EP1954414A2

EP1954414A2 - Domestic bottle cleaner and sterilizer

Info

Publication number: EP1954414A2
Application number: EP06821596A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yoram Zur
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-11-30
Filing date: 2006-11-29
Publication date: 2008-08-13
Also published as: IL172278A0; IL172278A; WO2007063540A2; WO2007063540A3

Abstract

Baby bottle cleaning unit comprising: a base comprising first series of holders for holding components of dismantled artificial baby feeder face downward; lid for covering base and enclosing holders; fluid reservoir with heating element therein for heating fluid; conduits for carrying liquid from reservoir to series of nozzles for directing fluids onto components; an upper gear system rotatively coupled to underside of lid; an upper series of scrubbers, each scrubber dedicated to a holder and drivenly coupled to upper gear system to rotate scrubber with respect to component in holder; a lower gear system rotatively coupled to the base; lower system of scrubbers drivenly coupled to gear system for rotating each scrubber with respect to a holder; a catch for catching lid onto base to close bottle cleaning unit, such that components held in holders are scrubbed inside and out by the scrubbers, and rinsed by heated fluid from reservoir.

Description

Domestic Bottle Cleaner and Sterilizer Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to providing a domestic appliance for cleaning and sterilizing baby's bottles. Background

Due to an underdeveloped immune system, babies are particularly susceptible to infections and diseases. To some extend, breast fed babies are resistant due to antibodies transferred from the mother, but this resistance is missing from formula fed babies. Bottle brushes allow scrubbing, but when manually scrubbing, to prevent scalding, the user frequently users hot water, but not boiling water, and although the bottle may look clean, it may still harbor germs. This is particularly the case with modern plastic bottles that are inherently more difficult to sterilize than the old fashioned glass counterparts. There have been various developments in dedicated sterilizers and cleaners for babies' bottles. One common system uses a microwave sterilizing system, where having scrubbed the baby bottle clean, the bottle is sterilized by steam and microwaves in a microwave oven. However, many parents are adverse to using microwaves, due to a scientifically baseless misunderstanding of the nature of microwave radiation. Indeed, such parents may well not own microwave ovens at all. To remove residue it is necessary to scrub. To kill germs it is necessary to sterilize.

United States Patent Number US 5,507,060 to Quimpo describes an apparatus for automatically cleaning baby bottles inside and out comprising a base in a generally rectangular configuration having a floor, a drain thereabove and offset from parallel therewith for water run off and parallel side walls therebetween; a centrally-located cylindrical manifold extending upwardly through the drain to a location thereabove; a plurality of baby bottle holders rotatably mounted for rotation above the drain, the bottle holders being annular in configuration with an upstanding cylindrical side wall and internal threads for receiving the upper extent of inverted baby bottles to be washed, the holders having apertures in the lower extents of their walls for the draining of water therefrom; a peripheral tube extending upwardly for rotation and with apertures therein for spraying the insides of bottles; and a drive gear beneath the drain, the drive gear including a central gear for acting through a motion imparting assembly for rotating the manifold and a plurality of upper peripheral gears for rotating the bottle holders, a plurality of lower peripheral gears for rotating the peripheral tubes and with a drive to concurrently rotate the manifold, peripheral tubes and holders, the drive means including a paddle wheel with gear teeth to drive the drive gear. Brushes with bristles cover the peripheral tubes and manifold which scrub the inside and outside surfaces of the bottles. The device described by Quimbo applies water jets for rinsing baby bottles inside and out and brushes for scrubbing the bottle walls inside and out. A soap dispenser is included, and the device has a transparent lid. This device will effectively clean baby bottles, but will not sterilize, as the water supplied is mains water at room temperature, and boiling water or steam are required to kill germs.

United States Patent Number US 6,405,398 to Seidel describes a baby bottle scrubbing device for automating the task of washing baby bottles and the supporting nipples. The baby bottle scrubbing device includes a housing having a top wall and a bottom wall and further having a plurality of feet members securely attached to said bottom wall thereof for securing said housing upon a surface and also having openings extending through said top wall thereof; and means for scrubbing a baby bottle including a nipple removably attached to the baby bottle; wherein said means for scrubbing a baby bottle including a nipple includes support shafts each being rotatably extended through a respective said opening in said top wall of said housing, and also includes seal members securely disposed about edges of said openings to substantially seal said housing, and further includes gear members securely mounted to bottom ends of said support shafts and being disposed within said housing, and also includes an elongate drive member being movably mounted within said housing near said top wall thereof and being engageable to said gear members, and further includes a motor having a motor shaft and being securely disposed within said housing, and also includes a battery connected to said motor with wires, and further includes an on/off switch securely disposed in said top wall of said housing and being connected to said motor with wires for energizing said motor, and also includes a linkage member attached to said motor shaft and to said elongate drive member, and further includes scrubbing members being removably mounted upon said support shafts, and also includes means for supporting said elongate drive member. This device will effectively clean baby bottles, but has to be placed in a sink or tub of water, and will not sterilize, as the water supplied will typically not be boiling water as required to kill germs. Certainly the device does not itself provide a means for heating water. Despite many products on the market and in the patent literature that either sterilize or allow scrubbing of babies' bottles and their accessories, and none of the results of a patent search carried out on behalf of applicant revealed the existence of a dedicated domestic cleaner that allows scrubbing and sterilizing of baby's bottles and accessories, and the present invention addresses this need.

Summary of the Invention

It is an aim of the invention to provide a compact bottle cleaning unit for cleaning a baby bottle and its component parts.

It is a further aim that such a bottle cleaning unit will effectively scrub the component parts inside and out to remove residue and will apply a germicidal treatment.

The present invention is directed to a bottle cleaning unit that comprises:

(i) a base comprising a first series of holders for holding components of at least one dismantled artificial baby feeder, concave sides downward; (ii) a lid for covering said base and enclosing the holders;

(iii) a fluid reservoir with a heating element therein for heating fluid within said reservoir;

(iv) conduits for carrying liquid from said reservoir to a series of nozzles for directing fluids onto said components; (v) an upper gear system rotatively coupled to underside of the lid;

(vi) an upper series of scrubbers, each scrubber being dedicated to a holder and drivenly coupled to the upper gear system to rotate said scrubber with respect to a component in said holder;

(viii) a lower gear system rotatively coupled to the base; (ix) a lower system of scrubbers drivenly coupled to the gear system for rotating said each scrubber with respect to a holder;

(x) a catch for catching said lid onto said base to close said bottle cleaning unit, such that components held in said holders, concave sides down, are scrubbed inside and out by said lower and upper scrubbers, and rinsed by heated fluid from said reservoir. Preferably, the bottle cleaning unit further comprises an inlet for adding an active cleaning fluid, such as a detergent, a soap, a fungicide, a disinfectant, an antibacterial composition, mixtures thereof and active cleaning fluids having two or more of the above characteristics.

Preferably, the bottle cleaning unit further comprises a dispenser for receiving active cleaning fluid via said inlet and for dispensing the active cleaning fluid into water within the bottle cleaning unit.

Optionally, the dispenser is manually operated. Alternatively, the dispenser is automatically operated. Typically the fluid reservoir is for water, and the nozzles are for directing steam and/or hot water onto said bottle components.

Typically artificial feeders that are cleaned in the bottle cleaning unit of the invention comprise components selected from the list of bottles, nipples, connecting rings and caps.

Optionally the scrubbers comprise wire bristles.

Preferably, the bottle cleaning unit is connectable to an external pressured water supply, such as a mains water supply, for example.

Preferably, the bottle cleaning unit also allows directing of cold water onto feeder components, via the nozzles described above, or via a second series of nozzles.

Typically the bottle cleaning unit of further comprises an ON- OFF switch and also a micro-switch for prevent activation unless Hd is fully closed.

Optionally, the bottle cleaning unit further comprises a microprocessor and a control system for automatically following a washing program. Most preferably, the cycle includes exposing the feeder components to boiling water and / or steam.

In one embodiment, the gear systems are being driven by an internal motor. In an alternative embodiment, the gear system is driven by hydraulic pressure of water running through system; the pressure being generated by an internal pump or being the water pressure of an external water source connected thereto.

Preferably, the bottle cleaning unit further comprises a gage for monitoring fluid level within the reservoir.

Such a gage may simply be a window for allowing direct observation of fluid level within the reservoir, or a float in tube gage or even an electronic depth gage. In preferred embodiments, the bottle cleaning unit is typically a domestic, counter top unit capable of cleaning up to four baby bottles.

Brief Description of the Figures

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings.

With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of a preferred embodiment of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention; the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic isometric projection of one embodiment of the bottle cleaning unit of the present invention, the lid being raised to show the parts of a baby feeder therein;

Fig. 2 is a schematic isometric projection of the embodiment of Fig. 1, from a rear angle;

Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 and 2, and Fig. 4 is a schematic cross section through the closed bottle cleaning unit of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The present invention is a bottle cleaning unit for cleaning one or more baby bottles. With reference to Figs. 1 to 4, a preferred embodiment of the invention is a domestic, counter top cleaning unit 10 capable of cleaning one or two baby feeders, i.e. bottles 12, nipples 14, connecting rings 16 and caps 18.

The bottle cleaning unit 10 includes a base 20 comprising a first series of holders 22A-22D for holding the components of at least one dismantled artificial baby feeder, i.e., a bottle 12, nipple 14, connecting ring 16 and cap 18, in concave side downward orientation. The bottle cleaning unit 10 also includes a lid 24 for covering the base 20 and enclosing the holders 22A-22D. The lid 24 is preferably transparent. It is a particular feature of the bottle cleaning unit 10 of the present invention that a fluid reservoir 26 for a fluid 28, typically water is provided within the base 20. Reservoir 26 may be filled by removing cap 70. Reservoir 26 has a heating element 30 therein for heating the fluid 28 within the reservoir 26, and conduits 32, 34 for carrying fluid 28 from the reservoir 26 to a series of nozzles 36A-36J for directing fluid 28 onto the components (bottle 12, nipple 14, connecting ring 16 and cap 18). Preferably, the bottle cleaning unit 10 further comprises a gage 62 for monitoring the level of the fluid 28 within the reservoir 26. Such a gage 62 may simply be a window for allowing direct observation of fluid level within the reservoir, or a float in tube gage or even an electronic depth gage.

An upper gear system 38 is rotatively coupled to the underside of the Hd 24, and an upper series of scrubbers 40A-40D are provided, each scrubber being dedicated to a holder 22A-22D, and drivenly coupled to the upper gear system 38 to rotate the upper scrubbers 40A-40D with respect to components 12, 14,16, 18 in the holders 22A-22D. Similarly, a lower gear system 40 is rotatively coupled to the base 20, and a lower system of scrubbers 4OE, 4OF, 40G, 40H are drivenly coupled to the gear system 40 for rotating each lower scrubber 40E-40H with respect to component 12, 14, 16, 18 in holders 22A-22D. A catch 50 is provided to catch the lid 24 onto the base 20 to close the bottle cleaning unit 10, such that components 12, 14,16, 18 held in the holders 22A-22D, concave sides down, are scrubbed inside and out by the upper scrubbers 40A-40D and lower scrubbers 40E-40H, and rinsed by heated fluid 28 from the reservoir 26. The scrubbers 40A-40H will typically be brushes having wire bristles, but may be cleaning pads, such as nylon scouring pads, sponges and / or other materials. Not all scrubbers 40A-40H need be identical. The bottle cleaning unit 10 may include an inlet 80 for adding an active cleaning fluid, such as a detergent, a soap, a fungicide, a disinfectant, an antibacterial composition, mixtures thereof and active cleaning fluids having two or more of the above characteristics. In preferred embodiments the bottle cleaning unit includes a dispenser (not shown) for receiving active cleaning fluid via the inlet and for dispensing the active cleaning fluid into water within the bottle cleaning unit. Such a dispenser may be manually operated. Alternatively, however, the dispenser may be automatically operated. Indeed, in preferred embodiments, the bottle cleaning unit 10 includes a microprocessor and a control system for automatically following a washing program.

Typically the fluid reservoir 26 is filled with water, and nozzles 36A-36J direct very hot water, preferably boiling water, super heated water and / or steam onto the bottle components 12, 14, 16, 18 to effect sterilization.

Preferably, the bottle cleaning unit 10 is connectable to an external pressured water supply, such as a mains water supply, for example, thereby enabling automatic filling and refilling of the reservoir 26 and / or rinsing of the bottles 12, nipples 14, connecting rings 16 and caps 18 therein.

In various preferred embodiments, the bottle cleaning unit of the invention allows directing of cold water onto feeder components (bottle 12, nipple 14, connecting ring 16 and cap 18), via the nozzles 36A-36J described hereinabove, or via a second series of nozzles (not shown).

The bottle cleaning unit 10 may include a micro-switch 52 that prevent activation unless lid is fully closed, and will usually include an ON- OFF switch (start button) 54. Manual hot and cold switches 56, 58 may be provided, or, may be dispensed with in processor controlled automated models.

The gear systems 38, 40 will typically include series of cog wheels, and will usually be driven by an internal motor 60. In alternative embodiments, the gear systems 38, 40 may be driven by the hydraulic pressure of water running through the bottle cleaning unit; the pressure being generated by an internal pump or being the water pressure of an external water source connected thereto.

Other embodiments may be designed to allow cleaning of one or more baby feeders. For home use, generally a cleaner for up to four bottles is adequate, but the bottle cleaning unit may be scaled up for use in large families, creches, hospitals and the like. Thus persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and includes both combinations and sub combinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereof, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

In the claims, the word "comprise", and variations thereof such as "comprises", "comprising" and the like indicate that the components listed are included, but not generally to the exclusion of other components.

Claims

1. A baby bottle cleaning unit comprising:

(iv) conduits for carrying liquid from said reservoir to a series of nozzles for directing fluids onto said components; (v) an upper gear system rotatively coupled to underside of the Hd;

(x) a catch for catching said lid onto said base to close said bottle cleaning unit, such that components held in said holders, concave sides down, are scrubbed inside and out by said lower and upper scrubbers, and rinsed by heated fluid from said reservoir.

2. The bottle cleaning unit of claim 1 further comprising an inlet for adding active cleaning fluid.

3. The bottle cleaning unit of claim 2, said active cleaning fluid comprising at least one of the list of a detergent, a soap, a fungicide, a disinfectant, an antibacterial composition.

4. The bottle cleaning unit of claim 2 or 3, further comprising a dispenser for receiving active cleaning fluid via said inlet and for dispensing the active cleaning fluid into water within the bottle cleaning unit.

5. The bottle cleaning unit of claim 4, said dispenser being manually operable.

6. The bottle cleaning unit of claim 4, said dispenser being automatically operable.

7. The bottle cleaning unit of any of claims 1 to 6, said fluid reservoir for water, said nozzles for directing steam and/or hot water onto said bottle components.

8. The bottle cleaning unit of any of claims 1 to 7, said artificial feeder comprising components selected from the list of bottles, nipples, connecting rings and caps.

9. The bottle cleaning unit of any of claims 1 to 8, said scrubbers comprising wire bristles.

10. The bottle cleaning unit of any of claims 1 to 9, said unit being connectable to an external pressured water supply.

11. The bottle cleaning unit of claim 10, said unit external pressured water supply being a mains water supply.

12. The bottle cleaning unit of any of claims 1 to 11, said unit further allowing directing of cold water onto feeder components, via said nozzles.

13. The bottle cleaning unit of any of claims 1 to 12, said unit further allowing directing of cold water onto feeder components, via a second series of nozzles.

14. The bottle cleaning unit of any of claims 1 to 13 comprising an ON- OFF switch and further comprising a micro-switch to prevent activation unless lid is fully closed.

15. The bottle cleaning unit of any of claims 1 to 14, further comprising a microprocessor and a control system for automatically following a washing program.

16. The bottle cleaning unit of claim 15 wherein said program comprises the step of exposing the feeder components to boiling water and / or steam.

17. The bottle cleaning unit of any of claims 1 to 15, said gear systems being driven by an internal motor.

18. The bottle cleaning unit of any of claims 1 to 16, said gear systems being driven by hydraulic pressure of water running through system, said pressure being generated by an internal pump.

19. The bottle cleaning unit of any of claims 1 to 17, said gear systems being driven by hydraulic pressure of water running through system, said pressure being water pressure of an external water source.

20. The bottle cleaning unit of any of claims 1 to 18, further comprising a gage for monitoring fluid level in said reservoir.

21. The bottle cleaning unit of claim 19, said gage being selected from a window for directly observing fluid level, a float in tube gage, and an electronic depth gage.

22. The bottle cleaning unit of any of claims 1 to 20, being a domestic, counter top unit capable of cleaning up to four baby bottles.