Abstract
A device for storage and supply of at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element for an infant and/or a toddler includes a storage unit for storing the oral requirement-fulfilling element, a filling unit for filling the storage unit with the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element, and an output unit for retrieving the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element from the storage unit. A conveying apparatus conveys the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element from the filling unit to the output unit.
Claims
1. A device for storage and supply of at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element for an infant and/or a toddler, comprising: a storage unit for storing the oral requirement-fulfilling element, a filling unit for filling the storage unit with the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element, an output unit for retrieving the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element from the storage unit, and a conveying apparatus for conveying the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element from the filling unit to the output unit, wherein the conveying apparatus comprises a conveyor that includes joints that are attached to support surfaces for the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element, and the joints tilt the supporting surfaces of the conveyor into a position alongside the conveyor in response to a movement of the support surfaces in a movement direction from the output unit to the filling unit.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying apparatus comprises at least two tension pulley elements which are arranged on an inner wall of the storage unit and about which the conveyor is movable in circulating fashion.
3. The device at least according to claim 2, wherein the conveyor is a tooth belt element with an interior tooth system, and that the at least two tension pulley elements have a corresponding exterior tooth system.
4. The device at least according to claim 2, wherein the conveying apparatus comprises at least one further conveyor and at least one synchronizing element that is arranged between the conveyor and the further conveyor and that is operatively connected to the conveyor and the further conveyor.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor is a tooth belt with an exterior tooth system.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying apparatus comprises a manual or an automatic drive unit.
7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the automatic drive unit of the conveying apparatus comprises a sensor for control and/or regulation and/or a radio for control and/or regulation.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying apparatus comprises at least one movement controlling and/or regulating element having an operative connection to the conveyor.
9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a support unit with at least one guiding element for guiding the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element within the storage unit.
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the support unit extends at least substantially from the filling unit to the output unit of the storage unit.
11. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one contour-adapting unit which is provided to adapt an outer contour of an oral requirement-fulfilling element to an inner contour of the storage unit.
12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the filling unit comprises a releasable closure element for closing a filling opening of the storage unit.
13. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an adapter unit to connect the storage unit to a further storage unit.
14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit comprises at least one fastener, by which the storage unit is releasably fixable to an element of a child's bed or of a vehicle or to a wall.
15. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one detent element having an operative connection to the conveyor.
16. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one lighting unit which is provided to light up when a parameter and/or a physical property is captured by a sensor for control and/or regulation.
17. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one dosage device which is provided to output the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element from the device piece-wise.
18. The device at least according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor comprises hooks for holding the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element.
19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the conveyor comprises joints on which the hooks are supported.
20. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a cover unit which at least partly encompasses the storage unit on an outside.
21. The device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit has a viewing window.
22. A system with a device according to claim 1, and with at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element.
23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the device comprises a filling unit with an inlet contour corresponding to an outer contour of the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element.
Description
DRAWINGS
(1) Further advantages may be gathered from the following description of the drawings. In the drawings ten exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The drawings, the description and the claims contain a plurality of features in combination. The person having ordinary skill in the art will purposefully also consider the features separately and will find further expedient combinations.
(2) It is shown in:
(3) FIG. 1 in a sectional view, a first exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention with a storage unit, a filling unit, an output unit and a conveying apparatus,
(4) FIG. 2a in a perspective view a second exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention with a filling unit which is embodied as a releasable lid element and with a door element,
(5) FIG. 2b in a view from above, an oral requirement-fulfilling element embodied as a pacifier element, with a circular shaft, which is arranged in the device according to the invention of FIG. 2a,
(6) FIG. 3a in a perspective view, a third exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, with a guiding element which is arranged in the storage unit,
(7) FIG. 3b in a view from above, an oral requirement-fulfilling element embodied as a pacifier element, with an indentation in the shaft of the pacifier element, the pacifier element being arranged in the device according to the invention of FIG. 3a,
(8) FIG. 4a in a perspective view, a fourth exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention with two guiding elements which are arranged in the storage unit,
(9) FIG. 4b in a view from above, an oral requirement-fulfilling element embodied as a pacifier element, with four indentations in the shaft of the pacifier element and with a contour-adapting unit, the pacifier element being arranged in the device according to the invention of FIG. 4a,
(10) FIG. 5 in a lateral view, a fifth exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, with a dosage device comprising a closure flap element and a reset element,
(11) FIG. 6 in a view from above, the device according to the invention of FIG. 5, with a reset element integrated in a joint element of the dosage device,
(12) FIG. 7 in a sectional view, a sixth exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, with a dosage device comprising a rotor element,
(13) FIG. 8 a schematic presentation of a seventh exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, with a conveying apparatus comprising two conveying elements and two cogwheels which are arranged between the two conveying elements and are operatively connected to the two conveying elements, the conveying elements being embodied as tooth belt elements with an interior tooth system, and tension pulley elements having a corresponding exterior tooth system,
(14) FIG. 9 a schematic presentation of an eighth exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, with conveying elements having joints and support surfaces for the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element which are supported on the joints,
(15) FIG. 10 a schematic presentation of a ninth exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, with conveying elements having hooks for holding the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element and joints which the hooks are supported on,
(16) FIG. 11 a schematic presentation of a tenth exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, with a cover unit embodied as a caterpillar and with a viewing window onto a storage unit, and
(17) FIG. 12 a schematic presentation of a system consisting of the device according to the invention and an oral requirement-fulfilling element.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
(18) FIGS. 1 to 12 show ten exemplary embodiments of a device according to the invention.
(19) FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the device for storage and supply of at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 for an infant and/or a toddler. A pacifier element comprising a suckling body 10.1, a shaft 10.2 carrying the suckling body 10.1 and a holding ring 10.3 arranged on the shaft 10.2 is applicable as an oral requirement-fulfilling element 10. The device comprises a storage unit 12 for storing oral requirement-fulfilling elements 10, a filling unit 14 for filling the storage unit 12 with oral requirement-fulfilling elements 10, and an output unit 16 for retrieving the oral requirement-fulfilling elements 10 from the storage unit 12. The storage unit 12 comprises a tube-shaped cylindrical base body manufactured in a one-part implementation in an injection-molding procedure of a plastic material. The filling unit 14 is integrated in an upper end region 28 of the storage unit 12. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the filling unit 14 is embodied as a filling opening 14.1 and is embodied corresponding to the inner contour of the cylindrical base body of the storage unit 12. The output unit 16 is arranged in a bottom end region 30 of the storage unit 12 which is situated opposite the filling unit 14. For the purpose of an infant's or a toddler's better gripping of the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10, the output unit 16 additionally has two recesses 32 opposite each other in the wall 12.3 of the storage unit 12, resulting in an operator-friendly implementation of a gripping region in the output unit 16.
(20) To ensure secure support and easy retrieval of the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 from the device, the device comprises a conveying apparatus 18 for conveying the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 from the filling unit 14 to the output unit 16.
(21) The conveying apparatus comprises, according to FIG. 1, two conveying elements 18.1, 18.2 and four tension pulley elements 20,1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4. The tension pulley elements 20,1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4 are arranged on an inner wall 12.1 in the bottom end region 30 and the upper end region 28 of the storage unit 12, about which the two conveying elements 18.1, 18.2 are supported movably in circulating fashion. The conveying elements 18.1, 18.2 are mounted on the tension pulley elements 20,1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4 as closed rings, in a pre-stressed fashion.
(22) The conveying element 18.1, 18.2 is embodied as a tooth belt element with an exterior tooth system 22. The tooth belt element has a spacing of the tooth system 22 and comprises a contact surface between the teeth, the spacing being adapted to the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 and/or to the material thickness of the shaft 10.2 of the pacifier element. The shaft 10.2 of the pacifier element and/or of the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 is received between the teeth of the tooth belt element and between the two opposite contact surfaces of the conveying elements 18.1, 18.2 in a plane. The space between the conveying elements 18.1, 18.2 is fully loadable with oral requirement-fulfilling elements 10 arranged one above the other. When the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 located in the output unit 16 is retrieved, there is a movement of the conveying element 18.1, 18.2 in a transport direction toward the output unit 16. In this movement, all oral requirement-fulfilling elements 10 located in the device are also moved toward the output unit 16. The conveying apparatus 18 is adjusted in such a way that, on retrieval of the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 from the output unit 16, an oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 follows into the output unit 16, ready for retrieval. The device is replenishable with oral requirement-fulfilling elements 10 in any conceivable filling state.
(23) The device comprises, according to FIG. 1, a detent element 54, which is operatively connected to the conveying element 18.1, 18.2. The detent element 54 is arranged on the outer wall 12.2 of the storage unit 12 and comprises an adjustable detent pin element 54.1, which is insertable between the teeth of the conveying element 18.1, 18.2 on activation.
(24) FIG. 2a shows a second exemplary embodiment of the device, which is additionally implementable with a conveying apparatus 18 comprising a manual or an automatic drive unit 58. The manual drive unit 58 can be operated via a drive wheel element and the automatic drive unit 58 can be operated via a battery-supplied electrical motor unit. Both drive units 58 respectively directly drive a tension pulley element 20,1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4 of the conveying element 18.1, 18.2 via an output shaft, and are arranged on an outer wall 12.2 of the storage unit 12.
(25) In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the automatic drive unit 58 of the conveying apparatus 18 comprises a sensor controlling and/or regulation and/or a radio controlling and/or regulation. Via the drive unit 58 of the device, an output of an oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 is initiatable at the output unit 16 by an infant or by a toddler in a sensor-controlled and/or -regulated fashion and/or by a parent in a radio-controlled and/or -regulated fashion. The sensor controlling and/or regulation and/or the radio controlling and/or regulation is integrated in the drive unit 58 and may be operated directly at the device or indirectly via a separate radio controlling and/or regulation.
(26) As can be seen in FIG. 2a, for closing the filling opening 14.1 of the storage unit 12, the filling unit 14 comprises a releasable closure element 26. The closure element 26 is embodied as a screw top having a thread and may hence be opened by an infant and/or by a toddler with difficulty or not at all. The storage unit 12 comprises a recess 34 in its wall 12.3, which can be closed by means of a door element 36 and allows an access to the interior space of the device in case of malfunctioning. The device according to FIG. 2a serves for receiving and guiding the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 embodied according to FIG. 2b, hence not comprising a support unit. The circular inner contour of the storage unit 12 corresponds to the circular outer contour of the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10, thus allowing a form-fit guidance of the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10.
(27) According to FIG. 2a, the device further comprises a lighting unit 56, which is configured to light up in case of a capturing of a parameter and/or of a physical property by means of the sensor controlling and/or regulation. The lighting unit 56 is arranged on the outer wall 12.2 of the storage unit 12.
(28) If a particularly high number of oral requirement-fulfilling elements 10 is to be supplied, according to FIG. 2a a storage unit 12 is connectable to a further storage unit 12 by means of an adapter unit 50. The adapter unit 50 may be embodied in two different implementation versions: on the one hand as an adapter unit 50 which is arranged, according to FIG. 2a, at the storage unit 12 or at the filling unit 14 on a front side, thus prolonging a device by one or several devices, on the other hand as an adapter unit 50 (not shown here) which connects two or several storage units 12 to each other which are arranged in parallel to each other. The adapter unit 50 is especially advantageous in case of transporting several devices or in a usage in a daycare center and/or in a nursery school, where a huge demand for oral requirement-fulfilling elements 10 is given.
(29) FIG. 2b shows an oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 implemented as a pacifier element, with a circular shaft 10.2 for the device according to the invention of FIG. 2a. The storage unit 12 expediently comprises a fastening element 52 by means of which the storage unit 12 is releasably fixable to an element of a child's bed or of a vehicle, or to a wall or to brickwork, or to a glass pane.
(30) To ensure a secure conveyance of the oral requirement-fulfilling elements 10 and/or to exclude a malfunction of the device, the device comprises a support unit 24. FIG. 3a shows a third exemplary embodiment of the device, comprising a support unit 24 with a guiding element 24.1 for guiding the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 which is embodied according to FIG. 3b and comprises a concave indentation 10.4 in the shaft 10.2 of the pacifier element. The guiding element 24.1 is herein embodied as a guiding rod, in particular as a hollow guiding rod. Thus, when the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 is introduced into the storage unit 12, the guiding element 24.1 is introducible into the storage unit 12 into the indentation 10.4. This allows guiding the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 in a state when the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 is arranged in the storage unit 12.
(31) FIG. 4a shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of the device, comprising within the storage unit 12 two guiding elements 24.1, 24.2 of the support unit 24 for guiding the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 which is embodied according to FIG. 4b and comprises two concave indentations 10.4a, 10.4b in the shaft 10.2 of the pacifier element. The outer contour of the guiding element 24.1, 24.2 corresponds to the outer contour of the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10, thus allowing a form-fit guidance of the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10. The guiding element 24.1, 24.2 is implemented of a plastic material as an oval hollow element, which engages, by means of two spaced-apart hook elements, into corresponding recesses (not shown here) of the storage unit 12 which are arranged in an upper end region 28 and in a bottom end region 30 of the storage unit 12. The support unit 24 extends from the filling unit 14 to the output unit 16 of the storage unit 12.
(32) FIG. 4b shows an oral requirement-fulfilling element 10, which is implemented as a pacifier element and on which a contour-adapting unit 60 of the device is arranged. The contour-adapting unit 60 is embodied for adapting an outer contour of the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 to an inner contour of the storage unit 12. The contour-adapting unit 60 comprises four clip elements 60.1, 60.2, 60.3, 60.4, the outer contour of the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 being adaptable to the inner contour of the storage unit 12 via the clip elements 60.1, 60.2 in the region of the support unit 24, and a further adaptation of the outer contour of the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 to the inner contour of the storage unit 12 being realizable via further contour-adapting clip elements 60.3, 60.4. The clip elements 60.1, 60.2, 60.3, 60.4 of the contour-adapting unit 60 can be slipped onto the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 and/or onto the pacifier element directly.
(33) FIGS. 5 and 6 show a fifth exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 7 shows a sixth exemplary embodiment of the device, respectively additionally comprising a dosage device 46. The dosage device 46 is implemented for outputting the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 from the device piece-wise. To this purpose the conveying apparatus 18 can be combined with and/or connected to the dosage device 46. The oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 conveyed in the conveying apparatus 18 is transferable, in the output unit 16, from the conveying apparatus 18 into the dosage device 46. The dosage device 46 can be embodied connectable to the output unit 16 of the device or in a one-part implementation with the storage unit 12.
(34) According to FIG. 5, the dosage device 46 comprises a closure flap element 42, which is connected to the storage unit 12 via a joint element 40, and a reset element 38 which is embodied as a tension spring element und holds the closure flap element 42 in an original position and/or at a right angle to the wall 12.3 of the storage unit 12. The reset element 38 is arranged, according to FIG. 5, on the outer wall 12.2 of the storage unit 12 and is, according to FIG. 6, integrated in the joint element 40 of the dosage device 46. The closure flap element 42 is supported pivotally about the joint element 40, which is connected to the storage unit 12. In its original position, the closure flap element 42 partly closes a recess 16.1 of the output unit 16 and keeps the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 that is located in the output unit 16 ready for retrieval. On retrieval of the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 from the dosage device 46, the closure flap element 42 pivots out of its original position counter to a spring force of the reset element 38, releasing the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10.
(35) According to FIG. 7, the dosage device 46 comprises a rotor element 44. The rotor element 44 is supported rotatably by means of an axle in a rotor housing element 12.4 of the storage unit 12. The axle-supported rotor element 44 keeps the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 located in the recess 16.1 of the output unit 16 ready for retrieval. On retrieval of the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 out of the dosage device 46, the rotor element 44 rotates by a given angle, releasing the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10.
(36) In a further, not shown embodiment the conveying apparatus 18 of the device may be replaced by a dosage device 46. In this way piece-wise output of the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 is ensured.
(37) As can be seen in FIG. 7, the conveying apparatus 18 comprises a movement controlling and/or regulating element 48, which is operatively connected to the at least one conveying element 18.1, 18.2. The movement controlling and/or regulating element 48 partly protrudes into the storage unit 12 and is partly arranged on an outer wall 12.2 of the storage unit 12. The movement controlling and/or regulating element 48 comprises an adjustable resilient pulley element 48.1, which is arranged in the storage unit 12 in an operative region of the conveying element 18.1, 18.2 of the conveying apparatus 18. The pulley element 48.1 of the movement controlling and/or regulating element 48 can be controlled and/or regulated from the outside via an adjusting element 48.2 of the movement controlling and/or regulating element 48. The movement controlling and/or regulating element 48 is implemented for controlling and/or regulating the movement velocity of the conveying element 18.1, 18.2 by way of a defined pressure onto the conveying element 18.1, 18.2 via the pulley element 48.1 being adjustable by means of the adjusting element 48.2. Adjustment of the pressure onto the conveying element 18.1, 18.2 is effected depending on a weight of the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10.
(38) FIG. 8 shows a conveying apparatus 18 for conveying the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 from a filling unit 14 to an output unit 16 according to another alternative embodiment. The conveying apparatus 18 comprises two conveying elements 18.1, 18.2 embodied as tooth belt elements with an interior tooth system 61, and four drive elements of the conveying element 18.1, 18.2 embodied as tension pulley elements 20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4, each of which comprising a corresponding exterior tooth system 62. The interior tooth system 61 of the conveying elements 18.1, 18.2 herein engages into the exterior tooth system 62 of the tension pulley elements 20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4. In case of a movement of the conveying elements 18.1, 18.2, the conveying element 18.1 maintains, due to the interior tooth system 61 and the exterior tooth system 62 engaging into each other, its relative position to the tension pulley elements 20.1, 20.2 by which it is driven, and the conveying element 18.2 maintains its relative position to the tension pulley elements 20.3, 20.4 by which it is driven.
(39) On the conveying elements 18.1, 18.2 support surfaces 65 for the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 are arranged, which stick out from a surface of the conveying elements 18.1, 18.2 at a right angle. A distance between neighboring support surfaces 65 of the same conveying element 18.1, 18.2 is chosen in such a way that an oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 can be received between two support surfaces 65. During transport of the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 in the conveying apparatus 18, one oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 lies upon the support surfaces 65 with a shaft 10.2.
(40) The conveying apparatus 18 comprises two synchronizing elements 63, which are embodied as cogwheels and are arranged between the two conveying elements 18.1, 18.2 and are in operative connection to the two conveying elements 18.1, 18.2. The synchronizing elements 63 cog with each other and respectively with one of the drive elements embodied as tension pulley elements 20.1, 20.3 which drive the different conveying elements 18.1, 18.2. Differing drive velocities of the tension pulley elements 20.1, 20.3 are compensated by way of the synchronizing elements 63, as a result of which the conveying elements 18.1, 18.2 move with a same velocity.
(41) FIG. 9 shows a further alternative embodiment of a conveying apparatus 18 for conveying at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 from a filling unit 14 to an output unit 16, wherein the conveying apparatus 18 comprises a conveying element 18.1 having joints 64 and support surfaces 65 for the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 which are supported on the joints 64. In a movement in a movement direction from the filling unit 14 to the output unit 16, the support surfaces 65 stick out from the conveying element 18.1 at a right angle, forming a contact surface for a shaft 10.2 of the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 during transport. In a movement direction from the output unit 16 to the filling unit 14, the joints 64 permit the support surfaces 65 a movement by which the support surfaces 65 fold to the conveying element 18.1 embodied as a tooth belt element. The support surfaces 65 position themselves alongside the conveying element 18.1 in case of a movement in this movement direction.
(42) FIG. 10 shows another alternative embodiment of a conveying apparatus 18 for conveying at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 from a filling unit 14 to an output unit 16, wherein the conveying apparatus 18 comprises a conveying element 18.1 having hooks 66 for holding the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element 10. The hooks 66 are provided to engage into a holding ring 10.3 of the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10. When the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 is introduced into a storage unit 12, the holding ring 10.3 drops sidewards and engages into one of the hooks 66. The conveying element 18.1 comprises joints 64 on which the hooks 66 are supported. In case of a movement direction from the output unit 16 to the filling unit 14, the joints 64 permit the hooks 66 a movement up to the conveying element 18.1 that is embodied as a tooth belt element. In case of a movement in this movement direction, the hooks 66 position themselves alongside the conveying element 18.1.
(43) FIG. 11 shows another alternative embodiment of a device for storage and supply of at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 for an infant and/or a toddler. A cover unit 67 encompasses a storage unit 12 on an outside at a top side. The cover unit 67 implements an outer design of the device and is configured as a caterpillar. Differently configured cover units 67 may be configured, for example, as other animal figures, e.g. a mouse or a butterfly, or as other figures, e.g. a cartoon character. For example, cover units 67 designed as geometrical shapes are also conceivable. The storage unit 12 comprises a viewing window 68 which permits a view of the oral requirement-fulfilling elements 10 located in the storage unit 12. The cover unit 67 has a recess for the viewing window 68.
(44) The device comprises a movement controlling and/or regulating element 48 for actuating the conveying apparatus 18, which protrudes from the cover unit 67. The movement controlling and/or regulating element 48 is embodied as a rotary button and comprises a transverse bar. A position of the transverse bar supplies an optical signal regarding a rotation of the movement controlling and/or regulating element 48. Alternatively or additionally to an optical signal of the movement controlling and/or regulating element 48, the device may comprise optical signals at the conveying elements 18.1, 18.2, which are visible through the viewing window 68 and, when visible, signalize that another oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 can be introduced into the device. Such an optical signal could, for example, be implemented by red points or other distinguishing designs arranged spaced apart on the conveying elements 18.1, 18.2, between two received oral requirement-fulfilling elements 10. In addition, a user of the device may in one implementation experience a haptic signal which signalizes him that another oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 can be introduced into the storage unit 12 of the device. In one exemplary embodiment such a haptic signal may be implemented as a resistance, when the movement controlling and/or regulating element 48 is rotated, in a certain rotation position in which the conveying apparatus 18 has transported an inlaid oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 sufficiently far that another oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 can be inserted. The certain rotation position in which the resistance occurs has been chosen depending on dimensions of the conveying apparatus 18 and of the oral requirement-fulfilling elements 10 intended to be transported through the conveying apparatus 18.
(45) In another exemplary alternative implementation, the device comprises a movement controlling and/or regulating element 48 with a mechanism which, when the movement controlling and/or regulating element 48 is actuated, puts the conveying apparatus 18 in action until an introduced oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 has been transported sufficiently far that another oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 can be introduced and the conveying apparatus 18 is stopped. In addition, in this implementation an optical and/or haptic signal may be outputted that another oral requirement-fulfilling element 10 can be introduced. For example, the movement controlling and/or regulating element 48 may have been put in motion while the conveying apparatus 18 is conveying the oral requirement-fulfilling element 10, which means that stopping the movement implements the signal.
(46) FIG. 12 shows a system consisting of a device and an oral requirement-fulfilling element 10. A filling unit 14 of the device has an inlet contour 69 corresponding to an outer contour of the at least one oral requirement-fulfilling element 10. Introduction of foreign elements into the device is made difficult by the inlet contour 69.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
(47) 10 Oral requirement-fulfilling element 10.1 Suckling body (pacifier element) 10.2 Shaft (pacifier element) 10.3 Holding ring (pacifier element) 10.4a, 10.4b Indentation (pacifier element) 12 Storage unit 12.1 Inner wall (storage unit) 12.2 Outer wall (storage unit) 12.3 Wall (storage unit) 12.4 Rotor housing element 14 Filling unit 14.1 Filling opening 16 Output unit 16.1 Recess (output unit) 18 Conveying apparatus 18.1, 18.2 Conveying element 20.1, 20.2, Tension pulley element 20.3, 20.4 22 Tooth system 24 Support unit 24.1, 24.2 Guiding element (support unit) 26 Closure element (filling unit) 28 Upper end region (storage unit) 30 Bottom end region (storage unit) 32 Recess (storage unit) 34 Recess (storage unit) 36 Door element 38 Reset element (pull-spring element) 40 Joint element 42 Closure flap element (output unit) 44 Rotor element 46 Dosage device 48 Movement controlling and/or regulating element 48.1 Pulley element 48.2 Adjusting element 50 Adapter unit 52 Fastening element 54 Detent element 54.1 Detent pin element 56 Lighting unit 58 Drive unit 60 Contour-adapting unit 60.1, 60.2, Clip element (contour-adapting unit) 60.3, 60.4 61 Interior tooth system 62 Exterior tooth system 63 Synchronization element 64 Joint 65 Support surface 66 Hook 67 Cover unit 68 Viewing window 69 Inlet contour
