A MOUTHPIECE FOR THE FEEDING OF CHILDREN FROM A COMPRESSIBLE E.G. TUBE-LIKE CONTAINER

Abstract: A mouthpiece (12) is mounted onto the aperture portion (10') of a tube filled with mashed infant food. The mouthpiece (12) is shaped and designed so as to comprise a table spoon-like blade (16) having a free, axially outermost spoon blade tip (16'). In order to avoid soiling, the spoon blade body, with the exception of the spoon blade tip (16'), is surrounded by a flexible diaphragm (18) formed in a soft, elastic material. Upon feeding during the insertion of the filled spoon blade into the child's mouth, the child's upper lip is prevented from coming into contact with food covered by the diaphragm (18), counteracting soiling to a considerable degree.

Description: A MOUTHPIECE FOR THE FEEDING OF CHILDREN FROM A COMPRESSIBLE E.G. TUBE-LIKE CONTAINER This invention relates to a mouthpiece for the feeding of especially small children with food from a tube filled with a nutrient exhibiting such a consistence and nature that can be squeezed out from the aperture portion of the tube, at which the mouthpiece is placed or can be placed prior to the feeding procedure. The main object of the invention has been to provide a feed- ing device for food contained in a tube, wherein soiling is substantially reduced in relation to feeding from a bowl, using a child's spoon. In accordance with the present invention, this object has been achieved through shaping and designing the tube mouth- piece such that it exhibits the features as defined in the characterising clause of claim 1. The mouthpiece may constitute a sort of permanent, screwed on hood following the tube, said hood being surrounded by an external closure hood; or the mouthpiece may constitute an additional equipment to be screwed or pushed onto the aperture portion of the tube subsequently to the removal of an ordinary closure hood. Food for small children in finely powdered condition, suitable to be contained within and fed out from a tube, is packed in e.g. 125 grams tubes, such as the conventional metal tubes used for mayonnaise, caviare, etc. On the aperture portion is attached a feeding mouthpiece according to the invention having a shape substantially corresponding to a table spoon blade, the axially outer portion thereof being free and uncovered, while the remaining, axially inner blade portion is assigned an opposing diaphragm having an outer, free edge portion positioned adjacent the spoon blade tip, but spaced therefrom in the axial direction. This diaphragm which is connected to the mouthpiece body at the axially inner edge portion thereof, may consist of a soft plastic material. Approximately two third of the axial length extent of the table spoon blade are covered by the soft diaphragm. The diaphragm and its mounting in relation to the table spoon blade counteract soiling during the feeding of a smaller child. When one squeezes the rear portion of the tube, the mashed food is urged forwardly, out through the aperture portion of the tube where a "mouthful" of food lands on the table spoon tip, the upwardly concave depression cavity being filled with food, so that the diaphragm is stretched and takes an up- wardly convexly curved shape. When the table spoon blade in this condition is passed into the mouth of a child, the diaphragm prevents the upper lip of the child from coming down into the food in the axially inner portion of the table spoon blade in relation to the tube. Such food-lip-contact will ordinarily occur when a child is fed by means of a common spoon, and this is the most frequent reason to soiling. When the table spoon blade filled with food and partially covered by the diaphragm has come into the child's mouth, its upper lip will now be capable of squeezing the distended diaphragm, so that the food below the compressed diaphragm is pressed forwardly and, thus, onto the table spoon blade tip, from where the food will land in the oral cavity of the child. When the table spoon blade is in the process of being withdrawn, the upper lip of the child will retain the food remaining on the uncovered table spoon blade tip. Now, the child has received a portion of food, which can be controlled by exerting a larger or a smaller pressure on the rear portion of the tube. The tube with its nutrient content may be heatable in a micro wave oven, or through the use of a water bath, while some nu- trients do not require any heating; room temperature being sufficient. Non-restricting, preferred exemplary embodiments are further explained in the following, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a mouthpiece for a tube containing food for small children, as seen in a side elevational view and in an axial section through the table spoon blade and the diaphragm partially covering the spoon blade, in a condition in which the table spoon blade is filled with food which has forced the diaphragm upwardly, so that it takes a convexly curved position; Figure 2 corresponds to figure 1, but here the table spoon blade has been emptied through the diaphragm's compression by means of the child's upper lip; Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a food tube's front portion, where a mouthpiece according to the invention has been illustrated as seen in a direction perpendicularly to the depression cavity of the table spoon blade; Figure 4 is a side elevational view corresponding to figure 3, turned 90° in relation to figure 3 about the longitudinal axis of the tube; Figure 5 corresponds to figure 4 , but here the mouthpiece is connected to the tube mouth portion through an elastically compliant/resiliently rebounding, annular/sleeve-shaped connecting member permitting the symmetry axis of the mouthpiece to form an angle with the longitudinal axis of the tube; Figure 6 corresponds to figure 5, turned 90° in relation to figure 5. A tube 10 has an ordinary aperture or mouth portion 10', onto which a mouthpiece 12 is placed or adapted to be placed by means of threads or through a press fit. The connection of the mouthpiece 12 to the aperture portion 10' of the tube 10 may also take place through the intermediary of a spatially elastically deformable/resiliently rebounding, annular or sleeve-shaped connection portion 14 permitting the longitudi- nal axis of the mouthpiece 12 to form an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the tube 10. The axially outer end part of the mouthpiece 12 comprises a lower table spoon blade 16, referred to the position of use, said blade across the axially inner portion thereof being covered by a flexible diaphragm 18, so that a free blade tip portion 16' is formed. The part of the mouthpiece 12 positioned axially spaced rear- wardly from the tip, tapers conically in direction of its outer, free end where spoon blade 16 and opposing diaphragm 18 are joined. As a sale object, such a tube 10 having a mouthpiece 12 elastically attached thereto may have a closure hood or cap (not shown) which, preferably, is screwed or pushed firmly onto a circle-cylindrical tube portion 10 ' ' . Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the function of the mouthpiece 12 in connection with the tube 10 which may contain a mashed nutrient for small children, well suited to be stored and espe- cially fit to be pressed out from the tube in an even and controlled way. Thus, when pressure is exerted on the tube 10, the mashed food is forced forwardly until a certain amount of food fills the table spoon blade 16, so that the diaphragm 18 is stretched and distended, such as shown in figure 1. When the table spoon blade in this condition is passed into the mouth of the child, the diaphragm 18 prevents the upper lip of the child from coming into contact with the food before the outer portion of table spoon blade, bringing with it food, has arrived within the oral cavity of the child. Then, the child has the opportunity of exerting a pressure with its upper lip against the diaphragm. The food on the spoon blade portion beneath the diaphragm 18 is, thus, pressed forwardly so that it is transferred to the spoon blade tip 16' and, from there, into the oral cavity of the child. When the table spoon blade 16 in nearly emptied condition is in the process of being withdrawn from the child's mouth, the child's upper lip will retain the food remaining on the uncovered spoon blade tip 16'. The amount of food received by the child each and every time in this way can be varied by changing the pressure on the tube. One tube's content of food may correspond to one meal or, possibly, to more than one meal. By using a mouthpiece in accordance with the invention, feeding may take place without any soiling, simultaneously as the child becomes used to eat by means of a spoon.

Claims: m 1. A mouthpiece for feeding especially children with food from a compressible, e.g. tube-like container (10) , said mouthpiece (12) being attached or attachable, respectively, to the aperture portion (10') of the container (10), the front portion of said mouthpiece (12) being shaped as a table spoon blade (16) , the upper side face thereof being covered by a diaphragm (18) or a diaphragm-like member attached along its edge to the mouthpiece/spoon blade (12/16), c h a r a c- t e r i z e d i n that the diaphragm (18) has a free front portion which, together with a substantially opposing, free, axially foremost spoon blade tip (16'), defines a foremost opening through which the food passes on its way into the mouth of the child. 2. A mouthpiece as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r iz e d i n that the mouthpiece (12) is attached/attachable to the aperture portion (10 ') of the container (10) through a flexible, annular or sleeve-shaped coupling piece (14) . 3. A mouthpiece as defined in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the mouthpiece (12) is assigned an external protection hood or cap. 4. A mouthpiece as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r iz e d i n that the foremost edge of the diaphragm (18) is somewhat withdrawn in relation to the foremost, free tip (16') of the spoon blade (16).

Inventors: EMILSSON BJOERN, EMILSSON, BJOERN
Applicants: BERGE JAN, EMILSSON BJOERN, BERGE, JAN, EMILSSON, BJOERN
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A61J7
IPC codes: A61J7, G01F19