Abstract:
A fluid delivery device includes a nipple having a hollow body and a tip having a fluid exit opening. The body is symmetrical around an axis passing through the tip opening. The nipple includes a tab extending from the body radially outwardly from the axis. A syringe fits into the nipple to provide a source of medication or other fluids to be administered orally.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/335,872, filed May 13, 2016, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates in general to apparatus for delivering fluids and more particularly to apparatus for delivering fluid medication. 
         [0003]    Infants and toddlers often resist the administering of medicine. To alleviate this problem, syringes are typically used to administer medicine to infants and toddlers. Syringes are usually rigid, and in the case of a struggling infant, could possibly be dangerous to the infant&#39;s eyes, mouth, and throat. Innovative apparatus including nipples, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,985,357, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, has been used to facilitate the use of syringes to administer medications and other fluids. 
         [0004]    In addition to using syringes to administering medications to infants and toddlers, syringes can be useful in administering medications and other fluids to adults, particularly senior adults and adults with swallowing or other ingestion issues. 
         [0005]    Thus, it would be desirable to provide an improved apparatus for safely and effectively delivering medication and other fluids. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is an improved nipple comprising a hollow body and a tip integrally formed with the body. The tip has an opening through which fluid may pass. The body has a central axis defining a fluid flow path. The body may be symmetrical around the axis. A tab or grip extends radially outwardly from the axis for ease of handling. The nipple is particularly useful when incorporated with a syringe, which may be in the form of an eyedropper, a tube and plunger, a vial, an elastomeric bulb, etc. As used herein, the term “syringe” includes various devices such as and eyedropper, a tube and plunger, a vial, an elastomeric bulb, etc. having a fluid reservoir and means for forcing fluid out of the fluid reservoir. 
         [0007]    The nipple tip opening may include a diverter design to direct exiting fluid away from the central axis so that fluid entering a person&#39;s mouth is directed somewhat sideways toward the cheeks or otherwise away from the throat to prevent chocking, discomfort, etc. The nipple is particularly suitable for a single use in a hospital or medical office environment. 
         [0008]    Various aspects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, when read in light of the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a nipple of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the nipple of  FIG. 1  as used with a tube and plunger syringe. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the top portion of the nipple of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative top portion of the nipple of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an elastomeric bulb syringe. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a vial-type syringe. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a nipple  10  of the present invention has a flow path along an axis A. The nipple includes a body  20  symmetrical about axis A. The nipple has a tip  30  with an opening  37  which may include a diverter as shown and as will be discussed herein, or may have other configurations, including a traditional cross or circular opening. 
         [0016]    The nipple has an integral annular base flange  40  surrounding and integrally formed with the body  20 . A tab or finger grip  50  is integral with the base flange  40  and extends radially outwardly therefrom. Both the top surface  51  and bottom surface (not shown) of the tab  50  include similar waffle patterns with concave indentations to facilitate gripping. If the nipple has a diverter, the tab may be radially aligned with the diverter as shown and as will be discussed herein. The tab  50  provides a surface to touch and grab when assembling and disassembling the nipple onto a dispensing apparatus such as a syringe, and a handle for holding the apparatus. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a tube and plunger syringe  60  is shown inserted into the nipple  10 . The syringe  60  extends along the same axis A as the nipple flow path. The syringe includes a fluid reservoir in the form of cylindrical tube  62  and a plunger  64 , as is well known in the art. It can be seen that the tab  50  is particularly helpful in holding a fluid delivery device utilizing a syringe. Such devises are recommended for administering medication to children or infants. The nipple will assist a user in maintaining a positive grip on the syringe without touching or otherwise interfering with the person or touching the nipple body or tip. The nipple also allows the user a clear and unobstructed view of the medication being dosed, and how well the person is receiving it. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  more clearly shows the nipple tip opening  37 . The opening  37  includes an integrally molded and centrally positioned fluid diverter  70  that divides the opening  37  into two passageways  72 . The diverter  70  has flat parallel side walls  71 . Opening  37  is also defined by angularly or transversely extending and generally conically shaped curved walls  75 . The diverter  70  cooperates with the walls  75  to direct fluid flowing through the opening  37  in a directions B and C transverse to the nipple body axis A. 
         [0019]    The purpose of the design of the spout or opening  37  is to prevent fluid from being forced directly down the throat of a user. The design of opening  37  allows fluid to be deflected away from a path directly into the throat of the user, preferably toward the cheeks. The orientation of the opening  37  is significant for this feature. 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows an alternative downstream opening  37 ′. The opening  37 ′ includes an integrally molded diverter  80  that divides the opening  37 ′ into two passageways  82 . The diverter  80  has side walls  81  which are angled relative to the nipple body axis A. Opening  37 ′ is also defined by angularly or transversely extending curved walls  85 . The diverter  80  cooperates with the walls  85  to direct fluid flowing through the opening  37 ′ in a direction transverse to the nipple body axis A. 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  shows an alternative syringe  90  in the form of a one piece elastomeric device having a fluid reservoir in the form of a bulb  92  and a tube spout  94  with an opening  98 .  FIG. 6  shows another alternative syringe in the form of a plastic vial  100  having an axially extending fluid reservoir  102 , a fluid output spout  104  on the axis, and a holding tab  108  on the axis opposite the spout. A break away tab  106  seals the spout until use. 
         [0022]    While the specific dimensions of nipple of the nipple of the present invention are not critical, the nipple disclosed in  FIG. 1  preferably is approximately 1⅝ inches high, with the base flange  40  about 3/16 inch high, the body  20  about 1 3/16 inches high and the tip  30  about ¼ inch high. The diameter of the base flange  40  is about 1½ inches. The diameter of the lower portion of the body adjacent the base flange is about 1¼ inches, with the width of the base flange being about ⅛ inch. The diameter of the tip is about ½ inch. 
         [0023]    The grip or tab  50  has a radially outwardly extending length of about 1¼ inches from the lower portion of the body  20  and a width of about 1 inch. The tab  50  and the base flange  40  have a thickness of about ⅛ inch. 
         [0024]    The principles of this invention have been explained and illustrated in the preferred embodiments. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope as defined in the claims.