Teat

Abstract

A teat, in particular for infants and small children, having a hollow nipple with at least one through-hole for liquid nutrition, which is connected at the bottom to a substantially annular-disc-shaped nipple flange, which serves to be fastened to the mouth of a vessel by means of a fastening ring with an annular-disc-shaped ring flange overlapping the nipple flange for pressing the bottom side of the nipple flange flat against the front-side edge of the mouth and at least one recess extending in the radial direction of the nipple flange on the top side of the nipple flange so that a ring flange of a fastening ring pressing against the top side of the nipple flange is spaced from the top side of the floor of the recess during the fastening of the teat on the mouth of a vessel, and the nipple flange is sufficiently flexible at least in the area of the recess so that the floor arches up and air from outside flows back into the vessel under the arched floor of the recess in the radial direction when the teat is fastened on the mouth of a vessel and negative pressure is created in the vessel when the nipple is sucked on.

Claims

1. A teat, in particular for infants and small children, comprising: a hollow nipple (2) with at least one through-hole (11) for liquid nutrition, which is connected at the bottom to a substantially annular-disc-shaped nipple flange (3), which serves to be fastened to the mouth (30) of a vessel (21) by means of a fastening ring (20) with an annular-disc-shaped ring flange (27) overlapping the nipple flange (2) for pressing the bottom side of the nipple flange (3) flat against the front-side edge (29) of the mouth (30) and at least one recess (14.1, 14.2) extending in the radial direction of the nipple flange (3) on the top side of the nipple flange (3) so that a ring flange (27) of a fastening ring (20) pressing against the top side of the nipple flange (3) is spaced from the top side of the floor (15.1, 15.2) of the recess (14.1, 14.2) during the fastening of the teat (1) on the mouth of a vessel (21), and the nipple flange (3) is sufficiently flexible at least in the area of the recess (14.1, 14.2) so that the floor (15.1, 15.2) arches up and air from outside flows back into the vessel (21) under the arched floor (15.1, 15.2) of the recess (14.1, 14.2) in the radial direction when the teat (1) is fastened on the mouth of a vessel (21) and a certain negative pressure is created in the vessel (21) when the nipple (2) is sucked on.

2. The teat according to claim 1, in which the recess (14.1, 14.2) is a groove extending in the radial direction of the nipple flange (3).

3. The teat according to claim 1, in which the floor (15.1, 15.2) of the recess (14.1, 14.2) has a downwards curvature, which is pressed flat when the nipple flange (2) is mounted on the vessel (21) by means of a fastening ring (20) so that the floor (15.1, 15.2) of the recess (14.1, 14.2) rests against the edge (29) of the mouth (30) under elastic initial tension.

4. The teat according to claim 1, in which the negative pressure at which the floor (15.1, 15.2) arches up, is settled in the range of 25 to 100 millibar, preferably approximately 20 to 30 millibar.

5. The teat according to claim 1, to in which the recess (14.1, 14.2) extends in the radial direction of the nipple flange (3) over the entire area with which the nipple flange (3) lies against the front-side edge of the mouth (30).

6. The teat according to claim 5, in which the recess (14.1, 14.2) extends in the radial direction over at least half of the nipple flange (3).

7. The teat according to claim 1, in which the nipple flange (2) has, at least on the bottom side of the floor (15.1, 15.2) of the recess (14.1, 14.2), bars (17.1, 17.2) and/or a surface texture and/or at least one lower recess (32), which is surrounded on all sides by a non-recessed area of the bottom side of the nipple flange (3), for easier detachment from the edge (29) of the mouth (30) of the bottle (1).

8. The teat according to claim 7, which has several lower recesses (32) arranged behind each other in the radial direction and/or several lower recesses (32) arranged next to each other in the circumferential direction.

9. The teat according to claim 1, in which the nipple (2) has a constriction (12) above the nipple flange (3).

10. The teat according to claim 1, in which the floor (15.1, 15.2) of the recess (14.1, 14.2) is made of a soft elastic material, wherein the entire nipple flange (3) is preferably made of soft elastic material, wherein the entire teat (1) is preferably made of soft elastic material.

11. The teat according to claim 1, which is made entirely or partially of silicone or a thermoplastic elastomer or another plastic that can be injection molded or latex and/or which is injection-molded or produced in a combined immersion-casting process.

12. The teat according to claim 1, in which the nipple flange (3) has an inner diameter of 20 to 65 mm and/or an outer diameter of 30 to 70 mm and/or a height of 0.5 to 3 mm and/or in which the recess (14.1, 14.2) in the nipple flange (3) has a depth of 0.5 to 2.5 mm and/or a length in the radial direction of the nipple flange (3) of 2 to 10 mm and/or a width in the circumferential direction of the nipple flange (3) of 5 to 15 mm and/or the floor (15.1, 15.2) a thickness of 0.5 to 1.5 mm.

13. A drinking vessel with a teat (1) according to claim 1, which is mounted on a vessel (21) by means of a fastening ring (20), wherein the fastening ring (20) has fastening means and the vessel (21) has further fastening means that are interconnected in order to fasten the teat (1) on the vessel (21), presses a ring flange (27) of the fastening ring (20) outside of the recess (14.1, 14.2) against the top side of the nipple flange (3) and presses the nipple flange (3) with the bottom side against the edge (29) of the mouth (30) of the vessel (21), wherein the recess (14.1, 14.2) is designed so that negative pressure in the vessel (21) causes the floor (15.1, 15.2) of the recess (14.1, 14.2) to arch up and air flows back into the vessel (21) from outside in the radial direction.

14. The drinking vessel according to claim 13, in which the expansion (a) of the lower recess (32) in the radial direction is less than the width (b) of the edge (29) of the mouth (30) of the vessel (21) and/or in which the distance (c) between two lower recesses (32) located consecutively in the radial direction is less than the width (b) of the edge (29) of the mouth (30) of the vessel (21).

15. The drinking vessel according to claim 13, in which the nipple flange (3) protrudes radially inwards and/or outwards over the front-side edge (29) of the mouth (30) of the vessel (21).

Description

[0039] The invention will be explained in greater detail below based on the accompanying drawings of exemplary embodiments. The drawings show:

[0040] FIG. 1 a teat in a perspective view diagonally from the top and from the side;

[0041] FIG. 2 the teat in a perspective view diagonally from below and from the opposite side;

[0042] FIG. 3 the teat in a view from the right side;

[0043] FIG. 4 the teat in a front view;

[0044] FIG. 5 the teat in a view from the top;

[0045] FIG. 6 the teat in a view from the bottom;

[0046] FIG. 7 the teat in a cut along line VII-VII of FIG. 4;

[0047] FIG. 8 enlarged detail VIII of FIG. 1;

[0048] FIG. 9 enlarged detail IX of FIG. 2;

[0049] FIG. 10 enlarged detail X of FIG. 6;

[0050] FIG. 11 enlarged detail XI of FIG. 7;

[0051] FIG. 12 the teat fastened on the mouth of a vessel by means of a fastening ring in a roughly schematic partial section;

[0052] FIG. 13 the arched-up floor of the teat in a perspective partial view;

[0053] FIG. 14 an alternative teat in a perspective view diagonally from above and from the side;

[0054] FIG. 15 the teat in a perspective view diagonally from below and from the opposite side;

[0055] FIG. 16 enlarged detail XVI FIG. 14;

[0056] FIG. 17 enlarged detail XVII of FIG. 15;

[0057] FIG. 18 an alternative teat in a perspective view of the nipple flange diagonally from below and from the side;

[0058] FIG. 19 the same teat on the mouth of a vessel in the case of the presence of negative pressure in a vertical partial cut.

[0059] In the present application, the terms “top” and “bottom” refer to an arrangement of the teat with the nipple above the nipple flange in the case of the horizontal alignment of the nipple teat. Furthermore, the vessel is arranged below the teat.

[0060] The teat 1 has a nipple 2, which is connected on the bottom with a circular annular nipple flange 3. The nipple 2 has a bellows-like nipple spout 4 that tapers upward from a large diameter 5. At the top, the nipple spout 4 bears a nipple 6 that has a nipple neck 7 and a nipple head 8. On one side, the nipple head 8 is provided with a chamfer 10 at an angle to the central axis 9 of the nipple flange 3. On the opposite side, it has at least one passage opening 11 in the form of a drinking hole for liquid food.

[0061] At the bottom, the nipple spout 4 has a constriction 12. At the bottom end of the constriction 12, the nipple spout 4 is connected to the nipple flange 3 projecting radially outward that concentrically surrounds the central axis 9.

[0062] The nipple flange 3 is mainly flat but has respectively a groove-like recess 14.1, 14.2 on the top side at two diametrically opposing spots. Each recess 14.1, 14.2 has a floor 15.1, 15.2, which has e.g. a thickness of 0.9 mm.

[0063] The generally annular-disc-shaped nipple flange 3 has respectively an impression 16.1, 16.2 on the outer edge next to the recesses 14.1, 14.2.

[0064] The floor 15.1, 15.2 of each recess is respectively provided on the bottom side with a series of radially extending bars 17.1, 17.2, e.g. ten bars 17.1, 17.2 are present below each floor 15.1, 15.2, wherein an angular distance of 1.8° is present between neighboring bars. For example, each bar 17.1, 17.2 has a width of 0.3 mm and a height of 0.1 mm.

[0065] Each recess 14.1, 14.2 extends in the radial direction from the outer edge of the nipple flange 3 via at least half of the nipple flange 3, preferably up until shortly before or up to the inner edge of the nipple flange 3. The length of each recess 14.1, 14.2 in the radial direction is e.g. 4.5 mm (3.3 mm at the narrowest point of the impression) and e.g. 8.25 mm on the outer periphery in the circumferential direction. Each recess 14.1, 14.2 is delimited by edges 18.1, 18.2 extending radially with respect to the nipple flange 3, wherein the opening angle between the edges is 20°.

[0066] Furthermore, the nipple flange 2 on the outer edge has a circumferential, vertically protruding edge bulge 19. The edge bulge 19 is interrupted by the recesses 14.1, 14.2.

[0067] The thickness of the nipple flange 3 is e.g. 15 mm within the edge bulge 19. The thickness of the floor 15.1, 15.2 is e.g. 0.9 mm in the area between the radial ribs 17. The height of each rib is e.g. 0.1 mm.

[0068] In the example, the teat 1 is a feeding spout. It is made e.g. of silicone, thermoplastic elastomer or latex.

[0069] According to FIG. 12, the teat 1 is fastened on a vessel 21 by means of a fastening ring 20. On the inner perimeter of its approximately cylindrical cover 23, the fastening ring 20 has an internal thread 24, and on the outer perimeter of its neck 25, the vessel 21 has an outer thread 26 so that the fastening ring 20 can be screwed onto the vessel 21. On the upper edge, the fastening ring 20 has an inwards protruding ring flange 27, which has a circumferential annular groove 28 on the inner perimeter.

[0070] The ring flange 27 engages in the constriction 12 of the teat 1. The edge bulge 19 engages in the annular groove 28.

[0071] The ring flange 27 presses against the top side of the nipple flange 3 and hereby presses it with the bottom side against the flat front-side edge 29 of a mouth 30 of the vessel 21. The ring flange 27 presses against the top side of the nipple flange 3 next to the recesses 14.1, 14.2. It does not press against the floor 15.1, 15.2 of the recesses 14.1, 14.2.

[0072] The nipple flange 3 is measured such that it protrudes with the floor 15.1, 15.2 of the recesses 14.1, 14.2 radially outward and radially inward over the front-side edge 29 of the mouth 30.

[0073] In the radial direction, the cover of the nipple flange 3 with the front-side edge 29 of the mouth 30 is e.g. 1 mm.

[0074] When the teat 1 is sucked on and negative pressure is hereby created in the vessel 21, the floor 15.1, 15.2 arches up, as also shown in FIG. 13 by finer lines. In this state, ambient air can flow from outside in the direction of the arrows, whereby ventilation is achieved.

[0075] The impressions 16.1, 16.2 prevent the internal thread 24 of the fastening ring 20 from colliding with the outer edge of the floor 15.1, 15.2 and prevents it from arching up.

[0076] The exemplary embodiment from FIGS. 14 to 17 differs from exemplary embodiment described above in that the nipple flange 2 on the recesses 14.1, 14.2 has rectangular spaces 31.1, 31.2 on the outer edge instead of impressions 16.1, 16.2. The spaces 31.1, 31.2 also benefit a free arching up of the floor 15.1, 15.2 when negative pressure prevails in the vessel 21.

[0077] The exemplary embodiment from FIGS. 18 and 19 mainly differs from the exemplary embodiment from FIGS. 1 to 13 in that the teat 1 on the bottom side of the floor 15.1, 15.2 of each recess 14.1, 14.2 has several lower recesses 32, each of which are surrounding on all sides by a non-recessed area 32 of the nipple flange 3. Thus, neighboring lower recesses 32 are separated from each other by a non-recessed area on the bottom side of the nipple flange 3. Furthermore, several lower recesses 32 are arranged behind each other in the radial direction and several lower recesses 32 are arranged next to each other in the circumferential direction. The arrangement of the lower recesses 32 is limited to the area of the floor 15.1, 15.2 of the recesses 14.1, 14.2. Each lower recess 32 is considerably smaller than the recess 32. In the example, the lower recesses 32 each have an almost rectangular shape, wherein the main axis of each rectangular geometry extends in the radial direction.

[0078] According to FIG. 19, the length a of each lower recess 32 in the radial direction is less than the width b of the edge 29 of the mouth 30 of the vessel 21. Furthermore, the distance c between the lower recesses 32 neighboring in the radial direction is less than the width b of the edge 29 of the mouth 30 of the vessel 21.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 19, when the nipple flange 3 is arranged on the mouth 30 of a vessel 21, a recess 32 is always arranged such that it covers the inner rim 33 of the edge 29 of the mouth 30 of the vessel 21. If there is negative pressure in the vessel, the nipple flange 3 rises up away from the edge 29 of the mouth 30 further outside radially and no longer seals there. As a result, ambient air between the nipple flange 3 and the edge 29 of the mouth 30 can flow radially inwards and finally makes its way through the lower recess 32, which covers the inner rim 33 of the edge 29 of the mouth 30, into the vessel 21, in order to equalize the pressure. Once the negative pressure in the vessel 21 has dissipated, the nipple flange 3 with the areas between the lower recesses 32 lies on the edge 29 of the mouth 30. A sealing line proceeding in the circumferential direction in an uninterrupted manner between and through the neighboring lower recesses 32 is also hereby created below the recess 14.1, 14.2 so that ambient air cannot flow back in.