Patent Application
20120085669
The present invention relates to drink containers, such as baby bottles, sippy-cups and drink bottles typically used by kids and adults. Particularly, the invention relates to devices integral to or retro-fitted on a drink container for indicating an event time, such as, for example, a formula mixing time, a refrigeration time or the like.
With respect to infant drinks, many of the more popular baby formula brands, such as Enfamil® and Similac®, instruct parents to discard formula remaining in the baby bottle after one hour. While the one hour time reference is most likely a rule of thumb rather than a strict feeding practice, some parents do not like to take chances with old formula. Likewise, milk and other drinks also can become spoiled or otherwise turn rancid over longer or shorter periods of time. Unfortunately, the shelf-life of such baby drinks is only helpful if the creation time of the drink is known.
However, it is equally difficult, considering all the things that a caregiver of a bottle-feeding baby may be dealing with at any given time, to remember the exact or even approximate mixing time of a bottled formula or a poured bottle of milk or juice. The ability to track such times may be further complicated by factors such as dealing with multiple bottles due to multiple babies, middle of the night feedings, erratic feeding times, multiple handlers (e.g., parents, sitters, nannies, grandparents, etc.) and other such common occurrences.
Likewise, drinks for older kids and adults, such as health and sports drinks with limited shelf-life, pose similar issues. These drinks may come in their own bottle containers, or they may be mixed by a user.
In light of these concerns and unknowns, a fair amount of expensive formula or other drinks are wasted. Perhaps even more alarming is that a fair amount of spoiled drinks, such as dairy and non-dairy based formulas and fruit drinks, may be consumed every day just because there is no clear indication the drink has gone bad and the elapsed time from mixing or refrigeration is unknown. Generally speaking, babies and young children do not have well-developed immune systems, nor do they always have sufficiently developed digestive systems. Adults, for other reasons, may also have compromised immunities or digestive systems. Either may be upset by soured or spoiled drinks.
The present invention solves these and other problems associated with prior art devices. Multiple embodiments of a time indicator for a drink container are presented which have additional design and manufacturing advantages over prior art devices.
A number of embodiments of a drink container having a time indicator are herein described. The container is generally comprised of a body and the ability to display a relevant time.
In an embodiment, a spout or nipple assembly, including a securing collar is used in conjunction with the container body. Alternatively, a detachable lid having a drink dispensing opening may be used.
Accordingly, in one embodiment of the disclosed device, the container comprises a body for retaining a drinkable fluid and having an opening, a nipple (or spout) assembly detachably connectable to the body over the opening by a securing collar, a numerical array integral to at least one of either the body or the securing collar, and an indicator cooperating with the numerical array, wherein at least one of the numerical array and the indicator are movable to align the indicator with any point on the array.
In alternate embodiments, a detachable lid is used to replace the nipple assembly. The lid and container body would comprise a numerical array integral to at least one of either the body or the lid, and an indicator cooperating with the numerical array, wherein at least one of the numerical array and the indicator are movable to align the indicator with any point on the array.
These and other aspects of the invention may be understood more readily from the following description and the appended drawings.
For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. Certain features, work pieces and environment of some figures have been omitted or shown in broken lines so as not to obscure other features of the figures.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. While the invention is described and illustrated in combination with a standard baby bottle, it should be understood that the features of the invention could be applied to baby bottles of many different types, styles and sizes, not necessarily just reusable bottles, but disposable bottles as well.
For purposes of the description, the various components of the invention are commonly numbered through the illustrated embodiments, with the exception that the first digit between common elements reflects the embodiment to which the element pertains—for example, element 21 would be element 121 in a first embodiment, element 221 in a second embodiment, 321 in a third embodiment, etc.
While the following description and the referenced drawing figures exclusively reference a baby bottle, it is understood that some of the described embodiments are easily applicable to other types of drink containers. Such containers might include, for example, disposable and reusable water bottles, drink mixers, cans, mugs, glasses, and disposable fountain drink cups.
Referring to
The nipple assembly 16 is comprised of a securing collar 20 and a nipple 22. The securing collar 20 attaches to the neck of the opening 18 of the bottle body 14 to secure the nipple 22 over the opening. The collar 20 may, of course, attach via a snap-fit connection, by threaded surfaces, or by any other manner known and used. The nipple 22 may be of any known type, size or style and forms no part of the present invention.
With reference to
In
Finally,
The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants' contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/390,652 filed on Oct. 7, 2010.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61390652 | Oct 2010 | US |
