Pacifiers

Claim 2

A pacifier comprising: a central body section having a shield portion; a nipple projecting from the shield portion; handle means, including loop ends collectively forming an enlarged, substantially ellipsoidal loop; the loop being secured to the shield at at least two diametrically opposed positions; the loop ends being pivotal from first positions in which they form co-planar lateral extensions of the shield to second positions in which they are connected together; interfitting connection means on the loop ends whereby the loop ends are connected to form a handle on the pacifier on the side thereof opposite the nipple; the central body section having opposite, diametrically extended hinge sections with first and second side edges; the shield section having outer peripheral edges between the hinge sections; and the loop ends comprising a first substantially semi-circular handle portion, having terminal ends, the ends being hingedly connected, respectively, to the first side edges of the hinge sections, and a second semi-circular handle portion having second terminal ends, the second terminal ends being hingedly connected, respectively, to the second side edges of the hinge sections.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1, wherein: the terminal ends of the handle portions are secured to the side edges of the hinge section by reduced portions.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1, wherein: the pacifier is formed of a non-rigid material.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1, wherein: the connection means comprises an aperture formed in the first handle portion, and a nub on the second handle portion which is frictionally engageable in said aperture.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1, wherein: the loop ends have inwardly directed flaps carrying the connection means.

Claim 7

A pacifier of unitary, one piece construction comprising: an enlarged substantially discoidal body portion having a central shield section with opposite, diametrically extended hinge sections with first and second side edges; the shield section having outer peripheral edges between the hinge sections; a nipple projecting substantially perpendicularly from the shield sections; a first substantially semi-circular handle portion, having terminal ends, the ends being hingedly connected, respectively, to the first side edges of the hinge sections; a second semi-circular handle portion having second terminal ends, the second terminal ends being hingedly connected, respectively, to the second side edges of the hinge sections; each of said handle portions being pivotal about the hinge sections from first positions in which they form co-planar lateral projections spaced outwardly from the shield section to second positions substantially perpendicular thereto; interfitting connection means on the first and second handle portions for connection of the handle portions in said second positions to form a handle on the pacifier on the side thereof opposite the nipple; and the handle portions having inner marginal edge portions arranged to frictionally engage the adjacent outer peripheral edges of the central shield for retention of the handle portions in substantially co-planar relation to the shield.

Claim 8

A pacifier of unitary, one piece construction comprising: an enlarged substantially discoidal body portion having a central shield section with opposite, diametrically extended hinge sections with first and second side edges; the shield section having outer peripheral edges between the hinge sections; a nipple projecting substantially perpendicularly from the shield sections; a first substantially semi-circular handle portion, having terminal ends, the ends being hingedly connected, respectively, to the first side edges of the hinge sections; a second semi-circular handle portion having second terminal ends, the second terminal ends being hingedly connected, respectively, to the second side edges of the hinge sections; each of said handle portions being pivotal about the hinge sections from first positions in which they form co-planar lateral projections spaced outwardly from the shield section to second positions substantially perpendicular thereto; interfitting connection means on the first and second handle portions for connection of the handle portions in said second positions to form a handle on the pacifier on the side thereof opposite the nipple; and the handle portions having inner marginal edge portions arranged to frictionally engage the adjacent outer peripheral edges of the central shield for retention of the handle portions in substantially co-planar relation to the shield.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 6, wherein: the terminal ends of the handle portions are secured to the side edges of the hinge section by reduced portions.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 6, wherein: the pacifier is formed of a non-rigid material.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 6, wherein: the connection means comprises an aperture formed in the first handle portion, and a nub on the second handle portion which is frictionally engagEable in said aperture.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 6, wherein: the nipple is hollow.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 6, wherein: the handle portions, when engaged with one another in said perpendicular position extend from the body portion in a direction opposite to that of the nipple.