Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning a teat, which teat may form part of a dummy/pacifier or baby-feeding bottle, and a method of cleaning a teat in which the device is employed.

Background

A pacifier or dummy (hereinafter, "dummy") is a well-known device for settling an infant or small child (hereinafter, "baby"). Generally speaking, a dummy, if the baby is reliant on one, must be on-hand at all times, and should be cleaned after each use. When the baby is temporarily away from home, e.g. accompanying a parent at a shopping centre, there may be limited or no access to a bathroom, so that cleaning of the dummy for re-use may be a complicated matter.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for cleaning a teat, the device comprising a refillable supply receptacle for holding cleaning liquid, a cleaning section arranged to receive the teat and a fluid pathway between the supply receptacle and the cleaning section, the device being operable to effect flow of the liquid from the supply receptacle, along the fluid pathway, to the cleaning section to wash the teat and further comprising a collection receptacle arranged to receive the liquid with which the teat has been washed. Preferably, the device is configured such that said liquid can drain from the cleaning section into the collection receptacle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for cleaning a teat, the device comprising a refillable supply receptacle for holding cleaning liquid, a cleaning section arranged to receive the teat and a fluid pathway between the supply receptacle and the cleaning section, the device being operable to effect flow of the liquid from the supply receptacle, along the fluid pathway, to the cleaning section to wash the teat and further comprising a collection receptacle into which the liquid can drain from the cleaning section.

Preferably, the collection receptacle is able to be emptied. Preferably, the cleaning section comprises a cavity into which the teat is insertible.

Preferably, opposite ends of the device can be urged towards each other to effect the flow.

Preferably, the device is operable to effect volume reduction in the supply receptacle to cause said flow. Preferably, the supply receptacle is resiliently deformable such that liquid is displaced therefrom and said flow thus effected.

Preferably, the collection receptacle and supply receptacle are configured for movement relative to each other to effect displacement of liquid from the supply receptacle and to cause said flow. Preferably, the collection receptacle is downwardly moveable with respect to the supply receptacle to effect said volume reduction.

Preferably, the device is configured such that the teat is downwardly receivable into the cleaning section. Preferably, the device is configured such that a lid or plate from which the teat is supported abuts an upper part of the device when the teat is received by the cleaning section, whereby a downward load may be applied through the lid/plate to effect said movement.

The teat may form part of a dummy, so that the plate is the backplate of the dummy. Alternatively, the teat may form part of a feeding bottle, so that the lid is that which closes the bottle and secures the teat to the top of the bottle. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the device may be operated by forcing the dummy or bottle thereagainst whilst grasping the dummy/bottle. Preferably, the device is operable by pushing the dummy or bottle thereagainst. Preferably, the device is formed with at least one passage extending from the fluid pathway to a part of the device adjacent which a back plate of the dummy or a lid of the bottle from which the teat is supported is receivable, and being configured such that some liquid from the fluid pathway is forced through the passage(s) upon said flow being effected to be incident upon, and thus to clean, the plate or lid.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said upper part is formed with at least one passage therethrough, the or each passage extending from the fluid pathway to a portion of the upper part adjacent which the lid or plate is receivable, the device being configured such that some liquid from the fluid pathway is forced through the passage(s) upon said flow being effected to be incident upon, and thus to clean, the plate/lid.

Preferably, the upper part is formed with projections receivable in holes through the plate to locate the dummy to the device, and preferably to said upper part. Preferably, the device is configured to allow venting of air from an interior thereof during operation thereof.

Preferably, the upper part includes a sealing member which surrounds an opening into said cleaning section, through which opening the teat is introducible into the cleaning section, the sealing member being compressible by the plate/lid when abutting the upper part to form a circumferential seal with the plate/lid, whereby the plate/lid and seal restrict or preclude escape of liquid from the cleaning section to" an exterior of the device. Preferably, the sealing member is arranged such that the seal is formed radially outward of at least one hole through the dummy plate, whereby air forced into the cleaning section during operation of the device can escape through the hole(s).

Preferably, the device ^' is configured such that said movement can be effected by urging opposite ends of the device towards each other. Preferably, said ends are upper and lower ends. Preferably, the supply receptacle comprises a deformable wall which is generally convergent in a direction from one end to the other, or in a direction along or parallel to an axis along which the device is compressible, so as to be inverted or doubled over when the opposite ends are urged towards each other and thus biased towards an undeformed condition. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the bias restores the wall to an undeformed condition when urging of the opposite ends towards each other is discontinued. Preferably, said wall is frustoconical. Preferably, the deformable wall is resiliently deformable. Preferably, the wall extends circumferentially so as to surround liquid in the supply container.

Preferably, said flow can be effected by compressing the device along an axis. Preferably, opposite ends of the device can be urged towards each other to effect the flow. Preferably, said axis is upright or said ends are upper and lower ends.

Preferably, the collection receptacle is at least partially received in the supply receptacle whereby the fluid path comprises a space between the supply receptacle and collection receptacle, and preferably between a wall of the collection receptacle and a wall of the supply receptacle, which space may surround the collection receptacle. Preferably, said space is annular.

Preferably, said supply receptacle comprises a first section, in which at least a part of said collection receptacle is received, and a second section, for storing the liquid, the second section comprising a resiliently deformable side wall and an end wall, and the collection receptacle and first section are movable together towards the end wall to effect resilient deformation of the side wall and thus said flow. Preferably, said end wall defines a base via which the device may rest upright on a level support surface. Preferably, the device comprises a liquid-permeable wall structure which surrounds, bounds or defines the cleaning section, and the fluid pathway includes a chamber, surrounding the liquid-permeable wall structure, in which the liquid is pressurised when said flow is effected so as to be forced through the wall structure and incident upon the teat to clean it. The liquid forced through the wall may be squirted into the cleaning section, and/or may form jets and/or sprays in the cleaning section; at any rate, the liquid is streamed from the wall structure in a manner such that it cleans the teat received in the cleaning section. Preferably, the device comprises a concave or bowl-shaped structure or member provided with said liquid-permeable wall structure, into which the teat is receivable. Preferably, the wall structure is configured to allow the liquid to pass therethrough only when liquid in the chamber is pressurised.

Preferably, the liquid-permeable wall structure is formed with apertures therethrough. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apertures comprise apertures arranged to discharge the liquid such that it is incident upon the teat oblique to a circumferential surface thereof; to this end, each aperture may extend oblique to an axis extending from an outlet end thereof to a central axis of the cleaning section. In this way, the liquid received by the cleaning section may rotate around the teat. Preferably, the apertures further comprise apertures extending through an end portion of the wall structure which end portion, when the teat is received in the cleaning section, faces a tip of the teat, those apertures extending along axes which are directed generally towards the tip, when the teat is so received, such that water flows to be incident upon the tip for cleaning it. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wall structure comprises a depthwise-extending helical winding and a plurality of longitudinal ribs arranged around the helical winding such that the winding and ribs form a mesh-like structure defining the apertures. Preferably, each rib is provided with a side face which extends in a direction having both a radial component and a tangential component, whereby to direct liquid received by the cleaning section rotationally around the teat.

Preferably, the apertures are, or wall structure is, arranged such that the liquid forced therethrough moves in a swirling manner within the cleaning section. The liquid so forced may form a vortex or whirlpool around the teat, which may enhance cleaning thereof. Preferably, the device comprises a drain, through which liquid may drain from the cleaning section into the collection receptacle. In one embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises a plug for plugging the drain to preclude liquid from passing from the collection receptacle to the cleaning section.

Preferably, the device is provided with a closure which in a closed condition precludes access to the cleaning section. In one embodiment of the invention, the closure comprises said dummy. Preferably, the device of this embodiment is configured such that, when the closure is in the closed condition, the teat of the dummy is received by the cleaning section and the backplate structure of the dummy overlies an opening into the cleaning section. Preferably, the closure further comprises a releasable retainer configured to hold the dummy against a portion of the device which surrounds the opening. Preferably, the device is configured such that the dummy backplate abuts said sealing member of said upper part when the closure is in said closed condition.

In one embodiment of the invention, the device includes said plug and said closure, and the plug is supported from the closure so as to plug the drain when the closure is in the closed condition. The device may comprise a plunger on which the plug is formed, the plunger being slidably supported by the closure so as to be, when the closure is in the closed condition, movable between a retracted condition, in which the plug is clear of the drain and an extended condition, in which the drain is plugged by the plug.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of cleaning a teat, comprising providing a device as defined above, and operating the device with the teat received by the cleaning section to clean the teat. In one embodiment of the invention, the teat forms part of said dummy. In another embodiment of the invention, the teat forms part of said bottle. Brief description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for cleaning a dummy in accordance with either of first and second embodiments of the present invention in a closed condition;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the device 1 according to the first embodiment;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the device of the first embodiment, closed and in a filled condition;

Figure 4 is a view of detail A in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view of detail B in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view showing operation of the device of the first embodiment;

Figure 7 shows detail C of Figure 6;

Figure 8 shows section X-X marked in Figure 3;

Figure 9 shows section Y-Y marked in Figure 3;

Figure 10 shows section Z-Z marked in Figure 3;

Figure 1 1 is an exploded perspective view of the device according to the second embodiment;

Figure 12 is a cross sectional view of the device of the second embodiment, closed and in a filled condition;

Figure 13 is a cross sectional view showing operation of the device of the second embodiment;

Figure 14 shows detail D in Figure 13;

Figure 15 shows a dummy for which the device of either embodiment is suitable;

Figure 16 is an exploded upper perspective view showing components of a device for cleaning a dummy in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 17 is an exploded lower perspective view showing components of the device of the third embodiment; Figure 18 is an exploded view showing components which defy a supply container of the device of the third embodiment;

Figure 19 is a cross sectional elevation view showing the device of the third embodiment;

Figure 20 is a partially cut-away perspective view of a subassembly, comprising the supply container, a bowl unit and sealing element, of the device of the third embodiment;

Figure 21 is a cut-away perspective view showing details of an inner bowl unit of the device of the third embodiment;

Figure 22 is an exploded upper perspective view showing the bowl unit, sealing elements and a closure of the device of the third embodiment;

Figure 23 is a perspective view of the device of the third embodiment wherein a closure of the device is in a closed condition;

Figure 24 is a lower perspective view showing details of the inner bowl unit of the device of the third embodiment;

Figure 25 is a cross-sectional elevation view depicting the device of the third

-embodiment in use; and

Figure 26 is a cross-sectional perspective elevation view depicting a device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

A portable device 1 for cleaning a teat is shown in Figures 1 to 3. The device 1 comprises a supply container 10 which holds cleaning liquid 12 (generally comprising water and perhaps one or more non-toxic cleaning agents dissolved therein). The first container 10 includes a flat base 14, which forms the base of the device 1, a lower section 16 which extends upwardly from the base 14 and includes an inwardly tapering deformable annular wall 17, having a frustoconical configuration, and an upper section 18 comprising a substantially rigid cylindrical wall 19. The lower section 16 is formed from rubber (containing no BPA), e.g. latex. The upper section 18 is moulded from plastic, e.g. polycarbonate or polypropylene (containing no BPA), or formed from glass, and is sealingly attached to the lower section 16. Referring in particular to Figure 3, the device 1 further comprises a collection container 30 having a base 31, a cylindrical side wall 32 extending upwardly from the base 31, and a top wall 33 at an upper end of wall 32. The top wall 33 is configured with a concave portion 34 and a spigot 35 disposed at a lower end of the concave portion 34, the spigot 35 being configured with an opening 36 and provided with an internal thread 37, and being formed with a radially inwardly projecting lip 38 at a lower end of the opening 36. The side wall 32 is formed with a plurality of protuberances or ridges 40 which are arranged at spaced apart positions therearound and located adjacent the base 31. With reference in particular to Figures 2 and 9, the cylindrical side wall 19 of the container 10 is, correspondingly, formed with a plurality of interior channels 20 into which respective ones of the ridges 40 are receivable, which guide the collection container 30 as it is inserted into the supply container 10, locating it rotationally in container 10 and such that walls 32 and 19 are substantially concentric. Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 9, formed at the lower end of each channel 20 is a shelf 22 on which a respective protuberance 40 rests.

The device 1 further comprises a bowl-shaped element 60 which comprises a circumferential wall 62 which is configured with an array of apertures or pores 64 distributed over the wall 62 and extending therethrough. The bowl element 62 is formed at a lower end thereof with a downwardly projecting spigot 66 configured with an external thread 68 which engages thread 37. A rubber sealing element 51 is received between a base of the spigot 66 and the lip 38 to provide a seal therebetween. A drainage opening 59 extends through the spigot 66 to permit drainage of liquid from the bowl element 60 into the collection container 30, as will be described in further detail later.

The device 1 further comprises an end cap in the form of a collar 70 which is removably and sealingly coupled, preferably in a snap-fit or clip-on/clip-off manner, to an upper end of the cylindrical wall 19, the collar 70 having a top wall, a circumferential side wall extending downwardly from the top wall, and a plurality of ribs 71 extending downwardly from the top wall and radially inwardly from the side wall, the ribs being angularly spaced at approximately equal intervals and being configured at lower ends thereof with respective protuberances 72 (see also Figure 8) extending downwardly to abut the upper wall 33 of the collection container 30 radially outward of the concave portion 34. The collar 70 is additionally configured, at an upper end thereof, with a radially inwardly projecting rim which is received in a radially outwardly opening groove of an annular sealing element 80, which will be described in further detail later.

A radially inner circumferential wall 76 of the collar 70, to which each rib 71 extends, is provided with a curved profile whereby the concave portion 34 and wall 76 define a smoothly curved wall structure which generally matches the curved exterior profile of the bowl element 60 and is spaced radially outwardly therefrom such that an annular space 50 is defined between the bowl element 60 and wall structure. The space 50 is bounded at a lower end thereof by spigot 66 and at an upper end thereof by a lower portion of the sealing ring 80 which is compressed between the annular rim and the bowl element upper end. The annular space 50 is sealed at its upper end by sealing ring 80 and at its lower end by the interengaging threads/sealing ring 51.

The device 1 further comprises a lid 90 which is attached to an upper end of the collar 70 via a hinge 92 and is configured with a clasp 94 which is diametrically opposite the hinge 92 and releasably engageable with a lip 78 formed on the collar 70 to cover the open upper end of the bowl element 60 and thus close the device 1. When the lid 90 is closed, an underside thereof is received against an upper end of sealing element 80 such that liquid cannot pass from the interior of the bowl element 80 to the region above the collar 70 and radially outward of the seal 80. The lid 1 is formed with a radially outwardly projecting tab 95 adjacent the clasp 94 which can be pushed or pulled by a person's finger to release the clasp 94 and lip 78 from engagement and open the lid 90.

The device 1 further comprises a plunger 54 which is slidably received through an opening 96 through a central portion of the lid 90. The plunger 54 comprises a longitudinal shaft 55, the shaft 55 and opening 96 having close-fitting X-shaped cross- sectional profiles, whereby the former is closely received in the latter and rotationally locked with respect thereto. The walls of the opening 96 may be defined by a rubber seal (not shown) which compresses against the entirety of the exterior cross section of the shaft 55 to prevent liquid escaping from the interior of the bowl element 60 through the interface between the wall of the opening 96 and the shaft 55. There is sufficient frictional engagement between the lid 90 and shaft 55 such that the latter will remain supported stationary by the former when not pushed or pulled, regardless of the degree to which it projects into the bowl element 60. The plunger member 54 is formed with a graspable head 57 at the shaft upper end and with a plug 58 at the shaft lower end, the plug 58, when the plunger 54 is in its lowermost position and the lid 90 closed, as shown in Figure 3, engaging the wall of the spigot 66 which bounds the drainage hole 59 so as to block the drainage hole and thus preclude cleaning liquid from escaping from the collection container 30 into the bowl element 60 and possibly contaminating fresh cleaning water which has yet to be used. Generally speaking, the plunger 54 will remain in its lowermost (extended) position to isolate the used cleaning liquid in the collection container 30, though may be drawn upwardly (retracted), whilst the lid 90 is closed, to allow liquid to be drained from the bowl member 60, through the drainage hole 59, into the collection container 30. The adjustability of the plunger allows for a reliable seal to be formed at the drainage hole, according to dimensional variations, once the seal between the lid 90 and element 80 is established. In an alternative embodiment, the plunger is replaced by a projecting member or stem, formed at a lower end thereof with the plug, which member/stem is in fixed relation to, e.g. integrally formed with, the lid, whereby the drainage hole is plugged whenever the lid is in place.

The plunger 54 is configured to be removable from the lid, so that the walls of the opening 96 can be cleaned.

The collar 70 is additionally formed on its upper surface 73 with upwardly projecting protuberances 79 arranged circumferentially on the upper surface at spaced apart positions, which will be further described later. With reference to Figure 2, the device 1 can be disassembled for emptying/refilling and cleaning. Specifically, the collar 70, together with lid 90 and seal 80, can be unscrewed or otherwise decoupled from the first container 10, permitting removal of the collection container 30 and bowl element 60, which can be decoupled by unscrewing the latter from the former. The seal 80, when lid 90 is open, can be pushed radially inwardly to release it from the radially inwardly projecting rim, whereby both it and the rim can be cleaned.

When collection container 30 is removed from supply container 10, fresh cleaning liquid can be poured through the open top of the container 10 to fill the bowl section 12 thereof. Collection container 30 is then mounted, via ridges 40 and channels 20/shelves 22, inside the upper section and bowl element 60 mounted, via the screw threads, to container 30. The collar 70, with seal 80 fitted to it, is then coupled to the upper end of the upper section, whereby the device 1, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, is ready for use.

With reference to Figures 6 and 15, to clean the teat 105 of a dummy 100, a user of the device firstly opens lid 90, whereby there is fluid communication between the exterior of the device 1 and the interior of each of containers 10 and 30. The user then introduces the teat 105 downwardly into the cavity defined by the bowl element 60, such that each of the protuberances 79 is received into a respective one of holes 103 in the dummy backplate 102, whereby the dummy 100 is rotationally located on the device 1 , and the backplate 102 abuts the upper face of the collar 70. The dummy 100 is then forced downwardly against the collar 70, whereby the backplate 102 firmly abuts the upper end of seal 80 such that an annular seal is formed against the plate 102 radially inward of the holes 103 but radially outward of the smaller holes 104 formed through the backplate 102.

Continued downward pressure against the dummy 100 forces the collar 70 downwardly against the supply container upper wall 19, the collection container 30 and bowl element 60. The collection container 30, in turn, exerts downward loads into the lower end of upper wall 19 via the interengaging protuberances 40 and shelves 22. Referring to Figure 6, the lines of action of downward loads F at the lower end of the collection container 30, resulting from the loads down the length of the upper wall 19 due to the interengagement between that wall and the collar 70 and the loads exerted through shelves 22, are radially inward of the upward reaction forces R exerted by the base 14 at the lower end of the frustoconical wall 17, inducing a moment effect on the wall 17 which causes the wall 17 to deform resiliently, in a manner somewhat akin to that in which the suction cup of a common household plunger is deformed as it is forced downwardly against a surface by the plunger shaft. The ^" resulting reduction in interior volume of the supply container lower section causes liquid to be displaced from that section, through the annular passage defined between the walls 32, 19, and thence radially inwardly along an annular passage 45, extending from the upper end of passage 43 to the cavity 50, to form a pressurised jacket in the cavity 50 owing to the apertures' being sufficiently small and spaced apart to restrict appropriately the flow of liquid therethrough. Liquid thus forced through the apertures 64 forms a plurality of small jets or sprays of water 150 which are incident upon the teat 105 to wash it. The apertures 64 are generally formed to extend along axes which are oblique to the respective axes which are normal to the wall of the bowl element 60 at the positions where they are located, whereby the jets/sprays cooperate to provide a rotary flushing effect, as depicted in Figures 6, 7 and 10. The jets/sprays may together form a spray or substantially fill the area around the teat to create a whirlpool effect, depending on the downward pressure applied to the device 1, and the liquid which impacts the wall of the teat 105 having a tangential component, enhancing cleaning. The passages 43 and 45, cavity 50 and apertures 64 thus define a fluid path, along which the fluid flows under pressure from the lower portion of the supply container 10 to the interior of the bowl element 60 to wash the teat 105. Because the holes 104 and the backplate 102 are radially inward of the seal formed between sealing ring 80 and the dummy backplate 102, air is allowed to escape from the interior of the device 1 through the holes 104 during operation. Dirty liquid drains freely through the drain hole 59.

The device 1 will revert to its "undeformed" condition, under a bias created by deformation of the resilient wall 17, once downward pressure against the top of the device 1 is discontinued.

When the amount of liquid in the first container 10 is sufficiently depleted, the device 1 may be disassembled, as discussed above, drained and cleaned. With the first container then replenished with liquid, the device 1 may be re-assembled for further use.

In the description and drawings of the further preferred embodiments of the invention, the same reference numerals as have been used in respect of the first embodiment are used to denote and refer to corresponding features.

With reference to Figures 11 to 14, the device according to the second embodiment is identical to the device 1 except with respect to its construction at an upper end 99 thereof. In the device Γ, the collection container 30 is taller and concave portion 34 deeper such that it surrounds substantially the entirety of the fluid-permeable wall 62 of the bowl element 60, whereby the annular cavity 50 is defined solely by the space between that wall and the wall defining the dished portion 34. The cap 70, instead of being configured in the form of a collar with a curved interior profile as in the previous embodiment, comprises a shallow top wall 77, on the underside of which the downwardly projecting protuberances 72 are formed.

The constructional details of the device at the periphery 77A of the upper wall and the radially inner edge 77B of that wall are substantially identical to the details at the corresponding positions in the device 1, as are the constructional details of the device upward of the upper wall 77.

The upper wall 77 is configured with openings or apertures 75 therethrough, which are sufficiently small that the wall 77 is liquid-permeable only when the container 30 is urged downwardly to force liquid into the cavity 50 in the manner previously described. The purpose of these apertures will be described shortly.

With reference to Figure 13, the device is operated in substantially the same manner as device 1. With lid 90 open, the user introduces the teat 105 downwardly into the cavity defined by the bowl element 60, such that each of the protuberances 79 is received into a respective one of holes 103 in the dummy backplate 102, whereby the dummy 100 is rotationally located on the device 1 , and the backplate 102 abuts the upper face 73 of cap 70. The dummy 100 is then forced downwardly against the cap 70, whereby the backplate 102 firmly abuts the upper end of seal 80 whereby an annular seal is formed against the plate 102 radially inward of the holes 103 but radially outward of the small holes 104 formed through the backplate 102.

Continued downward pressure against the dummy 100 forces the cap 70 downwardly against the supply container upper wall 19, the collection container 30 and bowl element 60, resulting in deformation of the lower wall 17 and displacement of liquid from the lower section, as previously described. The liquid is displaced through the annular passage defined between the walls 32, 19, and thence radially inwardly along an annular passage 45 extending from the upper end of passage 43 to an upper end of the cavity 50, again to form a pressurised jacket in the cavity 50 and small jets or sprays 150 which are output from apertures 64. With reference to Figure 14, some of the liquid forced through passage 43 and into passage 45 is forced under pressure through the apertures 75 to form jets or sprays 160 which wash the dummy backplate 102.

With reference to Figures 16 to 25, a device 1" according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described. The device 1 ", which is shown fully assembled in Figure 23, comprises a supply container 10 which is of generally similar construction to the container 10 of the devices 1 and , though is an assembly of parts and differs with respect to the manner in which it engages with a second container 30, as will be described in further detail shortly, and also differs in relation to the configuration of the deformable frustoconical annular wall 17, which in this embodiment is formed with parallel, circumferential corrugations 17A, affording it a fluted configuration and defining circumferential lines of relative weakness, whereby it deforms uniformly around the central longitudinal axis thereof when the device 1" is compressed while being operated.

With reference to Figure 18, the supply container 10 comprises a base part 10A, a lower wall part, or boot, 10B, which defines the frustoconical annular wall 17 and is formed from rubber and preferably latex (containing no BPA), and an upper part IOC which defines the upper wall section 18. The parts 10A and 10B are formed with interengageable screw threads 11A and 1 IB respectively, whereby they can be screwed together so as to be interconnected. Similarly, the parts 10B and IOC are provided with interengageable screw threads 1 1C and 1 1D respectively, whereby they may be screwed together so as to be interconnected.

In the present embodiment, support shelves 22 are arranged at a top, rather than a bottom, end of the upper section 18, and protuberances or ridges 40 likewise arranged at a top, rather than a bottom, end of the collection container. In the present embodiment, the upper section 18 is not formed with channels 20; instead, the container 30 is formed with a tab 41 arranged below one of the tabs 40 such that a slot or groove 42 is defined between that tab and the tab 41 , into which slot one of the shelves 22 is receivable by relative rotation between the containers 10 and 30 when the latter is received in the former, such that the container 30 is correctly rotationally orientated, with each of the ridges 40 being received on a corresponding one of the shelves 22. Gaps between adjacent ones of the ridges 40/shelves 22 around the circumference of the collection container upper end admit fluid from the container 10 to the upper part of the device 1 " for cleaning a teat, as will be described in further detail later. An annular sealing element 81 is received against the upper end of the container 30, the sealing element being configured with a downwardly opening circumferential groove 82 (see Figure 17) into which an upwardly projecting ring 44, formed at the upper end of container 30, is received, as can best be seen in Figure 20. In the device 1", the concavity 34, instead of being integrally formed with the top wall of the collection container, is defined by a separately formed bowl unit 39 which is configured at an upper end thereof, with a circumferential rim 39A that defines a downwardly opening circumferential groove 39B (see Figures 17, 20 and 22) which is received over an exposed circumferential portion of the sealing element 81 so as to be mounted, via that sealing element, to the upper end of the container 30. The device 1" additionally includes a further annular sealing element 83 comprising, referring to Figures 17 and 22, a radially outwardly extending circumferential lip 83 A and a sleeve portion 83B projecting downwardly from the lip 83A to be receivable in a hole 39C formed through a lower end of the bowl unit 39 in a manner such that the lip 83A seats against an annular portion of an inner surface of the concavity 34 which surrounds the hole 39C.

An additional sealing element 84 is received over the rim 39A, the sealing element 84 comprising flat upper 84A and lower 84B sealing faces and a peripheral, downwardly projecting circumferential lip 84C. The element 84 is sized such that the sealing face 84B seats against an upwardly facing surface 39C of the rim 39A and a radially inwardly facing circumferential surface of the lip 84C seats against a radially outwardly facing circumferential surface 39D of the rim 39A. The sealing element 84 is configured with downwardly opening channels 85 which are equally spaced therearound, each channel extending from lip 84C, where it forms an inlet opening therethrough, to a radially innermost wall of the sealing element 84, where it forms an outlet opening. When the surface 84B is received against the surface 39C, a seal is formed at the interface between the surfaces, undersides of the channels 85 being closed off by portions of the surface 39C such that the channels and those portions together define radial fluid passages which will be described in further detail later.

Each of the channels 85 extends in a direction having a tangential component, to impart rotational motion to liquid passing therethrough, as will be described in further detail later.

The device 1 " further includes a bowl unit 97 comprising a collar 70 and a bowl 60 integrally formed with the collar 70. The inner surface of a circumferential side wall of the collar 70 is formed with a screw thread 74 which is complementary to a screw thread 21 formed at an upper end of the container 10, whereby the unit 97 can be screwed onto that upper end to be mounted thereto. When the unit 97 is so mounted, a downwardly facing circumferential surface thereof is received against upwardly facing surface 84A of the sealing element 84, whereby a seal is created at the interface between the two surfaces. When the unit 97 is so mounted, a downwardly projecting spigot 66, formed at a lower end of the bowl 60, is received into the hole through sealing element 83, whereby a seal is formed at the interface between the spigot and projecting portion 83B of the sealing element and the interface between the bowl 60 and portion 83 A of the sealing element 83.

The bowl 60 in the device 1", like that in the previous embodiments, is porous or apertured, so as to be permeable to liquid supplied from the container 30 when the device is compressed during operation. However, the manner in which the bowl 60 is constructed to define the apertures 64 differs from that in the previous embodiments. Specifically, referring to Figures 16, 17 and 21, the bowl 60 is configured in the form of a helical winding extending substantially the depth of the bowl 60 and being of progressively reducing diameter, and a plurality of longitudinal ribs, each of which also extends substantially the depth of the bowl 60, arranged at spaced apart positions around the interior of the helical winding, such that the winding 64A and ribs 64B form a mesh-like structure defining apertures 64. To impart a tangential component to the motion of the liquid forced through the apertures 64 into the annular space 50 between the concavity 34 and bowl 60, each rib is provided with a side face 64C which, as can be seen at Figure 21 , extends in a direction having both a radial component and a tangential component. The opposite side face 64D on each rib 64 may, for example, extend in a purely radial direction or in a direction substantially parallel to that in which the other side face 64C of the rib 64 extends. It will be noted that the tangential component of the direction in which each face 64C extends is in the same rotational direction as the tangential component of the direction in which each channel 85 extends. Referring to Figure 24, from which the mesh-like structure of the bowl is omitted for clarity, the bowl 60 comprises further apertures 65, extending through a bottom end portion thereof and arranged at spaced apart positions circumferentially around the opening 59, which apertures are configured such that, when the device 1 " is assembled, they are extend along axes which are directed generally upwardly towards the rounded tip of the teat, such that water flows therethrough from a lower part of the jacket to be incident upon the tip to clean it. Apertures 65 are preferably provided in the corresponding bowls of the devices 1 and Γ also. The closure 90 of the device 1", unlike that in the devices 1 and Γ, is defined by the back plate 102 of a dummy 100 and a retainer 1 10 which will be described in further detail shortly. The bowl unit 97 is provided with a sealing element 80 received in an upwardly opening circumferential groove disposed radially outward of the opening into the bowl 60 such that an upper portion thereof projects upwardly from the upper wall of the bowl unit 97 to be received against the back plate 102 when the teat of the dummy is received in the bowl 60, such that a continuous circumferential interface between the back plate 102 and the ring 80 is sealed. The unit 97 further includes opposed protuberances 79 which are positioned to be received by holes 103 in the back plate 102 to locate the dummy 100 with respect to the unit 97. The retainer 1 10 comprises an elastomeric band or strap 112 and a pair of toggles 114 attached at opposite ends thereof. The unit 97 additionally includes a pair of lugs 99, arranged at diametrically opposite sides thereof, each lug 99 being configured to trap a respective toggle thereunder and being formed with a notch through which a respective end portion of the band/strap 1 12 extends when the toggle is so trapped, such that the band/strap 112 extends, in a stretched condition, around the rear of the dummy 100, urging it downwardly to retain the dummy in position and the back plate 102 in engagement with the ring 80. Each of the parts 10A, IOC, 30, 39A and 97 is moulded as a single piece from plastic, eg polycarbonate or polypropylene (containing no BPA) or from glass.

When the bowl unit 97 is unscrewed from the container 10, and the assembly comprising that unit, sealing elements 84 and 83, bowl unit 39, sealing element 81 and collection container 30 is removed from the container 10, cleaning liquid can be poured into the container 10 and is added preferably until the level thereof is approximately level with the upper end of part 108. The said assembly is then replaced in position and the unit 97 screwed back onto the container 10, whereupon the device 1" is ready for use. With reference to Figure 25, to clean the teat 105 of the dummy 100, a user of the device, with the teat 105 received downwardly in the cavity defined by the bowl 60, such that each of the protuberances is received into a respective one of the holes 103 (as previously described), pushes the dummy back plate 102 against the ring 80 and forces the dummy 100 and unit 97 downwardly (while the base 14 of the container 10 is received against a support surface), whereby the resulting compressive load is transferred, via abutment between the tabs 42 and 22, into the container 10, causing the wall 17 to deform resiliently in a manner as previously described, albeit perhaps in a more controlled fashion owing to the corrugations 17A. Liquid is thus displaced from the supply container lower section, through the annular passage defined between the walls 32, 19, between adjacent ones of the tabs 22 and thence through the annular space between the rim 39A and collar 70 to the inlet ends of the passages defined by channels 85, whereupon it is forced through those passages into the annular space between the bowl 60 and bowl 34 to form a pressurised jacket in the annular space 50, the jacket rotating or swirling in the space 50 by virtue of the angles at which the passages are arranged. The pressure in the rotating jacket forces the liquid through the apertures 64, such that it may form a plurality of small jets or sprays and is incident upon the teat 105 to wash it, the previously described rib side face structure serving to impart supplementary rotation to the liquid as it exits the apertures 64, and the helical winding structure serving to impart a partial downward component to the liquid in the annular space 50 such that it travels, in a swirling manner, towards the drainage hole defined through spigots 66. Again, the streams output from the apertures 64 cooperate to provide a rotary flushing effect, and may together form jets or a spray or substantially fill the area around the teat to create a whirlpool effect, depending, for example, on the downward pressure applied to the device 1". The liquid which impacts the wall of the teat 105 has a tangential component, enhancing cleaning. Breathing/venting may take place through the holes 104 in the dummy backplate, consistent with the previous embodiments.

The seal 81 prevents cleaning liquid ingress radially inwardly from the supply container 10, over the top end 44 of the collection container 30 or under the wall 39C of the bowl member 39, to the inner container interior. The sealing element 83, which forms a circumferential seal where it is received against the concavity 34 and also where it bears against the spigot 66/underside of bowl 60, prevents fluid in the cavity 50 from leaking directly into the collection container 30.

The dummy 100 when not being used or cleaned, can be refitted to the top of the bowl unit 97 and the elastic retainer 110 replaced in position, as previously described, to close . the device 1".

Shown in Figure 26 is a cross-sectional elevation view through a device 1 according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. The device Γ" is identical to the device 1" though part 10B is formed with an inner circumferential wall section 19A, which extends downwardly from an upper end of circumferential wall 19, and lies closer to the circumferential side wall 32 of the collection container 30 than does the circumferential wall 32, whereby an inner annular space 19B is defined between the section 19A and the side wall 32, and an outer annular space 19C is defined between the section 19A and the wall 19, the inner annular space 19B being narrower (in a radial direction) than the outer space 19C. A step is formed adjacent an upper end of the section 19A, whereby the space 19B widens at a top end thereof. Formed through that upper end, at spaced apart positions circumferentially therearound, are holes 19D which provide communication between upper ends of the spaces 19B and 19C. When the device Γ" is compressed during operation, most of any air in the supply container 10 will, because the inner space 19B is narrow, preferentially accumulate in the space 19C, forming pockets therein, such that it is cleaning liquid that is preferentially directed through space 19B (which forms part of the fluid path to the bowl 60). Air trapped in the liquid directed through space 1 B may escape through the holes 19D, into the space 19C, whereby the flow of liquid to the teat-cleaning section can be substantially unhindered by that air.

It will be really apparent that the devices 1" and V" can, when the cleaning liquid is being used, be disassembled, cleaned, and supplied with fresh cleaning liquid. Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.