In a nipple for a baby feeding container, a valve part is disclosed, comprising a unidirectional valve formed of a pliable material and oppositely oriented such that when attached to the container a normal fluid flow through the valve is into the container while a flow from the container to the outside is normally blocked, the valve is characterized by a plurality of normally closed non intersecting slits formed in a deformable wall which blocks the flow of liquid from the container to the outside unless when the slits become temporarily distorted by the natural mouth maneuverings of a baby. The valve is especially advantageous for use in baby feeding containers of inflatable type in which the liquid content is pressurized under the pressure exerted by the stretched elastomeric walls of the container.

A teat including at least a shaft and a nipple, wherein structured surface areas are provided at least in a partial region thereof, and the structured surface areas are formed by at least one rough surface zone having a surface roughness of 100 m at the most, or 50 m at the most.

A teat including at least a shaft and a nipple, wherein structured surface areas are provided at least in a partial region thereof, and the structured surface areas are formed by at least one rough surface zone having a surface roughness of 100 m at the most, or 50 m at the most.

A valve assembly for a leak resistant drinking cup includes a tubular plug having an outer wall, an inner wall, and a web extending between and connecting the outer and inner walls. The web has at least one slit disposed intermediate the inner and outer walls. The valve assembly is configurable between a sealed position wherein liquid is inhibited from passing through the slit and an unsealed position wherein liquid can pass through the slit.

A feeding apparatus includes a nipple shield, a deformable nipple defining a chamber, an inlet through which fluid can flow into the chamber, and an outlet through which fluid can exit the nipple, a first portion of the nipple having a first stiffness and a second portion of the nipple having a second stiffness that is lower than the first stiffness, the first portion disposed on a first side of a longitudinal plane bisecting the nipple and the second portion disposed on a second side of the plane, and a check valve disposed in the nipple to divide the chamber into a first portion between the check valve and the outlet, and a second portion between the check valve and the inlet, wherein the check valve is configured to admit fluid into the first portion but prevent fluid from leaving the first portion through the check valve.

A spout (20) for a lid (10), where the lid (10) is constructed and arranged to fit over and close an open top of a container (150). The spout (20) has an elongated fluid conduit (22) having two ends (24, 25) and lying along a conduit longitudinal axis (23). The conduit (22) has a pair of opposed convex curved sidewalls (61, 63) that meet at two opposed locations (64, 65) at an angle of less than 180 degrees to define a generally elliptical cross-sectional shape that has a major axis (51) that passes through the sidewall meeting locations (64, 65).

A feeding teat (40) constructed and arranged to be used on a bottle (52) that holds and dispenses a liquid to be fed to an infant or child. The teat (40) has a nipple portion (70) with an orifice (71) at a terminal end, and defines an interior profile shaped by intersecting reverse curves (75, 76) that generally decrease the interior diameter of the nipple portion (70) toward the orifice (71), so as to channel fluid flow into the orifice (112). There is a flange portion (66) constructed and arranged to be releasably coupled to the bottle (52) such that the liquid can flow from the bottle (52) into the teat (40), and a convexly shaped intermediate portion (80) integrally connecting the nipple portion (70) to the flange portion (66). A pressure relief valve (60) built into the teat (40) is constructed and arranged to admit air into the interior of at least one of the teat (40) and the bottle (52).

In a nipple for a baby feeding container, a valve part is disclosed, comprising a unidirectional valve formed of a pliable material and oppositely oriented such that when attached to the container a normal fluid flow through the valve is into the container while a flow from the container to the outside is normally blocked, the valve is characterized by a plurality of normally closed non intersecting slits formed in a deformable wall which blocks the flow of liquid from the container to the outside unless when the slits become temporarily distorted by the natural mouth maneuverings of a baby. The valve is especially advantageous for use in baby feeding containers of inflatable type in which the liquid content is pressurized under the pressure exerted by the stretched elastomeric walls of the container.

It is important for the healthy growth of infants or newborn animals that any artificial teats or nipples that are used to feed them, are designed to provide consistent and measured flow rates when in use. Slits in the end of artificial teats or nipples are often used to provide openings for milk flow, and the slits naturally close to seal the end of the teats or nipples when not in use. However, slits need to be carefully aligned with the suckling action of the infant or newborn animal for the milk to flow at a correct rate. An artificial teat with a number of slits, each orientated at a different angle, and which are situated within a generally circular shaped valley or ridge that is formed in the end of the artificial teat or nipple is also disclosed.

In a nipple for a baby feeding container, a valve part is disclosed, comprising a unidirectional valve formed of a pliable material and oppositely oriented such that when attached to the container a normal fluid flow through the valve is into the container while a flow from the container to the outside is normally blocked, the valve is characterized by a plurality of normally closed non intersecting slits formed in a deformable wall which blocks the flow of liquid from the container to the outside unless when the slits become temporarily distorted by the natural mouth maneuverings of a baby. The valve is especially advantageous for use in baby feeding containers of inflatable type in which the liquid content is pressurized under the pressure exerted by the stretched elastomeric walls of the container.