Abstract:
An improved baby bottle nipple cover with a cap retainer that keeps the cap in proximity to the opening when not covering the nipple and that leaves the the collar free to sealingly secure the nipple. The nipple cover is easily transferable from one baby bottle to another.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an improved baby bottle nipple cover for use with a baby bottle that has a collar, an opening circumscribed by a rim, an exterior surface of revolution adjacent to the rim, a shoulder extending radially outward from the exterior surface of revolution, means for engaging the collar to the exterior surface of revolution, and a nipple with a disk-shaped base that can be sealingly secured to the opening when the base is snugly disposed between the rim and the collar. The improvement comprises a cap that is suitably sized to extend over the nipple, and means for retaining the cap in proximity to the opening while leaving the collar free for sealingly securing the base when the cap is removed from extending over the nipple. 
     It is used with a baby bottle having an opening and a nipple that is sealingly securable to the opening by a collar. The means for retaining comprises a yoke disposed between the collar and the shoulder. The cap is suitably sized to extend over the nipple, and the means for retaining is independent of tethering said cap to the collar. The means for retaining the cap leaves the collar free to sealingly secure the nipple. 
     One of the principle objects of the invention is to provide a detachable nipple cover that can be conveniently adapted for most baby bottles. It provides, among other things, a thin ring having a plurality of inwardly directed fins which flex to fit over a variety of baby bottle necks of varying diameter and yet provides for appropriate retention when secured by the baby bottle collar. 
     The baby bottle nipple cover of the present invention is reusable and can be reattached after removal for feeding. The cap remains reversibly engaged to the bottle. As illustrated in the drawing, the nipple cover of this invention may be used with a variety of baby bottle configurations. The nipple cap is removable. A principal object of the present invention is its adaptability to numerous bottle configurations. It also advantageously adapts to bottles of varying diameter. Moreover, it is easily transferable from one bottle to another, even where those bottles are of different size and/or configuration. 
     The improved baby bottle nipple cover of this invention comprises a baby bottle cap retainer, with means for retaining the cap proximate to the baby bottle, that is disposed on the neck of the bottle between the base of the threaded neck of the bottle and a nipple collar without interfering with the sealing position of the nipple collar on the bottle neck. Preferably, the means for retaining the cap comprises a thin washer having an outer peripheral edge with a tethering means connecting said outer peripheral edge to the cap. This improved baby bottle nipple cover is preferably used with a baby bottle having an opening and a nipple that is sealingly securable to the opening by a collar. 
     The improved baby bottle nipple cover of this invention is for use with a baby bottle that has a collar, an opening circumscribed by a rim, an exterior surface of revolution adjacent to the rim, a shoulder extending radially outward from the exterior surface of revolution, means for engaging the collar to the exterior surface of revolution, and a nipple with a disk-shaped base that can be sealingly secured to the opening when the base is snugly disposed between the rim and the collar. The improvement taught by this invention comprises a cap that is suitably sized to extend over the nipple, and means for retaining the cap in proximity to the opening while leaving the collar free for sealingly securing the base when the cap is removed from extending over the nipple. The means for retaining comprises a yoke disposed between the collar and the shoulder. 
     Alternative technology is available in the form of U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,115 issued to Bosl et.al. in 1998 for a closure cap with tether that is attached to a retainer ring, see references # 5  (cap) and # 39  (ring) of the drawing. The principal disadvantage of such a device is its one time use. The instant invention operates independent of rupture mechanisms, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,115. The nipple cap of the instant invention has a replaceable, reusable cap. 
     Another U.S. Pat., No. 5,791,503 was issued to Lyons in 1998 for a nursing bottle with anti-air ingestion valve to prevent excessive air swallowing. This invention also provides a removable and/or replaceable valve and teaches a common bottle with a mouth (opening), a cap and a common nipple with an aperture at the end of the extrusion of milk by the action of the infant, sealably retained nipple and the cap is a disk with a flexible valve member which acts as a one-way partially sealed check valve allowing the liquid to flow in one direction while the infant is in the feeding position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,615 teaches an infant feeding system with a detached nipple cover. This conventional baby bottle system is necessarily transportable to accommodate the needs of the parent to move the baby to different locations. The principal disadvantage of such a device is that its baby bottle cap has no retaining means and thus is easily lost or misplaced once removed for feeding. 
     Another disadvantage to all of the foregoing devices is that they provide for attachment, if any, only to one bottle or neck configuration. 
     The citation of the foregoing publications is not an admission that any particular publication constitutes prior art, or that any publication alone or in conjunction with others, renders unpatentable any pending claim of the present application. None of the cited publications is believed to detract from the patentability of the claimed invention. 
     ADVANTAGES OF THIS INVENTION 
     Unlike the foregoing devices which teach structures that either do not attach to the bottle so that once the cap is removed it is subject to being lost, or if attached, can not readily be reused or transferred from bottle to bottle, particularly when the bottles have different configurations. To alleviate this problem, and others which will become apparent from the disclosure which follows, the present invention conveniently provides a removable nipple cover that remains attached. It can also conveniently adapt for most baby bottles. It provides, among other things, a thin ring having a plurality of inwardly directed fins which flex to fit over a variety of baby bottle necks of varying diameter and yet provides for appropriate retention when secured by the baby bottle collar. 
     The baby bottle nipple cover of the present invention is reusable and can be reversibly disposed to cover the nipple after removal for feeding. The cap remains engaged to the bottle. As illustrated in the drawing, the nipple cover of this invention may be used with a variety of baby bottle configurations. The nipple cap is removable and can be sterilized separately. 
     A principal advantage of the present invention is its adaptability to numerous bottle configurations. It advantageously adapts to bottles of varying diameter. Moreover, it is easily transferable from one bottle to another, even where those bottles are of different size and/or configuration. 
     Still other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure that follows. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an improved baby bottle nipple cover. It is used with a baby bottle having an opening and a nipple that is sealingly securable to the opening by a collar. The improvement comprises a cap that is suitably sized to extend over the nipple, and means for retaining the cap in proximity to the opening when the cap is removed from extending over the nipple independent of tethering said cap to the collar. The means for retaining the cap leaves the collar free to sealingly secure the nipple. 
     The improved baby bottle nipple cover of this invention is for use with a baby bottle that has a collar, an opening circumscribed by a rim, an exterior surface of revolution adjacent to the rim, a shoulder extending radially outward from the exterior surface of revolution, means for engaging the collar to the exterior surface of revolution, and a nipple with a disk-shaped base that can be sealingly secured to the opening when the base is snugly disposed between the rim and the collar. The improvement disclosed herein comprises a cap that is suitably sized to extend over the nipple, and means for retaining the cap in proximity to the opening while leaving the collar free for sealingly securing the base when the cap is removed from extending over the nipple. The means for retaining comprises a yoke disposed between the collar and the shoulder. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the improved baby bottle nipple cover of the present invention showing the nipple cover, nipple and collar exploded away from the baby bottle. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the improved baby bottle nipple cover of the present invention with the ring of the improved baby bottle nipple cover disposed around the neck of the bottle with the cap removed from the nipple and secured by the attached collar; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the improved baby bottle nipple cover of the present invention taken along the line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2 showing the outside diameter of the bottle, representing the shoulder for this bottle configuration, which is larger than the inside diameter of the ring, and further showing that the inside diameter of the ring is larger than the outside diameter of the threads; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the improved bottle nipple cover of the present invention taken along the line  4 — 4  of FIG. 2 showing the outside diameter of the collar, and relative to FIG. 3, showing that the inside diameter of the ring is smaller then the outside diameter of the collar; 
     FIG. 5 is a preferred embodiment of the means for retaining of the improved bottle nipple cover of the present invention showing a ring with a plurality of inwardly directed fins; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial side elevation view of a baby bottle showing the means for retaining of the baby bottle nipple cover being disposed between the collar and the shoulder of the bottle; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the improved baby bottle nipple cover of the present invention taken along the line  7 — 7  of FIG. 6 with the addition of the cap shown in hatched lines and particularly showing the base of the nipple sealingly secured on the rim of the bottle and with the means for retaining of the nipple cover disposed between the collar and the shoulder; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the improved baby bottle nipple cover of the present invention taken along the line  8 — 8  of FIG. 7 showing the outside diameter of the ring and the outside diameter of the threads of the bottle; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the improved baby bottle nipple cover of the present invention taken along the line  9 — 9  of FIG. 7 (with the phantom cap  3  removed) showing the outside diameter of the bead (i.e. shoulder) and the inside diameter of the ring of the improved bottle nipple cover of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is another preferred embodiment of the means for retaining of the improved bottle nipple cover of the present invention showing a c-shaped means for retaining; 
     FIG. 11 is another preferred embodiment of the means for retaining of the improved bottle nipple cover of the present invention showing a u-shaped configuration; and 
     FIG. 12 is another preferred embodiment of the means for retaining of the improved bottle nipple cover of the present invention showing an elongated flexible strap that can be folded as shown in phantom to be disposed between the shoulder and the collar to retain the cap. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Without departing from the generality of the invention disclosed herein and without limiting the scope of the invention, the discussion that follows, will refer to the invention as depicted in the drawing. 
     The preferred embodiments of the apparatus depicted in the drawing comprise an improved baby bottle nipple cover  1  for use with a baby bottle  14  having an opening  15  and a nipple  10  that is sealingly securable to the opening by a collar  12 , wherein the improvement comprises a cap  3  that is suitably sized to extend over the nipple  10 , and means for retaining  9  the cap in proximity to the opening when the cap is removed from extending over the nipple independent of tethering said cap  3  to the collar  12 . Preferably, the means for retaining the cap leaves the collar free to sealingly secure the nipple. 
     The improved baby bottle nipple cover  1  of this important invention is for use with a baby bottle that has a collar  12 , an opening  15  circumscribed by a rim  16 , an exterior surface of revolution  17  adjacent to the rim  16 , a shoulder  5  extending radially outward from the exterior surface of revolution  17 , means for engaging (shown in the drawing as threading) the collar  12  to the exterior surface of revolution, and a nipple  10  with a disk-shaped base  11  that can be sealingly secured to the opening  15  when the base is snugly disposed between the rim  16  and the collar  12 . The improvement taught by this invention comprises a cap  3  that is suitably sized to extend over the nipple  10 , and means for retaining  9  the cap in proximity to the opening while leaving the collar free for sealingly securing the base when the cap is removed from extending over the nipple. The means for retaining  9  comprises a yoke  18  disposed between the collar  12  and the shoulder  5 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of the improved baby bottle nipple cover, the yoke  18  has an axial thickness which does not substantially exceed an axial distance between the collar  12  and the shoulder  5  when the base  11  is sealingly secured between the rim  16  and the collar  12 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of the improved baby bottle nipple cover, the yoke has an axial thickness which is less than an axial distance between the collar and the shoulder when the base is sealingly secured between the rim and the collar. 
     Preferably, the yoke  18  is in the shape of a ring, as shown in FIGS. 1-9. Furthermore, the yoke may be comprised of a resilient compressible material with an uncompressed axial thickness which is greater than an axial distance between the collar and the shoulder when the base is sealingly secured between the rim and the collar and a compressed axial thickness corresponding to the axial distance between the collar and the shoulder when the base is sealingly secured between the rim and the collar. 
     In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the yoke  18  is c-shaped  20  and may be comprised of a resilient compressible material with an uncompressed axial thickness which is greater than an axial distance between the collar and the shoulder when the base is sealingly secured between the rim and the collar and a compressed axial thickness corresponding to the axial distance between the collar and the shoulder when the base is sealingly secured between the rim and the collar. 
     Referring to FIG. 11, another preferred embodiment of the improved baby bottle nipple cover  1  is shown with the yoke  18  being unshaped  22 . It may be comprised of a resilient compressible material with an uncompressed axial thickness which is greater than an axial distance between the collar and the shoulder when the base is sealingly secured between the rim and the collar and a compressed axial thickness corresponding to the axial distance between the collar and the shoulder when the base is sealingly secured between the rim and the collar. 
     Referring to FIG. 12, another preferred embodiment of the means for retaining of the improved bottle nipple cover  1  of the present invention is shown comprising an elongated flexible strap  24  that can be folded, as shown in phantom, around the neck of the bottle between the shoulder and the collar to retain the cap. 
     As shown in the drawing, the yoke is connected to the cap. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in the various figures of the drawing, a tether  26  connects the yoke  18  to the cap  3 . The yoke  18 , tether  26 , and cap  3  may be integrally connected. By using a flexibly rigid plastic, or other suitable material of construction, the yoke, tether, and cap can be comprised of one continuous piece of material. 
     Many baby bottles for which the improved baby bottle nipple cover may be used have a shoulder that comprises an annular projection with an outside diameter which is greater than an inside diameter of the yoke, and wherein the annular projection  5   a  is disposed at a spaced distance from the collar when the collar is sealingly securing the nipple. The means for retaining may comprise means for tethering  26   a  having a thickness that does not substantially exceed the spaced distance between the annular projection and the collar, when the collar is sealingly securing the nipple. As shown in FIGS. 1, and  10 - 12 , the means for tethering  26   a  may have a variety of terminal ends  26   b  for attaching to the baby bottle, including a linear section that may be wrapped around the bottle, as shown in FIG. 12, between the annular projection and the collar and secured when the collar sealingly secures the nipple, a ring, a c-shaped end, a u-shaped end, or the like, as shown in FIGS. 1,  10 , and  11 , respectively. 
     It will be appreciated that the internal diameter  6  of the ring  2  (shown as C in FIG. 3 and I in FIG. 9) is generally larger than the outside diameter of the threads  7  (shown as B in FIG. 3 and F in FIG. 9) for engaging the collar  12  to the bottle  14 , that the internal diameter  6  of the ring  2  is generally smaller than the outside diameter of the collar  28  in FIG. 9 (shown as E in FIG. 4 ), and that the internal diameter  6  of the ring  2  is generally smaller than the outside diameter of the shoulder (H in FIG.  9 ). 
     To accommodate variances in the diameter of the bottle neck, the yoke  18  may have an irregular inner surface, an example of which is shown in FIG.  5 . In a preferred embodiment of the improved baby bottle nipple cover, the irregular inner surface comprises a plurality of flexibly rigid inwardly projecting fins  8  to facilitate adapting the yoke to the exterior surface of revolution of a variety of baby bottles having distinctive exterior surface of revolution diameters. Preferably, the yoke  18  has an axial thickness which does not substantially exceed an axial distance between the collar and the shoulder when the base is sealingly secured between the rim and the collar. 
     While this invention has been described in connection with the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out his invention, the preferred embodiments described and shown are for purposes of illustration only, and are not to be construed as constituting any limitations of the invention. Modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and all modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is base, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scop of the present invention. 
     My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the particular combinations of some or all of them herein disclosed and claimed and it is distinguished from the prior art in these particular combinations of some or all of its structures for the functions specified. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.