RU2485932C2 - Nipple - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine.

SUBSTANCE: invention deals with nipple for artificial child feeding. Nipple (100), contains leg (101) and nipple (102), in which structured area (300), which contains wavy surface, is provided on, at least, on limited area of leg or nipple, with surface irregularity being not more than 100 mcm.

EFFECT: construction improvement.

15 cl, 15 dwg

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to a nipple containing a leg and a nipple, in which a structured region containing a wavy surface is provided on at least a limited portion of the leg or nipple.

State of the art

Nipples are used for artificial feeding and are usually used with feeding bottles to supply babies with milk. For example, a traditional nipple may interact with a lid of a feeding bottle to provide a means through which milk stored in the bottle can reach the baby.

US 2004/0220618 discloses a nipple comprising a leg and a nipple in which regions of a structured surface are provided in at least a limited portion thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is preferable that such nipples mimic the mother’s breast, as it is known that babies usually prefer feeding from their mother’s breast over feeding from a traditional nipple. Presumably, this preference is due to differences in shape, texture and appearance between the mother’s breast and the traditional nipple for feeding, and although attempts have been made to develop nipples that can solve this problem, the traditional nipples that are relevant to the state of the art were still not able to mimic all the above characteristics of the mother’s breast.

According to the invention, there is provided a nipple comprising a leg and a nipple, in which a first structured region comprising a plurality of raised portions and a plurality of recessed sections is provided on at least a partial leg or nipple section in which a secondary structured region is provided on at least , a partial section of the set of raised and deepened sections.

The surface roughness R _{z of the} corrugated surface may be at least 120 μm.

The surface roughness R _{z of the} corrugated surface may be 600 μm or less.

The average distance between adjacent raised portions may be at least 200 μm.

Raised areas may have varying geometric properties.

The average distance between adjacent elevated areas may be less than or equal to 20 mm.

The average distance between adjacent elevated areas may be less than or equal to 3 mm.

The average distance between adjacent elevated areas may be less than or equal to 1 mm.

The set of raised sections and the set of recessed sections may contain a wavy surface.

The secondary structured area may comprise a plurality of elevated plots and a plurality of recessed plots.

The average distance between adjacent raised portions of the first structured region may exceed the average distance between adjacent raised portions of the secondary structured region.

The average distance between adjacent raised portions of the secondary structured region may be 100 μm or less.

Raised sections of the secondary structured region may have varying geometric properties.

The first structured region can be provided on the outer portion of the wall of the foot or nipple, and the inner portion of the wall may have a profile substantially matching that of the first structured region.

The nipple can be adapted to interact with a feeding bottle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention are described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a side view and top view of a nipple having a leg, a nipple and a structured area, and nipples together with the lid of the bottle for feeding;

figure 2 is a two-dimensional representation of the first example of a wavy surface having a set of inclined sections, raised sections and indented sections;

figure 3 is a three-dimensional representation of the first example of a wavy surface having a set of inclined sections, raised sections and indented sections;

4 is a two-dimensional representation of a second example of a corrugated surface having a plurality of inclined sections, raised sections, and recessed sections;

5 is a three-dimensional representation of a second example of a wavy surface having a plurality of inclined sections, elevated sections, and recessed sections;

6 is a three-dimensional representation of a third example of a wavy surface having a plurality of inclined sections, raised sections, and recessed sections;

Fig. 7 is a three-dimensional representation of a fourth example of a wavy surface having a plurality of inclined sections, raised sections, and recessed sections;

Fig. 8 is a three-dimensional representation of a fifth example of a wavy surface having a plurality of inclined sections, raised sections, and recessed sections;

Fig.9 is a two-dimensional representation of a wavy surface containing a secondary structured region containing a secondary wavy surface;

figure 10 - two-dimensional representation of the secondary wavy surface containing a set of inclined sections, raised sections and indented sections;

11 is a two-dimensional representation of a corrugated surface or a secondary corrugated surface containing a set of inclined sections, raised sections and indented sections having varying geometric properties;

12 is a two-dimensional representation of substantially coincident profiles of the outer surface and inner surface of the nipple wall;

13 is a side view and a top view of a nipple having a leg, a nipple, and a structured region;

Fig. 14 is a side view and a top view of a nipple having a leg, a nipple, and a structured region;

Fig is a side view and top view of a nipple having a leg, nipple and structured area.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

Figure 1 shows the nipple 100, suitable for supplying milk to an infant, a minor or a child. The nipple 100 is adapted to interact with the feeding bottle 200, for example, by interacting with the lid 201 of the feeding bottle 200. The nipple 100 can be further adapted so that it can be easily separated from the lid 201 for cleaning.

1, the nipple 100 comprises a leg 101 and a nipple 102 through which milk or other liquid can pass. For example, milk or liquid may pass through one or more of the feeding openings 103 in the nipple 102, while creating a pressure differential between the inner and outer sides of the nipple 102. This baby can create a pressure drop sucking the nipple 100.

A structured region 300 is provided on at least a limited portion of the outer surface 104 of the legs 101 or nipples 102 of the nipples 100. An example of the structured region 300 is shown as a shaded region in FIG. The structured region 300 may comprise a wavy surface 301 including a plurality of inclined sections 302, a plurality of raised sections 303, and a plurality of recessed sections 304. A first example of a section of such a wavy surface 301 is shown in two dimensions and three dimensions in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, respectively where it is easy to identify inclined sections 302, raised sections 303 and recessed sections 304.

According to figure 3, the first example of the corrugated surface 301 is formed by a set of essentially parallel ridges, separated from each other by a number of essentially parallel hollows. These ridges and depressions form inclined, elevated and deepened sections 302, 303, 304 of the corrugated surface 301. Note that for a clear demonstration of the inclined sections 302, the scales of the horizontal and vertical axes in figure 3 are significantly different from each other. Therefore, the gradient of the inclined sections 302 in FIG. 3 is exaggerated.

According to the two-dimensional representation of FIG. 2, the cross section of the wavy surface 301 of this first example may substantially correspond to a sine wave shape.

The vertical distance between adjacent raised and recessed sections 303, 304 is shown in FIG. 2 by the distance A. The average vertical distance between the raised sections 303 and the deepened sections 304 can be represented as surface roughness R _z , which is the average distance measured along the vertical axis of the raised and recessed sections 303, 304, between adjacent raised and deepened sections 303, 304 of the corrugated surface 301.

The corrugated surface 301 may have a surface roughness R _z greater than 100 μm, and may have a surface roughness of at least 120 μm. The corrugated surface may also have a distance λ ₁ between adjacent raised portions 303 ranging from 200 μm to 20 mm. Alternatively, the distance λ ₁ between adjacent raised portions 303 may be from 200 μm to 3 mm. As an additional alternative, the distance λ ₁ between adjacent raised portions 303 may be from 200 μm to 1 mm. The same set of ranges can also be applied to the distance λ ₂ between adjacent recessed portions 304. These ranges can further be applied to any alternative examples of corrugated surface 301 discussed below. According to figure 2, the distances λ ₁ , λ ₂ between adjacent raised portions 303 and recessed portions 304 are measured perpendicular to the axis of the depth surface roughness R _z .

The corrugated surface 301 is smooth to the touch, since the human finger perceives only the raised portions 303. The corrugated surface 301 also provides a structured region 300 that has very low slip resistance and increases the similarity in physical appearance between the nipple 100 and the mother’s breast. Thus, the similarity between the texture, sensation and appearance of the nipples 100 and the texture, sensation and appearance of the mother’s breast is increased.

When the distances λ ₁ , λ ₂ between the adjacent raised portions 303 and the recessed portions 304 are in the above ranges, the structured region 300 of the nipples 100 may be somewhat transparent. This is convenient for the user of the feeding bottle 200, with which you can use the nipple 100, for example, the mother or father of the baby, because it allows you to observe the inside of the nipples 100 without having to remove the cover 201 of the bottle for feeding 200. This allows the user to see when the inside nipples 100 are dirty and need cleaning.

A second example of a section of a corrugated surface 301 is shown in two and three dimensions in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, respectively. As in the first example discussed above with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3, the corrugated surface 301 comprises a plurality of inclined sections 302, raised sections 303, and recessed sections 304 formed by a sequence of parallel ridges and depressions. However, as follows from FIGS. 4 and 5, the depressions forming the recessed sections 304 of this second example are substantially wider than the depressions forming the recessed sections 304 in the first example.

According to the two-dimensional representation of the corrugated surface 301 shown in FIG. 4, the cross section of the corrugated surface 301 of the second example can essentially correspond to a discontinuous sine wave, in which the lower half of the sine wave is replaced by a sequence of planar sections connecting adjacent peaks. Therefore, each of the depressions forming the recessed portions 304 in this example of the corrugated surface 301 contains a substantially flat base portion, each end of which is connected to the inclined portion 302. This example of the corrugated surface 301 has an advantage from the point of view of production, since it can be made with using a relatively simple form.

Although FIG. 4 shows a two-dimensional shape of a wavy surface 301 substantially corresponding to the upper half of a sine wave, it will be appreciated that the wavy surface 301 may alternatively correspond to any other part of the sine wave. For example, the corrugated surface 301 may substantially correspond to the upper quarter or third of the sine wave, the inclined sections 302 of which are connected by substantially flat sections.

A third example of a section of a corrugated surface 301 is shown in three dimensions in FIG. 6. As in the examples discussed above, this example of the corrugated surface 301 contains a plurality of inclined sections 302, a plurality of raised sections 303 and a plurality of recessed sections 304. However, according to FIG. 6, the corrugated surface 301 of this example differs from the corrugated surface in the first and second examples in that the raised, deepened and inclined sections 302, 303, 304 are determined by the pattern of protrusions and depressions, and not by the sequence of ridges and depressions.

The structure of the pattern of protrusions and depressions, which forms the raised, deepened and inclined sections 302, 303, 304 of this example of the corrugated surface 301, can be described by the following mathematical function:

, где a = 0,3 уравнение (1).

where a = 0.3 equation (1).

Each of the units shown on the xy scale in FIG. 6 may correspond to a distance ranging from 60 μm to 300 μm. Therefore, the example shown in FIG. 6 may have a surface roughness depth R _z ranging from 120 μm to 600 μm. Alternatively, the example shown in FIG. 6 may have a surface roughness depth R _z ranging from 120 μm to 300 μm.

The distance λ ₁ between adjacent raised portions 303 may be from 1.2 mm to 6 mm. Alternatively, the distance λ ₁ between adjacent raised portions 303 may correspond to any of the distance ranges considered with respect to the first example of the corrugated surface 301. The same set of ranges can also be applied to the distance λ ₂ between adjacent recessed portions 304. As in the first example discussed above , the distances λ1, λ2 between adjacent raised sections 303 and recessed sections 304 are measured perpendicular to the axis of the raised and recessed sections 303, 304 in the same way as shown in FIG.

Alternatively, the structure of the protrusions and recesses forming the raised and recessed portions 303, 304 may correspond to any other combination of Sinx and Siny. For example, FIG. 7 shows a fourth example of a section of a corrugated surface 301, where the pattern structure of the protrusions and recesses is described by a function:

уравнение (2).

equation (2).

This example has the advantage that at whatever angle the wavy surface 301 is observed, the depth of the surface roughness R _z and the distances λ ₁ , λ _{2 are} always constant.

A fifth example of a section of a corrugated surface 301 is shown in three dimensions in FIG. This example of the corrugated surface 301 differs from the third and fourth examples discussed above in that the recessed sections 304 correspond to essentially planar sections connecting the inclined sections 302. In this regard, this example of the corrugated surface 301 is similar to the second example discussed in relation to FIG. 4 and 5. The structure of the raised portions 303 of this example of the corrugated surface 301 may correspond to that shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, or may be described by any other combination of the product Sinx and Siny, as discussed p anyway. The value of the surface roughness R _z and the distances λ ₁ , λ ₂ can correspond to the values considered in the previous examples.

The surface area of the protrusions forming the raised portions 303, relative to the surface area of the substantially flat sections forming the indented portions 304, may vary as described with respect to FIG. 4. It is not required that the pattern of protrusions and recesses be symmetrical, as shown in FIG.

9 and 10, any of the first to fifth examples of the structured region 300 containing the corrugated surface 301 discussed above with respect to FIGS. 2-8 may further comprise a secondary structured region 400.

A secondary structured region 400 may be provided on the corrugated surface 301, and it may comprise a secondary corrugated surface 401 including a plurality of inclined portions 402, a plurality of raised portions 403, and a plurality of recessed portions 404.

The shape of the secondary corrugated surface 401 may, for example, correspond to the shape of any of the examples of corrugated surface 301 discussed above with respect to FIGS. However, the surface roughness R _sz and the distances λ _S1 , λ _S2 between the adjacent raised portions 403 and the recessed portions 404 of the secondary corrugated surface 401 may be smaller than those considered with respect to the examples of the corrugated surface 301.

For example, the distance λ _S1 between adjacent raised portions 403 may be 100 μm or less. Alternatively, the distance λ _S1 between adjacent raised portions 403 may be from 0.1 μm to 400 μm. The distance λ _S2 between adjacent recessed portions 404 may be equivalent to or approximately equivalent to the distance λ _S1 . The surface roughness R _{sz of the} secondary corrugated surface 401 may be from 0.2 μm to 10 μm. The predetermined values R _sz , λ _S1 and λ _S2 essentially correspond to the predetermined values R _z , λ ₁ and λ ₂ given in relation to the first example of the corrugated surface 301 discussed above.

The secondary corrugated surface 401 may be formed along the entire corrugated surface 301 or may be formed only along its partial portion.

The combination of the corrugated surface 301 and the secondary corrugated surface 401 enhances the overall smoothness and low sliding resistance of the structured region 300 and increases the similarity between the texture, sensation and appearance of the structured region 300 and the texture, sensation and appearance of the mother’s chest.

A secondary structured region 400 may be formed by manufacturing the nipples 100 using, for example, sandblasting or chemical etching. The secondary structured region 400 may be located on the nipple 102 of the nipples 100, so that the region 400 is in contact with the mouth of the infant or child during feeding.

With respect to all the above examples of the corrugated surface 301 and the secondary corrugated surface 401, the geometric properties of the raised portions 303, 403 and the recessed portions 304, 404 can be substantially uniform, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 6 and 7. Note, however that this is not a requirement of the invention. The raised portions 303, 403 of any particular example may vary in height and width, and may also be spaced at varying distances. The same is true for recessed sections 304, 404.

11 shows an example of a corrugated surface 301 or a secondary corrugated surface 401 exhibiting such changing geometric properties.

The inner surface 105 of the nipples 100 may contain a set of reinforcing elements, for example, containing standard corrugated sections known in the art. Alternatively, the inner surface 105 of the nipples 100 may have a substantially flat profile.

Alternatively, the profile of the inner surface 105 of the nipples 100 may have any other shape. For example, the profile of the inner surface 105 of the nipples 100 may oscillate in accordance with the profile of the corrugated surface 301 of the structured region 300 on the outer surface 104 of the nipples 100, thereby maintaining a constant or substantially constant wall thickness 106 of the nipples 100. This is shown in FIG. 12. Thus, the creation of the wall 106 of the nipples, essentially constant thickness can increase the strength and durability of the nipples 100, which is an advantage.

The pacifier 100 can be made as a whole product, for example, using a mold, from any suitable material. Such materials may include, for example, silicone, latex or thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), for example TPE-A or TPE-S. Shore hardness of the nipples 100 can be from 5 to 70 Shore A. Alternatively, Shore hardness can be from 30 to 50 Shore A.

Figure 1 shows the coverage area in the first example for the structured area 300 on the outer surface 104 of the nipples 100. Figure 13-15 shows the coverage areas in the second, third and fourth example for the structured area 300. It follows from all these examples that structured a region 300 is provided on at least a limited portion of the leg 101 or nipple 102. The area of the outer surface 104 of the leg 101 or nipple 102, where the structured region 300 is not provided, can be substantially smooth.

Although the nipple 100 has been described in relation to the provision of human milk or liquid, it is obvious that the nipple 100 can alternatively be used to supply milk to other mammals. In addition, although the nipple 100 was essentially considered in relation to feeding, it is obvious that it is equally applicable as a dummy or other products that the baby takes in his mouth.

Although the claims have been formulated in this application for a specific combination of features, it should be noted that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any new features or any combination of the new features disclosed herein, explicit or implicit, or any generalizations thereof, regardless of whether whether they relate to the same invention, which is hereby claimed in any paragraph, and regardless of whether it alleviates any or all of the same technical problems as the present invention. Applicants indicate that new paragraphs can be formulated for such features and / or a combination of such features during consideration of this application or any subsequent application isolated from it.

Claims (15)

1. A nipple (100) for artificially feeding a baby, containing a leg (101) and a nipple (102), in which the first structured area (300) containing a set of raised sections (303) and a set of recessed sections (304) is provided for at least a partial portion of the leg or nipple, characterized in that the secondary structured region (400) is provided on at least a partial portion of the raised and recessed portions of the first structured region. 2. The nipple according to claim 1, in which the average distance (A), measured along the vertical axis of the raised and deepened sections between adjacent raised and deepened sections, exceeds 100 microns. 3. The nipple according to claim 1 or 2, in which the average distance (A), measured along the vertical axis of the raised and deepened sections between adjacent raised and deepened sections, is at least 120 μm. 4. The nipple according to claim 1 or 2, in which the average distance measured along the vertical axis of the raised and deepened sections between adjacent raised and deepened sections is 600 μm or less. 5. The nipple according to claim 1 or 2, in which the average distance between adjacent raised portions is at least 200 microns. 6. The nipple according to claim 1 or 2, in which the raised areas vary in height and width. 7. The nipple according to claim 1 or 2, in which the average distance between adjacent raised portions is less than or equal to 20 mm. 8. The nipple according to claim 1 or 2, in which the average distance between adjacent raised portions is less than or equal to 3 mm. 9. The nipple according to claim 1 or 2, in which the average distance between adjacent raised portions is less than or equal to 1 mm. 10. The nipple according to claim 1 or 2, in which the secondary structured region comprises a plurality of raised portions (403) and a plurality of recessed portions (404). 11. The nipple of claim 10, in which the average distance between adjacent raised portions of the first structured region exceeds the average distance between adjacent raised portions of the secondary structured region. 12. The nipple of claim 10, wherein the average distance between adjacent raised portions of the secondary structured region is 100 μm or less. 13. The nipple according to claim 1 or 2, in which the first structured area is provided on the outer portion of the wall of the legs or nipple, and the inner portion of the wall has a profile substantially matching that of the first structured area. 14. The nipple according to claim 1 or 2, in which the nipple is adapted to interact with a bottle (200) for feeding. 15. The bottle for feeding Assembly containing a bottle for feeding (200) and a pacifier for artificial feeding according to any one of claims 1 or 2.

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