Abstract:
A disposable beverage container is disclosed having an aseptic flexible pouch filled with a beverage, and a nipple apparatus attached to an upper surface. The pouch preferably has a patch and the nipple apparatus sits on the patch. The nipple includes one or more cutting teeth that, when actuated by a user, pierces the flexible pouch to cause beverage to flow into the nipple where it can be consumed by a child.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention is related to disposable beverage pouches, and more particularly to a disposable flexible pouch with a nipple affixed thereto. 
         [0002]    Flexible beverage pouches are well known in the art. The pouches are typically filled with juice, punch, or flavored water and are particularly well-suited for children. These pouches are formed of a multi-layer film and with a special straw hole punch material that can be pierced with a straw to allow the beverage to be consumed. However, very small children and infants lack the ability to use a straw, and thus the pouches cannot be used with very small children and infants. 
         [0003]    The beverage pouches which are currently being marketed are fabricated from a multi-layered laminated sheet of material which consists of polyester film/printing ink/coating adhesive/metal foil or EVOH/coating adhesive/heat-sealable plastic (e.g., polyethylene) film. Such a laminate is further described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,116,782 and 5,425,583, which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention utilizes flexible beverage pouch technology and its inherent capacity to store beverages for extended periods of time in an aseptic or clean condition. A nipple is attached to an independent flange of application on a machine (the nipple unit). A generally flexible nipple body includes a small aperture at a distal end, the nipple body mounted on a cylindrical housing (the unit) in a fluid tight relationship. The cylindrical housing is affixed to an annular platform that is bonded to a surface of the patch material and the patch material is attached to the pouch. The platform has a threaded flange that cooperates with threads on the cylindrical housing to couple the platform to the cylindrical housing. The platform preferably includes a continuous bonding ridge on a bottom surface that promotes ultrasonic bonding of the platform to the pouch surface. The cylindrical housing further comprises vertically reciprocating cutting teeth disposed adjacent a surface of the pouch inside the continuous bonding ridge. The reciprocating cutting teeth are driven against the patch surface to rupture the patch surface and open the pouch upon rotation of the cylindrical housing about the threaded spout, where fluid contained in the pouch can thereafter enter the nipple body and be dispensed through the nipple&#39;s small aperture. 
         [0005]    The contents of the pouch is aspetically preserved, and thus in a sterile condition until the pouch is punctured by the cutting teeth. This provides a portable, aseptic dispenser for formula, milk, juice, and other infant beverages that is portable, compact, self-contained, and can be stored for long periods of time until needed. The film can also be selected such that the pouch can be heated to ready the contents for serving. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an elevated exploded view of the nipple/spout/cutting teeth; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the nipple/spout/cutting teeth. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first preferred embodiment of the present invention including a flexible beverage pouch  10  in combination with a nipple  12  disposed on a top surface  14 . The thin walled beverage pouch can take a number of different shapes and sizes, and the pouch illustrated in  FIG. 1  is merely an example of the type of pouch that the present invention can be used with. Pouches of this type are typically made of a multiple plies of foil, plastic, and the like to create a environment that can be made sterile and aseptic. Traditionally these types of pouches have been fitted with a straw hole or spout that enabled a user to drink the contents. However, infants and small children cannot operate a straw or pouch and can therefore spill the contents on their clothing. This can be particularly problematic if the contents is something that will stain clothing. The present invention addresses this problem. 
         [0011]    The nipple  12  is flexible and includes a body portion  16  that terminates at a neck portion  18  that leads to a bulbous distal end  20 . A small opening  22  is disposed in the bulbous distal end  20  to permit fluid to exit the nipple  12 . A cylindrical base  24  connects the nipple  12  in a fluid tight relationship, such as by press fit, heat, or other mechanical seal as is known in the art. The cylindrical base  24  has a threaded inner surface  26  that rides on an annular projection  28  of a spout  50 , where the annular projection  28  sits vertically disposed on a platform  30 . The threads  26  engage mating threads  41  on the exterior of the annular projection  28  to form a fluid tight relationship between the spout  50  and the cylindrical base  24 . Once tightened on the spout  50 , the nipple  12  provides a flow path from the interior of the pouch  10  to the opening  22  at the tip of the nipple to allow the infant to drink from the pouch. However, the pouch must first be punctured or otherwise opened below the nipple to gain access to the contents of the pouch  10 .  FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate a preferred embodiment for opening the pouch to gain access to the contents therein. 
         [0012]    The cylindrical base  24  is provided with a rotationally mounted annular portion  60  that is coupled to a set of radially inwardly projecting teeth  64  that depend downwardly and axially within the cylindrical base  24 . The teeth  64  are positioned to rotate with annular portion  60 , which can freely rotate about a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical base  24  independent of the engagement of the threads  26 , 41 . The teeth  64  are seated in keyed portions  68  of a piercing member  70  that reciprocate axially within the spout  50 . Piercing member  70  has external threads  72  that engage with internal threads  74  of the spout  50  to move the piercing member  70  axially within the spout  50 , and extending out of the spout. The piercing member is configured with sharp cutting projections  80  pointed in the direction of the upper surface  14  of the pouch  10 . When the nipple  12  is located on the spout  50  and the user wants to consume the contents of the pouch  10 , the user rotates the annular portion  60  of the nipple&#39;s cylindrical base  24  which causes the teeth  64  to rotate in the same direction as the annular portion  60 . Rotation of the teeth  64  engage the side walls  88  of the keyed portions  68  of the piercing member  70 , driving the piercing member in the same direction as the rotation of the annular member  60 . Rotation of the piercing member causes the threads  72  to engage the threads  74  on the spout and force the piercing member  70  downward toward the pouch upper surface  14 . Further rotation causes the cutting projections  80  to puncture the upper surface  14  of the pouch  10 , tearing the upper surface to allow a fluid therein to flow into the nipple  12  and be consumed. 
         [0013]    The cutting projections  80  may include a serrated edge  87  that terminates in an apex  89 . In the retracted position, the cutting projections  80  are completely disposed within the cylindrical base  24 . As the cylindrical base  24  is rotated, the cutting projections  80  are driven downward through a window  96  in the spout  50  against the top surface  14  of the thin walled beverage pouch  10 . Further rotation of the cylindrical base  24  drives the cutting projections  80  to pierce the top surface  14  of the beverage pouch  10 , breaking the seal and creating a passage for the beverage to enter the nipple  12 . When the beverage pouch is inverted, gravity will cause the fluid to pass through the newly created opening in the top surface  14  caused by the cutting projections  80  and enter the nipple, where it can be sucked out through the small opening  22  at the distal end. 
         [0014]    In an alternative embodiment, the cylindrical base can be the component that drives the piercing member  70  by further rotation on the spout  50 . That is, the nipple is rotated onto the spout  50  to provide a secure engagement to ensure that the nipple  12  will not become dislodged or accidentally removed from the pouch  10 . When the user is ready to open the pouch, the cylindrical base  24  is rotated clockwise to drive the piercing member  70  downward by virtue of the movement of the driving teeth  64  as described above. In this embodiment there is no need for a portion of the nipple  12  to rotate independently of the rest of the nipple, simplifying the mechanism. 
         [0015]    In a preferred embodiment, the spout  50  can be attached to the pouch  10  at a downwardly projecting annular ridge  90  shown in  FIG. 4 . The ridge  90  attaches to the upper surface  14  of the pouch  10  as by ultrasonic bonding, welding, adhesive, or the like. The spout material is chosen to bond with the outer surface of the pouch, or alternative the spout can bond to a patch within the pouch as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/471,930, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. The bond between the surface of the pouch  10  and the platform  30  must be sufficient to hold as the cutting projections  80  are pressing against the surface of the pouch to provide a taught surface that may be pierced by the teeth. 
         [0016]    The nipple  12  can be fitted with a removable cap  42  that preserves the aseptic condition of the nipple prior to use. The user first removes the cap  42 , which can be snap fit into a groove or over a ridge on the upper surface of the cylindrical base  24 , and can be sealed using a plastic shrink wrap or other means for preserving the condition of the nipple.