WO2010079457A2

WO2010079457A2 - A bottle

Info

Publication number: WO2010079457A2
Application number: PCT/IB2010/050055
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michelle Scott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-01-08
Filing date: 2010-01-07
Publication date: 2010-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 2011-07-08
Also published as: WO2010079457A3

Abstract

The invention provides a baby bottle comprising a container fitted with a teat that is sealed thereto and which is pre-filled and also disposable. The bottle has a removable cover to maintain a sterile environment at the exterior of the teat. The container includes separate compartments for liquid and granular components with a rupturable divider therebetween. The invention also provides a package including a plurality of baby bottles of the kind described.

Description

A BOTTLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a bottle, in particular a baby bottle.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

There are a number of different baby bottles available on the market. Conventionally these include a rigid plastics bottle or container which is screw- threaded around the outlet. A correspondingly screw-threaded retaining ring secures a teat in place. The bottle is filled with feeding liquid for a baby. The liquid is sold separately, sometimes as a granular formula which is dissolved in water. The components of a baby bottle need to be kept clean and are generally sterilized before use.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a baby bottle which avoids the usual cleaning operations. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to this invention there is provided a baby bottle comprising a container fitted with a teat that is sealed thereto, which is pre-filled and disposable.

The invention further provides for the bottle to include a removable cover for the teat; and for the cover to establish a seal suitable to maintain a sterile environment at the exterior of the teat.

A further feature of the invention provides for the container to include separate compartments for liquid and granular components; preferably with a rupturable divider between the compartments.

Further features of the invention provide for the divider to be rupturable on deformation of the container wall; for the container wall to include corrugations; and for compression or extension of the corrugations to rupture the divider.

The invention further provides for a plurality of the bottles to be packaged together.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention there is provided a package including a plurality of baby bottles as defined above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a baby bottle before use; Figure 2 shows the bottle in Figure 1 with a divider that is ruptured; and Figure 3 shows an alternative teat arrangement for a baby bottle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, a baby bottle (1 ) is shown. The bottle (1 ) includes a container (2) fitted with a teat (3) over an opening (4). The bottle (1 ) is pre-filled, as described below, and made of disposable material.

The container (2) is moulded of a flexible, deformable plastics material. The teat (3) is in sealing engagement with the container (2). A removable cover (5) for the teat (3) is shown in place in Figure 1. The cover (5) contains the teat (3) in a sterile environment.

In this embodiment, the container (2) includes an upper (6) and a lower (7) compartment. A divider (8) separates the compartments (6) and (7). The upper compartment (6) will have powdered feeding formula. The lower compartment (7) will be filled with water or other suitable liquid mixture for dissolving the powder. The divider (8) is round, fixed at its outer edge to the container wall. It includes four rigid segments (9). The segments (9) are connected with a rupturable membrane at (10) to complete the liquid impermeable barrier. The container wall at the lower compartment (7) is corrugated at (1 1 ).

The bottle (1 ) is ready to use when sold. Compression or extension of the corrugations (11 ) causes a pressure differential across the divider (8). This will rupture the divider (8), shearing the connections at (10) as shown in Figure 2. The bottle (1 ) is then shaken to dissolve the powder. The contents may then be warmed, if that is desired. The cover (5) is removed to expose the teat (8) and the contents may be fed to an infant.

A similar baby bottle, but without the divider, can be filled with premixed formula or other suitable feeding liquid. The invention provides the advantages of not having to separately purchase and prepare formula, not having to clean and sterilize bottles and not having to fill bottles. A required number of bottles can be purchased and used for feeding with no additional effort other than discarding the empties. The ready to use product will be packaged in convenient numbers and available on the shelves of supermarkets or convenience stores. This can be particularly useful when travelling, or when leaving a child in the care of a baby sitter.

Hospitals will also find use in having a stock of these bottles and the contents may be suited to assist in treatment or recovery from certain ailments. For example, electrolytes may be included for recovery from dehydration which may be caused by diarrhea. These versions may also be available at pharmacies - with or without prescription depending on the ingredients. The bottle is similarly useful when providing food aid to regions where water is scarce, ablutions are poor, or where there has been an outbreak, particularly waterborne, of some sort.

The teat (3) may be made of any suitable material. It is preferably flexibly resilient or elastomeric, similar to those already used on baby bottles. Examples of such materials are Latex and Silicone rubber. The cover (5) may take any of a number of forms. Figures 3a to 3c show an alternative cover and teat arrangement. The cover (5) is of the peelable foil kind. The teat (3) is retained in a folded, stowed condition by the cover - see Figure 3a. Once the cover (5) is removed, the resilience of the teat (3) lifts it into an erect position, as shown in Figure 3b. In Figure 3c, the teat (3) has been pulled into a fully extended position and is ready for use.

The arrangement of powder in the upper compartment (6) allows for a pre- perforated teat (3) to be fitted without the risk of liquid leaking into the cover (5). It will be appreciated that a teat (3) without perforations can also be used. Alternatively, the cover (5) can be designed to deter against leakage through perforations in the teat (3). For example, the cover (5) may be a membrane vacuum sealed to the teat (3) or made of rigid plastics and arranged to pinch the teat (3).

The double compartment bottle configuration, shown in Figures 1 and 2, can also be used without a teat. For example, a foil cover or screw-threaded bottle top can be fitted over the opening (4). This can then package milk-shake products, or other beverages, where it is desired to keep components separate until just before drinking.

The embodiments described above should be broadly construed. The description is illustrative in nature in order to represent the current invention and should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that a number of variations to the described features are possible, without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, the bottom of the bottle may have an upwardly extending protrusion, within the lower chamber (7), which will pierce a divider on compression of the corrugations (11 ). Alternatively, the teat (3) may be pressed inwardly to contact and rupture a divider.

Claims

1. A baby bottle comprising a container fitted with a teat that is sealed thereto, which is pre-filled and disposable.

2. A bottle as claimed in claim 1 which includes a removable cover for the teat.

3. A bottle as claimed in claim 2 in which the cover establishes a seal suitable to maintain a sterile environment at the exterior of the teat.

4. A bottle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 which includes separate compartments for liquid and granular components.

5. A bottle as claimed in claim 4 which has a rupturable divider between the compartments.

6. A bottle as claimed in claim 5 in which the divider is rupturable on deformation of the container wall.

7. A bottle as claimed in claim 6 in which the container wall includes corrugations, the compression or extension of which serves to rupture the divider.

8. A package including a plurality of baby bottles as claimed in any of the preceding claims.