WO2005087276A2

WO2005087276A2 - Steriliser unit for baby feeding and care products

Info

Publication number: WO2005087276A2
Application number: PCT/GB2005/000927
Authority: WO
Inventors: William Mcgill
Original assignee: Vogue International Limited
Priority date: 2004-03-12
Filing date: 2005-03-10
Publication date: 2005-09-22
Also published as: GB2411837A; WO2005087276A3; GB0405581D0

Abstract

A steriliser unit for baby feeding or care products, the unit comprising a housing for receiving the products to be sterilised, a receptacle within the housing for receiving a volume of water, an electrical heating element for applying heat to the volume of water, and an electrical controller being arranged to provide electrical power to the heating element at a relatively high power level for an initial period of time and then to provide power to the heating element at a lower power level for a subsequent period of time.

Description

STERILISER UNIT FOR BABY FEEDING AMD CARE PRODUCTS

The present invention relates to an electrical steam steriliser unit for baby feeding and care products. Electrical steam sterilisers are known, for baby feeding products, which comprise a housing in which the products to be sterilised are placed, and an electrical heating element for boiling off a charge of water in order to generate steam which serves to sterilise the contents of the housing . Such sterilisers apply a constant level of electrical power to the heating element, which firstly brings the charge of water to the boil and then boils the water away into steam. Once all of the water has been boiled off, the electrical power is cut-off. We have now devised a steriliser unit having improved performance . In accordance with the present invention, as seen from a first aspect, there is provided a steriliser unit for baby feeding or care products, the unit comprising a housing fox receiving the products to be sterilised, a receptacle within the housing for receiving a volume of water, an electrical heating element for applying heat to the volume of water, and. an electrical controller for the heating element, the electrical controller being arranged to provide electrical power to the heating element at a relatively high power level for an initial period of time and then to provide power to the heating element at a lower power level for a subsequent period of time. The application of a high level of power to the heating element, over the initial period of time, serves to bring the volume of water to the boil relatively quickly. Then the application of the lower level of power serves to maintain the water at boiling point, without boiling it off too quickly and so undesirably shortening the period during which the contents of the unit are subjected to steam sterilisation. In prior art sterilisers, we have found that either a relatively high level of power is applied continuously, in which case the water is brought to the boil reasonably quickly but is then boiled too vigorously and so evaporates too quickly, or a relatively low level of power is applied continuously, in which case it takes a long time for the water to be brought to the boil. The arrangement of the present invention allows the sterilisation duration and overall cycle time to be predetermined by adjustment of the power levels applied and the volume of water to be used, in order to meet any differing market requirements. In the steriliser of the present invention, the controller may switch to applying the lower level of power after a predetermined period of time, or upon a temperature sensor sensing the charge of water reaching boiling point. The reduction in power level may be achieved by switching a resistor in circuit with the heating element, or by switching the current to the heating element on and off periodically, or by energising a second heater instead of a first. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steriliser unit for baby feeding or care products, the unit comprising a housing for receiving the products to be sterilised, a receptacle within the housing for receiving a volume of water, and an electrical heating element for applying heat to the volume of water, the housing having an opening in its front for introducing the products to be sterilised, and a door for closing said opening. The above-defined steriliser is accordingly convenient to use, in view of its front-loading nature. Preferably the door is hinged along its lower edge and so is opened by pivoting it outwardly and downwardly. Preferably the unit comprises a tray for supporting products to be sterilised. Preferably this tray may be slid into and out of the housing and, when slid out, rests on a portion of the rear of the door which is generally horizontal when the door is in its open position. Typically the door is hinged to the housing along an axis which is above the level of the worksurface on which the unit stands, so that the door slopes downwardly when opened: preferably the door includes an inclined panel which forms the portion on which the bottle tray rests when slid out. Preferably the tray is provided with a number of holders for supporting feeder bottles in upright position. Preferably the holders are releasably-engaged to the tray. Preferably the unit also comprises a tray for receiving other products, particularly associated parts of the bottles, such as teats, retaining rings and caps. This tray is preferably disposed in an upper region of the space within the housing of the unit. Preferably this tray is slidably- received by and removable from the housing. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a view of a steriliser unit in accordance with the present invention, the unit being shown in its closed condition; and FIGURE 2 is a view of the steriliser unit when opened and with its tray of bottle holders slid forwardly onto the rear of the lowered door of the unit. Referring to the drawings, there is shown a steriliser unit which comprises a generally rectangular housing 10 having a front opening and a door 12 for closing this opening. The unit includes a base 14 the top of which is formed with a central well 15 for receiving a volume of water: an electrical heating element forms the base of the well 15 and an electrical control circuit for the heating element is disposed within the base 14. The door 12 of the unit is hinged along its bottom edge to the top, front edge of the base 14. Thus, when the door 12 is opened and pivoted downwardly for its top edge to rest on the worksurface, as shown in Figure 2, the door slopes downwardly. It will be noted from Figure 1, however, that the door 12 includes a planar panel 13 which is inclined inwardly, towards the top of the door: thus, when the door is lowered to the position shown in Figure 2, the panel 13 is horizontal and level with the top surface of the base 14. The steriliser unit further comprises a rectangular tray 16 having an array of bottle holders 18 releasably mounted to it by clip-engagement. Each of the holders 18 comprises a flat, circular base 18a and four supports 18b projecting upwardly from the base 18a, the supports 18b being spaced-apart around the circumference of the holder and each being in the form of an open, rectangular frame. The tray 16 has an upstanding peripheral rim 16a and is arranged to fit into the housing 10, resting on the base 14: when the door 12 is lowered, and as shown in Figure 2, the tray 16 may be placed on the horizontal rear face of the door panel 13 and then slid rearwardly into the unit and onto the base 14; likewise, in removing the tray from the unit, it may be slid forwardly from the base 14 and onto the rear face of the door panel 13. The steriliser unit further comprises a tray 20 which is disposed adjacent the top of the interior space of the housing 10 and is arranged to be slid forwardly and removed. The bottom and sides of tray 20 are of perforated or mesh construction. Whilst the holders 18 of the tray 16 are arranged to receive baby feeder bottles to be sterilised, the teats, retainer rings and caps of those bottles may be placed in the tray 20. In use, a quantity of water is poured into the well 15 of the base 14. The bottles to be sterilised are inserted into the holders 18, where they are held upright, and the associated teats, retainer rings and caps are placed in the tray 20. The tray 16 of bottles is slid into the housing 10 and onto the top of the base 14, and the tray 20 of associated parts is slid into position adjacent the top of the housing 10. The door 12 is then pivoted up to its closed position and retained in that position by a latch 11: the door 12 includes a seal which co- operates with the front edges of the housing 10 against which it closes. A "start" switch 22 on the front of the base 14 is then actuated, in order to commence a sterilising cycle. The control circuit initially applies electrical power at a high power level to the heating element, in order to bring the water in the well 15 to the boil as quickly as possible: typically this part of the operating cycle might take 4 to 5 minutes. Then the control circuit reduces the electrical power to a lower level, sufficient to maintain the water at boiling point, thus generating steam which sterilises the bottles and associated parts enclosed within the unit. The reduction in the level of applied electrical power may be achieved by switching a resistor into circuit with the heating element, or by periodically switching the heating element on and off, or by energising a second heating element instead of a first (or instead of both together) . Typically it will take 5 or 6 minutes , from when the water reaches boiling point and the level of power to the heating element is reduced, for all of the water in the well 15 to boil off. This occurrence is sensed by a temperature sensor which responds when the temperature of the heating element rises above a predetermined level, above 100°C, in order to cut-off the current to the heating element. The unit is then allowed to cool down, completing the sterilising cycle, before the door 12 is opened and the contents removed. A number of indicator lights 24 are provided on the front of the base 14 of the unit and serve to indicate which stage of the cycle the unit has reached. Thus, a first indication is provided whilst the unit is in the high-power part of the cycle, heating the water rapidly to 100 °C. A second indication is provided whilst the unit is in the low- power part of the cycle, just maintaining the water at boiling point (or "simmering"). A third indication is provided when the heating element has been cut-out and the unit is cooling down but is still too warm to be opened. Finally, a fourth indication is provided when the unit has cooled down sufficiently to be opened and its contents removed.

Claims

1. A steriliser unit for baby feeding or care products, the unit comprising a housing for receiving the products to be sterilised, a receptacle within the housing for receiving a volume of water, an electrical heating element for applying heat to the volume of water, and an electrical controller for the heating element, the electrical controller being arranged to provide electrical power to the heating element at a relatively high power level for an initial period of time and then to provide power to the heating element at a lower power level for a subsequent period of time.

2. A steriliser unit according to claim 1, wherein the controller switches to applying the lower level of power after a predetermined period of time.

3. A steriliser according to claim 2, wherein the reduction in power level is achieved by switching a resistor in circuit with the heating element or by switching the current to the heating element on and off periodically, or by energising a second heater instead of a first.

4. A steriliser unit according to claim 1, wherein the controller switches upon a temperature sensor sensing the charge of water reaching boiling point.

5. A steriliser unit for baby feeding or care products, the unit comprising a housing for receiving the products to be sterilised, a receptacle within the housing for receiving a volume of water, and an electrical heating element for applying heat to the volume of water, the housing having an opening in its front for introducing the products to be sterilised, and a door for closing said opening.

6. A steriliser according to claim 5, wherein the door is hinged along its lower edge and so is opened by pivoting it outwardly and downwardly.

7. A steriliser according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the unit comprises a tray for supporting products to be sterilised.

8. A steriliser according to claim 7, wherein the tray is slidable into out of the housing and, when slid out, rests on a portion of the rear of the door which is generally horizontal when the door is in its open position.

9. A steriliser according to claim 8, wherein the door is hinged to the housing along an axis which is above the level of the worksurface on which the unit stands, so that the door slopes downwardly when opened.

10. A steriliser according to claim 9, wherein the door is hinged to the housing along an axis which is above the level of the worksurface on which the unit stands, so that the door slopes downwardly when opened.

11. A steriliser according to claims 7 to 10, wherein the tray is provided with a number of holders for supporting feeder bottles in upright position.

12. A steriliser according to claim 11, wherein the holders are releasably engaged to the tray.

13. A steriliser according to claims 5 to 12, which further comprises a- tray for receiving other products, particularly associated parts of the bottles, such as teats, retaining rings and caps.

14. A steriliser according to claim 13, wherein the tray is disposed in an upjper region of the space within the housing of the un t.

15. A steriliser according^" to claim 13 or 14, wherein the tray is slidably received by and removable from the housing.