Patent Publication Number: US-2022218569-A1

Title: Nut for affixing a nipple to a baby bottle

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a nut for affixing a nipple to a bottom-vented baby bottle, which has means for also ensuring compatibility with a nipple having an anti-colic valve. 
     DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART 
     In the field of baby bottles, a nipple affixed to a closed-bottom baby bottle is equipped with a special valve, conventionally known as anti-colic valve, in view of restricting air suction therefrom. 
     From a strictly technical and functional point of view, this valve is intended to compensate for the negative pressure generated inside the bottle as milk is being sucked by the baby by creating a passage for air between the interior of the baby bottle and the outside environment. 
     Conventionally, this valve is placed on the flange of the nipple by means of which it is mounted to the cover that closes the baby bottle containing the milk to be sucked. 
     If a nipple of the above-mentioned type is used in a milk-containing baby bottle having a vent valve at the bottom, the need arises of inhibiting the operation of the anti-colic valve located in the flange of the nipple. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the object of the present invention is to make the anti-colic valve ineffective, when the nipple with the anti-colic valve is used on a milk-containing baby bottle having a vent valve at the bottom. 
     This object is fulfilled by a nut for affixing the nipple to a baby bottle, characterized according to claim  1 , as further described below. 
     Advantages of the Invention 
     The present invention provides a nut that can ensure compatibility of a nipple having an anti-colic valve with a baby bottle having a bottom vent valve. 
    
    
     
       LIST OF DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be now described in greater detail with reference to one embodiment thereof, given by way of illustration and without limitation, and shown in the annexed drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional view of a baby bottle having a conventional vent valve at the bottom of the milk-containing bottle and a nut for affixing the nipple; 
         FIG. 2  shows a partial cross-sectional view of a nut for affixing a nipple having an anti-colic valve, with means for inhibiting the latter; 
         FIG. 3  shows a partial magnified view of the cross section of a nut for affixing the nipple, with means for inhibiting the anti-colic valve. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the above-mentioned drawings and in particular to  FIG. 1 , a baby bottle is designated by numeral  1 . Preferably, this bottle  1  is configured to contain milk to be administered to babies. 
     A bottom  4  is removably connected to the lower end  2  of the bottle  1 , e.g. by means of screw threads  3 . 
     The bottom  4  is in turn equipped with a conventional device for venting the bottle  1 , generally referenced  5 , which is intended to balance the pressure inside the bottle  1 , as milk is being sucked by the baby through a nipple, generally referenced  6 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the nipple  6  is shown affixed to the mouth  7  of the baby bottle  1  by means of a nut  8 . 
     The nut  8  comprises a tubular sleeve  81  which extends between a lower portion  82  and an opposite upper portion  83  along an extension axis X-X. 
     Such nut  8  has a flange  11  with a central opening  12  for receiving the nipple  6  extending therethrough. The latter is locked against the nut  8  because the edge of the opening  12  engages in the annular groove  13  of the nipple  6 . 
     The flange  11  projects out of the upper portion  83  of the tubular sleeve  81  toward the interior of the nut  8 . In other words, the flange  11  is transverse to the tubular sleeve  81 . 
     Preferably, the tubular sleeve  81  of the nut  8  comprises a female thread  9  configured for reversible connection with a male thread  10  of the mouth  7  of the bottle  1 . 
     In addition, the nut  8  comprises an annular recess  15  configured for detachable connection with a protective cover  14 . In other words, in order to protect the nipple  6  when not in use, the protective cover  14  is conventionally placed on top of the bottle at the annular recess  15  of the ring  8 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , if a nipple  6  to be affixed to the bottle  1  is of the type equipped with an anti-colic valve, generally referenced  16  and formed in the flange  17  of the nipple  6 , the nut  8  comprises means for inhibiting the anti-colic valve  16 . 
     These means for inhibiting the anti-colic valve  16  comprise a first annular rib  18 , formed on the inner wall  19  of the flange  11  of the nut  8 . This first annular rib  18  inhibits the passage of air allowed by the anti-colic valve  16 . 
     With the nut  8  screwed onto the mouth  7 , the first annular rib  18  abutting the wall of said flange  17  of the nipple  6  that faces the interior of the bottle  1 , between said anti-colic valve  16  and the edge of the central opening  12  of the flange  11 . 
     Thus, the first annular rib  18  breaks the connection between the interior of the bottle  1  and the outside environment around the nipple  6 . 
     The means for inhibiting the anti-colic valve  16  further comprise a second rib, referenced  20  in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . This second rib  20 , which is concentric with the first rib  18 , provides a hydraulic seal between the flange  17  and the mouth  7 . 
     The means for inhibiting the anti-colic valve further comprise a depression  111  interposed between the first rib  18  and the second rib  20 . In operation, i.e. when the nut  8  and the nipple  6  are applied to a baby bottle  1 , the depression  111  abuts against the anti-colic valve  16 . In other words, in operation, the anti-colic valve  16  is interposed between the first rib  18  and the second rib  20 .