US2877917A - Baby feeding bottle - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1959 P. A. BROOKS ETAL 2,877,917

BABY FEEDING BOTTLE Filed Aug. 17, 1956 FIG. I

INVEBBOORSS PAUL A. B K LAURENCE J. BUCARIA ATTORNE United States Patent BABY FEEDING BOTTLE Paul A. Brooks, Lyndhurst, N. J., and Laurence J. Bucaria, Glendale, N. Y.

Application August 17, 1956, Serial No. 604,672

' 1 Claim. (Cl. 215-11) The present invention relates to feeding bottles for babies, and more particularly to an improved feeding H arise in connection with the swallowing of air by the baby,

which often causes substantial pain, vomiting, and other 'upset conditions. Accordingly, precautions must be taken in the bottle feeding of babies, to the end that a supply of liquid is constantly available at the nipple, so that the baby does not such air from the bottle.

necessary to constantly-attend the baby during feeding, so that the baby is held in the proper position and the bottle is tilted downwardly at all times to maintain a continuous supply of milk at thenipple. Heretofore, certain 1;

so-called improved feeding bottles have been devised, utilizing straws and/ or valve devices for the intended purpose of permitting the bottle to be used in any position while avoiding the likelihood of the baby swallowing air.

However, we have found such prior arrangements to be unsatisfactory in one or more respects, and in particular in that the devices are unnecessarily complicated and/ or donot accomplish the desired end result. Accordingly, the; present invention seeksgenerally to provide an improved feeding bottle for babies which is of a simplified .r

and inexpensive design and which is effective in ;preventing the withdrawal of air from the bottle, regardless of .the position in which the bottle is held during feeding. ,More specifically, the invention provides an improved feeding bottle for babies incorporating an improved suction tube device which projects to a point adjacent the bottom of the bottle, and'is supported for limited universal movement whereby liquid may be drawn from all areas of the lower end of the bottle, depending onthe that the tube does not becomefilled with air during: momentary pauses during feeding.

Another improved feature of the invention resides in a novel, simplified, and economical arrangement for supporting the suction tube in the bottle for limited universal -manner in which the bottle is tilted. In this respect, the

movement therein, with the upper end of the tube acting as a valve to cause liquid to be drawn through the tube when the bottle is tilted upwardly and directly through the nipple when the bottle is tilted downwardly. More specifically, the new feeding bottle incorporates a valving collar which is inserted within and held by the nipple, and supports the suction tube at its upper end. The arrangement is simplified and economical, yet wholly effective, and simplifies cleaning of the various components and filling of the bottle.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference.

} 2,877,917 Patented Mar. 17, 1 959 should be made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing, in which: 7

.Fig. l is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a baby feeding bottle constructed and arranged in accordance with the teachings of the invention, the bottle being illustrated in an upwardly tilted position;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the feeding bottle of Fig. l in a horizontal position;

,Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the feeding bottle of Fig. 1 in a downwardly tilted position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspectiveview of the upper end of a suction tube incorporated in the feeding bottle of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the lower end of the suction tube of Fig.

Referring now to' the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the body or container of the feeding bottle. The container 10 is preferably formed of glass or similar transparent material, and may be of generally conventional design. The upper end or neck 11 of the container is of reduced diameter and is threaded, as at 12, for the reception and engagement of a screw cap 13. The screw cap 13 has an enlarged opening 14 in its top wall, in which is received a nipple 15 of rubber or other resilient mate rial. Inthe illustrated form of the invention, the nipple 15. has a base or flange 16 of relatively large diameter w 'ch is received inside the ca 13 and forms a resilient With the more conventional feeding bottles, it is bl p seal between the cap 13 and container neck 11 when the cap is screwed tightlyon'to the container 10. Spaced axially a short distance from the flange 16 of the nipple is a second flange 17 which forms a shoulder engaging the upper surface of the cap 13 to firmly retain the nipple and cap in assembled relation. The outer. end of the nipple 15 is provided with one or more openings 18 of conventional'form which permit liquid to be withdrawn from the bottle.

Adjacent the base of the nipple 15, the interior recess thereof is of cylindrical form, as indicated at '19." In

' accordance with the invention, the cylindrical portion 19 of the nipple recess is adapted to receive a collar 20,

which is also of cylindrical form. The collar 20 is of the collar 20 mounts a diaphragm 2.2 which is of annular form and has inner-lip portions 22a projecting radially inward over the upper end of the collar opening 21 and partially closing off the opening. Advantageously, the

diameter of the central opening through the annular diaphragm 22 is not substantially less than thereduced Loosely received in the collar opening 21 is an elondiameter or neck portion of the collar opening 21.

gated suction tube, generally designated by the numeral 23. The suction tube 23 may be formed of glass or suit- -able plastic material, and has an enlarged head portion 24. The head portion 24 of the tube has upwardly diverging side walls, and has a maximum diameter, at its upper end extremity, which is somewhat greater than the diameter of the neck portion of the stopper opening 21. The shank of the suction tube is smaller in diameter than the collar opening 21 and the opening in the annular diaphragm 22.

' When the container 10 is in its normal upright position, the suction tube 23 will be suspended in vertical relation by means of the collar 20. The weight of the tube causes it to be drawn downwardly into the flared upper portion of the stopper opening 21, urging the enlarged head porr tion 24 of the tube into sealing engagement with the projecting lips of the diaphragm22. When the container is disposed in an upwardlyti lted position, as shown in Fig. 1, the lower end of the suction tube 23will swing over against the side wall of the' container, substantial freedom of movement'in this manner being provided since the shank of the suction tube 23 is of lesser diameter than the stopper'opening 21. It will be observed, how ever, that when the container 10is tilted and'the suction tube 23 swung into skewed relation to the collar 20 the seal between the head portion 24 of the tube and the collar 20' is not disturbed. The projecting lips 22a of the annular diaphragm 22 are freely flexible, and ai'ere tained in sealing engagement" with the head po'rtion'24 of the tube throughout its limited range of swinging movement.

When the'cont'ainer endis tilted downwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, the suction tube 23 is urgedtoward the nipple by gravity, causing the head portion 22 of-the tube to drop out of the collar and into engagement with-the walls of the nipple. At this time the reduced diameter shank portion of the suction tube 23 lies within the collar 20 and diaphragm 22; and, since both the diaphragm and collar openings are of greater diameter than the shank portion of the tube, a free fluid passage is provided through the stopper 20 and diaphragm 22. As shown in Fig. 4, the enlarged upper end of the suction tube'23 is provided with a plurality of recesses 25 providing fluid passages between the head 24 and nipple 15 when the suction tube 23 is in the position shown in Fig. 3.

At the lower end of the suction tube 23 is a shouldered fitting 26 adapted to be received in and frictionallyor otherwise retained by the end of the suction tube. The fitting 26 has an axial bore27 extendingfrom its upper end and opening into an enlarged cylindrical recess 28 adjacent the lower end of the fitting. The upper endof the fittinghas a valve surfaceu'pon which a valving ball 29 is adapted to be seated to-clo'se off the axial bore27. The valving ball 29 is of somewhat smaller diameter than the interior of the suction tube, to provide for the flow of liquid about the ball, and is adapted for a limited longitudinal movement within the suction tube between the valving end surface of the fitting 26 and suitable stop means 30 extending across or projecting into the interior of the suction tube above the fitting 26.

At the lower end of the fitting 26, the enlarged chamber 28 receives a valving ball 31, which is of smaller diameter than the recess 28, and is adapted for movement between a valving surface 32 and inwardly projecting stops 33 atthe lower end extremity of the fitting. Advantageously, the stops 33 are integral with the fitting '26,.and the lower end of the fitting is slotted longitudinally to permit segments thereof to be'deflected for inserting a' valvingball 31 into thechamber 28, and to eliminatesuction-uponthe ball 31 when the tube 23is used as-a straw.

In the use'of the new feeding bottle, the container-10 is first filledby removing the cap. 13, and withdrawing the suction tube 23. In this respect, itwill beobserved that the suction tube 23 is supported from the nipple'lS, and will be automatically withdrawn upon removal of the cap 13. With a supply of liquid in the container,

the bottle is first inverted to fill the nipple 15 with the liquid. The liquid readily flows into the nipple through the collar opening 21 and through the central opening in the diaphragm opening 22 since, when the bottle is inverted, the suction tube 23 drops downwardly, as shown in Fig. 3. If the bottle is used for feeding while in the inverted position, liquid will feed into the nipple 15 in the usual manner, through the diaphragm andcollar openings, providing a constant liquid supply' in the manner desired. If at any time the bottle is tilted upwardly,

the suctiontube 23 will drop downwardly in'the collar 20, moving'into sealing engagement with the diaphragm 223 This traps'the' 'liquidi'rr the nipple 15; and causes suction upon the nipple 15 to be applied through the suction tube 23 to draw liquid from the lower end of the container 10. In this respect, when the suction tube 23 is tilted upwardly, as in Fig. 1, the lower valving ball 31 rolls downwardly against the stops 33, opening the lower end of the axial passage 27. The upper valving ball 29, on the other hand, is urged by gravity into sealing relation with the upper end of the fitting 26, closing the upper end of the axial passage 27. However, when suction is applied through the tube 23, the upper valving-ball 29 is lifted off its seat, to provide for the upward flow of fluid in the tube. During momentary pauses in the feeding, the ball 29 drops downwardly and seats against the fitting 26 to trap the liquidin the suction tube 23. This prevents the suction tube from becoming filled with air during such pauses, and prevents the drawing of air by the baby, as would otherwise occur when feeding was resumed. I

As will be observed in Fig. 2, liquid may be drawn through the suction tube 23 even when the container 10 is' in a horizontal position and substantially emptied of its contents; The enlarged upper end 24 of the tube is retained in sealing engagement with the collar 20 by means of the flexible diaphragm 22, and the lower end of the tube, which'is weighted somewhat by the valving balls 29, 31, drops against the lower surface of the bottle container, providing for the continued withdrawal of liquids therefrom until such time as the container is substantially' completely exhausted of its contents.

If the bottle is moved from an upwardly tilted position, as shown in Fig. 1, to a downwardly'tilting position, as showninFig. 3, the lower valving ball 31, at the end of the-fitting 26, is drawn by gravity into sealing contact with the end of the chamber 28, closing off the outer end of the axial passage 27. This traps the fluid within the s'iic'tio'n tube 23. At the same time, the tube '23 drops out' o'f the-collar'20,'as previously described, so that a centinnoiis' s'up iyor fluid is provided at the' nipple 15 bymeans" of' the-passages through the diaphragm 22 and collar 20. The valving ball 31 performs an important function at this time since without this feature the suction tube 23 would be drained of fluid and would be empty when the bottle was subsequently moved to an upwardly tilted position. Thus, there would be an interval of time inwhich air would be drawn through thesuction tube 23 to refill the tube with liquid.

One'ofthe important advantages of the improved baby feeding bottle is that the bottle may be held in any position during feeding, and may be moved about, tilted, rolled, etc., all while maintaining a constant supply of liquid at the nipple so that the feeding baby does not draw air from the bottle and suffer the discomforts and ill effects thereof. To this end, the new feeding bottle incorporates improved suction tube arrangements includinga'suetion tube having a simplified double'a'cting'valve at its-free end, and improved nieans'forrnounting-the suction tube, whereby adequate sealingis afforded between the'upp'er end' of the tube' when the nip'pleis in allupwardly tilting positions of the bottle, and the'suction tube is permitted -to'd rop out of sealing relation when the bottle is inverted. The doubleacting valve arrangement' 'in the-free e'nd ofthe tub'e'is'highly advantageous in that du'ring'times when liquid is being drawn through thetube for feeding, the liquid is retained in the tube during momentary pauses in'feeding. Likewise, when the bottleisinverted, and even through fluid at this time flows directly'into the nipple, liquid is retained within the suction tube to maintain the continuity of the liquid supply at the nipple when the bottle is subsequently tilted T upwardly."

removed, the suction tube 23 is carried therewith and thereby withdrawn from the bottle. The suction tube 23 and collar 20 may themselves be readily taken apart for cleaning by simply removing the collar 20 from the cylindrical portion 19 of the nipple recess. The improved suction tube mounting is also advantageous in that a resilient support is provided for the upper end of the tube, substantially reducing the possibility of breakage in cases where the tube is formed of glass.

It should be understood, however, that the specific device illustrated and described herein is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

We claim:

A feeding bottle for babies comprising a container, a feeding nipple mounted at one end of said container and communicating with the interior of said container through an opening, a suction tube received in said opening and having an upper end portion of greater diameter than said opening, flexible sealing means surrounding said opening and normally sealingly engaging the head portion of said suction tube, said suction tube being movable longitudinally in said opening to provide a fluid passage between said tube and opening, and double-acting valve means at the free end of said suction tube operative to retain a supply of liquid in said tube While permitting free flow of liquid through said tube toward said nipple when said bottle is in an upwardly tilted position, said opening having a central portion of reduced diameter, and increasing in diameter in both axial directions from said central portion, and said flexible sealing means comprising an annular diaphragm positioned at the end of said opening adjacent said nipple and having inner lip portions partially closing off the end of said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 345,518 Lelievre July 13, 1886 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,173 Great Britain 1872 3,198 Great Britain June 27, 1883 3,251 Great Britain Mar. 8, 1886

Images