Patent ID: 8448796

Claim:
An improved feeding nipple, comprising: a substantially elongated solid nipple part including one or more ducts formed therethrough for conveying fluids through said nipple, said elongated nipple part having a shore A hardness in the range of 1 to about 20, said one or more ducts being radially compressible by a suckling infant's oral action so as to prevent passage of fluids through said one or more ducts when so compressed, wherein said one or more ducts are at least 10 times greater in longitudinal length than radial width; and a generally cylindrical reinforcing member disposed in said solid nipple part and oriented axially adjacent to and surrounding said one or more ducts generally along said length, said reinforcing member being embedded in said solid nipple part, said reinforcing member having a greater resistance to a tearing force than said solid nipple part.