US3184193A

US3184193A - Bottle support

Info

Publication number: US3184193A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edmund W Melvin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-05-15
Filing date: 1964-05-15
Publication date: 1965-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 1982-05-18

Description

y 8, 1965 E. w. MELVIN 3,184,193

BOTTLE SUPPORT Filed May 15, 1964 4 Sheets-She's: 1

FIG. .1.

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BOTTLE SUPPORT Filed May 15, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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ATTOf/VEY E. W. MELVIN BOTTLE SUPPORT May 18, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 15, 1964 INVENTOR. v/wwva m ma. w/v,

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BOTTLE SUPPORT Filed May 15, 1964 FIG. 13. 75!

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 #6 FIG. 11-. 06 //a INVENTOR.

amwvo 4/ M54 1/// United States Patent 3,184,193 SETTLE SUPPORT Edmund W. Melvin, Box 241, Eotulla, Texu Filed May 15, 195%, Ser. No. 369,356 11 Qlafims. (Cl. 248-1136) This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior, copending application Serial No. 296,297, filed July 19, 1963, now abandoned.

This invention relates to supports for bottles, or the like, and more particularly device for a baby bottle in feeding position.

A main object of the invention is to provide novel and improved supporting devices for holding a baby bottle in a feeding position, the devices being particularly adapted for use with supports for holding a baby in an inclined position, the bottle supporting devices being simple in construction, being easy to install, and having a wide range of adjustments in accordance with the size and other requirements of the infant and/or support with which they are employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved baby bottle supporting assemblies which involve inexpensive components, which are durable in construction, which are easy to adjust, and which may be readily disassembled for transportation or storage.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved supporting devices which may be employed either for supporting a baby bottle in a feeding position, or alternatively, for supporting a baby pacifier in a similar position.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view showing a first form of improved baby bottle supporting assembly according to the present invention installed on a conventional inclined baby-supporting device;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical longitudinal cross sectional View taken through the bottle and associated supporting means, substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken transversely of the bottle and supporting means, substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the bottie-receiving sleeve and bottle-securing member, as employed in the assembly of FIGURES 1 to 4, the sleeve and securing member being shown in separated positions;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevational View showing the bottle and supporting means arranged in a position of adjustment different from that shown in FIGURE 1, facilitating removal of the child;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the arrangement of the sleeve and fastening member em ployed in the apparatus of FIGURES 1 to 6, arranged to support a baby pacifier;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of some of the parts employed in the pacifier supporting arrangement of FIGURE 7, the parts being shown in separated positions;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of support assembly constructed and assembled in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 11 is another perspective view of the assembly of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary rear elevational view of a bottle-receiving sleeve and securing member as employed in the second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 14 is a longitudinal, detail cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 1414 of FIGURE 13, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 15 is a side elevational view of a third embodiment;

FIGURE 16 is a frontal view of sleeve sections hereof as employed in the second and third embodiments;

FIGURE 17 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken substantially on the section line 17-47 of FIGURE 15, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 18 is a front elevational view of the third embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 19 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the third embodiment, showing an alternate position of operation.

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGURES 1 through 9, 11 therein desi nates a conventional supporting means for holding a baby in an inclined position, for example, a supporting means of the type shown in US. Patent No. 2,324,421. The device 11 comprises a traylike receptacle having a bottom wall 12,

upstanding side walls

13 and 14 and an upstanding rear end wall 15 which terminates in an outwardly curved lip 16, the device being provided with a pair of bottom flanges 17 extending generally in a longitudinal direction and located adjacent the

side walls

13 and 14, the bottom flanges being formed with spaced apertures 18 therein. Bearing pivot projections 19 are provided at the lower rear corner of the tray-like device, and the device is adapted to be sup-- ported in an inclined position by struts 2i} and 21 pivotally engaged in fixed bracket means 22, the struts having top lugs 23 engageabie in selected apertures 18 in the flanges 17 so as to support the device 11 in a suitable inclined position, for example, in the position illustrated in FIG- URE 2.

Designated generally at 24 is a first form of bottlesupporting assembly according to the present invention, the assembly being adapted to support a conventional baby feeding bottle 25 in a suitable inclined position for feeding a baby received in and supported in the traylike device 11. The assembly 24 comprises a rigid elongated sleeve member 26 of molded plastic material, or the like, said sleeve member being generally circular in cross section and being formed with a longitudinal slot 27 extending its full length, and being defined by upstanding

parallel ribs

28, 28 which project vertically from the sides of the slot, as viewed in FIGURE 5. The purpose of the longitudinal slot 27 is to allow the iquid level of a bottle supported in the sleeve member 26 to be observed without distributing a baby feeding from-the bottle. The sleeve 26 is formed adjacent one end thereof with a peripheral groove 29 which receives a generally circular intermediate loop portion 30 of a wire supporting member, the loop portion 38 being integrally connected with respective outwardly extending

side arms

31 and 32 ter minating in downwardly bent arcuately curved

end portions

33 and 34 formed with inturned lugs 35 which are engageable in opposite transversely aligned apertures 18 of the flanges 17 associated with the device 11. As will be readily understood, the member comprising the loop 39, the

arms

31, 32, and the

terminal arms

33, 3 3 may be formed of a single piece of relatively stiff wire material having a certain amount of resiliency.

Pivoted to the opposite end portion of the sleeve member 26 at its bottom, as by the provision of a pivot lug ing terminal leg portions 39 formed with lugs 40 extending outwardly, and being engageable in opposing apertures 41 provided in the-top portions of the

side walls

13 and 14 at the rear portion of the device 11.

The

ribs

28, 28 are formed with opposing inwardly facing

longitudinal grooves

42, 42, the top walls'of the ribs adjacent the grooves being formed with evenly spaced notches 43 therein, the notches being arranged in opposing pairs on the

respective ribs

28, 28. Designed at 44 is a wire member formed with a generally circular central loop 45 engageable around the neck portion of a conventional baby bottle-25, and large enough to allow free passage of its nipple cap portion therethrough, the ends of the loop being integrally connected to longitudinally extending

parallel arms

46, 46, which are provided at their ends with

upstanding finger portions

47, 47, formed with finger loops 48, as shown in FIGURE 5. The ends of the loop 45 merge with upstanding connecting arm portions 50, 59 which are of sufficient length so that when a bottle neck is engaged in the loop 45 the longitudinally extending arms 46 will be received in the

grooves

42, 42, with the bottle received in the sleeve 26. The upstanding

terminal finger elements

47, 47 are lockingly engageable in selected pairs of

opposing notches

43, 43 to lock the bottle in a desired position of longitudinal adjustment in the sleeve 26. 1

It will therefore be readily apparent that the bottle 25 may be adjustably secured in the sleeve 26 in a desired position, for example, the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, wherein a baby positioned in the tray-like support member 11 will be comfortably and effectively fed from the bottle.

For a different size baby, or when the inclination of the device 11 is varied, the supporting devicemay be adjusted to a different position wherein the lugs are engaged in apertures 18 different from those shown in FIGURE 2. With such re-adjustment, the rigid elongated sleeve member 26 will pivot to a new position, thepivoting action occurring between member 38 and lug 37. The member 38 has bends 38 adjacent the leg portions 39 which are manually adjustable'in angle, allowing the bends to be adjusted toward a larger angle, or straighter, condition, allowing for better feeding position of the bottle if the uppermost apertures 18 are employed, for example, in the case of a large baby. I

A rotatable stop member 55 (FIGURES 1, 2 and 6), which is eccentrically mounted, is provided on the arm 34 and is arranged so that its large radius portion may be rotated either to an inwardly directed or an outwardly directed position. This feature is provided so that the baby may be removed from the support member 11 for diaper changing, burping, etc., during the feeding without requiring the supporting device to be completely disassembled. For this operation, the bottle is retracted to its uppermost position, as indicated in dotted view in FIG- URE 6. The lugs are then disengaged from the support member 11 and the sleeve member 26 is rotated forwardly (clockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 2) until it is clear of the babys head. The stop member is then adjusted by rotating its large radius portion to an inwardly projecting position so that it will engage the top edge of the wall 13, which maintains the feeding device in the position of FIGURE 6 while the baby is transferred from and back to the support member 11. Subsequent to this, the stop member 55 is rotated to its outwardly projecting position and the lugs 40 are again engaged in the apertures 41 to restore the condition of FIGURE 2 and to allow the baby to resume feeding.

The stop member 55 is preferably frictionally held on the arm 34, so that if so desired it can be displaced along the arm 34 by exerting suflicient force thereon, whereby its position may be adjusted, as desired.

As shown in FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, the device 24 may be converted to support a baby pacifier instead of a 1 feeding bottle; For this purpose, a split supporting ring 61 is provided, the ring 61 having an external peripheral groove 62 adapted to receive the loop 45, so that the loop will support the ring 61. The ring 61 is made of plastic or similar material having some flexibility, so that it can be readily inserted in the loop 45. The pacifier 66 is provided with an annular flange 64 which is receivable in an inside groove 65 provided in the ring 61. Thus, the pacifier 69 may be mounted in the ring 61 and the ring may be in turn engaged in the loop 45, so that the pacifier 6t) and the ring 61 can be adjustably supported in the sleeve '26 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7.

The feeding device is so constructed that it can easily be deflected by an active baby if he pushes against the

arms

33, 34. Due to the resiliency of said arms, after such deflection the device will return to its present position. In fact, the

arms

33, 34 are arranged so that they are in an ideal position for the baby to grasp and to hold if he so desires. This allows the baby to feel that he is assisting in the holding of the bottle.

Referring to FIGURES 10 through 19, modified forms of the invention are therein disclosed, and are generally designated by reference numerals 7t and 79a. The environment of primary intended usage of the supports 70 and 7% comprises a modified form of baby holding means 72 comprising a tray like receptacle with a bottom wall '74, end wall 76 and side walls '78, 80, each terminating in a continuous outward flange 82 which, in the case of the side walls is of curvilinear form and has a depending lip 84, best seen inFIGURE l7. Bearing projections 86 are provided at the lower rear corner of the means 72, and bracket bosses 58 are arranged in pairs and project from the wall 74 to receive a support strut assembly 9%, which serves to support the baby holding means 72 in a selected inclined position, as shown in the drawings. e g

' A bottle support assembly employed in the form 70 of this invention comprises a tubular sleeve 92 of transparent plastic or the like which permits viewing of the contents of the bottle held therein. The sleeve 92, as seen in FIGURES l3, l4 and 16, is formed in lower and upper sleeve halves 94 and 96 with one pair of

longitudinal edges

98, 98 thereof connected by an integral hinge portion 101 and the other edges 102, 164 being formed with a projecting nipple 106 and slot 1%,respectively, adapted to snap fit together about a bottle 25 which is then slidably received in the sleeve member. The sleeve lower half 94 has longitudinally extending bayonet slots 110 formed thereinat spaced apart locations for a purpose described below, and the upper sleeve half 96 has an enlarged, longitudinal bayonet slot 112 therein. For economy of shipping space, the open halves may be nested for shipment, as shown in FIGURE 16.

A bottle; supporting member114 is provided, and includes an arm 116 of dovetail section transversely adapted to be engaged adjustably in the slot 112. The arm 116 includes a forward end 116 with an annular loop 120 thereon of a circumference to fit about and retain the bottle 25, abutting a shoulder portion thereof with the nipple assembly 25' projecting therethrough. Since the arm 116 is frictionally engaged in the slot 112, the positioning of the bottle with respect to the sleeve 92 is adjustable in accordance with the depth of insertion of the arm.

A pair of substantially identical but opposite support leg assemblies 122 are provided, formed of molded plastic or the like, and include forward leg members 124 of L-shaped transverse section, and rear leg member 126 of like cross sectional form, the leg members each including side elements 128 and end elements 130. Each end element 130 has a transverse slit 132 therein adjacent the base thereof to increase the flexibility of the leg members and to permit the user to bend the side members to some extent, and the members are inclined inwardly and upwardly to a desired position. A connecting portion 134 connects the upper ends of the legs, and each connecting portion has a flared end edge 136 adapted for frictional engagement in the bayonet slots 110 of the lower sleeve half 94. Thus, the sleeve is supported between the support leg assemblies 122.

A lower, horizontal, flexible, connecting brace 138 extends between the

leg members

124 and 126 and is suspended adjacent the outward flange 82 of the holding means 72. The leg members have depending projections 140 which extend downwardly on opposite sides of the flanges, and each brace 138 carries a connecting hook member 142 comprising a downwardly projecting tab 144, a horizontal bight portion 146 and an upstanding arm 148. As best shown in FIGURE 17, the hook member 142 fits about and engages the lip 84 thereby effectively clamping the leg assemblies to the holding means 72. The brace 138 is adapted for deflection, by reason of its spacing from the adjacent flange 82, to allow the hook member 142 to be easily engaged with the lip 84. Also, the ends of the end elements 130 are spaced from the flange 82, and this vertical displacement permits the deflection of the brace 138.

In the modification shown in FIGURES 15, 18 and 19, an identical holding means 72 is employed and a slightly modified form of support 76a is shown, substantially the same as the support 70, but employing a unitary sleeve 92a and a support leg assembly 122a at only one side thereof. The leg assembly 122a is similar to assemblies 122 and is forwardly arched whereby it is usable in the variant positions shown in full and phantom lines in FIGURE or in the inverted position of FIGURE 19, dependent upon the positions of the infant being fed or the size of said infant. This positioning is also attainable with the previously described forms of the invention. This form of the invention does not employ a slotted support leg, and provides a'somewhat more rigid support.

It will be readily apparent that the baby bottle supporting assemblies above described and illustrated in the drawings may be adapted for use with other types of baby supporting means different from those specifically illustrated in the drawings, and may in fact be employed wherever there is a suitable subjacent support for a baby having elements to which the supporting legs of the bottle supporting assemblies can be engaged.

While specific embodiments of supporting assemblies for a baby bottle or pacifier have been disclosed in the foregoing descriptions, it will be understood that various further modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A supporting assembly comprising:

a sleeve member adapted to receive a baby bottle slidably therein;

means engageable with the sleeve to adjustably secure the bottle therein against movement in one direction;

support means, having a central portion receiving and engageable with the sleeve member; and

the support means having depending portions extended to and interengaging with a subjacent support.

2. A supporting assembly comprising:

a rigid elongated sleeve member adapted to receive a baby bottle slidably therein, the sleeve member being formed with a longitudinal slot;

means engageable with the slot to adjustably secure a baby bottle in the sleeve member;

a support member having a central loop portion receiving and lockingly engageable with the sleeve member; and

the support member having a pair of depending leg portions extending from the loop portion and adapted to be interengaged with a subjacent support.

3. A supporting assembly comprising:

a rigid elongated sleeve member adapted to receive a baby bottle slidably therein;

the sleeve member being formed with a longitudinal slot and having spaced detent notches therein;

means engageable with the slot and being selectively engageable in the detent notches to adjustably secure a baby bottle in the sleeve member;

a support'member having a central loop portion receiving and lockingly engageable with the sleeve member; and

4. A supporting assembly comprising:

the sleeve member being formed with a longitudinal slot therein and having spaced detent notches therein;

a wire loop member engageable around the neck of a baby bottle and having parallel resilient end arms extending from the ends of the loop member;

the end arms having upturned terminal portions;

- the sleeve member having grooves formed therein opening on the slot and receiving the end arm;

the upturned terminal. portions being selectively engageable in said detent notches to adjustably secure the bottle in the sleeve member; and

a support member having a'central loop portion receiving and lockingly engageable with the .sleeve member and having a pair of depending leg portions extending from the loop portion and adapted to be interengaged with a subjacent support.

- 5. A supporting assembly comprising:

the sleeve member being formed with a longitudinal slot and having spaced'detent notches therein opening on the slot;

a wire loop member engageable around the neck of a baby bottle and having parallel resilent end arms extending from the ends of the loop member;

the end arms having upturned terminal portions;

' the sleeve having grooves therein opening on the slot and receiving the end arms;

the upturned terminal portions being selectively en gageable in the detent notches to adjustably secure the bottle in the sleeve member;

a support member having a central loop portion receiving and lockingly engageable with the forward end portion of the sleeve member and having a pair of depending leg portions extending from the loop portion and adapted to be interengaged with a subjacent support; and

a rear support member pivoted to the rear end portion of the sleeve member and having a pair of depending supporting legs.

6. A supporting assembly comprising:

a wire loop member engagea-ble around the neck of a baby bottle and having parallel and resilient end arms extending from the ends of the loop member;

the end anms having upturned terminal portions;

the sleeve having grooves therein opening on the slot and receiving the end arms;

the upturned terminal portions being selectively engageable in the detent notches to adjustably secure the bottle in the sleeve member;

the support member having a pair of depending leg portions extending from the loop portion and being 8. A supporting assembly comprising:

upstanding terminal portions on said provided'with; inturned opposing lugsadapted to be .pivotally inter'connected with a subjacent' support. 7. A supporting assembly comprising; a rigid elongated'sleeve member adapted to receive a baby bottle slidably therein;

' the sleeve member being formed with a longitudinal slot having spaced detent notches;

a ,wire loop member engageable around the neck of a the upturned terminal portions being selectively engageable in the detent notches to adjustably secure the I bottle in the sleeve member;-

a support member having a central loop portion receiving and lockingly engageable with the sleeve member and having a pair of depending leg portions extending from the loop portion and being provided with inturned opposing lugs adapted to be pivotall-y interconnected with a subjacent support; and

- a stop member rotatably secured on one of the depending leg portions, the stop member having a relatively large radius stop portion which may selectively be positioned in an inwardly projecting position relative to the one :leg portion.

a rigid elongated sleeve member having a longitudinal slot therein;

a loop member adapted to engage about a nipple-carrying member;

the loop memberha'ving parallel resilient end arms extending there-from; '1

the end arms being slidably received in the slot of the sleeve member; t

vthe sleevemember having detent notches formed therein opening on the slot; p

7 end arms selectively engageable in the notches;

a support member having a central loop portion receiving-and lockingly engageable with the sleeve member; and the support member having a pair of depending leg portions extending from the loop, portion and adapted to be interengaged with a subjacent V support. 4 a 1 9. A supporting assembly 'for use'with a babyholding device including side walls, flanges projecting outwardly from the side 'walls, and depending lips on the flanges, the supporting assembly comprising:

an elongated sleeve member adapted to slidably receive a baby bottle therein; 7 means engageable with the sleeve to adjustably secure the bottle therein; and at least one leg assembly depending from the sleeve and adapted for interengagement with the flanges and lips of the side walls. 10. The supporting assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein theleg assemblies include: i

a hook member adapted to fit about the depending lip and lockingly engage the same.

11. A supporting assembly for use with a baby holding device including side 'walls, flanges projecting outwardly from the side Walls, and depending lips on the flanges, the supporting assembly comprising:

an elongated sleeve member adapted to slid-ably receive a baby bottle therein;

means engageable with the sleeve to adjustably secure K Retererices Cited by the Examiner i UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,490,158 12/49 Reynolds 248103 3,153,556 10/64 Westerback 248-107 FOREIGN PATENTS 788,624 [7/35 France. 7 187,972' 8/07 Germany.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Eataminer.

Claims

1. A SUPPORTING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A SLEEVE MEMBER ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A BABY BOTTLE SLIDABLY THEREIN; MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SLEEVE TO ADJUSTABLY SECURE THE BOTTLE THEREIN AGAINST MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION; SUPPORT MEANS, HAVING A CENTRAL PORTION RECEIVING AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SLEEVE MEMBER; AND THE SUPPORT MEANS HAVING DEPENDING PORTIONS EXTENDED TO AND INTERENGAGING WITH A SUBJACENT SUPPORT.