Patent Publication Number: US-2018036207-A1

Title: Baby bottle nipple and configurations thereof

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure generally relates to a baby bottle nipple, and more particularly, to a nipple with a sealing wall to form an air space that prevents passage of liquid through an opening. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A baby bottle nipple may allow a baby or infant to drink liquids. These liquids may include formula, breast milk, water, or other fluid. A number of nipples currently exist in the market. Orthodontic nipples, for example, may provide a flattened look while angled nipples may be slanted to tilt into a baby&#39;s mouth. Vented nipples may include a tiny hole to allow air to flow while liquid is taken out. 
     Unfortunately, these nipples have drawbacks. Liquids may accidentally be released when, for example, a bottle having the nipple is tipped or dropped. The nipples may also release liquid when a baby is not sucking which may lead to choking. The present disclosure provides a baby bottle nipple and configurations thereof that solves each of the described concerns. Other benefits and advantages will become clear from the disclosure provided herein and those advantages provided above are for illustration. 
     SUMMARY 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a bottle assembly is provided. The bottle assembly may include a bottle having a storage chamber and a removable cap mounted on the bottle. In addition, the assembly may include a nipple mounted on the removable cap having an opening and sealing wall. The sealing wall may form an air space preventing passage of a liquid from the storage chamber through the opening when subject to normal atmospheric conditions. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a nipple for a baby bottle is provided. The nipple may include a wall section defining an interior chamber and a sealing wall within the interior chamber forming an air space. The air space may prevent passage of a liquid through the sealing wall when subject to normal atmospheric conditions and may permit passage of the liquid through the sealing wall when subject to an applied pressure differential. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a nipple is provided. The nipple may include an opening and an interior chamber. In addition, the nipple may include a sealing wall within the interior chamber forming an air space before the opening. The air space may prevent liquid from passing through the sealing wall out of the opening under normal atmospheric conditions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The novel features believed to be characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. In the descriptions that follow, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an exemplary nipple secured onto a bottle through a cap in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the exemplary nipple and cap in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the exemplary nipple and cap in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the exemplary nipple and cap in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the exemplary nipple and cap in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6A  is a cross sectional side view of the exemplary nipple and cap having a single aperture in a sealing wall in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 6B  is a cross sectional side view of the exemplary nipple and cap having multiple apertures in the sealing wall in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled in the relevant art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, and generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown and described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. 
     The present disclosure relates to a baby bottle nipple and provides multiple configurations to that system. More particularly, this disclosure describes a nipple for reducing or preventing the amount of liquid released due to accidental spillage when a baby is not feeding. In one illustrative embodiment, the nipple may include an opening and an interior chamber. A sealing wall within the interior chamber may form an air space before the opening of the nipple. The air space may prevent passage of a liquid through the sealing wall when subject to normal atmospheric conditions and may permit passage of the liquid through the opening when subject to an applied pressure differential. 
     Numerous other modifications or configurations for the baby bottle nipple will become apparent from the description provided below. Advantageously, the structure of the nipple may reduce the amount of leakage when a baby is not feeding. The nipple may prevent liquid from spilling out of the top as the air space seals the sealing wall allowing only the liquid previously held in the air space to leak out. Other advantages will become apparent from the description provided below. The present disclosure will disclose an environment for the baby bottle nipple in  FIG. 1 , followed by different viewing angles in  FIGS. 2 through 5 .  FIGS. 6A and 6B  provide cross sectional views of different configurations for the nipple. 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , a top perspective view of an exemplary nipple  100  secured onto a bottle  140  in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure is provided. The nipple  100  may be part of a bottle assembly  160 . The bottle assembly  160  may include a substantially cylindrical bottle  140 , a ring-shaped cap  118 , and an elastomeric nipple  100  extending through an opening formed in the cap  118 . 
     The bottle  140  may come in a number of different shapes and sizes and is not limited to that shown. The bottle  140  may be cylindrical and be made of a suitable plastic. The bottle  140  may include a storage chamber  146 . The storage chamber  146  may hold formula, breast milk, water, or other fluid that a baby may drink. 
     The bottle  140  may also include a top  142 . The top  142  may have threading to connect with the cap  118 , which will be described below. In one embodiment, the cap  118  may be made of an elastic material that may allow it to be popped on/off the top  142  of the bottle  140 . A flange from the top  142  of the bottle  140  may be provided for attaching the cap  118 . The bottle  140  may also include a bottle base  144  allowing the bottle  140  to be positioned upwards when not in use. 
     The cap  118  of the bottle assembly  160  may include a bottom base portion  112  and a higher base portion  114  with a divider  116  there between. The bottom base portion  112 , higher base portion  114 , and divider  116  may have a threaded internal surface to attach to the threaded surface of the top  142  of the bottle  140 . The exterior of the bottom base portion  112  and higher base portion  114  of the cap  118  may both be shaped. For example, and as shown, the portions  112  and  114  may be formed as octagons. The shape may provide a user with the ability to tightly secure the cap  118  to the bottle  140 . The edges may allow for more force to be applied. The cap  140  may have an upper portion defining a central opening through which the nipple  100  extends. 
     The nipple  100  of the bottle assembly  160  may include a higher conical wall section  102 , a lower conical wall section  104 , and an opening  106  at the top of nipple  100 . The higher conical wall section  102  and the lower conical wall section  104  may meet at a neck region  108 . The higher conical wall section  102  may be molded above the lower conical wall section  104 . Together, the higher conical wall section  102  and the lower conical wall section  104  may form a wall section having an interior chamber. The interior chamber of the higher conical wall section  102  may include the opening  106  and sealing wall, which will be described below. The lower conical wall section  104  of the nipple  100  may fit into the higher base portion  114  of the cap  118 . 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  provide top perspective and side views of the exemplary nipple  100  and cap  118  in accordance with aspects aspect of the present disclosure. The cap  118 , including the bottom base portion  112 , divider  116  and higher base portion  114 , may secure the nipple  100  into place by mounting it. The nipple  100  may be pushed through a bottom portion of the cap  118  and secured into place by the higher base portion  114 . The cap  118  may be made of a suitable plastic. 
     The nipple  100 , having the higher conical wall section  102 , lower conical wall section  104 , and opening  106  at the top may be made of a single piece of elastic material, or multiple pieces of material molded together. The lower conical wall section  104  includes a disk section  210  ending at the neck region  108 . The disk section  210  may be secured to the higher base portion  114 . 
     Extending from the lower conical wall section  104 , at the neck region  108 , may be the higher conical wall section  102 . The higher conical wall section  102  may be made of a cylinder  204  and a dome  202 . The cylinder  204  of the higher conical wall section  102  may extend directly upwards from the neck region  108 . The dome  202 , extending from the cylinder  204 , may include the opening  106 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a top view of the exemplary nipple  100  and cap  118  in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure is provided. The higher conical wall section  102  having the opening  106  may extend downwards into the lower conical wall section  104 . The higher conical wall section  102  may be vertical to the lower conical wall section  104 . 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the exemplary nipple  100  and cap  118  in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure. The bottom base portion  112  of the cap  118  may be connected to the divider  116 . The lower conical wall section  104  may extend from the higher base portion  114 . The lower conical wall section  104  may extend into the higher conical wall section  102  at the neck region  108 . The higher conical wall section  102  and the lower conical wall section  104  may form the wall section having the interior chamber. 
     At the neck region  108  or slightly above there, a sealing wall  502  may be provided. The sealing wall  502  may be placed in the higher conical wall section  102  above the cylinder  204  and below the dome  202 . There may be an aperture  504  in the sealing wall  502 . The aperture  504  may vary in size. As will be shown, an air space created between the sealing wall  502  and the dome  202  may be used to prevent further liquid from going through the bottle  140  and out of the opening  106 . 
       FIG. 6A  is a cross sectional side view of the exemplary nipple  100  and cap  118  having a single aperture  504  in the sealing wall  502  in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure. The sealing wall  502  may be affixed to attachment areas  604  or molded therein into the higher conical wall section  102 . The sealing wall  502  may be positioned slightly below the dome  202  of the higher conical wall section  102 . 
     Through the attachment areas  604  and the sealing wall  504 , an air space  606  may be created. When subjected to normal atmospheric conditions, the sealing wall  504  forming the air space  606  may prevent passage of a liquid from the storage chamber  146  of the bottle  140  through the aperture  504  and into the opening  106  at the top of the nipple  100 . A small amount of liquid initially trapped within the air space  606  may leak, however, the air space  606  may be small which results in a tiny amount of lost liquid. 
     In an example, and when the bottle  140  is placed upside down, either accidentally or on purpose, liquid may fill the higher conical wall section  102 . The air within the air space  606  however may prevent liquid from escaping through the aperture  504  in the sealing wall  504  and out of the opening  106  when a baby is not feeding. The air within the air space  606  may be placed therein after the small amount of liquid is released through the opening  106 . This air may prevent leakage from the storage chamber  146 . The air space  606  captures the air and typically, only the previously stored liquid in the air space  606  may leak out. 
     When the baby is ready to feed, an applied pressure differential may be made when the baby begins to suck the liquid from the bottle  140 . The air space  606  may permit passage of the liquid from the storage chamber  146  through the opening  106  when subjected to the applied pressure differential. Liquid may be placed at the higher conical wall section  102  of the nipple  100 , as the bottle  140  has been tipped in a feeding position. The sucking action causes the liquid to go through the aperture  504  in the sealing wall  502  and through the opening  106 . 
       FIG. 6B  is a cross sectional side view of the exemplary nipple  100  and cap  118  having multiple apertures  504  in the sealing wall  502  in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure. The nipple  100  may include multiple configurations and may have two or more apertures  504  in the sealing wall  502 . Similar to before, the air space  606  may be created by the sealing wall  502  with attachment areas  604  to the higher conical wall section  102  of the nipple  100 . While the apertures  504  are shown evenly spaced and within the center, they may be placed on many locations on the sealing wall  502 , including non-uniformly on an outer edge. 
     The air space  606  may prevent passage of the liquid through the sealing wall  502  within the interior chamber when subjected to normal atmospheric conditions. Thus, the sealing wall  502  may prevent liquid from the storage chamber  146  to leak out. The air space  606 , on the other hand, may permit passage of the liquid through the opening  106  when subject to an applied pressure differential. Liquid may be passed through both apertures  504  in the sealing wall  502  when the pressure is applied. 
     The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled in the relevant art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, and generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown and described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.