GB2289667A - Identification device for infant feeding bottles - Google Patents

Abstract

An attachment designed to fit to an infant's feeding bottle assembly that allows for personal identification of the bottle, thereby safeguarding individual personal hygiene, consists of a split collar that fits around the neck of the bottle. The collar carries an identification name, design or mark. The collar may deform under the force of the bottle closure ring as that is screwed on, and be held in position thereby. Such collars may be made of semi-rigid plastics and of various colours. <IMAGE>

Description

IDENTIFICATION DEVICE FOR INFANT FEEDING BOTTLES This invention relates to the personal identification of infant feeding bottles.

Feeding bottles are used by most babies and infant. Great care is taken by mothers and carers to ensure that these items are maintained in a clean and ideally sterile condition. When a number of babies are together, such as in a creche, it is not always clear which feeding bottle beings to which baby. There is therefore a high probability that bottle can be given to the wrong bab and germs or disease passed between them. The need to prevent possible cross injection between infant, has increased notably in recent years with the increased use of creches. Awareness of infection control has improved and many creches now insist upon the marking of bottles.

Identification of feeding bottles is presently difficult as the materials used in the construction of the various parts do not lend themselves to the application of permanent marking inks. Additionally, the cleaning and sterilizing processes applied to infant oral equipment can remove most home-produced markings.

A review of the prior at addressed to the identification o+ infant feeding receptacles revealed only one previous attempt to address this problem. This consisted of an additional component designed to enable a gummed label to be carried on a feeding bottle. Although such an arrangement allows the bottle to be cleaned any attachment associated it infant feeding will itself require regular cleaning. The use of gummed labels or other simi lar method is therefore of 1 imited value. Additionally, this existing solution does not lend itself to satisfactory +itting to the wide range of bottle shapes currently available. The need to provide a simple and practical method of identifying iniant feeding bottles remains unmet.

According to the present invention there is provided a component designed to attach to an infant's s feeding bottle and to carry a personal identification mark or name thereby ensuring that the bottle can be identified as belonging to an individual. This component consists essential ly of of a split ring or collar that engages around the neck of the bottle.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a feeding bottle assembly and identification collar.

Figure 2 shows two examples of alternative collar designs.

Figure 3 shows the cross sectional shapes of a typical collar designs.

The identification collar consists essentially of a split ring designed to fit around the neck 0+ a feeding bottle and under the cap. Figure 1 shows a collar and feeding bottle assembly.

As feeding bottles tend to have almost identical neck diameters the identification collar can be made to fit most existing bottle designs. The use of an incomplete ring design would allow the collar to fit various bottle shoulder profiles and closure ring designs. The collar would be sufficiently stiff and complete as to prevent easy removal of the collar without the removal of the bottle closure ring.

The cross sectional shape of the collar is such as to ensure that the collar is held firmly when the closure ring and teat are fitted without hindering the correct sealing of the ring arid test. This is most simply achieved by forming the arms of the collar with a cross sectional shape that causes the said arms to expand outwards as the closure ring closes down on them. The use of a essentially conical inner surface would ensure tat the collar expanded outwards as it is pressed do upon the shoulder of the bottle by the closure ring regardless of the bottle profile. Examples of suitable cross sectional shapes are shown in figure 3.

Fart o all of the collar is of sufficient width to allow for a personal name or - similar to be shown or added. This would typically be printed or embossed on the collar as shown in the figures. Alternatively an arena can be adapted to enable markings to be added by hand (eg with a permanent marker).

The collar is made of a suitable semi-rigid plastic that is non-toxic and can withstend normal washing arid sterilization processes.

The design of the collar shown in Figures 1 satisfies the essential engineering requirement. Figure 2 shows a number of alternative designs. The use of differing colours for the collar ad the lettering/designs will further aid identification.

Claims (8)

1. CLAIMS 1. An identification device for intent feeding bottles comprising of a. split ring that f its around the neck of the feeding bottle.
2. 2. An identification device as claimed in Claim I that can deform to fit differing bottle profiles.
3. 3. An identification device as claimed in Claim 1 o Claim 2 that can deform and move under the force of the bottle closure ring as this is tightened onto the teat.
4. 4. An identification device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 upon which lettering and/or digits are shown.
5. 5. An identification device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 on which an area is adapted to enable hand written markings to be added.
6. 6. An identification device as claimed in any preceding Claim upon which a recognizable design is shown.
7. 7. An identification device of a specific colour as claimed in any preceding Claim.
8. 8. An identification device substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the -accompanying drawings.