Musical baby bottle adapter

The present invention provides for a baby bottle adapter for releasable attachment to the bottom of the baby bottle, the adapter being capable of playing a musical melody when activated. The adapter includes a top chamber of a size and shape to accept the bottom of a baby bottle, the top chamber being formed from a side wall and a bottom provided by an internal divider located with the adapter. The adapter also has a bottom chamber located below the top chamber, the bottom chamber being sealed against liquid infiltration and containing means for playing a musical melody upon activation. The bottom chamber is formed from the side wall and the internal divider of the adapter and a base attached to the bottom of the adapter. The base is provided with an opening through which an activating means passes, the activation means having a contact surface for contact and activation of the means for playing the musical melody, the activating means being surrounded by an elastomeric sealing material which extends beyond the opening on either side of the base surrounding the opening to seal the opening against infiltration of liquid into the lower chamber.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an adapter for a baby bottle which is 
capable of playing a musical tune. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
There have been many articles and toys which have been developed for babies 
which are capable of playing a musical tune such as a lullaby to help 
sooth the baby. Examples of such articles are mobiles and other activity 
toys. 
In addition, an adapter for a baby bottle has been developed which is 
attachable to a baby bottle and which is capable of playing a musical 
tune. This prior holder or attachment for the baby bottle does have the 
drawbacks of not being child safe, in that, it has certain small parts 
which a child could remove and could swallow. In addition, this prior 
holder is not dishwasher safe. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides for a baby bottle adapter for releasable 
attachment to the bottom of the baby bottle, the adapter being capable of 
playing a musical melody when activated. The adapter includes a top 
chamber of a size and shape to accept the bottom of a baby bottle, the top 
chamber being formed from a side wall and a bottom provided by an internal 
divider located with the adapter. The adapter also has a bottom chamber 
located below the top chamber, the bottom chamber being sealed against 
liquid infiltration and containing means for playing a musical melody upon 
activation. The bottom chamber is formed from the side wall and the 
internal divider of the adapter and a base attached to the bottom of the 
adapter. The base is provided with an opening through which an activating 
means passes, the activation means having a contact surface for contact 
and activation of the means for playing the musical melody, the activating 
means being surrounded by an elastomeric sealing material which extends 
beyond the opening on either side of the base surrounding the opening to 
seal the opening against infiltration of liquid into the lower chamber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A preferred embodiment of the baby bottle adapter of the present invention 
is illustrated in the attached Figures, generally indicated by the number 
10. The baby bottle adapter 10 is shaped to slide over the end of a 
typical baby bottle 12 shown in outline in FIGS. 1 and 2. As most baby 
bottles 12 are cylindrical in shape, baby bottle adapter 10 is provided 
with a top chamber 14 preferably as an open ended cylinder having an 
opening of a size to accept the base of typical baby bottles. While most 
bottles are cylindrical as shown in the Figures, other shapes are common 
and the shaping of the top chamber can be adapted to fit other such bottle 
shapes. Top chamber 14 is formed by the side 16 of the baby bottle adapter 
10 and an internal divider 18 which provides a cup-like portion for 
accepting the base of the baby bottle 12. 
Internal divider 18 is located spaced away from the hollow bottom chamber. 
musical melody 22. Such means for generating a musical melody are 
commercially available and generally include a power means, a circuit 
means containing the instructions and data for the melody encoded and 
stored in suitable memory devices and a sound means for audibly 
reproducing the stored and encoded melody. 
Bottom camber 20 is closed off by means of a base 24 which may be secured 
to the bottom in part by means of complementary guides 26 and 28 provided 
on the lower surface of the internal divider 18 and surface of the base 24 
interior to the chamber respectively. To maintain the correct spacing of 
the base 24 to allow for proper operation of the musical melody component 
22, base 24 may be provided with spacer legs 30 which, when the base 24 is 
attached to the side 16 and internal divider 18, butt against the divide 
18 to provide for the proper spacing. 
In order to make the baby bottle adapter 10 water tight, the base 24 is 
glued or sealed along its peripheral edges where it contacts the sides 16. 
This sealing prevents water from leaking into the bottom chamber 20 when 
washing the holder to prevent potential damage to the musical melody 
components 22. 
Base 24 is provided a central recess 32 having an opening into the bottom 
chamber 20, the opening accepting an activating button 34 for activation 
of the musical melody component 22. Activating button 34 has a 
electrically conductive core 36 which, when it makes contact with the 
musical melody component 22, closes an electrical circuit to activate the 
musical melody component 22. The electrically conductive core 36 is 
surrounded by and sealed in the opening by means of a flexible elastomeric 
material 38 preferably made from a suitable elastomeric polymer such as a 
silicone rubber or other such material. The flexible elastomeric material 
38 is preferably provided having an external dome-shape 40 and is provided 
with sealing surfaces 42 and 44 which rest against the top and bottom 
surfaces of the opening through which the activating button passes. 
In operation, as illustrated in FIG. 4, as pressure is placed on the dome 
40, the electrically conductive core 36 of the activating button 34 is 
pressed inwardly until it contacts the contact area on the musical melody 
component 22. Owing to the elastomeric properties of the sealing material 
38, a tight seal is maintained against the surface of the recess 
surrounding the opening during this operation. 
The provision of the structure of the activating button 34 of the baby 
bottle adapter 10 of the present invention provides for numerous benefits. 
The provision of the elastomeric material 38 surrounding the electrical 
core 36 having sealing surfaces resting against both the top and bottom 
surfaces of the opening ensures that the opening will be sealed against 
water being able to enter the bottom chamber 20 through this opening, thus 
making the baby bottle adapter 10 dishwasher safe. In addition, the 
provision of the sealing surfaces 42 and 44 against both the top and 
bottom surface of the opening as well as the provision of the dome-shape 
of the top of the activating button 34 ensures that the button is very 
difficult to remove from the opening as the sealing surface 44 provides 
for a stop surface to prevent the button 34 from easily being pulled out. 
In addition, the dome-shaped top does not provide for any surface which 
can be easily gripped for pulling the button out of the opening. This 
feature makes the baby bottle adapter 10 more child proof as it is 
difficult, if not impossible, for a child to be able to pull the button 34 
from the opening so that it may be swallowed. 
Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been 
described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the 
art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit 
of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.