Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the feeding of infants or toddlers but may also be relevant to other persons or animals requiring liquid feeding by bottle. More particularly, the invention concerns enabling parents to continue providing clean feeding equipment to their infants or toddlers over the course of a day and while away from a home or other convenient location for washing. 
     Baby bottle nipples and collars need to be washed and sanitized before each use. Cleaning is tough while on the go away from the home and carrying multiple nipples and collars would normally take up too much space. 
     Some companies have provided disposable inserts for lining feeding bottles. These overcome the matter of having sterile bottles but do not solve the issue of unsanitary, used nipples and collars. 
     One feeding bottle system includes a threadably sealable opening in its bottom end intended to receive a pacifier. While it may be possible to carry a nipple rather than a pacifier, a person still needs to carry around multiple bottles and nipples for feedings throughout the day or has to clean one after each use. 
     If a person were to go out for the day they would need approximately a clean bottle and nipple for feedings every 1½ to 2 hours thr their infant or toddler. In a 12 hour day approximately six bottles, six nipples and collars would be needed. As pointed out, carrying this many bottles, nipples and collars is cumbersome. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention allows up to seven feedings with clean nipples and collars and only two containers need to be carried—a bottle with nipples and collars and the 7½″ dispenser and storage case. The compact baby bottle nipple and collar storage and dispenser provides up to 6 clean nipples and collars for feeding and a place to store used nipple and collars without the need of separate bottles for each feeding. Therefore, the number of bottles one needs to carry around during a busy day is reduced. No other known device functions as a compact nipple and collar dispenser and storage ease for parents on the go. 
     The invention includes the following interrelated objects, aspects and features: 
     (1) A top nipple cap cover in the shape of a nipple with a generally circular base, a snap fitting and a finger tab. 
     (2) A cylindrical tubular member having a top open end and a bottom open end having a flared portion 
     (3) A nipple-shaped insert having a generally circular base is used to segregate clean and used nipples and collars. 
     (4) A bottom cover with a generally circular base and a snap fitting like that of the top cap cover. 
     (5) One or both of the top cap cover and the bottom cap cover also include a generally circular retaining ring attached by a flexible strip. The retaining ring slides over the cylindrical tubular member and keeps the cap from separating from the cylindrical tubular member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view of the invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the invention of  FIG. 1  with the top cap removed and the bottom cap in the open position. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a section view of the invention of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded perspective view of the invention according to an alternate embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a section view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The preferred embodiment of the device for storing both clean and used baby bottle nipples is depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6  and comprises a cylindrical tubular member  10  having a first thread  40  near the open top end and a second thread  42  at the open bottom end. The cylindrical tubular member  10  is preferably of a transparent material to allow viewing of any baby bottle nipples and collars stored within the dispenser and is preferably approximately 5 inches in length with an approximate diameter of 2¾ inches. A flare at the bottom end of the cylindrical tubular member  10  adds approximately ⅛ inches the entire way around the perimeter such that the diameter is 3″ at the bottom end. 
     A nipple-shaped top cap  18  has a first interior lip and a top retaining ring  34  tethered by attachment or integral formation of a thin flexible strip to an exterior surface of the top cap  18 . The interior of the retaining ring  34  a thread  38  for engaging the first thread  40  of cylindrical tubular member  10  to attach the top retaining ring  34  and thereby also attach the top cap  18  to the cylindrical tubular member  10  to prevent separation of the two and potential loss of top cap  18 . The exterior of the top retaining ring  34  includes a groove  24  for receiving the interior lip of the top cap  18  to removably connect said top cap  18  to said retaining ring  34  and thereby said cylindrical tubular member  10 . First interior lip is capable of engaging said groove  24  to close said first open end with said top cap  18 . Nipple-shaped top cap  18  has a diameter corresponding to the top open end of the cylindrical tubular member  10  allowing for secure engagement of the two elements. 
     A nipple-shaped divider insert has a shape conducive to allowing said insert to be slidably contained within said cylindrical tubular member  10  while segregating the interior of the cylindrical tubular member into clean and used portions for respectively receiving clean and used nipples and collars. In this way contamination which may be present on used nipples or collars in the cylindrical tubular member will not be spread to any clean nipples or collars. The shape and approximate height of 2¼ inches permits relatively close engagement with used nipples and collars on one side and clean nipples and collars on the other. 
     A bottom cap  20  has a second interior lip and a bottom retaining ring  32  tethered to an exterior surface of said bottom cap  20 . The interior of the retaining ring  32  has a second internal thread  36  for engaging the second thread  42  of cylindrical tubular member  10  to attach the bottom retaining ring  32  and thereby the bottom cap  20  to the cylindrical tubular member  10  to prevent loss. The exterior of the bottom retaining ring  32  also includes a groove  26  for receiving the interior lip of the top cap  18  to removably connect said bottom cap  20  to said cylindrical tubular member  10 . Bottom cap  20  has a diameter corresponding to the flare at the bottom open end of the cylindrical tubular member  10  allowing for secure engagement of the two elements. 
     Tabs  28  and  30  are provided on the top  18  and bottom  20  caps to act as levers for facilitating removal of the nipple-shaped top  18  and bottom  20  caps from engagement with said cylindrical tubular member  10 . 
     Another feature of this preferred embodiment is perforations  44  formed in top cap  18  to allow for communication of air inside the cylindrical tubular member  10  with outside air. In still further embodiments, perforations may be provided in the cylindrical tubular member  10  or the bottom cap  20 . 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 , an alternative embodiment of a device for storing used and dispensing clean baby bottle nipples comprises a cylindrical tubular member  10  having a groove  24  at its open top end and a second groove  26  at its open bottom end distal from said top end. The cylindrical tubular member  10  is preferably of a transparent material to allow viewing of any baby bottle nipples and collars stored within the dispenser and is preferably approximately 5 inches in length with an approximate diameter of 2¾ inches. A flare at the bottom end of the cylindrical tubular member  10  adds approximately ⅛ inches the entire way und the perimeter such that the diameter is 3″ at the bottom end. 
     A nipple-shaped top cap  18  has a first lip for engaging the first groove  24  of the cylindrical tubular member  10  to assemble said top cap  18  to the cylindrical tubular member  10  to close its open top end. Nipple-shaped top cap  18  has a diameter corresponding to the top open end of the cylindrical tubular member  10  allowing for secure engagement of the two elements. Nipple-shaped top cap  18  has an interior diameter corresponding to the top open end of the cylindrical tubular member  10  allowing for secure engagement of the two elements. 
     A nipple-shaped divider insert is of a size and shape conducive to allowing said insert to be slidably contained within said cylindrical tubular member  10 . Nipple-shaped divider insert has a diameter slightly less than that of the cylindrical tubular member to allow for unrestricted sliding of the divider insert therein. The shape and approximate height of 2¼ inches permits relatively close engagement with used nipples and collars on one side and clean nipples and collars on the other. 
     A bottom cap  20  has a second lip for engaging the second groove  26  of the cylindrical tubular member  10  to assemble the bottom cap  20  to cylindrical tubular member  10  to close its open bottom end. Bottom cap  20  has a diameter corresponding to the flare at the bottom open end of the cylindrical tubular member  10  allowing for secure engagement of the two elements. 
     Retaining ring  22  is tethered to the bottom cap  20  and when slid over the cylindrical tubular member  10  at the top end holds bottom cap  20  to cylindrical tubular member  10  to prevent separation of the two and potential loss of bottom cap  20 . Retaining ring  22  is prevented from slipping off of cylindrical tubular member  10  by the top cap  18  at the top end and by a flare  21  at the bottom end. 
     Tab  28  is formed on an edge of said bottom cap  20  and capable of acting as a lever for facilitating removal of said bottom cap  20  from engagement with said cylindrical tubular member  10 . A second tab  30  is also formed on an edge of said top cap  18  and capable of acting as a lever for facilitating removal of said top cap  18  from engagement with said cylindrical tubular member  10 . 
     How To Use The Invention: 
     A user removes the used nipple and collar from a feeding bottle (not shown), opens the dispenser by removing the bottom cap  20  which remains tethered to the cylindrical tubular member by way of the bottom retaining ring. After placing the used nipple cap  14  into the tubular cylindrical member through the bottom opening, the user replaces the bottom cap by snapping the interior lip of the bottom cap into the groove of bottom retaining ring  32 . The dispenser is thereby closed at its bottom end and the used nipple and collar  14  is separated from clean nipples and collars  12  by nipple-shaped insert  16 . 
     The user may now open top end of the cylindrical tubular member  10  by removing the top cap  18  which remains tethered to the cylindrical tubular member  10  by way of the top retaining ring  34 . It is now possible to remove a clean nipple and collar  12  from the cylindrical tubular member  10  and subsequently replace the top cap  18  by snapping engagement of interior lip of the top cap  18  into the groove of the top retaining ring  34 . 
     The clean nipple and collar  12  may now be placed onto the feeding bottle and the infant or toddler may be safely fed. The dispenser is capable of being stowed in a bag or backpack while occupying approximately the same amount of space as a feeding bottle. 
     Preferably, all of the components of the storage dispenser would be made of high grade plastic and would be formed via a press that would mold each component separately. Components would subsequently be assembled by machine or by hand. It may be desirable to offer gender-preferred transparent colors of cylindrical tubular member. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 1