US2699785A - Pacifier - Google Patents

Description

P., E. ALLEN PACIFIER Filed Feb. 26. 1953 United States Patent() Krueger, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 26, 1953, Serial No. 339,135 2 Claims. (Cl. 12S-360) The present invention relates to an infants pacifier and particularly to a novel pacifier constructed and arranged in such manner that it will automatically drop from the mouth of the infant when the infant falls asleep or rests and its lips relax their hold upon the nipple.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a novel pacifier weighted and balanced in such manner that with the nipple inserted into the mouth of the infant and held between its lips, relaxing of its grip on the nipple, as when the infant falls asleep, causes the n'ppleto withdraw or drop from the mouth of the infant.

By disposing the center of gravity of the pacifier at a point spaced rearwardly of the anchored end of the nipple and providing this rearwardly projecting portion with sufcient weight or mass, tipping of the pacifier to withdraw the nipple from the mouth of the infant when the latter is asleep or relaxed is effected. Due to this construction and arrangement, there is no danger of the pacier causing the infant to choke or of its remaining in the mouth of the infant when asleep, for promptly upon the infant relaxing its hold upon the nipple as when coughing, resting or sleeping, the nipple is automatically removed.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a novel pacifier having a nipple, an extension which in the disclosed embodiment comprises a rattle having a ring attached thereto and a shiftable weight therein, and an enlarged disc or guard disposed between the nipple and rattle with the end of the nipple ailxed to the disc.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the novel pacifier` assembly.

Fig. 2 is a View, part in side elevation and part in vertical cross section, of the pacifier assembly and showing the interior of the rattle and the manner of joining the rattle and the nipple to the disc.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the pacifier assembly.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the novel pacier inserted in normal position in the mouth of an infant.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the novel pacifier showing the manner in which it drops and is automatically removed from the mouth when the infant falls asleep or relaxes sulliciently to release the nipple.

Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation of an alternate construction of pacifier, a portion of the ball or rattle being broken away to show the enclosed weight.

Referring to the disclosure in the drawings and more particularly t0 the selected embodiment therein shown for illustrating the present invention, in the novel embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the pacifier assembly comprises a nipple 10, a relatively large disc or guard 11, a rattle 12 and connecting rings 13 and 14. The nipple 10, preferably formed of rubber or rubber-like and resilient material, is attached at one end to the disc or guard by means of an annular bead or enlargement 15 (Fig. 2) adapted to be conformably received and anchored in a recess 16 formed in a collar 17 connecting the disc 11 to the rattle 12.

Vring 14. The disc 11, collar ice The resilient or llexible nipple 10 being of `rubber' or rubber-like material is held in anchored `position in an opening in the 'disc 111 by an insert 18 projecting into the hollow, open end thereof and thereat expanding or distending the side wall of the nipple against the material of the disc defining the opening. An annular enlargement or bead 19 on the inner end of this insert bears against the bead or `enlargement 1.5 on the open end of the nipple 10 whereby the nipple is securely held against removal and the insert, by expanding the nipple, prevents the entrance of foreign material between the exterior wall of the nipple and the disc. Thus the nipple and pacifier may be readily and easily kept sterile.

The rattle 12 is shown provided with a shiftable or movable object including a shell 21 and a weight 22 therein adapted to move freely in the rattle enclosure or shell 23. Axed to this shell or enclosure 23 by means of a suitable connector or collar 24 is the ring 13 and loosely connected or interlinked to the latter is the relatively large 17, enclosure or shell 23, connector 24 and rings 13 and 14, may be formed of any suitable plastic or other composition or material capable of forming a rigid assembly that is highly resistant to fracture or disassembly, and one which may be quickly, easily and thoroughly sterilized.

The disc 11, collar 17, shell or enclosure 23 and connector 24 may be formed separately and joined together, or they may be molded as two halves with each half including one-half of the disc, collar, shell or enclosure and connector, and these halves joined longitudinally along the seam 25 (Fig. l).

By the present construction and arrangement, the center of gravity of the assembly is disposed substantially to the rear of the disc and away from the nipple whereby the point about which the assembly is pivoted or balanced is such that the assembly will automatically tilt toward the end carrying the ring and thereby drop from the mouth or lips of the infant when it falls asleep, coughs or tends to choke and its hold on the nipple is relaxed.

Fig. 7 discloses an alternate embodiment in which a ball or shell 26 of a rattle is suitably ailixed to the outer end of an elongated sleeve 27, the inner end of this sleeve being rigidly attached to the disc 11. In the ball of the rattle is provided a weight or weighted object 21 whereby to overbalance or shift the center of gravity of the complete assembly to a point substantially to the rear of or away from the disc 11 and nipple 10.. Here again, the disc 11, sleeve 27 and rattle ball or shell 26 may be formed separately and joined together or this assembly may be molded in two longitudinal sections joined together.

Although the present illustrative embodiment discloses a rattle 12 including a ball part 23 ailixed to the disc 11 by a collar 17 (Figs. l to 6), or such a part atlixed to the outer end of an elongated sleeve 27, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such an assembly but comprehends any pacifier so constructed or provided with an extended part or means so located that the center of gravity or point of balance of the assembly is disposed or arranged sutiiciently to the rear of the disc or away from the nipple to thereby prevent retention of the nipple in the mouth of the infant when asleep or relaxed, or when the infant has a tendency to choke and momentarily releases the nipple. With a pacifier constructed as contemplated, the mother is assured that the pacifier cannot continuously remain in the infants mouth or under circumstances that might be injurious.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

l. A pacifier assembly comprising a nipple having a bead at its open end, a sleeve-like insert disposed in this open end and provided with an annular bead at one end bearing against the bead on the nipple, a disc to which the open end of the nipple is attached and from which the nipple projects, a collar attached to the disc and into which the beads project, a rattle ball attached to the exterior of the collar on the side opposite to the nipple and a ring connected to the exterior of the rattle ball opposite to that of the collar, whereby the center of gravity of the assembly is disposed at a point between the disc and the ring and away from the nipple causing the nipple to drop from the mouth of the infant when asleep or when its lips relax their hold on the nipple.

2. A pacifer comprising a nipple, a disc through which the open end of the nipple projects, said disc having a part into which the open end of the nipple projects, a hollow ball seated upon and anchored to said part, a weight loose and movable in the ball, a projection attached to the exterior of the ball opposite to the part on the disc to which the ball is attached and a ring connected to the last Vmentioned projection, said weighted ball and its location with respect to the nipple overbalancing the ring end of the pacier and causing the pacier to be withdrawn from the mouth of the infant when asleep or when its hold on the nipple is released.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,462,786 steekler Feb. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,964 Great Britain ef 1897 2,462,786 Great Britain Feb. 22, 1949

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