U.S. patent number 3,768,682 [Application Number 05/196,129] was granted by the patent office on 1973-10-30 for anti-cholic feeding device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ralph J. Miolla, Jr., Lois Pasma, Carol J. Vander Hooning, Herbert Wagemaker, Jr.. Invention is credited to Cornelius B. Meyers, Ralph J. Miolla, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,768,682 |
Meyers , et al. |
October 30, 1973 |
ANTI-CHOLIC FEEDING DEVICE
Abstract
Replacement air is introduced to a baby bottle or the like
through a ball valve as fluid is removed by sucking. The valve
housing is integral and comprised of an elastomeric material. The
housing includes a resilient integral rib which urges the ball into
a flow blocking position regardless of the orientation of the
bottle except during the removal of fluid.
Inventors: |
Meyers; Cornelius B. (late of
Holland, MI), Miolla, Jr.; Ralph J. (Ft. Lauderdale,
FL) |
Assignee: |
Miolla, Jr.; Ralph J. (Ft.
Lauderdale, FL)
Vander Hooning; Carol J. (Holland, MI)
Pasma; Lois (Grandville, MI)
Wagemaker, Jr.; Herbert (Gainesville, FL)
|
Family
ID: |
22724202 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/196,129 |
Filed: |
November 5, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/11.5;
D24/197 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J
9/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61J
9/04 (20060101); A61J 9/00 (20060101); A61j
009/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;215/11D,11B,75
;137/537,539,535 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Norton; Donald F.
Claims
We claim:
1. In an anti-cholic feeding device for infants having a walled
container adapted to receive a feeding nipple permitting infants to
extract fluid contained therein by sucking and a valve means
permitting the entry of air into the container to replace fluid
extracted through the nipple, the improvement comprising: a
one-piece valve housing having an air passageway extending
therethrough, said housing extending through one of the walls of
said container and being secured thereto such that said passageway
communicates between the interior and exterior of said container,
said housing having a walled chamber adapted to receive a movable
sealing member within and forming a part of said passageway, said
chamber including a member-receiving seat portion for sealingly
receiving said member when said feeding device is not in feeding
use and a non-seat portion into which said member is movable when
said device is in feeding use; a movable sealing member positioned
and confined within said chamber, said member, in conjunction with
said seat portion preventing leakage of fluid from said device
through said passageway when said device is not in feeding use,
said sealing member having a cross-sectional width less than the
cross-sectional spacing of the walls of said non-seat portion
thereby permitting the flow of air into said container around said
member when said device is in feeding use; and means formed with
and integral with said housing in constant flexed engagement with
said sealing member for resiliently urging said sealing member into
said seat portion during non-use regardless of the orientation of
said container, said means extending across said passageway but
defining openings to permit air flow therethrough, said means
yielding to permit said sealing member to move into said non-seat
portion upon the instigation of sucking through said nipple to
permit the flow of replacement air through said passageway and
openings, said valve housing being resiliently expandable to permit
insertion of said sealing member into said chamber through said
passageway.
2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said walled container
has an aperture therein and wherein said housing has an outer
shoulder adapted to seat entirely against said walled container
around said aperture, said housing further including an inner
shoulder spaced from said outer shoulder approximately the
thickness of said walled container, said inner shoulder being
diametrically larger than said aperture and resilient for passage
through said aperture and thereafter expanding to retain said
housing in a fixed position with said container, said inner and
outer shoulder providing a seal between said housing and
container.
3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said means urging said
sealing member is comprised of a resilient rib-like member
extending across said passageway, said rib-like member being formed
as one-piece with said valve housing of the same material.
4. The device according to claim 3 wherein said means for urging
said sealing member against said seat portion includes a pair of
said rib-like members, each of said ribs being formed as one-piece
with said housing, said ribs traversing each other and being
integral with each other at their points of traverse.
5. In a walled container having a valve means for permitting entry
of air into the container as the fluid contained therein is
expelled, the improvement comprising: a one-piece integral valve
housing comprised of an elastomeric material and having an air
passageway extending therethrough, said housing extending through
one of the walls of said container and being secured thereto such
that said passageway communicates between the interior and exterior
of said container, said housing having a chamber adapted to receive
a movable sealing member within and forming a part of said
passageway, said chamber including a member-receiving seat portion
for sealingly receiving said member when said container is not
expelling fluid and a non-seat portion into which said member is
movable when said container is expelling fluid; a movable sealing
member positioned and confined within said chamber; and means
formed with and integral with said housing for resiliently urging
said sealing member into said seat portion to block flow through
said passageway when fluid is not being withdrawn from said
container by sucking, said means extending across said passageway
and defining openings to permit air flow through said means, said
means being resiliently expandable to permit movement of said
seating member into said non-seat portion to permit flow through
said passageway to equalize the pressure in said container when
fluid is withdrawn, said valve housing being resiliently expandable
to permit insertion of said sealing member into said chamber
through said passageway.
6. The improvement according to claim 5 wherein said passageway
includes a first portion extending from the exterior of said
container to said chamber, said chamber having a diameter exceeding
that of said first portion, said seat portion including an annular
wall interconnecting said chamber to said first passageway portion,
said seating member comprising a ball-shaped element urged for
seating engagement against said annular wall to prevent flow of air
through said passageway when seated thereon, said means for urging
said ball against said seating portion comprising a resilient
rib-like member extending across said passageway and anchored on
each end, said member extending across the end of said passageway
opening into said container for engagement with said ball-shaped
element to urge said seating member in said seat portion, said
ball-shaped element having a diameter less than the diameter of
said chamber to permit flow through said passageway when said
ball-shaped element is positioned in said non-seat portion.
7. The device according to claim 5 wherein said container is
generally cylindrical in shape, said valve means being disposed in
one of the extremities of said container comprising the base of
said container, the base of said container being recessed inwardly
to form a pocket for receipt of said housing so that when said
housing is positioned in said extremity, said housing is spaced
from the lowermost plane of said base, said improvement further
including a cover positionable across said base within said recess,
said cover being fixed to said base to provide an additional seal
between said housing and said container, said cover having one
surface generally flush with the lowermost plane of said base and
the opposite surface engaged with said housing, said cover having
an opening therethrough which is aligned with said passageway when
affixed to said base.
8. The improvement according to claim 5 wherein said seat portion
includes an annular wall interconnecting said chamber to said first
passageway portion, said annular wall being inclined relative to
said first portion and chamber and including at least one annular
flange projecting inwardly toward the axis of said passageway, said
annular flange forming a continuous lip being resiliently
depressible by said sealing member toward said first passageway
portion to increase the contact surface between said ball and seat
portion to facilitate positive seating.
9. In a walled container having a valve means permitting the entry
of air into the container to replace fluid extracted therefrom, the
improvement comprising: a valve housing having an air passageway
extending therethrough, said housing extending through one of the
walls of said container and being secured thereto such that said
passageway communicates between the interior and exterior of said
container, said walled container having an aperture therein, said
valve housing having an outer shoulder adapted to seat entirely
against said walled container around said aperture providing a seal
between said housing and container, said container having a general
cylindrical shape, said valve means disposed in one extremity, said
one extremity comprising the base of said container and being
recessed inwardly to form a pocket for receipt of said housing so
that once said housing is positioned in said one extremity, said
housing does not project into the lowermost plane of said base;
said housing when positioned in said one extremity being spaced
from the lowermost plane of said base, said device further
including a cover positionable across said base within said recess,
said cover being fixed to said base to provide an additional seal
between said housing and said container, said cover having one
surface generally flush with the lowermost plane of said base and
the opposite surface engaged with said outer shoulder, said cover
having an opening therethrough which is aligned with said
passageway when affixed to said base.
10. In a walled container having a valve means permitting the entry
of air into the container to replace fluid extracted therefrom, the
improvement comprising: a valve housing having an air passageway
extending therethrough, said housing extending through one of the
walls of said container and being secured thereto such that said
passageway communicates between the interior and exterior of said
container, said housing having a walled chamber adapted to receive
a ball-shaped sealing member movably confined within said chamber
and forming a part of said passageway, said chamber including a
seat portion for receiving said sealing member when said container
is not in use and a non-seat portion into which said sealing member
is movable when said device is in use; said sealing member in
conjunction with said seat portion and said non-seat portion
preventing leakage of fluid from said device through said
passageway when said device is not in use but permitting flow of
air into said container when said device is in use, said passageway
including a first portion extending from the exterior of said
container to said chamber, said chamber having a diameter exceeding
that of said first portion, said seat portion including an annular
wall inclined relative to said first portion and chamber, said
annular wall including at least one annular flange projecting
inwardly toward the axis of said passageway, said annular flange
forming a continuous lip being resiliently depressible toward said
first passageway portion to increase the contact surface between
said ball and seat portion to facilitate positive seating and means
for resiliently urging said sealing member into said seat portion
during non-use regardless of the orientation of said container,
said member yielding to permit said sealing member to move into
said non-seat portion upon the instigation of removal of fluid from
said container to permit the flow of replacement air through said
passageway.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to containers incorporating a means for
permitting the entry of replacement air into the interior thereof
as fluid is withdrawn. More particularly, the invention relates to
an anti-cholic device particularly adapted for use in the feeding
of infants.
Conventional baby bottles are comprised of a glass or plastic
container having a nipple affixed to the top thereof. A problem
long recognized in bottle feeding infants is that created when the
air pressure within and without the container is not equalized as
milk is drawn through the nipple by the infant. Predictable results
are nipple collapse and/or air bubbling of the milk. The swallowing
of air by the infant being fed either because of a collapsed nipple
or because of air entrapment in the milk usually results in gaseous
discomfort to the infant and, in extreme cases, may lead to serious
feeding problems.
Although the problem has been recognized for some time, a
satisfactory solution has not materialized. The prior art is
replete with various proposals which among others include the
utilization of a collapsible bag within the container or the
provision of a valve in the container wall. Those devices which
utilize a bag which collapses as the milk is withdrawn from the
bottle having been generally successful in reducing substantial air
intake of the infant, but unfortunately have proven to be quite
expensive and bothersome to fill as well as presenting a
sterilization problem in certain instances.
Previously proposed devices embodying a valve structure in the
container have not been particularly successful for several
reasons. One drawback has been the failure of the valves to
positively seal the container when it was not in use. Where the
bottle is filled in the home, leakage is an annoying problem and
can be serious in terms of sanitation. Whre the bottle is filled at
a central location for commercial distribution, however, the
problem is magnified because of shelf life, distribution, overall
sanitation and the like. A second improtant disadvantage of
existing proposals is the inability in many cases to assure
immediate closure of the valve when the child stops sucking unless
the bottle is in an upright position. When this happens, small
amounts of milk will on occasion seep into the back side of the
valve and even though no leakage is ascertained, slight
contamination and clogging is developed. Over a period of time,
this can become a serious problem both with respect to the
operation of the valve and the sanitation thereof. Existing
proposals which attempt to overcome this problem have had varying
amounts of success. However, in all cases, the valve mechanism has
been too complex and involved in manufacture. A basic drawback to
all the proposals embodying the valve structure in the container
has been their expense.
Thus, there is a need in this art for a device which permits the
introduction of replacement air into a container as fluid is
removed therefrom. More importantly, there is a need for such a
device which immediately closes the inlet passageway when removal
of the fluid ceases regardless of the orientation of the container.
Finally, there is a need for a device of the type described which
can be economically manufactured.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A container such as a bottle utilized for feeding infants fluid
generally includes a removable cover member containing a feeding
nipple permitting infants to extract the fluid by sucking. In
accordance with the invention, a valve means including a valve
housing with a flow passageway therethrough is secured in one of
the walls of the container so that the passageway communicates
between the interior and exterior of the container. The valve is
movable between an opened position wherein replacement air is
permitted into the container as fluid is extracted therefrom and a
closed position wherein flow into or out of the container through
the valve is prevented. The housing includes means integral
therewith urging the valve into the closed position regardless of
the orientation of the container except when fluid is being removed
by sucking.
In accordance with more narrower aspects of the invention, the
valve housing is comprised of an integral elastomeric material and
includes a chamber forming a part of the passageway. A ball valve
is confined within the chamber for movement against a seat formed
therein to block flow through the passageway and a position removed
from the seat to permit flow therethrough. A resilient means
integral with the housing extends across the passageway for
constant engagement with the ball to urge it against the seat. The
resiliency permits removal of the ball from the seat when fluid is
removed from the container by sucking. The valve housing includes
an inner and outer spaced shoulder, the latter being squeezable
through an aperture in the container thereafter expanding to retain
the housing in a fixed position. The elastomeric material squeezes
around the aperture to provide a seal between the housing and
container to prevent leakage of fluid through the aperture. In yet
another narrower aspect of the invention, the valve means is
positioned in the bottom of the container which bottom is recessed
upwardly to permit the insertion of a cap over the valve which cap
adds additional sealing assurance.
The valve means provided by the invention can be mass produced in a
mold and provides significant cost reduction over existing
proposals since the entire mechanism is comprised of two parts, the
housing and ball. The utilization of a resilient means which urges
the ball on the valve seat regardless of the orientation of the
container assures complete cessation of flow into or out of the
container through the valve passageway except during removal of the
fluid by sucking. By utilizing an elastomeric material such as
silicone rubber, which material is autoclavable, the container and
valve can be completely sterilized after each use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a feeding device constructed in
accordance with the teachings of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view illustrating the
novel valve mechanism and its sealing relationship to the container
body;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the interior bottom wall of
the container;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view illustrating an
alternative seat portion of the valve; and
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1
illustrating an alternative embodiment utilizing a sealing cap in
accordance with the teachings of this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates a novel feeding device 10 which comprises a
bottle 12 having generally cylindrical sidewalls 14, a
frusto-converging neck section 16 and a threaded top 18. A nipple
assembly 20 is conventional and includes a nipple 22 secured to
bottle 12 by means of a threaded attachment ring 24. Ring 24 seals
nipple 22 to top 18 to permit removal of fluids within bottle 12 by
sucking. The bottom wall 26 of container 12 is recessed upwardly to
form a pocket 28 between the exterior surface of bottom 26 and an
annular surface 29 upon which the bottle rests in an upright
position.
Referring now additionally to FIGS. 2 and 3, the valve assembly,
indicated generally by the reference numeral 30, is affixed to
container 12 on the lower surface or bottom 26. The overall profile
of valve assembly 30 is designed such that its lowermost surface 32
of valve assembly 30 does not extend to the lowermost plane formed
by annular surface 29. This permits normal vertical support of
bottle 12 when positioned on a flat surface such as a countertop or
the like. In fact, it is preferably spaced from the plane of
annular surface 29 as shown in FIG. 1 to permit the utilization of
a sealing cap 70 which will be described in more detail
hereinafter.
Valve assembly 30 (FIG. 2) is comprised of a housing 31 and ball
52. The housing includes a central cylindrical body section 34
terminating in an upper section 36 and a lower enlarged cylindrical
section 38. Upper section 36 includes an enlarged annular shoulder
section 40 which projects radially beyond the outer surface of the
upper and central cylindrical sections 34 and 36. The lower section
38 of housing 31 defines a lower shoulder which is spaced from
upper shoulder 40 a distance approximately equal to the thickness
of bottom wall 26. An aperture 42 is provided in bottom wall 26 and
due to the flexibility of housing 31 to be described hereinafter,
the diameter of upper shoulder 40 contracts to permit its passage
through aperture 41. The resilient characteristics of housing 31
causes shoulder 40 to expand to its original configuration after
its contracted passage through aperture 42 to retain valve assembly
30 in a fixed position relative to bottom wall 26 as a result of
the peripheral portions of aperture 42 being disposed between
annular shoulders 38 and 40. By spacing shoulders 38 and 40 a
distance approximately equal to the thickness of bottom wall 26,
and dimensioning the diameter of central cylindrical body section
34 to provide a tight wedge fit with the sides of aperture 42, the
valve housing is sealed in aperture 42 to prevent leakage of any
fluid contained within container 12 between the aperture sides and
valve housing surface. Any remaining tendency toward leakage of
this type may be obviated by utilizing a small amount of non-toxic
glue or by heat sealing the housing to the bottle.
Valve housing 31 includes a central passageway 44 extending
completely through the housing from its lower surface 32 to its
upper surface 46. Passageway 44 communicates between the interior
and exterior of the container to permit the flow of replacement air
into container 12 as fluid is extracted through nipple 22. The
upper section 36 of valve housing 31 includes a chamber having an
enlarged cross-section relative to the lower portion 45 of
passageway 44. Chamber 50, however, forms a part of passageway 44,
and is adapted to receive a sphere or ball 52 (preferably stainless
steel) which likewise has a diameter exceeding the lower portion of
passageway 44. Chamber 50 is comprised of a ball receiving seat
portion 54 which when in receipt of ball 52 closes valve assembly
30 to prevent flow through passageway 44. Chamber 50 also includes
a non-seat portion 56 which receives ball 52 in a non-seated
position to permit flow through passageway 44 around ball 52.
Seat portion 54 includes an annular inclined face 58 forming the
transistion between the lower portion 45 of passageway 44 and the
upper enlarged chamber wall 51 of chamer 50. With the diameter of
ball 52 exceeding that of the lower portion, when the ball is
engaged on surface 58, flow through passageway 44 is prevented. The
diameter of ball 52 however is less than the greater diameter of
chamber 50 so that when ball 52 is removed from seat portion 54
into non-seat portion 56, flow of air around ball 52 through
passageway 44 is permitted to replenish the evacuation of fluid
from container 12 by sucking.
Ball 52 is confined within chamber 50 by a pair of rib-like members
60a and 60b which are integrally formed as part of upper end 46 of
valve housing 31. Preferably, ribs 60a and 60b traverse each other
at right angles and are integral with each other at their point of
traverse. Although ribs 60a and 60b are positioned across the upper
opened end of passageway 44, they are dimensionally narrow with
respect to their length to form pie-shaped openings 62 (FIG. 3)
permitting free flow through passageway 44 when ball 52 is
positioned in non-seat portion 56.
Ribs 60a and 60b provide two important and separate functions.
Firstly, they act as keepers to confine ball 52 within chamber 50.
Secondly, they are arranged to urge ball 52 against seat 58
regardless of the orientation of container 12. As a result of the
elastomeric composition of housing 31 which includes ribs 60a and
60b, the ribs permit movement of ball 52 into non-seat portion 56
as a result of the pressure differential acting on ball 52 caused
by sucking on nipple 22. That is, during sucking, the pressure
within container 12 is reduced relative to the ambient pressure
which pressure differential causes slight stretching of the rib
members and movement of ball 52 into non-seat portion 56 to permit
flow of replacement air through passageway 44. As replacement air
flows into container 12, the pressure differential is maintained
only by further sucking. Therefore, as soon as removal of fluid
from container 12 ceases upon the cessation of sucking, the
pressure differential approaches zero and the resilient
characteristic of ribs 60a and 60b immediately urge ball 50 to back
into seat section 54. A preferred form of achieving the bias on
ball 52 by ribs 60a and 60b is to dimensionally limit the
longitudinal distance of chamber 50 so that when ball 52 is placed
therein, it projects beyond the outer end 46 of chamber 50 even
when seated against surface 58. By extending ribs 60a and 60b
across end 46, they will thus be flexed outwardly at all times
regardless of the position of ball 52 within chamber 50. Hence, the
resiliency of ribs 60a and 60b constantly urge ball 52 against
seating surface 58. The utilization of a pair of ribs 60a and 60b
has been found to urge ball 52 centrally with respect to passageway
44 although it will be appreciated that a single rib will function
adequately.
The force generated on ball 52 by the resilient characteristic of
ribs 60a and 60b adequately seals ball 52 against surface 58 under
normal conditions. A preferred alternative is shown in FIG. 4
wherein surface 58a is shown having a plurality of inwardly
projecting annular flange portions 64, 66 and 68. The flanges are
spaced axially along incline seating surface 58 and have a
diverging cross section to form a plurality of flexible and
resilient lips for receiving ball 52 when seated against surface
58a. The utilization of one or more lips or flanges such as shown
in FIG. 4 increases the area of sealing contact surface between
seat portion 54a of chamber 50a thereby increasing the effect of
the seal.
The preferred elastomeric composition of valve housing 31 has been
alluded to previously. The composition has been found to provide
extremely good sealing characteristics as well as providing a
material from which the valve housing can be formed in a
mass-produced economical fashion. The resilient characteristic
permits the valve housing to be quickly and efficiently squeezed
into the aperture in the container bottom for immediate expansion
of shoulder 40 once it is inserted. In addition, it permits
formation of the valve housing without requiring the insertion of
ball 52 until it is formed. The resilient and flexible
characteristics of the housing permits insertion of ball 52 through
the lower portion of passageway 44 even though the diameter
significantly exceeds that of the lower portion. Thus, the entire
valve assembly is essentially comprised of two elements, housing 31
and ball 52. The movement of ball 52 includes some rotational
movement as the valve is operated which almost completely
eliminates any tendency of clogging in seat portion 54. Since ball
52 is comprised preferably of stainless steel, and is the only
non-elastomeric element in the valve assembly, the valve is not
subject to clogging or deterioration by any chemical reaction with
the lactic acid present in milk. Silicone rubber has been found to
provide the desired flexible and resilient characteristics and is
auto-clavable to permit complete sterilization of the container and
valve after each use. There exists, additionally, other suitable
materials as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the
art.
Referring now to FIG. 5, an alternative arrangement is shown
wherein feeding device 10 in addition to valve assembly 30 includes
a cover 70 positionable within pocket 28 without interfering with
the normal vertical support of bottle 12 when resting on a flat
surface such as a countertop or the like. Cover 70 provides
alternative and additional insurance for proper sealing between
valve assembly 30 and bottom wall 26 of container 12. Cover 70 is
preferably in the form of a relatively flat disc having a diameter
permitting its placement in pocket 28 with its peripheral edges
fitting against the incline portion 72 of pocket 28 which causes
bottom portion 26 to be recessed from the lowermost surface 29. The
overall combined thickness of cover 70 and shoulder portion 38 of
valve housing 31 is approximately equal to the depth of pocket 28
so that cover 70 does not project beyond the lowermost plane
defined by support surface 29. Cover 70 includes an opening 74
which is aligned with passageway 44 when cover 70 is positioned in
pocket 28 to permit free flow of replacement air through valve
assembly 30. Cover 70 is preferably affixed along its entire
periphery to incline surface 72 by an appropriate adhesive or
electronic weld.
Although more than one embodiment has been shown and described in
detail, it will be obvious to those having ordinary skill in this
art that the details of construction of the particular embodiments
shown may be modified in a great many ways without departing from
the unique concepts presented. It is, therefore, intended that the
invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims
rather than by particular details of construction shown, except as
specifically stated in the claims.
* * * * *