TEETHING DEVICE FOR CHILDREN

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a teething device for children to alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with the emergence of teeth through their gums which typically occurs between month 4 and month 7 of a child's life. Various embodiments are described herein which surround the use of a mesh outer envelope filled with pellets contained therein.

Claims

1. A teething device for children comprising: a flexible hollow outer envelope comprising a mesh structure; an inner aspect of the outer envelope contains pellets therein, the pellets comprising a non-toxic material; the mesh comprising openings having a maximum dimension less than a minimum dimension of the pellets.

2. The teething device of claim 1, wherein the flexible hollow outer envelope comprising a textile material.

3. The teething device of claim 2, wherein the textile material is selected from a list consisting of cotton, and wool.

4. The teething device of claim 1, wherein the outer envelope comprises an ovoid shape.

5. The teething device of claim 4, wherein the outer envelope has a minimum dimension between 2 inches and 6 inches; and the openings of the mesh have a maximum dimension between 6 mm and 9 mm.

6. The teething device of claim 4, wherein the pellets comprise a silicone-based composition.

7. The teething device of claim 6, wherein the pellets comprise an outer form selected from a list consisting of ovoid, spherical, diamond, pyramidal, double-pyramidal, conical, double-conical, frustum, and double-frustum forms.

8. The teething device of claim 1, wherein the pellets comprise between 25% and 75% of a volumetric capacity of the outer envelope.

9. The teething device of claim 8, wherein the pellets comprise a silicone-based composition.

10. The teething device of claim 1, wherein the pellets comprise a silicone-based composition.

11. The teething device of claim 10, wherein the pellets comprise a closed outer form wherein an internal aspect of the pellets is sealed from air or liquid communication with an external aspect of the pellet.

12. The teething device of claim 10, wherein the pellets comprise an outer form selected from a list consisting of ovoid, spherical, diamond, pyramidal, double-pyramidal, conical, double-conical, frustum, and double-frustum forms.

13. The teething device of claim 12, wherein the pellets comprise a closed outer form wherein an internal aspect of the pellets is sealed from air or liquid communication with an external aspect of the pellet.

14. A teething device for children comprising: a flexible hollow outer envelope comprising a cotton mesh structure, the outer envelope having a minimum dimension between 2 inches and 6 inches; an inner aspect of the outer envelope comprising silicone-based pellets having a maximum dimension between 6 mm and 9 mm; the pellets comprising a volume between 25% and 75% of a volumetric capacity of the outer envelope; and the mesh comprising openings having a maximum dimension less than a minimum dimension of the pellets.

15. The teething device of claim 14, wherein the pellets comprise a closed outer form selected from a list consisting of: ovoid, spherical, diamond, pyramidal, double-pyramidal, conical, double-conical, frustum, and double-frustum forms.

16. The teething device of claim 15, wherein the pellets comprise a closed outer form wherein an internal aspect of the pellets is sealed from air or liquid communication with an external aspect of the pellet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1ACross-sectional view of certain embodiments of the present invention

[0025] FIG. 1BA detail view of mesh construction of certain embodiments of the present invention shown in FIG. 1A.

[0026] FIG. 2A perspective view of certain embodiments of the present invention

[0027] FIG. 3AA front view of certain embodiments of a spherical pellet of certain embodiments

[0028] FIG. 3BA front view of certain embodiments of an ovoid pellet of certain embodiments

[0029] FIG. 3CA front view of certain embodiments of a pyramidal pellet of certain embodiments

[0030] FIG. 3DA front view of certain embodiments of a double-pyramidal pellet of certain embodiments

[0031] FIG. 3EA front view of certain embodiments of a double-conical pellet of certain embodiments

[0032] FIG. 3FA front view of certain embodiments of a double-frustum pellet of certain embodiments

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

[0033] Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a teething device 1000. The teething device 1000 comprises a hollow outer envelope 1010 comprising mesh which surrounds an inner aspect 1030. The inner aspect 1030 is filled with pellets comprising a non-toxic material, such as silicone.

[0034] The outer envelope 1010 of certain embodiments comprises a mesh 1020 construction. A mesh 1020, as discussed herein includes knit, crocheted, or other methods of creating an area of fabric from textile yarns or filament appreciated by those skilled in the art. The mesh 1020 of certain embodiments is configured to retain pellets 1040 within the inner aspect of the outer envelope. Thus, the mesh 1020 of certain embodiments is desired to having openings 1050 having a maximum dimension 1060 which is less than a minimum dimension 3010 (FIG. 3A-FIG. 3F) of the pellets, thus preventing the pellets from passing through the openings 1050 of the mesh. The mesh of certain embodiments comprises cotton. Certain embodiments comprise a heavy weight cotton such as a 3-4 weight yarn, DK weight, worsted weight, or heavy worsted. The mesh can be constructed from alternative textiles or materials while in keeping with the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0035] The outer envelope 1010 of certain embodiments comprises a form having a minimum dimension 2000 between 2 inches and 6 inches. A minimum dimension as discussed herein refers to the smallest linear dimension which can be measured across the center-point of a geometric object.

[0036] The outer envelope of certain embodiments may comprise shapes such as spherical (FIG. 1A), ovoid (FIG. 2), or other shapes while in keeping with the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will be further appreciated that certain embodiments of the present invention may embody shapes which are purely for the purpose of aesthetics while in keeping of the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0037] The shape of such pellets 3000 of certain embodiments may comprise a variety of shapes including spherical (FIG. 3A), ovoid (FIG. 3B), pyramidal (FIG. 3C), double-pyramidal (FIG. 3D), double-conical (FIG. 3E), or double-frustum forms (FIG. 3F). It will be appreciated that a pyramid, as discussed in the context of this application, comprises a polyhedron of which one face, often considered a base, is a polygon of any number of sides, and the other faces are triangles with a common vertex. It will be further appreciated that a double-pyramidal comprises a first pyramid and a second pyramid, conjoined by their base. Similarly, a double-conical form comprises a first cone and a second cone conjoined by their bases. The pellets 3000 which fill the hollow outer envelope 1010 may comprise pellets 3000 of a single shape, while other embodiments comprise pellets of multiple shapes while in keeping with the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will be appreciated that pellets having a shape outside of embodiments described herein are in keeping with the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0038] The pellets of certain embodiments comprise a maximum dimension 3020 less than 9 mm, while pellets of certain embodiments comprise a maximum dimension 3020 between 6 mm and 9 mm. It will be appreciated for the purposes of this application that a maximum dimension refers to the largest linear dimension which can be measured between any two points of an object.

[0039] The pellets 3000 of certain embodiments comprise a closed outer form wherein an internal aspect 3040 of the pellets is sealed from air or liquid communication with an external 3030 aspect of the pellet.

[0040] Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise an outer envelope 1010 having fill pellets 3000 occupying less than 100% of the volumetric capacity of the outer envelope. Certain embodiments comprise fill pellets 3000 occupying between 25% and 100% of the volumetric capacity of the inner aspect 1030 outer envelope.

[0041] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Further, the inventions described herein are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of including, comprising, or adding and variations thereof herein are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof, as well as, additional items.