IMPROVEMENTS IN FEEDING BOTTLES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FEEDING BOTTLES."—A communi-
cation from abroad by Henry Monchovaut, of Paris, France.
Scaled the 9th November 1875, and dated the 24th May 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lako
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 24th May 1875.
I, WILLIAM RObert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declaro the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FEEDING BOTTLES,” a
communication, to be as follows:-
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1

page_text: Third. To the extremity of this india-rubber tube is tightly fitted a
small union joint 1, Figure 6, of pewter or other suitable material, con-
taining the retaining valve. This union is perforated throughout its
length. One end is properly formed to receive the valve, and the other
is split to retain the caoutchouc spring n.
Fourth. This second valve m, Figure 2, called the retaining valve, is
similar in respect of its form and setting to the first valve above
described. I will here again remark that this method of attachment
permits the easy regulation of the tension of the spring n by pulling its
end and causing the thread to slip in the slit till the valve comes to its
seat, and it will lift with the weakest effort of suction.
Fifth, and finally. A teat p, Figure 8, of caoutchouc is tightly fitted
upon the extremity of the union at the end containing the valve. This
teat is furnished with a disc o of ivory or bone to regulate its entranco
into the infant's mouth. It has this peculiarity, namely, instead of
being perforated with one small round hole, like other teats, it is simply
slit crosswise. This slit is kept closed by the clasticity of the caout-
chouc, and is opened by pressure, so that it forms. in a measure a third
valve. By this arrangement the suction tube is provided with two valves,
and the whole forms a truc suction pump, which will act perfectly by
pressure on the teat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th November 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patents Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her.
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight. hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
Licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, admini-

page_text: .
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert
Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN FEEDING BOTTLES," a communication to me from abroad by
Henry Monchovaut, of Paris, France, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Lettors Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
Isame is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawing forming a part of this Specification :-
This Invention relates to a feeding bottle, which is provided with
valves and marked with divisions of equal capacity, and which is
S

page_text: :
end and slipping the thread in its slit till the valve comes to its seat,
and will lift easily with the weakest suction.
Fifth, and finally. A teat p, Figure 8, of caoutchouc is tightly fitted
upon the extremity of the union at the end containing the valve. This
teat is furnished with a disc o of ivory or bone to regulate its entrance
in the infant's mouth. It has this peculiarity, namely, instead of being
perforated with one small round hole, like other teats used for this
purpose, it is slit crosswise. This slit is kept closed by the elasticity of
the caoutchouc, and is opened by pressure, so that it forms in a measure
a third valve. By this arrangement the suction tube is provided with
two valves, and the whole forms a true suction pump
which will act
properly on pressing the teat. For this reason, the said Invention is
termed the "Monchovaut pump feeding bottle" (biberon à pompe
Monchovaut).
Figure 10 shews another form of valve in the stopper I may adopt,
namely, a small disc A. of metal or caoutchouc traversed by a small
wire B of plated iron provided with two loops. The lower one serves
to hold the device, either for the placing or removal of the valvo,
and to prevent the displacement of the small disc. The upper one
retains a similar double wire C, which is twisted several times and then
spread open in the form of pincers, and is supported against the interior
surface of the pewter or glass tube D which passes through the
stopper E of the feeding bottle. The bore of the stopper is made
conical to increase the security of the device. For the removal of the
valve it will be sufficient to pull down'the lower loop. For replacing it
I insert it into the tube, pushing the same loop to the bottom. The
connection of the parts B and C is so made as to leave sufficient play to
permit the working of the valve.
Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14, shew the divers forms of the valve in the
suction tube.
Figure 11 shows a ball valve in the base of the glass tube instead of
the valve g, Figures 3 and 4. This valve is composed of a small ball A
of caoutchouc, glass, pewter, wood or bonc, placed in the glass tube B,
which is closed at its lower extremity to retain the said ball. A small
plated iron wire inserted in the tube, and holding itself against its inner
susfene prevents the undue displacement of the mid holl

page_text: Figures 12 and 13 shew a ball valve placed in the middle of a caout-
chouc tube and in the joint near the teat. This joint consists of two
pieces connected by a screw thread. These pieces are properly chambered
to receive the ball forming the valve.
Figure 14 shews a flap valve placed at the bottom of the glass tube B.
The lower extremity of this tube may be fitted with a hood C of caout-
chouc or other suitable material secured by a caoutchouc ring D. This
hood encloses the said flap, which may be held either by a spring or
hinge.
Although feeding bottles are already in use, and have been known for
a long time, these important modifications so change its character that
my feeding bottle may be considered quite a new article. In comparison
with other feeding bottles my bottle offers the following advantages, that
is to say :-
First. The Divisions on the Bottle.-Infants fed by this feeding bottle
can only take the milk mixed beforehand with a certain quantity of
water in determined proportions. Moreover in some maladies it is
necessary to give doses of syrups and various beverages. Now the afore-
said division into parts of equal capacity will facilitate the administering
of the doses without rendering necessary any recourse to special
measures. There is therefore an advantage in respect of convenience
and economy of time for nurses and mothers of families.
Second. The Air Valve. This valve in the stopper is designed to
permit the entrance of air into the bottle in proportion as it is emptied,
5 and to prevent the escape of the liquid by the orifice in case the bottle
should be overturned. This part of feeding bottles has occupied great
attention, and has been the subject of numerous Inventions, but hereto-
fore no one has. discovered a valve with certainty of action and sucli
simplicity of construction and setting as above described. The said
O valve is characterized by simplicity with regard to its construction, its
removal and cleaning, replacing, regulating, and setting.
Thirdly. The Retaining Valve.-This valve is designed to permit the
rising of the liquid to the mouth of the bottle, and prevent its
descending when the suction is suspended. The said valve may be
5 applied to any part of the suction tube, and may be of any desired
form; for instance, at 9, Figures 3 and 4, I have shewn another
arrangement which I employ in the place of the preceding, and which

page_text: works equally well. It consists of a small caoutchouc cap slit at the
bottom. This cap is introduced into the lower opening of the glass
tube; the edges which project serve in place of the cushion ring j in
Figures 1 and 2, to prevent injury to the tube by blows, and the bottom
of the said cap opens to permit the liquid to rise, and closes to prevent
its descending. It is evident that the same result might be attained by
the employment of other valves, either ball or flap valves, or others.
For instance, I may have a ball valve & arranged as in Figure 9 to close
the upper extremity of the glass tube, and with its thread spring n
attached to the cushion collar j at the other extremity of the said tube.
And it is obvious that the form of the parts and the material used in
their construction are unimportant, and I may employ any suitable form
of valve, and place the same in any convenient part of the suction tube,
and employ any material that I find most convenient and the best
adapted to my purpose.
.
Fourthly. The Teat Slit.--This is a very important feature of my
Invention, for I obtain with this alone the effect of a valve. With this
teat, combined with one of the retaining valves above described, I
obtain a true pump, whose action is caused by pressing the teat.
Furthermore, this arrangement prevents obstruction; the slightest clot 2
of milk is sufficient to obstruct the hole of ordinary teats used for this
purpose, while in mine it passes through the slits, which open more or
less according to the pressure. If the teat is squeezed the slits open and
permits the escape of the air contained in its cavity. When it is
released the slits close, and the teat in swelling by its own clasticity 2
draws the liquid from the bottle, which rises and lifts the retaining valve.
If the pressure is renewed the liquid, not being able to return because it
is held by the retaining valve, escapes by the slits of the teat, and so
on, consequently the infant need make no effort of suction to drink, but
need only press the teat against his gums. If he draws he drinks, if he 3
does not draw he drinks all the same the moment he bites the teat. The
action may be readily ascertained by pressing the teat several times
between the fingers; the liquid will spirt after the pressure has been five
or six times repeated.
In using another feeding bottle the sucking will cause the milk to B
risc, and cessation of sucking will allow the milk to descend, therefore a
continuous sucking effort is necessary in drinking. Newly-born infants
using the bottle draw in a jerking manner, causing the milk to rise, and

page_text: letting it return without drinking; they therefore exhaust themselves
in vain efforts, and it is only after a certain amount of practice that they
acquire the necessary habit, but in the meantime they often contract
inflammation of the mouth or throat or of the intestines, which some-
times proves fatal. These objections do not apply to my feeding bottle,
which imitates exactly natural súckling.
It will be observed that all the parts of this feeding bottle are ex-
tremely simple, easy to remove and replace, and above all easy to clean.
These advantages do not exist in the bottles heretofore invented, for all
former improvements in feeding bottles have been abortive because of
their complications and the difficulty of cleaning their various parts;
therefore the utility of this Invention is incontestable and general, and
the said feeding bottle is destined to be of great service. The means for
carrying the said Invention into practice present no difficulties.
Having thus fully described the nature of the said Invention, as
communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim a feeding bottle
fitted with valves and graduated, and whose principal features are,—
First. The bottle or flask marked with divisions of equal capacity.
Second. The valve for the admission of air into the stopper.
Third. The retaining valve in the suction tube, of any suitable.form,
and in any desired position in the said tube.
Fourth. The teat slit instead of being perforated in the ordinary
manner.
Witness,
HY. JA. NOONE.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.B.)