Baby bottle with ribs on inner surface of nipple
Embodiments relate to a baby bottle having a nipple with enhanced resilience against flexing of its body during bottle-feeding use. The nipple has ribs extending in a slanted direction on its inner surface to enhance its elastic recovery elongation or contraction during a bottle-feeding cycle. Some of the ribs may extend into an elongated tip of the nipple to enhance the recovery of the elongated tip from its collapse or compression. The ribs enable the nipple to remain thin while providing sufficient elasticity so that the nipple has a desirable tactile feel while supporting a natural bottle-feeding action. Embodiments also relate to a container of the baby bottle having a rigid cylinder and a resilient body secured to the rigid cylinder. The rigid cylinder has a structure to secure the resilient body formed onto the rigid cylinder by an injection molding process.
1 . A nipple for a baby bottle, comprising:
an elongated tip formed with one or more flow holes through which fluid flows, the elongated tip having an inner surface and an outer surface:
a base connected to the elongated tip and wider than the elongated tip, the base comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the base facing downwards and connected to the inner surface of the elongated tip, and the outer surface of the base facing upwards and connected to the outer surface of the elongated tip; and
ribs on at least a part of the inner surface of the base and configured to enhance elastic recovery of the nipple from elongation or contraction of the base in an axial direction of the nipple, the ribs slanted relative to an axial direction and a circumferential direction of the nipple, the ribs comprising a first subset of adjacent ribs and a second subset of adjacent ribs next to the first subset of adjacent ribs, upper ends of the first subset of adjacent ribs terminating within the inner surface of the base, and upper ends of the second subset of adjacent ribs terminating within the inner surface of the elongated tip.
2 . The nipple of claim 1 , wherein the ribs comprise three sets of ribs, portions of ribs in each of the sets of ribs oriented in different directions, one of the sets of ribs comprising the first subset of adjacent ribs and the second subset of adjacent ribs.
3 . The nipple of claim 2 , wherein the three sets of ribs comprise a first set of ribs oriented in a first direction and a second set of ribs oriented in a second direction, wherein a projection of the first direction onto a plane perpendicular to the axial direction forms an angle of 120 degrees relative to a projection of the second direction onto the plane.
4 . The nipple of claim 1 , wherein the nipple further comprises at least one check valve in the base.
5 . The nipple of claim 4 , wherein the one or more ribs are located between the at least one check valve and the one or more flow holes.
6 . The nipple of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the base at locations without the one or more ribs is between 1.5 mm and 6 mm and a thickness of the elongated tip at locations without the one or more ribs is between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm.
7 . The nipple of claim 1 , wherein the elongated tip, the base and the ribs form a unitary body.
8 . The nipple of claim 7 , wherein the elongated tip, the base and the ribs are made of silicone.
9 . The nipple of claim 7 , wherein the elongated tip, the base and the ribs are fabricated simultaneously by an injection molding.
10 . The nipple of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the base is formed with a plurality of flow indicators indicating different flow rates available on different nipples, and a marking associated with one of the flow indicators to indicate a flow rate of the nipple.
11 . The nipple of claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a flange that is captured by a collar to secure the nipple to a container.
12 . The nipple of claim 1 , wherein the ribs in the elongated tip form helices.
13 . A baby bottle comprising:
a nipple for the baby bottle, comprising:
an elongated tip formed with one or more flow holes through which fluid flows, the elongated tip having an inner surface and an outer surface,
a base connected to the elongated tip and wider than the elongated tip, the base comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the base facing towards a container of the baby bottle and connected to the inner surface of the elongated tip, and the outer surface of the base facing away from the container and connected to the outer surface of the elongated tip, and
ribs on at least a part of the inner surface of the base and configured to enhance elastic recovery of the nipple from elongation or contraction of the base in an axial direction of the nipple, the ribs slanted relative to an axial direction and a circumferential direction of the nipple, the ribs comprising a first subset of adjacent ribs and a second subset of adjacent ribs next to the first subset of adjacent ribs, upper ends of the first subset of adjacent ribs terminating within the inner surface of the base, and upper ends of the second subset of adjacent ribs terminating within the inner surface of the elongated tip; and
a container configured to hold the fluid and secure onto the nipple.
14 . The baby bottle of claim 13 , further comprising a collar for sealingly securing the nipple to the container.
15 . The baby bottle of claim 13 , wherein the container comprises:
a rigid cylinder comprising:
a first side surface formed with a screw for securing to a collar of the baby bottle,
a second side surface at an opposite side of the first surface,
a top surface connecting the first side surface and the second side surface, and
a ring extending along a circumference of the second side surface and connected to the second side surface; and
a resilient body comprising:
an upper portion with an opening end and secured to the rigid ring by receiving the ring of the rigid cylinder in a cavity formed along an upper circumference of the upper portion, and
a lower portion with a closed end and extending from the upper portion.
16 . The baby bottle of claim 15 , wherein the first side surface of the rigid cylinder comprises one or more bumps protruding radially and configured to guide segments of a screw of the collar to engage starting points of the screw of the rigid cylinder.
17 . The baby bottle of claim 16 , wherein one or more end points of the one or more bumps are separated from a starting point of the screw in the circumferential direction.
18 . The baby bottle of claim 15 , wherein the second side surface comprises an inner surface of the rigid cylinder.
19 . The baby bottle of claim 15 , wherein the rigid cylinder further comprises legs connecting the ring to the second side surface, and wherein the legs extend from the second side surface radially in a repeating manner.
20 . The baby bottle of claim 13 , wherein the ribs in the elongated tip forming helices.