US3567060A

US3567060A - Infant-feeding apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3567060A
Application number: US801916*A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gene Ballin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-05-17
Filing date: 1969-01-31
Publication date: 1971-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-02
Also published as: NL6712073A; US3468445A; US3339771A; FR1538103A; CH479295A; DE1566530A1; BE703449A

Abstract

An infant-feeding container and cap assembly suitable for assembling by machine and having an insert positioned within the nipple to seal the contents of the container from contact with the nipple during storage with the cap engaging the nipple. In sealed condition, the cap depresses the nipple, which reassumes an erect position upon removal of the cap, thereby unsealing the contents of the container. Means are provided for positively causing the nipple to assume such erect position, exemplified by adhesive on the interior of the cap to assist in orienting the nipple for use or a removable member which pulls a feeding portion of the nipple into a usable position upon removal of the cap from the container.

Description

United States Patent [72] inventor Gene Ballin 3045 Shore Drive, Merrick, L.I., NY. 11566 [21] Appl. No. 801,916

[22] Filed Jan. 31, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 2, 1971 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 658,933, Aug. 7, 1967, Patent No. 3,468,445, dated Sept. 23, 1969, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 550,809, May 17 1966, Patent No.

- 3,339,771, dated Sept. 5, 1967, and a continuation-impart of 728,191, May 10, 1968, abandoned.

[54] INFANT-FEEDING APPARATUS Primary Examiner--Donald F. Norton Attorney-Darby and Darby ABSTRACT: An infant-feeding container and cap assembly suitable for assembling by machine and having an insert positioned within the nipple to seal the contents of the container from contact with the nipple during storage with the cap engaging the nipple. ln sealed condition, the cap depresses the nipple, which reassumes an erect position upon removal of the cap, thereby unsealing the contents of the container. Means are provided for positively causing the nipple to assume such erect position, exemplified by adhesive on the interior of the cap to assist in orienting the nipple for use or a removable member which pulls a feeding portion of the nipple into a usable position upon removal of the cap from the container.

PATENTEDHARIBYI 3.567.0 0

IINVENTOR GENE BALLIN EMF F ATTORN YS PATENTEUNAR 21971 3561060 sum 2 [1F 5 INVENTOR GENE BALLIN ATTORNEYS PAT ENTED MR 2 |97| SHEET 3 OF 5 FIG. 11

FIG. 12

INVENTOR GENE; BALLIN BY AT ORNEYS PATENTEDIAR 21971 3:5 7; 050

su muors i 22? "ll-Ill";

i I I F I lllll lllllllllll 'lk gllllml INVENTOR GENE BALLIN 0L ma fi'ORNEYS PATENTED MAR 215m SHEET 5 OF 5 INVENTOR l INFANT-FEEDING APPARATUS This is a continuationimpart application of both: patentap plication Ser. No. 658,933, filed Aug. 7, 1967, andnow U.S.

Pat. No. 3,468,445, which issued Sept. 23, 1969 andwhichin Conventionally, one form of infant-feeding bottleand cap has a nipple on one end anda cap for maintaining the nipple in sealed position on the top of the bottle. Various methods heretofore have been used to maintain the bottle andnipple in a sterile condition prior to use, such as' by placing the nipple in inverted position in the bottle, so that the nipple extends into the interior of the bottle, and then coveringthe reversed nipple with a flat plate or disc. A capis usedto maintain the seal until the bottle isready to be used. In use, the cap is removed, the plate is taken off, and the riippleis carefully removed from the bottle and turned over; the cap is replaced around the nipple and fastened on the bottle to seal the underside of the flange of the nipple tothe top of thebottle to preventleakage. While this construction offers advantages of being able to presterilize the interior andcontents of the container, tomaintain such sterilizatioii care has to be taken in removing and reversing the nipple just prior to use, or else the sterile condition is destroyed.

Another prior-art construction has utilized a nipple cover which fitted over the erect nipple portion after sterilization to maintain it in sterile condition until ready to be used. This construction offered serious disadvantages in that the cover had to be sterilized separately and often was not put on cor rectly or, if put on correctly, it was difficult to remove.

Another disadvantage has been that in storage and transit from producer to user, the contents were permitted to be in contact with the nipple materiaLoften leading to spoilage or contamination of the contents.

Attempts have been made heretofore to prebottle feedingformula for infants in infant feeding containers in sterile condition, so that the infant feeding containers or bottles are ready to be used and hence the necessity of individual mixing of ingredients to prepare formula for a .day, or sterilizing the filled containers or bottles, is avoided. One method of doing this is shown in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,219,221 issued Nov.

23, 1965. In my copending application Ser. No. 658,933, filed Aug. 7, 1 967, a cap assembly for a feeding container i's disclosed which can be machine-assembled with a container of prepackaged infant-feeding formula in sterilized condition, which can be maintained until the bottle is ready to be used,

and with the container requiring the minimum amount of time unit together with an exterior cap, so that the entire unit can be assembled on a bottle in asingle operation, while the bottle, cap assembly and contents are being sterilized; The bottle is ready to be used by simply removing'the exterior capassembly and allowing the nipple to spring into an erect position ready for use without impairment of sterility. While the cap assembly just described has improved characteristics over the prior art, in certain situations it has been found that after a period of storage the nipple does not consistently spring free in the desired manner, sometimes requiring the user to actually grasp the nipple, thus impairing the sterility of the unit. This generally occurs with use of certain lower-cost nipple materials, thereby requiring the use of a more expensive nipple than is desirablefor a disposable unit-,- to obtain greater resiliency life toovercom'e this problem. In addition, when the center depression of the insert hasa small diameter, as when used with a narrow-mouth bottle, there is a tendency for the nipple to be trapped by friction within the depression arid thus itis prevented from rising upwardly by its own resilience.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved low-cost cap assembly for an infant-feeding container which can be machine-assembled with a container of prepackaged instant feeding formula in sterilized conditionand which when opened consistently presents the user with a nipplein an erect usable position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nipple assembly for use with a container and cap structure and including a nipple insert for sealing the contents of the container,

thereby preventing contamination of these contents and of the nipple.

A further object is to provide means for positively urging the nipple of the above construction into a usable position.

.These urging means include either an adhesive material secured to the interior of the cap structure, and in removable contact with the nipple, or a removable member having depending legs which frictionally removably engage the nipple.

Yet another object is to provide a member, as above, which may also be used as a reusable cover and which provides either temporary or relatively permanent protection for the contents of the container and the nipple against contaminatiori.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for assembling the above cap assembly and placing it on a bottle or other container.

The present invention fulfills the above objects and overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of prior-art solutions toproblems affecting infant-feeding apparatus by providing, according to one aspect of the invention, a cap assembly, as described in mycopending application Ser. No. 658,933, for usewith an infant-feeding container. The cap assembly contains an outer metal or plastic protective cap of any desired type, such as a ripcap cap or a screw-on cap, which seals the entire unit to the container. Affixed to the interior of the eii' terior cap and incontact with the compressed nipple during" storage is an adhesive material which may be either in the form ofa strip affixed to the cap or which may be directly applied to the cap without a supporting web. The adhesive joins the nipple and the cap during assembly of the unit and is nondegradable during steam sterilization. In addition, the adhe sive is selected so that the nipple may separate from it'without' removal or either the adhesive or the strip from the cap. When the outer cap is strippedaway during preparation of the container for use, any residual tendency on the part of the nipple to remain in its compressed position is overcome by the outer cap which, by means of theadhesive material, pulls the nipple upwardly up'on removal of the cap. The remainder of the tear strip is then fully removed from the container, breaking the adhesive contact with the nipple and presenting the container ready for use.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the means by which the nipple is urged into an erect or usable position'iricludes a protective shell disposed between the nipple and the exterior cap structure, when assembled. This shell includes a plurality of depending legs which form adownwardly converging truncated cone and which extend between the folds of the upper feeding portion and the base flaredportion of the nipple when in place upon the container. The shell causes the nip'ple'to collapse into a stored position when in place on the container, surrounding the otherwise exposed portions of the nipple and thereby protecting it. When removed from the container, the legs of this shell frictionally urge the nipple from the stored position to the erect or usable position. The shell when on the container, further causes a nipple insert disposed within the nipple base flared portion to engage the mouth of the container, thereby sealing the contents of the container until the shell is removed.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of specific embodiments of the invention together with the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the several parts of one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the partially assembled cap, nipple and bottle of FIG. 1 at an early stage of assembly;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the fully assembled container and cap assembly according to the form of the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectionalelevational view of the container and cap assembly of FIG. 1 with the outer cap partially removed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the interior of one form of the outer cap shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational view of a modified container and cap assembly construction, after the cap has been removed;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of another embodiment of a container and cap assembly fully assembled;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the container and cap assembly of FIG. 7, with the exterior cap removed;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the nipple insert of the container unit of FIG. 7;

FIG 10 is a perspective view showing the interior of a modified form of the outer cap of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the several components of another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the components of FIG. 11 partially assembled;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the -components of FIG. 11 fully assembled;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional'elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 after the exterior cap has been removed and illustrating the result of removing the shell member of the invention;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of components of assembly apparatus according to this invention viewed along the line 15-15 of FIG. 20.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the components of FIG. 15 at a further stage of their assembly cycle;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational view ofa portion of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view viewed along the line 18-18 of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a partial fragmentary sectional elevational view taken along the line 19-19 of FIG. 20; and

FIG. 20 is a plan view of assembly apparatus and illustrates three assembly stations of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, reference character 10 generally designates a bottle or other type of container or vessel with which a cap assembly 11 constructed in accordance with the present invention may be used. Bottle 10 has a general configuration similar to the conventional infant-feeding bottle heretofore used and has a mouth 12 at its top.

Bottle 10 contains a liquid 13 which may be milk or any other formula prescribed for infant feeding. The bottle 10 is provided with a neck 16 having an outwardly extending exterior flange 14. Neck 16 terminates in a reduced diameter mouth 12. An annular shoulder 17 is provided around mouth 12. Shoulder 17 has a flat annular surface 20 and a beveled surface 20a exterior of the flat surface.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a flexible nipple 21 formed of the customary soft rubber or like material is to be mounted on mouth 21. Nipple 21 includes integral upper feeding and base flared portions. The bottom edge of nipple 21 contains an inwardly extending flange 22. Flange 22 is provided with an annular recess 23 formed in its bottommost surface adjacent the exterior wall of the nipple. The lower side 18 of flange 22 inwardly of recess 23 is beveled upwardly at 23a. An outwardly extending skirt 24 extends circumferentially around the peripheral surface of nipple 21 and is located slightly above the level of lower nipple flange 22. Nipple 21 is also provided with at least one opening 25 at its top center for release of the fluid contents of the bottle during use.

The cap assembly 11 includes a rip-type cap 26 having a vertical sidewall 27. Cap 26 is provided with a tear-away tab 28 which, after assembly, can be easily removed, thereby permitting removal of the entire cap 26. Cap 26 may be made of any of the conventional materials used for a rip-away cap such as aluminum. Screw-on, tear-band or other types of caps may also be used.

Referring to FIG. 5, affixed to the interior of the rip-type cap is a pair of strips 26 a, each having an adhesive surface 26b facing the interior of the cap. These strips are preferably aligned in such a manner as to be on opposite sides of openings 25 in nipple 21 when the exterior cap is in place. Although a pair of adhesive strips are shown, any suitable adhesive pattern such as a single strip or an annulus may be used that preferably does not cover the openings 25 in nipple 21. In addition, the adhesive may be directly applied to the cap without the use of a supporting web, as illustrated in FIG. 10. The adhesive used for direct application to the cap preferably possesses a greater cohesive strength and a stronger bond to the cap than the bond to the nipple, to insure complete stripping of the adhesive from the nipple.

A suitable nontoxic, pressure sensitive adhesive 26b is used for the surface of strips 260 in contact with the nipple so that no harm can result to an infant using the bottle in the event a small residue should remain on the nipple after removal of the exterior cap. Ordinary pressure-sensitive adhesive is suitable, but more desirably such adhesives approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use with food containers are used. One such adhesive is known as Polystixit 1578, made by Adhesive Products Corporation of New York City. In addition, the adhesive should be capable of withstanding heat 7 since the entire unit is steam-sterilized during assembly.

An adhesive or other fastening or bonding means is used to secure strips 26a to the interior of the exterior cap to insure that the bond between the adhesive strip and the nipple is severed before severence of the bond between the exterior cap and the adhesive strip. The adhesive strips 26a are stronger than the bond between the nipple and the strips, so that strips 260 are not torn or destroyed in use.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the cap assembly is in place, the adhesive strips 26a adhere to the nipple. Proper placement of the strips will insure that adhesion occurs between the cap and the nipple during normal assembly of the cap assembly on the bottle.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, the interior top surface of flange 22 forms a shelflike portion 22a. Coaxially located within nipple 21 and resting on shelf 224 is a nipple diaphragm insert 29.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, insert 29 is provided at its periphery with a plurality of closely spaced downwardly extending legs 30. At the base of each leg 30 is one or more inwardly extending feet 31. Feet 31 rests on surface 22a of inner flange 22 of the nipple when the unit is assembled. Although the preferred embodiment of insert 29 includes legs 30, it is possible to use an unperforated sidewall and to provide perforations near the intersection of the sidewall and the horizontal surface of the insert. The center of insert 29 is further provided with a depression 32 which is designed to receive the collapsed nipple, as will be explained in detail below. Insert 29 is made of plastic or any other suitable material which will not deform or degrade when subjected to sterilizing temperatures and which will be nonreactive with the contents of bottle 10. It may readily be molded from powdered material or punched and heat-formed from sheet material.

In operation insert 29 is preinstalled in nipple 21 so that feet 31 rest on ledge 22a. This is facilitated by the slope 23a on the inward flange 22 and the slope 30a on the legs 30 of the insert 29. The insert will slightly spread the base of the nipple into an open position and retain it in such open position during later assembly to facilitate placement over the mouth of a container vessel. As shown in FIG. 2 the entire nipple and insert subassembly is then forced into exterior cap 26 and is retained in position by frictional engagement of skirt 24 with the interior wall 27 of the cap and suction formed by the entire nipple within the cap. Nipple 21 will at this time also be pressed against adhesive strips 26a thereby adapting the nipple for later removal. The entire cap assembly may then'be sterilized prior to being placed on the bottle. The cap assembly is then placed over the mouth of the bottle in the position shown in FIG. 2 with slanted surface 23a of the nipple resting on slanted surface 20a of the mouth. Further pressure on the cap forces both flange 22a and legs 30 to spread outwardly beyond annular shoulder 17, after which further pressure releases them from shoulder 17 and they enter into recess 17a formed at the mouth of the bottle between flange l4 and shoulder 17 as.

shown in FIG. 3. Annular recess 23 provided in the base of flange 22 of the nipple permits the flange 22 to bend upwardly and inwardly in passing around shoulder 17 provided on the exterior of the mouth of the bottle. In addition, the recess 23 facilitates a tight-sealing relationship between the base of the nipple and the sloping surface of flange 14 against which its rests. The downward pressure exerted on the exterior cap 26 also forces nipple 21 downwardly against diaphragm 29 as in FIG. 3, collapsing the nipple into depression 32 and thereby pressing the unperforated portion 29a of the diaphragm 29, interior of legs 30, against flat surface 20 of the bottle. A sea] is thereby formed, preventing any of the contents of the bottle from passing between the surface 29a of insert 29 and surface 20 of the bottle mouth. After the downward pressure is completed, a crimp is formed. in the base of vertical wall 27 of the cap to retain the cap assembly in position.

Where desired, the sequence of assembly of the cap assembly unit may be modified, as described below. The nipple may be first inserted in the cap, and thereafter the diaphragm insert is placed within the nipple, after which the cap assembly is placed in position as just described.

Skirt 24 on nipple 21 which assisted in holding the unit together during the assembly of the cap unit, acts as an additional seal after assembly of the cap on the bottle to prevent the entry of contaminants into the cap, thereby protecting the nipple and contents during storage. The seal thus formed prevents leakage of the contents or of vapor formed during the sterilization processing, and also prevents entry of unsterile or possibly contaminated air into the cap assembly until the cap is removed when the container is ready to be used. In addition, diaphragm insert 29 in the sealed position shown in FIG. 3 prevents contact between the bottle contents and nipple, thereby preventing deterioration of the nipple by contact with the milk or other stored material, and avoiding possible degradation of the stored material after prolonged periods of storage.

Sterilization is preferably performed during assembly. A

.blast of steam issupplied into the open mouth of the bottle just within the container.

Depending upon the location of the apertures in the nipple at its top, the steam may also enter the space between the cap and the nipple, thereby also sterilizing the outer surface of the nipple. However, to assure such sterilization even should the nipple apertures be blocked by the cap during assembly of the nipple into the cap, afew drops of water may preferably be injected into the space between the cap and nipple. After assembly of the cap unit on the bottle mouth, the entire sealed container is then subjected to a terminal sterilization, for example, by heating to about 240 F. for about 20 to 25 minutes. This serves to convert the drops of water into steam in the space between cap and nipple, completing any sterilization left incomplete previously.

. or cap 26. As cap 26 is removed, tear strip 28 and adhesive FIG. 4 shows how to utilize the container and contents. Cap 26 need merely be removed, which is done by ripping away tear strip 28, which will, in turn, permit removal of the exteristrips 26a are raised, thereby pulling nipple 25 upwardly and adding to the natural resiliency of the nipple which causes it to spring upwardly. Tear strip 28 is provided with a sufficient width over the nipple to allow the nipple to clear the cap before the cap 26 is totally removed. The curving arc of the tear strip 28. tends to reduce the amount of any possible adhesive residue remaining on the nipple.

Upon removal of cap 26 the upward movement of the nipple 21 releases diaphragm insert 29 which also moves upwardly because of the resiliency of nipple flange 22 thereby exposing passages 33 between legs 30.

Annular flange 22, having been compressed downwardly by the cap and bent upwardly along groove 23, will also assist the nipple in assuming its extended position by springing back to its normal position. In addition, flange 22 will carry diaphragm 29 upwardly until feet 31 abut the bottom surface of shoulder 17, forming a space between surface 20 of the bottle and surface 29a of the insert. In this way, the: nipple flang'e 22 effectively retains the feet 31 forming the edge of the diaphragm insert 29, with the apertures 33 communicating with both the interior of the nipple and the interior of the bottle. The milk or other material contained within the bottle will then pass through openings 33 into the nipple, where it may be utilized by the infant in a normal manner. Annular surface 290 of diaphragm 29 preferably is located sufficiently above shoulder 20 so as to prevent clogging of the passage area between the two by the liquid being used to feed the infant. Since there is no necessity to touch the nipple or any portion of the interior of the bottle in the preparation for use, no contamination of either results.

FIG. 6 shows a modified form of construction. I-Iere nipple flange 124 is sloped, to facilitate assembly with he cap 26. Also, the inner edges of insert diaphragm feet 31 are rounded, as at 42. The nipple flange groove 23 is omitted, and an annular groove 123 is provided at the corner where the nipple flange 22 meets its sidewall. The feet 31 of diaphragm 29 are similarly provided with a ridge 125 mating with groove 123, so as to resist pulling the nipple out after the cap is removed. This improves the seal at the shoulder 17 of the bottle. Circumferential ridges 44 may be added to the underside of nipple 21 opposite the edge of the imperfor'ate center section of diaphragm 132 to aid insealing when the cap is in place. Similar ridges 46 may be added to the under surface of the diaphragm opposite the top of the bottle mouth.

It will be understood that the nipple 21 of FIG. 6 has its flange 122 normally extending flatly inward, as with flange 22 in FIG. 2. However, after mounting on the bottle, mouth, which requires stretching of both nipple 21 and insert 132, the resiliency of those elements forces flange 122 upwardly along the curved bottle shoulder 114 into the space between the insert flange at 42 and the bottle, as shown at 43. This also helps retain the nipple on the bottle. In addition, nipple flange 122 is provided with at least two grooves extending radially inwardly, one being shown at 41. These grooves 41 are nonsymmetrically disposed, so that at least one will be aligned with anotch 33between two legs 30 of diaphragm insert 132. Such grooves provide vents for air to enter the bottle when the contents are being sucked out by the user. An exterior cap of similar configuration to cap 26 is employed with this embodiment and is also provided with adhesive strips 16a.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10. Referring particularly to FIGS. 7 and 8, flange 150 of nipple 151 is sloped to facilitate machine assembly with outer cap 152. Insert 153 (shown in FIG. 9) is provided with a pair of inwardly extending lugs 154 at the base of each of legs 155. The use of lugs, rather than complete flanges, facilitates assembly of the insert onto the bottle mouth by machine with minimum distortion of the insert. Insert 153 is further provided with a narrower and deeper depression 156, than the embodiment of FIG. 1, to permit use with a narrow mouth bottle. A plurality of inwardly and downwardly extending grooves 165 are provided around the interior of depression 156 to prevent the formation of suction when the nipple 151 is depressed as shown in FIG. 7. The grooves 165 permit air to enter the space adjacent the nipple thereby preventing formation of undesirable suction and entrapment of the nipple in the depression. Reinforcing ribs 157 are spaced around the exterior perimeter of the insert to assistin maintaining dimensional stability at sterilization temperatures and to keep the insert centered in the container mouth.

Nipple 151 is provided with a circumferential arc 158 of increased thickness located so as to lie adjacent to the shoulder 164 of the insert when the insert and nipple are in their sealed position. Are 158 assists in the expulsion of the nipple from the depression when the outer cap is removed for use. The nipple is also provided with a recess 159 closely adjacent to the interior of the sidewall in which lugs 154 rest after assembly. The nipple is further provided with at least a pair of grooves 160 extending radially inwardly and located asymmetrically around the circumference of the nipple so that at least one groove lies between legs 155 of the insert. The grooves permit air to replace the contents of the bottle as they are expelled, in a manner similar to that described for grooves 41 of F IG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 10, an outer tear-type cap 152 is provided with an annulus of adhesive 162 located around the sides of a nipple-covering well 161 located in the center of the cap. The adhesive material has a greater bond to the cap and greater cohesive strength than the strength of the bond between the adhesive and the nipple to prevent any of the adhesive from remaining on the nipple after removal. Although an annulus is shown, any desired pattern may be employed.

As shown in FIG. 8, after removal of the outer cap, the nipple 151 is pulled by the adhesive material within the outer cap and by its own natural resiliency into its raised or usable position, permitting passage of the contents of the bottle through the area 163 along the top of the bottle and then through passages 164 between legs 155.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 14, yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein means other than the previously described adhesive is used to positively urge the nipple of a cap assembly into an erect or usable position. FIG. 11 shows the bottle or container 10, the flexible nipple 21 and the rip-type cap 26 already described for the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. A cap assembly designated numeral 200 includes nipple 21, rip-type cap 26, a shell or cover member 201, and a nipple diaphragm insert 216. Nipple 21 includes a breast or feeding portion 212 integrally formed with a base flared portion 213 having an open end,

portions

212 and 213 meeting in relatively smooth transitioned neck 214.

Cover 201 is preferably made from plastic by an injection molding process and includes a planar top portion 202 having an upper surface 203 and a lower surface 204. Cover 201 is further formed with a depending generally cylindrical peripheral wall portion 205 integral with top portion 202 and terminating at its lower end in an annular edge 206. Edge 206 is formed by an inwardly extending beveled surface 207 and the outer surface of wall portion 205, as shown in FIG. 14.

Cover 201 serves the dual purpose of being means for urging nipple 21 into an erect or usable position after ripcap 26 is removed, as well as being a reusable protective sealing cap which, when reapplied to the bottle mouth, will prevent contamination of the nipple and bottle contents.

Cover 201 further includes a plurality of depending legs 208 which are integral with top portion 202 and which extend downwardly in a converging configuration. Legs 208 are spaced from one another at their respective lower ends, each having inner and

outer surfaces

209 and 210, respectively. The junction of the inner surfaces 209 with lower surface 204 of top portion 202 defines a generally circular area 211 of lower surface 204, the diameter of circular area 211 being slightly larger than upper feeding portion 212 of flexible nipple 21. Top portion 202 is further formed with two holes 215 therethrough, although any number of holes may be provided. Holes 215 are disposed adjacent legs 208 and outside circular area 211, thereby permitting the flow of air through top portion 202 from the space within peripheral wall portion 205 and yet without the space bounded by depending legs 208 and area 211.

Legs 208 are each preferably initially straight in an unstressed condition and of a thickness which permits their being resiliently deformed radially. Legs 208 terminate in a substantially horizontal plane which lies above and is substantially parallel with respect to a plane defined by annular edge 206 of peripheral wall portion 205. The outer surface of cover 201 matingly conforms with the interior surface of ripcap 206 such that cover 201 may be snugly inserted and held within the ripcap as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

A nipple diaphragm insert 216 is shown in FIG. 11 provided at its periphery with a plurality of closely spaced downwardly extending legs 155, each leg terminating with a pair of inwardly extending lugs 154. Nipple diaphragm insert 216 is substantially identical in all respects to insert 153 already described for FIGS. 8 and 9.

Describing now the interrelationship between nipple 21 and cover 201 during the assembly of the nipple 21 and its insert 216 into the cover at station II of FIG. 20, upper feeding portion 212 with its hole 25 first engages circular area 211 when the cover and nipple are coaxially brought together. Upon moving of nipple 21 and cover 201 further together, nipple 21 collapses and folds at its neck 214. During this collapsing and folding, inner surfaces 209 and legs 208 surround and engage the outer surface of upper feeding portion 212 and, together with the legs, are moved into insert depression 218. Further movement of legs 208 and upper feeding portion 212 into insert depression 218 results in the outer surfaces 210 of legs 208 engaging the outer surfaces of base flared portion 213 of nipple 21 which, in turn, deformably collapses into depression 218. In the assembled condition shown in FIG. 12, leg 208 extends into the fold defined by the outer surfaces of feeding portion 212, neck 214, and base flared portion 213. It is during this collapsing of nipple 21 during its assembly into cover 201 that legs 208 are slightly deformed as a result of bearing pressure by the nipple surfaces against inner and

outer surfaces

209 and 210. FIG. 18 similarly shows cap assembly 200 in its assembled condition.

FIG. 12 shows cap assembly 200 assembled, the assembly being accomplished by machine apparatus to be described in more detail below.

Describing now the mounting of cap assembly 200 onto the mouth of container 10 after both have been sterilized, a slanted surface 217 of nipple 21 first engages and rests upon slanted surface 200 of the mouth 12 of container 10. Downward pressure on cap 26 forces each of the lugs 154 and legs to spread outwardly beyond annular shoulder 17 of container 10. Still further downward pressure upon cap 26 causes lugs 154 to releasably pass shoulder 17 and to enter into recess 17a formed at the mouth of the bottle between flange 14 and shoulder 17, as shown in FIG. 3. This downward pressure exerted on the exterior cap 26 forces nipple 21 downwardly against nipple diaphragm insert 216, thereby collapsing the nipple into insert depression 218 and causing an unperforated portion 219 of insert 216 to be pressed against flat surfaces 20 of the bottle. A seal is thereby formed, preventing the contents of the bottle form passing between the unperforated portion 219 of insert 216 and the surface 20 of the bottle mouth. After the downward pressure against the cap 226 has been completed, a crimp 220is formed in the base of vertical wall 27 of the cap 26 to retain cap assembly 200 in the position shown in FIG. 13.

After cap assembly 200 has been secured by crimp 220 as shown in FIG. 13, further sterilization of container and cap assembly 200 results in legs 208 taking on a new permanent deformed shape, the permanence of the new shape resulting from a'settingof the plastic leg material as the sterilization temperatures. This heat-setting of legs 208 in their new shape adds a desirable gripping feature between legs 208 and upper feeding portion 212, as will be seen below in the description of FIG. 14.

FIG. 14 illustrates the removal of cover 201 from container 10 after ripcap 26 has been removed. It is to be noted that after the removal of ripcap 26 and prior to the removal of cover 201, the nipple, insert and bottle contents are held in the same sealed and no'ncontaminated condition shown in FIG. 13 as a result of cover 201 overlying the entire mouth portion of bottle or container 10. Upward movement of cover 201 in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 14 results in an upward pulling of nipple upper feeding portion 212 by legs 208 which have been deformed into a tighter gripping relationship with the outer surfaces of upper feeding portion 212. While this additional gripping resulting from heat-setting of legs 208 is desirable, it is not necessary for operability of this invention. 1 7

Still further upward movement of cover 201 away from mouth 12 of container 10 will result in nipple 21 assuming a fully erect and usable position, with cover 201 disengaging upper feeding portion 212 and thereafter being discardable or reusable, as desired. The presence of holes 215 throughtop portion 202 of cover 201 permit the flow of air from the atmosphere through these holes into the space bounded by the interior of peripheral wall portion 205, the portions of lower surface 204 external of circular area 211, and the external surfaces of nipple 21. This permissible flow of air eliminates undesirable vacuum forces which may retard or prevent the removal of cover 201 from container 10. The user of the cap assembly and bottle is thus permitted to simply grasp the peripheral wall portion 205 of cover 201 in one hand with the container 10 in the other hand and simply separate the two, nipple 21 being caused to assume an erect or usable position when this is done.

A principal advantage of the infant-feeding apparatus already described is its adaptability to bemachine assembled in an automatic manner without substantial manual labor, costs and contamination of the parts as a result of handling. FIGS. 15-20 illustrate apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention which simply and rapidly assembles the elements of cap assembly 200. FIG. 15 shows a plate member 225 extending between a nipple seat member 226 and an insert plunger member 227. Plate member 225 is mounted for rotation within a horizontal zone and is formed with a depending generally cylindrical tube portion 228 which terminates at its lower end in an annular bearing surfaced 229. A split bronze funnel member 230 having a relatively flat flange 231 is secured, such as by welding or brazing, to the upper surface of plate member 225 such that depending and converging fingers 232 extend into the confines of tube portion 228 The lowermost ends of fingers 232 terminate in a plane which is at an elevation above a plane defined by bearing surface 229. Fingers 232 are resilient and radially deformable. The overall converging shape of fingers 232 of funnel member 230 define an entrance portion 233.

FIG. illustrates the generally circular configuration of plate member 225 and illustrates the location of three stations or positions I, II and III, each of which represents a location where a specific assembly operation isto be performed. FIG. 15 illustrates the assembly operation performed at station I; FIG. 18 illustrates the assembly operation performed at station II; and FIG. 19 illustrates the assembly operation performed at station III. a

Looking once again at FIG. 15, nipple seat member 226 is shown to include a generally cylindrical body portion 234 terminating at its upper end in an annular bearing surface 235. Body portion 234 is formed with a counterbored cavity 236 defined by larger diameter wall portion 237, conical surface 238, and smaller diameter wall portion 239. The diameter of wall portion 239 is larger than that of the upper feeding portion 212 of nipple 21. Thus, upon placement of nipple 21 into the cavity 236 of nipple seat member 226 in an inverted position, upper feeding portion 212 and base flared portion 213 will extend into cavity 236. Further movement of the nipple into cavity 236 is prevented by the abutment of nipple skirt 24 against bearing surface 235. In the position shown in FIG. 15, nipple seat member 226 holds nipple 21 preparatory to insertion of nipple diaphragm insert 216 to be described below.

Insert plunger member 227 includes a downwardly extending tube 240 supported by a plunger body portion 241 which, in turn, is supported upon a shaft 242. Shaft 242 and nipple seat member 226 are each movable vertically and coaxially with respect to each other, and coaxially with respect to tube portion 228 of funnel member 230. Reinforcing ribs 157 of nipple diaphragm insert 216 are frictionally held by an annular edge 243 of tube 240.

The assembly operation of station I includes nipple seat member 226 moving upwardly towardl plate member 225 until bearing

surfaces

235 and 229 compress" and sandwich skirt 24 of nipple 21 therebetween. In this position, the base of nipple 21 is preventedjfrom contracting and is held such that the bottommost portions of fingers 232 extend into the base as shown in FIG. 16. Thereafter, insert plunger member 227 which is holding insert 216, is moved downwardly, moving insert 216 through entrance portion 233 of funnel member 230 until the outer surfaces of legs engage the inner surfaces of finger 232. Further downward movement of insert plunger member 227 and insert 216 results in a forced radial spreading of fingers 232 and thus a spreading of the base of nipple 21 until insert 216 is positioned with the bottom tips of fingers 232 disposed and held between the base of nipple 21 and the outer surfaces of the legs 155 of insert 216. Nipple seat member 226 is then retracted to the position shown in FIG. 15, and insert plunger member 227 is able to retract to its former position. The insertion of the legs 155 into the base of nipple 21 secures the insert sufficiently to resist upward movement of the insert as the result of friction between the inner wall of tube 240 and reinforcing ribs 157, permitting tube 240 to disengage from ribs 157. At this point in the overall leap assembly operation plate 225 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 20 until the funnel member-held nipple and insert are located at station ll.

At station II, plate 225 has rotated until the nipple and insert held by bronze fingers 232 coaxially overlie a cap seat member 244 movably mounted upon a shaft 245. The phantom outline shown in FIG. 18 represents the initial position of top seat member 244, where it is holding cap structure 26 and cover 201 mounted within the cap structure. A cavity 246 formed within cap seat member 244 has a diameter large enough to accommodate" cap structure: 26 with cover 201. Cap seat member 244 is movable vertically and coaxially with respect to tube portion 228 when the latter is at station II.

In operation,cap seat member containing cap 26 and cover 201 is caused to move upwardly until the upper feeding portion 212 of nipple 21 enters the space within legs 208 of cover 201 and engages circular area 211. Further upward movement of cap seat member 244 results in the collapsing movement of nipple 21, as already described, with a resulting uniting of the cap 26, the cover 201, the nipple 21 and insert 216 into an assembly designated cap assembly 200. Once assembled as shown in FIG. 18, cap seat member 244 returns to the position shown in phantom, leaving cap assembly 200 still supported by the depending fingers 232 of funnel member 230.

At this point in the overall assembly operation of cap assembly 200, plate 225 again rotates until tube portion 228 is located at station III. At station III, cap assembly 200 is removed from the grip of fingers 232 by means of a pusher member 247, which moves from its initial position shown in phantom outline in FIG. 19 to the full line position shown, engaging insert 216 and forcing or pushing cap assembly 200 free of the grip of fingers 232. Cap assembly 200 drops due to gravity to suitable conveyor means or the like, to be later mounted upon a container or bottle as already described for FIGS. 12 and 13.

It is within the scope of the present invention to provide a repetitious assembly arrangement incorporating the features of the apparatus just described for a single cap assembly. In addition, one or more of the assembling operations described for stations I, II and III may be performed simultaneously in order to increase the number of assemblies produced per unit time, and/or performed at the same station. Thus one or more stations, as described may be eliminated.

It will be understood that while the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described principally with respect to a tear-type or ripcap, the invention is not limited thereto, as other forms of cap may readily be used, such as a screw-on cap or a tear-band cap or a snap-on cap. Of course, whatever adaptations of the bottle neck may be advisable for use of such other forms of cap such as forming threads on the bottle neck to cooperate with threads on the cap may readily be devised without departing form the invention.

The embodiments of the invention particularly disclosed are thus presented merely as examples of the invention. Other embodiments, forms and modifications of the invention coming within the proper scope of the appended claims will of course readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use with a liquid container having a mouth, comprising a flexible nipple, means for mounting said nipple on said container mouth, an exterior cap structure cooperating with and holding said nipple in a compressed position, and means both engaging the interior of said cap structure and removably contacting the nipple, when assembled, for moving said nipple into a usable position upon removal of said moving means form contact with the nipple, said nipple including an upper feeding portion and an integral base flared portion, said moving means comprising a removable member including a substantially flat top portion having upper and lower surfaces and means joined to said top portion for frictionally engaging said nipple upper feeding portion, said means for frictionally engaging said upper feeding portion including a plurality of spaced depending members each having an interior surface and an exterior surface terminating at a lower end, said spaced depending members extending from and defining a generally circular central area of said removable member top portion lower surface.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said depending member inner surface engages said upper feeding portion and said outer surface engages said base flared portion in an assembled condition, said upper feeding portion further engaging said central area in said assembled condition.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said top portion is formed with at least one hole therethrough, said hole being disposed adjacent said depending members outside said central area.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an insert portions of which are disposed within said base flared portion of said nipple, said insert including a central section, and a resilient annular portion integral with the central section and including inwardly extending lug members adapted for contact with external portions of the mouth of the liquid contamer.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said resilient annular portion includes a plurality of spaced depending legs each of which is formed with one of said lug members.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an insert including an annular portion formed with at least one aperture therethrough, said annular portion being disposed within said nipple base flared portion and held in sealing relationship therein by interior surfaces of said base flared portion.

7. Apparatus for use with a liquid container having a mouth, comprising a flexible nipple, means for mounting said nipple on said container mouth, an exterior cap structure cooperating with and holding said nipple in a compressed position, and means both engaging the interior of said cap structure and removably contacting the nipple, when assembled, for moving said nipple into a usable position upon removal of said moving means from contact with the nipple, said nipple including an upper feeding portion and an integral base flared portion, said moving means comprising a removable member including a substantially flat top portion having upper and lower surfaces and means joined to said top portion for frictionally engaging said nipple upper feeding portion, said removable member including a depending generally cylindrical peripheral portion joined to the top portion which matingly fits within said exterior cap structure such that said peripheral portion engages the interior of said exterior cap structure over substantially its entire periphery.

8. A nipple assembly for use with both an exterior cap structure or the like and a liquid container having a mouth portion formed with an exterior groove, comprising a hollow flexible body portion having interior and exterior surfaces and being formed with an opening through an uppermost part thereof, means for mounting the hollow body portion on said mouth, and peripheral skirt means integral with and extending outwardly from said exterior surface for engaging interior portions of the cap structure, for holding said body portion and the cap structure in a relatively tight-sealing relationship with respect to one another, and an insert having an annular portion formed with at least one aperture therethrough, said annular portion being disposed within said nipple hollow body portion.

9, A nipple assembly according to claim 8, wherein said mounting means includes an annular rib on the interior bottom of said nipple for engaging the exterior groove on the mouth portion of the container.

10. Apparatus for use with a nipple having an upper feeding portion and an integral base flared portion, comprising a removeable member including, a substantially flat top portion having upper and lower surfaces, a depending generally cylindrical peripheral portion joined to said top portion, and means joined to said top portion for frictionally engaging the upper feeding portion, said engaging means including a plurality of spaced depending members.

11 Apparatus for use with a nipple having an upper feeding portion and an integral base flared portion, comprising a removable member including, a substantially flat top portion having upper and lower surfaces, a depending generally cylindrical peripheral portion joined to said top portion, and means joined to said top portion for frictionally engaging the upper feeding portion including a plurality of spaced depending members each having an interior surface and an exterior surface terminating at a lower end, said spaced depending members extending from and defining a generally circular central area of said removable member'top portion lower surface.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said removable member comprises means adapted to engage said upper feeding portion and for moving it from a stored position into a usable position.

13. Feeding apparatus, comprising a liquid container formed with a mouth, a flexible nipple, means for mounting said nipple on said container mouth, a removable exterior cap structure cooperating with and holding said nipple in a compressed position on said container, and means both engaging the interior of said cap structure and removably contacting said nipple, when assembled, for moving said nipple from said compressed position into a usable position upon removal of the moving means from contact with the nipple and an insert within said nipple and apertured adjacent its periphery, and means on said nipple for retaining an edge of said insert with its aperture communicating with both the interior of the nipple and the interior of the container when the nipple is in a usable position, said cap structure cooperating with said nipple and said container to sealably force the insert against the mouth of said container, thereby sealing said insert against said mouth when said cap structure is in a sealed position.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said moving means is affixed to the interior of the cap structure and comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive material affixed to a surface of said cap in contact with thenipple.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said adhesive material is nondegradable at steam sterilization temperatures and has a first bond to the cap and asecond bond to the nipple, said first bond having a greater strength that said second bond. I

16. Feeding apparatus, comprising a liquid container formed with a mouth, a flexible nipple, means for mounting said nipple on said container mouth, a removable exterior cap structure cooperating with and holding said nipple in a compressed position on said container, and means both engaging the interior of said cap structure and removably contacting said nipple,-when assembled, for moving said nipple from said compressed position into a usable position upon removal of the moving means with from contact with the nipple, an insert having portions disposed within said nipple and including a central imperforate section, a sidewall downwardly depending from said central section, said insert being formed with at least one aperture adjacent the periphery of said central station; means on .said nipple for positioning said insert sidewall in engagement with an inner wall of said nipple adjacent the lower edge thereof and with said aperture in communication with both the interior of said nipple and the interior of the container when the nipple is mounted on-said container mouth and in an erect position and insert serving to spread said nipple when mounting said nipple on the mouth of the container said exterior cap structure cooperating with said nipple holding said insert against the mouth of said container, thereby sealing said container mouth when said cap structure is on said container mouth in closed condition.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising means responsive to removal of said cap structure from said container for causing said insert to move away from said container mouth.

18. A cap and nipple assembly, according to claim 16, wherein said means for positioning the insert sidewall comprises a flexible flange integral with and extending inwardly from a base of said nipple, said insert further including inwardly extending base portions integral with said sidewall, said inwardly extending base portions engaging said flexible flange.

19. Apparatus for use with a liquid container having a mouth, comprising an insert including a central imperforate section adapted to overlie said mouth and to close said mouth when said central section is pressed against said mouth, said insert having an apertured section surrounding said central section and adapted to allow fluid flow between the interior of said container and the exterior of said insert when said central section is not pressed against said mouth, said insert also having inwardly turned flange means at the peripheral edge of said apertured section for retaining said insert on said container in said latter position permitting said fluid flow.

20. Apparatus according to claim-l9, wherein said apertured section comprises a plurality of legs spaced around and downwardly depending from an edge of said central section.

21. Apparatus according to claim 119 for use with the liquid container and for further use with a. nipple having a hollow flexible body portion formed with initerior surfaces, wherein said apertured section is adapted to be disposed within the hollow nipple body portion and held in sealing relationship with the body portion by said interior surfaces.

Claims

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an insert portions of which are disposed within said base flared portion of said nipple, said insert including a central section, and a resilient annular portion integral with the central section and including inwardly extending lug members adapted for contact with external portions of the mouth of the liquid containeR.

8. A nipple assembly for use with both an exterior cap structure or the like and a liquid container having a mouth portion formed with an exterior groove, comprising a hollow flexible body portion having interior and exterior surfaces and being formed with an opening through an uppermost part thereof, means for mounting the hollow body portion on said mouth, and peripheral skirt means integral with and extending outwardly from said exterior surface for engaging interior portions of the cap structure, for holding said body portion and the cap structure in a relatively tight-sealing relationship with respect to one another, and an insert having an annular portion formed with at least one aperture therethrough, said annular portion being disposed within said nipple hollow body portion. 9, A nipple assembly according to claim 8, wherein said mounting means includes an annular rib on the interior bottom of said nipple for engaging the exterior groove on the mouth portion of the container.

10. Apparatus for use with a nipple having an upper feeding portion and an integral base flared portion, comprising a removeable member including, a substantially flat top portion having upper and lower surfaces, a depending generally cylindrical peripheral portion joined to said top portion, and means joined to said top portion for frictionally engaging the upper feeding portion, said engaging means including a plurality of spaced depending members. 11 Apparatus for use with a nipple having an upper feeding portion and an integral base flared portion, comprising a removable member including, a substantially flat top portion having upper and lower surfaces, a depending generally cylindrical peripheral portion joined to said top portion, and means joined to said top portion for frictionally engaging the upper feeding portion including a plurality of spaced depending members each having an interior surface and an exterior surface terminating at a lower end, said spaced depending members extending from and defining a generally circular central area of said removable member top portion lower surface.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said moving means is affixed to the interior of the cap structure and comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive material affixed to a surface of said cap in contact with the nipple.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said adhesive material is nondegradable at steam sterilization temperatures and has a first bond to the cap and a second bond to the nipple, said first bond having a greater strength that said second bond.

16. Feeding apparatus, comprising a liquid container formed with a mouth, a flexible nipple, means for mounting said nipple on said container mouth, a removable exterior cap structure cooperating with and holding said nipple in a compressed position on said container, and means both engaging the interior of said cap structure and removably contacting said nipple, when assembled, for moving said nipple from said compressed position into a usable position upon removal of the moving means with from contact with the nipple, an insert having portions disposed within said nipple and including a central imperforate section, a sidewall downwardly depending from said central section, said insert being formed with at least one aperture adjacent the periphery of said central station; means on said nipple for positioning said insert sidewall in engagement with an inner wall of said nipple adjacent the lower edge thereof and with said aperture in communication with both the interior of said nipple and the interior of the container when the nipple is mounted on said container mouth and in an erect position and insert serving to spread said nipple when mounting said nipple on the mouth of the container said exterior cap structure cooperating with said nipple holding said insert against the mouth of said container, thereby sealing said container mouth when said cap structure is on said container mouth in closed condition.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said apertured section comprises a plurality of legs spaced around and downwardly depending from an edge of said central section.

21. Apparatus according to claim 19 for use with the liquid container and for further use with a nipple having a hollow flexible body portion formed with interior surfaces, wherein said apertured section is adapted to be disposed within the hollow nipple body portion and held in sealing relationship with the body portion by said interior surfaces.