Abstract:
A baby bottle holder secures the bottle in a convenient hands-free position and allows a baby to receive liquid. The baby bottle holder is removably attached to a bib or other suitable article of clothing worn by the baby. The bottle is removably engaged by the baby bottle holder. At least one strap may be employed to fasten the bottle to the baby bottle holder.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to the field of infant care and more particularly to devices that provide for the “hands free” feeding of babies.  
         [0003]     2. Background Information  
         [0004]     In the past, various devices and methods have been used and proposed to assist in the feeding of babies. However, these devices and methods have significant limitations and shortcomings. Prior art structures are generally complex, cumbersome to use, or expensive. Moreover, none disclose a portable device for hands-free bottle feeding of an infant. The busy lifestyle of the modern parents which include commuting and transporting the family has increased the necessity for a device which will permit the baby to feed himself while the care-giver is otherwise engaged. For example, while driving the family car, the baby often drops the bottle and begins crying when he can not feed himself. The care giver cannot look for the dropped bottle while driving. Therefore, a need exists for a hands-free device which is attached to the baby and secures the baby bottle in a position which will enable the flow of the milk or other liquid.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A baby bottle holder secures the bottle in a convenient hands-free position and holds the bottle an angle which allows a baby to receive liquid. The baby bottle holder is removably attached to a bib or other suitable article of clothing worn by the baby. The bottle is removably engaged by the baby bottle holder. At least one strap may be employed to fasten the bottle to the baby bottle holder.  
         [0006]     In the preferred embodiment, the baby bottle holder of the present invention includes a support made of compliant but firm material, such a foam. The support holds the bottle and at least one strap and an attachment which affixes the holder to the baby&#39;s clothing, such as a bib. The foam support is a block-shaped with a concavity, which may advantageously be a semicircular, with a diameter selected to snugly grip the bottle. The concavity is placed at a height selected so that when the bottle is received by the support, the bottle can be placed at an angle using gravitational force to cause the milk to flow into the baby&#39;s mouth or tilted backward so that the liquid is not flowing. When the bottle is placed at the correct angle, the straps are used to secure the bottle in that position.  
         [0007]     In another embodiment, the holder may also be a frame which includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a long axis, a first end and a second end.  
         [0008]     The neck support includes a front face, a top end and a bottom end. The bottom end may be attached to the top surface substantially adjacent to the first end of the frame. The top end includes a neck receiver. The neck receiver may be sized and shaped to cradle the neck of a baby bottle. The neck of a baby bottle is located between the cap and the shoulder of the bottle. The neck receiver may be V-shape, U-shape, rectilinear, an open top oval, an open top circle, an open top heart shape or any other suitable shape. The neck support may be orientated relative to the frame so the long axis of a cradled baby bottle is substantially parallel to the long axis of the frame.  
         [0009]     Each stop includes a bottom face and a front face. The bottom face of a first stop may be attached to the top surface substantially adjacent to the second end of the frame. The front face of the first stop is substantially parallel to the front face of the neck support. The baby bottle is placed in the neck of the baby bottle holder and the bottom is placed against the stop. The combination of the neck support and the stop prevents the baby bottle from moving substantially parallel to the long axis of the frame. At least one other stop may be located between the first stop and the neck support and orientated substantially parallel to the first stop. Various stop locations correspond to the differing length baby bottles with the stop for shorter bottles located closer to the neck support while the stop for taller bottles is located closer to the second end of the frame. Each stop may be shaped as a rectangle, a half circle, a triangle or any other suitable shape. Each stop may also have a raised surface on the front face that helps it to engage a curved or concave shaped bottle bottom.  
         [0010]     At least one strap may be used to retain a cradled baby bottle with its bottom abutting the stop to the baby bottle holder. Each strap has a first end and a second end. The first end of each strap may be attached to the first edge of the frame or to the neck support in any suitable location. The second end of each strap is attached to the second edge of the frame by a fastening mechanism to hold the baby bottle to the frame when the neck of the bottle is removably engaged with the neck support and the bottom butts up against the stop. The second end of each strap may be attached by hook and loop(“Velcro®”) material or any other suitable fastening mechanism.  
         [0011]     An attachment mechanism may be attached to the bottom surface of the frame. The attachment mechanism may be hook and loop material or any other suitable material. The attachment mechanism holds the baby bottle holder to any suitable surface such as a bib, shirt, blouse or dress.  
         [0012]     When in use, the support is removably attached to the baby&#39;s bib by hook and loop material (“Velcro®”) with the neck support located closer to the baby&#39;s mouth while the stop is further away. The neck of a baby bottle is installed into the neck support while the bottle bottom is brought to abut the stop. The second end of each strap is connected to retain the bottle to the support. The nipple of the bottle is guided into the baby&#39;s mouth. The baby bottle holder holds the bottle in feeding position while the baby receives liquid.  
         [0013]     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the baby bottle holder includes two straps. The first end of a first strap is attached to the first edge of the frame. The first end of a second strap is attached to the second edge of the frame. The second end of the first strap is attached to the second end of the second strap to form a loop around a baby bottle removably engaged with the holder. The second end of the first strap may be attached to the second end of the second strap by hook and loop material or any other suitable fastening mechanism.  
         [0014]     The height of the neck receiver may be adjustable.  
         [0015]     The baby bottle holder may be attached to an article of child&#39;s clothing while removably engaging a baby bottle at an orientation suitable for hands-free drinking. The attachment mechanism may attach the holder to a bib, a shirt, a dress, a blouse or other suitable surface.  
         [0016]     The holder removably engages the baby bottle. The holder may be block-shaped with a concavity, which may advantageously be a semicircular, with a diameter selected to snugly grip the bottle. The concavity is placed at a height selected so that when the bottle is received by the support, the bottle can be placed at an angle using gravitational force to cause the milk to flow into the baby&#39;s mouth. When the bottle is placed at the correct angle, the straps are used to secure the bottle in that position.  
         [0017]     The holder may be rectilinear, but other suitable shapes may be used. The cross sectional shape of the concavity may be V-shape, U-shape, rectilinear, an open top oval, an open top circle, an open top heart shape or any other suitable shape. The support includes a first surface, a second surface, an upper surface and a bottom surface. The holder may be fabricated from closed-celled foam, rubber or any suitable material. The upper surface includes a concavity extending from the front surface to the back surface. The concavity may be substantially parallel to the first surface and the second surface. The concavity removably engages a portion of the outer surface of a baby bottle. The removably engaged bottle may be held by the holder such that it does not shift or slip relative to the holder. The concavity substantially envelops a portion of the outer surface of the baby bottle. An attachment mechanism is located on the bottom surface.  
         [0018]     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the baby bottle holder also includes at least one strap. The strap includes a first end and a second end. The first end may be attached to the first side or the second side or any other suitable location on the holder. The second end includes a fastening mechanism. The fastening mechanism may attach the second end to another strap or to any suitable location on the holder. When fastened across a bottle removably engaged by the concavity, the strap retrains the battle to the holder.  
         [0019]     The concavity may be inclined relative to the bottom surface. The inclination of the cavity may increase efficiency and comfort of the child during drinking.  
         [0020]     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the attachment mechanism may be hook and loop or other suitable attachment mechanism.  
         [0021]     These and other features and advantages of this invention will become further apparent from the detailed description and accompanying figures that follow. In the figures and description, numerals indicate the various features of the invention, like numerals referring to like features throughout both the drawings and the description.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]      FIG. 1A  is a top view of one embodiment of the baby bottle holder installed on a bib according to the present disclosure.  
         [0023]      FIG. 1B  is a top view of the baby bottle holder of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 1C  is a side view of the baby bottle holder of  FIG. 1A .  
         [0025]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of a baby bottle holder installed on a bib of the preferred embodiment according to the present disclosure.  
         [0026]      FIG. 2B  is a front view of the baby bottle holder of  FIG. 2A .  
         [0027]      FIG. 2C  is a side view of the baby bottle holder of  FIG. 2A .  
         [0028]      FIG. 2D  is a front view of an of the preferred embodiment of the holder of  FIG. 2A .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0029]     Referring to  FIGS. 1A, 1B  and  1 C, a baby bottle holder  10  secures the baby bottle  12 . The baby bottle holder  10  is removably attached to a bib  16 . The baby bottle  12  is removably engaged by the baby bottle holder  10 . Baby bottle holder  10  includes frame  66 , neck support  14 , stops  34  and  38 , first strap  42 , second strap  54  and attachment mechanism  94 .  
         [0030]     Frame  66  includes long axis  72 , top surface  70 , bottom surface  74 , first end  78 , second end  82 , first edge  86  and second edge  90 .  
         [0031]     Neck support  14  includes front face  19 , top end  18  and bottom end  21 . Bottom end  21  may be attached to top surface  70  substantially adjacent to first end  78 . Top end  18  includes neck receiver  26 . Neck receiver  26  has a V-shape  30 . Neck receiver  26  may be sized and shaped to cradle neck  25  of baby bottle  12 . Neck  25  is located between cap  27  and shoulder  29  of baby bottle  12 . Neck support  14  may be orientated so that long axis  72  is substantially perpendicular to front face  19 .  
         [0032]     First strap  42  may be employed to fasten baby bottle  12  to baby bottle holder  10 . First strap  42  includes a first end  46  and a second end  50 . First end  46  may be attached to frame  66 . Fastening mechanism  41  may be attached to second end  50 . Second strap  42  may be employed to fasten baby bottle  12  to baby bottle holder  10 . Second strap  54  includes a first end  58  and a second end  62 . First end  58  may be attached to frame  66 . Fastening mechanism  43  may be attached to second end  62 .  
         [0033]     Stop  34  and  38  includes respective bottom ends  35  and  39  and front face  36 and  40 . Bottom end  39  may be attached to top surface  70  substantially adjacent to second end  82 . Front faces  36  and  40  are substantially parallel to front face  19 . Baby bottle  12  may be orientated relative to baby bottle holder  10  so that bottom  20  butts up against front face  36 . The combination of neck support  14  and stop  34  prevents baby bottle  12  from moving substantially parallel to long axis  72 . Stop  34  may be located between stop  38  and neck support  14  and orientated substantially parallel to stop  38 . Each stop  34  and  38  may be shaped as a rectangle, a half circle, a triangle or any other suitable shape. Each stop  34 ,  38  may also have a raised surface on front face  36 ,  40  that helps it to engage a curved or concave shaped bottom  20 .  
         [0034]     Attachment mechanism  94  for attaching the frame to the bib or other item of clothing may be affixed to bottom surface  74  of the frame. The attachment mechanism  94  may be hook and loop material or any other suitable means of attachment. The attachment mechanism  94  fastens baby bottle holder  10  to the support to bib  16 .  
         [0035]     When in use, neck  25  of a baby bottle  12  may be installed into neck receiver  26  while bottle bottom  20  butts against stop  34 . A shorter baby bottle  12  may butt against stop  38 . Fastening mechanism  41  and  43  may be attached to retain baby bottle  12  to baby bottle holder  10 . Nipple  39  enters baby&#39;s mouth  37 . Baby bottle holder  10  is removeably attached to the bib  16  by attachment mechanism  94 . Baby bottle holder  10  holds baby bottle  12  while the baby receives liquid.  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIGS. 2A, 2B ,  2 C and  2 D, a preferred embodiment of baby bottle holder  110  secures the baby bottle  112 . The baby bottle holder  110  is removably attached to a bib  116 . The baby bottle  112  is removably engaged by the baby bottle holder  110 . Baby bottle holder  110  includes grip  114 , first strap  118 , second strap  120  and attachment mechanism  122 .  
         [0037]     Grip  114  includes front surface  126 , back surface  128 , first surface  130 , second surface  132 , upper surface  134  and bottom surface  136 . The upper surface  134  includes concavity  138 . Concavity  138  extends from front surface  126  to back surface  128 . Concavity  138  may be substantially parallel to first surface  126  or second surface  132 . Concavity  138  includes surface  140  shaped to substantially envelop a portion of outer surface  142  of baby bottlel  12 . The cross-section of concavity  138  shown in  FIG. 2B  is an open top heart shape  141 . The cross-section of concavity  138  shown in  FIG. 2D  is a U-shape  139 . Concavity  138  may be inclined relative to bottom surface  136 .  
         [0038]     First strap  118  may be employed to fasten baby bottle  112  to baby bottle holder  110 . First strap  118  includes a first end  144  and a second end  146 . First end  144  may be attached to first surface  130 . Fastening mechanism  148  may be attached to second end  146 . Second strap  118  may be employed to fasten baby bottle  112  to baby bottle holder  110 . Second strap  118  includes a first end  150  and a second end  152 . First end  150  may be attached to second surface  132 . Fastening mechanism  154  may be attached to second end  152 .  
         [0039]     Attachment mechanism  122  may be affixed to bottom surface  136 . Attachment mechanism  122  may be hook and loop material  158  or any other suitable means of attachment. The attachment mechanism  122  fastens baby bottle holder  110  to the support to bib  116 .  
         [0040]     When in use, baby bottle  112  may be removably engaged by surface  140 . Baby bottle holder  110  may be orientated so that nipple  160  enters baby&#39;s mouth  162 . Baby bottle holder  110  is removably attached to the bib  116  by attachment mechanism  122 . Baby bottle holder  110  holds baby bottle  112  while the baby receives liquid.  
         [0041]     Having now described the invention in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will understand how to make changes and modifications in the present invention to meet their specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims and their legal equivalents.