GB1438298A - Infant feeding unit assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

1438298 Feeding bottles ABBOTT LABORATORIES 6 July 1973 [30 Oct 1972] 32417/ 73 Heading A5X [Also in Division F2V An infant feeding device 10, Fig. 1, secured to the neck of a bottle 11, comprises a nipple 15 with a teat portion 30 having one or more apertures 31, a frusto-conical wall portion 32 having a flange 34 adapted to be seated and sealingly engaged with the finish 18 of the bottle 11, and a vent 25 in flange 34. A disc 16 (see also Fig. 4) is positioned to separate the bottle 11 from the interior of the nipple 15 when the assembly is in closed position. Disc 16 has radial grooves 41 to provide a flow path for liquid within bottle 11 when the assembly is open for feeding. The device 10 includes means for securing nipple 15 and disc 16 to and in sealing engagement with the bottle neck 17 and capable of being released and permit air to pass through vent 25 and liquid to pass through grooves 41 into the nipple 15. These means comprise a protective shroud 13 with an integral retaining ring 14 connected to the shroud by a frangible connection, and further including an annular ridge 40 near the edge of disc 16 to provide a seal when shroud 13 and retaining ring 14 are attached to the bottle 11. A collar 50 (Figs. 1, 5) positioned on the retaining ring and engaging the shroud comprises a cap with a skirt 52 for engagement with the retaining ring 14 and a top including a flange 55 with a central opening through which the shroud 13 projects, the flange 55 overlying the frangible connection between shroud 13 and retaining ring 14. In the position shown in Fig. 1, the nipple flange 34 is held under tension against retaining ring 14 by a portion 23 of shroud 13, so that bottle 11 is sealed. When shroud 13 is removed, flange 34 expands upwards making a space around the edge of disc 16 through which liquid flows, and at the same time vent 35 is uncovered. Disc 16 may have a groove 40 near its periphery, and a raised central portion to assist in centreing the disc projections (38), Fig. 2, not shown, may be formed in an annular recess (36) in nipple 15, preferably on the underside of the top surface of the recess and projecting towards the disc, to aid the separation of the disc 16 from the nipple 15. The opening in the top of collar 50 may have cut-outs shaped to provide relief points when collar 50 is applied to assembly 10. Reference has been directed by the comptroller to Specification 1328482.