Proper thawing and/or warming of baby food and breast milk is necessary to prevent the food and liquid from reaching a temperature that could place the child at risk for burns. Baby food products and breast milk need additional care when processing and handling.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a device for warming baby food or consumable liquid. The device comprises a container including a plurality of walls, an inlet and an outlet. The device also comprises a handle coupled to the container, and a valve coupled to the container adjacent to the outlet. The valve is operable to control fluid flow through the container. The device also comprises a lid coupled to the container, the lid including at least one aperture in fluid communication with the inlet and allowing fluid flow therethrough.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a device for warming baby food or consumable liquid. The device comprises a container including an inlet and an outlet, and a valve coupled to the outlet. The valve is operable to control fluid flow through the container. The device also comprises a lid coupled to the container. The lid includes at least one aperture in fluid communication with the inlet and allowing fluid flow therethrough. The device also includes an indicator coupled to the container in heat exchange relationship with the fluid flow, the indicator operable to identify a condition of the fluid in the container.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a device for warming baby food or consumable liquid. The device comprises a container for supporting a fluid flow therethrough, the container including a front wall defining an upper edge, a side wall including a protrusion, the front wall and side wall at least partially forming an inlet, and a bottom wall with an outlet therethrough. The device also comprises a lid coupled to the container adjacent to the inlet. The lid includes a side wall with an outwardly extending edge engaging at least a portion of the upper edge, and a bottom wall with at least one aperture in fluid communication with the inlet. The device also comprises a base including a tab extending from the first surface, the tab adapted to receive the protrusion extending from the side wall of the container.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
Although directional references, such as upper, lower, downward, upward, rearward, bottom, front, rear, etc., may be made herein in describing the drawings, these references are made relative to the drawings (as normally viewed) for convenience. These directions are not intended to be taken literally or limit the present invention in any form. In addition, terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance.
The apparatus 10 includes a container 12 as illustrated in
The container 12 also includes a bottom wall 100 connected to the front wall 85, the rear wall 90, and the first and second side walls 95 defining a recess 80. The bottom wall 100 includes a cylindrical wall 105 extending from the bottom wall 100 and defining a fluid outlet or aperture 110, as illustrated in
The container 12 includes two protrusions or nubs 115 each extending from the upper portion 91 of each side wall 95. As illustrated in
The container 12 also includes a recess 320 on the lower portion 96 of each of the side walls 95. The recess 320 supports a protrusion 325 extending therefrom. The protrusion 325 is adapted to connect to a base, further described below.
The container 12 also includes an aperture 180 adjacent the top edge 150 on each of the front wall 85 and the rear wall 90, as illustrated in
The relatively thinner wall thickness in the recess 145 allows the indicator 30 to be in close heat exchange relationship with the fluid flowing through the container 12. In the illustrated construction, the indicator 30 includes a material sensitive to variations in temperature such that the indicator 30 can display different colorations and/or words depending on the temperature the indicator 30 is exposed to and senses. In one example, the indicator 30 can display a white coloration when fluid within the container 12 is at room temperature and a red coloration when the fluid within the container 12 is at a higher temperature. In another example, the indicator 30 can include a first material not sensitive to temperature change and a second material sensitive to temperature change. Furthermore, the second material can be molded, coupled, or mounted to the first material such that when fluid at higher temperature flows through the container 12, the second material changes coloration causing the indicator 30 to display a warning symbol or lettering.
The apparatus 10 includes a strap 15 as illustrated in
The strap 15 can also include a plurality of apertures 70 adjacent the slit 65 in the center portion 55. In the illustrated construction, the strap 15 includes three apertures 70 on each side of the slit 65, however, more or fewer than three apertures 70 can be employed in the strap 15.
The strap 15 also includes a plurality of apertures 75 extending along each of the side portions 60. Each aperture 75 includes a larger diameter portion 77 and a smaller diameter portion 79, as illustrated in
The apparatus 10 includes a lid 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4-5C. The lid 20 includes a plurality of side walls 160 integrally formed with a bottom wall 165 to define a recess 166. The plurality of side walls 160 include a rim 170 extending around the top periphery thereof. The plurality of side walls 160 and the rim 170 are complementary shaped with respect to the container 12 such that the rim 170 is adapted to engage the top edge 150 of the container 12. Two of the side walls 160 each include a protrusion 175 adapted to be received by the respective apertures 180 in the front wall 85 and the rear wall 90 of the container 12. When the lid 20 is coupled to the container 12 (as illustrated in
The lid 20 also includes a plurality of apertures 168 in the bottom wall 165. In the illustrated construction, the apertures 168 are generally kidney-like shaped and occupy a majority of the surface of bottom wall 165. The apertures 168 allow fluid to flow through the lid 20 and into the container 12. Other constructions of the lid 20 can include apertures 168 defining other shapes, wherein the area covered by the apertures 168 is a function of the amount of fluid to be allowed to flow through the container 12. In other words, the bottom wall 165 can include a portion that does not have apertures 168. In addition, some constructions of the apparatus 10 can include more than one lid 20 such that each lid 20 is adapted to allow a specific amount of fluid to flow through the container 12. Additionally, other constructions of the apparatus 10 do not require the lid 20.
The lid 20 can also include an indicator 30 having a material sensitive to variations in temperature such that the indicator 30 can display different colorations and/or words depending on the temperature the indicator 30 is exposed to and senses. The bottom wall 165 can include a relatively thinner portion than the wall thickness of other portions of the bottom wall 165. The indicator 30 is oriented to be in close heat exchange relationship with the fluid flowing through the container 12. In one example, the indicator 30 can display a white coloration when fluid entering the container 12 is at room temperature and a red coloration when the fluid entering the container 12 is at a higher temperature. In another example, the indicator 30 can include a first material not sensitive to temperature change and a second material sensitive to temperature change. Furthermore, the second material can be molded, coupled, or mounted to the first material such that when fluid at higher temperature enters the container 12, the second material changes coloration causing the indicator 30 to display a warning symbol or lettering.
The apparatus 10 includes a valve 35 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8A-9D. The valve 35 is adapted to regulate fluid flow through the container 12. The valve 35 includes a cylindrical wall 190 integrally formed with a bottom wall 195. The cylindrical wall 190 includes an inside surface 205 having a pair of elongated protrusions 200 extending inward from the inside surface 205. The elongated protrusions 200 are adapted to slidingly engage the protrusions 185 of the outer surface of the cylindrical wall 105 of the container 12 to couple the valve 35 to the container 12. During use of the apparatus 10, engagement of the protrusions 185 and 200 of the container 12 and valve 35 allow the valve 35 to rotate and change elevation with respect to the container 12, thus regulating the amount of fluid flowing through the container 12.
The bottom wall 195 of the valve 35 includes an upper surface 215, a lower surface 220, and a fluid aperture 225 extending through the upper surface 215 and the lower surface 220. The bottom wall 195 includes a plurality of ribs 230 integrally formed on the lower surface 220 and radially extending around the fluid aperture 225.
The valve 35 also includes a pair of handles 210 extending opposite from one another from an outer surface of the cylindrical wall 190. The handles 210 allow a user to maneuver or rotate the valve 35. However, other constructions of the valve 35 can include different mechanisms to operate the valve 35 between at least on open position and a closed position.
The valve 35 includes a seal 40 (illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 10A-10B) supported by the upper surface 215 of the bottom wall 195. The seal 40 is positioned between the container 12 and the valve 35. The seal 40 includes a substantially flat circular portion 235, an upper nub 238 extending from an upper surface 240 of the circular portion 235, and a lower nub 245 extending from a lower surface 250 of the circular portion 235. The upper nub 238 and the lower nub 245 are each defined by a substantially cylindrical body and are substantially aligned along an axis 255 (shown in
The apparatus 10 also includes a base 45 as illustrated in
The base 45 also includes a wall 275 defining an opening 270 within the base 45. The wall 275 extends around the opening 270 and includes two extended wall portions 277 at a higher elevation than two lower portions 279. The two extended wall portions 277 each includes a substantially horizontal surface 285 oriented in an elevated plane with respect to the horizontal surfaces 280 of a plane of the two lower portions 279. The two lower portions 279 each include a generally horizontal surface 280 oriented toward the front section and the rear section of the base 45. Each of the two horizontal surfaces 280 intersect with a pair of lateral surfaces 290 of the extended wall portions 277 to define a distance of movement of the handles 210 of the valve 35 when positioned within the base 45. The two horizontal surfaces 280 each include one or more indicators 305 illustrating a position of the handles 210 of the valve 35 indicating a flow rate of the liquid flowing through the container 12. For example, the indicators 305 can include one or more symbols identifying if the valve 35 is in an open position or a closed position.
The base 45 also includes four tabs 300 each extending from the lateral surfaces 290 of the extended wall portions 277. The handles 210 are operable to engage the tabs 300, causing restriction in the rotational motion of the valve 35 between an open and a closed position.
The base 45 also includes a pair of support tabs 310 each extending upward from one of the extended wall portions 277. The support tabs 310 each include a centrally located aperture 315 adapted to receive corresponding protrusions 325 of the container 12.
The user assembles the apparatus 10 by positioning the seal 40 into the valve 35 so that the smaller nub 245 on the seal 40 is fitted into the aperture 225 of the valve 35 and the longer nub 238 is exposed. Next, the valve 35 is screwed onto the projection 105 of the container 12. Next, the container 12 is positioned on the base 45 so that the protrusions 325 on the container 12 fit into the apertures 315 on the support tabs 310 of the base 45. The flexible handle 15 is coupled to the container by slipping the protrusions 115 on the container 12 through the apertures 75 in the handle 15. The handle 15 is secured by gently tugging the handle 15 upward. Next, the lid 20 is positioned onto the top of the container 12.
In a method of use of the apparatus 10, the user can test the temperature of the water from the faucet by running water over the color change indicator on the container 12. If the caution warning appears, the water is too hot and should be adjusted to a cooler temperature. After the appropriate temperature of the water is determined, a bottle or bag of frozen or refrigerated comestible product can be positioned within the container 12, and the lid 20 can be attached to the container 12. It is not necessary to use the lid for items that are taller than the container 12. The handle 15 is coupled to a faucet and the apparatus 10 can hang therefrom or the apparatus 10 can stand in the sink basin. To hang from a faucet, secure the container 12 by slipping the faucet head through the slit 65 in the handle 15. The water flow can be adjusted with the valve 35 so the water covers the comestible product in the container 12 entirely, but does not spill over the top of the container 12. For faster heating the handle 210 on the valve 35 can be moved to an open position and the water left running. For stricter water management, the handle 210 on the valve 35 can be moved to a closed position, such that the container remains filled with warm water while the faucet is turned off. These steps can be repeated as needed. These steps can be altered and the order can be modified as needed.
Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.