DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a diaphragm and a device for facilitating bottom venting of an anti-colic baby bottle. The present invention also relates to a bottom-vented anti-colic bottle.

Background art

In the prior art, air ingress is facilitated into a baby bottle during suction to avoid health problems for the child. The interior of the bottle is vented from the bottom of the bottle itself or from the nipple through the conventional anti-colic valve. For bottom venting of bottles, prior art devices comprise a diaphragm lying on a structural part of the bottom of the bottle and configured to allow air ingress into the internal volume of the bottle. In particular, the diaphragm has a calibrated cut formed therein which opens out as a negative pressure is generated in the bottle upon milk suction, thereby providing the intake of an amount of air from the outside, that will equalize the pressure. It shall be noted that the cut in the diaphragm opens to provide venting as a given negative pressure value is attained in the bottle. This value ranges from a minimum to a maximum which account for various factors, such as: the volume of the baby bottle, the type of liquid to be sucked from the bottle, the need to avoid dripping of liquid out of the bottle.

One example of diaphragm for rear ventilation is disclosed in US 2016067146 Al. This diaphragm is substantially disk-shaped to facilitate venting. That is, the vent portion is never located higher than the plane of the diaphragm. Moreover, the diaphragm on the surface that faces the bottom of the bottle has a circular stiffening rib, which is capable to provide an anti-shock effect during pressure transitions. It should be also noted that this rib is nothing more than a thicker area of the membrane on the side that faces the bottom of the bottle.

Problems of the prior art Prior art bottom venting devices for bottles suffer from a variety of problems. First, leakages of the liquid held in the bottle may occur due to undesired opening of the cut in response to a pressure that is higher than the external pressure. Second, the opening of the cut caused by the ingress of air into the bottle requires excessive suction efforts which, in addition to fatigue, cause health problems, for example otitis. Furthermore, prior art diaphragms require a high degree of negative pressure to open the passage and let air into the baby bottle. This entails an increased suction effort on the nipple by the baby.

It should be also noted that prior art diaphragms, such as the one disclosed in US2016067146 Al, in which a stiffening rib of the same material as the membrane is provided, are not able to guarantee optimal operation of the vent device.

Object of the Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a diaphragm, a bottom venting device for a baby bottle and a baby bottle that can obviate the above discussed prior art drawbacks. In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a diaphragm that can ensure air ingress into the bottle and equalize the pressure while reducing the liquid suction effort required of the baby.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for equalizing the pressure inside the bottle which can ensure air ingress and prevent leakage of the liquid contained inside the bottle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a baby bottle that can equalize the pressure inside the bottle as the liquid contained therein is sucked through.

The aforementioned technical purpose and objects are substantially fulfilled by a diaphragm, a device for bottom venting of a baby bottle and a baby bottle that comprises the technical features as disclosed in one or more of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the description, provided by way of indication and without limitation, of a preferred, not exclusive embodiment of a diaphragm for venting a baby bottle, a device for equalizing the pressure inside a baby bottle and a baby bottle equipped with a pressure equalizing device, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the diaphragm according to an embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of the diaphragm according to the embodiment of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 shows a top view of the diaphragm according to the embodiment of Figure 1, - Figure 4 shows a detail sectional view of the diaphragm according to the embodiment of Figure 1;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a stiffening member that can be associated with the diaphragm of Figure 1;

- Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the stiffening member of Figure 4; - Figure 7 shows a sectional view of a bottom vented baby bottle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 8 shows a pressure equalizing device according to an embodiment of the present invention mounted to the bottom of the baby bottle of Figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Even when this is not expressly stated, the individual features as described with reference to the particular embodiments shall be intended as auxiliary to and/or interchangeable with other features described with reference to other exemplary embodiments.

Referring to the accompanying figures, numeral 1 designates a baby bottle for a baby to suck liquid therethrough. The baby bottle 1 comprises a bottle 2 configured to contain a liquid, e.g. milk or water, a nipple 3 for a baby to suck the liquid therethrough and a device for equalizing the pressure 10 inside the bottle 2. In particular, the bottle 2 extends along a first axis X-X between an upper opening 2a, having the nipple 3 coupled thereto, and a lower opening 2b having the pressure equalizing device 10 coupled thereto. It shall be noted that both the nipple 3 and the pressure equalizing device 10 are preferably removably coupled to the bottle 2.

Therefore, the pressure equalizing device 10 can equalize the pressure inside the bottle, while ensuring fluid tightness both when sucking, i.e. when the bottle is in use, and at rest when the bottle is not in use.

As used herein, the baby bottle 1 is meant to be not in use when the baby does not draw liquid through the nipple 3, i.e. when the first axis X-X of the bottle 2 is substantially perpendicular to a conventional support surface. In other words, the baby bottle 1 is not in use when the bottle 2 is in an upright position and the pressure inside the bottle is equal to or higher than the pressure of the outside environment.

As used herein, the baby bottle 1 is meant to be in use when the lower opening 2b, with which the pressure equalizing device 10 is associated, faces upwards or is inclined to the conventional support surface. In other words, the baby bottle 1 is in use when the baby is sucking the liquid through the nipple 3 thereby generating a negative pressure inside the bottle 2 with respect to the outside environment.

The pressure equalizing device 10 is configured to ensure fluid tightness and prevent liquid leakage from the bottle 2 and to ensure the ingress of air from an environment outside the bottle 2 as the liquid is being sucked through. In particular, the pressure equalizing device 10 comprises a bottom cover 11 that can be removably coupled to the bottle 2 of the baby bottle and a vent diaphragm 100. It should be noted that the vent membrane 100 is preferably shaped to be complementary to the bottom cover 11 to interact therewith. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the vent diaphragm 100 is configured to interface with the bottom of the bottle 2, preferably defined by the bottom cover 11, which has one or more bores 12 formed therein for the passage of air from an outside environment into the bottle 2.

Preferably, the diaphragm 100 is made of a deformable silicone material to facilitate adhesion with the bottom cover 11.

Advantageously, the silicone material facilitates adaptation of the diaphragm to the different surfaces and promotes durability thereof for continuous use.

The diaphragm 100 comprises a central flexible portion 101, a first ring portion 102 and a second ring portion 103 connected to one another. The central flexible portion 101 is elastically deformable to reversibly move between a rest configuration, when the pressure inside the bottle 2 is equal to or higher than the pressure of the outside environment, and a vented configuration when the pressure in the bottle 2 is lower than the pressure of the outside environment. In other words, the central flexible portion 101 is in the rest configuration when the baby bottle 1 with which it is associated is not in use. Conversely, the central flexible portion 101 is in the venting configuration when the baby bottle 1 with which it is associated is in use.

The central flexible portion 101 comprises at least one passage 104 configured to move between: - an open position to allow passage of air from said outside environment to the interior of the bottle 2 when the central flexible portion 101 is in the vented configuration; and

- a fluid-tight closed position when the central flexible portion 101 is in the rest configuration. The first ring portion 102 surrounds the central flexible portion 101 to be concentric and connected with the central flexible portion 101.

Preferably, the first ring portion 102 comprises a bottom surface 102a that faces the bottom of the bottle 2 and a top surface 102b opposite to the bottom surface 102a and facing the interior of the bottle 2. The second ring portion 103 surrounds the first ring portion 102 to be concentric and connected with the first ring portion 102. It shall be noted that the central flexible portion 101 is raised with respect to the second ring portion 103 towards the interior of the bottle 2 and the first ring portion 102 connects the central flexible portion 101 and the second ring portion 103, respectively. In other words, the central flexible portion 101 is spaced apart along the first axis X-X with respect to the second ring portion 103 by the first ring portion 102.

Preferably, the assembly of the central flexible portion 101 and the first ring portion 102 define a dome shape as shown in the figures. More in detail, the first ring portion 102 substantially defines the side wall of the dome, whereas the central flexible portion 101 substantially defines the apex of the dome.

Advantageously, the dome shape of the diaphragm affords equalized pressure distribution and also facilitates the movement between the open position and the closed position. According to a preferred embodiment, the second ring portion 103 has an inside perimeter, having the first ring portion 102 connected thereto, and an outside perimeter that can be coupled to the bottle 2. Preferably, the second ring portion 103 extends from the top surface 102b substantially perpendicular thereto. In particular, it shall be noted that the assembly of the central flexible portion 101, the first ring portion 102 and the second ring portion define a “sombrero” shape.

Advantageously, as the second ring portion 102 is moved away from the first ring portion the pressure exerted by the fluid on the second ring portion 102 may be regularized, which will facilitate adhesion of the diaphragm 100 to the bottom cover 11.

Preferably, the second ring portion 103 has an annular groove 107 formed on the outside perimeter to facilitate coupling and fluid tightness between the diaphragm 100 and the lower opening 2b of the bottle 2 when the baby bottle is assembled.

More preferably, the second ring portion 103 has at least one tab 106 projecting out of the portion 103 and configured to facilitate the actions of pulling out and position the diaphragm 100 on the bottom cover. The diaphragm 100 comprises an annular stiffening member 105 which is adapted to at least partially stiffen the first ring portion 102. In particular, the stiffening member 105 is configured to facilitate a reversible passage between the rest configuration and the vented configuration by concentrating pressure stresses on the flexible central portion 101. Advantageously, the annular stiffening member 105 concentrates pressure stresses on the central flexible portion 101.

Advantageously, the annular stiffening member 105 affords proper adhesion of the diaphragm 100 with the bottom of the baby bottle 1 thereby facilitating the movement of the central flexible portion 101 only. Preferably, the annular stiffening member 105 is incorporated in the first ring portion 102 between the top surface 102a and the bottom surface 102b of the first ring portion 102.

Advantageously, the insertion of the annular stiffening member 105 inside the diaphragm 100 facilitates the manufacturing process. Preferably, the annular stiffening member 105 is embedded inside the diaphragm material at the first ring portion 102 to strengthen it for improved stress distribution.

More preferably, as shown in Figure 2, the annular stiffening member 105 is placed at the same distance from the bottom surface 102a and the top surface 102b.

Most preferably, the annular stiffening member 105 is an insert made of a polymeric material associated with the first ring portion 102 and inserted between the bottom surface 102a and the top surface 102b.

Advantageously, the insertion of the annular stiffening member 105 inside the diaphragm prevents detachment thereof and/or any movements that might disturb pressure distribution on the diaphragm. According to an embodiment, as an alternative to the above, the annular stiffening member 105 is coupled to the top surface 102b while surrounding the first ring portion 102

According to a further embodiment, as an alternative to the above, the annular stiffening member 105 is coupled to the bottom surface 102a so that the first ring portion 102 surrounds the annular stiffening member 105.

It shall be noted that, according to the above described embodiments, the annular stiffening member 105 is made of a rigid polymeric material, so that proper movement of the central flexible portion 101 is ensured and undesired deformations caused by the first ring portion 102 are prevented.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the annular stiffening member 105 is made of a silicone material whose inherent hardness is greater than that of the silicone material that forms the diaphragm 100.

More preferably, the annular stiffening member 105 is made of silicone material and is disposed within the first ring portion 102 between the bottom surface 102a and the top surface 102b. For example, the annular stiffening member 105 made of silicone material is embedded in the membrane 100 at the first ring portion 102.

According to a preferred embodiment, the annular stiffening member 105 is configured to stiffen the first ring portion 102 by extending between the second ring portion 103 and the central flexible portion 101 along the first ring portion 102. Advantageously, as the entire first ring portion 102 is stiffened the concentration of pressure stresses on the central flexible portion 101 improves.

Preferably, the annular stiffening member 105 is also configured to maintain the dome shape of the assembly of the first ring portion 102 with the flexible central portion 101 as well as the “sombrero” shape of the assembly of the first ring portion 102 with the second ring portion 103 and the flexible central portion 101.

According to a preferred embodiment, the flexible central portion 101 of the diaphragm 100, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, comprises: - a central dome-shaped zone 101a;

- an annular depression 101b externally surrounding the central dome-shaped zone 101a, to be concentric and connected with said central dome-shaped zone 101a;

- an annular rib 101c surrounding said annular depression 101b, to be concentric and internally connected with the annular depression 101b and externally connected with the first ring portion 102;

According to a preferred embodiment, the central flexible portion 101 has a top surface facing the interior of the bottle 2 and a bottom surface facing the bottom of the bottle 2 so that:

-the outer surface of the central dome-shaped zone 101a has a first radius of curvature R1 ranging from 5.5 mm to 6.5 mm;

- the outer surface of the annular depression 101b has a second radius of curvature R2 ranging from 1.5 mm to 2 mm;

- the outer surface of the annular rib 101 c has a third radius of curvature R3 ranging from 1 mm to 1.5 mm. Also preferably, the central flexible portion 101 sheet has a thickness S from 1 mm to 1.5 mm.

Preferably, the annular rib 101c has a thickness S2 from 0,4 mm to 0.6 mm.

According to a preferred embodiment, the passage 104 is formed without removing material from the central flexible portion 101. In other words, the passage 104 is obtained by tearing or cutting the central flexible portion 101 thus avoiding any material removal.

Advantageously, the passage 104 thus obtained avoids undesired fluid leakages when in the closed position. It shall be noted that the passage from the rest configuration to the vented configuration causes the central dome-shaped zone 101a of the annular depression 101b to move away from the first ring portion 102 toward the interior of the bottle. As a result, as the central dome-shaped zone 101a and the annular depression 101b are moved away the annular rib 101c is elastically deformed and the passage 104 is accordingly opened to let air into the bottle. In particular, the central flexible portion 101 in the rest configuration is substantially disk-shaped with a corrugated section comprising the central dome portion 101a, the annular depression 101b and the annular rib 101c. Conversely, in the vented configuration, the central flexible portion 101 assumes a substantially conical or frustoconical shape. According to the preferred embodiment of the figures, the annular rib 101c comprises a plurality of passages 104. Preferably, the passages 104 are spaced apart from each other along the annular rib 24 to create a uniform passage of air from the outside environment to the inside environment. More preferably, the passages 104 are equally spaced from each other along the annular rib 101c. Advantageously, the arrangement of the plurality of passages 104 along the annular rib 101c facilitates the passage of the air in the vented configuration while reducing the effort that the baby has to make to drink from the nipple.

Most preferably, each passage 104 extends between a first end 104a and a second end 104b in a direction of extension Y-Y that is radially oriented with respect to the center of the annular rib 101c. In other words, for each passage 104 the first end 104a faces the central dome-shaped portion 101a, whereas the second end 104b faces the first ring portion 102 along the direction of extension Y-Y that passes substantially through the center of the annular rib 101c. Advantageously, the radial extension of the passages 104 facilitates the passage:

- between the closed position and the open position when the flexible central portion 101 moves from the rest configuration to the vented configuration;

- between the open position and the closed position when the flexible central portion 101 moves from the vented configuration to the rest configuration. According to a preferred embodiment, each passage 104 has a linear and/or curvilinear profile. Preferably, each passage 104 has a crescent-shaped profile.

According to an alternative embodiment, the central dome-shaped zone 101a comprises a passage 104.

Concerning the material, in order to ensure proper operation of the device 10, the diaphragm 20 is made of a silicone material preferably having a shore hardness 40 and a nominal modulus of elasticity of 770* 10 ⁵ Pa. In the embodiment with the annular stiffening member 105 made of silicone material, its shore hardness is greater than 40 and preferably, but not limited to, ranges from 60 to 80 shore. Advantageously, the diaphragm 100 can achieve optimal operating conditions for opening each passage 104, for effective re-equalization of the pressure difference occurring inside the baby bottle as liquid is sucked therefrom.

It should also be noted that the greater the negative pressure inside the bottle 2 of the baby bottle 1 , the greater the deformation of the diaphragm 100, whereby the passages 104 open wider, affording effective re-equalization of the pressure difference. In the preferred embodiment of the pressure equalizing device 10 of the present invention, the diaphragm 100 is coupled to the bottom cover 11 which comprises:

- a central bottom portion 11a having at least one bore 12 for providing fluid communication between the outside environment and the interior of the bottle 2; - a first bottom ring l ib surrounding the central bottom portion 11a, to be concentric and connected with the central bottom portion 11a;

- a second bottom ring l ie surrounding the first bottom ring 1 lb to be concentric and connected with the first bottom ring lib. The central bottom portion 1 la is raised with respect to the second bottom ring l ie towards the interior of the bottle 2 and the first bottom ring lib connects the central bottom portion 11a and the second bottom ring l ie.

Namely, the vent diaphragm 100 overlies the bottom cover 11 so that:

- when the pressure in the bottle 2 is higher than or equal to the outside pressure, the central flexible portion 101 is in the rest configuration in which it at least partially abuts against the central bottom portion 11a; - when the pressure in the bottle 2 is lower than the outside pressure, the central flexible portion 101 is in the vented configuration in which it is axially spaced from the central bottom portion 11a, thereby allowing the passage of air from the outside environment to the interior of the bottle 2.

Preferably, the first bottom ring 1 lb has an outer surface facing the bottom surface 102a of the diaphragm and adapted to facilitate adhesion between the diaphragm 100 and the bottom cover 11. For example, the outer surface of the first bottom ring l ib is corrugated or has friction elements.

More preferably, the central bottom portion 11a has a cusp shape around with bores 12 formed around its top. Therefore, according to the preferred embodiment, in the rest configuration, the central dome-shaped zone 101a at least partially abuts against the cusp of the central bottom portion 11a.

More preferably, the central dome-shaped zone 101a covers the bores 12 formed on the bottom cover, thereby ensuring fluid tightness when the bottle is not in use. According to a preferred embodiment of the pressure equalizing device 10, the assembly of the first bottom ring 1 lb with the central bottom portion 11a has a respectively a dome shape. Preferably, the assembly from the first ring portion 102 and the central flexible portion 102 is complementary to the dome-shaped assembly of the first bottom ring lib with the central bottom portion 11a. Namely, the assembly of said first bottom ring lib with said central bottom portion 11 a is coupled with the assembly of the first ring portion 102 with the flexible central portion 101. Preferably, the annular rib 101a, when the diaphragm 100 is coupled to the bottom cover 11, is raised from the central bottom portion 11a and from the first bottom ring lib, thereby facilitating the movement between the rest configuration and the vented configuration and avoiding undesired liquid leakage. According to a preferred embodiment, each of the second ring portion 103 and the second bottom ring lie defines an annulus. In particular, the second bottom ring l ie of the cover 11 is configured to mate with the second ring portion 103. Advantageously, the annular stiffening member 105 keeps the dome shape of the diaphragm 100 thereby providing easy coupling with the dome of the bottom cover l ie and preventing undesired movements of the second ring portion 103 with respect to the second bottom ring lie, whether the bottle is or is not in use.