Abstract:
A convenience system for baby bottles that provides a bottle structure adapted for containing water and a pre-measured quantity of powdered formula in separate internal compartments prior to use. The specially adapted bottles thus allow for suitable quantities of water and powdered formula to be separately contained within the bottle structure, and easily mixed within the bottle just prior to feeding. A carrying system adapted with a handle is provided for carrying a plurality of bottles thereby maximizing convenience.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     N/A  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     N/A  
       COPYRIGHT NOTICE  
       [0003]     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights rights whatsoever.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0005]     The present invention relates generally to feeding bottles for infants and small children, and more specifically to a convenience system for infant feeding bottles including a carrying apparatus and specially configured feeding bottles that are adapted for convenient mixing of internally separately stored formula and water.  
         [0006]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0007]     The use of infant feeding bottles, commonly referred to as baby bottles, to feed infants specially prepared feeding formulations is well known. Conventional baby bottles include a glass or plastic container having an externally threaded container opening, a feeding nipple, and a screw-on top for securing the nipple to the container. Both the container and the nipple are reusable, however, disposable versions are also known. A standard feeding nipple is commonly made of either natural or synthetic rubber, both of which are flexible and compressible. Standard nipples are available for premature infants, newborns, and toddlers. An opening in the tip end of the nipple permits liquid to be withdrawn from the container in response to a sucking action by the nursing infant.  
         [0008]     It is common to prepare feeding formulations by mixing water with commercially available substances, such as concentrated liquid or powder formula. This typically requires ready access to a source of filtered water and the necessary formulation. While such access to the formula and water is readily available in the home, such is not the case when the care giver is away from the home with the infant as often occurs in today&#39;s mobile society. Dilution water, and ordinary tap water in particular, may contain trace amounts of minerals or bacteria that is harmful to infants. Chlorination of drinking water, although common throughout most of the United States, is not universal. Water systems in remote locations often lack the chlorine residual necessary to sanitize the water for drinking purposes. In addition, the care giver must carry separately packaged formula for mixing with the water. This necessitates carrying separate containers, as well as measuring and mixing steps that further complicate the process. The process is further complicated when multiple bottles must be prepared while away from home. As should be apparent, the preparation of the feeding formulations while away from home can be difficult and cumbersome.  
         [0009]     Accordingly, there exists a need for an infant feeding system that overcomes the disadvantages present in the art by providing an improved infant feeding system adapted for containing both water and formula in separate internal compartments, thereby eliminating the need for finding a suitable source of water while also eliminating the need for carrying separate containers of formula. There further exists a need for such a system wherein a plurality of bottles can be conveniently carried.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The present invention provides a convenience system for baby bottles that provides a bottle structure adapted for containing water and pre-measured formula in separate internal compartments prior to use. The specially adapted bottles thus allow for suitable quantities of water and powdered formula to be separately contained within the bottle structure, and easily mixed within the bottle just prior to feeding. A carrying system adapted with a handle is provided for carrying a plurality of bottles thereby maximizing convenience.  
         [0011]     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved feeding bottle capable of storing water and pre-measured formula in separate sterile compartments.  
         [0012]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a bottle holder adapted to carry a plurality of feeding bottles.  
         [0013]     In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a feeding bottle in accordance with the present invention with the top portion removed;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of an improved feeding bottle in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view thereof;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view thereof in partial section;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a formula-storing container housed within an infant feeding bottle in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view depicting the formula-storing container in relation to the infant feeding bottle;  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment infant feeding system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are partially exploded perspective views thereof;  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the formula-storing cap thereof;  
         [0023]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the formula-storing cap;  
         [0024]      FIG. 12  is a side elevational view of yet another alternate embodiment infant feeding bottle in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view thereof;  
         [0026]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view thereof in partial section; and  
         [0027]      FIGS. 15-17  depict a carrying apparatus adapted for use with infant feeding bottles according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]     With reference now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-17  depict an improved infant feeding system according to the present invention.  FIGS. 1-6  depict a preferred embodiment of an improved infant feeding bottle according to the present invention, generally referenced as  10 . Infant feeding bottle  10  comprises a generally cylindrical container having an externally threaded top  12 , a bottom  14 , and a side wall  16 . Infant feeding bottle  10  may be fabricated from plastic, or any other suitable material. In embodiments wherein infant feeding bottle  10  is to be disposable, the container may be fabricated from polyethylene or polypropylene. As best depicted in  FIG. 2 , infant feeding bottle  10  preferably includes a cap  20 , an internally threaded ring  22 , a nipple  24 , and receptacle  30  for storing formula. Cap  20 , ring  22 , and nipple  24  connect to the top  12  of bottle  10  in the configuration depicted in  FIG. 2 , in a generally conventional manner.  
         [0029]     As best depicted in  FIG. 5 , receptacle  30  comprises a cup-like body that functions as a temporary storage receptacle for feeding formula, such as powdered formula prior to mixing with water stored in the main body of bottle  10 . Receptacle  30  includes a radially projecting upper peripheral lip  32  that functions as a stop by engaging the top  12  of bottle  10  to prevent receptacle  30  from sliding completely into bottle  10 . Receptacle  30  is semi-cylindrical and includes a concave portion, referenced as  31 , to prevent receptacle  30  from completely filling the opening formed at the top  12  of bottle  10 . Peripheral lip  32  defines an aperture  34  that will allow feeding formula to pass from the interior of bottle  10  into the nipple attachment  24  when receptacle  30  is disposed within the top  12  of bottle  10 . Receptacle  30  further includes an upwardly projecting tab  36  that functions as a grasping structure to facilitate insertion and removal of receptacle  30  to/from the top  12  of bottle  10 .  
         [0030]     Receptacle  30  functions as a temporary storage receptacle preferably for powdered formula prior to mixing. More particularly, a care giver may fill bottle  10  with a suitable quantity of filtered water, deposit a pre-measured quantity of powdered formula into receptacle  30 , then insert receptacle  30  into the neck formed at the top  12  of bottle  10 , and secure and cap the bottle with nipple  24 , ring  22 , and cap  20 . Receptacle  30  thus functions to contain the powdered formula in a dry compartment during transport. Once the care giver desires to feed an infant, cap  20 , ring  22 , and nipple  24  are simply removed. Next, the user removes receptacle  30  by grasping tab  36  and pours the powdered formula contained within receptacle  30  into bottle  10 . Thereafter, receptacle  30  may be reinserted into the top  12  of bottle  10 , and the bottle may be capped with nipple  24 , ring  22 , and cap  20  in an otherwise conventional manner. The formula may be mixed by shaking the bottle prior to use. When bottle  10  is inverted in a position for feeding, the liquid formula is fed to the infant by passing through receptacle aperture  34  and nipple  22 .  
         [0031]      FIGS. 7-11  depict an alternate embodiment infant feeding bottle, generally referenced as  50 , in accordance with the present invention. Infant feeding bottle  50  comprises a generally cylindrical container having a top  52 , a bottom  54 , and a side wall  56 . Infant feeding bottle  50  may be fabricated from plastic, or any other suitable material. In embodiments wherein infant feeding bottle  50  is to be disposable, the container may be fabricated from polyethylene or polypropylene. As best depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , infant feeding bottle  50  preferably includes a threaded ring  60  securing a replaceable nipple  62  to the top  52  of bottle  50 . Bottle  50  further includes a cap, generally referenced as  64 , adapted for removable engagement with the top  52  of bottle  50  so as to be in removable covering relation with nipple  62  and threaded ring  60  as depicted in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0032]     Cap  64  comprises a generally cylindrical cap defining an interior chamber defined by a side wall  66 , a concave bottom  68 , and an openable top  70 . As best depicted in  FIG. 11 , cap  64  defines an interior chamber that functions as a temporary storage chamber for dry powdered formula. Top  70  is structured so as to receive openable top  70  removably thereon. Concave bottom  68  defines a recessed area for receiving nipple  62  therein when cap  64  is placed on the top  52  of bottle  50 .  
         [0033]      FIGS. 12-14  depict yet another alternate embodiment infant feeding bottle, generally referenced as  100 , in accordance with the present invention. Infant feeding bottle  100  comprises a generally cylindrical container having a top  102 , a bottom  104 , and a side wall  106 . Infant feeding bottle  100  may be fabricated from plastic, or any other suitable material. In embodiments wherein infant feeding bottle  100  is to be disposable, the container may be fabricated from polyethylene or polypropylene. As best depicted in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , infant feeding bottle  100  preferably includes a threaded ring  108  securing a replaceable nipple  110  to the top  102  of bottle  100 . Bottle  100  further includes a cap, generally referenced as  120 , adapted for removable engagement with the top  102  of bottle  100  so as to be in removable covering relation with nipple  110  and threaded ring  108  as depicted in  FIG. 14 .  
         [0034]     Cap  120  comprises a generally hollow structure defining an interior chamber defined by a side wall  122 , a concave bottom  124 , and an openable top  126 . As best depicted in  FIG. 13 , cap  120  preferably includes an openable top  126  adapted for mating threaded engagement with cap  120 . It should be noted, however, that any suitable openable structure is considered within the scope of the present invention. As best depicted in the sectional view of  FIG. 14 , cap  100  defines an interior chamber that functions as a temporary storage chamber for dry powdered formula. Bottle top  102 , and more particularly, threaded ring  108 , is structured so as to receive openable top  120  removably thereon. The mating connection between top  120  and either bottle  102  or threaded ring  108 , may be by press fit, by continuous bead, or by threaded connection, all of which are known in the art of connecting components. As with the previous embodiment, concave bottom  124  defines a recessed area for receiving nipple  110  therein when cap  120  is placed on bottle  100 .  
         [0035]     As should be apparent, the various embodiments of infant feeding bottles disclosed herein are particularly adapted for allowing the care giver to fill the bottle with a suitable quantity of water while storing powdered infant formula in a dry compartment until use is desired. The infant feeding bottles disclosed herein thus provide containers specially adapted for transport, and are particularly suited for use by care givers while away from home.  
         [0036]      FIGS. 15-17  depict a carrying apparatus  200  for use in conveniently carrying a plurality of bottles of the type disclosed herein. Carrying apparatus  200  preferably includes a handle portion  202 , and opposing left and right side plates, referenced as  204  and  206  respectively, projecting laterally from handle portion  202 . Each left and right side plate defines a plurality of cut-outs, referenced as  210 , each of which are suitably sized and shaped for press fit mating engagement with the top portion  102  of an infant feeding bottle  100  as best depicted in  FIG. 15 . As should be apparent, a plurality of bottles may be conveniently attached and carried using carrying apparatus  100 . More particularly, as best illustrated in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , a total of eight infant feeding bottles, referenced as  100 , may be attached and hand carried using handle  202 .  
         [0037]     The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.