Patent Application
20210315778
The present invention relates to the consumer products industry and, more particularly to a baby's bottle capable of automatically drip feeding the baby.
Newborn babies and small infants typically must be held whilst a carer holds a bottle to feed them. A feeding session can last approximately 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the appetite of the baby.
It can be difficult for the carer to hold the baby in position for 15 to 20 minutes. In the absence of air conditioning, the carer can become overheated from the body heat of the baby and vice versa. Some babies are particularly sensitive to movements during the feeding sessions, such that if the carer moves the baby, or repositions themselves, the baby begins to cry.
Some mothers have had caesarean section operations, so holding the baby on their lap to bottle feed it or breast feeding the baby can put pressure on the caesarean section wound.
In many instances the baby would be more comfortable if it was left alone to feed. However, newborn babies and small infants are mostly incapable of bottle feeding themselves.
It would be advantageous if there was a means of automatically feeding a newborn baby or small infant.
The object of the present invention is to overcome or at least substantially ameliorate the aforementioned problems.
According to the present invention, there is provided an automatic feeding apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
Preferably the air-intake mechanism is a twistable base adapted to be twisted off the bottle to release the air-pressure holding the liquid inside the bottle. However, the air-intake mechanism may alternatively comprise an openable valve to release the pressure.
It is preferred that the apparatus further includes a stand to hold the bottle in an elevated position above the user. The stand may have a clamp to hold the bottle upside down. Preferably, the clamp has a swivel mount on the stand so that the bottle can be turned up or down within the clamp.
The tube is connected to the top of the bottle and gravity, along with air releasing base facilitates the supply of liquid to the user through the teat.
Preferably the bottle has a rubber seal and spigot to enable the tube to be attached to the bottle without it leaking whilst the bottle is in an upside position.
An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which:
Referring to
An exploded view of the twistable base 26 of the bottle 14 is shown in
When in use, the carer puts baby formula powder into the bottle 14 through either the head or the base of bottle 14. Water is then added to the formula. The bottle 14 can then be shaken to mix the formula into the water. The bottle 14 can be positioned upside down and the base can be slightly unscrewed so that it can release air into the bottle to prevent the creation of a vacuum within the bottle 14 that would otherwise impede the flow of the liquid out of the top of the bottle 14. The apparatus 10 has a customised teat 24 which has a handle 36 that features an orifice 38 to allow the ingress of the tube 22.
The bottle 40 also has a rim 50 and a rubber seal 52 which stops liquid from leaking out of the bottle 40. A spigot 54 connects with a hole in the rubber seal 52. The spigot 54 enables the tube 22 to be connected to the bottle 40. The spigot 54 penetrates a hole in the cap 56.
Both the openable valve 42 and the twistable base 26 constitute an air-intake mechanism adapted to release the liquid within the bottle through the tube to the teat. The air-intake mechanism constitutes the characterizing feature of the present invention over the prior art.
After all the liquid has been finished from the bottle, the baby 14 can enjoy continuing to suck on the teat 24 and breathing through it because of the open valve 42 or twistable base 26.
The present invention allows a carer to feed the baby automatically without coming in touch contact with the baby throughout the feeding process. The present invention provides a more comfortable experience for both carer and baby than in any prior art feeding systems.
In the present specification and claims (if any), the word ‘comprising’ and its derivatives including ‘comprises’ and ‘comprise’ include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.
Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.
In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020901145 | Apr 2020 | AU | national |
