BABY FEEDING DEVICE Technical field The present invention relates to a baby feeding device which comprises an outer extension tube and a check valve. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a baby feeding device having a nipple, a bottle, which comprises a first inner tube deployed in the inside of the bottle, an outer extension tube, a second inner tube formed in the inside of the nipple, and a check valve for air inflow.

Backgraound Art In general, the baby feeding device consists of a nipple, a bottle and a connecting device combining the bottle with the nipple.

In the conventional baby feeding device, the nipple is directly connected with the bottle without flexible or bendable part between them, it is not easy to feed baby in upright or erect position. To solve this problem, a baby feeding device has been suggested wherein a flexible extension tube is interpositioned between a bottle and a nipple.

Another problem results from the conventional baby feeding device is that, upon baby sucking milk, the inner pressure of the bottle is reduced. The reduced pressure of the bottle creates a reverse force which stands against the suction force of baby mouth.

Consequently, baby should suck harder the nipple to intake milk from the bottle with the lapse of time.

As this situation repeats, the balance of pressure between the middle ear and the ambient air pressure

fails to function properly, and it may lead to earaches.

Moreover, when baby sucks milk from this feeding device, baby intakes not only milk but also air, which may cause belching or vomit.

To solve these problems, US patent No. 6,588, 613 discloses a nipple which mimics the function of the human breast nipple wherein milk is delivered to the baby through 15-25 fluid delivery capillaries called lactiferous ducts. Also, the nipple which has fluid delivery passage comprises a porous reticulated foam with interconnected pores, has been known to public.

However, the baby feeding devices which employ such kinds of nipples or outer extension tubes, still have serious problem that milk remains in the lactiferous duct, delivery passage or small tube after breaking off suction of baby.

The residual milk in tubes or ducts can leak out through the hole of the nipple into the baby's mouth, get to stagnate in there. If baby's teeth are exposed for many hours in this situation, it leads to nursing caries.

Furthermore, such micro tubes used in these prior arts cannot be washed or pasteurized easily due to their small inside diameter. Milk residue in such micro tube is likely to be spoiled and also cause oral maladies on baby.

The elastomeric diaphragm with resealable perforation, being a mechanical type of check valve, used in the conventional baby feeding device, possesses the problems associated with leakage of milk due to incomplete closure. This can result from clogging, such as particulate lodging in the slit or from

distortions in the slit. This distortions can be caused by elastomeric material changes (resulting from prolonged exposure to heat or ultraviolet light) or from mechanical stress on the edges of the slit as they open or close.

Therefore, it is obvious that there is need for a novel baby feeding device that can stop outflow or leakage of milk and does not allow milk residue in tubes by returning the milk residue in the tube back to the bottle, when baby stops suction.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a baby feeding device which comprises a simple check valve suitable particularly for baby feeding device, that is, capable of stopping outflow or leakage of milk and capable of returning residual milk in tubes back to the bottle when baby stops suction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a baby feeding device which can make it possible to feed baby freely even in upright or erect position by inserting an outer extension tube between the nipple and the bottle which comprises the check valve for air inflow.

Disclosure of Invention The object of the present invention can be achieved by providing a baby feeding device having a nipple (2), a bottle (1), a first inner tube (4) deployed in the inside of the bottle, a check valve (5) for air inflow, a coupling means (3) which combines the bottle (1) with the check valve (5), a second inner tube (10) formed in the inside room of the nipple (2) and an outer extension tube (11) which connects the first

inner tube (4) with the nipple (2), wherein the check valve (5) comprises a magnetic valve disk (8) coated with the visco-elastic material such as rubber, and a metallic valve body (9) which contains small orifice (12) for air inflow.

The baby feeding device of the present invention is characterized comprising the outer extension tube (11), the first inner tube (4), the second inner tube (1) and the check valve (5).

The baby feeding device of the present invention is characterized in that the check valve (5) which allows air inflow to regulate the inner pressure of the bottle (1) and however cut off outflow of milk, is installed on the bottle (1). The check valve (5) of the present invention may be installed on any part of the bottle (1), preferably, in upper part of the bottle (1).

Preferably, the metallic valve body (9) of the check valve (5) is also coated with resin as like the magnetic valve disk (8) in order to prevent harmful contact between milk contained in the bottle (1) and the surface of the metallic valve body (9).

The small orifice (12) is formed in the metallic valve body (9) and closed with the magnetic valve disk (8) to stop outflow of milk contained in the bottle.

The magnetic valve disk (8) closely adhere to the metallic valve body (9) by means of magnetic force to cover the small orifice (12) so as to stop outflow of milk but to allow inflow of air.

When baby suck in milk via the nipple (2), the second inner tube (10), the outer extension tube (11) and the first inner tube (4), the inside pressure of the bottle (1) is reduced to inhale air from outside through

the check valve (5).

At this time, the check valve (5) serves as a regulator which controls air inflow. When baby stop sucking, the reduced pressure of the bottle (1) which has been formed by the suction, is released by inhalation of air via the second inner tube (10), the outer extension tube (11) and the first inner tube (4) and concurrently by drawing in milk remaining in the tubes.

Optionally, the metallic valve body (9) and magnetic valve disk (8) of the present invention may contain central holes through which the outer extension tube (11) is inserted.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above object and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment thereof with references to the attached drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the baby feeding device of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the baby feeding device of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the baby feeding device which shows that the inside room of the nipple exclusive of the second inner tube, is stuffed with the visco-elastic material.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the baby feeding device of the present invention; and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the baby feeding device shown in Fig. 3.

Best mode for Carrying Out the Present Invention Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with references to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are given only for illustration of the invention and not intended to be limiting the present invention.

When baby suck the nipple (2) connected with the upper end of the first inner tube (4) of the bottle (1) through the outer extension tube (11), milk is transferred from the bottle (1) to the baby's mouth in sequence via the first inner tube (4), the outer extension tube (11) and the second inner tube (10) in the inside of the nipple (2).

The inside pressure of the bottle (1) is reduced in proportion as milk is transferred, air inflows through the orifice (12) of the magnetic check valve (5) of the present invention.

The length of said outer tube (11) is 10 cm to 200 cm, preferably 30 cm to 100 cm, more preferably 30 cm to 80cm.

The first and the second inner tube (4,10) and the outer tube (11) are made of flexible material. The magnetic check valve (5) of the present invention controls the air inflow to form reduced pressure in the inside of the bottle. This reduced pressure in the inside of the bottle causes an inhalant force which prevents milk from leaking through the outlet hole (6) of the nipple (2), and which returns the milk residue in the tubes (4,10, 11) back to the bottle (1) when baby stops sucking.

The baby feeding device of the present invention may also comprises the second inner tube (10) which

connects the outlet hole (6) of the nipple (1) with the end of the outer tube (11). The inside room of the nipple (2) exclusive of the second inner tube (10), is stuffed with the visco-elastic material, preferably, such as silicon rubber.

The nipple of which inside room is stuffed with the visco-elastic material, keeps the original shape without collapse even in case of strong suction as like human nipple, and consequently does not cause diminution of the suction force to be applied for the inhalation of milk.

The Industrial Applicability The baby feeding device of the present invention comprises the outer extension tube which enables baby to suck the nipple in various and free position.

The magnetic check valve of the present invention controls the inflow of air to regulate the inner pressure of the bottle. The precise control of the inner pressure of the bottle by the magnetic check valve of the present invention, enables to return the residual milk in the tubes back to the bottle when baby stop sucking, without slopping milk through the nipple.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.