The invention relates to a modular oral system for infants capable of assisting with the teething and weaning process in several different ways.

Teething devices are commonly used to help infants transition through the teething and weaning process. The infant chews on the teether, which is typically made of a plastics or silicone material. Chewing on the teether helps soothe the pain of teething.

A wide range of teether materials and sizes may be used at different stages of the teething and weaning process. Chewable products for infants other than teethers may also be used, such as mesh nets containing fresh food, which allow the infant to teeth and/or transition to solid food without risk of choking.

There is an overlap between the teething period and the weaning period in the infant's development, and at this stage both teething and weaning products may be used. This leads to a proliferation of different oral devices for the infant, which each require separate cleaning and storage.

It is an object of the invention to reduce the waste of materials associated with providing multiple different oral devices for infants. It is also an object of the invention to make such products more convenient to use.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular oral system for infants comprising a handle section and at least two inserts. Each insert includes an oral device for use during the teething and weaning process of an infant. The inserts are interchangeably attachable to the handle section.

According to the present invention, a single modular oral system for infants provides at least two inserts including oral devices for use during teething and/or weaning. This means that only one handle section is required to provide two or more of the oral devices, which would otherwise be provided as separate items with individual handles. The amount of material required to manufacture the modular oral system of the invention is significantly less than that required to manufacture the conventional separate items. The present invention therefore reduces the manufacturing cost and environmental impact of the oral teething and/or weaning devices.

Preferably, the inserts are selected from a group comprising: a first teether insert, a second teether insert, a feeder bag insert, an ice mold insert and a dispenser insert.

Suitably, the handle section includes a handle having a collar mounting part and a collar removably attachable to the collar mounting part. Preferably, each insert has a fixing plate adapted to be interposed between the collar and the handle such that when the collar is attached to the handle, the fixing plate is held in position between the collar and the handle.

Suitably, a flange is formed protruding from a circumferential surface of the fixing plate such that when the fixing plate is interposed between the collar and the handle, the flange abuts an upper surface of the collar mounting part. Preferably, when the collar is attached to the handle, the flange is held between an internal surface of the collar and the upper surface of the collar mounting part.

Conveniently, a lug is formed protruding from an upper surface of the flange and a notch is formed in an internal surface of the collar, the notch being shaped to

accommodate the lug. Preferably, two lugs are formed at diametrically opposite locations on the flange and two notches are formed at corresponding locations in the internal surface of the collar.

Suitably, each fixing plate has an insertion portion and the handle has a recess formed in an upper surface of the collar mounting part, the recess being shaped to

accommodate the insertion portion. Conveniently, at least one of the fixing plates of the inserts is made from silicone. Preferably, at least one of the fixing plates of the inserts is ring-shaped.

In one embodiment, the modular oral system for infants includes a first teether insert and a second teether insert, wherein the second teether insert is adapted for use in a later stage of teething than the first teether insert. Suitably, the modular oral system for infants includes a feeder bag insert, wherein the feeder bag insert comprises a mesh feeder bag. Preferably, the mesh feeder bag is made from nylon, cotton or silicone.

Conveniently, the modular oral system for infants includes an ice mold insert, wherein the ice mold insert comprises a tongue protruding from the fixing plate, the tongue having a hole formed through a central part thereof. Preferably, the ice mold insert comprises an ice mold having an opening and the opening is adapted to fit onto an upper portion of the fixing plate of the ice mold insert. More preferably, an upper portion of the fixing plate of the ice mold insert forms a supporting base, and the supporting base has a groove formed in an upper surface thereof.

Suitably, the modular oral system for infants includes a dispenser insert, wherein the dispenser insert comprises a teat and a container, the teat and the container being attachable to the fixing plate so as to provide fluid communication between the container and the teat. Preferably, the teat is attached to an upper side of the fixing plate and the container is removably attachable to a lower side of the fixing plate. More preferably, the container is adapted to be held between the collar and the handle when the collar is attached to the collar mounting part.

Conveniently, the container has graduated volume markings.

Preferably, the modular oral system for infants further comprises an overcap, the overcap being transparent or translucent and being removably attachable to the handle section so as to enclose an insert attached to the handle section.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of further example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a modular oral system for infants 10 according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows the modular oral system for infants 10 of Fig. 1 with the teether insert 60 attached; Fig. 3 shows the modular oral system for infants 10 of Fig. 1 with the feeder bag insert 70 attached;

Fig. 4 shows the modular oral system for infants 10 of Fig. 1 with the ice mold insert 80 attached;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fixing plate 30 according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the fixing plate 30 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a top perspective view of a collar 16 according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the collar 16 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the collar 16 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the fixing plate 30 of Fig. 5 in position to be fitted into the collar 16 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is an expanded view of a modular oral system for infants 10 according to an embodiment of the invention with a dispenser insert 90; and

Fig. 12 shows the modular oral system for infants 10 of Fig. 11 with the dispenser insert 90 attached ready for use.

The modular oral system for infants 10 of an embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 1 and includes a handle section 50 and three inserts 60, 70, 80. The handle section 50 comprises a handle 12, a collar mounting part 14 and a collar 16.

The handle 12 comprises a curved rod extending around a space designed to accommodate an infant's fingers. The curved rod approximately forms a section of an oval in this example. The handle 12 is textured to allow an infant to grip it easily. In particular, multiple rounded protrusions are formed extending from the curved rod.

The collar mounting part 14 includes a base plate and a threaded part fixed to an upper surface of the base plate. The thread of the threaded part is formed around its outer circumferential surface, which is roughly cylindrical. A recess is formed in an upper end face of the threaded part. The recess has a roughly cylindrical shape designed to accommodate the inserts 60, 70, 80 described below. The collar 16 is a ring having a thread formed over part of its internal surface, as further illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. The internal thread of the collar 16 is shaped to be engageable with the threaded part of the collar mounting part 14, so that the collar 16 can be screwed onto the collar mounting part 14. The opening formed through the ring of the collar 16 is shaped to accommodate the inserts 60, 70, 80 described below. In this embodiment, the collar 16 has a first bore, a second bore and a third bore. The thread of the collar 16 is formed in the internal surface of the first bore. The second bore is formed above the first bore and has a smaller diameter than the first bore.

Similarly, the third bore is formed above the second bore and has a smaller diameter than the second bore.

Steps are formed between the first and second bores and between the second and third bores. Recesses or notches 40 are formed in the step between the second and third bores, the notches 40 being arranged to accommodate lugs 36 as described below (see Figs. 7, 8 and 9).

The inserts provided in this embodiment are a teether insert 60, a feeder bag insert 70 and an ice mold insert 80. Each of these inserts features the same fixing plate 30 used to attach the inserts to the handle section 50. The fixing plate 30 has a roughly cylindrical body and a flange 32 protruding from the outer surface of the body, between a lower base and an upper end face of the fixing plate 30.

The base of the fixing plate 30 below the flange 32 fits into the recess in the collar mounting part 14 of the handle section 50. The distance between the lower end face of the fixing plate 30 and the flange 32 is less than or substantially equal to the depth of the recess, so that the flange 32 rests on the upper end face of the collar mounting part 14 outside the recess when the fixing plate 30 is fitted into the recess.

Rotation-preventing lugs 36 are formed projecting from the upper surface of the flange 32 at one or more locations around the circumference of the fixing plate 30. In this embodiment, two lugs 36 are formed at locations diametrically opposite to each other.

When the collar 16 is screwed onto the threaded part of the handle section 50 with the fixing plate 30 of the insert fitted into the recess, the second bore of the collar 16 accommodates the flange 32. The third bore at least partially accommodates the part of the body of the fixing plate 30 above the flange 32. The flange 32 is compressed between the upper end face of the collar mounting part 14 outside the recess and the step formed between the second and third bores of the collar 16 when the collar 16 is screwed on. This compression holds the insert in place on the handle section 50. The insert can be removed from and reattached to the handle section 50 simply by unscrewing the collar 16 and lifting out or replacing the insert.

The lugs 36 on the flange 32 are accommodated in the notches 40 formed in the step between the second and third bores of the collar 16. The engagement between the lugs 36 and the notches 40 fixes the rotational position of the fixing plate 30 relative to the collar 6. Hence, when the collar 16 is screwed onto the threaded part, the insert is prevented from rotating relative to the handle section 50.

An alternative embodiment of the fixing plate 30 is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. This embodiment differs from the fixing plate 30 described above in that the body of the fixing plate does not extend below the flange 32. This fixing plate 30 can be employed with a handle having a collar mounting part 14 that does not include a recess on its upper surface. The fixing plate 30 of this embodiment is held in place relative to the handle section 50 by its engagement with the collar 16 and the threaded engagement of the collar 16 with the collar mounting part 14. The rotational position of the fixing plate 30 relative to the collar 16 is fixed by the engagement between the lugs 36 on the flange 32 and the notches 40 as described above. The fit provided between the fixing plate 30 and the collar 16 in this embodiment is shown in Fig. 10.

The teether insert 60 is shown attached to the handle section 50 in Fig. 2. The teether insert 60 comprises a teether 18 attached to a fixing plate 30 as described above. The teether 18 is attached to the fixing plate 30 via a neck and may be of any type. In this embodiment, the teether 18 is a roughly circular disc. The teether 18 is integrally formed with the neck and the teether 18 and neck together have a keyhole shape in cross-section.

The teether 18 and the fixing plate 30 are formed together as a single piece of material in this embodiment, but this is not necessarily the case. The teether 18 may be a separate piece attached to the fixing plate 30, and the teether 18 and fixing plate 30 may be formed from different materials.

Suitable materials for the teether 18 include plastics, silicone and fabric. When the teether 18 is made from plastics or silicone it is preferably formed as a single piece with the fixing plate 30. When the teether 18 is formed from fabric it is preferably attached to a plastics ring forming part of the fixing plate 30.

The teether 18 may be impregnated with a painkiller or other medicine to be taken orally by the infant. In this variation, the teether 18 has a dual purpose of soothing teething pain by providing an object for the infant to chew on and dispensing medicine to the infant. The teether 18 may also be impregnated with a flavouring to encourage the infant to chew on the teether. In one variation, the teether 18 consists of a piece of fabric impregnated with a medicine or flavouring.

The feeder bag insert 70 is shown attached to the handle section 50 in Fig. 3. The feeder bag insert 70 comprises a fixing plate 30 as described above and a mesh feeder bag 20 attached to the fixing plate 30. The feeder bag 20 is made from a nylon mesh net in this embodiment and is designed to hold fresh food inside it. An infant can chew on the fresh food through the feeder bag 20. The mesh prevents large chunks of food from entering the infant's mouth, so the infant can get the nutrients from the fresh food without risk of choking.

The ice mold insert 80 is shown attached to the handle section 50 in Fig. 4. The ice mold insert 80 comprises a fixing plate 30 as described above, a lolly stick 22 with a supporting base 34 attached to the fixing plate 30 and an ice mold 24.

The lolly stick 22 is a tongue projecting from the supporting base 34 and having an oval hole formed through the centre of the tongue. The supporting base 34 is a plate having a groove formed in it.

Suitable materials for the lolly stick 22 include plastics. For example, the lolly stick 22 may be formed from polypropylene. When the lolly stick 22 is made from plastics, it is preferably formed as a single piece with the supporting base 34 and the fixing plate 30. However, the lolly stick 22, the supporting base 34 and the fixing plate 30 may also be formed separately, and may be made from different materials.

When the fixing plate 30 of the ice mold insert 80 is attached to the handle section 50, the opening in the top of the collar 16 exposes the supporting base 34. An ice lolly projects from the supporting base 34 around the lolly stick 22, the lolly being held in place by the lolly stick 22. The groove formed in the supporting base 34 provides grip and helps to hold the ice lolly in place relative to the supporting base 34.

The ice mold 24 is a container having an opening at one end. The opening is a force fit to the circumference of the fixing plate 30 above the flange 32. Hence, the ice mold 24 can be filled with water and the fixing plate 30 of the ice mold insert 80 can then be fitted into the opening of the ice mold 24 so as to seal it. The insert is then frozen and the ice mold 24 removed to leave a molded lolly attached to the supporting base 34 and the lolly stick 22.

Since the teether insert 60, the feeder bag insert 70 and the ice mold insert 80 share the same fixing plate 30, they can be attached interchangeably to the handle section 50. This means that only one handle section 50 is required to provide a feeder bag 20, a teether 18 and an ice lolly. Thus, the amount of material required to manufacture the modular oral system for infants 10 of the invention is less than that required to manufacture a conventional separate teether, feeding bag and ice mold. The present invention therefore reduces the manufacturing cost and environmental impact of the teether 18, feeder bag 20 and ice mold 22, 24.

An overcap 26 may also be provided in the modular oral system for infants 10. The overcap 26 is a force fit to the outer surface of the collar 16 and fits onto the handle section 50 so as to accommodate any insert attached to the handle section 50. The overcap 26 protects the insert from dust and dirt. The overcap 26 is preferably transparent or translucent so that the insert attached to the handle section 50 can be seen without removing the overcap 26.

It is not essential to provide all three inserts described above, and the modular oral system for infants 10 of the invention may be provided with only the teether and ice mold inserts, only the feeder bag and ice mold inserts, or only the teether and feeder bag inserts. Other types of inserts may also be included, provided that they are also attachable to the handle section 50 of the invention so that the inserts are

interchangeable as described above.

In an alternative embodiment, two or more interchangeable teether inserts are provided, either in combination with other inserts or alone. These teether inserts may be the same, so that a first teether insert can be replaced by a second when the first teether insert wears out or is being cleaned. Alternatively, the teether inserts can have different sizes and/or shapes. The teether inserts can also be made from different materials. In particular, teether inserts designed for several different stages of teething may be provided in the modular oral system for infants 10. For example, a smaller teether insert may be provided for an earlier stage of teething and a larger teether insert may be provided for a later stage of teething.

In another variation, an oral dispenser insert 90 may be provided in addition to or instead of any of the inserts described above. This insert dispenses an appropriate dose of a substance to the infant when the infant puts the insert into his or her mouth. For example, the substance may be a medicinal product such as a teething gel. A modular oral system for infants 10 having a dispenser insert 90 is shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

As best seen in Fig. 11 , the dispenser insert 90 includes a teat 42 attached to a fixing plate 30. The fixing plate 30 is the same as that provided on the other inserts 60, 70, 80. Suitable materials for the teat 42 include plastics, latex and silicone. The teat 42 is formed as a single piece with the fixing plate 30 in this embodiment but may

alternatively be separate.

The dispenser insert 90 also includes a container 44. The container 44 holds the desired dose of medicine or other substance to be taken orally by the infant. The container 44 has graduated volume markings so that the correct dose can be measured into the container 44. The base of the fixing plate 30 fits into the opening at the top of the container 44 to provide a seal. The container 44 is placed in the recess on the top surface of the collar mounting part 14. The collar 16 is then screwed onto the collar mounting part 14 so as to hold the container 44 and the fixing plate 30 securely between the collar 16 and the handle 12, 14. The modular oral system for infants 10 is shown in with the dispenser insert 90 attached in this state in Fig. 12.

The contents of the container 44 can flow through the opening in the ring-shaped fixing plate 30 into an internal cavity of the teat 42. A small opening into the internal cavity is provided at the top of the teat 42 so that when the infant sucks the teat 42 the contents of the container 44 are dispensed into the infant's mouth.

The dispenser insert 90 may be used to dispense various medicines and other substances. For example, the dispenser insert 90 may be used to dispense a flavoured liquid to reward the infant for teething.

In the above embodiment the teat 42 is permanently attached to the fixing plate 30, whereas the container 44 is removably attachable to the fixing plate 30. Alternatively, the teat 42 may be removably attachable to the fixing plate 30 and the container 44 may be permanently attached to the fixing plate 30.

The fixing plates 30 of the different inserts 60, 70, 80, 90 have been described as being the same in the above. However, it will be appreciated that it is only necessary for the fixing plates 30 all to be capable of being held between the collar 16 and the handle 12, 14, so that the inserts are interchangeable to form a modular system. As long as this is the case, the fixing plates 30 may vary between inserts.

The collar 16 may be attached to the handle 12, 14 by means other than a screw thread. For example, the collar 16 may be provided with clips allowing it to be removably clipped onto a suitable collar mounting part of the handle.

The foregoing description has been given by way of example only and it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.