US20090152410A1

US20090152410A1 - Holding Device for Bottles

Info

Publication number: US20090152410A1
Application number: US11/958,559
Authority: US
Inventors: Michele Tomico
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-12-18
Filing date: 2007-12-18
Publication date: 2009-06-18

Abstract

A holding device for holding an item, such as a feeding bottle of a baby, is disclosed. The holding device comprises a sleeve, a flexible cord and a fastener mechanism. The sleeve is capable of at least partially covering the item. The flexible cord has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the flexible cord is removably attached to the sleeve. The fastener mechanism is attached to the second end portion of the flexible cord. The fastener mechanism is capable of being removably attached to an external support.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to holding devices for items, such as a feeding bottle for a baby, and, more particularly, to a holding device for covering and supporting items, such as a feeding bottle for a baby, during use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Babies often hold various items like feeding bottles, sip cups, toys, books and other items in their hands. They often have a tendency of releasing or throwing items down with their hands. A more frequent worry for a parent is the baby dropping or throwing down the feeding bottle. Dropping and throwing of the feeding bottle is undesirable, particularly when the baby is being transported in an automobile, stroller, or when the baby is lying in a crib. The feeding bottle may become unsanitary after falling on a floor. Further, there is always a possibility that the feeding bottle may come to rest in some inconvenient place, such as under a brake pedal or under the car seat in case of an automobile, and in turn, create safety problems as well. There is also a possibility of the spilling of contents in the feeding bottle over the floor.
There are a variety of existing holding devices such as feeding bottle holders prevalent for supporting the feeding bottles. These feeding bottle holders have numerous limitations. For example, these feeding bottle holders are unable to keep the feeding bottle within the reach of the baby. Further, these feeding bottle holders are not able to maintain desired temperature within the feeding bottle. The existing feeding bottle holders are not able to provide a better grip of the feeding bottle during feeding operation. Further, the existing feeding bottle holders are not able to accommodate feeding bottles of varying size.
Therefore, based on the foregoing, there is a need for a holding device, which avoids the possibility of a feeding bottle being dropped by a baby onto a floor. Further, the holding device should be capable of keeping a feeding bottle within the reach of the baby. The holding device should also be able to maintain a constant temperature inside the feeding bottle. Furthermore, the holding device should be able to provide a grip of the feeding bottle during feeding operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a holding device configured to include all the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a holding device, which is capable of avoiding an occurrence of a feeding bottle being dropped by a baby onto a floor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a holding device for a feeding bottle, which may be easily and conveniently carried.
Further object of the present invention is to provide a holding device, which is capable of keeping a feeding bottle within the reach of the baby.
Still further object of the present invention is to provide a holding device, which is capable of maintaining desired temperature within the feeding bottle.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a grip of a feeding bottle during feeding operation.
Therefore, the present invention provides a holding device for holding an item, like a feeding bottle of a baby. The holding device comprises a cylinder shaped sleeve, a flexible cord and a fastener mechanism. The cylinder shaped sleeve is capable of circumscribing the item. The flexible cord comprises a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the flexible cord is attached to the cylinder shaped sleeve. The fastener mechanism is attached to the second end portion of the flexible cord. The fastener mechanism is capable of being removably attached to an external support.
These together with other aspects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holding device along with a feeding bottle, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an application of the holding device with the feeding bottle, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present invention is not limited to a particular holding device, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.
The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.
Referring to FIG. 1, a holding device 100 capable of holding items, like, feeding bottles, sip cups, toys, books, and the like, is shown. FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the holding device 100, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The holding device 100 comprises a sleeve 102, a flexible cord 104 and a fastener mechanism 106.
The sleeve 102 as shown in FIG. 1 is a cylindrical shaped sleeve and is capable of at least partially covering the item, such as a feeding bottle, to be held by the holding device 100. The sleeve 102 is made of insulating material in order to maintain a temperature of a content kept inside the item. For example, the sleeve 102 may be made of spandex or elastane combined with neoprene. The combination of spandex or elastane with neoprene keeps temperature of the contents inside the item constant. In other words, the sleeve 102, made of spandex or elastane combined with neoprene, keeps the content, which is inside of the item insulated from the surrounding.
The sleeve 102 may also be made of non-slip material for providing babies a better grip of the item while in use. Further, the sleeve 102 may also be made of elastic material such that the sleeve 102 is capable of covering the items of varying diameters. In one embodiment of the present invention, the height of the sleeve 102 may be in the range of about 4 inches to 5 inches. Further, it will be apparent to a person ordinarily skilled in the art that the sleeve 102 is capable of circumscribing items of varying sizes, such as the varying diameters of the feeding bottle, within an elastic limit of the sleeve 102.
The flexible cord 104 comprises a first end portion 108 and a second end portion 110. The first end portion 108 of the flexible cord 104 is removably attached to the sleeve 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the first end portion 108 of the flexible cord 104 is of a ring shape to removably attach to the sleeve, such as a cylindrical shaped sleeve. Further, in this embodiment, the first end portion 108 is disposed over the sleeve 102 in a manner, such that the first end portion 108 circumscribes the sleeve 102. The second end portion 110 of the flexible cord 104 is attached to the fastener mechanism 106. The flexible cord 104 may be made of soft and elastic materials. In one embodiment of the present invention, the flexible cord 104 may be a boogie board cord.
The fastener mechanism 106 is removably attached to the second end portion 110 of the flexible cord 104. Further, the fastener mechanism 106 is capable of being removably attached to any external support. The external support may include, but is not limited to, a car seat, a baby's wrist and a baby carriage. Accordingly, the fastener mechanism 106 may be a hook-loop arrangement such as a Velcro strap that facilitates the connection with the external support. The Velcro strap may be suitable for the fastener mechanism 106, as the Velcro strap is light in weight and may be fitted in a diaper bag of the baby for transportation. In another embodiment of the present invention, the fastener mechanism 106 includes other types of fasteners known in the art including, but are not limited to, snaps, clips, buttons, and the like.
Further, the present invention provides an option of choosing a length of the flexible cord 104 based on certain conditions. For example, length of the flexible cord 104 should be sufficient such that in case of baby throwing the item from the hand, the item should not fall on the floor. Furthermore, due to the attachment of the fastener mechanism 106 to the external support, the possibility of the feeding bottle getting misplaced on the floor, under the brake pedal or under the car seat of an automobile is eliminated. Furthermore, the length of the flexible cord 104 may be designed in a manner such that the item remains within the reach of the baby. In one embodiment, the length of the flexible cord 104 can be in the range of about 3 inches to 6 inches for keeping the feeding bottle within the reach of the baby and not allowing the item to fall on the floor.
Referring to FIG. 2, an application of the holding device 100 is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. It is shown in FIG. 2 that the sleeve 102 of the holding device 100 partially covers a feeding bottle 202 in order to maintain the temperature of the content inside the feeding bottle 202. The sleeve 102 circumscribes and fits over the feeding bottle 202. Further, the fastener mechanism 106 is shown attached to an external support 204.
Various embodiments of the present invention offer following advantages. The holding device of the present invention is capable of keeping feeding bottle within the reach of the baby. The holding device is also capable of maintaining desired temperature of an item within the feeding bottle by circumscribing the feeding bottles of varying sizes. Further, the holding device avoids the possibility of the feeding bottle being dropped by a baby onto a floor and accordingly prevents accidents which might be caused due to rolling of the item under a brake pedal of a vehicle. Furthermore, the holding device of the present invention also provides a better grip of the item like a feeding bottle during feeding process.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A holding device for an item, the holding device comprising:

a sleeve for at least partially covering the item;

a flexible cord comprising a first end portion removably attached to the sleeve; and

a fastener mechanism connected to a second end portion of the flexible cord and capable of being removably attached to an external support.

2. The holding device of claim 1, wherein the first end portion of the flexible cord is of a ring shape and is disposed over the sleeve enabling the sleeve to receive a cylindrical item.

3. The holding device of claim 1, wherein the item is one of a feeding bottle, cup, toy, and a book.

4. The holding device of claim 1, wherein the fastener mechanism is a Velcro strap.

5. The holding device of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is made of insulated material.