GB2497590A

GB2497590A - Training bottle or cup with grip portion

Info

Publication number: GB2497590A
Application number: GB1121712.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chawarin Sakulsacha
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-12-16
Filing date: 2011-12-16
Publication date: 2013-06-19
Also published as: GB201121712D0

Abstract

A bottle has a gripping surface 29 extending around a part of the bottle; the gripping surface is arranged about a first waist portion. The bottle has a further surface obverse the gripping surface which is disposed about a second waist portion 31; the first and second waist portions may be at different positions between the top and the bottom of the bottle. The bottle may have a spout or teat 28 formed with a pair of walls 23 at least partially surrounding an aperture. The spout may have protuberances 21 at its base for massaging a babys gums. The internal surfaces of the spout may have fins for directing fluid to the aperture.

Description

BOTTLES

This invention relates to a drinking bottle and is especially, but not exclusively, related to a drinking bottle for use as a trainer bottle for infants.

Trainer bottles are known. The principal purpose of such bottles is to provide a first step away from the use of a conventional feeding bottle towards the use of normal adult cups.

io It is known that when first using a normal cup or beaker a baby may have difficulty gripping the cup or beaker. To overcome this difficulty handles are often provided on trainer bottles or cups. However the use of these handles is not always easy and does little to prepare an infant for use of a cup or beaker without handles.

its Further, it is a feature of most trainer cups that they require the drinker to elevate the cup to an angle of greater than horizontal to extract all of the liquid therefrom. When sitting or standing this requires co-ordination and skill not always present in a novice.

It is known that when first using a normal cup, beaker or trainer cup of the prior art a baby may inadvertently choke on liquid which is dispensed. This is because, as a most extreme example, liquid from a cup is much freer flowing than liquid from a conventional feeding bottle. This free flow of liquid surprises the novice drinker who may then choke.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a drinking container which overcomes, or at least substantially reduces, the disadvantages associated with the known types of trainer cups discussed above.

A first aspect of the invention provides a bottle comprising a gripping surface extending s at least partially around the bottle, the gripping surface comprising an array of protuberances.

A second aspect of the invention provides a round bottle having a top and a bottom with a gripping surface extending around a part of the bottle, the gripping surface being io disposed about a first waist portion; the bottle further comprising a further surface obverse the gripping surface which is disposed about a second waist portion; the first and second waist portions being provided at different positions between the top and the bottom.

its Preferably, the gripping surface comprises an array of protuberances.

Preferably, if present, the array of protuberances is a regular array, which is optionally rhombic.

Preferably, if present, the protuberances are integrally formed with the bottle.

Preferably, handles are not provided on the bottle.

A third aspect of the invention provides a spout for a bottle comprising a teat portion, the teat portion having an aperture through which liquid is drawable and a pair of walls at least partially bounding the aperture.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a spout for a bottle comprising a teat portion, the teat portion having an aperture for dispensing fluid in a concave region of the teat portion.

Preferably the aperture forms a valve.

A fifth aspect of the invention provides a spout for a bottle comprising a teat portion and a base extending from the periphery of the spout to the teat portion, the spout having protuberances on the base for massaging a baby's gums, in use.

io A sixth aspect of the invention provides a spout for a bottle comprising a teat portion, the teat portion having on the internal surfaces thereof elongate fins for directing fluid flow towards an aperture.

Preferably the spout is of a rounded rectangle cross-section, the fins are located on its opposite faces and the fins on one face are offset relative the fins on the opposite face.

Preferably the spout is of a rounded rectangle cross-section.

A further aspect of the invention provides a bottle incorporating a spout of the third, fourth or fifth aspect.

A further aspect of the invention provides a kit comprising a bottle of the first or second aspect and a spout e.g. of the third, fourth, fifth or sixth aspect.

A further aspect of the invention provides a kit comprising a spout of the third, fourth or fifth aspect and a bottle e.g. of the first or second aspect.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, preferred embodiments in accordance therewith will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: s Figure 1 is a perspective view from below of a bottle and a spout in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of the bottle and spout of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side on view of the bottle and spout of Figure 1 io Figure 4 is a further side on view of the bottle and spout of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a further side on view of the bottle and spout of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a further side on view of the bottle and spout of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a view from above of the bottle and spout of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a view from below of the bottle and spout of Figure 1; its Figure 9 is a part sectional view of the bottle and spout of Figure 1; Figure 10 is a part sectional view of the bottle and spout of Figure 1 shown in use; and Figure 11 is a view from below of the spout of Figure 1 not affixed to the bottle of Figure 1.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings, a bottle, indicated generally at 1, has a top 3 and a bottom 5.

Referring to Figures 3, 5 and 9. the bottle 1 is made of three parts, a body 7, a collar 9 andaspoutll.

The body 7 is a closed end vessel for holding liquid, in use, and has on a major surface around a portion of its periphery a curved shield-shaped, rebated gripping surface 13 provided therewith a number of protuberances 15. The protuberances 15 are arranged in an array. The array is regular and rhombic, although instead other regular or s irregular arrays may be provided. The protLiberances 15 are integrally formed with the body 7 of the bottle 1, however the protuberances 15 may be discrete and e.g. attached by adhesive. The array of protuberances provides increased grip for an infant, in use. Outside of the gripping surface 13 the bottle is smooth and provides a non-gripping surface 16.

Referring to Figures 6 and 10, the body 7 of the bottle 1 is shaped so as to have a first waist portion 29 and a second waist portion 31. With the bottle 1 upright, the first waist portion 29 is located below the second waist portion 31. The gripping surface 13 is such that its longest axial dimension is disposed about the first waist portion 29. The its first waist portion 29 is below the centre 32 of the gripping surface 13.

In use, this provision of the first waist portion 29 below the second waist portion 31 provides ease of use. When gripped by the small hands of an infant or baby, or by a feeding carer, the bottle 1 naturally inclines downwards towards the user, as shown in Figure 10. It is therefore easier for the bottle 1 to be held in the required inclined position. This reduces the chances of the user sucking air instead of fluid from the bottle 1.

Referring to Figure 9, the collar 9 affixes the spout 11 to the body 7 by means of complementary screw threads ba, lob, although any means capable of reversibly affixing the spout 11 to the body 7 may be used, e.g. bayonet fitting, a reversible snap fit or a reversible interference fit. a

Referring to Figures 2, 3, 6 and 7 the spout 11 is of silicone. The spout 11 has a teat portion 17 and a base 19 extending from the periphery of the spout to the teat portion 17. With the bottle 1 in an upright position the base 19 is at an angle of 1OC to the s horizontal. The base 19 has protuberances 21 formed thereon. The protuberances 21 and the angle of the base 19 provide massaging of the users gums, increased gum-to-spout grip and superior suction grip, in use.

The teat portion 17 has a slit 25 cut into it to allow fluid to flow out from the bottle 1 io when the teat portion 17 is deformed. The slit 25 acts as a valve to prevent undesired fluid flow. A further inlet slit 27 is cut into the base 19 to allow air to enter the bottle 1 when fluid is removed. The slits 25, 27, more generally apertures, may be replaced by small holes or other known valves.

its The teat portion 17 has a rounded rectangle cross section. The two short sides 28a, 28b taper inwards at an angle of 14° to the vertical. The first long side 28c, which is furthest from the base 19, tapers inwards at an angle of 4° to the vertical. The second long side 28d, tapers inwards at an angle of 12° to the vertical. (All angles given are for when the bottle is in an upright position.) The teat portion 17 has two walls 23 upstanding therefrom. The walls 23 are integrally formed with the teat portion 17. The walls 23. at least partially, bound the aperture 25 in the teat portion 17. This results in a concave region 28 between the walls 23 in which the aperture is located. In use, this, at least partial, bounding and location in a concave region provides sideways flow or indirect flow out from the aperture and helps to reduce choking of a novice user.

Referring to Figure 11, the spout 11 has five elongate fins 29 on the internal surface of the teat portion 17. In use, the elongate fins 29 assist with direction of the fluid flow described above in relation to the walls 23. Further, the elongate fins 29a on one face are offset relative to the elongate fins 29b on the opposite face and so prevent s complete collapse of the teat portion 17, e.g. when the user bites down on the teat portion 17, in use.

A typical way of using the bottle 1 will now be described. The following preliminary stages are typically carried out by a supervising adult: A desired quantity of liquid is io first introduced in to the body 7. The spout 11 is then attached to the body 7 using collar 9 via the complementary screw-threads ba, lob.

An infant then holds the bottle 1 with their hands on the gripping surface 13. The rhombic array of the protuberances 15 provides assistance to the infant in gripping the its bottle 1. The patterning provides convenient gripping by the small hands of the user.

The differing positions of the first waist 29 and the second waist 31 provide assistance to the user or adult in holding the bottle at an angle such that liquid can be dispensed from the container 1. Whilst the user is drinking the protuberances 21 on the base 19 provide massaging of the users gums, increased gum-to-spout grip and superior suction grip. The elongate fins 29, the walls 23 upstanding from the teat portion 17 and the location of the aperture in a concave region 23 provide indirect flow to help reduce choking of the user.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A bottle comprising a gripping surface extending at least partially around the bottle, the gripping surface comprising an array of protuberances.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A bottle according to Claim 1, wherein the bottle has a top and a bottom; the gripping surface is disposed about a first waist portion; the bottle further comprises a second waist portion; and the first and second waist portions are provided at different positions between the top and the bottom.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A round bottle having a top and a bottom with a gripping surface extending around a part of the bottle, the gripping surface being disposed about a first waist portion; the bottle further comprising a further surface obverse the gripping surface which is disposed about a second waist portion; the first and second waist portions its being provided at different positions between the top and the bottom.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A bottle according to any of Claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the gripping surface is rebated.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A bottle according to any of Claims 3 or 4, wherein the gripping surface comprises an array of protuberances.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A bottle according to any of Claims 1, 2 or 5, wherein the array of protuberances is a regular array.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A bottle according to Claim 6, wherein the array is rhombic.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A bottle according to any of Claims 1, 2 or 5 to 7, wherein the protuberances are integrally formed with the bottle.s 9. A spoUt for a bottle comprising a teat portion, the teat portion having an aperture and a pair of walls at least partially bounding the aperture.10. A spout for a bottle comprising a teat portion, the teat portion having an aperture for dispensing fluid in a concave region of the teat portion.11. A spout according to Claim 9 or 10 wherein the aperture forms a valve.12. A spout according to any of Claims 9, 10 or 11, further comprising a base extending from the periphery of the spout to the teat portion, the spout having its protuberances on the base for massaging a baby's gums, in use.13. A spout for a bottle comprising a teat portion and a base extending from the periphery of the spout to the teat portion, the spout having protuberances on the base for massaging a baby's gums, in use.14. A spout according to any of Claims 9 to 13, wherein the teat portion has on the internal surfaces thereof elongate fins for directing fluid flow towards an aperture.15. A spout for a bottle comprising a teat portion, the teat portion having on the internal surfaces thereof elongate fins for directing fluid flow towards an aperture.16. A bottle incorporating a spout according to any of Claims 9 to 15.</claim-text>