WO2009102086A1

WO2009102086A1 - Baby feed bottles with flexibility

Info

Publication number: WO2009102086A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/000895
Authority: WO
Inventors: Deuk-Il Park; Choong-Yop Rhew; Jun-Kyu Lee; Dai-Soung Park; Jee-A Kim
Original assignee: Mamachi Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2008-02-15
Filing date: 2008-02-15
Publication date: 2009-08-20

Abstract

The present invention relates to a baby feed bottle. The present invention relates to a baby feed bottle with flexibility configured to include a container shaped baby bottle body having flexibility to enable elastic deformation, a teat having a feeding part, and a baby bottle connector connecting the baby bottle body with the teat. The baby bottle connector is formed of materials of glass, ceramic, metal, etc. not generating an environmental hormone and is elastically coupled at its top and bottom with the teat and the baby bottle body, thus facilitating assembly and disassembly, minimizing a feeder,s inconvenience of use as well as fundamentally preventing generation of the environmental hormone.

Description

Description BABY FEED BOTTLES WITH FLEXIBILITY

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a baby feed bottle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a baby feed bottle with flexibility configured to include a container shaped baby bottle body with flexibility, a teat having a feeding part, and a baby bottle connector connecting the baby bottle body with the teat wherein the baby bottle connector is formed of materials of glass, ceramic, metal, etc. not generating an environmental hormone and is elastically coupled at its top and bottom with the teat and the baby bottle body, thereby facilitating assembly and disassembly, minimizing a feeder's inconvenience of use, reducing generation of infant's otitis media by avoiding generating a vacuum within the baby bottle body, and preventing generation of the environmental hormone. Background Art

[2] In general, baby feed bottles are used when feeders intend to feed powdered milk in place of mother's milk to newborn babies or infants/babies. The baby feed bottle is configured to couple a teat cap to a plastic-container shaped baby bottle body containing a powdered milk liquid so that babies can suck the powdered milk liquid through the teat.

[3] The baby bottle body is mainly made of plastic materials with less weight or is made of glass materials with excellent safety. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[4] However, the conventional baby bottle body as above has the following drawbacks.

[5] First, there is a drawback that if the baby bottle body is formed of plastic materials, it generates environmental hormone Bisphenol A. Particularly, the environmental hormone is increasingly generated in amount when the baby bottle body gets in contact with hot water. Thus, there is a drawback that the environmental hormone is remarkably increasingly generated in amount if hot water is filled and is mixed with powdered milk in the baby bottle body, or if powdered milk is warmly retained in the baby bottle body for a long time as dissolved in water, or if the baby bottle body is sterilized with hot water for a long time.

[6] Second, even if the baby bottle body is made of solid plastic materials such as polycarbonate, its frequent washing causes generation of foreign abrasive materials as well as giving out of plastic's own odor. If the baby bottle body is made of glass materials not generating an environmental hormone, it can increase the danger of easy de- struction and increase a self weight of the baby bottle. Therefore, it is very burdensome for an infant to carry the baby bottle. Upon falling in a high position, the baby bottle is in the danger of destruction.

[7] Third, if the baby bottle body is made of hard materials such as plastic or glass, its internal powdered milk liquid decreases and its internal atmospheric pressure decreases while an infant sucks a teat, thus resulting in a vacuum effect. Therefore, there is a drawback that an infant requires a very large inhalation force, suffers otitis media in a worse case because of a low atmospheric pressure within the mouth, and inhales much air when inhaling external air along with a powdered milk liquid due to his inhalation trouble, thus suffering stomach trouble or suffering frequent burp.

[8] Fourth, in order to prevent a reduction of an atmospheric pressure within the baby bottle body, a method for changing a structure of a baby bottle body or processing part of a teat into an air inlet has been proposed. However, the method has a drawback that a baby bottle structure gets complex, washing after use is difficult, an additional manufacturing cost increases, and a vacuum effect is not solved completely.

[9] Fifth, in order to provide a solution to the above drawback, a method for making a baby bottle body using flexible materials or pliable silicon materials has been proposed. However, the method has a drawback that, because a separate support structure of plastic or metallic materials is used to strengthen coupling of the baby bottle body and the teat cap, number of parts increases, making assembly and disassembly inconvenient. Further, the method has a drawback that it is difficult to assemble the baby bottle body and the support structure in view of the characteristic of silicon materials having a high viscosity. Furthermore, the method has a drawback that a baby bottle should be disassembled into a plastic class and a silicon class and sterilized class by class to avoid a problem that the baby bottle is exposed to an environmental hormone when a feeder boils the baby bottle together with the support structure of plastic materials. Technical Solution

[10] The present invention includes a container shaped baby bottle body having a hollow interior, having a first joint part at its top, and having flexibility to enable elastic deformation,

[11] a teat opened at its bottom, having a feeding part at its top, having a second joint part at its lower side, and having flexibility to enable elastic deformation, and

[12] a baby bottle connector having a hollow interior, opened at its top and bottom, and elastically coupled at its bottom and top with each of the first and second joint parts to connect the baby bottle body with the teat, coupling surfaces being configured to be of a protrusion shape of a curved line, a straight line, or a combination thereof, a groove shape, or a combination of the protrusion shape and the groove shape and be shape- matched with each other. [13]

Advantageous Effects

[14] Accordingly, the present invention has an effect of being capable of providing an available scheme of a silicon baby bottle and preventing an infant from being exposed to environmental hormones, by forming the baby bottle body with flexibility using silicon materials, etc. as aforementioned. Further, the present invention has an effect of minimizing a feeder or infant,s inconvenience of use because number of parts is minimized and assembly or disassembly of a baby bottle is made more simple and convenient by coupling the baby bottle body with the teat using the baby bottle connector without generation of environmental hormones.

[15] Furthermore, the present invention can feed an infant with more stable psychology as well as minimize a viscosity of silicon and make assembly and disassembly simple and convenient, by adding the rugged part similar with the human skin to the baby bottle body 1 and realizing an effect as if the infant actually touched the mother body.

[16]

Brief Description of Drawings

[17] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective cross section illustrating a baby feeding bottle with flexibility according to the present invention;

[18] FIG. 2 is a coupling cross section of FIG. 1;

[19] FIG. 3 is a coupling cross section illustrating another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[20] FIG. 4 is a coupling cross section illustrating a further another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[21] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective cross section illustrating a further another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[22] FIG. 6 is a coupling cross section of FIG. 5;

[23] FIG. 7 is a coupling cross section illustrating a yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[24] FIG. 8 is a coupling cross section illustrating a state in which a support ring is inside installed in the present invention;

[25] FIG. 9 is a coupling cross section illustrating a state in which a support ring is outside installed in the present invention;

[26] FIG. 10 is a perspective diagram illustrating a support ring according to the present invention; and

[27] FIG. 11 is a partial plane cross section illustrating a rugged part according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[28] <Major Reference Numerals and Symbols of the Drawings>

[29] 1, Ia, Ib, Ic, Id: baby bottle body

[30] 5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d: first joint part

[31] 6, 6a, 6d, 26, 26a, 26b, 26c: support rib

[32] 6c: catching jaw

[33] 7, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 27, 27a, 27b, 27c: catching protrusion

[34] 9: rugged part

[35] 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 1Od: baby bottle connector

[36] 12, 12a, 12d, 13, 13b: catching groove

[37] 20, 20a, 20b, 20c, 2Od: teat

[38] 21, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d: feeding part

[39] 22d: support part

[40] 25, 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d: second joint part

[41] 8c, 28c: wings

[42] 8a, 28a: support ring insertion groove

[43] 29d: coupling 45, 50: support ring

[44] 47: cutaway part 60: imaginary line

[45]

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

[46] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

[47] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective cross section illustrating a baby feeding bottle with flexibility according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a coupling cross section of FIG. 1.

[48] As shown, the present invention includes a baby bottle body 1, a baby bottle connector 10, and a teat 20.

[49] The baby bottle body 1 is to contain a powdered milk liquid inside. The baby bottle body 1 is of a cylindrical container shape having a hollow interior and opened at its top. The baby bottle body 1 has a first joint part 5 at its top.

[50] The baby bottle body 1 is formed of transparent or semitransparent resin with flexibility to enable elastic deformation. The baby bottle body 1 can be of materials of silicon, natural rubber, polyethylene (PE), polyurethane, etc. More desirably, the baby bottle body 1 is of silicon materials doing no harm to a human body.

[51] The first joint part 5 of the baby bottle body 1 is formed integral with the baby bottle body 1 around an upper periphery of the baby bottle body 1. A support rib 6 of a predetermined height is inwardly protruded and formed around a lower part of an inner periphery of the first joint part 5. A catching protrusion 7 of a predetermined height is inwardly protruded and formed around an upper part of the inner periphery of the first joint part 5.

[52] The baby bottle connector 10 connects the baby bottle body 1 with the teat 20. The baby bottle connector 10 is a circular band shape having a hollow interior and opened at its top and bottom. Catching grooves 12 and 13 of a predetermined depth are provided at a lower part of an outer periphery and an upper part of an inner periphery of the baby bottle connector 10, respectively.

[53] The catching groove 12 at the lower part of the outer periphery of the baby bottle connector 10 is provided corresponding to the catching protrusion 7 such that the catching protrusion 7 of the baby bottle body 1 is inserted into the catching groove 12.

[54] The catching grooves 12 and 13 can allow more firm coupling between the baby bottle body 1 and the teat 20, thus preventing a powdered milk liquid from leaking outside.

[55] The baby bottle connector 10 is formed of firm materials not generating an environmental hormone such as glass, ceramic, metal, special plastic, etc.

[56] The teat 20 is an element for allowing an infant to suck a powdered milk liquid contained in the baby bottle body 1. The teat 20 is of a cylindrical shape having a hollow interior and opened at its bottom. The teat 20 is formed of silicon materials not generating an environmental hormone.

[57] A feeding part 21 is formed at a top of the teat 20 and discharges an internal powdered milk liquid outside. A second joint part 25 is formed around a lower part of the teat 20.

[58] The second joint part 25 is formed integral with the feeding part 21 of the teat 20. A support rib 26 of a predetermined height is protruded and formed around an upper part of an outer periphery of the second joint part 25. A catching protrusion 27 is protruded and formed around at a lower side of the support rib 26 such that the catching protrusion 27 can be inserted into the catching groove 13 that is provided at the inner periphery of the baby bottle connector 10.

[59] The second joint part 25 is formed such that its outer periphery can be adhered corresponding to the inner periphery of the baby bottle connector 10 such that the second joint part 25 can be inserted and coupled to the baby bottle connector 10. The second joint part 25 is formed thick enough to maintain elasticity such that the second joint part 25 can be prevented from being released from the baby bottle connector 10 or a powdered milk liquid can be prevented from being leaked outside.

[60] Thus, the baby bottle body 1 is coupled with the baby bottle connector 10 by outwardly pressing, extending, and deforming the first joint part 5 of the baby bottle body 1 and then inserting a lower part of the baby bottle connector 10 into the first joint part 5.

[61] Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the lower part of the baby bottle connector 10 is adhered and supported by an upper end surface of the support rib 6 of the first joint part 5. The catching protrusion 7 of the first joint part 5 is inserted and coupled to the catching groove 12 of the baby bottle connector 10.

[62] Further, the teat 20 is coupled with the baby bottle connector 10 by inwardly pressing and deforming the second joint part 25 and then inserting the second joint part 25 into an upper and inner periphery of the baby bottle connector 10.

[63] Then, the support rib 26 of the second joint part 25 is adhered to an upper end surface of the baby bottle connector 10. The catching protrusion 27 is inserted and coupled to the catching groove 13.

[64] Thus, the first joint part 5 of the baby bottle body 1 and the second joint part 25 of the teat 20 are shape matched and coupled to the lower and upper parts of the baby bottle connector 10, respectively.

[65] A coupling section of an assembly of the baby bottle body 1, the baby bottle connector 10, and the teat 20 is not limited to a structure of insertion of the catching protrusions 7 and 27 into the catching grooves 12 and 13 and can be constructed to be of aprotrusion shape of a curved line, a straight line, or a combination thereof, a groove shape, or a combination of the protrusion shape and the groove shape and be shape- matched in various types.

[66] That is, the coupling section can be of a variety of female and male insertion structure shapes consisting of a protrusion shape and a groove shape of a ' π ' character, a 'T= ' character, a rugged shape, or a combination thereof to facilitate assembly and disassembly.

[67] Thus, the present invention can facilitate assembly and disassembly of the baby bottle body 1, the baby bottle connector 10, and the teat 20. In addition, the present invention can maintain infant s feeding surroundings with environmental hormones all blocked because a powdered milk liquid contained in the baby bottle body 10 is in contact with only the baby bottle body 10 and the teat 40 formed of silicon and the baby bottle connector 10 not generating an environmental hormone.

[68] The baby bottle body 1 keeps optimal flexibility using materials of a proper hardness, thus realizing a sensation as if an infant touched the mother body with his/her hands upon feed.

[69] If being of silicon materials more than a proper hardness, the baby bottle body 1 is so solid that an infant is difficult to feel a sensation as if he/she touched the mother body with his/her hands. If being of silicon materials having a too low hardness, the baby bottle body 1 is difficult to maintain its own shape because of undue flexibility. Further, the baby bottle body 1 may be easily pressed with infant's hands, thus powerfully jetting a powdered milk liquid.

[70] Thus, in order to solve the above drawback, the baby bottle body 1 needs to maintain a proper hardness. Desirably, the baby bottle body 1 is of materials having a proper hardness value within a range of 40 to 60 based on Shore A.

[71] If the baby bottle body 1 is made of silicon materials, its interfacial energy is low and viscosity is higher than needed because of the characteristic of silicon materials. Thus, it is difficult for an infant to feel the same tactile sensation as a human skin. Therefore, it is desirable to additionally apply a viscosity prevention function to a surface and reduce a viscosity. The viscosity prevention function can be a method of forming a rugged part 9 of a specific shape at a surface and a method of processing a surface into a slip coating.

[72] The rugged part 9 can be formed on part or all of an outer periphery of the baby bottle body 1. The rugged part 6 can be formed in various shapes such as a circle, a dotted line, a polygonal shape, a mesh shape, a straight-line groove, a random structure, or each combination thereof. It is desirable to realize a size of each unit constituting the rugged part 9 as a few hundreds to a few dozens of micrometers or less, taking into consideration washability and tactile sensation.

[73] According to the inventors' experiment result, it was reported that a viscosity disappeared significantly when the rugged part 9 had a size of the maximum 500 micrometers or less on the basis of its outermost size.

[74] FIG. 11 shows an exemplary embodiment of the rugged part 9. As shown in FIGS.

1 IA and 1 IB, the rugged part 9 can be protruded and formed to be of a circular shape or a rectangular shape.

[75] The rugged part 9 can be, as shown in FIG. 11C, formed to have a lattice scale shape or can be, as shown in FIG. 1 ID, formed to have a plurality of straight lines that are spaced a predetermined distance apart.

[76] Though not illustrated in the drawings, the rugged part 9 can be integrally formed by realizing a metal mold with fine waves of 500 micrometers or less having random size and shape in a fine pattern etching or sanding method, etc. and then injection molding the baby bottle body 1. Alternately, the rugged part 9 can be formed by manufacturing and then processing the baby bottle body 1 in an etching or sanding method.

[77] Slip coating is a method for coating a surface of silicon with separate materials and removing a viscosity such that slip can easily occur. Slip is possible to be installed in a method such as printing or spraying using metal materials, ceramic materials, silicon compounds, organic materials, other organic/inorganic mixture materials, etc. doing no harm to a human body.

[78] The viscosity prevention function is added to the whole or part of an outer periphery of the baby bottle body 1. Particularly, it is desirable to realize the viscosity prevention function in a position where an infant catches the baby bottle body 1 with his/her hands. The viscosity prevention function can be realized even in an inner periphery of the first joint part 5 or an outer periphery of the baby bottle connector 10 to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the baby bottle connector 10.

[79] The rugged part 9 and the slip coating are also applicable to other exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[80] The baby bottle connector 10 can be of glass, ceramic, metal, specific plastic materials, desirably, glass materials. In the case of glass, a tempered glass having high thermal resistance and impact resistance is used. More desirably, a borosilicate series glass is used.

[81] The baby bottle connector 10 is relatively minimized in size and minimized in weight, thus making it easy for an infant to take a baby bottle.

[82] Thus, the present invention has an effect of being capable of providing an available scheme of a silicon baby bottle and preventing an infant from being exposed to environmental hormones, by forming the baby bottle body 1 with flexibility using silicon materials, etc. as aforementioned. Further, the present invention has an effect of minimizing a feeder or infant s inconvenience of use because number of parts is minimized and assembly or disassembly of a baby bottle is made more simple and convenient by coupling the baby bottle body 1 with the teat 20 using the baby bottle connector 10 without generation of environmental hormones.

[83] Furthermore, the present invention can feed an infant with more stable psychology as well as minimize a viscosity of silicon and make assembly and disassembly simple and convenient, by adding the rugged part 9 similar with the human skin to the baby bottle body 1 and realizing an effect as if the infant actually touched the mother body.

[84]

Mode for the Invention

[85] Other exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 9.

[86] FIGS. 3 to 9 illustrate modifications of a coupling structure for making coupling of a baby bottle body, a baby bottle connector, and a teat more simple and convenient. Others than the modified construction are the same as the aforementioned construction of the present invention and thus, only the modified construction is described below.

[87] As shown in FIG. 3, a teat 20a includes a feeding part 21a and a second joint part

25a. The second joint part 25a is inserted outside and coupled to an upper and outer periphery of a baby bottle connector 10a.

[88] A support rib 26a is inwardly protruded and formed at an upper part of an inner periphery of the second joint part 25a such that the support rib 26a can be adhered to an upper end surface of the baby bottle connector 10a. A catching protrusion 27a is protruded and formed at a lower part of the inner periphery of the second joint part 25a.

[89] A catching groove 12a is provided at an upper part of an outer periphery of the baby bottle connector 10a such that the catching groove 12a can be inserted in a position corresponding to the catching protrusion 27a of the second joint part 25a.

[90] Thus, a baby bottle body Ia and the teat 20a each are coupled to lower and upper parts of the outer periphery of the baby bottle connector 10a in symmetry with each other. A support rib 6a of a first joint part 5a supports a lower end surface of the baby bottle connector 10a. Catching grooves 12a of the baby bottle connector 10a are inserted and coupled to a catching protrusion 7a of the first joint part 5a and the catching protrusion 27a of the second joint part 25a, respectively.

[91] The first and second joint parts 5a and 25a have inner diameters relatively smaller than an outer diameter of the baby bottle connector 10a and have a sufficient elasticity such that the first and second joint parts 5a and 25a can be firmly adhered and coupled to the outer periphery of the baby bottle connector 10a.

[92] The baby bottle connector 10a can be formed to have curved surfaces as its inner and outer peripheries.

[93] In FIG. 4, a first joint part 5b of a baby bottle body Ib and a second joint part 25b of a teat 20b are inserted and coupled inside a baby bottle connector 10b. The first joint part 5b is formed to have a smaller outer diameter than the body such that a catching jaw 6b can be formed at a lower part of an outer periphery of the first joint part 5b. A catching protrusion 7b is protruded and formed around the outer periphery of the first joint part 5b.

[94] A teat 20b includes a feeding part 21b and a second joint part 25b. A support rib 26b and a catching protrusion 27b are protruded and formed around an outer periphery of the second joint part 25b.

[95] Catching grooves 13b each are provided at upper and lower parts of an inner periphery of the baby bottle connector 10b.

[96] Thus, the first and second joint parts 5b and 25b each are inserted and coupled to the lower and upper parts of the baby bottle connector 10b. The catching jaw 6b and the support rib 26b are adhered to the lower and upper ends of the baby bottle connector 10b, respectively. The catching protrusions 7b and 27b each are inserted and coupled to the catching grooves 13b.

[97] The first and second joint parts 5b and 25b are formed at a thickness being capable of giving a sufficient elasticity such that the outer peripheries of the first and second joint parts 5b and 25b are adhered to the inner periphery of the baby bottle connector 10b.

[98] FIGS. 5 and 6 show that a plurality of wings 8c and 28c are additionally formed at each of the first joint part 5b and the second joint part 25b of an exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4 to provide better airtightness. As shown, the plurality of wings 8c and 28c are protruded and formed around outer peripheries of the first and second joint parts 5c and 25c.

[99] The wings 8c and 28c are formed thin enough to facilitate deformation. The plurality of wings 8c and 28c are spaced a predetermined apart and arranged up/down.

[100] Thus, if a baby bottle body Ic and a teat 20c equipped with a feeding part 21c are coupled to a baby bottle connector 10b, a catching jaw 6c of a first joint part 5c and a support rib 26c of a second joint part 25c each are adhered to lower and upper ends of the baby bottle connector 10b. Catching protrusions 7c and 27c each are inserted into catching grooves 13b. The wings 8c and 28c are adhered to an inner periphery of the baby bottle connector 10b as being deformed in a direction opposite to directions of inserting the first and second joint parts 5c and 25c. Thus, more firm coupling is made and airtightness is improved.

[101] FIG. 7 shows that a teat 2Od has a feeding part 21d and a second joint part 25d that are separately formed.

[102] A baby bottle body Id has a first joint part 5d at its upper part. A catching protrusion 7d and a support rib 6d each are protruded and formed around an inner periphery of the first joint part 5d.

[103] The teat 2Od has the feeding part 21d and the second joint part 25d that are separately formed.

[104] The second joint part 25d has a hollow interior, is opened at its bottom, has a coupling 29d formed going through at its upper and center surface, and has a screw thread at its lower and inner periphery.

[105] A support part 22d is formed at a lower part of the feeding part 21d such that the support part 22d can be inserted and fixed to the coupling 29d of the second joint part 25d and adhered to an upper part of an inner periphery of the second joint part 25d.

[106] A catching groove 12d is provided at a lower part of an outer periphery of the baby bottle connector 1Od and a screw thread is formed at an upper part of the outer periphery of the baby bottle connector 1Od.

[107] Thus, the first joint part 5d is inserted outside and coupled to the lower part of the outer periphery of the baby bottle connector 1Od and the second joint part 25d is screw coupled to the upper part of the outer periphery of the baby bottle connector 1Od.

[108] Separately from the teat 2Od, the second joint part 25d can be of solid materials relatively similar with those of the baby bottle connector 1Od, thus being capable of more facilitating coupling.

[109] An upper end surface of the baby bottle connector 1Od is adhered to a lower end surface of the support part 22d of the feeding part 2 Id and its lower end surface is adhered and supported by the support rib 6d of the first joint part 5d.

[110] The catching protrusion 7d of the first joint part 5d is inserted and coupled to the catching groove 12d of the baby bottle connector 1Od.

[I l l] Thus, the baby bottle connector 1Od and the teat 2Od may be more firmly coupled.

[112] FIGS. 8 and 9 show exemplary embodiments of the present invention further including support rings 50 and 45. FIG. 8 shows that the support rings are inside installed in the first joint part 5b of the baby bottle body Ib and the second joint part 25b of the teat 20b of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, respectively.

[113] Thus, the support rings 50 each support the first and second joint parts 5b and 25b, thus more firmly adhering and coupling the baby bottle body Ib and the teat 20b to the baby bottle connector 10b.

[114] FIG. 9 shows that the support rings 45 are inserted outside and coupled to outer peripheries of the first joint part 5a of the baby bottle body Ia and the second joint part 25a of the teat 20a the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, respectively. Support ring insertion grooves 8a and 28a are provided at outer peripheries of the first and second joint parts 5a and 25a and are coupled with the support rings 45, respectively.

[115] Thus, the support rings 45 support the first and second joint parts 5a and 25a outside, thereby more firmly adhering and coupling the baby bottle body Ia and the teat 20a to the baby bottle connector 10a.

[116] The support rings 50 and 45 can be of metal, ceramic, or plastic materials and can be of various shapes such as a circular shape, a rectangular shape, an oval shape, etc. Upon molding, the baby bottle body or the teat can be manufactured in an in-mold method by performing injection or press for a metal mold in which the support rings 50 and 45 are installed.

[117] As shown in FIG. 1OB, the support ring 45 may have a cutaway part 47 at one side to enable deformation.

[118] The support rings 50 and 45 are not limited to the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 8 and 9 and can be applied to other exemplary embodiments. The support rings 50 and 45 can be either installed inside at least any one of the first and second joint parts or can be inserted outside depending on the characteristic of a coupling structure.

[119] In the present invention, the first joint part of the baby bottle body, the baby bottle connector, and the second joint part of the teat are not limited to the aforementioned coupling structure and the first and second joint parts can be inserted inside or outside to the baby bottle connector. Alternately, the coupling structure can be formed to be a combination of inside and outside insertion structures.

[120] In cases where the first and second joint parts are all inserted outside to the baby bottle connector, the baby bottle connector can be cut off from directly colliding against a bottom surface and prevented from being destroyed when a baby bottle falls or drops. However, in cases where any one of the first joint part 5 and the second joint part 25 is inserted inside the baby bottle connector 10 as in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and second joint parts 5 and 25 are configured such that the baby bottle connector 10 can be positioned inside an imaginary line 60 connecting the outermost part (an upper end) of the first joint part 5 with the outermost part (an end of a support rib) of the second joint part 25 to prevent the baby bottle connector 10 from directly colliding against a bottom surface and being destroyed. [121]

Industrial Applicability

[122] The present invention relates to baby feed bottles. The present invention facilitates assembly and disassembly of a flexible baby bottle body, a baby bottle connector, and a teat, thus being capable of minimizing a feeder's inconvenience of use and solving a problem in use caused by the generation of environmental hormones. Also, the present invention prevents generation of a vacuum within the baby bottle body and prevents infant,s otitis media or stomach trouble. In addition, the present invention realizes a tactile sensation as if an infant touched the mother body with his/her hands and concurrently, encourages the development of infant's emotional intelligence. The present invention can enhance a feeder's convenience as well as improve infant's feeding environments and thus, is applicable to general baby feed bottles.

[123] While the present invention has been described and illustrated herein with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[124]

Claims

[1] A baby feed bottle with flexibility, comprising: a container shaped baby bottle body having a hollow interior, having a first joint part at its top, and having flexibility to enable elastic deformation; a teat opened at its bottom, having a feeding part at its top, having a second joint part at its lower side, and having flexibility to enable elastic deformation; and a baby bottle connector having a hollow interior, opened at its top and bottom, and elastically coupled at its bottom and top with each of the first and second joint parts to connect the baby bottle body with the teat, coupling surfaces being configured to be of a protrusion shape of a curved line, a straight line, or a combination thereof, a groove shape, or a combination of the protrusion shape and the groove shape and be shape-matched with each other.

[2] The baby feed bottle of claim 1, wherein at least any one of the first joint part of the baby bottle body and the second joint part of the teat is inserted inside and coupled with the baby bottle connector.

[3] The baby feed bottle of claim 1, wherein support ribs each are protruded and formed at an inner periphery of the first joint part and an outer periphery of the second joint part and support an upper end and a lower end of the baby bottle connector, and wherein catching grooves each are provided at an upper and inner periphery and a lower and outer periphery of the baby bottle connector such that catching protrusions each protruded and formed at the inner periphery of the first joint part and the outer periphery of the second joint part are inserted and coupled with the catching grooves.

[4] The baby feed bottle of claim 3, wherein the support rib of the second joint part is protruded and formed such that an outermost surface of the baby bottle connector is disposed inside an imaginary line that connects an outermost end of the support rib with an outermost of the first joint part.

[5] The baby feed bottle of claim 1, wherein the first and second joint parts each are elastically coupled to lower and upper parts of an outer periphery of the baby bottle connector, wherein support ribs each are protruded and formed at inner peripheries of the first and second joint parts and support an upper end and a lower end of the baby bottle connector, and wherein catching grooves each are provided correspondingly at the outer periphery of the baby bottle connector such that catching protrusions each protruded and formed at the inner peripheries of the first and second joint parts are inserted and coupled with the catching grooves. [6] The baby feed bottle of claim 1, wherein the second joint part of the teat is formed separately from the feeding part, has a coupling formed going through at its center such that the feeding part can be inserted and fitted to the coupling, and is screw coupled to an upper part of the baby bottle connector to fix the feeding part. [7] The baby feed bottle of claim 1, wherein the first and second joint parts each are elastically coupled to lower and upper parts of an inner periphery of the baby bottle connector, wherein catching jaws each are protruded and formed at inner peripheries of the first and second joint parts and support an upper end and a lower end of the baby bottle connector, and wherein catching grooves each are provided correspondingly at the inner periphery of the baby bottle connector such that catching protrusions each protruded and formed at outer peripheries of the first and second joint parts are inserted and coupled with the catching grooves. [8] The baby feed bottle of claim 7, wherein a plurality of wings each are protruded and formed around the outer peripheries of the first and second joint parts to provide better airtightness. [9] The baby feed bottle of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a support ring is installed inside at least any one of the first joint part of the baby bottle body and the second joint part of the teat to more strengthen coupling with the baby bottle connector. [10] The baby feed bottle of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a support ring is further provided at an outer periphery of at least any one of the first joint part of the baby bottle body and the second joint part of the teat to enable more firm coupling. [11] The baby feed bottle of claim 10, wherein the support ring has a cutaway part at one side to enable elastic deformation. [12] The baby feed bottle of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the baby bottle connector is formed of any one of glass, ceramic, metal, or plastic materials. [13] The baby feed bottle of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the baby bottle body is formed of silicon materials. [14] The baby feed bottle of claim 13, wherein a rugged part is formed at part or all of an outer periphery of the baby bottle body to decrease a viscosity. [15] The baby feed bottle of claim 14, wherein the rugged part is formed by etching a metal surface in a sanding process. [16] The baby feed bottle of claim 13, wherein a slip coating is formed at part or all of an outer periphery of the baby bottle body to decrease a viscosity.