INFANT FORMULA TABLETS AND DISPENSER THEREOF

Abstract

A dispenser for providing sterile dispensing of infant formula into a baby bottle, the dispenser having a blister pack having multiple flexible cells, when each of the cells has an opened end and a closed end, and when each of the cells contains a predetermined amount of infant formula, and when each of the cells having a bottom surface on said closed end, having a lower tearing resistance than that of the rest of the cell, a sealing sheet disposed upon the open end of the cells; and perforation lines formed on the blister pack so that each of the flexible cells may be separated from the blister pack, thereby the dispenser allows for clean and sterile baby bottle preparations, and allows for a long shelf life of the infant formula. The infant formula may be in a form of lumps (pills), fluid, powder, paste, and so on.

Claims

1. A blister pack dispenser (30) for providing sterile dispensing of powder infant formula (46) into a baby bottle (42), said dispenser comprising: multiple flexible sealed cells (32), each closed by a sealing sheet (34); wherein each of said cells containing a predetermined amount of said infant formula (46); wherein each of said cells (32) having boundaries that allow inserting thereof into said bottle (42), while the margins (44) of said sealing sheet (34) prevent said cell (32) to be swallowed into said bottle (42); wherein said blister pack comprising perforation lines (36) so that each of said flexible cells (32) may be separated from said blister pack; and wherein the insertable side of each of said cells (32) having at the bottom side thereof a tearing resistance lower than the other parts of said cell (32, 34): thereby said dispenser (30) allows opening each of said cell when being disposed into said bottle (42), resulting with clean and sterile baby bottle preparations, and allows for a long shelf life of said infant formula.

2. The dispenser (30) of claim 1, wherein said predetermined amount of said infant formula (46) is enough to prepare 30 cc or 60 cc of infant food.

3. The dispenser (30) of claim 1, wherein said sealing sheet (34) is made of foil or any other suitable material which is rigid enough to maintain pressure without rupturing.

4. The dispenser (30) of claim 1, wherein said bottom surface (38) of said cells ruptures when pressure is applied onto said sealing sheet (34) over said cell (32), and said infant formula (46) spills out of said rupture.

5. The dispenser (30) of claim 1, wherein a single said cell (32) is separated from said blister pack via said perforation lines (36), and wherein said single separated cell (32) is placed upon a neck of a baby bottle such that said cell (32) is inserted into said bottle neck, and wherein a user presses his fingers upon said sealing sheet (34), thereby creating pressure inside said cell (32), causing said bottom surface (38) to rupture, and thereby allowing formula (46) to be released from said cell (32) directly into said bottle (42).

6. The dispenser (30) of claim 1, wherein said dispenser (30) is opaque, for the purpose of shielding said infant formula (46) from light.

7. A dispenser (50) for providing sterile dispensing of infant formula (46) into a baby bottle (42), said dispenser comprising: a blister pack, said blister pack comprising: multiple flexible sealed cells (52) in the form of a bubble, wherein said bubble cells (52) contain a predetermined amount of said infant formula (46), and wherein said bubble cells (52) are disposed on the bottom side of said dispenser (50); wherein the insertable side of each of said cells (32) having at the bottom side thereof a tearing resistance lower than the other parts of said cell (32, 34); multiple top bubbles (54) disposed on the top side of said dispenser (50), each directly above said blister bubble cell (52), wherein each said top bubble (54) is connected to said bubble cell so that when pressure is applied by a user to said top bubble (54), the inner volume of said bubbles becomes decreased, so that the pressure rises until said bubble cell (52) ruptures, thus allowing said infant formula (46) to spill out; and perforation lines (36) formed on said blister pack so that each of said multiple flexible bubble cells (52) may be separated from said blister pack; thereby said dispenser (50) allowing for clean and sterile baby bottle preparations, and allows for a long shelf life of said infant formula.

8. The dispenser (50) of claim 7, wherein said bubble (54) protrudes over said dispenser (50), thus making it convenient for the user.

9. A dispenser (60) for providing sterile dispensing of infant formula (46) into a baby bottle (42), said dispenser comprising: a blister pack, comprising: multiple flexible sealed cells (32, 34), wherein each of said cells comprises an opened end and a closed end, and wherein each of said cells contains a predetermined amount of said infant formula (46), and wherein each of said cells (32) having a bottom surface (38) on said closed end wherein the insertable side of each of said cells (32) having at the bottom side thereof a tearing resistance lower than the other parts of said cell (32, 34); a sealing sheet (34) disposed upon said open end of said cells (32); a piston (62) positioned beneath said sealing sheet (34) and on top of said cell (32), wherein said piston (62) covers the entire circumference of said open end of said cell (32); and perforation lines (36) formed on said blister pack so that each of said flexible cells (32) may be separated from said blister pack; thereby said dispenser (60) allows for clean and sterile baby bottle preparations, and allows for a long shelf life of said infant formula.

10. The dispenser (60) of claim 9, wherein a single said cell (32) is separated from said blister pack via said perforation lines (36), and wherein said single separated cell (32) is placed upon a neck of a baby bottle such that said cell (32) is inserted into said bottle neck, and wherein a user presses his fingers upon said sealing sheet (34) thereby also pressing down on said piston (62) and causing said piston to become lowered into said cell (32) thereby creating pressure inside said cell, causing said bottom surface (38) to rupture, and thereby allowing formula (46) to be released from said cell (32) directly into said bottle (42).

11. The dispenser (30) of claim 1, wherein said infant formula is in a form of lumps.

12. The dispenser (30) of claim 1, wherein said infant formula is in a form of powder.

13. The dispenser (30) of claim 1, wherein said infant formula is in a form of fluid.

14. The dispenser (30) of claim 1, wherein said infant formula is in a form of paste.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] For a better understanding of the invention with regard to the embodiments thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate corresponding elements or sections throughout, and in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a prior art infant formula can, according to the prior art;

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of an infant formula dispenser, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a cell of the infant formula dispenser of FIG. 2;

[0032] FIG. 4. shows a top view of the infant formula dispenser of FIG. 2;

[0033] FIGS. 5A-B show the infant formula dispenser according to the present invention, while being dispensed into a baby bottle;

[0034] FIG. 6 shows an infant formula dispenser according to one embodiment of the present invention, while being dispensed into a baby bottle;

[0035] FIGS. 7A-B shows a side view of an infant formula dispenser, according to an additional preferred embodiment of the present invention, using a piston.

[0036] It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a prior art infant formula can.

[0038] As illustrated, in order to prepare the food the user scoops a required amount of powder with a measuring spoon, places it into a vessel and adds water to the vessel (not shown). The user then shakes the vessel to stir the water with the infant formula (these steps are not illustrated).

[0039] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a bottom perspective view of an infant formula dispenser 30, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Formula dispenser 30 is in a form of a blister pack having flexible cells 32, when each cell 32 contains a predetermined amount of baby formula. Each cell 32 has an open end and a closed end. The open end is sealed by a sealing sheet 34 (shown in FIG. 3) which is glued or welded to the cells. Each cell 32 may be easily separated from dispenser 30 via perforation lines 36 formed around each cell 32 on dispenser 30.

[0040] Cells 32 may contain varied amounts of baby formula, for preparing the following amounts of baby food: 30 cc, 60 cc or more. These amounts correspond to the normally used amounts for preparing baby bottles. The perforation lines 36 allow the user to carry with him only the number of cells 32 he needs when leaving the house, instead of carrying the entire blister pack.

[0041] The bottom surface 38 of cell 32 is made of a material having a lower-resistance to tearing compared to the rest of cell 32, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. When sealing sheet 34 is pressed upon over cell 32 with the users' fingers, the pressure built inside cell 32 causes bottom surface 38 to rupture, and the formula is spilled out of cell 32 through the rupture. This operation is preferably done over the opened neck of a baby bottle (shown in FIGS. 5A-B), so that the formula is spilled directly into the bottle, and all that is left to do is add water and the baby food is ready.

[0042] The use of blister pack is clean and sterile, and does not leave a mess as when using the prior art FIG. 1 formula can, or when using containers divided into compartments.

[0043] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a side view of cell 32, showing bottom surface 38, which is thinner and therefore has lower-resistance to tearing compared to the rest of cell 32.

[0044] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a bottom view of dispenser 30, showing cells 32 filled with formula. Perforation lines 36 are shown disposed through dispenser 30. Sealing sheet 34 is disposed on top of dispenser 30, covering the top of cells 32. Sealing sheet 34 is made of foil or any other suitable material which is rigid enough to maintain the pressure of fingers pressing upon it, without rupturing.

[0045] Referring now to FIG. 5A, there is shown a single cell 32 torn via perforation lines 36 from dispenser 30, having margins 44 left from dispenser 30. Single cell 32 containing formula 46 is placed upon the bottle neck 40 of baby bottle 42, such that cell 32 is inserted into bottle neck 40 and margins 44 are supported by bottle neck 40.

[0046] Referring now to FIG. 5B, there is shown a finger 48 pressing upon sealing sheet 34, thereby creating pressure inside cell 32, causing bottom surface 38 to rupture, and thereby allowing formula 46 to be released from cell 32 into bottle 42.

[0047] The above described technique ensures that the entire cell 32 volume will be emptied into bottle 42, and none of it will be spilled outside bottle 42, even if the wind is blowing.

[0048] In order to facilitate the understanding, the dispenser 30 is presented as transparent, though for the purpose of preserving the baby formula, dispenser 30, including cells 32, is opaque.

[0049] Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a side view of an infant formula dispenser 50 according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] Blister cell 52, disposed on the bottom side of dispenser 50, is in the form of a bubble which contains infant formula 46. Top-bubble 54 is disposed on the top side of dispenser 50, directly above blister bubble cell 52. Bubble cell 52 is connected to top bubble 54, so that when pressure is applied by the user to top bubble 54, in the direction of arrow A, the inner volume of the bubbles becomes decreased, so that the pressure rises until bubble cell 52 ruptures, allowing infant formula 46 to spill out. Top bubble 54 protrudes over dispenser 50, thus making it convenient for the user.

[0051] The dispensing of baby formula from the dispenser 50 is done similarly as described in FIGS. 5A-B for dispenser 30.

[0052] Referring now to FIGS. 7A-B, there is shown a side view of an infant formula dispenser 60 according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] There is shown a blister cell 32, filled with infant formula 46, having bottom surface 38 made of a material having a lower-resistance to tearing, compared to the rest of cell 32. A piston 62 is positioned beneath sealing sheet 34 and on top of cell 32, covering the entire circumference of top of cell 32. When a user presses down on sealing sheet 34, he also presses down on piston 62, so that pressure is built up in cell 32, thus causing bottom layer 38 to rupture and infant food 46 pours out of the rupture.

[0054] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art and consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.

[0055] In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals (Reference Signs List) have been mentioned: [0056] Infant formula dispenser 30 [0057] Flexible cells 32 [0058] Sealing sheet 34 [0059] Perforation lines 36 [0060] Tearable bottom surface/layer 38 [0061] Bottle neck 40 [0062] Baby bottle 42 [0063] Blister margins 44 [0064] Infant formula 46 [0065] User finger 48 [0066] Infant formula bubble dispenser 50 [0067] Blister bubble cell 52 [0068] Top bubble 54 [0069] Infant formula piston dispenser 60 [0070] Piston 62

[0071] The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof. These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form.