GB2492118A

GB2492118A - Pacifier with comforting fabric

Info

Publication number: GB2492118A
Application number: GB1110549.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Johanne Holman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-06-22
Filing date: 2011-06-22
Publication date: 2012-12-26
Also published as: GB201110549D0

Abstract

A combined child pacifier 1 and skirt 2, wherein said skirt 2 is securely fastened in use to the pacifier 1 to provide a piece of comforting fabric to the child. The skirt may comprise loop 3 releasable fastening means.

Description

A COMBINATION CHILD PACIFIER AND SKIRT

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a combination child pacifier and skirt, enabling always available dual comforting means for a child.

BackQround and Prior Art

Many children, infants, babies or toddlers use a variety of means to comfort themselves either for sleep or more generally. These range from thumbs, pacifiers or dummies to blankets or comforters.

These can be of great importance, especially to children who have difficulty relaxing, such as due to illness of affliction. Consequently the loss of any of these means can be disastrous to children or households.

In particular the children become frequently attached to particular means, where loss of any part of this means is noticed. Pacifiers in particular tend to be lost frequently given their small size, particularly during a night-time in bed.

The present invention provides a means for combining a comforter with a pacifier in order that a child is much more likely to retain both and carers may be reassured that the child is soothed.

$ummary of the kwention According to the present invention there is provided a combined child pacifier and skirt, wherein said skirt is securely fastened in use to the pacifier to provide a piece of comforting fabric to the child.

According to a second preferred aspect of the present invention the skirt is detachable, being ideally attached in use to the comforter or dummy by press studs or poppers.

Some embodiments may include two magnets to enable easy and reliable fastening to a pacifier and a variety of other items.

Further embodiments have a fastener that includes or comprises hook and loop material, such as VELCRO (Trade Mark). This is ideally of a heavy duty nature which is not liable to be opened by a child. In these embodiments it may be envisaged that length extensions may be possible in order for example to ensure that the skirt may be attached to items that have a larger diameter.

Further embodiments may include skirts with pacifiers permanently attached, such as to enable a carer to wash both together.

Such embodiments may allow the pacifier to be embedded into the comforter at or near a corner for example where the comforter is rectangular. Further embodiments may provide a seat embedded into the comforter wherein the pacifier may be clipped into the seat in use.

Removable attachment may alternatively be by fastening over a pacifier hinged handle, such as is common on a standard pacifier.

Accordingly it is envisaged that these embodiments of the skirt may be used on a large variety of pacifiers. Additionally it may be envisaged that the skirt may be attachable to other apparatus, such as a soft toy.

Further preferred embodiments may have skirts that attach and detach by means of detachable parts on the pacifier.

For example the pacifier may have a central clip-over cover, or a cover that has resiliently deformable part, or screwthread cover enabling a secure connection with the pacifier's body, in order that the cover may be detached by a carer to remove the skirt but an infant will not be able to remove parts, which prevents likelihoods of choking hazards.

For example therefore a carer may attach a comforter to the central cover to allow parts of the comforter to be accessible to the child from more than one direction, for example allowing the child to have a part of the comforter resting upon or contacting his/her nose, as many children find comforting.

Said removable cover may additionally allow for the replacement of portions of the pacifier, for example changing of pictures or images displayed on the pacifier.

Typically the skirt is a breathable fabric such as cotton, and is envisaged to be washable easily. Additionally or in the alternative impregnated, antibacterial, antimicrobial or other smart fabric may be utilised.

The pacifier is ideally envisaged to be formed in part or whole of plastics, in particular plastics that do not corrode or release harmful material.

Typically the pacifier's teat is made of silicone, and has a teat cap.

With use of a teat cap a carer can minimise harmful transfer from the comforter to the pacifier. Additionally where the pacifier is not removable from the comforter the cap ensures that in washing the teat is not cleaned, advantageously for carers or children who dislike detergent.

As some children like to have more than one pacifier, for example to have the security of holding one pacifier in their hand, some embodiments may provide a plurality of attachment points so as to permit a carer or child to attach a plurality of pacifiers or other items.

Some skirts may be supplied impregnated with scent.

Some combinations may include teethers or other complimentary devices.

All plastics used are ideally Bisphenol A and Phthalate free so that even where this is not the case the child may use the pacifier as a teether.

Some embodiments of the combination may allow attachment in addition to or in the alternative from, separately provided material, such as a favourite comforter. This may be attached to the pacifier by the existing fastener, for example where the fastener is a loop with fastening means.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Descrjptionof Figures Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the skirt fastened to a pacifier; Figures 2 show a reverse isometric view of the skirt; Figure 3 shows an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the pacifier; and Figure 4 shows an isometric exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the pacifier with a teat cap.

Detailed Description of Figures

The pictured embodiment comprises of a pacifier (1), and a comforter 2.

The pacifier is composed of a teat 10, handle 11, replaceable design card 12, central cover 13, and bipartite body 14 formed in two different plastics with different rigidity.

The comforter 2 has an attachment means 3 that uses a loop over the pacifier handle 11, fastened by a press stud arrangement 30.

Claims

Claims 1. A combination child pacifier and skirt, wherein said skirt is securely fastened in use to the pacifier to provide a piece of comforting fabric to the child.
2. A combination according to claim I wherein the pacifier is detachable.
3. A combination according to claim 1 wherein the skirt is detachable.
4. A combination according to claim 2 wherein the pacifier is separately provided.
5. A combination according to claim 3 wherein the skirt is separately provided.
6. A combination according to any preceding claim including teethers or other complimentary devices.Amended daims have been Wed as foflows:-Claims 1. A combined child pacifier and skirt, wherein said skirt is securely fastened in use to the pacifier to provide a piece of comforting fabric to the child.2. A child pacifier according to Claim 1, wherein the skirt comprises a releasable fastening means.(s 3. A child pacifier according to Claim 2, wherein the releasable fastening means comprises a loop whose ends (0 may be fastened together by a corresponding fasteners."a 4. A combined child pacifier substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.