Vented baby bottle
Baby bottles can have a single container, or two containers to create a space for thermal isolation, as selected by the user. The baby bottle can be vented to allow air to enter the bottle through a passageway as liquid is removed. A filter and one-way valve can be provided in the passageway. The passageway can be formed by radially aligning a vent opening in a top cap with a vent opening in a nipple flange, or by providing a channel in the top cap which is always in radial alignment with both the top cap vent opening and the flange vent opening.
1. A baby bottle comprising:
a generally barrel shaped container having a circular open top and threads surrounding the outside of the open top;
a top cap having a top portion and a threaded side portion, the threaded side portion being capable of removably securing the top cap to the container, the top portion having a circular central opening and a top cap vent opening between said circular central opening and said side portion;
a nipple having a small opening at one end and a large opening at the other end, means for securing said nipple in said circular central opening of said top portion, a flange surrounding said large opening and extending outwardly therefrom, said flange having an upper side and a lower side, a vent opening passing through said flange from said upper side to said lower side, means on said lower side of said flange for securing a tube to said nipple in communication with said vent opening,
said top cap vent opening, said flange vent opening and said tube creating a passageway from the inside of the container to the outside atmosphere,
at least one filter in said passageway, at least one one-way valve in said passageway, said one-way valve opening to allow atmospheric air to enter the container and closing to prevent liquid in the container from escaping from the container through the passageway,
whereby when said tube is secured to said nipple, said nipple is secured in said top cap, and said top cap is threadably secured to said container, with said nipple flange located between said open top of said container and an underside of said top portion, then said top cap vent opening, said flange vent opening, and said tube are in communication to form said passageway, and the inside of said container is vented through said passageway for the entry of air into said container as liquid is removed therefrom.
2. The baby bottle of claim 1 , wherein said top cap vent opening and said flange vent opening are keyed so as to be aligned when the baby bottle is assembled.
3. The baby bottle of claim 1 , wherein said top cap has a circular channel within said underside of said top portion between said circular central opening and said side portion, said top cap vent opening being in communication with said circular channel, and said vent opening in said flange also being in communication with said circular channel, said circular channel forming part of said passageway, whereby the inside of the container is vented, irrespective of the rotational position of said top cap when the baby bottle is assembled.
4. The baby bottle of claim 3 comprising a plurality of spaced radial protrusions in said circular channel, said radial protrusions partially blocking said circular channel, whereby liquid that enters said circular channel is at least partially obstructed by said radial protrusions and tends to accumulate between adjacent radial protrusions.
5. The baby bottle of claim 1 in which said means for securing said nipple comprises a circumferential indented portion in said nipple above and adjacent said upper side of said flange, said indented portion being sized to fit snugly within said circular central opening of said top cap.
6. The baby bottle of claim 1 in which said filter is located within said top cap vent opening.
7. The baby bottle of claim 1 in which said one-way valve is located within said flange vent opening.
8. The baby bottle of claim 1 in which said nipple is comprised of silicon material.
9. The baby bottle of claim 1 in which said means for securing said tube comprises a circular boss.
10. The baby bottle of claim 3 in which said means for securing said nipple comprises a circumferential indented portion in said nipple above and adjacent said upper side of said flange, said indented portion being sized to fit snugly within said circular central opening of said top cap.
11. The baby bottle of claim 3 in which said filter is located within said top cap vent opening.
12. The baby bottle of claim 3 in which said one-way valve is located within said flange vent opening.
13. The baby bottle of claim 3 in which said nipple is comprised of silicon material.
14. The baby bottle of claim 3 in which said means for securing said tube comprises a circular boss.