GB2440904A

GB2440904A - Baby bottle dishwasher rack with teat holders

Info

Publication number: GB2440904A
Application number: GB0616446A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Morris Gold; Daniel Jason Tyler
Original assignee: CATALYST DEVELOPMENTS; Brother Max Ltd
Current assignee: Brother Max Ltd
Priority date: 2006-08-18
Filing date: 2006-08-18
Publication date: 2008-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 2026-08-18
Also published as: WO2008020200A1; GB0616446D0; GB2440904B

Abstract

A rack is capable of supporting one or more baby feeding bottles 1a, such as in a dishwasher and/or in later additional draining outside of the dishwasher, such as on a sink drying plate. The rack features teat supports 60a, to which bottle teats can be engaged, to be washed and dried on the same rack as the bottles 1a. The rack also has a peripheral rim and a lattice base structure. Bottle supports 50a extend upwards from the base, and feature plural bottle support branches 54a. The lattice base structure may allow the engagement of the rack with upstanding projections of the existing internal rack structure of a dishwasher.

Description

Rack support for infant feeding bottles

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a rack for infant feeding bottles of the type that is useful for supporting such bottles for placement in the drawer of an automatic dishwasher and/or draining the bottles after washing or sterilizing thereof.

Background to the Invention

Infant feeding bottles for feeding babies with milk or other liquids (baby bottles') are well-known in the art. The feeding bottle generally comprises a bottle container, to which is provided a teat that reversibly fixes to a rim of the bottle container by means of a fixing ring. A protective lid is generally also provided to the feeding bottle for covering the teat when the feeding bottle is not in use. A sealing disc, which in a non-feeding configuration fits between the bottle container and the teat may also be provided to the feeding bottle. Washing of infant feeding bottles after use is a common task for the parent or carer. Draining of infant feeding bottles after washing or after sterilizing thereof is another common task for the parent or cater.

Draining racks for use in the draining of washed or sterilized infant feeding bottles are known in the prior art. Such racks are designed for used on the kitchen draining board and generally comprise one or more upstanding poles for receipt of the bottle container (loaded upside down thereon) and one or more further protrusions for receipt of the teat, fixing ring and lid components of the feeding bottle. Dishwasher baskets suitable for use in placing separate components of an infant feeding bottle (or other item to be washed) in a drawer of an automatic dishwasher are also known.

After dishwashing, those components must however, then be transferred to the draining rack for effective draining thereof, which step can be time-consuming and can potentially introduce soiling of the washed components. Many prior art dishwasher baskets are also not large enough to accommodate infant feeding bottle containers in an upended configuration, which is preferred for effective washing and rinsing thereof in a dishwasher.

Applicant has now devised a rack support that is suitable for use both in retaining the components of one or more infant feeding bottles for placing in a dishwasher and for use in draining of those components (e.g. on a draining board) after washing thereof.

The rack support of the present invention thus, provides the advantage that the step of transferring the washed components from a dishwasher basket to a separate draining rack is eliminated. The rack of the present invention is in embodiments, further provided with structural features, which are designed to ensure safe, effective and convenient washing of the various components of the infant feeding bottle in the dishwasher and efficient draining thereof after washing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rack support for use in washing of infant feeding bottles in an automatic dishwasher and draining thereof.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a rack support for use in supporting one or more infant feeding bottles for placing of such bottles in a dishwasher and for draining thereof, said rack support comprising a rack base defining a peripheral rim and a support lattice extending between points on said peripheral rim; standing proud from said support lattice, one or more bottle container supports, each defined by a central trunk having plural support branches provided thereto arranged for receipt of a bottle container of an infant feeding bottle; and also standing proud of the support lattice, one or more bottle teat supports, each defined by an upstanding member arranged for receipt of a bottle teat of an infant feeding bottle.

There is provided a rack support that is suitable for use in supporting one or more infant feeding bottles for placing of such bottles in an automatic dishwasher. The rack is also suitable for use in draining of such bottles subsequent to their removal from the automatic dishwasher. The rack support is suitable for draining of such bottles on a kitchen draining board after removal of the rack support from the dishwasher and its placement on such a kitchen draining board.

By infant feeding bottle it meant a feeding bottle of the type that is suitable for use in feeding liquid foodstuffs (e.g. milk) to an infant (e.g. a baby). The infant feeding bottle typically comprises a number of component parts such as a bottle container; a teat; a fixing ring; and optionally a lid and/or a sealing disc.

The bottle container of the infant feeding bottle defines an interior for containing the liquid foodstuffs. Suitably, the bottle container defines a circular base, a single circumferential wall and a circular rim. Generally, the bottle container is formed of a glass or plastic polymer material and is clear in form (e.g. colourless). Suitably, gradated markings are provided along the circumferential wall of the bottle container to allow the user to see how much liquid remains in the interior of the container.

The infant feeding bottle also includes a teat that is arranged for receipt by the container rim. The teat is generally formed of a flexible material such as a natural or synthetic rubber material. The teat generally has a teat end and an open end. The open end suitably defines a teat rim that is sized and shaped for snug receipt by the container rim.

The infant feeding bottle further typically includes a fixing ring for reversibly fixing the teat to the container rim. Generally, the fixing ring is arranged for reversible screw fixing to a screw thread provided around the container rim of the bottle container. In use, the fixing ring is typically fitted over the teat with the teat end protruding upwards and this assembly is positioned over the container rim such that the teat rim is received thereby. The fixing ring is then screwed down to hold the teat in fixed relationship to the bottle container.

Optionally, the infant feeding bottle further includes a sealing disc. The sealing disc is arranged for reversible receipt between the bottle container and the teat such that in a non-feeding configuration the interior of the bottle container is sealed off from the teat. Suitably, the sealing disc fits over the container rim to thereby seal off the interior of the bottle container. This sealing interaction acts such as to prevent transfer of any liquid foodstuff contents from the interior of the container. In the non-feeding configuration, the teat is placed over the container rim and sealing disc, and the fixing ring then used to hold both sealing disc and teat in fixed relationship to the bottle container. Thus, a fixed sealing relationship is established provides a good enough seal to prevent transfer (e.g. leakage) of liquid contents from the interior of the bottle container to the teat.

At feeding time for the infant, the feeding bottle is placed in a feeding configuration, in which the sealing disc is removed from its sealing relationship with the bottle container to allow transfer of liquid contents from the bottle container to the teat. This is readily achieved by removing (e.g. unscrewing) the fixing ring to release the teat and sealing disc; removing the sealing disc; and replacing the teat, which is then fixed down by reapplying (e.g. screwing down) the fixing ring.

Optionally, the infant feeding bottle is provided with a bottle lid, which acts such as to cover and therefore protect the teat when the feeding bottle is in the non-feeding configuration. Suitably, the lid defines a lid rim that is arranged for engagement with the fixing ring and/or bottle container. Any suitable types of engagement are envisaged, particularly screw-fit, press-fit or snap-fit types of engagement between the lid and the fixing ring and/or bottle container.

The support rack of the present invention comprises a rack base, which defines a peripheral rim and has a support lattice extending between points on said peripheral rum.

Suitably, the peripheral rim acts to provide a rigid outer support frame for the rack base. Suitably, the peripheral rim is sized and shaped for receipt by the drawer of an automatic dishwasher, and therefore typically defines an essentially rectangular or square frame, which suitably has rounded corners for safety and comfort in handling thereof.

In one aspect, handle features are provided to the peripheral rim. Suitably, two such handle features are provided on opposite sides of a rectangular or square frame shaped rim. Suitably, the handle features are formed as integral features of the rim (e.g. within a moulded or otherwise, shaped form thereof).

The support rack is provided with a support lattice extending between points on said peripheral rim. As will become clear from the later description the support lattice acts to provide a base structure, which supports various bottle support elements extending there from. The lattice is used deliberately to mean that there are holes or gaps in this base structure, which holes or gaps are necessary to ensure that water can pass through the base structure to enable the dishwashing process (i.e. by allowing water jets to pass through the lattice) and draining process (i.e. by allowing water to drain through the lattice). The lattice is also suitably arranged to define a footprint that allows any spokes or other upstanding protrusions of the dishwasher drawer to pass through it, thereby accommodating and securing the rack support in use within that dishwasher drawer. b

The support lattice may define any suitable form. One suitable form is generally sheet-like having plural holes provided thereto. Another preferred lattice form comprises a lattice of struts extending between points on said peripheral rim, which suitably defines a lattice network of cross struts extending there between.

Standing proud (i.e. extending away from, and upwardly in the normal use configuration) from the support lattice, there are provided one or more bottle container supports. Suitably, plural (e.g. from two to ten, such as from four to eight) bottle container supports are provided at spaced intervals relative to each other on the lattice structure. Wherein such lattice structure is provided by a network of cross struts, each bottle container support suitable extends from a node (i.e. crossing point) of the network.

Each bottle container support is defined by a central trunk having plural support branches provided thereto, thereby defining an overall tree' like form. Each bottle container support is arranged for receipt of a bottle container of an infant feeding bottle, and is therefore sized and shaped for this purpose.

The central trunk suitably takes the form of an upstanding pole, to which plural support branches are provided. The support branches are typically arranged in plural spaced groups of branches, each group comprising plural branches radially-spaced relative to each other (e.g. at 1200, 900, 72 or 60 equal radial spacings). Typically, from two to four such groups of radially-spaced branches are arranged a spaced intervals (e.g. in a spaced series) along the central trunk. Suitably, each support branch extends out orthogonally (i.e. at 90 displacement) from the central trunk such that for an upwardly extending central trunk, the branches extend out horizontally. Suitably, the trunk and branches form of the bottle container support acts such that in use, each bottle is in a vertical upended configuration (i.e. with its base uppermost and bottle mouth lowermost) such that when placed in a dishwasher the water jets thereof will shoot water straight up into the bottle container for effective washing and rinsing thereof.

Also standing proud of the support lattice, there are provided one or more bottle teat supports. Each bottle teat support is arranged for receipt of a bottle teat of an infant feeding bottle. Each bottle teat support is defined by an upstanding member, which is sized and shaped for receipt of a bottle teat. Suitably, the upstanding member comprises an upstanding ring, wherein the ring suitably defines a square or rectangular profile, preferably with cuived corners for comfort and safety of use. In one aspect, the ring is provided in lollipop' fashion on the end of a support pole that extends from the support lattice.

The rack support herein may also be provided with one or more additional support features selected from the group consisting of one or more bottle fixing ring supports, one or more bottle lid supports, and one or more bottle sealing disc supports.

In one aspect, the rack support is provided with a compartment (e.g. a cage structure) that suitably has a reversible lid closure (e.g. hinged) for arranged for receipt of bottle sealing discs. It is advantageous to enclose such sealing discs in a cage structure because they are small components, which otherwise may get lost in the wash.

Suitably, the rack support herein is comprised of a plastic polymer material. Suitable plastic polymer materials include polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene. In one aspect, the plastic polymer material is an injection-moulded plastic polymer material.

It will be appreciated that any of the elements of the rack support herein may be manufactured and supplied separately and br supplied as a pre-assembly or a kit of parts. The present invention encompasses all of these separate component parts and any assemblies thereof.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 shows an exploded view from the side of a typical infant feeding bottle; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a rack in accord with a first embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 3 show a perspective view of the rack of Figure 2 with two variants of the typical infant feeding bottle of Figure 1 supported thereon.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a prior art feeding bottle 1, which comprises a bottle container 2 defining an interior for containing milk or other liquid foodstuffs suitable for feeding to a young infant. The bottle container 2 defines a container rim 3 that is arranged for receipt of flexible teat 4, and which is fixed in place by means of a screw fixing ring 6 that reversibly screw fixes to a screw thread 7 provided around the container rim 3. The prior art feeding bottle I also includes a protective lid 8 that fits onto the bottle container 2 and acts to cover the teat 4 when the feeding bottle I is in a non-feeding configuration. The prior art feeding bottle I further includes a sealing disc 9 that is arranged for reversible receipt between the bottle container 2 and the flexible teat 4 such that in the non-feeding configuration the interior of the bottle container 2 is sealed off from the flexible teat 4.

Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of a rack support 20 according to the claimed invention that is suitable for use in supporting one or more infant feeding bottles for placing of such bottles in a dishwasher and for draining thereof. Figure 3 shows the support rack 20 of Figure 1 respectively supporting a first bottle container 1 a (left-hand side) and a second bottle container lb with accompanying screw fixing ring 6.

In more detail, Figures 2 and 3 show a rack support 20 formed of a plastic polymer material and comprising a rack base 30 having a generally rectangular-shaped peripheral rim 32 that provides a rigid outer support frame for the rack base 30.

Integrally-formed (e.g. integrally-moulded) handles 34a, 34b are provided to the two opposing minor sides 31a, 31b of the rectangular rim 32. A support lattice 40 extends between spaced points on the peripheral rim 32, which lattice 40 comprises a lattice of struts 42a-c and 44a-c extending between points on the peripheral rim 32, which defines a network of cross struts 42a-c, 44a-c. It will be appreciated that the support lattice 40 defines a footprint that has plural square openings defined there between, which in use, allow any spokes or other upstanding protrusions of a dishwasher drawer to pass there through.

Standing proud from the support lattice, there are provided six bottle container supports 50a-f, arranged at spaced intervals in two rows of three. It will be appreciated that each bottle container support stands proud from a node 48a-f of said lattice support 40 network of cross struts 42a-c, 44a-c. Each bottle container support 50a-f (for succinctness, only support 50a is labelled in detail) is defined by a central trunk 52 having two spaced groups 54a-c, 55a-c of three support branches provided thereto and arranged in combination for receipt of a bottle container 1 a, lb of an infant feeding bottle (e.g. see Figure 3). It will be appreciated that within each group 54a-c, 55a-c the three branches are radially-spaced relative to each other at a radial spacing between neighbouring branches of 120 . All of the branches 54a-c, 55a-c extend orthogonally from the central trunk 50a, which means that in normal use, when the truck 50a extends upwardly, the branches 54a-c,55a-c extend out horizontally.

Referring to Figure 3 (which for succinctness is only part-labelled) it will be seen how the bottle container supports 50a, 50b receive an infant bottle container la, lb in use. In the case of the second infant bottle container lb a fixing ring 6 thereof is also received by the relevant bottle container support 50b. With reference in particular to bottle container support 50a, it will be appreciated that the action of the spaced i-u groups 54a-c, 55a-c of three support branches extending from the central trunk 52 is to hold the bottle container Ia in the optimum upended configuration for washing thereof in an automatic dishwasher and for subsequent draining thereof. The branches 54a-c, 55a-c further act to support the bottle container Ia relatively snugly to thereby avoid any undesirable rattling around of the bottle container la during washing thereof.

Also standing proud of the support lattice 40, there are provided four bottle teat supports 60a-d arranged at spaced intervals in a single row. Each bottle teat support 60a-d (for succinctness, only support 60a is labelled in detail) is defined by an upstanding ring 62 of square profile that projects from a support pole 64 that extends from the support lattice 40. The square profile is designed for effective and secure receipt of a bottle teat.

In embodiments, the support rack 20 of Figures 2 and 3 additionally comprises one or more additional support features selected from the group consisting of one or more bottle fixing ring supports, one or more bottle lid supports, and one or more bottle sealing disc supports.

The application of which this description and claims form part may be used as a basis for priority in respect of any subsequent application. The claims of such subsequent application may be directed to any feature or combination of features described therein. They may take the form of product, method or use claims and may include, by way of example and without limitation, one or more of the following claims: Ii.

Claims

Claims 1. A rack support for use in supporting one or more infant

feeding bottles for placing of such bottles in a dishwasher and for draining thereof, said rack support comprising a rack base defining a peripheral rim and a support lattice extending between points on said peripheral rim; standing proud from said support lattice, one or more bottle container supports, each defined by a central trunk having plural support branches provided thereto arranged for receipt of a bottle container of an infant feeding bottle; and also standing proud of the support lattice, one or more bottle teat supports, each defined by an upstanding member arranged for receipt of a bottle teat of an infant feeding bottle.

2. A rack support according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral rim provides a rigid outer support frame for said rack base.

3. A rack support according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the peripheral rim is rectangular or square in form.

4. A rack support according to any of claims I to 3, wherein one or more handle features are provided to the peripheral rim.

5. A rack support according to claim 4, wherein handle features are provided to two opposing sides of the peripheral rim.

6. A rack support according to either of claims 4 or 5, wherein the one or more handle features are integral formed with the rim. L4

7. A rack support according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the support lattice defines a footprint that allows any spokes or other upstanding protrusions of a dishwasher drawer to pass through it.

8. A rack support according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the support lattice has a sheet-like form having plural holes provided thereto.

9. A rack support according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the support lattice form comprises a lattice of struts extending between points on said peripheral rim, which defines a network of cross struts.

10. A rack support according to claim 9, wherein each bottle container support stands proud from a node of said network of cross struts.

11. A rack support according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein plural bottle container supports are provided at spaced intervals relative to each other on the support lattice.

12. A rack support according to claim 11, wherein from Iwo to ten bottle container supports are provided.

13. A rack support according to any of claims I to 12, wherein said plural support branches of each bottle container are arranged as plural spaced groups, each group comprising plural branches radially-spaced relative to each other.

14. A rack support according to claim 13, wherein the radial spacing between neighbouring branches of each group is selected from the group consisting of 120 , 90 , 72 and 60 equal radial spacing. Li

15. A rack support according to either of claims 13 or 14, wherein from two to four groups of radially-spaced branches are arranged at spaced intervals along the central trunk.

16. A rack support according to any of claims I to 15, wherein each support branch extends orthogonally from the central trunk.

17. A rack support according to any of claims I to 16, wherein said upstanding member comprises an upstanding ring.

18. A rack support according to claim 17, wherein said upstanding ring is provided to a support pole that extends from the support lattice.

19. A rack support according to either of claims 17 or 18, wherein said ring defines a square or rectangular profile.

20. A rack support according to any of claims 1 to 19, additionally comprising one or more additional support features selected from the group consisting of one or more bottle fixing ring supports, one or more bottle lid supports, and one or more bottle sealing disc supports.

21. A rack support according to any of claims I to 20, additionally comprising a cage structure having a reversible lid closure arranged for receipt of one or more bottle sealing discs.

22. A rack support according to any of claims 1 to 21 formed of a plastic polymer material.

23. A support rack according to any of claims 1 to 22 in kit of parts form.