US2495548A - Nursing unit with flow adjustment means - Google Patents

Description

J 24, WQ H. JQREVANE 2,495,543

. NURSING UNIT WITH FLOW ADJUSTMENT MEANS Filed June 3, 1947 Inventor Henry J. Reva/re Patented Jan. 24, 1950 NITED STATES PATET OFFICE NURSING UNIT WITH FLOW ADJUSTMENT MEANS 5 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in nursing nipples and has more particular reference to means carried by and built into the nipple for purposes of overcoming the likelihood that said nipple, when in use, will clog and prevent free discharge of milk through the customary outlet holes.

It is a matter of common knowledge that nursing nipples are often objectionable in that they prevent free flow of milk from the bottle, through the nipple and into the mouth of an infant. As a matter of fact, discharge holes in nipples are often either too large or too small and, here again, a nipple which is not right in that it either clogs or flows too freely, is objectionable. Then, too, when a nipple clogs due to the closing of the discharge hole or holes, it will collapse and will thus both irritate and considerably annoy the infant.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a nipple having internal stay means and external flange and coacting screw-cap means, all coacting to provide an improved nipple possessed of requisite efrlciency.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a, fragmentary perspective view of a nursing bottle and nipple, the latter constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a central, longitudinal or vertical 1' sectional view through the structural assemblage seen in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the nipple and cap detached from the bottle.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figure 2, a nursing bottle is denoted by the numeral 6 and is provided with an externally screw-threaded discharge neck I and a suitably shouldered nipple attaching lip 8.

The body of the nipple, which is externally conventional in shape, is denoted by the numeral 9 and the tip of said nipple is provided with diverging discharge ports I II and II. attaching portion of the nipple, denoted at I 2, embodies an outstanding annular flange I 3 and a similar outstanding somewhat thicker flange I4 having an annulus l5, which is suitably beaded, internally, to snap over the beaded lip 5. The

The base or 2 flanged portion of the nipple is adjustably and detachably mounted on the neck of the bottle by way of a plastic or equivalent screw-cap I6. This cap comprises an annular portion I! having inturned annular flanges I8 and I9 mounted between the flanges I3 and I4, and serving to properly act on said flanges for appropriate coaction and assemblage of parts. The screw-portion 2 0 is secured to the threaded neck I. The top or outer surface of flange I9 is flat to correspond with flange I8; while the underside of said flange is cut away and beveled, as at [9a, to provide desired clearance and play between coacting surfaces.

The reason for a slanting, or a circular edge, on flange I9 is to allow a suflicient amount of play or downward movement of screw-cap 20 and still retain pressure on the nipple holding it secure! against the top of the bottle.

The means for spreading and thus forcing the discharge holes I0 and II open, comprises a substantially T-shaped device which includes-a relatively rigid stay or stem 2| which is axially arranged in the body portion of the nipple and which is connected at its inner end to a crossmember or spider 22. The spider is formed integral with the base portion of the nipple. The elements formin the stay means are somewhat more rigid, and constructed from hard rubber, than the rest of the nipple.

It is evident that by screwing the cap down on the neck of the bottle, the inturned flanges co act with the outstanding flanges on the annular basal portion of the nipple. The coaction of parts is such that the desired stress is imposed on the rubber portions of the nipple to tauten and thus lengthen the body of the nipple with respect to the stay means which is relatively rigid. The end-thrust action, thus produced, serves to spread and press the openings Ill and II open and thus facilitate the free passage of milk therethrough, this in an obvious manner.

Novelty is predicated, on the one hand, on a pliable nipple body with discharge apertures in its tip-portion and suitable stay means interlorly arranged, with cap-controlled marginal flange means which brings the stay means into play and which, in turn, provides an adaptation, whereby the degree of effectiveness of the discharge holes may be rendered more-or-less effective depending on the freedom of flow desired.

More specifically, novelty is predicated upon the annular basal portion of the stay-equipped nipple, which portion has outstanding flanges providing for accommodation of internal flanges 3 on the screw-cap, whereb to provide a novel coaction between cap and flanges and the neck of the bottle, to bring about the desired expandable and contractible facilities for said nipple.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a nursin bottle nipple comprising a nipple body of conventional shape, the reduced outer tip end of said body having customary expandible and contractible milk passages formed therein, a substantially rigid stay integrally connected at its outer end with said tip portion at a point midway between said milk passages, a spider formed integral with the inner basal end portion of said body, the adjacent end of said stay being connected to the central portion of said spider to allow unobstructed passage of milk into and through the nipple and to at the same time stabilize the entire nipple, the inner end of said nipple being of cap-like form to fit over the neck of a nursing bottle, said basal portion having a circumierentially extending flange spaced from the cap portion andof imperiorate form and adapted to be flexed in a manner to lengthen and shorten the nipple body in relation to said stay and to impose a valving action on said passages to cause same to become restricted or enlarged according to the discretion of the user.

2. The structure specified in claim 1, together with a rigid cap adapted to be threaded on the neck of the nursing bottle, said cap having a pair of spaced parallel flanges, said flanges defining a channel between themselves, the circumferential flange on said nipple fitting snugly into said channel.

3. The structure specified in claim 1, together with a rigid cap adapted to be threaded on the neck of the nursing bottle, said cap having a pair of spaced parallel flanges, said flanges defining a channel between themselves, the circumferential flange on said nipple fitting snugly into said channel, and the surface of one of the cap flanges being circumferentially bevelled.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a nursing bottle nipple comprising. a nipple body, the outer tip-end of said body having expandible and contractible milk passages therein, a central stay mounted in said body and connected at its outer end to said tip-portion at a point between said passages, a spider attached to the inner basal endportion of said body, said stay being connected at its corresponding inner end to said spider, said inner end having a cap-like basal portion and further including outstanding circumferential flanges.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a nursing bottle nipple comprising a nipple body, the outer tip-end of said body having expandible and contractible milk passages therein, a central stay mounted in said body and connected at its outer end to said tip-portion at a point between said passages, a spider attached to the inner basal endportion of said body, said stay being connected at its corresponding inner end to said spider, said inner end having a cap-like basal portion and further including imperforate outstanding circumferential flanges, and a screw-cap having flanges clamped to one of the flanges on said nipple.

HENRY J. REVANE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 131,130 Stevenson Sept. 3, 1872 551,792 Shute Dec. 24, 1895 582,159 Heller May 4, 1897 1,545,436 McGeary July 7, 1925 2,093,130 Kurkjian Sept. 14, 1937 2,093,730 Kurkiian Sept. 21, 1937 2,096,961 Condom Oct. 26, 1937

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