Infant blanket with teether/pacifier

• US 6,292,962 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1999
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Munchkin Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Munchkin Incorporated
• Inventors: Dunn, Steven, Fine, Jennifer
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONLEY, FREDRICK C
• Application Number:
  US09/471,728
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 548/2, 565/5, 606/234, 606/235, 606/236, 2 4/91, 215/11.1, 215/11.3, 215/11.4, 215/11.5, 215/11.6, 446/26, 446/27, 446/28
• US Class Current: 5/482
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/001 Baby-comforters
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/02 Teething rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/1111 conjoined with soft cushions or toys

Abstract

An infant blanket/towel is provided having one or more teething elements and/or pacifiers attached thereto. The invention is conveniently used by draping the blanket/towel across the infant'"'"'s chest and stomach and initially providing one of the teething or pacifier elements into the infant'"'"'s grasp. When and if the infant drops the teething or pacifier element, the element does not fall to the floor or otherwise out of the infant'"'"'s reach. Because the blanket/towel generally remains draped across the infant, the pacifier or teething element merely slips down onto the infant'"'"'s chest. By the infant'"'"'s natural tendency to grip the blanket/towel and thrust the blanket/towel into its mouth, the infant frequently can relocate the pacifier or teething element and re-position it into its mouth.

Claims

1. An infant product, comprising:

a substantially two-dimensional flexible fabric material having a surface area that is greater than about 25 square inches, said flexible fabric material having a front side, a back side and a plurality of side edges that intersect so as to define at least two corners;

a first teething element that is permanently secured to a first of said at least corners, said first teething element being fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and rubber, said first teething element having at least one non-smooth textured surface thereon and being fabricated from a non-toxic material and being sized and dimensioned to be comfortably inserted and partially retained within an infant'"'"'s mouth for teething purposes; and

a second teething element that is permanently secured to a second of said at least corners and that is separate from said first teething element, said second teething element also being fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and rubber, said second teething element also having at least one non-smooth textured surface thereon and also being fabricated from a non-toxic material and being sized and dimensioned to be comfortably inserted and partially retained within an infant'"'"'s mouth for teething purposes.

2. An infant product according to claim 1, wherein said non-smooth textured surface of said first teething element has a different texture than said non-smooth textured surface of said second teething element.

3. An infant product according to claim 1, wherein said first teething element is fabricated from a material having a first hardness, and said second teething element is fabricated from a material having a second hardness that is different from said first hardness.

4. An infant product according to claim 1, wherein said first and second teething elements are not pacifiers.

5. A method of teething, comprising steps of:

(a) grabbing a teething article that includes a flexible fabric material having a at least two corners, with at least first and second separate teether elements that are respectively secured to first and second of the corners, said first and second teething elements being fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and rubber;

(b) alleviating the discomfort that comes with teething by biting on the first teething element; and

(c) further alleviating the discomfort that comes with teething by biting on the second teething element.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said step of biting on the first teething element is performed with a first teething element that has a textured surface having a first pattern thereon, and wherein said step of biting on the second teething element is performed with a second teething element that has a second pattern thereon that is different from the first pattern.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein said step of biting on the first teething element is performed with a first teething element that has a first hardness, and wherein said step of biting on the second teething element is performed with a second teething element that has a second hardness that is different from the first hardness.

8. A method of helping an infant to teethe, comprising steps of:

(a) providing to an infant a teething article that includes a flexible fabric material having at least two corners, with at least first and second separate teether elements secured to the respective corners, said first and second teething elements being fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and rubber;

(b) permitting the infant to alleviate the discomfort that comes with teething by biting on the first teething element; and

(c) permitting the infant to further alleviate the discomfort that comes with teething by biting on the second teething element.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said step of biting on the first teething element is performed with a first teething element that has a textured surface having a first pattern thereon, and wherein said step of biting on the second teething element is performed with a second teething element that has a second pattern thereon that is different from the first pattern.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein said step of biting on the first teething element is performed with a first teething element that has a first hardness, and wherein said step of biting on the second teething element is performed with a second teething element that has a second hardness that is different from the first hardness.