Patent Publication Number: US-2019183740-A1

Title: Method for stirring milk powder solution and stirring type feeding-bottle

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2017/077658, filed on Mar. 22, 2017, which is based upon and claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. CN20161432880.9, filed on Jun. 17, 2016, and Chinese Patent Application No. CN20162593691.5, filed on Jun. 17, 2016, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the field of feeding-bottles, and in particular to feeding-bottles which are stirred by magnetic actuation. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A feeding-bottle is an appliance used to hold milk powder solution, and is generally used for babies. The feeding-bottle itself does not contain a nipple, and merely refers to the bottle. However, usually the manufacturer who produces the baby feeding-bottle will give a nipple with the feeding-bottle. Feeding-bottles generally include glass feeding-bottles, plastic feeding-bottles and silicone feeding-bottles. 
     When feeding a baby with a feeding-bottle, milk powder and water should be mixed evenly. To achieve a more uniform mixing of the milk powder and the water, the feeding-bottle needs to be shaken, but if the bottle is shaken irregularly, the dissolved milk powder solution is easy to bubble and will not be mixed uniformly enough. If the baby drinks the milk powder solution with bubbles, the baby is prone to burping and spitting up a little milk, which has a certain impact on the baby&#39;s health. Of course, people now often dissolve and homogenize the milk powder solution in a way that moves the feeding-bottle back and forth. Compared to the conventional method, there is improvement in the generation of bubbles. However, since it is difficult to control the shaking speed of the feeding-bottle, bubbles still exist, and homogenization level is not high. If the milk powder is not fully dissolved, the baby will not digest after drinking. 
     Currently, a feeding-bottle assembly in which a stirring device is provided in a feeding-bottle has been proposed. For example, an electric feeding-bottle is disclosed in Chinese Utility Model Application No. 200520083289.4, issued on Aug. 2, 2006, and specifically discloses a miniature electric stirrer in the feeding-bottle. When in use, firstly, the nipple is taken down, milk powder and water are put into the feeding-bottle, the specially designed micro electric stirrer is then installed in the feeding-bottle. When the switch is turned on, the micro electric stirrer starts to work, after stirring evenly, the stirrer is taken out and rinsed, and then the nipple can be placed on the feeding-bottle. According to the structure, during the stirring process of the stirrer, a water channel is formed behind the stirrer, and air may enter the milk powder solution through the water channel. When the milk powder solution shuts, the air is wrapped therein. The air will float upwards because it is lighter than water, thus bubbles will be generated. Therefore, the milk powder solution that is evenly stirred will still generate bubbles. The baby is prone to burping, spitting up a little milk, and bloating. 
     A multifunctional feeding-bottle device including a feeding-bottle, a stirring device, a driving device, a heating device, a circuit control device, a vacuum device and a base is disclosed in Chinese Utility Model Application No. 201320852410, the vacuum device comprising a vacuum housing, the driving device, the heating device and the circuit control device being located in the base, the driving device, the heating device and the circuit control device being electrically connected, a concave position where the feeding bottle can be embedded being formed in the base, a closed space being formed between the vacuum housing and the concave position, the feeding-bottle being located in the closed space formed between the vacuum housing and the concave position, and the stirring device being positioned within the feeding-bottle. Although the structure has a multifunctional feeding-bottle device that can stir the milk powder, heat the milk powder solution and keep it warm and fresh, and can also clean, sterilize and disinfect the feeding-bottle, during the stirring process, a water channel is formed behind the stirring device, and the air enters the milk powder solution through the water channel. When the milk powder solution shuts, the air is wrapped therein. The air will float upwards because it is lighter than water, thus bubbles will be generated. Therefore, the milk powder solution that is evenly stirred will still generate bubbles. Baby is prone to burping, spitting up a little milk, and bloating. Further, the driven magnet of the stirring device is exposed to the outside, and is directly in contact with the milk powder solution during the stirring process, so that the milk powder solution is easily contaminated. 
     SUMMARY 
     In order to achieve automatic stirring, reduce the generation of bubbles during stirring, improve the uniformity of stirring, and facilitate feeding, the present invention provides a method for stirring milk powder solution and a stirring type feeding-bottle. 
     To achieve the above object, an embodiment of the present invention provides a stirring type feeding-bottle including a base and a feeding-bottle assembly, the base comprising a base body and a magnetic drive device disposed in the base body, a top surface of the base body having a feeding-bottle placement position; the feeding-bottle assembly including a feeding-bottle, a nipple subassembly, a flexible straw and a counterweight head, the nipple subassembly being disposed on the feeding-bottle, an upper end of the flexible straw being connected to the nipple subassembly, and the counterweight head being connected to a lower end of the flexible straw; the counterweight head being a magnetic bead assembly; the magnetic drive driving the flexible straw and the bead assembly to rotate; and a gap being formed between the bead assembly and an inner bottom surface of the feeding-bottle. 
     In another embodiment of the present application, a method for stirring milk powder solution is provided, comprising: driving a counterweight head and a flexible straw to revolve by a drive device, wherein the flexible straw and the counterweight head are driven to rotate on their own axis in an opposite direction to the revolution of the counterweight head and the flexible straw, and wherein the milk powder solution revolves with the revolution of the counterweight head and the flexible straw, causing the revolving milk powder solution surface to be low in the middle and high in the periphery to form a vortex, the milk powder solution at the bottom of the feeding-bottle flowing outward from the middle because a centripetal force of the milk powder solution near the side of the weight head is large, when the milk powder solution flows outward, the milk powder solution in the outer layer moving outward, thus the milk powder solution in the upper layer being replenished from the outer layer to the middle to make the milk powder solution flow towards the middle from the outer side in the upper layer, and the milk powder solution flow from up to down in the middle, so that the milk powder solution moves from up to down in the middle and moves from down to up in the outer layer in the axial direction, during the rotation of the milk powder solution, the milk powder in the milk powder solution forming a cycle with spiral ascending followed by spiral descending. 
     According to structure and method as mentioned above, when the drive device is in operation, the drive device drives the counterweight head and the flexible straw to revolve, thereby serving as stirring. In the present invention, the flexible straw is connected to the nipple, and the portion of the flexible straw connected to the nipple does not rotate with respect to the nipple, so that when the counterweight head and the flexible straw are driven by the drive device to revolve, the flexible straw and the counterweight head rotate on their own axis in an opposite direction to the revolution of the counterweight head and the flexible straw. Therefore, when the counterweight head and the flexible straw revolve, even if a water channel is formed behind the counterweight head and the flexible straw, the milk powder solution will fill the water channel rapidly due to the rotation, making it difficult for air to enter the water channel. Thus, when milk powder solution is stirred by means of the structure of the present invention, the milk powder solution will generate fewer or even no bubbles, and even if a small amount of bubbles are generated, they will disappear within a short time. 
     The milk powder solution will revolve as the flexible straw and the counterweight head revolve, especially when the flexible straw revolves, causing the rotating milk powder solution surface to be low in the middle and high in the periphery to form a vortex. Since the lower end of the flexible straw is connected to the counterweight head, when the flexible straw and the counterweight head revolve simultaneously, a centripetal force of the milk powder solution near the side of the counterweight head is large, which makes it possible that the milk powder solution at the bottom of the feeding-bottle flows outward from the middle; when the milk powder solution flows outward, the milk powder solution in the outer layer moves outward, and the milk powder solution in the upper layer is replenished from the outer layer to the middle, so that the milk powder solution flows towards the middle from the outer side in the upper layer ; and the middle milk powder solution flows from up to down, thereby the milk powder solution moves from up to down in the middle and moves from down to up in the outer layer in the axial direction. At the same time, during the rotation of the milk powder solution, the milk powder in the milk powder solution forms a cycle with spiral ascending followed by spiral descending, so that the mixing of the milk powder solution is more uniform. 
     In the present invention, the flexible straw and the counterweight head serve to stir and at the same time serve as a straw for feeding, thereby facilitating feeding. 
     The magnetic actuation solves the sealing problem that is difficult to address with dynamic seal. 
     Further, the magnetic drive device comprises a motor, a holder and a magnet, the holder is mounted on an output shaft of the motor, and two or more magnets are arranged on the holder outside an axis of output shaft of the motor. In this configuration, since the magnet is provided outside the output shaft of the motor output shaft, the driving force applied to the magnetic bead assembly is large and balanced. 
     Further, the base body includes a lower casing and an upper casing, and the upper casing is snapped on the lower casing; and an upward protrusion is disposed at a central portion of the lower casing, the protrusion has a holding cavity therein, and the motor is disposed in the holding cavity. Since the base body is provided with a lower casing and an upper casing, it is convenient to install and remove the magnetic drive device. Since the holding cavity is provided, it has a positioning function for the motor and achieves high reliability for motor&#39;s mounting. 
     Further, a concave recessed portion is disposed on a top surface of the upper casing, a pad is disposed in the recessed portion, and an upper surface of the pad acts as the feeding-bottle placement position. When the feeding-bottle assembly is frequently taken and put, there is wear between the feeding-bottle and the pad. With the above structure, when the pad is worn, it is convenient to replace the pad separately, and the cost is low. 
     Further, the holder includes a connecting post and a supporting portion extending outward from a central portion of the connecting post, and the support portion is provided with a bearing portion that is symmetrical with respect to the connecting post. The bearing portion is provided with a magnet cavity therein, and the magnet is disposed in the magnet cavity. By providing the magnet cavity, the magnet can be fixed, and no additional fixing means is required, which simplifies the structure. Moreover, the magnets are symmetrically arranged to make the magnetic driving force uniform. 
     Further, the magnetic bead assembly includes a magnetic bead, a hardened layer wrapped around the magnetic bead, and silicone body wrapped around the hardened layer. Silicone body is a safe and environment-friendly material for the human body. The magnetic beads are wrapped in the silicone body. When the magnetic bead assembly is in contact with the milk powder solution, the milk powder solution is not easily contaminated, which is safer, healthier and more environmentally friendly. At the same time, the hardened layer can protect the magnetic beads more reliably. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the milk powder solution according to an embodiment of the present invention as it revolves. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the drawings and specific embodiments. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the stirring type feeding-bottle includes a base  1  and a feeding-bottle assembly  2 . 
     The base  1  includes a base body  11  and a drive device disposed in the base body  11 . In the embodiment, the drive device may be a magnetic drive device  12 . 
     The base body  11  includes a lower casing  111  and an upper casing  112 . The upper casing  112  is snapped on the lower casing  111 , so that the magnetic drive device  12  is conveniently installed and disassembled. The lower casing  111  is provided with an upward protrusion  1111  at a central position. The protrusion  1111  has a holding cavity  1112  for holding a motor. A concave recessed portion is provided on a top surface of the upper casing  112 . A pad  113  is disposed in the recessed portion. An upper surface of the pad  113  acts as a feeding-bottle placement position. When the pad  113  is worn, it is convenient to replace the pad  113  separately, and the cost is low. 
     The magnetic drive device  12  includes a motor  121 , a holder  122 , and a magnet  123 . The motor is held in the holding cavity. The holding cavity has a positioning function on the motor  121 , thereby ensuring high mounting reliability of the motor  121 . 
     The holder  122  includes a connecting post  1220  and a supporting portion  1221  extending outward from a central portion of the connecting post  1220 . The supporting portion  1221  is provided with a bearing portion  1222  symmetric with respect to the connecting post. A magnet cavity  1223  is disposed within the bearing portion. The magnet  123  is provided inside the magnet cavity  1223 . The connecting post  1220  is sleeved on an output shaft of the motor. When the motor is working, the output shaft of the motor  121  drives the holder  122  to revolve, and the holder  122  in turn drives the magnet  123  to revolve. By providing the magnet cavity  1223 , the magnet  123  can be fixed without any additional fixing means, which simplifies the structure. Further, the magnet  123  is symmetrically arranged to make the magnetic driving force uniform and large. 
     The feeding-bottle assembly  2  includes a feeding-bottle  21 , a nipple subassembly  22 , a flexible straw  23  and a counterweight head. In one embodiment, the counterweight head may be a magnetic bead assembly  24 . The nipple subassembly  22  includes a cover and a nipple. The nipple is disposed on the feeding-bottle  21  through the cover. The flexible straw  23  is a silicone straw. An upper end of the flexible straw  23  is inserted into an interface at the bottom of the nipple. The magnetic bead assembly  24  includes a magnetic bead  241 , a hardened layer wrapped around the magnetic bead  241 , and a silicone body  242  wrapped around the hardened layer (not shown). An upper end of the silicone body  242  is inserted at a lower end of the flexible straw. A through hole is formed in the middle of the silicone body  242  which communicates with the flexible straw  23 . A gap is formed between the magnetic bead assembly  24  and an inner bottom surface of the feeding-bottle. Silicone body is a safe and environmentally friendly material for the human body. The magnetic beads  241  are wrapped in the silicone body  242 , the milk powder solution is not easily contaminated, and is safer, more hygienic and more friendly to environment, when the magnetic bead assembly is in contact with the milk powder solution. At the same time, the hardened layer can protect the magnetic beads more reliably. A convex rib  2421  is provided at the bottom of the silicone body  242 , thus reducing the possibility of blockage of the silicone body. A convex ring  2422  is provided on the outer circumference of the silicone body  242  to improve the uniformity of stirring. 
     In this embodiment, the milk powder solution is stirred in such a way that the feeding-bottle assembly  2  is placed on the feeding-bottle placement position of the pad, the motor  121  is started, the motor  121  drives the holder  122  to revolve, the holder  122  in turn drives the magnet  123  to revolve, thereby the magnetic bead assembly  24  is driven to revolve under a magnetic field, and the flexible straw is driven to revolve by the magnetic bead assembly  24 . In the present invention, the rotation of the counterweight head and the flexible straw refers to revolution. Meanwhile, since the upper end of the flexible straw  23  is inserted into the nipple and they do not revolve relative to each other, the flexible straw  23  and the magnetic bead assembly  24  rotate on their own axis in an opposite direction to the revolution of the magnetic bead assembly  24  and the flexible straw  23 . The milk powder solution may revolve as the magnetic bead assembly  24  and the flexible straw  23  revolve, causing the revolving milk powder solution surface to be low in the middle and high in the periphery to form a vortex. A centripetal force of the milk powder solution near the side of the magnetic bead assembly  24  is large, so that the milk powder solution at the bottom of the feeding-bottle flows outward from the middle. When the milk powder solution flows outward, the milk powder solution in the outer layer moves outward, the milk powder solution in the upper layer is replenished from the outer layer to the middle, so that the milk powder solution in the upper layer flows from the outer side to the middle. The middle milk powder solution flows from up to down, so that the milk powder solution moves from up to down in the middle and moves from down to up in the outer layer in the axial direction. At the same time, during the rotation of the milk powder solution, the milk powder in the milk powder solution forms a cycle with spiral ascending followed by spiral descending. 
     According to such structure of this embodiment, when the magnetic drive device  12  is in operation, the magnetic drive device  12  drives the magnetic bead assembly  24  to revolve, and the magnetic bead assembly  24  in turn drives the flexible straw  23  to revolve, which serves to stir. The flexible straw  23  is connected to the nipple, and the portion of the flexible straw  23  connected to the nipple does not rotate with respect to the nipple. Thus, when the magnetic bead assembly  24  and the flexible straw  23  are driven to revolve by the magnetic drive device  12 , the flexible straw  23  and the magnetic bead assembly  24  will rotate on their own axis in an opposite direction to the revolution of the magnetic bead assembly  24  and the flexible straw  23 . Therefore, even when the magnetic bead assembly  24  and the flexible straw  24  revolve, even a water channel is generated behind the magnetic bead assembly  24  and the flexible straw  23 , the milk powder solution will fill the water channel rapidly due to the rotation, making it difficult for air to enter the water channel. Thus, when milk power solution is stirred by means of the structure of the present invention, the milk powder solution will generate fewer or no bubbles, and even if a small amount of bubbles is generated, they will disappear within a short time. 
     When the flexible straw  23  and the magnetic bead assembly  24  revolve, the milk powder solution will follow the revolution, especially when the flexible straw  23  follows the revolution, causing the rotating milk powder solution surface to be low in the middle and high in the periphery to form a vortex. Since the lower end of the flexible straw  23  is connected to the magnetic bead assembly  24 , when the flexible straw  23  and the magnetic bead assembly  24  revolve simultaneously, a centripetal force of the milk powder solution near the side of the magnetic bead assembly  24  is large, as shown in  FIG. 2 , so that the milk powder solution at the bottom of the feeding-bottle flows outward from the middle. When the liquid flows outward, the milk powder solution in the outer layer moves outward, and the milk powder solution in the upper layer is replenished from the outer layer to the middle, so that the milk powder solution flows from the outer side in the upper layer to the middle. The middle milk powder solution flows from up to down, so that the milk powder solution moves from up to down in the middle and moves from down to up in the outer layer. At the same time, during the rotation of the milk powder solution, the milk powder in the milk powder solution forms a cycle with spiral ascending followed by spiral descending. In this way, the mixing of the milk powder solution is more uniform. 
     In the present invention, the flexible straw and the magnetic bead assembly  24  serve to stir and at the same time serve as a straw for feeding, thus facilitating feeding.