Sucking device

• US 7,144,416 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2002
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Novatex GmbH
• Original Assignee: Novatex GmbH
• Inventors: Struckmeier, Armin, Struckmeier, Hans, Brockhaus, Rolf, Hinz, Rolf
• Primary Examiner(s): THALER, MICHAEL H
• Application Number:
  US10/223,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20030181947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 606/234, 606/235, 606/236, 215/11.5, D24/194, D24/196
• US Class Current: 606/236
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 11/0035 having particular shape or structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/001 Baby-comforters
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/107 having specific orthodontic properties

Abstract

Described is a sucking device with a sucking body as well as a shaft, whereby the sucking body is equipped with a recess extending in longitudinal direction of the sucking device. Said sucking device is designed in such manner that the recess, seen in longitudinal section, terminates essentially flat toward the anterior free end of the sucking body. The recess preferably extends essentially over the entire length of the sucking body. In sectional view, the shaft preferably presents an angulated shape. From a jaw-orthopedic aspect, this sucking device proves itself as particularly beneficial, whereby it simultaneously stimulates the baby/small child to uniform sucking and/or serves for position of repose.

Claims

1. A sucking device comprising:

a shaft;

a sucking body integrally formed with said shaft, said sucking body including a posterior region proximal to said shaft and an anterior end distal to said shaft;

said sucking body conically tapers from said posterior region to said anterior end; and

,

said sucking body including a curved lower side forming a longitudinal recess extending over the entire length thereof, the curvature of said lower side decreasing from said posterior region to said anterior end.

2. The sucking device of claims 1, wherein said recess ending substantially flatly at said anterior end thereby allowing the tongue to move freely along said lower side from said anterior end to said posterior region.

3. The sucking device of claims 1, wherein said recess ending with a slight curvature at said anterior end thereby allowing the tongue to move freely along said lower side from said anterior end to said posterior region.

4. The sucking device of claim 1, wherein said sucking body comprises a hardness less than 50 Shore A.

5. The sucking device of claim 1, wherein said shaft comprises a hardness less than 50 Shore A.

6. The sucking device of claim 1, wherein said shaft is angulated including a first substantially horizontal portion, a second more vertically oriented portion, and a third substantially horizontal portion.

7. The sucking device of claim 6, wherein said shaft is rectangular in cross section.

8. The sucking device of claim 1, wherein said shaft including a length and said sucking body including a length;

and,

said shaft length less than said sucking body length.

9. The sucking device of claim 1, wherein said shaft including a width and said posterior region including a width;

and,

said shaft width less than said posterior region width.

10. The sucking device of claim 1, wherein said shaft is rectangular in cross section.

11. The sucking device of claim 1, wherein said sucking body includes a height and a length wherein a ratio of said height to said length is less than 0.7.

12. The sucking device of claim 1, wherein said recess is in the shape of a shovel having a substantially flat anterior end.

13. The sucking device of claim 1, wherein said shaft including a cross section and said posterior region including a cross section;

and,

said shaft cross section less than said posterior region cross section.

14. The sucking device of claim 1, wherein said shaft further includes a width and a thickness, said width is greater than said thickness.

15. A sucking device comprising:

an angulated shaft in the form a bend having a rectangular cross section including a first substantially horizontal portion, a second more vertically oriented portion, and a third substantially horizontal portion;

a sucking body integrally formed with said shaft, said sucking body including a posterior region and an anterior end;

said shaft including a length and said sucking body including a length, said shaft length less than said sucking body length; and

,

said sucking body conically tapers from said posterior region to said anterior end.

16. The sucking device of claim 15, wherein said sucking body includes a longitudinal recess extending along substantially the entire length thereof.

17. The sucking device of claim 15, wherein said shaft including a width and a thickness, said width is greater than said thickness and said shaft extends horizontally between the lips and the upper and lower jaws when the sucking device is correctly oriented in an oral cavity.

18. The sucking device of claim 15, wherein said sucking body comprises a hardness less than 50 Shore A.

19. The sucking device of claim 15, wherein said shaft comprises a hardness less than 50 Shore A.

20. The sucking device of claim 15, wherein said sucking body is generally located above said first horizontal portion of said shaft.

21. A sucking device comprising:

an angulated shaft in the form a bend having a rectangular cross section including a first substantially horizontal portion, a second more vertically oriented portion, and a third substantially horizontal portion;

a sucking body integrally formed with said shaft, said sucking body including a posterior region and an anterior end; and

,

said sucking body including a curved lower side forming a longitudinal recess extending from said posterior region to said anterior end.

22. The sucking device of claim 21, wherein said recess includes a convex curvature continuously decreasing in indentation from said posterior region to said anterior end.

23. The sucking device of claim 21, wherein said recess is in the shape of a shovel having a substantially flat anterior end.

24. A sucking device comprising:

a sucking body;

a shaft connected to said sucking body, said shaft comprises an angulated shape in the form of a bend having a lower portion and an upper portion wherein said sucking body is generally located above said lower portion of said shaft;

said shaft including a width and a thickness, wherein said width is greater than said thickness, and said shaft extends horizontally between the lips and the upper and lower jaws when the sucking device is correctly oriented in an oral cavity; and

,

said shaft including a length and said sucking body including a length, said shalt length less than said sucking body length.

25. The sucking device as set forth in claim 24, wherein said sucking body includes a curved lower side forming a recess extending the entire length of said sucking body and oriented toward the tongue in an oral cavity.

26. The sucking device as set forth in claim 25, wherein said sucking body includes a posterior region and an anterior end, said sucking body conically tapers from said posterior region to said anterior end.

27. The sucking device as set forth in claim 26, wherein the curvature of said lower side decreases from said posterior region to said anterior end.

28. The sucking device as set forth in claim 27, wherein said recess ends essentially flat towards said anterior end of said sucking body.

29. The sucking device as set forth in claim 24, wherein said shaft further including a first substantially horizontal portion, a second more vertically oriented portion, and a third substantially horizontal portion.