EP0437148B1 - Device for controlling the inlet of air into a nursing bottle - Google Patents

Description

• un biberon présentant une face annulaire de buvant,
• une bague de serrage vissée sur le biberon et comportant une bride annulaire présentant vers la face annulaire de buvant d'une part une moulure annulaire placée en regard d'une zone annulaire localisée de la face annulaire de buvant et d'autre part une gorge annulaire aménagée autour de la moulure, à proximité immédiate de celle-ci,
• une tétine comportant une collerette annulaire plate, étanche, élastiquement flexible et élastiquement compressible, emprisonnée entre la face annulaire de buvant et la bride, ladite collerette présentant d'une part une première face annulaire plate placée en regard de la bride et venant en appui sur la moulure de celle-ci et d'autre part une deuxième face annulaire plate placée en regard de la face annulaire de buvant,
     dans lequel l'une de deux faces constituées respectivement par la deuxième face de la collerette et par la face annulaire de buvant comporte une pluralité de nervures sensiblement radiales venant en appui sur l'autre desdites deux faces en délimitant entre elles des passages d'entrée d'air, avec l'une et l'autre desdites deux faces.

The present invention relates to a bottle device, comprising:

• a baby bottle having an annular face of a drink,
• a clamping ring screwed onto the bottle and comprising an annular flange having, towards the annular face of the rim, on the one hand an annular molding placed opposite a localized annular zone of the annular face of the rim and on the other hand an annular groove fitted around the molding, very close to it,
• a teat comprising a flat annular flange, tight, elastically flexible and elastically compressible, trapped between the annular face of the flange and the flange, said flange having on the one hand a first annular flat face placed opposite the flange and bearing the molding thereof and on the other hand a second flat annular face placed opposite the annular face of the rim,
  in which one of two faces constituted respectively by the second face of the flange and by the annular face of the rim comprises a plurality of substantially radial ribs coming to bear on the other of said two faces by delimiting entry passages therebetween air, with one and the other of said two faces.

These passages have the function of authorizing, as and when the consumption of a liquid contained in the bottle, an air intake compensating for this consumption and thus making it possible to maintain the interior of the bottle at atmospheric pressure in order to facilitate breastfeeding.

Such teats are currently sold under the trade name "Dodie", in an embodiment according to which each rib is arranged on the second face of the collar and overlaps the rim of the bottle continuously, that is to say d 'an edge of this drink facing the inside of the bottle to an edge of this drink facing the outside of the bottle.

In this known embodiment, the air intake is effective when the user child absorbs the liquid contained in the bottle with good speed, but as soon as the child sucks slowly or stops sucking, the liquid leaks out. the air intake passages and this is unpleasant for the surroundings.

Admittedly, we can to a certain extent limit the leakage of liquid by energetically screwing the clamping ring on the bottle, in order to reduce the useful section of the air intake passages by crushing the ribs on the rim, but it doesn’t it is not possible to close the air inlet passages in a completely sealed manner, that is to say to completely eliminate the leaks, insofar as the ribs retain a relief relative to the second face of the flange even in the most crushed state; in addition, this maneuver can lead to rapid destruction of the ribs if it is repeated, so that it may become impossible to restore an air intake passage having a sufficient useful section at the time when the baby suckles normally.

Completely sealed closure of the air inlet passages is also impossible when, according to another known embodiment, the ribs are arranged on the annular face of the drinking bottle and, in this case, repeated energetic screwing of the ring. tightening on the bottle to minimize the useful section of the air inlet passages can lead to rapid damage to the second side of the nipple collar.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and, to this end, the present invention proposes an improvement of the bottle device presented in the preamble, this improvement being characterized in that each of the ribs has an interruption in an area placed in look at said localized annular zone of the annular face of the drinker so that one can, in screwing the clamping ring more or less on the bottle, adjust the useful section of the air inlet passages by elastically deforming the flange by a lever effect applied between the support of its first face on the flange molding and the support of the ribs on said other of said two faces.

It thus becomes possible to adjust the useful section of the air passages, including until the complete closure of the latter by applying the second face of the flange flat on the rim of the bottle not only between the ribs but also at the level of interruptions of the latter, without applying to the collar a tightening capable of causing the destruction of its ribs or of its second face, respectively, depending on whether the ribs are arranged on this collar or on the bottle; therefore, the useful section of the air inlet passages can be reduced at will, with an easy gesture of screwing the tightening ring onto the bottle, if necessary until it is completely closed. air intake passages, to prevent any leakage of the liquid if the child stops sucking, and reopening of the air intake passages in particular up to their maximum useful section corresponding to the absence of deformation of the flange remains possible, by another easy movement of unscrewing the clamping ring, even after a total closure of the air inlet passages and even if one alternately repeats alternating closing operations more or less total then more or less total reopening of the latter.

When mounting the nipple on the bottle, by screwing the clamping ring on the latter, it is easy to detect the establishment of the support of the collar on the flange and on the drinker by the sensation of the appearance of a slight resistance against screwing, which corresponds to the formation of air inlet passages offering a maximum useful section; continued screwing against this resistance involves the gradual reduction of the useful section of the air passages; the feeling of a clear opposition to the continued screwing means the total closure of the air passages; when then, we gradually unscrew the clamping ring to reopen the latter, we find the feeling of a slight resistance against unscrewing until the maximum useful section is available, under conditions retaining support of the collar on the flange and on the rim, which is detected by the sensation of the disappearance of this resistance.

Taking into account on the one hand the steps usually used for screwing the clamping rings on the bottles and on the other hand the small protrusion that the ribs form on the second face of the collar or on the annular face of the bottle drinker, the passage from one to the other of the limit positions of the clamping ring with respect to the bottle corresponding respectively to the maximum useful section of the air inlet passages and to the total closure of the latter takes place in a fraction of a relative rotation turn in the direction of screwing or unscrewing, for example in about a third of a turn; to facilitate identification of these limit positions and, more particularly, of the intermediate partially closed positions of the air inlet passages, provision is advantageously made, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, for the clamping ring and the bottle additionally carry means for identifying their state of mutual screwing, for example in the form of at least one bar or at least one raised or hollow point on the clamping ring and at least one bar or at least one raised or recessed point on the bottle, making it possible to identify their relative angular position; it then becomes easy to see the relative position of these locating means when, when mounting the teat on the bottle, we detect the establishment of the support of the collar on the flange and on the drinker by sensation of the appearance of the aforementioned slight resistance and, then, to know with sufficient precision what is the degree of reduction of the useful cross-section of the air inlet passages for each subsequent degree of screwing of the clamping ring on the bottle by reading the corresponding variation of this relative position.

The present invention therefore provides an interesting complement to the various arrangements which have been proposed so far to allow the adjustment of the liquid outlet flow rate, according to the needs of the child, by rotation of the teat on itself thanks to to an appropriate conformation of a slot provided for this exit, the French patent application N ° 88 02290 of February 25, 1988 presenting a nonlimiting example of such a conformation.

Naturally, the present invention may have different modes of implementation, in particular as regards the conformation of the ribs; thus, provision may be made for a rib to be situated only on one side of the respective interruption, in order to bear on said other of said two faces on one side of this interruption; preferably, however, provision is made for a rib to comprise two sections situated respectively on either side of the respective interruption, in order to bear on said other of said two faces on either side of this interruption, which avoids any risk of inadvertent reduction of the useful section of the air inlet passages under the effect of a depression created inside the bottle by an energetic suction on the part of the child; similarly, the ribs can be distributed in different ways on the second face of the flange or on the annular face of drinking from the bottle and, by way of nonlimiting example, one can for example choose the arrangement known in itself according to which the second face of the flange comprises three groups of at least one of said ribs, and in particular of three ribs, these three groups being mutually angularly offset by 120 °, it being understood that a similar arrangement can be adopted when the ribs are provided on the annular face of the mouthpiece of the bottle.

Insofar as the implementation of the present invention results, in comparison with the prior art, by the appearance of discontinuities in the usually continuous ribs of the second annular face of the teat or of the annular face of the mouth of the bottle, the present invention is constituted not only by the bottle device as a whole but also by a nipple intended to be part of such an assembly and comprising said ribs, with said interruptions, on the second face of the collar and by a bottle also intended to be part of such a device and comprising said ribs, with said interruptions, on the annular face of the rim.

It will be noted that, when it cooperates with a teat and a bottle of a bottle device produced in accordance with the present invention, the molding, usually provided on the flange of the clamping ring for the sole purpose of ensuring an effect of gripping of the nipple collar by pinching this collar on the rim of the bottle via the ribs, fulfills a different function which is that of shaping the collar in order to ensure the adjustment, at will, of the section useful air inlet passages; certainly, this molding retains in this case a gripping effect of the collar but it is preferred, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, to reinforce the retention of this collar between the flange of the clamping ring and the flange of the bottle by providing that the first face of the collar has, around an annular zone, localized corresponding to the interruptions of the ribs, that is to say intended to support the first face of the collar on the molding of the flange of the clamping ring, an annular rim fitted into the groove of the flange when the flange is trapped between the flange and the flange; preferably, then, we reinforce fitting the rim of the first face of the flange into the groove of the clamping ring flange, providing that, if the ribs are located on one side of the respective interruption, these ribs are placed in correspondence with the rim of the first face of the collar and, if each rib has two sections situated respectively on either side of the respective interruption, some of these sections are placed in correspondence with the rim of the first face of the collar.

It will be noted that by thus ensuring effective retention of the collar of the teat, the cooperation between the annular rim of the first face of this collar and the groove of the flange of the clamping ring ensures precise positioning of the interruptions of the ribs by relative to the rider of the bottle when the ribs are provided on the second face of the collar of the teat, that is to say ensures support of the ribs on this rider in conditions suitable for allowing the desired voluntary deformation of the collar.

Due to this particular mode of cooperation of the nipple with the clamping ring, on the one hand, and with the rim of the bottle, on the other hand, in the context of a bottle device according to the invention, the present invention is constituted not only by this device and by the teat and the bottle respectively presenting the ribs with the interruptions thereof, but also by the combination of such a teat or, respectively, of such a bottle with the ring tightening having said molding and said groove.

• La figure 1 montre l'assemblage d'un biberon, d'une bague de serrage et d'une tétine selon l'invention, c'est-à-dire comportant les nervures interrompues caractéristiques de l'invention, en coupe par un plan passant par un axe par rapport auquel la tétine, la bague de serrage, et au moins une zone de goulot du biberon présentent une symétrie de révolution, ce plan étant repéré en I-I à la figure 2, et alors que les passages d'entrée d'air présentent leur section utile maximale.
• La figure 2 montre une vue axiale de la tétine, dans un sens repéré par une flèche II à la figure 1.
• La figure 3 montre une vue agrandie d'un détail de la figure 1.
• La figure 4 montre une vue analogue du même détail, alors que le serrage de la collerette de la tétine sur le buvant du biberon, au moyen de la bague de serrage, est tel que les passages d'entrée d'air soient totalement fermés.
• Les figures 5 et 6 illustrent, en des vues correspondant respectivement à celle de la figure 3 et à celle de la figure 4, la coopération d'un biberon selon l'invention, c'est-à-dire comportant les nervures interrompues caractéristiques de l'invention, avec une tétine et avec une bague de serrage.

Other characteristics and advantages of a device according to the invention will emerge from the description below, relating to two nonlimiting examples of embodiment of such a device, as well as the attached drawings which form an integral part of this description.

• Figure 1 shows the assembly of a bottle, a clamping ring and a nipple according to the invention, that is to say comprising the interrupted ribs characteristic of the invention, in section through a plane passing through an axis with respect to which the nipple, the clamping ring, and at least one neck area of the bottle have a symmetry of revolution, this plane being identified in II in Figure 2, and while the inlet passages d have their maximum useful cross-section.
• FIG. 2 shows an axial view of the teat, in a direction marked by an arrow II in FIG. 1.
• Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 1.
• Figure 4 shows a similar view of the same detail, while the clamping of the nipple collar on the rim of the bottle, by means of the clamping ring, is such that the air inlet passages are completely closed.
• FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate, in views corresponding respectively to that of FIG. 3 and to that of FIG. 4, the cooperation of a bottle according to the invention, that is to say comprising the interrupted ribs characteristic of the invention, with a teat and with a clamping ring.

Reference will firstly be made to FIGS. 1 to 4, where a teat according to the invention 1 has been illustrated.

For reasons of convenience, the nipple according to the invention 1 will be described in the assembled state with a bottle 2 and a clamping ring 3, as is apparent from FIGS. 1, 3, 4, but, unless expressly mentioned about Figure 4 which shows it in the elastically deformed state, it will be described as it emerges from Figures 1 to 3, in the rest state, that is to say without deformation.

Reference will firstly be made to these figures 1 to 3, from which it appears that the nipple 1 has a general symmetry of revolution about an axis 4 with respect to which the bottle 2, at least in a neck area 5, and the clamping ring 3 also have a general symmetry of revolution.

More specifically, the neck area 5 of the bottle 2 is delimited towards the axis 4 by an inner peripheral face 6 cylindrical of revolution around this axis with a radius R₁ while it is delimited in the direction of a distance from to this axis by an outer peripheral face 7 also cylindrical of revolution around this axis, with a radius R₂ greater than R₁, and these two respectively inner 6 and outer 7 peripheral faces are connected to each other by a flat and smooth annular face 8, perpendicular to axis 4, constituting the drinking of the bottle 2; at a certain distance, not referenced, from the rim 8 parallel to the axis 4, the outer peripheral face 7 of the neck region 5 gradually widens into an outer peripheral face 9 also cylindrical of revolution around the axis 4, with a radius R₃ greater than R₂, this outer peripheral face 9, however, having in relief a helical thread 10 of maximum radius R₄ greater than R₃ and of substantially semicircular section, when this thread 10 is seen in section through a plane including the axis 4 .

In known manner, the bottle 2 is made of a rigid material, for example glass or a suitable synthetic material.

The ring 3 is also made of a rigid material, and for example of a synthetic material, and, in order to ensure the fixing of the teat 1 on the neck area 5 of the bottle 2, has a flat annular flange 11, perpendicular to the axis 4 and placed opposite the lip 8, and a skirt 12 peripherally bordering the flange 11 and intended to ensure the screwing of the ring 3 on the helical thread 10 of the neck area 5 of the bottle 2.

To this end, the skirt 12 is delimited towards the axis 4 by an inner peripheral face 13 of cylindrical revolution around this axis with a radius substantially equal to R₄ and this inner peripheral face 13 is in relief, that is to say say projecting towards the axis 4, a helical thread 14 of the same pitch as the helical thread 10 and of minimum radius substantially equal to R₃, with however a section different from that of the helical thread 10, and for example triangular, when this thread 14 is seen in section through a plane including the axis 4; thus, the mutual screwing of the two helical threads 10 and 14 leaves a helical clearance 15 between the air passage between them between the skirt 12 of the ring 3 and the neck area 5 of the bottle 2.

At the level of the flange 11, the inner peripheral face 13 of the skirt 12 is connected to a flat annular face 16 of the flange 11, which face 16 is perpendicular to the axis 4 and turned towards the rim 8; the inner peripheral face 13 of the skirt 12 delimits this face 16 in the direction of a distance relative to the axis 4 while, towards the latter, this face 16 is connected to an inner peripheral face 17 of the flange 11, which face 17 faces the axis 4 and has a generally cylindrical shape of revolution around it, with a radius substantially equal to the radius R₃; this face 17 connects the face 16 to another flat annular face 18 of the flange 11; this face 18, perpendicular to the axis 4 like the face 16 but placed back with respect to the latter, is also turned towards the rim 8; it continues towards axis 4 until it connects with a cylindrical inner peripheral face 19 of revolution around this axis 4 and turned towards the latter, with a radius R₅ less than the radius R₁, so that this face 18 has an annular zone 20, of revolution around the axis 4, directly opposite the rim 8; in this annular zone 20, the face 18 has a continuous annular molding 21, of revolution around the axis 4 and projecting towards the lip 8, and more precisely directly opposite an annular zone 29 of the latter, this zone 29 having a shape of revolution around the axis 4 and being located in an intermediate position between the inner 6 and outer 7 peripheral faces of the zone 5 of bottle neck 2, being spaced from each other by these peripheral faces 5 and 7; for this purpose, the molding 21 has a section, for example hyperbolic when it is seen in section through a plane including the axis 4 and its zone 22 furthest from the face 18 parallel to the axis 4 has the form of a circle centered on the axis 4, with reference to the latter a radius R₆ intermediate between the rays R₁ and R₂; it will be noted that this continuous circular area 22 of revolution about the axis 4 is planar; in the example illustrated, it is coplanar with the face 16 of the flange 11; between the molding 21 and the face 17 of the flange 11 there remains a zone 18 ′ of the face 18, which zone 18 ′ delimits with the face 17 and with the molding 20, in the flange 11, an annular groove, continuous 23, of revolution around axis 4, facing the drink 8.

The shape of the ring 3 can also be indifferent and, for example, the face 19 of the flange 11 is connected opposite the face 18 thereof to a plane annular face 24, perpendicular to the axis 4 , turned away from the face 18, which face 24 is delimited towards the axis 4 by its connection with the face 19 and in the direction of a distance with respect to the axis 4 by its connection with a face 25 the skirt 12; this face 25 is cylindrical of revolution about the axis 4 and turned in the direction of a distance relative to the latter, with an unreferenced radius greater than R₄, so as to go along the inner face 13 to which it is connected, opposite its connection with the face 24 and opposite the connection of the face 13 with the face 16, by an end face 26 of the skirt 12, which face 26 is annular, planar and perpendicular to axis 4.

The arrangements which have just been described are known in themselves, except that sometimes the molding 21 of the flange 11 of the clamping ring 3 is provided in several copies, at least one of which may be arranged relative to the drink 8 in a different way from that which has been described.

The teat according to the invention 1 has, for its part, also in the traditional way, a flat annular flange 30, perpendicular to the axis 4, ensuring the fixing of the teat 1 on the bottle 2 by imprisonment between the rim 8 of the latter and the flange 11 of the ring 3, a tubular body 31 in the shape of a bell, to which the flange 30 is connected towards the axis 4 and which passes through the flange 11 by a coaxial hole 32 of the latter, defined by its inner peripheral face 19, and a nipple 33 closing the tubular body 31 opposite its connection with the collar 30 and intended to be subjected to the suction movement on the part of the child user; the collar 30, the tubular body 31 and the nipple 33 are made in a single piece of a tight, elastically flexible and elastically compressible material, for example a silicone rubber having a Shore A hardness of the order of 30 to 70, and are watertight with the exception of an orifice in the general shape of a slot 34 arranged along the axis 4 in the nipple 3, for example according to an arrangement described in French patent application number 88 02290 of February 25, 1988, this example being in no way limiting; however, preferably and as is the case with the orifice 34 in the form of a slot described in this previous French patent application, the orifice 34 has in its detail a shape such that by turning the assembly formed by the bottle 2, ring 3 and teat 1 around common axis 4, we can adapt the useful section of this orifice 34, reached during suction movements, to the child's appetite, using orientation marks 135, for example provided in three locations mutually offset angularly by 120 ° around axis 4, on the tubular body 31, in the form of bars or raised figures, for example.

The respective shapes of the tubular body 31 and the nipple 33, as well as the shape of the orifice 34, are not characteristic of the present invention and will not be described further; they could be different from those which have been illustrated and in particular, the tubular body 31 and the nipple 33 could have a shape different from a shape of revolution around the axis 4; it will be noted, however, that at its connection with the flange 30 and near this connection, the tubular body 31 is defined respectively towards the axis 4 and in the direction of a distance with respect to the latter by peripheral faces respectively inner 35 and outer 36 cylindrical of revolution about the axis 4, respectively with a radius R₇ less than R₅ and with a radius substantially equal to R₅ so that the outer peripheral face 36 of the tubular body 31 is pressed against the face inner peripheral 19 of the flange 11 at the crossing of the hole 32 thereof by the tubular body 31; immediately opposite the face 24 of the flange 11, the tubular body 31 carries integrally, by making in one piece with it, an annular projection 37, of revolution around the axis 4, locally stiffening the tubular body 31 and pressing on the face 24 of the flange 11, in a position opposite that of the flange 30 relative to this flange 11.

Between this flange 11 and the flange 8, the flange 30 has respectively towards the flange 11 and towards the flange 8 annular faces 38 and 39, planar and perpendicular to the axis 4 in the undeformed state illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 , and these faces are respectively connected to the face outer peripheral 36 of the tubular body 31 and to the inner peripheral face 35 of the latter in the direction of approximation relative to the axis 4; in the direction of a distance with respect to this axis 4, the face 39 facing the drink 8 is connected to an outer peripheral edge 40 of the flange 30, which is turned in the direction of a distance from the axis 4 and has a substantially cylindrical shape of revolution around it, with a radius R₈ (Figure 2) intermediate between the rays R₂ and R₃; the face 38 facing the flange 11 is also connected to this outer peripheral edge 40 in the direction of a distance from the axis 4, but this connection is indirect, and is effected by means of a flange annular device 41, projecting from this face 38 parallel to the axis 4 over a thickness E₁ less than the distance E₂ separating, parallel to the axis 4, the face 16 of the flange 11 and the zone 22 of the molding annular 21 thereof vis-à-vis the face 18 of the flange 11, including at the level of the zone 18 ′ thereof inside the annular groove 23.

The connection of the face 38 of the flange 30 with the annular rim 41 takes place in an annular zone 44 corresponding substantially to a circle of radius R₆ and the rim 41 presents towards the axis 4 a shape complementary to the shape that the molding 21 of the flange 11 present in the direction of a distance from the axis 4, towards the inside of the annular groove 23, so that the flange 30 and the flange 11 can occupy the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, in which the molding 21 of the flange 11 is supported flat, by its zone 22, on the face 38 of the flange 30, in the zone 44 of connection of this face 38 with the flange 41 which, meanwhile , engages inside the annular groove 23 without, however, coming into contact with either the area 18 ′ of the face 18, or with the face 17 while it, on the other hand, marries the molding 21 inside the groove 23 thereby ensuring precise coaxiality of the teat 1 relative to the ring 3, that is to say ire also with respect to the region of the neck 5 of the bottle 2; it will be noted that if we except the need, for the annular rim 41, to thus marry at least locally the molding 21 to inside the groove 23 in order to ensure such coaxiality, and the preferred search for an absence of contact between this rim 41 and the area 18 ′ of the face 18 as well as with the face 17 delimiting the annular groove 23 , the shape of the annular rim 41 is indifferent with regard to the present invention.

As for it, the face 39 of the flange 30, facing the drink 8, comprises projecting towards the latter, parallel to the axis 4, a plurality of substantially radial ribs 42, by means of which the face 39 s presses on the rim 8 without coming into direct contact with the latter in the absence of deformation of the flange 30, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, so that between the rim 8 and the face 39 remain, between the ribs 42, air inlet passages 43.

By way of nonlimiting example, three groups 45 have been illustrated, mutually angularly offset by 120 ° around the axis 4, of three of these ribs 42 on the understanding that other arrangements of these ribs could be adopted without however, depart from the scope of the invention, these ribs however preferably being angularly distributed around the axis 4 so as to maintain air inlet passages 43 between practically all of the lip 8 and practically all of the face 39 of the collar 30 in the absence of deformation of the latter.

In a manner not specifically shown but easily conceivable by a person skilled in the art, each of the ribs 42 has, when viewed in section through a plane perpendicular to a respective mean plane including the axis 4, a rectangular or trapezoidal section narrowing in the direction of a distance from the face 39 parallel to the axis 4, direction in which each rib 42 is delimited by a respective flat face 46 parallel to the face 39 and of the same orientation, the faces 46 and 39 being mutually spaced parallel to axis 4 of a thickness E₃ small compared to the distance E₄ mutually separating the faces 38 and 39 parallel to this axis 4, and for example of the order of 2 tenths to 5 tenths of mm for a value of E₄ of l 1.5 to 3 mm, these figures being given by way of nonlimiting example.

Circumferentially, with reference to the axis 4, each of the ribs 46 has, at its face 46, a development E₅ of the order of mm, this figure also being given by way of nonlimiting example.

Radially with reference to axis 4, finally, each of the ribs 46 extends from the outer peripheral edge 40 of the flange 30, of radius R₈, up to a distance of the order of R₅; more generally, each rib 46 has, with reference to the axis 4, a maximum radius, here constituted by R₈, greater than R₂ and a minimum radius, here constituted by R₅, less than R₁.

Characteristically of the present invention, each of the ribs 42, moreover continuous, has an interruption 47 subdividing it into two sections 48, 49 respectively further away from the axis 4 and closer to the latter; towards the axis 4, the section 48 is thus interrupted at a distance R₉ from this intermediate axis 4 between R₂ and R₆ while each section 49 is interrupted in the direction of a distance with respect to the axis 4 to a distance R₁₀ from the latter intermediate between R₁ and R₆, so that the interruptions 47 of the different ribs 46 are thus placed opposite the annular zone 29 of the flange 8 opposite which is also placed the molding 21 of the flange 11 , at least as far as zone 22 of this molding 21 is concerned, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Thus, each section 48 of rib 42 bears on the rim 8 only between the annular area 29 and the outer peripheral face 7 of the neck area 5 of the bottle 2, while each section 49 of rib 42 bears on the rim 8 only between this annular zone 29 and the inner peripheral face 6 of the neck zone 5, in particular when the flange 30 is free from deformation as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

It will be noted that a rigorously radial positioning of the ribs 42 with reference to the axis 4 is not essential; thus, in the example illustrated comprising three groups 45 of three rectilinear ribs 42, only that of these ribs 42 which is located in an intermediate position between the other two of these ribs 42 is oriented strictly radially with reference to axis 4, the two other ribs of the same group being arranged in parallel with this intermediate rib, at a distance E₆ from the latter of the order of 1 mm, this figure being given by way of nonlimiting example.

Under these conditions, the flange 30 can in particular occupy with respect to the lip 8 the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, which corresponds for the air inlet passages 43 to a maximum possible value of their useful passage section; this position of the flange 30 is reached by screwing the ring 3 onto the bottle 2 just enough to establish support for the faces 46 of the ribs 42 on the flange 8 and support for the zone 22 of the molding 21 of the flange 11 on the area 44 of the collar 30 without causing deformation thereof.

However, by further screwing the ring 3 onto the bottle 2, it is also possible to cause a deformation of the collar 30 by leverage between on the one hand its zone 44 by which the zone 22 of the molding 21 of the flange rests. 11 and on the other hand the respective supports of the sections 48 and 49 of each rib 46, on either side of the corresponding interruption 47 respectively, on the flange 8 respectively on either side of the annular zone 29 of this one ; this certainly results in a partial crushing of the zones of the sections 48 and 49 of the ribs 42 in support, as appears from the examination of Figure 4, while the distance E₄ mutually separating the faces 38 and 39 of the flange 30 varies only imperceptibly; the fact that the flange 30 is however free to move towards the rim 8 between the ribs 42 as well as between the sections 48 and 49 of each of them, this however also results, and essentially by a deformation of the face 39 of the flange 30, pushed at the interruptions 47 of each rib 42 by the zone 22 of the molding 21, acting by means of the material constituting the flange 30 located between the faces 38 and 39 of the latter , until contact is established on this face 39 with the annular zone 29 of the drink 8, continuously, in a ring passing through the interruptions 47 of the different ribs 42 as shown in FIG. 4 corresponding to this state maximum deformation of the collar 30; it is easily understood that then, the useful section of the air inlet passages 43 is zero or, in other words, that the flange 30 is in total or practically total sealing contact with the rim 8 of the bottle 2 .

It is also easily understood that by screwing the ring 3 onto the bottle 2 intermediate between the screw connections corresponding respectively to the absence of deformation of the flange 30, in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 3, and to the maximum deformation of this flange 30 , in accordance with FIG. 4, it is possible to give the air inlet passages 43 any useful cross-section between the maximum useful section obtained in the absence of deformation of the flange 30 and the zero useful section obtained by maximum deformation of that -this, that is to say to modulate the possibilities of air intake according to the needs, in particular in addition to the aforementioned adjustment, obtained by rotation of the assembly of the bottle 2, of the ring 3 and of the teat 1 around axis 4.

Identification of the limit positions of the clamping ring with respect to the bottle corresponding respectively to the useful section maximum of the air inlet passages 43, under the conditions described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, and to the total closure of these air inlet passages 43, under the conditions described with reference to FIG. 4, is easily performed when screwing and unscrewing by the sensation of resistance opposed to this screwing and unscrewing; indeed, the screwing and unscrewing do not meet any significant resistance if there is no support of the flange 30 on the one hand on the flange 11, by the molding 21 thereof, and on the other hand on the rim 8 of the bottle 2 while they meet a significant resistance when such a support is established on both sides, and that the screwing meets a clear opposition when the air inlet passages 43 are completely firm, i.e. under the conditions described with reference to FIG. 4.

Preferably, however, means are provided additionally on the tightening ring 3 and on the bottle 2, to allow the identification of their mutual screwing state, for example by identification of their relative angular position around the axis 4 in view of the fact that the passage from one of the said limit positions to the other generally requires only a fraction of a turn, and for example a third of a turn, of rotation of the clamping ring relative to the bottle because of the value generally adopted for the pitch of the threads 14 and 10 of the clamping ring 3 and of the bottle 2, compared to E₃. These means may consist, for example, of at least one bar or at least one point 50 in relief on the outer peripheral face 25 of the skirt 12 of the clamping ring 3, in the immediate vicinity of the end face 26 thereof, and by at least one bar or at least one point 51 in relief on the bottle 2, in a location located in the immediate vicinity of its neck area 5 but released by the clamping ring 3 even in the position thereof corresponding to completely closing the air inlet passages 43; these bars or points could also be hollowed out or be replaced by any other means making it possible to associate visually a relative position of the tightening ring 3 and of the bottle 2 with the appearance of a support of the collar 30 in the undeformed state on the flange 11 and on the rim 8 of the bottle 2, under the conditions described with reference to Figures 1 and 3, when mounting the teat 1 on the bottle 2, then refer to this relative position for the degree of closure of the inlet passages 43 air when the clamping ring 3 is screwed further onto the bottle 2.

It is observed that whatever the deformation thus communicated to the flange 30, a support of the sections 47 of the ribs 42 is retained on the rim 8 of the bottle 2 while these sections 47 are placed in direct correspondence with the annular rim 41 of the flange 30, which permanently maintains between this annular rim 41 and the molding 21 of the flange 11 a mutual engagement capable of ensuring coaxiality of the teat 1, the ring 3 and the bottle 2; depending on the state of deformation of the flange 30, the annular rim 41 penetrates more or less into the annular groove 23 while approaching more or less, inside of it, the zone 18 ′ of the face 18, at each of the ribs 42 and in the vicinity of the latter, as appears from the examination of FIG. 4.

We find the possibilities and advantages which have just been described with reference to a teat according to the invention 1, comprising the ribs 47 interrupted in a characteristic manner of the invention, when these interrupted ribs are provided not on the teat, but on the annular face of the bottle defining the drinking thereof, as shown in Figures 5 and 6 which will now be referred to.

Identically found in these figures the clamping ring 3 described above, the different parts of which have the same references as in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the description of which will be referred to in its subject.

Also found in Figures 5 and 6 a pacifier 201 and a bottle 202 which, if we except the arrangement of the interrupted ribs characteristic of the invention on the bottle and not on the pacifier, are identical to pacifier 1 and bottle 2 described with reference to Figures 1 to 4; therefore, we find in FIGS. 5 and 6 the same references as in FIGS. 1 to 4, however incremented by 200, to designate parts of the teat 201 and of the bottle 202 respectively identical to parts of the teat 1 and of the bottle. 2 and reference will be made to the subject of these different parts in the description of FIGS. 1 to 4.

In particular, the collar 230 of the nipple 201 has, towards the annular face of the drink 208 of the bottle 202, an annular face 239 which, when the collar 230 is at rest as shown in FIG. 5, that is to say in the absence of deformation of the collar 230, is plane and perpendicular to the axis 204. Unlike the face 39 of the collar 30 of the nipple 1, this face 239 is smooth, that is to say devoid of any similar relief to the ribs 42.

On the other hand, instead of being smooth like the annular face of the drink 8 of the bottle 2, the annular face of the drink 208 of the bottle 202, although of generally annular shape of revolution around the axis 204 and for example planar and perpendicular to this, comprises ribs 242 advantageously arranged in one piece with the bottle 201 and which extend substantially radially, with reference to the axis 204, from the inner peripheral face 206 of the neck 205 to its outer peripheral face 207 and are for example arranged as we said ribs 42, that is to say distributed in three groups 245 of three ribs 242, mutually offset angularly by 120 ° around the axis 204, it being understood that other ribs 242 provisions could be adopted without departing from the scope of the present invention.

These ribs 242 have for example a rectangular or trapezoidal section narrowing in the direction of a distance from the lip 208 parallel to the axis 204, when they are seen in section by a plane perpendicular to a respective mean plane including the axis 204, and are advantageously delimited in this direction by a respective flat face 246 parallel to the lip 208 and of the same orientation, the faces 246 and the lip 208 being mutually spaced parallel to the axis 204 of the same thickness defined as l 'thickness E₃ and for example of the order of 2 tenths to 5 tenths of mm.

By these faces 246, the ribs 242 serve to support the face 239 of the flange 230 of the teat 201 towards the rim 208 of the bottle 202 and prevent the face 239 from coming into direct contact with the ruff 208 in the absence deformation of the flange 230, so that between the lip 208 and the face 239 then remain, between the ribs 242, air inlet passages 243, the ribs 242 being dimensioned circumferentially as said ribs 42 so that these air inlet passages 243 are circumferentially as wide as possible.

Characteristically of the present invention, each rib 242 has an interruption 247 located in the annular zone 229 of the flange 208 opposite which is the molding 21 of the flange 11, or at least the zone 22 of this molding 21, and is therefore subdivided into two sections which are continuous 248, 249 respectively further away from the axis 204 and closer to the latter; the section 248 is interrupted towards the axis 204 at a distance from the latter defined as the distance R₉ while the section 249 is interrupted in the direction of a distance from the axis 204 at a distance from that -this defined as the distance R₁₀.

Under these conditions, the flange 230 can in particular occupy with respect to the lip 208 the position illustrated in FIG. 5, which corresponds for the air inlet passages 243 to a maximum possible value of their useful passage section; this position of the collar 230 is obtained by screwing the ring 3 onto the bottle 202 just enough to establish a support for the face 239 of the collar 230 on the faces 246 of the ribs 242 and a support for the zone 22 of the molding 21 of the flange 11 on the area 244 of the flange 230 without causing its deformation.

However, by further screwing the ring 3 onto the bottle 202, it is also possible to cause a deformation of the collar 230 by leverage between on the one hand its zone 244 by which the zone 22 of the molding 21 of the flange rests 11 and on the other hand its respective supports on the sections 248 and 249 of each rib 246, on either side of the interrupt 247 respectively corresponding, that is to say respectively on either side of the annular zone 229 of the drinker 208; this certainly results in a partial and closely localized crushing of the flange 230 between its faces 238 and 239, in line with said supports but, because the flange 230 is free to move towards the rim 208 between the ribs 242 as well as between the sections 248 and 249 of each of them, this also results, and essentially, in a deformation of the face 239 of the flange 230, pushed at the level of the interruptions 247 of each rib 242 by the zone 22 of the molding 21 , acting through the material of the flange 230 located between the faces 238 and 239 thereof, until contact is established between this face 239 with the annular zone 229 of the drink 208, continuously, along a ring passing through the interruptions 247 of the different ribs 242 as shown in FIG. 6 corresponding to this state of maximum deformation of the flange 230; it is easily understood that then, the useful section of the air inlet passages 243 is zero or, in other words, that the flange 230 is in total or practically total sealing contact with the rim 208 of the bottle 202 .

It is also easy to see that by screwing the ring 3 onto the bottle 202 intermediate between the corresponding screw connections respectively to the absence of deformation of the flange 230, in accordance with FIG. 5, and to the maximum deformation of this flange 230, in accordance with FIG. 5, the air inlet passages 243 can be given any useful intermediate section between the maximum useful section obtained in the absence of deformation of the flange 230 and the zero useful section obtained by maximum deformation of the latter, that is to say modulating the possibilities of air intake according to requirements , in particular in addition to an adjustment similar to the aforementioned adjustment with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, obtained by rotation of the assembly of the bottle 202, of the ring 3 and of the nipple 201 around the axis 4.

The identification of the limit positions of the tightening ring with respect to the bottle corresponding respectively to the maximum useful section of the air inlet passages 243 and to the total closure of the latter can be effected by feeling a resistance opposed to the screwing or mutual screwing or by visualization of the relative angular position of the clamping ring and the bottle by means similar to those which have been described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, and for example by means of at least one bar or at least one point 50 of the clamping ring 3 and at least one bar or at least one point 251 in relief on the bottle.

Naturally, like the teat 1 at its flange 30, the teat 201 at its flange 230 tends to resiliently resume its resting conformation, corresponding to a maximum opening of the air inlet passages 43, 243, as soon as , by unscrewing the clamping ring 3 with respect to the bottle 2, 202, the stress on the rim 8, 208 of the bottle 2, 202 which is applied to the flange 30, 230 is stopped by the molding 21 of the flange 11 of the clamping ring 3.

Naturally, the present invention is susceptible of numerous variants of implementation, in comparison with the nonlimiting examples which have been described, and variants may in particular relate to the conformation and the arrangement of the ribs 42, 242.

In particular, instead of being situated respectively on either side of the annular zone 29, 229 of the lip 8, 208, these ribs could be situated on one side of this annular zone 29, 229, although a support of the flange 30, 230 on the rim 8, 208 by means of ribs such as 42, 242 on either side of the annular zone 29, 239 is preferred because of the security which it offers as regards effective maintenance of a determined useful section of the air inlet passages 43, 243; if, in the event of such support of the ribs 42 or on the ribs 242 on one side of the annular zone 29, 229, the coaxiality of the teat 1, 201, of the ring 3 was retained and the bottle 2, 202 by mutual engagement of an annular rim 41, 241 of the collar 30, 230 of the nipple 1, 201 and of a molding 21 of the flange 11 of the ring 3, and in comparison with the modes implementation of the invention which have been described, it would preferably retain for this purpose the section 48, 248 of each of the ribs 42, 242 which have been described, that is to say the section of these ribs which is placed in correspondence with the annular rim 41, 241 and ensures the permanent grip of the latter with the molding 21.

In addition, these ribs 42, 242 could be replaced by any other relief provided on the face 39, 239 of the flange 30, 230 or on the rim 8, 208 of the bottle 2, 202 and capable of establishing passages 43, 243 air inlet between this face 39, 239 and the rim 8, 208 of the bottle 2, 202 in the absence of deformation of the collar, and in particular by studs, various inscriptions or markings, these examples not being in no way limiting.

Variants can also relate to other parts of the collar 30, 230, of which, for example, the annular rim 41, 241 could be eliminated in a simplified embodiment of the teat 1, 201 according to the invention, as well as on the conformation of the clamping ring 3 and of the neck region 5, 205 of the bottle 2, 202 of which, in particular, the face of the sip 8, 208 could be convex instead of being plane ; in particular, in a simplified embodiment of the present invention, one could admit an absence of the molding 21 of the flange 11, which would however have the drawback of causing the need for a greater screwing effort to achieve complete closure of the air inlet passages 43, 243.

Claims (13)

1. Feeding-bottle device, comprising:

   - a feeding bottle (2, 202) having an annular rim face (8, 208),

   - a clamping ring (3) screwed onto the feeding bottle (2, 202) and having an annular flange (11) possessing, towards the annular rim face (8, 208), on the one hand, an annular moulding (21) located opposite a localized annular zone (29, 229) of the annular rim face (8, 208) and, on the other hand, an annular groove (23) formed round the moulding (21) in the immediate vicinity of the latter,

   - a teat (1, 201) having a flat sealing elastically flexible and elastically compressable annular collar (30, 230) retained between the annular rim face (8, 208) and the flange (11), the said collar (30, 230) possessing, on the one hand, a first flat annular face (38, 238) located opposite the flange (11) and coming to bear on the moulding (21) of the latter and, on the other hand, a second flat annular face (39, 239) located opposite the annular rim face (8, 208),
   in which one (39, 208) of the two faces (8, 39, 208, 239) consisting respectively of the second face (39, 239) of the collar (30, 230) and of the annular rim face (8, 208) has a plurality of substantially radial ribs (42, 242) coming to bear on the other (8, 239) of the said two faces (8, 39, 208, 239), at the same time between them delimiting air-inlet passages (43, 243) with one of the said two faces (8, 39, 208, 239) and the other,
   characterized in that each of the ribs (42, 242) has an interruption (47, 247) in a zone located opposite the said localized annular zone (29, 229) of the annular rim face (8, 208), in such a way that it is possible, by screwing the clamping ring (3) onto the feeding bottle (2, 202) to a greater or lesser extent, to adjust the effective cross-section of the air-inlet passages (43, 243), deforming the collar (30, 230) elastically as a result of a lever effect exerted between the bearing point of its first face (38, 238) on the moulding (21) of the flange (11) and the bearing point of the ribs (42, 242) on the said other (8, 239) of the said two faces (8, 39, 208, 239).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that a rib (42, 242) is located only on one side of the respective interruption (47, 247), in order to come to bear on the said other (8, 239) of the said two faces (8, 39, 208, 239) on only one side of this interruption (47, 247).
3. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that a rib (42, 242) comprises two portions (48, 49, 248, 249) located respectively on either side of the respective interruption (47, 247), in order to come to bear on the said other (39, 208) of the said two faces (8, 39, 208, 239) on either side of this interruption (47, 247).
4. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first face (38, 238) of the collar (30, 230) possesses, round a localized annular zone (44, 244) corresponding to the interruptions (47, 247) of the ribs (42, 242), an annular edge (41, 241) engaged in the groove (23) of the flange (11).
5. Device according to Claim 4, in combination with Claim 2, characterized in that the ribs (42, 242) are arranged in correspondence with the edge (41, 241) of the first face (38, 238) of the collar (30, 230).
6. Device according to Claim 4, in combination with Claim 3, characterized in that portions (48, 248) of the ribs (42, 242) are arranged in correspondence with the edge (41, 241) of the first face (38, 238) of the collar (30, 230).
7. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises three groups (45, 245) of at least one of the said ribs (42, 242), offset angularly at 120° relative to one another.
8. Device according to Claim 7, characterized in that each group (45, 245) comprises three ribs (42, 242).
9. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the feeding bottle (2, 202) and the clamping ring (3) carry in a complementary manner means (50, 51, 251) for identifying their mutual screwing state.
10. Teat intended to form part of a feeding-bottle device according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, having the said ribs (42), with the said interruptions (47), on the second face (39) of the collar (30).
11. Combination of a teat and of a clamping ring intended to form part of a feeding-bottle device according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, the teat (1) having the said ribs (42), with the said interruptions (47), on the second face (39) of the collar (30), and the clamping ring (31) having the said moulding (21) and the said groove (23).
12. Feeding bottle intended to form part of a feeding-bottle device according to one of Claims 1 to 9, having the said ribs (242), with the said interruptions (247), on the annular rim face (208).
13. Combination of a feeding bottle and of a clamping ring intended to form part of a feeding-bottle device according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, the feeding bottle (202) having the said ribs (242), with the said interruptions (247), on the annular rim face (208), and the clamping ring (3) having the said moulding (21) and the said groove (23).

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