AU2013100313A4

AU2013100313A4 - Self Heating Disposable Baby Bottle

Info

Publication number: AU2013100313A4
Application number: AU2013100313A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Croft
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-13
Filing date: 2013-03-13
Publication date: 2013-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-13
Also published as: WO2014138771A1

Abstract

A apparatus for heating the contents of a baby's feed bottle, using a solid state chemical heating unit. A method of heating the contents of the baby bottle without the need for applying energy from an external source. A method of packaging the container in a static compressed state through the use of a compressible spring contained within a flexible container body being prevented from expanding using a removable band. 0-106 __ 110 " 112 113 Figure 1

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT DISPOSABLE SELF-HEATING BABY BOTTLE FEEDER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 DISPOSABLE SELF-HEATING BABY BOTTLE FEEDER FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a method of heating the contents of a baby's feed bottle, and a method of storage of the baby's bottle in a compressed and sterile state prior to use. The present invention is particularly suited to the method of heating the contents of the baby feed bottle without the need for an external energy source. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] For many years infants have been fed liquids, usually infant formula or breast milk, using baby bottles consisting of a bottle and teat. Implicit in the process of preparing to feed an infant is the requirement to have the container as sterile as possible, and the liquid warmed to a temperature that is acceptable for presentation to the infant for ingestion. An extended time away from sterilisation and warming facilities presents difficulties to the carer in ensuring that any liquids presented to the infant will either be at the correct temperature, or biologically safe. This situation restricts the carer in travel duration, or where they travel to. The carriage of pre-filled baby bottles for an extended absence from sterilisation or heating facilities occasionally presents a burden to the carer in terms of increased packaging space required.

2 [0003] Heating breast milk in a microwave may reduce the anti-biotic advantage of breast milk, and also reduces the amount of nutrients in the breast milk. Notwithstanding, a liquid heated in a microwave may contain hotspots which can be injurious to an infant if the liquid is not mixed well prior to presentation to the infant for ingestion. [0004] Heating infant formula in a microwave oven may have the capacity to change the chemical properties of the substance to be fed to the infant. Using a microwave oven to heat breast milk, or heating it on the stove, can cause a loss of Vitamin C content, along with loss of some of the milk's special anti-infective properties. The higher the temperature, the more pronounced the effect'. [0005] Various attempts have been made in the past to provide a container that was low cost and portable, and that was capable of reliably and safely heating the contents of a container. An early version of such self heating containers is described in GB 555,273. This document describes an inner container surrounded by an outer sleeve and a separate chamber positioned below the base of the inner container. Unslaked lime is described as a heating reagent that is suitable for use in this container. The chamber containing the unslaked lime is separated by a breakable wall from a second chamber containing water, which, when broken, allows the two reagents to mix and subsequently produce heat which is thermally conducted toward the contents of the inner container. This method produces heating that continues until the reaction is complete. Problems can occur in this method, as the heating mechanism cannot be terminated prior to the end of the reaction, precipitating the possibility of overheating the contents of the container. [0006] EP 0815784 describes a similar arrangement for a self-heating container which focuses on the mechanism for releasing the water into the solid reagent and on the efficiency of the heat transfer to the contents of the inner container.

3 [0007] Self-heating containers such as those described above encounter the problem of ensuring all the volatile reactants react in an even and controlled manner. An uneven reaction may generate uneven heating, and also may cause damage to the container. [0008] A reaction leaving unreacted reagents may pose a danger when being disposed. This may present a danger in disposal or in carriage after use where the reaction may commence again in an unsupervised state. [0009] It is also possible to heat fluid in a container using a method to initiate crystallisation of a supersaturated salt as described in US 7942145 B2 Palena et al. This method is considered safer, as there is no reaction, however, the problem encountered in this method, is that the units require recharging through heating via the application of heating element connected to an external electrical source. A subsequent use of the baby bottle through the insertion of a second recharged heater unit presents the problem of the internal chamber of the baby bottle to not be sufficiently sterile before the next use. [00010] A recent version of a rechargeable heating unit prescribed for the heating of the contents of a baby bottle is described in US 8319154 B2. The rechargeable heating unit is used to heat the liquid contents of the baby bottle as it passes from the container to the teat on the bottle. The heating unit it recharged by placing it into a microwave oven and using the microwave energy to disrupt the crystalline structure and place it into a supersaturated state. This method does not address the need to present a sterilised container in subsequent feeds from the bottle. The number of feeds that can be heated is limited to the number of recharged units immediately available. The situation of needing to supply multiple heater units to cater for a number of feeds during an extended time would invoke a higher acquisition cost.

4 [00011] In CN 1064208 a feeding bottle for a baby is described in which the milk in the bottle is heated in a separate heating unit attached between the outlet of the bottle and the feeding teat. The heating unit has an electrical heating wire which generates heat when an electrical current is passed through it. The heat from the heating wire is conducted to a centre pipe through which milk from the feeding bottle passes to the teat. Here, the heated unit has the disadvantage that it requires an external electrical power source to operate and as such the heating unit is not conveniently portable. [00012] A similar heating unit is described in WO 2004/054414 although in WO 2004/054414 the possibility of replacing the heating wire with a container containing a reagent that is capable of an exothermic chemical reaction is also proposed. Again, there exists problem of significant cost, the unit generating hot spots, or unspent volatile reagents after the heating reaction may incur dangerous events. [00013] Notwithstanding the aforementioned art, there exists the circumstance where multiple feeds are required over an extended time away from a place where bottles can be washed and sterilised and heating units can be recharged, the need to have in possession multiple bottles may incur a significant cost. A need for a cost effective way to safely feed an infant over an extended time from home is desirable. [00014] Still other features would be desirable. For example, a method whereby the heating mechanism would have a facility to terminate the heating reaction thus controlling the temperature of the unit to prevent overheating. [00015] An additional desirable feature would be a method to mitigate the need for recharging the heating component using an external source. Another desirable feature would be a method that would allow for food grade sterility of the inside of the container prior to each use. Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, and in part, will 5 be obvious in the description, or may be learnt over time from the use of the invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [00016] There are mainly five problems to solve with the disclosed self heating baby feed bottle. The first problem is the comparatively high cost of the known self-heating baby feeding bottles. The second problem is to have a safe and controllable and reliable means to trigger and maintain the chemical reaction when heating of the food contents is required. The third problem deals with the need to maintain sterility in a bottle for multiple use. The fourth problem, concerns the convenience of packaging and transporting several containers over an extended time. The fifth problem deals with the ability to prepare liquid foods for an infant without the need to have access to an external energy source to heat the contents of the baby bottle. [00017] A baby feeder bottle in the form of the present invention has been specifically devised in order to provide an improved baby bottle that is cheap, safe, effective, sterile and space saving. The construction and self-heating capability of the bottle is designed to ease the burden on carers during an extended absence from sterilisation or food heating facilities. Warming the liquid using the built-in heat generation method, rather than using microwave energy, reduces the possibility of denaturing either breast milk or formula based infant feed. [00018] The present invention requires no external power source, and cannot overheat. All hot surfaces are contained within the present invention, and cannot come into direct contact with human skin in normal use. Since the 6 heat source is located within the container, heat transfer must occur through the contents and therefore efficiently heats the contents. Heat is not lost except through the external walls of the container. The heat source is non electric so operation is not confined to a location that requires access to electrical power. In the course of normal or recommended operation, there is no method for direct human contact with the heater element. [00019] The component that forms the body of the container extending from the component on the bottom of the container comprising of the heater unit, the trigger mechanism, and the trigger guard, to the component at the top of the container containing the teat is formed with a flexible material that is constructed preferably of food safe material. The flexible nature of the body of the container will allow the container to be compressed and restrained in a package, thus reducing the space required to pack or transport the container. [00020] The heat source may be activated by a trigger preferably located in the base of the container. The trigger to activate the heat source is protected from accidental use through the incorporation of a tamper resistant cover that has to be manually removed to expose the trigger. [00021] The heating cycle of the present invention comprises of an actuator accessible to the user comprising of a component, when depressed by the user, exerts a force on the trigger on the heater unit initiating the exothermic reaction. The trigger mechanism is thermally insulated from the heater, thus protecting the user from possible heat injury. The heater unit cannot be accessed through normal use, therefore protecting the user or infant from burns. [00022] A mechanical expansion device, preferably in the form of a spring, is maintained in a compressed state prior to use, and located inside the container. Other expansion devices may be used. The spring exerts an expansion force separating the top and bottom components of the container.

7 When the container is removed from the packaging, the expansion device forces the top and the bottom ends of the container apart until the container takes the shape of a cylinder constrained by the shape and form of the flexible body of the container. When the container has reached the preferred shape and size, the expansion device will maintain an expansion force in such a manner that the container maintains a certain level of rigidity. This rigidity in the expanded form of the container will assist in the gripping the container whilst feeding, and also prevent the container being compressed excessively by the infant which may cause an excess of liquid being expelled into the mouth of the infant when feeding. [00023] In the preferred embodiment, the assembly comprising of the baby bottle, expansion device, heater unit and the feeder teat will be enclosed in a sealed airtight container and subsequently sterilised preferably using gamma sterilisation or other suitable methods of sterilisation. This sterilisation will, to the limits of the capability of the sterilisation used, ensure that no biological impurities in excess that which is required for food packaging will be present in the container prior to the seal of the external packaging being broken. [00024] In the preferred embodiment, a temperature indicator would form part of the invention. Said temperature indicator would indicate, preferably through a colour change, when the contents of the container would reach a temperature suitable for feeding an infant. Other methods of indicating the said correct temperature range may be used. [00025] Thus the preferred embodiment of the invention described in the foregoing description has the following desirable features: (1) is sterile; (2) will not harm breast milk or formula feed; (3) may include a temperature indicator; (4) incorporates a user controlled heating cycle; (5) reduced packing space; (6) does not require an external heating source; (7) cannot burn someone in normal use; and, (8) is protected from inadvertent activation 8 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [00026] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into, and constitute part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present innovation, and together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles and implementations of the invention. FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a first embodiment of the baby bottle. FIG. 2 shows a side view of a second embodiment of the baby bottle. FIG. 3 shows third embodiment of the baby bottle FIG. 4 shows a section view of the base of the bottle. FIG. 5A shows a section view of the bottle in a third embodiment indicating a section view of the packaged state of the bottle FIG. 5B shows the bottle in the third embodiment illustrating the packaged state. FIG. 6 shows a process map indicating the operation and use of the bottle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some examples of the embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, this invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. [00027] US 2012/0031390 Al PACKAGE HEATING DEVICE AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS FOR USE THEREWITH - Brendan Coffey et al, forms part of this patent.

9 [00028] FIG 1 illustrates schematically an exploded view of a self-heating baby bottle tilted slightly towards the reader. A cap (101) is located on the top of the container in order to prevent contamination of the feeder teat prior to use. A user would remove said cap in order to allow access to the teat by the baby in order to feed from it. A second annular ring (102) has a hole in the top allowing the top of the teat (103) to extend through the central opening of the second annular ring (102). The flat disk shaped base of the teat (103) is secured between the two annular rings (102) and (104). The said annular rings are secured tother by screwing them together. [00029] The body of the container (105) is constructed of a flexible material in a preferably cylindrical shape to allow vertical compression of the baby bottle. The said wall would be constructed of a substance that is classed as safe for the containment of foods. The top end of the said body of the container is fixed to the annular ring with an adhesive or bonding or mechanical fixing such as heat, but other methods of fixing may be used. On the said body is a temperature indicator (106) which indicates, through colour change the temperature of the contents when the contents reach the correct temperature for ingestion by the infant. The bottom end of the said body (105) of the container is secured to the inner base (111) of the container using an appropriate bonding agent of mechanical fixing such as the application of heat. [00030] A spring (107) in a compressed state is located inside the said container exerting a force along the vertical axis of the container in order to extend it to a shape of a cylinder such that the container attains a level of rigidity preventing collapse and to prevent significant compression from the grip of a baby feeding from the bottle. The bottom of said spring is located in the heater element housing (108) which is preferably made of metal. The bottom of the flexible wall of the container is affixed to the wall of the heater element housing (108). The wall of the container would be preferably fixed to the said heater element housing with a bonding agent, thus providing a joint 10 that liquid or air cannot pass through. [00031] A disk shaped heater element (109) is housed in a cylindrical shaped recess in the underside of the housing (108). Patent US 2012/0031390 refers to said heater element, and forms part of this patent. [00032] A disk (110) with a protuberance in the centre of the said disk forms a trigger mechanism to initiate the heating function in the heater element (109). The trigger mechanism is of such a construction that it is not possible to touch the heater element directly in normal operation. The said trigger mechanism is also constructed of such a material such that it provides a thermal insulating function so that heat dissipation through the trigger mechanism is minimised, and also prevents possible injury if the trigger mechanism is touched inadvertently in use. [00033] The trigger housing (111) of the said baby bottle is constructed preferably of plastic having several vertical annular rings, the outer being of the same diameter of the cap (101). The other vertical annular rings provide a method of securing the wall (105) of the container, and provides a base and guide for the trigger mechanism (110). [00034] The base (112) of the housing is preferably constructed of plastic or similar, and preferably has insulation properties preventing direct human contact with the heater element or any other components that are in direct contact with the element. [00035] A tamper proof covering (113) is placed on the base (112) covering a hole in the base. The tamper proof covering reduces the possibility of accidental activation of the heating function of the bottle. [00036] Turning to FIG 2, a side view of the invention. The covering cap 201 is removed to reveal the baby feeder teat (203). The annular securing 11 ring (203) has been screwed onto the bottom annular ring (204) with the circular base of the teat held in place between the top and bottom annular rings. The flexible body (205) of the container is fixed to the top annular ring (204) and the bottom heater trigger housing (211). The spring (207) is in its extended state applying an extension force along the vertical axis on the top and bottom assemblies of the embodiment, thus causing the flexible walls of the container (205) to form a partially rigid cylinder shape useful for the containment of the liquid feed. The trigger housing unit (208) has an indent on the bottom face of it which houses the heater element (209). The heating function of the unit is initiated through the person pressing the trigger unit (210) towards the heater element (209) such that the upward facing protuberance on the said heater trigger deforms the downward facing protuberance on the said heater element thus initiating the heat producing reaction. The trigger housing (211) contains the trigger unit (210). The base (212) is secured to the trigger housing unit (211) either by a screw thread or a bonding agent. A tamper proof cover (213) is fixed to the bottom of the base (212), such that once removed, it cannot be restored to its original position on the said base. [00037] FIG 3 illustrates a section view of the assembly of the container. The cap (301) is in a removed position from the bottle. The temperature indicator (302) will be of such a construction, that it will change from one colour to another when the contents of the bottle reach a recommended temperature range. [00038] FIG 4. shows a section view of the bottom portion of the baby feeder bottle. The vertical annular ring (401) serves as a method of retaining the trigger disk (210) in such a position that the top of the protuberance (404) is centred on the bottom of the protuberance (405) of the heater element (209). A second annular ring (402) forms a base on which the trigger disk (210) is positioned such that the distance between the protuberance (404) and 12 protuberance (403) is minimal. [00039] FIG 5A is a section view of the bottle in a compressed packaged state. When the bottle is compressed during packaging, a slight twist is introduced when compressing the unit, this will cause the flexible walls to gather inside the spring coils (501), thus minimising the amount of flexible wall protruding outside the container when being packaged. A restraining band (502) is placed around the bottle from top to bottom in such a way that it prevents the bottle from expanding in its packaging. [00040] FIG 5B indicates a side view of the bottle with the restraining band (503) in place and the compressed and folded flexible sides of the bottle (504). [00041] FIG.6 describes a process map indicating the preferable operation of the self heating baby bottle. The user or carer would remove the outer sealed packaging (601) which is used to maintain sterility to a degree suitable for food packaging. The user would then remove the restraining band, (602), designed to maintain the bottle in a compressed manner suitable for transport. The top retaining ring (102) would then be removed (603), with the teat (103) and protective cap (101), in order to allow air to ingress into the container (105) such that it expands under the force of the spring (106) until the container takes the shape dictated by the constraints of the physical dimensions of the flexible sides of the container bounded by the ring (104) and the base (111). [00042] When the container has reached its intended size, the carer would add either breast milk or powdered formula (605) depending on the choice of the carer. If the carer will be intending to use breast milk, the carer would fill the container through the hole in the top of the container with breast milk (606).

13 [00043] If the carer intends to use formula feed, then the carer would add the appropriate amount of powdered feed (607) container through the hole in the top of the container, than add the desired amount of water through the same opening. [00044] When the feed is added to the container, the carer place the teat on top of the container and screw the cap (101), and the top ring (102), onto the ring (104), (609), Shake the contents of the container (610), remove the tamper-proof cover on the base of the container (611), and press the trigger disk (612) to activate the heating process. [00045] It is recommended that the carer occasionally shakes the container during the heating cycle (613) to ensure uniform heating. When the temperature indicator changes colour to indicate the feed is in the correct temperature range, the carer would remove the cap covering the teat (614), and then check the temperature of the contents by splashing a little of the contents on the wrist of the carer (615), a recognised method of checking the temperature of the contents of a baby bottle. If the contents are the correct temperature (616), then the carer would turn the bottle upside down to terminate the heating action (619) and commence feeding the infant, (625). If the carer recognises that the contents of the bottle are not the correct temperature (617), then the carer can continue the heating operation (618) if the contents of the bottle are too cool. When the desired temperature is met, then the carer would turn the bottle upside down (619), to stop the heating action, and commence feeding the infant, (625). If the contents are too warm to feed the infant, then the carer would turn the bottle upside down to terminate the heating action, then the action is to cool the contents either by waiting (624) until the contents are cool enough, or adding additional water or mixed formula, or water or breast milk to the container (623), depending on the choice of feed by the carer (605), and then commence feeding the infant (625).

14 [00046] Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific examples of the embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. References ' Quan R, Yang C, Rubenstein S, et al: Effects of microwave radiation on anti-infective factors in human milk,Pediatrics 89:667, 1992; Sigman M, et al: Effects of microwaving human milk: changes in IgA content and bacterial count, J Am Diet Assoc 89:690-92,1989

Claims

1. A single use heater element built into a baby feeder bottle activated by a trigger mechanism heating the liquid inside the baby feeder bottle to a temperature suitable for safe ingestion by an infant, wherein: the heater element has the feature that the heating function can be terminated through prolonged positioning of the bottle such that no fluid is touching the heater element.

2. A mechanism to maintain the baby bottle in a compressed state wherein the mechanism consists of a compressed spring or device to maintain said baby bottle in a compressed state, wherein the said baby bottle can be stored and maintained in a compressed state until the said baby bottle is allowed to expand to a shape through the removal of a restraining device that maintains the said bottle in its compressed state such that it can be filled with liquid used to feed an infant.

3. The body of the baby bottle according to claim 2 wherein said material is of such composition that the baby bottle can be compressed and expanded through normal use such that the bottle takes the form of a cylinder sufficient for the containment of liquid.