U.S. patent number 3,635,724 [Application Number 04/389,085] was granted by the patent office on 1972-01-18 for nipple containers with sterile opening devices.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Kendall Company. Invention is credited to Charles H. Schaar.
United States Patent |
3,635,724 |
Schaar |
January 18, 1972 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
NIPPLE CONTAINERS WITH STERILE OPENING DEVICES
Abstract
Nursing unit for use in the feeding of liquid foods to infants
wherein the unit has at least two separate and sterile compartments
sealed from each other, one of which contains a liquid food, and an
opening means located in either of the two compartments which can
be actuated to create an opening between the two compartments
without violating the sterility of either compartment. The nursing
unit comprises in combination a sealed container enclosing liquid
food in a sterile condition forming a first compartment and a
nipple attached to the top of the sealed container to form with the
top a second sterile compartment. The opening device acts upon a
section of the top surface of the container to create an opening
therein to provide a passageway for the liquid food from the
container to the second compartment and the interior of the nipple.
Nipple structures having venting means incorporated therein are
provided for permitting venting of the unit during feeding, when
necessary. Inexpensive nipples composed of a thin film shaped in
the form of a teat and filled with a porous foam for use in the
nursing unit are disclosed. An overcap for the nipple on the
container is also provided to maintain the outer surface of the
nipple sterile.
Inventors: |
Schaar; Charles H.
(Libertyville, IL) |
Assignee: |
The Kendall Company (Boston,
MA)
|
Family
ID: |
23536745 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/389,085 |
Filed: |
August 12, 1964 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/117;
215/11.6; 215/260; 426/801; 215/250; 215/309 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J
11/0095 (20130101); A61J 11/008 (20130101); Y10S
426/801 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61J
11/00 (20060101); B65b 025/02 (); A61j 009/04 ();
A61j 011/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;99/171 ;215/11 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Marbert; James B.
Claims
I claim:
1. A nursing unit including:
a. a sealed container defined by top, bottom and side walls, said
container enclosing within said wall a primary sterile zone
containing sterile liquid baby food;
b. A nursing nipple having an upstanding teat and a base, said
nipple being attached to said container with said base positioned
toward and over the outside surface of the top wall of the
container and the teat extending away from the container to provide
a secondary sterile zone bounded by inside walls of said nipple and
the outside surface of the top wall of the container over which the
attached nipple is located;
c. sterile opening means disposed within one of said sterile zones
comprising an arm means having one part thereof fixed to the top
wall of said container over which the attached nipple is located
and an arm part extending beyond the fixed part disposed at an
angle to the surface of said top wall of the container to provide a
lever arm which is operable without violating the sterility of
either of said zones by application of a load thereto to cause the
top wall of the container to rupture at the place where the arm
means is fixed thereto to create an opening therethrough and to
displace said fixed part of the arm means and the top wall portion
which is fixed thereto toward the teat in the direction of flow of
the liquid baby food from the container to the nipple when in use;
and
d. a nipple cap covering at least the teat of said nipple and
maintaining the covered portion of the nipple and the secondary
sterile zone in sterile condition during storage.
2. A nursing unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein the arm part
disposed at an angle to said surface is positioned in the secondary
sterile zone.
3. A nursing unit in accordance with claim 2 wherein said one part
of the arm means is fixed to a section of said top wall of the
container which is structurally weaker than adjacent sections of
the top wall and thus more easily rupturable than said adjacent
sections.
4. A nursing unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein the arm part
disposed at an angle to said surface is positioned in the primary
sterile zone.
5. A nursing unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said one part
of the arm means is fixed to a section of said top wall of the
container which is structurally weaker than adjacent sections of
the top wall and thus more easily rupturable than said adjacent
sections.
6. A nursing unit in accordance with claim 3 wherein the
structurally weaker section is thinner than said adjacent
sections.
7. A nursing unit including:
a. a sealed container enclosing a primary sterile zone containing
sterile liquid baby food;
b. a nursing nipple having an upstanding teat and a base, said
nipple being attached to said container with said base positioned
toward an outside surface of the container and the teat extending
away from the container to provide a secondary, sterile zone
bounded by inside walls of said nipple and that portion of the
surface of the container over which the attached nipple is located
and defined by the attachment of the nipple thereto;
c. sterile opening means dispose in one of said sterile zones and
operable without violating the sterility of either said zones
comprising an electrical circuit in contact with a section of the
portion of the container in said zones, said circuit comprising
electrical leads extending to the outside of the nursing unit for
attachment to a source of electrical energy, said circuit when
connected to said source heating said section to melt an opening
therein; and
d. a nipple cap covering at least the teat of said nipple and
maintaining the covered portion of the nipple and the secondary
sterile zone in sterile condition during storage.
Description
This invention is concerned with liquid baby food packages
particularly with such packages to which a feeding nipple is
attached, the food and nipple being maintained in sterile condition
until actual use at ambient temperatures.
Recently there have been revolutionary changes in baby feeding
techniques. No longer is it necessary for mothers to wash and
sterilize containers and nipples, to sterilize the milk or other
liquid food, to refrigerate the filled nipple packages and finally
to warm the food in the container at feeding time. A great deal of
inconvenience may now be avoided with presterilized combinations
which are essentially sealed food-filled containers with sterile
tops and containing sterile food, a sterile nipple and simple means
usually involving a plastic collar for fastening the nipple to the
container top after the latter has been perforated. This
combination need not be refrigerated because the container is
sealed until just prior to feeding hence the original sterility of
contents is not compromised. Likewise, warming is not necessary.
After the feeding, the entire combination is discarded.
Convenient as these modern packages and techniques are for feeding
babies, there is one difficulty connected with opening the sealed
container which is undesirable and in accordance with the teachings
of this invention, unnecessary. Since the container must be opened
as late as possible before feeding the baby to preserve the liquid
contents in sterile condition, it is present practice to remove the
covering preserving the container top in sterile condition and then
to puncture the sterile top with a sterile instrument after which
the nipple is secured to the top and its cover removed.
Alternatively, the whole top is removed and replaced with a sterile
nipple top. It is obvious at once that by the puncture technique
the top of the container and the bottom of the nipple are
momentarily exposed to the air and hence to bacteria. Furthermore,
when puncture means are utilized, the puncturing means must be
sterilized and unless a sterile instrument is furnished,
utilization of some sterilizing technique on the part of the mother
is required. Obviously, also when the entire container top is
removed and replaced with a sterile nipple, the entire contents and
the bottom of the nipple are momentarily exposed to bacteria. While
this is probably not serious in view of the fact that the food is
consumed before any bacteria has an opportunity to multiply to any
substantial concentration, it does represent bacterial exposure
which in accordance with the teachings of this invention is
unnecessary. Furthermore, the person preparing the baby's food is
put to unnecessary inconvenience at the least. This is particularly
frustrating where facilities are inadequate as when traveling.
It is an object of this invention to provide sealed containers
containing sterile baby food and an attached sterile nipple and
means for opening the container without exposing either the sterile
contents or the sterile nipple to bacterial contact.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a container for
sterile liquid baby food with an attached sterile nipple which may
be stored indefinitely and then opened for immediate feeding of any
time without risk of bacterial contamination of the nipple and the
liquid contents.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a container for
sterile liquid baby food with a thermoplastic nipple heat-sealed to
the sterile container top and providing a strainer for the liquid
food, the container being capable of being opened without exposing
the nipple or contents to bacterial contact.
Other objects of the invention will be evident from an inspection
of the specification of the drawings. In the latter:
FIG. 1 represents an exploded perspective view of a typical nursing
unit of the invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates in cross section and unit of FIG. 1 in assembled
relationship and ready to be opened.
FIG. 2a illustrates the opening means of FIG. 2 after the opening
operation.
FIG. 2b illustrates in greater detail the event valve of FIG.
2.
FIG. 3 illustrates partially in cross section another typical
nursing unit of the invention.
FIG. 4 represents an exploded perspective view of another typical
nursing unit of the invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates in cross section the unit of FIG. 4 in assembled
relationship and ready to be opened.
FIG. 6 illustrates in partial cross section a container top with a
typical opening of the invention attached.
FIG. 7 illustrates in cross section a container top of the
invention equipped with an electrical opening device.
FIG. 8 illustrates the nipple portion of another typical nursing
unit of the invention in partial cross section.
FIG. 9 illustrates the nipple portion of still another typical
nursing unit of the invention in partial cross section.
FIG. 10 is a top view of a typical container top with an opening
device of the invention.
FIG. 11 is a partial side view in partial cross section of the top
and opening device of FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 illustrates in partial cross section a partial side view of
a container top with a typical opening device of the invention.
FIG. 13 illustrates in partial cross section a partial side view of
a nursing unit of the invention with a typical opening device.
FIG. 14 illustrates in partial cross section a partial side view of
a nursing unit of the invention with a typical opening device.
The objects of the invention are achieved by providing nursing unit
sealed containers of sterile liquid baby food having means for
preserving the attached nipple in sterile condition, the unit
including means for opening the sealed container by moving a
sterile device within the sterile area so as to create an opening
in the container such that sterile liquid will flow only in sterile
areas through the opening into the nipple.
An important feature of this invention is the provision of a
nursing unit comprising three sterile areas, one being the area
between the nipple cap and the nipple including the outside of the
latter, a second sterile area being the inside of the sealed liquid
container and the third being the inside of the nipple and the area
communicating with it at its base including at least a portion of
the adjoining wall (usually the top) of the container. The sterile
opening means is disposed within either the second or third sterile
area and functions when operated to create and opening in the
container wall in the area separating the second and third sterile
areas. The opening means preferably is operated without violating
the sterility of any of the sterile areas but obviously one might
remove the nipple cap just prior to operating the opening means
without serious bacterial contamination of the outside or inside of
the nipple. For purposes of this invention, therefore, it is
essential only that the opening means be operative without itself
violating the sterility of areas two and three. Any practical means
for opening which is operative in the space of the second or third
sterile areas without violating their sterility is suitable.
Openings may be made by piercing, tearing, cutting, punching,
separating, abrading, peeling, sliding, twisting, melting and the
like. Typical means are illustrated but for purposes of this
invention any means operative in the sterile area is considered
equivalent to those illustrated and described. The opening created
permits the liquid food to pass from the container through the
opening into the nipple by a completely sterile path. The sterility
of the nipple and the contents may be preserved until the last
instant when the nipple cap is removed after the opening is created
and the nipple is immediately placed in the baby's mouth.
Referring once more to the drawings:
In FIGS. 1 and 2, a typical nursing unit 10 of the invention
includes a nipple cap 11, a nipple 12, a container 20 with
preferably a permanently fastened cover 13 and an opening device 14
fastened to the cover 13. In practice, finger pressure through the
interposed nipple cap wall and the nipple causes the opening device
handle to exert an upward force on the thinned cup 15. The cup 15
is an integral part of the cover 13 and acts like a hollow rivet to
hold the opening device in place but when the device handle is
pressed down, the thinned portion tears creating an opening. FIG.
2a illustrates the general type of opening created. The nipple in
the embodiment has an orifice 17 and a base 24 which holds a
resilient material such as polyurethane foam 18 in place. The base
has a hole 22 for ingression of the liquid food. The nipple
depending skirt 19 which is sealed to the skirt of the container
cap 13. This may be done by shrink-sealing, heat-sealing, gluing,
or other means which creates a nonleak bacteria-impervious
jointure. The nipple skirt in this embodiment is equipped with a
vent so that air may enter to replace the liquid food removed
through the nipple action of the baby. This vent, shown more
clearly in FIG. 2b, consists of a hole 37 in the nipple skirt and a
film 38 covering the hole and sealed on its sides but not at its
ends to the nipple skirt. As a partial vacuum is formed by the
liquid removed, the film of the vent is drawn away from the hole to
let in air and relieve the partial vacuum. The provision of a vent
in any of the nursing units of this invention while preferred is
optional, however, and is not critical to the invention.
The nipple of FIG. 2 may be covered by any type nipple cap which
preserves the sterility of the nipple. Preferably the nipple cap is
formed of a thin flexible material which may be distorted in
operating the opening means without violating the sterility of the
enclosed space. But the benefits of the invention are still present
even though the cap may be so inflexible that it must be removed
just prior to opening the container. For purposes of the invention,
therefore, it is necessary only that the opening means to be
operable with the nipple in place without violating the sterility
of sterile areas two and three except for the nipple orifice. In
the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the nipple cap is heat
shrunk over the container cover and the nipple skirt in the skirt
area 23. The cap is removed by pulling the tab 16 which causes the
cap to tear away helped by the notch 21.
In FIG. 3, the nursing unit 25 is a somewhat different embodiment
of the invention in that a typical rubber nipple 27 might be used.
This nipple which is equipped with a feeding orifice 33 and a vent
34 snaps into a flexible collar 28 made of material such as
polypropylene. The collar in turn snaps over the upstanding rolled
edge 31 of a container preferably of tinplate with an aluminum top
32 to form a leakproof seal between the collar and the container. A
hard plastic or preferably metal washer 29 with piercing teeth 30
is disposed under the nipple base in position to make openings in
the top 32 when pressed downwardly. A nipple covering or cap 26
forms a bacterial impervious cover. The cap preferably is of thin
film but may be of paper or other thin material. The cap is
retained in bacteria impervious relationship with the container by
a plastic shrink band 35 which was a tear tab 36 by which it may be
torn free. As in the nursing unit of FIG. 2, the nursing unit of
FIG. 3 includes a sealed container of sterile liquid food and an
area covered by the nipple cap which is sterile. This embodiment
may include a sponge strainer as is shown in FIG. 5 or it might
include a plastic perforate film strainer. The container of this
embodiment may be opened by pressing down with the thumbs or
fingers at each side as is illustrated. The piercing teeth 30
readily penetrate aluminum and thin tinplate. Obviously, the
container might be made of waxed paperboard or of plastic.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the nursing unit 40
includes a nipple 42, a nipple cap 41, a shrink band 43, a sealed
container 47 with a screw top 46 and an opening device 48 resting
in a depressed and thinned area of the top 46. The nipple may be a
conventional rubber nipple with a feeding orifice 44 as is
illustrated with or without the foam filter 54 and fitted with a
skirt 45 to snap over the screw top 46. Alternatively, it may be a
thin film nipple as in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a foam filling and the
skirt may be heat-shrunk over the screw top. A vent-valve
comprising a film 52 covering a hole 53 in the nipple base may be
adhered with latex or if plastic film is involved in the nipple
base may be heat-sealed or otherwise glued or fastened along the
sides but not along the ends similar to FIG. 2b. The nipple cap 41
fits snugly over the screw top 46 and is held in bacteria
impervious relationship to the screw cap skirt by the shrink band
43 which has a tearing notch 51 and a tab 50. The area under the
nipple cap is sterile including the opening device 48, the nipple
and foam, and the top of the screw top 46. The sealed liquid
container contains sterile liquid food. The container is opened by
pushing down on the opening device 48 which is an enlarged tack of
metal or hard plastic. The screw cap is preferably of aluminum.
In the assembly 55 of FIG. 6 only the container top 56 with the
opening device 58 is illustrated. It is to be understood that the
top 56 may be substituted for the container top 13 of FIGS. 1 and 2
in a complete nursing unit as is illustrated in those figures. In
practice it is obvious that the finger does not press directly
against the opening device 58 but rather through the interposed
nipple at least and preferably through both the nipple and nipple
cap. The opening device 58 consists of a plastic pop-plug fastened
into a hole 57 in the top 56.
In FIG. 7 is illustrated a container top 60 which likewise may be
substituted for the top 13 of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a complete nursing
unit as is illustrated in those figures. As can be seen from the
illustration, a cup-shaped depression or well 62 is formed in the
top portion 61 of the container top. A short piece of insulated
wire 63 is secured to the container top preferably by heat sealing
and a bare end 64 projects into the well and contacts the thin
bottom of the well. Another bare end 65 projects from under the
bottom edge of the nipple cap. Likewise, a portion of the bottom
edge of the container top is left exposed. When the end 65 and the
bottom edge of the top are contacted by the electrical contacts 67
and 68 and the switch 69 is closed, the electrical source 66 causes
the thin well bottom to the perforated by melting. In practice
tinplate is the preferred material for the container top, but other
metals or heavy metal foil may be substituted. Depending upon the
thinness and resistance of the top, a voltage as low as 40 volts
may cause perforation or one as much as 120 volts may be necessary.
Obviously, where plastic is employed for the container top, a
high-resistance wire in coil, loop, or other form may be used to
melt an opening. For instance, a No. 32 steel wire approximately 5
inches in length when formed into a coil and placed in contact with
a 30 mil polypropylene container top became hot enough when
energized by about 2 volts AC to melt an opening in about 15
seconds. These methods may be advantageous in hospitals where a
great number of nursing units must be prepared at about the same
time.
In FIG. 8 it is to be understood that the complete nursing unit 75
includes a sealed container containing a sterile liquid food and
that the wall 80 is a wall of that container. The unit includes a
nipple 76 of the thin film type with a foam filling 78 and a nipple
feeding orifice 77. The nipple of this embodiment is unusual in
that it terminates in a flat flange 79 which is sealed, preferably
heat-sealed to the container wall 80 and the opening device 81
projects up into the base of the nipple. The nipple cap 82 may be
heat-sealed or otherwise glued to the wall of the container also or
it may extend over the container top as in FIGS. 2 or 3 being
heat-shrunk to the container top or fastened by a heat-shrunk band.
Preferably a tear tab is furnished to permit easy removal of the
nipple cap. As is illustrated by the dotted lines, the nipple and
preferably the nipple cap may be distorted sufficiently to force
the opening device away from the wall 80 creating an opening. It is
preferred that the opening device be of hard plastic sealed,
preferably heat-sealed, to the container wall to cover an aperture
in the latter.
In FIG. 9 the complete nursing unit 85 includes a nipple 87 of thin
film with a feeding orifice 89 and a foam filling 88. Again the
nipple base 90 is sealed, preferably heat-sealed, to a wall 91 of
the sealed container containing the sterile liquid baby food. Again
as in the nursing unit of FIG. 8, the nipple cap 86 covers at least
the nipple and maintains the area beneath it sterile. In the
embodiment illustrated in this figure, however, the container wall
is provided with a cup 92 having a thin depressed center portion
which together with the perforated disk 94 holds the opening device
93, a large tack of metal or hard plastic, in place. This opening
device is operated by pressing downward through the nipple cap and
nipple on the device so that its point pierces the container wall
91. A vent is provided in the nipple of this embodiment consisting
of a hole 96 in the nipple wall and a covering film sealed at the
sides but not at the ends to cover the hole as is shown more
clearly in FIG. 2b. The vent is optional but should be located
outside the area normally in the baby's mouth. Preferably, it
should be just above the perforated disc 94.
In FIGS. 10 and 11, it is to be understood that the container top
100 and the opening device 105 are part of a complete nursing unit
such as is illustrated in FIG. 2. The container top is seen to
consist of two layers, a top layer 101 and a more easily torn or
punched layer 106. The top layer may be of tinplate and the bottom
plate of aluminum, for example. In the embodiment shown, the top
layer is scored in a boat shape by the score 102. The opening
device is riveted by rivet 104 to the container top. The device
preferably has a pointed end. When the handle 103 of the device is
pushed in the direction of the arrow, not by the finger in direct
contact as illustrated but by the finger against the interposed
nipple cap and nipple, the top layer tears along the score 102 and
helps to tear or puncture the bottom layer 106 thus creating an
opening in the sealed container in the sterile area.
In FIG. 12, likewise, the assembly 110 consisting of a container
top 111 and an opening device 112 is to be understood as part of a
complete nursing unit such as is illustrated in FIG. 2 with the
container top of that illustration replaced by the assembly 110. In
practice, the flat flange 114 of the opening device which may be of
hard plastic or metal is sealed with the seal 113 to the container
top. When the button of the opening device is pressed down, the
seal is broken and an opening is created.
In FIG. 13, the nursing unit 115 includes a sealed container 118
containing sterile liquid baby food, a foam-filled nipple 116 and a
nipple cap 117. A hole 119 in the container top is covered by a
flat flange 120 which is connected by a rod 121 to a weight 122.
The flange 120 is sealed to cover the hole 119. When the container
118 is struck sharply on its side, the inertia of the weight tears
loose the seal holding the flange 120 in place thus creating an
opening.
In FIG. 14, the nursing unit 125 includes a sealed container 128
with flexible walls containing sterile liquid baby food, a
foam-filled nipple 126, and a nipple cap 127. A hole 129 in the
container top is covered by a flat face of the opening device 130
which is sealed over the hole and which has an elongated arm
extending near the container wall. When it is desired to open the
container, a finger is pressed against the elongated arm pushing it
inward and breaking the seals around the hole 129.
While metal is preferred as the material of the container wall in
which the opening is created in the nursing unit of this invention,
obviously a great many of the opening devices could be used with
plastics or with wax-coated or plastic-coated paperboard. It is
intended to include in this invention nursing units utilizing such
materials.
In certain of the embodiments illustrated, a well or depression is
shown. This well is a convenience but is not a necessity and may be
eliminated, if desired.
* * * * *