Patent Publication Number: US-7901375-B2

Title: Mesh-type feeder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates broadly to the field of providing nourishment and sustenance to the very young and/or the disabled. More specifically, this invention relates to a mesh type feeder that may be used to feed infants, small children or adults who might otherwise be susceptible to choking while being fed. 
     2. Description of the Related Technology 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,364,348 and 6,524,272 describe mesh type feeders that are used in the feeding of infants and small children to facilitate the transition between bottle feeding and spoon feeding. These feeders included a mesh enclosure that is held open by a holder and a handle member/plug that is threaded so as to be screwed into and seal an opening that is defined in the holder. The apparatus was described in that patent and later U.S. patent as having particular utility in the administration of certain foods, such as semi solid foods. 
     In the devices described above the handle member necessarily had to be completely disengaged and removed from the member that holds the mesh enclosure in order to insert or remove food from the interior of the mesh enclosure. This could possibly result in the handle being misplaced or contaminated with bacteria if the caregiver finds it necessary to temporarily place the handle in an unhygienic location while preparing the food and placing into the mesh enclosure. Bacteria could also be transmitted to the mesh enclosure from the caregiver&#39;s hand during screwing and unscrewing of the handle member/plug. Caregivers tend to be quite busy, especially if responsible for more than one child and are frequently trying to do several things at once. The process of screwing and unscrewing the handle member/plug from the holder necessarily required the caregiver to use both hands and required a range of wrist motion that could be painful for older caregivers or caregivers with arthritis. This is exacerbated by the fact that many caregivers might prefer to use the feeder to feed the child small amounts of food at a time, which would necessitate frequent screwing and unscrewing of the handle member/plug. 
     A need exists for an improved mesh type feeder that is more convenient to use and more sanitary than the conventional mesh feeders described above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved mesh type feeder that is more convenient to use and more sanitary than the conventional mesh feeders described above. 
     In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, a feeding apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention includes a mesh enclosure having a first open end and a second closed end; a mesh holder for holding the first, open end of the mesh enclosure in an open position, the mesh holder having an opening defined therein through which food may be inserted into the mesh enclosure; a closure for selectively sealing said opening; and mounting structure for mounting the closure to the mesh holder for movement between a first open position wherein food may be inserted or removed from the mesh enclosure through the opening and a second, closed position wherein the opening is sealed, the mounting structure being constructed so as to maintain engagement between the closure and the mesh holder in both the first open position and the second closed position. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, a feeding apparatus includes a mesh enclosure having a first open end and a second closed end; a mesh holder for holding the first, open end of the mesh enclosure in an open position, the mesh holder having an opening defined therein through which food may be inserted into the mesh enclosure; a closure for selectively sealing the opening; and a hood member, releasably mounted to one of the mesh holder and the closure, for covering the mesh enclosure when the feeding apparatus is not in use. 
     These and various other advantages and features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a feeder constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in a first operational position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the figure of  FIG. 1  in a second operational position; 
         FIG. 3  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view; 
         FIG. 4  is an assembly view; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a feeder that is constructed according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring in particular to  FIG. 1 , a feeding apparatus  10  constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a mesh enclosure  12  having an open upper end  14 , best shown in  FIG. 4 , and a closed lower end  16 . Mesh enclosure  12  is preferably fabricated from a soft woven material that will not abrade the child&#39;s mouth, tongue and lips. In the preferred embodiment, this material is a polyester fibrous material that is woven in what will be termed a fine weave pattern. The fine weave pattern may for example be characterized as defining from about 150 holes per square inch to about 250 holes per square inch, with each hole preferably being sized to be from about 0.020 inches to about 0.10 inches in diameter. 
     Feeding apparatus  10  further preferably includes a mesh holder  18  that is preferably permanently secured to the mesh enclosure  12  proximate to the first, open end  14  so as to hold the first, open end  14  in a wide open position. Referring now to  FIG. 4 , it will be seen that mesh holder  18  includes a mounting ring  20  having an opening defined by an interior rim  22  through which the mesh enclosure  12  passes. Mounting ring  20  further has an interior surface from which an array of gripping teeth  24  protrude upwardly and inwardly. As may be seen in the cross-sectional view that is provided in  FIG. 3 , gripping teeth  24  protrude through the mesh material of the upper portion  14  of the mesh enclosure  12  to secure the mesh enclosure  12  to the mesh holder  18 . A locking recess  26  is defined on an exterior surface of the mounting ring  20  for purposes that will be described in greater detail below. Mesh holder  18  further includes a mounting insert  28 , best shown in  FIG. 4 , that is designed to snap into and be retained within mounting ring  20 . Mounting insert  28  includes an exterior surface that defines a plurality of projections  30  and a corresponding plurality of sockets  32  defined therebetween. When the mounting insert  28  is snapped into the mounting ring  20  the gripping teeth  24  will interengage with the sockets  32  in order to tightly secure the mesh material of the mesh enclosure  12  between the mounting ring  20  and the mounting insert  28 . The assembly of the mesh holder  18  and the mesh enclosure  12  is preferably performed in the factory and is not intended to be disassembled by the consumer. 
     The mounting insert  28  of the mesh holder  18  further defines a frustoconical internal surface that tapers downwardly to an inner rim  34  defining an opening through which the interior of the mesh enclosure  12  may be accessed. The entire mesh holder  18  is preferably fabricated from a resilient plastic material such as a Copolymer Polypropylene, preferably having a hardness of about 95 A Durometer. 
     Alternatively, the mesh holder  18  may be of one-piece construction, with the plastic material of the mesh holder either being co-molded with the mesh enclosure or molded about an upper portion of the mesh enclosure so that the mesh material is securely entrained therein. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , feeding apparatus  10  further includes a closure member  36  that is constructed and arranged to selectively cover the access opening that is defined by the rim  34  of the mounting insert  28 . Closure member  36  includes a tapered plug  38  that is shaped and sized to be received by the frustoconical recess that is defined by the inner surface  33  of the mounting insert  28 . Tapered plug  38  includes a flat bottom surface  40  and a frustoconical downwardly tapered side surface  42 , as is best shown in  FIG. 2 . Closure member  36  is preferably fabricated from a resilient plastic material such as a Copolymer Polypropylene, preferably having a hardness of about 95 A Durometer. 
     According to one important aspect of the invention, a mounting mechanism  44  is provided to permit movement of the closure member  36  between a first open position in which food may be inserted into the mesh enclosure  12  and a second, closed position. Preferably, mounting mechanism  44  is constructed in such a manner that it remains continuously engaged with both the mesh holder  18  and the closure member  36  whether the closure member  36  is in the first position, the second position or in transit between the two positions. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, mounting mechanism  44  is embodied as a hinge  46  that constrain the closure member  36  for pivotal movement about a fixed pivot axis, as is clearly shown in the drawings, with respect to the mesh holder  18 . Looking briefly to  FIG. 4 , it will be seen that the hinge  46  is preferably constructed as a trunnion  48  that is integral with the mounting ring  20  of the mesh holder  18  and a mating hinge projection  50  that is integral with the closure member  36 . Mounting holes  54 ,  56  are defined in the trunnion  48  and the projection  50 , respectively, and a hinge pin  52  is assembled so as to extend through and be retained within those mounting holes. Hinge pin  52  defines the pivot axis of the hinge  46  and is preferably fabricated from a low friction high strength material that will not rust, such as nylon. 
     According to another important aspect of the invention, a flexible latch member  58  is integral with the closure member  36  and includes a flexible arm  60  and a locking projections  62  that extends radially inwardly from a distal end of the flexible latch arm  60 . Locking projection  62  is sized and shaped to be releasably received by the locking recess  26  that is defined in the exterior surface of the mounting ring  20  described above. Additionally, a gripping projection  64  extends radially outwardly from the distal end of the flexible arm  60  so that a consumer may grip the distal end of the flexible arm  60  in order to unseat the locking projection  62  from the locking recess  26 . Additional structure may be provided to help the closure member  36  seat securely in relation to the mesh holder  18  when in the second, closed position. This may include a pair of raised bumps (not shown) on frustoconical surface  42  that snap into a corresponding pair of recesses that are defined in inner surface  33  of the mounting insert  28 . 
     For safety purposes and to enhance the grippability of the gripping projection  64 , a soft elastomeric overmolding  66  is provided on the protruding portion of the gripping projection  64 . In the preferred embodiment, overmolding  66  is fabricated from a Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) having a hardness of about Durometer 60 A or softer, such as which is commercially available from GLS Corporation as grade Dynaflex 7960. 
     Closure member  36  further includes a handle  68  for gripping and carrying the feeding apparatus  10 . In the preferred embodiment, handle  68  is constructed as a teething ring  70  and has a soft, elastomeric overmolding  72  at an upper end thereof to provide a soft teething surface for an infant or small child. Closure member  36  and handle  68  are preferably fabricate from a resilient plastic material such as a copolymer polypropylene. As is shown in  FIG. 4 , the underlying hard plastic portion of the teething ring  70  includes a plurality of projections  73 , which in the preferred embodiment are star shaped, that extend through holes  75  that are defined in the soft elastomeric overmolding. This provides the infant or small child with a variable surface upon which to bite that is anticipated to be especially satisfying while teething. In the preferred embodiment, overmolding  72  is fabricated from a Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) having a hardness of about Durometer 60 A or softer, such as which is commercially available from GLS Corporation as grade Dynaflex 7960. 
     A feeder that is constructed according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention is depicted in  FIG. 5 . This embodiment of the invention is identical to that described above, with the exception that a clear hard plastic hood  80  is provided that may releasably be mounted to the mesh holder  18  when the feeder is not in use. It is anticipated that the feeder according to the invention will have particular utility in feeding soft fruit to infants and small children. The provision of the plastic hood  80  will permit a caregiver to more effectively contain the juice that is given off by the soft fruit when the feeder is placed into a carrying bag or purse. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.