Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DISPOSABLE DRINHING CONTAINER AND NIPPLE
Technical Field
This invention relates to a disposable, single use drinking container and a
nipple dispensing
portion therefor. The drinking container is particularly suitable for use by
infants or the elderly
who have difficulty taking liquid from a container having a conventional drink
dispensing
opening. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a drinking
container and a
method of preparation thereof.
Background of the Invention
Single use, disposable drinking containers are popular, at least in part,
because ~ of their
convenience. Furthermore, single use containers can offer assured cleanliness
and hygiene in
view of the use of proven sterilisation techniques and impervious seals
applied at the time of
manufacture and/or packaging. One type of single use drinking container that
has become
popular is derived from sports drink bottles having a nozzle that is operable
by the mouth or
fingers of the user to seal and unseal the bottle. Sports persons such as
cyclists commonly used
previous forms of these bottles, but the bottle was sold without contents and
it was necessary to
fill the bottle from a source of drinking liquid before use. The convenience
of the pre-filled,
single use, disposable form of the sports drink bottle resulted in a large
increase in commercial,
non-carbonated soft-drink sales, particularly those drinks directed to
replenishment of minerals
or nutrients during or following sporting activity.
Infants, and sometimes the infirm elderly, often require or desire drinking
from a special
container having a nipple or teat for dispensing the liquid into the child's
mouth. The most
common form of infant drinking container is a simple re-useable nursing bottle
with a cap
having a nipple or teat made from rubber or plastic fitted thereto. In order
to provide a child
with a drink it is necessary to open a separate container of drinking fluid,
fill the nursing bottle
and replace the cap having the nipple or teat. Between uses the bottle must be
washed, and
preferably sterilised. It thus becomes problematic for a child carer to
provide an infant with a
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drink from a nursing bottle, especially when away from the home and laden with
other
children's paraphernalia.
Various fours of pre-filled, disposable drink containers for infants have been
proposed in the
past. For example, United States Patent No. 5,273,171 (Maricoma, et al)
discloses a pre-filled,
disposable nursing container for holding and dispensing a nursing liquid by
way of a nipple.
The nursing container is in the form of a rectangular box having a nipple at
the top attached to
the box by way of a nipple attachment piece. The nipple attachment piece has a
sharp
protrusion which is actuable to pierce an access port on top of the box,
allowing liquid from the
box to flow to the nipple. The nursing container makes use of a fi-iction fit,
removable cap for
covering the nipple at the time of sale, and when not in use.
Another example of a disposable nursing bottle is described in United States
Patent No.
5,112,628 (Conrad), which in use more clearly resembles a conventional non-
disposable baby
bottle. The emphasis of the bottle feeder described in Conrad is on the sealed
and tamper
evident cap assembly which encloses a nipple, making it particularly suitable
for single use
applications. In its initial configuration, the cap assembly is sealed to the
top of the bottle in an
orientation such that the nipple is inverted. For use, the cap assembly is
removed from the
bottle and the nipple unsealed from therewithin. A portion of the cap assembly
having the
nipple is then reversed in orientation and reattached to the bottle top,
placing the bottle feeder
in a condition for use.
Several other forms of disposable baby bottles are known also, and some
examples can be
found described in United States Patents 4,678,092, 4,830,205 and 4,706,827.
Summary of the Invention
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a disposable
container comprising a
container body for housing a liquid and having a mouth at the top with an
opening therein
through which liquid can pass; and a cap assembly attached to the top of the
container body, the
cap assembly comprising a flexible nipple in fluid communication with the
container body
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through the opening in the top, a cap rim attached to the mouth and sealed
with the nipple
therearound, the cap rim having an aperture through which the nipple can
project, in use, and a
removable sealing portion which, in a first configuration of the container, is
hygienically sealed
around said aperture of the cap rim so as to prevent ingress and egress of
liquid or gas to and
from the container, wherein the nipple, in the first configuration of the
container, is contained
beneath said sealing portion; and wherein the seal portion is removable from
the cap rim to
place the container in a second configuration such that the flexible nipple
can be extended
through the cap rim aperture to protrude from the top of the container in
condition for use.
In one embodiment of the invention, the container is in the form of a small
bottle or the like
constructed from a plastics material. For example, the container may be in the
form of a
relatively thin walled plastic bottle constructed from PET recyclable plastic,
polycarbonate
plastic or similar, which can be fabricated by moulding. The bottle preferably
has a base at the
bottom thereof to enable the bottle to stand on a flat surface, and the mouth
at the top to which
the cap assembly attaches.
The cap rim may also be constructed from a plastics material. The cap rim
preferably is formed
with a downwardly extending peripheral flange and an inward annular portion
defining said
aperture, which is centrally located and aligned with the mouth of the
container body. The
flange is adapted to attach the cap assembly to the bottle. The cap rim may be
secured to the
bottle mouth using interfitting circumferential ridges and/or grooves formed
on the cap rim
flange and container body mouth, in known fashion. Alternatively, the cap rim
and container
body mouth may tie formed, for example, to form a screw fit to one another, or
the cap rim
flange may be heat welded or similarly affixed to the container body.
The flexible nipple preferably has an outwardly extending peripheral flange
that abuts around
the underside of the annular portion of the cap rim, so that the nipple is
centrally located with
respect to the aperture. In the preferred form of the cap assembly, a portion
of the nipple can be
inverted so that the nipple is partially "collapsed" in the first
configuration of the container
wherein the nipple is held at least partially below the annular portion of the
cap. In this
configuration, with the cap rim sealed to the bottle mouth and the seal
portion of the cap
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assembly in place over the aperture, the nipple is sealed within the a space
bounded by the
bottle, cap rim and seal portion, the same space which holds the drinking
liquid of the
container. When the seal portion is removed, the end of the nipple may be
drawn out through
the aperture, un-inverting the nipple portion such that the nipple fully
extends through the
aperture in the cap rim, placing the nipple in a drinking configuration. In
the drinking
configuration the nipple end is accessible to an infant to draw liquid
therethrough from the
container body.
Preferably, the nipple can be re-inverted from the drinking configuration back
to the collapsed
configuration for storage if the contents of the container are not finished at
once. A protective
over-cap may be supplied with the container to fit over the cap assembly to
shield the nipple
during such storage and/or to protect the seal portion before removal, if
necessary or desired.
In one embodiment, the seal portion is integrally formed with the cap rim,
having a frangible
seal formed around its outer edge that is moulded to an inner edge of the cap
rim which defines
the central aperture. In this embodiment the seal portion has an upstanding
projection from the
cap rim when in place, so that a user can apply a transverse force thereto
sufficient to break the
frangible seal and remove the seal portion from the cap rim. The seal portion
may be formed
with a hollow interior to the upstanding projection adapted to receive the tip
of the nipple.
In another embodiment the seal portion comprises a flexible plastic or
laminate disk or the like
which is fusion welded or adhesively attached to the annular portion of the
cap rim to seal the
aperture. The seal portion may then be formed with a loose tab, which can be
grasped by the
user in order to peel the seal portion from the cap rim to expose the nipple
in the aperture.
The nipple may be drawn out from the collapsed configuration to the drinking
configuration by
gripping the end of the nipple and pulling it through the aperture.
Alternatively, where the
container body is constructed from a flexible material, the nipple may be un-
inverted by gently
squeezing on the walls of the container body. By squeezing the container body
the internal
pressure of the container is temporarily increased because the only outlet of
the container is
through the nipple which typically has only a very small opening. Thus, the
increased pressure
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forces the nipple to expand through the aperture in the cap annulus and extend
to the drinking
configuration.
The nipple is preferably constructed from a relatively soft, inert, flexible
and mouldable
material, such as silicone rubber or the like. In one form of the invention,
the nipple has a
peripheral flange which, with the cap assembly attached to the container body
mouth, is pressed
between surfaces of the cap annulus and container body mouth which may both
secure the
nipple to the container and provide a liquid-tight seal between the cap
assembly and container
body.
The invention also provides a method of manufacturing a disposable drinking
container,
comprising: forming a container body suitable for carrying a liquid and having
a mouth at the
top with an opening therein through which liquid can pass from the container
body;
substantially filling the container body with a drinking liquid; forming a cap
assembly
comprising a cap rim adapted to seal onto the container body mouth, a flexible
nipple fitted
within the cap rim and having a suckling end aligned with an access port of
the cap rim, and
removable sealing portion attached over the access port of the cap rim to seal
the access port;
and fitting the cap assembly to the container body with the cap rim sealed
around the container
body mouth so that the nipple is held to the container body mouth and sealed
thereto beneath
the cap rim and removable sealing portion.
In one embodiment of the invention, the container body comprises a bottle made
from a
plastics material such as PET or the like. This allows, for example, the
formation of the
container body to be carried out by a suitable moulding process, such as "blow
moulding". The
cap rim may also be moulded from plastic, although it may be desirable to use
a different type
of plastics material for the cap than for the container body, as is practised
in the art. The nipple
should be constructed from a relatively soft and flexible material to make it
suitable for
suckling by an infant and moulded silicone rubber or similar has been found to
be appropriate
for that purpose.
It is preferred that the container body and cap assembly be in a sterile
condition at the time the
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cap assembly is fitted to the container body to prevent any inadvertent
contamination of the
drinking liquid. To that end, it may be desirable in some situations for the
filling and capping
procedures to be carried out under relatively sterile conditions and/or for
any air space
remaining in the container body after introduction of the drinking liquid to
be filled with an
inert gas such as nitrogen gas prior to fitting the cap assembly. Such
precautions are generally
known in the field of pre-filled drinking and eating container manufacturing.
In one form of the invention, the sealing portion is formed integrally with
the cap rim and has
an upstanding projection which, when the cap assembly is fitted to the
container body, projects
away from the container body mouth. In this case, the sealing portion
preferably attaches
around the inner periphery of the access port by a thin annular wall section
such that lateral
finger pressure on the upstanding portion is sufficient for frangible
unsealing and removal of
the sealing portion from the cap rim. This form of construction is
particularly advantageous
because the manufacturing formation of the drinking container involves
assembly of only three
components, the container body, the nipple, and the integral cap rim and
sealing portion.
Furthermore, sterile sealing between the cap rim and sealing portion is not
dependent upon any
bonding process since the two are integrally formed and attached by the thin
walled section.
In this form of the invention, the upstanding projection of the sealing
portion is preferably
hollow and adapted to receive the suckling end of the nipple therewithin. The
suckling end of
the nipple preferably fits within the interior of the projection with an inner
surface of the
projection abutting against the end of the nipple which has a suckling
aperture therein so as to
seal the aperture against leakage.
In another form of the invention the sealing portion is constructed in the
form of a flexible flat
disk made from a liquid and gas impervious material such as a suitable
plastic, foil or laminate
of foil and plastic. In that case, the sealing portion may be attached to an
outer surface of the
cap rim, over the access port, using a frangible adhesive or heat-sealing
technique which
enables the disk to be peeled away from the cap rim and removed for use.
The manufacturing procedure may also include a step of fitting a protective
over-cap to the cap
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assembly. The protective over-cap preferably fits over the sealing portion and
at least a portion
of the cap rim, and is removable from the cap assembly to expose the sealing
portion, and
replaceable after removal of the seal for shielding the nipple during storage
of the container
after opening. The protective overcap also serves to protect the sealing
portion before
unsealing and removal thereof, to prevent inadvertent removal of the sealing
portion or
premature breaching of the seal which it provides. An additional sealing band
or cover may
also be provided around or over the over-cap when it is fitted to the cap
assembly, if desired, to
prevent removal of the over-cap before use or to provide a visual indication
of unauthorised
over-cap removal or tampering.
The invention also provides a cap for a disposable container having a
container body with a
mouth having an opening therein through which liquid can pass from the
container body,
comprising a cap rim adapted to seal onto the container body mouth and having
a central access
port, a flexible nipple arranged within the cap rim and having a suckling end
with an aperture
therein and aligned with the access port, and removable seal attached and
sealed around the
access port of the cap rim, the nipple suckling end being contained within
and/or abutting
against an inner portion of the seal.
In one form of the invention, the removable seal is integrally formed with the
cap rim and has
an upstanding projecting portion. The marginal portion between the seal and
the cap rim
comprises a thin-walled annular section that is frangible upon a lateral force
being applied to
the upstanding projection. The projecting portion is preferably hollow and
adapted to receive
the suckling end of the nipple therewithin. A base portion of the nipple is
partially inverted to
allow the suckling portion to be accommodated within the projecting portion of
the seal, which
preferably does not project from the cap rim as far as the nipple itself does
when in a position
for use.
In another form of the invention, the nipple is also in a collapsed
configuration such that a base
portion thereof is inverted as compared to a drinking configuration of the
nipple. In this form
of the invention, a flange of the nipple arranged around the periphery of the
base portion is
attached to the cap annulus and, in the collapsed configuration, the inverted
base portion of the
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nipple protrudes from the flange away from the removable seal to its integral
attachment with
an end portion of the nipple. The suckling end of the nipple, which is the
portion adapted for
suckling by an infant, extends back toward the seal from its connection to the
base portion. In
this case the seal may be a flexible flat disk of a liquid and gas impervious
material such as a
suitable plastic, foil or laminate of plastic, foil and/or cardboard or the
like.
In one embodiment, the nipple has a flange portion that is arranged around the
cap rim where
the cap rim fits around the mouth of the container. Preferably the nipple
flange is arranged to
be sandwiched or pressed between the cap rim and container mouth so as to seal
the attachment
of the cap rim and the container mouth.
The cap rim may comprise a flat disk having a central aperture therein forming
the access port,
and an integrally formed, peripheral, downwardly extending flange for
attaching the cap to the
container. The flange may be provided with a circumferential ridge or groove
formed on the
inner side thereof and adapted to interfit with a ridge or groove formed on an
outer surface of
the container mouth.
The invention further provides a single use, disposable drinking container
comprising a flexible
plastic bottle or jar containing a drinking liquid and having a mouth opening
sealed by a cap
assembly, the cap assembly comprising a cap having a central aperture, a
nipple arranged
within the cap and having a suckling portion aligned with the aperture in the
cap, and a sealing
portion removably sealed over the cap aperture, the cap assembly being coupled
to the bottle or
jar with a flange of the nipple sandwiched between the cap and a rim of the
mouth opening
wherein the nipple is contained in the mouth opening and beneath the sealing
portion, the
sealing portion being, in use, removable from the cap so as to expose the
nipple in the aperture
enabling the suckling portion to be drawn through the aperture for use.
The invention further provides a nipple for a disposable infant nursing
container, comprising an
attaching portion in the form of a generally annular flange for attaching the
nipple to a liquid
container, a suckling portion having an aperture therein for delivering liquid
from the container,
when attached thereto, to an infant by way of the nipple, and a connecting
portion intermediate
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the suckling portion and the attaching portion, wherein the nipple is provided
with a
circumferential groove at the boundary of the suckling and connecting portions
to facilitate two
stable configurations of the nipple, being a storage configuration and a
drinking configuration,
and wherein the connecting portion is inverted in the storage configuration as
compared to the
drinking configuration.
The nipple is preferably moulded from a relatively soft and flexible material,
such as silicone
rubber or the like.
The suckling and connecting portions of the nipple are preferably of
approximately equal
extent, such that the circumferential groove is approximately mid-way along
the nipple in the
drinking configuration. In the storage configuration, the groove facilitates
circumferential
folding or bending of the nipple at approximately the mid-point thereof.
A further circumferential groove may be formed on the nipple at or near the
boundary between
the connecting portion and the attaching portion of the nipple. This
additional groove may
facilitate circumferential bending or folding and unfolding of the nipple
thereat when the nipple
is moved between the storage and drinking configurations and the attaching
portion is affixed
to a nursing container.
In a preferred construction the connecting portion of the nipple has a smooth
curvature, from a
substantially horizontal plane at its connection to the flange, to a
substantially vertical plane at
its connection to the suckling portion. This facilitates easy movement of the
nipple between the
storage and drinking configurations.
Strengthening surface formations, preferably on the inner surface of the
suckling portion, may
also be provided on the nipple in order to reduce any tendency of
diametrically opposed
surfaces of the nipple to fold upon one another to obstruct fluid flow through
the nipple. The
strengthening formations may comprise, for example, one or more
circumferential ridges
and/or one or more longitudinal ridges arranged on the inner surface of the
suckling portion.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter, by way of example
only, with reference
to embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a drinking container in a sealed
configuration with
protective over-cap in place;
Figure 2 is an isometric view of the drinking container in a sealed
configuration with
over-cap and seal removed;
Figure 3 is an isometric view of the drinking container in a drinking
configuration with
a nipple thereof exposed for use;
Figure 4 is an exploded view of the drinking container and cap assembly with
protective over-cap;
Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the drinking container in a sealed
configuration, including protective over-cap;
Figure 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the drinking container with seal in
place and
nipple collapsed;
Figure 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the drinking container with seal
removed,
illustrating extraction of the nipple;
Figure 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the drinking container with nipple
extracted;
Figure 9 is a side view of a nipple in extracted condition;
Figure 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the nipple of Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a side view of the nipple in collapsed condition;
Figure 12 is a side cross-sectional view of the nipple of Figure 11;
Figure 13 is a side cross-sectional view of a particular form of nipple;
Figure 14 is a side cross-sectional view of a drinking container top with
nipple attached;
Figure 15 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a second drinking
container
fitted with a second form of top;
Figure 16 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the drinking container
of Figure
15 illustrating removal of the sealing portion;
Figures 17 and 18 are perspective views illustrating the second form of
drinking
container top with sealing portion removed and nipple extended for use;
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Figure 19 is a central cross-sectional view through the second form of
drinking
container top attached to a drinking container;
Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred nipple construction in
extracted
configuration; and
Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred nipple in a fully
.retracted
configuration.
Detailed Descri tp--ion of the Preferred Embodiments
A drinking container 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is
shown in
various configurations and views in Figure 1 to 8. The container 10 comprises
a container
body 12 which is of generally cylindrical form and has a flat base 14 at the
bottom end thereof
and a mouth 16 having a round opening at the top end (best seen in Figure 4).
In a preferred
form of the invention the container body 12 comprises a bottle constructed
from a plastics
material, such as recyclable PET plastics or the like, as is known for the
construction of
drinking bottles. The preferred form of the bottle is relatively small, for
example having a
liquid storage capacity of about 100 to 250 millilitres, particularly because
embodiments of the
invention are adapted for use by infants.
Referring particularly to Figures I to 4, the container 10 also comprises a
cap assembly 20
which fits on the mouth 16 of the container body so as to, in use, seal the
mouth opening 18.
The cap assembly includes a cap rim 22, which has a flat annular portion 24
with a central
circular aperture 25 and a downwardly extending flange portion 26. For ease of
reference, the
flange portion 26 is referred to as downwardly extending because, when the cap
assembly is
fitted to the container body and the container is set on its base 14, the
flange extends downward
from the annular portion 24 with respect to the upwardly facing outer surface
thereof. The
inner circumference 'of the flange portion 26 is constructed to be marginally
larger than the
outer circumference of the container mouth 16, so that the cap rim 22 can be
fit over the
container mouth 16 where the underside (downward facing) surface of the
annular portion is
adjacent the lip edge of the mouth. In use, the cap rim 22 is firmly secured
to the container
body 12 at the mouth 16. The cap rim and container body may be connected to
each other in
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any convenient way, such as by adhesive, heat-sealing, or interference fit by
interlocking or
interf tting circumferential ridges and/or grooves formed on the cap rim and
container mouth.
A flexible nipple 50 is attached to the cap rim 22 so that the nipple end is
centrally located with
respect to the aperture 25. The nipple 50 in its extended or drinking
configuration is generally
conical in shape (see Figure 9, for example), and has an attaching portion at
the base thereof.
The attaching portion, in the illustrated form of the nipple, is a flat
annular flange 52 which
extends outwardly around the base of the nipple. With the nipple SO fitted to
the cap rim 22,
the flange 52 lies against the underneath surface of the annular portion 24.
The flange 52 may
be attached to the cap rim 22 by an adhesive or the like, or may form a loose
friction fit in the
cap rim and rely on opposed pressures from surfaces of the cap rim and
container mouth to
secure the nipple to the container when the cap assembly is attached, as
discussed in greater
detail hereinbelow.
The flexible nipple preferably has two stable configurations, one in which the
nipple is
generally conical in shape and extends in one direction from the base thereof
as shown in
Figure 9 and 10, for example (herein referred to as the extended, extracted or
drinking
configuration or condition). The other configuration is the collapsed or
storage configuration
or condition, in which the nipple is folded in upon itself about a
circumferential folding or
bending area which is located approximately mid-way along the extent of the
nipple when in
the extended configuration. The nipple 50 is illustrated in its collapsed
configuration in Figure
11 and 12, for example. Whilst in the collapsed configuration a connecting
portion 54 of the
nipple which extends between the attaching portion 52 and a suckling portion
56 (see Figure 9
or 10, for example) is inverted so that the connecting portion 54 extends
downwardly from the
attaching portion and the suckling portion 56 extends upwardly from its union
with the
connecting portion. This results in the collapsed configuration of the nipple
50 illustrated in
Figure 11 or 12. With the nipple 50 in the collapsed configuration and the
attaching portion 52
thereof attached to the cap rim 22, the nipple extends downwardly from the cap
rim at least
substantially below the upper surface of the annular portion 24, which is
illustrated in Figures
2, 4 and 14.
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The cap assembly 20 also includes a seal 28 (Figure 4) which is in the form of
a flexible disk of
material. The seal 28 is preferably made from a liquid and gas impervious
material, such as a
suitable foil, plastic or laminate of plastic and foil. Seals of this type are
well known in the
field of pre-filled drink and food containers. The seal 28 is removably
affixed to the upper
surface of the cap rim 22 so that it extends across the aperture 25. The seal
28 together with the
sealed attachment between the cap rim 22 and container body 12 ensure that the
contents of the
container 10 remain sealed until use of the container.
With cap rim 22 attached to the container body 12 and the seal 28 in place,
the nipple in the
collapsed configuration is concealed beneath the seal 28 and enclosed within
the space defined
by the container body 12, the cap rim 22 and seal 28. This is the same space
in which the
container 10 holds the liquid to be earned thereby. Removal of the seal 28
exposes the
collapsed nipple bounded by the aperture 25 in the cap rim 22 (Figure 2). The
nipple 50 may
then be extracted through the aperture 25 to place the nipple in the drinking
or extended
configuration where the nipple 50 extends outwardly through the aperture for
use (Figure 3).
With the nipple 50 in the extended condition as shown in Figure 3, an infant
may place the
suckling portion in his or her mouth and invert the container so receive
liquid from the
container through the opening in the end of the nipple.
The cap assembly may additionally include a protective over-cap 30 as seen
particularly in
Figure 4. The protective over-cap 30 is adapted to fit over the seal 28 when
attached to the cap
rim, to prevent accidental breakage or removal of the seal 28, and to reduce
the possibility of
tampering with the container and its contents. The further improve the tamper
resistance of the
container, a sealing band (not shown in the drawings) may be placed around the
edge of the
over-cap and adjacent portion of the container body 12, as is the known in the
art. Such a
sealing band is designed so that the over-cap cannot be removed from the
container without
damage to the sealing band, with provides a visual indication of removal or
tampering with the
over-cap. With the over-cap in place (Figure I ), the seal 28 is concealed.
The over-cap 30 of the preferred embodiment is marginally larger than the cap
rim 22 which it
fits over, and may be formed with small projecting ridges circumferentially
spaced around an
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inner side surface thereof to bear against a lower edge of the cap rim, so as
to removably hold
the over-cap in place when fitted over the cap rim. Simple snap-fit caps of
this type are well
known in the field of disposable drink and food containers.
The over-cap preferably fits over the cap rim relatively closely to avoid
wasted space taken
thereby. The over-cap may be replaced on the container after initial use
thereof, but because of
the close fit between the over-cap and cap rim in the preferred form of the
invention, the nipple
should be replaced in the storage configuration before replacing the over-cap.
This is done by
pressing the suckling portion 56 of the nipple down into the aperture 25 so
that the nipple then
remains at least substantially beneath the level of the annular portion 24.
This enables the over-
cap to be replaced over the cap rim without interfering with the nipple, even
though the over-
cap fits closely over the aperture from which the nipple 50 extends when in
use. It may be
desirable for the over-cap to be constructed with a locating structure such as
a low annular wall
or circular indentation around the centre of the inside surface of the over-
cap. Such a locating
structure would be sized so that the end of the nipple in the extended
condition would rest
therein when the over-cap is replaced, so that the nipple could be more easily
manipulated from
the extended to the collapsed condition by pressure from the over-cap during
replacement
thereof.
A particular advantage of the cap and nipple according to embodiments of the
invention, when
applied to pre-filled, disposable drinking containers is the ease of use. A
pre-filled, disposable
drinking container 10 may be purchased, for example, at a supermarket or the
like in the
condition shown in Figure 1 or in cross-sectional view in Figure 5. The
container 10 already
contains a suitable drinking liquid 13 (see Figure 5) such as apple juice, and
is sterilised and
sealed against contamination at the time of manufacture, most particularly by
the seal 28 which
conceals the nipple S0. In order to use the drinking container, a child carer
needs to merely
remove the protective over-cap 30 and peel away the seal 28. The nipple 50 is
then exposed
within the aperture 25, and for use must be extended from the storage
configuration to the
drinking configuration. This is easily done without having to remove the
nipple, and thus the
drinking container is prepared for use with a minimum of fuss.
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The procedure for use of a pre-filled disposable drinking container 10 is
illustrated in the
sequence of drawings comprising Figures 5 to 8. Figure 5 shows the container
10 in a sealed
condition, which is the condition in which a consumer would typically purchase
the pre-filled
container. Any sealing band which may be provided around the edge of the
protective over-cap
30 is not shown in the drawings. The protective over-cap 30, as discussed
above, is ,preferably
a snap-fit over the cap rim 22, and is thus easily removed by user such as a
child carer or the
like. The container 10 without the protective over-cap is shown in side cross-
sectional view in
Figure 6. The seal 28 is then removed from the container 10 which exposes the
nipple SO there
beneath for access by the user. In order to use the drinking container 10 it
is then necessary for
the user to extract the nipple SO from the storage configuration which it is
shown at in Figures 5
and 6. There are several ways in which the nipple 50 may be extracted from the
storage
configuration to the drinking configuration, and one is illustrated in Figure
7. In particular, the
end of the nipple may be grasped between the fingers of the user and gently
pulled upwardly in
order to draw the nipple out through the aperture 25.
The nipple may be extracted by increasing the internal pressure of the
container 10 with respect
to the atmospheric pressure, so as to force the nipple 50 from the container
into the extended
configuration. Where the container 10 is constructed from a flexible material,
gently squeezing
or pressing on the outside of the container body 12 may generate this increase
in internal
pressure.
In an alternative, the nipple SO may be constructed with a spring bias toward
the extended
condition. In that case the nipple 50 may be constructed to spring out from
the collapsed
configuration to the drinking configuration automatically upon removal of the
seal 28. This is
particularly advantageous for ease of first use of the drinking container, but
creates problems if
it is desired to return the nipple to the storage configuration. Thus, if the
nipple is constructed
in that way, it may be advantageous to provide an over-cap which can fit over
the nipple when
in the extended condition for protection of the~nipple after unsealing
thereof, if desired. The
nipple can be provided with the necessary spring bias by the nature of the
material from which
it is constructed, although it may be found that the wall thickness of the
nipple is required to be
thicker in that instance as compared to the above discussed nipple
construction which is stable
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in both the extended and storage configurations. The additional wall thickness
of the material
from which the nipple is constructed can be used to provide an increase in the
resilience of the
nipple and its ability to return to its extended configuration shape.
The container 10 is shown in side cross-sectional view with the nipple 50 in
extended
configuration in Figure 8.
Referring particularly to Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12, a nipple 50 is shown in
side and cross-
sectional views in both extended and collapsed configurations. The nipple 50
is preferably
constructed from a relatively soft, inert, non-toxic and mouldable material
which is suitable for
infants to place in their mouths. Silicone rubber is one suitable material,
and other materials,
such as plastics and/or rubbers, will be readily apparent to those skilled in
the art. The nipple
SO is preferably formed by moulding, and the type of moulding technique
employed may
depend upon the material from which the nipple is to be constructed. The
nipple is preferably
moulded in the shape of the extended configuration (Figures 9 and 10), and
then manipulated
into the storage configuration (Figures 11 and 12) during manufacture of the
cap assembly 20.
The nipple, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 9 to 12, comprises an
attachment portion
52, a suckling portion 56 having a small drinking hole in the end thereof, and
a connecting
portion 54 intermediate the attaching and suckling portions. The attaching
portion 52
comprises a flat annular flange which is utilised to secure the nipple to the
cap rim 22 and/or
container body 12. The connecting portion 54 as shown in Figures 9 and 10,
comprises a
frustoconical shape which tapers from the inner circumference of the annular
attaching portion
52 and the base of the suckling portion 56 which has a smaller diameter. The
suckling portion
56 is generally conical in shape, extending from its union with the connecting
portion to an end
which contains the drinking hole (the drinking hole is not labelled in the
drawings). The
suckling portion of the nipple may of course be constructed in any desirable
shape and may, for
example, be formed substantially cylindrically with a bulb at the end thereof,
or otherwise in
accordance with established appropriate shapes for infant drinking nipples.
The preferred nipple has two stable configurations, namely the extended
configuration and the
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collapsed configuration as illustrated in side cross-section in Figures 10 and
12, respectively.
The primary difference between the two configurations is in the arrangement of
the connecting
portion 54, which is inverted in collapsed configuration. Where the connecting
portion of the
nipple is referred to as being inverted, this means that the surface thereof
which normally faces
outwardly, in the inverted condition, faces inwardly, and vice versa. In the
present instance,
this also means that the connecting portion 54 extends in the opposite
direction also, for
example extending downwardly whilst inverted, as opposed to upwardly when not
inverted.
With the nipple in the storage configuration (Figures 11 and 12), the
connecting portion 54
extends downwardly from the attaching portion 52, and the suckling portion 56
extends
upwardly from its union with the connecting portion at least substantially
back to the plane of
the attaching portion. On the other hand, with the nipple in the drinking
configuration (Figures
9 and 10), the connecting portion 54 extends upwardly from the attaching
portion 52, and the
suckling portion 56 extends further upward from the end thereof.
Because the nipple, in the storage configuration, lies at least substantially
below the plane of
the attaching portion which in use is attached underneath the annular portion
24 of the cap rim,
the seal 28 can be applied to the upper surface of the cap rim without
interfering with the nipple
during manufacture.
Figure 13 is a side cross-sectional view of a particular form of nipple 50'.
The nipple 50' is
moulded with formations which facilitate the two stable configurations of the
nipple as
discussed above. In particular, the nipple 50' is provided with a
circumferential groove 60'
therearound at the junction of the connecting and suckling portions 54', 56'.
The groove 60'
facilitates folding or bending thereat, which makes the nipple mare stable in
the collapsed
configuration. A similar groove formation 62' may be provided at the junction
of the
connecting and attaching portions 54', 52', for the same reasons. The
formation of the grooves
60', 62' may be accompanied by the formation of corresponding ridges on the
nipple if the
groove formations would otherwise result in an unacceptable thinning or
weakening of the
nipple wall material.
Again refernng to Figure 13, the nipple 50' may be provided with one or more
surface
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formations, preferably on the inner surface thereof. For example, one or more
strengthening
formations may be provided on the nipple suckling portion 56', for the purpose
of reducing any
tendency of diametrically opposed surfaces of the nipple to fold in on one
another during
suction thereon. For example, one or more circumferential strengthening ridges
64' may be
provided on the inner surface of the nipple suckling portion 56'. In the
alternative, or in
addition, one or more strengthening ridges extending longitudinally of the
nipple may be
provided for the same purpose.
The container body 12 of the disposable, pre-filled drinking container 10 is
preferably
constructed from a plastics material, such as recyclable PET or other plastics
material suitable
for drink containers as are known in the art. Other materials for construction
of the container
body 12 may alternatively be employed, such as glass, metal or laminated
cardboard, but
plastic is preferred for various reasons including its light weight and the
ability to easily seal
containers made from plastics. Manufacturing of the container body preferably
entails
moulding in a known manner, the details of which may depend upon the material
of
construction. The technique of blow-moulding, for example, may be employed.
The cap rim is preferably also constructed from plastic, although other
suitable materials may
be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The cap rim may be
constructed from a different
type of plastic than the container body, and may be formed from, for example,
a suitable
density of polyethylene or polypropylene. Of course the manufacturing
technique utilised for
forming the cap rim may also vary depending upon the material used, and
injection moulding
may be found appropriate for suitable materials.
As mentioned, the nipple is preferably moulded in the extended configuration,
and may be
manipulated into the collapsed configuration either before or after being
coupled with the cap
rim. In the preferred manufacturing procedure, the cap assembly including at
least the cap rim,
nipple and seal is manufactured as a unit, before being fitted to the pre-
filled container body.
For example, the cap rim and nipple are separately moulded and the seal is cut
from sheet
material. The nipple is then fitted within the cap rim by insertion from the
underneath thereof.
Simultaneously, the nipple may be manipulated into the collapsed configuration
by applying
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opposed compressive forces to the attaching portion and end of the suckling
portion along axis
of extent of the nipple. Alternatively, the nipple may be manipulated into the
collapsed
configuration during or immediately after removal from the mould. The nipple
may be secured
to the cap rim by friction fit, or may employ some extraneous adhesive, as
appropriate. The
seal is then applied to the upper surface of the annular portion of the cap
rim, using an adhesive,
heat-seal, or any other suitable sealing method which is apparent to those
skilled in the art.
This completes the formation of the cap assembly, and the over-cap, if
required, may be fitted
thereover either before or after fitting of the cap assembly to the container
body. If a sealing
band or cover is also desired, it should preferably be applied after the cap
assembly is fitted to
the container, since the sealing band or cover should also fit over a portion
of the container
body to provide the abovementioned visual indication of cap removal or
tampering.
The container body is formed and then filled with a drinking liquid. The cap
assembly is then
fitted and sealed thereto, sealing the container liquid contents and nipple
therein. The cap-rim
may be attached to the mouth of the container body in any appropriate manner
which is
apparent to those skilled in the art, such as by use of adhesives or heat
sealing. However, in the
preferred form of the invention, the attaching portion of the nipple itself is
utilised for sealing of
the cap assembly to the container body. As shown particularly in Figure 14,
the flange 52 of
the nipple may be arranged to interpose between the inner surface of the cap
rim and the edge
of the container body mouth so that when the cap assembly is fitted to the
container body the
nipple flange provides a seal therebetween. This is particularly advantageous
where the nipple
is constructed from a relatively soft material such as silicone rubber which
allows some
compression and provides excellent sealing characteristics.
Whilst the seal may be provided by the nipple flange, it is still necessary
that the cap rim be
secured to the container body, and it is preferred that this is achieved using
interfitting ridges
and/or grooves formed around the outer circumference of the container body
mouth and the
inner circumference of the cap rim flange. For example, the construction
illustrated in Figure
14 shows a circumferential ridge 70 formed on the outer surface of the
container body mouth,
interengaged with a corresponding circumferential groove 72 and ridge 74
formed on the inner
surface of the cap rim flange 24. The tolerances of fit between the cap rim
and container body
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mouth are such that, when the corresponding ridges and/or grooves are securely
interengaged, a
pressure is applied to the nipple flange between the mouth edge and cap rim so
as to provide a
good seal.
As an alternative, the inner surface of the cap rim and the outer surface of
the container body
mouth may be formed with helical screw threads so that they can be threadedly
interengaged,
and screwed on to one another until sealed. This form of attachment is not
preferred in the
present instance because it is neither necessary nor desirable that the cap
rim be removable
from the container body as is allowed by a screw threaded attachment.
Figures 1 S to 19 illustrate another form of drinking container 100 according
to an embodiment
of the present invention. The drinking container 100 is generally similar to
the container 10
described above, although with a modified construction of the cap assembly.
The different
form of the cap assembly is seen clearly in Figure 19 which is a central side
cross-sectional
view of the cap assembly 110 of the container 100. In this form of the
drinking container cap
assembly, the cap rim 112 and sealing portion 120 are in fact formed
integrally, which avoids
any possible difficulties with attaching a seal to the surface of the cap rim.
Figure 17 is an upper perspective view of the cap assembly 110 of the modified
form of the
container 100. The cap assembly 110 comprises a cap rim 112 which is
substantially the same
as the cap rim 22 described hereinabove, with a flat annular upper surface 114
and a
downwardly extending flange portion I 16 by which the cap rim is secured to
the mouth of the
container body. However, at the time of manufacture, the cap rim 112 is not
formed with a
central aperture, as in the case of the cap rim 22, but rather with a
centrally located and
integrally moulded, removable sealing portion 120. The sealing portion 120
projects upwardly
from the centre of the cap rim, above the flat annular surface 114, and is
attached to the inner
edge of the annular portion by way of a frangible marginal wall section 115
(indicated with the
aid of a dashed line in Figure 15).
As can be seen in the cross-sectional view of the cap rim and sealing portion
shown in Figure
19, the sealing portion 120 is hollow in construction and shaped much like the
suckling end of
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the nipple itself. The inner surface of the end of the sealing portion is
preferably shaped to
conform quite closely to the shape of the external surface of the end of the
nipple. This allows
the end of the nipple to be accommodated within the hollow interior of the
sealing portion
whilst the container is in the sealed condition, which has several advantages.
For example,
with the inner surface of the sealing portion closely surrounding the end of
the nipple which
contains the drinking aperture, the possibility of leakage of liquid from the
container body
through the aperture and into the space within the cap assembly is minimised.
Liquid cannot
freely flow through the nipple drinking aperture as the aperture is too small
to permit that and
in any event abuts against the sealing portion surface. The drinking aperture
may in fact be in
the form of a small slit or the like which does not allow liquid to pass
therethrough in the
absence of a pressure differential or deformation of the nipple at the
aperture. Since the sealing
portion is moulded from the same plastic material as the cap rim, it is
relatively rigid so as to
substantially prevent deformation of the nipple. Furthermore, a relative
increase in pressure in
the container body, such as may occur if the container is squeezed or dropped,
causes the nipple
end with the aperture to be pressed more firmly against the inner surface of
the sealing portion
end, further relieving the likelihood of liquid leakage. A ridge may
additionally be formed
around the inner surface of the sealing portion towards the end thereof, so as
to marginally
impinge around the outer surface of the nipple towards the end to seal the
nipple end from the
space which exists between the nipple outside and cap inside surfaces.
It is preferred that the sealing portion 120 not project from the cap rim to
the full extent of the
nipple 130, as the greater the extent of the sealing portion projection the
greater the possibility
that the seal between the sealing portion and the cap rim may be broken
inadvertently.
Accordingly it is preferred that the sealing portion only project a fraction
of the length of the
nipple extent, such as about half of the nipple length. For example, if the
longitudinal length of
the nipple is of the order of 3 to 4 centimetres then the extent of the
sealing portion projection
may be of the order of 1.5 to 2 centimetres. This then requires that the
nipple be partially
collapsed or inverted beneath the cap rim as shown in .Figure 19, although not
to the same
extent as in the case of the flat seal described hereinabove.
In this form of the drinking container (100), as mentioned, the sealing
portion 120 is formed
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integrally with the cap rim I12, so that the cap rim and sealing portion are
manufactured
together, making both manufacture and assembly of the drinking container
easier. The cap rim
and sealing portion are moulded with an annular thinned wall frangible section
(lI5)
therebetween where the sealing portion 120 breaks away from the cap rim 112,
in use. As seen
in the Figures, for example, the sealing portion curves upwards (indicated at
122 in Figure 16)
from the flat surface 114 of the cap rim to a generally vertically extending
section ( 124) which
then curves over in a hemispherical end section (126), the inner diameter of
which closely
matches the outer diameter of the end of the nipple (see Figure 19). With the
close fit of the
nipple end within the end of the sealing portion interior the possibility of
leakage of liquid from
the container body through the aperture in the nipple end is greatly reduced.
Because the outer
circumference of the hemispherical nipple end portion is closely matched to
the inner
circumference of the hemispherical sealing portion, if a relative increase in
internal pressure
occurs within the container body this tends to press the flexible nipple more
tightly against the
sealing portion inner surface to prevent leakage from the end thereof.
The annular thinned wall section (115) between the cap rim and the sealing
portion may only
be of the order of a millimetre or so in width, and is preferably one
millimetre or less in
thickness. The actual wall thickness may vary depending upon the material from
which the cap
rim and sealing portion are moulded, and also upon the desired force which is
required to be
applied in order to cause the sealing portion to frangibly break away from the
cap rim. For
example the wall thickness at the marginal frangible portion can be made
slightly thicker if
greater strength is required over ease of opening, or vice versa for the
opposite.
In the preferred form of the invention the sealing portion is provided with
laterally extending
flat tab portions 128 which project from opposing sides of the exterior of the
sealing portion.
These tab portions are provided to facilitate the application of a transverse
force by the user to
the sealing portion in order to break the sealing portion 120 away from the
cap rim 112. For
example, the user may grasp the bottle with two hands and press on the tabs
128 on each side of
the sealing portion with the thumbs in order to break off the sealing portion
without difficulty.
Since the sealing portion 120 in this form of the invention projects somewhat
from the cap rim
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and the nipple end is disposed therewithin with the container sealed, it is
apparent that the
nipple is not fully "collapsed" when the sealing portion is in place. However,
since the sealing
portion preferably does not project to the full extent of the nipple, the
nipple is nevertheless
partially collapsed inside the cap assembly when sealed. When the sealing
portion is removed,
the sealing portion is pressed from the side and tilted to break the frangible
seal, as illustrated in
Figure 16. The end of the nipple remains inside the sealing portion during
this operation until
the sealing portion is completely removed from the cap rim (Figures 17 and
18). Upon
complete removal the nipple suckling portion is drawn fizlly out to its
extended configuration
by the frictional forces resulting from the relatively close fit between it
and the interior of the
sealing portion, which is increased by any compression applied at the time to
the sides of the
sealing portion upon such removal. It is nevertheless preferable that the
nipple be capable of
complete retraction into the "collapsed" configuration which may be useful
particularly if the
entire contents of the bottle are not consumed at once and it is desired to
store the bottle with a
reduced likelihood of contamination of the nipple. With the nipple in the
collapsed
configuration, even if no cover is utilised, the likelihood of any
contamination is greatly
reduced because the nipple does not project above the surface 114 of the cap
rim and so the
possibility of contact with any unhygienic surface or object is lessened.
As discussed above, however, an overcap (not illustrated) may also be supplied
with the pre-
filled drink container, and this may be placed over the cap rim for storage of
the unfinished
bottle to further shield the nipple from contamination. The overcap is equally
applicable to
both preferred forms of the invention described in detail above. In the case
of the second
described form of the invention the overcap, being disposed over the sealing
portion during
transport and sale, may aid in avoiding inadvertent breakage of the sealing
portion, for
example. Alternatively, in this second form of the invention the mass
packaging of the bottles
may be arranged so as to protect the proj ecting sealing portion during
shipping and the like.
For example, cardboard packages, pallets or the like adapted for shipping
and/or storage of the
bottles may be constructed with recessed portions into which the sealing
portions project and
are relatively protected from breakage.
In another alternative, the sealing portion 120 itself may be constructed to
enable it to be
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replaced into the opening formed in the cap rim upon removal of the sealing
portion. For
example, the sealing portion 120 can be formed with one or more
circumferential rims (not
shown in the drawings) located marginally above the frangible wall section at
which it connects
to the cap rim, adapted to hold the sealing portion in cap rim opening to
shield the retracted
nipple. A circumferential rim of slightly larger diameter than that of the cap
rim opening would
allow the base of the sealing portion to be pressed back into the opening
without passing
through too far. The sealing portion would then be held in the opening by
interference fit
between the edge of the opening and the edge of the sealing portion, and
prevented from over-
insertion by the circumferential rim. If the edge of the sealing portion does
not provide
sufficient interference fit with the edge of the cap rim opening once the two
have been
separated, an additional appropriately sized circumferential rim positioned
slightly below the
and closely spaced with the rim provided to prevent over-insertion. The
spacing between the
two rims, in that instance, may correspond to the thickness of the material of
the cap rim at the
edge of the opening. Alternatively, circumferential rims formed on the sealing
portion 120 may
not be desired, and instead lugs or the like may be formed of the tabs 128
adjacent the base of
the sealing portion, for the purpose of holding the sealing portion in the cap
rim opening for re-
closure of the bottle after unsealing. In any event, it is preferred that the
nipple be recessed into
the container in it collapsed configuration before replacement of the sealing
portion.
The process of unsealing and opening the drinking container 100 for use is
illustrated in the
sequence of Figures 15, 16 and 17. Figure 1 S shows the bottle in the sealed
condition with the
sealing portion 120 integrally formed with the cap rim 112. In order to use
the bottle, the
sealing portion 120 must be removed, and this is done by first applying a
lateral force to the
projection of the sealing portion. For example, whilst grasping the bottle
with the hands a force
can be applied to the tabs 128 with the thumbs. This causes the frangible
thinned wall section
115 to rupture, thus breaking the seal formed by the cap. The sealing portion
120 is then
levered away from the cap rim 112, as shown in Figure 16. As the sealing
portion is levered
away from the cap rim the nipple 130 having its end fitted within the sealing
portion, is drawn
out through the aperture left by the sealing portion. With the sealing portion
totally removed,
the nipple 130 extends fully from the bottle, ready for use, as seen in
Figures 17 and 18.
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Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred form of the nipple 130. As
can be seen in the
drawing, the nipple base has a substantially flat annular peripheral flange
portion 132 from
which extends the outstanding suckling portion 134 of the nipple. The nipple
preferably is
constructed with a circumferential groove 136 at about half way along the
extent of the nipple
between the flanged base and the nipple end 138. This circumferential groove
may comprise a
thinned wall section with the groove formed thereby toward the interior of the
nipple, as
shown. The groove or thinned wall facilitates the stability of the nipple in
the "collapsed"
configuration. Furthermore, the connecting portion 140 of the nipple
intermediate the base and
suckling portions is preferably constructed so as to curve smoothly from the
flanged base to the
transversely extending projecting suckling portion, and the cross-sectional
curvature may be
arcuate so that the nipple may be easily moved between the extended and
collapsed
configurations. With the connecting portion 140 of the nipple constructed to
be substantially
parallel to the plane of the flange portion 132 where the two portions meet,
it is not difficult to
press the nipple downwardly from the extended to the collapsed configuration
since no
significant bending is required at any region of the nipple other than at the
groove or thinned
wall section mentioned above. It has been found most suitable for the
connecting portion of the
nipple to curve smoothly from the inner diameter of the base flange to the
extent of the mid-
point groove. Figure 21 illustrates the nipple 130 in cross-section in its
collapsed configuration.
Because the nipple 130 is intended to be used only once, the wall thickness of
the nipple
construction need not be as thick as re-useable nipples, which enables a
saving of material used
in the moulding process. For example, the wall of most of the nipple 130 may
be of the order
of 0.5 to 1.5 millimetres in thickness, with thicker material (e.g. 2
millimetres) at the base
flange 132. Additionally, the hemispherical end section at which the liquid
aperture (not
shown) is provided may also be constructed with a slightly thicker wall
material. As shown in
the drawings, the nipple end portion may be slightly enlarged in diameter as
compared to the
tubular shaft thereof, for ease of use by an infant.
In view of the advantageous sealing characteristics of the drinking containers
herein described,
drinking containers constructed in accordance with the present invention are
particularly well
suited for pre-filled single use applications in which the bottle contents are
inserted and then the
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cap assembly with nipple applied to hygienically seal the contents in the
container. It may of
course be desirable to sterilise the bottle and cap assembly before insertion
of the contents and
assembly, but this may be done in any convenient manner as known to those
skilled in the art.
Of course care should also be taken with regard to hygiene during assembly,
such as by
application of a sterilising steam jet or the like to the interior of the cap
assembly immediately
before sealing to the container body.
Depending upon the contents and the filling technique, a pre-filled single use
drinking bottle
according to an embodiment of the invention may be supplied for mass
consumption by
provision at supermarkets and the like. Of course drinking liquids for infants
are currently
available in this way but, as mentioned above, typically these require
transferral to a drinking
container such as a re-useable baby bottle with its inherent drawbacks and
disadvantages both
in terms of hygiene and convenience. Furthermore, the present invention is
easily applicable to
medical uses such as the delivery of orally taken pharmaceuticals for
vaccination or treatment
of infants, or merely for feeding of infants in post-natal wards of hospitals
where sterile
contents are particularly important and usage of bottled products is high.
Furthermore, the
invention may find useful application in delivery of pharmaceuticals or
feeding of infants in
remote, perhaps famine stricken parts of the world where sterilisation of
bottles and contents on
site is not possible or difficult. The pre-filled single use drinking bottles
also address another
difficulty which can arise in the supply of drinking nutrients to famine
stricken children which
is the wrongful mixing and dilution of formulas and the like in circumstances
where the
drinking fluid can be tampered with or must be mixed before use.
It will be immediately apparent to those skilled in the art that the shape of
the container and in
particular the container body is unimportant to the principles of the
invention, and whilst a
bottle/jar shape has been described and illustrated herein, many other
container shapes,
constructed from many different materials, may alternatively be employed.
Furthermore,
whilst the embodiments described herein all utilise a "cap rim" or securing
ring to attach the
nipple to container, those skilled in the art will recognise that various
aspects of the invention
can be practised without the nipple being attached in that way. Indeed, it is
possible that the
nipple may be directly coupled to the container body or even integral
therewith if appropriate
CA 02285962 1999-10-08
WO 98/46191 PCT/AU98/00243
-27-
known manufacturing techniques and/or materials are employed.
Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word
"comprise", or
variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply
the inclusion of a
stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer
or group of
integers.
The foregoing detailed description of the present invention has been presented
by way of
example only, and is not intended to be considered limiting to the invention
which is defined in
the claims appended hereto.
