Patent Application
20070210219
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of holding a baby bottle during feeding and more particularly to an apparatus and method for holding a baby bottle while feeding and keeping the baby warm.
2. Description of the Related Art
For the millions of babies born each year, some are breast fed and countless others are fed by bottle. Those that are bottle fed require many feedings per day, perhaps more than five. Feeding times vary based upon the strength of the baby, the hunger of the baby and the age of the baby but usually take from 10 to 20 minutes. During this time, it is difficult for the parent or other person to do anything other than feed the baby. This task becomes even more burdensome when multiple babies are present such as in daycare situations or when parents have multiple babies of bottle feeding age.
Many devices have been invented to hold the bottle in a feeding position. Some are mechanical holders such as the “Decorative Holder for a Baby Bottle,” described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,821 to Fabian, etal. This class of baby bottle holder includes a stiff arm that attaches to a crib or other stationary member and a circular holder for accepting the bottle, whereby the bottle is held in position above the baby's mouth during feeding. In the '821 patent, the circular holder is disguised with an animal figure to entertain the baby while he or she eats. Unfortunately, these types of baby bottle holders require a stationary object to which they are affixed during feeding (e.g., a crib) and are useless in many feeding situations.
In other inventions, the bottle is held by the device that is draped over the baby and the device has a cavity in which the bottle is held. An example of this type of baby bottle holder is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,327 to Malone, etal. These devices permit feeding in a crib and many other locations that lack a stationary fixture as required in the previous example, but have some limitations. The first limitation is lack of flexibility. This class of holders is single-purpose, in that the holder is only used for feeding, and nothing else. If the holder becomes soiled, it is out of commission while it is being cleaned. When the baby is not being fed, the holder is not useful for other purposes such as a toy or to keep the baby warm. Furthermore, these devices don't completely cover the baby and, when it is cold, the baby may require additional covering with a separate blanket.
In other inventions, the bottle is held by a device that resembles a stuffed animal. An example of this type of baby bottle holder is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,192 to Oktayuren and U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,843 to James. These devices hold a baby bottle, but are easily displaced by the movement of the infant and they don't keep the baby warm. Therefore, the baby may require additional covering with a separate blanket.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,270 to Rivera, the bottle is held by a pouch in a pillow case. This device may hold a baby bottle, but it is too easily displaced by the movement of the infant and it doesn't keep the baby warm. Again, the baby may require additional covering with a separate blanket.
What is needed is a device that will hold a baby bottle in a comfortable position for feeding a baby while providing a cover to keep the baby warm.
One objective of the present invention is to provide a device that will hold a baby bottle in the feeding position while the baby drinks.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a blanket to keep the baby warm during feeding and a toy to entertain the baby when it is finished drinking.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a device that will hold a baby bottle using interchangeable, standard plush toys to hold the bottle, thereby allowing the caregiver the ability to provide a plush toy that is familiar to the baby.
In one embodiment, a baby bottle holder is disclosed including a plush toy having at least two appendages and a blanket having at least two holes for accepting the at least two appendages. The baby bottle is situated between the plush toy and the blanket when the at least two appendages pass through the at least two holes.
In another embodiment, a method for feeding a baby from a baby bottle is disclosed including providing a blanket having four holes for accepting two arms and two legs of a plush toy and threading each of the two arms of the plush toy through a first two of the four holes and threading each of the two legs of the plush toy through a second two of the four holes. Next, the blanket is draped over the baby so that the plush toy is substantially over the baby's chest and the plush toy lay across the baby's chest. The baby bottle is inserted between the blanket and the plush toy such that a nipple end of the baby bottle is positioned at the baby's mouth for feeding.
In another embodiment, a baby bottle holder is disclosed including a plush toy having two arms and two legs and a blanket having a first pair of holes for accepting the two arms and a second pair of holes for accepting the two legs. The plush toy is adapted to hold the baby bottle against the blanket when the two arms pass through the first pair of holes and the two legs pass through the second pair of holes.
The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.
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Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.
It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.
