A Teat

Abstract

A teat for a milk bottle is provided. The teat comprises an attachment portion for attaching the teat to a milk bottle. A breast portion of the teat extends from the attachment portion, the breast portion including a compressible material. A nipple portion of the teat extends from the breast portion. The nipple portion is narrower than the breast portion and includes an outlet. A milk-flow pathway extends through the breast portion, the compressible material and the nipple portion for the passage of milk from a milk bottle attached to the attachment portion to the outlet. The breast portion includes a flexible skin fully enclosing the compressible material, the flexible skin separating the compressible material from the milk-flow pathway.

Claims

1. A teat for a milk bottle, comprising: an attachment portion for attaching the teat to a milk bottle; a breast portion extending from the attachment portion, the breast portion comprising a compressible material; a nipple portion extending from the breast portion and being narrower than the breast portion, the nipple portion comprising an outlet; and a milk-flow pathway extending through the breast portion, the compressible material and the nipple portion for the passage of milk from a milk bottle attached to the attachment portion to the outlet, wherein the breast portion comprises a flexible skin fully enclosing the compressible material, the flexible skin separating the compressible material from the milk-flow pathway.

2. A teat for a milk bottle, comprising: an attachment portion for attaching the teat to a milk bottle; a breast portion extending from the attachment portion, the breast portion comprising a compressible material; a nipple portion extending from the breast portion and being narrower than the breast portion, the nipple portion comprising an outlet and being less compressible than the filling material; and a milk-flow pathway extending through the breast portion and the nipple portion for the passage of milk from a milk bottle attached to the attachment portion to the outlet.

3. The teat of claim 2, wherein the breast portion comprises a flexible skin fully enclosing the compressible material, the flexible skin separating the compressible material from the milk-flow pathway

4-6. (canceled)

7. The teat of claim 1, wherein the skin is formed of a silicone.

8. The teat of claim 1, wherein the compressible material is formed as a single piece of material with a bore for receiving the flexible skin.

9. The teat of claim 8, wherein the flexible skin further comprises a neck portion, and the neck portion is received by the bore of the compressible material.

10. The teat of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the breast portion is substantially dome shaped.

11. (canceled)

12. The teat of claim 1, wherein the compressible material is a solid.

13. The teat of claim 1, wherein the compressible material is an expanded foam or a silicone.

14. (canceled)

15. The teat of claim 1, wherein the nipple portion is less compressible than the compressible material.

16. The teat of claim 1, wherein the portion of the milk-flow pathway which extends through the nipple portion is a through bore through a generally solid nipple portion.

17. The teat of claim 1, wherein an angle is defined between the breast portion and the attachment means, wherein the angle is acute.

18. The teat of claim 1, wherein an angle is defined between the breast portion and the nipple portion, wherein the angle is obtuse.

19. The teat of claim 1, wherein the compressible material is formed generally in a crenellation or castellation shape.

20. The teat of claim 1, wherein the compressible material is formed of a central region, with a plurality of spaced protrusions extending therefrom.

21. (canceled)

22. The teat of claim 1, wherein the compressible material and/or breast portion have a thickness in the region of 5 millimetres to 20 millimetres.

23. The teat of claim 1, wherein the portion of the milk-flow pathway extending through the nipple portion has a diameter no greater than 20% of the maximum diameter of the nipple portion.

24. The teat of claim 1, wherein the nipple portion is at least an upper 0.5 centimetres of the teat.

25. The teat of claim 1, wherein the nipple portion is formed as a thick segment of the flexible skin, the portion of the milk-flow pathway extending through the nipple portion formed as a bore through the thick segment of the flexible skin.

26. (canceled)

27. A method of manufacturing a teat for a milk bottle comprising the steps of: providing a compressible material having a passage extending therethrough; enclosing the compressible material within a flexible skin to form a breast portion of the teat, the skin extending through the passage and separating the compressible material from a milk-flow pathway.

28-56. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0097] The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

[0098] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a teat according to the present invention;

[0099] FIG. 2 shows a further perspective view of the teat of FIG. 1;

[0100] FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the teat of FIG. 1;

[0101] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional schematic of the teat of FIG. 1;

[0102] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view the teat of FIG. 1 in a partially disassembled state;

[0103] FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C shows a top view of exemplary shapes for a compressible material.

[0104] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the partially disassembled teat of FIG. 5;

[0105] FIG. 6A shows a top perspective view of the compressible material with a neck portion received in a bore.

[0106] FIG. 6B shows a bottom perspective view of the compressible material with the neck portion received in the bore.

[0107] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the teat of FIG. 1 in a further partially disassembled state, with further components disassembled to FIG. 5;

[0108] FIG. 8 shows a top view of the further partially disassembled teat of FIG. 7;

[0109] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of an assembly of the teat of FIG. 1 attached to a milk bottle top;

[0110] FIG. 10 shows a lower view of the assembly of FIG. 9;

[0111] FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional schematic of an alternative teat according to the present invention;

[0112] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a non-return valve for use with the teat of FIG. 1;

[0113] FIG. 13 shows a lower view of the non-return valve of FIG. 12;

[0114] FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the non-return valve of FIG. 12 in a disassembled state;

[0115] FIG. 15 shows a lower view of the non-return valve of FIG. 12 in the disassembled state of FIG. 13;

[0116] FIG. 16 shows a further assembly with the non-return valve of FIG. 12 inserted into the assembly of FIG. 9;

[0117] FIG. 17 shows another assembly of the teat of FIG. 1 combined with the non-return valve of FIG. 12 attached to an infant milk bottle;

[0118] FIG. 18 shows a bottom perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 17;

[0119] FIG. 19 shows an exploded view of an infant milk bottle and a first one-way air valve;

[0120] FIG. 20 shows an exploded view of a bottom portion of the infant milk bottle and the one-way air valve of FIG. 19;

[0121] FIG. 21A shows a cross-sectional view of the one-way air valve of FIG. 20 in a rest state;

[0122] FIG. 21B shows a cross-sectional view of the one-way air valve of FIG. 20 in an actuation state;

[0123] FIG. 22 shows a cross-sectional view of the one-way air valve of FIG. 20 in an intermediate state;

[0124] FIG. 23 shows a cross-sectional view of the one-way air valve of FIG. 20 in a service state;

[0125] FIG. 24 shows an cross-sectional view of a the one-way air valve of FIG. 20 attached to a bottom of a milk bottle;

[0126] FIG. 24A shows an enlarged section from FIG. 24;

[0127] FIG. 25A shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a further one-way air valve in an actuation state;

[0128] FIG. 25B shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a the one-way air valve of FIG. 25A in a rest state;

[0129] FIG. 26A shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a further one-way air valve in an actuation state;

[0130] FIG. 26B shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the one-way air valve of FIG. 26A in a rest state;

[0131] FIG. 27 shows an exploded view of another one-way air valve as shown in the assembly of FIG. 17;

[0132] FIGS. 28A and 28B show the one-way air valve of FIG. 27 in a closed and open position respectively;

[0133] FIG. 29 shows a perspective view of a teat according to the present invention incorporated into a pacifier; and

[0134] FIG. 30 shows a cross-sectional view of the pacifier of FIG. 29.

[0135] FIG. 31 shows an exploded view of the teat with an alternative screw top assembly formed of a first, a second and a third body components.

[0136] FIG. 32 shows a side cross-sectional view of the teat and the multi-part screw top assembly of FIG. 31.

[0137] FIG. 32A shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the teat and the multi-part screw top assembly of FIG. 32.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0138] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a teat 100 according to and incorporating aspects of the present invention. The teat 100 is generally dome shaped. In particular, the teat 100 is generally breast shaped in order to more closely mimic the shape of a human breast. The teat 100 comprises an attachment portion 12. The attachment portion 12 of the depicted embodiment consists of a radially extending flange which can be retained by a bottle top portion which attaches to a milk bottle, for example by screwing onto a threaded portion of a milk bottle. The milk bottle may be any suitable bottle for an infant, and may be filled with any fluid, not just milk. The attachment portion 12 may however be any suitable means for attaching the teat 100 to a milk bottle. Preferably, the attachment portion 12 is a generic attachment means which can interact with any generic milk bottle available commercially. Alternatively, the attachment portion 12 may be specific to a proprietary milk bottle.

[0139] Extending from this attachment means 12 is a breast portion 14. This breast portion 14 is the primary generally dome shaped portion intended to closely mimic the human breast. In some embodiments, it may be preferable for an angle formed between the section of the breast portion 12 extending from the attachment means 12 to be an acute angle. This may result in the breast portion 14 having an overhang, where its outer diameter increases in the direction away from the attachment means 12. It may be more preferable that the largest diameter of the breast portion 14 is larger than an inner diameter of the attachment means 12.

[0140] A nipple portion 16 then extends from this breast portion 14. The nipple portion 16 is also preferably dome shaped and generally arranged to mimic a human nipple during breastfeeding. In some embodiments, it may be preferable for a portion extending from the breast portion 14 to the nipple portion 16 to have a positive angle. Most preferably, the angle defined between the breast portion 14 and the nipple portion 16 is an obtuse angle, this provides a smooth transition from the nipple portion 16 to the breast portion 14, as well as providing a correct anatomic profile to prevent nipple confusion. In this embodiment, it may be more preferable that the obtuse angle is greater than 115 degrees. The nipple portion 16 further comprises an outlet 18. In use, the infant's mouth will extend around the nipple portion 16 and a section of the breast portion 14 and milk will be expelled from the outlet 18 for the infant to consume. In particular embodiments, more than 30% of the outer surface area of the breast portion 14 may be received within the infant's mouth, preferably more than 50%.

[0141] As best shown in FIG. 4, the breast portion 14 is formed of a flexible skin 15 which fully encloses a compressible material 13. The compressible material 13 may be, in any embodiment, an elastically deformable material. That is, a material which returns to substantially the original shape after the compressing force is removed. In particular embodiments, the flexible skin may comprise an outer flexible skin 15a in which extends across an outer face of the compressible material 13 and an inner flexible skin 15b which extends across the inner face of the compressible material 13. The outer flexible skin 15a is outermost of the teat 100 and is the portion of the flexible skin 15 that the infant will contact in order to latch onto the teat 100. The outer and inner faces 15a, 15b may be separate faces which are bonded together during manufacture. Alternatively, the outer and inner faces 15a, 15b may parts of a single integral sheet of flexible material 15. Each of the flexible skins 15a, 15b may have a thickness in the region of 0.5 millimetres to 5 millimetres.

[0142] The inner flexible skin 15b may generally form a conical shape when the teat 100 is assembled. That is, the inner flexible skin 15b may bound a volume which is generally conical. The bounded volume may be left generally empty in the assembled teat 100 and form the milkflow pathway 19. The dimensions of the bounded volume may be selected for particular characteristics of the teat. For example, a larger bounded volume may make the teat 100 more flexible and therefore be suitable for smaller infants or babies with limited suction power, such as prematurely born babies. The bounded volume may have a maximum dimension at a bottom portion of the assembled teat in the region of 30 millimetres to 60 millimetres. The bounded volume may have a minimum dimension at a top of the assembled teat in the region of 5 millimetres to 20 millimetres.

[0143] The compressible material 13 is selected to have a compressive resistance similar to a human breast. Preferably, the compressible material is a solid, and not a liquid or a gas as these may leak from the teat 100 if it is punctured. In particular, the compressible material 13 is selected to have similar mechanical and elastic properties as the breast tissue. For example, the compressible material 13 may be an open cell foam material such as a sponge. Suitable materials may include one or more of polyurethane foam, polyether foam, silicon in the form of rubber or foam, natural sponge, gel foam, polyethylene foam, ethylene copolymer foam, expanded polystyrene foam, expanded polyethylene foam, fluoropolymer foam, polyester foam, polyetherimide foam, polyolefin foam, hydrogels, rubbers and elastomers either synthetic or natural. The compressible material acts to sustain the outer shape of the teat 100 to allow a suitable consistency for the infant to establish a latch. That is, the compressible material is not substantially compressed during use as it would be by a “chewing” action.

[0144] The compressible material 13 may have a thickness in the region of 5 millimetres to 20 millimetres. This thickness may be measured when no compression force is applied to the compressible material 13. This thickness may be generally maintained when the compressible material 13 is incorporated into the teat 100. That is, the breast portion 14 may have a thickness in the region of 5 millimetres to 20 millimetres.

[0145] “Synthetic Rubber” is intended to mean any artificial elastomer. Typically, these are polymers synthesised from petroleum byproducts. Exemplary synthetic rubbers include styrene-butadiene copolymer, nitrile rubber, neoprene, ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer rubber, silicon rubber and butyl rubber.

[0146] “Natural Rubber” is intended to mean a rubber obtained from non-petroleum sources. Typically, natural rubber is a biosynthetic polymer obtained from a tree called “Hevea brasiliensis” as an aqueous solution. Natural rubber is mainly poly-cis-isoprene containing typically up to about 5 wt % of other materials such as protein, fatty acids, resins and inorganic salts.

[0147] The compressible material 13 may be a hyper-elastic solid as breast tissue is often modelled as such a solid. In particular, the compressible material 13 may be a foam with a Shore OO hardness of 45 to 70. Alternatively, the compressible material 13 may be a rubber with a shore A hardness of 15 to 30.

[0148] The thin skin layer 15 then mimics the human skin. In particular embodiments, the thin skin layer 15 may be a silicon layer. Alternatively, the skin layer 15 may be any elastomeric material with similar mechanical properties to human skin. This includes polyurethane, polyisoprene, and polybutadiene. The skin layer 15 may have a thickness of between 0.8 millimetres to 2 millimetres in the breast portion 14 of the teat 100. The elastomeric material forming the skin layer 15 may have a shore A hardness value of 15 to 30.

[0149] A milk flow pathway 19 is thus defined which extends from the attachment portion 12 to the bottle through to the outlet 18 of the nipple portion 16. Milk exiting the teat 100 will pass along this flow path 19. The compressible material 13 is fully separated from the milk flow path 19 by virtue of the flexible skin 15, providing a through bore of the compressible material 13.

[0150] In particular, in the breast portion 14 of the teat 100, the inner section of flexible skin 15b defines the milk flow path. In particular embodiments, the milk flow pathway 19 includes a conical shape. The conical shape of the milk flow pathway is defined by the inner section of flexible skin 15b. The conical shape may extend over the majority of the length of the milk flow pathway, and/or the majority of the length of the breast portion 14. In a preferred embodiment the conical shape varies in gradient as it traverses from the attachment means 12 to the inlet of the nipple portion 16. Most preferably the milk flow pathway 19 from immediately before the inlet of the nipple portion 16 is a conical shape that expands into a cylindrical section. The cylindrical section may be in fluid communication with a through bore in the nipple portion 16, thus providing a means of aligning the compressible material 13 and a passage of uniform separation of the compressible material 13.

[0151] The nipple portion 16 may be less compressible than the compressible material 13. In particular, the nipple portion 16 may have a Shore A hardness value of 15 to 30. In particular embodiments, the nipple portion 16 may be formed as a solid component. That is, the nipple portion 16 may be provided as a mass of silicone, with no compressible material provided therein. The nipple portion 16 may have a through bore formed therein to form a portion of the milk flow pathway 19. This may be a solid amount of the material for the flexible skin 15, such as silicone. The nipple portion 16 may be formed integrally with the flexible skin 15, such as with one or both of the outer flexible skin 15a and/or the inner flexible skin 15b

[0152] The nipple portion 16 may be configured to prevent the milk flow pathway 19 from collapse when the infant provides a suction, pump-like, action on the teat. The difference in Shore hardness of the nipple portion 16 compared to the breast portion 14 with the compressible material 13 allows a pump like mechanism of milk extraction through the milk flow pathway 19 and the nipple portion outlet 18. This action is more similar to breastfeeding. While the breast portion 14 and the nipple portion 16 may be formed of the same material, with the same hardness as a property, is the overall hardness of the region that is important. That is, because the nipple portion 16 may be generally solid compared to the breast portion 18. This results in the breast portion 18 being more malleable and hence having an overall lower Shore hardness as a portion, despite the materials having the same Shore hardness.

[0153] The milk-flow pathway 19 in the nipple portion 16 may have a diameter which is no greater than 20% of the diameter of the nipple portion, preferably no greater than 10%, most preferably no greater than 5%. In particular embodiments, the milk pathway may have a diameter of between 0.2 millimetres to 0.5 millimetres. In some of these embodiments the nipple portion 16 may have a diameter of approximately 10 millimetres and hence the milk pathway has a diameter of between 2% to 5% of the diameter of the nipple portion 16. These diameters are defined generally in a direction transverse or perpendicular to the milk-flow pathway 19. The nipple portion 16 may be an upper 0.5 cm of the teat 100, preferably an upper 1 cm of the teat 100. The “upper” direction is defined in the direction of milk-flow from the bottle to the infant. That is, the upper part is the region the infant latches to in use.

[0154] Recent studies such as Biomechanics of Milk Extraction During Breastfeeding by Elad et al., the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference, have characterised the breastfeeding motion in great detail. In order for the infant to affectively extract milk from the breast, they first must establish a latch on a wide area of the breast. Following this latch, they develop a sub-atmospheric pressure within their mouth. This in turn deforms the breast tissue in the latch region in order to adjust it to the contours of the infant's mouth and tongue. The extraction of milk is then caused by a pressure gradient that is generated in the infant's mouth by varying the volume of the infant's mouth. Essentially, the infant rhythmically opens and closes the mouth in a motion similar to chewing. This varies the mouth volume and hence encourages milk from the breast. This varying of mouth volume is mostly caused by the masseter muscle discussed above in the background to the invention. The use of the compressible material 13 and flexible skin 15 of the present invention allows this action to be affectively mimicked by the infant when bottle feeding. In particular, as the material and shape of the teat 100 more precisely matches the mechanical properties of the human breast, the same action is possible to extract milk from the bottle. The harder nipple portion 16 also allows the teat 100 to be more similar to a breast.

[0155] FIGS. 5 to 8 show how the compressible material 13 is affixed and enclosed within the flexible skin 15 to form the teat 100. As shown in FIG. 7, the first and second sections of the flexible skin 15 narrow towards a neck portion 15c. The nipple portion 16 then extends from this neck portion 15c. The milk-flow pathway 19 passes through an interior of this neck portion 15c. The compressible material 13 is then provided between these first and second skin segments as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The compressible material 13 may be provided as a single piece of material for the entire teat 100, such as a slab of material.

[0156] The slab of material may be cut or shaped into an appropriate shape for the compressible material 13.

[0157] In the particular embodiment of these Figures, the compressible material 13 is a foam and is formed generally in the shape of a cross or plus symbol as shown in FIG. 5. Preferably the compressible material 13 is formed generally in a crenellation or castellated shape. Potential exemplary shapes for the compressible material are shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C. That is, the compressible material 13 may be formed of a central region 13a, with a plurality of spaced protrusions 13b extending therefrom. The spaced protrusions 13b may be distributed around the central region 13a, for example with rotational symmetry. The spaced protrusions 13b may be any suitable shape, such as merlon shaped.

[0158] The compressible material 13 may have a bore 13c for receiving the neck portion, as best shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C and FIG. 6. This bore 13c may be formed as a cut through the compressible material 13. For example, the bore 13c may be formed in a cross shape or any other suitable shape. FIGS. 6A and 6B show the compressible material 13 with the neck portion received in the bore 13c.

[0159] This is to allow the foam to effectively fill the required space without generating undesired lumps. Each of the first and second sections of the flexible skin 15 includes first and second flange portions 12a and 12b which bond together to enclose the flexible material 13 and provide the attachment portion 12. As such, the compressible material 13 is entirely sealed away from the milk flow pathway 19. The first and second flange portions 12a, 12b may be bonded together to enclose the flexible material. For example, the silicone flange portions 12a, 12b may be bonded with an acetate-based silicone adhesive.

[0160] FIGS. 9 and 10 show the teat 100 retained within a screw-top 22 for a milk bottle. The screw top lid 22 includes an inner threaded portion 24 for attaching to an outer threaded portion of a milk bottle (not shown). The screw top 22 includes an opening at its upper end into which the teat 100 is inserted from below. This opening then retains the attachment portion 12 of the teat 100 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. This assembly of screw top portion 22 and teat 100 is then ready to be attached to a milk bottle.

[0161] In alternative embodiments, the screw top 22 may be formed of one or more body components which interact to retain the teat 100. For example, as shown in FIGS. 31 to 32A the screw top 22 may be formed of first 22a, second 22c and third 22b body components which are attachable to one another to thereby press the flange portions 12a and 12b together and retain the teat 100. The first body component 22a may be attachable to the second body component 22c via a mechanical attachment, for example via correspondingly threaded portions or via a press-fit. As the first body component 22a is attached to the second body component 22c, the teat 100 may be gripped and retained between these two body components 22a, 22c. This is the simplest arrangement of the multi-part screw top 22. It is not necessary in all embodiments to further include the third body component 22b.

[0162] The third body component 22b may generally align with the flange portion 12a. This third body component 22b may be retained between the flange portion 12a and the first body component 22a. The third body component 22b can then help equalise the twisting forces applied to the teat 100. This helps prevent the risk of the teat 100 being twisted as the screw top 22 is attached to the teat 100 or to a milk bottle. The twisting of the teat 100 could result in the milk flow pathway 19 collapsing.

[0163] The third body component 22b may be a generally annular component that corresponds to the dimensions of the flange portion 12a.

[0164] The mechanical attachment of the first and second body components 22a, 22c may be configured to provide a tight fit to compress and grip the flange portions 12a, 12b to retain the teat 100. Most preferably in the mechanical attachment of the first and second body components 22a, 22c may provide a watertight seal.

[0165] The flange portions 12a, 12b of the teat 100 may include attachment sections for improving the retention and gripping of the teat 100 within the multi-part screw top 22 as shown in FIG. 32A. For example, one or more grooves may be formed therein. The corresponding body component 22a, 22b, 22c will then have a corresponding protrusion 22e. When assembled, the respective protrusion 22e is received in the respective groove. This can create a pinched or bottleneck portion which helps prevent dislodgement of the teat 100 from the multi-part screw top 22.

[0166] With the multi-part screw top 22 assembled and retaining the teat 100, this can be attached to a milk bottle by any known means, such as via a threaded connection.

[0167] FIG. 11 depicts a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a teat 100. This teat 100 is generally as described above with respect to FIGS. 1 to 10. However, the flange portions 12A, 12B of the inner and outer skins 15A, 15B are not affixed to one another, or sealed together during manufacture. Instead, the flange portions 12A, 12B are free and are held together by a fixing body 23.

[0168] The fixing body 23 may be formed of first 23A and second 23B body components which are attachable to one another to thereby press the flange portions 12A, 12B together. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the first and second body components 23A, 23B may be attachable via a mechanical lock, such as a press-fit arrangement. These first and second body components 23A, 23B may be fixed together, for example via an adhesive or soldering.

[0169] This alternative teat 100 may then be attached to a milk bottle via a screw top lid 22 as described above. In alternative embodiments, the fixing body 23 may be integral to or attachable to the screw top lid 22.

[0170] A method of manufacturing the teat 100 is also provided. First, the compressible material 13 is provided. A passage extends therethrough. This passage is then lined by the flexible skin 15 to define the milk-flow pathway 19. The flexible skin 15 encloses the compressible material 13 there-within to form a breast portion 14. Thus the flexible skin 15 separates the compressible material 13 from a milk-flow pathway.

[0171] FIGS. 12 to 15 show a one-way valve 300 for use in a milk bottle assembly, in particular it may be used with the teat 100 previously described. The one-way valve 300 is also known as a non-return valve. The valve assembly 300 comprises an outer rigid component 32 and an inner flexible component 34. The outer rigid component 32 includes a central projection 36 which plateaus to a flat section with an opening 33. The inner flexible component 34 has a generally matching shape. In use, the inner flexible component 34 is retained within the outer rigid component 32, with a central projection of the inner flexible component 34 within the central projection 36 of the outer rigid component 32.

[0172] The inner flexible component 34 is best shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 and comprises a corresponding inner projection. This corresponding inner projection extends within the projection of the rigid portion 32 and maintains its shape therein. The top of this inner projection then extends back towards the flat flange of the flexible portion 34 with a slope section 37. At the apex of this slope section 37 is a slit valve 36. That is, the valve 36 is formed as a slit within the flexible material. When the flexible portion 34 is mounted within the rigid portion 32 the assembly 300 then acts as a non-return valve. This non-return valve is mounted within the screw top 22 as shown in FIG. 16.

[0173] In alternative embodiments, the valve 300 could be mounted on an opening to a bottle, via the outer flat flange of the rigid portion 32. That is, the flange of the rigid portion would be supported by a rim of the opening. This would be easily removable for filling the bottle or cleaning.

[0174] This valve 300 allows milk to flow from the bottle to the teat 100 but not from the teat 100 back into the bottle. This allows the teat 100 to more accurately mimic a human breast where milk cannot flow back into the breast. As such, the teat 100 will have a more realistic feel and mechanical response during the suckling motion of the infant

[0175] FIGS. 17 and 18 show the teat 100 attached via a screw top 22 to a bottle 42 in an assembled state. This bottle 42 will be filled with milk (or any other liquid) and this is the assembly in which an infant may use the teat 100 for bottle feeding. As milk is expelled from the bottle 42 a vacuum would otherwise form as the empty volume of the bottle 42 where the milk used to be used to be is created. In order to address this it is necessary for the infant to un-latch from the teat 100 to allow air back into the bottle. This is not a desired motion as doing so causes the infant to ingest air and can induce colic in the infant. As such, there is a need to allow air into the milk bottle 42 to prevent this. This further allows the use of the teat 100 to more accurately mimic a human breast as this un-latching is not necessary for a human breast.

[0176] In order to achieve this, a one-way air valve 500 is provided within a milk bottle 42. This valve may be any conventional mechanism known to allow air into the milk bottle 44. For example, in one particular embodiment, an inner sleeve may be provided within the milk bottle 43 containing the milk. The air valve 500 may then allow air into the area surrounding this inner sleeve. The inner sleeve is formed of a flexible, deformable, material and hence as the milk leaves the inner sleeve it deforms and shrinks under pressure. Air is allowed into the area surrounding the flexible sleeve to maintain a constant pressure as the milk is drank. The valve 500 in this embodiment does not need to provide any metering or directional control and can be as simple as a hole in the milk bottle.

[0177] Particular embodiments of the air valve 500 are shown in FIGS. 19, 20, 21A, 21B, 22, 23, 24, 25A, 25B, 26A, 26B, 27, 28A and 28B. The air valve 500 is formed of a valve unit 56 comprising a valve seat 57. A valve element 54 is provided for selectively sealing with the valve seat 57 to seal the air valve 500. The valve element 54 may be any suitable shape, but is preferably a ball valve element 54. When the valve element 54 seals with the first valve seat 57, the weight of the valve element 54 under gravity deforms the first valve seat 57. The first valve seat 57 further includes an opening defining a flow pathway. The opening may be formed as a part of a central projection 59 of the first valve seat 57. Alternatively, the opening may simply be formed as an opening though the first valve seat 57. The first valve seat 57 is moveable under the weight of the valve element 54 to seal with a second valve seat 58A. When the first valve seat 57 seals with the second valve seat 58A, the opening is blocked to prevent fluid flow through the first valve seat 57.

[0178] In particular embodiments, a second ball 55 is provided. This provides additional weight to the primary ball valve element 54 to aid in the closing of the air valve 500 under gravity. The ball valve element(s) 54, 55 are retained within a cage 52 that allows them to move a small amount towards and away from the first valve seat 57. The cage 52 comprises a plurality of slots 53 extending therethrough to allow for a passage of air through the valve 500. The cage 52 is attached to the valve unit 56 and extends into the milk bottle.

[0179] In a resting position, the milk bottle is placed on a surface with its lower end facing downwards (0 degrees of inclination). As the valve 500 is provided on this lower end, the force of gravity acts to bias the ball valve element 54 towards the first valve seat 57 as shown in FIGS. 21A, 25B, 26B &28A, thereby sealing the first valve seat 57 and the valve 500 via the weight of the valve element 54. The force of gravity acts to force the ball valve element 54 to press against the valve seat 57, thus sealing the flow pathway through the central opening as shown in FIGS. 21A, 25B & 26B. As the bottle is lifted and tilted upwards so as to feed the infant, the valve 500 is inverted as shown in FIGS. 21B, 25A, 26A & 28B. As a result, the force of gravity acts to move the ball valve element 54 away from the valve seat, thereby allowing air to flow through the valve 500 into the milk bottle.

[0180] The first valve seat 57 is deformable towards the second valve seat 58a, such that the second valve seat 58a seals with the first valve seat 57 to block the opening therein. The first valve seat 57 may be formed as a membrane such as shown in FIGS. 21A to 26B. In particular, the membrane may be a thin portion with a preferable thickness in the range of at least 0.4 mm to 2 mm. The membrane may be a deformable elastic material with a shore hardness in the range of 15 to 40. In the rest position the ball valve element 54 is seals with the membrane. The membrane then deforms under the weight of the ball valve element 54 such that the membrane is moved towards the second valve seat 58A, thus providing first and second seals in the air flow pathway as shown in FIGS. 21A, 25B & 26A.

[0181] In an actuated position, the milk bottle lower end face is rotated from facing downwards to a position above the horizontal (90 degrees of inclination) up until a position where the lower end face is facing upwards, (180 degrees of inclination) such that the valve 500 is inverted. In the transition from the rest position to the actuated position the ball valve element 54 moves away from the membrane, thus the membrane moves away from the second valve seat 58A, opening the flow path and allowing air to flow through into the milk bottle. When the valve 500 is inverted, the ball valve element 54 moves away from the membrane, and travels along the cage 52. The cage 52 guides the ball valve element 54 when it moves away from the membrane.

[0182] The cage 52 may further comprise one or more projections 52A that are configured to inhibit movement the ball valve element 54 as it travels through the cage 52, bringing the ball valve element 54 to a second state of rest. If the valve 500 includes the second ball element 55, the projections 52A may be configured to directly inhibit movement of the second ball 55 as it moves. As the first ball valve element 54 cannot move past the second ball valve element 55, this means that both the first ball valve element 54 and the second ball valve element 55 are brought to the second state of rest. As such, the movement of the or each valve element 54, 55 is restricted within the cage 52.

[0183] The projections 52A may be positioned along the height of the cage 52. Each projection 52A may provide an obstruction for the ball valve element 54 to prevent the ball valve element travelling the full distance of the cage 52 when the valve 500 is inverted in the actuated position. The projections 52A ensure that even if the milk bottle is very full, the milk does not submerge the first valve element 54. By restricting the total movement of the ball valve element 54 from the first valve seat 57 to no more than a few millimetres (e.g. 3 mm), the milk will not completely submerge the ball valve element 54 and thus milk will not leak from the valve 500 when the bottle is returned to the rest position of 0° inclination.

[0184] In FIG. 23 a service position for the valve 500 is shown, this may be used for cleaning, repair, replacement or other service/maintenance type scenarios for the milk bottle and/or the valve 500. For this service position, the valve 500 may be inverted up until the point the valve is in the actuated position or alternatively be in the rest position. In this service position the or each ball valve element 54 may be forced beyond the protrusion(s) 52A. In order to achieve this, the cage 52 of the valve 500 may be flexible and/or deformable. The protrusion 52A then acts to retain the or each ball valve element 54 away from the first valve seat 57, thereby facilitating servicing of the valve 500 such as cleaning.

[0185] To return to an original arrangement, the or each ball valve element 54 is forcibly moved to pass the at least one protrusion 52B of the cage 52 towards the first valve seat 57.

[0186] In an intermediate position, the valve 500 is rotated from the rest position of the milk bottle lower end facing downwards, 0 degrees, to an angle wherein it is less than or equal to 90 degrees inclination. That is, the bottle is not beyond the horizontal. The intermediate position can be considered to be at any degree of inclination from 0 to 90 degrees, wherein the ball valve element 54 begins to move away from the central projection 59. The valve 500 may further comprise a guide configured to position the ball valve element to press against the first valve seat 57. For example, the guide may be formed from a slope or curvature in one of more side walls of the valve 500. In a particular form, the guide may be formed as a arcuate curve, such that the guide receive the curvature of the ball valve element 54.

[0187] As the ball valve element 54 moves away from the first valve seat 57 in the intermediate position, the guide directs the ball valve element 54 towards the first valve seat 57, thereby preventing the valve 500 from opening. Once the valve 500 passes the intermediate position, the ball valve element 54 overcomes the guide and opens the air flow pathway. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the bottle spilling when it is knocked over and not fully actuated by the bottle not rotating past the horizontal of the milk bottle.

[0188] In a further embodiment as shown in FIGS. 25A, 25B, 26A and 26B, the valve 500 may further comprise an occluding member 57B. The occluding member 57B is provided between the first valve element 54 and the first valve seat 57. The occluding member 57A can act as a further seal to strengthen the seal between the first valve element 54 and the first valve seat 57.

[0189] The occluding member 57B may be a flange 2A protruding from the first valve seat 57 or a separately formed piece of membrane. The occluding member 57B may be a similar thickness to the membrane if the first valve seat 57 is formed as a membrane. The occluding member 57B preferably has a thickness in the range of 0.4 mm to 2 mm. The occluding member 57B preferably is a soft elastic material with a Shore hardness of 15 to 40.

[0190] If the occluding member 57B is formed as a separately formed piece of membrane, it may comprise one or more venting holes. An air flow pathway is then formed through said venting holes. This separately formed piece of membrane may be freely moveable within the cage 52

[0191] In the arrangement where the occluding member 57B is a flange, the flange may be cantilevered from a side wall of the first valve seat 57.

[0192] As shown in FIG. 24, a bottom portion of the infant milk bottle may be formed of a base that is securely fit with the main chamber of the milk bottle via, for example, a snap fit, screw fixture or any other semi-permanent and/or permanent fixture. The cage 52 may extend from the bottom portion. For example, the cage 52 may be attachable to the bottom portion. In particular, the cage 52 may be snap-fit to the bottom portion. In certain embodiments, a compressible flange may be provided between the cage 52 and the bottom portion in order to prevent leakage of fluid from the bottle. The compressible flange may be formed as a flange 57A extending from the first valve seat 57.

[0193] The alternative embodiments will now be described in reference to FIGS. 28A and 28B. In alternative embodiments the sealing element 58 is provided, attached to an opposite side of the valve unit 56 to the cage 52. The sealing element 58 comprises a central secondary valve seat 58A. In all embodiments, the valve seat 57 is a deformable, flexible component. The material of the valve seat 57 may have a Shore hardness of 15 to 40. For example, the valve seat 57 may be formed of silicone and retained within the valve unit 56.

[0194] In such embodiments, in the resting position, the weight of the ball valve element(s) 54, 55 acts to deform the valve seat 57 towards the sealing element. As a result, the central projection 59 contacts the secondary valve seat 58A, thereby blocking the flow pathway at a second point. Accordingly, flow through the valve 500 is blocked in two locations for a more reliable valve 500. The opening of this valve 500 is as described above, with the addition that the valve seat 57 deforms away from the central projection 59.

[0195] An assembly may be provided of the teat 100 attached to a milk bottle 42. The assembly may further include the non-return valve 300. Likewise, a kit of parts may be provided of the teat 100 and a milk bottle 42. The kit of parts may further include the non-return valve 300.

[0196] In a further embodiment of the present invention, a teat 100 substantially similar to that described above may be a sub-component of a pacifier 600 (also known as a dummy, soother or teether) as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30.

[0197] The teat 100 forms the portion of the pacifier 600 that the infant receives in their mouth. Instead of a bottle attachment portion 12, the teat 100 may comprise a guard 64 and/or guard attachment portion 62 for attaching the teat 100 to a guard 64. The guard 64 may be a component integral to the teat 100 or may be a separate component that the teat 100 is attached to. The guard 64 acts to prevent an infant from accidentally swallowing the pacifier 600.

[0198] Typically, the pacifier 600 will further comprise a ring 66 extending from the guard.

[0199] The teat 100 may not include the milk-flow pathway in such embodiments as it is not necessary in the embodiment for a pacifier 600. Instead, the compressible material 13 may extend across the entire inner area of the breast portion 14. Likewise, the nipple portion 16 may be a solid component with no milk-flow pathway extending therethrough. Alternatively, the teat 100 may be substantially identically arranged, but with no milk-flow pathway extending through the nipple portion 16. That is, the nipple portion 16 may be a solid component.

[0200] In alternative embodiments, the teat 100 may be identical to those as described above, and may be able to connect to a pacifier 600 via the bottle attachment portion 12. In such embodiments, the same teat 100 may be used for bottle feeding and for a pacifier 600. Thus only a single teat 100 needs to be transported and can be switched between the two uses as necessary.

[0201] The teat 100 and associated components described above provide a more accurate simulation of the human breast which has significant advantages in bottle feeding and pacifier sucking.

[0202] The teat 100 and associated components described above provide a pump like mechanism for suction of the milk to flow along the milk flow pathway. This pump like suction, does not rely solely upon compression of the teat to provide an opening in the nipple outlet. Instead, the infant latches around the bottle creating an air tight seal. As they move their mouth, the volume in the oral cavity increases and causes a negative pressure (i.e. suction). This causes a pressure gradient due to a difference in pressure between the oral cavity of the infant and the milk flow pathway, which results in milk being expelled from the bottle to the infant. This movement and expression method is more similar to breastfeeding.

[0203] In the suction cycle, a peristaltic movement is typical of a posterior part of the tongue during swallowing. This pump mechanism is caused by variation of volume in cavities inside the oral cavity and milk flow pathway. The presence of a rigid nipple prevents collapse of milk flow pathway through the nipple bore when this pump mechanism is used.

CLAUSES

[0204] 1. A teat for a milk bottle, comprising: [0205] an attachment portion for attaching the teat to a milk bottle; [0206] a breast portion extending from the attachment portion; [0207] a compressible material substantially filling the breast portion [0208] a nipple portion extending from the breast portion and being narrower than the breast portion, the nipple portion comprising an outlet; and [0209] a milk-flow pathway extending through the breast portion, the compressible material and the nipple portion for the passage of milk from a milk bottle attached to the attachment portion to the outlet,
wherein the breast portion comprises a flexible skin fully enclosing the compressible material, the flexible skin separating the compressible material from the milk-flow pathway. [0210] 2. The teat of any preceding clause, wherein the flexible skin is formed of first and second bonded segments, the first segment extending around an outer surface of the compressible material and the second section extending around an inner surface of the compressible material. [0211] 3. The teat of clause 1, wherein the flexible skin is a single integral piece of material. [0212] 4. The teat of any preceding clause, wherein an outer surface of the breast portion is substantially dome shaped, in particular preferably substantially breast shaped. [0213] 5. The teat of clause 4, wherein the dome or breast has a radius of at least 2 cm, preferably at least 3 cm. [0214] 6. The teat of any preceding clause, wherein the skin is formed of a silicone. [0215] 7. The teat of any preceding clause, wherein the compressible material is an expanded foam or a silicone. [0216] 8. The teat of any preceding clause, wherein the compressible material has a Shore OO of between 45 to 70. [0217] 9. The teat of any preceding clause, wherein the nipple portion is less compressible than the compressible material. [0218] 10. A method of manufacturing a teat for a milk bottle comprising the steps of: [0219] providing a compressible material having a passage extending therethrough; [0220] enclosing the compressible material within a flexible skin to form a breast portion of the teat, the skin extending through the passage and separating the compressible material from a milk-flow pathway. [0221] 11. A teat for a milk bottle manufactured according to the method of clause 10. [0222] 12. A teat for a milk bottle, comprising: [0223] an attachment portion for attaching the teat to a milk bottle; [0224] a breast portion extending from the attachment portion, the breast portion comprising a compressible material substantially filling the breast portion; [0225] a nipple portion extending from the breast portion and being narrower than the breast portion, the nipple portion comprising an outlet and being less compressible than the filling material; and [0226] a milk-flow pathway extending through the breast portion and the nipple portion for the passage of milk from a milk bottle attached to the attachment portion to the outlet. [0227] 13. The teat of clause 12, wherein the portion of the milk-flow pathway extending through the nipple portion has a diameter no greater than 20% of the maximum diameter of the nipple portion, preferably no greater than 10%, most preferably no greater than 5%. [0228] 14. The teat of clause 12 or 13, wherein the nipple portion is at least an upper 0.5 centimetres of the teat, preferably at least an upper 1 centimetre of the teat. [0229] 15. The teat of any of clauses 12 to 14, further comprising a flexible skin fully enclosing the compressible material and separating the compressible material from the milk-flow pathway. [0230] 16. The teat of clause 15, wherein the nipple portion is formed as a thick segment of the flexible skin, the portion of the milk-flow pathway extending through the nipple portion formed as a bore through the thick segment of the flexible skin. [0231] 17. The teat of any of clauses 12 to 16, wherein the nipple portion is formed of a material having a shore A hardness of 15 to 30. [0232] 18. A teat assembly for a milk bottle, comprising: [0233] a teat comprising: [0234] an attachment portion for attaching the teat to a milk bottle; and [0235] a milk-flow pathway for a flow of milk from the milk bottle; [0236] a one-way valve configured to permit milk flowing from a milk bottle attached to the attachment portion to the milk-flow pathway and inhibit milk flowing from the milk-flow pathway to the bottle. [0237] 19. The teat assembly of clause 18, wherein the one-way valve is formed as a slit in a flexible material. [0238] 20. The teat assembly of clause 19, wherein the flexible material is supported by a rigid frame. [0239] 21. The teat assembly of any of clauses 18 to 19, wherein the teat is according to any of clauses 1 to 915 or 11 to 17. [0240] 22. An assembly comprising: [0241] a milk bottle; and [0242] a teat according to any of clauses 1 to 915 or 11 to 17 or a teat assembly according to any of clauses 18 to 21, the teat or teat assembly attached to the milk bottle via the attachment portion. [0243] 23. A kit comprising: [0244] a milk bottle; and [0245] a teat according to any of clauses 1 to 915 or 11 to 17 or a teat assembly according to any of clauses 18 to 21. [0246] 24. A teat for a pacifier, comprising: [0247] an attachment portion for attaching the teat to a pacifier; [0248] a breast portion extending from the attachment portion; [0249] a compressible material substantially filling the breast portion [0250] a nipple portion extending from the breast portion and being narrower than the breast portion, wherein the breast portion comprises a flexible skin fully enclosing the compressible material. [0251] 25. A pacifier comprising: [0252] a guard for inhibiting an infant from swallowing the pacifier; [0253] a teat according to any of clauses 1 to 915 or 11 to 17, extending from the guard. [0254] 26. A one-way valve comprising: [0255] a valve unit comprising: [0256] a first valve seat, comprising a flow pathway extending from the first valve seat to [0257] an opening in a central projection, wherein the first valve seat is deformable in the direction of the central projection; [0258] a valve element, moveable towards and away from the first valve seat and sealingly engageable therewith; and [0259] a second valve seat arranged to seal with the central projection,
wherein the valve seat is configured to deform from a force applied by the first valve element towards the second valve seat to thereby seal the opening in the central projection against the second valve seat. [0260] 27. The one-way valve of clause 26, wherein the valve element is a ball valve element, preferably a ball bearing.