Patent Publication Number: US-9833089-B2

Title: Weaning clip

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The embodiment relates to a weaning clip and, more particularly, to a weaning clip which may be used not only by infants or handicapped people, but also by all people, which is mounted on a bottle containing mineral water or any other types of drinks instead of a cap and enables the user to drink the content inside the bottle with his mouth contacting the bottle or through a straw, and which includes an adapter that may be mounted without regard to the diameter of a bottle entrance. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, various kinds of beverage bottles having a straw function for infants and children have been sold. Since a straw is fixed to the drinking bottle according to the related art, the straw is not easily separated from a body of the drinking bottle even though the straw is a separable straw, so that it is difficult to wash the straw. In addition, even though the straw is separated from the bottle so that it is possible to wash the straw, it is difficult to wash cleanly the thin and long inside of the straw. 
     Thus, straw cases provided to the neck of a drinking bottle had been disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Pyung 11-240550 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-54601, respectively. The straw case is connected to the straw of the case body such that a predetermined straw, which is provided together with a product in the state that a case body having a cap and a straw is mounted on the neck of a beverage bottle instead of the cap of the beverage bottle, is provided in the bottle, so that it is possible to allow infants and children to easily drink beverages and at the same time, to wash or sterilize the case body separated from the beverage bottle for hygienic use. 
     However, according to the straw case according to the related art, since the coupling unit having a thread to allow the case body to be mounted on the neck of the beverage bottle has a size corresponding to the size of the neck of a specific beverage bottle, when infants and children desire to drink beverages of a bottle having a different bottle neck, it is difficult to apply the straw case to the corresponding beverage bottle. 
     Thus, an adapter for a straw case, which is capable of easily applying the straw case even to two different types of bottle necks since the outer diameter of a bottle neck or the inner diameter of a cap of a twist type of beverage bottle commercially sold in the market is 28 mm or 30 mm, had been disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0464831. 
     However, even in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0464831, since the straw is fixed to an upper portion of the case and is mounted on a lower portion of the case, the use of the straw is limited according to the length of a bottle. In addition, although the bottle necks have various sizes, it can be used for only the bottle having a diameter of 28 mm or 30 mm. Further, since it is not used without any straws, infants unable to use the straw cannot use it. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     To solve the above described problems, an object of the embodiment is to provide a weaning clip which is capable of using a straw commercially used in the related art without adjusting a length of the straw. 
     Another object of the embodiment is to provide a weaning clip which is capable of allowing a user to drink the content in a bottle with his mouth contacting the bottle without using any straws and of preventing the content in a bottle from flowing out therefrom even when the bottle falls down, so that the weaning clip may be useful to infants or patients. 
     Technical Solution 
     To solve the above described problems, according to the embodiment, there is provided a weaning clip which is coupled to a bottle. The weaning clip includes: a cap assembly including opened upper and lower portions, an outer surface formed in a cylindrical shape or formed in a polygonal shape having a wide upper portion and a narrow lower portion, an inner surface formed in a cylindrical shape or formed to have a wide upper portion and a narrow lower portion in a same manner as the outer surface, a support plate formed in a shape of a hollow disk and connected to the inner surface, a support leg coupling ledge formed on a lower surface of the support plate in a shape of a hollow cylinder having a diameter equal to an inner diameter of the support plate, a bottle coupling support formed in a shape of a hollow cylinder having a diameter larger than the diameter of the support leg coupling ledge and smaller than a diameter of the outer surface, a plurality of holes formed between the support leg coupling ledge and the bottle coupling support, and a thread formed along an inner surface of a lower portion, a support unit formed in a shape of a hollow disk on the upper surface of the support plate, wherein the support unit includes at least two support legs protruding from a lower surface in a lower proceeding direction, and latching protrusions protruding from each one side of outer surfaces of the support legs at a center in a diameter direction such that the latching protrusions are fitted into a lower surface of the support leg coupling ledge; and a pad unit covering an upper inner surface of the cap assembly, and including a support leg through-hole which is formed at a central portion and fitted with the support legs to be coupled to the support unit by allowing the support legs to pass through the support leg through-hole from above to below, in an upper-to-lower direction. 
     The pad unit includes an X or I-shaped straw inserting hole formed at a central portion of the pad unit such that a straw is inserted through the straw inserting hole. 
     The pad unit includes a central pad placed at an inside of the support unit on the basis of the support, and a peripheral pad placed at an outside of the support unit on the basis of the support, and wherein the central pad is detachably attached to the support unit. 
     In this case, the pad unit further includes a central pad coupling protrusion which protrudes from an inner side surface of the support unit toward a center of the support unit such that the central pad is fitted with the central pad coupling protrusion. 
     In addition, the weaning clip further includes a straw assembly which includes a straw and a straw support having a shape of a hollow cylinder and a groove formed on an outer side surface of the straw support while surrounding one side surface of an outside of the straw, such that the straw support is fitted with the central pad coupling protrusion instead of the central pad. 
     In this case, the pad unit further includes a cap unit of a cap type, which has an inner diameter corresponding to a diameter of an upper outer surface of the cap assembly, a closed upper portion and an openable lower portion, such that the cap unit covers an upper portion of the cap assembly. 
     In addition, the hand unit includes a thread formed on an inner side surface thereof corresponding to a thread formed on a lower portion of an outer side surface of the cap assembly, such that the hand unit s screw-coupled to the cap assembly. 
     In addition, the hand unit includes a handle unit which is coupled to a lower portion of an outer side surface of the cap assembly and includes a body having a hollow cylindrical shape and at least one handle bent to be curved downwardly and outwardly from one side of the body, wherein the hand unit includes a thread formed on an inner side surface thereof corresponding to a thread formed on a lower portion of an outer side surface of the cap assembly, such that the hand unit s screw-coupled to the cap assembly. 
     The weaning clip further includes a cap unit of a cap type, which has an inner diameter corresponding to a diameter of an upper outer surface of the cap assembly, a closed upper portion and an openable lower portion, such that the cap unit covers an upper portion of the cap assembly. 
     In this case, the weaning clip further includes an adapter which is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape and has a thread formed on an upper portion of an outer side surface corresponding to the thread formed on the inner side surface of the lower portion of the cap assembly and a thread formed on a lower portion of an inner side surface corresponding to the thread formed on an outer side surface of an entrance of a bottle. 
     In addition, the lower portion of the inner side surface of the adapter has a diameter corresponding to an outer diameter of the entrance of the bottle. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     According to the embodiment, a disposable straw commercially used in the related art itself may be used without adjusting a length of the disposable straw and limitation in size. 
     In addition, according to the embodiment, a user may drink the content in a bottle with his mouth contacting the bottle without using any straws and the content in a bottle may be prevented from flowing out therefrom even when the bottle falls down so that the weaning clip is useful to infants or patients. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view showing a weaning clip of a circular-pad type according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing a weaning clip of a two-pad type according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a weaning clip coupled to a bottle according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view showing a weaning clip of a two-pad type according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view showing a weaning clip to which an adapter is added according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view showing a weaning clip to which an adapter is added according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view showing a weaning clip to which a straw assembly is coupled according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a weaning clip to which a straw assembly is coupled according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view showing a weaning clip to which an integral handle unit is coupled according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view showing a weaning clip to which a separated handle unit is coupled according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view showing a weaning clip according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE 
     Mode for Invention 
     Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view showing a weaning clip of a circular-pad type according to one embodiment.  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing a weaning clip of a two-pad type according to one embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a weaning clip coupled to a bottle according to one embodiment.  FIG. 4  is a sectional view showing a weaning clip of a two-pad type according to one embodiment.  FIG. 5  is a sectional view showing a weaning clip to which an adapter is added according to one embodiment.  FIG. 6  is a front view showing a weaning clip to which an adapter is added according to one embodiment.  FIG. 7  is a sectional view showing a weaning clip to which a straw assembly is coupled according to one embodiment.  FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a weaning clip to which a straw assembly is coupled according to one embodiment.  FIG. 9  is a sectional view showing a weaning clip to which an integral handle unit is coupled according to one embodiment.  FIG. 10  is a sectional view showing a weaning clip to which a separated handle unit is coupled according to one embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 10 , a weaning clip, which may be coupled to a bottle to be used, includes: a cap assembly  200  which includes opened upper and lower portions, an outer surface formed in a cylindrical shape or formed in a polygonal shape having a wide upper portion and a narrow lower portion, an inner surface formed in a cylindrical shape or formed to have a wide upper portion and a narrow lower portion in the same manner as the outer surface, a support plate  210  formed in a shape of a hollow disk and connected to the inner surface, a support leg coupling ledge  220  formed on a lower surface of the support plate  210  in a shape of a hollow cylinder having a diameter equal to an inner diameter of the support plate  210 , a bottle coupling support  230  formed in a shape of a hollow cylinder having a diameter larger than the diameter of the support leg coupling ledge  220  and smaller than a diameter of the outer surface, a plurality of holes  240  formed between the support leg coupling ledge  220  and the bottle coupling support  230 , and a thread  250  formed along the inner side surface of a lower portion thereof; a support unit  400  formed in a shape of a hollow disk on the upper surface of the support plate  210 , wherein the support unit includes at least two support legs  410  protruding from a lower surface thereof in a lower proceeding direction, and latching protrusions  420  protruding from each one side of outer surfaces of the support legs  410  at a center in a diameter direction such that the latching protrusions  420  are fitted into a lower surface of the support leg coupling ledge  220 ; and a pad unit  300  covering an upper inner surface of the cap assembly  200 , and including a support leg through-hole  312  which is formed at a central portion thereof and fitted with the support legs  410  to be coupled to the support unit  400  by allowing the support legs  410  to pass through the support leg through-hole  312  from above to below, in an upper-to-lower direction. 
     In this case, the support unit  400  may not be fitted with the pad unit  300  and the pad unit may be tightly fixed to the cap assembly  200 . To this end, the pad unit  300  may be further formed with a contact portion which may allow the pad unit  300  not only to cover an upper side surface of the cap assembly  200 , but also to be tightly fixed to the inner side surface of the support leg coupling ledge  220 , so that the pad unit  300  and the support unit  400  separated from each other may be tightly fixed to the cap assembly like a single component. 
     In addition, an X or I-shaped straw inserting hole  311  is formed at the central portion of the pad unit  300  such that a disposable straw may be inserted through the straw inserting hole  311 . 
     To use the weaning clip  100 , a user allows the cap assembly  200  to be screw-coupled to the thread  250  formed at the entrance of a PET bottle  900 . After the cap assembly  200  is coupled to the PET bottle  900 , even when the PET bottle  900  turns over or falls down, the content in the PET bottle  900  does not flow out. The reason is because of the pad unit  300  covering the upper inner surface of the cap assembly  200 . The pad unit  300  made of a flexible elastic material is attached closely to the upper inner surface of the cap assembly  200 . Thus, even when the PET bottle  900  turns over or falls down, the content in the PET bottle  900  does not flow out. 
     The PET bottle  900  is inclined to drink the content in the PET bottle  900  coupled to the weaning clip  100 . Then, the content in the PET bottle  900  flows out through a plurality of holes  240  formed between the support leg coupling ledge  220  and the bottle coupling support  230 . However, the pad unit  300  still covers the upper inner surface of the cap assembly  200  so that the content is prevented from flowing out. Therefore, the user takes additional action to drink the content. 
     As the user takes additional action, after his upper lip is placed on the pad unit  300  and his lower lip is placed on the outer surface of the cap assembly  200 , the user sucks the pad unit  300  while closing his mouth and pressing the pad unit  300 . In this case, since the pad unit  300  is flexible, when the upper lip presses one side of the pad unit  300 , although the pressed portion is tightly closed to the cap assembly  200 , portions around the pressed portion make a gap, so that the content flows out through the gap. In addition, if the pad unit  300  is rapidly pulled, the content may be drunk more easily. 
     In addition, when the lips are separated after the drinking is completed, the pad unit  300  covers the upper inner surface of the cap assembly  200  again to fill the gap, so that the content in the PET bottle  900  is prohibited from flowing out again. 
     In order to drink more conveniently the content in the PET bottle  900 , a disposable straw may be used. General disposable straws can be used without limitation. If a common disposable straw is inserted into the X or I-shaped straw inserting hole  311  formed on the central portion of the pad unit  300 , the preparation is completed. Then, the user drinks the content by using the disposable straw. When the straw inserting hole  311  has a thin thickness, the sealing may be somewhat deteriorated, so that the content may flow out when the PET bottle  900  falls down or turns over. Thus, it is preferable that the straw inserting hole  311  is thickly formed. 
     In case of a straw case according to the related art, it is inconvenient to cut the disposable straw corresponding to a depth of the PET bottle  900  for use, but, according to the embodiment, since the disposable straw passes vertically through the straw inserting hole  311  for use, the embodiment may be implemented regardless of the size of the disposable straw. After the disposable straw is inserted corresponding to the depth of the PET bottle  900 , the disposable straw may be conveniently used as it is. 
     Generally, when the embodiment is used outdoors or even indoors, a number of disposable straws may be used so that environment may be contaminated. Therefore, it may be preferable to use a silicon straw  510  instead of the disposable straw indoors. Since it is not easy to wash the straw  510  used once outdoors, the disposable straw may be used. However, the straw  510  may be readily washed and sterilized indoors so that the straw  510  may be hygienically used. Thus, the embodiment also proposes the scheme of dividing the pad part  300  into two parts. 
     The pad unit  300  includes a central pad  310  placed at an inside of the support unit  400  on the basis of the support  400 , and a peripheral pad  330  placed at an outside of the support unit  400  on the basis of the support  400 , where the central pad  310  is detachably attached to the support unit  400  and provided with the X or I-shaped straw inserting hole formed thereto, through which a disposable straw can be inserted. 
     In this case, the pad unit  300  further includes a central pad coupling protrusion  320  which protrudes from an inner side surface of the support unit  400  toward the center of the support unit  400  such that the central pad  310  may be fitted with the central pad coupling protrusion  320 . 
     In addition, a straw assembly  500 , which includes the straw and a straw support  520  having a groove formed on an outer side surface thereof while surrounding one side surface of an outside of the straw, is further included, such that the straw support  520  may be fitted with the central pad coupling protrusion  320  instead of the central pad  310 . 
     The pad unit  300  is divided into two parts, that is, the central pad  310  and the peripheral pad  330 . The central pad  310  is detachably fitted with the central pad coupling protrusion  320  formed in the support unit  400 . The peripheral pad  330  is placed at the same position in the pad unit  300  and has the same function while being fixed by the support unit  400 . 
     Even though the pad unit  300  is divided into two parts, a user can drink in the same manner by using the weaning clip  100 . A user can drink by sucking the disposable straw after inserting the disposable straw into the straw inserting hole  311  formed on the central pad  310 . 
     The straw assembly  500  includes the straw  510  and the straw support  520  having a groove which allows the straw  510  to be fitted with the central pad coupling protrusion  320 . The central pad coupling protrusion  320  is inserted into the straw support  520 , so that the straw  510  is fixed and the straw support  520  is formed of an elastic material so that the content in the PET bottle  900  is prevented from flowing out between the straw assembly  500  and the support unit  400 . 
     In addition, a handle unit  600  is further included such that the infants or handicapped people who cannot easily y hold the PET bottle  900  easily use the weaning clip  100  when the weaning clip  100  is used. 
     The handle unit  600  may be formed integrally with the weaning clip  100  or may be screw coupled to the thread formed on the entrance of the PET bottle  900  as a separated type. 
     The handle unit  600  is coupled to a lower portion of an outer side surface of the cap assembly  200  such that the hand unit  600  is integrated with the weaning clip  100 . The handle unit  600  includes a body  610  having a hollow cylindrical shape and at least one handle  620  bent to be curved downwardly and outwardly from one side of the body  610 . The hand unit  600  has a thread  250  formed on an inner side surface thereof corresponding to the thread  250  formed on a lower portion of an outer side surface of the cap assembly  200 , so that the hand unit  600  is screw-coupled to the cap assembly  200 . 
     In addition, when the handle unit  600  is configured separately from the cap assembly  200 , the handle unit  600  is placed between the cap assembly  200  and the entrance of the bottle  900  and includes the body  610  having a hollow cylindrical shape and at least one handle  620  bent to be curved downwardly and outwardly from one side of the body  610 . The thread  250  is formed on the inner surface of the body  610  corresponding to the thread  250  of the entrance of the PET bottle  900 , so that the handle unit  600  is screw-coupled to the entrance of the PET bottle  900 . 
     In this case, although, the handle unit  600  is screw-coupled to the cap assembly  200  when the handle unit  600  is of an integral type and to the entrance of the Pet bottle  900  when the handle unit  600  is of a separated type, it is possible that the handle unit  600  is fitted with the cap assembly  200  or the entrance of the PET bottle  900 . 
     Additionally, a cap type of a cap unit  700  is further included, which has an inner diameter corresponding to the diameter of an upper outer surface of the cap assembly  200 , a closed upper portion and an openable lower portion, such that the cap unit  700  may cover an upper portion of the cap assembly  200 . The cap unit  700  is used to protect the pad unit  300  from dust or foreign substances when the weaning clip  100  is not used. Although it is possible to separate the pad unit  300  from the cap assembly  200  and the support unit to separately wash the pad unit  300 , in order to maintain the clean state for a long time in environment such as outdoors at which it is difficult to wash the pad unit  300 , it is preferable to allow the cap unit  700  to cover the cap assembly  200  to maintain the pad unit in a clean state. 
     In addition, generally, an entrance size of the PET bottle  900  used in Korea is classified into three types or more. Since it may be inconvenient to carry the weaning clip  100  if the weaning clip  100  is made according to the size of the PET bottle  100 , the diameter of an inner lower portion of the cap assembly  200  is configured to correspond to the entrance size of the biggest PET bottle  900 . In case of the PET bottle  900  having a smaller entrance size than that of the biggest PET bottle  900 , the cap assembly  200  further includes an adapter  800  which is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape and has a thread  250  formed on an upper portion of an outer side surface thereof corresponding to the thread  250  formed on an inner side surface of a lower portion of the cap assembly  200  and a thread  250  formed on a lower portion of an inner side surface thereof corresponding to the thread  250  formed on an outer side surface of the entrance of the PET bottle  900 . 
     The adapter  800  may be formed to correspond to each size of various kinds of PET bottles  900  having mutually different diameters. In addition, a lower portion of the inner surface of the adapter  800  may be formed of an elastic material instead of the thread  250  such that the adapter  800  is detachable from the glass bottle  900 . 
     As described above, the cap assembly  200 , the pad unit  300  and the support unit  400  of the weaning clip  100  are able to be separated from and coupled to each other, so that it is possible to easily wash the weaning clip  100 , thereby maintaining always the weaning clip  100  in a clean state in use. The coupling sequence is as follows. The support leg  410  of the support unit  400  is inserted into the support leg through-hole  312  and then, the latching protrusion  420 , which is formed at one side of the support leg  410  of the support unit  400 , is coupled to the support leg coupling ledge  220  of the cap assembly  200  through fitting. The separation is performed in the reverse sequence. 
     In addition, the weaning clip  100  is individually coupled to the straw assembly  500 , the handle unit  600 , the cap unit  700  and the adapter by the selection of a user if necessary. 
     Hereinafter, a ball pad support unit  910 , latching device  920  and a latching unit  930  will be described with reference to  FIG. 11 . 
     The support unit  400  and the central pad  310  are replaced by the ball pad support unit  910  for preventing water or beverages in the PET bottle  900  from flowing out. The ball pad support unit  910  basically has an appearance similar to that of the support unit  400  described above. Similarly to the support unit  400 , the ball pad support unit  910  includes the support leg and the latching protrusion  921  and has a shape of a hollow disk of which the upper portion is closed. In this case, the ball pad support unit  910  includes a groove  912  formed by digging the upper portion downwardly at a predetermined depth, at least one through-hole formed on a side surface of a lower surface of the groove  912  such that air flows through the through-hole, a ball  913  having an outer diameter corresponding to an inner diameter of the groove  912  to prevent water or beverages in the PET bottle  900  from flowing out to an outside, and a cover  911  for preventing the ball  913  from escaping upwardly from the groove  912  by covering the upper portion of the groove  912 . 
     The latching device  920  is further provided to one side of the side surface of the cap assembly  700 . An inner portion of the latching device  920  is perforated and a latching protrusion  921  is formed toward the inner portion of the latching device  920 . In order to effectively keep the cap unit  700  provided with the latching device  920 , a latching unit  930  is further provided between the cap assembly  200  and the adapter  800  in a ring shape. The latching unit  930  has an inner diameter corresponding to an outer diameter of the adapter  800  and a latching groove  931  formed by perforating a portion protruding from one portion of a side surface of the latching unit  930  to be fitted with the latching protrusion  921 . 
     When the water or beverages in the PET bottle  900  is drunk by using the pad unit  300  and the straw assembly  500  after stripping the cap unit  700 , the cap unit  700  is reserved by fitting the cap unit  700  with the latching unit  930 . 
     Although exemplary embodiments have been described for illustrative purposes with reference to the accompanying drawings, the embodiments have not been described for limiting purposes. Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     According to the embodiment, a user may drink the content in a bottle with his mouth contacting the bottle without using any straws and the content in a bottle may be prevented from flowing out even when the bottle falls down, so that the weaning clip may be useful to infants or patients.