FR2732214A1 - DEVICE FOR TEMPORARILY SEALING A BOTTLE TEAT - Google Patents

Abstract

The temporary sealing device of a feeding bottle nipple is remarkable in that it comprises means associated with the cap (5), protective of the nipple, adapting to the body of the feeding bottle, the means being articulated externally to the latter and being capable, in the non-stressing phase, of releasing it at the level of its tapered zone forming the neck (1a), and in the stressing phase, of ensuring the deformation and transverse approximation, and sealing contact of the facing walls (P1 - P2) constituting the tapered upper zone forming the neck of the teat, ensuring the closure of the fluid circulation duct towards the opening or openings allowing absorption by suction of the liquid.

Description

TEMPORARY SEALING DEVICE

OF A BOTTLE TEAT

  The invention relates to the technical sector of the products of

  feeding and their components: baby bottle, pacifier.

  As is well known, the teats of baby bottles are made of a flexible material such as an elastomer with a

  particular profile allowing their sucking by the child.

  Each teat thus has a contoured curve with a zone of small section forming a neck capable of being taken in the mouth and extending by a wider cylindrical body to be inserted in the ring-nut of the bottle placed on the container of the liquid and which ensures the connection and assembly of 2 all. A peripheral flange formed on the teat seals with respect to the nut-ring, other complementary sealing means being provided between said

ring nut and container.

  It is also recalled that, to allow suction, the teat has one or more openings for the passage of the liquid.

  Generally a cap is attached around the teat for protection, this cap being used only to ensure protection, this cap being used only

mainly to this function.

  The problem lies in the fact that the bottles are subjected, in certain cases, to untimely manipulations, or to desired agitations to allow the mixing of the components of the liquid to be drunk. It therefore very often happens that there are leaks and losses of liquid which escape through the perforation or perforations formed on the nipple allowing the liquid to flow. The pacifier can therefore be very easily soiled externally by these flows as well as the protective cover. There are also more or less significant losses of liquid which cause, in a non negligible way, the

  reduction in the dosage initially introduced into the container.

  In addition, the appearance on the external body of the nipple of areas of liquid flow, milk or other, can cause splashes or dirt on the baby's clothes and in general the spills or splashes are troublesome

  around the environment in which the bottle is used.

  It is also recalled that the bottles taken as a whole are very common products and are sold in big box stores. Consequently, their cost price must be low, which does not allow complex arrangements or structures to try to remedy the abovementioned drawbacks. The aim sought according to the invention was therefore, starting from all of these constraints , to realize and design a specific arrangement of the bottle, of low manufacturing cost, and which can allow the transport and / or the shaking of the bottles in the best conditions

  preventing loss of liquid under any circumstances.

  Another sought-after goal was to design an arrangement which is perfectly usable by mothers or other persons having to handle the bottles, to ensure, in a temporary framework, a sealing of the teat in

  eliminating all possibilities of fluid loss.

  These and other goals will emerge well from the rest of

the description.

  According to a first characteristic, the temporary sealing device for a bottle nipple is remarkable in that it comprises means associated with the cap, which protects the nipple, adapting to the body of the bottle, the means being articulated. externally to the latter and being capable, in the non-solicitation phase, of releasing it at the level of its tapered zone forming a neck, and in the solicitation phase, of ensuring deformation and transverse approximation, and sealing contact of the walls facing constitutive of the tapered zone forming the neck of the teat, ensuring the closing of the fluid circulation duct towards the

  or the openings allowing absorption by suction of the liquid.

  According to another characteristic, the means ensuring the temporary sealing of the nipple comprise a selector ring arranged with articulated means integral with the internal face of the latter, being arranged in diametrically opposite planes one of the other, said means being pivotally biased relative to the cap surrounding said selector ring, allowing pivoting the distance or the approximation until a tight contact

of the nipple walls.

  These and other features will emerge well from

the rest of the description.

  To fix the object of the invention illustrated without limitation to the figures of the drawings o: Figure 1 is an exploded sectional view, before assembly, of the device according to the invention for sealing the teat of

baby bottle.

  Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view along line 2-2 of Figure 3 illustrating the arrangement of the device according to the invention in the receiving part of the bottle, in phase

non-sealing of the teat.

  e 3 is a plan view and in section along the line Figure 3 is a plan view and in section along the line

3-3 in Figure 2.

  Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view along line 4-4 of Figure 5 illustrating the arrangement of the device according to the invention in the receiving part of the bottle, in phase

sealing the teat.

  Figure 5 is a plan view in section along the line

4-4 of figure 4.

  FIG. 6 is a view of a second alternative embodiment of the sealing device for the teat, according to a side view and

sectional.

  FIG. 7 is a top view according to FIG. 6.

  Figure 8 is a view of a third alternative embodiment of the teat sealing device, according to a view

in profile and in section.

  FIG. 9 is a top view according to FIG. 8.

  Figure 10 is a view of a fourth alternative embodiment of the sealing device of the teat, according to a view

in profile and in section.

  Figure 1 1 is a top view according to Figure 10.

  Figure 12 is a view of a fifth alternative embodiment of the nipple sealing device, according to a view

in profile and in section.

  FIG. 13 is a top view according to FIG. 12.

  In order to make the object of the invention more concrete, it is now described in a nonlimiting manner in the figures of the drawings. The bottle nipple sealing device is intended to fit on the upper part of the nipple resting on its container, the characteristics, shapes and dimensions of which may vary. The characteristics of the teat, its profile, its constituent material, can also vary, it is nevertheless considered that the teat remains made of a flexible and deformable material to respect, on the one hand, the hygienic conditions

  food and, on the other hand, allow sucking by the child.

  For this purpose, the teat referenced as a whole by (1) comprises a first tapered zone (la) forming a neck for the mouth prolonged by a zone of cylindrical conformation (lb) wider and having at the end a flange (1c) device intended to come into internal abutment against the nut-clamping ring (2) engaging itself on the receptacle (3) receiving the liquid. The clamping nut-ring is also established in any suitable manner ensuring, in combination with the container, the well-known functions

sealing.

  The device according to the invention allowing sealing of the teat, is arranged with means associated with the cap, protective of the teat, adapting to the body of the bottle, the means being articulated externally thereto and bottle, the means being articulated externally thereto and being capable, in the non-solicitation phase, of releasing the teat at its tapered area or neck (la), and in the solicitation phase being capable of ensuring by a transverse approximation the deformation and the approximation and sealing contact of the walls (P1 - P2) facing constitutive of the tapered zone forming the neck of the teat intended to be placed in the mouth, thus ensuring the closure of the zone or conduit for circulation of the fluid towards the opening or openings allowing the absorption of the liquid by suction. Said means are maneuverable manually by an operator and can be actuated from the outside by surrounding the aforementioned teat. These means are used to allow firm support by bringing the teat walls together for a temporary period and requiring another intervention by the operator.

for the release of the pacifier.

  The figures show various drawings of possible implementations of the device for sealing the teat according to the invention, however, it is considered that the representation of FIGS. 1 to 5 seems to be the most appropriate solution both in terms of its simplicity and its cost of

comes back and its implementation.

  Referring to Figures 1 to 5, the device is remarkable in that it comprises a complementary ring (4) forming a selector arranged internally with two tongues (4a - 4b) articulated by their base (4c) integral with the inner face of the selector ring and being arranged diametrically opposite one another. Said tabs are pivotally biased to move away from or closer to a contact with the walls of the teat requested according to the desired phase of non-sealing or sealing of the teat. Furthermore, said selector ring cooperates with a profiled cap (5) which surrounds and protects the teat and the selector ring. The cap is positioned on the nut-ring by clipping or other and thus being in a fixed but removable position. This cap advantageously and internally has radial ribs (5a - 5b) in a fixed position, constituting stop means, on the one hand, of the selector ring and, on the other hand

  part, allowing the articulation of the interior tabs (4a -

  4b). The aforementioned cap advantageously has a window (5c) of rectangular shape and established according to an angular sector of approximately 40 to 90 degrees, and preferably of the order of 70 degrees, the length of this sector being defined very precisely relative to the extreme positioning of the aforementioned tabs when opening and releasing the teat or when closing and transversely pinching the latter. Said selector ring has notches (4d) which allow it to be positioned in the cap in abutment and guidance with respect to one of the radial ribs (Sa) formed in said cap. Said tabs (4a --4b) are shaped as a strip or flat part of great length (4al - 4bl) disposed between its ends. A first end (4a2 - 4b2) is defined by a zone of connection and connection with the selector ring (5), being thinned by a reduction in material for example, while allowing the articulation of the tongue. Its other free end (4a3) - 4b3) is shaped in the form of a stud for example, of any profile suitable for coming into abutment and abutting against another radial rib (5b) shaped in the

cap.

  The selector ring is advantageously shaped, on its outer face, with a projecting shape (4d) capable of engaging and overflowing into the window (5c) established on the cap (5) to constitute a push button (4f ) allowing the opening-closing settings of the clamping device

cross of the teat.

  In order to maintain the position at both ends and avoid any floating of the selector ring, in the cap and therefore a control of the desired function, additional means are provided in the form, for example, of projections (4e - 5d) or micro-teeth established, on the one hand, on the cap and, on the other hand, on the selector ring, at suitable locations allowing retention by clipping or the like in the two desired end positions. The removable connection of the selector ring with respect to the cap is carried out by any complementary male-female means made by any complementary male-female means.

trained on both elements.

  There is shown in the drawings such an arrangement by the references. These projections can be arranged not only on the push zone of the selector ring, but also in

the cap itself.

  The operation is then as follows, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5: In the transverse non-pinching phase of the nipple, at the point of its tapered zone forming a neck for its mouthing shown in FIG. 3, the selector ring is in a

  closed position at one end of the hood window.

  The two tabs are not stressed and are both in a parallel plane offset from one another and around the neck of the teat, without ensuring contact or deformation. The free end of each tab bears internally against the radial ribs of the cap, while their connection zones with the selector ring bring them into contact with the internal face of the latter. When the operator wishes to close the teat to ensure a temporary seal, he then proceeds, as shown in Figure 5, to rotate on an angular sector (a) of the selector ring which moves according to the stroke of the window of the cap relative to the latter. This rotational movement allows simultaneously the modification of the position of two tongues which approach each other with a quasi-juxtaposition by eliminating the initial offset and by ensuring the approximation and the wedging of the walls opposite the teat. This movement is established by the fact that the tongues modify their support zone by their free end with the pre-established radial ribs and by playing on the elasticity and the articulation of their connection zone with respect to the body of the selector ring. , thus obtaining a position

  shown in Figure 5 of nipple nipping.

  The notching means or micro-teeth established on the selector ring and the cap allow the assembly to be held firmly. In the event of a release of the teat, a reverse maneuver is performed by the operator who releases the aforementioned notches by turning the selector ring

in the other direction.

  It should be noted that the two tabs thus act as scissors over part of the height of the neck of the teat. When pinching the latter, a substantial deformation of said teat is obtained as shown in the

figure 4 for example.

  This implementation is extremely simple to carry out. It is obvious that the selector ring is made of a plastic food material which rigorously meets the requirements of hygiene. Indeed, when removing the cap, after opening the tabs, the baby must be able to suck the pacifier, without the spread of bacteria or

  microbes resulting from the selector ring.

  Said selector ring is advantageously clipped by appropriate grooves in the cap to ensure its maintenance. The removal of the selector ring from the

  cap can be made by the exercise of simple pressure.

  Other alternative embodiments have been shown in Figures 6 to 13 of the drawings, and are described in a schematic manner. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the device ensuring the temporary sealing of the teat is produced using a clamping pallet represented as a whole by (6), this pallet being articulated on an axis (7) integral and mounted transversely on the cap (8). The latter further comprises internally a wall (8a) of great height constituting a support and abutment plane. Referring to Figure 6, there is shown, schematically, the nipple and the clamping palette in solid lines and dotted lines to illustrate the phases of jamming sealing of the nipple. The inner wall (8a) of the cap has a spherical shape while the inner wall (8a) of the cap has a curvilinear shape while the clamping pallet (6) has an active part (6a) profiled to bear against the wall of the nipple and ensure the deformation thereof by allowing it to come together and its wedging with respect to the wall (8a) of the cap. The rear part (6b) of the pallet is profiled so as to be actuated manually without difficulty. As shown in Figure 7, said pallet is articulated by lugs (6c) arranged and centered on inner wings (8b) shaped on the cap. In this implementation, a single clamping pallet ensures the desired sealing of the teat. Referring to Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings which are a variant of Figures 6 and 7, it is used, on either side of the nipple, transversely, two clamping vanes (9 - 10) mounted in opposition and articulated versus shapes

  (la) established internally in the body of the cap (11).

  As before, the clamping vanes come after articulation to ensure contact with the walls of the teat, in a

  transverse plane, ensuring a seal.

  Referring to Figures 10 and 1 1 of the drawings, the device ensuring the temporary sealing of the teat is made from the top of the latter using two articulated spring clips (12 - 13) forming a comb. These spring clips are of t "with integrated blade obtained by molding and spring are of type" with integrated blade "obtained by molding and ensuring a sufficient pressure to obtain a tightening

  transverse necessary for the desired seal.

  Different other variants can be provided. In Figures 12 and 13 of the drawings, an equivalent implementation has been shown: the cap is arranged with an open neck (14) receiving a plug (15) capable of receiving means (16) for pinching the nipple transversely, these means being articulated and

  maneuverable from said plug.

  The advantages emerge clearly from the invention and it is emphasized

  in particular the practical interest of it.

Claims (8)

  -1- Temporary sealing device for a bottle nipple, characterized in that it comprises means associated with the cap (5), protecting the nipple, adapting to the body of the bottle, the means being articulated externally to the latter and being capable, in the non-solicitation phase, of releasing it at the level of its tapered zone forming the neck (la), and in the solicitation phase, of ensuring the deformation and the bringing together   transverse, and sealing contact of the facing walls (P1 -   P2) constituting the tapered upper zone forming the neck of the teat, ensuring the closing of the fluid circulation duct towards the opening or openings allowing absorption by liquid suction.   -2- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means ensuring the temporary sealing of the teat comprise a selector ring (4) arranged with means (4a - 4b) articulated integral with the inner face of it- ci, being arranged in diametrically opposite planes from each other, said means being pivotally biased relative to the cap (5) surrounding said selector ring, allowing pivoting the distance or approximation to a tight contact of the walls of the nipple.   -3- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the selector ring (4) is arranged internally with two tongues (4a - 4b) articulated by their base (4c) integral with the inner face of the latter, said tongues having at their end opposite of the shaped block shapes (4a3 - 4b3) capable of constituting support and contact planes against fixed means (Sa - 5b) established internally in the protective cap (5).   -4- Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the   cap includes fixed position radial ribs (Sa -   5b) constituting stop and positioning means of the selector ring (4), on the one hand, and, on the other hand, means   of articulation and pivoting of the internal tabs (4a -   4b) of the selector ring, during the angular displacement of this with respect to the cap.   -5- Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the tongues (4a - 4b) have a flat part of great length (4al - 4bl) capable of coming to bear against one another in sealing phase, and being arranged apart in parallel with an offset, on either side of the teat, in the non-solicitation phase, said tabs having a first end (4a2 - 4b2) thinned by defining the connection zone with the selector ring, and a free end (4a3 - 4b3) cooperating with the radial ribs (5b) established on the cap.   -6- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that the cap (5) has a window (5c) according to an angular sector (a) corresponding to the amplitude of rotation of the selector ring in the cap, according to the open, close and pinch or non-pinch positions pinching the teat, and in that said selector ring has a push-button (4f) projecting from the window allowing manual manipulation of said selector ring in the positions desired.   -7- Device according to any one of claims I to 6,   characterized in that the selector ring and the cap are arranged with notching means (4e - 5d) allowing and 2O defining holding zones relative to each other by   open or closed position.   -8- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,   characterized in that the selector ring and the cap are arranged with male-female means allowing their removable connection. -9- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a clamping pallet (6) articulated relative to the cap (8), said cap comprising an inner wall (8a) profiled of great height constituting a plane of support and abutment, and in that said tilting clamping pallet ensures, after lowering, the sealing pinch of the teat against the wall (8a) of the cap.   -10- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two clamping vanes (9 - 10) articulated relative to the plane of the cap arranged in opposition and ensuring by tilting the pinching and sealing of the teat, for the bringing its walls into contact.   -1 1- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two articulated spring clips (12 - 13) forming   comb ensuring the transverse pinching of said teat.   -12- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cap is arranged with a neck (14) open receiving a plug (15) adapted to receive means (16) for pinching the nipple transversely, the means being articulated and maneuverable from the cap.