GB2395911A

GB2395911A - A valve for a feeding bottle

Info

Publication number: GB2395911A
Application number: GB0228347A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Angelo Cacchione
Original assignee: MALTESE TOMMASO
Current assignee: MALTESE TOMMASO
Priority date: 2002-12-05
Filing date: 2002-12-05
Publication date: 2004-06-09
Also published as: GB0228347D0

Abstract

A feeding bottle (1) comprises a valve assembly (5) in the base of the bottle (1), The valve assembly permits air to be drawn into the bottle ensuring that only a minimal partial vacuum may be generated within the bottle during feeding. The valve assembly comprises a minimum number of parts and this together with an auxiliary valve opening device (7) permits the valve to be easily cleaned or sterilised.

Description

239591 1

- 1 A VALVE FOR A FEEDING BOTTLE

The present invention relates to a valve for a feeding bottle, and to a feeding bottle incorporating such a valve, which valve permit air into the bottle during feeding.

Feeding bottles used to feed babies, either young children or animals, comprise a bottle which is sealed except for a small aperture in a teat attached to one end of the bottle.

It is through this aperture that a baby sucks liquid food, typically milk, from the bottle during feeding.

With traditional feeding bottles, as the baby sucks liquid from the bottle, a partial vacuum is formed in the bottle by the displaced liquid. This makes it harder for the baby to suck and can result in the baby sucking in air, which is not desirable. It is therefore often necessary to remove the bottle from the babies mouth to permit air into the bottle. This may frustrate a hungry baby.

Another problem arises when hot milk is prepared and then stored in the bottle.

Here the teat is replaced with a cap that seals the bottle. As the milk cools the bottle, normally made of plastics material, contracts due to the reduction of pressure within the bottle. This in turn causes the bottle to flex and can cause small cracks to appear in the bottle. In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a one way valve assembly for a feeding bottle for permitting air into the bottle to prevent any significant partial partial vacuum forming during feeding. Partial partial vacuum as used in

- 2 this specification is defined as as pressure differential between the inside and outside of the

bottle. A valve in accordance with the present invention prevents any significant partial partial vacuum forming during feeding, the valve instead permitting air to pass into the bottle whilst preventing escape of liquid contained within the bottle.

Preferably, the valve is arranged to be mounted in the base of the feeding bottle, such that when the bottle is inverted during feeding, air is introduced into the bottle above the liquid level. This reduces the likelihood of inducing air into the liquid to be consumed by the baby.

Preferably, the valve comprises a resilient means urging the valve to a closed position until a predetermined partial partial vacuum is established on the side valve arranged to be connected to the inside of the bottle. This ensures the valves is urged to a closed position in the absence of a difference between internal and external pressures preventing the discharge of liquid through the valve.

Preferably, the valve comprises a housing, a valve, a valve seat with which the valve seals, and biasing means acting between the housing and the valve to retain the valve against the valve seat in the absence of a partial vacuum acting on the valve.

The valve housing is preferably substantially tubular and arranged with the valve seat at, or towards, one open end face of the housing, the valve comprising a sealing surface for sealing with the valve seat and a stem extending through an opening in the valve seat,

- 3 the stem being connected to the biasing means located within the housing, wherein the biasing means acts between the housing and the stem.

The tubular housing enables the valve to be situated within a feeding bottle, separating the components of the valve from the liquid within the bottle. this ensures proper operation of the valve whilst maintaining the liquid in a sterile environment. Only the valve sealing surface of the valve assembly is in contact with the liquid within the bottle.

Advantageously, the valve assembly comprises a fLxed guide member within the housing perpendicular to the axis of the housing, the fixed guide member being arranged to permit the stem of the valve to slide there through whilst maintaining the stem in a fixed position relative to the axis of the housing, the biasing means acting between the stem and the fixed guide member.

The valve assembly preferably, further comprises a movable guide member fixed to the stem, the moveable guide member being arranged to slide within the housing whilst maintaining the stem in a Eked position relative to the axis of the housing, the biasing means acting between the Fred and moveable guide members.

The above described arrangement minimises the number of parts required for the valve assembly, and the assembly may be arranged such that it is possible to simply clip the guides in place within the housing, which guides both ensure the valve stem and thus the valve are correctly aligned and also provides reaction points for the biasing means.

The guide members are preferably substantially planar and lie in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the housing, the guide members having apertures to permit air to pass there through to the valve and the valve seat, when the valve is open.

To ensure a child cannot interfere with operation of the valve, the housing preferably comprises, at its open further most from valve seat, a substantially planar guard member arranged across the opening permitting air to pass through.

It is particularly advantageous if the valve assembly further comprises an auxiliary mechanical valve opening device, arranged to be inserted through the guard member to open the valve and to permit water to pass through the guard member whilst the valve is held open. This permits the valve to be held open while the bottle is washed so that any liquid in the region of the valve seat can be flushed out.

According to a second aspect the present invention provides a baby feeding bottle including a valve in accordance with a first aspect of the invention. Preferably the valve is located at the base of the feeding bottle, permitting air to be sucked into the bottle when inverted during feeding, avoiding bubbling air through the liquid which may not be desirable. The valve assembly preferably comprises a substantially tubular housing formed integrally with the bottle, mininising the risk of any sealing defects between the valve assembly and the bottle.

- s - One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals are used throughout to indicate like parts, and of which: Figure 1 illustrates a feeding bottle in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a slightly axially expanded perspective view of a valve assembly in accordance with the present invention, which valve assembly is incorporated into the bottle of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side elevation of the valve assembly integrally formed within the feeding bottle of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, a feeding bottle, indicated generally as 1, comprises a plastic bottle 2 and a cap 3, in which cap there is located a teat 4. These are the same as found on a conventional feeding bottle. However, the feeding bottle 1 differs in from conventional feeding bottles in having a valve assembly S located in the base of the bottle 6.

Figure 1 also illustrates an auxiliary mechanical valve opening device, indicated generally as 7. This comprises an outer sleeve 8 of slightly larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the bottle 1, so that bottle 1 may be slid into the sleeve 8. On the base portion of the auxiliary mechanical valve opening device, there is an upwardly projecting pin 9. When the bottle is placed in the sleeve the pin 9 extends into the valve. Either side of the pin 9 are apertures 10, the purpose ofthe pin 9 and apertures 10 is described below with reference to the valve assembly 5.

- 6 Referring now to Figure 2, there is illustrated the valve assembly 5 of Figure 1, shown in slightly axially expanded form for reasons of clarity. The valve assembly, indicated generally as 5, comprises a cylindrical housing 11, with a guard member 12 inserted into a first open end and a valve seat 13 inserted in the opposite open end. Within the housing 11, between the guard member 12 and valve seat 13, there are located two valve guides 14 and 15. Valve guide 14 is fixed within the housing whilst valve guide 15 is axially slideable within the housing. Valve guide 15 is secured to a stem 16 of the valve 17. The valve stem 16 passes through aperture 18 in valve guide 14 and is slidable therein such that the valve guides 14 and 15 act to retain the valve stem 16 in a fixed actual position relative to the axis of the housing 1 1, while permitting the valve stem to be displaced along that axis.

The valve 17 at the end of the valve stem 16 has a seal 19 thereon. Seal 19 is urged against the valve seat 13 by the action of stainless steel compression spring 20 acting between the valve guides 14 and 15.

The spring 20 is lightly biased and, in the absence of any partial vacuum in the bottle, maintains valve 17 seated and sealed with the valve seat 13. However, when the teat 4 is sucked upon by a child, the pressure within the bottle is reduced and the spring 20 is sufficiently weak to permit the the valve 17 to be displaced away from the valve seat 13.

This permits air to be drawn in to the bottle via the apertures in the guard member 12, valve guides 14 and 15 and valve seat 13, (represented by arrows) to reduce the partial vacuum within the bottle 1.

- 7 When it is desired to wash the bottle, with the cap 3 and teat removed, the bottle is placed in the auxiliary mechanical valve opening device, the pin 9 passing through aperture 21 in the guide member 12, shown in Figure 2, pushing the 17 away from the valve seat 13, to the position shown in Figure 2. In this position, the bottle and auxiliary mechanical valve opening device can be inverted and water poured through apertures 10 in the valve opening device, to flush the valve housing and valve seat.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown a preferred construction of the valve assembly of Figures 1 and 2, where the housing 11 of the valve assembly is integrally formed with the plastic bottle 2.

Within the cylindrical housing 11 there are formed a number of internal circumferential ribs 22, 23, 24. The valve is assembled by inserting and "snapping" into place fixed valve guide 14, held in place by ribs 22 and 23. The valve 17 is then inserted as shown with a stainless steel spring 20 placed over valve stem 16. The movable valve guide 15 is then inserted and attached to the valve stem 16, via spring biased legs 26 and 27 at the base the valve stem 16 engaging with the rim of an aperture in the centre of the valve guide 14. The valve guides 14 and 15 are thus then urged apart by spring 20 sandwiched there between. The spring is preferably selected to permit the valve to open when a pressure differential in the range 100 to 1000 Pascal exists across the valve assembly To complete the assembly, guard member 12 is clipped into the base ofthe bottle as shown.

- 8 A feeding bottle in accordance with the present invention prevents any substantial partial vacuum being established within the feeding bottle during feeding or during storage and also permits for easy cleaning of the valve. However, the figures depict one exemplary embodiment only and many variations will be apparent which are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

- 9 - CLAIMS

1. A one-way valve assembly for a feeding bottle arranged to permit air into the bottle to prevent any significant partial vacuum forming during feeding.

2. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim I, arranged to be mounted in the base of a

feeding bottle.

3. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, comprising resilient means urging the valve to a closed position until a predetermined pressure differential is established across the valve.

4. A valve assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a housing, a valve, a valve seat with which the valve seals, biasing means acting between the housing and the valve to retain the valve against the valve seat in the absence of a pressure differential across the valve.

5. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the housing is substantially tubular and arranged with the valve seat at, or towards, one open end face of the housing, the valve comprising a sealing surface for sealing with the valve seat and a stem extending through an opening in the valve seat, the stem being connected to the biasing means located within the housing, the biasing means acting between the housing and the stem.

- 10

6. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 5, comprising a fixed guide member within the housing perpendicular to the axis of the housing, the fixed guide member being arranged to permit the stem of the valve to slide there through whilst maintaining the stem in a fixed position relative to the axis of the housing, the biasing means acting between the stem and the fixed guide member.

7. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 6, further comprising a moveable guide member fixed to the stem, the moveable guide member being arranged to slide within the housing whilst maintaining the stem in a fixed position relative to the axis of the housing, the biasing means acting between the fixed and moveable guide members.

8. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the guide members are substantially planar, lie in planes perpendicular to the axis of the housing and have apertures to permit air to pass therethrough along the housing.

9. A valve assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 8, wherein the biasing means is a compression spring mounted on the stem.

10. A valve assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 9, wherein the housing comprises, at its open end furthest most from the valve seat, a substantially planar guard member arranged across the opening permitting air to pass through.

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11 11. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 10, further comprising an auxiliary mechanical valve opening device arranged to be inserted through the guard member to open the valve, the opening device being arranged to permit water to pass through the guard member whilst the valve is held open.

12. A baby feeding bottle comprising a valve assembly as claimed in any preceding claim.

13. A baby feeding bottle as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the valve assembly is located in the base of the feeding bottle.

14. A baby feeding bottle as claimed in Claim 12 or 13, wherein the valve assembly comprises a substantially tubular housing formed integrally with the bottle.

15. A baby feeding bottle substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, or as illustrated in, one or more of the accompanying figures.