Bottle assembly

• US 20050056610A1
• Filed: 03/04/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Playtex Products Incorporated (Edgewell Personal Care Company)
• Original Assignee: Playtex Products Incorporated (Edgewell Personal Care Company)
• Inventors: Randolph, Ross Steven, Bertram, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,669,725 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 215/11.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 11/0065 for improving rigidity, e.g. anti-bite-through or anti-collapsing
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 11/008 Protecting caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 11/02 with means for supplying air
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 11/045 with interlocking means, e.g. protrusions or indentations on the teat
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 9/001 with inner liners
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 9/003 Vacuum feeding-bottles vacuum bottles in general A47J41/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 9/08 Protective covers for bottles

Abstract

A bottle assembly is provided. The bottle has inner and outer bodies that are selectively engageable and form a space therebetween for insulation by air. The inner and outer bottles can be selectively secured by a deformable collar. The bottle assembly may have a vented nipple that promotes latch-on to an areola region of the nipple.

Claims

1. An insulated bottle comprising:

an outer body; and

an inner body having an inner volume for storage therein and being selectively connectable with said outer body, wherein said inner body is at least substantially disposed in said outer body when connected thereto, and wherein a gap is formed between said inner and outer bodies when connected.

2. The bottle of claim 1, wherein said outer body has a curved shape.

3. The bottle of claim 2, wherein said inner body has a substantially cylindrical shape.

4. The bottle of claim 3, wherein said inner body has an upper end and a lower end, and wherein said inner body is inwardly tapered toward said lower end.

5. The bottle of claim 1, further comprising a nipple that is selectively connectable to said inner body.

6. The bottle of claim 1, wherein either or both of said outer body and said inner body have anti-rotation structures that prevent said outer and inner bodies from rotating with respect to each other when connected.

7. The bottle of claim 6, wherein said anti-rotation structures are a first detent structure formed on an outer surface of said inner body and a second detent structure formed on an inner surface of said outer body, and wherein said first and second detent structures are engageable.

8. The bottle of claim 7, wherein said first detent structure is a first set of teeth and said second detent structure is a second set of teeth, and wherein said first and second set of teeth mesh.

9. The bottle of claim 8, wherein said first set of teeth extend continuously along an outer circumference of said inner body and said second set of teeth extend continuously along an inner circumference of said outer body.

10. The bottle of claim 1, further comprising a flexible member that selectively connects said outer body with said inner body.

11. The bottle of claim 10, wherein said flexible member has a non-circular shape.

12. The bottle of claim 10, wherein said flexible member has an oval shape.

13. The bottle of claim 11, wherein said flexible member is a ring having an inner surface with first and second securing members, wherein said first securing member connects said flexible member to said outer body, and wherein said second securing member connects said flexible member to said inner body.

14. The bottle of claim 13, wherein said outer body has a first flange extending outwardly therefrom, said inner body has a second flange extending outwardly therefrom, said first securing member removably connects to said first flange, and said second securing member removably connects to said second flange.

15. The bottle of claim 14, wherein said second securing member is a pair of securing members diametrically opposed along said inner surface of said flexible member.

16. The bottle of claim 15, wherein said pair of securing members each have a distal edge that is chamfered, and wherein said second flange has a lower edge that is chamfered.

17. The bottle of claim 15, wherein said flexible member has an outer surface opposite said inner surface, and wherein said outer surface has a pair of indicators disposed thereon, said indicators representing a portion of said flexible member that is to be squeezed thereby disconnecting said inner body from said flexible member.

18. A method of thermally insulating contents of a bottle assembly comprising:

removably connecting a first bottle with a second bottle thereby substantially disposing said second bottle in said first bottle; and

capturing air between said first and second bottles to form an insulation layer for the contents of said second bottle during said removable connection.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising preventing rotation of said first and second bottles with respect to each other after being connected.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein removably connecting said first and second bottles comprises deforming a flexible member to connect said second bottle with said flexible member.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising indicating at least one portion of said flexible member that is to be deformed to connect said second bottle with said flexible member.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said flexible member is removably connectable to said first bottle.

23. A nipple for a bottle comprising:

a stem having an orifice, a proximal end and a distal end;

a base being connected to said proximal end of said stem, said base having an areola region and a bulbous region, said areola region being disposed between said proximal end of said stem and said bulbous region, said areola region having a first curved outer surface, said bulbous region having a second curved outer surface; and

a vent providing fluid communication between atmosphere and the bottle.

24. The nipple of claim 23, wherein said first curved outer surface of said areola region is outwardly convex.

25. The nipple of claim 23, wherein said base has only two portions which are said areola region and said bulbous region.

26. The nipple of claim 23, wherein said stem is inwardly tapered toward said distal end.

27. The nipple of claim 23, wherein said stem is substantially concentrically aligned with said areola region and said bulbous region when viewed in a top view.

28. The nipple of claim 23, wherein said second curved outer surface of said bulbous region is outwardly convex.

29. The nipple of claim 23, further comprising a flange extending outwardly from said bulbous region, wherein said vent is disposed on said flange.

30. The nipple of claim 29, wherein said flange has a bottom surface, and wherein said vent is a groove formed in said bottom surface.

31. A nipple for a bottle comprising:

a stem having a stem surface with a stem texture;

a base having a base surface with a base texture; and

a vent providing fluid communication between atmosphere and the bottle, wherein at least a portion of said base texture is different from at least a portion of said stem texture.

32. The nipple of claim 31, wherein said base texture is a first texture and a second texture, said first texture being disposed between said stem texture and said second texture, and wherein said first texture is different from said stem texture.

33. The nipple of claim 32, wherein said first texture is rough.

34. The nipple of claim 33, wherein said stem texture is smooth.

35. The nipple of claim 34, wherein said second texture is smooth.

36. The nipple of claim 32, wherein said first texture is disposed along said base surface on an outwardly curved region.

37. The nipple of claim 31, further comprising a flange extending outwardly from said base, wherein said vent is disposed on said flange.

38. The nipple of claim 37, wherein said flange has a bottom surface, and wherein said vent is a groove formed in said bottom surface.