Weaning pacifier

Description

[0001] The field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of childcare instruments.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to an evolving pacifier, that is to say designed to reduce the length of the mouthpiece intended to be suckled by the child so as to gradually wean the child from using the pacifier.

[0003] In the field of the invention, it has been observed that the physiological sucking reflex is present before birth, in utero in the fetus.

[0004] This sucking reflex is indeed essential for the development of the infant who feels an innate need to suckle, then to suck, without this being exclusively linked to feeding. Indeed, apart from breastfeeding and any sensation of hunger, sucking reassures and soothes the child.

[0005] In other words, aside from the correlation between nutrition and sucking, the latter provides a feeling of comfort. Thus, we distinguish nutritive sucking, the purpose of which is to satisfy the infant's hunger, from non-nutritive sucking, which the infant will exert on a thumb, a pacifier, a comforter, etc.

[0006] However, while sucking has advantages in terms of infant well-being, by soothing them, it also has disadvantages, particularly from an orthodontic point of view, especially when the sucking reflex is prolonged in young children.

[0007] This problem tends to become more pronounced during the period of teething, which is accompanied by a strong need for the child to suck and bite something. However, in this case, too, sucking is a necessity and a source of intense satisfaction for the child.

[0008] Practitioners' observations have shown that, in the long term, thumb sucking, pacifier sucking, or prolonged use of a bottle do not go well with good dental development.

[0009] Furthermore, there has been a rise in the use of pacifiers for many years. However, pacifier sucking is just as harmful as thumb sucking. Indeed, the pacifier gets between the teeth of the upper and lower jaws and can therefore block the proper development of the front teeth.

[0010] However, the pacifier remains less harmful than the thumb for three reasons: It deforms the palate less because it is flexible and shorter, it can easily be put aside or thrown away, the thumb cannot (always available), even if it often hangs around, it is generally cleaner than the hands.

[0011] The recommended age to break a child's sucking habit is around 2-3 years old. At this age, children are developing their interests and investigations. This is the age when they walk, express themselves, interact with other children, and, depending on the situation, start school.

[0012] While thumb sucking is acceptable up to the age of 4 or 5, beyond this age, it is advisable to start talking about it with the child. In particular, it can be explained to the child that, beyond the possible impact on their teeth, the thumb or pacifier hinders the path of communication (one cannot speak "with their mouth full").

[0013] The conclusion is therefore as follows: if the pacifier is essential for the first months, or even the first two years of the child's life, it becomes an obstacle to the positioning of the tongue (low tongue) and therefore to the widening of the palate, as well as to the normal growth of the oral sphere and dental positioning.

[0014] In an attempt to address this situation, several solutions have been proposed by prior art.

[0015] In particular, two solutions are known, described by the patent document published under number US2002065537.

[0016] According to a first solution proposed by this document, the teat comprises a handle carried by a collar from which a teat extends, several teats of different lengths being proposed to be replaced successively, each renewal mouthpiece having a length less than that which replaces it. The mouthpieces are therefore removably mounted on the collar in such a way that a first mouthpiece can be removed from the collar and replaced by another mouthpiece shorter than the previous one.

[0017] A first disadvantage of this system is that it is necessary to manufacture a plurality of teats of different lengths, which is expensive in terms of manufacturing and, consequently, tends to increase the purchase price.

[0018] Another disadvantage is that the mouthpieces are mounted in a removable manner, with a significant potential risk that one of the mouthpieces could unexpectedly separate from the collar while in the child's mouth, which could then cause the child to swallow the mouthpiece, with the possibility of choking.

[0019] According to a second solution proposed by the document cited above, the mouthpiece is connected to the handle by an internal traction member. A rotation of the handle will cause the traction member to screw into the handle, leading to a progressive retraction of the mouthpiece towards the collar, thus reducing its length.

[0020] Such a solution involves the implementation of different parts to be manufactured and assembled, which again leads to an increase in the acquisition price of the device.

[0021] Also known is the patent document published under number GB2259019 which describes a pacifier with a sucking mouthpiece, and comprising a collar which can be positioned entirely on the mouthpiece to carry out cleaning, the pacifier not being able to be used by the child to suckle during this cleaning.

[0022] Also known is the patent document published under number EP1275366 which describes a pacifier with a sucking mouthpiece, and comprising a pad intended to reproduce the sensation provided by the nipple of a breast.

[0023] Finally, US patent document 4,878,496 discloses an accordion system for varying the apparent length of a pacifier.

[0024] The invention aims in particular to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0025] More specifically, the invention aims to provide an evolving pacifier that is easy to use, without posing any risk to the child in terms of ingestion of small parts.

[0026] The invention also aims to provide such a scalable pacifier which is simple to design and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0027] These objectives, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved thanks to the invention which relates to an evolving pacifier, of the type comprising: a mouthpiece intended to be suckled by a child; a handle; at least one base collar having a base thickness on one side of which the mouthpiece extends to present a suction length L, and on the other side of which the handle extends; a system for reducing the length L, characterized in that the reduction system comprises at least one first adjustment collar having a passage for the mouthpiece so as to surround the mouthpiece and means for coupling the first adjustment collar to the base collar so as to present the first adjustment collar on the mouthpiece side relative to the base collar, the first adjustment collar having a first adjustment thickness at least equal to the base thickness, and in that the teat comprises at least one second adjustment collar having a passage for the mouthpiece so as to surround the mouthpiece and means for fixing the second adjustment collar to the first adjustment collar so as to present the second adjustment collar on the mouthpiece side relative to the first adjustment collar,the second adjustment collar having a second adjustment thickness at least equal to the base thickness.

[0028] In this way, the evolution of the length of the sucking mouthpiece decreases by the junction of a second collar on the first, creating an excess thickness on the latter and consequently reducing the protruding part of the sucking mouthpiece.

[0029] The principle of use for changing the teat is therefore extremely simple, simply by putting a second collar around the mouthpiece until it is pressed against the first and coupled with it.

[0030] It is noted that the risk of ingestion of small parts with an evolving pacifier according to the invention is non-existent, or almost. Indeed, the collar is a part of the pacifier which remains outside the child's mouth. It is designed to come into contact with the child's lips and generally has dimensions greater than the opening of the child's mouth precisely to avoid being ingested by the child.

[0031] Furthermore, an evolving pacifier according to the invention is particularly simple in design and, as will become clear later, simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0032] In addition, the implementation of a second adjustment collar makes it possible to further reduce the protruding part of the sucking mouthpiece.

[0033] Of course, the progressive reduction is carried out according to the thickness of each adjustment collar, which may also require varying the number of adjustment collars as will appear later.

[0034] Furthermore, it is clear from this characteristic that the second adjustment collar has an operating mode of implementation identical to that of the first adjustment collar, in that it is threaded around the mouthpiece and is coupled to the collar which precedes it.

[0035] According to an advantageous solution, the coupling means are integrated into the first adjustment collar and / or the base collar.

[0036] In this way, in other words, there are no additional parts to the first adjustment collar or the base collar to allow the two collars to be joined together. This avoids adding one or more parts to obtain the assembly.

[0037] According to a preferred solution, the coupling means comprise snap-fastening means integrated into the first adjustment collar.

[0038] According to such a design, the assembly of the two collars together can be obtained more simply and quickly, while ensuring effective mechanical strength.

[0039] Preferably, the first latching means and the second latching means are designed to cooperate together in a non-removable manner.

[0040] It is understood that, in this way, disassembly of the first adjustment collar from the base collar is not possible, which eliminates any risk of ingestion of the first adjustment collar by the child.

[0041] According to an advantageous solution, the first adjustment collar has a contour twinned with that of the base collar.

[0042] In this way, the edge of the first adjustment collar is flush with the edge of the base collar, extending in continuity with each other. This prevents the edge of either of the two collars from forming a shoulder that could be unpleasant for the child, or which could constitute a support or gripping area when trying to separate the two collars.

[0043] According to an advantageous solution, the first adjustment collar and the second adjustment collar are identical.

[0044] This results in savings in manufacturing costs, as all the adjustment collars are identical and can therefore be mass-produced.

[0045] According to a particular embodiment, the teat comprises a set of five identical adjustment collars.

[0046] Of course, as indicated previously, the number of these adjustment collars may vary as needed, in particular, depending on the desired progressiveness, which may result in variations in terms of the thickness of the adjustment collars.

[0047] Preferably, the adjustment collar(s) are openwork.

[0048] This allows saliva and air to circulate between the flanges, allowing drying between the base and adjustment flanges.

[0049] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given as a simple illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings among which: there [ Fig.1 ] schematically illustrates an evolving pacifier according to the invention, seen from the side; the [ Fig.2 ] schematically illustrates an adjustment collar for an evolving pacifier according to the invention; the [ Fig.3 ] schematically illustrates, in a side view, an evolving pacifier on which there is a first adjustment collar; the [ Fig.4 ] schematically illustrates an evolving pacifier according to the invention with different stacks of adjustment collars.

[0050] As illustrated by the [ Fig.1 ], an evolving pacifier according to the invention comprises in a conventional manner: a mouthpiece 1 intended to be suckled by a child, such a mouthpiece generally being made of silicone; a handle 2; a base collar 3 on one side of which the mouthpiece 1 extends, having a length L from the base collar 3 to the free end of the mouthpiece, the handle 2 extending on the other side of the base collar relative to the mouthpiece 1.

[0051] This base collar has a thickness, called the base thickness EB, for example of the order of 1 to 2 mm (this thickness can be the average thickness of the perimeter if the thickness of the latter is not constant).

[0052] According to the principle of the invention, the pacifier comprises at least a first adjustment collar 4 illustrated by the [ Fig.2 ]. As shown in this figure, this adjustment collar has a central passage 40 allowing the passage of the mouthpiece 1 through the passage, such that, once the adjustment collar is mounted on the teat, the adjustment collar surrounds the mouthpiece 1.

[0053] In addition, the adjustment collar has a thickness, called the adjustment thickness EJ (this thickness may be the average thickness of the perimeter if the thickness of the latter is not constant) greater than or equal to the base thickness EB.

[0054] In addition, the teat comprises means for coupling the first adjustment collar 4 to the base collar 3 provided to present the first adjustment collar 4 on the mouthpiece 1 side relative to the base collar as shown in the [ Fig.3 ].

[0055] According to this design of the evolving teat according to the invention, the first adjustment collar 4 is mounted on the teat by passing the mouthpiece through the passage 40, until the first adjustment collar 4 is pressed against the base collar 2.

[0056] It is understood that, in this way, the first adjustment collar forms a system for reducing the length L, in that the projecting part of the mouthpiece 1 from the base collar is reduced in length by the thickness of the first adjustment collar. In other words, the length of the mouthpiece projecting from the adjustment collar is equal to L - EJ.

[0057] According to the present embodiment according to the invention, the means for coupling the first adjustment collar 4 with the base collar 3 are directly integrated into the first adjustment collar and / or the base collar, and preferably only into the adjustment collar.

[0058] To do this, the first adjustment collar has on one of its faces a pair of hooks 41 facing each other and positioned on either side of the adjustment collar. These hooks are elastically deformable and are designed and produced to allow snap-fastening assembly of the base collar onto the adjustment collar. Thus, the hooks 41 of the first adjustment collar constitute snap-fastening means.

[0059] Preferably, the hooks forming the first latching means are designed to retain the base collar in a non-removable manner.

[0060] Furthermore, as it appears on the [ Fig.4 ], the first adjustment collar 4 has a contour twinned with that of the base collar 3. More precisely, the adjustment collar 4 has a shape and dimensions identical to those of the base collar 3.

[0061] As illustrated by the [ Fig.4 ], the evolving teat according to the invention comprises at least one second adjustment collar 5 having, just like the first adjustment collar 4, a passage for the mouthpiece 1 so as to surround the mouthpiece, fixing means allow the fixing of the second adjustment collar on the first adjustment collar so as to present the second adjustment collar 5 on the side of the mouthpiece 1 relative to the first adjustment collar 4. To do this, the second adjustment collar(s) have a pair of hooks 41 identical to those of the first adjustment collar.

[0062] For manufacturing simplification purposes, the first adjustment collar and the second adjustment collar are identical.

[0063] As illustrated by the [ Fig.4 ], and to ensure greater progressiveness in the reduction of the length L of the mouthpiece, the teat includes a set of five identical adjustment collars intended to be stacked on top of each other and secured to each other.

[0064] As it appears on the figures 3 et 4 , the adjustment collar(s) 4, 5 are perforated, having a plurality of orifices 42.

[0065] The base collar 3 can also be perforated, with a plurality of orifices 30, not necessarily placed in correspondence with the orifices of the adjustment collars.

Claims

1. A weaning pacifier, of the type comprising: - a mouthpiece (1) intended to be suckled by a child; - a handle (2); - at least one base flange (3) having a base thickness (EB) and on one side of which the mouthpiece (1) extends so as to have a suction length L, and on the other side of which the handle (2) extends; - a system for reducing the length L, characterised in that the reduction system comprises at least one first adjustment flange (4) having a passage for the mouthpiece (1) so as to surround the mouthpiece (1) and means for coupling the first adjustment flange (4) to the base flange (3) so as to present the first adjustment flange (4) on the side of the mouthpiece (1) with respect to the base flange (3), the first adjustment flange having a first adjustment thickness (EJ) at least equal to the base thickness (EB), and in that it comprises at least one second adjustment flange (5) having a passage for the mouthpiece (1) so as to surround the mouthpiece and means for fastening the second adjustment flange (5) to the first adjustment flange (4) so as to present the second adjustment flange (5) on the side of the mouthpiece (1) with respect to the first adjustment flange (4), the second adjustment flange (5) having a second adjustment thickness at least equal to the base thickness.

2. The weaning pacifier according to claim 1, characterised in that the coupling means are integrated into the first adjustment flange (4) and / or into the base flange (3).

3. The weaning pacifier according to claim 2, characterised in that the coupling means comprise snapfitting means integrated into the first adjustment flange (4).

4. The weaning pacifier according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the first adjustment flange (4) has a contour matched to that of the base flange (3).

5. The weaning pacifier according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first adjustment flange (4) and the second adjustment flange (5) are identical.

6. The weaning pacifier according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that it comprises a set of five identical adjustment flanges (4), (5).

7. The weaning pacifier according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the adjustment flange(s) (4), (5) are perforated.