Baby bottle supporting bib

A washable baby bottle holder is provided which is constructed of a washable cloth bib having mounted to its face a covered foam member with a groove or trough for holding the baby bottle. The washable cloth bib is provided with neck straps attached to the upper end and a pair of straps attached near the lower end which are gathered to secure the lower end of the bib to the trunk of the baby. On the face of the bib is a foam member having a groove or trough shaped and adapted to receive a baby bottle. The foam member is preferably covered by a washable cloth covering and secured to the face of the bib around the periphery of the foam member. The groove or trough is formed in the foam member such that the base of the groove projects further from the face of the bib near the lower end of the bib than near the upper end of the bib thereby directing the bottle for use in nursing the baby while the baby is seated or lying down. The strap is used for holding the baby bottle in the groove.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a washable holder for a baby bottle or 
nursing bottle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a 
washable baby bottle holder which may be formed on a bib. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
There has been a need in the past for a means for holding a baby bottle 
where a mother or caretaker does not have to hold the baby's bottle for 
nursing for extended periods of time. Further, there has been a need to 
provide a means for holding a baby bottle where the mother or caretaker 
may perform other functions such as driving a car or performing household 
functions. 
A number of efforts have been made in the past to devise baby bottle 
holders. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,551--Randall et al. wherein 
a baby bottle may be mounted to a plastic block attached to a flap of a 
body wrap device having a foam pillow for the baby's head attached 
thereto. 
Prior art attempts have also included devices such as that shown in U.S. 
Pat. No. 2,510,953--Brose et al. wherein a baby bottle may be held within 
a flap which is attachable to a cushion which may be placed along side a 
baby. The cushion is not shaped nor adapted to be attached to the baby. 
Attention is also directed to U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,106--Adler which utilizes 
a hingeable plastic plate which may be strapped to the baby and adjusted 
by a prop for adjusting the angle of the bottle. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,818--Essman discloses a baby bottle holder formed from 
a block of polyurethane material in which a baby bottle is inserted in a 
bore in the foam material. The baby may lay its head on a flap extending 
from the block of foam for nursing from the bottle. 
Various other attempts have been made in the prior art with respect to 
providing baby bottle holders. 
However, none of the prior art discloses an inexpensive, completely 
washable, soft and safe baby bottle holder which may be directly attached 
to the baby and utilized for nursing of the baby in both the supine and 
seated positions. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides the advantage of a completely washable baby 
bottle holder. 
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a baby 
bottle holder without any rigid structures which could cause discomfort or 
harm to the baby. 
Another advantage of the present invention is that it is attachable to the 
baby in a safe and effective manner. 
Another advantage of the present invention is that it may be utilized to 
nurse the baby in both the seated and the supine positions. 
Briefly and basically, in accordance with the present invention, a baby 
bottle holder is provided which includes a washable cloth member or bib 
having a face extending from an upper end to a lower end and a pair of 
neck straps attached to the upper end. The holder further includes a 
grooved foam member mounted to the face of the bib by a washable cloth 
covering. The washable cloth covering is secured to the face of the bib 
around the periphery of the foam member. The grooved foam member is 
provided with a groove or trough shaped and adapted to receive a baby 
bottle. A grooved foam member is shaped such that the groove therein 
projects farther from the face of the bib near the lower end of the bib 
than near the upper end of the bib. A strap is provided for holding the 
baby bottle in the groove. This may be a pair of straps which attach 
together over the baby bottle or may be a single strap, elastic or 
non-elastic, which runs over the bottle from one side to the other. A pair 
of straps is also provided near the lower end of the bib and adapted to 
secure the lower end of the cloth member or bib to the trunk of the baby.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like elements, 
there is shown in FIG. 1 a baby bottle supporting bib 10 being used to 
support a baby or nursing bottle 12. Baby 14 is shown utilizing baby 
bottle supporting bib 10 in a seated position, such as for example, in a 
car seat 16. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated the baby bottle supporting 
bib 10 being utilized to support and hold baby bottle 12 for a baby 14 in 
a supine position. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a baby bottle supporting bib 10 in 
perspective and in greater detail. Baby bottle supporting bib 10 may be 
constructed utilizing a washable cloth member or a washable cloth bib 20 
having a face extending from an upper end 22 to a lower end 24. In a 
presently preferred form of the invention, the baby bottle supporting bib 
could be constructed from a conventional bib made of terry cloth or the 
like with structure added to it, but it is understood that any other 
suitable flat piece of washable fabric or material may be utilized to form 
a sheet or member having a face 26 extending from an upper end 22 to a 
lower end 24. 
Attached to the washable cloth member or bib 20 at or near the upper end 22 
are a pair of neck straps 28 and 30. Neck straps 28 and 30 are adapted to 
be secured around the baby's neck in any suitable manner including tying 
or by the use of velcro fasteners, snaps, buttons or the like which are 
not shown. In a similar manner, a pair of straps 32 and 34 are attached to 
the lower end of member or bib 20. Straps 32 and 34 may be attached to 
member 20 by sewing or any other suitable means, including adhesive means. 
Again, straps 32 and 34 may be secured around the trunk of the baby by any 
suitable means, including the tying together of the ends of lower straps 
32 and 34, or by any suitable fastening means including, for example, 
velcro fasteners, snaps, buttons or the like. 
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 taken in conjunction with FIG. 3, a grooved 
or troughed foam member 36 is attached to face 26 of member or bib 20. 
Grooved or troughed foam member may preferably be secured to face 26 and 
member 20 by a washable cloth covering 38. Although foam member 38 may be 
secured to face 26 by adhesive along its back edge or lower face 40, 
preferably, the foam member 36 is secured by sewing cloth covering 38 to 
member 20 around the periphery of foam member 38 as shown at 42. As may be 
seen in FIGS. 3-6, substantially the entire lower face 40 is mounted to 
face 26 of cloth member 20. 
Foam member 36 is provided with a groove or trough 44 as may be best seen 
in FIGS. 3-6, which groove or trough 44 is an open top groove shaped and 
adapted to receive a baby bottle. Groove or trough 44 is shaped such that 
groove 44 projects further from the face 26 of cloth member 20 or bib 20 
near the lower end 24 of cloth member 20, than it does near the upper end 
of cloth member 20. In other words, the lower end of the groove is raised 
such that it projects further from the trunk of the baby such that the 
lower end of the bottle will tend to be elevated or raised as contrasted 
to a flat bib. In this manner, a baby may feed in either a prone or seated 
position. 
In accordance with the present invention, the entire baby bottle supporting 
bib is soft and washable. There are no rigid parts which could injure or 
make the baby uncomfortable. Further, the entire baby bottle supporting 
structure is washable. The entire baby bottle supporting bib may be placed 
in a washing machine and dryer for quick and efficient washing. 
The baby bottle may be secured in the cloth covered grooved foam member 36 
by means of a suitable strap structure 46. As illustrated in FIG. 3, strap 
structure 46 may be comprised of straps 48 and 50 which may be secured 
together by hook and loop cloth fasteners such as those commercially 
available under the trademark Velcro. An alternate arrangement of straps 
structure 46 is shown in FIG. 6 wherein a single strap 52 may be 
attachable to the mating portion of a hook and loop type cloth fastener 
54. Strap 52 may be an elastic strap which could provide pressure on the 
baby bottle under varying conditions. Alternatively, strap 52 may be 
non-elastic and may be adjusted for suitable tightness by means of 
adjustment between an extended portion of hook or loop fastener material 
on strap 52. 
It is understood that the cloth member 20, the cloth covering 38 and the 
straps may be made of any suitable soft washable material. It is preferred 
that such material be made of cotton or the like, but any suitable 
material, synthetic or natural, may be utilized so long as it is soft and 
washable. Various materials may be available which may be referred to as 
cloth which meet the characteristics required herein and are intended to 
be covered by the claims attached hereto. 
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without 
departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, 
accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than 
to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.