GB2066795A

GB2066795A - Feeding bottle teats

Info

Publication number: GB2066795A
Application number: GB8040815A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: PIGEON KK
Current assignee: PIGEON KK
Priority date: 1979-12-24
Filing date: 1980-12-19
Publication date: 1981-07-15
Also published as: GB2066795B; JPS6028444Y2; JPS5695234U

Abstract

A feeding bottle teat which provides more even flow of liquid feed at different orientations of the teat in the mouth, comprises a valve defined by a single main linear cut 18 passing through the centre O of the teat top and two lateral cuts 19a, 19b extending perpendicularly from the main cut one on each side thereof, the lateral cuts being offset in opposite directions from centre O. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Nipple for feeding bottles The present invention relates to a nipple for feeding bottles which permits proper adjustment of a sucking hole, and more particularly to improvements in the nipple of the abovementioned type, which has a check valve mechanism defined by cruciform cuts known as the crosscut.

In the conventional crosscut type nipple for feeding bottles the crosscut has a uniform width and passes through a single central point.

However, the flow rate of milk through such a prior art nipple is very unstable since the amount of opening of the cuts varies depending upon the direction of the occlusal force.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned problem. More specifically, the present invention provides a nipple for feeders in which there is provided a single main straight cut passing through the centre of the nipple together with two minor lateral cuts extending from the main cut each being offset in opposite directions from the centre of the main cut. When the occlusal force is applied thereto at right angles or even at certain angles, say 450, proper regulation of a sucking hole is achieved without causing variations in the flow rate of milk.

The present invention as compared with a conventional nipple is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the conventional crosscut type nipple; Fig. 2 is a view illustrative of the opening of a sucking hole in use; Fig. 3 is a longitudinally sectional view of the nipple according to the present invention, which is attached to a feeding bottle; Fig. 4 is a plan view of one embodiment of the nipple according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a longitudinally sectional view of another embodiment of the nipple according to the present invention; Fig. 6 is a bottom view of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a view illustrative of the opening of the sucking hole.

Referring to Fig. 1 this shows in plan view a conventional nipple 8 which is provided with crosscut valve 20 consisting of two cuts passing through the centre of the nipple at right angles to each other.

Fig. 2 shows the effect of applying occlusal forces to the nipple. In Fig. 2a the force is applied perpendicular to one of the cuts and shows that in this case that cut remains closed but other cut opens to permit flow of liquid. In Fig. 2b the force is applied in a direction between that of the two cuts and shows that at one angle the cuts remain closed. At other angles they slightly open but, in general, the degree of opening and the flow of liquid thus permitted, depends on the direction of the occlusal force.

Referring to Fig. 3, there is generally shown a feeding bottle 1 fitted with a nipple or teat member 2 by means of a clamping cap 3. The feeding bottle 1 is formed of a transparent plastic or glass material, and has therein an opening 4 provided on its circumference with an externally threaded portion 5. The feeder 1 includes a main body calibrated to indicate the amount of milk sucked by the baby, although not illustrated. The nipple made of natural or specially designed artificial rubber has a thickness that decreases gradually from a body 6 to a neck 7. However, the thickness of the nipple top 8 is somewhat larger than that of the neck 7. The nipple 2 is provided in the lower portion with a peripheral groove 10, which firmly engages a through-hole 9 formed in the upper surface of the cap 3 for the attachment of the nipple 2 to the feeder 1.This groove 10 is provided at its lower end with a collar 11 having the substantially same thickness as that of the body 6. The collar 11 is formed in the upper surface with an annular recession 12 contiguous to the side wall of the peripheral groove 9 and on its outer peripheral edge with a projecting edge 13 in the annular form. The collar 11 is also provided in the lower surface with an elongated rectangular recession 14 extending from a point position onto the inner end edge of the annular recession 12 to the inside edge of the end face of a mount in the feeder 1. A groove 16 is radially formed contiguous to the recession 14, which is small in both depth and width. The groove 16 has both its ends enlarged outwardly and an apex 15 rising toward both its ends at a gradual slope. In other words, this groove is narrow in the centre and wider at both its ends.Thus, the groove 16 provides a ventilation passage in co-operation with end face of the bottle mouth. A ventilation hole 17 is formed in the recession 14 in communication with the annular recession 12.

The clamping cap 3 is molded from a hard synthetic resin material, and provided with a downwardly extending annular edge 24, which is fitted into the annular recession 12 in the throughhole 9 for retaining the nipple loosely in the peripheral groove 10. Thus, when the baby sucks at and pulls the nipple, there is no disengagement thereof from the feeder. The clamping cap 3 is also provided at the lower face with an annular projection 25 which permits the collar 11 of the nipple 2 to be urged against the end face of the feeder mouth. The nipple top 8 has an inside face generally in the form of a hosta and an outside face substantially in the form of an elongated oval.

However, the top face is made somewhat flat. As shown in Fig. 4, in this flat portion is formed a sucking hole having a check valve mechanism defined by a single main linear cut 18 passing through a centre 0 and two minor cuts 1 9a and 1 9b that are disposed perpendicularly to the cut 18 and offset from the centre 0 in opposite directions.

In another embodiment of the nipple as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a nipple top 8 is provided in the inner apex with a recession 21, and is in the outer form of a circle. The nipple top is then provided with a sucking hole 20 having a check valve mechanism defined by a single main linear cut 18 passing through a centre 0 and two minor cuts 1 9a and 1 9b offset from the centre in opposite directions as shown in Fig. 4. A collar 11 is provided in the lower face with a rib 22 which is fitted into the opening 4 of the feeder 1. The rib 22 is also provided therein with a notch on which is mounted a thin film air valve 23. An opening portion of the valve 23 is then defined by the surface of the collar 11. The results of experimentation indicate that the space between each minor cut and the centre 0 is preferably in a range of 0.3 to 0.7 millimetres.When the occlusal force is applied in a direction normal to the main cut as shown in Fig. 7a, the minor cuts 1 9a and b are opened. When the occlusal force is applied in a direction parallel to the main cut as shown in Fig. 7b, the main cut 18 is opened. Further, when the occlusal force is applied at certain angles with the main and minor cuts, the minor cuts 1 9a and b are opened. In any case, the amount of opening is virtually on the same order, so that the flow rate of milk is kept stable.

As mentioned above, the nipple according to the present invention serves to keep the flow rate of milk stable in use, and has a sucking hole serving as a check valve mechanism. Thus, the nipple of the present invention can successfully be handled by a baby from the neonatal to weaning period since the amount of opening of the sucking hole varies depending upon the sucking force. In addition, there is no possibility that milk leaks from the feeding bottle even in a state where it is lying, since the sucking hole is closed upon the baby stopping sucking.

Claims

1. A nipple for a feeding bottle having a check valve defined by a single main linear cut 18 passing through the centre 0 of the nipple top and two lateral cuts 1 9a and 1 9b extending perpendicularly from the main cuts 18 one on each side thereof, the lateral cuts being offset in opposite directions from the centre 0 of the nipple top.

2. A nipple as claimed in Claim 1 in which the lateral cuts 1 9a and 1 9b extend from points on the main cut spaced from the centre 0 in the range from 0.3 to 0.7 millimetres.

3. A nipple as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 having a neck 7 between the main body 6 and the top 8 of the nipple, the neck 7 being of thickness less than that of the body 6 and the top 8 being of thickness greater than that of the neck 7, the nipple top 8 having an inner apex the thickness of which is gradually decreased, and having in the outer face a sucking hole 20 provided by the check valve.