Evolving pacifier

Abstract

An evolving pacifier, which includes: a mouthpiece intended to be suckled by a child; a handle; at least one base flange having a base thickness and on one side of which the mouthpiece extends to have a suction length L, and on the other side of which the handle extends; and a system for reducing the length L. The reduction system includes at least one first adjustment flange having a passage for the mouthpiece so as to surround the mouthpiece and an element for coupling the first adjustment flange to the base flange so as to have the first adjustment flange on the side of the mouthpiece relative to the base flange. The first adjustment flange has a first adjustment thickness which is at least equal to the base thickness.

Claims

1. An evolving pacifier, of the type comprising: a mouthpiece to be suckled by a child; a handle; at least one base flange having a base thickness and on one side of which the mouthpiece extends to have a suction length L, and on another side of which the handle extends; and a reduction system for reducing the length L, wherein the reduction system comprises: at least one first adjustment flange having a passage for the mouthpiece so as to surround the mouthpiece and at least one coupler which couples the first adjustment flange to the base flange so as to have the first adjustment flange on the side of the mouthpiece relative to the base flange, the first adjustment flange having a first adjustment thickness which is at least equal to the base thickness, and at least one second adjustment flange having a passage for the mouthpiece so as to surround the mouthpiece and at least one fastener, which fastens the second adjustment flange to the first adjustment flange so as to have the second adjustment flange on the side of the mouthpiece relative to the first adjustment flange, the second adjustment flange having a second adjustment thickness which is at least equal to the base thickness.

2. The evolving pacifier according to claim 1, the at least one coupler is integrated into the first adjustment flange and/or into the base flange.

3. The evolving pacifier according to claim 2, wherein the at least one coupler comprises at least one snap-fitting element integrated into the first adjustment flange.

4. The evolving pacifier according to claim 1, wherein the first adjustment flange has a contour matched to that of the base flange.

5. The evolving pacifier according t claim 1, wherein the first adjustment flange and the second adjustment flange are identical.

6. The evolving pacifier according to claim 1, further comprising a set of five identical adjustment flanges.

7. The evolving pacifier according to claim 1, wherein the first and second adjustment flanges are perforated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other features and advantages will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an embodiment of the present disclosure, given by way of simple illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings from which:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an evolving pacifier according to an exemplary embodiment, side view;

(3) FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an adjustment flange for an evolving pacifier according to an exemplary embodiment;

(4) FIG. 3 schematically illustrates, in a side view, an evolving pacifier on which a first adjustment flange is present;

(5) FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an evolving pacifier according to an exemplary embodiment with different stacks of adjustment flanges.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

(6) As illustrated in FIG. 1, an evolving pacifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure conventionally comprises: a mouthpiece 1 intended to be suckled by a child, such a mouthpiece generally being made of silicone; a handle 2; a base flange 3, on one side of which the mouthpiece 1 extends having a length L from the base flange 3 to the free end of the mouthpiece, the handle 2 extending on the other side of the base flange relative to the mouthpiece 1.

(7) This base flange has a thickness, called base thickness EB, for example in the range of 1 to 2 mm (this thickness may be the average thickness of the periphery if the thickness thereof is not constant).

(8) According to the principle of an exemplary embodiment, the pacifier comprises at least one first adjustment flange 4 illustrated in FIG. 2. As appears in this figure, this adjustment flange has a central passage 40 allowing the mouthpiece 1 to pass through the passage, such that, once the adjustment flange is mounted on the pacifier, the adjustment flange surrounds the mouthpiece 1.

(9) Furthermore, the adjustment flange has a thickness, called adjustment thickness EJ (this thickness may be the average thickness of the periphery if the thickness thereof is not constant) which is greater than or equal to the base thickness EB.

(10) In addition, the pacifier comprises means for coupling the first adjustment flange 4 to the base flange 3 provided to have the first adjustment flange 4 on the side of the mouthpiece 1 relative to the base flange as shown in FIG. 3.

(11) According to this design of the evolving pacifier according to an exemplary embodiment, the first adjustment flange 4 is mounted on the pacifier by passing the mouthpiece across the passage 40, until it presses the first adjustment flange 4 against the base flange 2.

(12) It is understood that, in this manner, the first adjustment flange forms a system for reducing the length L, in that the protruding portion of the mouthpiece 1 from the base flange is reduced in length by the thickness of the first adjustment flange. In other words, the length of the mouthpiece protruding from the adjustment flange is equal to L-EJ.

(13) According to the present embodiment according to the disclosure, the means for coupling the first adjustment flange 4 with the base flange 3 are directly integrated into the first adjustment flange and/or to the base flange, and preferably only to the adjustment flange.

(14) To do this, the first adjustment flange has, on one of the faces thereof, a pair of hooks 41 facing each other and positioned on either side of the adjustment flange. These hooks are elastically deformable and are designed and produced to allow an assembly by snap-fitting the base flange onto the adjustment flange. Thus, the hooks 41 of the first adjustment flange constitute snap-fitting means.

(15) Preferably, the hooks forming the first snap-fitting means are designed to retain the base flange in a non-detachable manner.

(16) In addition, as appears in FIG. 4, the first adjustment flange 4 has a contour matched to that of the base flange 3. More specifically, the adjustment flange 4 has a shape and dimensions which are identical to those of the base flange 3.

(17) As illustrated in FIG. 4, the evolving pacifier according to an exemplary embodiment comprises at least one second adjustment flange 5 having, just like the first adjustment flange 4, a passage for the mouthpiece 1 so as to surround the mouthpiece, fastening means allow the second adjustment flange to be fastened on the first adjustment flange so as to have the second adjustment flange 5 on the side of the mouthpiece 1 relative to the first adjustment flange 4. To do this, the second adjustment flange(s) have a pair of hooks 41 which are identical to those of the first adjustment flange.

(18) For manufacturing simplification purposes, the first adjustment flange and the second adjustment flange are identical.

(19) As illustrated in FIG. 4, and to ensure greater progressiveness in the reduction of the length L of the mouthpiece, the pacifier comprises a set of five identical adjustment flanges intended to be stacked on top of each other and secured to each other.

(20) As appears in FIGS. 3 and 4, the adjustment flange(s) 4, 5 are perforated, having a plurality of orifices 42.

(21) The base flange 3 can also be perforated, with a plurality of orifices 30, not necessarily placed in correspondence with the orifices of the adjustment flanges.

(22) An exemplary aspect of the present disclosure overcomes at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

(23) More specifically, an exemplary embodiment proposes an evolving pacifier which is easy to use, without creating any risk for the child in terms of ingestion of small parts.

(24) An exemplary embodiment proposes such an evolving pacifier which is simple to design and inexpensive to manufacture.

(25) Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more examples, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the disclosure and/or the appended claims.