GB2231497A

GB2231497A - Medicine dispensing dummy for infants

Info

Publication number: GB2231497A
Application number: GB9011566A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ajit Singh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-05-11
Filing date: 1990-05-11
Publication date: 1990-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 2010-05-11
Also published as: GB9011566D0; GB2231497B

Abstract

A dummy adapted for the dispensing of medicine to an infant by inhalation has a teat 1A which is connected to a sealing means 7A. The sealing means 7A includes a compartment 8A for receiving vapourising medicine and means (e.g. perforations 12A) for allowing the medicine to escape. <IMAGE>

Description

Medicine Dispensing Devices for Infants This invention relates to dispensing devices and in particular to dispensing devices used to administer medicines to infants.

It is not uncommon for infants to require medicinal treatment and the nature of this treatment and the time of its administration can vary enormously. Infants which are teething may require extra attention at any time during the night or day. Hitherto, this has involved a diligent parent listening for, or observing, signs of distress and then acting accordingly. The relevant action may involve the administration of medicine, soothing balm or inhalents.

However, when an infant is in pain or distress during the night it may not be possible for a parent to promptly respond to the infant's needs. Typically, if an infant is distressed during the night, when the parent is not close by, its screams of distress would alert the parent to take some course of action. Similarly, this method of signalling is also effective during the day if an infant is left unattended.

It is common to comfort a distressed infant by giving it a dummy teat, commonly referred to as a "dummy", to suck, and it is an object of the invention to adapt a dummy for the administration of vapourising medicine.

According to the invention there is provided a dummy adapted for the dispensing of medicine or - other substances by inhalation.

Preferably the apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises a dummy having a teat which is adapted at one end to be sucked by an infant and is connected at its other end to a sealing means, said sealing means including a compartment for receiving vapourising medicine, and a means for allowing said vapourising medicine to escape.

Preferably said sealing means comprises a plate which may be circular.

Preferably said compartment comprises a rim extending vertically outwards from the uppermost surface of said plate.

The compartment may be sealed by a removable cap and preferably said cap includes a rim which engages the rim of said compartment.

The compartment and the cap may be sealed by means of a screw thread on the outermost rim surface of either the compartment or the cap and a screw thread on the innermost rim surface of the complementary cap or compartment.

The means for allowing the escape of the vapourised medicine may comprise perforations located in the rim of the compartment or in the rim of the cap.

Preferably said perforations can be selectively closed and this may be achieved by adjusting the degree of engagement of said screw threads.

Thus it will be seen in the embodiment described hereinafter that an apparatus constructed according to the above invention provides a means of delivering medicines in accordance with an infant's requirements irrespective of whether a parent is present. This is because when the apparatus as described above is filled with a precise quantity of vapourising medicine, it may be placed in an infants mouth, such that when a teething infant sucks upon the teat, by adjusting the degree of engagement of the screw threaded compartment the cap or rim perforations are exposed such that vapourising medicine is inhaled by the infant.

It is envisaged that the invention will commonly be used when an infant is sleeping. Thus a parent would be able to place the invention into a sleeping infants mouth and, a quantity of vapourising medicine could be placed in the compartment for receiving same such that inhalent may be administered.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figure which represents a side elevation of an embodiment in accordance with the invention.

A dispensing dummy is represented by reference numeral 30A and it includes a teat 1A. The opposite end of the teat, generally shown by reference numeral 5A, is connected to a plate 7A which may be of any desired shape. Thus the upper part of teat 1A is sealed by means of plate 7A. The exact manner in which the teat is sealed may be varied according to requirements. A holding device 18A is connected to the uppermost surface of plate 7A. On the uppermost surface of plate 7A there is also provided a compartment comprising a vertically extending rim 8A. Rim 8A has a screw thread on its innermost surface (not shown). The compartment formed by rim 8A is sealed by means of a cap generally referenced by numeral 10A.Cap 10A engages with compartment 8A at its lowermost end 9A and this engagement is effected by means of a screw thread on the outermost surface of the lower part 9A of cap 10A. Perforations 12A are provided in the lower part 9A of cap 10A such that vapourising medicine contained in the compartment provided by rim 8A can escape therefrom. Thus it can be seen, that by adjusting the degree of engagement of the screw thread on the innermost surface of rim 8A and on the outermost surface of cap 10A the perforations 12A can be selectively opened or closed. Hence, this embodiment of the invention represents a means of dispensing vapourising medicine to an infant in the absence of continuous parental observance.

It will be understood that a compartment, as described above, may be attached to a conventional dummy in order to adapt same for use in accordance with the invention.

It will be understood, that the invention provides for a means of dispensing other vapourising substances in addition to vapourising medicine.

It will also be appreciated that a protective cap 50A and 50B may be provided as shown in the drawing in order to protect the teat from damage and also to provide a more hygienic means of storage.

It can therefore be seen that an embodiment of the apparatus herein described provides a means for dispensing a predetermined amount of vapourising substance such as a medicine.

Claims

1. A dummy adapted for the dispensing of medicine or other substances by inhalation.

2. A dummy according to Claim 1, having a teat which is adapted at one end to be sucked by an infant and is connected at its other end to a sealing means, said sealing means including a compartment for receiving vapourising medicine and a means for allowing said vapourising medicine to escape.

3. A dummy according to Claim 2, wherein sealing means comprises a plate.

4. A dummy according to Claim 3, wherein the plate is circular.

5. A dummy according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the compartment comprises a rim extending vertically outwards from the uppermost surface of the plate.

6. A dummy according to Claim 5, wherein the compartment is sealed by a removable cap.

7. A dummy according to Claim 6, wherein the cap includes a rim which engages the rim of the compartment.

8. A dummy according to Claim 7, wherein the cap is screwed onto the rim of the compartment.

9. A dummy according to Claims 2 - 8, wherein the means for allowing the escape of the vapourised medicine may comprise perforations located in either or both of the rims of the compartment or the cap.

10. A dummy according to Claim 9, wherein the perforations can be selectively closed by adjusting the degree of engagement of the screw threads.