Patent ID: 8479934
Filing Date: 2013-07-09
Classification: A61J

Abstract:
1. A nursing bottle assembly having a container with a closed bottom end, a top end opposite said bottom end and having an opening therein for receiving liquid into an interior of the container, a neck at the top end with an inner diameter defining the size of the opening at the top end, a nipple, and a threaded collar sealing between said nipple and said neck while allowing liquid to flow from said container to said nipple, and to provide closure for the opening at the top end, wherein the improvement comprises: a vent unit having an insert with an integral vent tube and a reservoir with a reservoir tube; said insert generally providing venting to said bottle assembly while resting upon said neck, having an integral insert portion, said integral vent tube depending from the center of said insert portion, said reservoir depending from the center of said insert portion with said vent tube locating within said reservoir, and said reservoir tube in communication with said reservoir and depending from said reservoir; said insert having a horizontal aperture along its diameter; said insert portion sealing to said top end, having a perimeter sealing flange extending downwardly and inwardly adjacent to said neck and a horizontal aperture therethrough for communicating with the interior of said container, an inferior surface, and a sealing bulge depending from said inferior surface and resting upon said neck of said bottle when assembled; said vent tube being in communication with said horizontal aperture; and, said reservoir depending from the inferior surface of said insert; said reservoir tube being generally hollow, said reservoir tube having a distal end disposed proximate to the bottom of said container and being open to the interior of the container to facilitate venting; wherein said horizontal aperture of said insert, said vent tube of said insert, said reservoir, and said reservoir venting tube cooperate for continuous venting of said assembly without introduction of air into the liquid and without creation of vacuum in said assembly; said reservoir having a generally hollow cylindrical shape with an upper end joined below said insert portion and an opposite lower end joining to said reservoir tube; said venting tube of said insert having a length generally more than its diameter and a distal end, and being generally perpendicular to said insert portion; an inner space of said reservoir having a volumetric capacity and a volumetric center, and said distal end of said vent of said insert generally opening near the volumetric center of said reservoir; said venting tube having a length greater than its diameter; said insert having two concentric spaced apart minor flanges integrally extending downwardly therefrom, said minor flanges receiving the upper end of said reservoir in a sealing press fit therebetween; and wherein said insert seals to the said nursing bottle, and holds the upper end of the reservoir between its concentric spaced apart minor flanges during usage of the nursing bottle assembly.