GB2342646A

GB2342646A - Baby feeding bottle

Info

Publication number: GB2342646A
Application number: GB9822521A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel Michael Mcganty
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-10-16
Filing date: 1998-10-16
Publication date: 2000-04-19
Also published as: GB9822521D0

Abstract

A baby bottle has a small circular hole in an indented bottom of the bottle, this hole being of a size to accommodate a one-piece slit valve mechanism 1 made of flexible impervious material such as latex rubber. The slit valve mechanism 1 is of a broadly cylindrical overall shape, albeit with a tapered top side and recessed ring, facilitating a secure, water-proof fit into the bottom of the bottle, requiring no further fixtures to achieve such attachment. The slit valve is oriented in a manner such that it allows air to enter the bottle, assuming a modest pressure differential, but does not allow fluid to leave the bottle.

Description

BABY FEEDING BOTTLE This invention is a feeding bottle for babies and young children.

It has been recognised that a disadvantageous partial vacuum is often created inside the bottle when a baby is feeding from a conventional bottle and nipple. This partial vacuum is due to the removal of fluid from the bottle which cannot be replaced by air due to the continuous sucking of the child. The potential disadvantages associated with this circumstance include slower and less even feeding and potential wind or colic when the baby must eventually release the nipple to allow a flow of air back into the bottle. It is also possible for the nipple to collapse or even invert into this partial vacuum, making it difficult or impossible for the baby to feed.

A considerable amount of prior art has attempted to address this problem. While several examples of such prior art seem likely to adequately address this pressure differential, they generally do so utilising mechanisms which are cumbersome and complex. Such solutions are more prone to failure, while also being both expensive to construct and unwieldy in the hands of a feeder or child. Some such solutions involve a complexity of chambers, making cleaning more difficult, costly and uncertain.

The present invention provides a baby feeding bottle with a small circular hole in the indented bottom of the bottle, this hole being of a size to accommodate a one-piece slit valve mechanism, made of flexible impervious material such as latex rubber. The slit valve mechanism is made of a material which would remain durable and flexible when subjected to cleaning by boiling, steaming, chemical treatment, microwave or other cleaning methodologies.

The slit valve mechanism is of a broadly cylindrical overall shape, albeit with a tapered top edge and recessed ring, facilitating a secure, water-proof fit into the bottom of the bottle. The slit valve mechanism is oriented in a manner such that it allows air to enter the bottle, assuming a modest pressure differential, but does not allow fluid to leave the bottle.

The present invention operates as follows. The slit valve is designed in a manner such that prior to the commencement of feeding, the slit valve is in a closed position, providing a sealed bottom to the bottle. As the child commences feeding, a pressure differential is created as fluid is removed from the bottle through the nipple. As a sufficient pressure differential is established the slit valve opens momentarily, allowing air to replace the removed fluid, thus returning the air pressure in the bottle to approximately an ambient level. The slit valve then closes, re-establishing the waterproof seal at the bottom of the bottle. In this manner, the baby is able to feed continuously, without having to release the nipple and without causing a partial vacuum inside the bottle, thus eliminating inhibited flow of fluid, collapse of the nipple or inversion of the nipple into the bottle.

The present invention provides for the possibility of removing the slit valve mechanism should this be desired, but is designed in a manner such that this is not normally required in normal cleaning or use. The present invention further requires no additional fixtures to secure the slit valve mechanism to the bottle in a sealed manner.

The indented bottom of the bottle provides an essentially flat base for standing the bottle when not in use and protects the slit valve mechanism from potentially disruptive contact at such times.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described with respect to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view of a baby feeding bottle (without the standard nipple attachment) incorporating the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a section through the slit valve mechanism across the plane of the slit valve. In this section the slit valve is in the closed position.

FIGURE 3 is as FIGURE 2 albeit with the slit valve in the open position.

FIGURE 4 is a section through the slit valve mechanism along the plane of the slit valve.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the slit valve mechanism from the top (i. e., from inside the baby feeding bottle).

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the slit valve mechanism from the bottom (i. e., from outside the baby feeding bottle).

As shown in FIGURE 1 the slit valve mechanism 1 is a one-piece insert which fits in a sealed manner into the hole in the indented bottom of the bottle.

As shown in FIGURE 2 the tapered top 2 to the slit valve mechanism facilitates insertion into the circular opening in the bottom of the bottle. Further as shown in FIGURE 2 the recessed ring 3 in the slit valve mechanism provides a secure fit of this mechanism into the bottom of the bottle, allowing this mechanism to neither fall out of nor into the bottle. This recessed ring 3 is of a sufficient depth to achieve this security of fit while still providing a water-proof seal in the bottom of the bottle.

Claims

CLAIMS What I claim is : 1. A baby feeding bottle incorporating a one-piece flexible slit valve mechanism which fits into a circular aperture in the indented bottom of the bottle, such slit valve mechanism providing a seal which does not allow fluid out of the bottom of the bottle while allowing air in to reduce or eliminate any partial vacuum created by the removal of fluid from the bottle, with such slit valve mechanism requiring no further fittings to achieve a secure and sealed attachment to the bottle.
2. A slit valve mechanism as in claim 1 which provides a tapered top edge to facilitate insertion into the bottle.
3. A slit valve mechanism as in claim 1 which provides a recessed ring to attain a secure sealed fit in the bottom of the bottle.
4. A slit valve mechanism as in claim 1 which is made of flexible rubber or synthetic material.
5. A baby feeding bottle as in claim 1 with a circular opening in an indented bottom to facilitate insertion of the slit valve mechanism in claims 1 through 4.