Abstract:
A container for storing and dispensing a substance including a deformable nipple having an open end, a feeding tip and a storage cavity; a lid adapted to releasably engage the open end of the nipple; and a (optionally) a tether having resilient properties, the tether connecting the nipple to the lid; wherein, in a storage position the substance, when placed within the storage cavity of the nipple, is contained; wherein in a mixing position, the substance is released from the storage cavity of the nipple; and wherein the container transitions from the storage position to the mixing position upon application of an external force to the nipple, causing the nipple to deform and the lid to disengage the open end of the nipple.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application is being filed as a non-provisional patent application under 35 U.S.C. §111(b) and 37 CFR §1.53(c). This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §111(e) to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/675,873, filed Jul. 26, 2012, entitled “Feeding Nipple Container” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates an infant feeding container nipple. In particular, the present invention is directed to storing, mixing and dispensing a predetermined dose of a composition. 
     The predetermined dose of the composition may be a powder or liquid. For example, the powder or liquid may be a nutritional infant or adult formula powder form. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Traditionally, when an adult travels with an infant from their home, it is essential to pack and carry numerous bulky and cumbersome baby products. In particular, it is necessary to pack various items to anticipate the infant&#39;s meal, such as, sterile baby bottles, one or more sterile water-filled bottles and various containers of a baby formula powder, a measurement scooper, a bib and baby wipes. The burden of having to carry all of these items to feed the infant when they are hungry (which includes mixing a measured amount of water with a predetermined amount of baby formula powder, using a scoop to put the powder inside the nursing bottle when the user needed to feed the infant), makes traveling anywhere outside of the home discouragingly complicated and an unsatisfying experience. 
     When baby formula is mixed with water, the recommended time for consumption is within about an hour. Thereafter, it was recommended that the remainder of the formula beverage be discarded to prevent the introduction of bacteria and/or other harmful germs to an infant. (See http://www.ehow.com/how — 2514_prepare-ready-mix.html). 
     In an attempt to extend the use of formula by keeping the ingredients separated until use, various bottle designs have been proposed which have been unsuccessful in providing a simple bottle design that stores, mixes and easily dispenses the beverage. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,264,007 illustrates a top mounted container to hold a small quantity of a second material at the opening of a bottle. This design brings extra and unnecessary parts and requires to be removed from the main container to allow the resulting mixed liquid from being dispensed. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,445 illustrates a very complicated baby bottle including an extra cartridge assembly, requiring some extra skills to put all the parts together and definitely increasing the complication related to feeding a baby in a daily regular basis which is repeated up to twelve times per day; as well of other drawbacks related to the use of this design. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,714 illustrates a primary container with a removable stemmed plug, which introduces a very high risk of injury for a baby and the possibility of an obstruction while two ingredients are mixing and/or dispensing; as well of other drawbacks found on this design. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,692,644, 5,794,802, 5,863,126, and 6,257,428, illustrate other examples of a very complicated devices requiring many extra parts, requiring extra care and capabilities for assembly and disassembly and in some cases representing an injury risk if these devices are used to feed babies. All this and other drawbacks complicate the regular use of a baby bottle, in which a parent is required to load liquid and powdered formula, assemble the bottle, feed the baby and wash these devices up to twelve times every single day. 
     For at least these reasons, the above devices fail to solve the problem of efficiently storing, mixing and dispensing of a formula beverage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a nipple container for a dispensing unit for storing, mixing and dispensing of a beverage. 
     The nipple container may include a vent system to allow air to enter to the nipple container as fluid is removed. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a nursing bottle including the nipple container, that stores a predetermined amount of powder formula and a main container including a predetermined amount of water or liquid. In a stored position, a lid seals an open end of the nipple container in communication with the main container, and prevents the powder and liquid from mixing. The lid is released by applying an external deformational force on an exterior surface of the nipple feeding container and the powder and the liquid are allowed to mix. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide for an improved mixing process between powder and liquid through use of the releasable lid as an agitator. 
     This invention solves the longstanding need for providing a simple, ready to use, quick and portable sterile nursing dispenser. 
     These and other objects, features, and/or advantages may accrue from various aspects of embodiments of the present invention, as described in more detail below. 
     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein in the various exemplary embodiments provided, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to only the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components or steps, with reference to the following figures. Likewise, some of the figures herein depict minimal line-work for ease of understanding. 
         FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  2 A illustrate exemplary side section and perspective views respectively of a dispensing nipple container including a dispensing nipple, a container lid and a lid tether in accordance with and embodiment of this invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a partial enlarged detail view of  FIG. 1  which illustrates the features that releasably hold the container lid in a storage (or sealing) position against an inner cavity of the dispensing nipple. 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate exemplary side section views of a dispensing nipple container according to the present invention placed on a nursing bottle in a storage and an opened (or mixing) position respectively. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary side section view of a dispensing nipple container according to the present invention placed on a nursing bottle in a storage position. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary side section view of a dispensing nipple container according to the present invention placed on a nursing bottle at the moment of release. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary side section view of a dispensing nipple container according to the present invention placed on a nursing bottle during mixing. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary side section view of a dispensing nipple container according to the present invention placed on a nursing bottle during feeding. 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate exemplary side perspective and section views respectively of an embodiment of a dispensing nipple container according to the present invention including a separate container lid and an attaching tether. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Particular embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the figures. 
       FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  2 A illustrate side section and perspective views respectively of a feeding nipple container  100 . The feeding nipple container  100  is constructed to separate, store, mix and/or dispense a baby formula powder or any other type of ingredient. In more detail, the feeding nipple container  100  illustrates an open end  12 , an inner cavity  18  and a nipple tip  16  of a nipple body  10 , a lid tether  22  and a container lid  20 , all as part of an integral unitary piece. 
     In particular,  FIG. 1  shows the feeding nipple container  100  in the storage position, in which the container lid  20  is secured to the open end  12  of the nipple body  10 .  FIGS. 2 and 2A  show the feeding nipple container  100  in the mixing or open position. The container lid  20  is integrated to the nipple body  10  by the lid tether  22 . In the storage position, the lid tether  22  is stretched so as to act as spring biased to urge the container lid  20  to open upon release of the lid locking features  60 , 62  (see  FIG. 2B ). The lid tether  22  also keeps the container lid  20  open after the container lid  20  has been released from the open end  12  in the mixing position. 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates in detail the features that keep the container lid  20  in sealing engagement with the open end  12  while in the storage position. As is shown, in the storage position, lid lip  60 , which is formed circumferentially around the container lid  20 , is prevented from disengaging from the open end  12  by a sealing lip  62  which is formed circumferentially around the open end  12 . A retaining flange  64 , also formed circumferentially around the container lid  20 , prevents the container lid  20  from being forced into the inner cavity  18  of the nipple body  10  upon closing. 
     Alternative embodiments of the present invention may completely eliminate lid lip  60  and sealing lip  62 . In such embodiments, container lid  20  may be kept in sealing engagement with open end  12  by designing the two components so that they engage using an interference fit. In such an arrangement, the circumference of container lid  20  may be slightly larger than the circumference of open end  12  creating a pressure fit between the two upon engagement. The difference in the circumferences of container lid  20  and open end  12  will depend on the type of materials used. In any event, the fit may be designed so that the pressure required to close and open container lid  20  is optimized for the intended use. 
     Upon application of a releasing force  50  on nipple body  10  (see  FIGS. 4 and 6 ), the sealing lip  62  is deformed and the lid lip  60  is released. As the lid tether  22  pulls on the container lid  20 , the container lid  20  opens and releases any baby formula (or other ingredient) stored in the inner cavity  18 . If an interference fit is used to maintain sealing engagement between container lid  20  and open end  12 , the releasing force  50  will similarly deform open end  12  and simultaneously urge container lid  20  to open. 
     To hold the necessary amount of baby formula powder to prepare the regular amount of formula beverage for a baby, a cavity size of at least 2 cubic inches of capacity for the inner cavity  18  of the nipple body  10  is desirable. A larger or smaller cavity size may be used depending on the intended use of the device or the type of ingredients to be mixed 
     To allow the necessary deformation to release the container lid  20  from the open end  12 , a flexible and/or resilient material may be used to manufacture nipple body  10  and tether  22 . Desirable materials which are commonly used to make baby bottle nipples, such as rubber (latex) and silicone are acceptable for the disclosed invention, but the invention is by no means limited to such materials. Any material that has sufficient flexibility, resiliency and hardness to retain the proper shape to maintain engagement between the container lid  20  and open end  12 , is acceptable. With regard to hardness, materials having a durometer reading between 40 and 60 (using the “Shore A” scale) are known to be suitable to the present application. Again, however, this should not be considered a material limitation for the present invention. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show simple exemplary cross-section side views of the feeding nipple container  100  secured to a cup container  30  by a collar  40 . 
     In particular,  FIG. 3  shows an exemplary embodiment of the feeding nipple container  100  in storage position, in which a venting valve  14  is integrated to the nipple body  10  to prevent a vacuum effect when the feeding nipple container  100  is in use. 
       FIG. 4  shows the feeding nipple container  100  in the mixing position, where the releasing force  50  is applied on the nipple body  10 , deforming the shape of the nipple body  10  and forcing the container lid  20  to be released from the open end  12  of the nipple body  10 . 
       FIGS. 5 ,  6   7  and  8  show simple exemplary views of the feeding nipple container  100  in use and secured to the cup container  30  by a collar  40 . 
     In particular,  FIG. 5  shows the feeding nipple container  100  in the storage position; in which a first substance is disposed in the inner cavity  18  the nipple body  10 ; and the container lid  20  is secured to the open end  12  of the nipple body  10  and preventing to mix the first material  52  from mixing with the second material  54  disposed inside the cup container  30 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the nipple container  100  in the mixing position, in which the releasing force  50  is deforming the shape of the nipple body  10 , forcing to release the container lid  20  from the open end  12  of the nipple body  10 , allowing the first substance  52  and the second substance  54  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) to mix into a composition  56 . 
     According to this exemplary embodiment, the nipple body  10  may hold a variety of different substances, including but not limited to: a powder or a liquid, such as: a powdered formula (e.g., an infant formula), and/or any other type of liquid or powdered beverage drink additive (such as tea, punch, sports hydration drink). Likewise, the cup container  30  may also be filled with variety of different substances intended to be mixed with the substance in the nipple body  10  to make a mixed composition, including but not limited to: water, milk and/or any other type of liquid or powder. 
     In use, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the user may then speed up the mixing process by shaking the nipple container  100  secured to the cup container  30  by the collar  40 . Here it is shown that container lid  20  also may function as an agitator, helping to uniformly mix the first substance  52  and the second substance  54  into the composition  56 . 
       FIG. 8  shows an exemplary section view of the nipple container  100 , in which an unlocking feature of the lid tether  22  is shown. The lid tether  22 , may be made of a flexible and resilient material and shorter in length that the distance between the attaching point  28  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) between the nipple body  10  and the tether lid  22 , and the attaching point  26  between the container lid  20  and the tether lid  22  in the storage position. Accordingly, the lid tether  22  has to be stretched to allow the container lid  20  to be secured to the open end  12  of the nipple body  10  (as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  5 ) in the storage position. In the storage position, therefore, lid tether  22  acts as a spring urging the container lid  20  to open once the releasing force  50  (as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 ) is applied. In use and after the container lid  20  has been released from the open end  12  of the nipple body  10  by the releasing force  50 ; the tether lid  22  contracts again and prevents the container lid  20  of going back to its previous position at the open end  12  by gravity or shaking ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ), allowing a free flow of the first substance  52 , second substance  54  and/or the composition  56  from the nipple body  10  to the cup container  30  or vice versa. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, lid tether  22  need not act as a spring or urge the container lid  20  to open or remain disengaged from open end  12 . In such an embodiment, the sole purpose of lid tether  22  would be to maintain lid tether  22  attached to the nipple body  10  once it is disengaged from open end  12 . Maintaining such an attachment would provide convenience to the user and aid in the agitation function of the container lid  20  (see  FIG. 7 ). In such an embodiment lid tether  22  need not be made of a resilient material and its length may be such that slack is provided when container lid  20  is engaged with open end  12 . 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, lid tether  22  can be completely eliminated, and container lid  20  can be a completely separate part from nipple body  10 . In such an embodiment, once container lid  20  is forced into disengaging from open end  12 , container lid  20  would simply fall into cup container  30  and could be recovered once the cup contents are emptied. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  show perspective and section side views respectively of another exemplary embodiment of the nipple container  100 , in which the container lid  20  (as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  2 A) and the nipple body  10  are separated and a modified tether lid  22   a  having a connecting hole  24   b  and a modified lid  20   a  having a connecting pin  24   a  are incorporated to the nipple container  100 . In use, the modified lid  20   a  is attached to the nipple body  10  by inserting the connecting pin  24   a  into the connecting hole  24   b  of the modified tether  22   a.    
     Although various exemplary embodiments are shown above, it is to be understood that these examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the preferred embodiments of the invention. For example: All parts described can be made of different sizes and/or figures. Parts and/or sections of parts can be separated in different parts to create other parts. Parts and/or sections of parts can be replaced by other parts and/or sections of parts. 
     It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It is understood therefore that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment which is described, but is intended to cover all modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the invention.