US3248231A

US3248231A - Disposable infant nurser package and method of making same

Info

Publication number: US3248231A
Application number: US249430A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wilson Donald Elsworth; Dee M Graham; Robert H Gijohann; Gerald C Foss
Original assignee: Pet Milk Co
Current assignee: Pet Milk Co
Priority date: 1963-01-04
Filing date: 1963-01-04
Publication date: 1966-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 1983-04-26
Also published as: DE1279895B; BE641891A; GB1070984A; NL302611A; FR1378453A; LU45036A1

Description

April 26, 1966 D. E. WILSON ETAL DISPOSABLE INFANT NURSER PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Jan. 4, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 26, 1966 D. E. WILSON ETAL 3,248,231

DISPOSABLE INFANT NURSER PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Jan. 4, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGA April 26, 1966 D. E. WILSON ETAL 3,248,231

DISPOSABLE INFANT NURSER PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 4, 1963 FIGS W MM Z 6M MW um .w m. El

l MM United States Patent O 3,248,231 DISPOSABLE INFANT NURSER PACKAGE AND METHOD 0F MAKING SAME Donald Ellsworth Wilson, Dee M. Graham, Robert H.

Giijohann, and Gerald C. Foss, Greenville, lil., assignors to Pet Milk Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 249,430 li Claims. (Cl. 99-171) The present invention relates to a prepackaged throwaway infant food and nurser assembly and to a method of making same. More particularly, this invention relates to a one-way disposable infant feeding package including a sterile wrapped nipple and retainer ring assembly attached to a sterile end on a sealed container of infant formula.

One of the most time-consuming and dreary tasks facing a new mother is that of daily preparing and sterilizing a supply of formula for the baby, and washing and sterilizing a daily supply of nipples, bottles and retainer rings. After being sterilized, the formula must be refrigerated for storage and consequently must be warmed immediately prior to being fed to the baby. While it is possible to purchase containers of prepared formula, these are expensive, and still involve the laborious chore of cleaning and sterilizing receptacles from which the baby is fed. Although there have been attempts to eliminate some of these problems by using throwaway lm plastic receptacles, these still require cleaning and sterilization of the nipples and retainer rings as well as sterilization of formula, so that very little labor really is saved the mother.

It is one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a complete, sterile, disposable baby food package which the mother can ready for feeding without sterilizing, washing, mixing, refrigerating, or warming any of the components.

A further object is to provide a sterile baby food package having a sterile nipple positioned at one end in simulated feeding position which is rnade ready for feeding to a baby with little eff-ort.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a baby food package which is purchased from the grocer in sterile condition and is readied for feeding merely by removing a sterile package containing a sterilized nipple and retainer ring, opening the package, opening the container and applying the snap-on retainer ring and nipple to the top of the container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a baby food package which does not need to be heated to bring it to room temperature for feeding the infant. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sterile baby food container which is almost instantaneously readied for use and which does not need refrigeration during storage.

Another object is to provide a baby food package wherein the container for the infants formula is a conventional unbreakable disposable sanitary metal can.

Still another object 0f the present invention is to provide a convenient labor-saving article of commerce which eliminates substantially all of the durgery and work connected with preparing a portion of infant formula for feeding.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of sterilizing and packaging an article of commerce which includes a container of sterile infant formula and a separately packaged sterile nipple and sterile retainer ring protecting a sterilized end of the container.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

The present invention comprises a baby food package 3,243,231 Patented Apr. 26, 1965 including a sealed container of infant food, a sealed sterile assembly including aI sterile nipple and sterile retainer ring, and means for maintaining one end of the container in sterile condition.

In the drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts wherever they occur:

FIG. l is a flow diagram of a process of making the present articles of commerce,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a nipple,

FlG. 3 is a sectional view of a retainer ring taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 4,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the retainer ring of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the ring shown in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a partially broken perspective view of the nipple, ring and sterile covering,

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the complete packaged article of commerce of this invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective View showing the outer covering being removed from the nipple and retainer ring,

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevational View partly in section showing the nipple and retainer ring in feeding position in solid lines and showing in broken lines the nipple and retainer ring in carrying position with only the nodes on the lower edge of the ring engaging the lip of the container and omitting a portion of the overwrap on the nipple and ring for purposes of clarity while showing the shrink band in 4broken lines, and

FIG. l0 is a broken fragmentary elevational View partly in section of a modification of the present invention.

FIG. l shows a flow diagram of an overall process by which the individual articles of commerce iti (FIG. 7) are prepared and forwarded to the merchandiser. In the process, separate supplies of nipples 11 and plastic retaining rings i2 are assembled into units 13 by forcing the nipple lll through a central opening in the plastic ring i2 until it is seated in the collar portion. This structure will be discussed in more detail hereinafter. The nipple and retainer ring unit i3 then is positioned in the formed top portion of a protective cover 14 after which the bottom portion is sealed to the top portion.

The assembly l5, comprising the assembled nipple and retainer ring and the two portions `of the protective cover is sterilized in an autoclave 16 at 235 F.1-5" F. for 25 minutesiS minutes. The sterilized assemblies 15 are then f ready for placement on top of a container of infant formula.

The infant formula containers, which preferably are conventional sanitary cans holding a suitable supply of infant formula, are filled with sterile infant formula and sealed under aseptic conditions at station 17. rIhe can of infant formula is washed with detergent and rinsed with chlorinated walter in a washer and rinse-r station i8.

After this operation, the can is moved to a can end sterilizer station 19 where the outside surface of at least one end of the can of formula is sterilized.

Upon discharge from the can end sterilizer station 19, the sterile protective cover unit 15 is placed on the sterile end of the can in a station 20.

At a banding station 21 a moist cellulose band is positioned around the periphery of the protective cover adjacent to the outer surface of the retainer ring to hold the sterile assembly 1S to the end of the container. The package l@ then is passed through a hot air drying station 22 to dry and shrink the cellulose band to the contour of the container and ring, thus securely fastening the protective cover assembly 15 over the sterile end of the container, and maintaining the package 10 in sterile condition until ready for use.

The packages 10 then are packed in a multiple unit pack of four or six or more items at a station 23; the unit packs are packed in corrugated cases at a caser station 24; the cases are sealed at a sealer station 25; and the sealed cases .prepared for shipment or storage 26.

While the sterilizing operations hereinbefore set forth are preferably carried out by hot steam at a temperature of about 2SC-300 F., a suitable sterilizing `gas might be used as long as the members of the assembly do not pick up objectionable amounts of the gas. The materials of which the plastic rings are made are specifically chosen for their ability to withstand sterilizing temperatures and other materials may be used, if other sterilizing methods are used.

We have herein shown two specific nipple constructions which have proven satisfactory, however, other conventional nipples are contemplated as useable with this invention.

The nipple 11 shown in FIGS. 2 `and 6-9 comprises an upstanding tubular portion 31 having an enlarged head 32 provided with a feeding orifice 33 at one end thereof. An outwardly bulged breast portion 34 joins the tubular portion 31 at its other end, and is connected to an outwardly directed relatively thick seal fiange portion 35 by an annular reduced neck 36 provided with outwardly directed breathing passages 37 therein. As shown, the interior of the nipple 1-1 preferably is obstruction free and defines a continuous unbroken inner wall surface 38 between an annular-opening 39, defined by the inner surfaces of the flange 35 and the neck 36, and the feed orifice 33.

The preferred retaining ring 12 as shown in FIGS. 3-9 is specifically claimed in the copending Searer application Serial No. 227,393 filed October l, 1962, now Patent No. 3,182,841 and comprises an annular hook portion 4G surrounding a central feeding opening 41, an outwardly directed fiange portion 42 joining the hook portion to a right angular outer lip 43 which is fiexible and inclu-des an inwardly directed seal ring 44 and a plurality of nodes 45 adjacent to the lower edge. The ring 12 is adapted to define fiuid tight engagement with the top of the container of infant formula as shown in FIG. 9; however, there is a fiuid passage between the base of the nipple flange 35 and the container top 6) to provide communication between the nipple body and the container.

The ring 12 preferably is of thermoplastic material and preferably is of polypropylene or high density polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0941-0965.

The outwardly directed fiange portion 42 includes two

annular grooves

46 and 47 and a fiat 4S therebetween. The groove 46 is adjacent to the lips 43 and the groove 47 positioned adjacent to the hook 40. The groove 46 and the lip ring 44 define a notch 49 which seals the ring 12.to the lip on a sanitary can. One or more indent rings 50 in the inner surface of the lip 43 between the nodes 45 and the seal ring 44 provide additional fiexibility and compensate for expansion of the ring 12 during sterilization.

The outer surface of the fiat 48 of the ring flange portion 42 is provided with suitable positioning indicia 51 for indicating the proper angular position of the ring 12 with respect to the openings punched into the top of the container by the user. Each of the indicia 51 are positioned 180 apart and are adapted to be located over similarly positioned openings in the container top.

Additional numbered indicia 52 are located between the positioning indicia 51 and are adapted to indicate the amount of fiuid remaining in the container when the container is positioned horizontally. This is a very valuable asset to the mother in determining exactly how much formula-the infant has consumed. The mother need not remove the ring and nipple and attempt to peer into the container, thus possibly contaminating the container, but merely needs to position the container horizontally, and the level to which the fiuid rises in the ring on the numbered indicia 52 indicates the contents of the Container. For these purposes, the ring 12 should be transparent CJD Cil

or translucent. The `indicia 52 are important, since the container 52 preferably is a metal can, the contents of which cannot be seen as with a conventional clear glass or translucent plastic baby bottle.

The ring 12 shown in FIG. 4 is adapted to be used with a four ounce container, since the indicia 52 are numbered l, 2, and "3. lf an eight ounce container were used, the indicia 52 would be numbered 2, 4" and "6. The indicia 52 are equally spaced between the inner edges of the ring lip 43 along a diameter connecting the indicia 51.

The protective cover 14 is of two piece construction and comprises a hollow dished or conical top portion 54 and a fiat bottom piece 55. The two

members

54 and 55 are heat sealed at their outer peripheries. The cover 14 preferably is of a transparent plastic such aspolypropylene, however the cover 14 may be made of paper or other material which will withstand the sterilizing temperatures of 230-300 F. If chemical or nuclear sterilization methods are used, materials other than plastic may be most suitable. The cover member 14 is provided with an opening mechanism which comprises a V-shaped tear notch 56 which terminates in a cut 57 to facilitate removing the cover 14 immediately prior to feeding the baby. A colored indicator 57a indicates the opening mechanism to the user. An enlarged tab 58 may be provided adjacent to the notch 56 to facilitate removing the cover 14 from the nipple 11 and retainer ring 12, or the bottom melmber may be made large enough for grasping. The operation is shown in more detail in FIGS. 6 and 8.

The container 53 which is filled with -sterilized infant formula preferably is a conventional sanitary can which is aseptically filled with sterile formula. Because of the processing problems, this is the method presently preferred for filling the container 53. However, with other formulae, it is contemplated that suitable in-can sterilization procedures may be utilized. Another advantage of the sanitary can is the lip or chime 59 (FIG. 9) which is easily engaged and sealed by the retainer ring 12 and provides support for a beer type can opener for opening the can 53. It is contemplated however that other containers such as glass, plastic, etc. may be utilized with this invention.

The filled container 53 is sterilized on at least one end and the sterile end 60 is covered by the also sterile assembly 15 which includes the protective cover 14, the nipple 11, and the retainer ring 12 (FIG. 7). The assembly 15 is only partially forced onto the top 60 of the container 53 so that only the Atabs or nodes 45 engage the lip 59 of the can 53, with the main sealing ring 44 and the seal groove 49 remaining free of the can lip 59. This is indicated by the broken lines of FIG. 9, and is indicated in elevation in FIG. 7. This procedure prevents possible springing of the retainer ring 12 and consequent damage to its sealing action, as well as preventing damage to the protective cover 14. Furthermore, this partial assembly permits easy removal of the protective cover assembly 15 by the mother.

A moist cellulose band 61 then is positioned around the side edge of the container 53 and overlaps the outer surface of the protective cover assembly 15 Iadjacent to the outer surface of the ring lip 43. The cellulose band 61 is a type commonly known as a shrink band, and when F passed through hot air at a temperature of about 200- Suitable cellulose band mate-A i of the container 53 in simulated feeding position to provide an attractive and suggestive article of commerce. The sterile assembly serves the foregoing purpose as well as maintaining the sterile end 60 of the can 53 in its sterile condition and keeping the nipple 11 and ring 12 sterile.

Since the present infant food package 10 does not need to be stored in the refrigerator, it does not have to be warmed, and is ready for feeding to the infant by merely removing the cellulose band 61, opening the top 60 of the container 53 (as indicated by the openings 63 in FIG. 9), removing the protective cover 14, and forcing the nipple 11 and the retainer ring 12 into sealing engagement with the top lip 59 of the can 53 as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 9.

A modification of the nipple and retainer ring is shown in FIG. 10, and will be described in detail hereinafter. In all other respects, the operation and functioning of this modification is similar to that hereinbefore described for the preferred modification of FIGS. 2 9.

The nipple 7d shown in FIG. l0 comprises a straight tubular portion 71 provided with a feeding orifice 72 at one end and a feeding opening 73 at the other end. A concave solid breast portion 74 terminating in an inwardly directed slot 7S joins the tubular portion 71 to an outwardly directed seal ange 76.

The modified retainer ring 77 comprises an annular hook portion 78 adapted to engage the nipple slot 75, a top fiange portion 79 provided with a vent orifice 80 and an annular groove 81 adjacent to a right angular seal lip 82 which is connected to the outer edge of the flange 79.

The lip 82 includes an annular internal seal ring 83 which with the groove 81 and the lip 82 defines a seal groove 84 which traps the lip 59 of the container 53 in sealing engagement. The lower edge of the lip 82 is provided with internal nodes 85 which serve the same function as the nodes 45 on the ring 12.

The thin flap portion 76 of the nipple 70 covers the vent hole 8f) in the ring 77 to normally seal the hole 80 against leaking. However, when the baby is sucking on the nipple 70, a vacuum is created within the container 53 which hinders feeding and eventually cuts off the babys supply of milk, as well as possibly causing the swallowing of air which may result in colic and other bad eects on the baby. With the present invention when the pressure Within the container S3 is less than the atmospheric pressure, the fiap 76 on the nipple 70, being spaced from the top 6ft of the container 53, is pulled inwardly, so that air can pass through the ring opening 80 and enter the container 53 through the openings 63 therein. When the pressure in the container 53 is equalized with the atmosphere, the flap 76 again seals the ring vent opening 80. The pressure differential and the seal prevent leakage of fiuid through the vent opening 80.

As used in the present description and claims, the word package is not intended to include the contents of the container, i.e., the baby food or the infant formula, except where said container contents are recited as a positive element of the combination.

As used herein, the Word sterile connotes practical sterility under commercial operating conditions and does not mean absolute absence of all mocroorganisms on all surfaces of every articles.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which d-o not constitute departures from the yspirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A baby food package comprising a hermetically sealed container having a sterile end closure, sterile baby food packaged in said container, an assembled sterilenipple and sterile plastic retainer ring positioned at said sterile end of said container, an overwrap enclosing said assembled nipple and retainer ring in a sterile enclosure and separating the nipple and retainer ring by a sterile surface from the sterile outer surface of the container ster-ile end closure, and means retaining the nipple, retainer ring, and overwrap in a simulated feeding position at said end of said container duri-ng shipment and storage, said nipple retainer ring and overwrap being maintained in sterile condition after removal from the sterile end of the sealed container until the overwrap is ruptured, to allow opening of the container end While maintaining the nipple and retainer cap in sterile condition, said nipple and retainer ring being joined together and positioned on the end of the container, said nipple including a tubula-r feeding spout provided with a feeding orifice at one end and joined at the other end to a hollow outwardly bulged breast portion, said breast portion having an obstruction free inner surface, an annular flange provided with a central feeding opening, and an annular reduced neck joining the iiange to the breast, said reduced portion being provided with a vent passage connecting the interior of the nipple with the atmosphere, and said ring including an annular hook surrounding an opening, said nipple projecting through said opening With said hook engaging the reduced neck on said nipple, an outwardly directed iiange connected to the hook, and a right angular lip connected to the flange, said flange being provided with annular grooves separated by an intermediate area, said intermediate area provided with indicating indicia for showing the amount of baby food remaining in the container, said lip being provided with a seal groove adjacent to its connection with the top liange and at least one retaining node on its inner surface adjacent to the lower edge thereof.

2. A baby food package comprising a hermetically sealed container having `a sterile end closure, sterile baby food packaged in said container, an assembled sterile nipple and sterile plastic retainer ring positioned at said sterile end of said container, an overwrap enclosing said assembled nipple and retainer ring -in a sterile enclosure and separating the nipple and retainer ring by a sterile surface from the sterile outer surface of the container sterile end closure, and means retaining the nipple, retaining r-ing, and overwrap in a simulated feeding position at said end of said container during shipment and storage, said nipple, retainer ring and overwrap being maintained .in sterile condition after removal from the sterile end of the sealed container until the overwrap is ruptured, to allow opening of the container end while maintaining the nipple and retainer cap in sterile condition, the nipple comprising a hollow tubular member having a feeding orifice at one end and a feeding opening at the other end, said member including an enlarged flared out thickened breast portion provided with an outwardly curved arcuate open ended slot, and a seal flange, and the ring is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and high density polyethylene and comprises a top portion having an intu-rned hook surrounding a center opening, an outwardly directed flange connected to said hook, said flange having an air vent therethrough, said vent being adjacent to and normally covered by said nipple seal ange, Isaid ring flange having indicia on its outer surface for indicating the level of fluid in the container, and a right angular seal lip at the outer peripheral edge of said ring flange securing the ring and nipple to the container.

3. A shelf stable baby food package comprising a hermetfically sealed container of sterile infant food having a sterile end and a lip yadjacent thereto an assembled sterile nipple and sterile plastic retainer ring positioned on said sterile con-tainer end in simulated feeding position, a thin substantially transparent film enclosing the nipple and ring in a sterile enclosure, said enclosure covering and maintaining the container end in sterile condition, and a dried, shrunken cellulose band securing and sealing the enclosure to the container, said band being provided with tear means, said nipple including a tubular feeding spout provided with a feeding orifice at one end and joined at the other end to a hollow outwardly bulged breast portion, said lbreast portion, having an obstruction free inner surface, an annular flange provided with a central feeding opening, and an annular reduced neck joining the fiange to the breast, said reduced portion being provided with a vent passage connecting the interior of the 11i-pple with the atmosphere, said ring including an annular hook sur-rounding an opening, said nipple projecting through said opening with said hook engaging the reduced neck on said nipple, an outwardly directed flange connected to the hook, and a right angular lip connected to the flange, said flange being provided with annular grooves separated by an intermediate area, said intermediate area provided with indicating indicia for showing the amount of baby food remaining in the container, said lip being provided with a seal groove adjacent to its connection with the top flange and at least one retaining node on its inner surface -adjacent to the lower edge thereof, said node being engaged over the lip on the container, and said enclosure being provided with tear means.

4. A shelf stable baby food package comprising a hermetically sealed opaque container of sterile infant food having a sterile end and a lip adjacent thereto, a sterile nipple and sterile plastic retainer ring positioned on said sterile container end in simulated feeding position, a thin substantially transparent lm enclosing the nipple and ring in a sterile enclosure, said enclosure covering and maintaining the container end in sterile condition, and a dried, shrunken cellulose band securing and sealing the enclosure to the container, said band being provided with tear means, said nipple comprising a hollow tubular member having a feeding orifice at one end and a feeding opening at the other end, said member including an enlarged iiared out thickened breast portion provided with an outwardly curved arcuate open ended slot, and a seal ange, said retaining ring comprising a top portion having an inturned hook surrounding a center opening, an outwardly directed flange connected to said hook, said ange having an air vent therethrough, said vent being adjacent to and normally covered by said nipple seal ange, said ring flange having indicia on its outer surface for indicating the level of uid Iin the container, and a right angular seal lip at the outer peripheral edge of said ring flange for securing the ring and nipple to the container, said lip having a seal groove adjacent to its connection to the ring ange and at least one retaining node on its inner surface adjacent to its lower edge, said node being engaged over the lip on the container, and said enclosure being provided with tear means,

5. A baby food package comprising a hermetically sealed container having a sterile end closure ster-ile baby food packaged in said container, an assembled sterile nipple and sterile plastic retainer ring positioned at said sterile end of said container, an overwrap enclosing said assembled nipple and retainer ring in a sterile enclosure and separating the nipple and retainer ring by a sterile surface from the sterile outer surface of the container sterile end closure, and means retaining the nipple, retainer ring, and overwrap in a simulated feeding position at said end of said container during shipment and storage, said nipple, retainer ring and overwrap being maintained in sterile condition after removal from the sterile end of the sealed container until the overwrap is ruptured, to allow opening f the container end while maintaining the nipple and retainer cap in sterile condition,

6. A shelf stable baby food package comprising an opaque hermetically sealed sheet metal container having a sanitary double seam type closure on one end, sterileA baby food packaged within said container, an assembled sterile nipple and sterile translucent plastic retainer ring en for positioning at said one end of said container during feeding, an overwrap enclosing said nipple and retainer ring in a sterile enclosure, said container sanitary end closure having a sterile outer surface, means retaining the nipple, retainer ring and overwrap on the said container end closure to maintain the container end closure in a sterile condi-tion during shipment and storage, said nipple, retainer ring and overwrap being maintained in sterile condition until the overwrap is removed to allow opening of the container end closure while maintaining the nipple and retainer cap sterile, and indicia means positioned on the top surface of the retainer ring for indicating the volume of food remaining in the container Without removing the yr-ing from the container.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the retainer ring includes second indicia on the top portion for indicating proper placement of the ring on the container.

8. A method of making a complete ready to feed sterile shelf stable baby food package including the steps of forming a sterile enclosure including an assembly of a sterile nipple and a sterile retainer ring enclosed in an overwrap, said ring having an open base and a top portion provided with an opening into which the nipple is secured, sterilizing the outer surface of the overwrap adjacent to the base of the retainer ring, sterilizing the outer surface of one end of a hermetically sealed sanitary type container of shelf stable sterile infant food, positioning the sterile enclosure containin-g the assembled sterile nipple and sterile retainer ring onto the sterile end of the hermetically sealed container of sterile infant food in a simulated feeding position with the said sterile outer surface of the overwrap adjacent to the sterile outer surface of the said one container end, and securing the so positioned enclosure to the container to maintain the end of the container sterile during shipment and storage, the enclosure being removable from the container so that the container may be opened while still maintaining the nipple and retainer ring in sterile condition.

9. A baby food package comprising a hermetically sealed sheet metal can having a sanitary double seam type end closure with a projecting rim, sterile infant food within the container, the outer surface of the end closure being sterile, a sterile translucent plastic retainer ring positioned over the sterile surface of the can end closure, said ring having la top portion provided with a central opening, a sterile infant feeding nipple positioned in the central opening in feeding position, a downwardly depending cylindrical skirt at the periphery of the top portion of the ring, inwardly projecting catch nodes on the inner surface of the skirt adjacent to the lower edge thereof, an overwrap enclosing said assembled nipple and retainer ring in a sterile enclosure and separating the nipple and retainer ring by a sterile surface from the sterile outer surface of the sterile end closure, the catch nodes on the skirt engaging the can rim when the nipple, retainer rin-g and overwrap are positioned on the can in simulated feeding position, and tape means retaining the nipple, retainer ring, and overwrap in said simulated feeding position at said end of said container during shipment and storage, said nipple and retainer ring being maintainedv in sterile condition by the said overwrap after removal from the sterile end of the sealed container to allow opening of the container end while maintaining the nipple and .retainer cap in sterile condition, the retainer ring having means adjacent to the juncture of the skirt and the top portion for sealingly engaging the can rim after the can top is opened and the overwrap removed from the nipple and ring assembly.

10. The package defined in claim 5 wherein the container is a sanitary double seam type can having a protruding lip and the retainer ring is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and high density polyethylene and is provided with positioning indicia on its top face indicating proper placement of the ring on the container and indicating indicia for showing the amount of baby food remaining inthe container.

11. The structure defined in claim 10' wherein said ring has a exible side wall provided with a seal groove for receiving a lip on the container in sealing engagement after the container and the sterile enclosure have been opened, and at least one node on the inner surface of the side Wall adjacent to the lower edge to seat and retain the sterile enclosure including the ring and nipple on the end of the container prior to use.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Horan 99-171 Tupper 21S-l1 Donovan 99-171 Pohjola 99-171 Woodbury 215-11 De Woskin 21S-11 10 A. LOUIS MONACELL, Primary Examiner.

RAYMOND N. JONES, Examiner.

Claims

6. A SHELF STABLE BABY FOOD PACKAGE COMPRISING AN OPAQUE HERMETICALLY SEALED SHEET METAL CONTAINER HAVING A SANITARY DOUBLE SEAM TYPE CLOSURE ON ONE END, STERILE BABY FOOD PACKAGED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER, AN ASSEMBLED STERILE NIPPLE AND STERILE TRANSLUCENT PLASTIC RETAINER RING FOR POSITIONING AT SAID ONE END OF SAID CONTAINER DURING FEEDING, AN OVERWRAP ENCLOSING SAID NIPPLE AND RETAINER RING IN A STERILE ENCLOSURE, SAID CONTAINER SANITARY END CLOSURE HAVING A STERILE OUTER SURFACE, MEANS RETAINING THE NIPPLE, RETAINER RING AND OVERWRAP ON THE SAID CONTAINER END CLOSURE TO MAINTAIN THE CONTAINER END CLOSURE IN A STERILE CONDITION DURING SHIPMENT AND STORAGE, SAID NIPPLE, RETAINER RING AND OVERWRAP BEING MAINTAINED IN STERILE CONDITION UNTIL THE OVERWRAP IS REMOVED TO ALLOW OPENING OF THE CONTAINER END CLOSURE WHILE MAINTAINING THE NIPPLE AND RETAINER CAP STERILE, AND INDICIA MEANS POSITIONED ON THE TOP SURFACE OF THE RETAINER RING FOR INDICATING THE VOLUME OF FOOD REMAINING IN THE CONTAINER WITHOUT REMOVING THE RING FROM THE CONTAINER.