EP3672560B1 - Bottle teat - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a bottle teat with a base section having a connecting flange, in which the bottle teat is essentially circular in a cross section running perpendicular to a longitudinal axis, a lip contact section and a nipple section opening into a teat tip, the bottle teat having a lip contact section perpendicular to its longitudinal axis of has a circular shape deviating cross section with a longitudinal axis and a shorter transverse axis compared to the longitudinal axis.

Bottle teats which are essentially circular in a lower base section in order to be connected in a simple manner and essentially to a usually circular bottle mouth, but which subsequently have a cross-sectional shape deviating from a circular shape at this base section, so that a special orientation of the bottle teat whose use is specified, namely an orientation in which the longitudinal axis of the bottle nipple runs essentially in the longitudinal direction of the lips or the mouth of the baby using the bottle nipple, are known in principle.

For example, from the FR 2 854 322 B a bottle nipple with such a shape deviating from a circular shape above a base portion is known.

Such bottle teats have the particular advantage that it is relatively easy to bend the bottle teat around a usually concavely curved outer surface of the bottle teat in the lip contact area, ie the bottle teat has for a pivoting about an axis running in the direction of the longitudinal axis or in the transverse direction thereto, ie in the direction of the transverse axis, a relatively high flexibility. Due to their cross-sectional geometry, however, bottle teats of this type are often designed to be comparatively inflexible at right angles to this, so that pivoting out, in particular, of the nipple section perpendicular to the transverse axis is only possible to a limited extent.

Various bottle nipples are already known from the prior art, with which an increased flexibility of the bottle nipple, in particular of the nipple and / or lip contact cut, is to be achieved.

From the DE 3241845 A1 a bottle nipple is known, which has a plurality of reciprocating circumferential depressions in the shaft area in the manner of an accordion.

From the WO 2013/144624 A1 Another bottle nipple is known which has a circumferential recess in a portion of the bottle nipple that adjoins a fastening flange.

Also in the DE 102015118252 A1 a bottle nipple is shown which has a circumferential recessed area 8 adjacent to the nipple flange.

So is from the U.S. 2,709,434 a suction part is known with shoulders or ribs encircling the outside in a ring shape, which has ring-shaped weakened areas with reduced wall thickness. However, this is a teat that is rotationally symmetrical over the entire height in cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, so that with the circumferential wall thickness weakening running in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, as expected, an essentially rotationally symmetrical bending behavior of the bottle teat results.

From the U.S. 5,190,174 A further bottle teat is known which is designed to be rotationally symmetrical over the entire height and which has wave-shaped depressions running around in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in order to form a bellows-shaped section to increase flexibility.

Likewise from the U.S. 4,505,398 a bottle nipple with a rotationally symmetrical design in the lip contact area is known, in which, under the lip contact area, it has a wavy cross-sectional shape to form a bellows-like section for the purpose of increasing the flexibility of the bottle nipple in this area.

From the WO 2013 / 150460A1 Furthermore, a bottle nipple is known which has material weaknesses arranged distributed over the circumference, so that the bottle nipple between a collapsed position in which the nipple section is lowered and the bending section is essentially convexly curved, and an extended position of the nipple section in which the Bending section is configured flat in sections, can be transferred.

Children often have stormy or hectic movements when eating, which makes it difficult for the feeding parent to hold the bottle teat centered on their mouth. Food intake is the baby's greatest satisfaction and should therefore function well and satisfactorily. The aim of the present invention is therefore in a bottle teat of the type mentioned at the outset, ie in a bottle teat deviating from a lip contact section of a rotationally symmetrical shape, increased flexibility of the nipple section essentially in the direction of the longitudinal direction of the bottle teat in the lip contact section or in the longitudinal direction of the mouth opening in one To achieve the state of use. In particular, this is intended to increase the comfort for the baby when eating.

This object is achieved by the bottle teat with the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

For the purposes of this disclosure, the location and direction information, such as "above", "below" etc., refer to the intended use of the bottle teat, provided that it is mounted in an upright baby bottle, ie with a vertical alignment of the longitudinal axis of the bottle teat .

According to the invention, it is provided that between the base section and the lip contact section a flexible section having increased flexibility compared to the base and the lip contact section is provided, the bending section having a circumferential recess in the form of an indentation and / or has a smaller wall thickness than in the sections adjoining the recess and has a rising and falling profile when viewed over the circumference, so that the bottle nipple has an increased flexibility for pivoting the teat around an axis running essentially in the direction of the transverse axis compared to an identically designed bottle teat without a recess Has lip contact and nipple section.

Accordingly, the bottle nipple according to the invention has a circumferential recess so that in addition to the flexibility in a pivoting direction in the direction of the transverse axis, increased flexibility for pivoting the lip contact and nipple section in the longitudinal direction of the rotationally asymmetrical lip contact section is achieved. Thus, despite the rotationally asymmetrical design, a bottle teat can be achieved which enables simple adjustment of the alignment of the lip contact section and thus also the nipple section during use, both in the longitudinal and in the transverse direction. This improves sucking comfort for a baby or toddler using the bottle teat.

In order to achieve increased flexibility of the bottle nipple in the bent portion formed below the lip contact portion, it is advantageous if the recess runs essentially along a cutting and / or contact line or surface of an imaginary cone with the bottle nipple, a tip of the imaginary Cone is arranged on the longitudinal axis in a portion enclosing the nipple tip and adjoining the nipple tip, and the line of intersection is adjacent or coincident with a tangential line of contact of the imaginary cone and the bottle nipple. In this way, a reduction in the stability of the bottle nipple is achieved precisely in that area in which the forces causing pivoting of the nipple tip, which a baby using the bottle nipple initiates, flow.

In such a configuration, a profile of the depression thus results which has a profile that deviates from a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bottle nipple. Due to the rotationally asymmetrical shape of the Bottle teat results from one along an imaginary cone extending depression a depression which is arranged higher in the longitudinal axis in a side view than in a cross-sectional area extending through the transverse axis. In vertical sectional planes running through the longitudinal axis there are thus two highest points of the depression, whereas in a vertical sectional plane running through the transverse axis there are two low points of the circumferential depression. Accordingly, the course of the depression differs fundamentally from the course of known indentations or material weakenings in a cross-sectional area running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, as is known in the prior art from rotationally symmetrical bottle teats.

The course of the recess is selected in such a way that the bottle teat for pivoting the lip contact and nipple sections about an axis running essentially in the direction of the transverse axis in the bending section is more flexible than about an axis running in the direction of the longitudinal axis. This advantageously results in a rotationally asymmetrical bottle teat which, due to the increased flexibility in the direction of the longitudinal axis due to the depression in the bending section, enables the nipple section to be swung out easily. In addition, however, the nipple section can also be pivoted in a direction perpendicular to this, i.e. in the direction of the transverse axis, with the pivoting in this direction primarily taking place by bending the bottle nipple in the area of the lip contact section. A bottle teat can thus preferably be achieved in which essentially the same bending forces are required to pivot the lip contact and nipple section about the longitudinal and transverse axes; i.e. despite the rotationally asymmetrical design of the bottle nipple, the bottle nipple has an essentially rotationally symmetrical pivoting behavior of the lip contact and nipple section.

In order to achieve a particularly high degree of flexibility, it is advantageous if the wall thickness in the region of the recess is at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, less than in an area adjoining the recess.

It is also important to design a defined kink line which favors a bending of the bottle nipple in the bending section, advantageous if the outer surface of the bottle nipple is concave in the area of the indentation, the concave curvature having a circumferential apex line. A kind of kink line is thus defined via the apex line, along which the bottle nipple bends when forces are applied which tend to pivot the nipple tip from a position essentially coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the nipple.

If an outer surface of the bottle nipple is convexly curved in an area adjoining the depression above and / or below, the curvature in the area adjoining the depression results in increased stability, so that it is reliably ensured that the nipple buckles in the area of the recess is achieved and not undesirably in an area adjacent to the recess.

With regard to particularly high suction comfort, the invention provides that the bottle nipple is not only designed to be rotationally asymmetrical at the lip contact area, but that the bottle nipple in the nipple section has a cross section deviating from a circular shape with a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis that is shorter than the longitudinal axis. Such a configuration is particularly favorable from an ergonomic point of view for receiving the nipple section and the lip contact section in the mouth or the oral cavity of the baby.

Furthermore, to stiffen the bottle nipple in an area adjacent to the recess above, the bottle nipple has an inwardly projecting, preferably circumferential, bead-like material reinforcement above the recess and adjacent to the recess. This also ensures that the bottle teat does not buckle in an area in which this is not desired.

Furthermore, in order to achieve a substantially resilient mounting of the bottle nipple acting over the entire circumference, it is It is advantageous if the bottle nipple has a cross-sectional tapering under the bending section in a manner known per se, to which the connecting flange connects.

In this cross-sectional tapering, an inwardly projecting collar of a fastening ring can advantageously also be received, so that an intimate connection between the bottle teat and the fastening ring results when it is connected to a baby bottle.

Unlike in the area of the recess, however, in the area of the cross-sectional tapering, the bottle nipple does not buckle in the event of a corresponding load during use, so it is advantageous if the bottle nipple has an essentially constant wall thickness in the area of the cross-sectional taper.

If the bottle nipple has a concavely curved outer surface in a cross-sectional area running in the direction of the transverse axis in the lip contact section, at least in sections, preferably continuously, the concavely curved outer surface of the bottle nipple in the lip contact section favors a pivoting of the nipple section in the direction of the transverse axis, ie perpendicular to that direction, in which increased flexibility is achieved in particular with the depression according to the invention.

If the bottle nipple in a cross-sectional area running in the direction of the longitudinal axis in the lip contact area has at least some sections of a flat or convexly curved outer surface or the outer surface is composed of a combination of a flat and convexly curved surface, this results in increased stiffening of the bottle nipple in one Swivel direction around the transverse axis of the bottle teat. Accordingly, it is particularly advantageous in such a configuration of the bottle teat if the bottle teat has a depression according to the invention.

With regard to particularly good suction comfort, which is based on the design of the maternal nipple, it is of Advantage if the outer surface of the bottle nipple has a convexly curved section in the nipple section both in a cross-sectional area running parallel to the longitudinal axis and to the transverse axis.

For a particularly reliable connection of the bottle nipple with a fastening ring, it is advantageous if the connection flange has a preferably circumferential groove on its top side. If such a preferably circumferential groove is provided, one or more ribs, which are provided on the underside of an inwardly protruding collar of the fastening ring, can be received in the position attached to a baby bottle, so that there is a form-fitting connection between the protruding ribs or a circumferential rib and the groove on the top of the connecting flange.

In order to achieve a particularly tight connection of the bottle teat to an upper edge of a bottle opening, it is advantageous if the connecting flange has a circumferential groove on its underside, preferably corresponding to an edge of an upper connection opening of a container.

Furthermore, for sealing the bottle nipple against an opening above an edge of a drinking bottle, it is advantageous if the connecting flange has a downwardly projecting sealing lip on its underside, preferably adjacent to the groove.

The invention is explained in detail below with reference to a preferred exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, to which, however, the invention is in no way restricted.

• Fig.1 eine perspektivische Ansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Flaschensaugers von oben;
• Fig. 2 eine perspektivische Ansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Flaschensaugers von unten;
• Fig. 3 eine Seitenansicht des Flaschensaugers in Richtung der Querachse im Bereich eines Lippenanlagen- und Nippelabschnitts;
• Fig. 4 eine um 90° gegenüber Fig. 3 gedrehte Seitenansicht in Richtung der Längsachse im Lippenanlagen- und Nippelabschnitt;
• Fig. 5 eine Draufsicht auf den Flaschensauger gemäß den Fig. 1 bis 4;
• Fig. 6 einen Schnitt gemäß der Linie VIB-VIB in Fig. 5 entlang der Querachse im Lippenanlagenabschnitt;
• Fig. 6A eine Draufsicht auf eine Babyflasche mit einem erfindungsgemäßen Flaschensauger gemäß den Fig. 1 bis 5;
• Fig. 6B eine Schnittansicht gemäß der Linie VIb- VIb in Fig. 6A, mit einem den Verlauf einer Vertiefung in einem Biegeabschnitt definierenden gedachten Kegel;
• Fig. 7 eine Schnittansicht gemäß der Linie VIA-VIA in Fig. 5 entlang der Längsachse im Lippenanlagenbereich; und
• Fig. 8 das Detail VIII gemäß Fig. 7.

In the drawings show:

• Fig.1 a perspective view of the bottle teat according to the invention from above;
• Fig. 2 a perspective view of the bottle teat according to the invention from below;
• Fig. 3 a side view of the bottle nipple in the direction of the transverse axis in the area of a lip contact and nipple section;
• Fig. 4 one at 90 ° opposite Fig. 3 rotated side view in the direction of the longitudinal axis in the lip contact and nipple section;
• Fig. 5 a top view of the bottle nipple according to the Figs. 1 to 4 ;
• Fig. 6 a section along the line VIB-VIB in Fig. 5 along the transverse axis in the lip abutment section;
• Figure 6A a plan view of a baby bottle with a bottle teat according to the invention according to the Figs. 1 to 5 ;
• Figure 6B a sectional view along the line VIb-VIb in Figure 6A , with an imaginary cone defining the course of a depression in a bending section;
• Fig. 7 a sectional view along the line VIA-VIA in Fig. 5 along the longitudinal axis in the lip area; and
• Fig. 8 the detail VIII according to Fig. 7 .

In the Figs. 1 and 2 are each shown perspective views of a bottle teat 1, which, in particular, also from Fig. 3 can be divided into the following sections:

First, a base section 2, which has a connecting flange 3, is provided in a lower end section. A bending section 4 then adjoins the base section 3. A lip contact section 5 is provided above the bending section 4, to which a nipple section 6 adjoins as the upper end section and opens into a nipple tip 7. The teat tip 7 has a suction opening 8 for the passage of liquid.

As from the perspective views according to Figs. 1 and 2 as well as a comparison of the Figures 3 and 4 and also in Fig. 5 can be seen, the bottle teat 1 is in its lower Base section 2 is designed to be rotationally symmetrical, that is to say it has essentially a circular shape in a cross section perpendicular to its longitudinal axis 9.

Above the base section 2 in the area of the lip contact section 5 and in the nipple section 6, however, the bottle teat, seen in cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 9, has an approximately elliptical cross section deviating from a circular shape, with a greater extent in the direction of a longitudinal axis 10 and one in comparison to the longitudinal axis shorter extension in the direction of a transverse axis 11 (cf. Fig. 5 ).

Due to this cross-sectional geometry, it results that the bottle nipple without the bending section 4 has a relatively good flex behavior when the nipple section 6 is pivoted in the direction of the transverse axis 11, i.e. when the nipple tip 7 is pivoted out in the direction of the arrow 12 of the baby using the bottle nipple essentially around a bending zone 13.

To swivel out the suction tip 7 in the direction of arrow 14 (cf. Fig. 3 ) However, due to the geometric design of the bottle nipple 1 - without the bending section 4 - a comparatively high expenditure of force would be required, since the outer surface of the bottle nipple 1 in the area of the lip contact section is designed essentially flat or slightly convex, so that it is stiffened in this Area is coming.

In order to improve the flex behavior of the bottle nipple 1 for pivoting the nipple tip 7 and the lip contact section in the direction of the arrow 14, i.e. about an axis running in the direction of the transverse axis 11, the bottle nipple 1 has the bending section 4.

In the bending section 4, a recess 15 is provided which - as in Fig. 6 can be seen - essentially along a line of intersection or line of contact of an imaginary cone 15a with which runs on the outer surface of the bottle teat 1 in the bending section 4. Here, a cone 15 a, the tip of which on the longitudinal axis 9 encloses the nipple tip 7 and portion 17 adjoining the nipple tip 7. This section 17 comprises, in particular, a length of up to 5 mm above and below the suction tip, wherein in the exemplary embodiment shown, the cone tip is preferably arranged approximately 2 mm above the suction tip 7.

The imaginary cone 15a is then seen, preferably essentially centrally over the extension of the bending section, in the bending section 4 below the lip contact section 5 at a flat angle on the outer surface of the bottle nipple 1, so that a circumferential cutting line 15a results. In contrast to rotationally symmetrical bottle teats, the line of intersection does not run along a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 9 with a recess for the purpose of increasing flexibility, but rather - due to the asymmetrical design of the teat 1 in the bending section 4 - has an ascending and descending course over the circumference on. Due to the geometric configuration of the bottle nipple 1, there are two maxima 18a in the area of a vertical cut surface laid through the longitudinal axis 10 in the course of the depression and two minima 18b in the direction of the transverse axis 10, as in particular in the one in Fig. 6 and 6A The sectional plane shown along the transverse axis can be seen.

Due to the geometry of the bottle nipple 1, a kinking of the bottle nipple 1 is essentially achieved via the circumferential recess 15 when a force is exerted in the direction of the arrow 14, ie when the nipple section 6 and the lip contact section 5 pivot about an axis running in the direction of the transverse axis 11 so that a significantly improved bending behavior of the suction cup 1 is achieved in this way.

In order to simplify the buckling of the bottle nipple 1 in the area of the bending portion 4 when pressure is applied in the nipple portion 6 and / or lip contact portion 5, the nipple has the said recess 15 in the lip contact portion 5, which is in the Fig. 8 shown in detail. It can be seen here that the bottle teat 1 in the exemplary embodiment shown has a reduced wall thickness of approximately 0.6 mm to 1 mm, preferably of approximately 0.8 mm, in the region of the recess 15, whereas the wall thickness in the lip contact section 5 is usually approximately 1.2 mm to 2 mm. In addition, the course of the wall 1a of the bottle teat 1 has an indentation 19, ie the course of the wall 1a of the bottle teat 1 has a concave course in this area, which has an apex 19a, which essentially serves as a kink line.

In order to reliably prevent the bottle nipple 1 from collapsing in a section adjoining the recess 15, a bead-like, inwardly projecting material reinforcement 20 is provided above the recess 15 in particular. In this area, the wall 1a of the bottle nipple 1 has a wall thickness that is approximately 2 to 4 times greater than in the area of the recess 15, so that the bottle nipple 1 does not yield when pressure is applied in this area, but rather the desired buckling in the adjoining area the recess 15 is achieved.

It goes without saying that the recess 15 can also be achieved on the outer surface of the bottle teat 1 merely by means of the geometric configuration, i.e. a concave indentation 19, or by means of a groove-like material recess, i.e. a tapering of the wall thickness.

Especially in Figure 6B it can also be seen that a cross-sectional tapering 21 is provided in the base section 2, which on the one hand forms a resilient base for the entire pacifier section arranged above it and also serves to accommodate an inwardly protruding collar 22 of a fastening ring 23.

The fastening ring 23 can advantageously also have downwardly projecting webs 22a or a circular circumferential web 22a which, in the position connected to the bottle mouth 24, interacts in a circumferential groove 25 arranged on the connecting flange on the upper side. As a result of the form-fitting reception of the web or webs 22a in the groove 25, a form-fitting connection between the connecting flange 3 and the fastening ring 23 is achieved.

Furthermore, the connecting flange 3 has a on its underside circumferential groove or recess 26, in which an upper edge 24a of a bottle mouth 24, to which the bottle teat 1 is attached, is received. This also results in a reliable, sometimes form-fitting connection of the bottle nipple 1 to the bottle mouth 24.

With regard to a good seal of the connection between the fastening ring 23 and the bottle mouth 24, it is also advantageous if the connection flange 3 of the bottle nipple 1 has a sealing lip 27 which adjoins the inner circumferential groove 26 for receiving the edge 24a of the bottle mouth 24. A reliable connection of the bottle teat to the bottle mouth 24 can thus be achieved in particular with a snap connection between the fastening ring 23 and the bottle mouth 24.

Claims (15)

1. A bottle teat (1) having a base portion (2) comprising a connecting flange (3) and in which the bottle teat (1) is substantially circular in a cross-section running perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (9), a lip support portion (5) and a nipple portion (6) which opens out in a teat tip (7), wherein, in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis (9), the bottle teat (1) comprises, in the lip support portion (5), a non-circular cross-section with a longitudinal axis (10) and a transverse axis (11) which is shorter compared to the longitudinal axis (10), characterized in that between the base portion (2) and the lip support portion (5) there is provided a flexible portion (4) comprising enhanced flexibility with respect to the base and the lip support portion (2, 5), wherein the flexible portion (4) comprises a circumferentially encircling depression (15) in the form of an indent (19) and/or a smaller wall thickness in portions adjacent to the depression (15) and comprises an ascending and falling profile when viewed over the circumference so that about an axis running substantially in the direction of the transverse axis (11), the bottle teat (1) has an enhanced flexibility compared to a similarly configured bottle teat without a depression for pivoting the lip support and nipple portions (5, 6).
2. The bottle teat according to claim 1, characterized in that the depression (15) runs substantially along a line of intersection and/or contact line of an imaginary cone (15a) with the bottle teat (1), wherein a tip (15b) of the imaginary cone (15a) is disposed on the longitudinal axis (9) in a portion (17) which encloses the teat tip (7) and which adjoins the teat tip (7) and the line of intersection runs adjacently or coincidentally with a tangential contact line of the imaginary cone (15a) and the bottle teat (1).
3. The bottle teat according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the thickness of the wall (1a) of the bottle teat (1) in the area of the depression (15) is at least 30 %, preferably at least 50 % smaller than in an area adjoining the depression (15).
4. The bottle teat according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outer surface of the bottle teat (1) is concavely curved in the area of the depression (19), wherein the concave curvature comprises a circumferential crest line (19a) .
5. The bottle teat according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outer surface of the bottle teat (1) is convexly curved in an area above and/or below adjacent to the depression (15).
6. The bottle teat according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in the flexible portion (4) and/or in the nipple portion (6) the bottle teat (1) comprises a non-circular cross-section with a longitudinal axis (10) and a shorter transverse axis (11) compared to the longitudinal axis (10).
7. The bottle teat according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that above the depression (15) and adjacent to the depression (15) the bottle teat (1) comprises an inwardly projecting bead-like material reinforcement (20) which preferably runs over the entire circumference.
8. The bottle teat according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that under the flexible portion (4) the bottle teat (1) comprises a cross-sectional narrowing (21), which is adjoined by the connecting flange (3).
9. The bottle teat according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the bottle teat (1) comprises a substantially constant wall thickness in the area of the cross-sectional narrowing (21).
10. The bottle teat according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the bottle teat (1) comprises a concavely curved outer surface at least in sections, preferably throughout, in a cross-sectional area running in the direction of the transverse axis (11) in the lip support region (5).
11. The bottle teat according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the bottle teat (1) comprises a planar or convexly curved outer surface at least in sections, in a cross-sectional area running in the direction of the longitudinal axis (10) in the lip support region (5) or the outer surface is composed of a combination of a planar and convexly curved surface.
12. The bottle teat according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the outer surface of the bottle teat (1) comprises a convexly curved section in the nipple area both in a cross-sectional area running parallel to the longitudinal axis (10) and also to the transverse axis (11).
13. The bottle teat according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the connecting flange (3) comprises a preferably circumferential groove (25) on its upper side.
14. The bottle teat according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that on its underside the connecting flange (3) comprises a circumferential groove (26) preferably running according to an edge (24a) of an upper connecting opening of a container (24).
15. The bottle teat according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that on its underside, preferably adjacent to the groove (26), the connecting flange (3) comprises a downwardly projecting sealing lip (27).

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