RU2806664C2 - Device in form of a baby bottle - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: feeding bottles.

SUBSTANCE: device in the form of a baby bottle contains a container having a container volume for containing milk and a nipple configured to be attached to the container and having a nipple volume and at least one first valve to allow the passage of air located outside the nipple into the volume of the nipple. In this case, the device additionally contains a valve block located outside the nipple volume to allow air to pass into the container volume without coming into contact with milk inside the nipple volume, wherein the valve block contains a second valve, which has a lower opening pressure than the first valve. A method for producing a baby bottle device is also disclosed.

EFFECT: group of inventions enables creation of a device in form of a baby bottle with an improved ability to prevent cramps by effectively preventing air from entering the volume of the nipple.

8 cl, 4 dwg

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a device in the form of a baby bottle and a method for producing a baby bottle.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

When feeding a baby with a bottle, he may swallow air along with the milk from the bottle.

This can lead to colic.

Colic is a condition that affects some babies in the first months after birth and is caused by the presence of air in the digestive system.

Swallowing air is inevitable during both breastfeeding and bottle feeding due to the presence of vacuum in the baby's mouth during feeding.

However, it is advisable to reduce the amount of air the baby swallows to reduce the risk of colic.

WO 2018/162366 discloses a baby feeding bottle comprising a container, an adapter and a nipple.

In addition, a partition may be provided between the volume of the nipple and the volume of the container.

The partition allows the passage of liquid from the container into the nipple and the possibility of the release of air located inside the volume of the nipple into the volume of the container to reduce the amount of air in the volume of the nipple.

US 5,747,083 discloses a feeding bottle in which milk is contained in a flexible capsule or pouch.

The space outside the flexible capsule or bag is ventilated by a valve block, which causes it to flatten.

Thus, there is no need for air to enter the volume of the milk container.

However, this is a more complex design consisting of many parts.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a device in the form of a baby bottle with improved ability to prevent colic.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a baby bottle-shaped device that can effectively prevent air from entering the volume of a nipple.

The invention is defined by the claims.

According to an embodiment, a baby bottle device is provided that includes a container having the volume of a container, a nipple having the volume of a nipple, and a valve block.

The nipple includes a first valve for admitting air into the internal volume of the bottle, in particular the nipple.

The internal volume of the bottle corresponds to the volume of the container and the volume of the nipple.

The valve block with the second valve is located outside the nipple volume.

The response threshold of the valve block is lower than the response threshold of the first ventilation valve in the nipple.

Accordingly, first the valve block outside the nipple volume is actuated or lets in air before the valve in the nipple lets in air.

This is advantageous since the air intake occurs at a location that is not within the nipple volume.

This in turn is an advantage since air can be avoided from getting into the milk inside the teat volume.

Thus, the likelihood of colic in the baby is significantly reduced.

According to another embodiment, a baby bottle device is provided, comprising a container having the volume of a container for containing milk, and a nipple having the volume of a nipple for attachment to the container.

The baby bottle-shaped device further comprises a valve block located outside the nipple volume to allow air to pass into the container volume without coming into contact with the milk inside the nipple volume.

The nipple does not need its own valve.

Thus, only one valve is used, which allows air to pass into the space in the volume of the container outside the volume of the nipple.

According to another embodiment, a nipple attachment device is provided for a baby bottle device comprising a container having the volume of a container for containing milk, and a nipple having the volume of a nipple for attachment to the container.

The nipple connection device contains a valve block located outside the nipple volume to allow air to pass into the container volume without coming into contact with milk inside the nipple volume.

The pacifier device (assembly) contains a pacifier attachment device and a pacifier.

This provides a nipple attachment device for a baby bottle device according to the invention.

The nipple connection device includes a valve block.

The nipple itself may have at least one first valve to allow air from outside the nipple to pass into the volume of the nipple, and the valve block then includes a second valve that has a lower opening pressure than the first valve.

In all of these embodiments, the device may include an adapter for connecting the nipple and the container.

This adapter can be considered as part of the nipple attachment device.

The valve block can be placed in the adapter area.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a separating element may be placed between the nipple volume and the container volume.

This separating element can be considered as part of the nipple attachment device.

According to an embodiment, the valve block may be part of the separating element.

Thus, only one single piece needs to be manufactured.

In particular, such a valve can be designed as a duckbill valve in a separating module.

According to a further embodiment, one end of the manifold valve may be attached to the spacer module and the other end may be pressed against the container or adapter.

This implementation may be preferable in terms of dimensional tolerances.

According to an embodiment, a baby bottle is provided comprising a container, a nipple, an optional adapter and, optionally, a separator.

The separator can be made in the form of a separating element and placed between the nipple and the container.

An air valve is built into the separator, allowing air to flow into the bottle from outside the nipple volume.

The nipple contains an additional valve.

The valve in the separator can be made in the form of a flexible sheet of material, which, when installed in a bottle, is in contact with a solid surface, namely the wall of the container.

The valve is part of the separating element.

Hydrostatic pressure can force the flexible valve block sheet against the surface of the container wall and thus prevent leakage outside the bottle.

When the bottle is used and the baby sucks, the difference in air pressure with external atmospheric pressure pushes the flexible sheet of material aside and creates a channel for air flow.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for producing a baby bottle device.

A nipple having a nipple volume and at least a first valve are provided.

In addition, a container having a container volume is provided, as well as a valve block located outside the nipple volume.

The valve block has a second valve that has a lower opening pressure than the first valve.

It should be understood that a preferred embodiment of the present invention may also be any combination of dependent claims or embodiments described above with a corresponding independent claim.

These and other aspects of the invention will be understood and explained with reference to the embodiments of the invention described later herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following drawings:

Fig. 1 schematically shows a device in the form of a baby bottle,

Fig. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a baby bottle device according to an embodiment,

Fig. 2B is an enlarged view of the baby bottle of FIG. 2A,

Fig. 3A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a baby bottle device according to an embodiment,

Fig. 3B is an enlarged view of the baby bottle of FIG. 3A,

Fig. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a baby bottle device according to an embodiment, and

Fig. 4B is an enlarged view of the baby bottle of FIG. 4A.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 schematically shows a device in the form of a baby bottle.

Baby bottle 100 includes a container 120 having a container wall 120a, a nipple 110, and optionally an adapter 130, such as a fastening ring for attaching the nipple 110 to the container 120.

Receptacle 120 includes threads 121 that can cooperate with threads 131 of adapter 130 so that nipple 110 can be attached to receptacle 120.

The container 120 contains a container volume 125, and the nipple 110 contains a teat volume 115.

The nipple 110 includes at least one valve 112 and openings/channels 116.

Valve 112 is located near the edge of the opening of the container volume.

This allows air from outside the nipple to enter the volume of the nipple.

For example, there is a passage for air through the gap between the edge of the container opening and the nipple, and then to the valve 112 (as seen in Fig. 2A).

Thus, as the milk exits the container, the resulting negative pressure in the air space behind the milk creates pressure on the valve 112 and allows air to fill the volume of the container through the nipple to replenish the volume vacated by the milk.

The pressure equalizes again.

Valve 112 is, for example, a flapper valve.

Valve 112 has a first opening pressure (ie, pressure drop across the valve) at which air can flow through the valve.

Valve 112 is a one-way valve that only allows air to enter the nipple volume.

It should be noted that the first valve 112 is a conventional valve that allows the container to be ventilated through a teat.

It is part of the pacifier design.

If necessary, a separating element 300 may be placed between the nipple 110 and the container 120.

In addition, a valve block 200 is located outside the nipple volume 115.

The valve block 200 may, in particular, be located in the area of the adapter 130, if any.

The valve block 200 may be positioned between the separating element 300 and the wall 120a of the container 120.

Accordingly, the function of the valve is shifted from the volume of the 115 nipple.

The (second) opening pressure of the valve block 200 is lower than the (first) opening pressure of the valve 112 of the nipple 110.

Accordingly, valve assembly 200 allows air to enter the bottle at a lower pressure than valve 112 of nipple 110.

The valve block 200 may be part of the separating element 300.

They can be made as one unit.

According to an embodiment, the valve assembly 200 may be positioned between the open end of the container 120 and the adapter 130 or between the container wall 120a and the separating element 300.

In accordance with an embodiment, the valve block 200 may be housed in the separator module 300 and may be closely adjacent to the container wall 120a, as shown in FIG. 2A.

In FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a baby bottle device according to an embodiment.

In FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of the baby bottle of FIG. 2A.

The bottle 100 contains a container 120 with a wall 120a, a nipple 110 and, if necessary, an adapter 130.

Between the volume 125 of the container and the volume 115 of the nipple 110 there is a separating element 300.

The separating element 300 includes several holes 310, 320.

For example, a valve block 200 is provided on the outer circumference of the separating block 300, which fits tightly against the wall 120a of the container 120.

The valve block 200 allows air A from the outside to pass into the container volume 125 without coming into contact with the milk M inside the nipple 110.

The valve block 200 is attached to the spacer member 300 and may comprise a flexible material (eg, rubber, silicone rubber) such that the flexible leg 210 is pressed against the inside of the container wall 120a.

The leg 210 and the spacer element 300 can be manufactured by two-step (two-piece) molding, for example, as one piece.

In FIG. 3A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a baby bottle device according to an embodiment.

In FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of the baby bottle 100 of FIG. 3A.

The bottle structure shown in FIG. 3A is substantially the same as the bottle design shown in FIG. 2A.

The separating element 300 houses a valve block 200 that cooperates with the container wall 120a.

Accordingly, the leg 220 of the valve 200 may be pressed against the inner side of the wall of the container.

This may be preferable in terms of dimensional tolerances.

In FIG. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a baby bottle device according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4B is an enlarged view of the baby bottle of FIG. 4A.

Bottle according to Fig. 4A corresponds to the bottle of FIG. 2A or 3A, excluding splitter block 300 and valve block 200.

The valve block 200 may include a duckbill valve 230 and is part of the separating element 300.

Using the baby bottle device shown in FIG. 2A, 3A or 4A, the outside air entering through the vent valve can be effectively prevented from passing through the milk before it reaches the interior volume of the container.

In this way, the amount of air in the milk can be significantly reduced, which is an advantage in terms of preventing colic.

The opening pressure of the valve block 200 (second opening pressure) is lower than the opening pressure of the valve 112 (first opening pressure) in the nipple.

In this way, air can be effectively prevented from entering through the teat volume, causing air to increase inside the milk.

The valve block 200 may be configured as a flexible sheet of material that cooperates with the wall 120a of the container 120 and is attached to the separator element 300.

For example, the flexible leg may be pressed against the inside wall of the bottle.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A and 3A, the valve block 200 is located between the separating element 300 and the wall of the container.

The valve block 200 according to FIG. 4A and 4B are designed as a duck nose valve which does not contact the wall of the container.

In the above examples, the baby bottle device has two valves.

One is located in the nipple, and the other communicates with the volume of the container outside the volume of the nipple.

However, the nipple does not need its own valve as it is ineffective anyway due to the additional valve block.

An advantage of a nipple having its own valve is that the nipple can be used with a container without a separating element 300 and, therefore, without a valve block formed by the separating element.

This also means that a standard nipple (with built-in valve) can be used with the separator element.

In addition, according to the invention, an embodiment is provided in which the nipple does not have its own valve.

Such a nipple cannot be used without a valve block, since in this case there will be no ventilation of the container volume.

In addition, according to the invention, a device for connecting a nipple is proposed, which implements a valve block, for example, in the form of a separating element 300 and, if necessary, also a transition element 130.

Thus, the invention can be applied to baby bottles that are sold with a valve in the nipple allowing air to enter the bottle as liquid/milk exits through the nipple opening.

The nipple attachment is an optional accessory that can be purchased separately and inserted into an existing line of baby bottles to add a second function.

The function of the nipple attachment device is to maintain the volume of the nipple filled only with liquid without air bubbles.

An additional device separates the volume of the nipple from the main volume of the bottle.

Since the original air valve of the standard nipple is located in the nipple volume, which however must now remain filled, this valve must no longer admit air so that the valve block of the nipple attachment device can function.

Because the valve assembly is placed closer to the volume of air in the bottle than the original nipple valve, air bubble release will generally not occur, or at least be much less dependent on bottle orientation.

Other variations of the disclosed embodiments may be understood and implemented by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention based on examination of the drawings, descriptive text, and appended claims.

In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the grammatical means of expressing the singular do not exclude the presence of the plural.

A single unit or device can perform the functions of several products specified in the claims.

The mere fact that certain measures are set out in different dependent claims does not mean that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

No item numbers in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims (17)

1. A device in the form of a baby bottle, containing: - a container having a container volume for containing milk, and - a nipple configured to be attached to the container and having a nipple volume and at least one first valve to allow passage air from outside the nipple into the volume of the nipple, characterized in that it additionally contains: - a valve block located outside the nipple volume to allow air to pass into the container volume without coming into contact with milk inside the nipple volume, wherein the valve block contains a second valve that has a lower opening pressure than the first valve. 2. The device according to claim 1, additionally containing an adapter for connecting the nipple to the container, in which the valve block is located in the area of the adapter. 3. Device according to any one of paragraphs. 1-2, further comprising a separating element between the nipple and the volume of the container, wherein the separating element contains at least one hole for the inlet of the fluid located in the volume of the container into the volume of the nipple. 4. The device according to claim 3, in which the valve block is part of the separating element. 5. The device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the valve block includes a first leg, the first end of which is rigidly attached to the separating element, and the second end is configured to abut against the wall of the container to allow air placed from outside to enter the container. 6. The device according to claim 3 or 4, in which the valve block is attached to the separating element and includes a leg designed to adhere to the wall of the container. 7. The device according to claim 3 or 6, in which the valve block contains a duckbill valve located in the separating element. 8. A method for producing a device in the form of a baby bottle, comprising the steps of: - providing a container having the volume of a container for containing milk, - providing a nipple for attachment to the container and having a nipple volume and at least one first valve to allow air from outside the nipple to pass into the nipple volume, and - providing a valve block located outside the nipple volume to allow air to pass into the container volume without coming into contact with milk within the nipple volume, the valve block comprising a second valve that has a lower opening pressure than the first valve.