JP2016140474A - Nipple for baby bottle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To disclose a new artificial nipple that is approximated in a human nipple comprising a way of coming out of milk and a texture of material.SOLUTION: A nipple for a baby bottle has a papilla in a tip side and is attached to the baby bottle. The papilla is configured such that a corner inwardly twisted from a circumferential wall is formed in the periphery, and two or more L-shaped slits are radially formed in the central axis circumference of the papilla along the refraction direction in this corner. A flat top surface is provided which forms a corner with the circumferential wall to the tip on the tip of the papilla. The top surface of this papilla is made into a concave with a center recessed. The base end side of the papilla includes a dome-like body, and this body is configured into two steps of a small body and a large body from the papilla side. A bottleneck with a diameter smaller than a tip diameter of the papilla is formed between the small body and the papilla. At least the surface of the small body among the nipple surfaces is satin-finished. In the inner surface of the papilla, a convex tearing stopping part is formed in the inside of both ends of the slit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an artificial nipple that is detachably attached to a baby bottle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a nipple with a novel configuration (hereinafter referred to as an “artificial nipple”) that discharges milk radially when a baby sucks. .

  The present applicant has developed and proposed several artificial nipples from various viewpoints (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). That is, Patent Document 1 discloses an artificial nipple particularly suitable for cleft lip and palate infants, and Patent Document 2 forms a bellows-like elongated body of uniform thickness between the nipple and the attachment part of the baby bottle. Thus, an artificial nipple capable of uniform feeding is disclosed regardless of the position where the baby is giving, and Patent Document 3 discloses an artificial nipple that prevents the slit-shaped mouth from being cleaved.

  By the way, conventional artificial nipples, including those disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, are provided with a rounded hemispherical nipple, and a single mouthpiece is formed at the top center of the nipple. Was. In addition, the whole artificial nipple had a smooth surface.

JP 2004-113549 A JP 2011-36356 A JP2013-240410A

  By the way, a female nipple has a plurality of milk outlets called milk ducts on the surface of the nipple or areola, and all or a plurality of the milk outlets are opened for breast feeding. Therefore, in suckling by a baby, milk is discharged radially from a plurality of opened ducts.

  On the other hand, in the case of the conventional artificial nipple described above, since only one sucking mouth is formed at the center of the top of the nipple, milk is ejected linearly from the sucking mouth during suckling. This will be described with reference to the explanatory diagram of the sucking operation shown in FIG. 4 of Patent Document 2. When sucking in FIG. Increases the possibility of throating.

  In addition, when breastfeeding and mother-directed breastfeeding are performed in a complementary manner in parallel, the mother often drinks milk when breastfeeding, while the baby drinks milk when breastfeeding. It may disappear. The reason for this is not actually known, but it can be attributed to the difference in the texture and feel of the human nipple and the artificial nipple, in addition to the above-described difference in milk appearance. In other words, the surface of a human nipple is rough or crushed, whereas the conventional artificial nipple has a smooth surface. There was a possibility that feeding with an artificial nipple could not be performed smoothly or that the artificial nipple was not intended to be raised from the beginning.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and its object is to disclose a new artificial nipple that more closely resembles a human nipple, including how milk is produced and the texture of the material. That is.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a nipple for a baby bottle in which a hollow nipple that communicates with the baby bottle via a trunk portion is integrally formed on an attachment portion to the baby bottle, A corner portion that refracts inward from the peripheral wall portion is provided around the distal end side of the lip portion, and a plurality of L-shaped milk discharge slits are provided around the central axis of the nipple portion along the refracting direction. The method of forming radially was used.

  According to the above-described means, as the nipple is deformed so as to bulge elastically during suckling, the annular corner provided around the distal end of the nipple also deforms in a direction to cancel refraction. In accordance with such deformation of the corner, a plurality of L-shaped slits provided radially at the corner are opened, and milk is discharged radially.

  In the above means, the shape on the tip side of the corner of the nipple is not limited. That is, the nipple of the present invention can also be configured to have a hemispherical top surface that is rounded to the tip side from the corner. However, since the milk discharge slits are formed at the corners, the tip side of the milk discharge slits hardly affects the feeding operation. In addition, if a hemispherical top surface is formed on the tip side of the corner, the surface area of the nipple is enlarged, and a stronger pressure is required to inflate the nipple, and the L-shaped slit is opened accordingly. It becomes difficult to let you. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a flat top surface that forms a corner with the peripheral wall at the tip of the nipple.

  In the case of such a nipple that has a flat top surface, it is preferable to have a concave surface with a depressed center. This is because the top surface is deformed so as to be convex due to the pressure during suckling, which makes it easy to open the entire L-shaped slit uniformly.

  In general, the artificial nipple is located on the proximal end side of the nipple, that is, on the attachment portion side to the baby bottle, between the nipple portion and the attachment portion, and extends from the nipple portion toward the attachment portion. In the present invention, in order to more surely open a plurality of L-shaped slits more uniformly, the barrel is provided on the side of the mounting portion having a different surface curvature. It has a two-stage configuration of a large torso and a small torso on the nipple side. According to this means, an annular step is formed at the boundary between the small torso and the large torso, thereby enabling the small torso to function as a human areola and the large torso as a breast. Therefore, when a baby picks up the nipple of the present invention, the small torso is easily recognized as an actual nipple areola, and the nipple is positioned in the oral cavity at an appropriate depth that is neither shallow nor deep. Can do. Moreover, since the baby is deformed including the small torso functioning as an areola, it is possible to approximate the sucking by direct breast feeding by a human nipple.

  Furthermore, in this two-stage body part, if a constricted part having a smaller diameter than the front end side of the nipple is formed between the small body part and the nipple part, it is called a mammal cavity in the upper palate of the infant. It becomes easy to match the dent, and it is easy to perform a sucking operation (see FIG. 4 (2) of Patent Document 2) for pressing the nipple to the sucking cavity with the tongue. In addition, since the nipple can be deformed with a smaller force than when the diameter of the nipple is larger than the tip diameter of the nipple, the opening of the L-shaped slit can be facilitated.

  Furthermore, in this two-stage body part, if the surface of the small body part is shaped like a satin, the texture and feel can be brought close to a human nipple. In this means, the satin-like portion may be the large torso or / and the nipple including the small torso.

  In addition, when the nipple of the present invention is formed of silicone rubber, which is a well-known material, the L-shaped slits can be avoided at both ends or one of them by repeating the opening and closing operation accompanying elastic deformation of the nipple during drinking. There is a risk. In this regard, as disclosed in Patent Document 3, it is possible to prevent the slit from being split by providing another slit vertically at the end of the slit or by providing a circular hole. This is a tear-proof configuration that can also be used in the present invention. However, in the present invention, as a more preferable means, convex tear-off portions are provided on the hollow inner surface of the nipple (corresponding to the back surface opposite to the uneven surface) inside both ends of the slit. With this means, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a section such as a tear stopper formed by cutting or punching a material as in the prior art.

  According to the nipple for baby bottles of the present invention, since the milk is discharged radially from a plurality of places and the milk is discharged toward the upper palate and the tongue, the baby does not throat. In addition, milk is not swallowed immediately, but is mixed well with saliva and swallowed using the chin, making it difficult to cause indigestion. In addition, since it has fine irregularities on its surface, the texture, feel, and touch of the tongue are similar to those of female nipples.

The perspective view of the artificial nipple which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. Same as above, sectional view FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a dot-dash line circular portion Half-sectional view of an artificial nipple showing a modification of the first embodiment Half-sectional view of an artificial nipple according to a second embodiment of the present invention Partial enlarged view showing a modification of the tip shape of the nipple

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a nipple, 2 is a flange-like attachment portion attached to a baby bottle (not shown), and 3 is an attachment with the nipple 1. This is a dome-shaped body formed between the portions 2. Among these, since the attachment part 2 can employ | adopt a conventionally well-known structure, the nipple 1 which shows the characteristic part of this invention most is explained in full detail.

  The papilla 1 has a cylindrical shape with the outer wall closed at the top of the peripheral wall by a flat top surface, and the inside is hollow as shown in FIG. That is, the teat 1 in this embodiment is also continuous with the hollow body 3 and communicates with the baby bottle. A peripheral wall 1a having a predetermined thickness rises from the body 3 and is formed at the upper end of the peripheral wall 1a. Is formed integrally with a disc-shaped top surface portion 1b having a predetermined thickness that is refracted in an inward horizontal direction. The top surface portion 1b has a concave surface with a depressed center. The papilla 1 having such a configuration is provided with an annular corner 1c formed by a peripheral wall 1a and a top surface 1b on the tip side. The annular corner 1c is formed with an L-shaped milk discharge slit 1d that is continuous so as to connect the peripheral wall 1a and the top surface 1b. Furthermore, in this embodiment, six slits 1d... 1d are provided radially around the central axis C of the nipple 1 at equal intervals.

  Next, the function and effect of the first embodiment of the configuration will be described. The method of use assumes that attaching this nipple to a baby bottle containing milk is no different from conventional artificial nipples, and that the method of suckling by a baby is the same. That is, as shown in FIG. 4 of Patent Document 2, if a baby enters a feeding operation in the same manner as before, the baby first captures the nipple 1 and uses the torso 3 as an areola to place the nipple 1 in the sucking cavity. Press with. Furthermore, when the operation of squeezing the nipple 1 is performed by the peristaltic movement of the tongue, the nipple 1 is deformed and the slits 1d to 1d are opened (sucking). Then, in the state where the slits 1d... 1d are open, milk is discharged from the slits 1d. At this time, the milk is discharged radially from the plurality of slits 1d. Specifically, since the slits 1d... 1d are provided around the tip corner 1c of the nipple 1, the milk is discharged toward the tongue and the upper palate. Therefore, the baby does not throat, and the saliva and milk are well mixed. Thereafter, the milk is swallowed (swallowing). At this time, since the pressure of the tongue pressing the nipple 1 against the sucking cavity is weakened, the deformation of the nipple 1 is also reduced, and the slits 1d to 1d are closed. Thereafter, the operation described here is repeated for a predetermined time to complete breast feeding.

  By the way, this nipple can be used a plurality of times as long as it is washed, but there is a possibility that the slits 1d. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, convex tear stoppers 1 e are formed on the hollow inner surface of the nipple 1 so as to be located on both inner sides of the slit 1 d. The tear stopper 1 e can be provided on the surface side of the nipple 1, but by providing it on the hollow inner surface, there is an effect that it does not give an extra touch to the tongue when suckling.

  Furthermore, since the tear-stop portion 1e can be formed simultaneously with the nipple molding, the nipple can be manufactured with fewer steps than in the case where the conventional notch or round hole is used as the tear-stop portion. In addition, no intercept occurs.

  In addition, in this 1st embodiment, although the surface of the nipple 1 becomes a conical surface which expands a little toward the trunk | drum 3, it is the structure connected with the trunk | drum 3 continuously, it showed in FIG. As described above, the joint 4 between the nipple 1 and the trunk 3 can be configured by a constricted portion having a diameter slightly smaller than the tip diameter of the nipple 1. Further, the present invention also includes that the constriction portion is not provided and the nipple portion 1 has the same outer diameter from the tip to the joint 4. What is necessary in the present invention is that an annular corner 1c is provided on the distal end side of the nipple 1 and a plurality of L-shaped slits 1d are provided radially on the corner 1c, so that milk can be discharged radially. That is.

  FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, since it has the characteristic in the trunk | drum 3, illustration and description of the slit 1d are omitted. That is, the body part 3 in the second embodiment has a two-stage configuration of two small body parts 3a and large body parts 3b having different surface curvatures. Among these, the small torso part 3a on the nipple 1 side functions as an areola called a human nipple. Therefore, the baby can place the nipple 1 in the oral cavity at an appropriate depth by holding the nipple so that the small torso 3a hits the lips.

  In the second embodiment, the length of the nipple 1 is slightly shorter than that of the first embodiment. For this reason, the baby sucks all or part of the small torso 3a and deforms the small torso 3a with the tongue during suckling. Therefore, the nipple 1 can be greatly deformed with a small force by deforming the small torso 3a rather than deforming only the nipple 1. For this reason, the slit 1d can be opened with a smaller force, and the burden on the baby can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in the second embodiment, a constricted portion 5 is provided at the joint between the nipple 1 and the small torso 3a. For this reason, it becomes easy to position the nipple 1 in an appropriate place of the sucking cavity. Accordingly, deformation of the nipple 1 is facilitated, and the slit 1d can be opened uniformly.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above. That is, in the above embodiment, six L-shaped slits 1d are provided, but the number of slits 1d is not limited to this. In this regard, a range of approximately 3 to 10 is preferred. This is because the milk cannot be discharged radially with two, and the strength and hardness of the nipple 1 are high with 11 or more.

  The body 3 may be smooth without any processing on the surface, but more preferably, the surface is made into a satin finish (not shown). By doing so, it is possible to approximate the texture, tactile sensation, and tongue feel of the torso 3 to a human nipple. In this case, it is not necessary to make the entire surface of the torso 3 a satin finish, and the torso surface close to the nipple 1 may be a satin finish. In the second embodiment, only the small torso 3a is a satin finish. It is enough to do.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the tip of the nipple 1 is configured to be flat. However, as shown in FIG. 6, a convex shape such as a hemisphere that protrudes outward from the top surface portion 1b on the tip side of the corner portion 1c. The configuration is not excluded in the present invention. What is necessary in the present invention is that a corner portion as a portion where the L-shaped slits 1d are provided radially is formed on the distal end side of the nipple 1 and milk is supplied evenly in a radial manner when a baby is fed. That's why.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Nipple 1a Peripheral wall part 1b Top surface part 1c Corner | angular part 1d Slit 1e Ripping part C Center axis | shaft 2 of a nipple part 3 Attachment part 3 Torso part 3a Small torso part 3b Large torso part 4 Joint between a nipple part and a torso part 5 Constriction part

Claims (7)

A nipple for a baby bottle that has a teat on the tip side and is attached to a baby bottle,
The nipple is formed with a corner that refracts inward from the peripheral wall around the nipple,
A nipple for a baby bottle, wherein a plurality of L-shaped slits are radially formed around the central axis of the nipple at the corners along the direction of refraction. The nipple for a baby bottle according to claim 1, wherein a flat top surface forming a corner portion with the peripheral wall is provided at a tip of the nipple. The nipple for a baby bottle according to claim 2, wherein the top surface of the nipple is a concave surface with a depressed center. The nipple for baby bottles according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a dome-shaped body is provided on the proximal end side of the teat, and the body is configured in two stages from the teat side to a small body and a large body. . The nipple for a baby bottle according to claim 4, wherein a constricted portion having a diameter smaller than a tip diameter of the nipple is formed between the small torso and the nipple. 6. The nipple for a baby bottle according to claim 4 or 5, wherein at least the surface of the small torso part of the nipple surface has a satin finish. The nipple for a baby bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a convex tear stopper is formed inside the both ends of the slit on the inner surface of the nipple.

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