NURSING BOTTLE

Field of the Invention This invention relates to nursing bottles designed to keep formula contents and liquid contents separated until such time for mixing same for preparing baby feed.

Background of the Invention Nursing bottles designed to keep formula contents and liquid contents separated until such time for mixing same for preparing baby feed are known in the prior art. Exemplary prior art references include inter alia:

US Patent No. 3,187,918 to Moόre which discloses a container and dispenser with a sealed container, a pliable dispensing means such as a dispensing nipple sealed around at least a portion of the container, and an opening means disposed within the pliable dispensing means and operable by deformation of the pliable dispensing means for opening the container. The liquid within the container is then free to flow around the opening means into the dispensing nipple for consumption purposes. US Patent No. 5,794,802 to Caola which discloses a reusable dispenser designed for use with off-the-shelf nursing bottles. The dispenser includes a dry chamber housing for storing formula contents, a chamber seal and a means to release the chamber seal such as a push rod for enabling the formula contents to fall into a nursing bottle. Other prior art references include inter alia US Patent No. 5,275,298 to

Holley, Jr. et al., US Patent No. 5,419,445 to Kaesemeyer, US Patent No. 5,433,328 to Baron et al., US Patent No. 5,542,922 to Petterson et al., US Patent No. 5,634,714 to Guild, US Patent No. 6,113,257 to Sharon et al., US Patent No. 6,484,905 to Swackhamer et al., US Patent No. 6,612,428 to Segovia, Jr. et al., and US Patent No. 6,669,013 to Villanueva. Summary of the Invention

The present invention is directed towards a formula dispenser for use in combination with most off-the-shelf nursing bottles including a bottle, a dispensing nipple, a securing ring for securing the dispensing nipple on the bottle, and a nipple cover for mounting on the securing ring for protecting the dispensing nipple. The formula dispenser is intended to be initially removably sealingly lodged in a dispensing nipple for being initially suspended in a bottle on securing the dispensing nipple on a bottle, thereby separating its formula contents from a nursing bottle's liquid contents. The formula dispenser is intended to be subsequently dislodged to fall into the bottle thereby enabling mixing the formula contents with the liquid contents for preparing baby feed.

The formula dispenser preferably has a two part construction for facilitating its filling with formula contents. The formula dispenser can optionally include a dislodgement member extending into a dispensing nipple towards its dispensing opening for facilitating dislodgement of same from a dispensing nipple. A supporting member can be optionally provided for supporting a formula dispenser in its lodged position in a nursing bottle. A nipple cover can be optionally provided with a finger depressible pliable section for enabling a user to dislodge a formula dispenser from its lodged position in a dispensing nipple without having to touch the dispensing nipple.

The present invention provides a convenient cost effective solution for assisting users to keep formula contents from liquid contents until such time for mixing same for preparing baby feed.

Brief Description of Drawings

In order to understand the invention and to see how it can be carried out in practice, preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of non- limiting examples only, with reference totthe accompanying drawings in which similar parts are likewise numbered, and in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a nursing bottle including a formula dispenser; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of Figure l's nursing bottle;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of Figure l's formula dispenser;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross section of an assemblage including a dispensing nipple, a securing ring and a formula dispenser along line A-A in Figure 1;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross section of Figure 1 along line A-A;

Fig. 6 is a close up longitudinal cross section along line A-A in Figure 1 showing manual dislodgement of the formula dispenser from its lodged position in a dispensing nipple; Figs. 7A to 7C are schematic views showing formula dispensers with a dislodgment member for assisting dislodging a formula dispenser from a dispensing nipple; and

Figs. 8A to 8C are schematic views showing nursing bottles with a support member for supporting a formula dispenser in a lodged position.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

Figures 1 and 2 and 4 to 6 show an off-the-shelf nursing bottle 10 for containing and dispensing liquid contents 11. The nursing bottle 10 includes a bottle 12, a dispensing nipple 13, and a securing ring 14 for securing the dispensing nipple 13 on the bottle 12. The dispensing nipple 13 includes a lower nipple body 16, an intermediate shoulder 17 and an upper teat 18. The nipple body 16 includes a lowermost outward directed flange 19 and an inward directed flange 21 recessed relative to the flange 19. The inward directed flange 21 has annular width of about 2mm. The teat 18 includes an uppermost dispensing opening 22. The nursing bottle 10 also includes a nipple cover 23 for protecting the dispensing nipple 13. The bottle 12, the securing ring 14 and the nipple cover 23 are manufactured from suitable rigid plastic materials. The dispensing nipple 13 is manufactured from suitable pliable plastic materials.

Figures 1 and 3 to 6 show a formula dispenser 30 for containing and dispensing formula contents 31. The formula dispenser 30 includes an open topped insert 32 manufactured from a suitable rigid food grade plastic material which is microwave safe, capable of undergoing repeated sterilizations, and other food grade requirements. Suitable plastic materials include inter alia polypropylene (PP), and the like.

The open topped insert 32 has a two part construction including a narrow necked top insert component 33 and a wide bottom insert component 34 for containing formula contents. The top _t and bottom insert components 33 and 34 are intended for repeated engagement and disengagement for enabling convenient filling of the bottom insert component 34 with formula contents. Suitable arrangements include a screw thread engagement, an interference fit engagement, and the like.

The top insert component 33 has an upper narrow neck 36 and a lower base 37 having the same shape and dimension as the bottom insert component 34. The top insert component 33 includes an insert opening 38 disposed above a sealing arrangement 39 constituted by an upper outwardly directed flange 41A and a lower outwardly directed flange 41B for insertion of the inwardly directed flange 21 therebetween on mounting the dispensing nipple 13 on the formula dispenser 30 to form an assemblage 42 of the formula dispenser 30 removably sealingly lodged in the dispensing nipple 13. The flanges 41 are shaped and dimensioned to radially extend beyond the flange 21 's internal diameter and stop short of the nipple body in the region of the flange 21.

The double flange sealing arrangement 39 ensures a removable sealed lodging of the formula dispenser 30 in the dispensing nipple 13 and only allows slight movement of the formula dispenser 30 with respect to the dispensing nipple 13. The insert opening 38 is preferably disposed above the double flange sealing arrangement 39 so as to be sealingly urged against the shoulder 17 in the assemblage 42 (see Figure 4).

Figure 2 shows the nipple cover 23 can be modified for use with the formula dispenser 30 by being formed with a finger depressible pliable section 43. for enabling a user to dislodge the formula dispenser 30 from its lodged position in a dispensing nipple 13 without having to touch the dispensing nipple 13. The use of the nursing bottle 10 and the formula dispenser 30 is as follows: A user unscrews a dispensing nipple 13 from a bottle 12 and fills the bottle 12 with liquid contents 11. The user takes a formula dispenser 30 and detachs its top insert component 33 from its bottom insert component 34. The user fills the bottom insert component 34 with formula contents 31 and replaces the top insert component 33. The user holds the formula dispenser 30 upright and mounts the dispensing nipple 13 onto the formula dispenser 30 to form the assemblage 42. Assembling the assemblage 42 causes the flange 41A to momentarily upwardly deform the flange 21 until the flange 41A passes beyond the flange 19 which then reverts to its original shape. The flange 21 sandwiched between the flanges 41A and 41B forms a sealed lodging of the formula dispenser 30 in the dispensing nipple 13 (see Figures 4 and 5). The insert opening 38 is sealing urged against the shoulder 17 which is slightly deformed for additional sealing. The user secures the assemblage 42 on the bottle 12 whereby the liquid contents 11 and the formula contents 31 are separated. The user snaps the nipple cover 23 with the pliable section 43 on the dispensing nipple 13 to protect same. The nursing bottle 10 together with the formula dispenser 30 are now ready for taking along with a baby's other needs, for example, diapers, change of clothes, etc.

Upon deciding to make up baby feed, the user depresses down on the pliable section 43 which temporarily deforms from its original shape shown in dashed line to dislodge the formula dispenser 30 from the dispensing nipple 13 (see Figure 6). The formula dispenser 30 falls into the bottle 12 as indicated by arrow A thereby enabling mixing the liquid contents 11 with the formula contents 31 to make up baby feed. The formula dispenser 30 can be re-used for making up additional baby feeds.

Figures 7A to 7C shows a formula dispenser 30 including an insert 32 with three variants of a dislodgement member 44 for facilitating dislodgement of same from its lodging position in a dispensing nipple 13. The dislodgement members 44 are shaped and dimensioned to extend into a dispensing nipple 13 towards its dispensing opening 22 in an assemblage 42. Figure 7A shows a dislodgement member 44 constituted by an upright push rod 46 extending upwards from the base of the formula dispenser 30. Figure 7B shows a dislodgement member 44 constituted by an upright push rod 47 extending the insert opening 38. Figure 7C shows a dislodgement member 44 constituted by an upright push rod 48 also extending from the insert opening 38.

Figures 8A to 8C show nursing bottles 10 and formula dispensers 30 with three variants of a support member 49 for supporting a formula dispenser 30 in its lodged position in a bottle 12. Figure 8A shows a support member 49 constituted by a support ring 51 supported by bottle 12's interior surface. Figure 8B shows a support member 49 constituted by a support ring 51 supported at the opening of the bottle 12's opening. Figure 8C shows a support member 49 constituted by an upright support 53 extending upwards from the base of the bottle 12.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications, and other applications of the invention can be made within the scope of the appended claims.