Disposable Nursing Device

Abstract

A disposable, nesting nursing device has an upwardly tapering outer housing of relatively rigid or stiff material open at the top and bottom. A collapsible thin walled bag open at the top is secured in the housing to contain liquid and the top of the housing is adapted to receive a nipple. In one embodiment, the open top of the bag is integrally formed with and supported by the upper, smaller end of the housing. In other embodiments, the bag is separately formed and the open top of the bag is fixed to the top of the housing or fixed in the upper half of the housing. When the nursing devices are nested, the top of each lower device pushes the bag of the device above it upward. When filled with liquid, the bag of each device extends downward within the housing.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contemplates the provision of a relatively inexpensive disposable type nursing device employing a collapsible bag type container for accommodating a comestible liquid.

It is also an important object of the present invention to provide unique and practical disposable nursing devices of the type referred to above which may be compactly nested or stacked in sterile condition when the liquid accommodating container thereof has been collapsed.

The present invention further contemplates the provision of an improved disposable and nestable nursing device which lends itself for manufacture by the practice of plastic molding methods, thereby assuring economy in production with a resultant low cost to the consumer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disposable and nestable nursing device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical central sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1, the container or bag being shown in collapsed condition;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 disclosing the container portion in an expanded state and filled with a comestible liquid, a nursing nipple being shown in operative association with the upper extremity of the housing;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing a plurality of nursing devices in nested or stacked relation;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view of the upper left hand portion of the nursing device more clearly to illustrate the manner in which the housing and bag may be formed integral;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view similar to FIG. 5 disclosing a second embodiment of this invention whereby the upper margin of a plastic bag is adhered by fusion or otherwise with the adjacent upper portion of the housing;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a disposable nestable nursing device having a screw type nipple fixed thereto, the nursing device having a film bag therein filled with liquid;

FIG. 8 is a vertical, central section through fragments of upper portions of nursing devices according to FIG. 7 shown nested;

FIG. 9 is a vertical central section through a nursing device according to a third embodiment of this invention prior to being filled with liquid; and

FIG. 10 is a vertical central section through fragments of upper portions of nursing devices according to FIG. 9 shown nested.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that a nursing device of the type contemplated by the first embodiment of this invention is designated generally by the numeral 10. The nursing device 10 includes a relatively rigid housing 12, preferably of frusto-conical shape. The lower extremity of the housing 12 is open whereas the opposite extremity of smaller diameter is closed by a readily collapsible and expandible open-ended thin walled bag or container 14. The margin of the bag 14 defining the open end thereof may be formed integral with the adjacent portion of the housing 12 which is in the form of a bead 16.

The interior of the bag 14 is in sterile condition and to maintain this condition a removable protective sheet or shield 18 is adhered to and traverses the upper open extremity of the bag 14. To condition the above-described nursing device for use, the protective sheet or shield 18 is manually removed, as indicated in FIG. 1. The bag 14 may now be filled with a comestible liquid, thus expanding it to the position illustrated in FIG. 5. In this position, the conical housing 12 serves as a vertical support for the bag. A flexible or elastic base 20 of a conventional nursing nipple 22 may now be applied over the bead 16.

The collapsibility of the container or bag 14 within the neck of the housing 12, together with the tapered or frusto-conical shape of the housing, makes it possible to stack or nest the devices one within the other, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the bag of each nursing device is in collapsed condition, thereby enabling convenient storage and greatly facilitating the packaging and shipment of the nursing devices.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, it will be apparent that the thin-walled container or bag 14 may be actually formed integral with and supported by the more rigid housing. In FIG. 6, the numeral 10a designates generally a second embodiment of this nursing device. FIG. 6, like previously mentioned FIG. 5, is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken in the vicinity of a bead 16a of a housing 12a. Instead of initially forming the thin-walled container or bag 14a integral with the housing, the upper margin of the bag 14a is actually fused with or otherwise bonded to the more rigid plastic material of the housing. In both instances, the thin-walled containers adhere to and are supported by the upper or neck portion of the housing.

As shown in FIG. 7, a nursing device generally designated by the reference numeral 28 has a tapered housing 30 of relatively stiff or rigid plastic having a lower tapering portion 32 and an upper portion 34 forming screw threads 36 and a flat inward extending rim 38. A flexible thin film bag 40 is fixed to rim 38. After bag 40 is filled with comestible liquid 42, a conventional nipple 44 if fixed over rim 38 by a conventional nipple retaining ring 46 which is screwed over threads 36.

FIG. 8 shows the devices of FIG. 7 nested. A protective sheet or seal 48 is fixed over each rim 38 to be removed before filling a device 28. The bag 40 of each upper device 38 is collapsed upward by the device 28 below it. An easily parted adhesive particle 50 may fix the bottom of each collapsible bag 40 to the seal 48 below it. Thus, when each upper device 28 is removed from a stack, the adhesive 50 will pull its bag 40 downward to extend it for filling and then release the bag completely.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a third embodiment of this invention. A disposable, nesting nursing device is generally designated by the reference numeral 60. This device 60 has an upwardly tapering housing 62 of stiff material with an upper portion 64 adapted in any suitable manner to receive a nursing nipple. A flexible bag 66 is fixed with its upper end 68 attached to the inner wall of housing 62 above its center. As shown in FIG. 9, a lower nested device 60 pushes the bag 66 of the device 60 above it upward and it extends into and enters the bag 66 from below.

While the preferred form of the housing is frustoconical, it may be polygonal in horizontal section and it may be stepped upward rather than smoothly taper. A housing which is triangular or square in horizontal section will not easily roll which is an advantage.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention contemplates the provision of a very unique and practical nursing device which is both disposable and nestable. The housing together with the thin-walled container supported thereby may be produced from relatively inexpensive plastic stock and hence may be disposed of after use similar to the manner in which drinking cups may be disposed of after use. The collapsible thin-walled container is contamination-proof because of the provision of the detachable protective shield which is not removed until the device is ready for immediate use. When the container or bag is fully collapsed within the housing, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 4, said neck portion protectively encloses the bag and makes it possible for another similar nursing device to be compactly associated therewith. The present invention envisions the use of plastic materials of various forms and shapes to meet the particular needs incident to the use thereof.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A disposable nursing device for dispensing a comestible liquid by means of a nipple, said nursing device comprising, in combination, an outer disposable housing having an open base and an open upper portion smaller than said open base, said upper portion having means for detachably accommodating a nursing nipple, and an upwardly collapsible disposable container having an open end permanently fixed as a unit with a complete circumferential portion of the upper half of said housing, said nursing device being nestable with a like nursing device with the upper portion of one housing adapted to enter the open base of another housing when the container is collapsed upwardly therein, said housing supporting said container therein when said container is filled with liquid.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said container is attached to the open upper portion of said housing and circumferential bead means is provided in the vicinity of said open upper portion for detachably accommodating a nursing nipple.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said container is integral with the open upper portion of said housing.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said housing and said container are formed of plastic material, said container being at least partially formed of thinner material than said housing thereby rendering said container collapsible.

5. The combination according to claim 1 with the addition of a seal removably fixed over the open upper portion of said housing sealing the container thereunder against contamination prior to filling the container with liquid.

6. The combination according to claim 1 with the addition of readily separable means fixing the bottom of a container in a collapsed condition to the upper portion of the nursing device nested therebelow, whereby upon removal of an upper device said readily separable means will cause the container therein to be urged downwardly into the housing fixed thereto.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said housing tapers smoothly upward from said open base to the upper portion thereof.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein said housing is frusto-conical in shape below said upper portion.

9. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said container is attached to the open upper portion of said housing, said housing tapering upwardly from said open base to the upper portion thereof, and said container being collapsible completely within said upper portion of said housing.