The present invention relates to teething aids, more particularly teething rings. An example of a teething aid for babies is a teething ring. Babies instinctively chew to aid the eruption of new teeth during teething. They are generally designed to be held by the baby and manipulated to the mouth to be chewed upon.

The present invention seeks to provide a teething aid with additional functionality to that of known teething rings.

In its broadest sense, the present invention provides a teething aid comprising a non- circular, closed-loop support on which is mounted a teething ball able to move a limited distance on the support as constrained by the shape of the support.

Preferably, the ball is ovoid.

Preferably, the support passes substantially along or through the major axis of the ball. Preferably, the ball is mounted for movement about a midpoint of the support.

Preferably, the ball is able to move about 2.5cm (1 inch) in total relative to the support. Preferably, the support along the major axis is straight along its length.

Preferably, the ball is formed from rubber, more preferably natural rubber.

Preferably, a lower part of the teething aid extends outwardly at about 90 degrees to the portion of the support on which the ball is slidably mounted.

Preferably, the shape of the support is generally oval with handles curved from the inside and curved from the outside. Preferably, the support is generally rectangular; more preferably with a slight isosceles trapezoidal shape; even more preferably with curved or arcuate corners.

The above and other aspects of the invention will now be discussed in further detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figure, Figure 1, which shows, in plan view, an embodiment of a teething aid in accordance with the present invention.

The embodiment of the baby teething aid 10 shown in Figure 1 consists of two components - a ring-shaped support 12 having a cover 14 in the form of a plastic sheath. Slidably mounted on the support 12 is a generally ovoid teething ball 16 made of natural rubber, the support passing through a hole 18 in the teething ball 16 and aligned with the major axis of the ball 16. The support allows the ball 16 to slide on the support 12 along a limited distance. In one embodiment a rubber ball formed from natural rubber or other suitable semi-soft material. Suitably, the ring is preferably formed from wooden or plastic materials.

A baby will be able to hold the ovalish shape ring with both hands. The rubber ball is accessible for placing in the mouth and manipulatable by the baby's other hand.

The ball is able to move side to side along the ring to a limited degree (for example, about 2.5cm (1 inch) in total. This allows limited movement of the ball on the support.

The teething ring encourages the baby's physical movement as they will push and pull the teething ball away from and towards their mouth. This helps the baby learn concepts such as cause and effect. The pushing and pulling movements are important when the pincer grip is used which, in return, develops co-ordination and simulates intelligence.

As children grow they begin to move desired objects closer to themselves and to master movement, balance and fine motor skills. A baby will use a whole hand-grip to grasp the ball, the so called "palmer grasp", and thus the device encourages intellectual development. The baby also starts to learn the pincer grip holding objects between the thumb and fore-finger. Use of both of these grip types is encouraged by the present invention.

The present invention takes advantage of this natural tendency of a baby to hold and mouth objects to provide a teething aid which when used not only provides a teething aid function but also encourages muscle development, develops co-ordination and provide a play aspect which contributes to the baby's emotional and intellectual development leading to growth and maturation of aspects of both the baby's brain and body. In preferred embodiments, the ball is ovoid and, further preferably, the support passes substantially along the major axis of the ball. This provides a low profile to the aid when the baby holds the baby teething ring whilst presenting a broad aspect when placed in the baby's mouth as well as increasing the security ensuring the ball will not come off during play.

The ball is conveniently mounted for movement about the midpoint of the support. The degree of movement of the ball on the support can be any generally convenient distance, for example, about 2.5cm (1 inch) relative to the support. The ball is preferably formed from natural rubber or other suitable semi-soft material that can be safely gnawed to aid teething. Suitability includes the need to ensure the materials used in the manufacture of the teething aid are safe to chew on.

The support is suitably formed from wooden or plastic materials.

In preferred embodiments, the ovoid ball is approximately 3.8cm (1.5 inches) in length and has a diameter / width of approximately 2.5cm (1 inch). Its thickness is suitably under about 20 mm (0.75 inches). In preferred embodiments, the width or length of the rings at its widest part is 9 to 10cm and preferably about 9.7cm (3.8 inches) and has a depth of about 6.4cm (2.5 inches). The ring is typically about 12 mm (0.5 inches) in diameter. Shape of the Teething Aid: i) The lower part of the teething aid is orientated about at 90 degrees from the part of the support on which the ball in mounted and its shape is generally oval with handles curved from the inside and curved from the outside.

Typically, as shown, the support has a generally isosceles trapezoidal shape, with curved or smoothed corners.

The handles form curvilinear contours wherein the support is generally rectangular; preferably with a slight isosceles trapezoidal shape; more preferably with curved or arcuate corners. ii) The upper part of the support passes substantially along the major axis of the (ovoid) ball

The support along the major axis is straight in length and the ball is able to move side to side about 2.5 cm in total (1 inch).