Patent Application
20120305514
The present invention relates to the field of baby bottles and in particular to baby bottles including separable compartments for storage of a dry powder(powdered formula) and a liquid (water) prior to use and means releasing, combining and for mixing same.
Powdered baby formula is mixed with water to produce a liquid formula milk replacement for consumption by infants. The dry powdered formula may be stored for long periods of time without refrigeration. However, once the powdered formula is mixed with water, the liquid formula must either be used or refrigerated within a short period of time. Otherwise the liquid formula spoils.
Powdered baby formula and water are typically mixed by combining predetermined amounts of powdered formula and water in the bottle, attaching the nipple and lid, and shaking the baby bottle to thoroughly mix the powder with the water. This mixing process may be safely and accurately performed with the aid of suitable measuring devices and substantially sterile surroundings. In addition, the mixed liquid formula and bottle may be stored and refrigerated for later use.
However, where refrigeration is unavailable, it is necessary to perform the mixing process just before use. If proper measuring devices and substantially sterile surroundings are unavailable, the process becomes problematic because contamination, spillage and the production of incorrectly mixed formula can occur. When traveling, it is inconvenient to carry formula and water separately and to measure out and mix the ingredients every time formula is needed for a baby.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,298 by Holley, Jr. teaches a multi-component bottle with a mixing valve including a ball valve body which is rotated to align two sets of apertures to release the powdered formula into the lower water compartment for mixing. Holley stores the powdered formula within the hollow ball portion of the ball valve. Holley requires the alignment of two pairs of apertures and uses a complex ball valve with a cam arrangement for opening and closing the valve, unlike the present invention which only requires alignment of an aperture of a rotatable disk and a fixed disk.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,802 by Caola teaches a multi-component bottle with a push rod under the nipple which is used to force open a valve member. Caola's valve doesn't involve the alignment of two apertures or the same type of sliding element for opening as is used in the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,254 by Inbar et al teaches a movable plug in a necked down portion of the bottle to separate the powder from the water. Turning a top portion of the bottle raises the plug and allows the powder to fall into the liquid
U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,445 by Kaesemeyer has a sealing member between upper and lower compartments which is dislodged by twisting a lid portion on the top of the bottle. The sealing member falls to the bottom of the container. A user can't easily see when the sealing member is dislodged.
The present invention provides a baby bottle including a nipple and separable compartments for holding powdered formula and water. By sliding or rotating a knob to a pre-selected mix position, apertures in the separable compartments are aligned thereby allowing mixture of the powdered formula from an upper compartment into a lower compartment containing the water. The bottle is shaken to thoroughly mix the formula and the water, after which, the bottle and formula mix are ready to use.
More particularly, with the present invention, there is provided a combination baby bottle and powdered formula and water storage device comprising a lid with a nipple, a two part mixing valve and a water compartment. The lid is a cylindrically shaped lid including a top wall, a first sidewall, and a nipple. The first sidewall contains first female threads. The top wall has a circular aperture formed therein sized to receive the nipple and the bottom surface of the top wall abuts a top surface of the outer marginal portion of the nipple. The first part of the two part valve is a cylindrically shaped stationary valve member includes a second sidewall with first male threads at a top edge. The first male threads are capable of being threaded into the first female threads to connect the lid to the stationary valve member. The stationary valve member includes a first circular bottom wall having a first aperture formed therein. The first aperture is sized to fit within a one third circular sector of the first bottom wall and is located so as not to include the center point of the first bottom wall. The second sidewall extends below the first bottom wall and includes second female threads. The second sidewall has a slot formed therein, the slot is above and parallel to the second bottom wall and extends around one third of the circumference of the second sidewall. The second part of the two part valve is a cylindrically shaped movable valve member having a third sidewall and a second bottom wall. The third sidewall has a first circumferential groove formed within the outside surface thereof which is located near a top edge. The third sidewall has a second circumferential groove formed within the outside surface and is located near the bottom edge. The first and the second grooves each have an polymeric or elastomeric sealing means such as an O-ring, washer, or disc disposed therein. The movable valve member is capable of being inserted within the stationary valve member whereupon the first bottom wall abuts the second bottom wall and the O-rings form a leak-proof seal between the second sidewall and the third sidewall. The slot is therefore situated between the O-rings and is sealed from leaking. The third sidewall has a rectangular window formed therein and located between the first groove and the second groove. The window contains a vertical axle with a lever pivoting thereon. The back side of the window is sealed off with a box which is integral with the third sidewall. The lever is capable of being fully contained within the window and the box and is capable of being pivoted out through the slot to a position where a user can push the lever to spin the movable valve member within the stationary valve member. The second circular bottom wall has a second aperture which is sized to fit within a one third circular sector of the second bottom wall. The second aperture is the same size as the first aperture and is located so as not to include the center point of the second bottom wall. The first aperture and the second aperture are totally mis-aligned when the lever is at a first end of the slot, thus keeping the formula powder separate from the water. The first aperture and the second aperture are totally aligned when the lever is at a second end of the slot. The cylindrically shaped water compartment includes a bottom wall and a fourth sidewall with second male threads at a top edge which are capable of being threaded into the second female threads to connect the stationary valve member to the water compartment.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pair of apertures contained in a rotatable disk and a fixed disk alignable whereby visible movement and positioning of same is clearly visible upon movement of an adjustment means such as a tab or knob located on the outside of the container.
It is an object of this invention to provide a baby bottle and storage device which separately stores dry formula and water for subsequent mixing and feeding.
It is an object of this invention to provide a baby bottle and storage device which provides any easy to use formula and water mixing valve.
It is an object of this invention to provide a baby bottle and storage device which provides a convenient and easily recognizable indication as to whether the mixing valve is open or closed.
It is an object of this invention to provide a baby bottle and storage device which is easily disassembled for cleaning.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent with the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.
A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the views wherein:
When inserting movable valve member 14 into stationary valve member 24, bottom wall 11 of movable mixing valve member 14 is pressed down and seated against the bottom wall 23 of stationary valve member 24. Bottom wall 23 has a crescent shaped aperture 36.
Lower portion 25 of stationary valve member 24 extends below bottom wall 23 and contains internal female threads (not shown) which are threaded onto male threads 32 to connect stationary valve member 24 to water compartment member 35.
Lid 10 includes female threads (not shown) which are threaded onto male threads 22 of stationary mixing valve member 24, shown in
To use the bottle, a user first puts lever 15 in the storage position as shown in
In the travel or storage mode, as shown in
The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modification will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made upon departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, this invention is not intended to be limited by the specific exemplification presented herein above. Rather, what is intended to be covered is within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
