flattened in that dimension.

8. A dummy according to any one of claim 2-7 in which the teat is formed from rubber.

9. A dummy according to claim 8 in which the rubber is a thermoplastic.

10. A dummy according to any preceding claim in which the gum massager comprises a plurality of raised knobbles.

11. A child's dummy substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.