FR2821743A1 - PISTON BOTTLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a nursing bottle comprising a rigid body (1), a nipple (9), which is joined to the rigid body (1) by means of a nipple collar (7), and a means to compensate for the vacuum created in the rigid body (1) when the liquid (3) contained in said body (1) flows through the nipple (9). According to the invention, said compensating means comprises a plunger (15, 17) that can move in relation to a communication chamber (12, 13) disposed in the bottom of the rigid body so that said plunger can be moved against an elastic return element (19), which is located between the plunger (15, 17) and the communication chamber (12, 13), from a closed position, wherein the communication chamber is sealed, to an open position which creates an air flow through the communication chamber.

Description

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PISTON BOTTLE
The invention relates to a bottle comprising a rigid body and a teat.

 With standard or usual bottles, the infant sucks milk or another liquid through the nipple. When the infant sucks, a vacuum occurs in the rigid body of the bottle and it becomes difficult for the infant to continue to suck. It is then necessary to interrupt the feeding and to remove the teat from the mouth of the infant, and this repeatedly, in order to allow air to enter the rigid body of the bottle to find sufficient atmospheric pressure for the flow milk.

 Document US 5,570,796 or US 5,779,071 discloses a bottle in which the air vacuum is compensated for by a tube placed inside the rigid body and communicating with the outside through an opening formed in a upper end of the tube, interposed between the teat and the rigid body.

 Document GB 2 238 729 discloses a bottle in which the air vacuum compensation is carried out by means of a deformable flat silicone membrane, mounted on the bottom of the rigid body of the bottle.

 There are commercially available baby bottles in which the air vacuum is compensated for by an opening made at the very base of the teat.

 In all of these known bottles, the air vacuum is compensated continuously, that is to say that the interior volume of the rigid body of the bottle is permanently in communication with the outside air.

 The object of the invention is to put an end to this drawback and to avoid unforeseen swallowing of air which can be the cause of regurgitation as well as colic for the infant.

 To this end, the subject of the invention is a bottle comprising a rigid body, a teat assembled to the rigid body by a teat ring and a means

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 to compensate for an air vacuum created in the rigid body during the flow of the liquid contained in the rigid body through the nipple, characterized in that this means comprises a piston movable relative to a communication chamber formed in the bottom of the rigid body, to be moved against an elastic return member interposed between the piston and the communication chamber, from a sealed closing position of the communication chamber to an open position creating an air passage through the communication room.

 According to the invention, the compensation of the air vacuum is controlled by the displacement of the piston from the closed position to the open position in order to restore atmospheric pressure in the rigid body of the bottle, no more in a way permanent but in an adjustable way depending on the air vacuum created in the rigid body.

 Several advantages ensue from this invention. Feeding at the push of a finger on the piston provides significant comfort. Parents are thus able to vary the flow rate of the liquid contained in the rigid body of the bottle according to a behavior specific to each infant. For example, at the start of feeding, the bottle can be used like a standard bottle in the airtight closed position, thus forcing the baby to suck more forcefully. Thereafter, the bottle makes it possible to accelerate feeding by actuating the piston in the open position to compensate for the vacuum of air and regain a balanced atmospheric pressure in order to ensure an easy and natural flow through the teat.

This results in a more efficient and shorter feeding.

 The rigid body preferably has an angled shape, so that the level is higher than the teat, which allows the latter to be always filled with liquid.

 For perfect hygiene, the different elements that make up the piston are easily removable from the rigid body of the bottle. They can be sterilized and washed separately.

 As a whole, the bottle has an ergonomic shape for a more natural fit.

 A particular embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4.

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Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a bottle according to the invention, showing the piston in the airtight closed position of the communication chamber.

Figure 2 is a partial view of Figure 1, showing the piston in the open position creating an air passage through the communication chamber.

 Figure 3 shows in longitudinal section an alternative embodiment of a bottle according to the invention.

 FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the piston in the communication chamber of the bottle shown in FIG. 3.

une chambre de communication ménagée dans le fond du corps rigide ; 12 section de passage de la bague de piston ; 13 cône d'étanchéité de la bague de piston ; 15 corps de piston conique ; 17 tête de piston ; 19 languette de rappel élastique ; 21 réservation ménagée dans la section de passage de la bague de piston ; 23 ergot de la tête de piston destiné à coopérer avec les réservations 21 ; 25 rainure de guidage en rotation de la tête du piston, ménagée dans la

section de passage de la bague de piston ; 27 butée en rotation de la tête du piston, ménagée dans la rainure de guidage de la section de passage de la bague de piston. In the various figures from 1 to 4, the numerical references designate the elements according to the nomenclature below:
1 rigid body of the bottle; 3 liquid contained in the rigid body; 5 pacifier cap; 7 pacifier ring; 9 pacifier; 11 piston ring defining

a communication chamber formed in the bottom of the rigid body; 12 passage section of the piston ring; 13 sealing cone of the piston ring; 15 conical piston body; 17 piston head; 19 elastic return tab; 21 reservation made in the passage section of the piston ring; 23 lug of the piston head intended to cooperate with the reservations 21; 25 guide groove in rotation of the piston head, formed in the

passage section of the piston ring; 27 stop in rotation of the piston head, formed in the guide groove of the passage section of the piston ring.

communication 12, 13 ménagée dans le fond du corps rigide, pour être déplacé contre un organe de rappel élastique 19 intercalé entre le piston 15, 17 et la chambre de communication 12, 13, d'une position de fermeture étanche à l'air de la In Figures 1 to 4, there is a bottle, comprising a rigid body 1, a nipple 9 assembled to the rigid body 1 by a nipple ring 7 and a means for compensating for an air vacuum created in the rigid body 1 during the flow of the liquid 3 contained in the rigid body 1 through the nipple 9. This means comprises a piston 15,17 movable relative to a chamber

communication 12, 13 formed in the bottom of the rigid body, to be moved against an elastic return member 19 interposed between the piston 15, 17 and the communication chamber 12, 13, from an airtight closing position of the

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chambre de communication à une position d'ouverture créant un passage d'air à travers la chambre de communication.

communication chamber in an open position creating an air passage through the communication chamber.

The piston 15, 17 comprises a piston head 17 assembled to a conical piston body 15 and the communication chamber 12, 13 comprises a sealing cone 13 for sealing the communication chamber by contact between the body conical piston 15 and the sealing cone 13.

The elastic return member 19 is for example a tongue fixed to the piston head 17.

 The piston head 17 is provided with a lug 23 which is inserted into a reservation 21 formed in a passage section 12 of the communication chamber when the piston has to be moved from the sealed closing position to the opening position .

 The passage section 12 of the communication chamber comprises a groove 25 for guiding in rotation of the piston head 17 on which the lug 23 bears to lock the piston in the sealed closing position.

 The groove 25 further comprises a rotational stop 27 of the piston.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS 1. Baby bottle, comprising a rigid body (1), a teat (9) assembled to the rigid body (1) by a teat ring (7) and a means for compensating for an air vacuum created in the rigid body (1 ) during the flow of the liquid (3) contained in the rigid body (1) through the teat (9), characterized in that this means comprises a piston (15,17) movable relative to a communication chamber ( 12,13) formed in the bottom of the rigid body, to be moved against an elastic return member (19) interposed between the piston (15,17) and the communication chamber (12,13), from a closed position sealed from the communication chamber to an open position creating an air passage through the communication chamber. 2. Bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that the piston (15,17) comprises a piston head (17) assembled to a conical piston body (15) and in that the communication chamber (12,13) comprises a sealing cone (13) for sealing the communication chamber by sealing between the conical piston body (15) and the sealing cone (13). 3. Bottle according to claim 2, characterized in that the elastic return member (19) is a tongue fixed to the piston head (17). 4. Bottle according to claim 3, characterized in that the piston head (17) is provided with a lug (23) which is inserted in a reservation (21) formed in a passage section (12) of the chamber communication when the piston must be moved from the sealed closure position to the open position. 5. Bottle according to claim 4, characterized in that the passage section (12) of the communication chamber comprises a groove (25) for guiding in rotation of the piston head (17) on which the lug (23) is supported to lock the piston in the sealed closing position. 6. Bottle according to claim 5, characterized in that the groove (25) comprises a rotational stop (27) of the piston.