Adjustable bottle holder

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6568643
  • Patent Number
    6,568,643
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, January 29, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 27, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • King; Anita
    • Sterling; Amy J.
    Agents
    • Kroll; Michael I.
Abstract
A device positions a bottle close to the user's mouth, while automatically returning the bottle to a more upright position when released by the mouth. The device attaches to a horizontal surface such as a high chair tray and uses a spring mechanism for the automatic return. The height is adjustable.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Field of the Invention




The present invention relates generally to bottle holders and, more specifically, to a bottle holding device that can be placed onto a surface within reach of an intended user and adjusted to a comfortable position for the user consuming the contents contained within the bottle without the aid or assistance of another individual, and without having the bottle in a position such that the contents will be expelled from the bottle when not in use or undesired by the user.




While there are other bottle holding devices that may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, such devices would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. What is needed is an adjustable bottle holder that positions a bottle such that the user, such as a small child, can place his or her mouth on the bottle opening, such as a nipple, while the bottle is downwardly pointed, and which also automatically positions the bottle in a substantially horizontal or upwardly pointed direction when the bottle opening is released by the mouth.




SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION




A primary object of the present invention is to provide a bottle holding device that can be placed onto a surface within reach of an intended user and adjusted to a comfortable position for the user who desires to consume the contents contained within the bottle without the aid or assistance of another individual.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a bottle holding device that is adjusted to a comfortable position without having the bottle in a position such that the contents thereof will be expelled from the bottle when not in use or undesired by the user.




Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bottle holding device intended for toddlers or people that are bedridden.




Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bottle holding device with a telescoping housing for height adjustment.




Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.




The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a bottle holding device that can be fixed onto a surface within reach of an intended user, such as a small child, and adjusted to a comfortable position for the user who desires to consume the contents contained within the bottle without the aid or assistance of another individual, and without having the bottle in a position such that the contents thereof will be expelled from the bottle when not in use or undesired by the user. The bottle holder of the present invention is intended for toddlers or people that are bed ridden and has a holding mechanism to hold a bottle containing a consumable liquid. The bottle holder is adjustable and has a return mechanism spring to return the bottle holder to a preset position so that the contents of the bottle are not expelled. The device includes a telescoping mechanism that adjusts the device in a controlled up and down motion, locking at a position desirable to the user.




My invention provides a device for positioning a bottle on a horizontal surface, the bottle having a mouthpiece for user consumption of liquid contents, comprising: a base, the base being fixable to the surface; a first stand member and a second stand member, the stand members telescoping between at least two fixed positions, the first stand member being fixed to the base; a bottle support assembly having a platform for supporting the bottle, and a fastener for securing the bottle to the platform, the support assembly being hingedly fixed to the second stand member, and a spring positioned in cooperating relationship with the second stand member and the bottle support assembly, such that the spring biases the support assembly to a first position, the support assembly being hingedly movable to a second position upon loading the spring, the bottle mouthpiece being lower in the support assembly second position than the first.




In one embodiment, the first stand member has a hole and a height adjustment member, the height adjustment member having a stud, and further wherein the second stand member has a plurality of holes, each hole aligning, in turn, with the first stand member hole as the first and second stand members telescope, each hole being sized to receive the height adjustment member stud when aligned with the first stand member hole, the height adjustment member being resiliently bendable to remove the stud from the first stand member hole and the second stand member hole.




In one embodiment, the mouthpiece is a nipple.




In one embodiment, the bottle is curved along its longitudinal axis.




In one embodiment, the spring is a coiled spring, the coiled spring being wound as the bottle support assembly is moved to the second position.




In one embodiment, the spring is a cylindrical helical spring, the spring being loaded into compression as the bottle support assembly is moved to the second position.




In one embodiment, the first stand member is fixed to the base at an acute angle to the surface.




In one embodiment, the first stand member is fixed to the base at a substantially vertical angle.




In one embodiment, the base is deformable and creates a suction attachment to the surface when the base is deformably compressed against the surface.




In one embodiment, the bottle support assembly, when in the first position, is in an upward orientation with respect to the horizontal surface, the orientation being above the horizontal and less than or equal to the vertical.




There is provided a device for positioning a bottle on a horizontal surface, the bottle having a mouthpiece for user consumption of liquid contents, comprising: a base and attachment means for fixing the base to the surface; support means for supporting a bottle, the support means having fastener means for fastening the bottle to the support means; elevation means for elevating the support means above the base, the elevation means further comprising height adjustment means for adjusting the degree of elevation; rotation means for rotating the support means between a first and second position such that the mouthpiece is lower in the second position than in the first position; and spring means for automatically returning the support means from the second position to the first position.




In one embodiment, the base attachment means further comprises suction means for creating suction between the base and the horizontal surface.




My invention provides a device for positioning a bottle on a horizontal surface, the bottle having a nipple for user consumption of liquid contents, comprising: a base, the base being deformable and fixable to the surface by suction; a first stand member and a second stand member, the stand members telescoping, the first stand member being fixed to the base, the first stand member having a hole and an attached height adjustment member, the height adjustment member having a stud, and further the second stand member having a plurality of holes, each hole aligning, in turn, with the first stand member hole as the first and second stand members telescope, each hole being sized to receive the height adjustment member stud when aligned with the first stand member hole, the height adjustment member being resiliently bendable to remove the stud from the first stand member hole and the second stand member hole, the second stand member also having a bore; a bottle support assembly having a platform for supporting the bottle and a fastener for securing the bottle to the platform, the support assembly being hingedly fixed to the second stand member; and a spring positioned in the second stand member bore such that the spring bears upon the support assembly, the support assembly being biased in response to the spring to a first position, the support assembly being hingedly movable to a second position upon loading the spring, the nipple being lower in the support assembly second position than the first.




The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.




The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES




In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:





FIG. 1

an illustrative view of a prior art device. There are many ways of administering a bottle to a toddler, some hold the bottle while the toddler is feeding and some people prop the bottle up against objects such as themselves or a pile of blankets or a pillow.





FIG. 2

is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. The bottle holder of the present invention can be placed onto a surface within reach of an intended user and adjusted to a comfortable position for the user who desires to consume the contents contained in the bottle without the aid or assistance of another individual, and without having the bottle in a position such that the contents thereof will drip from the bottle when not in use or undesired by the user.





FIG. 3

is shown is a sectional side view of the present invention.





FIG. 4

is a sectional side view of the present invention with the bottle shown in broken line.





FIG. 5

is a partial sectional view of the present invention with the spring mechanism compressed. Shown is the bottle holder of the present invention in a feeding position. When the pressure is released the spring will cause the bottle to return to its starting position.





FIG. 6

is a partial sectional view of the bottle in the first and second positions.





FIG. 7

is a sectional view of the present invention in a higher position, the height adjustment member stud being directed into a lower hole in the movable stand member.





FIG. 8

is a partial sectional top view taken along cutting plane


8





8


shown on FIG.


3


.





FIG. 9

is a perspective view of the device with the bottle removed and the fastener open.





FIG. 10

is a perspective view of the device with the bottle in place.











DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS




Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.






10


Bottle Holder of the present invention






11


child






12


bottle






13


bottle nipple






14


high chair tray surface






20


base






22


base platform






24


fixed stand member






26


fixed stand member hole






28


height adjustment member






29


height adjustment member lower end






30


movable stand member






31


height adjustment member adjustment stud






32


movable stand member hole






34


movable member upper portion






36


spring






40


upper portion spring bore






42


bottle holding tray






44


bottle holding tray support






46


bottle holding tray support hinge pin






48


upper portion rear wall






50


upper portion front wall






52


bottle holding tray fastener






54


bottle holding tray fastener hinged end






56


bottle holding tray fastener snap stud






58


bottle holding tray hole




DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION




The following discussion describes in detail exemplary embodiments of the invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments. Practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to the appended claims.




As shown in

FIGS. 1

, it is typical for a small child


11


to use a bottle


12


with a nipple


13


, with the bottle


12


often being toppled over onto a high chair tray surface


14


with accompanying spills.

FIGS. 2-9

illustrate the bottle holder


10


of the present invention, with

FIG. 2

showing the holder


10


positioned on the high chair tray surface


14


, using an upswept bottle


12


.

FIG. 3

shows that the holder


10


has a suction base


20


for fixing the holder


10


into position on the high chair tray surface


14


. Extending upwardly from the base


20


is a generally square platform


22


for securing a vertically oriented, and generally square stand member


24


, the stand member


24


being fixedly inserted into the platform


22


. The fixed stand member


24


has a hole


26


in one side. Attached to the fixed stand member


24


is a height adjustment member


28


that is attached at a lower end


29


, and has an upper end stud


31


sized to fit the fixed stand member hole


26


.




Closely received by the fixed stand member


24


is a movable stand member


30


, with spaced holes


32


, as shown in FIG.


3


. These holes


32


receive the height adjustment member stud


31


. The degree to which the movable stand member


30


telescopes out of the fixed stand member


24


, is determined by the movable stand member hole


32


chosen to receive the height adjustment member stud


31


. A lower hole


32


will elevate the movable stand member


30


to a higher position, as shown in FIG.


7


.




The movable stand member


30


spreads, in collar-like fashion, to an upper portion


34


. As shown in

FIG. 3

, a spring


36


is positioned within a bore


40


formed within the movable stand member upper portion


34


.

FIG. 8

provides a top view showing the position of the bore


40


.




A bottle holding tray


42


, shown in FIG.


3


and

FIG. 8

, is cradle-shaped and is held by a support


44


that is hinged to the movable stand member upper portion


34


by hinge pin


46


. The support


44


is positioned to hingedly move against an upper portion rear wall


48


and an upper portion front wall


50


, the front wall


50


being shorter in height than the rear wall


48


.





FIG. 8

depicts the bottle holding tray


42


and a strap-like fastener


52


having a hinged end


54


and a stud


56


. The fastener


52


tightly secures the bottle


12


within the tray


42


, with the fastening completed by inserting the stud


56


into a hole


58


in the bottle holding tray


42


, as shown in FIG.


9


.




As shown in

FIG. 4

, the spring bore


40


positions the spring


36


in an off-centered position within the upper portion


34


and proximate the shortened front wall


50


. In this position, the spring


36


is biased against the support


44


, holding the support


44


substantially horizontal, and thereby holding the bottle holding tray


42


and bottle


12


in a substantially horizontal position.




The spring


36


is gauged to be readily compressible by the very young child


11


, such that the child


11


can move the bottle nipple


13


into a lower position, as shown in FIG.


5


. The relative positions of the bottle


12


, when the spring


36


is alternately compressed and released, are shown simultaneously in FIG.


6


.




In use, the parent secures the child


11


in a high chair or other seating position close to a steady surface such as that on the high chair tray. The parent then uses the suction base


20


to fix the base platform


22


and telescoping stand members


24


,


30


in a substantially upright position. (In other embodiments, the base platform is configured to extend the telescoping stand members


24


,


30


at a fixed or adjustable angle.)




Once the telescoping stand members


24


,


30


are fixed in the upright position, the parent bends the height adjustment member


28


and aligns the stud


31


with the movable stand member hole


32


that elevates the bottle holding tray


42


to the desired height. The parent then inserts the stud


31


into the holes


26


,


32


and the new telescopic position is secured.




The bottle


12


is then attached to the bottle holding tray


42


using the fastener


52


. The bottle


12


can be moved along the tray


42


length prior to closing the fastener


52


to aid in positioning the bottle nipple


13


in an appropriate position with respect to the mouth of the child


11


.




The child


11


, or the parent, then pushes the bottle


12


down on the bottom nipple


13


end, thus compressing the spring


36


within the bore


40


. The bottle holding tray support


44


rotates on hinge pin


46


and encounters the movable stand upper portion front wall


50


, thus preventing the bottle nipple


13


from descending to an unacceptably low position.




While the bottle nipple


13


is in the down position, the child


11


has ready access with his or her mouth, with ordinary sucking motions being sufficient to restrain the spring


36


in the compressed position. Once the nipple


13


is released from the child's mouth the bottle


12


is moved back to the substantially horizontal position by the expansion of the spring


36


. (In other embodiments, the bottle holder tray or tray support or both are configured to position the bottle to a more vertical position.)




With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum material and dimensional relationships for the parts of the bottle holder


10


, will include variations in size, materials, shape, and form, which will occur to those skilled in the art upon review of the present disclosure.




For example, the base


20


, telescoping stand members


24


,


30


, bottle holding tray


42


, and tray support


44


are, in various embodiments, constructed from various woods, metals and plastics. The stand members' cross-sections are round, triangular, rectangular, or polygonal in other embodiments.




In other embodiments, the fastener


52


is made using means such as conventional hooks, snaps, clasps, hook-and-loop material, elastic strips and ties, in lieu of the hinged fastener


52


. These embodiments include adjustable fasteners for variously sized bottles.




Similarly, in other embodiments, the height adjustment mechanism uses means such as a conventional rack and pinion gear combination adapted to the telescoping stand members for a larger variety of positions.




In other embodiments, the helical spring


36


is replaced with a coiled spring attached to the bottle holding tray support


44


and the movable stand member


30


such that the spring is wound as the bottle


12


is moved downward.




All equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.



Claims
  • 1. A device for positioning a bottle on a horizontal surface, comprising:a bottle having a nipple for user consumption of liquid contents; a base, the base being fixable to the surface; a first stand member and a second stand member, the stand members telescoping between at least two fixed positions, the first stand member being fixed to the base; a bottle support assembly having a platform for supporting the bottle, and a fastener for securing the bottle to the platform, the support assembly being hingedly fixed to the second stand member; and a spring positioned in cooperating relationship with the second stand member and the bottle support assembly, such that the spring biases the support assembly to a first position, the support assembly being hingedly movable to a second position upon loading the spring, the bottle nipple being lower in the support assembly second position than the first.
  • 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first stand member has a hole and a height adjustment member, the height adjustment member having a stud, and further wherein the second stand member has a plurality of holes, each hole aligning, in turn, with the first stand member hole as the first and second stand members telescope, each hole being sized to receive the height adjustment member stud when aligned with the first stand member hole, the height adjustment member being resiliently bendable to remove the stud from the first stand member hole and the second stand member hole.
  • 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the spring is a coiled spring, the coiled spring being wound as the bottle support assembly is moved to the second position.
  • 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the spring is a cylindrical helical spring, the spring being loaded into compression as the bottle support assembly is moved to the second position.
  • 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first stand member is fixed to the base at an acute angle to the surface.
  • 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first stand member is fixed to the base and is substantially vertical.
  • 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the bottle support assembly, when in the first position, is in an upward orientation with respect to the horizontal surface, the orientation being above the horizontal and less than or equal to the vertical.
  • 8. A device for positioning a bottle on a horizontal surface, comprising:a bottle having a nipple for user consumption of liquid contents; a base, the base being deformable and fixable to the surface by suction; a first stand member and a second stand member, the stand members telescoping, the first stand member being fixed to the base, the first stand member having a hole and an attached height adjustment member, the height adjustment member having a stud, and further the second stand member having a plurality of holes, each hole aligning, in turn, with the first stand member hole as the first and second stand members telescope, each hole being sized to receive the height adjustment member stud when aligned with the first stand member hole, the height adjustment member being resiliently bendable to remove the stud from the first stand member hole and the second stand member hole, the second stand member also having a bore; a bottle support assembly having a platform for supporting the bottle and a fastener for securing the bottle to the platform, the support assembly being hingedly fixed to the second stand member; and a spring positioned in the second stand member bore such that the spring bears upon the support assembly, the support assembly being biased in response to the spring to a first position, the support assembly being hingedly movable to a second position upon loading the spring, the nipple being lower in the support assembly second position than the first.
  • 9. A device for positioning a bottle on a horizontal surface, comprising:a bottle being curved along its longitudinal axis and having a mouthpiece for user consumption of liquid contents; a base, the base being fixable to the surface; a first stand member and a second stand member, the stand members telescoping between at least two fixed positions, the first stand member being fixed to the base; a bottle support assembly having a platform for supporting the bottle, and a fastener for securing the bottle to the platform, the support assembly being hingedly fixed to the second stand member; and a spring positioned in cooperating relationship with the second stand member and the bottle support assembly, such that the spring biases the support assembly to a first position, the support assembly being hingedly movable to a second position upon loading the spring, the bottle mouthpiece being lower in the support assembly second position than the first.
  • 10. A device for positioning a bottle on a horizontal surface, comprising:a bottle having a mouthpiece for user consumption of liquid contents; a deformable base which creates a suction attachment to the surface when the base is deformably compressed against the surface, the base being fixable to the surface; a first stand member and a second stand member, the stand members telescoping between at least two fixed positions, the first stand member being fixed to the base; a bottle support assembly having a platform for supporting the bottle, and a fastener for securing the bottle to the platform, the support assembly being hingedly fixed to the second stand member; and a spring positioned in cooperating relationship with the second stand member and the bottle support assembly, such that the spring biases the support assembly to a first position, the support assembly being hingedly movable to a second position upon loading the spring, the bottle mouthpiece being lower in the support assembly second position than the first.
Parent Case Info

This application is subject to U.S. provisional application serial No. 60/289,945, filed May 9, 2001 and please incorporate by reference all information in referenced provisional application into this instant application.

US Referenced Citations (12)
Number Name Date Kind
2412426 Rayko Dec 1946 A
2470694 Foo May 1949 A
2881999 Mitchell Apr 1959 A
2912200 Reinhorn Nov 1959 A
2989278 Hyman Jun 1961 A
4156391 Ubezio May 1979 A
4458870 Duncan Jul 1984 A
4706915 Cincric Nov 1987 A
4869381 Agner Sep 1989 A
5098049 van Vlaardingen Mar 1992 A
6073788 Stroud Jun 2000 A
6343807 Rathbun Feb 2002 B1
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/289945 May 2001 US