EP2110115B1 - Baby's bottle with teat solidly fixed by a ring to mobile elements, corresponding ring and teat - Google Patents

Description

1. Field of the invention

The field of the invention is that of childcare. More specifically, the invention relates to baby bottles, and in particular, the fastening of the pacifier on the bottle of the bottle.

2. Solutions of the prior art

In a conventional manner, the bottles are composed of a bottle whose opening, which is defined by a neck, can receive a pacifier. The pacifier, which may be composed for example of rubber or silicone, comprises in particular a base forming a crown, bearing on the neck of the bottle.

The fastening of this pacifier to the bottle is generally done by means of a securing ring which is screwed onto the neck of the bottle and which, once screwed, tightens the crown base of the pacifier against the edge of the neck of the bottle.

Document D1 describes a clamping ring of a nipple adapted to be mounted on the neck of a bottle. The neck of the bottle comprises lugs which can engage in guide rails present on the inner wall of the clamping ring, according to a bayonet type mechanism,

This screwing done by the user requires several movements, and a delicate adjustment. Indeed, the clamping level of the fastening ring on the bottle must be adjusted carefully to allow proper use of the bottle.

This tightening must be sufficient to guarantee retention of the teat. This outfit, which is controlled by a normative test, aims to prevent traction on the pacifier to remove it. This withdrawal, made by the child, would obviously entail a risk of reversal of the contents of the bottle.

The tightening should not be too important. Indeed, excessive tightening may, in some cases, harm these objectives by causing a withdrawal of the base of the pacifier too compressed, which then passes into the neck of the bottle
and no longer assures the holding of the pacifier, nor its tightness. This excessive tightening also entails a risk of deterioration of the nipple.

Furthermore, tightening the pacifier must also allow to allow or not an air passage between the pacifier and the bottle of the bottle. Indeed, the air must enter the bottle as the liquid is consumed.

Some baby bottles are designed so that air enters the bottle between the base of the pacifier and the neck of the bottle. In this case, excessive tightening prevents this entry of air, which prevents the correct use of the bottle. On the other hand, an insufficient tightening causes an excessive air intake and therefore a too high flow rate of the bottle, and a risk of leakage of the liquid.

On bottles of more recent design, with an independent valve allowing the entry of air into the bottle, the tightening must ensure the tightness of the bottle.

In addition, the necessary clamping level of different teats on the same bottle does not necessarily correspond to the same number of turns to screw the ring on the bottle. Indeed, the tightening must be adapted according to the thickness of the base of the nipple, which may vary slightly because of the manufacturing tolerances of the nipples, and the characteristics of the material used for the nipple (rubber, silicone or any other material).

This question of tightening the neck of the bottle is therefore often a problem for users, and therefore for the designers of baby bottles, who are led to develop complex, expensive and ultimately often difficult to use systems.

3. Objectives of the invention

The invention particularly aims to overcome these disadvantages of the prior art.

More specifically, the invention aims to simplify the assembly of baby bottles, including the fastening of the pacifier on the bottle.

The invention particularly aims to provide a bottle for which the assembly of the nipple and the bottle of the bottle requires less user movement and is faster.

The invention also aims to provide the user with a solution for securing without difficulty and without hesitation the correct level of tightening of the ring for securing the bottle, and thus to avoid excessive tightening or insufficient.

More particularly, the object of the invention is to enable the user of the bottle to obtain a level of tightening of the constant securing ring, independent of the uncertainties of thickness of the base of the nipple.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottle that is both reliable, effective and pleasant to use, but also easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

4. Presentation of the invention

These objectives, as well as others that will appear later, are achieved with the aid of a bottle including a bottle, a pacifier and a securing ring for securing the pacifier to the bottle, at an opening of the latter, defined by a neck, wherein, according to the invention, said neck has at least one lug, and said locking ring is equipped with at least one locking element adapted to cooperate with one of said lugs, each of said elements. locking being movable relative to said securing ring, so as to take, when said fastening ring is in position on said bottle, at least two positions: a locking position in which it cooperates with the corresponding pin of said bottle so as to secure said ring on said bottle; and an unlocking position in which it allows the withdrawal of said ring from said bottle.

Thus, the novel approach of the invention is based on a locking ring which does not lock, as in the prior art, by its own rotational movement relative to the bottle, but by a movement of locking elements them. same as the ring. Thus, once the ring is placed on the bottle by a vertical movement, it is no longer necessary to move it. This new locking mode of the fastening ring allows easier and more effective mounting of the teat on the bottle.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of said locking elements is rotatable about a horizontal axis.

Such rotational movement allows reliable and efficient operation of the locking elements.

Preferably, each of said locking elements is movable between said locking position, in which a hook portion of said locking member is in contact with the lower surface of the corresponding lug, and said unlocking position, wherein said hook portion said locking member is not in contact with said lower surface of said corresponding lug.

According to a preferred embodiment, said hook portion has a general shape of U and said locking elements are rotatable between said locking position in which the opening of said U is not oriented in the direction opposite to said opening said bottle and said unlocking position wherein the opening of said U is oriented in the opposite direction to said opening of said bottle.

This configuration of the locking elements ensures a very reliable locking with little movement of the locking elements. It thus makes it possible to simplify the locking of the ring on the bottle.

Advantageously, said hook portion is equipped with a ramp forming an extra thickness and able to exert pressure on said lower surface of the lug.

The locking action thus also ensures a tightening of the ring on the bottle.

Advantageously, said lug comprises a tongue portion on said lower surface, adapted to cooperate, in said locking position, with said ramp, to block the movements of said locking member relative to said lug along the main axis of said bottle.

The cooperation of the ramp of the hook and the tongue portion of the lug thus allows a more reliable locking of the ring on the bottle. In particular, it prevents the locking elements are disassembled from the ring while it is locked on the bottle.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said neck has two lugs, arranged diametrically on said neck, and said ring is equipped a lever connected to the two locking pieces corresponding to said lugs and for actuating said locking elements in rotation about a common axis.

This embodiment allows efficient locking and ease of use. To lock or unlock the fastening ring, the user only has to act on a single lever.

Preferably, in said locking position, said lever at least partially marries an outer contour of said ring.

The lever thus integrates harmoniously into the ring, in the position of use of the bottle, and the user can see unambiguously possible that the lever is in the locked position.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, said nipple has a base shaped so as to present, when it is assembled between said ring and said neck, a shape different from that which it presents when it is at rest.

The nipple can thus provide a function of return means which allows a good seal, even without a fine adjustment of the clamping of the ring against the vial.

5. List of figures

• la figure 1, est une vue du flacon d'un biberon selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective de la bague de solidarisation destinée à fixer une tétine sur le flacon de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 représente la pièce de verrouillage destinée à équiper la bague de solidarisation de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 représente la bague de solidarisation de la figure 2 équipée de la pièce de verrouillage de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue du flacon de la figure 1 équipé de la bague de solidarisation de la figure 4 en position verrouillée ;
• la figure 6 est une vue de détail d'un élément de verrouillage de la pièce de verrouillage de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 7 est une vue de détail d'un ergot du flacon de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 8 est une vue de coupe partielle d'une tétine utilisable sur un biberon selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• les figures 9 et 10 sont des vues de coupes partielles des éléments constituant d'un biberon, comportant la tétine de la figure 8, représentés respectivement :
• dans la phase de mise en place de la bague de solidarisation sur le col du flacon ;
• bague de solidarisation verrouillée sur le col du flacon.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment, given as a simple illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings, among which:

• the figure 1 , is a view of the bottle of a bottle according to one embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view of the fastening ring for fixing a pacifier on the bottle of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 represents the locking piece intended to equip the fastening ring of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 4 represents the ring of solidarity of the figure 2 equipped with the locking piece of the figure 3 ;
• the figure 5 is a view of the bottle of the figure 1 equipped with the fastening ring of the figure 4 in locked position;
• the figure 6 is a detail view of a locking element of the locking piece of the figure 3 ;
• the figure 7 is a detail view of a lug of the bottle of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 8 is a partial sectional view of a nipple used on a bottle according to one embodiment of the invention;
• the Figures 9 and 10 are views of partial sections of the constituent elements of a bottle, including the nipple of the figure 8 , respectively represented:
• in the phase of setting up the fastening ring on the neck of the bottle;
• Locking ring locked on the neck of the bottle.

6. Detailed description of the invention 6.1 Recall of the principle of invention

A bottle is generally constituted by a bottle on which a nipple is secured by means of a fastening ring. The principle of the invention is to provide on the fastening ring movable elements for fixing to the neck of the bottle. It is therefore no longer the screwing movement of the fastening ring relative to the bottle which allows the attachment, but the movement of these movable elements, once the fastening ring is in place on the bottle.

In the following description of a baby bottle according to one embodiment of the invention, the bottle is considered to be in the position shown on the drawing. figure 5 . In this figure, the bottle extends along a vertical axis, the opening of the bottle and the nipple being directed upwards. Thus, the "top" of the bottle is defined by its opening, which must be mounted on the nipple, and the bottom of the bottle is its portion opposite to its opening.

Similarly, the term "lower surface of the lug" denotes the downwardly directed surface of the lug, that is to say in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of opening of the vial. In the same way, the term "horizontal axis" refers to the axes perpendicular to the main axis along which the bottle extends.

6.2 The joining of the ring

The Figures 1 and 2 respectively represent the bottle 1 and the securing ring 2 of a bottle according to one embodiment of the invention.

As shown in figure 1 , the bottle 1 comprises a collar 11 of cylindrical shape, which defines the opening 12 of the bottle 1. This neck 11 comprises, on its outer face, two studs, or lugs, 13 distributed diametrically. These lugs 13, which can be molded with the bottle of the bottle, may be, according to one embodiment of the invention, oblong or substantially cylindrical, extending along a substantially horizontal axis.

The securing ring 2, or fixing ring, is intended to be placed on the neck 11 of the bottle 1, and to be fixed thereto to hold a teat against the opening 12 of the bottle 1. For this the securing ring 2 has a horizontal portion 22 forming a circular ring (visible on the figures 2 and 4 ) intended to press the base of the pacifier against the edge of the neck 11 of the bottle 1.

The fastening ring 2 also comprises a vertical portion 21 forming a cylinder and intended to surround the neck 11 and to join, as shown by the figure 5 . The inner surface of this vertical portion 21 is intended to come against the outer surface of the neck 11 of the bottle 1.

The vertical part 21 of the securing ring 2 has openings 212 of substantially circular shape, the position of which corresponds, when the securing ring 2 is in place on the bottle 1, to the position of the lugs 13 of the neck 11 of the bottle. Each of these openings 212 can receive a locking element capable of cooperating with the corresponding lug 13.

The inner surface of the vertical portion 21 of the fastening ring 2 also has notches 213 located between the lower edge of the fastening ring 2 and each of the openings 212, and allowing, during the establishment of the fastening ring 2 on the neck of the bottle 1, to pass the lugs 13 of the neck 11 into the openings 212.

The ring 2, in order to be secured on the neck 11 of the bottle 1, must be equipped with a locking piece 3, which is represented on the figure 3 . The figure 4 represents this ring 2 equipped with the locking piece 3. This locking piece 3 carries two locking elements 31, which are each intended to penetrate into one of the openings 212 of the ring 2, and which are connected to one another. another by a connecting portion 32. The substantially circular shape of the openings 212 allows the rotation in these openings of each of the locking elements 31.

The two locking elements 31 carried by the locking piece 3 can pivot about the same axis of rotation, so that the part 3 can rotate entirely about this axis. The connecting portion 32 of the part 3 advantageously forms a lever so as to easily actuate this rotation.

When the locking piece 3 is mounted on the ring, as shown in FIG. figure 4 , the locking elements 31 have, on their face appearing inside the ring 2, hook portions 311 that can cooperate with the lug 13 corresponding to the neck 11 of the bottle 1. These hook portions 311 have a general shape U, or C, which can surround the lug 13. They define an opening 312, corresponding to the opening of the U-shape or C, allowing the passage of the lug 13 in the hook portion 311.

The locking elements 31 may take a position, called the unlocking position, in which the opening 312 of the hook portions 311 is turned downwards, and coincides with the notches 213 of the securing ring 2. In this position, the ring 2 can be placed on the neck 11 of the bottle 1. The lugs 13 of the neck 11 then pass into the notches 213 of the ring and then engage in the hook portions 311 through the openings 312. When the ring 2 is in place on the bottle 1, each of the hook portions 311 thus surrounds the lug 13 corresponding thereto, except on the lower surface of this pin 13. The ring 2 is then not locked on the neck 11 of the bottle 1, and may in to be withdrawn.

If, when the ring 2 is in place on the bottle, the locking elements 31 are pivoted, by acting on the connecting portion 32 to pivot the locking piece 3, the opening 312 of each of the hook portions is shifts and is no longer, then, facing down. It then no longer coincides with the notches 213 of the fastening ring. The lug 13 which is engaged in this hook portion 311 can not then come out.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in more detail on the Figures 6 and 7 , the surface of the pin 13 farthest from the neck 11 of the bottle is extended by a first tongue portion 131, extending downwards. Similarly, the hook portion 311 of each locking member has a second tongue portion or ramp 313 on its portion to be in contact with the lower surface of the lug 13, in the locking position.

Thus, in the locking position, the two tongue portions cooperate with each other so as to prevent the locking element 31 is removed from the pin 13 corresponding in a direction perpendicular to the main axis of the bottle. They prevent in particular that, in the locking position, the locking piece 3 is removed from the ring 2.

In addition, this ramp 313 forms an extra thickness relative to the lug 13. Consequently, in the locking position, it exerts pressure on the lower surface of the lug, which causes pressure of the fastening ring against the lug. bottle neck and ensures the maintenance of the different elements between them without possible movement along the main axis of the bottle.

Advantageously, according to the embodiment shown, the opening 212 of the ring 2 is equipped with a stop 214, which limits the possible rotation of the locking piece 3 to a defined angular range. One of the extreme positions of the locking piece 3 in this angular range, which is represented on the figures 4 and 5 , corresponds to the lock position, and the other end position to the unlock position.

The locking of the ring 2 on the neck 11 of the bottle 1 is ensured for example by the passage of a hard point by the locking piece 3. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, this hard point is easily ensured by a rib, a boss or a relief 24 slightly prominent of the securing ring 2. It is thus necessary to force slightly to bring the locking piece 3 in its locking position or to make it leave this position. This hard point allows the user to easily feel when this piece is in the locking position, and to prevent inadvertent unlocking of the ring.

In addition, the ring 2 and the bottle 1 represented on the Figures 1 and 2 , may have a relief 23, 14 adapted to conform to the shape of the connecting portion 32 of the locking piece 3, while ensuring the locking by passage of the hard point formed by the relief 24. Thus, the user can feel, but also see, easily if this locking part 3 is properly locked.

6.3 The pacifier

In order to have an optimal seal despite the uncertainties of thickness of the base of the pacifier, it is possible to use a pacifier whose base has a high elasticity.

Indeed, the pacifier is generally made of elastic materials such as rubber or silicone. When its base is compressed between the securing ring and the opening of the bottle of the bottle, it acts as a spring tending to push the ring of securing the bottle.

The flexibility of the base of conventional teats, which forms a horizontal crown, is however relatively low. Moreover, as indicated above, the thickness and the mechanical properties of this base can vary between different teats.

To improve the flexibility of this base, and therefore facilitate the hermetic closure of the bottle, it is provided according to a particular embodiment of the invention to give the upper face of the base of the pacifier a shape not parallel to the surface. bottom of the horizontal portion of the fastening ring, against which it must be plated. The base of the pacifier will thus be subjected to a deformation movement, before possibly being subjected to compression.

It may thus have an elasticity over a greater amplitude than conventional teats, and it will then have a lower stiffness. In addition, this stiffness will be less variable from one pacifier to another.

The Figures 8 to 10 show an embodiment of such a pacifier. It should be noted that Figures 8 to 10 are intended solely to represent the behavior of such a pacifier when it is mounted on a bottle, and not the fixing of the pacifier ring to the bottle of the bottle. These figures therefore do not allow to see the fastening elements according to the invention. In these embodiments, the upper and lower faces of the base 41 of the nipple have a truncated cone or frustoconical shape, and thus form an angle with the horizontal.

Thus, when the pacifier is not attached to the bottle, as shown by the Figures 8 and 9 , the reminder that constitutes the base 41 of the pacifier is not compressed. This ring then has a frustoconical shape and its upper surface is thus not parallel to the lower surface of the horizontal portion 22 of the fastening ring 2.

On the other hand, when the base 41 of the nipple 4 is compressed between the lower surface of the horizontal portion 22 of the securing ring 2 and the upper edge of the neck 11, its upper surface is deformed elastically to match the shape of the lower surface. of the horizontal part 22.

It should be noted that such a nipple whose base is shaped to have high elasticity can also be used with other types of connection between the bottle of the bottle and the fastening ring of the nipple.

Claims (9)

1. A feeding bottle comprising a bottle (1), a teat (4) and a fixing ring (2) which is intended to fixedly join the teat (4) to the bottle (1), in the region of an opening (12) thereof defined by a neck (11),
   characterised in that the neck (11) has at least one stud (13) and in that the fixing ring (2) is provided with at least one locking element (31) which is capable of co-operating with one of the studs (13),
   each of the locking elements (31) being moveable relative to the fixing ring (2) so as to be able to assume, when the fixing ring (2) is in position on the bottle (1), at least two positions:

   • a locking position, in which it co-operates with the corresponding stud (13) of the bottle (1) in order to fixedly join the ring (2) to the bottle (1); and

   • an unlocking position, in which it allows the ring (2) to be removed from the bottle (1).
2. A feeding bottle according to claim 1, characterised in that each of the locking elements (31) is rotatable along a horizontal axis.
3. A feeding bottle according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that each of the locking elements (31) is moveable between:

   • the locking position, in which a hook portion (311) of the locking element (31) is in contact with the lower surface of the corresponding stud (13), and

   • the unlocking position, in which the hook portion (311) of the locking element (31) is not in contact with the lower surface of the corresponding stud (13).
4. A feeding bottle according to claim 3, characterised in that the hook portion (311) is generally U-shaped and in that the locking elements (31) are rotatable between:

   • the locking position, in which the U-shaped opening (312) is not orientated in the opposite direction to the opening (12) of the bottle (1); and

   • the unlocking position in which the U-shaped opening (312) is orientated in the opposite direction to the opening (12) of the bottle (1).
5. A feeding bottle according to either claim 3 or claim 4, characterised in that the hook portion (311) is provided with a ramp member (313) forming an excess thickness and which is capable of applying pressure to the lower surface of the stud (13).
6. A feeding bottle according to claim 5, characterised in that the stud (13) comprises, on the lower surface, a tongue portion (131) which is capable of co-operating, in the locking position, with the ramp member (313) to block the movements of the locking element (31) with respect to the stud (13) along the main axis of the feeding bottle.
7. A feeding bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the neck (11) has two studs (13) arranged diametrically on the neck (11), and in that the ring (2) is provided with a lever (32) that is connected to the two locking elements (31) corresponding to the studs (13) and allows the locking elements (31) to be rotatably actuated about a common axis.
8. A feeding bottle according to claim 7, characterised in that, in the locking position, the lever (32) corresponds at least partially to an outer contour of the ring (2).
9. A feeding bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the teat (4) has a base (41) which is shaped so as to have, when it is assembled between the ring (2) and the neck (11), a different shape from the one that it has when it is in the rest state.

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