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Title:
TEETHING DEVICE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2014/106287
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
An infant teething device (11) comprising a flexible, resilient portion for biting on and a tooth cleaning portion (21), wherein the tooth cleaning portion (21) is located on a lateral longitudinal extension (15) extending from the resilient portion (13).

Inventors:
GOTJAMANOS THEO (AU)
Application Number:
PCT/AU2014/000063
Publication Date:
July 10, 2014
Filing Date:
January 31, 2014
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
GOTJAMANOS THEO (AU)
International Classes:
A61J17/02; A46B5/02; A46B15/00
Domestic Patent References:
WO2012139111A12012-10-11
Foreign References:
US5048143A1991-09-17
US3753266A1973-08-21
US5623739A1997-04-29
EP1611818B12008-10-08
CN201847086U2011-06-01
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
WRAYS (56 Ord StreetWest Perth, Western Australia 6005, AU)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims:

1. A teething device for a teething infant comprising a gripping portion and a tooth cleaning portion extending outwardly therefrom, wherein the gripping portion provides a gripping section.

2. The teething device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion is in the form of a ring.

3. The teething device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, including a removable cover which may be located over the tooth cleaning portion.

4. The teething device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tooth cleaning portion comprises an elongated arm having a tooth cleaning tool located at a remote end thereof.

5. The teething device as claimed in claim 4 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the elongate arm is angled from the plane of the ring.

6. The teething device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, where tooth cleaning tool is in the form of moulded rubber bristles.

7. The teething device as claimed ι'ηλ claim 4 or 5, where tooth cleaning tool is in the form of a polishing cup.

8. The teething device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ring incorporates a flexible, resilient portion for biting on.

9. An infant teething device comprising a flexible, resilient portion for biting on and a tooth cleaning portion, wherein the tooth cleaning portion is located on a lateral longitudinal extension extending from the resilient portion.

10. The infant teething device as claimed in claim 9, including a ring portion.

11. The infant teething device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the soothing portion is located on the ring.

12. The infant teething device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11 , wherein the soothing portion is a rubber pad.

13. The infant teething device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the rubber pad includes projections.

14. The infant teething device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the projections are in the shape of ribbing, bosses, knobs or a variety of other shapes.

15. The infant teething device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the projections are arranged as teats.

16. The infant teething device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 15, wherein the ring includes a plurality of the soothing portions spaced apart.

17. The infant teething device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the soothing portions are located around the outer surface of the ring.

18. The infant teething device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 17, wherein the tooth cleaning portion includes rubber bristles.

19. The infant teething device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 17, wherein the tooth cleaning portion includes a polishing cup.

20. The infant teething device as claimed in claim 10, or any one If claims 1 1 to 19 when dependent on claim 10, wherein the ring is of a size compatible with the mouth of an infant aged 3 to 12 months.

21. The infant teething device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 20, wherein the longitudinal extension may be angled with respect to the plane of the soothing portion. The angle may be 12 degrees.

22. The infant teething device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a removable cover adapted to cover at least a portion of the longitudinal extension.

23. The infant teething device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the cover, covers the tooth cleaning portion.

24. The infant teething device as claimed in claim 21 or 22, wherein the cover incorporates a releasable clip to releasably secure the cover to the teething device.

25. The infant teething device as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein the cover includes an extension adapted to snap fit around the infant teething device.

26. The infant teething device as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 25, wherein the cover is adapted to press fit around the infant teething device.

27. The infant teething device as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 26, wherein he cover is adapted to engage with the ring.

28. The infant teething device as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 27, wherein the cover is adapted to be removably secured to the infants clothing.

29. A method of rubbing an infant's emerging teeth with an infant teething device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8 when dependent on claim 2 or claims 10 to 28 when dependent on claim 10, wherein a supervising person places a finger through the ring, gripping the ring with the aid of the crests and troughs on the outer diameter of the ring, inserts the lateral longitudinal extension into the infant's mouth rubs the tooth engaging portion in a circular motion over the surface of the infant's teeth.

Description:
Teething Device

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a teething device for cleaning infants teeth.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Parents are well accustomed to the pain and discomfort experienced by infants during teething. This gives rise to difficulties in maintaining oral hygiene in infants.

Emergence of front teeth can start from around the age of five months and can continue for two years or longer. Painful teething is typically more of a discomfort for an infant during the earlier stages of teething (first 12 months).

[0003] Toothbrushes that are made for infants are styled on the typical adult toothbrush, using fine standard (typically nylon) bristles to brush the teeth. These can be painful when used on the gums of children experiencing teething. The use of these standard type toothbrushes can give rise to negative association in infants relating to tooth brushing and oral hygiene.

[0004] A shortcoming of conventional infant toothbrushes and teething devices is that they can acquire and carry bacteria. When the infant does not have the device in their mouth the brush or device is likely to be dropped, thrown or placed on the ground where it is likely to come into contact with bacteria. This may cause health problems when placed back in the infant's mouth.

[0005] Also, conventional infant toothbrushes are straight like adult toothbrushes.

Because a parent or adult carer cleans an infant's teeth, the straight profile of an infant toothbrush can make it difficult to place the toothbrush in the infant's mouth comfortably. Again this may hurt the infants inflamed gums.

[0006] The preceding discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of this invention to provide to ameliorate, mitigate or overcome, at least one disadvantage of the prior art, or which will at least provide parents/carers with a practical choice.

[0008] The present invention provides a teething device for a teething infant, the teething device comprises a gripping portion and a tooth cleaning portion extending outwardly therefrom, wherein the gripping portion provides a gripping section which allows the user to clean the infant's teeth easily, efficiently and comfortably.

[0009] The gripping portion may be in the form of a ring.

[0010] The teething device may include a removable cover which may be located over the tooth cleaning portion.

[0011] The tooth cleaning portion may comprise an elongated arm having a tooth cleaning tool located at a remote end thereof. The tooth cleaning tool may be in the form of moulded rubber bristles.

[0012] The tooth cleaning portion may comprise a polishing/cleaning cup. The polishing/cleaning cup is shaped so as to conform to the outer surface of a tooth. This allows engagement with the teeth that is comfortable for an infant.

[00 3] The tooth cleaning portion may have a concave tooth engaging profile.

[0014] The ring may incorporate a soothing portion upon which the infant may bite.

[0015] The present invention further provides an infant teething device for a teething infant, the teething device comprises a resilient soothing portion and a tooth cleaning portion, wherein the tooth cleaning portion is located on a lateral longitudinal extension extending from the soothing portion. [0016] Having a tooth cleaning element on the same device as a soothing portion introduces tooth cleaning elements to an infant in an appealing and agreeable manner.

[0017] The infant teething device may include a ring. The ring may easily be gripped by the infant or an adult.

[0018] The soothing portion may be located on the ring, such that the ring functions as a teething/biting device.

[0019] The soothing portion may be a rubber pad. The rubber pad may include projections. The projections can be in the shape of ribbing, bosses, knobs or a variety of other shapes.

[0020] The projections may be arranged as teats.

[0021] The ring may include a plurality of spaced apart soothing portions. This allows the infant to chew in a variety of locations.

[0022] Soothing portions may be located around the outer surface of the ring.

[0023] The tooth cleaning portion may include rubber bristles. The rubber bristles are soft like the soothing portion and are similar in feel to an infant.

[0024] The tooth cleaning portion may include a polishing/cleaning cup. The

polishing/cleaning cup is shaped so as to conform to the outer surface of a tooth. This allows engagement with the teeth that is comfortable for an infant.

[0025] The ring may be of a size compatible with the mouth of an infant aged 3 to 12 months.

[0026] The longitudinal extension may be angled with respect to the plane of the soothing portion. The angle may be 12 degrees.

[0027] The infant teething device may include a removable cover adapted to cover at least a portion of the longitudinal extension. The removable cover can protect the longitudinal extension from bacteria. [0028] The cover may cover the tooth cleaning portion. This allows the tooth cleaning portion to be protected when the infant is chewing on the ring.

[0029] The cover may incorporate a releasable clip to releasably secure the cover to the teething device. The releasable clip is easily removable and reapplied as required.

[0030] The cover may include an extension adapted to snap fit with the infant teething device.

[0031] The cover may be adapted to press fit with the infant teething device. [0032] The cover may be adapted to engage with the ring. [0033] The cover may be adapted to be removably secured to the infants clothing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Further features of the present invention are more fully described in the following description of several non-limiting embodiments thereof. This description is included solely for the purposes of exemplifying the present invention. It should not be understood as a restriction on the broad summary, disclosure or description of the invention as set out above. The description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a teething device according to a first

embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the teething device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a side view of the teething device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the teething device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is a side view of the teething device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the teething device of Figure 1 without a cover;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a teething device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is a side view of the teething device of Figure 7

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the teething device of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a bottom view of the teething device of Figure 7; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a tooth cleaning portion for a teething device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings like structures are referred to by like numerals throughout the several views. The drawings shown are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0035] Referring to figures 1 to 6, the invention according to the first embodiment of the present invention is in the form of an infant teething device 11. Generally, the teething device 11 comprises a plurality of soothing portions 17 and a tooth cleaning portion 21.

[0036] The teething device 11 includes a ring 13 which may be gripped by an adult or infant. Extending laterally from the ring 13 is a longitudinal extension 15 in the form of an arm. Positioned around the rigid ring 13 are the resilient soothing portions 17. The longitudinal extension 15 includes the tooth cleaning portion 21 at a distal end.

[0037] As illustrated by Figure 6, the length of the longitudinal extension 15 can vary and be within the scope of the present invention.

[0038] The resilient soothing portions 17 are in the form of rubber pads and include projections 19 that an infant can rub against their gums and emerging teeth to sooth the discomfort of teething. As illustrated in Figure 4, the resilient soothing portions 17 extend from both the upper and lower surfaces of the teething device 11. In projecting from both the upper and lower surfaces of the teething device 11 , the teething device 11 can be used by an infant in a variety of positions.

[0039] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, that is not illustrated, the resilient soothing portions 17 extend from only one surface of the teething device. [0040] The tooth cleaning portion 21 includes rubber bristles 22 that are used to clean the infant's teeth. With both the tooth cleaning portion 21 and the resilient soothing portions 17 the teething device 11 provides two functions. One function allows an infant to bite on the resilient soothing portions 17 to alleviate the discomfort of emerging primary teeth. The other function enables adults use the tooth cleaning portion 21 by grasping the ring 13, and using it as a handle place the tooth cleaning portion 21 onto emerging front teeth, and through a rotational motion, dislodge food and bacterial plaque adhering to the teeth.

[0041] The longitudinal extension 15 and tooth cleaning portion are angled from the plane of the ring 13 to assist the tooth cleaning portion to readily access the position of the teeth. This is achieved by the angling of the longitudinal extension following the contour of the teeth emerging from the gums.

[0042] In an alternative embodiment as shown in figure 11 , the rubber bristles 22 are replaced with a cleaning/polishing cup 40. The tooth engaging surface of the

cleaning/polishing cup 40 has a concave profile 41 that engages the teeth.

[0043] The ring 13 has a striated outer diameter surface made up of crests 23 and troughs 25. The inclusion of the crests 23 and troughs 25 assists a user in gripping the teething device by either an adult or infant. Referring to figures 4 and 6, the angling of the longitudinal extension 15 from the plane of the ring 13 is clearly shown. The angle of the longitudinal extension from the plane of the ring 13 is 12 degrees. This assists the user in cleaning the infant's teeth as the angled extension follows the curvature of the teeth extending from the jaw.

[0044] In a varied embodiment of the present invention, the longitudinal extension 15 is angled from the plane of the ring 13 by more than 12 degrees.

[0045] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the longitudinal extension 15 is angled from the plane of the ring 13 by less than 12 degrees.

[0046] As best shown in Figure 5, the inner surface 14 of the ring 13 is convexly curved outwardly into the centre of ring 13. This allows the ring 13 to be more easily gripped. It also removes sharp edges from the ring that the infant could injure themselves on. [0047] In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the inner surface of the ring 13 is not convexly curved outwardly into the centre of ring 13.

[0048] The graspable features of the ring 13, being the crests 23 and troughs 25, are illustrated in Figure 3. The maximum amplitude of each crest 23 lies on the maximum diameter 50 and the minimum amplitude of each trough 25 lies on the minimum diameter 52. By having a uniform minimum and maximum diameter for the crests 23 and troughs 24, the teething device 11 is graspable with equal ease around the entire ring 13.

[0049] The teething device 11 is appropriate for use with an infant of approximately 3 months to 12 months of age. The inside diameter of the ring 13 can be 45 mm, the outside diameter of the ring 13 at the troughs 25 to designate the minimum diameter 52, can be 55mm and to the crest, to designate the maximum diameter 50, can be 60mm. The extension of the longitudinal arm 15 can be 30mm giving an overall length of 90mm for the infant teething device 1 . The length of the rubber bristles can be 3.25mm. This size is appropriate for an infant of this age to handle and for the tooth cleaning portion 21 to be small enough to engage the surface of the infant's teeth. As some infants can be very large or small, and as teething can occur up until 2 years of age and later, these sizes can be varied as appropriate.

[0050] It is within the scope of this invention for the sizes noted above to vary notably.

[0051] To engage and sooth or brush the infant's emerging teeth, a supervising adult, places a finger through the ring 13, gripping the ring 13 with the aid of the crests 23 and troughs 25 on the outer diameter of the ring 13. Then the lateral longitudinal extension 15 is inserted into the infant's mouth and the rubber bristles 22 are rubbed in a circular motion over the surface of the infant's teeth. The lateral longitudinal extension 15 being angularly offset from the plane of the ring 13 allows the bristles 22 to be more easily positioned against the infant's teeth when the ring is grasped.

[0052] In one embodiment of the present invention a cover 31 can be placed over the tooth cleaning portion 21 when the teeth are not being brushed. As illustrated in

Figures 2, 3, 4 the cover 31 encloses part of the lateral longitudinal extension 15 that includes the tooth cleaning portion 21. The cover 31 may be releasably secured relative to the longitudinal extension 15. To remain in place on the lateral longitudinal extension 5, the cover 3 may be releasably secured to the longitudinal extension 15 with a securing means (not shown). The securing means can be a protrusion that engages with a groove in the lateral longitudinal extension 15 in a snap fit fashion. Alternatively the securing means can be a pin that fits through an aperture in the lateral longitudinal extension 15. Alternatively the cover 31 can include an internal profile that closely abuts the rubber bristles 22 so that the bristles 22 hold the cover in place. There cover can be split and hinged or can be of solid one piece construction. There are alternative securing means between the cover 31 and lateral longitudinal extension 15 that are readily recognized by the skilled addressee and are incorporated herein.

[0053] The cover 31 ensures that when the teeth of an infant are not being brushed and the cover 31 is secured relative to the lateral longitudinal extension 5, the risk of bacteria, dirt and other contaminants are less likely to foul the tooth cleaning portion. The teething device 11 , with the cover 31 engaged with the lateral longitudinal extension 15, can be given to the infant so the infant can chew the soothing portions 17 as desired without using the tooth cleaning portion. In addition to protecting the infant from dirt and bacteria the infant can become accustomed to the soothing portions 17 prior to having their teeth brushed with the teeth engaging portions 19, making familiarisation with the rubber bristles 22 easier as they are made of a similar or the same material.

[0054] The cover 31 includes an aperture 33 which can be used to hang the teething device 11. Alternatively the aperture 33 can be used to connect the teething device 11 to a clip that attaches to the infants clothing through the use of a chain, string, rope, ribbon or otherwise, that is connected to a clip or other fastening device. This ensures that the cover 31 and teething device 11 can be attached to the infant so that they are less likely to be lost and can travel with the infant.

[0055] It is readily recognized that the resilient soothing portions 17 need not be in the form of pads and can easily take some other form and can be made from any resiliently deformable material that is appropriate for use with infants as understood by the skilled addressee. As with the soothing portions 7, the bristles 22 need not be rubber and can be made from any resiliently deformable material that is appropriate for use with infants. [0056] Similarly, although the resilient soothing portions 17 are illustrated as rubber pads, they could take alternative arrangements such as a resilient ring of rubber located within the rigid ring 13 or other resilient soothing formations as understood by the skilled addressee.

[0057] Although the lateral longitudinal extension 15 is illustrated as being angularly offset from the ring 13 by 2 degrees it is readily recognised that it can be angularly offset by an alternative angle such as 10 or 15 degrees.

[0058] A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in figures 7, 8, 9 and 10. For convenience, features of the second embodiment that are similar or correspond to features of the first embodiment have been referenced with the same reference numerals.

[0059] The second embodiment of the present invention differs from the first

embodiment in that the lateral longitudinal extension 16 of the teething device 12 is not angularly offset from the ring 13. This allows the teething device 12 to be easily stored and transported while limiting the risk of the angular arm becoming stuck or broken.

[0060] Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to the skilled addressee are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention. The present invention is not to be limited in scope by any of the specific embodiments described herein. These embodiments are intended for the purpose of exemplification only. Functionally equivalent products, formulations and methods are clearly within the scope of the invention as described herein.

[0061] Reference to positional descriptions, such as lower and upper, are to be taken in context of the embodiments depicted in the figures, and are not to be taken as limiting the invention to the literal interpretation of the term but rather as would be understood by the skilled addressee.

[0062] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.