WO2006118699A1

WO2006118699A1 - Vented and double walled baby bottles

Info

Publication number: WO2006118699A1
Application number: PCT/US2006/010919
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruce Mckendry; Sung Lee
Original assignee: Clute, Jason, L.
Priority date: 2005-05-02
Filing date: 2006-03-24
Publication date: 2006-11-09
Also published as: US20060243694A1; EP1946739B1; EP1719493A2; KR20080017335A; EP1719493A3; US7172086B2; JP2008539863A; DE602006020060D1; EP1946739A2; EP1946739A3

Abstract

A container 10 has an inner vessel 12 for containing liquid such as milk, water, juice or the like. An outer vessel 12 creates a larger volume than the volume of the inner vessel 12, so that the inner vessel 12 can fit inside the outer vessel 14. A top cap 16 secures the inner and outer vessels 12,14 in spaced relation to each other. The top cap 16 can have an integral nipple 18 in fluid communication with the inside of the inner vessel 12. In another embodiment, a vent 18 in a top cap 16 permits air to enter a liquid holding vessel as the liquid is removed. A filter 20 in the vent 18 allows the air to pass, but not the liquid, so the liquid does not spill when the container 10 is tipped. Additional alternate embodiments are disclosed.

Description

VENTED AND DOUBLE WALLED BABY BOTTLES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to containers, and more particularly, to

double walled baby bottles, and vented baby bottles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional baby bottles have a single wall that does not retain

heat well. Insulated baby bottles increase heat retention by using a

double-walled container, but there is a need for improved double walled baby

bottles.

Some baby bottles are vented, to allow air from the atmosphere

into the bottle as milk is taken out. However, conventional vented baby bottles

often spill some of the milk out through the vent when the bottle is turned upside

down from an upright position. Thus, there is also a need for vented baby bottles

that do not drip or spill milk from the bottle when the bottle is tipped upside

down.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide new and

improved containers .

Another object is to provide new and improved double walled

baby bottles.

Another object is to provide new and improved vented baby

bottles. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In keeping with one aspect of this invention, a container has an

inner vessel for containing liquid such as milk, water, juice or the like. An outer

vessel creates a larger volume than the volume of the inner vessel, so that the

inner vessel can fit inside the outer vessel.

The inner vessel has an open top end, and the outer vessel has an

open top end. A top cap covers both vessels, and is secured so as to maintain the

inner and outer vessels in spaced relation to each other. The top cap can have an

integral nipple in fluid communication with the inside of the inner vessel. An

alternate top cap secures the inner and outer vessels in the same manner, without

the integral nipple. Either top cap can be used with the outer vessel alone, or the

inner vessel alone, as well as the double- walled assembly of vessels.

A bottom cap can also be provided for the bottom end of the inner

vessel, if desired. The bottom end of the inner vessel can be sized to industry

standard diameter and threads, to accommodate conventional baby bottle caps

and nipples.

In another aspect of the invention, a vent in the top cap permits air

to enter the liquid holding vessel as the liquid is removed. A filter in the vent

allows the air to pass, but not the liquid, so the liquid does not spill when the

container is tipped. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other features of this invention and the

manner of obtaining them will become more apparent, and the invention itself

will be best understood by reference to the following description of an

embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying

drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container made in accordance with

the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a top cap used in the container

of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a vent used in the container of Fig.

2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the vent of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a

container made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another alternate embodiment of

a container made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the container of Fig. 2, with a top

cap for storage; Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the container of Fig. I₅ with a

bottom cap; and

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the inner vessel of the container

of Fig. 9, with a bottom cap and storage cap on the top.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, a baby bottle 10 has an inner vessel 12, an

outer vessel 14, a top cap 16 having a nipple 17, and a vent 18. The nipple 17,

which could also be a spout for sipping or the like, has an opening 19 for

controlled release of liquid contained in the inner vessel. The vent 18 includes

at least one filter 20.

The vessels 12 and 14 can contain liquid such as milk, juice or

water for a baby. A removable sanitary cap 21 can be provided to protect the

nipple 17 and bottle contents from outside contamination.

As seen in Fig. 2, the outer vessel 14 creates a larger volume than

the volume of the inner vessel 12, so that the inner vessel 12 can fit inside the

outer vessel 14. The inner vessel 12 has an open top end 22 and at least one

thread 24 surrounding the outside of the top end 22. The outer vessel 14 has an

open top end 26 and can have at least one thread 28 inside the top end 26.

The top cap 16 secures and seals the inner and outer vessels in

spaced relation to each other, as seen in Fig. 2, although the top cap 16 could be used with either vessel 12 or vessel 14 alone. The cap 16 (Fig. 2) has a first

portion 30 that fits between the inner and outer vessels below a top edge 31 of the

outer vessel 14, and extends over the open end of the vessel 12 to the nipple 17,

which is preferably integral with the first portion 30. The first portion 30 and

nipple 17 can be made in an integral manner by co-molding, chemical bonding,

welding, or suitable mechanical attachment. The first portion 30 can be made of

a material such as polypropylene, and the nipple 17 can be made of a different

material such as thermal plastic elastomer (TPE).

The cap 16 has lips 34, 35 that further seal a space 36 between the

inner and outer vessels. The space 36 provides thermal insulation for the inner

vessel 12, and can itself contain air, heated water, cooled water or the like.

The cap 16 also has at least one thread 40 that engages the thread

28 on the outer vessel 14, and at least one thread 42 which engages the thread 24

of the inner vessel 12. The cap 16 could also secure the vessels 12, 14 in other

ways, such as press fit, bayonet attachment, or bonding. Bonding is

advantageous for single use applications, for disposable containers, and for

preserving the contents in a sterile or uncontaminated condition. In these and

other suitable ways, the vessels can be secured in spaced relation to each other,

and the space 36 can be adequately sealed.

The top cap 16 further includes an opening 44 and spaced inner

extensions 46, which receive and secure the vent 18, shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The vent 18 is an elongated tube having a first end 48 secured to the cap 16, and a

second end 50 that opens inside the inner container 12. The first end 40 can be

press fit between the extensions 46, or it can be fixed in the cap 16 by molding

or the like.

The filter 20 is located at the first end 48 in Fig. 6, but the filter 20

could also be located in the second end 50, if desired. Multiple filters 20 can be

used, too, as in Fig. 2. The filter 20 is substantially impermeable to liquid but

substantially permeable to air, whether wet or dry. Suitable filters include the

Versapor R filter made by Pall Filter Corp., and similar filters made by Porex.

A variation of the cap 16 is shown in Fig. 6. In Fig. 6, a top cap 64

secures the vessel 14 in spaced relation to the vessel 12 in generally the same

manner as the cap 16. Instead of the lip 34, though, the top cap 64 has a finger

66 that extends over a top edge 68 of the outer vessel 14, to better seal the space

36.

Another variation of the cap 16 is shown in Fig. 7. In Fig. 7, a top

cap 70 has a first portion 72 and an integral nipple 74. The first portion 72 has

at least one thread 76 which engages the thread 24 on the inner vessel 12. At

least one thread 78 engages a thread 80 on the outside of an outer vessel 82. Lips

84 better secure the cap 70 to the vessels 12, 82, and better seal the vessels 12,

82. Like the cap 16, the top cap 70 spaces the inner and outer vessels in relation

to each other to create the space 36, but the first portion 72 extends between the vessels 12, 82 above the edge 31. The threads secure the cap to the vessels, and

the first portion 72 and nipple 74 seal the top open ends of the vessels.

Fig. 8 illustrates a storage cap 86 that is similar to any of the other

top caps just described, but does not have a nipple or a vent. The cap 86 can store

liquid in the inner vessel 12 and the outer vessel 14 in the double walled

configuration discussed, the outer vessel 14 alone, or the inner vessel 12 alone.

It is contemplated that the top ends of the inner and outer vessels

will not accept an industry standard nipple and cap. It is desirable to at least have

the capability to use an industry standard nipple and cap, though, and a bottom

opening 90 may be provided for this purpose, if desired, as shown in Fig. 9. A

bottom cap 92 seals the opening 90 when the opening 90 is not used.

To facilitate use of a standard nipple and cap of the bottom

opening 90, the storage cap 86 (Fig. 8) or a storage cap 94 (Fig. 10) is needed.

The top cap 94 only seals the inner vessel 12.

Liquid (or solid food) can easily be stored in the vessel 12 with

both caps 92 and 94. An industry standard or other sized cap and nipple can be

used by replacing the cap 92 with an industry standard (or the like) cap and

nipple, or a cap of the present invention can be used, but replacing the top 94

with a cap of the present invention.

While the principles of the invention have been described above in

connection with specific apparatus and applications, it is to be understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the

scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

L A container 10 (Figs. 2,7) characterized by:

an inner vessel 12 for containing liquid, the inner vessel 12

having an open top end 22;

an outer vessel 14,82 (Fig. 7) that creates a larger volume

than the volume of the inner vessel 12, so that the inner vessel 12 can fit inside

the outer vessel 14,82, the outer vessel 14,82 also having an open top end 26; and

a top cap 16,70 (Fig. 7) that spaces the inner and outer

vessels 12; 14,82 in relation to each other and can cover the open top ends 22,26

of the inner and outer vessels 12;14,82, the top cap 16,70 having a first portion

30,72 that extends between the top ends 22,26 of the inner and outer vessels

12;14,82,

means 24,28,40,42; 76,78,80 for securing the cap 16,70 to

the inner and outer vessels 12; 14, 82; and

means 30,72,34,35,84 for sealing the open top ends 22,26

of the inner and outer vessels 12; 14,82.

2. The container (Fig. 2) of claim I₅ wherein the first portion

30 extends below a top edge 31 of the top end 26 of the outer vessel 14.

3. The container (Fig. 7) of claim I₅ wherein the first portion

(72) extends above a top edge 31 of the outer vessel 82.

4. The container (Figs. 2,7) of claim I₅ wherein the top cap

16,70 has an opening 19 in fluid communication with the inside of the inner

vessel 12 for controlled release of liquid contained in the inner vessel 12.

5. The container (Figs. 2,7) of claim 4, wherein the opening 19

is in an integral nipple 17,74 in the top cap 16,70.

6. The container (Fig. 2,7) of claim 5, wherein the first portion

30,72 is made of a first material, and the nipple 17,74 is made of a second

material different from the first material.

7. The container (Fig. 2) of claim 1, wherein the securing

means 24,28,40,42 has at least one thread 24 surrounding the outside of the top

end 22 of the inner vessel 12, and at least one thread 28 inside the top end 26 of

the outer vessel 14, the first portion 30 of the top cap 16 having threads 42,40

sufficient to engage the thread 24 of the inner vessel 12 and the thread 28 of the

outer vessel 14.

8. The container (Fig. 7) of claim 1, wherein the securing

means 24,76,78,80 has at least one thread 24 outside of the top end of the inner

vessel 12, and at least one thread 80 outside of the top end of the outer vessel 82,

the first portion of the top cap 70 having threads 76,78 sufficient to engage the

thread 24 of the inner vessel 12 and the thread 80 of the outer vessel 82.

9. The container (Figs. 2,7) of claim 1, wherein the means for

sealing includes the first portion 30,72 of the top cap 16,82 and at least one lip

34,35,84 protruding from the first portion 30,72.

10. The container (Fig. 2) of claim 1 comprising a vent 18 in

the top cap 16, the vent 18 permitting atmospheric air to enter the inner vessel 12

as liquid is removed from the inner vessel 12.

11. The container (Fig. 2) of claim 10 comprising a filter 20 in the vent 18.

12. The container (Fig. 2) of claim 10, wherein the vent 18 (Fig.

4) is an elongated tube having a first end 48 secured to the top cap 16, and a

second end 50 that opens inside the inner container 12.

13. The container (Fig. 5) of claim 12, wherein the filter 20 is

located in the first end 48 of the tube.

14. The container (Fig. 5) of claim 12, wherein the filter 20 is

located in the second end 50 of the tube.

15. The container (Figs. 4,5) of claim 11, wherein the filter 20

is substantially permeable to air, and substantially impermeable to liquid,

whether wet or dry.

16. The container (Fig. 9) of claim 1, wherein the inner vessel

12 has an open bottom 90, the inner vessel 12 having a bottom cap 92 that seals

the open bottom 90.

17. A container 10 (Fig. 2) characterized by:

at least one vessel 12 for containing liquid, the vessel 12

having an open top end 22,

a top cap 16, that substantially seals the open top end 22 of

the vessel 12, wherein the top cap 16, has an opening 19 in fluid communication

with the inside of the vessel 12, for controlled release of liquid contained in the

vessel 12, a vent 18 in the top cap 16, the vent 18 permitting

atmospheric air to enter the vessel 12 as liquid is removed from the vessel 12,

and

a filter 20 in the vent 18, the filter 20 being substantially

permeable to air, and substantially impermeable to liquid when wet or dry.

18. The container of claim 17, wherein the vent 18 (Fig. 4) is an

elongated tube having a first end 48 secured to the top cap 16, and a second end

50 that opens inside the container 12.

19. The container of claim 18, wherein the at least one vessel

12 is an inner vessel, the container further comprising an outer vessel 14,82 (Fig.

7) that creates a larger volume than the volume of the inner vessel 12, so that the

inner vessel 12 can fit inside the outer vessel 14, the outer vessel 14 also having

an open top end 26,

the top cap 16 securing the inner and outer vessels 12,14 in

spaced relation to each other and sealing the open top end 26 of the outer vessel

14, as well as the open top end 22 of the inner vessel 12.

20. The container of claim 18, wherein the opening 19 is in an

integral nipple 17 in the top cap 16.

21. The container of claim 19, wherein the top cap 16 can

secure the outer vessel 14 alone.

22. The container (Fig. 9) of claim 17, wherein the vessel 12

has an open bottom end 90, the container further comprising a bottom cap 92 that

seals the bottom of the vessel 12.