US2661001A - Infant feeding means - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1, 1953 B. ALSTADT EIAL 2,661,001

INFANT FEEDING MEANS Filed July 9, 1951 AITU/FA/EV This invention relates constructions as used on infant nursing bottles. .and' more particularly is directed to improved Patented Dec. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT orsics INFANT FEEDING MEANS Benjamin Alstadt and Harold Sappey, New York, N. Y.

Application July 9, 1951, Serial No. 235,792

14 Claims. (01. 128-252) to liquid feeding nipple nipple constructions andnipple accessories for serving, as in natural breast feeding, to minimize nervous tension that generally may be manifest by a so-called colic condition thereby providing for an improved method of infant feeding.

Among the objects of the invention is to generally improve feeding nipple constructions and methods of infant feeding of the character described and to provide nipple accessories for readily assembling with nipples of various types,

sizes and shapes in use for the purpose of utilizing the improved feeding method, which constructions shall comprise few and simple multilayers forming rugged structures capable of withstanding rough usage, which constructions and accessories shall be easy and cheap to manufacture, which shall be practically non-collapsible in use, which shall require in operation relatively low suction conditions, which constructions, accessories and methodshall during feeding aid in continuously maintaining connection between the lips and nipple thereby more close- .ly approximating natural breast feeding conditions, which shall be easy to keep in sanitary and hygienic condition, which shall be reliable in operation, which shall be adaptable to be 'con- 0 formed to various types of feeding bottles, and which constructions, accessories and method shall be practical and efficient to a high' degree in use.

This application is a continuation in part of applicants invention described and shown in Ser. No. 147,242 filed March 2, 1950 for Nursing Bottle'Nipples, now Patent No. 2,582,950.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointedout. The invention accordingly consists of features of constructions and method, combination of elements and arrangement of parts and steps in the method which will be exemplified in the constructions and method hereinafter described and of which the scope of the application will be indicated in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawing in which embodiment of the invention are shown,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a mumlayer wall liquid feeding nipple constructed to embody the invention. Y

Figs. 2 and 3 are top and bottom plan views, respectively, of the improved nipple shown in Fig. land showing respectively the outlet and from a double wall '2 inlet ends of the spaced apart air passageways formed in the multi-layer wall thereof.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 in Fig. 1 showing the lengths of the air passageways or ducts formation in the multi-layer wall.

Fig. 4a is a fragmentary sectionalview showing a modified form of the nipple construction in which the inlet ends of the passageways or ducts are located 'in the plane of bottom surface of the nipple bead. V

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 1 showing a cross section of a mid portion of said multiplayer wall.

Figs. 6 and 7 are front elevational and top plan .views, respectively, of the improved nipple constructionshown in Fig. 1 with the external layer sheath removedto show the molded rib ,on the inner nipple layer.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 showing a modified form of multi-layer wall con: struction in which the ribs are molded to the external layer sheath, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar .to Figs. 5 and 8 showing anothermodified form of multilayer wall constructed with an intermediate corrugated layer between an inner and external layer sheath.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 20 denotes a. nipple formed of a flexible material, such as gum or synthetic rubber or other suitable sub.- stances having elastic properties constructed as hereinafter described with a multi-layer wall structure embodying the invention.

Nipple 20 as seen from Figs. 1-7 may be a double Wall or layer structure forming a teat or bulbous hollow head portion 2| extending or layer structure forming sleeve or neck 22, the latter extending between said teat portion 2| and a hollow double wall or layer structure forming a base or breast portion 23. The double layer wall structure portions of said teat 2|, neck 22 and breast 23 may comprise of integral teat, neck and breast parts 2 la, 22a and 23a, respectively, of an inner sheath layer or liner, indicated generally at Zila; and a superimposed exterior ply layer or outer covering 20b of said double wall structure portions comprising integral teat, neck and breast parts Zlb, 22b and 23b, respectively.

Inner teat part 2m may be a substantially hemispherical-shaped structure having one or more through-openings Zlc to permit flowing of liquid from the interior of teat portion 2| therethrough and through aligned opening Zld provided in said outer covering teat part Zlb and positioned to register with said opening 2 lo. Said inner breast part 23a may terminate in a bottom end thickened peripheral rim or bead 230 for retaining nipple on a mouth of a feeding bottle (not shown) in the well understood manner.

Said inner sheath layer or liner 20a. may be formed to have extending along the length of the surface thereof facing outer covering 201), spaced apart integrally formed ribs 200 which serve in the assembly of outer covering 20!) on inner liner 20a as partitions for elongated continuous air-passageways or conduits 24 formed to pass successively through teat portion 2 neck portion 22 and breast portion 23 as is clear from Figs. 1 to '7. Passageways 24 may each terminate in an end outlet 24b in teat portion 2| at a spaced distance from said opening 2|d of teat part 2 lb, said nipple 20 having an end inlet 24b for each passageway 24 located just above the bead 230 as is clear from Fig. 4.

Thus it is seen that said aligned through-openings Me and 2|d of inner and outer teat parts 2 la and 2|b, respectively, when assembled in register serve to permit the flow of liquid contents of the feeding bottle through the nipple 20 into a child's mouth in which said teat portion 2| is placed in the Well known manner for feeding liquids from a bottle, and air-passageways 24 provide direct communication of said, teat portion 2| with said aligned through-openings 2|c and 2 Id in the childs mouth with the surrounding air independent of the contents of the nursing bottle and liquid flow therefrom.

Nipple 20 as above described and shown in Figs. 1-? may thus be constructed by molding of a suitable rubber or plastic product having desirable properties With teat, neck and breast parts 2|a, 22a, and 23a, respectively, as integral inner sheath or liner 20a and with partition forming ribs 24 and said through-opening 2|c, and also by molding of a like or different rubber or plastic product teat, neck and breast part 2|b, 22b and 231) as integral outer covering 20b with throughopening 21d, and said'passageway end outlets 24a and end inlets 2412.

Outer covering 2% may be molded to a size so as tostretchingly snug-fit against the partition forming ribs 20c on inner liner 26a thereby forming said air-passageways 24. If desired the lower edge portion 23d extending from breast part 2327 of outer covering 2% may be extended to encircle bead 230 of saidliner 20a so as to positively retain the outer covering 2011 against accidental movement from proper assembly on said liner 20a.

A practical applicationof the invention may be carried out by simply mounting nipple 20 assembled as described above and shown in Figs. 1 to 7 on a feeding bottle containing a milk formula, water or any other feeding liquid and on inserting said nipple 20 into an-infants mouth whereby teat portion 2| having through-openings 2|c and 2|d, and said outlet ends 24aof air-passageways 24' are positioned within the mouth cavity, the infants lips will close about nipple neck 22 in position against breast 23 with said passageway inlet ends 24b communicating with the free atmosphere. When suckling by the infant commences the liquid will fiowfrom the bottle in an even stream through said through-openings simultaneously with atmospheric air flowing through passageways 24 into the mouth cavity. This flow of air between the atmosphere and mouth cavity is substantially free and unimpeded so that after the completion of each suck there is sufficient air supplied to the mouth cavity for replacing the partial vacuum created within the bottle without requiring releasing the connection between the nipple 20 and the infants lips.

When sufficient liquid flows into the throat to initiate a swallowing reflex, the liquid will pass down the esophagus and any excess air in the mouth cavity will be taken care of through the respiratory system.

In practicing the invention with nipple 20 in maintaining the above described communication of air between the free atmosphere and the infants mouth cavity during suckling, the infant will befound to take liquid food from a bottle contentedly and in a relaxed mood so as to minimize often present nervous tension to which gastric disturbances and distress are attributed.

In Fig. 4a is shown a different disposition of end inlet |2 |a of air-passageway I24 with respectto the bead 230 of inner breast part 23a shown in-Fig. 4. Here the partition forming-ribs |20c are each extended to reach, around the bead 23c and said. passageway end inlets I261) located substantially in plane XX of the bead 230 instead of above the latter.

A modified form of nipple construction 30 embodying the inventionis shown in Fig. Sin which the multi-wall structure differs from that. described above and shown in Figs. 1-7. in that partition forming ribs 30c of the improved nipple construction 30 may be molded asintegral parts of outer covering 30b instead ofpart of. the nipple inner liner 20a, and inner liner 30a is instead provided with an uninterrupted continuous smooth surface against which ribs 306 seat.

Nipple 30 otherwise may be. constructed like nipple 20 to provide air-passageways 34" end inlets and outlets for said passageways 3'4 and aligned through-openings in register disposed in the same relative position as described above for nipple 20 and shown in Figs. 1-7.

Fig. 9 shows another modification of nipple construction 40 embodying the inventionin which the multi-wall construction thereof differs from nipples 20 and 36 described above and shown in Figs. 1-8, in that a corrugated or like sectioned intermediate member 400 isused instead of the partition forming ribs 200 and 300 of nipples 20 and 30, respectively, and is inserted between smooth surfaced inner liner 40a and outer covering 40b.

Nipple construction 40may alsootherwise form an assembly structure with air-passageways 44, and end inlets and outlets for said air-passageways 44 and aligned through-openings in register disposed in the samerelation as described above for nipple 20, and shown in Figs. 1-7. Intermediate member 400 may be made of suitably molded rubber or other plastic material having like desired properties.

It is to be noted, however, that in nipple constructions 20,20 or 4|], either the inner liners of each outer covering or intermediate member 490 of nipple 40 may selectively be made to have the same or differentpredetermined resilient properties to suit a wide range of use requirements.

The novel improved method of infant feeding embodying the invention will now be apparent and is seen to comprise the steps of feeding a liquid from a nursing bottle through nipple 20, 30 or 40 by mouth suction while simultaneously maintaining free communication of atmospheric air within themouth cavity, that is, concurrently drawing air from the atmosphere outside the mouth into the "region of mouth 'su'ct'ion within saidcavity. 1 Nipples 3i)- and fillwill each operate in thesame manner as described above fornipple 29 and-it is to be understood that the various modifications in number and cross-sectional shapes-andsizesof the air passageways may-be utilized in any form of multi-layer nipples without'departing from the scope-of the inventions It has. been. found that favorable results are obtained in the modifications. shown when througheopenings Zlc, Zid are of the usual size; that is, .so that anintermittent drip of liquid will take place when the bottle isinvertedwith said nipple openingor openingsthereof below the liquid levelin the bottle and the air passageways 24, 34 and 44 have atotaleifeotive diameter of about 1 mm. Where a plurality of passageways 24, (Hand M are provided on a nipple, each passageway having a correspondingly smaller diameter has been found to render satisfactory results.

Itisthus seen that there are provided an improved method of infant feeding anrlliquid feeding nipple constructions in which the objects of the invention are achieved and which arewell adapted to meet all conditions of practical use. As various possible embodiments maybe made in the above invention and as various changes might be made in the embodiments and method above set forth, it is understood that all the above matters herein set forth'or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A nursing nipple of the character described comprising a multi-layer elastic tubular wall structure terminated by a perforated head for passing a flow of liquid from a bottle therethrough, said wall structure formed of superimposed layers having an elongated air conduit extending therebetween, said air conduit having an inlet located in the region of the perforated head and an outlet spaced therefrom both com municating with the exterior of the nipple, said conduit being partitioned ofi' from said liquid flow within the tubular structure.

2. A nursing nipple having a head opening of the character described comprising a multi-layer tubular wall structure for drawing a liquid flow from a bottle through said opening, said wall structure of superimposed layers of elastic material formed with at least one elongated air passageway extending between said layers partitioned from said liquid flow within the nipple, said passageway having an inlet communicating with the atmosphere at an exterior side of nipple and outlet adjacent said nipple head opening.

3. A nursing nipple of the character described comprising a multi-layer tubular Wall structure terminated by a perforated head for passing a flow of liquid from a bottle therethrough, and an elongated air conduit contained between the nipple structure layers having both an inlet and outlet communicating with the exterior of the nipple, said conduit outlet being located in the region of the perforated head.

4. An infants nursing nipple having a hollow perforated head for drawing a liquid flow from a bottle therethrough comprising a multi-layer wall structure, an elongated air conduit formed to ex tend between said wall structure layers completely partitioned from said liquid fiow communicating a region of said head within the infants 'mouth 'with'the atmosphere external to the 'nipple when the latter is in suckling-position. 5. Anursing'nipple ofthe character described comprising an elastic multi-layer tubular wall structure terminated by a perforated sucking perforated sucking head and having an inlet'end communicating the conduit with the exterior of the nipple when said sucking head is in-achild's mouth.

6. A nursing nipple of the character'described comprising a multi--layer structure having a perforated bulbous hollow teat portion, a tubular neck extending from said teat portion-said neck being interposed between the teat portion and a flexible walled hollow dome shaped breast, and

I spaced apartainpassageways extending longitudinally between adjacent layers of the nipple structure throughwall portions of said breast,

., neck and teat portions, said air-passageways each having an inlet on said breast and outlet on said teat portion communicating an exteriorside of the n'ipple'teat portion when within the mouth in suckling position with the atmosphere-external the mouth.

7. The nursing nipple defined in claim 6 including spaced apart partition forming ribs formed on one of said wall structure layers facing another layer through which said air-passageways extend. v

8. An infant's nursing nipple having a multilayer wall structure comprising perforated bulb ous hollow head portion wherethrough a liquid fiow passes, a tubular neck extending from said head portion interposed between the latter and a breast portion, an elongated .air conduit formed between said wall structure layers completely partitioned from said liquid flow communicating a region of said head portion within the infants mouth with the external atmosphere outside the infants mouth when said nipple is in suckling position, said air conduit having an inlet end on the breast portion beyond the infants lip suckling position and an outlet end in the region of said nipple perforated head portion.

9. The infants nursing nipple defined in claim 8 in which said wall structure forming the elongated air conduit includes an intermediate corrugated layer inserted between two other layers.

10. The infants nursing nipple defined in claim 8 in which said elongated air conduit is formed between layers of different rigidity to provide a single structure of predetermined elasticity.

11. A nursing nipple of the character described comprising a multi-layer structure having a perforated bulbous hollow teat portion, a tubular neck extending from said teat portion, said neck being interposed between the teat portion and a flexible walled hollow dome shaped breast, and an elongated air conduit extending between adjacent layers of said nipple structure having an end inlet on said breast, said conduit extending through layers of said tubular neck and terminating in an end outlet on said teat portion.

12. In an infants feeding nipple, a multi-layer structure having a perforated bulbous hollow teat portion, an intermediate tubular neck and dome shaped breast portion, the latter terminating in means for mounting the nipple on the mouth of a feeding bottle to pass liquid flow from aoenooi the latter into the infants mouth through said nipple; when in suckling position, an air conduit formedbetween the layers of said structure communicating an end inlet thereof positioned, on the nipple to lie exteriorly of the mouth when in said suckling position with an end outlet thereof positioned in the region of said teat portion within the mouth, said air conduit being partitioned off from said liquid flow through the. nipple.

13. An infants nursing nipple accessory for fitting over a nipple structure of conventional construction wherethrough a liquid flow passes comprising an elastic outer layer formed with a bulbous hollow teat portion, a tubular neck ex.- tending from said neck interposed between the teat portion and a flexible walled hollow breast, said layer being shaped and sized to conform to said nipple structure, a rib integrally extending along an interior surface of said layer for abutting the nipple structure and forming an elongated air conduit therebetween completely par.- titioned from said liquid flow, said. air conduit having an inlet end on said breast and anoutlet on the teat portion thereof for communicating a region. of said teat portion within the infantsmouth with the external atmosphere outside the infants mouth when the nipple structure is fitted with said accessory.

14; An infant's nursing accessory for fitting over a nipple structure of conventional construction wherethrough a liquid flow passes comprising an elastic outer layer formed with a bulbous hollow teat portion, a tubular neck extending from said'teat portion, said neck interposed between the teat portion and afiexible walled hollow breast, said layer being shaped and sized to conform to said nipple structure with an intermediate corrugatedspacer therebetween to provide an: elongated. air conduit completely partitioned from said liquidflow, said air conduit having an inlet end on. said breast and an outlet on the teat portion thereof for communicating a region of said teat portion within the infants mouth. with the external atmosphere outside the infants-mouth when the nipple structure is fitted with-said accessory.

BENJAMIN ALSIYADT. HAROLD SAPPEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent- U-NITED STATES'PATENTS Number Name Date 633,343 Heany Sept; 19', 1899 2,582,950 Al'stadt-et al Jan. 22', 1952'

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