Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Tl~:5~11ÇAL EII~I,E! 2 0 3 ~1~ 21
This lnventlon ls dlrected to a holdlng devlce for a
feeding receptacle, and in partlcular to a plllowed
attachment means for mountlng a feeding bottle on the torso
of an infant.
BA5~GBQUND QF THg INVENTION
Certaln categorles of humans require asslstance ln
holding their feeding receptacles.
Human infants generally are fed ln a supine positlon,
and in the cases where the mother or other attendant may not
cradle the infant ln their arms, and where a form of bottle
is employed, it ls common practice to lay the lnfant down and
place a pad, such as a folded towel and the like, on the
chest of the lnfant, so as to elevate and steady the bottle.
This posltlons the nipple at a suitable angle to enter the
infant's mouth, and raises the remote end of the bottle, to
facil~tate the flow of its contents to the feedlng infant.
However, lnfants frequently feed inconsistently, and
release the nlpple from their mouths, or wriggle and roll
about. Either actlon can lead to the bottle rolllng off the
lnfant's torso, so that the contents may be spilled, or, more
lmportantly, the nlpple may become contaminated.
Also, in the case of very young infants, release of the
nipple may permlt the bottle to slide, such that the infant
loses contact wlth the nipple when lt makes instinctive head
motlons to regaln the nipple and recommence feeding.
DESCLQ SURE QF INVEN_IQN.
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203~i21
I have found that the diæad~antageæ o~ the former
practlce of uslng a loose pad may be over~ome by provlding a
dedlcated support, generally ln the form of pillow, having a
suitable bottle attachment means secured to one face thereof,
to secure an infant feeding bottle in removable attached
relatlon thereto.
Attachment means such as tie ribbons, or a strap or
straps with cllps or other attachment means may be provided
for attaching the devlce to the clothing of, or about the
torso of the lnfant, to retaln the pillow in a desired
positlon on the infants chest.
In a preferred embodiment a ring to secure the bottle is
sewn to the face of a sultable pillow. This form of
attachment permits limited movement of the ring, while at the
same time imparting adequate stability that the bottle is
retained ln a stable feedlng locatlon for most conditions of
usage.
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I have found that a preferred embodiment may comprise a
ring of plastlc materlal having an lnner diameter of about
two and one half inches, within which a bottle may be readily
inserted.
A local covering of flexible material, such as plush
; material positioned about a portion of the ring can
facilitate attachment of the ring to the supportlng cushion,
whlle also enhanclng the flt of the bottle to the rlng.
v I have found that a plush covered, foam fllled plllow
some one and a half inches thick, and about seven inches wide
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and five inches long makes a suitable base, to recelve the
ring.
An alternative embodlment comprislng a stuffed toy
havlng a bottle attachment rlng secured thereto has proved
successful in use, havlng also the advantage of a stronger
condltioned feedlng re~lex associated with seelng the toy,
when the child becomes accustomed thereto. The rlng may
further comprise a plastlc of sultable hardness to further
serve a~ a teethlng ring, at a later stage of development of
the infant.
Attachment straps may be secured to an end or the sldes
of the pillow, as by metal snap fasteners, secured thereto,
enabling ready attachment of the straps to the plllow, and
removal thereof for laundering the pillow.
A cllp, cllps or buckle secured to the ends of the strap
provide a suitable means for stabllizing the bottle support,
by attachment of the pillow to the clothing or covers of the
lnfant.
Reference in this disclosure to a "bottle" is intended
to include glass feeding bottles and other types of
arrangement includlng those which have a collapsible plastic
liner located within an open ended tube with a nlpple at the
other end. also, "pillow" encompasses a wide range of support
means including stuffed toys, as well as molded plastlc
support components.
The present lnvention thus provldes a system for
mountlng f-edlng r~ceptacle in staùle attached relation to
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2030121
the person of the user of the receptacle.
The present inventlon thus provldes a bottle holding
devlce for mounting a feeding bottle upon the torso of a
human, having a pillow means dimensioned to rest in stable
relation upon the torso of the user, and bottle securement
means,ln use to recelve a feedlng bottle ln attached relation
- to the plllow, enabling posltloning oi~ the bottle in stable
secured feedlng relation to the user.
The subject ring may be secured by way of a flexible
wrap encircling at least a portion of the periphery of the
ring.
The ring may take the form of a cartoon-like character
and the like.
It is contemplated that the pillow may be formed of a
lightweight plastic moldlng, shaped to provide the required
elevation to a feedlng bottle when secured thereto.
In the case of a handicapped adult, the feedlng
receptacle may have a conslderable range of form and shape,
~ and the "plllow~ may be correspondingly diverslfied.
,~ BBI~ eESCBIPTIQN QF DBAWINGS:
Certain embodlments are descrlbed, by way of
illustratlon, without limitatlon of the lnvention thereto,
reference being made to the accompanying drawlngs, wherein:
Figure 1 is a general view of an infant and one version
;~ of the inventlon;
' Flgure 2 is a first vlew of the Figure 1 embodlment;
F~gure 3 i8 a perspective vlew of an alternative
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molded embodlment; and, 2030121
Figure 4 ls a slde vlew of the Flgure 3 embodlment
ha~lng a feeding bottle ln attached
relatlon thereto.
~EST MODE QF Ç~B~YIN5 QU~ THE INVE~TIQ~
Referring to Flgure 1, in the preferred embodiment 10, a
plush covered pillow 12 has a ring 14 secured thereto. An
attachment strap 16 is shown.
Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that the ring 19
ls attached by way of some plush material 15 which is
stitched to the pillow 12. A pair of securing straps 16 and
cloth-gripping attachment clips 17 complete the attachment
means.
The plush material 15 serves to wedge the bottle in the
ring 19.
Referrlng to Figure 3, a molded plastic embodiment 20
haE a forward body portion 22, having a pair of opposed
shoulder portlon~ 23 forming an incllned trough therebetween~
wlth a strap 24 to recei~e a bottle in entered, secured
relation therein. A fastening strap 26 and attached buckle
27 constltute an alternative form of the fastening means.
Use of one or other of the illustrated embodiments or
their equivalent with humans other than infants is
contemplated, such as holding drinking or feeding containers
for quadriplegics. The form and size of the pillow may be
modified accordingly.
IUekSTRIAk ~prLlcAHLkE~y
203~121
This devlce has potential widespread use ln most Western
Countrles. ~-
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