US3070249A

US3070249A - Nippleglove

Info

Publication number: US3070249A
Application number: US72825A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sigrid C V Schrwald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-11-30
Filing date: 1960-11-30
Publication date: 1962-12-25
Anticipated expiration: 1979-12-25

Description

Dec. 25, 1962 s. c. v. SEHRWALD 3,070,249

- NIPPLEGLOVE {51 I I .I I

Q FIG.6

FIG. 2 INVENTOR.

SIGRID 01v SEHRWALD United States Patent ()fitice 3,070,249 NIPPLEGLGVE I Sigrid C. V. semen-a, 1439 4th Ave,

San Francisco, Calif. Filed Nov. 30, 196i Ser. No. 72,825 1' (Ilaim. (Q. 215-11) This invention pertains to child nursing equipment, and more particularly tonipples comprising an improved nursing, unit generally d'escribed and shown in US. Patent 2,753,067, by Rodrequez, for Nurser Combination. V

The invention is directed to the prevention of maloc clusions which develop during early infancy. After many years of sincere research, medical dental physicians have come to the conclusions thatinadequate child nursing equipment is a major cause which contributes to the de- 1 I participates actively in the nursing act. All muscles of the face are in motion and the mandible is brought forward for every milking stroke. During bottle feeding the child remains more or less passive. The milk is poured into the child by an even fiow. In cases Where the hole of the nipple has been enlarged too much, the child is liable to be drowned in his own milk supply. It is also observed that in the case of such forced feeding the child develops protective tongue habits and such abnormal swallowing habits contribute also to malocclusions of the young face. The mouthpiece of the conventional nipple provides neither stimulating support for the lips of the child nor normal nursing activity. This results from the shape of the conventional nipple being too long, narrow and firm.

In an attempt to improve the conventional nipple form W. Balters and Mueller of Waldbroel, West Germany, have invented a nipple which is asymmetrical in design. The mouthpiece of this nipple is fiat having a bulge to fit into the anterior palate of the childs mouth. If properly used this nipple may not only prevent the development of malocclusions but it may also correct many malformations of a childs jaws. The incorrect use of this nipple is easily adopted and is harmful. That means the child has to be watched closely during nursing from the Balters nipple. Also this nipple collapses frequently during usage and therefore requires adjusting. Leakage from the bottle is common.

Experimentation has shown that the American standard nursing unit, on the other hand, creates severe discomfort to the child. The lips of the child are quite frequently pinched whenever caught at the junction between nipple and screw top.

enerally this invention provides a nursing unit which in its functional capacity, is more related to natural physiology. The invention pertains to an accessory, designed especially to be fitted over the standard American nursing unit. One of its purposes is to protect the lips of the child from being pinched in the area where conventional nipple and the screw top are joined. Additional advantages include interruption of the even flow of milk from the conventional nipple, directing the milk into the space created between this invention and the conventional nipple. From here the milk is released only during and according to functional nursing activity of the child. The accessory is formed according to the shape of the mothers nipple and therefore provides support for the lips of the 3,070,249 Patented Dec. 25, 1982 2 child.- Experimentations have shown that the invention provides the possibility for the child tonurse normally and actively as in nursing from the mothers breast.

An object of this invention isalso to prevent collapse of the nipple and leakage from the bottle. v p Another object ofthis invention is to limit the necessity for close supervision of the child during nursing,.and to provide a nursing unit which can be secured firmly to enable the child to turn to or from its milk supply accord i'ng to its demand for nourishment. I a

These and other objectives of the present invention will be understood from the following description taken with reference to the attached drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a'soft nipple cover in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of an improved nursing unit in accordance with this invenn; V FIGURE 3 is an elevational View of a standard European type nipple; v V V p I I I FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of an improved nipple of the recent prior art by W. Balters and Mueller;

"FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the nipple wn tF G- ;a

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of a standard American nursing unit. I v c FIGURE 1 shows a cover in accordance with this invention. Here the mouthpiece 11, in the form of a central hemispheric bulge is short and rounded to simulate the lactating human nipple. The body 12, is large and simulates the body of the mothers breast. The cover fits with its base 13, snug about the screw top 70. The internal annular rib M, is deep enough to hook under the lower border of the screw top 70, to hold the sleeve securely to the bottle and to provide a good milk seal gasket. The sleeve terminates with a membrane like structure 15, to embrace the bottle firmly.

Referring to materials used: The sleeve 10, is made of a suitable flexible material such as rubber, plastic, etc. For its manufacture, dipping or pressing are equally satisfactory processes.

The nursing combination as shown in FIGURE 2, includes the sleeve 10, the nipple 60, the screw top 70, and the bottle 2%. The use of the sleeve 10, with the American standard nursing unit, provides several important advantages: (1) The sleeve 10 covers area A, thereby protecting the lips of the child from being pinched or caught between the nipple 6t) and the screw top 70. (2) By fitting the sleeve 10' over the conventional nipple 60, a space C is created. The sleeve 10 interrupts the even flow of milk from the conventional nipple 6t), and directs the milk into the space C. The latter acts a small secondary milk reservoir, releasing the milk supply only during nursing activity, and so permitting the child to voluntarily control its feeding rate. (3) The combination of sleeve 10 and conventional nipple 60, together with the created space C, provide a cushioned body which soothes, supports and stimulates the lips of the child, (4) The sleeve 10 does not collapse during usage since the con' veutional nipple serves as an internal support. (5) Leakage from this improved nursing unit 2 is nearly impossible due to combined security from: (a) nipple 60 plus screw top 70, which carry the main pressure from the milk column in the bottle 20, and (b) because the sleeve 10 fits snug with its

area

13, 14, 15 over part and 21. (6) The sleeve 10 is flexible enough to adjust itself according to the shape of the childs mouth, in this way the small diameter and the excessive firmness of the conventional nipple 60 is removed, and for the'same reason the present invention 10 tends also to minimize the excessive swallowing of air.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the basic design of the nipple which is most widely used in Europe is shown. This nipple is fitted directly over the neck of the bottle, without the aid of a screw top., Therefore, leakage is a common problem. The mouthpiece 31 of the nipple is also long and narrow and therefore limits normal nursing activity.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, a more recent develop ment in nipple is shown. In this case, the mouthpiece 41 is short and fiat having a bulge 56, to fit the anterior palate of the childs mouth. The body 42 is pronounced, and terminates with a roll 44 to fit the neck of the bottle.

As seen in FIGURE 6, the Standard American nursing unit is comprised of a nipple 60, a screw top 70 and a bottle 20. The area where nipple 60 and screw top 70 are joined is marked as A, and indicates the place where the lips of the child are caught and pinched. The nipple 60 is anchored with its base 63 beneath the roof 71 of the screw top 70. The screw top 70 is supported by the neck of the bottle 21. The screw top 70, which secures the nipple 13 to the bottle 20 has a centered opening, through which the mouthpiece of the nipple 60 emerges. The screw top 70 is usually of plastic and is hard and cold to the touch of the child's lips. On the basic design of the nipple 60, which is most commonly used in America, the mouthpiece 61 is long and narrow. Such form limits natural nursing activity and is thought to be injurious, causing malformation of the childs face.

Practical experimentations have shown that the invention 10 fills a long standing request for improvement of child nursing equipment. The nursing combination, FIG. 2, simulates in form, construction and function the physiology of normal and natural breast nursing. Therefore, the expectations linked to the usage of this invention are not only greater comfort for the artificially nursed child; but also, it can be hoped that this improved nursing unit will limit the number of developing malocclusions and will prevent malformations of the childs face. The usage of this invention is simple and practical, it can not cause harm.

I claim:

A nursing unit comprising a generally cylindrically shaped bottle having an opening at one end thereof, a first flexible nipple, annular shaped cap means for removably holding the first nipple over the opening of the bottle, a second flexible nipple overlying said first nipple and the cap, said second nipple including a generally cylindrical portion and a generally rounded end portion having a hemispheric bulge, the cylindrical portion of the second nipple including an internal annular rib, said rib being seated on the outer surface of said cap in sealing relationship, the cylindrical portion of said second nipple also including a skirt extending from said annular rib, the edge of said skirt firmly embracing the bottle, and liquid passage means in each of said nipples whereby liquid is discharged through each of the nipples during nursing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,018,831 Ladley Feb. 27, 1912 2,483,979 Morrill Oct. 4, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 464,652 Italy July 19, 1951 1,049,079 France Aug. 12, 1953