Abstract:
A bib bottle holder is described. Typically, a main bib body is flat and is shaped similarly to a conventional bib. A bib pillow type is attached to the main bib body with suitable fasteners such as hook and loop fasteners. A bottle loop with fasteners such as hook and loop fasteners or an elastic strip is connected to the bib pillow and is used to position the bottle similar to as described above. Animal characters, rattles and other toys can be added to either embodiment for the baby&#39;s entertainment and stimulation while feeding.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   I. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to the field infant products and, more particularly, to a bottle holder system and apparatus. 
   II. Description of the Related Art 
   Conventional baby bibs are typically used to affix around a baby&#39;s neck to keep food, liquids, spit-up and other messes off the baby and the baby&#39;s cloths. Certain attempts have been made to attach a bottle to a bib to hold the bottle in proximity of a baby&#39;s mouth. However, these bibs include attachments that hold the bottle generally flat or parallel against the bib requiring a care-giver to hold the bottle at a proper angle so that the baby can feed from the bottle. These bibs typically do not allow a hands free feeding option to the care giver using the bib. 
   SUMMARY 
   In general, the invention features a bib bottle holder. One embodiment can include a main bib body that can be secured around a baby&#39;s neck similar to conventional bibs. The main bib body can be stuffed with a suitable filler such as polyester stuffing to give the main bib body a general pillow shape. A fabric strip with fasteners such as hook and loop fasteners or an elastic strip is connected to the main bib body. This strip is used to wrap around a bottle to hold the bottle in place for a baby, who is generally in a prone or semi-reclined position. The main bib body is stuffed in such a manner so that the bottle is placed at an angle sufficient for baby feeding. In another embodiment, the main bib body is flat and is shaped similarly to a conventional bib. The embodiment further includes a bib pillow that is attached to the main bib body with suitable fasteners such as hook and loop fasteners. A bottle loop with fasteners such as hook and loop fasteners or an elastic strip is connected to the bib pillow and is used to position the bottle similar to as described above. Animal characters, rattles and other toys can be added to either embodiment for the baby&#39;s entertainment and stimulation while feeding. 
   In general, in one aspect, the invention features a bib, including a main bib body having an upper surface and a lower surface, a bib pillow having an upper and lower surface, the lower surface of the bib pillow being connected to the upper surface of the main bib body and a bottle loop connected to the upper surface of the bib pillow. 
   In one implementation, the main bib body further comprises neck straps that define a neck loop. 
   In another implementation, the main bib body further comprises a border. 
   In another implementation, the main bib body further comprises connector loops connected to leads. 
   In another implementation, the bib pillow further includes a front end and a rear end. 
   In another implementation, the bib further includes baffles located on the front end of the bib pillow. 
   In another implementation, the bib further includes a depression formed in the baffles. 
   In another implementation, the bib further includes micro-depressions located between the baffles. 
   In another implementation, the bib further includes ends located on the bottle loop and pivotally connected to the bib pillow. 
   In still another implementation, the bib pillow is connected to the main bib body with fasteners and the bottle loop is connected to the bib pillow with fasteners. 
   In another aspect, the invention features a bottle holder kit, including a main bib body, a bib pillow adapted to connect to the main bib body, a bottle loop adapted to be connected to the bib pillow, a bottle having a nipple, the bottle being adapted to be held against the bib pillow and within the bottle loop and baby toys adapted to be connected to the main bib body. 
   In one implementation, the kit further includes fasteners adapted to interconnect the main bib body with the bib pillow and the bib pillow with the bottle loop. 
   In another implementation, the kit further includes connector loops connected to a border of the main bib body and leads adapted to be connected to the connector loops and the baby toys. 
   In another implementation, the kit further includes baffles located on a front end of the bib pillow, the baffles being adapted to control the freedom of motion of the nipple when the bottle is placed in the bottle loop. 
   In another aspect, the invention features a bib system, including a main bib body having an upper surface and a lower surface, a bib pillow having an upper and lower surface, the lower surface of the bib pillow being connected to the upper surface of the main bib body, a bottle loop connected to the upper surface of the bib pillow, a bottle having a nipple, the bottle being held against the upper surface of the bib pillow and within the bottle loop, and baby toys connected to leads that are connected to the main bib body. 
   One advantage of the invention is that the bib pillow maintains a baby bottle at an optimum position for feeding. 
   Another advantage of the invention is that it permits a baby to feed himself when he is too young to hold a bottle himself and bring the bottle to his mouth. 
   Another advantage of the invention is that it permits parents to feed a baby when they are unable to hold the bottle to the baby&#39;s mouth. 
   Another advantage of the invention is that it permits parents to feed multiple baby&#39;s at one time. 
   Another advantage of the invention is that it holds a bottle at an optimum angle minimizing the amount of air that passes through to the baby&#39;s mouth. 
   Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of a bottle holder; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side perspective view of the constituent components of an embodiment of a bottle holder; and 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a bottle holder. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, reference is made first to  FIG. 1  that illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of a bottle holder  100 . The bottle holder  100  generally includes a main bib body  105  having an upper surface  110  and a lower surface  115 . The main bib body  105  generally includes a border  120  connected to the entire perimeter of the main bib body  105 . The main bib body  105  generally further includes neck straps  125 , each including a suitable fastener  130 . In a typical embodiment, the fasteners  130  can be, but are not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, snaps and the like. When the fasteners  103  of the neck straps  125  are interconnected, a neck loop  135  is formed through which a baby&#39;s neck is fitted. The main bib body  105  generally further includes a lower end  155 . The main bib body can be a variety of materials suitable for a bib such as plastic and cloth. It is understood that there are a variety of suitable materials and specific cloth types of which the main bib body  105  can be comprised. In another embodiment, the main bib body  105  can be filled with a filling material between the upper and lower surfaces  110 ,  115 . 
   The main bib body  105  can further include one or more connector loops  140  that can receive leads  145  that are connected to baby toys and accessories  150 . Such toys and accessories  150  can include but are not limited to pacifiers, loops, balls, stuffed animals and the like. 
   The bottle holder  100  further includes a bib pillow  200  that is generally connected to the upper surface  110  of the main bib body  105 . The bib pillow  200  generally includes a front end  205  and a rear end  210 , an upper surface  215  and a lower surface  220 . The pillow  200  can be filled with any suitable filler. In general, the lower surface  220  of the bib pillow  200  is connected to the upper surface  110  of the main bib body  105 . The front end  205  of the bib pillow  200  is generally positioned adjacent the neck loop  135 . The rear end  210  of the bib pillow  200  is generally adjacent the lower end  155  of the main bib body  105 . In one embodiment the rear end  210  of the bib pillow  200  is positioned higher than the front end  205  so that a bottle  225  resting on the upper surface  215  is generally angled toward the neck loop  135  so that when the bottle holder  100  is placed on a baby, the nipple  230  of the bottle  225  is positioned adjacent the baby&#39;s mouth for easy feeding. In one embodiment, a depression  235  can be defined in the front end  205  of the pillow  200  to allow some additional freedom of motion for the nipple  230  as the baby is feeding. 
   The bottle holder  100  generally further includes a bottle loop  300 . The bottle loop defines an opening  310  through which the bottle  225  can fit and be secured. In general, the bottle loop  300  includes a main body  305  that can be shaped into a variety of forms, including, but not limited to animals, clowns, smiley faces and the like. The body  305  can also be filled with a suitable filler similar to the main bib body  105  and the bib pillow  200  as described above. The bottle loop  300  is generally connected to the upper surface  215  of the bib pillow  200 . In one embodiment, two ends  320  of the body  305  are pivotally connected to the upper surface  215  at points  325 . The pivotal connection allows the freedom of motion for the nipple  230  in the depression  235  as described above. In general, as the nipple  230  is moved by the baby, the entire bottle  225  can also be moved. By having a pivotal connection at points  325 , the entire bottle loop  300  can also move as the bottle  225  is moved. Furthermore, if the bottle is moved with enough force, torque can be applied to the bib pillow  200 , which can also be moved. If still enough force is applied to the bottle  225 , a portion of the main bib body  105  can also be moved since all of the constituent components are connected. In another embodiment, the bottle loop  300  can be a simple fabric strip. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a side perspective view of the constituent components of an embodiment of a bottle holder  100 . The bottle  225  has been removed for illustrative purposes. As described above, the constituent components include the main bib body  105 , the bib pillow  200  and the bottle loop  300 . The main bib body  105  can further include a suitable  160  fastener, such as but not limited to hook and loop fasteners, snaps and the like, connected to the upper surface  110  of the main bib body  105 . A mating fastener can be connected to the lower surface  220  of the bib pillow  200 . In general, therefore, in one embodiment, the main bib body  105  and the bib pillow  200  can be connected and disconnected as needed, for example, if the main bib body  105  is to be used as a simple conventional bib. Furthermore, the interconnection can allow the bib pillow  200  to be placed at a variety of locations along the upper surface  110  of the main bib body  105 . In still another embodiment, the surface area and location of the fasteners  160  can be limited in order for the bib pillow  200  to be placed at specific locations within the border  120  of the main bib body  105 , typically with the front end  205  of the bib pillow  200  adjacent the neck loop  135 . In other embodiment, the surface area and location of the fasteners  160  can be limited so that the bib pillow  200  can be placed virtually anywhere on the main bib body  105 . 
   Similarly, the bib pillow  200  can include a fastener  260  on the upper surface  215 . A mating fastener  360  can be connected to the ends  320  of the bottle loop  300 . In general, therefore, in one embodiment, the bib pillow  200  and the bottle loop  300  can be connected and disconnected as needed. The pivot points  325  are therefore typically defined by the interconnection of the fasteners  260 ,  360  and can be formed at a variety of location depending on the surface area and locations of the fasteners  260 ,  360 . Furthermore, the interconnection can allow the bottle loop  300  to be placed at a variety of locations along the upper surface  215  of the bib pillow  200 . In still another embodiment, the surface area and location of the fasteners  160  can be limited in order for the bottle loop  300  to be placed at specific locations on the upper surface  215  of the bib pillow  200 . In other embodiment, the surface area and location of the fasteners  260  can be limited so that the bottle loop  300  can be placed virtually anywhere on the bib pillow  200 , therefore accommodating the varying physiology of different babies. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a bottle holder  100 . A portion of the main bib body  105  and neck straps  125  are shown. A portion of the bib pillow  200  and bottle loop  300  are also shown. The figure further illustrates some of the freedom of motion through which the nipple  230  can move as defined by upward arrow A and sideward arrow B. The figure further illustrates that the front end  205  of the bib pillow  200  can be further defined into a series of baffles  206 ,  207 ,  208 . The baffles  206 ,  207 ,  208  generally define the depression  235  which is flanked by angled walls  236  and  237  formed on the baffles  206 ,  208  respectively. Micro-depressions  238  and  239  are also generally formed between the baffles  206 ,  207  and baffles  207 ,  208 , respectively. In general, the baffles  206 ,  207 ,  208 , the angled walls  236 ,  237 , the depression  235  and micro-depressions,  238 ,  239  all help to define and control the freedom of motion of the nipple  230  to help keep the nipple  230  positioned adjacent the baby&#39;s mouth when in use. 
   When the main bib body  105  is fitted onto a baby, the baby&#39;s neck is fitted through the neck loop  135  with the neck straps  125  positioned around the baby&#39;s neck. In general, the lower surface  115  of the main bib body  105  is in contact with the baby&#39;s chest and stomach areas. The lower end  155  is typically adjacent the baby&#39;s stomach area. The bib pillow  200  is positioned on the main bib body  105  in a suitable location that can optionally be variable with the use of the fasteners  160 . The bottle loop  300  is typically placed onto the bib pillow  200  in a suitable location that can optionally be variable with the use of fasteners  260 ,  360 . The bottle  225  can then be placed into the opening  310  of the bottle loop  300 . In general, the bottle  225  rests against the upper surface  215  of the bib pillow  200  and is held within the opening  310  of the bottle loop  300 . Adjustments can be made accordingly as needed. As the baby feeds, moves around and even spits the nipple  230  out of his mouth and retakes the nipple  230  into his mouth, the baffles  206 ,  207 ,  208 , the angled walls  236 ,  237 , the depression  235  and micro-depressions,  238 ,  239  all help to define and control the freedom of motion of the nipple  230  to help keep the nipple  230  positioned adjacent the baby&#39;s mouth when in use and when not in use. 
   The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, various modifications may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and which are set forth in the appended claims.