Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION: PACIFIER HOLDER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to holders for pacifiers and more
specifically, to a holder for retaining a pacifier in a baby crib in a position
which is readily accessible to a child.
5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Most parents rely on pacifiers and soothers for comforting an infa~nt
from many difficulties associated with babies' life. Pacifiers are often used
to lengthen the span between meals, to silence an infant in need of his
mother's presence, or for c~lming teething pains. Once a baby has learned
10 to take objects to his mouth, pacifiers becomes invaluable possessions, and
normally remain as such until the infant reach the age of one year or so.
At night, most parents take the pacifier away from the baby to
prevent loosing the nipple amongst the crib's sheets and blankets. Although
it is relatively easy to put the nipple away once the child is asleep, it is a
15 known fact that babies are earlier than their parents to wake up in the
morning, and to claim restitution. Consequently, most parents remember
having seen their baby at early morning, standing in his crib, gesticulating
and stretching over the side bar trying to grasp his paci~ler on a nearby
drawer chest, or pointing at the pacifier and crying in despair for someone
20 to give it to him.
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Numerous articles have been developed to retain a pacifier within
reach of a child. Several prior art items propose a straplike retainer for
looping around the infant's neck or arm at one end, and for attachment to
a pacifier at the other end.
Other prior art articles propose similar straplike retainers which have
clamps for attachment to the infant's upper body g~rment For example,
U.S. Patent no. 4,903,698 issued Feb, 27, 1990 to Huber et al. describes a
tethering device comprising an elongated strap, with ~ttaçhment means at
one end for att~c.hment to a baby's pacifier or boffle, and a clamp and a slit
at the opposite end for detachable ~ttachment to the infant's clothing.
Another example of a straplike retainer is described in U.S. Patent
no. 4,990,157 issued Feb. 5, 1991 to Roberts et al. This patent describes a
flexible string having at one end a plastic clip for altaçhment to the infant's
clothing, and a loop at the other end for retaining a baby soother.
Although the articles described in the prior art are undoubtedly very
useful during daytime activities, they are not particularly suitable for use
during the child's sleep. The strap or string may become ent~ngled around
the baby's limbs or neck under _is head or face, or around a crib's bar, and
cause thereby much discomfort to the infant. Likewise, the pacifier may
end up under the baby's body, and not be found when wanted. For these
reasons straplike retainers for pacifiers and soothers for attachment to the
baby's clothing are not appropriate for using in a baby crib.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, however, there is provided a pacifier holder
for ~ inillg a pacifier in a baby crib in such a way that even a very young
infant can grasp and easily pull the pacifier free from the holder.
The pacifier holder of the present invention is preferably made of a
resilient material such that the holding slot is adaptable to soother's rings
of different cross sections, while retaining the same with substantial
resistance.
The mounting portion of the holder is also ~lereLably made of a
resilient material such it can be clamped to a crib's bar at any height, and
remain at that height due to a fnction of the resilient m~tPri~l with the
surface of the bar.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the
mounting portion comprises a C-shaped tubular member having flexible
walls, and an adhesive strap enclosing the C-shaped tubular member. The
mounting portion is adaptable to bars of different diameters and different
shapes, such that one model of pacifier holder is suitable for use with a
variety of baby cribs.
One advantage of the present invention is that a pacifier is
conveniently held at a position where a baby can take it whenever he wants
it, without having to implore help from his parents. A further advantage
of the present invention is that the holder offers a neat storage for a
pacifier. Once the baby is asleep, a parent inserts the pacifier in the holder
of the present invention, where it remains in a clean condition. This is a
commendable improvement over the present method of storing the soother
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~ on a nearby table which is not necessarily sparkling clean, or of leaving it
in the crib and lethng it fall on the floor as a result of the baby's movements
during the night.
I~ accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
5 provided a pacifier holder with an elongated clamp having resilient walls
biased against one another by a profiled spring, embedded in the pacifier
holder. The elongated clamp is formed to adapt to most popular cribs' bar
sizes and shapes.
The particular advantage of ~is embodiment of the present
10 invention is that the spring profile of the clamp m~int~in.~ a constant
pressure of the resilient material of the walls against the surface of the bar
to retain the holder in place on the har A fi~lth.er advan.tage of ~hle
configuration of the elongated clamp is that the pacifier holder is easily
installed by pushing and clipping it over a bar.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the pacifier holder
has the figure of an elephant head on which the trunk is the upper holding
member, and the mouth is the lower holding member. The upper holding
member and the lower holding member define a holding slot in which a
handle ring of a pacifier is retained. The appearance of this embodiment
20 is particularly ~pl-opliate for providing a certain fantasy normally
associated with baby objects.
The trunk of the figure provides a lever for opening the holding
groove of the pacifier holder, for insertion of a handle ring of a pacifier
25 therein. The lower holding member is made of a resilient material whereby
a baby can easily pull the pacifier free from the holding slot in a downward
direction.
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Advantages of this embodiment of the present invention are that the
upper holding member, or the trunk of the figure, forms a hook for
retaining a pacifier handle ring when the baby does not quite has the
~l~xt~rity required to put back the pacifier in the holding slot. The hook is
5 .~imil~rly used to retain baby articles suçhlike teething rings, rattling toys,
or a favourite blanket. Thus the hook of this embodiment provides several
valuable functions useful to baby crib environment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The preferred embodiments of the invention will be further
understood from the following description, with reference to the drawings
in which;
- Figure 1 is an illustration of the first preferred embodiment of the
pacifier holder, with a pacifier retained in the holding slot.
15 - Figure 2 is a top view of the first preferred embodiment of the
pacifier holder.
- Figure 3 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment of the
pacifier holder.
- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of
the invention.
- Figure 5 is a top view of the C-shaped tubular member of the
holder, mounted on a rectangular crib bar.
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.
- Figure 6 is a top view of the C-shaped tubular member of the
holder, mounted on a large size crib bar.
- Figure 7 is a top view of the C-shaped tubular member of the
holder, mounted on a small size crib bar.
5 - Figure 8 is a side view of a second preferred embodiment of the
pacifier holder.
- Figure 9 is a section view of a second plefelled embodiment of the
pacifier holder through line 9-9 of Figure 8. The figure illustrates
a pacifier holder having an elongated clamp mounting member.
10 - Figure 10 is a perspective view of a second prerelled embodiment
of the pacifier holder.
- Figure 11 is a top view of an elongated clamp mounting member,
clamped on a rectangular crib bar.
- Figure 12 is a top view of an elongated clamp mounting member,
clamped on a large size crib bar.
- Figure 13 is a top view of an elongated clamp mounting member,
clamped on a small size crib bar.
- Figure 14 is a third preferred embodiment of the pacifier holder.
The holding portion of the embodiment has the form of an elephant
head, where the trunk is a thumb lever to open the mouth of the
figure for insertion of the pacifier therein.
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.
- Figure 15 is a top view of the third preferred embodiment of the
pacifier holder, illustrating the C-shaped tubular member.
- Figure 16 is a front view of the third preferred embodiment of the
pacifier holder.
5 - Figure 17 is a perspective view of the third preferred embodiment
of the invention.
- Figure 18 is a pacifier having a holding ring shaped according to
the slot of the figure's mouth.
- Figure 19 is a side view of the third preferred embodiment of the
pacifier holder, illustrating the shape of the mouth of the animal
figure.
- Figure 20 illustrates a pl~r~lled installation of the third preferred
embodiment of the invention on a vertical bar of a baby crib.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBO-
1 5 DIMENTS
Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated a pacifier 22, and apacifier holder 24. The pacifier 22 is the type with a handle ring 26. The
pacifier 22 is held in the holder 24 by the handle ring 26 inserted inside a
slot 28 ih the front portion of the pacifier holder 24. The pacifier holder 24
20 has a C-shaped tubular member 30 for mounting on a vertical bar of a baby
crib, such that the pacifier 22 is held in a position which is accessible to an
infant inside the crib.
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The C-shaped tubular member 30, and the slot 28 are better
illustrated on Figures 2 to 7. The pacifier holder 24 is made of a resilient
material, and is preferably made of a rubber m~t~ri~l having a large
coefficient of friction with painted wood surfaces, or with plastic surfaces.
The C-shaped tubular member 30 comprises two flexible walls 32,34, and
a flap 36 extending from a first wall 32 to overlap a second wall 34.
Each wall 32,34 has longitudinal serrations 38 along its inside
surface, to weaken the wall such that the tubular member is flexible to
adapt to various shapes and (limen~ions of crib bars. The C-shaped tubular
member 30 further has a groove 40 along a gorge portion thereof. The
groove 40 provides for further flexibility of the C-shaped tubular member
30 to expand or to contract around bars of various shapes and dimensions.
The serrations 38 and the groove 40, cooperating with contacting surfaces
of the tubular member 30, enhance a good circull~erenlial adhesion of the
pacifier holder 24 to the crib's bar.
Flap 36 is partly covered with gripping material 42, and wall 34 is
partly covered with mating material 44. The gripping material 42 and the
m~ting material 44 are preferably of the type sold under the trade name
~,TELCROTM. Upûn in3~ lla~lorl of ~:s ~ embo~llerlt of the pacifier
holder 24, the flap 36 extending from wall 32 is wrapped tightly around a
vertical bar of a crib, and attached to the mating material of the opposite
wall 34, securing thereby the pacifier holder 24 in place. The friction of
the rubber m~t~ri~l of the C-shaped tubular member 30 retains the pacifier
holder 24 from slipping down, and from rotating about the bar, even under
tension from an infant removing the pacifier 22 from slot 28.
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~ The length of the C-shaped tubular member 30 is approximately at
least 4 times the diameter of the largest bar on which the pacifier holder 24
will be mounted. This ratio provides sufficient surface of contact with the
bar to f~y retain the pacifier holder 24 in place.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate respectively the C-shaped tubular
member 30 mounted on a rectangular crib bar 46, on a large diameter crib
bar 48, and on a small diameter crib bar 50. It is important to note the
contraction and expansion of the groove 40 when the pacifier holder is
installed on a large object such as illustrated in Figure 5, in comparison to
an installation on a small bar as illustrated in Figure 7. The groove 40
provides diametrical adjustment of the C-shaped tubular member 30, for a
good ~-lhesinn of walls 32 and 34 against the surface of the mounting bar.
The variety of flimen.~ions and shapes of crib bars illustrated on Figures 5
to 7 covers all bars found on common baby cribs available commercially.
Referring back now to Figures 3 and 4, the front part of the
preferred embodiment of the pacifier holder 24 comprises a pacifier
mounting portion having an upper finger 60 and a lower finger 62 defining
a holding slot 28. The lower finger 62 has transversal hump 64 projecting
toward the inside of holding slot 28, and the upper finger 60 has two
similar transversal swellings 66 projecting towards the lower finger 62.
Both upper swellings 66 are positioned astride the lower hump 64, such
that the i~llelrelellce thel~rlom improves the holding efficacy of the holding
slot 28.
Both the upper finger 60 and the lower finger 62 are made of a
resilient material, and especially moulded integrally of the same rubber
m~t~ri~l as for the C-shaped tubular member 30, such that a handle ring 26
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of a pacifier 22 is easily inserted in slot 28, and easily withdrawn
thelerlolll. The distance of the gap of the holding slot 28, and of the
clearance between hump 64 and swellings 66, are dimensioned to
accommodate thicknesses of handle rings of a majority of pacifiers
5 available commercially. Accordingly, a preferred gap for holding slot 28
is about 3/16", and a preferred clearance between hump 64 and swellings
66 is about 1/16".
Holding slot 28 is oriented downwardly such that a baby can pull a
pacifier therefrom without difficulties, from a downward direction, as for
10 example, when the baby is lying in his crib. Thereupon, a preferred angle
of orientation for slot 28 is about 15~.
A second pl~;relled embodiment of the invention is illustrated on the
Figures 8 to 13. This embodiment also has an upper finger 60, a lower
finger 62 and a holding slot 28 to retain a pacifier. This embodiment has
15 an elongated clamp 70 comprising a first resilient wall 72 and a second
resilient wall 74. The elong~ted clamp 70 further has a groove 40 along the
gorge portion thereof. The groove 40 provides for further flexibility of the
elongated clamp 70 to expand or to contract around bars of various shapes
and dimensions. This second prerelled embodiment is also preferably
20 made of a rubber material.
Both walls 72 and 74 are shaped according to the profile of a formed
flat spring 76 embedded in the clamp's backing member of the pacifier
holder 68. The shape of both wall 72 and 74 defines a multi-radii cross-
section cylinder, whereby a contact surface of the elongated clamp 70 with
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~ a range of sizes of crib bars is opLil~ ll. The shape of both walls 72 and
74 are further curved outwardly from a central axis of the cylindrical
opening of the clamp, such that the pacifier holder 68 can be pushed
against, and clipped onto a variety of bars on commercially available cribs.
In this respect, Figures 12 to 13 illustrate respectively the second
preferred embodiment of the invention mounted on a rectangular bar 46
having dimensions of 1/2 inch by 3/16 inch, a circular bar 48 of 1/2 inch
in diameter, and on a circular bar 50 of 3/8 inch in diameter.
Figures 14, 15 and 16 illustrate a third pler~lled embodiment of the
lo pacifier holder 78. This embodiment has the figure of an elephant head 80
on which the trump 82 is the upper holding member, and the mouth 84 is
the lower holding member. The upper holding member 82 and the lower
holding member 84 define a holding slot in which a handle ring 86 of a
pacifier 88 is retained.
This embodiment has a C-shaped tubular member 30 for mounting
on a vertical bar of a crib. The mounting member 30 is similar in design
as for the first ~ rell~d embodiment described earlier. That is, it has a flap
36, covered with gripping m~t~ l 42, and mating material 44 on the
outside wall of the tubular member 30. The mounting portion of the
pacifier holder 78 is better illustrated on Figure 15. This third preferred
embodiment 78 is also preferably made entirely of a rubber material.
Referring now to Figures 17,18 and 19, the major advantage of this
embodiment is that the trurlk 82 of the figure provides leverage for opening
the holding slot 90 of the pacifier holder 78 for insertion therein of a handle
ring 86 of a pacifier 88. The lower holding member 84 is relatively thin
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and flexible whereby a baby can easily remove the pacifier 88 from the
holding slot 90 by pulling on it in a downward direction.
The upper holding member 82 has a hook portion 94 for retaining
a pacifier handle ring 86, or a handle ring of a toy for example, for use by
5 a toddler which is grown enough to re~nove the object from such hook 94.
A pl~r~ d pacifier 88 for use with this third pre~lled embodiment
78 is the type having a handle ring 86 with cross section 92 which is
similar to the profile of the holding slot 90. A prefelled profile for the
bottom of holding slot 90 is a cylindrical shape having a diameter of
10 appro7~im~tely 3/16". Such a profile corresponds to the cross-section of
handle rings of a majority of pacifiers on the market.
A preferred installation of the pacifier holder 78, 68 or 24 is
illustrated on Figure 20. The pacifier holder 78 is shown installed on a
vertical bar 96 of a baby crib 98. The pacifier holder is illustrated at a
15 preferred height along the bar 96 which is accessible to the child.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described with a dowllw~d oriented slot, with a wrap-around, or a clip-on
mounting member, and as an elephant head, other mounting methods and
other representations of baby appealing figures are possible without
20 altering the structure of the invention.
Therefore, the preferred embodiments of the invention as described
herein are not limited thereto, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the
art that numerous modifications form part of the present invention insofar
as they do not depart from the spirit, nature and scope of the claimed and
25 described invention.
