CN1980626B

CN1980626B - Teat

Info

Publication number: CN1980626B
Application number: CN2005800221304A
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·里斯; I·伟布; M·阿姆斯特龙; T·柯顿
Original assignee: Jackel International Ltd
Current assignee: Mayborn UK Ltd
Priority date: 2004-06-29
Filing date: 2005-06-29
Publication date: 2011-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 2025-06-29
Also published as: GB0414560D0; CN1980626A

Abstract

According to a first embodiment, a nipple for a feeding bottle or a soother comprises a base portion, a teat portion, an areola portion and a flex region allowing flexing of the teat portion towards and away from the areola portion. According to a second embodiment, a nipple for a feeding bottle or soother is provided with a helical flow formation on the inner face of the teat, which allows continuous flow of liquid even when the teat collapsed via the helical flow path which allowing extension at the teat, in particular rotational or torsional extension.

Description

Nipple

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of nipple, relate in particular to a kind of nipple or rubber pacifier (nipple) that is used for feeding bottle or pacify (soother).

Background technology

Known multiple nipple is designed to the breast of anthropomorphic dummy when operation.A kind of known nipple has been described in US 6645228, and this nipple comprises stem portion and base portion.This base portion has bulbous region and mammary areola (aerola) zone, and stem portion is outstanding from this areola region.Bulbous region has the upper area of the wall that has attenuation gradually, and described wall makes that as spring element areola region and stem portion move back and forth with respect to bulbous region when the baby sucks nipple.

This structure has various problems.Areola region and stem portion are with respect to motion anthropomorphic dummy's the motion of breast during sucking realistically of bulbous region.In addition, because the wall zone of attenuation provides flexible gradually, so the situs ambiguus that flexing (flex) amount and flexing take place and unpredictable.

Comprise a succession of parallel annular groove on the inner surface of second kind of known nipple at nipple of explanation in US6745912 B2 (Pigeon), this makes nipple only can stretch along restricted direction, and if the existence nipple subside then the danger of flow blockage.

In addition, be devoted to provide the feeding bottle of band valve so that especially allow the air admission nipple at present always.Thought that this has reduced the danger of stomachache, otherwise can cause stomachache owing in feeding bottle, setting up negative pressure.Various known structures comprise various types of slit valve (slit valve), but these valves fragile and be difficult to processing.In German patent DE 19716535 described another kind of methods, nipple has the inner annular resilient flange at its base portion, and this flange rests on bottle edge when tightening with the collar.When setting up negative pressure in drinking container, flange is from the edge lift of bottle, and air passes through via the collar and between flange and bottle edge.In European patent application EP 151862 described similar structures, nipple comprises the cylindrical flange of dangling downwards at its base portion, the inside top surface of sealed container cervical region when this flange is out of shape tightening with the collar.Equally, the negative pressure in the container can make flange lift from container neck, thereby air is by the collar and from flowing into container between cervical region and the flange to alleviate pressure reduction.This structure depends on the appropriate amount of screwing pressure that user applies when fixing nipple, this amount can cause the valve degree of holding of variation between using.In addition, introduce circumferential flange and can increase material cost.

Summary of the invention

Set forth the present invention in the claims.According to first embodiment, because flex region is arranged in the areola, this can approaching mutually or remotely move milk mouth portion and/or areola, so more natural suckling behavior can be provided.In addition, owing to comprise a plurality of flexed channels, so can limit the flexing point clearly.According to second embodiment, owing to have helical flow structure on the surface in nipple, so, allow the nipple stretching, extension especially to rotate simultaneously or reverse stretching, extension even liquid still can be via helical flow paths continuous-flow when nipple subsides.Should be appreciated that each term " nipple " and " rubber pacifier " comprise the nipple of feeding bottle and the nipple and the rubber pacifier of rubber pacifier and pacify, the latter is known as " little nipple (baglet) " sometimes.

Description of drawings

By example embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is the side cross-sectional view according to nipple of the present invention;

Fig. 2 a is to use the side view at the nipple of Fig. 1 of first flexion position;

Fig. 2 b is to use the side view at the nipple of Fig. 1 of second flexion position;

Fig. 3 a and 3b are respectively end-view and the side views that is combined with the pacify of nipple of the present invention;

Fig. 4 be according to a further aspect of the invention nipple and the side cross-sectional view of container;

Fig. 5 a is the perspective view that the nipple valve that is in first closed configuration is shown;

Fig. 5 b is the perspective view that the nipple valve that is in second open configuration is shown;

Fig. 6 is the fragmentary, perspective view of nipple downside, and lip shape valve (lip valve) is shown;

Fig. 7 a is the decomposition diagram that illustrates according to the number of assembling steps of drinking container of the present invention;

Fig. 7 b is the perspective view that illustrates according to the first thin portion of assembled container of the present invention;

Fig. 7 c is the perspective view that illustrates according to the second thin portion of assembled container of the present invention.

The specific embodiment

At first with reference to Fig. 1, the nipple 10 that is used on the feeding bottle comprises milk mouth portion 12, base part 14 and the areola between them 16.Flange 18 extends so that can be fixed on the feeding bottle (not shown) with any suitable known way from the base portion of base part.Base part also can comprise duckbill valve (duck-bill valve) (not shown) that the breather cheek valve of any adequate types for example is integrally molded into.The axis A that nipple centers on by the center of nipple is the circle symmetry.

Areola 16 comprises flex region 20, this zone comprises three groove or flexed channels 22 of extending around the inner surface of this areola, and these grooves or flexed channels form effectively around axis A and be parallel to each other/concentric circular weakened region and therefore around the milk mouth portion.Flex region 20 be arranged on transitional region 24 that base part 14 and areola 16 are separated usually and transitional region 26 that areola 16 and milk mouth portion 12 are separated between.As hereinafter being described in more detail, this flex region 20 allows the nipple flexing.

Nipple can be in any suitable manner for example compression moulding or injection moulding form, and can for example silicones, latex or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) (TPE) form by any suitable elastic materials.Injection moulded silicone can make the milk mouth portion have especially ideal DE.Preferably, the cross section of milk mouth portion 12 is thinner than the remainder of nipple, and the mouth portion of perhaps suckling is co-molded so that the milk mouth portion has extra flexibility with respect to whole nipple with flexible more material.Nipple can have such appearance, for example molded in its surface or skin shape appearance of copying out.

Shown in Fig. 2 a and 2b, when operation, the baby has milk from the nipple that is installed on the feeding bottle, baby's tongue 50 contact milk mouth portions 12, and baby's tooth or gums 52 contact transition portions 26, and baby's lip 54 is usually in flection part 20 contact areola 16.As a result, when the baby sucks nipple, milk mouth portion and areola since around the flex region of flexed channels 22 subside respectively and stretches and close mutually and away from.Particularly, as among Fig. 2 a as seen, the sucking that weakens towards base part 14 on milk mouth portion 12 makes the flexible sucking that weakens lax, and shown in Fig. 2 b, sucking away from base part 14 on milk mouth portion 12 is subsided flexible region 20, and milk mouth portion and areola are remotely extended mutually.

Moving back and forth by nipple being moved as skin and stretching of milk mouth portion 12 simulated people's the natural motion of breast during suckling or baby's sucking very truly.Groove or groove also visually define areola region, and are arranged in the zone that also can not sting of nipple.Flexible portion also provides swabbing action to the liquid in the bottle when vibration of milk mouth portion or reciprocating motion.

Fig. 3 a and 3b illustrate the pacify 30 of employing according to the nipple or the little nipple 31 of first embodiment of the invention.Nipple 31 comprises milk mouth portion 32, base part 34 and the areola between them 36.Nipple 31 is normally hollow, and is fixed on the protective cover 38 at base part 34 places, and this protective cover has ring or handle 39, can not sting part and areola 36 forms nipples 31.Flex region 37 is positioned at this areola that can not sting 36 places, and is included in groove or the groove of areola 36 places around the inner surface extension of nipple 31.When the baby sucks nipple 31, milk mouth portion 32 since the groove of flex region 37 subside respectively and stretch and flexing back and forth.As previously mentioned, the breast motion during suckling that this moves back and forth and has simulated the people, but flex region is in the non-bite area.

With reference to Fig. 4, can see basis on the other hand, milk nozzle assembly 140 is installed on baby's drinking container 112.Milk nozzle assembly 140 comprises nipple 110, and this nipple comprises the milk mouth portion 114 that formed the rubber pacifier that has consumption aperture 115 in the top, can be installed in base part 116 and the areola region between them 118 on the drinking container.The surface of nipple 110 and shape are configured to anthropomorphic dummy's breast, and for example can have the skin shape surface that changes between milk mouth portion, areola region and base part as people's breast.In fact, the color of nipple can be configured to anthropomorphic dummy's the colour of skin, comprises the not agnate colour of skin.The shape of nipple also can be similar to people's breast, and the shape of base part 116 is similar to breast and has wide, hemispheric configuration.Ground promptly is elevated to milk mouth portion 114 with the tilt component that is parallel to the mouth portion 114 of suckling to areola 118 from base part 116 from the horizontal by angle, make better purse up lip of baby, thereby they can close the lip of shutting up effectively around nipple, and once more the anthropomorphic dummy breast so as to make baby's experience and breastfeeding actual experience approaching as much as possible.

Nipple 110 is formed by elastomer, has the wall that thickness reduces to milk mouth portion 114 gradually from base part 16, and this provides flexing characteristic more true to nature.Areola 118 also comprises sinuous groove 120, and the cross section of these grooves forms wavy profile and circumferentially extends on the inner surface of areola 118.In the embodiment shown, be formed adjacent to each other three this grooves, bellows (bellows) effect and the edge direction flexing perpendicular to flow direction is provided like this, and especially increases flexibility jointly, provide more real stretch characteristics and sensory feedback to the baby with the wall thickness that reduces.In addition, nipple can have operability or the verity of surface structure suitably to strengthen nipple on its outer surface and/or inner surface.

Milk mouth portion 114 is outstanding perpendicular to the oral area of container 112 substantially, and the length of for example extending about 20mm, has simulated people's the stretching, extension of nipple during breast feeding once more.The cross section of milk mouth portion is substantially rectangle, and wall thickness is 1.8mm and diameter is 13mm.The fine pitch spiral groove 122 that for example has three circles and pitch and be 3mm, depth of groove and be 0.9mm (half of wall thickness) forms or otherwise forms around the inside cylindricality vertical surface of milk mouth portion 114 is molded, even so that also can form flow passage when for example stimulating the secretion of milk at baby's biting pressure when mouth portion subsides.In addition, helical groove makes that the milk mouth portion can be in the scope internal rotation of 5-6mm or compression and stretching, extension with reversing, and parallel or perpendicular to the flow direction flexing, has simulated people's breast once more more realistically.

In the end of milk mouth portion, hole 115 comprises the unsteady flow metered valve, can select flow by the nipple of selecting to have appropriate bore, and the configuration that two or three intersection slits perhaps can be set is so that baby's scalable flow.For example, with reference to Fig. 5 a and 5b, nipple 200 comprises the milk mouth portion 202 with slit valve 204.From Fig. 5 b as seen, when for example exerting pressure biting pressure along the longitudinal direction in slit, slit valve is opened, thereby by applying compression and torsional pressure allows fluid flow.

Milk nozzle assembly 140 forms in biliquid injection moulding (two-shot moulding) process, and nipple 110 is formed by elastomer and formed by polypropylene with the integrally formed twist collar of nipple 110 130.As a result, can provide elastic, can be cheaply and the integrated component easily made.

Twist collar 130 comprises the barrel 132 of inner threaded and is the peripheral part 134 of dome shape downwards that this peripheral part is extended around described barrel 132 and from the upper end of this barrel.Dome shape part 134 comprises the annular lip 135 that the thicker level in cross section is outside at its base portion.Nipple 110 mulched grounds are molded on the twist collar 130, and dome shape part 134 stops at the corresponding central circular hole of the outer surface place with the cervical region 128 of container 112, and the Overmolded part of nipple extends internally a little from this position and ends at the cylindrical flange 141 of dangling downwards.

As a result, twist collar provides structural strength and firm spiral to cooperate, but the elastomeric material of the mouth portion 140 of suckling provides sealing.Particularly, the threaded barrel 132 of twist collar is screwed on the outside threaded cervical region 128 of container 112, the vertical outer surface of the edge of lining against cervical region 128 that lean on most of dome shape part 134.Because nipple material 110 overhangs on the inward flange 139 of dome shape part 134, so when milk nozzle assembly 140 is tightened, overhang the apical margin of part sealing cervical region 128, and downward cylindrical flange 141 forms the elastomeric seal ring of the top inner surface of sealed container cervical region 128.Nipple 110 comprises the venting channels 126 that passes elastomeric material and be positioned at the periphery substantially.Discontinuous clack valve or lip shape valve portion 123 are outstanding downwards from flange 141 near the only part venting channels 126 of periphery.

Because the elasticity of flange portion when the baby sucks nipple, has reduced the pressure in the container, lip shape valve 123 will be away from the cervical region 128 of container 112 flexing.In the zone of the venting channels 126 in nipple 110, this permission is ventilated by nipple between internal tank and environment.With reference to Fig. 6, look from downside and can see lip shape valve 124.In an illustrated embodiment, can see that in fact passage 125 passes lip shape valve, is communicated with venting channels 126.In the case, the hole that leads to passage 125 seals near the inner surface of container under sealed configuration, and opens to form passage.

Perhaps, slit valve 124 can comprise flap, and flexing is communicated with above-mentioned venting channels so that allow this flap away from inner surface.

Milk nozzle component 140 also has positive engagement (positive engagement) retainer, and this retainer provides tactile feedback correctly to be fastened on the container with the nozzle assembly of guaranteeing to suckle and allows lip shape valve to seal effectively.To 7c, for example, can see that container 400 admits shank portion 402 and teat screw collar 404 with reference to Fig. 7 a, this twist collar is consistent with above-mentioned twist collar 130, has still removed elastomer teat 10 so that understand clear.

Shank portion 402 comprises notch portion 406, and this notch portion cooperates so that shank portion is positioned at the precalculated position with protuberance 408a, 408b on the container.Shank portion is positioned on the container and along the desired orientation location, and the collar 404 and the female thread portion that allows to be installed on the container 400 thereof are screwed around above-mentioned position then, thereby shank portion 402 is fastening in place.

From Fig. 7 b, can see well, collar portion 404 comprises internal projections 410, this projection is inwardly outstanding from inner surface, and engages with the stopping part that is formed by protuberance 408a, 408b on the screw part of container 400, thereby nipple 110 " engaging " is in desired position.As a result, can realize the controlled compression on the lip shape valve 124, make peace and repeatably open valve action thereby when each the use, all can obtain one.Particularly, protuberance 408a, 408b are separated by recess 408c, and this recess can be seen in Fig. 7 c well.When the collar 404 is screwed when in place, projection 410 passes through from protuberance 408b top, and this protuberance has the inclined-plane towards recess 408c.After projection 410 was crossed the inclined-plane, its tabular surface that falls into recess 408c and be highlighted the 408a of portion stoped and can not be moved further.Projection 410 is also owing to it prevents that with the engaging of abutment surfaces of protuberance 408b the collar 404 is unscrewed.But projection 410 and protuberance 408b have and are cut sth. askew or the abutment surfaces of rounding, thereby are applying enough when unscrewing pressure, and projection 410 oblique section of protuberance 408b and downward with the tailing edge inclined-plane of jumping over makes the collar to be unscrewed fully.

In when operation, make to be full of drinkable liquid in the container, and the milk nozzle assembly 140 of screwing on this means that up to detecting positive engagement (for example discernable go out " click ") this assembly is correctly assembled.As baby during subsequently from the container drinkable liquid, pressure differential pushes away the inner surface of the cervical region 128 of container 112 with lip shape valve 124, thereby allows by venting channels 126 ventilations and the danger that therefore reduces to suffer from abdominal pain.Since be provided with lip shape valve, thus need not to be provided with the slit, and natural, sturdy and durable and elastic valve module is provided.In addition, valve formed in molded operating period, and its formation need not to carry out secondary operations, thereby the benefit of economy and manufacture view can be provided.In addition, because a position on nipple is provided with single venting channels, so reduced the danger of leaking, this is especially because blow vent passes nipple rather than around container neck.

Should be appreciated that nipple can be formed and can is any suitable shape by any material, for example is asymmetrical (orthodontic) nipple setting or suitable profile of tooth that for example is, perhaps even more realistically the shape of anthropomorphic dummy's breast.Different teat configurations can be provided at the baby of all ages and classes.For example, the milk mouth portion can manufacture more and more longer along with the baby's who uses nipple age growth, and/or superficial makings can manufacture more not remarkable, for example from be used for neonatal coarse to meticulous again to smooth.

In the nipple of first embodiment, the flexed channels in the flex region can have any suitable profile and for example be square, semicircle or triangle in the cross section, and can be arranged on the interior or outer surface of nipple with any suitable quantity.As the replacement scheme that weakened region is provided, flexed channels can form by being molded in accordion in the nipple or bellows configurations or any other suitable hinge or fold mechanism.In addition, the feature of first or second embodiment interchangeable or and put, perhaps suitably be implemented in the drinking container lid of other type.For example, lip shape valve may be implemented in the closure of lid, motion bottle or other containers that can form trainer's cup of parital vacuum in use in container.

Although should be appreciated that accompanying drawing the pacify of the nipple that comprises first embodiment is shown, the present invention also can comprise the pacify of the nipple that comprises second embodiment.The pacify that comprises nipple and protective cover/ring assemblies can be formed by any suitable material.For example, nipple can be formed by silicones, latex or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) (TPE), and protective cover and ring can for example polypropylene PP, polycarbonate or materials similar mixture form by thermoplastic suitably.In addition, pacify can be with any suitable method of moulding manufacturing.

Claims

1. rubber pacifier, comprise base part, milk mouth portion and the areola between them, the milk mouth portion extends from areola, wherein areola comprises flex region, this flex region comprises a plurality of flexed channels, the edge that wherein said flexed channels is arranged to provide milk mouth portion and areola mutually near and away from the moving of direction, and the mouth portion of wherein suckling comprises the groove that forms flow passage on the surface within it.

2. rubber pacifier according to claim 1 is characterized in that, flexed channels comprises the groove that is formed in the areola region.

3. rubber pacifier according to claim 2 is characterized in that, the described groove that is formed in the areola centers on the milk mouth portion.

4. according to claim 2 or 3 described rubber pacifier, it is characterized in that the described groove that is formed in the areola is parallel to each other substantially.

5. according to each described rubber pacifier in the aforementioned claim, it is characterized in that, first transitional region is extended between base part and areola, and second transitional region is extended between areola and milk mouth portion, and flex region is arranged between first transitional region and second transitional region.

6. according to each described rubber pacifier in the aforementioned claim, it is characterized in that, flex region be arranged on substantially transverse to milk mouth portion and areola mutually near and away from the plane of the direction of motion in.

7. according to each described rubber pacifier in the aforementioned claim, it is characterized in that, the material of milk mouth portion along milk mouth portion and areola mutually near and away from the direction of motion be flexible.

8. rubber pacifier according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described be positioned at milk mouth portion inner surface on groove comprise spiral groove.

9. rubber pacifier according to claim 8 is characterized in that, the degree of depth of described spiral groove is half of wall thickness of rubber pacifier.

10. according to Claim 8 or 9 described rubber pacifier, it is characterized in that the pitch of described spiral groove is 3mm.

11. rubber pacifier according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described flexed channels comprises a plurality of sinuous grooves on the surface of areola region.

12. rubber pacifier according to claim 11 is characterized in that, sinuous groove is positioned on the inner surface of areola region.

13. a feeding bottle, this feeding bottle comprise according to each described rubber pacifier in the claim 1 to 12.

14. a pacify, this pacify comprise according to each described rubber pacifier in the claim 1 to 12.

15. drinking container lid, this lid comprises according to each described rubber pacifier in the claim 1 to 12, described drinking container lid also comprises the flange portion of the flow openings wall of being arranged to sealed container, wherein this lid comprises the air venting channels that runs through this lid, and described flange portion comprises the deformable segment that is associated with described venting channels, and this deformable segment is arranged under the negative pressure and is out of shape so that allow air by described venting channels away from described flow openings wall.

16. drinking container lid according to claim 15 is characterized in that deformable segment comprises lip shape valve.

17. drinking container lid according to claim 16 is characterized in that lip shape valve comprises flap.

18. drinking container lid according to claim 16 is characterized in that lip shape valve comprises pipe, this pipe has tube passage that is communicated with venting channels and the tube opening that is sealed by described perforated wall at sealing station.

19., it is characterized in that flange portion is arranged to engage with the inner surface of flow openings wall according to each described drinking container lid in the claim 15 to 18.

20., it is characterized in that this lid also comprises being used to indicate with the correct positive engagement that is connected of drinking container constructs according to each described drinking container lid in the claim 15 to 19.

21. a container, this container comprise according to each described rubber pacifier in the claim 1 to 12 or comprise according to each described drinking container lid in 15 to 20.