Baby food feeder

A baby food feeder is disclosed. The baby food feeder includes a lid and a food feeding tube. The lid includes a top panel and a tube receiving passageway disposed along and extending through the top panel. The food feeding tube extends through the tube receiving passageway and includes a support connector to the lid.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a food feeder and, more particularly, to a baby food feeder.

BACKGROUND

Typically, baby food, such as pureed fruits, vegetables, and meats, is stored in glass or plastic containers. These containers generally include a removable lid and the contents are transferred into another container, such as a bowl, before consumption by the baby. For convenience, many users use a utensil to remove the food and feed the baby.

More recently, food pouches have been used for convenience. These known food pouches include a hard nozzle with a cap that creates a liquid and airtight seal of the pouch. The nozzle is sized to fit within a baby's mouth, so that the baby can suck or squeeze the food out of the pouch without need for any other utensils.

While these known baby food pouches provide flexibility and mobility, many major baby food manufacturers do not offer food pouches for consumption. Furthermore, these food pouches are not reusable or adapted to use with known glass or plastic containers.

SUMMARY

In view of the aforementioned shortcomings, an object of the invention, among others, is to provide a baby food feeder having a lid and a food feeding tube. The baby food feeder includes a lid and a food feeding tube. The lid includes a top panel and a tube receiving passageway disposed along and extending through the top panel. The food feeding tube extends through the tube receiving passageway and includes a support connector to the lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to embodiments of a baby food feeder. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and still fully covey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

A baby food feeder1according to the invention is shown inFIG.1. The baby food feeder1includes a lid20, a food feeding tube30, and a storage container10. The major components of the invention will now be described in greater detail.

The lid20will be described with reference toFIGS.1and3-6. As shown, the lid20generally includes a top panel22, a tube receiving passageway23, a sidewall24, and a container receiving cavity26. The lid20may be integrally formed or assembled from a set of pieces. The lid20may be a material such as plastic, but one skilled in the art would appreciate that other materials are possible.

The top panel22, as shown inFIG.5, is a planar surface. In the embodiment, the top panel22is rectangular shaped; however, one skilled in the art would appreciate that the top panel22could be any shape that permits the connections described below.

As shown inFIGS.1,4, and5, the lid20further includes a tube receiving passageway23which defines a hole extending through the top panel22in the shown embodiment. The tube receiving passageway23may be a range of possible diameters for various embodiments, as one skilled in the art would appreciate.

The sidewall24is a continuous wall element extending downward around the circumference of the top panel22. The sidewall24defines the mouth of the container receiving cavity26, as best shown inFIG.3. In the embodiment, the sidewall24is substantially L-shaped in cross section and includes a downward flange24a,best shown inFIG.6, which extends downward from the top panel22. A catch24bis positioned along a distal end of the downward flange24athat is opposite the top panel22. In the shown embodiment, the catch24bis a protrusion extending inward from the downward flange24aand toward the container receiving cavity26. However, the design is not limited to this. For instance, the catch24bcould be a planar wall, hook shaped member or other locking mechanism known to the art.

Now with reference toFIG.1, the food feeding tube30will be described. The food feeding tube30generally includes a proximal end31a,a distal end31b,an outer wall32, a food receiving passageway34, a support connector36, and a valve (not shown). The food feeding tube30may be integrally formed or assembled from a set of pieces. The food feeding tube30may be a rigid material, such as plastic, but one skilled in the art would appreciate that other materials are possible. Additionally, the food feeding tube30may be a resilient material, as will be described later.

As shown, the outer wall32is an elongated tubular element extending between the proximal end31aand the distal end31b.The outer wall32provides the food receiving passageway34therein. In the embodiment, the outer wall32is a cylindrical shaped, however, one skilled in the art would appreciate that the outer wall32could be any shape that permits the connections described below.

The support connector36is disposed around the circumference of the outer wall32and extends away from the outer wall32. The support connector36is positioned between the proximal end31aand distal end31b.

The support connector36may be formed in a variety of shapes, as shown inFIGS.5and7-10. As shown inFIG.5, the support connector36ais an arched element that is symmetrical on both sides of the outer wall32. The support connector36may also be a curved symmetrical element including a flange as in support connector36d,shown inFIG.10, a flat symmetrical flange as in support connector36c,shown inFIG.9, or an asymmetrical curved element as in support connector36b,shown inFIGS.7and8. Other possible embodiments of the support connector36, featuring other combinations of symmetry and shapes, would be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The valve (not shown) may be disposed on the inside of the outer wall32within the food receiving passageway34. The valve may be formed from a plurality of pieces abutting one another. One skilled in the art would appreciate that the number and shape of pieces may vary, or the form of the valve may vary, provided the valve seals the food receiving passageway34.

Now with reference toFIGS.3and5, the storage container10will be described.

The storage container10generally includes food11, a container bottom12, a container wall14, a container cavity16, a container rim18, and a sheet19. The storage container10is rigid, and may be integrally formed from a material such as plastic or glass, but one with skill in the art would appreciate that other materials are possible. The storage container10may alternatively be assembled from a set of pieces. The storage container10may be a baby food container known in the art, such as glass jars or plastic tubs produced by Gerber®, or food containers produced by other manufacturers in a variety of other forms.

The container bottom12is a planar surface. In the embodiment, the container bottom12is a rectangular shaped, however, one skilled in the art would appreciate that the container bottom12could be any shape that permits the connections described below.

A continuous container wall14extends up from the circumference of the container bottom12to define a food receiving cavity16. As shown, food11is optionally contained within the food receiving cavity16.

The top of the container wall14terminates in a substantially continuous container rim18. The container rim18defines the mouth of the container cavity16. In the embodiment, the container rim18is a rectangular shape matching the shape of the container bottom12; however, one skilled in the art would appreciate that the container rim18could be any shape that permits the connections described below. As shown inFIG.6, the container rim18is substantially L-shaped in cross section and includes an annular flange18a,which extends outwardly from the container wall14in a direction away from the food receiving cavity16, and a skirt18b,which extends downwardly from the annular flange18a.

The sheet19optionally covers the container cavity16by contacting the circumference of the container rim18. The sheet19is removably attached to the container rim18, such as by an adhesive material or other attachments known to those with skill in the art. In the embodiment, the sheet19is a flexible plastic material, however, one skilled in the art would appreciate that other materials are possible.

Now reference to the Figures, assembly of the baby food feeder1will now be described.

To form the baby food feeder1, the lid20and food feeding tube30are connected at the support connector36.

In an embodiment of the baby food feeder1shown inFIGS.1,2, and5, the food feeding tube30may be integrally formed with the lid20. As best shown inFIG.5, in this embodiment the support connector36aconnects the food feeding tube30to the top panel22of the lid20. In this embodiment, the support connector36ais formed such that the food feeding tube30extends orthogonally with respect to the top panel22.

In another embodiment, as shown in inFIGS.7and8, the support connector36bis integrally formed with the food feeding tube30and the lid20, and connects the food feeding tube30to the top panel22of the lid20. In this embodiment, the support connector36bis shaped such that the food feeding tube30extends at an acute angle α with respect to a top surface of the top panel22. The angle α of the embodiment may be between 45° and 70°, and is optionally 60°.

In another embodiment of the invention, as shown inFIGS.9and10, the food feeding tube30is not integrally formed with the top panel22of the lid20. The support connectors36c,36din this embodiment extend at a length required to cover the tube receiving passageway23. The bottom surface of the support connector36c,36dabuts the top surface of the top panel22such that the food feeding tube30extends orthogonally with respect to the top panel22.

The storage container10contains baby food11and may be enclosed by the sheet19.

Now with reference to the Figures, use of the baby food feeder1according to the embodiments of the invention will be described.

Firstly, a user first peels the sheet19off of the container rim18, as shown inFIG.3.

In the embodiments described above in which the food feeding tube30is integrally formed with the lid20, a user positions the inside surface of the sidewall24around the outside surface of the container rim18of the storage container10. The user presses down on the lid20until the top panel22abuts the annular flange18a,as shown inFIG.6. In this position, the downward flange24aalso abuts the skirt18band the optional catch24bextends below the bottom of the skirt18b,securing the integrally formed lid20and food feeding tube30to the container10.

In the assembled baby food feeder1of these embodiments, the food feeding tube30is positioned orthogonally or at an angle with respect to the top panel22, as described above and shown inFIGS.2and7, and extends into the container cavity16. The support connector36a,36bis positioned between the proximal end31aand distal end31bof the food feeding tube30such that, when the baby food feeder1is used with the storage container10, the distal end31bextends into the container cavity16but does not contact the container bottom12.

In the embodiments described above in which the food feeding tube30is not integrally formed with the lid20, a user positions the inside surface of the sidewall24around the outside surface of the container rim18of the storage container10. The user presses down on the lid20until the top panel22abuts the annular flange18a,as shown inFIG.6. In this position, the downward flange24aalso abuts the skirt18band the optional catch24bextends below the bottom of the skirt18b,securing the lid20to the container10.

The user then inserts the food feeding tube30into the tube receiving passageway23. The food feeding tube30of this embodiment includes the support connector36c,36dwhich is positioned between the proximal end31aand distal end31bof the food feeding tube30such that, when the baby food feeder1is used with the storage container10, the distal end31bextends into the container cavity16but does not contact the container bottom12.

The positioning of the food feeding tube30in the assembled baby food feeder1according to the above embodiments permits a baby to extract the baby food11through the food receiving passageway34. The optional valve is actuated by the baby; permitting food11to flow through the food receiving passageway34when the baby uses the baby food feeder1, and preventing the food11from flowing outside of the container cavity16and food receiving passageway34when the baby food feeder1is not in use.

While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the described embodiments are illustrative, and that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.