Teether
A teether is provided wherein the teether includes a base, a first member, and a second member. The first member may be integrally formed on a first side of the base. The second member may also be integrally formed on a second side, opposite the first side of the base. The first and second members each include a first area which extends in a substantially perpendicular direction from the base. The first and second members also each include a second area which extends in a substantially perpendicular from the first area.
1. A teether comprising:
a base comprising rounded proximal and distal ends along a longitudinal axis of the base defining a base length between them, first and second sides between the proximal and distal ends and defining a base width between them across a center of the base substantially perpendicular to the base length, and upper and lower surfaces;
a generally L-shaped first teething member integrally formed on the first side of the base, the first teething member comprising a first spacing portion which extends in a first spacing direction from the first side of the base and a first unidirectional extension portion which extends substantially parallel to the first side of the base, the first unidirectional extension portion extending a first extension distance in a first extension direction from the first spacing portion to a first free end, the first free end extending beyond the distal end of the base in a distal direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the base, the first unidirectional extension portion terminating in the first free end, the first spacing portion being substantially perpendicular to the first side of the base, the first unidirectional extension portion being substantially perpendicular to the first spacing portion, the first spacing portion included within the length of the base and spacing the first unidirectional extension portion from the first side of the base a first spacing distance; and,
a generally L-shaped second teething member integrally formed on the second side of the base, the second teething member comprising a second spacing portion which extends in a second spacing direction from the second side of the base and a second unidirectional extension portion which extends substantially parallel to the second side of the base, the second unidirectional extension portion extending a second extension distance in a second extension direction generally opposite the first extension direction from the second spacing portion to a second free end, the second free end extending beyond the proximal end of the base in a proximal direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the base, the second unidirectional extension portion terminating in the second free end, the second spacing portion being substantially perpendicular to the second side of the base, the second unidirectional extension portion being substantially perpendicular to the second spacing portion, the second spacing portion included within the length of the base and spacing the second unidirectional extension portion from the second side of the base a second spacing distance.
2. The teether as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second spacing distances are sufficient to define a cheek space between each of the first and second sides of the base and their respective first and second unidirectional extension portions, the cheek space having a width less than the base width and approximating the width of a child's cheek.
3. The teether as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second unidirectional extension portions each include protuberances extending from their surfaces in a surface pattern, and further wherein the surface pattern on the first unidirectional extension portion is different from the surface pattern on the second unidirectional extension portion.
4. The teether as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second unidirectional extension portions are generally parallel to one another.
5. The teether as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second unidirectional extension portions are generally parallel to their respective first and second sides of the base.
6. The teether as defined in claim 1 wherein the base length is greater than the base width.
7. The teether as defined in claim 6 wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the base are substantially horizontal and define a base height between them.
8. The teether as defined in claim 7 wherein the base includes a sphere-like extension integrally formed on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces.
9. The teether as defined in claim 8 wherein the sphere-like extension further includes a plurality of protuberances which extend from the surface of the sphere-like extension.
10. The teether as defined in claim 1 wherein the base is oval shaped.
11. The teether as defined in claim 10 , wherein the base defines an oval having substantially horizontal upper and lower surfaces between the proximal and distal ends, and wherein the first and second teething members are substantially parallel to and extend within a plane between the substantially horizontal upper and lower surfaces.
12. The teether as defined in claim 1 wherein the base further defines a cavity having a rigid interior surface, the base being operatively configured to house freely moving elements within the cavity.
13. The teether as defined in claim 1 wherein the rounded proximal and distal ends of the base further each include an integrally formed surface teething pattern.
14. The teether as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first and second sides of the base are generally parallel to one another.