GB2496649A - A finger cover for handling sterilised baby bottles - Google Patents

Abstract

A finger contact barrier (1) for use in handling and maintaining sterility of sterilised parts of a baby feeding system comprising two or three pockets (3, 4) formed of a resilient material. Each pocket is sized to receive a portion of only one or two fingers of a users hand at any time, the total number of finger/thumb tips that can be accommodated in the pockets not exceeding three. The pockets are connected by a strip or strips of material (2), the finger protector in use not being capable of protecting at the same time any finger tips of the users hand which are not inserted into the two or three pockets (3, 4). The pockets (3, 4) acting as finger protectors to allow the fingers to be used to handle a sterilised part without contamination of the part by the fingers of the user.

Description

HANDLING APPARATUS FOR BABY FEEDING SYSTEM

This invention relates to handling apparatus for a baby feeding system, especially suited to the handling of stcriliscd parts of the system such as the teats of feeding bottles.

It is known to provide feeding systems for babies, which typically include one or more feeding bottles closed by removable teats, and a sterilising apparatus which enables the teats to be cleaned and sterilised. Once sterilised it is important to be careful when handling those parts to ensure that they are not contaminated. Many of the parts are quite small, and often require quite careful handling and assembly.

It is known to provide plastic tongs comprising two rigid arms connected at an end by a spring. The free ends of the tongs can be used to grip the sterilised parts. Anyone who has used this type of tong would recognise that they can be hard to use. It has also been found that overtime they become brittle and break, especially if repeatedly sterilised at high temperature in a steriliser.

According to a first aspect the invention provides a finger contact barrier for use in handling and maintaining sterility of sterilised parts of a baby feeding system comprising two or three pockets formed of a resilient material, each of which is sized to respectively receive a portion of only one or two fingers of a users hand at any time, the total number of finger/thumb tips that can be accommodated in the pockets not exceeding three, the pockets being connected by a strip or strips of material, the finger protector in use not being capable of protecting at the same time any finger tips of the users hand which are not inserted into the two or three pockets, the pockets acting as finger protectors to allow the fingers to be used to handle a sterilised part without contamination of the part by the fingers of the user.

The strip may comprise a resilient strip of material, which one pocket at one end of the strip and the other at the opposite cnd of the strip. The strip of material may be sufficiently rigid and shaped that is helps hold the pockets in a preferred spaced apart orientation when not being used, most preferably whereby the pockets are adjacent one another with the open ends of the pockets facing the same way.

By covering only a tip of a single finger or thumb or two tips, we mean that the pockets are only sufficiently deep and wide that they will receive one or two average sized finger or thumb of a hand as far as the first joint, or perhaps the second joint (for a finger). The pockets may therefore have a depth of between 10mm and 20mm, or perhaps up to 30mm.

The finger contact barrier may be capable of being worn on a thumb tip and either a forefinger or index finger of a hand at the same time. Most people find it simplest to grip objects between the thumb and one of these fingers.

The finger contact barrier is a compact, simple to use, alternative to the prior art rigid plastic tongs. They are easy to manoeuvre, as they fit over the tips of finger and thumb, allowing a user to grip items in a very natural manner. They are compact, making them easy to fit in any steriliser, and being pliant they may generally be highly resistant to becoming brittle over time. They are easy to put on and off with the one hand, unlike gloves which generally cannot be put on or taken off with one hand.

They also encourage a user to pinch together the two fingers and keep the other fingers clear of any object being picked up.

The finger contact barrier may comprise a unitary component with the pockets and connecting strip formed from a single piece of material. The finger protector may comprise a molded part.

The material niay comprise silicon, which gives a desired heat proof and sterilisablc properties. Of course, other materials may be used, so long as they are pliant to enable the user to deform the protector and, preferably, retain sonic feel' through the pockets of the object being picked up.

The thickness of the pockets and the material chosen are preferably such that they insulate the tips of thumb and finger from objects up to 130 degrees, such as items that have recently been heated in a steam steriliscr. They may, for instance, keep the tips inside the pocket below 40 degrees when in contact with an object at or above boiling point for a period in excess of 10 seconds to a minute or more, long enough to manipulate the hot object without burning.

The pockets may each be oniy large cnough to receive one tip of a thumb or finger, but may be identical in size. Thcy may therefore be slightly stretchy to ensure a good fit on the tips.

The inside of the pockets may have a texture and/or material that ensures they do not readily slip off, but can be shaken off the tips as required, allowing single handed use.

The strip that connects the pockets may be from 1 to 3 cm long, and in use may curve to confonn to the contour between the thumb and index finger of a user, helping protect that area from heat.

Each pocket may be provided on the outside with a flattened region, so that as the thumb and finger tip are pinched together the flattened areas contact each other, this gives a good positive grip.

The flattened area may be polished, or may be provided with small dimples to provide g rip.

Each pocket may be sufficiently rigid that the open end of the pocket remains open by themselves, to allow easy insertion of a finger tip or thumb tip. Yet the pockets should be able to flex so as to conform to the surface of a rigid item that is to be picked up when the finger protector is being worn and the pockets pinched together by the user's finger and thumb.

Of course, to protect the finger/thumb team completely the pockets should, preferably, be solid walled apart from the open end by which the tips are inserted.

The strip may conveniently be sufficiently flexible that it provides little resistance to bending when in use, ensuring the user does not waste energy bending the strip.

It is envisaged that the finger contact barrier will be especially suited to the removal and fitting of teats of a feeding bottle. Using the protector cnsures the teats are kept clean.

At least the outside of the pockets of the protector may be sterile.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a combination of the finger contact barrier of thc first aspect and a teat for a feeding bottle, iii which the teat includes a region which indicates where a user may most conveniently pick up the teat using the pockets.

The guide is useful for helping a user grab the teat in a way that they can easily manoeuvre the teat when fitting it to a feeding bottle.

There will now be described, by way of example only, one embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a finger contact barrier 1 which is molded as one piece of silicon material. It comprises a central strip 2 of material around 2cm long, which carries at each end a small finger tip sized pocket 3,4. Each pocket has a solid side/end wall, and is shaped to fit snugly over a typical finger or thumb tip. The pockets are opcn at one end 3a, 4a facing the strip 2, but otherwise closed to prevent water or steam entering at the ends.

The silicon material is pliable and slightly stretchable, and each pocket is around I to 2 cm deep so that it covers only a finger or thumb tip up to the first joint or thereabouts. The pocket material is thick and rigid enough that the pockets hold themselves open, allowing a user to the insert the thumb tip and one finger tip easily into a pocket without using the other hand. If needed, the user can grip the strip with the other hand to help put on the finger tip protector.

The material is also thick enough and of sufficiently low thermal conductivity that the pockets 3,4 protect the users finger and thumb tip from burning when used to handle a relatively hot item such as a feeding bottle teat that has recently been sterilised by a steam type steriliser.

The outside of the pockets 3,4, in use, are sterile and can therefore be used to safely handle sterilised parts of a baby feeding system, such as bottles and bottle teats. Of course, they can be used to handle a wide range of other things as well.

Each pocket 3,4 is provided with a rcgion 5,6 that is slightly flattened. The two flattened regions 5,6 are arranged on thc lower facing part of the pocket when viewed with the strip extended flat on a surface. These two faces will contact one another when the fingertip protector is used to handle an object. The generally flat portion makes it easy to grip items, mimimieking the pads on the underside of the finger tip.

The flat parts may be polished or roughened if desired.

In a modification, each pocket may be large enough to receive up to two finger tips.

Also, there may be an additional, third, finger tip pocket.

Claims (1)

1. <claim-text>CLAIMS1. A finger contact barrier for use in handling and maintaining sterility of sterilised parts of a baby feeding system comprising two or three pockets formed of a resilient material, each of which is sized to respectively receive a portion of only one or two fingers of a users hand at any time, the total number of finger/thumb tips that can be acconiniodated in the pockets not exceeding three, the pockets being connected by a strip or strips of material, the finger protector in use not being capable of protecting at the same time any finger tips of the uscrs hand which are not inserted into the two or three pockets, the pockets acting as finger protectors to allow the fingers to be used to handle a sterilised part without contamination of the part by the fingers of the user.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A finger contact barrier according to claim 1 which has only two pockets and in which the strip comprises a resilient strip of material, with one pocket at one end of the strip and the other at the opposite end of the strip.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A finger contact barrier according to claim I or claim 2 in which the strip of material is sufficiently rigid and shaped that it helps hold the pockets in a preferred spaced apart orientation when not being used whcreby the pockets are adjacent one another with the open ends of the pockets facing the same way.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A finger contact barrier tie capable of being worn on a thumb tip and any two of the remaining fingers, such as a forefinger and index finger of a hand.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A finger contact barrier according to any preceding claim which comprises a unitary component with the pockets and connecting strip formed from a single piece of material.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A finger contact barrier according to any preceding claim in which the strip that connects the pockets is between approximately 1cm and approximately 3 cm long.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A finger contact barrier according to any preceding claim in which each pocket is provided on the outside with a flattened region, so that as two pockets are pinched together the flattened areas contact each other.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A finger contact barrier according to any preceding claim in which each pocket is sufficiently rigid that the open end of the pocket remains open by themselves, to allow easy insertion of a finger tip or thumb tip.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A finger contact barrier according to any preceding claim in which at least thc outer surface of each pocket is sterile.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A finger contact barrier substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawing.</claim-text>