Abstract:
A baby bottle ( 10 ) comprising: a vessel ( 12 ) ending with a substantially smooth wall ( 20 ) at the top thereof; and a teat ( 50 ) comprising two circumferential arms ( 26 A,  26 B) splitting at the bottom thereof, the arms ( 26 A,  26 A) disposed parallel to the wall ( 20 ) elastically embracing the wall ( 20 ) in a sealed manner, wherein each of the arms ( 26 A,  26 B) comprises a circumferential protrusion ( 18 ) bending towards the wall ( 20 ) of the cup ( 12 ), for enhancing the elastic embracing, and slowing amortization of the teat ( 50 ), and wherein the vessel ( 12 ) is formed as a cone, allowing packing a plurality of vessels of the same form in a compact manner, thereby allowing packing a plurality of vessels ( 12 ) in a compact, disposable and sterile form for use with the teat ( 50 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of baby bottles. More particularly, the invention relates to a baby bottle having sterilized features. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A baby bottle includes a vessel commonly made of polycarbonate, a teat commonly made of liquid silicone rubber or natural rubber, and a coupling which couples the vessel to the teat in a leak-proof manner. 
         [0003]    Prior art baby bottles can be sterilized by boiling in hot water. However, these bottles are difficult to sterilize in boiling water due to their tendency to float. 
         [0004]    Thus, practically, baby bottles are not sterilized but rather are only cleaned with hot soapy water. 
         [0005]    The mouth of the bottles is narrower than of the vessels themselves, thus, washing too is difficult and usually insufficiently performed. 
         [0006]    Disposable bottles were introduced. However, the structure of these bottles makes them relatively expensive since the sealing requires sealing elements of both the vessel and the teat. 
         [0007]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,777,753 discloses a teat for feeding bottles for babies. The teat has a nipple portion for being fitted upon a bottle neck so as to grip around the latter. The bottle is gripped between a sealing lip and a cylindrical wall of the teat. 
         [0008]    However, this gripping assumes that the bottle includes a thread or an oblique sealing lip. Thus, this bottle is not suited for being disposable. 
         [0009]    All the methods described above have not yet provided satisfactory solutions neither to the problem of washing and sterilizing baby bottles, nor to manufacturing of inexpensive disposable baby bottles. 
         [0010]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for providing sterilized baby bottles. 
         [0011]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned and other problems of the prior art. 
         [0012]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a baby bottle ( 10 ) comprising:
       a vessel ( 12 ) ending with a wall ( 20 ) at the top thereof,   a teat ( 50 ) comprising two arms ( 26 A,  26 B) splitting at the bottom thereof, the arms ( 26 A,  26 A) disposed parallel to the wall ( 20 ) elastically embracing the wall ( 20 ) in a sealed manner,   thereby the sealing is substantively based on sealing elements of the teat ( 50 ) only,   thereby the vessel ( 12 ) may constitute a common element.       
 
         [0018]    Each of the arms ( 26 A,  26 B) may comprise a protrusion ( 18 ) bending towards the wall ( 20 ) of the cup ( 12 ), thereby enhancing the elastic embracing. 
         [0019]    The protrusion ( 18 ) of at least one of the arms ( 26 B) may comprise bending towards a folded edge ( 52 ) of the wall ( 20 ), thereby the protrusion ( 18 ) prevents sliding of the vessel ( 12 ) out of the teat ( 50 ). 
         [0020]    The vessel ( 12 ) may be formed as a cone, allowing packing a plurality of vessels of the same form in a compact manner, 
         [0000]    thereby allowing packing a plurality of baby bottles ( 10 ) in a compact, disposable and sterile form. 
         [0021]    The vessel ( 12 ) may be foldable, for allowing packing a plurality of vessels of the same form in a compact manner, thereby allowing packing a plurality of baby bottles ( 10 ) in a compact, disposable and sterile form. 
         [0022]    The foldability of the vessel ( 12 ) may comprise a member selected from a group including: a bellows form diminishing the height, foldability diminishing the width. 
         [0023]    The vessel ( 12 ) may comprise transparent zones ( 14 ) for viewing the contents level. 
         [0024]    The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    Embodiments and features of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  depicts a baby bottle according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  depicts the baby bottle of  FIG. 1  as marketed. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a sectional side view of the baby bottle of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  depicts a baby bottle according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a sectional side view of the baby bottle of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a sectional side view of the baby bottle of  FIG. 4  according to another embodiment. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  depicts the bellows form of the vessel of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  depicts a bellows form according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  depicts a baby bottle according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  is a sectional side view of the baby bottle of FIG. 
           [0036]      FIG. 11  is a sectional side view of the baby bottle of  FIG. 7  or other bottles, indicating additional features. 
           [0037]      FIG. 12  depicts the baby bottle having the transparent zones of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 13  is a sectional side view of the baby bottle of  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment. 
           [0039]      FIG. 14  is a sectional side view of the baby bottle of  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment. 
       
    
    
       [0040]    It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0041]    The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail. 
         [0042]    The solution disclosed by the present invention to the above-mentioned problems is attaching a non-disposable teat to a disposable vessel. 
         [0043]      FIG. 1  depicts a baby bottle according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0044]    Baby bottle  10  of the present invention includes a disposable vessel  12  for being substituted, and a non-disposable teat  50  for drinking the formula therethrough. 
         [0045]    The formula is poured into disposable vessel  12  through mouth  56  thereof, and teat  50  then covers vessel  12  in a sealed manner, for drinking through a hole  64  of teat  50 . 
         [0046]    Unlike the prior art vessel of the baby bottle that is made of polycarbonate, disposable vessel  12  is preferably made of paper or a disposable plastic. Non-disposable teat  50  may also be made of liquid silicone rubber or natural rubber like the prior art teats. 
         [0047]      FIG. 2  depicts the baby bottle of  FIG. 1  as marketed. 
         [0048]    Disposable vessels  12  may be designed to be compactly packaged together. A large amount of disposable vessels  12  may thus be compactly packaged together for marketing thereof, or with one non-disposable teat  50 , or a small number of teats. 
         [0049]    According to one embodiment, the compact design may feature a widening shape from bottom to top, as depicted in  FIG. 2 , like common disposable vessels, for inserting one vessel inside the other. 
         [0050]    Thus, unlike the prior art baby bottles which require cleaning and sterilizing the vessels, disposable vessels  12  may be marketed clean and sterilized for a single use of each. 
         [0051]    This embodiment is disadvantaged of requiring a non-standard teat. 
         [0052]      FIG. 3  is a sectional side view of the baby bottle of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0053]    Baby bottle  10  is leak-proof due to contact between surrounding complementary edge  52  of vessel  12  and edge  54  of teat  50 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 4  depicts a baby bottle according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0055]    According to this embodiment, disposable vessel  12  includes a top  48  having a narrow mouth  56 , which may fit the size of a standard teat. This thus allows using a standard teat  50 . 
         [0056]    According to one embodiment, top  48  is inherent within disposable vessel  12 . 
         [0057]    The embodiment of  FIG. 4  provides packaging of many vessels  12  together by providing vessel  12  a bellows form. 
         [0058]      FIG. 5  is a sectional side view of the baby bottle of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0059]    Baby bottle  10  is leak-proof due to contact between surrounding edges  60  and  62  of top  48  and of teat  50  respectively, which is based on the springy feature of teat  50 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 6  is a sectional side view of the baby bottle of  FIG. 4 , according to another embodiment. 
         [0061]    Since mouth  56  of disposable vessel  12 , made of paper or plastic, is not firm, a firm mouth  28  may be attached to mouth  56  of vessel  12  in a sealed manner, for avoiding bending mouth  56  of vessel  12 . Firm mouth  28  is thus sealed to teat  50 . Firm mouth  28  is disposable, together with vessel  12 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 7  depicts the bellows form of the vessel of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0063]    According to another embodiment, the compact design may feature foldability provided by a bellows form. 
         [0064]    In order to allow packaging many vessels  12  together, each vessel  12  is foldable, diminishing the height thereof. 
         [0065]      FIG. 8  depicts a bellows form, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0066]    According to another embodiment, each vessel  12  is foldable, diminishing the width thereof. 
         [0067]    The embodiments of  FIGS. 4 to 8  are disadvantaged of a small mouth  56 , thus, pouring the formula may not be convenient. 
         [0068]      FIG. 9  depicts a baby bottle according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0069]    Unlike the embodiment wherein top  48  is inherent within disposable vessel  12 , according to the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , top  48  is a coupling, which is separate from vessel  12 , for being coupled to vessel  12  and to teat  50 . According to this embodiment, mouth  56  may also be sized to fit a standard teat of a baby bottle. Coupling  48  thus functions as a coupling for coupling non-disposable teat  50  to disposable vessel  12 . 
         [0070]    This embodiment allows using a standard teat  50 . Also, this embodiment provides the packaging feature depicted in  FIG. 2 . Further, pouring the formula may be performed through the mouth of vessel  12 , which is sufficiently large. 
         [0071]      FIG. 10  is a sectional side view of the baby bottle of  FIG. 9 . 
         [0072]    Baby bottle  10  is leak-proof due to contact between surrounding complementary edges  52  and  58  of vessel  12  and of coupling  48 , respectively. 
         [0073]      FIG. 11  is a sectional side view of the baby bottle of  FIG. 7  or other bottles indicating additional features. 
         [0074]    Vessel  12  may be designed for fitting several standards of teats  50 . For example, each of depressions  22  and  24  of disposable vessel  12  may fit a different size of a teat. 
         [0075]    Vessel  12  may include notches and transparent zones  14  for viewing and measuring the water level. 
         [0076]      FIG. 12  depicts the baby bottle having the transparent zones  14  of  FIG. 11 . 
         [0077]      FIG. 13  is a sectional side view of the baby bottle of  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment. 
         [0078]    According to this embodiment baby bottle  10  is leak-proof due to contact between surrounding wall of vessel  12  and arms  26 A and  26 B splitting from teat  50 . 
         [0079]    Since the sealing is based on sealing elements  26 A and  26 B of teat  50  only, baby bottle  10  may include a disposable vessel  12  for being substituted, and a non-disposable teat  50 . 
         [0080]    Arms  26 A and  26 B are disposed parallel to the wall  20  of vessel  12 , forming a fork  16  embracing wall  20  inside and outside it. 
         [0081]    The sealing is not based on edge  52  of vessel  12 , but only on wall  20  of vessel  12 , which is commonly formed smooth and thus suits the sealing of the present embodiment. 
         [0082]    Preferably, not the surface of arms  54  seal, but rather protrusions  18  of each arm  54  which are bent towards wall  20  make the sealing. Thus the springy feature of the material of teat  50  presses protrusions  18  onto wall  20 , enhancing the sealing between arms  54  and wall  20 . 
         [0083]    According to a preferred embodiment vessel  12  may be a standard inexpensive (e.g. 10 cents) disposable cup, preferably a paper cup (coffee cup) withstanding heat. Edge  52  at the top of a standard paper cup includes a fold or a roll of the paper. 
         [0084]    This folded edge  52  of vessel  12  is inserted within fork  16  of teat  50  sealing the connection. 
         [0085]      FIG. 14  is a sectional side view of the baby bottle of  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment. 
         [0086]    According to this embodiment fork  16  provides also a mechanical barrier from vessel  12  sliding out. Arm  26 B is bent not only to press wall  20  but also towards folded edge  52  of vessel  12 . 
         [0087]    Edge  52  at the top of the standard paper cup which includes the fold is trapped by the bent edge  54 B upon inserting edge  52  of vessel  12  therein. 
         [0088]    In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals have been mentioned:
       numeral  10  denotes a baby bottle according to one embodiment of the present invention;   numeral  12  denotes a disposable vessel;   numeral  14  denotes a transparent zone;   numeral  16  denotes a fork formed at the edge of a teat;   numeral  18  denotes protrusions   numeral  20  denotes a wall of the vessel;   numerals  22  and  24  denote depressions within the disposable vessel, each for fitting a different size of teat;   numerals  26 A and  26 B denote arms of the teat;   numeral  28  denotes a firm mouth, attached to the inherent mouth of the vessel;   numeral  48  denotes a top of the vessel having a narrow mouth; top  48  may be an inherent or a separate coupling; numeral  50  denotes a teat;   numeral  52  denotes an edge of the vessel;   numeral  54  denotes an edge of the teat;   numeral  56  denotes the mouth of the vessel, or the top thereof,   numeral  58  denotes the edge of the coupling;   numeral  60  denotes the edge of the top;   numeral  62  denotes the edge of the teat; and   numeral  64  denotes a hole of the teat.       
 
         [0106]    The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form. 
         [0107]    Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition. 
         [0108]    The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof. These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form.