EP2110114B1 - Feeding tip and associated feeding device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a feeding tip. It also relates to a feeding device using such a tip.

To feed oneself, that is to say to bring food to the mouth, one generally uses a fork or a spoon. The use of such utensils can be difficult, especially when the person to feed does not know how to use it or when he no longer knows how to use it, as is the case for young children or for people suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

When you want to feed such people, you first have to open their mouths. Generally, the consumer is stimulated until the person opens their mouth and then feeds them. This action should be repeated for each bite, all along the same meal, with the risk that the person does not respond to stimulation again.

Especially in the baby, we also use the bottle. It has the advantage that once the mouth is open, there is not necessarily need to renew the action before the end of the meal. The bottle is only suitable for liquid foods or very fluid. In addition, when treating an adult with Alzheimer's disease, it is important to make him feel the sensations of a normal situation for an adult, ie those corresponding to the use of a spoon. or a fork. The bottle is not suitable.

Similar problems may occur for feeding an animal, or for administering a drug.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for simplifying feeding, when a person or an animal must be fed by someone else, and having an alternative to the stimulation and introduction action, repeated several times.

In particular, documents are known US 2,252,119 , GB 2,382,020 and US 6,675,482 a feeding tip of the type comprising a spoon, and in addition, a duct whose first end comprises means for connecting a supply source of a suitable product, and a second end which is arranged to be able to pour into the spoon the product supplied at the first end.

The tip according to the invention is of the aforementioned type, and is remarkable in that it comprises means for stimulating the lips.

The means for stimulating the lips facilitate and / or cause the opening of the mouth. These stimulation means may in particular be arranged on an outer surface and / or on an edge of the spoon. Stimulation means on the outer surface may for example be selected from ribs, pins or flutes, or may comprise a mixture thereof.

Such a device is adapted to learning or relearning the action of eating.

The nozzle may advantageously comprise a handle whose duct is a part, the duct being a tube on the second end of which the spoon is fixed. In addition, for a better grip if the tube is of small outside diameter, the handle advantageously comprises a covering formed around the tube.

The configuration of the conduit may be different depending on the nature of the food (fluid, solid, hot, cold ...), possibly the drug to be administered, and depending on the intended consumer (child, no longer able to eat autonomously with or without special pathology, Alzheimer's disease ...)

The connection means may comprise an internal thread at the first end of the tube. The second end of the tube may advantageously form an opening in a raised wall of the spoon.

According to a second object of the invention, a feeding system advantageously uses a tip according to the first subject of the invention, and a flexible bag, said tip being connected, or intended to be connected, to an opening of said flexible bag, said flexible pouch containing or being adapted to contain a food, a drug or a suitable product.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe longitudinale d'un premier mode de réalisation pour un embout de nourrissage selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue coupe longitudinale de l'embout de la figure 1, monté sur une poche d'approvisionnement ;
• la figure 3 est une vue coupe longitudinale de l'embout de la figure 1, monté sur un tuyau d'approvisionnement ;
• les figures 4 et 5 sont des vues en perspective d'un deuxième et d'un troisième modes de réalisation pour un embout de nourrissage selon l'invention, respectivement ; et,
• les figures 6 et 7 sont des vues longitudinales d'un quatrième et d'un cinquième modes de réalisation pour un embout de nourrissage selon l'invention, respectivement.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, presenting nonlimiting examples of embodiment of the invention, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a first embodiment for a feeding nozzle according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tip of the figure 1 mounted on a supply bag;
• the figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tip of the figure 1 mounted on a supply pipe;
• the Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of second and third embodiments for a feeding tip according to the invention, respectively; and,
• the Figures 6 and 7 are longitudinal views of fourth and fifth embodiments for a feeding tip according to the invention, respectively.

The figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a feed nozzle 1. This nozzle 1 comprises a spoon 2 and a handle 3, the spoon being mounted on the handle, in the longitudinal extension thereof. The spoon has the shape of a bowl, which is generally that of the spoons of spoons used for common purposes, such as they can be found on the market. In the embodiment of the figure 1 the concave inner surface 4 and the convex outer surface 6 of the wall 5 of the spoon 2 are smooth. These surfaces 4,6 are limited by a smooth upper edge 7, inscribed in a plane.

The handle comprises a hollow tube 8 welded to the spoon 2. The tube is surrounded, over part of its length, by a covering 9. The tube 8 extends longitudinally between two open ends: a first end 11, remote from the spoon and a second end 12 to which the spoon is welded. The second end 12 forms an oblong opening 13 in the wall 5, substantially mid-depth of the spoon 2. The first end 11 comprises an internal thread 14. The cladding extends from the first end 11 and ends at a distance of the second end 12, so that the tube 8 is apparent between the covering 9 and the spoon 2. The dressing 9 is essentially to increase the diameter of the tube 8 to allow a good grip of the tip 1 by his user.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 the tip is intended to be connected to supply sources 16,17. In the examples illustrated, the supply sources comprise a connection end having a thread 18 complementary to the thread 14 of the first end of the tube 8. Thus, the supply means can be connected by mutual screwing with the end piece 1. Similarly, the tip can be separated after use, in view of being possibly reused or discarded.

In the example of the figure 2 , the source of supply is a flexible pouch 16. This type of flexible pouch is currently particularly used to contain drinking compotes sold in supermarkets. Of course, in the context of the invention, these bags can be used for any type of suitable food, even for doses of drugs, or a mixture. The threading 14 of the first end 12 is advantageously chosen to be substantially identical to that of the plug which equips the neck 21 of the pocket, so that it is sufficient to remove the stopper from the pocket 16 to screw its neck 21 with the tip 1.

Pressure on the bag 16 allows the product 19 contained in the bag to be delivered into the spoon 2 through the tube 8. Successive pressure on the bag makes it possible to replenish the spoon 2 without having to remove the spoon completely. spoonful of the mouth of the person to feed. Thus, it is not necessary to renew with each spoonful the random action of stimulation of the lips for opening the mouth.

The handle 3 is short, so that the system formed by the pocket 16 and the tip 1 is balanced by weight, that is to say that the weight of the pocket does not tend to cause the system particularly on the side of the pocket. Advantageously, the dimensions of this system are provided so that the pocket rests on the hand, in the vicinity of the junction of the thumb and the index finger. In the illustrated examples, the length of the handle is close to that of the spoon. In addition, a short handle prevents too much content being lost in the length of the tube 8.

In the example shown in figure 3 , the supply source 17 comprises a pipe which is screwed onto the first end 11 of the tube 8. pipe is advantageously connected to a food reserve, not shown. The supply can be controlled, for example by operating a suitable pump.

Other embodiments will now be described for tips according to the invention, with reference to the Figures 4 to 7 . In the description that will be made, identical elements or having the same function have reference numbers identical to those described with reference to the first embodiment.

The tip of the figure 4 is formed from a raw tube whose end has been extended to form a spoon 2 of substantially constant cross-section and U-shaped. The remaining portion of the raw tube forms the tube 8 of the tip 1. The wings 22 of this U are substantially perpendicular to its bottom 23. They are also small relative to the bottom of the U.

The outer diameter of the tube 8 is chosen sufficient so that the comfort of the user does not require the addition of a dressing. The inner diameter of the tube 8 is therefore greater than in the first embodiment, so that it allows for the use of thicker food or larger pieces. In addition, because of the manufacturing process of this spoon, the inner surface of the spoon 2 is tangent with that of the opening 13 of the tube, which allows a more fluid supply of the spoon.

In the third embodiment of a tip 1 illustrated in FIG. figure 5 , the handle 3 has substantially the same shape as in the first embodiment, illustrated in FIG. figure 1 . The spoon 2 has a bottom 23 generally flat, raised rearward, that is to say where is formed the opening 13 of the tube 8. The spoon comprises further two wings 22 erected relative to the bottom 23. The wings have a substantially constant height at the rear of the spoon, then gradually diminished forward, so that in its most forward part, the spoon has no wing.

The spoon 2 further comprises four ribs 24 extending longitudinally on the inner surface of the bottom 23. Each of the ribs 24, comprises a respective end 26 extending forwardly beyond the bottom 23. Two of the ribs extend, each on a respective edge of the bottom 23, the two other ribs being arranged on the bottom so that the same distance separates each of the four ribs.

Terminations and ribs are ways to stimulate the lips more effectively than with a spoonful 2 whose edges and surfaces are smooth. Thus, the opening of the mouth is more spontaneously in contact with the spoon and, as with the first two embodiments, it is not necessary to renew the action.

In the fourth embodiment, illustrated in FIG. figure 6 , the tip 1 has a shape substantially identical to that of the first embodiment. It differs from the first embodiment in that the spoon 2 comprises many spikes 27 distributed on its outer surface 6. These spikes serve as stimulation means, that is to say that they have a role similar to that of ribs of the third embodiment.

In the fifth embodiment, illustrated in FIG. figure 7 , the tip 1 has a shape substantially identical to that of the first embodiment, except that the spoon 2 is slightly inclined downwardly relative to the handle 3. Such a nozzle is particularly suitable for feeding a person immobilized in an extended position. In this fifth embodiment, the outer surface 5 of the spoon 2 comprises longitudinal grooves 28. These grooves also have the role of stimulation means.

The use of a mouthpiece comprising stimulation means, such as those illustrated in FIGS. Figures 5 to 7 , is particularly adapted to relearning the action of eating. Thus, the spoon can be removed from the consumer's mouth, then reintroduced, with the assurance that the consumer will open the mouth more easily, thanks to the presence and action of stimulation means.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described and many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

The means for connecting the supply means may not be a thread, but, in particular, latching means.

The tips as described with reference to the figures are intended to be removably connected to the supply means, so that the tip can be reused. On the contrary, a feeding system may comprise a flexible bag and a tip fixed to one another irremovably. Such a system is thus provided for disposable when the bag is empty. This can be particularly advantageous when special hygiene measures are required.

Instead of having a spoon with stimulation means equipping a nozzle provided to receive feeding means, this spoon can also be equipped with a conventional handle and be used as a conventional spoon. Such a spoon is particularly suitable for feeding a young child, while maintaining the gesture of taking food for each bite, but ensuring a more spontaneous opening of the mouth with each bite.

Other forms and arrangements of stimulation means may be used. They can be arranged on an outer surface or on an edge of the spoon. In the second embodiment, the terminations may be provided long enough to serve as spades. These spades can be used to bite a piece of food, for example meat, which can serve itself as a means of stimulation as well as food.

Claims (9)

1. A feeding end piece (1) comprising a bowl (2) and a duct (8) whereof a first end (11) comprises means (14) for connecting supply means (16, 17) thereto for supplying a product (19) and a second end (2) is arranged for pouring into the bowl the product (19) supplied at the first end (11), characterized in that it comprises means (26, 27, 28) for stimulating the lips.
2. The end piece according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a handle (3), said duct being a tube (8) comprised in the handle, the bowl (2) being carried by the second end (12) of said tube.
3. The end piece according to claim 2, characterized in that the handle also comprises a cladding coating formed around the tube (8).
4. The end piece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting means comprise a thread (14) inside the first end (11) of the tube (8).
5. The end piece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second end (12) of the tube (8) forms an opening (13) in a raised wall (6, 23) of the bowl.
6. The end piece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some (27, 28) of the stimulating means are arranged on an outer surface (6) of the bowl (2).
7. The end piece according to claim 6, characterized in that the stimulating means are chosen from among ribs (24), bumps (27) and grooves (28), or comprise a mixture thereof.
8. The end piece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some (26) of the stimulating means are arranged on one edge of the bowl (2).
9. A feeding system (1, 16), characterized in that it comprises an end piece (1) according to one of the preceding claims and a flexible pouch (16), said end piece being connected, or intended to be connected, on a neck of said flexible pouch, said flexible pouch containing or being intended to contain a product intended to be supplied in the end piece.

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