Nursing bottle with integrated collar and nipple flange venting structure

Abstract

A vent prevents a vacuum from forming within an inverted container of liquid when the liquid is dispensed. The vent is a singular vent, formed of a vent tube, the vent tube removably secures with a nipple, and more particularly its radially extending flange, with the nipple flange having a passage therethrough to allow for venting by way of the vent tube from the interior of the container to the location between the container neck and its collar, to provide for the entrance of atmospheric air into the interior of the container during usage to prevent the generation of any vacuum therein. The container may be a nursing bottle, with its collar and nipple applied to the top, and the vent tube being secured to the bottom of the nipple flange for projecting downwardly within the bottle to perform its venting function. The bottle may be formed of fully or partially transparent material, tinted to one or more coloration, while the vent tube may be tinted to one or more different coloration, and when they are assembled, exhibits three or more colorations for the vent tube when viewed from exteriorly of the tinted nursing bottle during its application.

Claims

1. A single vented container for use for holding a liquid, and for dispensing of the same, said container having a body portion, a neck portion, the neck portion having integral threads, a collar provided for the container, and having internal threads capable of engagement with the neck portion of said container, a nipple provided upon the upper neck portion of the bottle, said nipple having an upstanding dispensing portion, and an integral flange extending radially from the bottom of the nipple, said flange having a passage provided therethrough, communicating with the interior of the bottle, and said flange passage having a radial passage extending from a vertical passage to the outer edge of the nipple flange, and communicating with the space between the threads securing the collar to the neck of the bottle, a singular vent tube securing with the vertical passage through the nipple flange, and said vent tube extending downwardly proximate to the interior bottom of the container so that venting may occur when the container holding a liquid is inverted, with the liquid to be dispensed from the bottle nipple, during usage.

2. The single vented container of claim 1, wherein container comprises a nursing bottle.

3. The single vented nursing bottle of claim 2, wherein the nipple is a nursing bottle nipple.

4. The single vented nursing bottle of claim 3, wherein the nipple flange vertical aperture extends through said flange.

5. The single vented nursing bottle of claim 3, wherein the vertical aperture provided within said nipple flange is closed at its upper end.

6. The single vented nursing bottle of claim 3, and including the lower surface of said nipple flange having an integral sleeve, said sleeve being in alignment with the vertical aperture through said flange, and said vent tube provided for securing with the integral sleeve for holding the vent tube into position when applied for venting within the nursing bottle during usage.

7. A single vented container for use for dispensing of a liquid, said container having a body portion, said body portion being formed of partially or fully transparent material, a collar provided for said container to provide for its closure, a vent tube secured with the collar to provide for venting of the interior of the container to atmosphere, particularly when inverted for dispensing of its contained liquid during usage, said partially or fully transparent container as formed being tinted to a particular first color, the vent tube located within the container being tinted to another color, such that when the vent tube and tinted container are assembled for usage, one or more colors are generated for the vent tube as can be seen from the exterior of the container during its usage.

8. The single vented container of claim 7, wherein said container is a vented nursing bottle.

9. The single vented container of claim 1, wherein the vent tube has an internal channel, and the channel has an internal diameter of approximately 2-3 mm.

10. The single vented nursing bottle of claim 3, wherein said vent tube is disposable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] In referring to the drawings:

[0053] FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of the nursing bottle with integrated collar and nipple flange venting structure;

[0054] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the nipple with flange of this invention;

[0055] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the nipple of FIG. 2;

[0056] FIG. 4 is a front view of the nipple, with flange and passage, and having an vent tube secured thereto;

[0057] FIG. 5 shows a slightly modified and isometric view of the nipple with perimeter rim;

[0058] FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of a further modified nipple flange with air vents provided diametrically as noted; and

[0059] FIG. 7 shows a further modified nipple design where the air vent extends partially through the flange of the nipple.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0060] In referring to the drawings, and in particular FIG. 1, therein is shown the bottle or container 1 which in this particular instance, may comprise a regular wide mouth nursing bottle, as noted. It has threads 2, normally, upon its upper neck portion, as shown, and a threaded collar, as at 3, secures onto the threaded neck of the bottle, as can be understood. Usually the collar has an aperture 4 provided therethrough, and it locates the nursing bottle nipple 5 in place, during usage. Usually, when the threaded collar 3 is applied to the threaded neck 2 of the bottle, it provides for a reasonably snug fit of these components, securing the nipple in place, and therein preventing any lateral leakage of formula from the bottom, allowing it primarily to exist from the apertures provided at the upper end of the nipple, as known in the art.

[0061] As can be also be seen, internally of the bottle, is a vent tube 6 that extends downwardly into proximity, as at its bottom end 7, towards the bottom of the shown bottle.

[0062] As can also be seen in FIG. 2, the nipple 5 is of a custom design and includes its upright nipple portion 8, while its lower part 9 is integrally formed and molded with a flange 10 that extends radially outwardly from the bottom of the nipple, as can be noted. The flange portion 10 has an integral rim, as at 11, provided around its outer perimeter, and when the collar 3 of the bottle is applied to the threaded neck 2 of the bottle, the collar will seal upon the upper edge of the peripheral flange 11, and to seal the nipple onto the upper edge of the threaded neck 2, as can be understood.

[0063] As can further be shown in FIG. 2, there is a vertical like aperture 12 that extends through the flange 10, and opens to the bottom side of the nipple flange, and up to the top side, as can be noted. Then, there is a cut or molded groove 13 that extends radially outwardly of said flange, and through the perimeter flange 11, as noted at 14, and therefore, communicates through said apertures with the interior of the bottle and to the location of the threaded connection between the collar 3, and the threaded neck 2 of the bottle, as can be understood. Thus, these apertures and passages provide communication for air to pass between the interior of the bottle, and to the region between the collar and the threaded neck 2, to allow for venting of air between these locations.

[0064] As can also be seen in FIG. 4, the bottom of the flange has an integral sleeve 15 molded therewith, and it is provided for accommodating the insertion of said vent tube 6, as previously explained. Thus, when the bottle is in usage, air may be vented from exterior of the bottle, through the region of the threaded connection between the collar 3 and the threaded neck 2 of the bottle, through the various grooves, passages, and apertures 12-14 of the nipple flange and down through the vent tube 6 to the bottom of the bottle, such that when the bottle is used, and inverted, air can be vented into the bottom of the inverted bottle, as desired.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows the location of the aperture 12 through the flange, and its grooves, and passages that open at 13 and 14 to the region between the bottle and its collar. As can be noted at the opening 13, this is a tapered flared area provided upon the top side of the shown flange 10, so as to assure that air can enter into and through the passage 14, and attain access into the aperture 12, for providing venting through the vent tube 6, to the bottom of the bottle when it is inverted. This adds extra clearance to the passage of air from the outside, at the region of the collar as it threadily engages upon the neck off the nursing bottle, to attain the entrance of air for venting of the interior of the bottle, when inverted, during drinking.

[0066] Hence, through the use of the integral sleeve 15, formed or molded of the nipple 5, and more specifically upon the underside of its flange 10. The vent tube 6 can be easily inserted within the sleeve, and held in position in conjunction with the formed nipple, to provide for that extended venting to the bottom of the nursing bottle, or other container, when it is inverted during usage.

[0067] It is just as likely that the groove and passage 14 could be provided radially interiority of the nipple flange 10, so as to provide that direct access through the flange, and to the sleeve held vent tube 6, for venting purposes. This is just an example as to how a simple vent may be provided in conjunction with the structure of the nipple, and its formed flange 10, to furnish singular venting through a vent tube 6, to the interior of the shown nursing bottle, or other container to which it is applied.

[0068] Applicants have already reviewed the nature of the structure of the vent tube, or the disposable tube, as noted at 6. It could be formed like a straw, even out of paper, or polymer, and therefore makes it more susceptible of disposability, after a single usage. Or, it can be made of a more hardened polymer, or even glass, which may provide for its reusage and reapplication once it has been cleaned and installed for repeat applications. As stated, the interior of the tube may be formed with an inner opening of approximately one eighth inch, or it may even be reduced in dimensions down to a minimum of 2 mm of internal diameter, in its structure. At these smaller dimensions, for the internal diameter of the vent tube, it will be small enough to prevent liquid form accumulating in the vent tube, and existing the container, during usage. This approximate size allows for the presence of adhesive molecular forces between the liquid and vent that overcome the tendency of the liquid to exit the bottle, and that this is due to the critically small diameter of the tube. Also, the adhesive molecular forces hold the liquid until it is returned to the bottle when emptying the container occurs and the vacuum in the container is relieved, so that no leakage occurs when the bottle is angularly inserted during usage and application. This is a form of capillary action that temporarily adheres the residue liquid within the tube.

[0069] It is advantageous and critically important to have the space formed on the superior side of the nipple flange, as demonstrated in FIG. 5, by the additional sealing material at the radial edge so that the particular surface area that is formed again uses adhesive intramolecular forces to hold the liquid until it is returned to the bottle when emptying of the container occurs and the vacuum in the container is relieved, so that no leakage occurs.

[0070] Additionally, and preferably, a non-leak feature of this nipple is supplied with its various lengths of slits radially so that flow is adjustable, as demonstrated in the oral portion of nipple in FIG. 5.

[0071] And, as previously summarized the coloration of these various components may be considered in their initial manufacture. Generally, if the bottle is formed of one primary color, and the vent tube provided therein is of a second primary color, it may be when the vent tube is installed, for usage, it may give a different appearance, which may be a help to educate and excite the young child regarding the generation of multiple color patterns for the bottle structural components, when assembled for usage. A third color may be generated when two colors have been used for forming the bottle and its vent tube. Or, as previously explained, other indicia may be provided upon the vent tube, such as a candy stripe or candy cane appearance, similar to the old barber poles, which may be used to furnish even multiple color patterns for these structural components when assembled into a nursing bottle or other container. Obviously, the nursing bottle will need to be fully or somewhat transparent in its coloration, to allow for viewing of the vent tube therein.

[0072] FIG. 5 shows a further isometric view of a somewhat modified nipple design 17 wherein the flange 18 has a peripheral rim 19 provided around it's outer circumference, and the rim extends upwardly for a slight distance, as noted. It may be possible that a similar type rim may be provided to the under surface of the shown flange 18. The purpose of the rim is to provide further surface for the collar of the nursing bottle to biased against, during closure, to assure that a proper seal is made between the collar, the nipple, and the upper rim of the threaded neck 2 of the shown bottle 1 as also noted in FIG. 1. Furthermore, it can be seen that the groove 20 has a flared cut out portion 21 to assure there is sufficient clearance for air to be vented into the bottle, when it is inverted during consumption of its contained formula.

[0073] FIG. 6 shows a further modified nipple design, and in this instance, the nipple 22 incorporates its integral flange 23 but in this instance, it has a pair of grooved air venting structures 24 and 25, as previously explained, that are diametrically arranged upon the surface of the flange 23, as can be noted. In addition, there is a circular groove 26 provided around and integrally formed within the upper surface of the flange 23, as noted, and which communicates with the vertical apertures 27 and 28 of the shown flange. Said apertures may be flared to allow entrance of air. Hence, even when the collar 3 is located in position upon the bottle, and threadily engaged therewith, the groove will allow the passage of air along its formed groove 26, to make sure that air is allowed to enter into the bottle, to vent the same, and prevent the formation of that partial vacuum therein, during consumption of it's formula.

[0074] FIG. 7 shows even a further modification to the nipple design 29 and in this particular instance, instead of using a groove, such as the groove 20 as previously reviewed, there may be an aperture 30 provided through the flange 31, in order to get air to access into the vertical slot 32 and downwardly into the bottle, and through it's vent tube 6, to provide for venting of the interior of the bottle while it's formula or other liquid is being consumed.

[0075] These are all shown variations upon just how the vent tube 6 of this invention may engage with the flange of the shown nipples, and to allow for access of air into the bottle, and particularly when the bottle is inverted, to assure that venting occurs, into the bottom of the bottle, as it's contents are being consumed.

[0076] Variations or modifications to the subject matter of this invention may occur to those skilled in the art upon review of the development as described herein. Such variations, if within the spirit of this invention, are intended to be encompassed within the scope of any claims to patent protection obtained upon this invention. The definition of the invention as provided in this application, their depiction in the drawings, and their description in the details of the preferred embodiment, are principally set forth for illustrative purposes only.