AU2009200949A1 - Closure assembly - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Names of Applicant : BABY BLISS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Actual Inventor MARK WILLIAM KIEHNE Address for Service JOHN R.G. GARDNER Suite 398 15 Albert AVENUE BROADBEACH QLD 4218 Invention title : CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Details of Associated Provisional Application No: 2008901213 FILED 13 MARCH 2009 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 2 Technical Field The present invention relates to closure assemblies and in particular a closure assembly for a baby's bottle or other like container. The present invention also relates to 5 a baby's bottle incorporating an improved closure assembly. Background Art A baby's bottle normally has a closure system which consists of a screw-on cap having a teat or nozzle. A baby sucking on the teat is able to withdraw milk or other liquid inside the bottle. A baby drinking from a bottle as described above frequently 10 encounters the problem of colic which occurs when milk or other liquid and air is ingested by the baby at the same time. The problem with some existing baby's bottles is that the bottle cap with the teat cannot prevent air passing in through the hole in the teat to the interior of the bottle. Such a flow of air occurs automatically due to the partial vacuum which is created in the 15 nozzle when the baby sucks milk through the hole in the teat thus creating the risk of colic. Known closure assemblies also often leak liquid from the bottle. Summary of the Invention The present invention aims to provide an improved closure assembly and in particular a closure assembly for a baby's bottle or other container. The invention in a 20 particular aspect aims to provide a closure assembly for a baby's bottle which when applied to a baby's bottle is able to reduce air being sucked through the hole in the teat along with milk or other liquid. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description. In one preferred aspect, the present invention provides a closure assembly for a 25 baby's bottle, said closure assembly comprising a teat collar adapted to be mounted to said bottle, a teat coupled to said teat collar, said teat having an outlet for passage of fluid, said teat having a base flange adapted for cooperation with said bottle such that fluid can pass from said bottle through said teat outlet and air can pass into said bottle between and/or through said base flange. 30 Reference throughout the specification and claims is made to a closure assembly for a baby's bottle. It will be appreciated however that the closure assembly has other applications and thus the terms "bottle" and "baby's bottle" used herein includes liquid containers of any form and the term "teat" includes any form of flexible nipple or nozzle. Preferably air is permitted to enter the bottle when a suction pressure exists within 3 the bottle due for example a suction pressure being applied to the teat. The teat typically is formed of a flexible material such as a rubber material or a synthetic plastics material. Preferably the teat includes a main central body and has the base flange located at the base of the body. The base flange may include an annular sealing rib on its underside 5 adapted to cooperate with the internal surface of the mouth of the bottle. Suitably the base flange is provided with at least one opening or aperture therethrough and air is able to pass through the at least one aperture into the bottle. Where it is desired to seal the contents of the bottle, the collar with attached teat is removed and a disc-like sealing member placed over the bottle mouth after which the collar may be reapplied and 10 tightened to hold the member over the mouth. Preferably the teat collar has a central opening through which the teat may project and a side wall or skirt, the side wall or skirt having a thread, suitably a female thread, on its inside surface for cooperation with an external thread, suitably a male thread, on the exterior of the bottle adjacent the mouth of the bottle. Alternatively the male thread may 15 be provided on the inside surface of the side wall or skirt of the teat collar and the female thread is provided on or in the outer side wall of the bottle. The teat collar in one form suitably has an annular rib on its underside coaxial with the central opening. Preferably the annular rib is located radially outwardly of the at least one opening or aperture and includes an opening or slot therethrough for passage of air. The opening or slot suitably 20 extends radially through the annular rib. Preferably an annular chamber is defined between the annular rib and the teat and the opening or slot in the annular rib communicates with the annular chamber. The at least one aperture in the teat base flange also communicates with the annular chamber to provide air communication between the interior of the bottle and the external atmosphere via the annular chamber 25 and slot or opening in the rib of the teat collar. Preferably communication with the external atmosphere is provided between the collar skirt and the bottle outer surface such as through the cooperating threads thereon. Preferably the teat main body has an annular groove or recess in its periphery adjacent the base flange. Preferably the region of the teat collar adjacent the opening is 30 adapted to be captured in the annular groove of the teat. Preferably the annular groove in the teat is of a width substantially the same as the distance between the top of the teat collar and the lower end of the annular rib. According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided a closure assembly for a baby's bottle, said closure assembly comprising a regulator cap 4 which is adapted to be mounted to said bottle, said regulator cap having one or more apertures therein, a teat collar locatable over the regulator cap, said teat collar being moveable between an open position and a closed position, and a teat coupled to the teat collar and having an outlet for passage of fluid, said teat having a base flange adapted for 5 cooperation with said regulator cap such that when said teat collar is in said open position, fluid can pass through one or more said apertures in said regulator cap and through said teat outlet and air can pass into said bottle between and/or through said base flange and through one or more said apertures in said regulator cap into said bottle and wherein when said teat collar is in said closed position, fluid is substantially prevented 10 from passage from said one or more aperture in said regulator cap through the said teat outlet. The regulator cap may be configured to be a push or press fit into a mouth of the bottle to which the closure assembly is applied. Preferably for this purpose, the regular cap includes an annular flange which is receivable within the mouth of the bottle to 15 frictionally engage the inner surface of the mouth such that the regulator cap is secured and sealed to the bottle. Preferably, the annular flange is tapered at its free end to facilitate placement into the bottle mouth. Preferably the teat in this embodiment is provided with the aforesaid annular sealing rib and the regulator cap includes an annular rim adapted for cooperation around 20 its periphery with the annular sealing rib of the teat base flange. The annular sealing rib of the base flange is suitably adapted to be located inwardly of the annular rim. Preferably the base flange is adapted to seat on the annular rim. Suitably air is able to pass through the aperture in the base flange upon a suction pressure being applied to the nozzle. Preferably the annular sealing rib of the teat is positioned radially inwardly of the 25 annular rim of the regulator cap. In the closed position of the closure assembly, it is preferred that the annular rim of the regulator cap is forced into sealing engagement with the underside of the base flange. Furthermore in the closed position it is preferred that the annular sealing rib of the teat is forced into sealing engagement with the rim to prevent escape of liquid from 30 the bottle and/or entry of air into the bottle. Preferably deflection of the base flange causes the annular sealing flange to be forced into abutment with the annular rim. Suitably the base flange is deflected by a downward force applied by the annular rib on the teat collar. Preferably the teat has an entrance leading into an upper chamber portion thereof, 5 the entrance being closed by the regulator cap in the closed position of the closure assembly. The regulator cap may include a plug-like member which extends into and closes the entrance in the closed position of the closure assembly. The plug-like member may comprise a dome-shaped member on the regulator cap suitably provided centrally on 5 the regulator cap. Preferably also the regulator cap includes a flange or flanges which extend/s upwardly of the plug-like member of the regulator cap. The flange or flanges assist in restricting detachment of the teat from the teat collar. The flange or flanges suitably extend radially of the regulator cap. The flange or flanges may be in a cruciform 10 configuration in plan view. The flanges suitably extend to a position, or are arranged adjacent to the inner surface of the teat adjacent the entrance of the nozzle. The closure assembly may include stop means for providing a resistance to turning of the teat collar when it has been turned or rotated a predetermined distance. The stop means may comprise a radial enlargement on the inside of the side wall or skirt 15 of the teat collar. Preferably the stop means on the collar are adapted for cooperation with stop means on the bottle. The stop means on the bottle suitably comprises a radial enlargement on the neck of the bottle. Preferably the stop means are suitably adapted to abut each other when the teat collar has been rotated the predetermined distance. Preferably the stop means comprises pairs of stop members on the collar and bottle, 20 abutment between the stop members defining the open and closed position of the closure assembly. Preferably the stop members on the collar and bottle are arranged at 180 degrees to each other. Preferably the stop members are formed such that increased rotational force applied to the teat collar or bottle will cause the stop members to move beyond their position of abutment so as to enable the teat collar to be detached from the 25 bottle. Preferably the teat collar includes a gripping portion on an external surface thereof to facilitate its gripping and rotation in opposite directions by hand. It is preferred that the teat collar is able to rotate to the open position whereby fluid is able to flow through the opening or openings in the regulator cap for passage to the teat. 30 In an alternative closure assembly which may be used in either embodiment with or without a regulator cap, the rib on the underside of the collar is continuous and uninterrupted and a recess or groove is provided in the teat base flange, the recess or groove being aligned with the collar rib and defining an air path beneath and past the collar rib.

6 In another alternative arrangement, the annular rib on the collar is eliminated and the teat is provided with an annular rib suitably integrally formed with the teat base flange and adapted to abut an undersurface of the collar. The rib on the teat is positioned outwardly of the slot or opening in the base flange and defines with the side wall of the 5 teat an annular chamber with which the slot or opening in the base flange communicates. The rib on the teat is suitably provided with a slot, groove or opening extending therethrough defining an air path communicating with the annular chamber and thus with the at least one opening or aperture through the base flange. The regulator cap (where used) and teat collar are preferably formed of a 10 relatively rigid plastics material but may be formed of other materials. The teat may be formed of a resilient material such as silicone rubber or latex. The bottle is preferably a bottle for containing a liquid such as milk or juice. The present invention in another aspect also provides a baby's bottle provided with a closure assembly as described in any of the above embodiments. 15 Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. The description of the preferred embodiment relates to a closure assembly for a baby's bottle however it will be appreciated that the 20 closure assembly may be applied to other liquid containers. In the drawings: Fig. I illustrates a baby's bottle provided with a closure assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig 2 is an exploded view of the baby's bottle of Fig. I and closure assembly covered by a cap; 25 Figs. 3 and 4 are side and top views respectively of the regulator cap of the closure assembly; Figs. 5 and 6 are underside views of the teat collar of the closure assembly; Fig. 7 is a side view of the teat of the closure assembly; Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled closure assembly in an open 30 position; Figs. 9 and 10 are enlarged views of the regions A and B of Fig. 8; Fig. I I is a cross-sectional view of the assembled closure assembly in a closed position; Fig. 12 is an exploded view of the baby's bottle and a second embodiment of 7 closure assembly according to the invention; Figs. 13 and 14 are underside views of the teat collar of the closure assembly OF Fig. 12; Fig. 15 is a side view of the teat of the closure assembly of Fig. 12; 5 Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled closure assembly of Fig. 12 in an open position; Figs. 17 and 18 are enlarged views of the regions E and F of Fig. 16; Fig. 19 illustrates an alternative teat according to another embodiment of the invention; 10 Fig. 20 is an enlarged view corresponding to the view of Fig 18 of the teat of Fig. 19 applied to a bottle; Fig. 21 illustrates an alternative teat according to yet another embodiment of the invention; and Figs. 22 is an enlarged view corresponding to the view of Fig 18 of the teat of Fig. 15 21 applied to a bottle. Detailed Description Of The Drawings Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. I and 2, there is illustrated a baby's bottle 10 having a closure assembly 11 according to the present invention which in Fig. I is shown covered by a cap 12 which clips onto the bottle 10 or closure assembly 11. The 20 bottle 10 may be formed of glass or plastics material and has an externally threaded neck 13, the neck 13 having an inner cylindrical surface 14 which defines the mouth or outlet 15 of the bottle 10. The closure assembly 11 comprises a regulator cap 16, a teat collar 17 and a teat or nipple 18. The regulator cap 16 also shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is of circular configuration 25 in plan view and has a top wall 19 comprising an annular outer wall portion 20 and a central dome 21 projecting upwardly therefrom. Three equispaced circumferentially extending apertures or slots 22 are formed through the annular portion 20 around the dome 21. The regulator cap 16 additionally includes on its upper side and at the outer periphery of the wall portion 20, a thin annular rim 23 which extends upwardly from the 30 wall portion 20, the annular rim 23 tapering in its width towards its free upper edge as illustrated in Fig. 9. A further annular rib or flange 24 is provided on the lower side of the top wall 19 radially inwardly of the annular rim 23. The rib or flange 24 has a maximum diameter region 25 adjacent the underside of the wall 19 and tapers in width towards its free edge 8 thereof as shown in Fig. 9. The maximum diameter region 25 of the rib 24 is substantially the same as or slightly greater than the inner diameter of the mouth 15 of the bottle 10 defined by the surface 14 so that the rib 24 of the regulator cap 16 can be forced into the mouth 15 and frictionally and sealingly engage with the internal wall 14. The 5 tapering free end of the rib 24 facilitates the forcing of the rib 24 into the container mouth 15 for sealing against the inner wall 14. The regulator cap 16 however can be removed to allow filling of the bottle 11. The regulator cap 16 additionally is provided with flanges 26 on its upper side which extend upwardly of the dome 21, the flanges 26 being in a cruciform configuration 10 in plan view and extending diametrically of the regulator cap 16. The flanges 26 lie in planes passing through and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the closure assembly 11. The teat collar 17 as also shown in Figs. 5 and 6 has an outer side wall or skirt 27 which has castellations or other projections 28 at spaced positions around its periphery 15 assist with gripping and turning. The inside surface of the wall 27 of the teat collar 17 is provided with a thread 29 which is adapted for complementary engagement with the thread 30 of the bottle neck 13. In addition a pair of radially enlarged stop members 31 are provided at a 180 degree spacing on the inner side of the wall 27 adjacent the lower edge 32 thereof. The stop members 31 are adapted for engagement with corresponding 20 stop members 33 formed or moulded on the outer surface of the bottle neck 13 beneath the thread 30 and in the path of rotation of the stop member 31 when the collar 17 is threaded onto the neck 13. Cooperation between the respective stop members 31 and 33 will prevent or limit rotation of the teat collar 12 relative to the bottle 10 in opposite directions with abutment between the stop members 31 and 33 defining open and closed 25 states of the closure assembly 11. The stop members 31 and 33 are of domed or curved cross sectional configuration in the embodiment but may be of many different configurations. The top surface of the top wall 34 of the teat collar 17 is generally flat with a central circular opening 35 therethrough. The wall 34 has a substantially planar lower 30 surface 36 and an annular rib 37 extending downwardly therefrom in the direction of the wall or skirt 27, the rib 37 being spaced radially outwardly from the opening 35. The teat 18 as shown also in Figs. 7 to 10 is made of a resilient plastic or rubber material such as silicon rubber or latex and has an annular base flange 38, and a coaxial hollow main teat body 39 extending upwardly'from and formed integrally with the flange 9 38, the teat body 39 having an integral collar 40 at its lower end spaced above the base flange 38 and defining an undercut annular groove 41 which is of a width a distance substantially the same as the distance between the top surface of the wall 34 and the free lower end of the annular rib 37 of the teat collar 17. The annular groove 41 has an inner 5 diameter substantially the same as or slightly greater than the diameter of the opening 35 in the teat collar 17. The teat body 39 has an entrance 42 of an internal diameter substantially the same or slightly less than the diameter of the dome 21 so that the latter may project into the entrance 42 in the closed position of the closure assembly 11 and act as a plug to 10 sealingly engage with the entrance 42. The entrance 42 leads into an upper chamber 43 within and defined by the teat body 39. The teat body 39 tapers to a nozzle 44 having one or more outlets 45 therein. The regulator 16 reduces the volume of the upper chamber 43 to reduce the pressure of fluid within the teat 18 when the bottle 10 is inverted for drinking. 15 The base flange 38 comprises a relatively thin flexible member and a thin annular sealing rib or flange 46 is integrally formed with the annular base flange 38 on the underside of the flange 38 and is coaxial therewith. The rib 46 has an outer diameter substantially the same as or slightly less than the inner diameter of the rim 23 of the regulator cap 16. The base flange 38 is provided with a small aperture 47 typically of less 20 than I mm diameter or width which passes through the flange 38 and which is located radially inwardly of the rib 37 of the collar 17 and leads into an annular leak resistant chamber 48 defined between the rib 37 and the side wall of the teat 18. Further a slot, groove or other opening 49 is provided in and extends radially through the rib 37 to communicate with the chamber 38. 25 In use the regulator cap 16 is frictionally engaged with the mouth 15 of the bottle by pressing the cap 16 into the mouth 15 effecting engagement between the rib 24 and inner surface 14 of the threaded neck 13 surrounding the mouth 15. The teat 18 is coupled with the teat collar 17 so that the main teat body 39 protrudes through the opening 35 in the teat collar 17 with the top wall 34 of the teat collar 17 and rib 37 being 30 captured within the recess 41, the collar 40 being pushed from the lower side of the teat collar 17 through the opening 35 to locate on the upper side thereof When the teat 18 is coupled to the teat collar 17, the rib 37 spaces the annular base flange 38 from the underside surface of the top wall 34 of the teat collar 17 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The annular flange 38 can thus flex about the rib 37 in the nature of a flap member of a flap 10 valve. The teat collar 17 is then screwed onto the bottle neck 13 through engagement between the cooperating threads 29 and 30. When the teat collar 17 is engaged with the bottle 10, the lower surface of the base flange 38 of the teat 18 seats on the rim 23. The 5 flanges 26 additionally project into the teat body 39 with the outer side edges 46 of the flanges 26 which extend substantially parallel to the central axis of the closure assembly 11 being located adjacent to the inner surface of the teat body 39 adjacent the annular groove 42. In the position of Figs. 8 to 10, the teat collar 17 is rotated relative to the regulator 10 cap 16 to a maximum open position determined by abutment between the stop members 31 on the teat collar 17 and stop members 33 on the bottle 10. In this position, the central dome 21 which normally blocks and seals the entrance 42 into the teat body 39 is spaced from and clear of the entrance 42. Thus fluid is able to pass from the bottle 10 through one or more of the slots 22 in the regulator cap 16 and into the upper chamber 43 in the 15 teat body 39 as indicated by the arrows marked C in Fig. 8 and then out through the teat outlet or outlets 45 when the bottle 10 is inverted or when a suction pressure is applied to the teat nozzle 44. As fluid is withdrawn through the outlet or outlets 45 a partial vacuum is created inside the teat body 39 and thus within the bottle 10 and therefore there is a tendency for 20 air from the outside environment to try and enter through any opening that is available. Normally this would be the outlet or outlets 45. Air however is able to be drawn into the closure assembly 11 between the threads 29 and 30 in a direction indicted by the arrow D in Fig. 10 and pass between the teat collar skirt or side wall 27 and neck 13 of the bottle 10. Air will pass through the slot 49 in the rib 37 and into the chamber 48. Air will then 25 pass through the aperture 47 into the region below the teat 18 and above the regulator cap 16 as indicated by the arrows marked D'. Some air may also pass between the rim 23 of the regulator cap 16 and base flange 38 and between the flange or rib 46 and rim 23 with the rib or flange 46 flexing slightly inwardly away from the rim 23 due to the suction pressure. The air will then pass down any of the apertures 22 in the regulator cap 16 as 30 shown in Fig. 9 to replace fluid which leaves the bottle 10 which passes out through the outlet or outlets 45 in the nozzle 44. Thus air communication is provided between the external atmosphere and the interior of the bottle 10. Therefore only fluid tends to flow through the outlet or outlets 45 with air passing from the exterior atmosphere as described above and down an aperture or opening 22 I1 because this provides a lower path of resistance to its entry than through the outlet or outlets 45. When a suction pressure is not applied to the teat nozzle 44, the rib 46 will seal against the rim 23 or sufficiently close to the rim 23 to prevent escape of liquid from the bottle 10 even when the bottle 10 is inverted or dropped. Further the small aperture 5 47 and slot 49 will allow for minimum or no leakage. The risk of leakage of liquid through this path is further minimised or reduced if the aperture 47 is circumferentially spaced from the slot 49 such as in the 180 degrees spacing as illustrated in the drawings. As the flanges 26 on the upper side of the dome 21 project into the teat 18 and the side edges 46 of the flanges 26 are positioned close to the inner surface of the main body 10 39 of the teat 18 in the region of the annular groove 41 adjacent to the opening 35 through which the teat 18 projects, the risk of detachment of the teat 18 from the teat collar 17 (for example when a baby is drinking from the bottle carrying the closure assembly 11) is substantially reduced as the distance between the edges 46 of the flanges 26 and opposing edge of the opening 35 of the collar 17 will prevent the teat 18 being 15 pulled out of the collar 17. At the same time, the configuration of the flanges 26 does not reduce the flow of liquid through the nozzle 44. When it is desired to close the closure assembly 11, the teat collar 17 is simply rotated relative to the regulator cap 16 in an opposite direction to that for opening the closure assembly 11 due to the cooperation between the threads 29 and 30 on the inner 20 side of the collar 17 and neck 13. When this occurs as shown in Fig. 11, the top wall 34 of the teat collar 17 moves relatively towards the top wall 19 of the regulator cap 16. The rib 37 on the teat collar 17 will thus push the teat flange 38 downwardly and the rim 23 will push the outer periphery of the flange 38 upwardly towards the underside surface of the top wall 34. This causes the rib 46 to be outwardly deflected and forced firmly 25 against the inner surface of the rim 23. Furthermore the dome 21 moves into the entrance 42 into the teat body 39 and seals it off. The flange 38 is thus sandwiched between the rim 23 of the regulator cap 16 and rib 37 on the underside of the top wall 34 to be effectively clamped between the rim 23 and rib 37 to hold the teat 18 in position to prevent or reduce the possibility of its detachment from the teat collar 17 as well as 30 defining a seal preventing air entry into the bottle 10. Where it is desired to detach the teat collar 17 from the bottle 10, an increased rotational force is applied to the teat collar 17 to force the stop members 31 on the teat collar 17 past the stop members 33 on the bottle neck 13, this being facilitated by the curved or domed configuration of the stops 31 and 33 allowing one stop member to ride 12 up over the other opposite stop member. A reverse procedure is adopted to reattach the teat collar 17 to the bottle 10. The flanges 26 of the regulator cap 16 whilst shown to be of a cruciform configuration may be of other configurations. For example three flanges extending at 5 120 degrees to each other may be provided. Alternatively only two flanges 26 or a single diametrically extending flange 26 may be used. Alternatively more than four flanges 26 may be provided. The flanges 26 alternatively may be replaced by one or a series of members extending or spaced circumferentially around the regulator cap 16 to be located in use adjacent the inner surface of the teat body 39 adjacent the mouth 42. 10 Referring now to Figs. 12 to 18 there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the invention which is similar to the embodiment of Figs. I and 2 and in which like components to the components of Figs. 1 and 2 have been given like numerals. In this embodiment however the closure assembly 11' does not use a regulator cap 16 with the teat 18 as shown in Fig. 16 seating directly on the open end or mouth 15 of the bottle 19 15 with the annular rib or flange 46 extending into the open mouth 15 and sealing against the inner surface 14 of the mouth 15 as shown in Fig. 18. Furthermore the collar 17 as shown in Figs. 13 and 14 does not include the stop member 31 and thus is not limited in its rotation as with the collar 17 of Figs. 5 and 6. When fluid is drawn through the outlet or outlets 41 of the teat 18 by sucking, a 20 partial vacuum is created inside the teat body 39 and thus within the bottle 10. Air to replace the withdrawn fluid however is able to be drawn into the closure assembly 1l' between the threads 29 and 30 of the bottle neck 30 and cap 17 respectively in a direction indicted by the arrow G in Fig. 18 and through the slot or opening 49 in the rib 37 and into the chamber 48. Air will then pass through the aperture 47 into the bottle 10 as 25 indicated by the arrow H to replace fluid which leaves the bottle 10 which passes out through the outlet or outlets 45 in the nozzle 44. Thus air communication is provided between the external atmosphere and the interior of the bottle 10 and flow through the teat outlet 45 is not constrict For closing of the closure assembly 11' to seal the bottle mouth 15, the cap 17 is 30 screwed downwardly to force the rib 37 into firm engagement with the top flange 38 of the teat 18 which forces the annular rib or flange 46 into sealing engagement with the inner surface 14 of the wall of the neck 15 of the bottle 10 in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 11. Little or no fluid will escape through the aperture 47 and slot 49. The teat 18' in the alternative configuration of Fig. 19 is provided with a radially 13 extending recessed slot or groove 50 in the top.surface of the flange 38, the slot or groove 50 being positioned in use in alignment with the annular rib 37 in the underside of the cap 17. Further in this embodiment, the rib 37 does not need to be provided with the slot or opening 49. The air path in this case is indicated by the arrows marked I in Fig. 20, the 5 air from theoutside atmosphere passing into the chamber 48 beneath the rib 37 and through the groove 50 when a suction pressure is applied to the teat 18, the air then passing from the chamber 48 through the aperture 47 into the bottle 10 to replace the displaced liquid. The teat 18' in Fig. 20 is shown in combination with a regulator cap 16 however it may be used without a regulator cap 16 in an embodiment similar to that 10 shown in Figs. 16 to 18. The teat 18" in a further configuration shown in Fig. 21 is provided with an annular rib 51 extending upwardly from and formed integrally with the flange 38, the rib 51 being spaced radially outwardly from the side wall of the teat body 39 and on a radius similar to the radius of the rib 37 of the nozzle 17 shown in Figs. 8 or 16 with the 15 aperture 47 being located inwardly of the rib 51. The rib 51 additionally is provided with a slot, groove or opening 52 which extends radially through the rib 51 and which in the illustrated embodiment is spaced 180 degrees from the aperture 47. The collar 17' further is modified when used with the teat 18" by having the rib 37 on the underside of the wall 34 absent such that the undersurface 36 of the collar 17 is substantially planar as 20 shown in Fig. 22. Thus when the collar is applied over the teat 18", the teat rib 51 will engaged against the undersurface 36 of the collar 17' however in the open position of the closure assembly, an air path will remain into the chamber 18 from the outside of the bottle 10 between the collar 17' and neck 13 of the bottle as indicated by the arrows marked J in 25 Fig. 22, air passing through the slot, groove or opening 52 into the chamber 48 and subsequently into the interior of the bottle through the aperture 47 to replace the displaced liquid. When the collar 17' is screwed down on to the bottle 10 as in Fig. 11, the rib 51 will be compressed and seal effectively against the surface 36 and the compression of the 30 rib 51 will also result in compression of the slot or opening 52 to eliminate leakage. The teat 18" in Fig. 22 is shown in combination with a regulator cap 16 however it may be used without a regulator cap 16 in an arrangement similar to that shown in Figs. 16 to 18. The closure assemblies described above provides an effective means for allowing 14 free passage of fluid from the baby's bottle through outlet or outlets 45. In addition the described configuration allows air to enter the bottle to replace fluid dispensed from the bottle 10 to limit if not prevent air entering through the outlet or outlets 45. It will be appreciated that the regulator cap 16 (where used) and teat collar 17 may 5 be in various configurations. Similarly the teat 18 may be of a shape and form other than that illustrated in the drawings as may the bottle 10. Where the closure assemblies are used without a regulator cap 16, the bottle 10 is sealed by a disc-like member located over the mouth 15 of the bottle 10 to be interposed between the base flange 38 of the teat 18, 18' or 18" and open end of the bottle 10 against 10 which it is clamped when the collar 17 is tightened by screwing downwardly onto the bottle mouth. Further the teats 18, 18' and 18" where used without a regulator cap may be provided without the annular rib 46 on the underside of the flange 38. The annular rib 37 on the underside of the collar 17 or rib 51 on the base flange 38 may be located at different positions for example aligned with the annular wall of bottle mouth 15. 15 The terms "comprising" or "comprises" or derivatives thereof as used throughout the specification and claims are taken to specify the presence of the stated features, integers and components referred to but not pi-eclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integer/s, component/s or group thereof Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the 20 invention, all such variations and modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 25 30

Claims (18)

1. A closure assembly for a baby's bottle, said closure assembly comprising a teat collar adapted to be mounted to said bottle, a teat coupled to said teat collar, said teat 5 having an outlet for passage of fluid, said teat having a base flange adapted for cooperation with said bottle such that fluid can pass from said bottle through said teat outlet and air can pass into said bottle between and/or through said base flange.

2. A closure assembly as claimed in claim I wherein said teat includes a main central 10 body, a base flange located at the base of the body and wherein said base flange is provided with at least one opening or aperture therethrough adapted to permit the passage of air into said bottle.

3. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said base flange includes an 15 annular sealing rib on its underside adapted to cooperate with an internal surface of the mouth of the bottle.

4. A closure assembly as claimed in any one of claims I to 3 wherein said teat collar has a central opening through which the teat may project and a side wall or skirt, the side 20 wall or skirt having a thread on its inside surface for cooperation with an external thread, on the exterior of the bottle adjacent the mouth of the bottle.

5. A closure assembly as claimed in any one of claims I to 4 wherein said teat collar has an annular rib on its underside coaxial with the central opening, said annular rib 25 being located radially outwardly of the at least one opening or aperture

6. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein a slot or opening is formed in said rib for the passage of air. 30

7. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said slot or opening extends radially through the annular rib.

8. A closure assembly as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein an annular chamber is defined between the annular rib and the teat and wherein the opening or slot 16 in the annular rib communicates with the annular chamber.

9. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein said at least one aperture in said teat base flange communicates with the annular chamber to provide air 5 communication between the interior of the bottle and the external atmosphere via the annular chamber and slot or opening in the rib of the teat collar.

10. A closure assembly as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 9 wherein communication with the external atmosphere is provided between the collar skirt and the 10 bottle outer surface.

11. A closure assembly as claimed in any one of claims I to 5 wherein a recess or groove is provided in the teat base flange, said recess or slot being aligned with said rib of said teat collar and defining an air path beneath and past the collar rib. 15

12. A closure assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said base flange of said teat is provided with an annular rib, said rib being adapted to abut an undersurface of the collar and being located outwardly of said slot or opening in said base flange, said annular rib being provided with a slot, groove or opening extending 20 therethrough for communicating air with the interior of said bottle through wsaid opening or slot in said base flange.

13. A closure assembly for a baby's bottle, said closure assembly comprising a regulator cap which is adapted to be mounted to said bottle, said regulator cap having one 25 or more apertures therein, a teat collar locatable over the regulator cap, said teat collar being moveable between an open position andia closed position, and a teat coupled to the teat collar and having an outlet for passage of fluid, said teat having a base flange adapted for cooperation with said regulator cap such that when said teat collar is in said open position, fluid can pass through one or more said apertures in said regulator cap and 30 through said teat outlet and air can pass into said bottle between and/or through said base flange and through one or more said apertures in said regulator cap into said bottle and wherein when said teat collar is in said closed position, fluid is substantially prevented from passage from said one or more aperture in said regulator cap through the said teat outlet. 17

14. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein said teat base flange is provided with at least one opening or aperture therein for the passage of air in use into said bottle via a said aperture in said regulator cap. 5

15. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 14 wherein said teat collar includes an annular rib arranged radially outwardly of said at least one opening or aperture and defining an annular chamber communicating with said slot or aperture in said base flange, and at least one opening or slot in said annular rib communicating said chamber 10 with the external atmosphere.

16. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 15 wherein said base flange includes a downwardly extending annular sealing rib wherein said regulator cap includes an annular rim adapted for cooperation around its periphery with the annular sealing rib of the teat 15 base flange.

17. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein said annular sealing rib of the base flange is adapted to be located inwardly -of the annular rim and wherein said base flange is adapted to seat on the annular rim. 20

18. A closure assembly for a baby's bottle substantially as herein before described with reference to Figs. I to 11, 12 to 18, 19 and 20 and 20 and 21 of the accompanying drawings. 25 Dated this eleventh day of March 2009 BABY BLISS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED By Their Patent Attorney 30 John R G Gardner