WO2012073036A1

WO2012073036A1 - Infant bottle holding devices

Info

Publication number: WO2012073036A1
Application number: PCT/GB2011/052379
Authority: WO
Inventors: Justine Forino
Original assignee: Justine Forino
Priority date: 2010-12-01
Filing date: 2011-12-01
Publication date: 2012-06-07
Also published as: GB2477833B; GB201020360D0; GB2477833A

Abstract

An infant bottle holder 3 is mounted at one end of an arm 2 by a swivel joint 5. A handle 4 is provided at the other end of the arm 2. Both the bottle holder 3 and the handle 4 extend in generally the same direction. When the handle 4 is held in the hand of a carer cradling an infant, the arm 2 effectively provides an extension of the carer's arm that wraps about the infant, to support a feeding bottle 6 at the mouth of the infant, in a comfortable position.

Description

INFANT BOTTLE HOLDING DEVICES

The present invention relates to infant bottle holding devices.

Bottie feeding a baby is generally a two-handed operation, with one arm being used to cradle and support the baby, whilst the other arm is used to hold the bottle to the baby's mouth. It is therefore difficult when in this position to be able to carry out any other tasks at the same time, such as answering a phone, changing the channel on a television, eating one's own meal or even ensuring the comfort of the baby being fed. A considerable proportion of time within a carer's day is spent feeding an infant. Some parents attempt to cradle their baby in their arm, whilst wrapping that same arm about the baby in such a way that they can reach the baby's mouth with their hand. However, this is not likely to be a comfortable position for the parent, or for the baby.

There are a number of products that are available to assist a carer with bottie feeding an infant. These products tend to provide a way of feeding an infant that is effectively hands-free for the carer. Some provide means to hold the bottie in a suitable position for feeding, adjacent to the mouth of the infant, with attachment means such as a clamp or clip to affix to the side of a cot or pram. There are also devices that are designed to be supported by the infant themselves, such as through a framework that suspends the bottie in a suitable position. Some of these are designed to be held in place by the weight of the infant, by being supported under the pillow upon which they are lying.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a holding device for an infant feeding bottle that can be held in the same hand as the arm cradling the infant, thereby employing just one arm, leaving the other arm free to tackle other tasks at the same time.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an infant bottle holding device comprising: an arm having first and second ends; a bottle holder at the first end of the arm; and a handle at the second end of the arm; wherein the bottle holder is mounted at the first end of the arm by a swivel joint and the shape of the arm is such that, in use, both bottle holder and handle extend in generally the same direction.

Preferably, the swivel joint comprises a ball and socket joint configured such that the bottle holder is rotatably mounted at the first end of the arm.

The handle may comprise a silicone rubber portion affixed to the second end of the arm. The silicone rubber portion may comprise a sleeve that is moulded over the handle.

Preferably, the bottle holder comprises at least one cut-out that enables the contents of a bottle in the bottle holder to be viewed.

The bottle holder may comprise a flexible ring arranged to grip around the periphery of a bottle in the bottle holder.

Preferably, the flexible ring is of silicone rubber. Preferably, the handle is pivotally mounted at the end of the arm, such that it can be pivoted between an operative position in which it extends the arm and a storage position in which it is folded alongside the arm.

Preferably, the bottie holder may be pivoted between an operative position in which it extends the arm and a storage position in which it is folded alongside the arm.

Preferably, the arm and bottie holder are of plastics material.

Preferably, the arm and bottie holder are formed by injection moulding.

The arm may be formed in two symmetrical parts that are welded together.

Preferably, the arm has a smooth curved shape.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how

embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows one example of an embodiment of an infant bottie holding device in isometric view; jure 2 shows a side view of the infant bottie holding device of Figure

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, with a bottie in position; Figure 4 shows the infant bottle holding device of Figures 1 to 3, in use by a carer feeding an infant;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified bottie holding device; and

Figure 6 is an end view of the device of Figure 5, with a handle portion omitted for clarity.

In the figures, like references denote like or corresponding parts.

An infant bottie holding device 1, as shown in Figure 1, comprises an arm 2. A bottie holder 3 is mounted at one end of the arm 2. A handle 4 is provided at the other end of the arm 2. In use, a carer feeding an infant holds the device 1 by the handle 4. As may be seen, both ends of the arm 2 have a common direction of extent. That is, both the bottle holder 3 and the handle 4 extend in generally the same direction. As illustrated, the arm 2 has a smooth curve, being generally J-shaped, which is found to be a particularly efficient ergonomic shape. Alternatively, the arm 2 may comprise another suitable shape - for example, substantially U-shaped or C-shaped.

The bottie holder 3 is configured such that it can hold and support a wide variety of different sized feeding botties 6. To this end, the bottie holder 3 may incorporate an annular seal 9 of flexible material such as silicone rubber, which deforms to grip around the circumference of a plurality of different sized botties 6.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the devicel supports an infant feeding bottie 6 in the bottie holder 3 such that, when the handle 4 is held in the hand of a carer cradling an infant, the arm 2 effectively provides an extension of the carer's arm that wraps about the infant, to support the feeding bottie 6 at the mouth of the infant, in a comfortable position.

A swivel joint 5, which may comprise a ball and socket joint, or similar means that affords the bottie holder 3 universal rotational movement about the end of the arm 2, allows the bottie holder's 3 position to be adjusted for comfort of both infant and carer. The swivel joint 5 allows the bottie holder 3 to be repositioned, yet is held sufficiently firmly such that once in a new position, it maintains this position. Friction within the swivel joint allows this to happen, to prevent the bottie holder 3, when holding an infant feeding bottie 6, from moving unless sufficient force is applied.

Figure 3 shows the bottle holder 3 when supporting a feeding bottie 6. The bottie holder 3 may incorporate a plurality of cut-outs 10, which enable the level of the liquid within the bottie 6 to be monitored whilst the infant is feeding. The arm 2 is of sufficient length to support a feeding bottie 6 generally above the infant's mouth. The swivel joint 5 allows the feeding bottie 6 to be angled downwardly towards the mouth, to reduce the likelihood of the infant taking in air.

As shown in Figure 4, the holding device 1 enables the carer to cradle the infant in one arm 7, whilst supporting the device 1 in the hand 11 of the same arm 7, thus effectively providing an arm 7 extension, leaving the carer's other arm free for other tasks.

The feeding bottie 6 is secured within the bottie holder 3 by the annular ring 9, which is secured in position by an outer ring 8 that engages the periphery of the bottie holder 3. The feeding bottie 6 can be pushed into the neck of the bottie holder 3, where the silicone rubber ring 9 grips the periphery of the feeding bottie 6 to hold it in place. Alternative means of gripping the bottie 6 may be employed, to enable a plurality of different diameter feeding bottles 6 to be held in position, whilst allowing the feeding bottie 6 to be easily removed from the bottie holder 3 when required. The arm 2 of the infant bottle holder 1 may be formed from plastics by injection moulding. The arm 2 may be formed in two symmetrical, longitudinal halves, which are welded together, forming a seam that runs the length of the arm 2. Likewise, the bottie holder 3 may be formed in two symmetrical halves, which are welded together. The handle 4 may comprise a silicone rubber sleeve that is over-moulded onto the arm 2. Alternatively, the handle 4 may comprise a silicone rubber grip portion that is stretched over the end of the arm 2 and/ or bonded to the end of the arm 2 by adhesive.

By way of example, the handle 4 may have a length of in the range 70 to 100 mm - say, about 85 mm - and a maximum diameter in the range 30 to 40mm - say, about 35 mm. The distance from the free end of the handle 4 to the centre of the swivel joint 5 may be in the range 220 to 280 mm - say, about 250 mm. The length of the bottie holder 3 may be in the range 50 to 80 mm— say, about 65mm, and its outer diameter may be in the range 70 to 90 mm - say, about 80 mm. In the modification of Figures 5 and 6, the handle 4 is provided as a part that is separate from the rest of the arm 2, to which it is pivotally connected at 12 such that it may be pivoted between an operative position, as shown in Figure 5, and a storage position, in which it is folded down adjacent the rest of the arm 2. The bottie holder 3 in Figure 5 comprises two base portions 31 defining a slot 32 through which the handle 2 may pass. Resilientiy flexible side portions 33 have a gap 34 between them and in use are resilientiy urged against a bottie placed in the holder 3, to hold the bottie in place. A respective flange 35 extends from each base portion 31 and is secured to one side of a part- spherical component 51 that is mounted within a part- spherical socket 52 at the end of the arm 2. The parts 51 and 52 form a universal joint of a ball-and-socket type, to allow universal movement of the component 51 and therefore the bottie holder 3 with respect to arm 2, within the limits of the geometry. As described above, this universal movement facilitates correct positioning of a bottie in use. Moreover, the joint allows the bottie holder 3 to be folded down closely against the arm 2, which passes through the slot 32 and the gap 34, for storage. With both handle 4 and bottie carrier 3 folded down against the rest of the arm 2, the bottie holding device 1 may be particularly compact, for ease of storage and transport.

In this specification, the verb "comprise" has its normal dictionary meaning, to denote non-exclusive inclusion. That is, use of the word "comprise" (or any of its derivatives) to include one feature or more, does not exclude the possibility of also including further features. The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/ or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/ or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing

embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. An infant bottle holding device comprising: a. an arm having first and second ends b. a bottie holder at the first end of the arm; and c. a handle at the second end of the arm; wherein the bottle holder is mounted at the first end of the arm by a swivel joint and the shape of the arm is such that, in use, both bottie holder and handle extend in generally the same direction.

2. An infant bottie holding device according to claim 1, wherein the swivel joint comprises a ball and socket joint configured such that the bottie holder is rotatably mounted at the first end of the arm.

3. An infant bottie holding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the handle comprises a silicone rubber portion affixed to the second end of the arm.

4. An infant bottie holding device according to claim 3, wherein the silicone rubber portion comprises a sleeve that is moulded over the handle.

5. An infant bottie holding device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bottie holder comprises at least one cut-out that enables the contents of a bottie in the bottie holder to be viewed.

6. An infant bottie holding device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bottie holder comprises a flexible ring arranged to grip around the periphery of a bottie in the bottie holder.

7. An infant bottle holding device according to claim 6, wherein the flexible ring is of silicone rubber.

8. An infant bottie holding device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the handle is pivotally mounted at the end of the arm, such that it can be pivoted between an operative position in which it extends the arm and a storage position in which it is folded alongside the arm.

9. An infant bottie holding device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bottie holder may be pivoted between an operative position in which it extends the arm and a storage position in which it is folded alongside the arm.

10. An infant bottie holding device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the arm and bottle holder are of plastics material.

11. An infant bottie holding device according to claim 10, wherein the arm and bottie holder are formed by injection moulding.

12. An infant bottie holding device according to claim 11 , wherein the arm is formed in two symmetrical parts that are welded together.

13. An infant bottie holding device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the arm has a smooth curved shape.

14. An infant bottie holding device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.