Abstract:
A receptacle-type heating device for automatically warming and vibrating a multitude of containers simultaneously in order to thaw, warm, and mix cold or frozen liquid in an expedient and accurate manner. The device heats each container to a desired temperature using heat exchange of heated water with the container. The device includes a heater block having multiple wells therein, and removable reservoirs disposed respectively within the wells for receiving the water. Heating elements are disposed between the removable reservoirs and the heater block within the wells for heating the removable reservoirs, the water, and the containers placed therein. The container typically is a baby bottle, syringe, test tube, or the like.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to receptacle devices used to heat fluid bearing containers. More specifically, this invention relates to a novel receptacle-type heating device for warming baby bottles containing breast milk in a quick, reliable, and automated manner. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, devices for warming fluid containers have been used extensively in the prior art. Until now, however, there have been no such devices suitable for use in warming baby bottles in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) of a hospital. NICU are responsible, among many other things, for administering substrate, formula, or breast milk to newborn infants. Recent medical studies reinforce the fact that newborns benefit significantly from receiving colostrum—the first milk of the mother after giving birth. Colostrum is known to supply extremely high concentrations of antibodies essential to the development of a newborn&#39;s immune system, and is also thought to aid in establishing digestion of the newborn. Accordingly, it is absolutely critical to capture the colostrum from the mother and carefully preserve it for later administration to the newborn as quickly, cleanly, and safely as possible. 
     In current practice, NICU nurses capture breast milk from the mother in baby bottles, refrigerate or freeze the breast milk, rewarm the breast milk, and feed it to the newborn. Newborns tend to feed about eight times per day, which necessitates frequent thawing, warming, and administering of breast milk. This frequent and time consuming process wastes an enormous amount of time for the NICU nurses, especially due to the manually intensive method of thawing and warming the breast milk. Using a microwave to warm the breast milk is not a viable option since such a process has a detrimental effect on the quality of the breast milk. 
     Instead, the breast milk is thawed and warmed by placing the baby bottle into a large insulated cup full of hot tap water. Due to simple heat transfer principles, the hot water quickly cools down even before the breast milk has had a chance to thaw, much less warm up to body temperature. Therefore, NICU nurses must repeatedly add hot water to the insulated cup in order to thaw and warm the breast milk. As such, NICU nurses waste precious time maintaining an archaic warming process instead of attending to newborns. In the alternative, NICU nurses sometimes leave the insulated cup and baby bottle under a faucet of running hot water. Unfortunately, this approach works, for only one bottle at a time and, if left unattended, results in a temporary depletion of hot water supply or possibly overheated breast milk. 
     There are other problems with the insulated cup warming process. For one, since the method is entirely manual and subjective, it is possible that the temperature of the breast milk is inadequately warmed and is either too cold or too hot. Additionally, it is important that the bottle be shaken to agitate and properly mix the breast milk; however, because of the often hurried pace of an NICU and the manual nature of the warming process the baby bottles are not always adequately shaken. Finally, the current warming process results in a mess of half full insulated cups lying about on NICU counter tops that often times are inadvertently knocked over, creating an even bigger mess and an aura of untidiness. 
     The prior art has suggested use of heated bath immersion devices. For example, one complicated apparatus in effect accomplishes the same result as the insulated cup/running tap water process mentioned above. U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,435 to Fosco, Jr. teaches a bottle warmer that uses a thermal transfer fluid to heat a baby feeding bottle. Fosco, Jr. discloses a portable device having an open top cup-like container for holding hot water therein. A removable platform is positioned within the container for suspending a baby bottle inside the container in contact with the hot water. The removable platform separates the container into an upper and lower chamber. An open-ended tube extends from the top of the container down into the lower chamber for conveying incoming tap water thereto. Accordingly, the portable device is placed under a faucet dispensing running hot water such that the hot water is directed down into the open-ended tube. The hot water thus enters the lower chamber and is forced under pressure up around the sides of the suspended baby bottle and into the upper chamber until it exits via the open top of the container. Obviously, the Fosco, Jr. warmer provides an unnecessarily complex apparatus for bottle warming that, in effect, is substantially similar to the insulated cup method that NICU nurses currently use. Therefore, Fosco, Jr. does not address, much less solve, the above-mentioned problems. Furthermore, the background section of Fosco, Jr. discusses the shortcomings of several other receptacle-type devices that need not be further explored here. 
     Additionally, the prior art has suggested use of dry block heaters for heating test tubes. Dry block designs typically use metal blocks having a central or localized heating passage therethrough. A series of tube wells are typically arranged in a pattern within the metal block in close proximity to the heating passage. Heat flowing through the heating passage transfers through the block, into the tube wells, and into test tubes placed in the tube wells. This design has one significant drawback in particular. The tube wells are of a necessarily fixed diameter to accept a slightly undersized test tube, thereby establishing a close fitting relationship between the metal block and test tubes to enable effective heat transfer therebetween. Unfortunately, this configuration is not flexible enough to permit use of a variety of sizes of test tubes with a particular block. Therefore, only one size of test tube, or baby bottle, could be used with such a device. Since different NICU inevitably use bottles from different manufacturers that are of different sizes and shapes, this type of fixed block design is not practical for the purposes intended according to the present invention. 
     From the above, it can be appreciated that baby bottle warming methods and apparatus of the prior art are not fully optimized. Therefore, what is needed is an automatic bottle-heating device that quickly, accurately, individually, and simultaneously warms and vibrates a multitude of baby bottles so as to adequately heat and mix breast milk contained therein. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a device for warming and vibrating a multitude of baby bottles simultaneously in order to thaw, warm, and mix refrigerated breast milk in an expedient and accurate manner. The device heats each baby bottle to a desired temperature using heat exchange of water with the baby bottle. The device includes a heater block having several wells therein. Several removable reservoirs for receiving the water are disposed respectively within the wells of the heater block. Several heating elements are provided for heating the removable reservoirs and the water contained therein. The heating elements are disposed respectively between the removable reservoirs and the heater block within the wells of the heater block. 
     In operation, the device is plugged into a standard wall socket and is switched on with a master switch. Each heating element is individually activated by throwing its own dedicated switch. Current thereby flows from the wall socket to the heating element thus causing heat to emanate therefrom. The heat flows easily through each removable reservoir, through the water contained therein, through the baby bottle, and into the breast milk. Optionally, the heating device can be mounted atop a vibrator device that is used to agitate and mix the breast milk. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a heating device that when compared to using hot tap water, more quickly, cleanly, and accurately thaws and warms liquid inside of a container. 
     It is another object to provide a heating device that does not require use of hot tap water and that warms liquid inside of a container to a predetermined temperature without overheating the liquid. 
     It is still another object to provide a heating device that automatically agitates and mixes liquid inside of a container. 
     It is yet another object to provide a heating device that accommodates a range of sizes of containers to be heated. 
     It is a further object to provide a heating device that is capable of warming a multitude of containers individually and simultaneously. 
     It is still a further object to provide a heating device that accomplishes the above-mentioned objectives using a unique receptacle design configuration by incorporating certain features of well-known consumer household appliances such as heating elements of toaster ovens and thermostatic circuits of coffee makers. 
     It is yet a further object to provide a heating device for heating baby bottles, syringes, test tubes, and the like. 
     These objects and other features, aspects, and advantages of this invention will be more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a partial perspective view of a heating device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 1B is the rest of the partial perspective view of the heating device of FIG. 1A; and 
     FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the heating device of FIG. 1 illustrating a baby bottle disposed within a heating chamber of a heater block. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now in detail to the Figures, there is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B a heating device  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The heating device  10  generally includes a shaker or vibrator  20  and a heater block  30  mounted thereto. 
     The vibrator  20  is of a generally flat, rectangular shape and has suction cup feet  22  rendering the vibrator  20  suitable for use on a counter top. The vibrator includes a switch  24 , a power cord  28 , and raised comers  26  for retaining an item thereto. In general, similar such devices are typically found in chemistry laboratories, are well known in the art, and are readily available from Amerex Instruments, Inc. and Jepson Bolton, Inc., for example. 
     The heater block  30  is mounted to the vibrator  20  within the confines of the raised comers  26 . The heater block  30  is also preferably rectangular and is preferably composed of an insulative type of material such as cork, synthetic cork, or a thermoset polymer. Alternatively, the heater block  30  can be composed of a thermoplastic or ceramic material. The heater block  30  is manufactured preferably by cutting a block of cork from raw stock and machining necessary features therein. Alternatively, a synthetic cork or thermoset polymer material can be molded to the desired shape and features of the heater block  30 . The heater block  30  preferably includes eight heating chambers  32  but may include any number of heating chambers  32  for warming fluid-bearing containers therein, such as baby bottles  34 . It is preferable to use individual isolated heating chambers  32 , instead of one large bath, to avoid cross-communication of contaminants found on the exterior of the bottles  34 . The heating chambers  32  are preferably sized to accommodate 2 oz. to 8 oz. baby bottles. It is important to accommodate the small 2 oz. baby bottle  34  to conserve on the precious breast milk contents thereof. It is contemplated that the heater block  30  could also be used to warm syringes, test tubes, or any other type of container. A display surface  36  of the heater block  30  is preferably composed of a “dry-erase” style marking surface to permit identification of each baby bottle  34 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown in cross section one of the eight heating chambers  32 . The heating chamber  32  is defined primarily by a void or well  38  that is machined or formed in the heater block  30 . Additionally, the heating chamber  32  includes a sleeve  40 , a heating element  42 , and a removable reservoir  44  filled with a heat-conducting medium, such as water  46 . 
     The sleeve  40  is preferably made from stainless steel or a thermoset polymer and is inserted into the well  38  of the heater block  30  to protect the material of the heater block  30  from the heat effects of the heating element  42 . Where the heater block  30  is made from a thermoset polymer having heat resistant properties, the sleeve  40  is not necessary and may be eliminated. 
     The heating element  42  is preferably a rigid resistor coil wound in a spiral pattern about an inside bottom portion of the sleeve  40  or directly inside the well  38  if the sleeve  40  is not used. The heating element  42  is similar to those found on stove top ranges or toaster ovens in a household kitchen, and is similarly water resistant. Alternatively, the heating element  42  could be flexible, similar to those found in a household toaster. A wire connector  48  connects to the heating element  42  to supply electricity thereto, as will be discussed hereinafter. In the alternative, it is contemplated that a gas fired heat supply could replace the electrical heating element  42 . 
     The removable reservoir  44  is preferably made from food-grade stainless steel and is inserted atop the heating element  42 . The removable reservoir  44  may be removed to enable easier cleaning thereof and to provide access to the heating element  42  for replacement or repair. An annular flange  50  locates the removable reservoir  44  relative to the heater block  30  and provides a splash guard feature to prevent water from reaching the heating element  42 . The shape of the removable reservoir  44  is preferably cylindrical as shown, but may be in the shape of a conical flask to mitigate spillage of liquid therefrom during vibration or shaking. The removable reservoir  44  includes a predetermined volume of heat conducting media therein, such as the water  46 . The water  46  is filled approximately half-way such that the water  46  does not overflow out of the removable reservoir  44  when the baby bottle  34  is inserted therein. Alternatively, any other heat conducting medium may be used such as an organic liquid, silicone gel, a powder, or glass shot. 
     The bottle  34  is preferably a 2 oz. baby bottle, but the heating device  10  should also accommodate up to an 8 oz. baby bottle. The bottle  34  may include a temperature sensor thereon that alerts a caregiver when a predetermined desired breast milk temperature has been reached. Preferably, however, a temperature sensing device is built in to the heating device  10  itself as will be described in more detail below. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the heater block  30  derives power from a standard 120 volt power outlet (not shown) via a standard power cord  52 . The power cord  52  is connected to a main switch  54  that, in turn, is wired to each of eight heating chamber switches  56  that are in turn wired to respective heating elements  42 . The main switch  54  and heating chamber switches  56  are preferably rocker style switches having indicator dots (not shown) thereon for indicating when the switch is on and the heating element shown in FIG. 2 is energized. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that standard wiring practices can be employed to connect the main switch  54  to the heating chamber switches  56  and the heating chamber switches  56  to each respective wire connector  48 . 
     When the main switch  54  is on, and the heating chamber switch  56  on, current passes to the heating element  42  of FIG.  2 . Referring again to FIG. 2, the heating element  42  supplies heat to the removable reservoir  44 . Because the removable reservoir  44  is composed of thin steel and is, therefore, a good conductor, the removable reservoir  44  readily conducts heat from the heating element  42  into the water  46 . The water  46  quickly warms up to approximately human body temperature or slightly thereover. Accordingly, the water  46  supplies heat to the baby bottle  34  disposed within the well  38  of the heater block  30  to thaw or warm the contents thereof. In order to more quickly heat and thoroughly mix the contents of the baby bottle  34 , it is preferable to activate the vibrator  20  to mildly vibrate or shake the contents of the baby bottles  34 . The vibration keeps the milk fat in solution with the rest of the substrate and thereby prevents separation of the substrate. The vibration also mixes different types of additives that can be added to a formula or breast milk. As mentioned above, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vibrator  20  is separate from the heater block  30 , but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it can also be integrated with the heater block  30  if desired. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 1A and 1B, it is preferable that the heating device  10  include a built-in thermostat  60  to detect when the fluid temperature has stabilized at the desired level. This also ensures that the milk is thoroughly thawed, warmed, but not overheated, and thus provides sufficiently warm breast milk without the risk of burning the newborn. The thermostat  60  outputs to a light emitting diode  58  that glows or flashes when the desired temperature has been achieved and preferably includes an “auto shutoff” timer feature that cuts power to the heating element  42  after a predetermined time interval, such as a half hour. 
     Such thermostats  60  and related circuitry are well known in the art and are exemplified by similar devices commonly found in consumer coffee makers. As such, a thermostat circuit preferably includes a solid-state temperature sensor (not shown) that interrupts current when the heating element  42  reaches a certain predetermined temperature. When the temperature sensor cools down, it then reestablishes current flow to the heating element  42 . By cycling on and off in this manner, the temperature sensor will maintain the heating element  42  at an even, predetermined temperature. One skilled in the art will recognize that selection of the temperature sensor is dependent upon the desired predetermined temperature of the heating element  42  as well as the thermodynamic capacity of the heating chamber  32 . In other words, a large heating chamber holding a large volume of water will need a larger capacity temperature sensor than a smaller heating chamber holding a smaller volume of water. Additionally, a thermal fuse (not shown) can be connected between the heating element  42  and the heating chamber switch  56  of FIGS. 1A and 1B as a safety feature to interrupt current flow in the event of significant overheating. 
     In general, the prior art of designing and manufacturing consumer appliances such as toasters, toaster ovens, coffee makers, and the like can be consulted to provide examples of how to incorporate wiring, switches, lights, timers, and thermostat devices into the present invention. Such designs and related manufacturing methods are considered generally well known in the art, and are not set forth in great detail herein. 
     While the present invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the teachings of the present invention are also well suited to test tube warmers, syringe warmers, and the like. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other applications, including those outside of the neo-natal intensive care setting are possible with this invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to only baby bottle heating devices, and the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.