Abstract:
A baby feeding kit operational in syringe mode, storage mode, feed-bottle mode, and feed-tube mode. The kit includes a container body, a plunger, an attachable nipple, an attachable cap and a feeding tube. 
     The container body includes a tube portion defining a cavity for holding a liquid having therein, a wide opening disposed at one end and a narrow opening disposed at an opposite end. The plunger removably and sealingly fits inside the cavity and slidably move there along when the container is in a syringe mode, and seals the tube portion when the container is in a storage mode. The attachable nipple sealingly attaches to the wide opening for releasing a liquid held in the container body when sucked on when the container is in a feed-bottle mode in which the plunger is removed, and for pressurizing fluids when the container is in a feed-tube mode, and is removed when the container is in a syringe or storage mode. The attachable cap seals the narrow opening of the container when in storage or in feed-bottle mode. The feeding tube sealingly attaches to the narrow opening for releasing a liquid held in the container body when the container is in a feed-tube mode.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to baby feeding containers in general, and to a container for feeding premature babies in particular. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Premature babies or preemies are human children that are born after less than 37 weeks of pregnancy, which is more than three weeks before their due date. Premature birth gives the baby less time to develop in the womb, and as a result a preemie&#39;s body is often vulnerable, weak, and low in weight. Premature babies, especially those born very early, often have complicated medical problems and require neonatal intensive care. Providing neonatal intensive care to preemies can be a difficult and stressful task for the medical staff charged with providing the care, the families of the babies, and the preemies themselves. The length of stay for a preemie in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in a Hospital can last a relatively long time, until the preemie&#39;s physical condition is strong and stable enough for him to be discharged. 
         [0003]    One of the critical and frequent occurrences for a preemie in the NICU is feeding time. Breast feeding requires a relatively large amount of physical strength and effort on the part of the preemie, and can be a complex process for a preemie due to his size and capabilities. Accordingly, breast milk, which is favored by doctors, cannot be naturally fed directly from the mother&#39;s breast. Instead, breast milk is transmitted from the mother&#39;s breast to the preemie using several containers, tools and vessels. Typically a mother will express milk using a pump into a vessel. The milk is then transferred from that vessel into a storage container that is marked and placed in cold storage. During feeding time the storage container is removed from storage and a syringe is used to measure an amount of milk to be fed to the preemie. This milk is then transferred to a bottle and fed to the preemie. Since it is critical for the preemie to feed properly, any milk that remains in the bottle after bottle feeding is given to the preemie directly. The milk is therefore transferred, once again, this time from the bottle to a feed-tube that inputs the milk into the preemie&#39;s stomach. Each time the milk is transferred to a different container complicates the feeding process, and more importantly exposes it to possible contamination and loss of nutritional value. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is thus provided a baby feeding kit, wherein the kit is operational in syringe mode, storage mode, feed-bottle mode, and feed-tube mode. The kit includes a container body configured for holding a liquid. The container body includes a tube portion defining a cavity therein, a wide opening disposed at one end of the tube portion, and a narrow opening disposed at an opposite end of the tube portion. The kit further includes a plunger sized to removably and sealingly fit inside the cavity and slidably move there along when the container is in a syringe mode, and to seal the tube portion when the container is in a storage mode. The kit further includes an attachable nipple operational for sealingly attaching to the wide opening, configured for releasing a liquid held in the container body when sucked on when the container is in a feed-bottle mode in which the plunger is removed, and for pressurizing fluids when the container is in a feed-tube mode, and which is removed when the container is in a syringe or storage mode. The kit further includes an attachable cap operational for sealingly attaching to the narrow opening, and is configured to seal the narrow opening of the container when in storage or in feed-bottle mode. The kit further includes a feeding tube operational for sealingly attaching to the narrow opening, and is configured for releasing a liquid held in the container body when the container is in a feed-tube mode. 
         [0005]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, at least one of the wide opening and the narrow opening includes an attachment element that corresponds to a complementary attaching element disposed on at least one of: the nipple, the cap, and the feeding tube for attaching thereto. 
         [0006]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention the attachment element and the complementary attachment element are screw threads. 
         [0007]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention the kit further includes a gripping sleeve configured to slide externally onto and off of the container body, and to provide a grip support facilitating holding of the container body in the feed bottle mode and optionally having an securing element, such as a clip, for securing the gripping sleeve to an object. 
         [0008]    The baby feeding kit of claim  4 , further comprising a carrier for removably storing and carrying the gripping sleeve. The carrier can include a handle for providing a hanging suspension for the gripping sleeve, and a hanger for hanging the carrier. 
         [0009]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention the kit further includes a carrier, wherein 
         [0010]    the gripping sleeve is configured to be removably stored inside the carrier. 
         [0011]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention the kit is operational in a pump vessel mode. The wide opening is configured for attaching to a breast pump, which can be part of the kit, for pumping milk from a breast into the container body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exploded plan view of a container, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1  in a syringe mode; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1  in a storage container mode; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1  in a feed-bottle mode; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1  in a feed-tube mode; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the sleeve and carrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1  in a feed-tube mode and being held by the sleeve and carrier; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1  in a pump vessel mode. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a kit with a container that simplifies the feeding process for preemies. The container can be adapted for use as a syringe, storage container, feed-bottle or feeding tube. Optionally, the container can be used as a pump vessel, connecting directly to a breast pump. The container can be used as a syringe to measure the exact amount of milk given to the preemie, a critical step in the feeding process for preemies that need to feed properly to develop properly. The term “milk” herein refers to any liquid, including artificial substitutes, water, medical preparations, and the like, which is intended for feeding. The container can be sealed for further storage. The container is readily adapted for use as a feed-bottle which allows a parent or caregiver to feed the preemie without having to transfer the milk. Additionally, the container can be adapted for use as a feeding tube to input the milk into the stomach of the preemie. The milk remains in the container from its filling (syringe phase or as a pump vessel) until its consumption by any of the modes (syringe, storage, feed-bottle, feeding tube), without requiring its transfer into further vessels. 
         [0022]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which is an exploded plan view of a container kit  100 , constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The invention present concerns a kit, however, add-on elements may be utilized in conjunction with existing elements to receive the kit. Accordingly reference herein below to “container  100 ” is made for convenience purposes and is synonymous to “kit  100 ”. Container  100  includes a body  102 , a plunger  104 , a nipple  106 , a cap  108 , a feeding tube  110 , an optional gripping sleeve  501 , and an optional carrier  601 . Feeding tube  110  incorporates an adapter portion (designated  110  for the sake of simplicity) as in  FIGS. 1, 5 and 7 , while a tube portion  510  appears hanging therefrom in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0023]    Body  102  includes a tube portion  103  featuring an interior cavity  116  for holding a liquid. At one end of tube portion  103 , body  102  includes a wide opening  111  with external screw threads  112 . At the opposite end of tube portion  103 , body  102  includes a narrow opening  113  with external screw threads  114 . Narrow opening  113  has a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of tube portion  103 , and wide opening  111  has a diameter substantially equal to or greater than the diameter of tube portion  103 . Body  102  also includes a scale mark or graduation mark  130  printed or etched onto container  100  for measuring an amount of liquid inside container  100 . Scale  130  is written in a direction that makes it easy to read while narrow opening  113  is pointed downwards and wide opening  111  is pointed upwards as is further demonstrated in  FIGS. 2, 5, and 7 . A second scale mark or graduation mark  132  is printed or etched onto container  100  in the opposite direction of scale  130 , so that it is easy to read while wide opening  111  is pointed downwards and narrow opening  113  is pointed upwards, as in  FIG. 4 . Plunger  104  is sized so that it can sealingly and slidably fit inside cavity  116  of body  102 , wherein a seal  105  of plunger  104  is fitted to slide along the internal walls of tube portion  103 . Plunger  104  can be inserted into tube portion  103  through wide opening  111  with its seal  105  proximate to narrow opening  113 , allowing the sucking up of liquid through narrow opening  113 , as a typical syringe is operated. Nipple  106  includes internal screw threads  118  that correspond to external screw threads  112  on body  102 . Cap  108  and feeding tube  110  each include internal screw threads  120  and  122 . respectively, that correspond to external screw threads  114  on body  102 . In place of corresponding screw threads  112 ,  114 ,  118 ,  120  and  122  other corresponding complementary attachment elements, arrangements or configurations may be provided on the respective parts of container  100 , such as corresponding snap fit or mounting rail and track elements. Optional gripping sleeve  501  has two open ends and is configured to selectively embrace container  100  by sliding externally onto and off of body  102  of container  100 . Gripping sleeve  501  has widened external dimensions configured to facilitate holding of container body  102  in feed bottle mode  400 . Gripping sleeve  501  has an optional clip  502  or other securing element, for securing to an object, such as an article of clothing of the feeder (mother or nurse), or hanging by further means, such as those described below with reference to carrier  601  and to  FIG. 6 , which is a perspective view of the sleeve and carrier of  FIG. 1 . Carrier  601  is a case or a box configured to open and close and has an interior fitted to encapsulate gripping sleeve  501 . Carrier  601  may be opened to allow Gripping sleeve  501  to be placed inside and then closed again to store Gripping sleeve  501  inside (see  FIG. 6 ). Carrier  601  also has a handle  602  and a hanger  604 . Handle  602  is configured to be attached to clip  502  of gripping sleeve  501  and provide hanging suspension thereto (see  FIG. 7 ). Hanger  604  is configured to be hung on an object, such as a hook or a suspension rack (which are often already nearby) (see  FIG. 7 ). Carrier  601  may be opened to remove gripping sleeve  501  and then closed again to be attached to gripping sleeve  501 , using the clip  502  and handle  602 , and used to help hang container  100  from an object, such as a piece of medical or other structural equipment, hook or suspension rack (see  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). 
         [0024]    An optional breast pump  802  (see  FIG. 8 ) with internal screw threads  804  that correspond to external screw threads  112  on body  102  may be provided. Breast pump  802  is configured for pumping milk from a breast into the container body  102 , as a typical breast pump is operated. Breast pump  802  may be provided together with container  100  as part of the kit, or it may be any breast pump that container  100  is configured to attach to. 
         [0025]    Container  100  has a plurality of modes or configurations: a syringe mode, a storage mode, a feed-bottle mode, a feed-tube mode, and optionally a pump vessel mode. 
         [0026]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 2 , which is a perspective view of the container  100  of  FIG. 1 , in a syringe mode  200 , constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In syringe mode  200 , plunger  104  is sealingly and slidably located in cavity  116  of tube portion  103  of body  102 , so that it seals one end of container  100  adjacent wide opening  111  and is capable of creating a vacuum in cavity  116  when pulled towards that end. In syringe mode  200  container  100  is capable of sucking up a liquid by inserting narrow opening  113  of the container  100  in a liquid and pulling out plunger  104  (pulling plunger  104  away from narrow opening  113  and towards wide opening  111 ). Syringe mode  200  also provides for application of the milk contained in body  102  through narrow opening  113 , by pushing plunger  104 , for direct feeding of the baby (or for a further vessel if a simple syringe functioning of the multi-functional kit  100  satisfies the user). 
         [0027]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 3 , which is a perspective view of the container  100  of  FIG. 1 , in a storage mode  300 , constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Plunger  104  remains inserted (perforated line denotes the position of plunger seal  105 ) and the narrow opening  113  is sealed by cap  108  thereby sealingly enclosing tube portion  103  so that liquid contained therein (within enclosed cavity  116 ) can be safely stored. An optional plastic bag wrapper  302  with an ID or quick response (OR) barcode can be used to help store and identify container  100 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the container  100  of  FIG. 1  in a feed-bottle mode  400 , constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In feed-bottle mode  400  nipple  106  is connected to body  102  at wide opening  111  using corresponding screw threads  112  and  118 . Cap  108  is connected to body  102  at narrow opening  113  using corresponding screw threads  120  and  114 . In feed-bottle mode  400 , container  100  is closed at both ends  111  and  113  so that a liquid in container  100  is released only by sucking on nipple  106  when nipple  106  is used for feeding (nipple  106  is pointed downwards directly or at an angled posture so that liquid that settles downwards can pour from nipple  106 ). Optional gripping sleeve  501  is slid externally around tube portion  103  of container  100  allowing comfortable gripping in a feeding posture. Clip  502  can be used to hold container  100  in an upright manner (with nipple  106  facing upwards) when attached to an article of clothing (such as a shirt collar) in between bottle feedings. This makes container  100  easy to carry from place to place, and helps prevents a user from misplacing container  100 . 
         [0029]    Reference is now made to  FIGS. 5 and 7 .  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the container  100  of  FIG. 1  in a feed-tube mode  500 , constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1  in a feed-tube mode and being held by the sleeve and carrier. In feed-tube mode  500  nipple  106  is connected to body  102  at wide opening  111  using corresponding screw threads  112  and  118 . Feeding tube  110  is connected to body  102  at narrow opening  113  using corresponding screw threads  122  and  114 . Tube portion  510  of feeding tube  100  hangs therefrom towards the fed infant. In feed-tube mode  500  container  100  is capable of expressing a liquid through feeding tube  110  by pumping or depressing nipple  106  (pushing nipple  106  towards narrow opening  113 ). Optional gripping sleeve  501  is preferably slid externally around tube portion  103  of container  100  so that clip  502  can be attached to any hook or rack, or to handle  602  of carrier  601  and used to hold container  100  in an upright manner (with nipple  106  facing upwards) when attached to a piece of structural equipment using hanger  604 , especially during tube feedings, as best seen in  FIG. 7 . Hanger  604  makes container  100  easy to hang from a corresponding hook ( FIG. 7 ). 
         [0030]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 8 , which is a perspective view of the container  100  of  FIG. 1 , in a pump vessel mode  800 , constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In pump vessel mode  800  a breast pump  802  is connected to body  102  at wide opening  111  using corresponding screw threads  112  and  804 . Cap  108  is connected to body  102  at narrow opening  113  using corresponding screw threads  120  and  114 . In pump vessel mode  800  milk may be pumped from a breast directly into the container body  102 , thereby eliminating the transfer of milk from another vessel. 
         [0031]    The operation of container  100  will now be further discussed. Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1 to 5, and 8 . After milk has been expressed or pumped by a mother into an external vessel (not sho n container  100  is assembled or configured into syringe mode  200  by placing plunger  104  into body  102  and used to suck up and measure an amount of milk for feeding to the baby by inserting narrow opening  113  into the milk and pulling plunger  104  towards wide opening  111  ( FIG. 2 ). Container  100  is now converted into storage mode  300  by connecting cap  108  over narrow opening  113  and used to store the milk until feeding time ( FIG. 3 ). If no storage is required, container  100  can also be converted from syringe mode  200  directly into feed-bottle mode  400 , or feed-tube mode  500 , as desired. When it is feeding time, container  100  is then converted, either from syringe mode  200  or storage mode  300 , into feed-bottle mode  400  by pulling plunger  104  through wide opening  111  until its entire removal from body  102  and connecting nipple  106  over wide opening  111  ( FIG. 4 ). Optionally, gripping sleeve  501  is sled over container  100  to an embracing position there over, providing a comfortable grip for a feed-bottle posture ( FIG. 4 ) or a clasp. After feeding milk to the baby using feed-bottle mode  400 , if any milk remains to be fed to the baby, or in case the baby could not be fed by using feed-bottle mode, the container  100  is converted into feed-tube mode  500  by removing cap  108  and replacing it with feeding tube  110  ( FIGS. 5 and 8 ). Optionally, gripping sleeve  501  is slid over container  100  to an embracing position there over, providing a clip  502  for temporary clipping or hanging of container  100  in between continuous feeding sessions. Feed-tube mode  500  can be also selected directly after milk is inserted into container  100  at the syringe mode  200  or at the pump vessel mode  800 . In feed-tube mode  500 , pumping or depressing nipple  106  (or pushing nipple  106  towards narrow opening  113 ) will pressurize air and liquids enclosed within cavity  116  and cause milk in body  102  to be expressed from the container  100  through feeding tube  110 . 
         [0032]    Alternatively, container  100  may initially be configured in pump vessel mode  800  by connecting breast pump  802  over wide opening  111  and cap  108  over narrow opening  113  and used to pump milk from a breast into the container bodyl 02  by placing breast pump  802  on a breast. Container  100  can then be converted from pump vessel mode  800  into any of the other modes (e.g., storage mode  300 , feed-bottle mode  400 , or feed-tube mode  500 ) as desired, in the manner described in detail above. 
         [0033]    The container of the present invention simplifies the process of feeding a preemie by reducing the number of vessels through which the milk is transferred before it is delivered to the baby. This reduction in amount of transfers helps preserve the quality of the milk and its essential components by reducing the milk&#39;s exposure to possible infection or contamination, and reducing the amount of milk and milk components loss due to transfer between vessels. 
         [0034]    The various elements of the container may be provided as a baby feeding kit. 
         [0035]    While certain embodiments of the disclosed subject matter have been described, so as to enable one of skill in the art to practice the present invention, the preceding description is intended to be exemplary only. It should not be used to limit the scope of the disclosed subject matter, which should be determined by reference to the following claims.