Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
  • A61J9/00—Feeding-bottles in general
  • A61J9/008—Feeding-bottles in general having storage compartments, e.g. for storing a teat
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
  • A61J9/00—Feeding-bottles in general
  • A61J9/08—Protective covers for bottles
  • A61J9/085—Lids for closing the bottle
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
  • A61J11/00—Teats
  • A61J11/02—Teats with means for supplying air

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a food or drink container.
• the invention relates to a feeding bottle having a storage compartment.
• Conventional feeding bottles for babies comprise a bottle body, a teat which allows milk to slowly exit the bottle body when the teat is sucked, a neck piece for attaching the teat to the bottle body and a cover member or cap for protecting the teat from contamination and preventing seepage from the teat when not in use.
• the cap is sized such that a top surface of the cap contacts and presses down on the teat to prevent seepage.
• the cap typically has a rim which is substantially the same diameter as the bottle body, for attaching to the bottle body, and the side walls taper to the top surface which has a smaller diameter.
• the cap can be arcuate.
• a dummy also known as a soother or pacifier
• the dummy remains in the child's mouth for long periods.
• a dummy also known as a soother or pacifier
• the cap is removed from the bottle and set to one side.
• the cap is more stable in this orientation since either the top surface has a smaller diameter than that of the rim or the cap is arcuate, in which case the cap is only stable when set down with the rim contacting the supporting surface. It is also common for the dummy or the cap to be misplaced after setting down.
• WO 2008/103352 describes a feeding bottle having a bottle body and a cap.
• the bottle body has a base which defines a recess in which may be placed a dummy and a separate cover closes the dummy within the recess.
• This feeding bottle does not prevent contamination of the cap. Indeed, the cap is shown as being arcuate and so there is a greater risk of contamination of the rim of the cap.
• US 5211299 describes a feeding bottle having a bottle body and a cap.
• the bottle body has a base which defines a recess in which may be placed the cap when it is not attached to the top of the bottle.
• the cap is inserted in the base in the same orientation as when it is attached to the top of the bottle and so no storage compartment is defined, such as for storing a dummy.
• the entire interior surface of the cap is exposed to atmosphere and is proximal to the supporting surface when the bottle is set down.
• the recess appears to be the same depth as the height of the cap and so the rim will contact the supporting surface when the bottle is set down. There is no separate cover provided to close the cap within the recess. There is therefore an increase risk of contamination of the cap, in particular the rim of the cap.
• a food or drink container comprising: a container body for containing food or drink, the container body having a base portion, one or more side walls extending from the base portion and an opening spaced apart from the base portion; a cover member removably attachable to the container body to close the opening; and a storage member which is attached or attachable to the base portion of the container body to define a storage compartment.
• the storage member may be permanently attached to the container body.
• the storage member may be removably attachable to the base portion.
• the storage member may include a first connecting portion for removably attaching the storage member to the base portion.
• the first connecting portion may comprise a lid member of the storage member.
• the first connecting portion may comprise a plurality of resilient claw members for removably attaching the storage member to the base portion.
• the storage member may include a second connecting portion adapted to allow the cover member to be removably attached to the storage member.
• the second connecting portion may be provided at an opposing end to the first connecting portion.
• At least a portion of the storage member may be adapted to be removably attachable to the container body at a location spaced apart from the base portion.
• the portion of the storage member may comprise a storage member body that does not include the lid member of the storage member.
• the food or drink container may comprise a feeding bottle.
• the food or drink container may comprise a drink bottle or carton, a flask, a packaging container having any geometric profile, a storage container such as a Tupperware box, a travel pack or the like.
• the or each side wall may define the opening.
• the container may include a neck portion attachable to the side walls and defining the opening.
• the cover member may be attachable to one or more side walls or to the neck portion.
• the storage member may have a base portion and one or more side walls such that the depth of the storage compartment corresponds to the height of the or each side wall.
• the storage member may be substantially planar and the base portion may define a recess such that the depth of the storage compartment corresponds to the depth of the recess.
• the height of the or each side wall and the depth of the recess may contribute to the depth of the storage compartment.
• the base portion of the container body may have an annular rim or recess for receiving a rim of the storage member.
• the container may be adapted to allow push fit attachment of the storage member to the container body.
• the storage member may be threadably attachable to the container body.
• the base portion may have two concentric annular rims for receiving the rim of the storage member within the spacing between the two annular rims.
• the cover member may have a base portion which is substantially planar.
• the area of the base portion may be substantially equal or greater to an outer area defined by the container body such that the container is stable when the cover member is attached to the storage member and supports the container body.
• the defined storage compartment may be suitable for storing a dummy.
• the storage compartment may include a holding member suitable for receiving a teat of the dummy.
• the holding member may be suitable for receiving a teat of the feeding bottle.
• the holding member may comprise a continuous or segmented annular rim.
• the holding member may comprise an insert having a recess for receiving the teat of the dummy or feeding bottle. At least a portion of the insert may be removable or replaceable.
• the insert may be absorbent.
• the insert may be treatable to provide a sterilizing action.
• the insert may be movable or compressible to make close contact with the teat to prevent or inhibit exposure of the teat to air.
• the cover member may be adapted such that at least some air is expellable from the interior of the cover member when the cover member is attached to the container body. Attachment of the cover member to the container body may cause the expelling of air from the interior of the cover member.
• the cover member may be adapted such that it is compressible and compression of the cover member is required for full attachment of the cover member to the container body. Alternatively, the cover member may be compressible when it is attached to the container body to expel air.
• the cover member may include a one way valve to allow the expelling of air and to prevent air re-entering the interior of the cover member.
• Fig 1 shows an expanded perspective view of a first embodiment of a food or drink container
• Fig 2 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of a storage member for the container of Fig 1 ;
• Fig 3 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a food or drink container
• Fig 4 shows an expanded side view of a third embodiment of a food or drink container in a use configuration
• Fig 5 shows a side view of the food or drink container of Fig 4 in a display configuration.
• FIG 1 shows a container in the form of a feeding bottle 10.
• the bottle 10 comprises a bottle body 20 having a base portion 30 and an annular side wall 32 extending upwards from the base portion 30. Attached to the side wall 32 is a neck piece 34 which allows the fitting of a teat 36 to the bottle body 20.
• the teat 36 has an opening 38 to allow milk to be sucked out of the bottle 10.
• a cover member or cap 40 is removably attachable to the upper portion of the bottle body 20 to close the opening 38.
• the bottle 10 includes a storage member 50 which is removably attachable to the base portion 30.
• the storage unit includes its own cover member or lid 52 which can be attached by twisting to the body of the storage unit 50.
• the lid 52 includes a first connecting portion in the form of an annular rim for removably attaching the storage member 50 to the base portion 30.
• the storage member 50 also includes a second connecting portion, also in the form of an annular rim, provided at an end opposite the lid 52. This is adapted to allow the cap 40 to be removably attached to the storage member 50 even when the storage member 50 is attached to the bottle 10.
• Both the base portions of the cap 40 and the storage member 50 are substantially planar and have an outer diameter which is substantially equal to an outer diameter defined by the bottle body 20. Therefore, the bottle 10 is stable when the storage member 50 is attached to the bottle 10, whether or not the cap 40 is attached to the storage member 50, and the assembly is set down on a supporting surface.
• the defined storage compartment can store a dummy 100.
• an insert 41 can be provided in the storage member 50 which has a recess 43 for receiving the teat 102 of the dummy 100 and the teat 36 of the feeding bottle 10.
• This insert 41 could be replaceable and formed from an absorbent material to absorb saliva.
• the insert could also absorb a safe sterilizing agent to assist sterilizing of the teats.
• the cap 40 could be adapted so that at least some air can be expelled from the interior of the cap 40. This could be when the cap 40 is attached to the bottle body 20 or during attachment.
• a carer for a child can fill the bottle 10, following sterilization, with milk to feed the child. If the child sucks a dummy 100, the dummy can be removed from the child's mouth and placed within the storage member 50. The cap 40 can then be fitted to the storage member 50. This inhibits loss or contamination of both the interior of the cap 40 and the dummy 100. During breaks in feeding, the carer can safely set the bottle 10 down without the bottle being likely to tip over (which could cause contact of the teat 36 with a contaminated object).
• the storage member 50 can also be stored separate from the bottle 10, such as within a hand bag or pocket.
• the storage member 50 could also be used for storing, say, baby food.
• a number of removably attachable storage members 50 could be provided, such as in a stacked arrangement. This would allow, for example, the separate storing of a dummy 100 and baby food.
• the container could comprise a food storage box 60.
• the cover member could be a planar lid 70 and the side walls could extend beyond the base portion 62 of the box 60 to define a recess having a depth.
• the lid 70 could be inverted to cover the recess or, preferably, a second lid could be provided.
• the extending side walls, and the associated lid would then define the storage member and the dimensions of the storage compartment.
• This box 60 could be used for, say, storing and transporting food for lunch and the storage compartment could be used to temporarily store waste food and packaging until this can be disposed as refuse.
• different foods could be stored without mixing occurring during transport.
• FIG. 4 Another embodiment is shown in Figures 4 and 5. This is similar to that of Figure 1 with a couple of exceptions.
• the first connecting portion comprises three resilient claw members 80 for removably attaching the storage member 50 to the base portion of the bottle 10. These extend from the lid 52 of the storage member 50 and are equispaced around the circumference of the lid 52.
• the body 54 of the storage member 50 can be detached from the lid 52 and then removably attached to the other end of the bottle 10 over the cap 40.
• the lid 52 can remain attached to the base of the bottle 10. This allows the overall height of the assembly to be only slightly greater than the bottle 10 alone, which is useful for portability or for packaging and display in a shop.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=40469759

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (3)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 2009
  • 2009-02-06 GB GBGB0902061.1A patent/GB0902061D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2010
  • 2010-01-27 US US13/146,719 patent/US20110278303A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-01-27 EP EP10702166A patent/EP2393468A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-01-27 WO PCT/GB2010/050120 patent/WO2010089582A1/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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