WO2004054494A2 - Teething devices - Google Patents

Abstract

Improved teething devices for children. The teething devices preferably remain cold for a longer period than prior water-filled teething devices, present an improved teething surface for the baby to chew or bite on, and/or visually present a crushed-ice like appearance to convey the impression of coldness to the caregiver (e.g. a parent or guardian) or the child.

Description

Teething Devices

Inventor: Nouri E. Hakim Monroe, Louisiana

Related Applications

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Nonprovisional Application Serial

No. 10/345,125 filed January 15, 2003, which claims all rights of priority to U.S. Provisional

Application Serial No. 60/433,335 filed December 13, 2002, both of which are fully incorporated

by reference herein.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to teething devices for infants.

Background of the Invention

Teething is the natural physiological process of tooth eruption through the gums of the

mouth, a normal part of a child's growth in which the child's tooth breaks through the gums.

Teething usually begins between the sixth and eighth month, although in some cases it can begin

as early as 2 months of age or as late as 12 months. Once the first tooth has emerged (usually a front

and bottom tooth), further tooth eruption occurs periodically over the ensuing months until all

twenty teeth of childhood are in place. These childhood teeth are also known as the deciduous

teeth. By the age of 2 Vi years of age, all of the deciduous teeth have usually emerged and are in

place.

This teething process is one of considerable discomfort for the infant. This discomfort

results from the pressure being exerted by the teeth on the tissue in the mouth (the periodontal membrane) during the eruption process. To remedy the discomfort during this period, parents

commonly rub the child's gums with their fingers or with a cool, wet washcloth, or more preferably,

provide the child with something to bite or chew on, preferably an object which is cold. Various

objects have been used in the past, such as, firm rubber teething rings, water-filled teething rings (for

freezing to ice), cold food, and so forth.

The present inventor, however, has determined that there is a need within the art for

improved teething products beyond those currendy available. Water-filled products, for example,

cool to produce a cold teething surface, yet they freeze to ice which can be too hard to be

comfortable and can break or chip the baby's teeth.

As a result, it is an object of the present invention to produce improved devices to assist

children with the teething process.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved teething devices for infants.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide teething devices which remain cold

for a longer period than prior water-filled teething devices.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide teething devices which present an

improved teething surface for the baby to chew or bite on.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide teething devices whose physical

structure provides an improved teething surface for children.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide teething devices which visually

convey the impression of coldness to the caregiver (e.g. a parent or guardian) or the child.

Further objects of the present invention will become apparent in conjunction with the

detailed disclosure provided herein. Further to the objects of the present invention, improved teething devices are provided

herein. The device includes at least one portion constructed of a outer material (e.g. a suitable

plastic), which forms a container, i.e. a structure having a cavity therein. The cavity is at least

partially filled, or it completed filled, with an improved internal material (preferably gel), such that

the outer material forms a container or tank for the internal material. Preferably the outer material

is flexible. Further preferably the internal material is selected to be a material having a lower freezing

temperature than water, thereby providing a teething device which remains cold for a longer period

than traditional water-filled soothers after it is cooled by exposure to low temperatures (e.g. by

placement in a freezer).

Additionally or alternatively, the material is selected such that, when the material is inserted

into the cavity of the container, the resulting container at least partially filled with a material having

a malleable or soft nature, in contrast to hard teething devices currently available. Thus, the child

can bite on the container and experience a soft, comfortable teething surface. Accordingly, a

superior softer texture and structure is provided for the child to bite on. If desired, the flexible

material can also include further teething surfaces thereon, such as bumps or indentations, to

provide texture including raised and/or lowered areas for rubbing against the child's gums.

Further additionally or alternatively, the internal material is a material which is selected to

convey a crushed ice-like appearance. This selection visually conveys the cold nature of the device

to the caregiver (e.g. a parent or guardian) and to the child, and visually conveys the fact that the

device becomes colder than, and stays cold longer than, traditional teething devices. Further

preferably, this material is softer than ice.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in conjunction with

the disclosure provided herein. Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a illustration of one embodiment of a teething device in accordance with the

present invention, with Figure 1(a) being a front view and Figure 1(b) being a side view thereof.

Figure 2 is an illustration of a further embodiment of a teething device in accordance with

the present invention, with Figure 2(a) being a front view, Figure 2(b) being a side view, and Figure

2(c) being a bottom view thereof.

Figure 3 is an illustration of a further embodiment of a teething device in accordance with

the present invention, with Figure 3(a) being a front view and Figure 3(b) being a side view thereof.

Figure 4 is a series of views of the invention, with Figure 4(a) being a front view, Figure 4(b)

being a top and bottom view, Figure 4(c) being a side view, and Figure 4(d) being a perspective view

thereof. The figures show the crushed-ice like appearance of the internal material of the present

invention as set forth in a container. This container is provided as a complete teething device to a

child, or is attached to further components. The dashed lines represent environmental elements of

the device, i.e. they can correspond to any shape container for the gel, the container and the device

not being limited to the toroidal or donut shape shown therein.

Figures 5 (a) - (e) are several views of a crushed ice-like appearance of a gel in accordance with

the present invention.

Figure 6 is an perspective view of a further embodiment of a teething device in accordance

with the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention and the Preferred Embodiments

In accordance with the present invention, an improved teething device is provided for

children. The present invention can be used in conjunction with any form of device for a baby to bite or chew on during the teething process, with the term "teething device" including, but not

being limited to, teethers, soothers, pacifiers, baby botde nipples, and so forth. The invention can

be a modification of any existing teething device, or can be a modification of any new device

emerging in the market or that may emerge in the future, including, but not limited to the devices

of the present inventor's U.S. Patent No. 6,241,110 issued June 5, 2001, the contents of which are

fully incorporated herein by reference.

In the preferred embodiments, the teething devices of the present invention are provided

to be used cold rather than at room temperature. This is due to the fact that the coolness of the

chewing surface provides increased relief to the child's discomfort and irritation when the device is

placed against the child's gums and when the child is chewing or biting on the device.

Accordingly, further to the present invention an improved teething product 18 is provided

having a portion constructed of an outer material 22 with a cavity having an internal material 26

therein. The outer material can be of any desired composition, and the outer material and cavity

can each be of any desired dimensions. The hard outer material is preferably flexible. As an

example, the container of outer material 22 can be a flexible plastic tank of EVA, as shown in Figure

1(a). Alternatively, a hard outer material can be used in less preferred embodiments.

The internal material 26 is preferably a material chosen to be which is non-toxic in the event

of tearing of the outer material or leakage therefrom. Preferably, the internal material is a gel. The

internal material is further preferably chosen to have a freezing temperature below that of water, i.e.

below 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). Accordingly, the contents of the teething device

have a lower freezing point than the water-filled teething rings currently used in the art. As a result,

once cooled, the teething product of the present invention will stay cold longer than water-filled

teething products. In addition, the outer material will provide a degree of insulation to the contents

of the product, such that it, for example, slows down the rate at which the internal material (e.g. gel) heats back up to room temperature, and insulates slightly between the coldness of the internal

material and the child's gums.

In a further alternative or additional embodiment of the invention, a material is chosen for

insertion within the flexible material so as to provide a superior softer texture for the child to bite

or chew on than traditional water-filled rings. Preferably, a suitable gel is selected such that, when

placed in the interior of the device, the device has a teething structure which is malleable even after

cooling for extended periods at cold temperatures (e.g. by placement in a freezer). Thus, a container

of flexible material 22 having a gel 26 therein will remain soft and flexible even after cooling or

freezing. This soft, flexible teething structure provides increased comfort to the child. In contrast,

frozen teethers are often criticized or avoided for being too hard, since they can irritate a baby's

already tender gums. For example, when the internal contents of water-filled teethers freeze, a hard

ice is produced, which is uncomfortable to the gums of the baby, and can break or chip the baby's

teeth. The flexibility of the gel of the present invention avoids such irritation and further

discomfort.

Preferably, in a further alternative or additional embodiment of the invention, a material is

chosen to present a crushed ice-like appearance. Accordingly, by that term a material is intended

presenting an appearance similar to some degree to the look of crushed, chipped, broken or non-

uniform ice; for example, a clumped, lumpy, granulated, fragmented, or air bubble (air pocket) filled

appearance. Further preferably, the material is a gel. Illustrations of some internal materials are

provided in Figures 4 and 5. However, it will be understood that the exact appearance of the size,

configuration and placement of fragments, bubbles, and so forth, will vary from sample to sample

as would be the case with crushed ice in general, and as further discussed below.

The crushed ice-like contents in this embodiment are preferably visible to the consumer or

user through the outer material wall of the container. This visual characteristic of the gel or other internal material, visually conveys the cold nature of the device to the parent, caregiver and child.

Thus, even before placement in the freezer, the present invention visually conveys the fact that the

device will become colder than, and stay cold longer than, traditional teething devices. In other

words, as a result of the fact that the device has the appearance of being filled with a crushed-ice like

substance, it psychologically "looks cold", conveying its nature and purpose to purchasers and users.

Furthermore, this clumped, lumpy or fragmented texture (or so forth) provides a superior malleable

structure for the child to bite or chew on, as discussed above.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the material is a gel composition of water and

propylene glycol. In further preferred embodiments, superabsorbent polyacrylamide, propyl

paraben, methyl paraben, potassium sorbate, and/or citric acid can be provided. The composition

of a preferred formulation of the invention is as follows:

Superabsorbant Polyacrylamide 1.10%

Propylene Glycol 25.00%

Propyl Paraben 0.05%

Methyl Paraben 0.15% potassium Sorbate 0.40%

Water 73.3000%

Citric Acid Amount necessary to bring ph to 6.5 - 7

However, any other suitable internal material fulfilling one or more of the requirements and

advantages of the invention can alternatively be selected and used. Thus, the invention is not

limited to the compositions listed above, or to the particular proportions set forth in the above

formulation, but rather, any internal composition fulfilling one or more of the objects or advantages

of the invention can be utilized consistent with the present invention. For example, consistent with

the invention other compositions could be substituted that are non-toxic, have a freezing point below that of water and/or have a crushed ice-like appearance, whether compositions currently

available or later developed in the art.

In addition to the container itself, other components can additionally be provided to the

teething device as well, if desired. Examples include hard, soft structures, solid and/or hollow

structures, including but not limited to structures 30, 34 or 36 shown in the figures. These portions

of the device can be in any shape desired, whether of animals, cartoon characters, or so forth.

Likewise, any other portions of the device, whether the outer material, the cavity, or so forth can be

in any shape desired. For example, the outer material can be a container in the form of a rounded

tank of gel as shown in Figure 1(a) and 1(b). Or, it can be in the shape of ears 42 holding the gel

therein, as shown in Figure 3(a). The container can also be attached to any desired further

components. These can be components provided for teething, components for a child to hold on

to, components provided to present a desired appearance, hard, soft, solid or hollow components

(provided for any desired purpose), components provided for any combination of the foregoing

purposes, and so forth.

As one example, tank 22 is shown attached to hard ring 30, as set forth in Figure 1(a).

Likewise, hard segments can be provided as a handle or as any other part of the device, such as

polypropylene trunk 46 shown, for example, in Figure 3(a). Fabric can further be attached to the

product to achieve desired structures or effects, as shown e.g. by fabric 48 in Figure 3(a) and (b).

Similarly, further components can be provided as surfaces and structures of the device

whether for teething purposes, for holding onto (gripping), for appearance, or so forth. For

example, a component can be provided as a handle or as part of a handle as in the case of structures

30, 34 , or 36; pads can be provided on the handle or other portion of the device, such as pad 34

shown in Figure 1; rings 38 or 44 can be provided, such as shown in Figures 1 and 3 respectively;

and/or structures can be provided as a teething surface, as for example, with structures 34 and 36. Any suitable materials can be used to construct any of the components of the invention,

whether ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene), TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer), EVA (Ethyl Vinyl

Acetate) polypropylene, polycarbonate (PC), or so forth. Each of the components can be fabricated

and assembled using any of the numerous techniques well known in the the art for creation of such

products. For example, a single structure can be molded and filled with gel for provision to the

child, or multiple structures can be molded, the multiple structures being assembled together in the

desired configuration (with one or more being filled with gel), or so forth.

Likewise, any desired combination of components can be used. For example, as shown in

Figure 2, a teething device is provided having a shell of plastic (e.g. ABS), attached to a tank

containing gel (e.g a tank constructed from EVA), the shell component further having rings

provided thereon (e.g. overmolded rings of TPE ) , and a tinted insert therein (e.g. of polycarbonate) .

In this example, the tank is provided for cooling and for teething thereon, the rings can be provided

for aesthetic and/or teething purposes, the shell can be provided for the child to hold onto and/or

teeth thereon, and so forth.

The material or gel can partially or fully fill the teething product, or any portion thereof.

Thus, the amount of filling can further be used to influence the desired degree of malleability of the

product. Further teething features can be provided wherever desired on the invention as well. For

example, the flexible material and/or a hard or solid portion can include further teething surfaces

34, 36 or 40 thereon, such as ridges or raised rubber areas, as in the case of surfaces 34 and 36, or

bumps 40 of any size and shape (whether bumps extending outwardly, or inwardly as indentations),

and so forth, to provide texture on the device including raised and/or lowered areas for rubbing

against the child's gums. These additional teething surfaces can be provided on the hard portions

of the device, as with surfaces 34, 36 or 40, and/or on the flexible material itself, as with bumps 40.

Figures 4 and 5 are a series of further views, showing the clumped or crushed ice-like appearance of the material of the present invention, as discussed above. As shown in the figures, a

material is set forth in a container, such as a plastic container having a cavity as previously discussed.

This container can be provided in and of itself as a complete teething device for use by the child,

or it can be attached to further components, as shown for example in Figures 1-3 and Figure 6.

The dashed lines represent the environmental elements of the device; accordingly, the cavity

can correspond to any shape container for the internal material, and is not limited to the toroidal

or donut shape shown therein. Likewise, any size of clumps and any spacing of clumps can be

provided in the cavity consistent with the invention. Figure 5 illustrates additional or alternate

views of the material for placement within each of the views of Figure 4 (or within any of the other

figures of the application). It will be understood, however, that the exact appearance of the size,

configuration and placement of fragments, bubbles, and so forth of the internal material, can vary

from sample to sample as would be the case with crushed ice in general. It is intended that the term

crushed ice-like cover all such configurations of fragments, bubbles and so forth. Likewise, it is

intended that the drawings be interpreted with the understanding in mind that such size,

configuration and placement of the "fragments" and bubbles within the gel can be varied as desired,

while still remaining within the scope of the present invention.

In the case of pacifiers the internal material can be provided in the baglet (nipple) of the

pacifier and/or as part of the shield. For example, as shown in Figure 6, a pacifier 52 can be

provided having a shield 56 provided with containers of material 22 for placement of the material

26 therein. Pacifier 52 has a baglet 60, and can optionally also have a handle 62, if desired. The

containers 22 are shown as placed on the four corners of the pacifier shield, but can be alternatively

placed on one or more corners, or in any other location of the shield. Interior 54 of pacifier shield

56 of Figure 6 can be a hard material such as any traditionally used for pacifier shields. Or, the

container or containers can be used to form the entire shield. Alternatively or additionally to containers on the shield, the baglet 60 can be filled with gel

in accordance with the invention. Likewise, the baglet can have bumps thereon for teething

purposes as well. The baglet can be provided with material of one hardness, or multiple hardness

materials can be provided - e.g. a baglet having bumps of a increased hardness relative to other

portions of the baglet can be used as discussed in U.S. Patent No. 6,241,110 issued June 5, 2001

(the '110 patent) , which is fully incorporated herein by reference. Likewise, the shield of the pacifier

can be constructed of materials of multiple hardnesses and/or have further bumps thereon, as also

discussed in the '110 patent.

Having described this invention with regard to specific embodiments, it is to be understood

that the description is not meant as a limitation since further embodiments, modifications and

variations may be apparent or may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It is intended that

the present application cover all such embodiments, modifications and variations.

Claims

ClaimsWhat is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:

(a) providing a device for use by a child, said device comprising a container, said container

having a material therein, said container being provided for placement in the child's mouth to

provide confort to the child when the child is teething;

(b) said material in said container being a material having a freezing temperature below 0

degrees Celsius;

(c) said material further having an appearance similar to that of crushed ice.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device is provided to be cooled prior to

placement in the mouth of the child.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device is provided to be cooled in a freezer

prior to placement in the mouth of the child.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said material is a gel.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said gel comprises propylene glycol.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a component which the child can hold

on to, said component being attached to said container.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said device comprises a further surface for the child

to teethe on, in addition to said container.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a component

provided to present a desired appearance.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said material is visible to a user through said container.

10. A method comprising:

(a) providing a device for use by a child, said device comprising a container, said container

having a gel therein, said container being provided for placement in the child's mouth to provide

confort to the child when the child is teething;

(b) said gel in said container being a material having a freezing temperature below 0 degrees

Celsius;

(c) said gel having an appearance similar to that of crushed ice;

(d) said gel being visible through said container.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said device is provided to be cooled prior to

placement in the mouth of the child.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said device is provided to be cooled in a freezer

prior to placement in the mouth of the child.

13. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said material is a gel.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said gel comprises propylene glycol.

15. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a component which the child can hold

on to, said component being attached to said container.

16. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said device comprises a further surface for the

child to teethe on, in addition to said container.

17. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said device further comprises a component

provided to present a desired appearance.

18. A method comprising:

(a) providing a device for use by a child, said device comprising a container, said container

having a gel therein, said container being provided for placement in the child's mouth to provide

confort to the child when the child is teething;

(b) said gel in said container being a material having a freezing temperature below 0 degrees

Celsius, said device being provided for cooling prior to placement in the mouth of the child;

(c) said gel having an appearance similar to that of crushed ice;

(d) said gel being visible through said container;

(e) said device further comprising a component which the child can hold on to, said

component being attached to said container.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said gel comprises propylene glycol.

20. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said device comprises a further surface for the

child to teethe on, in addition to said container.