Abstract:
A nursing bottle for automatically rinsing a baby&#39;s teeth by independently dispensing first and second liquids, includes a nursing bottle having a nipple, a rinsing device having a dispensing end and a plurality of dispensing holes adjacent to the dispensing end for retaining the second liquid within the rinsing device while the nursing bottle receives the first liquid, and dispensing the second liquid automatically when the first liquid has been substantially depleted. The second liquid remains retained within the rinsing device when the bottle is at least substantially inverted due to the pressure of the first liquid at the dispensing holes and the vacuum created inside the rinsing device. When the first liquid is depleted sufficiently to expose at least one dispensing hole, the pressure is released, air is introduced into the rinsing device and the second liquid is dispensed through the other dispensing hole. As a result, the second liquid is automatically released from the rinsing device and into the nipple to rinse the baby&#39;s teeth at the proper time.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to a nursing bottle, and more particularly to a nursing bottle for babies, which automatically rinses the babies&#39; teeth after the contents of the nursing bottle have been emptied by dispensing a first liquid and subsequently dispensing a second liquid after the first liquid, thus preventing decay of the babies&#39; teeth. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Typically, a baby goes to sleep after drinking a bottle of milk or formula from a nursing bottle. Likewise, a baby will fall completely asleep with a nursing bottle in its mouth while still drinking from the bottle. This results in the milk or other contents from the nursing bottle maintaining contact with the baby&#39;s teeth for extended periods of time which results in tooth decay of the baby&#39;s teeth. 
     A number of improvements have been made to the conventional nursing bottle for administering a second liquid which is distinct from the contents of the nursing bottle. However, these improvements have typically been in the area of medicine dispensing in connection with a nursing bottle. In these systems, a conventional baby bottle has a tube or syringe either within the bottle or on the exterior of the bottle. A first solution such as baby formula is placed within the bottle while medicine is placed within the tube. The two solutions are either mixed prior to administering both solutions to the baby or the second solution is manually released into the baby&#39;s bottle while the baby is ingesting the first solution. In both systems, the second solution is released manually and prior to the first solution being substantially emptied from the bottle. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,680,441 to Krammer, issued Jun. 8, 1954, discloses a nursing bottle having a separate syringe attached to the nipple of the nursing bottle. The syringe contains a rubber bulb adjacent to the closed end of the bottle which must be manually depressed to empty the contents of the syringe. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,895 to Roskilly, issued Apr. 18, 1989, discloses a nursing bottle having a separate syringe attached to the nipple in a similar manner as the Krammer reference. The plunger of the syringe must be manually depressed to administer the contents of the syringe into the nipple of the nursing bottle. 
     Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,122 to Botts, issued Sep. 14, 1993, also discloses a nursing bottle having a manually operated syringe disposed within the nursing bottle. However, as with the prior art, the plunger of the syringe must be manually operated, which is inconvenient. 
     A related type of nursing bottle comprises two separate compartments within the nursing bottle, wherein one compartment is punctured to release the contents into the second compartment. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,786,769 to Greenspan, issued Mar. 26, 1957, discloses a nursing bottle having an inner compartment which is punctured using a threaded shank or screw, which must be manually operated from the exterior of the nursing bottle. The Greenspan reference, however, does not rinse the baby&#39;s teeth as it is incapable of delivering a first liquid of the nursing bottle and subsequently delivering a second liquid to the baby. Instead, Greenspan discloses the manual mixing of both liquids prior to delivery of the solution to the baby. 
     Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,741,383 to Wittwer, issued Jun. 26, 1973, discloses a nursing bottle having an inner compartment which is punctured with a sharp object such as a needle prior to administering the contents of the nursing bottle to the baby. 
     Another nursing bottle design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,655,279 to Wolf, issued Oct. 13, 1953, wherein a flexible tube having a weighted end is placed within the nursing bottle. The tube has a hollow bore running throughout which allows passage of the contents of the nursing bottle to the nipple. The first end of the tube is attached to the nipple while the second end of the tube is placed near the bottom surface of the nursing bottle. The weighted member enables the tube to bend when the nursing bottle is moved from a vertical to a horizontal orientation. As a result, the second end of the tube remains submerged in the contents of the nursing bottle regardless of the orientation of the bottle thereby eliminating the excessive intake of air. However, this nursing bottle does not provide two separate compartments for independently delivering two separate liquids but instead provides a tube for delivering only one liquid. 
     Medicine dispensing nursing bottles are known and disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,701 to Roth at al., issued Jul. 9, 1991, which has a medication vile disposed within the bottle. However, this nursing bottle does not allow any liquid to be dispensed from within the bottle itself but only from the medication vile which is completely sealed in relation to the nipple. Therefore, the bottle only houses the vile and is not in open communication with it. 
     In another design, a rinsing device is used, but a valve is required to open and close dispensing holes at the appropriate time. Moving parts, however, make the device more difficult to clean and more costly to manufacture. In addition, the moving valve can stick. Also, due to the moving valve and the positioning of the dispensing holes, the second liquid may be discharged prematurely, thereby preventing the first liquid from clearing out substantially from the nipple before the second liquid is dispensed. This causes a substantial amount of the first liquid to mix with the second liquid, thereby diminishing the rinsing effect of the second liquid. Furthermore, the valve embodiment is limited by the angled positioning of the rinsing device. For example, if the rinsing device is horizontal or near horizontal, the valve will not slide to expose the dispensing holes due to the lack of gravitational pull in the proper direction. If the rinsing device is completely vertical, air cannot enter through the dispensing holes. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a nursing bottle capable of delivering a first liquid to a baby, such as baby formula, and then rinsing the first liquid from the baby&#39;s mouth by subsequently delivering a second liquid, such as fluoride water, wherein the second liquid is delivered automatically upon the first liquid being substantially dispensed from the bottle without the need for moving parts. In addition, there is a need for an automatically rinsing baby bottle that can automatically dispense a second liquid while a baby is drinking from the baby bottle regardless of the angle or orientation of the bottle. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved nursing bottle for rinsing a baby&#39;s teeth after drinking formula from the nursing bottle. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nursing bottle for rinsing as baby&#39;s teeth by automatically dispensing a second liquid subsequent to a first liquid, when the first liquid is substantially depleted. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nursing bottle that can dispense a second liquid regardless of the relative position of the baby bottle to the baby&#39;s mouth so long as the bottle is positioned to allow the baby to drink from the bottle. 
     In carrying out the above and other objects of the invention in one form, there is provided as nursing bottle, comprising a bottle, rinsing device having a plurality of openings and/or tubes, and a nipple. The bottle has an open end for receiving the first liquid and a second closed end for retaining the first liquid. The rinsing device, configured to be housed in the bottle and store a second liquid, has a dispensing end adjacent the open end of the bottle for dispensing the second liquid within the bottle. The nipple is mounted on the open end of the bottle for dispensing the first and second liquids to the baby through the discharge hole of the nipple. The openings or tubes are positioned adjacent the dispensing end of the rinsing device for retaining the second liquid within the rinsing device when the bottle is at least substantially inverted until the first liquid drops below at least one hole or tube. As a result, the rinsing device automatically releases the second liquid into the nipple to rinse the baby&#39;s teeth. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevation view of an embodiment of a nursing bottle of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an embodiment of a rinsing device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is a side view of an embodiment of a removable cover. 
         FIG. 3B  is a top view of the removable cover shown in  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4  is an elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  is a top view of the removable cover shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 5B  is a side view of the removable cover shown in  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 5C  is an elevation view of the rinsing device shown in  FIG. 4  with the removable cover removed. 
         FIG. 6  is an elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7A  is a top view of the removable cover shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 7B  is a side view of the removable cover shown in  FIG. 7A . 
         FIG. 7C  is a perspective view of the removable cover shown in  FIG. 7A . 
         FIG. 8  is an elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9A  is a top view of the removable cover shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 9B  is a side view of the removable cover shown in  FIG. 9A . 
         FIG. 9C  is an elevation view of the rinsing device shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of the cover shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of the rinsing device shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Referring to the figures, a nursing bottle  1  for babies includes a conventional bottle  2  having a screw-threaded neck  3  defining an opening  14 , an end wall  9  opposite the opening  14 , an annular screw-threaded bottle top  4 , and a rubber teat or nipple  5  defining a discharge hole  15 , as is well known in the art. 
     A rinsing device  50  is configured to be housed inside the nursing bottle  1 . Preferably, the rinsing device  50  is in the form of a hollow tube  6 , positioned along a vertical axis  16  of the bottle  2 . The tube  6  has first and second ends  7  and  8 , respectively, wherein the first end  7  or dispensing end may have an opening  13  which is positioned in proximity to the nipple  5  while the second end  8  is positioned in proximity to the end wall  9  of the bottle  2 . The second end  8  may be attached, either permanently or releasably, to the end wall  9 , but is preferably unattached. Therefore, when the rinsing device  50  is properly positioned inside the bottle  2 , as shown in  FIG. 1 ,  4 ,  6  or  8  two separate cavities are defined. The first cavity  52  is defined by the inner side wall  18  of the bottle  2 . The second cavity  54  is defined by the inner side wall  64  of the rinsing device  50 . The first cavity  52  receives a first liquid  70 , such as milk, baby formula, or some other nutritional liquid, while the second cavity  54  receives a second liquid  72 , such as water, a fluoride solution, or some other rinsing liquid. 
     The rinsing device  50  is configured to be placed inside the bottle  2 . The rinsing device  50  comprises at least one side wall  64  for storing the second liquid  72 . In the preferred embodiment, the rinsing device  50  is cylindrical in shape having a dispensing end  7 , and a closed end  8  opposite the dispensing end  7 . The rinsing device  50  can have any other cross-sectional shape, such as oval, triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc., thereby having multiple side walls. 
     When the rinsing device  50  is properly placed inside the bottle  2 , the dispensing end  7  of the rinsing device  50  is adjacent to the open end  14  of the bottle  2 . The closed end  8  of the rinsing device  50  may be situated at the closed end  9  of the bottle  2 . In some embodiments, to increase the volume capacity of the first liquid  70  in the bottle  2 , the rinsing device  50  may be shortened and seated on radially inward protrusions from the inner wall  18  of the bottle  2 . The positioning of the protrusions should be in a manner such that when the rinsing device  50  is seated on the protrusions, the dispensing end  7  of the rinsing device  50  is adjacent to the open end  14  of the bottle  2 . 
     The rinsing device  50  defines at least one dispensing holes  80   a - c  adjacent or near the dispensing end  7 . In some embodiments, the dispensing holes  80   a - c  are on the side wall  64  of the rinsing device  50  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In some embodiments, the dispensing holes  80   a - c  may be on a top wall or a cover  90  as shown in  FIGS. 1-10B . The dispensing holes  80   a - c  allow the second fluid  72  to be dispensed from the rinsing device  50  by allowing air to enter through at least one of the dispensing holes while the second liquid  72  is released from another dispensing hole. The dispensing holes  80   a - c  can release the second liquid  72  directly into the bottle  2 , or through an opening  94   a - d  of a tube  92   a - c  connected to the rinsing device  50  at a dispensing hole  80   a - c . In the preferred embodiment, the dispensing holes  80   a - c  should be small enough such that when the rinsing device  50  is inverted, and air is unable to enter through any of the dispensing holes  80   a - c , the second liquid  72  cannot escape through the dispensing holes  80   a - c . In the preferred embodiment, the dispensing holes  80   a - c  are 1 mm to 5 mm in diameter. Preferably, the dispensing holes are 1 mm to 3 mm in diameter. 
     The cover  90  may be a removable cover so as to expose the main opening  13  of the dispensing device  50  to fill the dispensing device  50  with the second liquid  72 . The cover  90  may be defined by a side wall  100  dimensioned substantially similar to the side wall  64  of the rinsing device  50  so as to create a resistance fit. In some embodiments, the cover  90  or side wall  62  may have tubes  92   a - c  with openings  94   a - d  in fluid communication with the dispensing holes  80   a - c . In the preferred embodiment, the openings  94   a - d  of the tubes  92   a - c  are uncovered or unobstructed, meaning there are no fixed or moveable physical obstructions are barriers created by any portion of the nursing bottle  1  or rinsing device  50  that would prevent, hinder, or obstruct the flow of the second liquid  72  through the openings  94   a - d.    
     In use, when the rinsing device  50  and the bottle  2  are inverted, the openings  94   a - d  remain submerged in the first liquid  70  when a substantial amount of the first liquid  70  remains in the bottle  2 . The first liquid  70  creates pressure against the openings  94   a - d  and/or the dispensing holes  80   a - c , and prevents any air from entering into the rinsing device  50 . This causes the second liquid  72  to remain in the rinsing device  50 . When the first liquid  70  is sufficiently depleted so as to expose one of the openings  94   a - d , air is allowed in through one of the openings (e.g.  94   c ) and into its respective dispensing holes (e.g.  80   c ), which causes the second liquid  72  to be released through another dispensing hole (e.g.  80   a ) and its respective opening (e.g.  94   a ). 
     In some embodiments, the rinsing device  50  comprises one or more tubes  92   a - c  attached to or integrally formed with the outer side wall  62  or cover  90  at least one of the dispensing holes  80   a - c . The tubes  92   a - c  are hollow having the openings  94   a - d  on the free ends, which are in fluid communication with their respective dispensing hole  80   a - c , through which the second fluid  72  can be dispensed or air introduced. Each tube  92   a - c  may have one or more openings  94   a - d . The openings  94   a - d  may be on the tops of the tubes  92   a - c  or on the sides of the tubes  92   a - c . Preferably, the rinsing device  50  comprises a plurality of tubes  92   a - c , one for each of the dispensing holes  80   a - c . In the preferred embodiment, at least some of the plurality of dispensing holes  80   a - c  and their respective tubes  92   a - c  are evenly and angularly spaced apart about the side wall  62  or cover  90  as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  5 A,  7 A- 7 C,  9 A- 9 B, and  10 A- 10 B. For example, if two dispensing holes  80   b ,  80   c  are on the side wall  62  or cover  90 , then the two dispensing holes  80   b ,  80   c , may be angularly spaced apart by about 180 degrees as shown in  FIG. 2 . If there are three dispensing holes  80   a - c , all on the side wall  62  or cover  90 , then the three holes may be angularly spaced apart by about 120 degrees as shown in  FIG. 5A , and so on. Having multiple dispensing holes  80   a - c  evenly and angularly spaced apart about the side wall  62  or cover  90  allows the nursing bottle  1  to be used as intended regardless of the orientation of the bottle  1  held by the baby. Therefore, while the baby is drinking from the nursing bottle  1 , as the first liquid  70  exposes one of the openings (e.g. opening  94   c ), the respective dispensing hole  80   c  becomes an aerating hole to allow air into the rinsing device  50 . This causes the second liquid  72  to dispense from the other dispensing hole (e.g. dispensing hole  80   b ) and opening (e.g. opening  94   b ). 
     The removable cover  90  was have an extension  96  extending radially outwardly towards the side wall  18  of the bottle  2  to minimize lateral movement of the rinsing device  50  while inside the bottle  2 . An opening is required to allow the first liquid to pass through the extension  96 . Therefore, in some embodiments, the extension  96  may define a gap  98  between the removable cover  90  and the side wall  18  of the bottle  2 . The gap  98  may be created by holes, cutouts, undulations, and the like, within the extension  96 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 4-10B , all of the dispensing holes  80   a - c  may be on the removable cap  90 . The remaining essential features are the same or similar to that of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3B  except as indicated otherwise. The dispensing holes  80   a - c  may have associated with it tubes  92   a - c , one tube attached to or integrally formed with the cover  90  at one dispensing hole  80   a - c . Each tube  92   a - c  may be hollow and have an opening  94   a - d  at its free end having fluid communications with its respective dispensing hole  80   a - c . The openings  94   a - d  at the free end may be at the top of the tubes  92   a - c  as shown in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B. In some embodiments, the openings  94   a - d  at the free end may be on the side wall defining the tubes  92   a - c , as shown in  FIGS. 8-10B . 
     When tubes  92   a - c  are used, the openings may range from approximately 1 mm to approximately 12 mm in diameter. However, when the openings  92   a - c  have a large diameter (e.g. greater than approximately 3 mm) then the diameter of the dispensing hole  80   a - c  should be small (e.g. approximately 3 mm or less). In embodiments in which tubes  92   a - c  are used, if the opening  94   a - d  in the tubes are small (e.g. approximately 3 mm or less), then the diameter of the dispensing holes  80   a - c  can be large (e.g. greater than approximately 3 mm). 
     Preferably, when the openings  94   a - d  are on the sides of the tubes  92   a - c  the openings  94   a - d  may be approximately 1 mm to approximately 3 mm. When the openings  94   a - d  are on the tops of the tubes  92   a - c , the openings  94   a - d  may be approximately 3 mm to 12 mm in diameter. 
     Preferably, the plurality of dispensing holes  80   a - c  and their respective tubes  92   a - c  are evenly and angularly spaced apart about the removable cover  90 . 
     In some embodiments, the tubes  92   a - c  may be arranged vertically on the cover  90  so as to form a perpendicular angle with the top surface of the cover  90  as shown in  FIGS. 8 ,  9 A, and  9 B. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the tubes  92   a - c  may project at an oblique angle from the top surface of the cover  90 . Being on the top surface of the cover  90 , the tubes  92   a - c  are able to project deeper into the nipple  5 . This allows more of the first liquid  70  to be dispensed before the second liquid  72  is dispensed from the rinsing device  50 . Since the tubes  92   a - c  are able to project into the nipple  5 , the amount of the first liquid  70  that remains before the second liquid  72  is dispensed could be less than the volume of the nipple. In some embodiments, the amount of the first liquid  70  that remains before the second liquid b is dispensed can even be reduced to the volume of the bulbous tip of the nipple. 
     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 6-7   c , the removable cover  90  may have a single, large tube  92  protruding above the extension  96 . The tube  92  may be an extension of the side wall  100  of the cover  90 . The tube  92  may have one large opening  94   a  as shown in  FIG. 2 . In some embodiments, the top of the tube  92  may be closed, and the tube  92  may comprise a plurality of smaller openings  94   a - d . The openings  94   a - d  may be positioned on the side wall  100  of the tube  92 . A cap  104  may be used to seal the top of the removable cover  90 . The openings  94   a - d  may be evenly and angularly spaced apart from each other around the cylindrical sidewall  100 . So, in this example having four openings  94   a - d , each opening  94   a - d  may be angularly spaced apart by approximately 90 degrees apart from each other. A dispensing hole  80  allows the fluid to travel from the dispensing tube  50  through the cover  90 . The remaining essential features are the same as or similar to that of the previous embodiments. 
     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims appended hereto.