GB2318522A

GB2318522A - Attachment for a baby's bottle

Info

Publication number: GB2318522A
Application number: GB9620669A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Linda-Jane Reilly-Dunbar
Original assignee: REILLY DUNBAR LINDA JANE
Current assignee: REILLY DUNBAR LINDA JANE
Priority date: 1996-10-03
Filing date: 1996-10-03
Publication date: 1998-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 2016-10-03
Also published as: GB9620669D0; GB2318522B

Abstract

A mobile luminous device - mother's aid for a baby's bottle comprising a mobile luminous visual lamp 2. The mobile luminous visual lamp 2 includes means for providing a light (18). The mobile luminous visual lamp further comprises a motion sensor (19), a battery (20), a motor (16), a fixed spindle (17) and a screw neck 3 (14, FIG 7). The mobile luminous visual lamp 2 is connected to the baby's bottle by means of a coupling 4, a flexible coiled spring 6 and a c.clip 8. Consequently once the mobile luminous device is fitted to the baby's bottle, and the motor (16) put into operation, the mobile luminous visual lamp 2 will rotate causing the motion sensor (19) to trigger the light (18), simultaneously the flexible coiled spring 6 will move. Thus, providing combined duel moving luminous visual stimulation to a baby during feeding.

Description

A MOBILE LUMINOUS DEVICE - MOTHER'S AID The present invention relates to a mobile luminous devicemother's aid for bottles, and in particular to a mobile luminous device - mother's aid for a baby's bottle.

Sometimes, when bottle feeding a baby, the baby may become difficult and unwilling to be fed as it becomes increasingly drowsy and temperamental. It is therefore sometimes desirable to hold the baby's interest such that its attention can be diverted from the feeding itself, for a period sufficient to enable it to consume the contents of the bottle, whilst its attention is attracted away from the bottle. Usually, this is achieved by providing an interesting and engaging distraction for the baby, for example, by the feeder holding a toy or rattle or the like to distract the baby's attention.

Babies bottles are usually plain and have nothing which provides a visual stimulus to a baby so as to divert the baby's attention while feeding. Various types of bottles have been proposed with decorations of various types, but these generally have a number of drawbacks. Integral decorations on the sides of the bottle cannot be seen by the baby when the bottle is placed in its mouth, and moulded decorations, also on the sides of the bottle, increase the width of the bottle, making it difficult for the baby to hold. Attachments have also been proposed for fitting onto the bottle itself. Normally, however, these attachments are adapted to fit over the nipple end of the bottle. Thus, when the baby is feeding, the attachment is close to the baby's face so that it is difficult for the baby to focus or to concentrate on it for long, thus tte baby loses interest after a short period.

Moreover, recent research has shown that babies can go cross-eyed due to objects being positioned too cldse to their faces, for long periods of time.

Baby bottle holders of various types have also been proposed.

Normally, however, these bottle holders are large toys or large character heads adapted to hold and support a baby's bottle, whilst amusing the baby during the feeding process. In some cases, the bottle holders have been designed to support the bottle in a downward position so that the baby may be fed without the aid of an adult. Unfortunately, these designs incorporate several flaws, insofar as they lack versatility, and present the problem of being potentially dangerous. In other cases, the holders have been designed to either hold and support a bottle for a baby that can not hold a bottle for itself, while remaining slightly unstable to permit knocking the bottle away with any definite motion of the infant to prevent accidental injury, or to hold and support a bottle for a baby while allowing the baby to grasp or otherwise engage the body of the support member of the device, thereby further supporting the bottle. However, in all cases, these bottle holders do present a probable danger to the baby, in that, the use of them on very young babies, could result in the baby either choking or suffocating, Moreover, these bottle holders are all restricted to being static.

As a point of interest, Desmond Morris, the author of the book Baby Watching, states that, 'babies respond more strongly to objects that move, as opposed to those that are completely static. They also favour curved shapes over straight, geometric ones, are sensitive to patterns, and like big objects that are brightly lit.

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are to provide a mobile luminous device - mother's aid for a baby's bottle, that provides combined dual moving luminous visual stimulation to a baby during feeding.

Another object and advantage of the present invention is to provide a mobile luminous device - mother's aid which fits over the closed end of a baby's bottle, furthest from the baby's face. Thus, advantageously, the device may easily be seen by the baby, being close enough to the baby's face to occupy its attention when feeding, yet suitably distant so that the device is easily seen, and distraction from feeding can be minimised.

Moreover, possible danger of the baby going cross-eyed is therefore eliminated.

Yet other objects and advantages of the present invention are to provide a mobile luminous device - mother's aid which is only suitable to aid the feeding of babies under the age of six months, reason being, babies above the age of six months would be developed enough to grasp the device, thus, disengaging it from the bottle, consequently, the device would no longer serve its purpose. This is advantageous from the viewpoint that an adult would be required to hold the bottle for the baby throughout the feeding process, since babies under the age of six months are unable to perform the task of feeding themselves. Moreover, the danger of the baby choking on the liquid in the bottle is therefore eliminated.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent to the reader after consideration of the following description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF 1g DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile luminous device mother's aid for a baby's bottle according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mobile luminous device mother's aid engaging a baby's bottle according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a mobile luminous device mother's aid according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of a mobile luminous device - mother's aid according to the present invention; FIG. 5, 6, and 7 are enlarged internal showings of the lamp section and its contents according to the present invention; FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a mobile luminous device - mother's aid for a baby's bottle according to the present invent ion; FIGS. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are enlarged sectional views of a mobile luminous device - mother's aid according to the present invention, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1, there is provided a mobile luminous device - mother's aid for a baby's bottle indicated generally by reference numeral 1. The mobile luminous device - mother's aid comprises a mobile visual lamp 2. The visual lamp 2 may be in the shape of a colourful ball or fictional character or the like. The Visual lamp 2 comprises an electric light bulb 18, a motion sensor 19, a battery 20, a clockwork motor 16, a fixed spindle 17 and a screw neck 3 (see FIGS. 5, 6 and 7). Thus, allowing the baby to enjoy moving luminous visual stimulation.

The visual lamp 2 is connected to the coupling 4 by means of the screw neck 3. The coupling 4 comprises a male member 5, (see FIG. 8) which fits into the open top of the flexible coiled spring 6.

The flexible coiled spring 6 comprises a nylon cord 9, which is held in place by means of a knot 10 positioned inside the coupling 4.

The other end 11 of the nylon cord 9 is knotted inside the male member 7 provided on the c.clip 8 (see FIG. 8). Thus, preventing over stretching of the flexible coiled spring 6. The flexible coiled spring 6 is enclosed in flexible shrunken plastic or the like 12, to prevent the ingress of babies fingers. The flexible coiled spring 6, fits into the c.clip 8, by means of a male member 7 provided on thc' c.clip 8 (see FIG. 8). The c.clip 8 come isles flexible plastic stops 15 or the like, to prevent the mobile luminous devicemother's aid (see FIGS. 1 and 4) being placed at various positions along the length of the baby's bottle 14. Thus, advantageously, preventing the baby from going cross-eyed.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 5, 6 and 7 the visual lamp 2 is fixed to the screw neck 3 by means of the fixed spindle 17. the fixed spindle 17 is sealed to the inside bottom of the screw neck 21.

Thus, when the clockwork motor 16 is in operation, the visual lamp 2 rotates, consequently the motion sensor 19 comes into operation triggering the electric light bulb 18, simultaneously the flexible coiled spring 6 moves. Thus, providing combined dual moving luminous visual stimulation to a baby during feeding.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

1. A mobile luminous device - mother's aid for a baby's bottle comprising a mobile luminous visual lamp, means for releasably securing the mobile luminous visual lamp to the baby's bottle, such that the mobile luminous device provides easily visible moving luminous stimulation to a baby during feeding.

2. A mobile luminous device - mother's aid according to claim 1, wherein the mobile luminous visual lamp includes means for providing light.

3. A mobile luminous device - mother's aid according to claim 2, wherein the mobile luminous visual lamp further includes a motion sensor.

4. A mobile luminous device - mother's aid according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mobile luminous visual lamp also includes a motor.

5. A mobile luminous device - mothers aid according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mobile luminous visual lamp comprises a screw neck.

A A mobile luminous device - mother's aid according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the mobile luminous visual lamp is configured in the shape of a fictional character.

7. A mobile luminous device - mother's aid according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein there is provided a coupling suitably arranged to engage the screw neck of the mobile luminous visual lamp.

8. A mobile luminous device - mother's aid according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the coupling comprises a male member.

9. A mobile luminous device - mother's aid according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein there is provided a c.clip suitably arranged to engage the closed end of a baby's bottle.

10. A mobile luminous device - mother's aid according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the c.clip comprises a male member.

11. A mobile luminous device - mother's aid according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the c.clip further comprises flexible plastic stops.

12. A mobile luminous device - mother's aid according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein a flexible coiled spring extends between the mobile luminous visual lamp and the c.clip.

13. A mobile luminous device - mother's aid for a baby's bottle, substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 12 of the accompanying drawings.