GB2516858A

GB2516858A - A pacifier

Info

Publication number: GB2516858A
Application number: GB1313797.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Lovat
Original assignee: Opro Mother & Baby Ltd
Current assignee: Opro Mother & Baby Ltd
Priority date: 2013-08-01
Filing date: 2013-08-01
Publication date: 2015-02-11
Also published as: GB201313797D0

Abstract

A pacifier or dummy for soothing babies and infants comprises a mouthpiece, such as an elastomeric nipple 14, a shield 16 and a timer 17 to monitor the time that the dummy is in the mouth to minimize any effect on the teeth. The timer may be mechanical such as with a spring biased rotatable dial face, or digital with a countdown and reset function and a switch such as a temperature activated bimetal switch. An audible or visual alarm, such as light emitting, may be incorporated.

Description

A PACIFIER

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a pacifier including a timer for use in soothing babies and infants.

Background

Pacifiers are well known by parents for being used to sooth an infant or small child. An example of a pacifier 2 which is well known in the art is illustrated in Figure 1. The pacifier 2 includes a mouthpiece, such as an elastomeric nipple, 4, a shield 6 and a handle 8. The mouthpiece 4, shield 6 and handle 8 are connected in such a way that they cannot be readily disconnected by the child to reduce the risk of choking.

Additionally, the shield 6 is commonly provided with ventilation holes 9 in order to allow a child to breath in the event that they do swallow the shield.

Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a pacifier comprising a mouthpiece, a shield and a timer. Including a timer on the pacifier enables parents and carers to monitor the time that a dummy is present within the mouth in order to minimise any effect on the user's teeth.

The timer may be a mechanical timer. For example, it may comprise a dial face which can be turned to extend a spring and then is rotated back to its resting place by the force placed on it by the spring.

Alternatively, the timer may be a digital timer. Where the timer is a digital timer the pacifier may include a reset button to reset the timer to a predetermined time. This allows a carer or parent to readily reset the timer to a recommended time period, such as the six hours, once the twenty four hours have elapsed. Optionally, the timer may be configured to reset the time period to be timed by the timer to a first time, such as six hours, after a second time, such as twenty four hours, has elapsed. This means that a user cannot unknowingly surpass the recommended time for use of a pacifier.

Optionally, the timer may include a switch, such as a bimetal switch, to start and stop the timer that is temperature activated. This means that the timer will always be activated when the pacifier is being used preventing a parent or carer from accidentally extending the time that the pacifier is in use by not starting the timer.

The timer may comprise an alarm which is activated when the time period elapses.

The alarm acts to alert a parent or carer that the maximum amount of time has been passed.

Optionally, the timer may be configured to only time a single time period. This means that the recommended maximum time of use cannot be surpassed without, for example, an alarm sounding.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a timer configured to be received by a pacifier.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 illustrates a known pacifier; and Figure 2 illustrates a pacifier in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description

Figure 2 illustrates a pacifier 12 comprising a mouthpiece 14 to be inserted into an infant's mouth, a shield 16 and a timer 17. According to the British Orthodontic Society a dummy is only likely to affect the teeth of a baby or infant if they are using the dummy for six or more hours a day. Therefore by including a timer on the pacifier parents and carers can more readily monitor the time that a dummy is present within the mouth in order to minimise any effect on the user's teeth.

The timer may be a mechanical timer comprising a dial face which is rotated to set the time and a spring to control the turning of the dial face.

Alternatively, the timer may be a digital timer comprising a digital display which displays a count down.

The timer, whether mechanical or digital, may be provided with a button which can be depressed and released. The button includes, for example in the case of a mechanical timer, a catch and is enables a parent or carer to stop and start the timer when the pacifier is inserted or removed respectively from the baby or infant's mouth. In a digital timer the button may activate a switch to start timing.

Alternatively, the timer, whether mechanical or digital, may include a temperature sensitive switch, such as a bimetal switch. This enables the timer to be activated automatically when the temperature within the pacifier is raised to body temperature i.e. when the pacifier is in use. The temperature sensitive switch may be contained within the body of the timer, or extend partially or completely into alignment with the shield or into the mouthpiece of the pacifier in order that the switch is activated more readily as pacifiers are commonly made from insulating materials.

Preferably the timer can only be set for a maximum of six hours. Even more preferably the timer resets automatically to six hours once a twenty four hour period has elapsed. This prevents an infant or child from altering the timer, whether knowingly or not, in order to extend the time the pacifier can be used. The skilled person will understand that the time periods discussed in this paragraph are by way of example only and may be any suitable time period.

Optionally, the timer may be provided with an alarm which may be audible, such as an alarm, or visual, such as a light, to alert a parent or carer when a predetermined time period has elapsed. For example, this may be used to alert the parent or carer when the six hours has elapsed.

The timer may be removable attachable to the teat and/or shield. For example, in the pacifier illustrated and described in UK Patent application number 1313792.2 which is incorporated herein by reference, the timer may form the attachment.

The mouthpiece may be any suitable mouthpiece, for example it may be a rubber or latex nipple or an orthodontic insert.

Although the present invention has been illustrated without a handle, the skilled person would understand that a pacifier in conformance with the invention described above could include any other suitable additional components, such as a handle.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A pacifier comprising a mouthpiece, a shield and a timer.
2. A pacifier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the timer comprises a mechanical timer.
3. A pacifier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the timer is a digital timer.
4. A pacifier as claimed in claim 3 wherein the pacifier further comprises a reset button to reset the timer to a predetermined time.
5. A pacifier as claimed in claim 3 wherein the timer is configured to reset the time period to be timed by the timer to a first time after a second time has elapsed.
6. A pacifier as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first time is six hours and the second time is twenty four hours.
7. A pacifier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the timer further comprises a switch which is temperature activated
8. A pacifier as claimed in claim 4 wherein the switch is a bimetal switch.
9. A pacifier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the timer further comprises an alarm which is activated when the time period elapses.
10. A pacifier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the timer is configured to only time a single time period.
11. A timer configured to be received by a pacifier.
12. A timer substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
13. A pacifier substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.