US3239933A

US3239933A - Means for punching the nipples used on nursing bottles

Info

Publication number: US3239933A
Application number: US338406A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nakata Yuichi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-01-17
Filing date: 1964-01-17
Publication date: 1966-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 1983-03-15

Description

March 15, 1966 YUICH, NAKATA 3,239,933

MEANS FOR PUNCHING THE NIPPLES USED ON NURSING BOTTLES Filed Jan. 17. 1964 FIG. 3.

INVENTO/Q.

YU/C'H/ NAKA 4,

United States Patent 3,239,933 MEANS FOR PUNCHING THE NIPPLES USED ON NURSING BOTTLES Yuichi Nalrata, 9238 Higashi-kaigan, Chigasalri-shi, Japan Filed Jan. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 338,406 2 Claims. (Cl. 30358) This invention relates to a means for punching holes in the nipples used on nursing bottles. The nipples commonly used on nursing bottles are usually formed of rubber or other elastomeric material, and are provided with a small opening for the egress of fluids therethrough.

If an infant consumes milk or formula food from a bottle too rapidly its digestion may be upset by the admixture of saliva with the food and the ingestion of air. If the food be consumed too slowly, the infiant becomes exhausted and does not finish its formula. Applicants studies indicate that about fifteen minutes is an optimum time. As a result of these studies it has been found that the nursing time can be suitably controlled by varying the diameter of the hole in the nipple. For a newly born infant the opening in the nipple may be 0.3 to 0.35 mm. At age two months, the nipple opening may be 0.4 to 0.5 mm; at three or four months the nipple opening may be 0.5 to 0.6 mm., and after the fifth month the nipple opening may be from 0.6 to 0.7 mm.

An object of this invention is the provision of a nipple punching device for making a suitable opening in the top of a nursing bottle nipple.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a nipple punching device having a plurality of interchangeable punching members of dilferent sizes.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a nipple punching device having a handle including means for storing a plurality of punching elements therein.

A further object of this invention is the production of a portable nipple punching device that is easy to use and that can be operated by persons of little or no mechanioal skill.

These and other objects will appear upon consideration with the following specification taken with the accompanying drawing, which together form a complete disclosure of my invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of one form of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates in elevation the operation of the device of FIG. 1, in punching a nipple, with parts in section;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of an interchangeable punching element;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the element shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an elevation, partly in section of a further modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a top view with parts broken away, of the form of device shown in FIG. 7.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the punching device includes a substantially cylindrical handle 1, a reduced portion 2 having a hemispherical bottom 3. A hollow punch 4 of suitable diameter, projects from the hemispherical portion 3 in the direction of the axis of the handle 1. The punch 4 has sharp edges and when the portion 2 is inserted in a nipple 6, as shown in FIG. 3, and pressed toward the resilient die plate 7, a hole 8, of suitable diameter, is made in the nipple 6.

In FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 the handle 21 is a hollow cylinder having an inner chamber 22 adapted to hold a plurality ice of punching devices 23. The punches 23 have rounded portions 26 at one end and threaded portions 27 at the other end. A hollow punch member 28 extends from the end 26 in an axial direction. The handle has a threaded portion 24 at one end to receive the end 27, and a cap 25 is threaded on the other end. Within the chamber 22 a plurality of punching members 23 may be stored, each having a different punch, as 28a, 28b and 280. When it is desired to punch a nipple, a punch member 23, with the desired punch 28a, 2312 or 28c is threaded in the portion 24 as shown in dash line, and the punch is sued as shown in FIG. 3.

In the modified form of the device as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the handle 41 is slightly tapered downwardly and has a part spherical upper end 43. The handle 41 is hollow to form a tubular part 42 and terminates in an upper face 44 having depressions 45 therein, shaped to receive the necks 46 which have cylindrical body portions with semispherical lower end portions 47. The other end portions are threaded as at 48 to be received into the threaded portion 52 of the handle 41. Each neck 46 has a hollow punch 49, the punches being different in size, as explained in connection with punches 28a, 28b and 28c. A flexible die plate 51 fits over the necks 46 and a hollow semispherical cover 50 is threaded onto the portion 43. A tail cap 53, having no punch projecting therefrom may be threaded into the socket 52.

For use, the tail piece 53 is removed and one of the necks 46 is screwed into the threads 52. The plate 51 is placed on a firm solid surface and a nipple is punched in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 3.

It should be clear from the above that I have provided a simple, easily operated punching device for nipples which can be used to provide nipples with openings suited to the age and strength of the nursing infant. When openings of a different size are desired, it is only necessary to remove a

neck

23 or 46 and replace it with one having a punch of the desired size.

I claim:

1. A device for punching openings in nursing bottle nipples comprising an elongated handle member, a plurality of pockets in one end of the handle member and a threaded portion at the opposite end, a neck member having a threaded portion at one end and a semispherical shape at the opposite end in each pocket, a hollow punch secured to each neck at the semispherical end, each of the punches being of a different size whereby to selectively allow the forming of holes of different diameters, a tail piece threaded to said threaded portion at the opposite end, and a semispherical cap fitted on said one end.

2. A structure as in claim 1 further including a die plate stored between the cap and necks.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 190,747 5/1877 Dit Lepine 30-3 68 874,583 12/1907 Garret 30 152 X 1,541,078 6/1925 Sudweeks 30-366 X 1,679,176 7/ 1928 Schneider 30358 2,087,186 7/ 1937 Freeman 30-358 2,545,521 3/1951 Knapik 30l5l X FOREIGN PATENTS 21,534 5/1883 Germany. 257,511 10/1912 Germany. 193,142 1/ 1938 Switzerland.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner.

Claims

1. A DEVICE FOR PUNCHING OPENINGS IN NURSING BOTTLE NIPPLES COMPRISING AN ELONGATE HANDLE MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF POCKETS IN ONE END OF THE HANDLE MEMBER AND A THREADED PORTION AT THE OPPOSITE END, A NECK MEMBER HAVING A THREADED PORTION AT ONE END AND A SEMISPHERICAL SHAPE AT THE OPPOSITE END IN EACH POCKET, A HOLLOW PUNCH SECURED TO EACH NECK AT THE SEMISPHERICAL END, EACH OF THE PUNCHES BEING OF A DIFFERENT SIZE WHEREBY TO SELECTIVELY ALLOW THE FORMING OF HOLES OF DIFFERENT DIAMETERS, A TAIL PIECE THREADED TO SAID THREADED PORTION AT THE OPPOSITE END, AND A SEMISPHERICAL CAP FITTED ON SAID ONE END.