Bottle assembly

• US 7,669,725 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2004
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Playtex Products Incorporated (Edgewell Personal Care Company)
• Original Assignee: Playtex Products Incorporated (Edgewell Personal Care Company)
• Inventors: Randolph, Ross Steven, Bertram, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Weaver; Sue A
• Application Number:
  US10/793,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20050056610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,189 Days
• Field of Search: 215/11.1, 215/11.6, 215/12, 215/1, 215/11.3, 215/12.1, 215/13.1, 215/10, 220/62.18, 22059215-59217, 220/392.17, 220/592.27, 220/23.91
• US Class Current: 215/12.1
• 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;

an inner body having an inner volume for storage therein and being selectively connectable with said outer body; and

a flexible member selectively connecting said outer body with said inner body, said flexible member being at least substantially disposed outside of said outer body,

wherein said flexible member is deformed from a first shape into a second shape to provide for connection of said outer body with said inner body,

wherein said inner body is at least substantially disposed in said outer body when connected thereto, and wherein said inner and outer bodies when connected form a gap therebetween,

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, and

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, wherein said flexible member has an oval shape.

2. The bottle of claim 1, 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.

3. The bottle of claim 2, 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.

4. The bottle of claim 1, wherein said outer body has a first open end, a first closed end, and a middle or upper-middle portion, said middle or upper-middle portion having a smaller diameter than diameters of said first open and closed ends.

5. An insulated bottle comprising:

an outer body;

an inner body having an inner volume for storage therein and being selectively connectable with said outer body; and

a flexible member selectively connecting said outer body with said inner body,

wherein said inner body is at least substantially disposed in said outer body when connected thereto, and wherein said inner and outer bodies when connected form an insulating gap therebetween,

wherein said flexible member has an oval shape, and

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.

6. The bottle of claim 5, 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.

7. The bottle of claim 6, wherein said second securing member is a pair of securing members diametrically opposed along said inner surface of said flexible member.

8. The bottle of claim 7, 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.

9. The bottle of claim 7, 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.

10. An insulated bottle comprising:

an outer body having a first open end, a first closed end, a first annular flange at said first open end, said first annular flange defining a first annular channel between said first annular flange and said first closed end; and

an inner body having a second closed end and a neck defining a second open end, said neck including a second annular flange formed along an outer circumference of said neck and a threaded portion at said second open end, said second annular flange defining a second annular channel in said neck between said threaded portion and said second closed end, said inner body being removably positioned in said outer body so that said second annular flange is on said first annular flange and so that said inner and outer bodies define a closed insulating air gap therebetween; and

a flexible collar moveable between a first position having first securing members in said first annular channel and second securing members in said second annular channel to lock said first and second flanges to one another and a second position having first and second securing members released from said first and second annular channels, respectively, to release said first and second flanges from one another, said threaded portion extending above said collar in said first position.

11. The insulated bottle of claim 10, further comprising:

a feed apparatus having an annular mounting flange, said annular mounting flange being positioned on a rim of said inner body at said second open end; and

a nipple ring threadably secured to said threaded portion to seal said annular mounting flange to said rim.

12. The insulated bottle of claim 11, wherein said feed apparatus comprises a nipple.

13. The insulated bottle of claim 10, further comprising:

first anti-rotation structures on said outer body; and

second anti-rotation structures on said inner body, said first and second anti-rotation structures for preventing rotation of said inner and outer bodies with respect to one another when said collar is in said first position.

14. The insulated bottle of claim 10, wherein said outer body has a middle or upper-middle portion, said middle or upper-middle portion having a smaller diameter than diameters of said first open and closed ends.

15. An insulated bottle comprising:

an outer body having a first open end, a first closed end, a first annular flange at said first open end; and

an inner body having a second closed end and a neck defining a second open end, said neck including a second annular flange formed along an outer circumference of said neck and a threaded portion at said second open end, said second annular flange being between said threaded portion and said closed end, said inner body being removably positioned in said outer body so that said second annular flange is on said first annular flange and so that said inner and outer bodies define a closed insulating air gap therebetween; and

a collar moveable between a first position locking said first and second flanges to one another and a second position releasing said first and second flanges from one another, said threaded portion extending above said collar in said first position, wherein said collar has an oval shape.

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

placing a first bottle in a second bottle;

deforming a flexible member from a first shape to a second shape;

placing said flexible member over a first outside portion of said first bottle and a second outside portion of said second bottle;

capturing air between said first and second bottles to form an insulation layer for the contents of said second bottle; and

allowing said flexible member to return to said first shape so that said flexible member secures said first and second outside portions to one another.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising preventing rotation of said first and second bottles with respect to each other after being connected.