Abstract:
A disposable liquid container and dispensing device suitable as a snack for an infant comprising a nipple member and a collapsible reservoir. The collapsible reservoir contains a small portion of liquid such as baby formula or juice and is preferably constructed of material flexible enough so that it may collapse into the interior of the nipple when substantially empty. Several such containers is arranged in a convenience pack for traveling or other use.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the full benefit of my Provisional Application Serial No. 60/471,280 filed May 16, 2003, having the same title. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    There is a need for a convenient method of providing infants with small amounts of liquid. The liquid may be a small amount of milk or liquid formula, or a dosage of medicine. Desirably, the container would be prepackaged, including a nipple and a small amount of formula, juice, or other liquid, requiring essentially no preparation and being disposable. Such a device would be particularly useful and beneficial during travel or in circumstances where it is difficult to prepare a full bottle or inconvenient to nurse the infant. Nursing requires that motorists pull off the road in order to move the infant from the infant car seat.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    I have invented a disposable infant snack or medicine dispenser which requires no preparation by the user.  
           [0004]    In the preferred form of my invention, there are four components—a nipple, a mouthguard, a collapsible reservoir, and a liquid substantially filling the collapsible reservoir. The liquid will substantially fill the nipple as well as the reservoir, although this is not essential to my invention. The contents of the reservoir/nipple may be milk, juice, infant formula, a solution of electrolyte, vitamins, or medication. The reservoir may be constructed in such a way as to eliminate the need for a separate mouthguard.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred version of the assembled liquid dispensing device of my invention.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a preferred construction of the invention.  
         [0007]    In FIG. 3, a perspective view of an alternative preferred construction is presented.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b  show a preferred mouthguard construction and a connection between the reservoir and the nipple in the assembled device of FIG. 3.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 5 shows the device of FIGS. 3 and 4 after use, with the reservoir collapsed into the nipple.  
         [0010]    In FIG. 6, a vacuum formed  6 -pack of my invention is shown ready for retailing. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]    In FIG. 1, mouthguard  1  is fixed in sealed relation to nipple  2 , and reservoir  3  is fixed in sealed relation to mouthguard  1 . Together, the mouthguard  1  and nipple  2  form a mouthpiece  4 . Nipple  2  is made of any conventional rubbery substance normally used for infant nipples, and mouthguard  1  is preferably made of a more rigid material, such as a synthetic plastic. While the nipple  2  may be compression fit or inserted in a form-fitting manner through a hole  5  in mouthguard  1  without chemical sealing, it is preferred that the nipple  2  is heat-sealed, chemically sealed, or otherwise fixed in leak-free relation to the mouthguard  1 . Compression fitting is preferred to minimize the chemical content of the device. The nipple and mouthguard may be molded as a single unitary device. Reservoir  3  is chemically sealed or heat sealed or compression fit around the periphery of mouthguard  1 , and is filled with a liquid not shown. Reservoir  3  is made of a highly flexible film so that it will collapse completely on being emptied and is capable of collapsing completely onto the rear surface of the mouthguard  3  and form-fitting the inside of the nipple  2 , as will be seen in FIG. 5.  
         [0012]    In FIG. 2, a simplified section of a preferred construction shows the nipple  2 , mouthguard  1 , reservoir  3 , and liquid  6 . Liquid  6  may be a nutrient such as milk, a milk substitute formula, juice, or water, or a liquid vitamin solution or liquid medicine. There is no valve or other obstruction between the nipple  2  and the reservoir  3 . Reservoir  3 , together with the volume within nipple  2 , holds several ounces, for example up to three ounces or more of liquid in this preferred configuration. Preferably there is no air in either the reservoir or the nipple—that is, the liquid substantially fills the total volume of the reservoir and nipple. A preferred amount of liquid will be from one-fourth ounce to 2.5 ounces, more preferably from one-half ounce to two ounces, and most preferably from three-quarters ounce to 1.5 ounces. A band  20  covering at least a portion of the device is intended to block or seal off the open end of the nipple  2  so that liquid will not escape in the package or prematurely when the user is ready to dispense. It may completely encircle or completely enclose the device. The user simply removes the band  20  or other cover and the device is ready for the infant to use. Preferably the band  20  has no adhesive in contact with the nipple  2 ; any cover effective to prevent leakage through the front end of the nipple  2  is contemplated within the scope of my invention. Preferably it may be a clinging type of film. Reservoir  3  and mouthguard  1  may be a unitary element. That is, the reservoir  3  may incorporate mouthguard  1  as a part of it, forming a continuous flexible sheet fitting around the base of nipple  2 . Preferably the portion shown as mouthguard  1  will nevertheless be somewhat stiff and larger in diameter than the base of nipple  2 .  
         [0013]    The FIG. 3 configuration shows a construction wherein the reservoir  3  is sealably fixed directly at  21  to the nipple  2  rather than to mouthguard  1 . In the manufacturing process, the mouthguard may be added to the nipple/reservoir before or after filling the reservoir/nipple with liquid. This variation also illustrates optional vent holes  22 .  
         [0014]    In FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b , a variation of the FIG. 3 configuration is shown. In particular, the mouthpiece has a concave curve  10  in order to avoid discomfort by contact with the infant&#39;s nose.  
         [0015]    The perspective of FIG. 5 is offered to show the device after use. It will be seen that the reservoir  3  has collapsed, not only to near the level of the mouthguard  1 , but into the base opening  40  of nipple  2 . Preferably the shape, design and volume of the reservoir  3  will be selected to assure that, when the reservoir  3  collapses into nipple  2 , it will have emptied completely and will also empty liquid from the interior of nipple  2 . Although the infant will have consumed the contents of the reservoir, he or she could, of course, continue to use the device, preferably temporarily, as a pacifier. Otherwise, it may be discarded.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a package suitable for retail, in which six of my devices are displayed, ready for use. The devices  7  are substantially sterilized both as to the contents of the reservoir to provide an appropriate shelf life but also on the nipple surface in particular. The “six-snack” package shows each device in an individual airtight container  8 . In this illustration, perforations  30  enable the purchaser to separate one snack device at a time in order to preserve the sterility of the others, leaving them in the package. Also in this example, one device  7   a  is shown with a protective or sealing band  20 . The band  20  or other separate closure for the front end of the nipple may not be necessary if the container  8  is designed to perform its function. Any convenient number of snack devices can be placed in such a container. The devices may also be packed back-to-back or stacked, but in any case it is preferred that each device have its own separate sterile container.