Container for separation, storage, and mixing of ingredients

• US 5,794,802 A
• Filed: 03/04/1997
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Calin Costea
• Original Assignee: Joseph Caola
• Inventors: Caola, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai, Tri M.
• Application Number:
  US08/812,118
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 215/11.1, 215/11.5, 215/DIG. 8, 206/219, 206/221
• US Class Current: 215/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2031 having openings brought into alignment
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2041 having removable plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2093 Containers having several compartments for products to be mixed
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 9/00 Feeding-bottles in general
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3222 with additional means facilitating admixture
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/08 Mixing

Abstract

A reusable insert designed for off-the-shelf covered containers, and more specifically for baby bottles. The insert forms a storage compartment and which keeps the ingredients separated in the container. It is designed to allow the ingredients to be mixed in the same container and dispensed without removing the cover from the container. The insert generally includes a dry chamber housing 30, a chamber seal 40, and a means to release the chamber seal such as a push rod 20. When used with a baby bottle, the insert slides into the bottle portion 50. A flange at the top of the dry chamber housing 30 prevents it from moving too far into the bottle and still allows the nipple assembly 10 to be attached directly to the bottle portion 50. When the nipple assembly 10 is screwed in place, the flange is pinched between the nipple assembly 10 and bottle portion 50, forming a leak-proof seal. The dry chamber housing 30 and chamber seal 40 together form a cup-like container which stores the powdered formula prior to the ingredients being mixed. The means to release the chamber seal, in this case a push rod operates through the nipple 11 with either a push action or a combination of push/rotary action. The insert containing powdered formula slides into the open neck 51 of the bottle portion 50 containing a pre-measured amount of water and the nipple assembly 10 is screwed in place. To mix the ingredients, the user pushes on the nipple 11 which displaces the chamber seal 40 and provides a passage for water and formula to combine in both the bottle portion 50 and the dry chamber housing 30. The bottle is then shaken and the formula is dispensed. Other designs for the chamber seal 40 and the means to release the chamber seal are specified.

Claims

1. An insert for an infant feeding bottle having a chamber, an upper end for receiving a nipple assembly, said upper end having an upper access opening to the chamber and an annular rim surrounding the upper access opening, said insert comprising:

(a) a housing having a compartment for storing powdered formula, a top opening to the compartment and a bottom opening to the compartment, said housing being adapted to be inserted into the chamber of said bottle;

(b) an upper flange on the upper end of said housing for engaging said annular rim and for supporting said housing on said bottle between said annular rim and said nipple assembly;

(c) a closure for releasably sealing the bottom opening of said housing, said closure having a horizontal portion for closing said bottom opening and a vertical portion which extends upwardly from said horizontal portion, said vertical portion having an upwardly facing cavity;

(d) a retaining member fixed to said housing and extending downwardly toward said bottom opening for insertion into said cavity for releasably retaining said closure in sealing position at said bottom opening; and

(e) a removable rod supported by said housing for movement toward said closure and for being accessible through said nipple assembly to enable said rod to be pushed downwardly against said closure for moving said closure downwardly relative to said retaining member and away from said bottom opening.

2. An insert for an infant feeding bottle having a chamber, an upper end for receiving a nipple assembly, said upper end having an upper access opening to the chamber and an annular rim surrounding the upper access opening, said insert comprising:

(a) a housing having a compartment for storing powdered formula, a top opening to the compartment and a bottom opening to the compartment, said housing being adapted to be inserted into the chamber of said bottle said housing having at least one aperture extending from said compartment to outside of said housing;

(b) an upper flange on the upper end of said housing for engaging said annular rim and for supporting said housing on said bottle between said annular rim and said nipple assembly;

(c) a closure for releasably sealing the bottom opening of said housing, said closure having a horizontal portion for closing said bottom opening and a vertical portion which extends upwardly from said horizontal portion, said vertical portion having an upwardly facing cavity;

(d) a retaining member fixed to said housing and extending downwardly toward said bottom opening for insertion into said cavity for releasably retaining said closure in sealing position at said bottom opening;

(e) a removable rod supported by said housing for movement toward said closure and for being accessible through said nipple assembly to enable said rod to be pushed downwardly against said closure for moving said closure downwardly relative to said retaining member and away form said bottom opening; and

(f) a sleeve slidably mounted on said housing for movement between an upper position in which said aperture is blocked by said sleeve and a lower position in which said aperture is not blocked by said sleeve, said sleeve being operatively connected to said removable rod so that downward movement of said removable rod causes said sleeve to move to said lower position.

3. An insert for an infant feeding bottle having a chamber, an upper end for receiving a nipple assembly, said upper end having an upper access opening to the chamber and an annular rim surrounding the upper access opening, said insert comprising:

(a) a housing having a compartment for storing powdered formula, and a bottom opening to the compartment, said housing being adapted to be inserted into the chamber of said bottle and to be supported on the bottle;

(b) a closure for releasably sealing the bottom opening of said housing, said closure having a horizontal portion for closing said bottom opening and a vertical which extends upwardly from said horizontal portion, said vertical portion having an upwardly facing cavity;

(c) a retaining member operatively connected to said housing and extending downwardly toward said bottom opening for insertion into said cavity for releasably retaining said closure in a sealing position at said bottom opening; and

(d) a release member supported by said housing for downward movement toward said closure to enable said release member to be pushed downwardly against said closure for moving said closure downwardly relative to said retaining member and away form said bottom opening.

4. An insert for an infant feeding bottle as recited in claim 3, wherein said housing has a top opening to the compartment and said release member extends above said top opening so that said release member can be manually accessed through the nipple of a nipple assembly placed on the upper end of said bottle.

5. An insert for an infant feeding bottle having a chamber, an upper end for receiving a nipple assembly removably connected to the upper end of the bottle, said nipple assembly including and elastomeric nipple, said upper end having an upper access opening, said insert comprising:

(a) a housing having a compartment for storing powdered formula, a top opening to the compartment and a bottom opening to the compartment, said housing being adapted to be inserted into the chamber of said bottle and to be supported on the bottle so that the top opening of said compartment is isolated from said chamber and said bottom opening is exposed to said chamber;

(b) a closure for releasably connected to said housing in a closed position for closing said bottom opening said closure being releasable from said closed position in response to downward pressure on said closure, said closure having a horizontal portion for closing said bottom opening and a vertical which extends upwardly from said horizontal portion, said vertical portion having an upwardly facing cavity; and

(c) an actuator being guided for vertical movement relative to said housing, said actuator having a lower end extending to said closure, said actuator having an upper end which extends above the top opening of said housing for being positioned below said nipple, so that said actuator can be pushed downwardly from said nipple for applying downward pressure to said closure and moving said closure downwardly away from its closed position for connecting said compartment to said chamber.