Venting member, feeding bottle assembly, and method of forming a venting member
The present invention relates to a venting member, particularly a venting member for an infant feeding bottle assembly. A feeding bottle assembly itself, and a method of forming a venting member are also disclosed. The venting member vents air into an infant feeding bottle assembly and includes: a first member portion having a tube portion with a first opening and a second opening; a second member portion connected to, and configured to be mountable on, the first member portion so that the second opening of the first member portion is selectively closed by the second member portion; and an inlet for venting air into the venting member, wherein the venting member is configured so that the inlet is fluidly connected to the first opening of the first member portion when the second member portion is mounted on the first member portion. The venting member is configured to be mounted, in use, to a container of an infant feeding bottle assembly so that the first opening is disposed within the container. The first member portion and second portion are integrally formed by injection moulding.
1 . A venting member for venting air into an infant feeding bottle assembly, the venting member comprising:
a first member portion having a tube portion with a first opening and a second opening;
a second member portion connected to, and configured to be mountable on, the first member portion so that the second opening of the first member portion is selectively closed by the second member portion; and
an inlet for venting air into the venting member, wherein the venting member is configured so that the inlet is fluidly connected to the first opening of the first member portion when the second member portion is mounted on the first member portion;
wherein the venting member is configured to be mounted, in use, to a container of an infant feeding bottle assembly so that the first opening is disposed within the container; and
wherein the first member portion and second member portion are integrally formed by injection moulding.
2 . The venting member according to claim 1 , wherein the first member portion comprises a body configured to mount the venting member, in use, to the container of an infant feeding bottle assembly; and wherein the tube portion extends through the body.
3 . The venting member according to claim 2 , wherein the second member portion is a cover configured to selectively close the second opening when mounted to the first member portion.
4 . The venting member according to claim 2 , wherein the body is annular, and the tube portion is configured to extend axially to the body.
5 . The venting member according to claim 1 , wherein the second member portion comprises a body configured to mount the venting member, in use, to the container of an infant feeding bottle assembly.
6 . The venting member according to claim 5 , wherein when the second member portion is mounted on the first member portion, the tube portion extends along a central axis of the body and is fluidly connected to the inlet by a conduit extending radially from the tube portion; and
wherein the conduit extends away from the tube portion at angle in the range of from greater than 90° to 150° with respect to the central axis.
7 . The venting member according to claim 1 , wherein the tube portion comprises a one-way valve mounted to the first opening and configured to control venting of air into the container and, optionally, wherein the one-way valve is provided on a valve member configured to be selectively mounted to the first opening.
8 . The venting member according to claim 7 , wherein the one-way valve is integrally formed with the tube portion.
9 . The venting member according to claim 1 , wherein the tube portion is tapered.
10 . The venting member according to claim 1 , wherein the venting member comprises first and second opposing surfaces, and wherein the venting member is configured to be mounted, in use, to a container of an infant feeding bottle assembly so that the first surface is disposed towards the container and the second surface is disposed towards a nipple of an infant feeding bottle assembly.
11 . The venting member of claim 1 , wherein the venting member is configured to be mounted to a container of an infant feeding bottle assembly so as to vent air into the infant feeding bottle assembly.
12 . A method of forming a venting member for venting air into an infant feeding bottle assembly, the method comprising:
forming a first member portion having a tube portion with a first opening and a second opening;
forming a second member portion connected to, and configured to be mountable on, the first member portion so that the second opening of the first member portion is selectively closed by the second member portion; and
forming an inlet for venting air into the venting member, wherein the venting member is configured so that the inlet is fluidly connected to the first opening of the first member portion when the second member portion is mounted on the first member portion;
wherein the venting member is configured to be mounted, in use, to a container of an infant feeding bottle assembly so that the first opening is disposed within the container; and
wherein the first member portion and second member portion are integrally formed by injection moulding.