Abstract:
An infant bottle ( 10 ) method and kit, wherein the bottle comprising: a disposable bag ( 20 ), for containing a beverage ( 30, 44, 46 ); a foldable bag frame ( 16 ), for deploying therein the disposable bag ( 20 ) at a deployed state of the foldable bag frame ( 16 ), wherein a folded state thereof occupies less space than an unfolded state thereof; and a teat ( 14 ), for covering the disposable bag ( 20 ) in a sealed manner, thereby resulting in a compact infant bottle ( 10 ) at a folded state of the foldable bag frame ( 16 ), and sealable upon deployment.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of infant feeding. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for preparing an infant beverage. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    An infant bottle is a bottle including a teat, for drinking directly from it. The infant bottle is designed for allowing any angle of tilt, such that the beverage may exit only through a small hole disposed at the top. Thus, the bottle is sealed everywhere, except for this hole. 
         [0003]    The typical baby bottle includes a receptacle having a bottom and a thread at the top thereof. The teat is inserted into a ring having a complementary thread. Thus the teat is pressed between the ring and the receptacle, thus providing a sealed connection. 
         [0004]    However, this prior art bottle is disadvantaged in that the receptacle typically requires a long brush for cleaning it. In addition, the bottle is not foldable. As well, preparation of the beverage requires several stages, and the inconveniency is well known. 
         [0005]    Disposable bottles are known. However, they are prohibitively expensive. 
         [0006]    All the methods described above have not yet provided satisfactory solutions to the problem of quick and convenient preparation of the infant beverage to be contained in the infant bottle. 
         [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned and other problems of the prior art. 
         [0008]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In one aspect, the present invention is directed to an infant bottle ( 10 ), comprising: a disposable bag ( 20 ), for containing a beverage ( 30 ,  44 ,  46 ); a foldable bag frame ( 16 ), for deploying therein the disposable bag ( 20 ) at a deployed state of the foldable bag frame ( 16 ), wherein a folded state thereof occupies less space than an unfolded state thereof; and a teat ( 14 ), for covering the disposable bag ( 20 ) in a sealed manner, thereby resulting in a compact infant bottle ( 10 ) at a folded state of the foldable bag frame ( 16 ), and sealable upon deployment. 
         [0010]    According to one embodiment of the invention, the disposable bag ( 20 ) is supplied with a feeding powder ( 30 ), for pouring a liquid ( 46 ) thereinto upon being deployed by the foldable bag frame ( 16 ). 
         [0011]    According to one embodiment of the invention, the disposable bag ( 20 ) is manufactured to be closed and containing feeding powder ( 30 ), for pouring a liquid ( 46 ) thereinto upon being opened and deployed by the foldable bag frame ( 16 ). 
         [0012]    The disposable bag ( 20 ) may further comprise a tearing line ( 12 ), for being opened thereby. 
         [0013]    The infant bottle ( 10 ) may further comprise a closed bag holder ( 28 ), for holding one or more disposable bags ( 20 ) containing feeding powder ( 30 ), the closed bag holder ( 28 ) comprising a bracket ( 58 ) for each disposable bag ( 20 ) for maintaining a closed state thereof, for preventing the powder ( 30 ) from falling therefrom, thereby the disposable bag ( 20 ) is supplied with the powder ( 30 ). 
         [0014]    The infant bottle ( 10 ) may further comprise: a liquid container ( 50 ), for pouring liquid ( 46 ) into the disposable bag ( 20 ), thereby resulting in a compact feeding kit ( 42 ), ready for use. 
         [0015]    The infant bottle ( 10 ) may further comprise: a rigid teat frame ( 22 ), for (a) holding the teat ( 14 ); (b) pressing the teat ( 14 ) onto the disposable bag ( 20 ) in the sealed manner; and (c) avoiding folding the bag frame ( 16 ). 
         [0016]    The teat frame ( 22 ) and the bag frame ( 16 ) may comprise complementary fastening means ( 56 ,  18 ), for fastening together. 
         [0017]    The foldable bag frame ( 16 ) may comprise several rigid walls ( 52 ) being foldable one in relation to the other along the height of the infant bottle ( 10 ). 
         [0018]    The foldable bag frame ( 16 ) may comprise a rotatable bottom ( 26 ), for being disposed parallel to a wall ( 52 ) of the foldable bag frame ( 16 ) at the folded state, and for being disposed perpendicular to the walls ( 52 ) of the foldable bag frame ( 16 ) at the deployed state, thereby the rotatable bottom ( 26 ) avoids folding the foldable bag frame ( 16 ) at the deployed state. 
         [0019]    In another aspect, the present invention is directed to an infant feeding method, comprising the steps of: deploying a foldable frame ( 16 ) wherein a folded state thereof occupies less space than an unfolded state thereof; deploying a disposable bag ( 20 ) into the deployed foldable frame ( 16 ); pouring a liquid ( 46 ) into the disposable bag ( 20 ); and covering the disposable bag ( 20 ) in a sealed manner by a teat ( 14 ), thereby producing a ready to feed bottle ( 10 ), from foldable components. 
         [0020]    The disposable bag ( 20 ) may be supplied with a feeding powder ( 30 ), thereby the step of pouring the liquid into the disposable bag ( 20 ) produces a beverage ( 44 ). 
         [0021]    The step of deploying the disposable bag ( 20 ) may comprise the step of extracting the disposable bag ( 20 ) from a closed bag holder ( 28 ) which has maintained a closed state of the disposable bag ( 20 ). 
         [0022]    In yet another aspect of the, the invention is directed to an infant feeding kit, comprising: a foldable feeding bottle ( 10 ); a holder ( 28 ) storing at least one feeding powder bag ( 20 ); and, optionally, each of the bags further comprises a bracket ( 58 ), for keeping the bag thereof sealed. 
         [0023]    The kit ( 42 ) may further comprise a thermos ( 50 ). 
         [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 DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    Preferred embodiments, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1A  is a top view of a bag frame according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 1B  is a top view of the bag frame of  FIG. 1A  at the first step. 
           [0028]      FIG. 1C  is a top perspective view of the bag frame of  FIG. 1A  at the second step. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a side sectional view of the bag frame of  FIG. 1A , and of the teat and the teat frame, for connecting to the bag frame. 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  depicts a closed-bags holder according to one embodiment, and the steps of taking out one of the bags. 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  depicts the bag frame of  FIG. 2  containing the bag of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the various elements of the bottle described in  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the bottle being ready for use. 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  depicts the entire feeding kit, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0035]    It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
       DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0036]    The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments (“best mode”), 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. 
         [0037]      FIG. 1A  is a top view of a bag frame according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0038]    A bag frame  16  is designed for deploying a disposable bag  20  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) thereinto. Bag frame  16  includes several relatively rigid walls  52 , separated by folds  54 , allowing folding thereof along the height of walls  52 . 
         [0039]    Bag frame  16  is supplied in the folded state of  FIG. 1A . 
         [0040]      FIG. 1B  is a top view of the bag frame of  FIG. 1A  at the first step. 
         [0041]    At the first step, the user deploys bag frame  16  to the semi-folded state of  FIG. 1B . 
         [0042]      FIG. 1C  is a top perspective view of the bag frame of  FIG. 1A  at the second step. 
         [0043]    At the second step, the user deploys bag frame  16  to the unfolded state of  FIG. 1C . Bag frame  16  is not intended for containing beverage, as it may include holes  60 , but rather is intended for containing a disposable bag. 
         [0044]    Each wall includes a depression  56  for snapping a teat frame  22  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) thereon. 
         [0045]      FIG. 2  is a side sectional view of the bag frame of  FIG. 1A , and of the teat and teat frame, for connecting to the bag frame. 
         [0046]    For avoiding folding the bottom of bag frame  16  back to the folded state of  FIG. 1A , bag frame  16  includes a rotatable bottom  26 , being pivotally connected to one of walls  52 . Bag frame  16  is supplied in the folded state of  FIG. 1A , parallel to the wall  52 . At the third step the user draws bottom  26  away from the wall  52 , thus rotating it for being perpendicular to all walls  52 , being the state depicted in  FIG. 4   
         [0047]      FIG. 3  depicts a closed-bags holder according to one embodiment, and the steps of taking out one of the bags. 
         [0048]    A closed-bags holder  28  accompanies disposable bags  20  each for containing a feeding powder  30  in a closed state, for preventing powder  30  from falling out of the disposable bag  20 . According to this embodiment, at the fourth step, the user unlocks the closed bag holder  28 ; at the fifth step, the user opens closed-bags holder  28 ; at the sixth step the user opens the bag bracket  58 ; and at the seventh step, the user extracts one disposable bag  20 , containing powder  30 , out of closed-bags holder  28 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 4  depicts the bag frame of  FIG. 2  containing the bag of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0050]    At the eighth step, the user deploys disposable bag  20  containing feeding powder  30 . The rims  36  of disposable bag  20  are disposed outside bag frame  16 . 
         [0051]    Disposable bag  20  may be of plastic, nylon, aluminum foil, or any other material, for containing a beverage. 
         [0052]    At the ninth step, the user pours liquid  46  from a liquid container  50  onto powder  30  within disposable bag  20 , producing a beverage  44  (enumerated in  FIG. 6 ). Container  50  preferably constitutes a thermos, for containing heated liquid, such as heated water and/or milk. 
         [0053]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , at the tenth step, the user snaps teat frame  22  holding teat  14 , to depression  56  of bag frame  16 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the various elements of the bottle described in  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
         [0055]    Thus, the infant bottle  10  includes bag frame  16 , into which bag  20  is inserted. Teat  24  is inserted into teat frame  22 . Teat frame  22  snaps bag frame  16 . 
         [0056]    According to one embodiment, bars  32  may further prevent folding of bag frame  16 . According to one embodiment, bar  32  includes protrusions  34  having lines  34 A and  34 B being complementary to fold  54 , for inserting each protrusion  34  into fold  54 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the bottle being ready for use. 
         [0058]    The snapping of the tenth step seals teat  14  to disposable bag  20 , since at perimeter  38  teat frame  22  presses teat  14 ; and nylon bag  20  is pressed between teat  14  and bag frame  16 . A male snapping element  18  inserted into depression  56  of bag frame  16  provides the pressure of teat frame  22  on bag frame  16 , and thus on teat  14 . Male snapping element  18  and depression  56  of bag frame  16  constitute one example of complementary fastening means, for fastening together. 
         [0059]    At the eleventh step, the infant may drink through hole  48  of infant bottle  10 . Pressure applied on infant bottle  10 , such as by holding thereof, does not allow folding it at the top due to nipple frame  22 , and does not allowing folding it at the bottom due to bottom  26 , both being relatively rigid. 
         [0060]      FIG. 7  depicts the entire feeding kit, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0061]    The feeding kit  42  includes bag frame  16 , a plurality of empty bags  20 , shown in the figure below bag frame  16 , teat frame  22 , one teat  14 , or preferably a plurality of teats  14  for being disposable and replaceable, thermos  50  for pouring liquid into disposable bag  20 , and closed bags holder  28 , all preferably packaged by a compact suitcase  40 . 
         [0062]    For example, the mother of the infant fills 3-4 disposable empty bags  20  with feeding powder  30 . The mother then inserts the filled bags  20  into closed-bags holder  28 . 
         [0063]    According to another embodiment, bags  20  are marketed closed/stamped, and containing feeding powder  30 , for being opened by opening a tearing line  12 , and thus there is no need for closed-bags holder  28 . This embodiment is advantaged of freshness of the feeding powder  30 . 
         [0064]    The mother further fills thermos  50  with heated water and/or milk. The mother then closes suitcase  40 , and supplies it to the nursery school teacher. Upon need or demand, the teacher deploys bag frame  16 , according to one embodiment with bars  32 ; then fills bag  20  containing powder  30  of closed-bags holder  28  into bag frame; then pours liquid into bag  20  from thermos  50 ; then inserts one of teats  14  into nipple frame  22 ; then snaps teat frame  22  to bag frame  16 . 
         [0065]    In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals (Reference Signs List) have been mentioned:
   numeral  10  denotes an infant bottle according to one embodiment of the present invention;   numeral  12  denotes a tearing line;   numeral  14  denotes a teat;   numeral  16  denotes a foldable bag frame;   numeral  18  denotes a snapping element of the teat frame;   numeral  20  denotes a disposable bag, for containing powder and for further containing the beverage;   numeral  22  denotes the nipple frame;   numeral  24  denotes the teat;   numeral  26  denotes the bottom of the bag frame, the bottom being rotatable, for allowing or disallowing folding the bag frame;   numeral  28  denotes a holder for closed bags containing feeding powder;   numeral  30  denotes feeding powder;   numeral  32  denotes a bar for maintaining the shape of the bag frame;   numeral  34  denotes a protrusion;   numeral  34 A and  34 B denote protruding lines of protrusion  34 ;   numeral  36  denotes the rim of the disposable bag;   numeral  38  denotes a location shown in the figure;   numeral  40  denotes a suitcase, for containing the feeding kit, according to one embodiment of the present invention;   numeral  42  denotes the feeding kit, including the main components for feeding the infant;   numeral  44  denotes the beverage, including the liquid and the feeding powder;   numeral  46  denotes the liquid poured;   numeral  48  denotes a hole in the teat, for drinking therethrough;   numeral  50  denotes a container, such as a thermos;   numeral  52  denotes a wall of the bag frame;   numeral  54  denotes a fold of the bag frame;   numeral  56  denotes a depression;   numeral  58  denotes a bracket, for closing the bags containing powder only; and   numeral  60  denotes in the bags frame, for demonstrating that the bags frame need not contain liquid.   
 
         [0093]    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. 
         [0094]    Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition. 
         [0095]    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.