A nipple simulating the shape and function of a woman's breast is provided. The nipple has a stem and a base. The nipple preferably has a securing structure integrally formed to the base. The base has an areola region and a bulbous region. The areola region is positioned between the stem and the bulbous region, and is designed to simulate the shape of the areola region of a woman's breast. The bulbous region is positioned between the areola region and the securing structure, and is designed to simulate the shape of the region of a woman's breast surrounding the areola region.
1. A nipple for feeding of a baby comprising:
a stem having an orifice, a proximal end and a distal end,
said stem being inwardly tapered toward said distal end;
an areola region being connected to said stem, said areola region having a first radius of curvature, said areola region and said proximal end of said stem being connected to form an inwardly concave surface, a transition from said areola region to said proximal end of said stem being smooth; and
a bulbous region being connected to said areola region and surrounding said areola region, said bulbous region having a second radius of curvature, wherein said areola region is substantially concentrically aligned with said bulbous region when viewed in a top view, and wherein said first radius of curvature is different from said second radius of curvature.
2. The nipple of 1 , wherein said first radius of curvature is substantially less than said second radius of curvature.
3. The nipple of 1 , wherein said first radius of curvature is between about 5 mm to about 10 mm, and wherein said second radius of curvature is between about 10 mm to about 19 mm.
4. The nipple of 1 , wherein said areola region is defined by an upper annular end and a lower annular edge, said upper annular end being substantially smooth, said lower annular edge being sharp.
5. The nipple of 4 , wherein said areola region and said bulbous region have only one edge which is said lower annular edge.
6. The nipple of 1 , wherein said proximal end of said stem has opposing sides with inwardly concave shapes when viewed in a front view.
7. The nipple of 1 , further comprising a flange extending outwardly from said bulbous region, said flange having an annular channel formed therein.
8. The nipple of 1 , wherein said stem has a length of about 16 mm to about 26 mm.