GB2424589A

GB2424589A - Feeding bottle holder

Info

Publication number: GB2424589A
Application number: GB0506367A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Claire Louise Paydon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-30
Filing date: 2005-03-30
Publication date: 2006-10-04
Also published as: GB0506367D0

Abstract

The present invention provides, a support apparatus for a child comprising a flexible arm (102) having a first fixable end (104) for attachment to an anchorage point, such as a bar of a perambulator or buggy. A second, retaining, end (106) of the flexible arm (102) is provided to attach a feeding bottle or the like thereto. The flexible arm (102) is deformable about the first fixable end (104) to hold the second retaining end (106) in selective fixed spatial relation to the first fixable end (104).

Description

FEEDING APPARATUS FOR A CHILD

(0001] The present invention relates to a feeding apparatus of the type, for example, used to provide a child with a beverage from a non-spill or low-spill fluid dispensing vessel.

2] In the field of childcare products, it is known to feed a small child, for example a baby, by providing a fluid, such as milk or water, in a dinking vessel, for example a feeding bottle comprising a teat. When the bottle is offered to the child, the child is usually able to drink the fluid from the bottle by a sucking action well known in the art. However, until the child is sufficiently old to reliably hold the bottle and put the bottle to the mouth of the child, the bottle usually has to be held to the mouth of the child by an adult.

(0003] Of course, the need for an adult, for example a parent, to administer a bottle of feed to the child has an element of inconvenience, particularly when the adult is trying to perform another activity. For example, the adult may be trying to eat, such as in a restaurant environment, in which case the adult can choose to stop eating and feed the child or attempt eating whilst feeding the child. Likewise, it is not uncommon for the child starts to make demands to be fed when the adult is shopping. In both examples, the adult usually has to cease the activity in hand and feed the child.

4] In order to avoid the need for the adult to hold the bottle for the child, the adult may make a crude attempt to arrange one or more cushions to support a bottle perched thereon within reach of the mouth of a child located in a child travel seat. However, such a solution is not particularly stable and requires the child to be stationary, i.e. the seat must not be in motion.

5] It is therefore an object of the present invention to obviate or at least mitigate the above described problems.

6] According to the present invention, there is provided a feeding apparatus for a child, the apparatus comprising a flexible arm having a first fixable end for coupling to an anchorage point, and a second retaining end for holding a source of nourishment; wherein the flexible arm is deformable about the first fixable end to hold the second retaining end in selective fixed spatial relation to the first fixable end.

7] The first fixable end may be arranged to grasp, when in use, the anchorage point. The first fixable end may comprise a clamp. The clamp may be claw-like. The clamp may be coupled to the flexible arm by a pivotal connection, for example a ball-and-socket joint.

8] The second retaining end may be arranged to grasp, when in use, the source of nourishment. The second retaining end may comprise a retainer for holding the source of nourishment. The retainer may be a ring, for example, an elastomeric ring.

9] Alternatively, the retainer may comprise a sleeve. The sleeve may be radially deformable.

0] The sleeve may be a split sleeve. The sleeve may be tapered.

1] The sleeve may be surrounded by a circumferential ring for radially constricting the sleeve. The circumferential ring may be co- axially translatable over to the sleeve. The circumferential ring may be retainable in a fixed position for retaining the source of nourishment.

2] It is thus possible to provide a feeding apparatus that does not require the permanent holding of a feeding vessel by an adult. The adult is therefore free to perform other activities in the presence of the child, largely only requiring periodic monitoring of feeding progress. Additionally, it is possible to compact the apparatus for portability.

3] At least one embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram, in side elevation, of an apparatus in partial use and constituting an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram, in plan view, of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram, in side elevation, of the apparatus of Figure 1 in a coupled state of use; and Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a coupling for use with the apparatus of Figure 1 in another embodiment of the invention.

(0014] Throughout the following description identical reference numerals will be used to identify like parts.

[00151 Referring to Figure 1, a feeding apparatus 100 for a child comprises a flexible arm 102 having a first fixable end 104 and a second retaining end 106.

The first fixable end 104 comprises a clamp arrangement 108 coupled to the flexible arm 102 by a ball-and-socket joint 110. In this example, the clamp arrangement 108 is formed from a plastics material.

(0016] The ball-and-socket joint 110 comprises a ball portion 112 integrally formed with a first end cap 114, the first end cap 114 being fixed to the first fixable end 104 of the flexible arm 102, for example, by adhesive. The ball-and-socket joint 110 also comprises a socket portion 116 formed within a solid portion 118 of the clamp arrangement 108. In this example, the ball-and-socket joint 110 resists movement thereof to achieve a degree of stiffness sufficient to resist movement thereof caused by the weight of the arm 102, the second retaining end 106 and anything coupled thereto.

The use of the ball-and-socket joint 110 is an optional feature and has only been described herein for the sake of completeness. However, the skilled person will appreciate that the first end cap 114 can be coupled directly to the solid portion 118 of the clamp arrangement 108 dispensing with the need for flexion between the flexible arm 102 and the clamp arrangement 108.

(0017] The solid portion 118 of the clamp 108 is coupled to a set of jaws 120 via a living hinge 121. A threaded bolt 122 passes through a distal end 124 of the clamp arrangement 108 via apertures 123. In this example, a winged nut 111 is attached to a headless end of the threaded bolt 122 and abuts a side surface 126 of the set of jaws 120. Of course, the skilled person will appreciate that this is not the only arrangement for securing the set of jaws 120 and other configurations will be apparent to the skilled person.

(0018] The second retaining end 106 comprises a retaining ring 126 integrally formed with a second end cap 128. The second end cap 128 is fixed to the second retaining end 106 of the flexible arm 102, for example, by adhesive. In this example, the retaining ring 126 is formed from an elastomerjc material, the retaining ring 126 being capable of frictionally retaining a source of nourishment 129 therein, for example, a feeding bottle for a small child, such as a baby.

(0019] Referring to Figure 2, the set of jaws 120 define a space for attachment to an anchorage point, for example, a bar. In this example, an interior surface 130 of the set of jaws 120 comprises a plurality of teeth 132.

0] In another embodiment (Figure 3), the retaining ring 126 is replaced by a split sleeve 134 having a threaded exterior portion 136. The split sleeve 134 has a base 138, and a circumferential ring 140 surrounds the sleeve 134 and has an internal thread (not shown). The sleeve 134 also comprises the second end cap 128 integrally formed therewith. Although, in the example, the split sleeve 134 is closed at one end by the base 138, thereby defining a closed cavity for receiving the source of nourishment 129 therein, it should be appreciated that the split sleeve 134 does not have to be closed by the base 138.

1] In operation (Figure 4), the clamp arrangement 108 is firstly opened by unscrewing the winged nut Ill and the set of jaws 120 is placed around the anchorage point, for example a bar 142 of a perambulator or buggy. To close the set of jaws 120 around the bar 142, the threaded bolt 122 is replaced and the winged nut 111 tightened until the clamp arrangement 108 is fixed to the bar 142.

The source of nourishment 129 is then placed within the retaining ring 126. In the case of the feeding bottle, the retaining ring 126 should preferably reside approximately half-way along the length of the feeding bottle.

2] The flexible arm 102 is then manipulated so as to cause the flexible arm 102 to deform in such a way as to position the second retaining end 106 in a position suitable to be accessible by mouth of a small child located within the perambulator or buggy. Consequently, the second retaining end 106 of the flexible arm 102 is located in a selective fixed spatial relation to the first fixable end of the flexible arm.

3] In relation to the split sleeve 134, instead of simply placing the feeding bottle within the retaining ring 126, the feeding bottle is placed within the split sleeve 134 and the split sleeve 134 is then rotated relative to the circumferential ring 140, thereby causing the circumferential ring 140 to travel axially over the exterior of the split sleeve 134, thereby urging the radius of the split sleeve 134 to constrict so as to engage the feeding bottle. The circumferential ring 140 is then rotated until tightened to ensure secure retention of the feeding bottle within the split sleeve 134.

4] In the above examples, the child is located in a perambulator or buggy.

However, the skilled person will appreciate that the child need only be stationary and located adjacent an anchorage point. Consequently, other types of seat, for example, can be employed.

If desired, the flexible arm 102 can be covered by a decorative sleeve formed from fabric or a plastics material. In the event that fabric is used, it is desirable to water-proof the fabric and provide the fabric with stain resistance.

(0025] Although reference has been made herein to a source of nourishment, for example the feeding bottle, it should be appreciated that the nutritional content of any fluid or foodstuff being retained by the above descried apparatus is irrelevant.

Further, although the feeding bottle has been described as an example of the source of nourishment, it should be appreciated that other vessels or indeed no vessel can be employed.

Claims

Claims: 1. A feeding apparatus for a child, the apparatus comprising a

flexible arm having a first fixable end for coupling to an anchorage point, and a second retaining end for holding a source of nourishment; wherein the flexible arm is deformable about the first fixable end to hold the second retaining end in selective fixed spatial relation to the first fixable end.
2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the first fixable end is arranged to grasp, when in use, the anchorage point.
3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the first fixable end comprises a clamp.
4. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the clamp is claw-like.
5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second retaining end is arranged to grasp, when in use, the source of nourishment.
6. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the second retaining end comprises a retainer for holding the source of nourishment.
7. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the retainer is a ring.
8. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the ring is elastomeric.
9. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the retainer comprises a sleeve.
10. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the sleeve is radially deformable.
11. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the sleeve is a split sleeve.
12. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 11, wherein the sleeve is tapered.
13. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 12, wherein the sleeve is surrounded by a circumferential ring for constricting the sleeve.
14. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the circumferential ring is co- axially translatable over to the sleeve.
15. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein the circumferential ring is retainable in a fixed position for retaining the source of nourishment.
16. A feeding apparatus for a child substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.