CN117715514A - Artificial nipple with improved milk flow characteristics - Google Patents

Abstract

For healthy growth of young or newborn animals, it is important that any artificial nipple or teat used to feed them be designed to provide a consistent measured flow rate when in use. Slits on the end of an artificial nipple or nipple are typically used to provide an opening for milk flow, and when not in use, the slits naturally close to seal the end of the nipple or nipple. However, careful alignment of the slit with the sucking action of the pups or newborns is required to allow milk to flow at the correct rate. The present invention provides an artificial nipple having a plurality of slits, each slit oriented at a different angle, and the slits being located within generally circular valleys or ridges formed on the end of the artificial nipple or nipple.

Description

Artificial nipple with improved milk flow characteristics

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an artificial nipple and in particular, but not exclusively, to an artificial nipple for feeding young or new-born animals.

Background

One of the key requirements of artificial teats is the ability to control the rate of milk or formula feeding as the pups or newborns suck. In many cases, artificial teats either cause the pups or the newborns to have difficulty in achieving adequate milk flow or cause them to acquire milk flow too quickly beyond their affordable ability. Insufficient flow rate can lead to depression or malnutrition, while too fast a flow rate can lead to dysphagia and choking and overfeeding and digestive problems.

Another key requirement of artificial nipples is durability. The artificial nipple is repeatedly subjected to a severe sucking action and is washed with great force after use. For the purpose of feeding young or young animals, the artificial nipple needs to be made of a relatively soft elastomer. The difficulty posed by these conflicting requirements of being both robust and flexible is often that they result in poor performance from the beginning or a rapid decline in performance over repeated uses.

In order to meet the requirements of controlling flow rate and nipple durability (or consistency of flow rate over the life of an artificial nipple), many different nipple designs have been proposed and used for many years. Most design ideas focus on the type of opening formed in the nipple end of an artificial nipple. The opening must act to some extent as a valve that will prevent milk flow until the sucking action causes it to open in a controlled manner.

Some have attempted to solve this problem by providing a one-way valve in the body of the artificial nipple. Milk can flow through the valve into the main chamber of the nipple, and when the nipple is squeezed by the sucking action, the milk in the chamber is prevented from flowing back to its source by the one-way valve and the pressure increases, resulting in pressurized milk flowing out through the opening in the nipple end of the nipple. However, feeding under pressure may not satisfy the sucking desire of the pups, and may feed the pups at a rate faster than the pups can easily swallow.

In addition, the increased complexity of the artificial nipple with the one-way valve makes the manufacturing cost significantly increased and makes the nipple more difficult to clean. Any milk marks remaining after washing may be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria that may subsequently be transmitted to the pups or calves.

The type of opening on the nipple end of the most effective nipple has been found to be a simple slit through the elastomeric material forming the nipple. Such a slit acts as a valve at least when it is initially cut, which valve will largely prevent milk from flowing out of the nipple until the nipple is subjected to a sucking action. In this way, the slit will typically act as a control valve that can very effectively help ensure that the fed young or newborn animals obtain the drink in the desired manner.

Moreover, there are two main options within the scope of feeding nipples currently on the market: single slit or cross slit. Although slits are generally considered to be the simplest and most effective form of flow control at the nipple end of an artificial nipple, the use of slits for this purpose has significant drawbacks. The disadvantage is that the flow through the slit is significantly affected by the orientation of the slit relative to the sucking action of the young animal.

The size and location of the slit is typically set to achieve optimal milk flow rates when the slit is aligned with the biting direction or sucking action of the pups or calves. That is, when a calf or calf is sucking, the slit should be aligned with the vertical center line of its face.

When cross-shaped slits are used, one of the slits is more likely to be aligned with the bite direction, but even so, the feeding speed is still dependent on the degree of alignment of the slit with the sucking action. Moreover, even if time is spent carefully properly aligning the slits of the nipple, the young or young animals may tilt the head while being fed, thereby affecting the feeding speed. Young children are more likely to tilt the head slightly to increase feeding speed, and if the slots are not perfectly aligned they will typically tilt the head more in an attempt to get more milk.

While feeding rates that are either too slow or too fast may adversely affect all of the young and young animals, problems associated with feeding rate differences may appear more directly when feeding many young animals simultaneously.

Studies have shown that when feeding groups of calves at different feeding rates, calves that take more time to suck have better milk digestion and gain more significant weight than calves that feed faster (see: journal of Applied Animal Nutrition [ J. Applied animal nutrition ], volume 3, 11 th edition, influence of teat flow rate in commercial milk feeding systems on calf digestion and performance [ effect of nipple flow rate in commercial feeding system on calf digestion and performance ], mcInnes et al).

The traditional feeding method in many agricultural areas is to feed farm animal pups individually, in which case the feeding speed differences due to nipple orientation are generally not much affected. Animal welfare organizations are constantly applying pressure to government legislators to require pairs or clusters of farm animal litters to be raised to allow social interaction. The peer review literature shows the advantages of farm animal pup population rearing (see: J. Dairy Sci. [ journal of Dairy ],99:2453-2467:Effects of group housing of dairy calves on behavior,cognition,performance,and health [ influence of dairy calf population rearing on behaviour, cognition, performance and health ], costa et al).

Since a large number of farm animal pups are now or will be fed in pairs or clusters, there is a need for a pacifier that can be used quickly without requiring the operator to take time to check the orientation of the nipple. If a pair of animals is not fed at a uniform flow rate, the first animal to eat will typically push the other animal away from the feeding nipple and drink its milk. Thus, the problem of eating by theft of milk after feeding further exacerbates the problem of drinking speed, as one animal is eventually overfed and the other animal is underfed.

There is a need for an improved artificial nipple that not only promotes natural sucking, but also provides consistent milk flow rate regardless of nipple orientation. The nipple should also be durable to provide consistent flow rates even after multiple uses and repeated cleaning cycles.

In this specification, unless clearly indicated otherwise, where a reference or discussion of a document, act or item of knowledge is made, the reference or discussion does not constitute an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was available to the public at the priority date, known to the public, part of the common general knowledge, or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification relates.

Purpose(s)

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an artificial nipple which at least to some extent helps overcome one or more of the problems described above, or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention may broadly comprise an artificial nipple or teat for feeding a puppy or a neonate, the artificial nipple having a base end, a teat end, and a body section between the base end and the teat end; and the main axis of the artificial nipple passes through the center of the base end and the center of the nipple end; and at least a portion of the body section and at least a portion of the nipple end are made of an elastomeric material; and the base end is configured such that the artificial nipple is connectable to a feeding device or system and an internal flow path is provided in the artificial nipple to allow liquid to flow from the feeding device or system through the body segment to the nipple end; and the slits are located in generally circular valleys or ridges formed on the nipple end.

Preferably, the generally circular valleys or ridges formed on the nipple end are centered about the major axis of the artificial nipple.

Preferably, the substantially circular valley or ridge has a first general radius of curvature which is different or in the opposite direction to the radius of curvature of the teat end surrounding or being surrounded by the substantially circular valley or ridge.

Preferably, the teat end has a central region surrounded by the generally circular valleys or ridges.

Preferably, the central region of the nipple end has a second general radius of curvature or has a conical shape.

Preferably, the first direction of curvature of the generally circular valleys or ridges is substantially opposite to the second direction of curvature of the central region.

Preferably, in the case where the central region is convex, the substantially circular valleys or ridges are concave, or in the case where the central region is concave, the substantially circular valleys or ridges are convex.

Preferably, the generally circular valleys or ridges are in the form of circular recessed channels having a concave curvature when viewed from the outer surface of the nipple end of the artificial nipple.

Preferably, the central region of the nipple end has a convex curvature when viewed from the outer surface of the nipple end of the artificial nipple.

Preferably, the nipple end comprises a plurality of slits, each aligned in a substantially circumferential direction.

Preferably, the nipple end comprises a plurality of slits, each of which is located in a direction tangential to a circle formed by the base or bottom of the circular valley, or in a direction tangential to a circle formed by the top of the circular ridge.

Preferably, the nipple end includes a plurality of slits that are located generally at the bottom of the generally circular valleys or the top of the generally circular ridges formed on the nipple end.

Preferably, the nipple end comprises a plurality of slits in a circular pattern centred on the main axis of the artificial nipple.

Optionally, the nipple end comprises a plurality of slits that are radially aligned with respect to the main axis.

Preferably, the artificial nipple has an odd number of slits.

Preferably, the artificial nipple has five or seven slits, and more preferably, the artificial nipple has five slits.

Preferably, the artificial nipple has five slits and each slit is aligned with two of the other slits at an angle in the range of sixty-five degrees to eighty degrees.

Preferably, the artificial nipple has five slits and each slit is aligned at an angle of about seventy-two degrees or about one hundred and eight degrees with two of the other slits.

Preferably, the nipple end of the artificial nipple has an inner mesh.

Preferably, the webs are in the form of protruding inner walls extending from the inner side surface of the nipple end towards the base end.

Preferably, the inner mesh sheets are radially aligned.

Preferably, each inner mesh extends outwardly from the major axis of the nipple to the cylindrical side wall of the main body portion of the nipple.

Optionally, the inner webs intersect and form a polygon having the same number of sides as the number of slits on the nipple end.

Optionally, the inner webs span generally from one half of the interior of the nipple end to the opposite half of the interior of the nipple end.

Preferably, the nipple end of the artificial nipple has internal webs that pass through the locations of each of the radial slits.

Preferably, the inner mesh passing through the location of each of these radial slits is each aligned at right angles to the length of the slit with which it is associated.

Preferably, the slits penetrate the layer of elastomeric material forming the outer surface of the nipple end and into the elastomeric material forming the adjacent inner mesh or meshes.

Preferably, the slits are each aligned at right angles to the inner web associated with each slit.

Preferably, the slits cut into the elastomeric material forming the adjacent inner mesh material are slits that do not extend to the free edge of the inner mesh or meshes.

Preferably, the artificial nipple has at least one slit assisting member or tear-stopping member.

Preferably, the artificial nipple has at least one slit assisting member or tear-stop member in the form of a centrally located slit assisting member or a tear-stop member located in the central region.

Preferably, the artificial nipple comprises at least one slit assisting member or tear-stop member in the one or more inner mesh sheets.

Preferably, the total wall thickness of the central region of the teat end is thicker than the wall thickness of the remainder of the teat end.

Preferably, the thicker overall wall thickness of the central region of the nipple end is made up of a layer of elastomeric material forming at least part of the body section and a layer of elastomeric material forming at least part of the nipple end and the centrally located slit assisting member or tear-stop member.

Preferably, the centrally located slit auxiliary member or tear stop member is in the form of a substantially circular preform member joined to the central region by an over-moulding process.

Preferably, the slits on the nipple end do not extend inwardly to the centrally located slit aid member.

Preferably, the or each slit assisting member is configured to assist in holding each of the slits closed.

Preferably, the or each slit assisting member is configured to assist in slowing or preventing the tearing and size increase of the slits by acting as a tear stop means when the artificial nipple is in use.

Preferably, the artificial nipple is formed by over-moulding the nipple end and at least a portion of the body segment onto the or each slit auxiliary member.

Preferably, the or each slit assisting member is made of the same or similar elastomeric material as the remainder of the teat end and at least a portion of the body section.

Preferably, the or each slit auxiliary member is pretensioned during the over-moulding of the remainder of the nipple end and at least a portion of the body section around the or each slit auxiliary member.

Preferably, the elastomeric material is an elastomeric material having a hardness of between forty and sixty on the shore a hardness scale.

In a second aspect, the invention may broadly consist in a feeding device or system incorporating at least one artificial nipple substantially as described herein.

Preferably, the feeding device or system is in the form of a feeding bottle, feeding trough or foodstuff delivery system.

Broadly, the invention may also include any or all combinations of parts, elements and features mentioned or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of the parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein having known equivalents, such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Drawings

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view in partial section of a first example of an artificial nipple according to the invention,

figure 2 is a second partial cross-sectional view of a first example of an artificial nipple,

figure 3 is a nipple end view of a first example of an artificial nipple,

fig. 4 is a top plan view of a first example of an artificial nipple, wherein a cross-sectional plane AA is defined,

figure 5 is a cross-sectional view AA of a first example of an artificial nipple,

figure 6 is a perspective view in partial section of a second example of an artificial nipple according to the invention,

figure 7 is a base end view of a second example of an artificial nipple,

fig. 8 is a top plan view of a second example of an artificial nipple, wherein a cross-sectional plane BB is defined,

figure 9 is a cross-sectional view BB of a second embodiment of the artificial nipple,

figure 10 is a perspective view in partial section of a third example of an artificial nipple according to the invention,

figure 11 is a base end view of a third example of an artificial nipple,

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a third example of an artificial nipple, defining a cross-sectional plane CC, an

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view CC of a third example of an artificial nipple.

First example

With reference to fig. 1 to 5, a first example of an artificial nipple (11) according to the invention will now be described. The artificial nipple or teat (11) is designed for feeding pups or newborns and is intended for use with feeding devices such as bottles or feeding tanks or for larger scale foodstuff delivery systems.

The artificial nipple (11) has a base end (13), a nipple end (15), and a body section (17) between the base end (13) and the nipple end (15). The main axis (21) of the artificial nipple (11) passes through the centre of the base end (13) and the centre of the nipple end (15).

It is the nipple end (13) that incorporates the innovative feature of the artificial nipple (11). The nipple end (13) has specially arranged slits (19) which lie within a specially designed contour of the nipple end (13). The arrangement and profile of the slits (19) are carefully designed to provide accurate and consistent milk flow to the pups or calves regardless of the orientation of the teat end (13) about the main axis (21) and the orientation of the sucking action relative to the pups or calves. In addition, structural features are added to the nipple end (13) to ensure that the advantages of this functional design feature remain unchanged throughout the design life of the nipple (11).

While the base end (13) may take a variety of forms to allow the artificial nipple (11) to be connected to a bottle, sink or other feeding system. In this example, the base end (13) includes an external thread form (22) and may be connected to a bottle, trough or other feeding system by engagement with a complementary internal thread form. The base end (13) may be made of any suitable material and, for simplicity of the manufacturing process, may be made of the same material as used to manufacture the body section (17) and the nipple end (15). At least a portion of the body section (17) and at least a portion of the nipple end (15) need to be made of an elastomeric material that allows the shape of the nipple end (15) to flex. And desirably the elastomeric material is an elastomeric material having a hardness of between forty and sixty on the shore a hardness scale.

An internal flow path (23) is provided in the artificial nipple (11) that allows liquid to flow from the feeding device or system through the base end (13), the body section (17) and to the nipple end (15). Also, in this example, the nipple end (15) comprises five slits (19) radially aligned with respect to the main axis (21). Five slits (19) are formed in the elastomeric material of the nipple end (15) and allow liquid to pass through the nipple end (15) when the artificial nipple (11) is sucked.

The slits (19) are each located within a generally circular valley (25) formed in the nipple end (15). The rounded valley (25) is centered around the main axis (21) of the artificial nipple (11) and has a first general radius of curvature which is different or in the opposite direction from the radius of curvature of the nipple end (15) surrounding or being the part surrounded by the rounded valley (25).

In this example, it can be seen that the nipple end (15) has a central region (27) surrounded by a rounded valley (25) and having a second general radius of curvature that is substantially opposite in direction to the first general radius of curvature. The rounded valley (25) is in the form of a rounded concave channel having a concave curvature when viewed from the outer surface of the nipple end (15), and the central region (27) has a convex curvature when viewed from the same direction.

An odd number of radially aligned slits (19) are positioned in the circular valley (25) to provide a functional advantage to the artificial nipple (11). Regardless of how the nipple (11) is aligned with respect to the sucking action, one of the slits (19) will be aligned with or close to the sucking direction. In some cases, the two slits (19) may be partially aligned with each other. The sucking action squeezes the nipple end (15) causing the elastomeric material from which the nipple end is made to flex. Buckling will be most pronounced around any slit (19) that is generally aligned with the direction of the squeezing action.

Such local buckling tends to cause the sides of the affected slit (19) to bend outwards or away from each other and allow the flow path to open. The slit (19) more transverse to the squeezing action tends to become more firmly closed. Positioning the slit within the curvature of the rounded valley (25) helps to enhance buckling and slit (19) opening when the nipple end (15) is in use.

The inventors have found that an artificial nipple (11) having five or seven radially aligned slits equally spaced around a circular valley (25) gives a relatively uniform milk flow rate for all orientations of the nipple (11) about its main axis (21). Either one of the slits (19) is in close alignment with the squeezing action and provides a suitable milk flow rate, or both slits (19) are in fairly close alignment, and the combination of both slits (19) achieves a similar milk flow rate compared to one slit (19) in close alignment.

In the case of a bottle holder that feeds a large number of animals and simply places the bottle on the side of the animal's pen, there is no time to ensure that the slit on the nipple of the bottle is properly aligned with the sucking action of the animal. In any event, the chicks may often tilt the head to one side while sucking. This new nipple design overcomes these difficulties in achieving optimal slit alignment.

In addition, when multiple animals are raised in each pen, the uniform feeding rate achieved by this new nipple design helps to greatly reduce the phenomenon of milk theft, which often occurs when one animal in the same pen drinks its own bottle of milk before the other animals.

The nipple end (15) of the artificial nipple (11) has an inner mesh (29). The mesh (29) is in the form of a protruding inner wall extending from the inner side surface of the nipple end (15) towards the base end (13). The inner webs (29) intersect and form a polygon with the same number of sides as the number of slits (19) in the nipple end (15), in this case pentagonal. The inner mesh (29) spans generally from one half inside the nipple end (15) to the opposite half inside the nipple end (15).

The nipple end (15) of the artificial nipple (11) has an inner web passing through the location of each radial slit (19). The inner mesh (29) passing through the location of each radial slit (19) is aligned at right angles to the length of the slit (19) associated with that inner mesh (29). The slits (19) penetrate the layer of elastomeric material forming the outer surface of the nipple end (15) and into the elastomeric material forming the adjacent inner mesh (29). The slit (19) does not extend to the free edge of the inner mesh (29).

The artificial nipple (11) has a plurality of slit auxiliary members or tear-stop members. In this example, the artificial nipple has a centrally located slit aid member (31) located in a central region (27) of the nipple end (15). The total wall thickness of the central region (27) is thicker than the wall thickness of the rest of the teat end (15). The thicker overall wall thickness of the central region (27) is constituted by the layer of elastomeric material forming the nipple end (15) and the centrally located slit aid member (31). The slit (19) in the nipple end (15) does not extend inwardly to the centrally located slit aid member (31).

The artificial nipple (11) is formed by over-moulding the nipple end (15) and at least a portion of the body segment (17) onto a centrally located slit auxiliary member (31). The centrally located slit assisting member (31) is in the form of a substantially circular preformed member joined to the central region (27) during manufacture of the artificial nipple (11) comprising an over-moulding process.

The artificial nipple (11) further comprises a slit aid member in the inner mesh. Mesh slit auxiliary members (33) are positioned along the free edge of each inner mesh (29), and each mesh slit auxiliary member (33) is joined to the remainder of its associated mesh (29) during the over-molding process for manufacturing each artificial nipple (11). During the over-moulding of the rest of the teat end (15) and the inner mesh (29) around them, the mesh slit auxiliary members (33) are pretensioned.

Each slit assisting member (31 or 33) is configured to assist in keeping one or more of the slits (19) closed and to assist in slowing or preventing the slits (19) from tearing and increasing in size by acting as a tear stop when the artificial nipple (11) is in use. Each slit auxiliary member (31 or 33) is made of the same or similar elastomeric material as the rest of the nipple end (15).

Second example

With reference to fig. 6 to 9, a second example of an artificial nipple (51) according to the invention will now be described. The nipple end (53) of the second example of the artificial nipple (51) is substantially identical to the nipple end (15) of the first example of the artificial nipple (11).

The main difference between the second example of the artificial nipple (51) and the first example of the artificial nipple (11) is the configuration of the base end (55) of the second example of the artificial nipple (51). The base end (55) has a recess (56) which, instead of the external thread form used in the first example, is designed to snap onto a boss on a bottle, feeding trough or other feeding system.

The entrance to the recess includes an inner lip (57) which must be stretched to fit over the boss to facilitate a snap fit and to assist in forming a seal between the nipple (51) and the opening of the bottle, or stopper on the feeding trough, etc. As with the first example (11), the second example (51) is desirably made entirely of an elastomeric material, preferably having a shore a hardness of between forty and sixty.

As in the first example, the nipple end (53) of the second example of the artificial nipple (51) comprises a rounded valley (59) containing five slits (61). Moreover, the raised or convex central region (63) is surrounded by a circular concave valley (59) and five slits (61). The central region (63) also includes a small circular slit assisting member (65) that helps to prevent the slit (61) from increasing toward the center of the nipple end (53) and helps to keep the slit (61) closed.

Moreover, the nipple end (53) includes an inner mesh (67) that helps to keep the slit (61) closed, and the mesh (67) includes mesh slit assist members (69) that may be pre-tensioned during nipple manufacture to further help to keep the slit (61) closed and prevent the slit (61) from extending over time to the free edge of the mesh (67).

Third example

With reference to fig. 10 to 13, a third example of an artificial nipple (81) according to the invention will now be described. The third example of the artificial nipple (81) is similar in many respects to the first and second examples of the artificial nipple (11 & 51) except as follows. The main difference between the third example of the artificial nipple (81) and the first and second examples of the artificial nipple (11 & 51) is the configuration of the plurality of slits (83) and their associated mesh (95).

As in the first and second examples, a third example of the artificial nipple (81) has a nipple end (87) and a base end (89). The nipple end (87) of the third example of the artificial nipple (81) includes a rounded valley (91) containing five slits (83). Moreover, the raised or convex central region (93) is surrounded by a rounded concave valley (91) and five slits (83).

As can be seen in fig. 11, the nipple end (87) includes five radially aligned inner webs (95) that help to hold the slit (83) closed. Although not shown in fig. 10-13, the inner mesh (95) may also include mesh slit auxiliary members similar to the mesh slit auxiliary members described in the first and second examples described herein and for the same purpose.

The key difference in the third example of the artificial nipple (81) is that the slits (83) are not radially aligned but are aligned in a substantially circumferential direction. The slits (83) are located substantially at the bottom of the circular valleys (91), and each slit can be said to be located in a direction tangential to a circle formed by the base or bottom of the circular valleys (91).

The inner mesh (95) is aligned in a radial direction. Each inner mesh (95) extends outwardly from the main axis (97) of the nipple (81) to a cylindrical sidewall (99) of the main body portion (101) of the nipple (81). The slits (83) are in a circular pattern centered about the major axis (97) of the nipple (81) and are each aligned at right angles to an inner web (95) associated with each slit (83).

As with the first and second examples, one of the slits (83) will be aligned or nearly aligned with the sucking direction regardless of how the nipple (81) is aligned with respect to the sucking action of the young animal or calf. In some cases, the two slits (83) may be partially aligned. The sucking action squeezes the nipple end (87) causing the elastomeric material from which the nipple end is made to flex. Buckling will be most pronounced around any slit (83) that is generally aligned with the direction of the squeezing action. In this way, the nipple (81) is able to provide a relatively uniform milk flow rate in any orientation of the slit (83) relative to the sucking action.

The location of the slits (83) at the bottom of the rounded valleys (91) and their general alignment with the base of the rounded valleys (91) helps ensure positive buckling and opening of the slits (83) in alignment with the sucking action.

Common features

In each of the three examples described herein, the artificial nipple (11, 51 or 81) has five slits, and each slit is aligned at an angle of about seventy-two degrees or about one hundred and eight degrees with two of the other slits. It is envisaged that each slit should be aligned with two of the other slits at an angle in the range sixty-five to eighty degrees so that the artificial nipple (11, 51 or 81) is effective to provide consistent milk flow to the young or the young animal regardless of nipple orientation.

Variants

Many variations in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the relevant art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

In the examples described herein, the nipple end (15, 53 or 83) includes a rounded valley that includes a slit. It is contemplated that in alternative embodiments, the nipple end (15, 53 or 83) may include a rounded ridge that includes a slit. In this case, the circular ridge would surround the concave central region.

In a first example described herein, a central region (27) surrounded by a circular valley (25) has a curved convex shape. It is contemplated that in alternative embodiments, the central region (27) may have a shape that more closely approximates a conical convexity.

In addition to the two examples described herein, the inventors also contemplate the manufacture of training nipples without an internal mesh. Such training nipples may have seven slits to make feeding easier and faster for young animals. The training nipple is used only for a few days after birth.

Definition of the definition

Throughout the specification, the word "comprise" and variations of the word (such as "comprises" and "comprising") are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Advantages are that

It can thus be seen that at least the preferred form of the invention provides an artificial nipple having a slit configuration that provides a relatively consistent milk flow rate regardless of the orientation of the nipple relative to the sucking action of the pups or calves.

A more consistent and controlled flow rate aids in the health and growth of pups and calves during the first few weeks of life.

In addition, consistent milk flow rate helps in the case where more than one animal is raised together, thereby increasing the chances that each animal will drink his own bottle of milk at about the same time, and minimizing problems associated with theft of milk.

For a conventional cross (X) slit or single slit, one or more slits open each time the nipple is compressed by suction. Such repeated opening of the slit may result in the slit "growing up" with continued pressure applied at the end of one or more slits. When the pacifiers are removed periodically for cleaning, they are typically reinstalled (restored) in a random orientation. Thus, with this new design, after each cleaning, the usual suction pressure will act on the ends of the different slit or pair of slits. Over time, wear will be evenly distributed across all slits and the service life of the nipple will be much longer than a conventional cross slit or single slit nipple.

Claims (20)

1. An artificial nipple or teat for feeding a cub or a neonate, the artificial nipple having a base end, a teat end, and a body section between the base end and the teat end; and the main axis of the artificial nipple passes through the center of the base end and the center of the nipple end; and at least a portion of the body section and at least a portion of the nipple end are made of an elastomeric material; and the base end is configured such that the artificial nipple is connectable to a feeding device or system and an internal flow path is provided in the artificial nipple to allow liquid to flow from the feeding device or system through the body segment to the nipple end; and the slits are located in generally circular valleys or ridges formed on the nipple end.

2. An artificial nipple or teat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the generally circular valleys or ridges formed on the end of the teat are centred on the main axis of the artificial nipple.

3. An artificial nipple or teat as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the generally circular valley or ridge has a first general radius of curvature which is different or in the opposite direction to the radius of curvature of the portion of the end of the teat surrounding or surrounded by the generally circular valley or ridge.

4. An artificial nipple or teat as claimed in claim 3 wherein the teat end has a central region surrounded by the generally circular valleys or ridges and the central region of the teat end has a second general radius of curvature or has a conical shape.

5. An artificial nipple or teat as claimed in claim 4 wherein the first direction of curvature of the generally circular valleys or ridges is substantially opposite to the second direction of curvature of the central region.

6. An artificial nipple or teat as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the generally circular valleys or ridges are concave in the case of the central region being convex or convex in the case of the central region being concave.

7. An artificial nipple or teat as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the generally circular valleys or ridges are in the form of circular concave channels having a concave curvature when viewed from the outer surface of the teat end of the artificial nipple.

8. The artificial nipple or teat of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the teat end includes a plurality of slits, each aligned in a substantially circumferential direction.

9. The artificial nipple or teat of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the teat end includes a plurality of slits, each in a direction tangential to a circle formed by the base or bottom of the circular trough or in a direction tangential to a circle formed by the top of the circular ridge.

10. The artificial nipple or teat of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the teat end includes a plurality of slits generally at the bottom of the generally circular valleys or the top of the generally circular ridges formed on the teat end.

11. The artificial nipple or nipple of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the nipple end includes a plurality of slits in a circular pattern centered on the main axis of the artificial nipple.

12. The artificial nipple or teat of any one of claims 1 to 7, or claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the teat end includes a plurality of slits radially aligned with respect to the main axis.

13. The artificial nipple or teat of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the artificial nipple has an odd number of slits.

14. The artificial nipple or teat of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the artificial nipple has five or seven slits.

15. An artificial nipple or teat as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the artificial nipple has five slits and each slit is aligned with two of the other slits at an angle in the range sixty-five degrees to eighty degrees.

16. An artificial nipple or teat as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the artificial nipple has five slits and each slit is aligned at an angle of about seventy-two degrees or about one hundred and eight degrees with two of the other slits.

17. The artificial nipple or teat of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the teat end of the artificial nipple has internal webs and the internal webs are in the form of protruding inner walls extending from an inner side surface of the teat end towards the base end.

18. The artificial nipple or teat of claim 17, wherein the slits penetrate through the layer of elastomeric material forming the outer surface of the end of the teat and into the elastomeric material forming the adjacent inner mesh or meshes.

19. The artificial nipple or teat of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the artificial nipple has at least one slit assist member or tear stop member.

20. A feeding device or system incorporating at least one artificial nipple as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19.