Nipple with non-return valve

Abstract: Nipple (3), comprising a sucking end (4) that can be provi­ ded with one or more holes (6) a flange (7) that forms an entity therewith and extends in radial direction relative to the centre line of the nipple (3), in order to fix the nipple (3) there­ with onto a supply holder (1), wherein a dish-shaped non-return valve (8) is arranged in this flange (7).

Description: Nipples for baby feeding are used both in hospital surroundings and in private households, wherein in a hospital it is usually a matter of once-only use while at home the nipples can be boiled. The present invention relates to a nipple comprising: a sucking end provided with one or more holes; a flange forming an entity therewith and extending in radial direction relative to the centre line of the nipple, in order to fix the nipple therewith onto a supply holder; and a non-return valve arranged in this flange, for passing air into the supply holder when an underpressure results therein. Such a nipple is known from US-A-3 203 569. The non-return valve of this known nipple shows a limited degree of flexibility, which is inherently due to the shape and structure of this non-return valve. It is an object of the present invention to improve upon this known nipple with non-return valve. The nipple according to the present invention is characterized in that said non-return valve is dish-shaped comprising a flat bottom part provided with a hole and a radially diverging side wall ending in a sealing edge which forms the edge of said dish-shape and which goes over into the flange so as to connect the valve to said flange. Using the nipple according to the present invention prevents an underpressure being built up in a bottle or supply holder for baby food through the sucking of the baby, which makes sucking difficult, while it also prevents baby food being able to leak out of the supply holder in the absence of underpressure; a non-return valve is provided which gives a good sealing against a holder screw to be arranged on the supply holder in addition to a non-return valve which opens at a small underpressure. The nipple is preferably injection moulded from synthetic, non-silicon holding rubber, also referred to as thermoplastic rubber, which has the same properties as rubber but which requires no vulcanizing. Tensile strengths of 1035-34.475 Pa (150-5000 psi) and a Shore A-hardness of 28-95 can be used with this material. A strong nipple is provided herewith, while because of the strength of the material the non-return valve can be embodied with a small thickness of this material. The non-return valve will therefore open easily, while the sealing edge gives good sealing against a holder screw if no under pressure is built up in the holder. It is moreover important that this material is absolutely safe for a baby. Further advantages, features and details are elucidated in the light of the following description with reference to a drawing, in which: fig. 1 shows a perspective view, partly broken away and partly in section, of a preferred embodiment of the nipple according to the present invention; fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the operation of the embodiment of fig. 1. Onto a supply holder or bottle 1 can be screwed a holder screw or closing means 2 between which a nipple (fig. 1) can be clamped. A sucking end 4 of the nipple 3 is provided with three conical holes 6. By moving insert pieces in an injection moulding die (not shown) penetration of cones can be adjusted wherewith the size of the passage opening from the interior of the sucking end 4 to a baby is determined. Arranged in a flange or collar 7 which is injection moulded from one piece with the sucking end 4 is a non-return valve 8 which is injection moulded together with the nipple 3. If through the sucking of a baby an underpressure results in the bottle 1 (fig. 2), air can pass between the holder screw edge and the neck of the nipple into a dish 9 since the sealing edge 11 is released through the underpressure. From the dish 9 the underpressure passes into the interior of the bottle 1, whereafter the sealing edge 11 closes and prevents the liquid content leaking out of the bottle along the neck of the nipple. A nipple according to the present invention is preferably injection moulded from a thermoplastic rubber such as commercially available under the names Kraton R and Evoprene R . This material has a high tensile strength with rubber-like properties without vulcanizing having to take place. In addition the material displays good temperature characteristics.

Claims: A nipple (3) comprising: a sucking end (4) provided with one or more holes; a flange (7) forming an entity therewith and extending in radial direction relative to the centre line of the nipple, in order to fix the nipple therewith onto a supply holder (1); and a non-return valve (8) arranged in this flange, for passing air into the supply holder when an underpressure results therein, characterized in that said non-return valve (8) is dish-shaped comprising a flat bottom part provided with a hole and a radially diverging side wall ending in a sealing edge (11) which forms the edge of said dish-shape and which goes over into the flange so as to connect the valve to said flange. A nipple (3) according to claim 1, made from thermoplastic rubber. A nipple (3) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said hole is conical, the broad end of which conical wall is remote from the sucking end (4) and wherein the sealing edge (11) of the dish shape is tapered relative to the thickness of the flange (7). A nipple (3) according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein two or more conical holes (6) are provided in said sucking end (4).

Inventors: KUPER GERRIT, KUPER, GERRIT
Applicants: PACK O MED MED SUPPLY SYST, PACK-O-MED MEDICAL SUPPLY SYSTEMS B.V.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A61J11
IPC codes: A61J11