Patent Application
20240100574
The invention generally pertains to child products and more particularly to an apparatus that allows a pacifier (or other oral hygiene items) to be quickly and easily cleaned and then be stored in a secure, enclosed location or removed for use.
Throughout the world, babies are born every day. As babies grow as children from infants to toddlers they go through various phases. One of these phases is known as the oral phase when a child likes to place items in his/her mouth and/or suck on their thumb. One item that is used to attempt to remedy this behavior is a pacifier. A typical pacifier, or binky, as they are also known is a simple soft material bulbous member with a guard that prevents the entire pacifier from being placed in the mouth. A child will then suck on the pacifier which comforts/relaxes the child.
Due to the nature of a pacifier's function and design, a pacifier, spends its useful life in a child's mouth. Because of this it is extremely important that a pacifier is clean prior to use. Usually, a pacifier is washed in a sink or a dishwasher, often along with other items such as kitchen utensils. While this is a method for cleaning a pacifier it is not optimal for multiple reasons.
It would be very beneficial if there was some method or device/apparatus that was exclusively used to clean a pacifier, with no chance of contamination from exposure to other items or being in an exposed area.
By providing a dedicated pacifier cleaning apparatus (which could potentially be used to clean other oral hygiene products) a parent or guardian could be assured that precaution has been taken to prevent a child from using a dirty contaminated pacifier. An additional benefit would be if, after a pacifier is cleaned, the pacifier can be stored in a completely enclosed space, thereby guaranteeing the pacifier remains clean until it is needed for use.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any literature or patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention. However, the following U.S. patents are considered related:
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,810 patent discloses a portable apparatus for storing and cleaning pacifiers, including a vessel having a vessel opening for cleaning fluid, a pacifier storage and cleaner rack comprising a raised platform sized to fit within the vessel, the platform having opening for permitting the passage of the cleaning fluid through the platform and alternatively with a through-hole with a diameter sized smaller than the pacifier's base. The apparatus includes a vessel lid having an outer lid connected to a support member. The apparatus also preferably includes a lid engaging mechanism for removably securing the lid over the vessel opening.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,612 patent discloses an apparatus for cleaning and storing pacifiers, comprising a cylindrical body containing two compartments. The first compartment is for cleaning a pacifier and has a lid. The lid contains a channel for a strap which is used to attach the apparatus to a baby stroller or other location. The second compartment has a snap-on lid for the transportation of a spare pacifier.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,363 patent discloses a pacifier cleaner that includes a container and a pacifier cleaner insert in the container. The container encloses the pacifier while also holding a liquid for cleaning the pacifier. The insert cleans the nipple and the inside surface of the pacifier base while wet with a cleaning liquid distributed in the container.
For background purposes and indicative of the art to which the invention relates, reference may be made to the following remaining patents found in the patent search.
A pacifier cleaning and storing apparatus that is disclosed in two design configurations. Both design configurations have three main elements. In the first design configuration the three elements are an upper section, a center section and a lower section. Within the upper section is a pump with a water inlet and an adjustable spray nozzle. Within the lower section is an internal support member that is located at the substantial midpoint of the lower section. The apparatus can be opened, and a pacifier can be placed on the internal support member in the lower section. Clean water is put into the center section. When are resilient member on the upper sections squeezed and downward pressure is applied, the pressure forces the water through the water inlet into the pump. From the pump the water is sprayed out, onto the pacifier resting on the support member. Once the pacifier has been cleaned, the pacifier can be removed for immediate use, or the pacifier can remain stored within the apparatus. With the pacifier removed from the apparatus, dirty water that has collected below the support member within the lower section can be emptied from the lower section.
The second design configuration of the pacifier cleaning and storing apparatus is functionally the same as the first design and also has three major elements. The difference between the second design and the first design is the second design has an appearance of a stylized bear. Instead of an upper section, the second design has a hat section, the center section is replaced with a head section including eyes, a nose and ears, and the lower section becomes a body section with two arms and two feet. This stylized bear appearance adds to the aesthetics of the apparatus and presents fun, non-threatening image for a young child. It is important to note, the stylized bear appearance is just one of many “animals” (stylized or not) that can be used. The apparatus could easily be modified to have the appearance of a rabbit, a dog, a cat or almost any type of animal. The bear was chosen just as an example and to provide a source of reference.
Other than the appearance the second design functions the same as the first design. The hat section has a resilient section that, when squeezed, actuates an internal pump to spray clean water onto a pacifier that is resting upon a support member with the body section. After cleaning the pacifier is removed and the dirty water at the bottom of the body section can be removed.
While the apparatus is primarily designed for use with a pacifier, it is also possible to use the apparatus to clean and store other oral hygiene products such a toothbrush or comb, or even non-oral hygiene products such as eating or cooking utensils.
It should be noted that the functionality of the apparatus extends beyond the limited use for a pacifier exclusively. Also, to increase the cleanliness, the apparatus can have an anti-microbial coating applied.
In view of the above disclosure, the primary object of the invention is to produce a pacifier cleaning and storing apparatus that provides a user with the (or more) pacifiers in a dedicated apparatus without any danger of contamination occurring from cleaning a pacifier at the same time and along with other items.
In addition to the primary object, it is also an object of the invention to produce a pacifier cleaning and storing apparatus that:
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms that disclose a preferred embodiment with two design configurations, of a pacifier cleaning and storing apparatus (PCSA). For many infants and toddlers, one of the most important items in their lives is a pacifier. Due to the nature of its function, when in use a pacifier is located within an infant's/toddler's mouth. As a result it is extremely important that a pacifier is clean prior to use. Typically, a pacifier is simply cleaned in a sink, often along with other household/kitchen items. This is not optimal, and what is needed is a dedicated cleaning device that is used only for a pacifier(s). This would reduce the likelihood of contamination from a pacifier being to close proximity to other items that are being cleaned. The PCSA offers a solution of this problem by providing an apparatus into which a pacifier can be placed, fully enclosed, and the cleaned. After cleaning, a pacifier can be removed for immediate use, or the pacifier can remain in the apparatus for use when required.
The first design configuration of the PCSA 10, as shown in
The base 14 can be any shape, with circular preferred. Expanding upward from the base upper surface 16 is a resilient member 22 with an upper tip 24. On the base lower surface 18 is a threaded opening 26. Extending downward from the base lower surface 18 is a pump 28 having an upper end 30, a lower end 32, a water inlet 34 and an adjustable spray nozzle 36 located at the pump's lower end 32.
Directly below the upper section 12 is a center section 42 comprising an upper surface 44 having an opening 46. A threaded member corresponds to the threaded opening 26 on the base. and an upper perimeter edge 50 extends around the upper surface 44. Also, on the center section 42 is an outer surface, an inner surface 56, a lower perimeter edge 58 a lower interface 60, a lower opening 62 and a hinged tab 64.
Below the center section 42 is a lower section 70 comprising an upper opening 72, an upper interface 74 that corresponds to the lower interface 60 on the center section 42. The two interfaces 60,74 maintain the center section 42 secured to the lower section 70. Extending around the upper opening 72 is an upper perimeter edge 76. A hinge slot 78 is located on an outer surface 80 and is mated to the hinge tab 64 on the center section 42. The lower section 70 also comprises an inner surface 82, a lower surface 84 and a lower perimeter edger 86, as shown in
The second design configuration of the PCSA 100, as shown in
As shown in
Below the head section 146 is a body section 180 comprising an upper opening 182, an upper interface 184 that corresponds to the lower interface 172 on the head section 146, and an upper perimeter edge 186. A hinge slot 188 is mated to the hinge tab 176 on the head section 146. The body section 180 also comprises an outer surface 190, an inner surface 192, a lower surface 194 and a lower perimeter edge 196. To add to the bear appearance, the body section 180 has two arms 200 and two feet 202.
Located within the body section 180 at the substantial midpoint of the section is an internal support member 206 having a center opening 208 and at least two spokes 210, thereby creating a grill-like structure, as shown in
For both design configurations, the upper section/hat section, center section/head section or lower section/body section can be made of various materials including plastic, rubber or a composite material, with plastic preferred. The different components of the PCSA 10 can also be made of multiple different materials.
To use the PCSA 10 the upper/hat section is un-screwed and removed from the center/head section. Clean water is then inserted into the center/head section. A pacifier 214 is placed into the lower/body section via the lower/body section upper opening, and the pacifier 214 rests upon the internal support member. Water within the center/head section flows through the water inlet into the pump. From there, when the resilient member on the upper/hat section is squeezed, the applied pressure causes the water to be forced out of the adjustable spray nozzle and onto the pacifier 214, as shown in
It should be noted that while the PCSA 10 is primarily for use with a pacifier, any oral hygiene products can be placed within either a conventional or modified PCSA 10. The ability to spray clean water on an item, in an enclosed environment, can be applied for use with many items such as a toothbrush or a comb. Also, if desired multiple pacifiers (or other items) can be placed into the PCSA 10, as long as the size of the PCSA permits it.
While the invention has been described in detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may become within the language and scope of the claims.
