Bottle teat

Abstract

A bottle teat (1) having a base portion (2), which has a connecting flange (3) and in which the bottle teat (1) is substantially circular in a cross section running perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis (9), having a lip-support portion (5) and having a nipple portion (6), which opens out in a teat tip (7), wherein, in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis (9), the bottle teat (1) has, in the lip-support portion (5), a non-circular cross section with a longitudinal axis (10) and a transverse axis (11), which is shorter than the longitudinal axis (10), characterized in that the base portion (2) and the lip-support portion (5) have provided between them a flex portion (4), which has enhanced flexibility in relation to the base portion (2) and the lip-support portion (5), wherein the flex portion (4) has a circumferentially encircling depression (15) in the form of anindent (19) and/or of a smaller wall thickness than in the portions adjacent to the depression (15), and therefore, about an axis running substantially in the direction of the transverse axis (11), the bottle teat (1) has a level of flexibility, for the purpose of pivoting the lip-support portion (5) and nipple portion (6), which is enhanced in relation to a similarly designed bottle teat without a depression.

Claims

1. A bottle teat comprising: a base portion comprising a connecting flange; the bottle teat is substantially circular in a cross section running in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bottle teat; a lip support portion and a nipple portion, the nipple portion opening into a teat tip; in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the bottle teat comprising, in the lip support portion, a non-circular cross section having a cross-sectional longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional transverse axis, the lip support portion extending less transversely than longitudinally; a flexible portion provided between the base portion and the lip support portion, the flexible portion having enhanced flexibility with respect to the base portion and the lip support portion; the flexible portion comprising: a circumferentially encircling depression in the form of, in areas adjacent to the depression: (a) an indent, or (b) a wall thickness narrowing, or (c) both an indent and a wall thickness narrowing; the circumferentially encircling depression having an ascending and descending profile as the depression extends along the circumference of the depression whereas in side view in the direction of the cross-sectional longitudinal axis the profile ascends towards the cross-sectional longitudinal axis and in a side view in the direction of the cross-sectional transverse axis the profile descends towards the cross-sectional transverse axis so that, about an axis extending substantially in a direction of the cross-sectional transverse axis, the bottle teat has an enhanced flexibility compared to a similarly configured bottle teat without a depression for pivoting the lip support portion and the nipple portion.

2. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: the depression runs substantially along a line of intersection or a contact line of an imaginary cone with the bottle teat; a tip of the imaginary cone is disposed on the longitudinal axis in a portion that encloses the teat tip and that adjoins the teat tip, and the line of intersection runs adjacently or coincidentally with a tangential contact line of the imaginary cone and the bottle teat.

3. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: a thickness of the wall of the bottle teat in an area of the depression is at least 30% smaller than in an area adjoining the depression.

4. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: a thickness of the wall of the bottle teat in an area of the depression is at least 50% smaller than in an area adjoining the depression.

5. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: an outer surface of the bottle teat is concavely curved in the area of the depression; and the concave curvature comprises a circumferential crest line.

6. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: an outer surface of the bottle teat is convexly curved: in an area above adjacent to the depression, or below adjacent to the depression, or both above adjacent to the depression and below adjacent to the depression.

7. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: in the flexible portion or in the nipple portion the bottle teat comprises a non-circular cross section with a cross-sectional longitudinal axis and a shorter cross-sectional transverse axis compared to the longitudinal axis.

8. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: above the depression and adjacent to the depression the bottle teat comprises an inwardly projecting bead-like material reinforcement.

9. A bottle teat according to claim 8, wherein: the inwardly projecting bead-like material reinforcement runs over the entire circumference.

10. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: under the flexible portion the bottle teat comprises a cross-sectional narrowing that is adjoined by the connecting flange.

11. A bottle teat according to claim 10, wherein: the bottle teat comprises a substantially constant wall thickness in an area of the cross-sectional narrowing.

12. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: the bottle teat comprises a concavely curved outer surface at least in sections in a cross-sectional area running in the direction of the cross-sectional transverse axis in the lip support region.

13. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: the bottle teat comprises a concavely curved outer surface throughout in a cross-sectional area running in the direction of the cross-sectional transverse axis in the lip support region.

14. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: the bottle teat comprises a planar or convexly curved outer surface at least in sections, in a cross-sectional area running in the direction of the cross-sectional longitudinal axis in the lip support region or the outer surface is composed of a combination of a planar and convexly curved surface.

15. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: the outer surface of the bottle teat comprises a convexly curved section in the nipple area both in a cross-sectional area running parallel to the cross-sectional longitudinal axis and also to the cross-sectional transverse axis.

16. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: the connecting flange comprises an upper side having a circumferential groove.

17. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: the circumferential groove is on an upper side of the flange.

18. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: the connecting flange comprises an underside having a circumferential groove.

19. A bottle teat according to claim 18, wherein: the circumferential groove is configured to run according to an edge of an upper connecting opening of a container.

20. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: the connecting flange comprises an underside having a downwardly projecting sealing lip.

21. A bottle teat according to claim 20, wherein: the connecting flange comprises an underside having a circumferential groove; and the downwardly projecting sealing lip is adjacent to the circumferential groove.

22. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: the circumferentially encircling depression with the ascending and descending profile as the depression extends along the circumference of the depression at least when the bottle teat is oriented upright along the longitudinal axis of the bottle teat so that, about an axis extending substantially in a direction of the cross-sectional transverse axis, the bottle teat has an enhanced flexibility compared to a similarly configured bottle teat without a depression for pivoting the lip support portion and the nipple portion.

23. A bottle teat according to claim 1, wherein: the profile of the circumferentially encircling depression ascends and descends along the longitudinal axis of the bottle teat.

Description

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the bottle teat according to the invention from above;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the bottle teat according to the invention from below;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side view of the bottle teat in the direction of the transverse axis in the area of a lip support and nipple portion;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a side view turned through 90° with respect to FIG. 3 in the direction of the longitudinal axis in the lip support and nipple portion;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the bottle teat according to FIGS. 1 to 4;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a section along the line VIB-VIB in FIG. 5 along the transverse axis in the lip support section;

(8) FIG. 6A shows a plan view of a baby bottle with a bottle teat according to the invention according to FIGS. 1 to 5;

(9) FIG. 6B shows a sectional view along the line VIb-VIb in FIG. 6A with an imaginary cone defining the profile of a depression in the flexible portion;

(10) FIG. 7 shows a sectional view according to the line VIA-VIA in FIG. 5 along the longitudinal axis in the lip support region; and

(11) FIG. 8 shows the detail VIII according to FIG. 7.

(12) FIGS. 1 and 2 each show perspective views of a bottle teat 1 which, as can be seen from FIG. 3 in particular, can be divided into the following portions:

(13) Firstly, a base portion 2 which comprises a connecting flange 3 is provided in a lower end portion. The base portion 2 is then adjoined by a flexible portion 4. Above the flexible portion 4 a lip support portion 5 is provided, which is adjoined by a nipple portion 6 as upper end portion, which opens into a teat tip 7. The teat tip 7 comprises a suction opening 8 for liquid to pass through. The bottle teat 1 comprises a concavely curved outer surface 5a at least in sections, preferably throughout, in a cross-sectional area running in the direction of the transverse axis 11 in the lip support portion 5.

(14) As can be seen from the perspective views according to FIGS. 1 and 2 and from a comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4 and also in FIG. 5, the bottle teat 1 is configured to be rotationally symmetrical in its lower base portion 2, i.e. it comprises a substantially circular shape in a cross-section perpendicular to its longitudinal axis 9.

(15) Above the base portion 2 in the area of the lip support portion 5 and in the nipple portion 6, the bottle teat when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 9, comprises a non-circular, approximately elliptical cross-section with a greater extension in the direction of a longitudinal axis 10 and a shorter extension in the direction of a transverse axis 11 compared to the longitudinal axis (cf. FIG. 5).

(16) As a result of this cross-sectional geometry, it is found that the bottle teat without flexible portion 4 comprises a relatively good flexing behaviour when pivoting the nipple portion 6 in the direction of the transverse axis 11, i.e. when the teat tip 7 pivots out in the direction of the arrow 12. In this case, the teat 1 in the nipple portion 5 bends substantially about a bending zone 13 when pressure is applied by the baby using the bottle teat.

(17) For a pivoting-out of the teat tip 7 in the direction of the arrow 14 (cf. FIG. 3), as a result of the geometrical configuration of the bottle teat 1 however, without the flexible portion 4, a comparatively high application of force would be required since the outer surface of the bottle teat 1 is configured to be substantially planar or slightly convex in the area of the lip support portion so that a stiffening is obtained in this area.

(18) In order to improve the flexing behaviour of the bottle teat 1 for a pivoting of the teat tip 7 and the lip support portion in the direction of the arrow 14, i.e. about an axis running in the direction of the transverse axis 11, the bottle teat 1 comprises a flexible portion 4.

(19) In the flexible portion 4 a depression 15 is provided, which, as can be seen in FIG. 6, runs substantially along a line of intersection or contact line of an imaginary cone 15a with the outer surface of the bottle teat 1 in the flexible portion 4. Here a cone 15a is provided, the tip of which is disposed on the longitudinal axis 9 in a portion 17 which encloses the teat tip 7 and which adjoins the teat tip 7. This portion 17 in particular comprises a length of up to 5 mm above and below the teat tip, wherein in the exemplary embodiment shown preferably the cone tip is arranged about 2 mm above the teat tip 7.

(20) The imaginary cone 15a is then, preferably when viewed substantially centrally over the extension of the flexible portion, placed in the flexible portion 4 below the lip support portion 5 at a flat angle onto the outer surface of the bottle teat 1 so that a circumferential line of intersection is obtained. The line of intersection runs, other than in rotationally symmetrical bottle teats, with a depression to increase the flexibility not along a cross-sectional plane running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 9 but, as a result of the asymmetrical configuration of the teat 1 in the flexible portion 4, the circumferentially encircling depression comprises an ascending and descending profile when viewed over, or as the depression extends along, the circumference. As shown in FIG. 4 for exam ale the profile of the circumferentially encircling depression ascends and descends along the longitudinal axis of the bottle teat 9. As a result of the geometrical configuration of the bottle teat 1, in the area of a vertical section surface placed through the longitudinal axis 10, two maxima 18a are obtained in the profile of the depression and two minima 18b in the direction of the transverse axis 11, as can be seen in particular in the section plane shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A along the transverse axis.

(21) Thus, as a result of the geometry of the bottle teat 1 over the circumferential depression 15, substantially a bending of the bottle teat 1 is achieved when a force acts in the direction of the arrow direction 14, i.e. during a pivoting movement of the nipple portion 6 and the lip support portion 5 about an axis running in the direction of the transverse axis 11 so that a significantly improved bending behaviour of the teat 1 is achieved as a result.

(22) In order to facilitate the bending of the bottle teat 1 in the area of the flexible portion 4 when pressure is applied in the nipple portion 6 and/or lip support portion 5, the teat comprises the said depression 15 in the lip support portion 5, which is shown in detail in FIG. 8. Here it can be seen that in the exemplary embodiment shown, the bottle teat 1 comprises a reduced wall thickness of about 0.6 mm to 1 mm, preferably of about 0.8 mm in the area of the depression 15, whereas the wall thickness in the lip support portion 5 is usually about 1.2 mm to 2 mm. Furthermore, the profile of the wall 1a of the bottle teat 1 comprises an indent 19, i.e. the profile of the wall 1a of the bottle teat 1 comprises a concave profile in this area, which comprises a crest 19a which substantially serves as a bending line.

(23) In order to reliably prevent any collapse of the bottle teat 1 in a portion adjoining the depression 15, a bead-like, inwardly projection material reinforcement 20 is provided in particular above the depression 15. In this area, the wall 1a of the bottle teat 1 comprises a wall thickness about 2 to 4 times greater than that in the area of the depression 15 so that when a pressure is applied in this area, the bottle teat 1 does not yield but the desired bending in the adjoining area of the depression 15 is achieved.

(24) Naturally, the depression 15 can also be achieved merely via the geometrical configuration, i.e. a concave indent 19 or by a groove-like material recess, i.e. wall thickness narrowing, on the outer surface of the bottle teat 1.

(25) In particular it can also be seen in FIG. 6B that in the base portion 2 a cross-sectional narrowing 21 is provided which on the one hand forms a resilient base for the entire soother portion arranged thereabove and additionally also serves to receive an inwardly projecting collar 22 of a fastening ring 23.

(26) The fastening ring 23 can in this case advantageously also comprise downwardly projecting webs 22a or a circularly running web 22a, which in the position connected to the bottle opening 24 of a bottle 24b cooperate in a circumferential groove 25 arranged on the upper side of the connecting flange. As a result of the form fit receipt of the web or the webs 22a in the groove 25, a form fit connection is thus achieved between connecting flange 3 and fastening ring 23.

(27) Furthermore, on its underside the connecting flange 3 comprises a circumferential groove or depression 26 which receives an upper edge 24a of a bottle opening 24 to which the bottle teat 1 is fastened. This also results in a reliable, sometimes connection of the bottle teat 1 to the bottle opening 24.

(28) With regard to a good seal of the connection between fastening ring 23 and the bottle opening 24, it is furthermore advantageous if the connecting flange 3 of the bottle teat 1 comprises a sealing lip 27 which adjoins the underside circumferential groove 26 circumferentially on the inside to receive the edge 24a of the bottle opening 24. Thus, in particular a reliable connection of the bottle teat into the bottle opening 24 can also be achieved with a snap connection between fastening ring 23 and bottle opening 24.