Disposable nursing container

Abstract

A disposable nursing container comprising a body of flexible sheet material having a nipple end and a sealable open end to permit a liquid to be inserted and retained in the body. Engageable means are secured to the body for retention of the body in a holding device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a disposable nursing container and more particularly to a container constructed of flexible sheet meterial and having a nipple end formed with the container and permitting a liquid to be inserted and sealably retained within the body.

B. Description of Prior Art

Heretofore, there has been provided an infants daily nursing process involving six nursing bottles each adapted to hold an open ended plastic bag, such as a polyethylene bag, therein. The open end portion of each of the six bags is overlapped about the edge of the open end of a respective one of the six nursing bottles and a separate nipple element is positioned over the open end of each bottle. A formula of milk and sterilized water is placed in each bag and covered by a sterilized nipple. A locking sleeve is then inserted about the nipple to retain the bag and nipple on to the open end of the bottle. This process requires sterilization of six nipples as well as the water for the formula.

The nursing bottles are then placed in a refrigerator and at each of the six daily feedings a bottle is inserted in hot water. This process involves unnecessary time loss for sterilizing nipples and water. The insertion of the plastic bag in the nursing bottle is inefficient and time consuming to the housewife. In addition there is a considerable use of hands and part of the bottle is exposed to bacteria diminishing the degree of sanitation which is an important factor in the process. It is also difficult to measure the quantity of formula poured into the bag as well as the amount consumed by the infant because the bag is not always inserted in the correct manner. The process is also expensive since the nursing bottles are sold in packages of six.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is a feature of the present invention to substantially overcome the above mentioned disadvantages.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a disposable nursing container which is economical, sanitary, which will contain a precise quantity of liquid and which can be heated more readily than prior art containers of this class.

It is a further feature to provide in combination with the nursing container a bottle which will retain the container therein and which is economical to produce.

According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present invention provides a disposable nursing container comprising a body of flexible sheet material having a nipple end and a sealable open end to permit a liquid to be inserted and sealably retained in said body.

At least one flexible skirt member of sheet material has an edge thereof secured to the body for engaging the container in a holding device with the nipple end protruding from an end of the holding device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the examples illustrated by the following drawings and wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are plan views of the disposable nursing container of the present invention,

FIGS. 2A and 2B are side views of the container shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the container.

FIG. 4 is a fragmented view of a still further embodiment of the container, and

FIG. 5 is a fragmented plan view of a bottle in which said nursing container is retained.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B, there is shown generally at 10 the disposable nursing container of the present invention. The container 10 comprises a body 11 of flexible sheet material having a nipple end 12 and a sealable open end 13 to permit a liquid to be inserted and sealably retained within the body 11. The body 11 and nipple 12 may be formed integrally from a sheet of suitable plastic material or may be formed of separate materials. For example, the nipple end 12 may be formed of a plastic material suitable to maintain the nipple end in an erect position preventing it from collapsing regardless if the liquid is located therein. In the present embodiment the body 11 and the nipple 12 are formed integrally out of a plastic material which is non-porous to milk, juice or any suitable liquid to be contained therein. This material may be a polyethylene material such as is commonly used for bagging milk.

A skirt 14 is secured, by suitable means, below the nipple portion 12 of the container 11. The skirt can be formed of a single section extending peripherally about the container or else, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, formed of two skirt portions 14' and 14". The skirt 14 constitutes an engageable means for securing the container 10 in a holding device 30. (See FIG. 5). The nipple portion 12 defines a restricted throat portion 15 which is adapted to have a portion thereof cut off or severed to provide access to the liquid in the body 11. Other suitable engageable means, such as a tacky strip of material may be provided instead of the skirt and secured in a special bottle.

As shown in FIG. 4 the nipple portion 12 may have a substantially triangular configuration to define an apex end 16. Markings 17 may be provided adjacent the apex end 16 whereby to indicate where the nipple portion should be severed to provide the proper size of opening for access of the liquid within the container. Also, as shown in FIG. 2B, the end of the nipple 12 may be provided with a detachable end member 23 to be cut-off thereby providing the proper orifice size in the end of the nipple 12.

Referring to FIG. 1B there is shown a still further embodiment in that the body 11 may have downwardly tapering side edges 22, instead of parallel side edges, as shown by phantom lines, to constitute a container having a tapering body whereby to facilitate insertion of the liquid container 10 in a holding device 30 and also to provide a larger section in the skirt area to facilitate attachment to the holder 30 as hereinbelow described.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a further embodiment wherein a detachable sealed envelope 18 is secured to the body and formed integrally with the skirt 14. A crease line 19 permits the sealed envelope 18 to be easily detached from the skirt 14. All edges of the envelope 18 are sealed to maintain the nipple portion 12 sterilized. The sterilization of the nipple takes place prior to the attachment of the envelope 18 to the body 11. The crease line 19 may be provided at any suitable spacing along the envelope whereby to provide wider skirts, if necessary. The skirt 14 may have one or more crease lines 21 extending transversely of the skirt to separate the skirt into skirt portions 14' and 14".

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a bottle 30 for retaining the container 10. The bottle 30 comprises a hollow body 31 having at least one open end 32. The container 10 is positioned within the body 31 and the skirts 14 are overlapped about the edge 33 of the body, thus, the nipple portion 12 extends above the open end 32. A cap 34 having an opening (not shown) therein is securable about the end edge 33 whereby to retain the container within the body 31. This is achieved by placing the cap over the skirt 14 thereby maintaining the skirt pressed against the body 31 between the area adjacent the open end of the body and the inside surface of the cap 34.

In operation, the container body 11 is filled with a liquid, herein a milk formula, by the open end 13. After the body 11 is filled with a predetermined quantity of this formula, the open end edges 13 are sealed along the seal line 20 whereby to sealably retain the fluid within the container 10. The advantages of such a container are that the liquid can be handled in a hygenic manner and the heating of the formula is effected with the liquid within the container. All that is necessary, is to place the container into hot water. After the formula has been warmed, the container is fastened into the bottle 30 in the manner described hereinabove. After being fastened the restricted throat portion of the nipple 12 is punctured or the portion 21 severed to provide the proper orifice for dispensing the liquid to the child.

Other advantages of the present invention is that by dispensing a milk formula in the above manner the liquid or formula is refrigerated in predetermined quantities and is not exposed to air until the formula has been heated and the nipple end punctured and this is done just prior to the dispensing of the liquid to the child. This form of packaging will provide for a longer shelf life of liquids, such as milk, and eliminates the need for premixing a predetermined quantity of milk formula and to fill individual bottles and sterilize the nipples. With the container of the present invention the container 10 is disposed of after use and never reused.

It is within the ambit of the present invention to provide any obvious modifications of the container structure as disclosed hereinabove. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and it is intended to cover any modifications within the definition of such claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A disposable nursing container comprising a body of flexible sheet material having a nipple end formed integral therewith, at least one flexible skirt member of sheet material has an edge thereof secured to said body for engaging said container in a holding device with said nipple end protruding from an end of said holding device, and a sealable open end to permit a liquid to be inserted and sealably retained in said body.

2. A disposable nursing container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said nipple end defines a restricted throat portion to constitute a sealed nipple.

3. A disposable nursing container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible material is a plastic material nonporous to milk.

4. A disposable nursing container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said nipple end is of substantially triangular configuration and defines an apex, said apex being adapted to be severed whereby to provide a hole in said nipple for extracting said liquid from said body.

5. A disposable nursing container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said nipple is contained in a detachable sealed envelope secured to said body.

6. A disposable nursing container as claimed in claim 5 wherein said envelope is formed integral with said flexible skirt, said envelope and skirt extending circumferentially about said body.

7. A disposable nursing container as claimed in claim 6 wherein a crease line is formed between said envelope and skirt to facilitate detachment of said envelope, and further crease lines extending transversely of said skirt to separate said skirt into at least two skirt sections.

8. A disposable nursing container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body tapers inwardly downwards from the skirt attachment location adjacent said nipple end.

9. A disposable nursing container as claimed in claim 1 in combination with a bottle having at least one open end, an end edge about said open end, a cap having an opening therein and securable about said end edge, said nursing container being retained in said bottle with said at least one skirt overlapping said end edge and retained thereabout by said cap, said nipple extending through said cap opening.