PARTITIONING COMPONENT FOR A FEEDING BOTTLE DEVICE AND FEEDING BOTTLE DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a feeding bottle device, feeding method and a partitioning component (210) for a feeding bottle device (100), comprising a teat component (110) defining a teat volume (115) therein and a container component (120) defining a container volume (125therein, the teat component (110) being attachable to the container component (120) by means of an attachment component (130). The partitioning component (210) comprises a first passage (212) allowing a passage of air and liquid between the container volume (125) and the teat volume (115) and a second passage (214) comprising at least one through hole such that the surface tension of an air bubble will not allow the passage into or out of the teat volume (115) up to a predefined pressure difference.

Claims

1. A partitioning component for a feeding bottle device, the feeding bottle device comprising a teat component defining a teat volume therein and a container component defining a container volume therein, the teat component being attachable to the container component, the partitioning component being configured to separate the teat volume from the container volume when the feeding bottle device is assembled, characterized in that the partitioning component comprises a first passage allowing a passage of air and liquid between the container volume and the teat volume and a second passage comprising at least one through hole such that the surface tension of an air bubble will not allow the passage into or out of the teat volume up to a predefined pressure difference.

2. The partitioning component according to claim 1, wherein the first passage is provided eccentrically on the partitioning component.

3. The partitioning component according to claim 2, wherein the first passage is provided near or on an edge of the partitioning component.

4. The partitioning component according to claim 1, wherein at least the region of the second passage comprises the hydrophilic material.

5. The partitioning component according to claim 1, wherein the second passage comprises at least one through hole having a diameter of not more than 0.2 mm.

6. The partitioning component according to claim 1, wherein the second passage or the partitioning component is formed as a porous membrane.

7. The partitioning component according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the partitioning component comprises at least one protrusion in the region of the second passage.

8. The partitioning component according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the partitioning component is provided at an angled or curved shape.

9. The partitioning component according to claim 1, wherein the first passage and the second passage are formed integrally with the partitioning component.

10. The partitioning component according to claim 1, further comprising an orientation indicator configured to be visually noticeable when the feeding bottle device is assembled.

11. The partitioning component according to claim 10, wherein the first passage and the second passage are arranged at different distances from the orientation indicator, respectively.

12. The partitioning component according to claim 1, wherein the first passage is formed as an opening.

13. A feeding bottle device comprising: a teat component defining a teat volume therein, a container component defining a container volume therein, and a partitioning component according to claim 1, the teat component the container component and the partitioning component being attachable to each other along a contact area.

14. The partitioning component according to claim 1, wherein the at least one through hole has a diameter such that the surface tension of an air bubble will not allow the passage into or out of the teat volume up to the predefined pressure difference.

15. The partitioning component according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the partitioning component comprises a hydrophilic material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] In the following drawings:

[0048] FIG. 1 shows schematically and exemplarily a feeding bottle device comprising a partitioning component according to the invention,

[0049] FIG. 2 shows schematically and exemplarily a filling state of a teat of the feeding bottle device,

[0050] FIG. 3 shows schematically and exemplarily a feeding position of the feeding bottle device, and

[0051] FIG. 4 shows schematically and exemplarily a draining state of the teat of the feeding bottle device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0052] FIG. 1 schematically and exemplarily illustrates a feeding bottle device 100 in an assembled state in cross-sectional view. Feeding bottle device 100 comprises a teat component 110, which is attached to a container component 120 by means of an attachment component 130 in the form of a locking ring. Usually, feeding bottle device 100 and more precisely a container volume 125 within container component 120 is filled with milk, which is then fed to an infant out of teat component 110. For this purpose, feeding bottle device 100 in the assembled state illustrated in FIG. 1 is maintained at an angle which allows milk or other liquid to enter the teat volume 115 within teat component 110. The position in FIG. 1 corresponds to an operating position, in which feeding bottle device 100 is inclined such that a teat component 110 points downwards at a certain angle such that liquid enters a teat volume 115.

[0053] The inclination shown in FIG. 1 is unfavorable since it differs from a natural feeding position of an infant, which is substantially horizontal, and since it favors the infant's swallowing of air. Nevertheless, despite being unfavorable, feeding with the illustrated inclination is classically performed in order to keep teat volume 115 filled with liquid and not with air through gravity even if a liquid level within container component 120 drops.

[0054] To allow a more horizontal feeding, a partitioning component 210 is provided in a contact area between teat component 110 and container component 120, which separates teat volume 115 on one side and container volume 125 on the other side. The partitioning component 210 comprises a first passage 212 for allowing a passage of air and liquid between container volume 125 and teat volume 115 and a second passage 214 allowing a passage of liquid and preventing a passage of air between the teat volume 115 and the container volume 125.

[0055] First passage 212 is arranged at a lower position, i.e. significantly below the liquid level during most of the feeding session even if the feeding bottle device 100 is maintained in the position exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1 and even in a horizontal feeding position, such that only liquid can enter through first passage 212 into teat volume 115 which will always essentially remain filled with liquid.

[0056] The provision of first passage 212 therefore allows that teat volume 115 be filled with liquid even when the feeding bottle device 100 is maintained in a more horizontal feeding position than it would be possible with classical feeding bottle devices. A more horizontal position of feeding bottle device 100, preferably at an angle as low as below 45 degrees inclination with respect to the horizontal direction, corresponds to a more natural and more vertical feeding position of the infant, i.e. the feeding position while breastfeeding, and is therefore preferred over a more inclined feeding position.

[0057] Additionally, a second passage 214 is provided in the partitioning component 210. In this example, second passage 214 is formed as small through holes having diameters of less than 0.2 mm in the form of a porous membrane. The second passage 214 is particularly beneficial for filling and emptying the teat before and after feeding the infant, as will be described below.

[0058] In some examples, entire partitioning component 210 is formed as a porous membrane, wherein the first passage 212 is formed as an opening therein. Accordingly, the entire partitioning component 210 would allow the passage of liquid between the teat volume 115 and the container volume 125, wherein only at the region of the opening, i.e. corresponding to first passage 212, a passage of air would also be possible.

[0059] In other examples, only some regions of the partitioning component 210 would be formed as the porous membrane, i.e. corresponding to the second passage 214, wherein only in the region of the porous membrane the selective passage of liquid would be possible. It should be noted that the second passage 214 is of course not limited to the implementation of a porous membrane, and also a different implementation is possible. For instance, second passage 214 can also be formed as a single or multiple through holes through portioning component 210 showing a sufficiently small diameter, such that air passing there through is prevented. Diameters of 0.2 mm or less will prevent air from passing there through up to a pressure difference of, for instance 7 mbar. Preferentially, the material of the partitioning component 210, at least in the region of the second passage 214, comprises a hydrophilic material in order to ensure that water can pass through easily.

[0060] The benefits of providing second passage 214 will be obvious from the exemplary steps of operation of feeding bottle device 100, which are schematically and exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4.

[0061] Functioning of feeding bottle device 100 is described as follows. A caregiver assembles feeding bottle device 100 by usually inserting teat component 110 into attachment component 130, optionally then covering this assembly using a cap 180. Container component 120 is filled with milk and then partitioning component 210 is provided in the opening of container volume 125 before attachment component 130 is attached to container component 120, for instance by screwing it on.

[0062] After assembly, the filling of teat volume 115 is schematically and exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 2. Feeding bottle device is turned upside down, i.e. teat component 110 is facing vertically down, to allow teat volume 115 to be filled with milk or other liquid provided in container component 120. Through the provision of first passage 212 and second passage 214, teat volume 115 is filled efficiently. Air, which previously was present in teat volume 115, can escape teat volume 115 through first passage 212 and liquid present in container volume 125 can pass through second passage 214 into teat volume 115 at the same time. Without the provision of second passage 214, a user would have to manually and inconveniently press teat component 110 to achieve the filing of teat volume 115 through first passage 212 only.

[0063] Once teat volume 115 is filled, feeding of the infant can start.

[0064] FIG. 3 schematically and exemplarily illustrates a feeding position in which feeding bottle device 100 is positioned substantially horizontally. Teat volume 115 is completely filled with liquid and liquid drawn from teat component 110 by the infant is replaced through first passage 212 and second passage 214 with liquid of container volume 125. It should be noted that only those parts of second passage 214, which are located under the liquid level in container volume 125, will allow a passage of liquid from container volume 125 to teat volume 115. In the feeding position illustrated in FIG. 3, no air can pass from container volume 125 into teat volume 115, such that air ingestion by the infant can be impeded or at least be made more difficult.

[0065] The benefits of second passage 214 will then again become prominent after feeding has ended, i.e. when the feeding bottle device 100 is positioned in the vertical orientation as illustrated schematically and exemplarily in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 illustrates the situation, in which teat volume 115 empties into container volume 125. Only when teat volume 115 is empty, spilling of liquid when opening feeding bottle device 100 can be avoided. At the time while air enters teat volume 115 through first passage 212, liquid drains through second passage 214 into container volume 125 through gravity. Thus, using the forces of gravity only, the emptying of teat component 100 is possible through the provision of first and second passages 212, 214.

[0066] In summary, a user who wants use feeding bottle device 100 only has to exert a positional change to feeding bottle device 100 before and after feeding, i.e. turning feeding bottle device 100 upside down before feeding for filling teat component 110 and turning feeding bottle device 100 to the original position after feeding in order to empty teat component 110. No additional and inconvenient operation is necessary.

[0067] In order to collect liquid to facilitate the flow of liquid, protrusions can be formed on a surface of partitioning component 210, preferably in the range of second passage 214.

[0068] Further, the surface of partitioning component 210 can optionally be provided at an angle, such as inclined or curved, such that gravity will assist liquid to flow away from holds front in second passage 214.

[0069] Preferentially, the entire partitioning component 210 is formed as a porous membrane that only allows liquid to pass. Air is blocked by the membrane and can pass only through the opening forming first passage 212. The selective passage allowed by the membrane forming partitioning component 210 improves the more complicated solutions including valves as known in the art.

[0070] Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

[0071] In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality.

[0072] A single unit, component or device may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.