Infant care apparatus

• US 7,032,764 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trio Child, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gregory R. Viggiano
• Inventors: Viggiano, Gregory R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Application Number:
  US10/866,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 215 111- 116, 606234-236, 222/71, 222/380, 222/387, 222/402.1, 222/402.23, 222/490, 222544-564
• US Class Current: 215/11.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 11/0005 having additional ports, e.g. for connecting syringes or straws devices for administering medicines orally A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 11/002 by using valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 11/04 with means for fastening to bottles
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 11/045 with interlocking means, e.g. protrusions or indentations on the teat
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0011 Feeding-tubes for delivery of nourishment to the mouth; Mouth pieces therefor breast-nipple shields A61J13/00; mouth pieces for drinking straws A47G21/185; straws to take medicine A61J7/0038, mouthpieces for tracheal tubes A61M16/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/001 Baby-comforters
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 9/00 Feeding-bottles in general

Abstract

An infant care apparatus including a nipple having a nipple passage for drawing fluid therethrough. A fitting is adapted to secure the infant care apparatus on a closure adapted to regulate flow between the infant care apparatus and a container. A valve is adapted to regulate flow between the nipple passage and the closure.

Claims

1. Infant care apparatus comprising:

a nipple having a nipple passage;

a fitting adapted to secure said infant care apparatus on a closure adapted to regulate flow between said infant care apparatus and a container; and

a valve adapted to regulate flow between said nipple passage and the closure;

said valve comprising a plate having a passage for providing fluid communication with said nipple passage, rotatably connected to said fitting;

wherein, when said infant care apparatus is secured on the closure, said valve and/or the closure are independently actuable;

wherein said fitting has fitting passage and registry of said plate passage and said fitting passage permits fluid flow while non-registry thereof blocks fluid flow;

first indicia on said fitting; and

second indicia on said plate;

wherein a first alignment of said first indicia and said second indicia corresponds to registry of said plate passage and said fitting passage and a second alignment of said first indicia and said second indicia corresponds to non-registry of said plate passage and said fitting passage.

2. Infant care apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fitting is adapted to provide interfering, threading or bayoneting engagement with the closure.

3. Infant care apparatus of claim 1, wherein said valve has elements that are rotatable or slidable between and including a closed position, prohibiting flow, and an open position, permitting flow.

4. Infant care apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first sleeve having a first sleeve passage for providing fluid communication with said nipple passage;

a second sleeve, having a second sleeve passage for providing fluid communication with the closure, slidingly received by said first sleeve; and

a stopper operably connected to said second sleeve;

wherein when said first sleeve and said second sleeve define a closed position, said stopper prevents flow between said nipple passage and said first sleeve passage and when said first sleeve and said second sleeve define an opened position, said stopper does not prevent flow between said nipple passage and said first sleeve passage.

5. Infant care apparatus comprising:

a closure adapted to regulate flow between said infant care apparatus and a container;

a fitting secured on said closure;

a nipple having a nipple passage for drawing fluid therethrough;

a valve adapted to regulate flow between said nipple passage and said closure;

a plate, having a plate passage for providing fluid communication with said nipple passage, rotatably connected to said fitting;

wherein said fitting has a fitting passage;

wherein registry of said plate passage and said fitting passage permits fluid flow said valve and/or said closure are independently actuable;

first indicia on said fitting; and

second indicia on said plate;

wherein a first alignment of said first indicia and said second indicia corresponds to registry of said plate passage and said fitting passage and a second alignment of said first indicia and said second indicia corresponds to non-registry of said plate passage and said fitting passage.

6. Infant care apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a first sleeve having a first sleeve passage for providing fluid communication with said nipple passage;

a second sleeve, having a second sleeve passage for providing fluid communication with the closure, slidingly received by said first sleeve; and

a stopper operably connected to said second sleeve;

wherein when said first sleeve and said second sleeve define a closed position, said stopper prevents flow between said nipple passage and said first sleeve passage and when said first sleeve and said second sleeve define an opened position, said stopper does not prevent flow between said nipple passage and said first sleeve passage.

7. Infant care apparatus of claim 5, wherein said closure has elements that are slidable between and including a closed position, prohibiting flow therethrough, and an open position, permitting flow therethrough.

8. Infant care apparatus comprising:

a closure adapted to regulate flow between said infant care apparatus and a container;

a fitting secured on said closure;

a nipple having a nipple passage for drawing fluid therethrough;

a valve adapted to regulate flow between said nipple passage and said closure;

wherein, when said infant care apparatus is secured on the closure, said valve and/or the closure are independently actuable;

an extension adapted to conduct fluid said closure, wherein said extension comprises;

an extension fining adapted to secure said extension on the closure;

an extension closure adapted to regulate flow trough said extension; and

a conduit adapted to provide fluid communication between said extension fitting and said extension closure.

9. Infant care apparatus of claim 8, wherein said extension fitting is adapted to provide interfering, threading or bayoneting engagement with the closure.

10. Infant care apparatus of claim 8, wherein said extension closure comprises:

a first extension sleeve having a first extension sleeve passage;

a second extension sleeve, having a second extension sleeve passage, slidingly received by said first extension sleeve; and

an extension stopper operably connected to said second extension sleeve;

wherein when said first extension sleeve and said second extension sleeve define a closed position, said extension stopper prevents flow and when said first extension sleeve and said second extension sleeve define an opened position, said extension stopper does not prevent flow.

11. Infant care apparatus comprising

a container;

a closure adapted to regulate flow to and from said container;

a fitting secured on said closure;

a nipple having a nipple passage for drawing fluid therethrough; and

a valve adapted to regulate flaw between said nipple passage and said closure;

wherein, when said infant care apparatus is secured on said closure, said valve and/or said closure are independently actuable;

a plate, having a plate passage for providing fluid communication with said nipple passage, rotatably connected to said fitting;

wherein said fitting has a fitting passage;

wherein registry of said plate passage and said fitting passage permits fluid flow and non-registry thereof blocks fluid flow;

first indicia on said fitting; and

second indicia on said plate;

wherein a first alignment of said first indicia and said second indicia corresponds to registry of said plate passage and said fitting passage and a second alignment of said first indicia and said second indicia corresponds to non-registry of said plate passage and said fitting passage.

12. Infant care apparatus of claim 11, wherein said fitting is adapted to provide interfering, threading or bayoneting engagement with the closure.

13. Infant care apparatus of claim 11, wherein said valve has elements that are rotatable or slidable between and including a closed position, prohibiting flow, and an open position, permitting flow.

14. Infant care apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a first sleeve having a first sleeve passage for providing fluid communication with said nipple passage;

a second sleeve, having a second sleeve passage for providing fluid communication with the closure, slidingly received by said first sleeve; and

a stopper operably connected to said second sleeve;

wherein when said first sleeve and said second sleeve define a closed position, said stopper prevents flow between said nipple passage and said first sleeve passage and when said first sleeve and said second sleeve define an opened position, said stopper does not prevent flow between said nipple passage and said first sleeve passage.

15. Infant care apparatus of claim 11, wherein said closure has elements that are slidable between and including a closed position, prohibiting flow therethrough, and an open position, permitting flow therethrough.

16. Infant care apparatus comprising:

a container;

a closure adapted to regulate flow to and from said container;

a fitting on said closure;

a nipple having a nipple passage for drawing fluid therethrough;

a valve adapted to regulate flow between said nipple passage and said closure;

wherein, when said infant care apparatus is secured on the closure, said valve and the closure are independently actuable; and

an extension adapted to conduct fluid to and from said closure;

wherein said extension comprises;

an extension fitting adapted to secure said extension on the closure;

an extension closure adapted to regulate flow through said extension; and

a conduit adapted to provide fluid communication between said extension fitting and said extension closure.

17. Infant care apparatus of claim 16, wherein said extension fitting is adapted to provide interfering, threading or bayoneting engagement with the closure.

18. Infant care apparatus of claim 16, wherein said extension closure comprises:

a first extension sleeve having a first extension sleeve passage;

a second extension sleeve, having a second extension sleeve passage, slidingly received by said first extension sleeve; and

an extension stopper operably connected to said second extension sleeve;

wherein when said first extension sleeve and said second extension sleeve define a closed position, said extension stopper prevents flow and when said first extension sleeve and said second extension sleeve define an opened position, said extension stopper does not prevent flow.