US2746631A

US2746631A - Cap and shield for nursing bottle

Info

Publication number: US2746631A
Application number: US338225A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry W Witz
Original assignee: NURSMATIC CORP
Current assignee: NURSMATIC Corp
Priority date: 1953-02-24
Filing date: 1953-02-24
Publication date: 1956-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 1973-05-22

Description

May 22, 1956 H. W. wnjz CAP AND SHIELD FOR NURSING BOTTLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 24, 1953 1W. -ii

Inventor HENRY W. Wrrz May 22, 1956 H. w. wlTz CAP AND SHIELD FOR NURSING BOTTLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24, 1953 y 5 m l e Inventor HENRY W. W'Tz United States PatefiV O CAP. AND SHIELD FOR NURSING BOTTLE Henry W. Witz, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Nursmatic Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation oi? Delaware Application February 24, 1953, serial No. 338,225

8 Claims. (Cl. 21S11) This invention relates to improvements in a cap and shield for a nursing bottle and refers particularlyto a cap and shield so contrived that the shield may be conveniently mounted upon the cap even when the parts are at an elevated sterilizing temperature.

Caps and shields for nursing bottles are usually constructed of a plastic material having non-toxic properties and although the material comprising the caps and shields may be the same and have the same coeicient of expansion and contraction, they are made with different thicknesses and dimensions and, hence, when subjected to variations in temperatures their respective overall expansionsor contractions are different. This frequently gives rise to a difficulty in preparing the baby-s food, since the parts, during such preparation, are sterilized by heat and, depending upon the time of sterilization, will differentially expand and contract to a predetermined degree. j

Hence, a shield which, under some circumstances, may tit a cap in an adequate manner, under other circumstances, cannot be made to t the cap or in Vbeing made to do so may be broken. According, to `make the cap and shield of predetermined xed, standard dimensions results in difficulty by the user when precise instructions as to use are not followed.

The present invention is directed to a nursing bottle cap and shield so devised that, even though exposed to the elevated temperatures necessary in conditioning the baby food, the shield can always be conveniently mounted upon the cap without forcing or breaking the same.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanyingdrawings and following detailed description.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a nursing i bottle with the nipple-carrying cap and'shield in place.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3` 3 of Fig. 2. Y l

Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged diagrammatic view showing the geometrical construction of the cap.

Fig. 5 isa diagrammatic sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Y

Referring in detailto the drawings, 1 indicates a conventional nursing bottle having anopen mouth, the neck of the bottle being provided with threads 2 for 'engagement with threads 3 carried by an annular tlange 4 of a nipple-carrying cap 5. At its top, the cap 5 has `an inturned annular flange 6 providing an apertured center for the reception of a rubber nipple 7 having a base flange 8 which is clamped between the cap flange 6 and the upper defining edge of the bottle mouth to hold the nipple in place. The nipple 7, shown, carries a valve 9, but the specific type of nipple employed forms -no part of the present invention, that is, any conventional type of nipple may be used. z j

, In order to prevent contamination of the nipple 7 durling handling and storing of the bottle when it carries 2,746,631 lian-,magi` May z2, ye

baby food a shield 10 s employed, the shield comprising a dome-shaped portion 11 adapted to accommodate and cover the nipple 7, and a cap-engaging portion 12 which iits over or embraces the ange 4 of the cap 5. The outer surface of the cap-engaging portionv 12 of the shield carries a plurality of axially disposed ribs 13 which reinforce the portion 12 and contribute to its ornamental appearance.

The inner surface of the portion 12 carries a pair of diametrically opposite, axially disposed ribs 14 which are preferably of arcuate cross-section and which are parallel throughout the major portion of their length, being relieved, as at 15 in Pig. 2, to facilitate mounting upon the cap flange 4. The purpose of ribs 14 will be hereinafter more fully described.

As an important feature of the present invention, axially parallel grooves 15, shown on a greatly enlarged scale in Fig. 4, are provided in the outer face of the cap ange 4, said grooves being provided for the reception of ribs 14 on the inside of the cap-engaging portion 12 of the shield 10. Each of the grooves 15 is tapered axially, tapering outwardly from its upper portion to its lower portion, as shown best at 16 in Fig. 5. In addition, each groove 15 is of substantially uniform width and depth throughout its length and-.the depths and widths of `all of the grooves are substantially the same.

The important feature of the grooves 15, is best illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein the relationship of the grooves 15 to the axis of the cap 5 is shown. The entire circumference of the ange 4 may be considered as comprising four .quadrants, the pattern of the grooves 15 of each quadrant duplicating itself in all other quadrants. Further, each quadrant may be considered as being divided .angularly into two arcs each of forty-five degrees, the

pattern of the grooves embraced by each 45 arc being symmetrical about the angular mid-line of each quadrant.

1n Fig. 4 the radial line 17 may be considered as a quadrant dividing line and the radial line 18 may be considered as the quadrant mid-line, that is, the lines 17 `and 18l are angularly spaced 45 from each other. Included in the angular span of each quadrant, eight grooves 15 are embraced, four grooves being embraced between the

lines

17 and 18. It will be noted that the base of groove 15a, at its upper end is tangent with a pitch line 19 which is at a VXed radius from the center of the flange 14. It will also be noted that the base of groove 15b,

the groove adjacentgroove 15a, is spaced from the pitchv line 19. Groove 15e, adjacent to groove 15b, is further spaced from the pitch line and the adjacent groove 15d is spaced at a maximum from said line. Thus, the are joining the bases of the grooves 15 throughout the span included between

lines

17 and 18 is eccentric with respect to the axis of the ange 4.

As has been hereinbefore described, the pattern of the grooves 15 is symmetrical about the mid-line of the quadrant and hence, the base of groove 20 on the opposite side of the line 18 is spaced from the pitch line 19 a distance equal to the spacing of the base of groove 15d `from said pitch line. In similar fashion the base of the groove (not shown) next to groove 20 is spaced a distance equal to the spacing of the base of the groove 15e from the pitch line 19, and so on throughout the quadrant in question.y

It has `also been brought out that the pattern followed by the grooves 15 repeats itself in all quadrants. Hence, the base of the groove 21 on the other side of the quadrant dividing line 17 is tangent with the pitch line 19. Thus, the pattern of .the grooves 15 in the outer wall of the flange 4 is symmetrical about the quadrant dividing lines,l and the pattern of the grooves in each quadrant is symmetrical about the 45 quadrant mid-lines.

It is intended that the lshield 10 be positioned over the nipple 7 and the cap 5, the shield being moved in an axial direction over the cap with the ribs 14 engaging in opposite grooves 15. Thus it will be seen that each rib 14 may engage in any one vof four different type grooves 15. In view of the fact that all diametrically opposite grooves 15 are of the same type, engaging one rib 14 with, for instance, groove 15a will automatically cause the opposite rib to be engaged in a similar groove 15a, and so on. The crests of the ribs 14 are parallel to cach other and are parallel to the axis of the bottle, cap and shield whereas the bases of the grooves 15 are tapered axially. Hence, by rotating the cap throughout 45 any one of a plurality of fitting conditions may be secured between the shield and the cap.

The arrangement hereinbefore described is adapted to compensate for two variables, one of which resides in the nature of the material comprising the cap and the shield and the other arises through the manner in which the parts are handled or conditioned, particularly during sterilization. Both of these variables are of importance because of the fact that the degree of expansion and contraction of the cap and hood, because of their geometrical construction, are different. It has been found that the cap expands and contracts to a greater degree than the shield, that is, with respect to flange 4 of cap 5 and the flange-engaging portion 12 of the shield 10, possibly due to the greater thickness of the flange 4 relative to the flange-engaging portion 12.

The first variable, mentioned hereinbefore, resides in the fact that successive batches of the material compris ing the caps and shields cannot be so accurately controlled as to characteristics of expansion and contraction that caps and shields of fixed, standard dimensions can be employed. That is, if fixed, standard sized molds were employed, the caps and shields made from one batch of material may have expansion and contraction characteristics which might be suitable for said dimensions but, caps and shields made to the same dimensions from another batch of the material may not be satisfactory. Inasmuch as it is not commercially feasible to tailor the dimensions of the caps and shields to batches of material in accordance with their changing charactcristics, the present invention is employed to compensate for this manufacturing diiculty.

As to the second variable, mentioned hereinbefore, this is entirely out of the control of the manufacturer and is dependent upon the manner in which the user handles the caps and shields. Substantially all nontoxic plastics and resins suitable for the manufacture of nursing bottle caps and shields are water or moisture absorbent to a degree which is of importance in this particular use. Hence, if in the step of sterilization of the nipples, caps and shields one user subjects the caps and shields to a longer period of sterilization than another, the expansion of the caps and shields will be different in each case due to water or moisture absorption. Accordingly, caps and shields of fixed, standard dimensions may be suitable in one instance but entirely unsuitable in the other.

ln utilizing the cap and shield of the present invention there are, in general, two accepted methods of sterilization. In one method, the nipple, cap, shield and bottle are separately immersed in hot water for a predetermined period of time until sterilization is accomplished. The parts are then removed, the bottle filled with baby food and the cap and nipple disposed upon the bottle. At this period, the parts being warm, the cap will be expanded to a degree greater than the shield. Hence, if a cap and shield of fixed dimensions were employed diiculty would be encountered in positioning the shield upon the cap, and in the process, frequently where the sterilization period has been long, the shield may be broken. To make the relative dimensions of the cap and shield such that the shield could, after any length of sterilization period, be conveniently mounted upon the cap, the

shield, after the parts were lowered to room temperature or subjected to refrigeration temperature, would fit so loosely over the cap that its function would essentially be defeated.

In employing the present invention, when the shield is placed over the cap, the operator may conveniently select a pair of

grooves

15a, 15b, 15C or 15d wherein the shield can be snugly positioned upon the cap. By virtue of the construction of the grooves 15 a series of fits of increasing snugness may be secured as the ribs 14 are moved from 15a to 15b to 15e and so on. Thus, the shield may be placed upon the cap Without rupturing the shield and yet a t of sufficient snugness may be obtained wherein the shield will still function as such after the parts have reached normal temperature or have been refrigerated.

In the second method of sterilization, the parts comprising the cap, nipple and shield loosely assembled are mounted on the bottle, the cap being loosely screwed upon the bottle, and the entire assembly is subjected to steam for a predetermined sterilizing period. At this stage, the ribs 14 may be conveniently inserted in grooves 15a which gives the loosest lit. After sterilization the bottle may be filled with baby food and the cap may then be tightened upon the bottle and the shield may then be disposed upon the cap with the ribs 14 in a selected pair of grooves 15a, 15b, 15e` or 15d to give a desired snug fit.

Thus, a nursing bottle cap and shield arrangement is provided which will compensate for conditions of use which are uncontrollable by the manufacturer and the user will be provided with a cap and shield for a nursing bottle which will render the preparation of baby food more convenient and less expensive.

I claim as my invention:

l. A- cap and shield for a nursing bottle, said cap comprising a nipple-clamping element having a substantially annular flange for engagement with the open end portion of a nursing bottle, the outer surface of said substantially annular llange being provided with a plurality of substantially parallel, substantially axially disposed adjacent grooves, the bases of certain of said grooves in a predetermined transaxial plane being disposed at different distances from the axis of said cap, said shield comprising an annular cap-engaging flange for substantially coaxial positioning around the outside of 'the cap flange, and a plurality of axial ribs each having a circumferential width substantially equal to the circumferential width of each groove carried on the inner surface of said shield flange for engagement with certain of said grooves of said cap flange.

2. A cap and shield for a nursing bottle, said cap cornprising a nipple-clamping element having a substantially annular flange for engagement with the open end portion of a nursing bottle, the outer surface of said flange being provided with a plurality of adjacent grooves the tangential axis of each of which is coplanar with the axis of said flange, the bases of certain of said grooves in a predetermined transaxial plane being disposed at different distances from the axis of said cap, and the base of each of said grooves along its length being inclined to the axis of the flange, said shield comprising an annular capengaging flange for substantially coaxial positioning exteriorly with respect to the cap flange, and a plurality of axial ribs carlied on the inner surface of said shield flange for engagement with certain of said grooves of said cap flange.

3. A cap and shield for a nursing bottle, said cap comprising a nipple-clamping element having a substantially annular flange for engagement with the open end portion of a nursing bottle, the outer surface of said flange being provided with a plurality of adjacent grooves the tangential axis of each of which is coplanar with the axis of said flange, said grooves being disposed in an even number of circumferentially'adjacent groups each group comprising a plurality of grooves in which the bases of all the i grooves in a predetermined group are disposed at different distances from the axis of said ange in a predetermined plane at right-angles to said axis, the bases of diametrically opposite grooves being the same distance from the axis of said ange, said shield comprising an annular cap-engaging flange for substantially coaxial positioning around the outside of the cap flange, and diametrically opposite axial ribs carried on the inner surface of said shield ange for engagement with opposite grooves of certain of said groups of grooves in said cap iiange.

4. A cap and shield for a nursing bottle, said cap comprising a nipple-clamping member having a substantially annular flange for engagement with the open-end portion of a nursing bottle, the outer surface of said flange being provided With an even number of similar groups of grooves, each group containing a plurality of adjacent grooves, the bases of the grooves of alternate groups being at progressively greater distancesfrom the axis of the ange andthe bases of the grooves of intermediate groups being at progressively lesser distances from the axis of said ange, the bases of diametrically opposite grooves being at substantially the same distance from said ange axis, said shield comprising an annular cap-engaging flange for substantially coaxial positioning on the outside of said cap ange, and dametrically opposite ribs carried on the inner surface of said shield iiange for engagement with opposite grooves of certain of saidrgroups of grooves in said cap flange.

5. A cap and shield for a nursing bottle, said cap comprising a nipple-clamping member having a substantially annular ange for engagement with the open-end portion of a nursing bottle, the outer surface of said ange being provided with an even number of similar groups of grooves, each group containing a plurality of adjacent grooves, the bases of the grooves of alternate groups being at progressively greater distances from the axis of the ange and the bases ofthe grooves'of intermediate groups being at progressively lesser distances from the axis of said flange, in a predetermined plane at right-angles to the ange axis, the bases of diametrically opposite grooves being at substantially the same distance from said flange axis and the base of each of said grooves along its length being inclined to the axis of said ange, said shield comprising an annular cap-engaging ange for substantially coaxial positioning on the outside of said cap ange, and diametrically opposite ribs carried von the inner surface of said shield ange for engagement with opposite grooves of certain of said groups of grooves in said cap flange.

6. A cap and shield for a nursing bottle, said cap comprising a nipple-clamping member having a substantially annular ange for engagement with the open-end portion of a nursing bottle, the outer surface of said flange being provided with an even number of similar groups of grooves, each group containing a plurality of adjacent grooves, the bases of the grooves of alternate groups being at progressively greater distances from the axis of the flange and the bases of the grooves of intermediate groups being at progressively lesser distances from the axis of said iange, in a predetermined plane at right-angles to the flange axis, the bases of diametrically opposite grooves being at substantially the same ldistance from said flange axis, and the base of each of said grooves along its length being inclined at the same angle to the axis of said ange, said shield comprising an annular cap-engaging flange for substantially coaxial positioning on the outside of isaid cap ilange, and diametrically opposite ribs carried on the inner surface of said shield flange for engagement with opposite grooves of certain of said groups of grooves in said cap ange.

7. A cap and shield for a nursing bottle, said cap comprising a nipple-clamping element having a substantially annular ange for engagement with the open end portion of a nursing bottle, the outer surface of said substantially annular flange being provided with a plurality of substantially parallel, substantially axially disposed adjacent grooves of substantially the same width, the bases of certain of said grooves in a predetermined transaxial plane being disposed at different distances from the axis of said cap, said shield comprising an annular cap-engaging ange for substantially coaxial positioning around the outside of the cap ange, and a plurality of axial ribs of substantially the same circumferential width as the circumferential width of each of the grooves carried on the inner surface of said shield flange for engagement with certain of said grooves of said cap iange.

8. A cap and shield for a nursing bottle, said cap comprising a nipple-clamping element having a substantially annular ange for engagement with the open end portion of a nursing bottle, the outer surface of said substantially annular ange being provided with a plurality of substantially parallel, substantially axially disposed adjacent grooves, the bases of certain of said grooves in a predetermined transaxial plane being disposed at different distances from the axis of said cap, said shield comprising an annular cap-engaging ange for substantially coaxial positioning around the outside of the cap flange, and a plurality of axial ribs carn'ed on the inner `surface of said shield flange for engagement with certain of said grooves of said cap ange.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS