WO2004078096A1

WO2004078096A1 - Teat structure for a bottle-type container, bottle or similar

Info

Publication number: WO2004078096A1
Application number: PCT/FR2004/050088
Authority: WO
Inventors: Françoise DAGHERO; Eric Daghero; Cyrille Guillot
Original assignee: Pilou Company Limited
Priority date: 2003-02-27
Filing date: 2004-02-27
Publication date: 2004-09-16
Also published as: ATE402690T1; ES2309504T3; FR2851732A1; FR2851732B1; EP1599163A1; DE602004015422D1; PT1599163E; EP1599163B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a teat structure (1) which can be mounted on a bottle-type container, bottle or similar. Said structure (1) comprises a teat body (4) made of a flexible, deformable material, comprising a nipple-shaped (6) part which is provided with an end opening (7) which is extended at the base (8) thereof by a skirt (9) whose general shape is tubular. The skirt (9) is provided with means enabling reception and maintenance of an add-on inner ring (5) whose general shape is cylindrical and which is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material. The ring (5) comprises an inner surface (18) provided with means (22) enabling the fixing thereof on said container (3). The teat structure also comprises an inner cylindrical extension (11) provided with a flexible annular lip (12) on the free end thereof such that an inner annular throat (13) is formed. Said throat (13) is used to receive an inner collar (20) which is arranged on the upper end of the inner surface (18) of the ring (5) such that the flexible lip (12) is positioned underneath the lower surface (21) of the collar (20), forming a shoulder. The teat structure is characterized by the fact that it comprises a teat body (4) whereby the skirt (9) thereof is provided with an annular return element (10) on the free end thereof, extending towards the inside, such that it is positioned underneath the lower edge (16) of the ring (5). The annular return element (19) is provided with an annular groove (29) on the upper surface (28) thereof. Said groove is formed in such a way that it can receive an additional annular rib (30) which is arranged on the inner edge (16) of the ring (5).

Description

TEAT STRUCTURE FOR A BOTTLE, BOTTLE OR THE LIKE CONTAINER

The present invention relates to an original teat structure capable of being mounted on a container of the bottle, bottle, bottle or similar type. Very many different types of teat structures are known which are capable of being mounted on a container.

In particular, document EP-0 456 572 describes a structure consisting of a teat body of flexible deformable material comprising a nipple-shaped part provided with an end orifice, extended at its base by a skirt of general shape tubular; this skirt is provided with means allowing the reception and the maintenance of an added ring of generally cylindrical shape, made of rigid or semi-rigid material, which ring has an internal face provided with means allowing its fixing on the container.

This teat structure is easily adaptable to different forms of containers, and in particular to bottles provided with a screw neck. However, it does not offer an optimal seal; in addition, the attached ring can quite easily detach from the pacifier body, which is a potential source of accidents for young children in particular.

A teat structure aimed at solving these drawbacks is detailed in document US Pat. No. 6,032,810.

The teat structure that is the subject of this document is of the type described above, that is to say that it consists of a teat body of flexible deformable material provided with a skirt of generally tubular shape, in which is placed a ring allowing its fixing on a container. The teat body further comprises an internal cylindrical extension extending from the base of the nipple-shaped part, coaxial with the external tubular skirt, which extension is provided at its free end with an annular flexible lip, s 'extending outwards and perpendicularly or substantially perpendicular to the axis of the teat structure, so as to form an internal annular groove. This annular groove is intended to receive an internal collar provided at the upper end of the internal face of the added ring, so that said flexible lip is positioned under the underside of said collar, forming a shoulder.

However, the insert ring is effectively held on the nipple body only when this nipple structure is properly mounted and screwed onto the neck of the container. The tightness of this pacifier structure is not more fully guaranteed, especially if it is not screwed tight enough on the container.

Thus, the present invention provides an improvement to teat structures of the kind described in document US Pat. No. 6,032,810, ensuring effective attachment between the teat and the insert ring, in particular for obtaining optimum safety of use and sealing .

To this end, the teat body of the structure according to the invention comprises a skirt provided with an annular return at its free end, extending inwards, so as to be positioned under the lower edge of the ring. added, and this internal return is provided, on its upper face, with an annular groove shaped to receive a complementary annular rib arranged on the lower edge of said added ring.

Preferably, the annular return of the teat body extends over a length corresponding substantially to the thickness of the added ring. Again, the annular rib is advantageously arranged on the external periphery of the lower edge of the ring, in line with the external face of said ring.

According to another particularity, the teat structure comprises a ring whose external face is provided with at least one projecting member adapted to come to be positioned in a housing of complementary shape arranged on the internal face of the skirt of the teat body.

This particular characteristic makes it possible to further increase the tightness of the teat structure, but also to improve the cohesion between the teat body and the added ring, for the sake of safety.

According to a preferred embodiment, the corresponding projecting member or members are inclined in the direction of the lower edge of the ring, in order to limit the possibilities of embedding this ring outside of the teat body, during traction on the latter.

According to yet a preferred embodiment, the added ring is provided with a plurality of projecting members, in the form of one-piece fins, regularly distributed over the periphery of its external face.

According to yet another embodiment, the added ring is provided with a single projecting member in the form of a collar, extending over the entire periphery of its external face. • On the other hand, and advantageously, the added ring is provided, under ia upper flange, with a thread adapted to allow the screwing of the teat structure on a complementary thread arranged on the receiving container.

The subject of the invention is also the teat body and the attached ring made of rigid or semi-rigid material, suitable for forming the teat structure as described above.

However, the invention will be further illustrated, without being in any way limited, by the following description of various particular embodiments, given only by way of examples, and represented in the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a sectional view a teat structure according to the invention, mounted on a suitable container;

- Figure 2 is a sectional view of the teat body of the structure according to Figure 1, shown in isolation;

- Figure 3 is a sectional view of the attached ring of the structure according to Figure 1, shown in isolation;

- Figure 4 is a sectional representation of a pacifier structure according to the invention, the attached ring is provided with members in the form of one-piece fins perpendicular to the axis of the skirt of the pacifier body;

- Figure 5 shows a section along 5-5 of the teat structure shown in Figure 4;

- Figure 6 is a representation of a section of a pacifier structure according to the invention, comprising an attached ring provided with one-piece fins passing through the skirt of the pacifier body;

- Figure 7 is a sectional representation of another form of pacifier structure according to the invention, the attached ring is provided with one-piece fins inclined towards its lower edge;

- Figure 8 is a sectional view along 8-8 of the teat structure shown in Figure 7;

- Figure 9 is a representation of a section of a nipple structure according to the invention, comprising an attached ring provided with monobloc fins of pointed section;

- Figure 10 is a perspective representation, with a local section, of a ring according to the invention, provided on its outer face with a one-piece member in the form of a collar; FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a teat body in accordance with the invention, of structure adapted to receive the attached ring in accordance with FIG. 10.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation, in section, of a teat structure 1 according to the invention, mounted by screwing onto the neck 2 of a container 3. This teat structure 1 mainly consists of a body of teat 4 made of flexible deformable material, associated with an attached ring 5, made of rigid or semi-rigid material.

The teat body 4 is shown in isolation in FIG. 2.

It comprises a part 6 in the form of a nipple provided with an end orifice 7. This part 6 in the form of a nipple is extended at its base 8 by a skirt 9 of generally tubular shape, of axis l ', the free end has an annular internal return

10; the annular return 10 is provided, on its upper face 28, with a circular groove

29 of square or rectangular section.

Of course, the aforementioned nipple-shaped part 6 can optionally be provided with several end orifices 7, of appropriate sizes; these parameters are determined according to the expected flow rate of the teat structure, and this in particular according to the age of the child.

The teat body 4 further comprises an internal cylindrical extension 11, extending co-axially to the skirt 9 over a short length from the base 8 of the nipple 6. The free end of this extension 11 is provided with an annular flexible lip 12 extending outwardly, perpendicular to the axis l ', so as to form an internal annular groove 13 whose opening is oriented outward.

The internal face of the skirt 9, with the return 10 and the annular groove 13, define a housing 14 intended to receive the ring 5, as described in more detail below.

The teat body 4 is made in one piece by molding a material having the appropriate characteristics of resilience as well as mechanical and chemical resistance; one can for example use a natural or synthetic elastomeric material. The added ring 5 is shown isolated from the teat body 4, in FIG. 3.

This ring 5 has a generally cylindrical shape; it is delimited by an upper border 15, a lower border 16, an external face 17 and an internal face 18, the latter delimiting a central orifice 19.

The upper edge 15 comprises an annular flange 20 which extends inwards, perpendicular to the axis l ′ of the ring 5, the lower face 21 of which forms an annular shoulder. This annular shoulder 21 extends in a plane which is perpendicular to the axis l ′ of the ring 5.

Under the flange 20, the internal face 18 of the ring 5 has a thread 22 intended to cooperate with the complementary thread 22 'arranged on the external face of the neck 2 of the container 3.

The lower edge 16 is provided with an annular rib 30, shaped to fit into the aforementioned circular groove 29 of the return 10 of the teat body 4. This rib 30 has a square or rectangular section complementary to the shape of the groove 29 The return 10 of the teat body 4 has a length which roughly corresponds to the thickness of the ring 5.

On the other hand, it is noted that the rib 30 is arranged on the external periphery of the ring 5, in the extension of its external face 17.

The ring 5 is produced by molding a plastic material such as polypropylene for example, to obtain a rigid or semi-rigid assembly.

The positioning of the ring 5 by embedding within the housing 14 arranged in the nipple body 4 makes it possible to obtain the nipple structure 1 as shown in FIG. 1. This embedding is made possible due to the great flexibility of the pacifier body 4. On the assembly in question, we note the introduction of the annular flange 20 of the ring 5 within the annular groove 13 of the pacifier body 4; the flexible annular lip 12 is then positioned against the annular shoulder 21 of said flange 20. We also note the positioning of the return 10 under the lower edge 16 of the ring 5. At this level, the end of the return 10 arrives approximately in the extension of the internal face 18 of the ring 5; and the rib 30 of the ring 5 is embedded in the groove 29 of the teat body 4, due to their complementary shape, which optimizes the maintenance of the teat body 4 on the fitted ring 5.

As shown in Figure 1, when mounting the teat structure 1 on the neck 2 of the container 3, the screwing is limited by the stop formed by the flange 20. The flexible annular lip 12 is then pinched or compressed between the 'shoulder 21 of the annular flange 20 and the end of the neck 2. This feature makes it possible to obtain a connection between the teat body 4 and the insert ring 5, but also to obtain a certain seal between the teat body 4 and the container 3, and between the teat body 4 and the insert ring 5. The securing and sealing characteristics between the teat body 4 and the attached ring 5 are further optimized by the positioning of the return 10 against the lower edge 16 of the ring 5, and by the aforementioned embedding of the rib 30 of the ring 5 in the receiving groove 29 of the teat body 4. FIGS. 4 to 11 show different other possible embodiments of teat structures according to the invention, comprising an attached ring provided with at least one projecting member on their external face, intended to cooperate with at least one complementary housing arranged on the internal face of the skirt of the teat body. This structural feature makes it possible to further improve the seal and the cohesion between said teat body and said attached ring. It also makes it possible to prevent, or at least limit, the rotation of said ring relative to said teat body, and vice versa. It is thus easier to screw or unscrew the teat structure on the receiving container. To facilitate understanding, the elements of structures identical to the previous embodiment retain the same references.

The teat structures 1, described below in relation to FIGS. 4 to 11, each consist, as described in the previous embodiment, of a teat body 4 and of an attached ring 5. The body of teat 4 mainly comprises a part 6, in the form of a nipple, extended - by an external cylindrical skirt 9 provided with an internal annular return 10, on the upper face 28 of which is formed the circular groove 29, and - by an internal cylindrical extension 11 provided with an external annular lip 12. Also as described above, the added ring 5 has a generally cylindrical shape, and it has an internal flange 20 which projects into the central orifice 19 from its upper edge 15, under which the flexible lip 12 of the teat body 4 is positioned during assembly; it also comprises, on its lower edge 16, the annular rib 30 capable of fitting into the groove 29 of the internal annular return 10. FIGS. 4 and 5 show a first possible embodiment of a teat structure conforming to the invention, the attached ring 5 is provided with projecting members.

The corresponding added ring 5 is provided on its external face 17 with a plurality of projecting members 25 in the form of one-piece fins, extending perpendicular to the axis V of the ring 5; these members 25 are regularly distributed over its periphery, as can be seen in FIG. 5. These members 25 are intended to be inserted in complementary notches 26 arranged on the internal face of the skirt 9, in the extension of the housing 14. The embedding of the rib 30 of the ring 5 in the receiving groove 29 of the teat body 4, linked to the complementarity of the shapes, further improves the connection between said teat body 4 and said added ring 5.

FIG. 6 represents yet another embodiment of a pacifier structure comprising an attached ring provided with projecting members. According to this particular embodiment, the corresponding added ring 5 is provided on its external face 17 with a plurality of projecting members 31, in the form of one-piece fins, regularly distributed over its periphery. These members 31 differ from those described in connection with Figures 4 and 5, in that they have a greater length. They are intended to be positioned in complementary housings 32, in the form of a lumen, arranged in the skirt 9 of the teat body 4. The corresponding members 31 then extend over a short length beyond the external face of the skirt. 9; they can also stop at this external face.

This pacifier structure 1 then offers improved cohesion between the added ring 5 and the pacifier body 4.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate here another embodiment of a teat structure 1 according to the invention, comprising an attached ring 5 provided on its outer face 17 with a plurality of projecting members 33, d-shaped 'monobloc fins inclined towards the lower edge 16 of the ring 5; they are regularly distributed around its periphery, as can be seen in Figure 8.

These members 33 are intended to be inserted into complementary notches 34 arranged on the internal face of the skirt 9.

This particular configuration of the members 33 and their complementary notches 34 makes it possible to limit the possibilities of disengaging the ring 5 from the nipple body 4, during traction on the latter.

FIG. 9 also illustrates an embodiment of a teat structure 1 in accordance with the invention, the attached ring 5 of which is provided with a plurality of projecting members 35 in the form of monobloc fins of pointed section, regularly distributed around its periphery, and intended to be inserted into complementary notches 36 arranged on the internal face of the skirt 9. The embodiment of the pacifier structure 1, intended to be formed by fitting the attached ring 5 shown in FIG. 10, into the pacifier body 4 represented in FIG. 11, differs from that described previously in relation with Figures 4 to 9 in that it comprises an attached ring 5 provided on its outer face 17 with a single protruding member 37; this member 37 is in the form of a one-piece collar inclined in the direction of the lower edge 16 of the ring 5, and extends over the entire peripheral of the external face 17.

The corresponding member 37 is intended to be positioned in a complementary housing 38, in the form of an annular groove, arranged on the internal face of the skirt 9, FIG. 11.

Of course, in accordance with the invention, the number and the shape of these projecting members can also be modified according to other embodiments, always with a view in particular to ensuring cohesion and optimum sealing between the ring 5 and the teat body 4. The teat structures according to the invention are particularly suitable for being mounted on containers of the bottle type, for example of the mineral water bottles, yogurt bottles or the like.

These teat structures, once fitted, offer particularly effective sealing and security.

Claims

- CLAIMS - 1.- Pacifier structure intended to be mounted on a container of the bottle, bottle or similar type, which structure (1) consists of a pacifier body (4) of flexible deformable material comprising a part in the form of nipple (6) provided with at least one end orifice (7), extended at its base (8) by a skirt (9) of generally tubular shape, said skirt (9) being provided with means allowing reception and maintenance of an added internal ring (5) of generally cylindrical shape, made of rigid or semi-rigid material, which ring (5) has an internal face (18) provided with means (22) allowing it to be fixed on said container (3 ), which teat body (4) further comprises an internal cylindrical extension (11) extending from the base (8) of the nipple (6), co-axially to the tubular skirt (9), which extension ( 11) is provided at its free end with an annular flexible lip (12), extending towards outside and perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axis (1 ') of the teat structure (1) so as to form an internal annular groove (13), which annular groove (13) is intended to receive an internal collar ( 20) fitted at the upper end of the internal face (18) of said ring (5), so that the flexible lip (12) is positioned under the lower face (21) of said flange (20), forming a shoulder, characterized in that it comprises a teat body (4) whose skirt (9) is provided with an annular return (10) at its free end, extending inwards, so as to be positioned under the lower edge (16) of the ring (5), which annular return (10) is provided on its upper face (28) with an annular groove (29), shaped to receive a complementary annular rib (30) arranged on the lower edge (16) of the ring (5).

2. A pacifier structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the annular return (10) of the pacifier body (4) extends over a length corresponding substantially to the thickness of the ring (5).

3. Nipple structure according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the annular rib (30) is arranged on the outer periphery of the lower edge (16) of the ring (5), in the extension of the external face

(17) of said ring (5).

4.- pacifier structure according to any one of claims s 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a ring (5) provided with at least one projecting member (25, 31, 33, 35, 37) arranged on its external face (17), adapted to position in a housing (26, 32, 34, 36, 38) of complementary shape arranged on the internal face of the skirt (9) of the teat body (4).

5. A pacifier structure according to claim 4, characterized in that the ring (5) comprises at least one projecting member (33) inclined in the direction of its lower edge (16) to limit the possibilities of embedding of said ring ( 5) outside the teat body (4), when it is pulled on the latter.

6.- pacifier structure according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that it comprises a ring (5) provided with a plurality of projecting members (25, 31, 33, 35) in shape monobloc fins, regularly distributed over the periphery of its external face (17), adapted to be positioned in housings

(26, 32, 34, 36) of complementary shape arranged on the internal face of the skirt (9) of the teat body (4).

7. Teat structure according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that it comprises a ring (5) provided with a projecting member (37) in the form of a one-piece collar, extending over any the periphery of its external face (17), adapted to be positioned in a complementary housing (38) in the form of an annular groove, arranged on the internal face of the skirt (9) of the teat body (4).

8. Teat structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a ring (5) provided on its internal face (18), under the collar (20), with a thread ( 22) adapted to allow it to be screwed onto a complementary thread (22 ') fitted on the receiving container (3).

9. Teat body for the teat structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is made of flexible deformable material comprising a nipple-shaped part (6) provided with at least one end orifice (7), extended at its base (8) by a skirt (9) of generally tubular shape, which teat body (4) comprises an internal cylindrical extension (11) extending from the base (8) of said nipple (6), co-axially with said tubular skirt (9), which extension is provided at its free end with an annular flexible lip (12) extending outwards and perpendicularly or substantially perpendicular to the axis (1 ') of the teat structure (1) so as to form an internal annular groove (13), and which skirt (9) is provided with an annular return (10) at its free end, extending inwards, which annular return (10) is provided on its upper face (28) with an annular groove re (29), shaped to receive a complementary annular rib (30) arranged on the lower edge of an attached ring.

10.- Ring in rigid or semi-rigid material for the teat structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is in a generally cylindrical shape, and in that it comprises an internal thread (22), an internal collar (20) arranged at the upper end of its internal face (18), and an annular rib (30) arranged on its lower edge (16).