Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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INFANT FEEDING CONTAINER
Technical Field
The present invention relates to infant feeding containers, more specifically
to one
which has the approximate form, feel, and function of a natural breast.
Background Art
Disclosed herein are certain embodiments of a breast like infant feeding
container
which possesses the basic advantages of the invention of the earlier
application,
while including further advantages which will become apparent from the
disclosures
herein.
It is widely known that natural breast feeding is the best way to nurture an
infant. The
quality of mother's milk is superior to prepared formulas and the act of
providing an
infant with the mother's warm breast and comfort is an important aspect of
proper
child development and bonding between mother and infant. However, artificial
feeding systems may be desirable or necessary in some circumstances. These
include medical situations such as premature births, mothers who have had
mastectomies or who are unable to lactate sufficiently, infants who require
dietary
supplements, and health problems such as cleft pallet or breast abscesses.
Social
situations requiring artificial feeding include employed women who are unable
to
feed their infant at work, women who use a breast pump and require a container
for
feeding, the need to feed adopted infants, and other medical or social
situations that
may recommend the use of an artificial container.
Healthcare professionals agree that an infant's sensory experience is
particularly
important in the formidable stages of development, and especially in the
feeding
process. While artificial feeding containers can never fully imitate a mother,
the
breast-like infant feeding container disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,690,679
provides
a far more natural sensory experience for infants when artificial feeding
means are
needed.
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The many baby bottles now widely in use may be cited for abundant
shortcomings,
the greatest being the unnaturalness of nursing from a rigid, angular,
elongate
container, often in contact with an infants cheeks, chin, nose and hands. This
results
in a predominance of unnatural sensory experience that is inappropriate,
particularly
for newborn infants. Although artificial nipples are typically soft, they do
not provide a
sensory experience similar to the comforting feeling of breast feeding wherein
an
infant is often in full contact with the mother's soft, warm breast. A second
disadvantage is that elongate bottles have a small base and a high center of
gravity,
making them vulnerable to overturning. Elongate bottles are hard to clean, as
the
bottom may be reached only with a bottle brush. Furthermore, rigid bottles can
cause
infants to ingest unnecessary amounts of air. While the latter issues are
addressed
by recent innovations in infant feeding systems, no existing container, other
than the
one referenced in U.S. Patent No. 5,690,679, offers the combination of form,
feel
and function comparable to natural breast feeding.
Manoyian, U.S. Patent No. 3,112,837 discloses a disposable bulbous infant
feeding
container which has rigid elements in contact with the infant's mouth. The
unit was
designed to be sold with dry formula, the user adding water and discarding the
container after one use. The container cannot be filled with breast milk,
washed or
refilled. Furthermore, it has a high center of gravity and a narrow base.
These
deficiencies appear to have precluded commercial success.
Manufacture of a breast imitating container is dependent on the use of non-
toxic,
hypoallergenic materials which are safe for use in the subject application,
easily
molded, cost effective, and have good tactile surface quality. Preferred
embodiments
are disclosed which improve the performance of the breast like container
previously
in U.S. Patent No. 5,690,679, and facilitate cost effective manufacture.
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Removable liners have been in common use in infant feeding containers for many
years. However, the use of a removable liner in a breast like container
presents unique
problems. Of particular importance is the tactile quality of the upper part of
the container
which comes in frequent contact with the infants face. Also, the filling port
on a
collapsible liner must be small enough to allow the liner to collapse,
permitting the full
contents to be withdrawn. For these reasons, the liner of the present
invention is
designed to eliminate the usual rigid components used to seal the top of
conventional
elongate liners, as these components are typically in contact with an infant's
mouth,
chin, nose and cheeks.
The ingestion of air by an infant using an artificial container is believed to
be a major
contributor to colic. While a resilient container helps to mitigate this
problem,
embodiments of the breast like container have been designed to include an
integral
anti-vacuum valvular feature to further reduce the incidence of air ingestion
by the infant
user.
A four piece container design is also disclosed herein to facilitate more cost
effective
molding and to improve sealability of the bottom closure lid on certain
embodiments.
Resilient foams can provide good tactile surface quality, but limitations
exist with these
materials relative to their ability to provide a sealable structure to
withstand the abuse
imposed by infant usage, such as dropping a full container from a crib or high
chair.
Bonding rigid elements to a foam container body to overcome this problem is
one
option. Alternately, non-foam thermoplastics and thermoset rubber can be
molded with
sealable threads when molded with an adequate cross section. These same
materials
have good resilience and tactile quality when molded in thin cross section so
that a
single container can be both relatively rigid at the base and pliant in the
upper nipple
area depending upon container wall thickness.
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It has become evident that the breast-like container will often be used in
conjunction
with a breast pump to provide an infant with expressed mother's milk. To
obviate the
need for an adapter, an intermediate container, or a modified container
attachment on
standard breast pumps, it is desirable to be able to directly couple the
breast like
container of the present invention with a conventional breast pump.
Constraints in molding processes, combined with the current availability of
tear
resistant, resilient foams which are approved forfood contact, led to design
approaches
that offer excellent surface tactile quality as well as possessing insulating
value to retain
warmth of the contents over an extended feeding period.
The above identified pending application specifies resilient container walls
to simulate
the tactile quality of a natural breast. Many types of foam, and particularly
those more
recently developed, conform to the original criteria to a high degree. Fine
grained
cellular thermoplastic elastomers, metallocene polyolefins, elastometric
metallocene
rubber as well as other types of foamed thermoplastics and rubber can provide
a safe,
hypoallergenic and non-toxic container having excellent tactile quality, good
thermal
insulation properties, and a satisfactory degree of tear resistance.
Furthermore, a
relatively rigid inner shell may be used beneath the foam to mitigate
potential problems
with leakage through the nipple when the container is squeezed. Specification
of the
use of resilient foams in the container facilitates constructing a breast-like
infant feeding
container having friendly tactile quality, of considerable importance in the
subject
invention.
A first object of the present invention is the fabrication of a breast like
infant feeding
container employing advanced materials and technology to insure optimum
performance of the product. A second object is to provide a breast shaped
infant
feeding container carrying a removable and optionally disposable containment
liner for
liquid contents. A third object is to enable a breast shaped container to be
readily used
with a breast pump without requiring an independent adapter, a modified
container-
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specific breast pump, or intermediate container for expressed milk. A fourth
object is to
provide an anti-vacuum feature in certain embodiments. A fifth object is to
disclose
presently preferred approaches to design and manufacture in order to effect
cost
savings in the manufacture of the product. A sixth object is to provide a
breast like
infant feeding container with thermographic means to warn against overheating.
A
seventh object is to provide a breast shaped container having an optional
jacket for
improved tactile quality and warmth.
Disclosure of the Invention
In accordance with the present invention, an infant feeding container
substantially
imitating the form, feel and function of a natural breast comprises a breast
like dome
configuration having pliant surface quality and a nipple at the crest of the
dome. The
container may be embodied as a bottom filling or top filling unit. Optional
features
include a removable liner, provision for direct attachment to a breast pump,
an anti-
vacuum component, means to warn against overheated contents, and infant
friendly
jackets on the exterior.
Disclosure of Drawings
FIG. 1 is a partial cross section of a four piece embodiment of the present
invention with
threaded base lid and nipple cap;
FIG 1A is a partial bottom view of the present invention with a warning
message;
FIG. 2 is a detail of Fig. 1;
FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a foam jacket for the container of Figs. 1;
FIG. 4 is a partial section of a top filling embodiment of the present
invention having a
removable compression fit nipple, and a foam outer dome;
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FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail of the nipple engagement mechanism of Fig. 4;
FIG. 6 depicts in partial cross section a three piece container with a foam
outer dome;
and
FIG. 7 depicts in partial cross section an additional embodiment which
includes a rigid
inner dome, a resilient outer dome and a removable bag liner.
Best Mode
Fig. 1 is a cross section of a four piece embodiment molded in an elastomer
such as
silicone rubber, latex, Santoprene , Pellethane or other suitably pliant
material.
Container 10 includes a dome shaped member 11 which is injection molded in
varying
thickness to provide stability in the lower or skirt portion 12 and a soft
resilient surface
in the upper crest portion 13 near nipple 14 with duct(s) 15. Dome shaped
member 11
is equipped with outer flange 16, annular rib 17 and valvular flange 18 which
is slightly
turned down (i.e. away from the nipple) when disengaged. Threads 19 in ring 20
engage corresponding threads 20A on lip 20B of lid 21. Lid 21 may include one
or more
small air vents 22 and is recessed at 23 near the outer circumference to
provide an
annular gripping portion defined 23A by ring 20 and lip 20B. Integral webs 23B
provide
easy turning means forthreaded lid 21. Cap 24 is formed of thermoplastic,
secures over
an annular protrusion 25 on ring 20, and is sized so as to simultaneously
close nipple
ducts 15 against leakage when cap 24 is installed. Cap 24 may serve as a base
when
filling the container and may be marked with gradations for use as a measuring
device.
A warning message "Too Hot" (not shown) is printed on lid 21, over which a
thermographic masking ink 26 is applied. The mask is opaque below
approximately
98F, becoming quickly transparent to reveal the warning message when heated
above
the design temperature.
In operation, dome 11 is inserted through ring 20 until annular rib 17 engages
a
corresponding annular detent in ring 20 to prevent rupture during use. Cap 24
is
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installed on ring 20 so as to seal nipple ducts 15. The container is inverted,
filled with
liquid, and lid 21 is turned by webs 23 to screw threads 20A into threads 19,
whereupon
outer flange 16 seals the contents and valvular flange 18 closes air vents 22
with a
pressure of approximately 5 psi. When the user infant withdraws liquid from
ducts 15
and internal vacuum is thus created, valvular flange 18 lifts until incoming
air equalizes
the vessel's internal pressure to close air vents 22.
Fig. 3 discloses a compression molded foam jacket 41 formed to jacket
container 10 of
Fig. 1. Manufacturers of pliant foamed polyethylene products found to be good
for this
application are Zotefoam, Inc., Hackettstown, NJ, Sentinel Products Corp.,
Hyannis, MA
and Voltek, Ft. Worth, TX. Jacket 41 includes an upper opening 43 through
which
nipple 14 of Fig. 1 is inserted. Lower portion 45 may be slightly turned in to
provide a
grip on the skirt portion 12. Other materials appropriate to this application
include
animal hide, quilted down, cotton, polyester, fleece or other natural or
synthetic
jacketing material having a friendly tactile quality. In non-foam embodiments,
jackets
may be provided with an independent drawstring, elastic member (not shown) at
the
lower portion 45, or other suitable means to secure the jacket 41 in place.
Fig. 4 discloses a top filling embodiment of the present invention 49 having
an outer
dome 51 formed in the approximate shape of a human female breast and
constructed
of a thermoformed or compression molded fine celled, resilient foam as in Fig.
3. The
extended lower portion 53 of outer dome 51 is molded to constitute an annular
gripping
member for the infant and care giver. Bottom closure 57 is molded integrally
with inner
dome 58 and hook ring 59 which defines filling port 61. Nipple 63 with ducts
65 is
molded in an elastometric material such as latex or silicone rubber and
carries a sealing
bead 67 which engages hook ring 59 as best illustrated in Fig. 5. Optional
liner 69 is
fabricated of dipped latex or other material such as a polyethylene film.
Bottom 57, inner
dome 58 and hook ring 59 may be blow molded as a unit from polypropylene,
polyethylene, polyurethane, polystyrene other appropriate thermoplastic,
ideally
transparent to view the inner contents level. Bottom 57 or inner dome 58 may
include
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markings to indicate fluid contents level. Where liner 69 is to be used, an
optional punch
out air vent 71 is provided to allow air to enter the container as contents
are withdrawn.
Liner 69 is collapsible and is sealed at hook ring 59 by compression provided
between
sealing bead 67 and hook ring 59. Liner 69 in this embodiment is constructed
of dipped
latex and is washable and reusable. Alternately, liner 69 may be a disposable
bag of
a material such as polyethylene as is commonly used in disposable bottle
liners. The
diameter of port 61 may be sized to readily adapt to a standard breast pump.
Bottom
57 may optionally include thermographic masking over a warning message (not
shown)
as discussed above to indicate temperature in the contents.
In operation, liner 69, if used, is simply installed through port 61 and liner
bead 73 or
a bag top is secured over hook ring 59. The container is filled and sealing
bead 67 is
stretched over liner bead 73 and hook ring 59 to provide a secure, leak proof
seal. It will
be obvious to one skilled in the art that the upper extremity of the outer
dome 51 or
inner dome 58 may be terminated and formed so as to provide annular means as
in Fig.
7 which engage a corresponding reinforced annular indent at the base of nipple
63,
thereby providing an expansion seal as opposed to the compression seal
detailed in
Figs. 4 and 5.
Fig. 5 details the Fig. 4 approach to installing the nipple 63 on a top
filling embodiment,
and includes a liner 69 with bead 73 engaging hook ring 59 and sealingly
compressed
by sealing bead 67. Also shown are inner dome 58, outer dome 51, and port 61.
Fig 6. discloses a third embodiment, container 109, which includes an outer
resilient
dome 110 formed in the approximate shape of a breast and constructed of fine
celled,
resilient foam material such as is described in reference to Fig. 3, above.
Bottom 112,
with integral inner dome 114, nipple 116 with ducts 118, annular detent 120,
and filling
port 122 with valvular flange 124 is molded in an elastomer having varying
degrees of
thickness through the cross section to provide degrees of resilience and
rigidity as
described above. Current molding technology enables some elastometric
materials to
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be molded with a degree of controlled variation in wall thickness over the
length of the
preform or extrusion slug. The Fig. 6 embodiment may avail this technology to
create
an inner dome 114 which fits snugly within outer dome 110. As in the former
embodiments, the extended lower portion of outer dome 110 provides an annular
gripping member 136. Threaded lid 132 with air vent 134 seals the closure at
port 122
while preventing vacuum build-up in the container as in the embodiment of Fig.
1.
In operation, inner dome 114 is fully inserted into outer dome 110 until
nipple
engagement shoulder 138 engages annular detent 120. Simultaneously, gripping
member 136 contracts to its original diameter to further secure the engagement
over
inner dome 142. The members may readily be disengaged and reassembled for
cleaning and ease of assembly. The resultant container 109 is resilient in the
crest
portion with excellent tactile quality, yet is rigid enough at bottom 112 and
port 124 to
retain its shape and to sealably receive threaded lid 132. In these
embodiments,
annular grasping member 136 is an extension of outer dome 110 and may be
formed
with a considerable outward or inward flare.
Referring now to Fig. 7, outer dome 210 of container 209 is formed in the
approximate
shape of a breast and is molded in fine celled resilient foam. Similar to the
embodiments of Figs. 4 and 6, the lower portion of outer dome 210 is extended
to
provide gripping means 211 and is optionally perforated with holes 211A or
indents to
provide additional gripping ability. A somewhat rigid bottom 212 with integral
inner
dome 214 and threaded port 216 may be blow molded as a unit from polyethylene,
polypropylene, polyurethane, polystyrene, polycarbonate or other appropriate
material.
Bottom 212 ideally is a transparent thermoplastic to view the inner contents
of the
container. Air vent 217 permits air to enter the void between inner dome 214
and liner
218 as the contents are withdrawn. Liner 218 has a sealing flange 220, tubular
filling
portion 221, nipple 224 with ducts 226 and annular detent 222 at the base of
nipple 224
to engage a corresponding shoulder 228 comprising the periphery of the upper
opening
in outer dome 210. Liner 218 in this embodiment is constructed of latex,
double dipped
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at the nipple end and rolled to provide sealing flange 220 at the filling port
defined by
threaded port 216. Wall thickness in the main body of liner 218 can
approximate
.020" thickness (a single dip) to provide some shape memory, whereas nipple
224
and annular detent 222 should be molded to approximately .050" (double dipped)
adequate to resist tearing and to provide secure engagement between annular
.detent 222 and shoulder 228. Threaded port 216 is sized to receive a standard
breast pump. Sealing flange 220 fits over the end of threaded port 216 to
provide
sealing means for the liner contents when threaded lid 232 is securely
installed.
Outer dome 210 is stretched to receive bottom 212 and inner dome 214 and may
be
secured in place by compression, adhesive or other suitable means. In
operation,
nipple 224 with integral liner 218 is first inserted through port 216 and is
thereafter
drawn up through the upper opening in outer dome 210 defining shoulder 228
until
annular detent 222 of liner 218 is fully engaged by shoulder 228. Liner
sealing flange
220 is placed over the end of port 216, whereupon the liner is filled with
liquid
contents and threaded cap 232 is installed to seal the container for use. The
infant
user experiences a sculpted, warm, soft surface having skin-like tactile
quality
without hard or angular surfaces in contact with her face.
Many alternatives exist for the construction of a breast shaped container,
including
an offset nipple, nuances of shape, types of closure and means of attachment
for
the nipple and base elements, modified or appended gripping means, various
liners and methods of installation, and other adjustments within the scope of
the invention. It is therefore intended that the drawings simply depict
selected
embodiments of a breast-like infant feeding container, thereby expanding upon
the disclosure in U.S. Patent No. 5,690,679. The drawings and specifications,
while teaching construction of these embodiments, should not be construed
to narrow the claims which more fully delineate the scope of the invention
claimed herein. The invention principally attempts to imitate the comforting
sensory experience of natural breast feeding. While the formulation of
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new materials and processes may enable enhanced future designs, the claim
anticipate
such evolution, permitting appropriate design alternatives within the broader
scope.
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