Infant suckling device
US11471379B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 25, 2021 |
| Grant date | Oct 18, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 25, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61J17/10
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The human nipple functions for both nutritive and non-nutritive suckling with the only difference that in the first instance nutritive fluid is delivered. The present invention conflates these two suckling devices. A nipple device comprises a first reinforcing member provided at the exterior surface of a nipple portion, and surrounding an interior elastomeric core. A second reinforcing member, such as a mesh reinforcement, can be added to improve bite resistance without compromising stretchiness or compressibility. The nipple device is bite-resistant to guard against biting damage and stretching-to-failure by an infant; and compressible, so forces applied by an infant's tongue will be transmitted (in the case of an artificial feeding teat) through a solid nipple core to compress and shutoff central duct(s) to facilitate swallowing without gagging, or (in the case of a pacifier) to reshape the nipple portion so it conforms to the shape of the infant's oral cavity.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.