WO2014123953A1

WO2014123953A1 - Portable sterilizer

Info

Publication number: WO2014123953A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/014791
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joshua Wiesman; Keith Tritschler
Original assignee: Precision Ventures, Llc
Priority date: 2013-02-05
Filing date: 2014-02-05
Publication date: 2014-08-14

Abstract

A portable sterilizer (10) with an open-top plastic container (12) that has a closed bottom (33) that defines a central raised projection (24) and a generally annular ridge (26) spaced from the central projection (24), with a generally annular valley (28) between the central raised projection (24) and the generally annular ridge (26). There is a lid (14) that is sized and shaped to close the open top of the container (12), the lid (14) defining a vent hole (1 8) that is constructed and arranged to vent the container (12).

Description

Portable Sterilizer

Fiejd

This disclosure relates to a sterilizer that can be used in a microwave oven.

Background

Some sterilizers for home use are used by adding water and then placing the sterilizer in a microwave oven such that the water boils, creating steam to thereby sterilize the contents. These sterilizers can be used to sterilize parts of baby bottles and the like. Such sterilizers should be designed such that the user can easily place and remove items to be sterilized.

Summary

Featured herein is a portable sterilizer comprising an open-top plastic container that has a closed bottom that defines a central raised projection and a generally annular ridge spaced from the central projection, with a generally annular valley between the central raised projection and the generally annular ridge, and a lid that is sized and shaped to close the open top of the container, the lid defining a vent hole that is constructed and arranged to vent the container. The lid may include a handle. The vent hole may pass through the handle.

The portable sterilizer may further comprise a second generally annular valley outside of the ridge, wherein the ridge and the valleys are generally concentric. The valleys may be but need not be connected together through the ridge, so that water placed anywhere into the container can distribute into both valleys. The projection and the ridge may be at least substantially covered by an elastomeric material.

The lid may be connected to the container by an internal thread in the container and an external thread on the lid. Or, the lid may be connected to the container by an external thread in the container and an internal thread in the lid. Or, the lid may be connected to the container by a quarter turn lock connector. Or, the lid may be connected to the container by a plurality of clips.

The container may have a single annular sidewall. The sidewall can have a top, and a bottom that transitions into the container bottom. The sidewall may have an inner surface that is slightly inwardly tapered from the top to the bottom of the sidewall. The sidewall inner surface taper may be but is not necessarily at about 0.5 degrees from the vertical. The sidewall may have an outer surface that is inwardly tapered from the top toward the bottom, where the outer surface taper is at a greater angle than the inner surface taper. At a location which is closer to the bottom than the top of the sidewall, this inward taper of the outer surface of the sidewall may reverse direction and flare outwardly to around the bottom of the container, where it then rounds out and turns inwardly to transition to the bottom of the container.

Also featured herein is a portable sterilizer, comprising an open-top plastic container that has a single annular sidewall, and a closed bottom that defines a central raised projection and a generally annular ridge spaced from the central projection, with a first generally annular valley between the central raised projection and the generally annular ridge and a second generally annular valley outside of the ridge, wherein the ridge and the valleys are generally concentric, wherein the sidewall has a top and a bottom that transitions into the container bottom, an inner surface that is slightly inwardly tapered from the top to the bottom of the sidewall, and an outer surface that is inwardly tapered from the top toward the bottom, where the outer surface taper is at a greater angle than the inner surface taper and wherein at a location which is closer to the bottom than the top of the sidewall the inward taper of the outer surface of the sidewall reverses direction and is flared outwardly to around the bottom of the container, where it then rounds out and turns inwardly to transition to the bottom of the container, and a lid that is sized and shaped to close the open top of the container, the lid defining a handle, and vent hole that passes through the handle and is constructed and arranged to vent the container.

The valleys may be connected together through the ridge, so that water placed into the container can distribute into both valleys. The projection and the ridge may be at least substantially covered by an elastomeric material. The sidewall inner surface taper may be about 0.5 degrees from the vertical.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a front view of a sterilizer.

Figure 2 is a right side view thereof.

Figure 3 is a top view thereof.

Figure 4 is a vertical midline cross-sectional view thereof. Figure 5 is a perspective midline cross-sectional view thereof. Figure 6 is a disassembled version of the view of figure 5. Figure 7 is a side disassembled view thereof.

Figure 8 shows an alternative example, in which the lid is held onto the base with one or more clips rather than via screw threads.

Detailed Description

Sterilizer 10, figures 1-7, is a non-limiting example of the disclosed innovation. Sterilizer 10 is an injection-molded structure comprising two parts: open-top container or base 12, and removable lid 14 (which has integral handle 16). The material from which both the container and the lid are made is preferably translucent polypropylene, although other known materials can be used. The material is preferably one that can stand up to repeated exposure to microwave ovens. Lid 14 engages with container 12 via mating screw threads, with threads on the outside of the lid and the inside of the base. The threads could be arranged in the opposite fashion should such be desirable, with threads on the inside of the lid and outside of the top of the container. Another alternative not shown in the drawings would be to connect the lid to the base with a known type of quarter-turn lock connector.

Base or container 12 preferably has a generally cylindrical shape, with a closed bottom 33 and open top 35. Container 12 has a single annular sidewall 13. The inner surface 13a of sidewall 13 is preferably but not necessarily slightly inwardly tapered from the sidewall top 15 to the sidewall bottom 17 where the sidewall transitions into the container bottom 22. This taper is preferably but not necessarily approximately 0.5 degrees from the vertical (when the sterilizer is sitting on a horizontal surface); such taper allows the mold core pin to be removed easily during the molding process by which the container is made. The outer surface 13b of sidewall 13 is preferably but not necessarily inwardly tapered from top 15 toward bottom 17. This taper can be but need not be at a greater angle than the inner surface taper. At around location 19, which is preferably but not necessarily closer to the bottom than the top of the sidewall, this inward taper then reverses direction and is flared outwardly to around sidewall bottom 17, where the outer surface 13b then rounds out and turns inwardly to transition to container bottom 22. The overall shape of outer surface 13b is pinched in the lower middle, somewhat like an hourglass. See figure 7. The narrower waist 37 provides a location for the user to grip a potentially slippery (e.g., wet) surface more easily, since the closed hand is less likely to slip along the height of the sidewall. The better grip also makes it easier to hold the container tightly enough to allow the top to be screwed off of the base after the sterilization is complete.

Lid 14 has integral, upwardly-projecting, generally arc-shaped handle 16 with a simple open vent through-hole 18 located towards the periphery, away from where the user would grasp handle 16. Hole 18 extends entirely through handle 16 to vent the interior of sterilizer 10 to the atmosphere. This venting prevents the buildup of excessive pressure as water held in the sterilizer is boiled.

The inside of bottom 22 of container 12 comprises a central upward domed projection 24 and a continuous annular ridge 26 that are separated by continuous annular valley 28. There is also an outer continuous annular valley 30. These concentric (or at least generally concentric) series of a central projection and at least one continuous ridge, separated by one or more valleys, preferably present slightly rounded corners in their construction and where they meet, such as corners 27 and 29. These rounded corners make the bottom of the basin easier to clean. The tops of projection 24 and ridge 26 are preferably co-planar. Also, the tops of central projection 24 and ridge 26 are preferably flat, as shown for example in figure 4. This presents a generally flat or horizontal generally planar platform that can support objects to be sterilized. The bottom ridges and valleys may or may not be covered with a thermoplastic elastomeric material or a silicone paint material that provides some grip that acts to grip and hold items placed onto or into the bottom.

Concentric continuous annular valleys 28 and 30 provide separate volumes that can hold water that sits below items that are placed on projection 24 and/or ridge 26. In one additional example not shown in the drawings, the valleys can be interconnected by one or more passageways through ridge 26 (e.g., by making the ridge non-continuous with at least one gap along its length) so that water poured into the container will distribute through both valleys and provide for a more even generation of steam when the water is boiled in a microwave oven.

The sterilizer can be used to sterilize articles that fit within its interior. Water is placed into the basin before positioning items such as bottles used to feed milk or formula to infants, nipples for such bottles, bottle accessories or other baby-related devices and appliances. Other devices can include (but are not limited to) items such as pacifiers, teethers, and parts of breast pumps. The sterilizer lid is screwed on and the entire sterilizer is then placed into a microwave oven. Depending on the microwave wattage, the sterilizer can be heated from about 2 to about 8 minutes. This causes the water to boil and the resulting steam will sterilize the parts placed into the sterilizer. The cooling time should be at least 2 minutes before the lid is removed and/or excess water is poured out via the vent hole. The vent hole lets out steam so that interior pressure doesn't increase to a dangerous level.

A variation of the design could contain a two part basin or container, comprised of an inner basin made from nylon material and an outer silicone skin that goes over the outside of the basin. This silicone skin can protect the user from the plastic interior which can be heated by the steam. The silicone material can be painted onto or over-molded onto the inner basin. The lid should be (but need not be) the same material as the inner basin.

In one non-limiting example where sterilizer 10 is designed to be used (e.g., by the caregiver of a young child) to sterilize bottles, nipples, pacifiers and other implements that are used in the mouth of the child, the sterilizer is small enough to fit into a purse, bag, backpack or other carrier. One such sterilizer has an outside diameter of about 75mm, an outside height of about 75mm, an inside diameter of about 68mm, an inside height (from top of vessel to top of the central projection on the bottom) of about 64mm, and a bottom valley depth of about 10mm.

Figure 8 shows sterilizer 10a that differs in that lid 14a is removably held on base 12a via one or more clips rather than screw threads as in sterilizer 10, figures 1 -7. In this non-limiting example the clips 51 and 53 define shaped ends 52 and 62 that fit into complementary receptacles 41 and 42. The clips rotate about axes 53 and 63 that are normal to the plane of the page of the drawing. As another non-limiting example, the clips could be on the base and the receiving structures on the lid.

The lid can be unitary, or it can be made from two parts (the handle and the base) that are connected together through ultrasonic welding, screws, or other fasteners or means of adhering the two parts together. An alternative not shown in the drawings is an electric version with a built-in hot plate to heat the water. The hot plate would be located directly underneath bottom 22. This alternative would not be meant to be placed in a microwave oven.

Although features of the disclosure are shown in some drawings and not others, this is not a limitation of the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the claims. Other aspects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the field and are within the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A portable sterilizer, comprising:

an open-top plastic container that has a closed bottom that defines a central raised projection and a generally annular ridge spaced from the central projection, with a generally annular valley between the central raised projection and the generally annular ridge; and

a lid that is sized and shaped to close the open top of the container, the lid defining a vent hole that is constructed and arranged to vent the container.

2. The portable sterilizer of claim 1 wherein the lid comprises a handle.

3. The portable sterilizer of claim 2 wherein the vent hole passes through the handle.

4. The portable sterilizer of claim 1 further comprising a second generally annular valley outside of the ridge, wherein die ridge and the valleys are generally concentric.

5. The portable sterilizer of claim 4 wherein the valleys are connected together through the ridge, so that water placed into the container can distribute into both valleys.

6. The portable sterilizer of claim 4 wherein the projection and the ridge are at least substantially covered by an elastomeric material.

7. The portable sterilizer of claim 1 where the lid connects to the container by an internal thread in the container and an external thread on the lid.

8. The portable sterilizer of claim 1 where the lid connects to the container by an external thread in the container and an internal thread in the lid.

9. The portable sterilizer of claim 1 wherein the lid connects to the container by a quarter turn lock connector.

10. The portable sterilizer of claim 1 wherein the lid connects to the container by a plurality of clips.

11. The portable sterilizer of claim 1 wherein the container has a single annular sidewall.

12. The portable sterilizer of claim 1 1 wherein the sidewall has a top and a bottom that transitions into the container bottom, and wherein the sidewall has an inner surface that is slightly inwardly tapered from the top to the bottom of the sidewall.

13. The portable sterilizer of claim 12 wherein the sidewall inner surface taper is at about 0.5 degrees from the vertical.

14. The portable sterilizer of claim 13 wherein the sidewall has an outer surface that is inwardly tapered from the top toward the bottom, where the outer surface taper is at a greater angle than the inner surface taper.

15. The portable sterilizer of claim 14 wherein at a location which is closer to the bottom than the top of the sidewall the inward taper of the outer surface of the sidewall reverses direction and is flared outwardly to around the bottom of the container, where it then rounds out and turns inwardly to transition to the bottom of the container.

16. A portable sterilizer, comprising:

an open-top plastic container that has a single annular sidewall, and a closed bottom that defines a central raised projection and a generally annular ridge spaced from the central projection, with a first generally annular valley between the central raised projection and the generally annular ridge and a second generally annular valley outside of the ridge, wherein the ridge and the valleys are generally concentric;

wherein the sidewall has a top and a bottom that transitions into the container bottom, an inner surface that is slightly inwardly tapered from the top to the bottom of the sidewall, and an outer surface that is inwardly tapered from the top toward the bottom, where the outer surface taper is at a greater angle than the inner surface taper and wherein at a location which is closer to the bottom than the top of the sidewall the inward taper of the outer surface of the sidewall reverses direction and is flared outwardly to around the bottom of the container, where it then rounds out and turns inwardly to transition to the bottom of the container; and

a lid that is sized and shaped to close the open top of the container, the lid defining a handle, and vent hole that passes tlirough the handle and is constructed and arranged to vent the container.

17. The portable sterilizer of claim 16 wherein the valleys are connected together through the ridge, so that water placed into the container can distribute into both valleys.

18. The portable sterilizer of claim 17 wherein the projection and the ridge are at least substantially covered by an elastomeric material.

19. The portable sterilizer of claim 19 wherein the sidewall inner surface taper is at about 0.5 degrees from the vertical.