Patent ID: 7632457
Filing Date: 2009-12-15
Classification: A61J,A61L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of sterilising an oral feeding bottle, the oral feeding bottle comprising: a) a feed container having an open end, surfaces adapted to come into contact with a liquid feed residing in said container, and first connection elements disposed around said open end; b) a teat, having internal and external surfaces, a flange for connection to said open end and an aperture through which said liquid feed is dispensed, said teat when releasably connected to said open end of said feed container is adapted to come into contact with both the liquid feed residing in said feed container and a person or animal feeding from the bottle; and c) a cap, having a rim, second connection elements around said rim and stowing formations spaced from said rim, said stowing formations being in contact with said cap, said cap has a first mode and a second mode of operation and during both modes it is releasably connected to said feed container by inter-engagement of said first and second connection elements, wherein: in said first mode of operation of said cap, said teat is connected to said feed container in a dispensing position thereof, said cap is fitted over and encloses the teat; and in the second mode of operation of the cap, said teat is seated on said stowing formations in a non-dispensing position of said teat spaced from said feed container, said stowing formations being disposed around the inside of said cap so that spaces are defined therebetween and between the teat and the cap, whereby the internal and external surfaces of said teat, and the surface of the feed container that contact the liquid feed, are in fluid communication with each other, at least through said spaces, so that sterilization of said teat and said feed container can be carried out with a fluid sterilizing medium disposed in said feed container or said cap; the method comprising forming a sterilizing chamber between the feed container and the cap by releaseable engagement of the cap over an open end of the feed container; stowing the teat in the cap in said non-dispensing position; and disposing sterilising medium in the chamber.