GB2384191A

GB2384191A - A protecting cover for the teat of a baby's dummy or bottle

Info

Publication number: GB2384191A
Application number: GB0201278A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Te-Ta Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-21
Filing date: 2002-01-21
Publication date: 2003-07-23
Also published as: DE20203043U1; GB0201278D0

Abstract

A protecting cover 2 for the teat 32 of a baby's dummy 3 or feeding device, comprises a collapsible tube 23 of sufficient length to accommodate a projecting teat 32, means 21 at one end of the tube for connection to the dummy 3 and a lip guard 24 at the other end of the tube 23. A dust-proof protective cover 2 used for an appeasing nipple for providing a lip stopper 31 at the middle section of the appeasing nipple, comprises a tubular cover 24, 23 integrally made by a soft rubber or plastics or the combination of the two, the tubular cover having a base portion 21 of similar size and shape to the lip stopper 31, a rear end surface of the base portion 21 having a folding portion 211 and a rear opening 22. The connecting means 21 on the collapsible tube 23 may be integrally formed with the dummy 3 or feeding device.

Description

A PROTECTING COVER FOR THE TEAT OF A BABY'S DUMMY OR BOTTLE The present invention relates to a protecting cover for the teat of a baby's dummy or bottle.

Baby's bottles, cups and dummies are provided with a projecting teat or appeasing nipple. In general the front sucking end of an appeasing nipple protrudes. As a baby sucks an appeasing nipple, it may spit the nipple out.

Alternatively, the appeasing nipple may be dropped. In each case, the nipple is polluted by bacteria, dirt or dust on the ground or other surface. When the appeasing nipple is sucked again, the baby may ingest the polluants.

The appeasing nipple may be hung on a nipple chain or rope and/or a nipple cover may be used. However, in these designs, the end which is sucked protrudes out and thereby, the defects can not be completely avoided. Moreover to use a cover to protect the appeasing nipple may be inconvenient in operation.

US Patent no. 4819641 seeks to propose solutions to these prior art problems, as do US Patents nos. 5366481, and 4878496. These earlier documents describe "dedicated nipples" which include suction ends having specific specifications which, therefore, cannot be combined with other generally used nipples. Furthermore, the structures thereof are complex and difficult to manufacture. Thus the cost is high. As a result, these products are not widely accepted by consumers.

It is an object of the invention to provide a better solution to the identified problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a protecting cover for the projecting teat of a baby's dummy or feeding device, the protecting cover comprising a collapsible tube of sufficient length to accommodate the projecting teat, means at one end of the collapsible tube for connection to the dummy or

feeding device, and a lip guard at the other end of the collapsible tube.

Embodiments of a dust-proof protecting cover of the invention protect an appeasing nipple in the event that it is dropped.

In an embodiment, the collapsible or snake-like tube is combined with the appeasing nipple or with the dummy or feeding device carrying the teat.

Thereby, the economic burden to consumers can be reduced greatly.

In an embodiment of a protecting cover of an appeasing nipple, or projecting teat, the protecting cover is integrally formed and has a soft and elastic tubular structure. Preferably, the appeasing nipple, dummy or feeding device is engaged with the protecting cover from an opening at a rear base portion. Preferably, the protecting cover is engaged with a lip stopper of the appeasing nipple, dummy or feeding device. Moreover, protecting covers of the invention have a simple structure, and can be arranged to be detachable easily for replacement. The operation thereof is very convenient.

In an embodiment, a protecting cover of the invention has a collapsible or snake-like tube which is elastic and restorable. Therefore, when a baby holds the nipple or teat in its mouth and sucks, the suction end passes through a hollow portion of the tube and protrudes. If the device carrying the nipple or teat falls, for example, the elasticity of the tube causes the tube to enclose the suction end which is thereby protected against pollution by dust or dirt.

The present invention also extends to a dust-proof protecting cover used for an appeasing nipple for providing to a lip stopper at a middle section of an appeasing nipple ; characterized in that: the dust-proof protecting cover is an elastic and tubular cover and is integrally made by a soft rubber or plastics or the combination of the two; a rear section of the dust-proof protecting cover is a base portion; the base portion has a size and a shape approximately similar to the lip stopper in a middle section of

an appeasing nipple ; a rear end surface of the base portion has a folding portion and has a rear opening; a shape of the rear opening and the folding portion cause the dust-proof protecting cover is engaged with a lip stopper and positions the lip stopper; a middle area of a front face of the base portion has a snake-like tube which is elastic and encloses a suction end of the appeasing nipple ; a foremost of the snake-like tube is enlarged as a sub-lip stopper, thereby, when a baby holds the appeasing nipple in the mouth and sucks the appeasing nipple, the suction end passes through a hollow portion of the snake-like tube to protrude, thus the baby sucks the suction end; when the appeasing nipple installed in the appeasing nipple protrudes out or fall down from the mouth of the baby; due to the elasticity of the snake-like tube, the snake-like tube will enclose the suction end and thus does not be polluted by the dusts or dirt.

Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Fig. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a dust-proof protecting cover of the present invention and an appeasing nipple to be protected thereby: Fig. 1-A shows a view seen from the opposite side of Fig. 1; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the combination of the dust-proof protecting cover and the appeasing nipple of Fig. 1; Fig. 2-A shows a view seen from the opposite side of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 shows a cross section view of the combination shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 3-A shows a view similar to that of Fig. 3 but with the nipple exposed, and

Fig. 4 shows schematically the use of an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1,1-A, 2,2-A, a dust-proof protecting cover 2 is an elastic and tubular cover and is integrally made from a soft rubber or plastics material, or a combination of the two. The rear section of the dust-proof protecting cover 2 is a base portion 21. The base portion 21 has a size and a shape approximately similar to the lip stopper 31 in the middle section of an appeasing nipple. The rear end surface of the base portion 21 has a folding portion 211 and has a rear opening 22. The shape of the rear opening 22 and the folding portion 211 cause the dust-proof protecting cover 2 may be engaged with a soft and elastic lip stopper 31 and positions the lip stopper 31 (referring to Figs. 2, 2-A, 3, and 3-A).

The middle area of the front face of the base portion 21 has a snake-like tube 23 which is elastic and may enclose a suction end 32 of the appeasing nipple. The foremost of the snake-like tube 23 is enlarged as a sub-lip stopper 24.

Above structure is the dust-proof protecting cover 2 of the present invention which is added to and positioned on the lip stopper 31 of an appeasing nipple. Because of the elasticity of the snake-like tube 23 of the dust-proof protecting cover 2, at the initial condition of no outer force applied thereon, the snake-like tube 23 extends forwards to enclose the suction end 32 (referring to Fig. 3).

When a baby B holds the appeasing nipple in the mouth and sucks the appeasing nipple, the suction end 32 can pass through the hollow portion of the snake-like tube 23 to protrude out. Thus the baby 2 can suck the suction end 32 (referring to Figs. 3-A and 4).

When the appeasing nipple installed with the protecting cover 2 falls out of the mouth of the baby B or is dropped, the elasticity of the snake-like tube 23 causes the tube 23 to enclose the suction end 32 of the nipple which is thereby protected, for example, from pollution.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A protecting cover for the projecting teat of a baby's dummy or feeding device, the protecting cover comprising a collapsible tube of sufficient length to accommodate the projecting teat, means at one end of the collapsible tube for connection to the dummy or feeding device, and a lip guard at the other end of the collapsible tube.
2. A dust-proof protecting cover used for an appeasing nipple for providing to a lip stopper at a middle section of an appeasing nipple ; characterized in that: the dust-proof protecting cover is an elastic and tubular cover and is integrally made by a soft rubber or plastics or the combination of the two; a rear section of the dust-proof protecting cover is a base portion; the base portion has a size and a shape approximately similar to the lip stopper in a middle section of an appeasing nipple ; a rear end surface of the base portion has a folding portion and has a rear opening; a shape of the rear opening and the folding portion cause the dust-proof protecting cover is engaged with a lip stopper and positions the lip stopper; a middle area of a front face of the base portion has a snake-like tube which is elastic and encloses a suction end of the appeasing nipple ; a foremost of the snake-like tube is enlarged as a sub-lip stopper; thereby, when a baby holds the appeasing nipple in the mouth and sucks the appeasing nipple, the suction end passes through a hollow portion of the snake-like tube to protrude, thus the baby sucks the suction end; when the appeasing nipple installed in the appeasing nipple protrudes out or fall down from the mouth of the baby; due to the elasticity of the snake-like tube, the snake-like tube will enclose the suction end and thus does not be polluted by the dusts or dirt.
3. A combination of a protecting cover as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 with a projecting teat or appeasing nipple, wherein the connecting means on the collapsible tube are integrally formed with the dummy or feeding device carrying the teat or nipple.

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4. A protecting cover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.