Patent Application
20100224739
The present invention relates to baby bottle holders. Specifically this invention relates to baby bottle holding devices attachable to a baby car seat such that infants can be fed without the attention of the an adult.
Baby bottle holders that allow infants to feed without the attention of an adult are known in the art including baby bottle holders that are attachable to a car seat or a baby carrier handle. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,623 discloses a bottle sling, which holds the bottle, and has one strap with which it is attached to a car seat. This design requires the baby to turn its head and it does not maintain a proper feeding angle. More importantly such a bottle-in-sling combination is freely swinging and can easily impact the baby's head and cause injury if the car makes a sudden stop.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,547 discloses a hanging adjustable baby bottle holder with two straps for attaching to a car seat handle. This design has a bar across the middle from which a ring is attached to hold the bottle. Such a configuration wherein the bottle is hanging by a flexible vertical strap in front of the face of the infant presents a danger since the bottle and retainer assembly can easily impact the infant's face or head and cause injury if the car makes a sudden stop.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,213,791 describes a baby bottle holder for self-feeding that comprises a hanging mechanism with a bottle-holding mechanism attached such that when hung, a bottle inserted into the bottle holding mechanism hangs directly in front of the baby's face. Since such a hanging mechanism is vertically suspended and free-swinging, it presents a potential hazard wherein the bottle easily impact the baby's face or head and cause injury if the car makes a sudden stop.
Therefore, a need exists for a baby bottle holder which is of simple construction, and which would be easily attachable to the many different types of baby car seats or other support, which would dispose the bottle at an appropriate feeding angle, and which would alleviate the potential hazards to the baby inherent in the hanging pendulum-type designs described in the art.
Embodiments of the baby bottle holder of the present invention consist of a bottle holder body having a top layer and a bottom layer of a pliable but non-stretchable and non-elastic sheet material, such as a woven textile fabric, defining an elongated pouch with a center opening sized to accommodate a baby bottle. Such an elongated pouch has two ends each having an attachment means capable of attaching to one of two diametrically opposed vertical rail elements of a car baby seat such that the bottle holder body is tautly disposed horizontally between the vertical rail elements and wherein the center opening is disposed to be in front of a baby seated in the car baby seat. In such a relationship a baby bottle disposed within the center opening is accessible to the baby for feeding. Also, the tightly pulled (taut) non-stretchable, non-elastic bottle holder prevents a bottle therein from swinging freely and impacting the baby's face or head if the car makes a sudden stop.
In preferred embodiments each attachment means consists of two lengths of hook and loop fastening tape. Also in certain preferred embodiments the baby bottle holder is provided with a thermally insulting sleeve disposed within the center opening of the elongated pouch. In other preferred embodiments the baby bottle holder has an elastic band around the circumference of the body opening such that the center opening can expand and contract to retain the body of a baby bottle disposed within the bottle holder body. Such an elastic band also functions to retain the thermally insulting sleeve.
For the purposes of the invention described herein, the terms listed below shall have the following respective meanings:
The term “non-stretchable” refers to that property of a material that prevents the material from being extended or enlarged beyond the normal intended geometric limits.
The term “non-elastic” refers to that property of a material that prevents the material from resuming its original shape after being stretched or expanded.
The term “taut” means to be pulled tightly with no slack.
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Although the invention has been disclosed in the context of certain embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof.
