A low dependency pacifier

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a hygienic pacifier, the pacifier comprising a base section, a nipple extending from the base section, and a plurality of substantially resilient members extending radially from the base section, and surrounding the nipple, wherein the plurality of substantially resilient members are biased towards a closed position when a subject stops using the pacifier so as to protect the nipple from contact with a surface, and the plurality of substantially resilient members are spreadable radially outwardly towards an open position when used by a subject so as to allow access to the nipple, and a kit of parts comprising a hygienic pacifier as aforementioned, and one or more accessories, wherein each accessory is configured to bind reversibly to the pacifier. Also disclosed herein are a product for protecting a teat, and a kit of parts comprising the product as aforementioned and one or more accessories.

Description

[0001] A LOW DEPENDENCY PACIFIER

[0002] Field of Invention

[0003] The present invention generally relates to baby pacifiers, and more particularly relates to hygienic and low dependency baby pacifiers.

[0004] Background

[0005] The listing or discussion of a prior-published document in this specification should not necessarily be taken as an acknowledgement that the document is part of the state of the art or is common general knowledge

[0006] The market for pacifiers and infant products is undoubtedly saturated, with a wide array of options available to parents. However, despite the saturation, there remains a distinct gap in the market for products that specifically focus on convenience and ergonomics. While some competitors offer hygienic pacifiers, there are notable drawbacks in their designs. For instance, certain projects feature hard plastic covers that can potentially cause irritation to an infant's delicate mouth, undermining the comfort aspect. A competitor utilizes a soft material for its pacifier but has encountered issues with the reliability of its pacifier’s pop-in mechanism meant to protect the nipple. For instance, 50% of the time, the pacifier can land its impact with the nipple face down thus it does not always prevent direct contamination of the nipple from uncleaned surfaces. This inconsistency raises safety concerns for parents.

[0007] Therefore, in order to address or alleviate at least one of the aforementioned problems and / or disadvantages, there exists a need to provide new hygienic and low dependency pacifiers.

[0008] Summary

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is a hygienic pacifier. The hygienic pacifier comprises: a base section; a nipple extending from the base section; and a plurality of substantially resilient members extending radially from the base section, and surrounding the nipple, wherein: the plurality of substantially resilient members are biased towards a closed position when a subject stops using the pacifier so as to protect the nipple from contact with a surface; and the plurality of substantially resilient members are spreadable radially outwardly towards an open position when used by a subject so as to allow access to the nipple.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is a kit of parts. The kit of parts comprises: a hygienic pacifier as defined above; and one or more accessories, wherein each accessory is configured to bind reversibly to the pacifier.

[0011] A hygienic pacifier and a kit of parts according to the present disclosure are thus disclosed herein. Various features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, by way of non-limiting examples only, along with the accompanying drawings.

[0012] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hygienic pacifier in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] Figures 2A to 2H are perspective views of the hygienic pacifier of Figure 1 .

[0015] Figures 3A and 3B are perspective views of the hygienic pacifier of Figure 1 , wherein a plurality of substantially resilient members are in a closed position and in an open position, respectively.

[0016] Figures 4A to 4C are illustrations of a subject using the hygienic pacifier of Figure 1 .

[0017] Figure 5 is an illustration of the hygienic pacifier of Figure 1 in action.

[0018] Figures 6A to 6F are illustrations of another hygienic pacifier according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figures 7A and 7B are perspective views of the hygienic pacifier of Figure 1. Figure 8 is an illustration of accessories that may be connected to a hygienic pacifier according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0020] Figures 9A and 9B are perspective views of a hygienic pacifier and an accessory according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 10 is a perspective view of a hygienic pacifier and accessories according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 11 is a perspective view of an accessory that may be connected to a hygienic pacifier according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 12A is a perspective view of another accessory that may be connected to a hygienic pacifier and Figure 12B is a perspective view of the hygienic pacifier with the accessory attached to it according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] Detailed Description

[0025] For purposes of brevity and clarity, descriptions of embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to hygienic pacifiers, in accordance with the drawings. While aspects of the present disclosure will be described in conjunction with the embodiments provided herein, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the present disclosure to these embodiments. On the contrary, the present disclosure is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents to the embodiments described herein, which are included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be recognised by an individual having ordinary skill in the art, i.e. a skilled person, that the present disclosure may be practiced without specific details, and / or with multiple details arising from combinations of aspects of particular embodiments. In a number of instances, well-known systems, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as to not unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0026] In embodiments of the present disclosure, depiction of a given element or consideration or use of a particular element number in a particular figure or a reference thereto in corresponding descriptive material can encompass the same, an equivalent, or an analogous element or element number identified in another figure or descriptive material associated therewith.

[0027] References to “an embodiment / example”, “another embodiment / example”, “some embodiments / examples”, “some other embodiments / examples”, and so on, indicate that the embodiment(s) / example(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation, but that not every embodiment / example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element or limitation. Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase “in an embodiment / example” or “in another embodiment / example” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment / example.

[0028] The terms “comprising”, “including”, “having”, and the like do not exclude the presence of other features / elements / steps than those listed in an embodiment. Recitation of certain features / elements / steps in mutually different embodiments does not indicate that a combination of these features I elements / steps cannot be used in an embodiment.

[0029] The word “comprising” refers herein may be interpreted as requiring the features mentioned, but not limiting the presence of other features. Alternatively, the word “comprising” may also relate to the situation where only the components / features listed are intended to be present (e.g. the word “comprising” may be replaced by the phrases “consists of” or “consists essentially of”). It is explicitly contemplated that both the broader and narrower interpretations can be applied to all aspects and embodiments of the present invention. In other words, the word “comprising” and synonyms thereof may be replaced by the phrase “consisting of’ or the phrase “consists essentially of’ or synonyms thereof and vice versa.

[0030] The phrase, “consists essentially of’ and its pseudonyms may be interpreted herein to refer to a material where minor impurities may be present. For example, the material may be greater than or equal to 90% pure, such as greater than 95% pure, such as greater than 97% pure, such as greater than 99% pure, such as greater than 99.9% pure, such as greater than 99.99% pure, such as greater than 99.999% pure, such as 100% pure.

[0031] As used herein, the terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more than one. The use of “ / ” in a figure or associated text is understood to mean “and / or” unless otherwise indicated. The term “set” is defined as a non-empty finite organisation of elements that mathematically exhibits a cardinality of at least one (e.g. a set as defined herein can correspond to a unit, singlet, or single-element set, or a multiple-element set), in accordance with known mathematical definitions. Throughout this disclosure, certain embodiments may be disclosed in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the disclosed ranges. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible sub-ranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed sub-ranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

[0032] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is a hygienic pacifier. The hygienic pacifier comprises: a base section; a nipple extending from the base section; and a plurality of substantially resilient members extending radially from the base section, and surrounding the nipple, wherein: the plurality of substantially resilient members are biased towards a closed position when a subject stops using the pacifier so as to protect the nipple from contact with a surface; and the plurality of substantially resilient members are spreadable radially outwardly towards an open position when used by a subject so as to allow access to the nipple.

[0033] When used herein, the term “substantially resilient members” may mean that the plurality of substantially resilient members may return to about 95% to about 100% of the closed position when the plurality of substantially resilient members transition from the open position to the closed position. For example, the plurality of substantially resilient members may return to about 95% to about 99.9% of the closed position, such as about 100% of the closed position.

[0034] As used herein, the term "subject" refers to a mammal, preferably, a human, and most preferably, an infant. The term does not denote a particular age or sex.

[0035] An exemplary hygienic pacifier 100 is described in a representative embodiment of the present disclosure, with reference to Figure 1. The hygienic pacifier 100 includes a base section 110, a nipple 120 extending from the base section 110, and a plurality of substantially resilient members 130 extending radially from the base section 110, and surrounding the nipple 120. A tip section 140 of each substantially resilient member 130 curves away from the nipple 120. As will be appreciated, the curving of the tip section 140 away from the nipple 120 allows a flat portion 150 of each substantially resilient member 130 to comfortably rest on the subject’s face, thus preventing discomfort to the subject’s mouth when the pacifier is in use. Each substantially resilient member 130 comprises a rib 160 disposed on an inner surface to strengthen biasing of each substantially resilient member 130 towards the closed position.

[0036] Figures 2A to 2H are perspective views of the hygienic pacifier 100 of Figure 1. Figure 2A illustrates a front view of the hygienic pacifier 100. Figure 2B illustrates a side view of the hygienic pacifier 100. Figure 2C illustrates a top view of the hygienic pacifier 100. Figure 2D illustrates a bottom view of the hygienic pacifier 100. Figure 2E illustrates an elevation front view of the hygienic pacifier 100. Figure 2F illustrates an elevation side view of the hygienic pacifier 100. Figure 2G illustrates a sectional front view of the hygienic pacifier 100. Figure 2H illustrates a sectional side view of the hygienic pacifier 100. While Figures 1 and 2A to 2H illustrate that the plurality of substantially resilient members 130 are integrally formed with the base section 110, it will be appreciated that the plurality of substantially resilient members may be separately formed as (a) separate component(s) from the base section.

[0037] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2A to 2H and more particularly in Figures 2A to 2C and 2E to 2H, the rib 160 comprises a tip 200. Each substantially resilient member 130 is configured to fold into the open position in a curved manner using the tip 200 of the rib 160 distal from the base section 110 as a folding point. As will be appreciated, utilising the tip 200 of the rib 160 distal from the base section 110 as a folding point may provide smooth transition for the folding of each substantially resilient member backwards into the open position in a curved manner.

[0038] Figures 3A and 3B are perspective views of the hygienic pacifier of Figure 1 , wherein the plurality of substantially resilient members 130 are in a closed position and an open position, respectively. As can be seen from Figure 3A, the plurality of substantially resilient members 130 are biased towards the closed position. With reference to Figure 3B, the plurality of substantially resilient members 130 are spreadable radially outwardly towards the open position. This arrangement may be caused by manual manipulation of the plurality of substantially resilient members, such as by the action of an infant seeking to place the pacifier in its mouth.

[0039] Figures 4A to 4C are illustrations of a subject using the hygienic pacifier 100 of Figure 1. When a subject 400 stops using the pacifier 100, the plurality of substantially resilient members 130 are biased towards a closed position so as to protect the nipple 120 from contact with a surface, as illustrated, for example, in Figures 4A and 4C. When the pacifier 100 is in use by the subject 400, the plurality of substantially resilient members 130 are spreadable radially outwardly towards an open position so as to allow access to the nipple 120, as illustrated, for example, in Figure 4B.

[0040] The plurality of substantially resilient members 130 are biased towards the closed position and remain in the closed position before the pacifier 100 enters the mouth of the subject (Figure 4A). When the subject uses the pacifier 100, wherein the subject’s mouth exerts a force on the plurality of substantially resilient members 130, the plurality of substantially resilient members 130 spread radially outwardly towards the open position (Figure 4B). Finally, when the pacifier 100 exits the subject’s mouth, the plurality of substantially resilient members 130 return to the closed position passively because they are biased towards the closed position (Figure 4C). As such, the pacifier disclosed herein has a passive close-up system which passively keep the plurality of substantially resilient members in the closed position to protect the nipple by preventing exposure to external surfaces and reducing the risk of contamination. Advantageously, the present disclosure eliminates the need for constant monitoring and sterilization, making the pacifier usage experience hassle-free and ensuring optimal hygiene for the baby. Further, the passive close-up system is designed to be user-friendly and hygienic, showcasing our commitment to creating a superior pacifier. Therefore, the present disclosure offers a unique level of convenience and peace of mind to parents.

[0041] As will be appreciated, when a subject engages the pacifier 100 with active sucking, the plurality of substantially resilient members 130 of the pacifier 100 spreads (as shown in Figure 3) and rests comfortably on the subject's face. While active sucking stops, the ribs 160 recoil and pull the plurality of substantially resilient members 130 back into the closed position (as shown in Figure 3). During this process, the pacifier 100 will be forced out of the subject's mouth due to the closure of the plurality of substantially resilient members 130 (as shown in Figure 4C). This mechanism helps a subject to reduce reliance on the pacifier through a repetitive dropping motion. The reduction in the chance of contamination of the nipple of the pacifier further supports this drop and reinsert process to maintain the hygiene of the pacifier. Overall, this process subtly ingrain the resistance of needing a pacifier into the subject.

[0042] Figure 5 is an illustration of the hygienic pacifier 100 of Figure 1. With reference to a nipplemember distance 510 depicted in Figure 5, the plurality of substantially resilient members 130 may have a longer length than a length of the nipple 120. As will be appreciated, the passive closure of the plurality of substantially resilient members 130 with longer length than the length of the nipple 120 to floor distance 520 protects the nipple 120 from direct contact with a surface 530, thus preventing a direct contamination of the nipple 120. Further, when the pacifier 100 lands on the floor on its sides, the plurality of substantially resilient members 130 may act as a form of protection on the sides as well.

[0043] In some embodiments of the invention that may be mentioned herein, the pacifier may be made of a soft polymeric material suitable for use by an infant. Examples of suitable soft polymeric materials include but are not limited to silicone, latex, and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Preferably, the soft polymeric material is silicone. As will be appreciated, the soft silicone construction of the present disclosure’s passive close-up system has been carefully chosen for its pliability and comfort. In addition, silicone is not only safe and non-toxic, but also ensures the pacifier remains gentle on the delicate mouths of infants.

[0044] In some embodiments of the invention that may be mentioned herein, the nipple may be releaseably engageable with the base section or may be unitary with the base section. Figures 1 and 2A to 2H illustrate that the nipple is unitary with the base section. Figures 6A to 6F are illustrations of another hygienic pacifier according to embodiments of the present disclosure, and they illustrate that the nipple is releaseably engageable with the base section. As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the hygienic pacifier 600 includes a base section 610, a through hole 611 , a nipple 620 releaseably engageable with the base section 610, and a plurality of substantially resilient members 630 extending radially from the base section 610, and surrounding the nipple 620. Each substantially resilient member 630 comprises a rib 650 disposed on an inner surface to strengthen biasing of each substantially resilient member 630 towards the closed position. More particularly, Figure 6A is an illustration of the hygienic pacifier 600, wherein the nipple 620 is detached from the hygienic pacifier 600, while Figure 6B is an illustration of the hygienic pacifier 600, wherein the nipple 620 is attached to the hygienic pacifier 600 by connecting the nipple 620 to the through hole 611. It will be appreciated that a releaseably engageable nipple allows better cleaning of the nipple and the pacifier. In addition, having a releaseably engageable nipple may allow for one to have interchangeable nipples, or interchangeable base sections. As such, if a first base section becomes dirty, but the nipple is clean, one might simply swap the nipple into a clean second base section. Alternatively or additionally, if a nipple is old, then one might swap that nipple out to replace it with a new one. Further alternatively or additionally, each base section may be supplied with a range of nipples, each suitable for a particular age range or particular properties (e.g. harder or softer relative to one another) and these may be selected and swapped as desired. Figure 6C is an illustration of the hygienic pacifier 600 and a generic milk bottle 660 which is releaseably engageable with the pacifier 600, wherein the bottle 660 is detached from the pacifier 600. The bottle 660 has a body 670 and a teat 680. Figures 6D to 6F show the pacifier 600 and the bottle 660, wherein the bottle 660 is attached to the pacifier 600. More particularly, Figure 6D shows that when the bottle 660 is attached to the pacifier 600, the teat 680 of the bottle 660 is connected to the through hole 611 of the pacifier 600. As will be appreciated, the plurality of substantially resilient members 630 of the pacifier 600 act as a hood to cover the teat 680 of the bottle 660. Figure 6E illustrates that the pacifier 600 enables the bottle 660 to be placed upside down as the plurality of substantially resilient members 630 of the pacifier 600 serve as legs of the inverted bottle, preventing the teat 680 of the bottle 660 from touching a surface.

[0045] In some embodiments of the invention that may be mentioned herein, each of the substantially resilient members may have a variable tapering thickness across its length. For example, each of the substantially resilient members may have a maximal thickness proximal to the base section and a minimal thickness distal to the base section. The thickness of each of the substantially resilient members may be measured at any point from a first surface of the each of the substantially resilient members facing the nipple to a second surface of each of the substantially resilient members facing away from the nipple.

[0046] In some embodiments of the invention that may be mentioned herein, the thickness of each of the substantially resilient members may vary from 5 mm to 0.1 mm, such as from 4 mm to 0.5 mm, such as from 3 mm to 0.8 mm. For example, the thickness of each of the substantially resilient members may vary from 5 mm to 0.1 mm, such as from 5 mm to 0.5 mm, such as from 5 mm to 0.8 mm, such as from 5 mm to 3 mm, such as from 5 mm to 4 mm, such as from 4 mm to 0.1 mm, such as from 4 mm to 0.5 mm, such as from 4 mm to 0.8 mm, such as from 4 mm to 3 mm, such as from 3 mm to 0.1 mm, such as from 3 mm to 0.5 mm, such as from 3 mm to 0.8 mm, such as from 0.8 mm to 0.1 mm, such as from 0.8 mm to 0.5 mm, such as from 0.5 mm to 0.1 mm. For the avoidance of doubt, and as mentioned above, the thickness ranges listed here refer to the tapering thickness of the plurality of substantially resilient members. That is, each substantially resilient member may be at its thickest proximal to the base portion and at its thinnest at its top section that is distal from the base portion. As will be appreciated, the disclosed tapering thicknesses of each of the substantially resilient members may allow for a smooth unfolding of each of the substantially resilient members into the open position, while allowing for rapid recovery to the biased closed position when removed from the mouth of a subject. In some embodiments of the invention that may be mentioned herein, the nipple and the base section may further comprise a through hole for allowing one or more accessories to attach reversibly to the pacifier. In further embodiments of the invention that may be mentioned herein, the nipple may have a hollow body such that the one or more accessories extend into the hollow body of the nipple. For example, the one or more accessories may be reversibly attached to the pacifier by inserting the one or more accessories into the hollow body of the nipple from a back of the pacifier through the through hole on the base section. Figures 2G, 7A and 7B depict a through hole 210 for allowing one or more accessories to attach reversibly to the pacifier 100. Examples of accessories for attaching reversibly to the pacifier include, but are not limited, to a thermometer, a pressure sensor, a sound sensor, a humidity sensor, a proximity sensor, a motion detector, a level sensor, and a gyroscope. These devices may be stand-alone devices that can be read manually, or they may be internet of things (loT) devices that may be read remotely on a suitable device (e.g. a mobile phone with an appropriate app).

[0047] In some embodiments of the invention that may be mentioned herein, the pacifier may further comprise at least one magnet integrally formed on or attached to a side of the base section opposite to the plurality of substantially resilient members. With reference to Figure 2D, the at least one magnet may be integrally formed on or attached to one or more of holes 220. As will be appreciated, the holes may have different shapes and sizes to accommodate magnets of different shapes and sizes. For example, if a magnet is donut-shaped, then the hole for the magnet would be a corresponding shape which may be formed on part of the base section or formed on the entire base section.

[0048] In further embodiments of the invention that may be mentioned herein, the pacifier may further comprise at least one silicon cover to conceal the at least one magnet integrally formed on or attached to a side of the base section opposite to the plurality of substantially resilient members. It will be appreciated that the at least one silicon cover would prevent children from coming into direct contact with the at least one magnet.

[0049] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is a kit of parts. The kit of parts comprises: a hygienic pacifier as defined above; and one or more accessories, wherein each accessory is configured to bind reversibly to the pacifier.

[0050] Figure 8 is an illustration of accessories that may be connected to a hygienic pacifier 800. Examples of accessories for use in the kit of parts include but are not limited to a holder module 810, a clip module 820, a watch strap module 830, and a thermometer module 840. As mentioned above, the pacifier may further comprise at least one magnet integrally formed on or attached to a side of the base section opposite to the plurality of substantially resilient members. In some embodiments of the invention that may be mentioned herein, each of the one or more accessories in the kit of parts may comprise a magnet suitable to bind to the magnet integrally formed on or attached to a side of the base section opposite to the plurality of substantially resilient members. As will be appreciated, this snap on magnetic design provides convenience to a user as this design makes it easy to attach and detach the pacifier from the one or more accessories.

[0051] For example, the accessory in the kit of parts may be a clip having a magnet. As such, the magnetic clip can be bound reversibly to the pacifier comprising at least one magnet integrally formed on or attached to a side of the base section opposite to the plurality of substantially resilient members, via magnetic attraction. The magnetic clip may be attached to any suitable accessory such as a waist belt, a bag, a baby stroller, and a pocket. This approach allows the pacifier to be naturally ventilated while it is magnetically bound to the clip, thus improving hygiene. In contrast, conventional pacifiers are kept in either an enclosed box or a cover, where the lack of ventilation may cause bacteria growth.

[0052] Figures 9A and 9B are perspective views of a hygienic pacifier 900 and an accessory 930 that may be connected to the pacifier 900 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 9B, the pacifier 900 includes indentations 910 and a through hole 920. In addition, as shown in Figures 9A and 9B, the accessory 930 includes a body 940, lugs 950 and a protruding member 960 which has a vertical air slid 970. When the accessory 930 is attached to the pacifier 900, the lugs 950 of the accessory 930 may be mechanically connected to the indentations 910 of the pacifier 900, and the protruding member 960 of the accessory 930 may be mechanically connected to the through hole 920 of the pacifier 900. It will be appreciated that the connection between the protruding member 960 and the through hole 920 further secures the attachment of the accessory 930 to the pacifier 900. Further, the vertical air slid 970 prevents the creation of a vacuum condition on an inner side of a nipple of the pacifier.

[0053] Alternatively, in some embodiments that may be mentioned herein, the lugs 950 of the accessory 930 and the indentations 910 of the pacifier 900 may further include at least one magnet integrally formed or attached on a surface of the lugs 950 and the indentations 910 to provide magnetic attachment between the accessory 930 and the pacifier 900. As will be appreciated, the body of the accessory acts as a common element to most modular attachments and may be provided in any suitable form. Examples of suitable forms of the body of the accessory are depicted in Figures 10 and 11.

[0054] Figure 12A is a perspective view of another accessory that may be connected to a hygienic pacifier and Figure 12B is a perspective view of the hygienic pacifier with the accessory attached to it according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 12A, there is a cap 1200 which includes a body 1210 and a plurality of round bottom legs 1220. As shown in Figure 12B, when cap 1200 is attached to the pacifier 1230, the plurality of round bottom legs 1220 of the cap 1200 go through gaps 1240 between a plurality of substantially resilient members of the pacifier 1230 and secure the cap 1200 to the pacifier 1230. It will be appreciated that the cap protects the nipple of the pacifier from dust and contamination.

[0055] Advantageously, the present disclosure features a soft silicone-based passive close-up system, which offers an exceptional value proposition for exhausted parents of young infants. Designed to prioritize convenience, comfort, and safety, the present disclosure stands out as a unique innovation in the market. The pacifier's soft silicone material not only ensures a gentle and soothing experience for babies but also eliminates the risk of mouth injuries. Moreover, the passive close-up system automatically and seamlessly closes when the pacifier exits the infant's mouth, further enhancing hygiene and preventing contamination.

Claims

Claims1. A hygienic pacifier, the pacifier comprising: a base section; a nipple extending from the base section; and a plurality of substantially resilient members extending radially from the base section, and surrounding the nipple, wherein: the plurality of substantially resilient members are biased towards a closed position when a subject stops using the pacifier so as to protect the nipple from contact with a surface; and the plurality of substantially resilient members are spreadable radially outwardly towards an open position when used by a subject so as to allow access to the nipple.

2. The pacifier of Claim 1 , wherein the plurality of substantially resilient members have a longer length than a length of the nipple.

3. The pacifier of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein a tip section of each substantially resilient member curves away from the nipple.

4. The pacifier of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each substantially resilient member comprises a rib disposed on an inner surface to strengthen biasing of each substantially resilient member towards the closed position.

5. The pacifier of Claim 4, wherein each substantially resilient member is configured to fold into the open position in a curved manner using a tip of the rib distal from the base section as a folding point.

6. The pacifier of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pacifier is made of a soft polymeric material suitable for use by an infant.

7. The pacifier of Claim 6, wherein the soft polymeric material comprises one or more of silicone, latex, and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

8. The pacifier of Claim 7, wherein the soft polymeric material comprises silicone.

9. The pacifier of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of substantially resilient members are integrally formed with the base section.

10. The pacifier of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nipple is releasibly engageable with the base section or is unitary with the base section.

11. The pacifier of Claim 10, wherein the nipple is releasibly engageable with the base section.

12. The pacifier of Claim 10, wherein the nipple is unitary with the base section.

13. The pacifier of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the substantially resilient members has a variable tapering thickness across its length, where the thickness is measured at any point from a first surface of the each of the substantially resilient members facing the nipple to a second surface of each of the substantially resilient members facing away from the nipple, where each of the substantially resilient members has a maximal thickness proximal to the base section and a minimal thickness distal to the base section, optionally wherein the thickness of each of the substantially resilient members varies from 5 mm to 0.1 mm, such as from 4 mm to 0.5 mm, such as from 3 mm to 0.8 mm.

14. The pacifier of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one magnet integrally formed on or attached to a side of the base section opposite to the plurality of substantially resilient members.

15. The pacifier of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one indentation on the base section, optionally wherein the at least one indentation comprises at least one magnet integrally formed of or attached to a surface of the at least one indentation for connecting to one or more accessories.

16. The pacifier of any one of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the nipple and the base section further comprise a through hole for allowing one or more accessories to attach reversibly to the pacifier.

17. The pacifier of Claim 16, wherein the nipple has a hollow body such that the one or more accessories extend into the hollow body of the nipple.

18. The pacifier of Claim 16 or Claim 17, further comprising at least one indentation on the base section, optionally wherein the at least one indentation comprises at least one magnet integrally formed of or attached to a surface of the at least one indentation for connecting to one or more accessories.

19. A kit of parts, comprising: a hygienic pacifier as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 18; and one or more accessories, wherein each accessory is configured to bind reversibly to the pacifier.

20. The kit of parts of Claim 19, wherein the hygienic pacifier is as described in Claim 14 and each of the one or more accessories comprise at least one magnet suitable to bind to the at least one magnet integrally formed on or attached to a side of a base section opposite to a plurality of substantially resilient members of the pacifier.

21. The kit of parts of Claim 19, wherein the hygienic pacifier is as described in Claim 15 and the one or more accessories comprise at least one lug for connecting to at least one indentation on a base section of the pacifier, optionally wherein the at least one lug comprises at least one magnet for connecting to at least one indentation on the base section of the pacifier.

22. The kit of parts of Claim 19, wherein the hygienic pacifier is as described in Claim 18 and the one or more accessories comprise at least one lug for connecting to at least one indentation on a base section of the pacifier, and a protruding member for extending into a hollow body of a nipple of the pacifier, optionally wherein the at least one lug comprises at least one magnet for connecting to the at least one indentation on the base section of the pacifier.

23. The kit of parts of Claim 19, wherein the one or more accessories is a cap configured for protecting a nipple of the pacifier.

24. The kit of parts of Claim 23, wherein the cap comprises a body and a plurality of round bottom legs, and wherein the plurality of round bottom legs are passed through gaps between a plurality of substantially resilient members of the pacifier for securing the cap to the pacifier.

25. A product for protecting a teat, the product comprising: a base section;a through hole; and a plurality of substantially resilient members extending radially from the base section, and surrounding the through hole, wherein: the plurality of substantially resilient members are biased towards a closed position when not in use; and the plurality of substantially resilient members are spreadable radially outwardly towards an open position when in use.

26. The product of Claim 25, wherein a tip section of each substantially resilient member curves away from the through hole.

27. The product of Claim 25 or Claim 26, wherein each substantially resilient member comprises a rib disposed on an inner surface to strengthen biasing of each substantially resilient member towards the closed position.

28. The product of Claim 27, wherein each substantially resilient member is configured to fold into the open position in a curved manner using a tip of the rib distal from the base section as a folding point.

29. The product of any one of Claims 25 to 28, wherein the product is made of a soft polymeric material suitable for use by an infant.

30. The product of Claim 29, wherein the soft polymeric material comprises one or more of silicone, latex, and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).31 . The product of Claim 30, wherein the soft polymeric material comprises silicone.

32. The product of any one of Claims 25 to 31 , wherein the plurality of substantially resilient members are integrally formed with the base section.

33. The product of any one of Claims 25 to 32, wherein each of the substantially resilient members has a variable tapering thickness across its length, where the thickness is measured at any point from a first surface of the each of the substantially resilient members facing the through hole to a second surface of each of the substantially resilient members facing away from the through hole,where each of the substantially resilient members has a maximal thickness proximal to the base section and a minimal thickness distal to the base section, optionally wherein the thickness of each of the substantially resilient members varies from 5 mm to 0.1 mm, such as from 4 mm to 0.5 mm, such as from 3 mm to 0.8 mm.

34. The product of any one of Claims 25 to 33, further comprising at least one magnet integrally formed on or attached to a side of the base section opposite to the plurality of substantially resilient members.

35. The product of any one of Claims 25 to 34, further comprising at least one indentation on the base section, optionally wherein the at least one indentation comprises at least one magnet integrally formed of or attached to a surface of the at least one indentation for connecting to one or more accessories.

36. A kit of parts, comprising: a product as defined in any one of Claims 25 to 35; and one or more accessories, wherein each accessory is configured to bind reversibly to the product.

37. The kit of parts of Claim 36, wherein the product is as described in Claim 34 and each of the one or more accessories comprise at least one magnet suitable to bind to the at least one magnet integrally formed on or attached to a side of a base section opposite to a plurality of substantially resilient members of the product.

38. The kit of parts of Claim 36, wherein the product is as described in Claim 35 and the one or more accessories comprise at least one lug for connecting to at least one indentation on a base section of the product, optionally wherein the at least one lug comprises at least one magnet for connecting to at least one indentation on the base section of the product.

39. The kit of parts of any one of Claims 36 to 38, wherein the one or more accessories further comprise a teat for connecting to a through hole of the product.

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