GB2278061A

GB2278061A - Feeding bottle

Info

Publication number: GB2278061A
Application number: GB9310289A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kok Keong Ng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-05-19
Filing date: 1993-05-19
Publication date: 1994-11-23
Also published as: GB9310289D0

Abstract

A baby feeding bottle is disclosed comprising a sliding member 12 which moves towards the suction outlet 4 as the liquid content in the bottle reduces. This reduction in the internal volume of the bottle overcomes vacuum formation during feeding and helps prevent colic. In the embodiment the bottom cap 8 has a ventilating hole 10 which projects into the bottle to prevent the internal sliding member from sliding out the bottle. The sliding member has a tapered projecting portion 18 which forms a seal with the projecting part 10 when the bottle is upright and the sliding member is in its resting position. A two-way sealing ring 16 around the sliding member acts to prevent leakage of liquid from the interior of the bottle to the space below 12. <IMAGE>

Description

FEEDING BOTTLE This invention relates to a feeding bottle.

All previous designs of baby feeding bottles to prevent colic have concentrated on resolving the vacuum formation problem within the bottle by providing an automatic or a manual one-way valve that will allow air inflow into the bottle but prevent liquid outflow.

The object of the present invention is to avoid vacuum formation within the bottle in a new manner.

Instead of the air-intake valve, the present invention provides a bottle whose internal volume can vary progressively as the liquid in the bottle flows out of the suction outlet.

To achieve this object, the bottle has an internal sealing member such as a cylindrical sliding cup member that slides towards the suction outlet in response to the vacuum effect created internally as the liquid flows out of the suction outlet, thereby reducing the internal volume of the bottle.

Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided a feeding bottle having a suction outlet and an internal sealing member that can slide towards the suction outlet in response to a progressive reduction of the internal volume of the bottle occurring as the liquid content in the bottle flows out through the suction outlet, the space below the sealing member being ventilated to allow such sliding of the sealing member.

Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partially sectional view of a feeding bottle of the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bottle of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a feeding bottle 2 having a conventional upper cap member 6 provided with a teat 4.

A cylindrical cup member 12 provided with a twoway sealing ring 16 around its external rigid wall is disposed within the bottle 2 to prevent liquid within the interior of the bottle 2 from leaking to the space beneath the cup member 12, which can slide smoothly within the bottle 2. The two-way sealing ring 16 acts against the internal rigid wall of the bottle 2 to achieve the seal. This sliding member consisting of the cup member 12 and the sealing ring 16 is easy to assemble and disassemble for cleaning.

The cylindrical sliding cup member 12 is prevented from sliding out of the bottle 2 by a lower cap member 8 which has a inward-projecting circular ventilation hole 10 that admits air into the space beneath the sliding cup member 12, as the cup member 12 slides towards the suction outlet of the teat 4. This bottom cap member 8 does not require frequent sterilization as it does not come into contact with the drinkable liquid contained within the interior of the bottle 2.

The inward-projecting circular ventilation hole 10 of the bottom cap member 8 also acts against a circular inwardly-tapered projecting member 18 on the base of the cup member 12 so as to seal the space beneath the cup member 12 from the exterior to prevent leakage in the event of the two-way sealing ring 12 being rendered faulty due to wear and tear.

The bottom cap member 8 is designed to be sealing screwed onto the lower end of the rigid exterior wall of the bottle 2, and has a circular tapered protruding portion 14 that forms part of the bottom cap member 8 and that seals against the lower end of the rigid exterior wall of the bottle 2.

Claims

1. A feeding bottle having a suction outlet and an internal sealing member that can slide towards the suction outlet in response to a progressive reduction of the internal volume of the bottle occurring as the liquid content in the bottle flows out through the suction outlet, the space below the sealing member being ventilated to allow such sliding of the sealing member.

2. A feeding bottle according to claim 1, wherein the space below the sealing member is ventilated via a ventilation hole provided in a member that projects inwardly into the bottle from a bottom cap of the bottle.

3. A feeding bottle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said sealing member is a cylindrical cup member having a circular member protruding beneath it and having a circular two-way sealing ring around its exterior, the sealing ring acting against the interior of the bottle thereby simultaneously allowing the cup member to slide and preventing leakage from the interior of the bottle to the space beneath the cup member.

4. A feeding bottle according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the bottom cap of the bottle is screwed onto the lower end of bottle to form a seal against liquid leakage.

5. A feeding bottle according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the circular member protruding from the cylindrical cup member can act against the ventilation hole of the bottom cap to form a seal against leakage of any liquid in the space beneath the cup member to the exterior.

6. A feeding bottle according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the drawings.