Patent Publication Number: US-2007108152-A1

Title: Baby bottle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      (1) Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to the field of baby bottle constructions in general, and more particularly to an ergonomically designed baby bottle.  
      (2) Description of the Related Art  
      As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. D356,160, D337,271, D335,450, D420,448, D423,107, 3,145,867, 4,676,387, 4,703,863, 5,263,599, 5,316,160, 5,531,338, and 5,807,156, the prior art is replete with varying baby bottle sizes and constructions. Some of these are configured to facilitate washing or storage, with little or no consideration given to the need for the caregiver to hold the bottle. Others appear to be configured to facilitate the holding of the bottle by an infant. Most, if not all, neglect the special needs that arise when feeding premature infants.  
      While the prior art constructions may be adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, many are deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical premature infant feeding bottle. In particular, bottles that are sized and constructed to (1) allow a care giver to hold the infant and bottle in the same hand during the feeding process, (2) enhance a caregiver&#39;s grasp of the bottle and comfort while gripping the bottle, (3) increase control during the feeding process, and (4) provide the maximum labelable surface area on the bottle would be beneficial to overcome such disadvantages.  
      Given the recent increase in multiple birth events attributable to fertility drugs and in vitro techniques, a problem has arisen for those parents who are faced with feeding multiple newborns at regular intervals. As a consequence of the foregoing situation, a need has arisen for a new and improved ergonomically designed baby bottle construction that will simplify the feeding process and substantially reduce the wrist fatigue experienced by parents and caregivers who spend hours a day coping with multiple infant feedings or the feeding of premature infants.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,786,344 to Kipperman, et al., which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto, describes a baby bottle that meets some of these needs. The present invention is advantageous over the &#39;344 bottle, however, in that it has dramatically reduced the upper and lower body portions. The present invention is also taller and has more label space than does the &#39;344 bottle to allow larger and more accurate labels. Based on these changes, the present bottle is more ergonomically comfortable to hold and use and is more commercially acceptable.  
      By reducing the upper and lower body portions, the volume of formula contained within those portions is also reduced. In some embodiments of the present invention, the upper and lower body portions are so significantly reduced that virtually no infant formula can be contained therein. This is beneficial in that the label, which covers the elliptical body portion located between the upper and lower body portions, can be graduated to match exactly with the amount of infant formula contained therein. This provides the caregiver with a far more accurate indication of the amount of infant formula the infant has consumed. This is particularly important for premature infants that do not consume very much formula during each feeding. In the &#39;344 bottle, about 10-12 mLs of formula is contained within the upper and lower body portions that could not be labeled. Thus, the caregiver often did not know whether her infant consumed only 1 mL of formula or 10 mLs of formula. The present invention substantially reduces or eliminates this problem.  
      The bottle of the present invention also provides an improved gripping surface over the &#39;344 bottle. The reduction of the upper bumper provides a smoother, flatter surface against which the index and middle fingers rest when the bottle is held there between during the feeding of an infant. The reduced upper body portion allows the caregiver&#39;s fingers to rest flush against the closure of the bottle, additionally improving the caregiver&#39;s ability to balance the bottle with only two fingers. This reduces the likelihood that a bottle could slip from the caregiver&#39;s fingers and injure the infant.  
      In addition to these benefits, the elliptical body portion is longer than the elliptical body portion of the &#39;344 bottle and provides a greater amount of label space than does the &#39;344 bottle. As stated above, this is important not only for advertising purposes, but also for purposes of accurate graduation measurements. The present infant formula bottle can contain the same amount of formula as the &#39;344 bottle, but it is provided in a more convenient, safe and comfortable container.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention recognizes and addresses certain disadvantages of prior art constructions and methods, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved baby bottle.  
      This and other objects may be achieved by a baby formula bottle including upper and lower circular-shaped cylindrical body portions. The upper body portion has a first diameter which is perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis. The first diameter is between about 1.65 and 1.85 inches. The lower body portion has a second diameter which is perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis. The second diameter is also between about 1.65 and 1.85 inches. The bottle includes an elliptical-shaped cylindrical body portion intermediate the circular-shaped cylindrical upper and lower body portions. The elliptical body portion has a minor axis and a major axis diameter that are each perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis. The diameter of the major axis is between about 1.48 and 1.52 inches and the diameter or the minor axis is between about 1.08 and 1.12 inches. The bottle also has an open top and a circular base.  
      Optionally, the bottle also includes a cylindrical top portion located proximate the upper body portion. The cylindrical top portion can be adapted to receive a removable closure. The cylindrical top portion can further include a first helical thread formed on its outer circumference, a top rim surface, and an annular flange on the outer circumference and axially located below the first helical thread. A plurality of frangible breakaway tongues may removably attach an anti-tamper ring to the bottom rim of the closure. The ring can also have radially inwardly extending ridges for engaging a bottom surface of the annular flange, whereby the ring removably secures the closure to the cylindrical top portion.  
      An optional closure can include an annular cap and an annular end wall defining an aperture therein. An optional nipple having a radially extending annular flange with a maximum outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the annular cap can be press fit into the under side of the annular cap. A second helical thread formed on the inner circumference of the annular cap can receive the first thread for removably securing the annular cap to the cylindrical top portion. Compressing the outer edge portion of the nipple flange between the bottom surface of the annular end wall and the top rim portion forms a liquid-tight seal as the closure is screwed onto the cylindrical top portion. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which refers to the appended Figures, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a baby bottle embodying the design of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the baby bottle illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the back elevational view being a mirror image of the front;  
       FIG. 3  is a front cross-sectional view along line  3 - 3  of the baby bottle shown in  FIG. 2 , the back cross-sectional view being a mirror image of the front;  
       FIG. 4  is a right side cross-sectional view along line  4 - 4  of the baby bottle shown in  FIG. 5 , the left side cross-sectional view being a mirror image of the right side;  
       FIG. 5  is a right side elevational view of the baby bottle shown in  FIG. 1 , the left side elevational view being a mirror image of the right side;  
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the baby bottle illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the baby bottle illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a caregiver illustrating the feeding of an infant while holding the bottle of  FIG. 1  in the same hand as the infant; and  
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the bottle in  FIG. 2  looking down the central body portion. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention, which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplary construction. A repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings represents the same or analogous features or elements of the invention.  
      With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the new and improved infant feeding bottle generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. Bottle  10  includes a cylindrical top portion designated generally by the numeral  12 , a body portion designated generally by the numeral  14 , and a closure designated generally by the numeral  16 . Cylindrical top portion  12  and body  14  may be integrally molded of a suitable plastic material, which may be blow molded, by extrusion or injection, so that it is a unitary member of uniform wall thickness. A suitable transparent plastic for forming the bottle includes, but is not limited to, polystyrene, polypropylene, polystyrene-acrylonitrile, acrylonitile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-maleicanhydride, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylcyclohexane, and blends thereof.  
      Referring to FIGS.  1  to  5 , threaded cylindrical top portion  12  includes a cylindrical portion  18  having an outer circumference  22 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , diameter D 1  defines an inner circumference  20  of cylindrical portion  18 . A mouth  24  and a rim  26  are integrally formed on cylindrical portion  18 . Mouth  24  defines an aperture  28  in fluid communication with an inner chamber  30  of body  14 . The mouth end is adapted for the removable receipt of closure  16 . A helical thread  32  is integrally formed on outer circumference  22  of cylindrical portion  18  for removably securing closure  16  to cylindrical top portion  12 . Helical thread  32  begins at a point where mouth  24  connects to cylindrical portion  18  and terminates proximate a flange  34 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , closure  16  includes an annular cap  36  having a helical thread (not shown) on its inner circumference for removably securing cap  36  to the externally threaded cylindrical top portion  12 . Outer circumference  40  of annular cap  36  may contain ribs or knurling  38 . Ribs  38  allow the caregiver to more easily grip closure  16  to remove it from or fit it on top portion  12 . In addition to its internally threaded cylindrical wall, cap  36  includes an annular end wall  42  having an interior peripheral rim  44  dimensioned to fit into a groove (not shown) in a nipple  46 . Nipple  46  and annular cap  36  can thus be press fit together to form closure  16 .  
      Nipple  46  has a nearly flat or very shallowly curved surface  48  at the end of a mouthpiece  50 . Nipple  46  widens out to a frustoconical section  52  located intermediate an annular flange  54  and mouthpiece  50 . Annular flange  54  is dimensioned to seat on rim  26  of mouth  24 , and it defines a central aperture, which is in fluid communication with aperture  28  and chamber  30 . The aperture defined by annular flange  54  allows fluid to flow from body  14  into and through nipple  46 . A soft pliable material such as conventional or silicone rubber may be used to form nipple  46 .  
      Nipple  46  is press fit into annular cap  36  so that peripheral rim  44  engages the external annular groove in nipple  46 . Thus, mouthpiece  50  and frustoconical portion  52  extend upward through annular cap  36  so that annular flange  54  engages a rearward surface of annular end wall  42 . In this configuration, an outer most edge portion of annular flange  54  is in abutting contact with the inner circumference of annular cap  36 . Thus, threadably securing closure  16  onto threaded cylindrical portion  12  causes the rearward surface of annular end wall  42  to compress annular flange  54  against rim  26  to form a liquid-tight seal.  
      A releasable seal attached to rim  26  over mouth  24  allows for vacuum packaging of the infant formula in bottle  10 . One skilled in the art of baby formula or food packaging will be familiar with such releasably attached seals for vacuum packaging. Specifically, adhesive or heat attaches a seal formed of polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, or other suitable material to mouth  24  to form an airtight seal. Therefore, removal of closure  16  will not disturb the vacuum seal unless the seal is cut or removed.  
      Formula may be prepackaged in bottle  10  with liquid or powdered infant formula, in particular, formula for premature babies. The packaged infant formula can be pre-measured and vacuum sealed to prevent spoilage. The bottle  10  can be cold-filled with infant formula, the headspace flushed with steam, and the optional seal or closure applied. The temperature of the infant formula during the cold-filling can be in the range of about 40° F. to about 45° F. In an embodiment, the temperature of the infant formula during the cold-fill does not exceed about 70° F. After being sealed, the bottle  10  can be retorted. The retort process can be any retort process that is acceptable for plastic containers. In a particular embodiment, the retort is a steam-air retort.  
      The retort of the present invention can have the following process conditions: a 12-minute come-up portion, wherein temperature is increased from 100° F. to about 258° F. and pressure is increased up to about 22 psi; a 4- to 7-minute cook portion, wherein temperature is maintained at about 258° F. and pressure is maintained at about 22 psi; a 2-minute pre-cooling portion, wherein temperature is reduced to about 230° F. and pressure is decreased to about 20 psi; a 5-minute cooling portion, wherein temperature is reduced to about 155° F. and pressure is decreased to about 7 psi; and a 6.5-minute final cooling portion, wherein temperature is reduced to about 55° F. and pressure is decreased to about 2 psi. The cook portion of the cycle may vary between about 4 minutes and about 7 minutes, depending on the particular product contained therein. In some embodiments, the cook portion of the cycle can be about 4.5 minutes. In other embodiments, the cook portion of the cycle can be about 7 minutes.  
      In an embodiment, the retort process used in the present invention can reduce or prevent deformations of the bottle  10  during retort. In particular embodiments, the retort process can prevent deformations of the bottle base, side walls, or top.  
      If bottle  10  is packaged with powdered formula, the user would add the specified amount of water as a diluter. Bottle  10  may also contain infant or toddler formula depending on the intended target market, and it may be sold individually or in a multiple bottle pack.  
      In addition to the releasably attached seal, bottle  10  and enclosure  16  may also include an anti-tamper ring  56 . Anti-tamper ring  56  connects to a lower edge  58  of annular cap  36  by a plurality of relatively thin and frangible breakaway tongues or webs  60 . Internally, radially inwardly projecting and angularly extending ridges (not shown) are formed on an inner circumference of ring  56  which engage an under surface  61  of radially outwardly projecting flange  34 . Thus, tensile forces rotationally fix anti-tamper ring  56  to flange  34  as annular cap  38  is unthreaded off bottle  10 . As annular cap  38  is rotationally removed, both tensile and torsional forces acting on webs  60  cause the webs to sever allowing annular cap  38  and the vacuum seal to be completely removed.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , body  14  comprises a generally cylindrical upper portion  62 , a generally cylindrical lower portion  64 , and a tubular body midsection  66  having a substantially elliptical cross-section as shown in  FIG. 9 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the body is a tubular member that defines chamber  30  and has a central longitudinal axis  67 .  
      Upper body portion  62  is located intermediate threaded cylindrical top portion  12  and body midsection  66 , and it is in fluid communication with aperture  28  and chamber  30 . Upper body portion  62  is tubular in shape and connects to top portion  12  by an inwardly sloping shoulder  68  and to central portion  66  by an outwardly sloping shoulder  70 . A length of, for example, approximately ⅛ inch and a diameter D 2  define cylindrical upper portion  62 . Diameter D 2  can be between about 1.65 and 1.85 inches. Diameter D 2  is larger than diameter D 1 . The length of upper portion  62  may be larger or smaller depending on the volume of liquid held by bottle  10 . In a particular embodiment, the length and diameter of the upper body portion are such that substantially no infant formula can be contained therein.  
      In certain embodiments, upper body portion  62  can have a volume of between about 10 mL and 11 mL. In other embodiments of the invention, upper body portion  62  can have a volume of between about 10.5 mL and 10.6 mL. In a particular embodiment, the upper body portion  62  can have a volume measurement of about 10.57 mL.  
      Lower body portion  64  connects to body midsection  66  and defines a chamber  72 , which is in fluid communication with chamber  30 . Lower portion  64  has an axial length of, for example, approximately ⅛ inch and a diameter D 5 . In certain embodiments, diameter D 5  can be between about 1.65 and 1.85 inches. As shown in  FIG. 7 , lower body portion  64  terminates in a circular base  76 . Circular base  76  may be flat, or it may have a concave center portion allowing bottle  10  to stand upright. Lower portion  64  connects to body midsection  66  by an inwardly sloping shoulder  74 . The length of lower portion  64  may be larger or smaller, but diameter D 5  is substantially equal to upper body portion diameter D 2 . In a particular embodiment, the length and diameter of the lower body portion are such that substantially no infant formula can be contained therein.  
      In certain embodiments, lower body portion  64  can have a volume of between about 19 mL and 20 mL. In other embodiments of the invention, lower body portion  64  can have a volume of between about 19.2 mL and 19.3 mL. In a particular embodiment, the lower body portion  64  can have a volume measurement of about 19.22 mL.  
      Although dimensions can vary, in a particular embodiment, the diameters of the upper and lower body portions are within 0.1 inches of one another. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the fact that upper  62  and lower  64  portion each include a circular sidewall of substantially the same diameter and centered about central longitudinal axis  67  enables bottle  10  to be readily molded and removed from the molding machine.  
      As shown in  FIG. 8 , midsection  66  is constructed and sized to be held within the crook between adjacent fingers, such as the index and middle finger, of a person holding bottle  10  when feeding an infant  75 . To that end, body midsection  66  is elliptical in shape ( FIG. 9 ) and has a major axis diameter of D 3  and a minor axis diameter of D 4 . The axial length of midsection  66  is approximately 2.50 inches. Major axis diameter D 3  is substantially equal to threaded top portion diameter D 1 , but it is smaller than upper body portion diameter D 2  and lower body portion diameter D 5 . Minor axis diameter D 4  is substantially smaller than diameters D 1 , D 2 , D 3 , and D 5 . In certain embodiments, major axis diameter D 3  is between about 1.48 and 1.52 inches and minor axis diameter D 4  is between about 1.08 and 1.12 inches.  
      In a particular embodiment, the ratio of the major axis diameter to the minor axis diameter is between about 1.3:1 and 1.4:1. In another embodiment, the ratio of the major axis diameter to the minor axis diameter may be about 1.36:1.  
      In certain embodiments, midsection  66  can have a volume of between about 40 mL and 41 mL. In other embodiments of the invention, midsection  66  can have a volume of between about 40.6 mL and 40.7 mL. In a particular embodiment, the midsection  66  can have a volume measurement of about 40.62 mL. In an embodiment of the invention, the ratio of upper body portion  62  to lower body portion  64  to midsection  66  can be about 1:2:4.  
      An elliptical-shaped midsection is advantageous over a circular-shaped midsection. First, it ensures that midsection  66  is sufficiently narrow, enabling a caregiver to comfortably hold bottle  10 . Second, an elliptical cylindrical midsection holds a larger quantity of formula than a bottle having a circular cylindrical midsection having a diameter substantially equal to the minor axis diameter D 4 .  
      Additionally, by reducing the upper and lower body portions, the volume of formula contained within those portions is also reduced. In some embodiments of the present invention, the upper and lower body portions are so significantly reduced that little, if any, infant formula will be contained therein. This is beneficial in that the label, which covers the elliptical body portion located between the upper and lower body portions, can be graduated to match exactly with the amount of infant formula contained therein. This provides the caregiver with a far more accurate indication of the amount of infant formula the infant has consumed. This is particularly important for premature infants that do not consume very much formula during each feeding.  
      The bottle of the present invention also provides an improved gripping surface for the fingers. The reduction of the size of the upper bumper from the &#39;344 bottle provides a smoother, flatter surface against which the index and middle fingers rest during the feeding of an infant. The reduced upper body portion allows the caregiver&#39;s fingers to rest flush against the closure of the bottle, additionally improving the caregiver&#39;s ability to balance the bottle with only two fingers. This reduces the likelihood that a bottle could slip from the caregiver&#39;s fingers and injure the infant or contaminate the nipple.  
      Turning to  FIG. 2 , it can be seen that front surface  77  of body midsection  66  may be provided with indicia  78  that form graduations. Indicia  78  register the fluid content of bottle  10  in an upright position. A second set of indicia  80  may be included on the front surface of body midsection  66 . Indicia  80  register the remaining fluid content in the inverted feeding position so that these graduations will be readily readable by the caregiver during feedings. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the range of measurements differ between the upright and inverted positions due to the volume of liquid held in threaded cylindrical top portion  12 .  
      In a second embodiment, bottle  10  does not include nipple  46  press fit into annular cap  38  as described above. Instead, a substantially flat circular disc (not shown) located proximate the under surface of annular end wall  42  forms a liquid-tight seal when closure  16  is removably secured to threaded cylindrical portion  12 . The disc should have an outer diameter substantially equal to an inner diameter of annular cap  38 . Therefore, as the caregiver tightens annular cap  38  on cylindrical portion  12 , rim  26  and the bottom surface of annular end wall  44  compress the disc to establish the liquid-tight seal. The disc may comprise aluminum annular-shaped material bonded to a compressible annular shaped material formed, for example, from conventional rubber, silicone rubber, or other suitable compositions. In this embodiment, use of the compressible disc eliminates the need for a separate removable vacuum seal. However, for safety concerns, bottle  10  can be packaged using an independent safety seal and anti-tampering ring in addition to the compressible disc.  
      These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged both in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention so further described in such appended claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained therein.