IP Library Granted Patent US 10,603,249
Granted Patent B2
US 10,603,249 · App. 15/904,303 · Granted Mar 31, 2020

Compressible pacifier

Inventors: Ruth Hsin-Ju Fang (San Diego, CA); Thomas E Birkert (West Hills, CA); Mark Gerard Tebbe (Ventura, CA)
Assignee: Munchkin, Inc.
A61J17/001
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,603,249
App. No.
15/904,303
Granted
Mar 31, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A compressible pacifier is described having a flexible neck portion connecting a nipple to a base portion. The flexible neck portion allows for the nipple to be extended for use as needed, and compressed within the planar surface of the base portion when the pacifier is not in use or is being transported.

Claims (37)

1. A pacifier, comprising:

a nipple portion;

a base portion having a planar surface; and

a compressible neck portion having flexible folds, and connecting the nipple portion to the base portion; and

an outer ring positioned beyond the outer circumference of the base portion and is substantially rigid as compared to the nipple portion, compressible neck portion, and base portion, the outer ring having an interior rigid insert that substantially prevents flexibility of the outer ring,

wherein the compressible neck portion allows for the nipple portion to be positioned outside the planar surface of the base portion in an extended position, and to cross into the planar surface of the base portion in a compressed position.

2. The pacifier of claim 1 , further comprising an aperture in the base portion.

3. The pacifier of claim 1 , further comprising a handle extending from the base portion.

4. The pacifier of claim 3 , wherein the handle is low profile.

5. The pacifier of claim 4 , wherein the handle stays within a width of the nipple when the nipple is compressed.

6. The pacifier of claim 1 , wherein the compressible neck portion controls the movement of the nipple between the extended position and the compressed position.

7. The pacifier of claim 6 , wherein the compressible neck portion inverts between movement of the extended to compressed positions.

8. The pacifier of claim 6 , wherein the neck portion becomes concaved between movement of the extended to compressed positions.

9. The pacifier of claim 1 , wherein the interior rigid insert is metallic.

10. The pacifier of claim 1 , wherein the interior rigid insert is hardened plastic.

11. A pacifier, comprising:

a nipple portion;

a base portion having a planar surface and an outer circumference;

an outer ring having an interior rigid insert that substantially reduces flexibility of the outer ring and positioned beyond the outer circumference of the base portion; and

a compressible neck portion having flexible folds connecting the nipple portion to the base portion,

wherein the neck portion controls the movement of the nipple portion between an extended nipple position and a compressed nipple position, and maintains the nipple portion outside the planar surface of the base portion in the extended nipple position, and allows for the nipple portion to cross into the planar surface of the base portion in a compressed nipple position.

12. The pacifier of claim 11 , further comprising an aperture in the base portion.

13. The pacifier of claim 11 , further comprising a handle extending from the base portion.

14. The pacifier of claim 13 , wherein the handle is low profile.

15. The pacifier of claim 14 , wherein the handle stays within a width of the nipple when compressed.

16. A pacifier, comprising:

a nipple portion;

a base portion having a planar surface and an outer circumference;

an outer ring positioned beyond the outer circumference of the base portion and having an internal insert that increases the rigidity of the outer ring; and

a compressible neck portion having flexible folds connecting the nipple portion to the base portion.

17. The pacifier of claim 16 , further comprising a low profile handle extending from the base portion which stays within a width of the nipple when compressed.

18. The pacifier recited in claim 16 , wherein the neck portion:

controls the movement of the nipple portion between an extended nipple position and a compressed nipple position;

maintains the nipple portion outside the planar surface of the base portion in the extended nipple position; and

inverts to allow for the nipple portion to cross into the planar surface of the base portion in a compressed nipple position.

19. The pacifier recited in claim 16 , wherein the internal insert is plastic.

20. The pacifier of claim 16 , further comprising a handle extending from the base portion.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 4, 2025
From: MUNCHKIN, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 070740/0669 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2018
From: SAUCEDA, SAMUEL ANTONIO; TEBBE, MARK GERARD; HATHERILL, MARK; JOHNSON, KEVIN DOUGLAS
To: MUNCHKIN, INC.
Reel/Frame 045042/0556 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2018
From: FANG, RUTH HSIN-JU; BIRKERT, THOMAS E.; TEBBE, MARK GERARD
To: MUNCHKIN, INC.
Reel/Frame 045042/0633 →