EP1785126B1 - Nursing bottle with a lateral device for controlling the inlet of air - Google Patents

Abstract

The bottle (1) has a container with a lateral skirt (4), a base (7) and a neck (5). A nipple (18) is locked on the neck. A valve (26) is mounted in an orifice (17) arranged in the skirt and has an elastically deformable part. The valve has a peripheral groove in which an edge of the orifice is inserted in a tight manner in usage positions of the valve. An air inlet opening crosses the valve in a central zone which permits air from the exterior to the interior of the container in active position and avoids passage of liquid from the interior towards the exterior in rest position of the valve.

Description

The present invention relates to a bottle having a device for venting the side.

In a conventional manner, a feeding bottle comprises a generally cylindrical container on which is disposed a nipple.

The infant, to whom the bottle is administered, sucks the liquid contained in the bottle. It creates a vacuum in the bottle. To overcome the flow resistance created by this vacuum, the infant is forced to suck up the liquid with greater force and usually absorbs air and is unnecessarily fatigued. However, the absorption of air can, in particular, cause colic in the infant.

Various venting devices are already known that allow the entry of air into the bottle.

Some of these devices are provided on the nipple or on an element placed between the nipple and the container, such as a ring. However, in some applications, the bottle is designed to be disposable (especially in maternity), and for this purpose, the nipple is snapped waterproof and not removable on the container. It is then not possible to provide venting devices on the teat or between the latter and the container.

Other types of devices are provided on the bottom of the container. Such devices have several disadvantages: they are difficult to mount, but also difficult to handle by the person administering the bottle to the infant, because of their very positioning on the bottom.

In addition, most known devices implement many parts, which makes their assembly difficult, increases their cost and the difficulty of cleaning. In addition, they do not allow easy manual control of the flow of air entering the bottle. However, a too fast flow of the liquid contained in the bottle may also have adverse effects on the infant.

In addition, the document US 1,999,619 describes a bottle whose side skirt of the container has an orifice in which is disposed a venting device constituted by a valve. This valve, made of flexible rubber, has a harpoon-shaped portion placed inside the container and a saucer-shaped portion placed outside the container. The saucer-shaped part ensures the retention of the valve and has a radial opening. These two parts are connected by a connecting pin passing through the orifice formed in the lateral skirt of the container.

In the rest position of the valve, the harpoon-shaped portion provides a sealed contact with the side skirt. To effect a venting of the bottle tank, the user must exert pressure on the valve, which has the effect of detaching the harpoon portion of the inner wall of the side skirt. As a result, an air passage is created: in fact, the outside air, at atmospheric pressure, can reach the inside of the tank while traveling through the radial opening made in the saucer-shaped part of the tank. the valve then through the orifice in the side skirt, and between the side skirt and the end of the harpoon part.

This venting device has a number of disadvantages.

First, for the air to enter the container, it is necessary to cause significant deformation of the valve so that the harpoon portion can be detached from the side skirt. This can be difficult for the person holding the bottle, which is in a position that makes it difficult for him to exert enough effort on the valve. In addition, because of the large successive deformations of the valve, there is a risk that the valve eventually not return perfectly to the rest position, that is to say that the harpoon portion is not perfectly in contact with the side skirt. This can lead to a loss of sealing, which is obviously not desirable.

In addition, the air flow from the outside to the inside of the container is sinuous and is therefore relatively long and thwarted by successive changes in direction. For the user of the bottle, this results in the need to exert on the valve a prolonged pressure, which is difficult.

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above, by providing a bottle with an improved venting device, and in particular easier to handle.

• un récipient présentant une jupe latérale, un fond et un col définissant une ouverture ;
• une tétine encliquetée de façon étanche sur le col ;
• un dispositif de mise à l'air comprenant une soupape montée dans un orifice ménagé dans la jupe latérale du récipient et comportant au moins une partie pouvant être déformée élastiquement, lorsqu'un utilisateur exerce une pression sur la soupape, entre une position de repos et une position activée.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a bottle comprising:

• a container having a side skirt, a bottom and a neck defining an opening;
• a nipple snapped tightly on the neck;
• an air venting device comprising a valve mounted in an orifice in the container side skirt and having at least one resiliently deformable portion when a user exerts pressure on the valve between a rest position and an activated position.

• une gorge périphérique dans laquelle le bord de l'orifice est inséré de façon étanche dans toutes les positions d'utilisation de la soupape ;
• au moins une ouverture d'entrée d'air traversant la soupape dans sa zone centrale, ladite ouverture pouvant être élastiquement déformée lorsqu'un utilisateur exerce une pression la soupape de sorte que, en position activée de la soupape l'ouverture permette l'entrée d'air de l'extérieur vers l'intérieur du récipient et que, en position de repos de la soupape, l'ouverture empêche le passage de liquide de l'intérieur vers l'extérieur du récipient.

According to a general definition of the invention, the valve comprises:

• a peripheral groove in which the edge of the orifice is inserted in a sealed manner in all the operating positions of the valve;
• at least one air inlet opening through the valve in its central zone, said opening being elastically deformable when a user exerts a pressure on the valve so that, in the activated position of the valve, the opening allows entry air from the outside to the inside of the container and that, in the position of rest of the valve, the opening prevents the passage of liquid from the inside to the outside of the container.

Thanks to the peripheral groove receiving the edge of the orifice, an excellent sealing of the bottle is obtained in all the positions of use of the valve, that is to say in the rest position, in the activated position (when the valve is deformed), and in all intermediate positions. Since the groove does not come off the side skirt, the risks of loss of tightness by imperfect return in the rest position are avoided.

Furthermore, the deformation of the valve by the user leads to the deformation of the opening in the valve, thereby creating an air passage. The intake of air into the bottle is therefore not between the edge of the orifice and the peripheral zone of the valve, but in the central zone of the valve (as opposed to the peripheral zone having the groove). It is thus possible to make a direct path of the air, not having to undergo successive changes of direction.

Advantageously, in the mounted position of the valve, the air inlet opening extends substantially radially, relative to the container, between the inside and the outside of the container. Therefore, the air path is substantially linear and unobstructed, which makes it easy for a user to bring air into the bottle, without having to exert too much pressure or too much pressure. extended on the valve.

According to a possible embodiment, in the rest position of the valve, the opening has, in cross-section, substantially the shape of a cone open towards the outside of the container and, in the activated position of the valve, the opening forms a channel communicating the interior and exterior of the container. The term "cross section" is used in reference to the opening.

For example, the opening has a substantially rectangular shape when the valve is mounted on the container and is viewed in a radial direction to the container.

The orifice in the side skirt of the container and the valve may be substantially circular

Advantageously, the valve comprises N air inlet openings substantially regularly spaced angularly from each other, N being between 2 and 5. Providing several openings makes it possible on the one hand to facilitate the entry of air, even when the user does not exert pressure centered on the valve, and secondly to make the pressure equalization between the inside and the outside of the container faster. For example, N can be equal to 3.

According to one possible embodiment, the valve comprises an open groove towards the outside of the container, in the mounted position, defining a projecting central part forming an actuating zone of the valve, the air inlet opening or openings being provided (s) at the bottom of the groove.

The side skirt of the container may have a recessed portion
wherein the orifice is formed, the valve being arranged substantially not to protrude beyond the envelope of the side skirt. In this way, undesired actuation of the venting device is avoided, and the latter is protected, in particular shocks.

Furthermore, the bottom and the side skirt of the container are preferably two separate pieces. This configuration allows easy assembly of the valve, from inside the container, before the introduction of the bottom.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the bottom is screwed onto the side skirt and has a sealing lip cooperating with the side skirt. This gives a very good seal without the need to use a reported seal.

Alternatively, the bottom can be mounted inside the side skirt and held in place by fastening means provided at its periphery and cooperating with the inner face of the side skirt.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée des différents éléments constitutifs du biberon selon l'invention ;
• La figure 2 est une vue en coupe longitudinale du biberon de la figure 1, en position montée ;
• La figure 3 est vue en coupe selon la ligne III-III de la figure 2 ;
• Les figures 4 et 5 sont des vues de la soupape selon l'invention, respectivement en perspective et en élévation ; et
• Les figures 6 et 7 sont des représentations agrandies de la soupape, vue selon la coupe de la figure 3, respectivement en position de repos et en position activée.

We will now describe, by way of nonlimiting example, a possible embodiment of the invention, with reference to the appended figures:

• The figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the various components of the bottle according to the invention;
• The figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the bottle of the figure 1 , in mounted position;
• The figure 3 is seen in section along line III-III of the figure 2 ;
• The figures 4 and 5 are views of the valve according to the invention, respectively in perspective and in elevation; and
• The Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged representations of the valve, seen according to the section of the figure 3 , respectively in the rest position and in the activated position.

As illustrated in the figures, a baby bottle 1 firstly comprises a container 2 of generally cylindrical shape of axis 3, made for example by injection of a plastic material. The lateral skirt 4 of the container 2 has two open ends, one of which forms a neck 5, provided on its outer face with a first and a second annular bead 6a, 6b, and the other of which is closed by a 7. The bottom 7, initially distinct from the side skirt 4, is associated with it to form the container 2. This allows for the side skirt with a very simple mold, not including background.

The bottom 7 has a transverse wall 8, disc-shaped, which has in its center a cavity 9 of substantially cylindrical shape, open towards the inside of the bottle 1 in the mounted position of the bottom 7. The cavity 9 is a depression located in the transverse wall 8.

The bottom 7 also comprises a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall 10, with the same axis as the transverse wall 8, and which extends on either side of the plane formed by the transverse wall 8. The peripheral wall 10 forms on the one hand feet 11 extending from the transverse wall 8 in the same direction as the cavity 9. These feet 11, for example three in number, ensure the stability of the bottle 1 when it is placed vertically on the bottom 7. D on the other hand, the peripheral wall 10 has an internal thread 12, in its part located on the other side of the plane formed by the transverse wall 8 with respect to the feet 11.

Finally, the bottom 7 comprises an annular sealing lip 13 protruding from the transverse wall 8 opposite the feet 11, close to the peripheral wall 10.

The bottom 7 is put in place by screwing on the container 2, outside thereof. For this purpose, on the side of the bottom 7, the side skirt 4 has an external thread 14 and an annular bead 15 allowing, if necessary, to limit the screwing stroke of the bottom 7. In the mounted position, the sealing lip 13 cooperates with the inner face of the side skirt 4 ( figure 2 ), ensuring a perfect seal of the bottle 1 without the need to use a reported seal, with the associated disadvantages (an additional piece to mount, wash, etc.).

The side skirt 4 has at least one portion 16 set back relative to the substantially cylindrical envelope of the container 2, and here two recessed portions substantially diametrically opposite. Each recessed portion 16 extends longitudinally over a height greater than two thirds of the total height of the container 2, away from the ends of the side skirt 4. These recessed portions 16 facilitate the taking of the bottle 1 by a user. A circular orifice 17, with a diameter of the order of 1 to 1.5 cm, is formed in the lateral skirt 4 of the container 2, in each recessed portion 16, near the bottom 7 and above the bead 15. The container 2 thus comprises two orifices 17 substantially diametrically opposed.

The bottle 1 also comprises a nipple 18 made of rubber, having on its inner face a groove 19 intended to cooperate with the annular bead 6a of the neck 5 of the container 2, for the snap-fastening of the nipple 18 (without a seal) . In mounted position ( figure 2 ), the nipple 18 also bears on the bead 6b. As illustrated on the figure 1 , the nipple 18 has the form of a daisy with several petals 20 (here six petals).

According to a first embodiment, the nipple 18 can be removed from the container 2 to allow its cleaning and the filling of the bottle 1.

According to a second embodiment, the nipple 18 is immovably snapped onto the receptacle 2. In this case, it is possible to remove the nipple 18 from the receptacle 2, by acting on a petal 20, but this leads to the tearing of the teat 18, along at least one line from a notch 21 located between two adjacent petals 20. This arrangement makes it possible to produce a bottle 1 for single use. In this case, it is also possible to provide that the bottom 7 is assembled to the container 2 irremovably, and not by screwing. For example, the bottom 7 may comprise an annular bead cooperating with a corresponding groove formed on the side skirt and / or fine projections, arranged as fish bones, penetrating into the material of the side skirt. Thus, once assembled to the side skirt, the bottom can not be removed without damaging the container.

The bottle 1 may further comprise a protective cover 22 adapted to be removably associated with the container 2, by capping the nipple 18. This protective cover 22 can be held on the nipple 18 by means of studs 23 projecting radially towards the outside the pacifier ( figure 1 ). In addition, it may include at least one vent plug 29 to prevent the suction effect. The end face 24 of the protective cover 22 advantageously has the shape of a flat disc, surrounded by a substantially conical peripheral wall 25 whose dimensions are adapted to those of the cavity 9 formed in the bottom 7. Thus, the mounted assembly formed of the container 2, the nipple 18 and the cover 22 can be turned and the cover 22 housed in part in the cavity 9. This inverted vertical position is stable, and allows including the filling of the bottle 1 by the open end the side skirt 4 opposite to the nipple 18.

Finally, the bottle 1 comprises a venting device, comprising a valve 26 mounted in the orifice 17 or each orifice 17 formed in the lateral skirt 4 of the container 2.

The valve 26, more particularly illustrated on the Figures 3 to 7 , is circular in shape and for example made of silicone. It comprises a peripheral zone 27, in the form of a ring, in which is formed a peripheral groove 28 open on the edge of the valve 26. The peripheral zone 27 delimits a central zone in which is formed a generally circular groove 30 open on a disc-shaped face of the valve 26, which face is located outside the container 2 in the mounted position. The groove 30 thus defines a projecting central portion 31 forming an actuating zone of the valve 26. In the embodiment shown, the central portion 31 has the shape of a Y, but other geometries are possible (shape in T, cylinder, etc.).

As illustrated on the figure 3 , the valve 26 is mounted in the orifice 17 of the container 2, the edge of the orifice 17 being inserted in the peripheral groove 28 in a sealed manner, thus preventing in particular the passage of air between the valve 2 and the edge of the orifice 17. In the mounted position, the groove 30 is open towards the outside of the container. In addition, the valve 26 does not protrude beyond the casing of the side skirt 4. In this way, the valve 26 is protected from impacts and can not be actuated inadvertently. Another advantage of this arrangement is that the actuation of the valve 26 by a finger (especially the thumb) is natural because the fingers of the user administering the bottle to an infant are generally placed in a recessed portion 16 of the side skirt 4 Advantageously, the installation of the valve 26 in the lateral skirt 4 is performed while the bottom 7 is not yet mounted. This implementation is therefore greatly simplified.

Air inlet openings 32 are formed in the valve 26, in the bottom of the groove 30. These openings 32 are here three in number, angularly spaced apart by 120 °, and arranged in the vicinity of each end of the part. central 31 Y. The openings 32 through the valve 26 from the inside, from the inside to the outside of the container 2, substantially orthogonal to the axis 3 of the container 2. They have, in elevation view ( figure 5 ) a substantially rectangular shape.

• en position de repos (figure 6), lorsqu'aucune action n'est exercée sur la soupape 26, chaque ouverture 32 présente, en coupe transversale, la forme d'un cône d'axe orthogonal à l'axe 3 du récipient 2 et ouvert vers l'extérieur du récipient 2. De ce fait, les ouvertures 32 empêchent le passage du liquide contenu dans le récipient 2 vers l'extérieur. L'orifice 17 est donc obturé de façon étanche ;
• en position activée (figure 7), lorsqu'un utilisateur a appuyé sur la partie centrale 31 selon la flèche F, il a provoqué la déformation élastique de la soupape 26, qui s'est un peu enfoncée à l'intérieur du récipient 2 tandis que sa face intérieure 33 s'est bombée. Les ouvertures 32 ont alors pris la forme d'un canal faisant communiquer l'intérieur et l'extérieur du récipient 2, comme illustré par la double flèche. Ceci permet donc l'entrée d'air dans le récipient 2, compensant la dépression produite par la succion du nourrisson, sachant qu'aucune entrée d'air n'est possible au niveau de la tétine 18 puisque cette dernière est engagée de manière étanche sur le récipient 2.

The operation of the venting device is as follows:

• in the rest position ( figure 6 ), when no action is exerted on the valve 26, each opening 32 has, in cross section, the shape of a cone of axis orthogonal to the axis 3 of the container 2 and open towards the outside of the container 2. As a result, the openings 32 prevent the passage of the liquid contained in the container 2 to the outside. The orifice 17 is thus closed tightly;
• in the activated position ( figure 7 ), when a user has pressed the central portion 31 according to the arrow F, it has caused the elastic deformation of the valve 26, which has sunk a little inside the container 2 while its inner face 33 s is bulging. The openings 32 then took the form of a channel communicating the inside and the outside of the container 2, as illustrated by the double arrow. This therefore allows the entry of air into the container 2, compensating for the depression produced by the suction of the infant, knowing that no air intake is possible at the level of the nipple 18 since the latter is engaged in a sealed manner on the container 2.

• ergonomie améliorée et facilité de manoeuvre, l'utilisateur administrant le biberon pouvant tenir celui-ci et actionner la soupape 26 d'une seule main. Ceci est facilité par le fait que l'orifice 17 est ménagé dans la jupe latérale 4 à proximité du fond 7. En effet, l'utilisateur peut agir sur la soupape par une simple pression du doigt, sans avoir à adopter une position particulière, différente de celle dont il a l'habitude. De plus, le positionnement de l'orifice 17 au voisinage du fond évite les risques de fuite du liquide contenu dans le récipient 2 lorsque le biberon 1 est retourné pour être administré à un nourrisson ;
• contrôle du débit d'entrée d'air par l'utilisateur, la soupape ne s'ouvrant pas seule en fonction d'une différence de pression entre l'intérieur et l'extérieur du récipient ;
• facilité de montage, du fait de la mise en place ultérieure du fond dans la jupe latérale ;
• simplicité structurelle et nombre réduit de pièces, d'où un coût réduit, ce qui permet d'adapter ces dispositifs de mise à l'air sur des biberons jetables à usage unique ;
• dans le cas d'un biberon réutilisable, un premier avantage découle du fait qu'on a un nombre réduit de pièces et pas de joint fragile et propice aux contaminations. Le nettoyage est donc facilité et le biberon plus hygiénique. Un deuxième avantage est que les extrémités ouvertes de la jupe latérale sont de grand diamètre, ce qui facilite à la fois le remplissage et le nettoyage.

The main advantages of the invention are the following:

• improved ergonomics and ease of maneuver, the user administering the bottle can hold it and actuate the valve 26 with one hand. This is facilitated by the fact that the orifice 17 is formed in the side skirt 4 close to the bottom 7. In fact, the user can act on the valve by simply pressing the finger, without having to adopt a particular position, different from the one he is used to. In addition, the positioning of the orifice 17 in the vicinity of the bottom avoids the risk of leakage of the liquid contained in the container 2 when the bottle 1 is returned to be administered to an infant;
• control of the air intake flow rate by the user, the valve not opening on its own according to a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the container;
• ease of assembly, due to the subsequent placement of the bottom in the side skirt;
• structural simplicity and reduced number of parts, resulting in reduced cost, which makes it possible to adapt these venting devices on single-use disposable bottles;
• in the case of a reusable bottle, a first advantage arises from the fact that there is a small number of parts and no seal fragile and conducive to contamination. Cleaning is therefore easier and the bottle more hygienic. A second advantage is that the open ends of the side skirt are of large diameter, which facilitates both filling and cleaning.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of example but that it encompasses all variants.

Claims (10)

1. A bottle comprising:

   - a container (2) having a lateral skirt (4), a bottom (7) and a neck (5) defining an opening;

   - a nipple (18) sealably locked on the neck (5);

   - a vent device comprising a valve (26) mounted in an orifice (17) arranged in the lateral skirt (4) of the container and comprising at least one part able to be elastically deformed, when a user exerts pressure on the valve (26), between an idle position and an activated position;

   characterized in that the valve (26) comprises:

   - a peripheral groove (28) wherein the edge of the orifice (17) is sealably inserted in all usage positions of the valve (26);

   - at least one air intake opening (32) going through the valve (26) in its central area, said opening (32) being able to be elastically deformed when a user exerts pressure on the valve (26) such that, in the activated position of the valve (26), the opening (32) allows the intake of air from the outside toward the inside of the container (2) and that, in the idle position of the valve (26), the opening (32) prevents the passage of liquid from the inside toward the outside of the container (2).
2. The bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the mounted position of the valve (26), the air intake opening (32) extends substantially radially, relative to the container (2), between the inside and the outside of the container (2).
3. The bottle according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that, in the idle position of the valve (26), the opening (32) has, in transverse cross-section, substantially the shape of an open cone toward the outside of the container (2) and in that, in the activated position of the valve (26), the opening (32) forms a channel connecting the inside and the outside of the container (2).
4. The bottle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the opening (32) has a substantially rectangular shape when the valve (26) is mounted on the container (2) and when it is seen along a direction radial to the container (2).
5. The bottle according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the opening (17) arranged in the lateral skirt (4) of the container (2) and the valve (26) are substantially round.
6. The bottle according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the valve (26) comprises N air intake openings (32) substantially regularly spaced from each other angularly, N being between 2 and 5.
7. The bottle according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the valve (26) comprises a slot (30) open toward the outside of the container (2), in the mounted position, defining a protruding central part (31) forming an actuation area of the valve (26), the air intake openings (32) being arranged at the bottom of the slot (30).
8. The bottle according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the lateral skirt (4) of the container (2) has a recessing portion (16) wherein the orifice (17) is arranged, the valve (26) being arranged substantially so as not to protrude beyond the envelope of the lateral skirt (4).
9. The bottle according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the bottom (7) and the lateral skirt (4) of the container (2) are two separate pieces.
10. The bottle according to claim 9, characterized in that the bottom (7) is screwed on the lateral skirt (4) and in that it comprises a sealing lip (13) cooperating with the lateral skirt (4).

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