GB2392628A

GB2392628A - Feeding bottle with valve

Info

Publication number: GB2392628A
Application number: GB0216658A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Gerrard Peter Casey; Marie Helen Zeta Casey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-07-18
Filing date: 2002-07-18
Publication date: 2004-03-10
Also published as: GB0216658D0

Abstract

A feeding bottle 1 for infants comprising a body 3 with a teat 2 offset from the centre of the bottle end and a valve 7 located opposite the teat 3. The valve 7 may be positioned towards or on the teat 3 end 11 of the bottle 1 and may also be removable. The bottle 1 may have an asymmetric shape.

Description

CONTAINERS

This invention relates to containers for storing and dispensing 5 liquids, and especially babies' feeding bottles.

With containers for storing and dispensing liquids, problems are often encountered during dispensing of the liquid. These problems are the result of air being urged into the container to lo replace dispensed liquid and to return the pressure within the container to atmosphere, from the lower pressure condition which results from the reduced volume of liquid within the container.

This can result in uneven dispensing and particularly pouring, of liquid from the container. In the case of babies' feeding bottles this Is can result in air being swallowed by the baby due to the uneven flow of drink and perhaps the in rush of air, and this air can produce wind and colic. Attempts have previously been made to reduce this problem for example in GB 2 323 838. This bottle is somewhat bulky and complex since it is provided with a sniffing 20 or partial vacuum relief valve in the base thereof which is protected from being accidentally opened by contacting a surface by upstanding walls and a cover. It is difficult to make the sniffing valve removable or replaceable by a press fitting since it is hard for a user's fingers to reach inside the bottle to press it out.

The invention seeks to at least reduce at least some of these problems.

According to the invention there is provided a feeding bottle for infants comprising a body having a first end and a second end, the second end being provided with an outlet for an infant to suck s liquid from the bottle the outlet being offset from the centre of the second end and a valve having an open position in which air can enter the bottle body and a closed position, the valve being biased towards the closed position and positioned on about opposite the outlet. Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of non-limiting example by reference to the accompanying figures of which 15 Figure 1 is a cross section view of a bottle of the invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a valve of use in the invention. to Bottle 1 is provided with a body portion 3 a first end 10 and a second end 11 opposing the first end 10. Second end 11 is provided with an outlet. As illustrated the outlet comprises a teat 2 because colic is mainly suffered by infants of an age who find teats easiest to use. The invention is however not so limited and other outlets 25 for example slit valves as used in GB 2 266 045 may be provided.

As illustrated the teat is provided with a cover 100 which can be useful in maintaining the bottle contents sterile.

The bottle as a whole is asymmetric when viewed from the second end and so configured that there will be a preferred orientation of it by an infant holding it. In the illustrated 5 embodiment asymmetry is generated by providing the outlet away from the centre of the second end. The infant will tend to hold the bottle with the outlet nearer to itself. In other embodiments asymmetry can be generated by providing handles on the body 3 or by making the body of non-circular cross section.

The bottle is provided with a sniffing, or partial vacuum release, valve 7. As the infant sucks liquid from the bottle a partial vacuum is generated in the bottle. The sniffing valve 7 opens and relieves the partial vacuum in the bottle. This allows the infant to Is imbibe the liquid with lesser air ingestion and consequently with lesser risk of wind or colic.

The valve 7 is located high up for example at least 70% more preferably at least 75% still more preferably at least 80% of the 20 distance from the first end to the second end on the bottle side.

Alternatively the valve 7 could be on the second end 11. In either case the valve 7 is about opposite the side of the bottle which will be nearest the infant when the bottle is in use.

25 The valve 7 is preferably arranged to be urged to a closed position when the pressure inside and outside the bottle are equal.

This can be achieved for example by a light resilient bias. Gentle sucking overcomes the bias and opens the sniffing valve 7.

The valve means may comprise a valve member movable 5 between open and closed position. T he valve member is preferably restrainedly located across an opening in the container. The valve member may comprise a flange located within the container and sealingly engageable around the opening when in a closed position. Formations may be provided on the valve member lo outside of the container, engageable with the edges of the opening when in an open position with the flange clear of the opening, to permit air to pass through the opening but to prevent the valve member passing fully into the container. The formations may comprise a plurality of spaced fingers extending beyond the edge 15 of the opening.

The valve member may be made of a flexible material and preferably a flexible plastics material. The valve member is preferably arranged so as to be removable from the container 20 whereby to permit cleaning and/or sterilization. A formation may be provided on the container to at least partially surround the external side of the opening to protect the valve member. The opening may be provided in a recess in the exterior of the container, and a removable non-airtight cover may be provided for 25 the recess.

( A valve 7 made for example of a flexible plastics material such as neoprene is mounted on the upper body 3 of the bottle. The valve in the illustrated embodiment comprises an upper domed portion 8 of a significantly larger diameter than the opening 6.

s Extending downwardly from the domed portion is a cruciform shape projection 5 of a size to slidingly fit through the opening 6.

A finger 4 extends from each arm of the crucifix of the projection 5, the fingers 4 being of a greater radius than the opening 6. A gap is therefore defined between the fingers 4 and the underside of the lo portion of the domed member. Those skilled in the art will however appreciate that other kinds of valve such as slit valve may be used. In some embodiments of the invention the valve is removable and replaceable to allow for cleaning or replacement if it becomes damaged. When situated in the second end of the bottle 15 as shown in GB 2 323 838 it is difficult to demount the valve if it is a press fit in its mount since most user's fingers can not reach that far. In use, when the bottle is in a rest position the sniffing valve is to in a closed position and may be urged to it by the resilient bias.

When the bottle is used for feeding, the cover 1 is removed and the body is inclined. As liquid is taken from the bottle the pressure in the bottle reduces and causes the sniffing valve 7 to open by causing the valve to lift of its seat. This prevents air being pulled 25 back through the teat 2 or other outlet which can cause wind and colic as previously described.

There is thus described a baby bottle incorporating a valve arrangement which provides for considerable advantages in reducing the possibility of wind and colic. T he bottle is of relatively simple construction and can thus be inexpensively s manufactured by conventional methods. As the valve member is readily removable, no problems are encountered with regard to cleaning or sterilising of this bottle.

Various modifications may be made without departing from lo the scope of the invention. For example, a tab or other projection could be provided on the underside of the valve member to assist removal thereof from the bottle for cleaning/sterilisation. As indicated above, containers according to the invention could be used with a wide variety of different materials, and thus the shape, Is size and format of the container can be chosen accordingly. A different valve arrangement could be used. The valve member could be of a different shape and/or material.

Claims

J Claims

1. A feeding bottle for infants comprising a body having a first end s and a second end, the second end being provided with an outlet for an infant to suck liquid from the bottle the outlet being offset from the centre of the second end and a valve having an open position in which air can enter the bottle body and a closed position, the valve being biased towards the closed position and lo positioned on about opposite the outlet.