Patent Publication Number: US-2023147362-A1

Title: Combined Infant Feeding and Pacifier Retention Device

Description:
The current application is a continuation application of the U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 16/711,419 filed on Dec. 11, 2019. The U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 16/711,419 claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/778,202 filed on Dec. 11, 2018. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to articles of infant care equipment. Specifically, the combined infant feeding and pacifier retention device is a combination of a traditional feeding bottle with a modular retainer and cover mechanism for an associated pacifier. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In present times, infants and young children are known to use pacifiers, teethers, or other similar “chew-toys” to occupy their mouths. Use of these devices has been recognized as a standard practice when caring for very young children since at least 1473; first noted by German physician Bartholomaus Metlinger in his book “Kinderbüchlein” Though the pacifiers used to be simple sweet-stuffs wrapped in a permeable cloth, modern pacifiers consist of a deformable, durable mouthpiece (structurally similar to a mother&#39;s nipple), a flanged guard (to prevent the infant from swallowing the toy), and a rear-mounted grab-ring. Also common in the infant care field is the ubiquitous baby bottle. This flexible fluid vessel is generally capped with a hollow, deformable silicone “teat” (also structurally similar to a mother&#39;s nipple) that a child may bite or suck to extract milk, formula, or other drinks from the vessel. Given the ubiquity and utility of these two devices, it is often desirable to have both available on-hand to feed a hungry child or occupy a fretful one. However, both of these devices must be kept clean during and between use, lest the vulnerable immune systems of the child are tested by ambient microbes or other harmful contaminants. 
     The present invention aims to allow a user to combine a pacifier and a drinking vessel into a single form for storage and transport. Additionally, the present invention discloses a means of maintaining the upright position of the drink-vessel portion of the present invention with the relocation of a dual-purpose cover component. Further, the means of fixing the pacifier to the drink vessel will constitute a means of fixing the mouthpiece in a sterile chamber, in addition to protecting the entire body of the pacifier from contact with contaminants when encased by the aforementioned cover component. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a top-left perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded top-right perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a right view of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded bottom-right perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded right view of the present invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a right cross-sectional view of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     The present invention is a combined infant feeding and pacifier retention device that is used to retain and distribute breastmilk or other fluids. The present invention is also configured to store a pacifier for selective use. The present invention comprises a liquid retention chamber  1 , a pacifier retaining mechanism  5 , and a feeding spout  10 , as seen in  FIG.  2   . The liquid retention chamber  1  is a contained volume that enables transportation of inserted liquids, particularly milk or breastmilk. The pacifier retaining mechanism  5  is a unit that enables storage of any of a variety of pacifiers. The feeding spout  10  is a unidirectional valve that enables fluid transfer from the liquid retention chamber  1 . The feeding spout  10  is preferably made of any of a variety of soft, bisphenol A-free (BPA-free) materials that effectively operates when utilized as a mouthpiece for an infant. 
     The general configuration of the aforementioned components allows the present invention to efficiently and effectively store and distribute fluids to users. The liquid retention chamber  1  comprises a chamber body  2 , a distal end  3 , and a proximal end  4 , as seen in  FIG.  1   . The chamber body  2  represents the physical volume occupied by the liquid retention chamber  1 . The distal end  3  is an end segment of the liquid retention chamber  1  positioned away from the proximal end  4 . Similarly, the proximal end  4  is an end segment of the liquid retention chamber  1  positioned away from the distal end  3 . The pacifier retaining mechanism  5  comprises an annular ring  6 , a first flexible edge  7 , a second flexible edge  8 , and a pacifier retainer disk  9 . The annular ring  6  is a circular extrusion that enables secure attachment of a pacifier within the pacifier retaining mechanism  5 . The first flexible edge  7  is a generally flat extrusion across the annular ring  6  that enables improved retention of an added pacifier. Similarly, the second flexible edge  8  is a flat extrusion across the annular ring  6  that enables improved retention of an added pacifier, particularly when utilized in combination with the first flexible edge  7 . The pacifier retainer disk  9  is a generally flat extrusion with preferably rubber internal flaps or cuts that improve the arrangement and retaining force of items, especially pacifiers, inserted into the pacifier retainer disk  9 . 
     Together, these components form the foundational units required to enable the preferred usage of the present invention. The distal end  3  and the proximal end  4  are positioned opposite each other about the chamber body  2 , as seen in  FIG.  5   . This arrangement allows for arrangement of components relative to the chamber body  2 . The feeding spout  10  is removably mounted to the proximal end  4 . This arrangement enables the user to remove the feeding spout  10  in order to add or remove liquid from the liquid retention chamber  1 . The feeding spout  10  is in fluid communication with the liquid retention chamber  1 . In this way, liquids contained by the liquid retention chamber  1  may be dispensed through the feeding spout  10 . The pacifier retaining mechanism  5  is connected to the distal end  3 . This arrangement ensures the pacifier retaining mechanism  5  is placed in an easily accessible position. The first flexible edge  7  is diametrically opposed of the second flexible edge  8 . Thus, the first flexible edge  7  and the second flexible edge  8  form a mount that allows for the storage of pacifiers. The first flexible edge  7  and the second flexible edge  8  are internally connected to the annular ring  6 . In this way, the first flexible edge  7  and the second flexible edge  8  are positioned to enhance frictional engagement of items placed within the annular ring  6 . The annular ring  6  is radially connected to the distal end  3 . Thus, the annular ring  6  is arranged to contact items entering the distal end  3 . Moreover, the pacifier retainer disk  9  is mounted into the distal end  3  and is concentrically positioned to the annular ring  6 . In this way, the pacifier retainer disk  9  is connected to ensure minimal movement of a contained pacifier. 
     The pacifier retaining mechanism  5  may benefit from additional devices to assist in the secure retention of contained pacifiers. To achieve this, the distal end  3  comprises a shallow recessed portion  31 , a deeper recessed portion  32 , and a nipple-receiving hole  33 , as seen in  FIGS.  2 ,  4 , and  6   . The shallow recessed portion  31  traverses into the chamber body  2 . The nipple-receiving hole  33  centrally traverses through the shallow recessed portion  31 , which allows the deeper recessed portion  32  to further traverse into the chamber body  2  from the nipple-receiving hole  33 . In addition, the pacifier retaining disk  9  is mounted into the shallow recessed portion  31  and is mounted across the nipple-receiving hole  33 , adjacent to the deeper recessed portion  32 . The pacifier retainer disk  9  is also positioned offset from the first flexible edge  7  and the second flexible edge  8 . This arrangement allows the pacifier retaining disk to operate in conjunction with the annular ring  6 . 
     Cleanliness is especially important when dealing with infants, who have generally underdeveloped immune systems. To improve the hygienic capabilities of the present invention, the present invention further comprises a first cover  11 , as seen in  FIG.  3   . The first cover  11  is a rigid enclosure capable of protecting contained items from undesirable contact with other objects or items. The first cover  11  is hermetically attached around the proximal end  4 . This arrangement allows the first cover  11  to fully seal off components adjacent to the proximal end  4 . The feeding spout  10  is encapsulated by the first cover  11 . In this way, the feeding spout  10  is generally protected from contamination due to germs or bacteria originating outside the first cover  11 . 
     Much to the same end, hygiene requirements for any device intended for oral usage by infants must remain securely stored. To achieve this, the present invention comprises a second cover  12 , as seen in  FIG.  4   . The second cover  12  is a rigid enclosure capable of protecting contained items from undesirable contact with other objects or items. The second cover  12  is hermetically attached around the distal end  3 . This arrangement allows the second cover  12  to protect components that are adjacent to the distal end  3 . The pacifier retaining mechanism  5  is encapsulated by the second cover  12 . Thus, the pacifier retaining mechanism  5  is generally protected from contamination due to germs or bacteria originating outside the second cover  12 . 
     The user may wish to know whether the second cover  12  is protecting a pacifier or an empty chamber. To this end, the second cover  12  is, in an exemplary embodiment, made of transparent materials. Such an arrangement is advantageous to a user who wishes to store or remove a contained pacifier. 
     In a further exemplary embodiment, the user may need to place the present invention down between uses, or else during refilling. To provide this ability, the second cover  12  comprises a lateral wall  13  and a base wall  14 , as seen in  FIG.  2   . The lateral wall  13  is the generally curved wall that preferably conforms to the shape of the chamber body  2 , forming a smooth curved grasping surface. The base wall  14  is a generally flat surface that enables support of the present invention upon the distal end  3 . The lateral wall  13  is perimetrically connected around the base wall  14 . This arrangement enables transferal of weight forces through the lateral wall  13  to the base wall  14 . The lateral wall  13  is attached adjacent to the distal end  3 . In this way, the weight of the distal end  3  is supported by the lateral wall  13 . The base wall  14  is positioned opposite the distal end  3  about the lateral wall  13 . This arrangement enables the base wall  14  to transfer the weight of the present invention to the surface upon which the base wall  14  rests. 
     The present invention may further benefit from the inclusion of a pacifier that is especially adapted for addition into the pacifier retaining mechanism  5  in order to prevent any possible compatibility issues. To this end, the present invention further comprises an integrated pacifier  15 , as seen in  FIG.  2   . The integrated pacifier  15  is a tool which provides desirable oral stimulation for an infant. The integrated pacifier  15  is attached within the pacifier retaining mechanism  5 . In this way, the integrated pacifier  15  is mounted conveniently and stored hygienically for later use. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the integrated pacifier  15  further includes components that facilitate convenient addition and removal from the pacifier retaining mechanism  5 . The pacifier retainer disk  9  improves the ability of the pacifier retaining mechanism  5  to securely store pacifiers. The integrated pacifier  15  further comprises a nipple  16 , a guard  17 , and a pacifier ring  18 , as seen in  FIG.  6   . The nipple  16  is a curved, preferably soft plastic protrusion intended to mimic the appearance and feel of a mother&#39;s nipple. The guard  17  is a wide disk or plate that prevents excessive dribble or spit from an infant to contact the pacifier ring  18 . The pacifier ring  18  is a rigid loop that provides a grasping mechanism for the user, enhancing the user&#39;s ability to remove or add the integrated pacifier  15  into the pacifier retaining mechanism  5 . The nipple  16  is frictionally engaged within the pacifier retainer disk  9 . Thus, the nipple  16  is used to further enhance the arrangement of the integrated pacifier  15  within the pacifier retaining mechanism  5 . The guard  17  is frictionally engaged with the first flexible edge  7  and the second flexible edge  8 . In this way, the guard  17  is capable of further securing the integrated pacifier  15  within the pacifier retaining mechanism  5 , preventing any undesirable movement or motion of the integrated pacifier  15  or other pacifiers. The pacifier ring  18  is enclosed within the distal end  3  and the second cover  12 . In this way, the integrated pacifier  15  is fully contained within the second cover  12 , and thus is fully protected from potential external contamination due to germs or unclean objects and items. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.