Squeezable leak proof feeding bottle
View Patent ↗A reusable food pouch having a removably insertable one-way valve is disclosed herein. The one-way valve may be used with the reusable food pouch if food product having a water-like consistency is being stored in the reusable food pouch to prevent spills if the reusable food pouch is inadvertently laid on its side. Conversely, the one-way valve may be removed from the reusable food pouch if the food product has a consistency more like thick oatmeal and/or applesauce to allow for free flow of the food product through a spout of the reusable food pouch.
1. A container for holding flowable food product, the container comprising:
a deformable receptacle having a cavity for holding the flowable food product, the deformable receptacle having a closed bottom and an opening at an upper end of the deformable receptacle;
a rigid cover attachable to the deformable receptacle, the rigid cover having a reduced narrow spout for forcing the flowable food product out of the spout and into a mouth of a person;
a valve fabricated from a flexible material, the valve being removably disposable between the deformable receptacle and the rigid cover, the valve having an opening aligned to the spout when the valve is disposed between the deformable receptacle and the rigid cover for forcing the flowable food product out of the opening and the spout, the valve defining an upper surface, the upper surface of the valve contacts an interior surface of the rigid cover at the reduced narrow spout of the rigid cover to form a seal between the upper surface of the valve and the interior surface of the rigid cover;
wherein the valve is disposed between the deformable receptacle and the rigid cover for flowing flowable food products through the opening and the spout of the rigid cover, and the valve is removed from between the deformable receptacle and the rigid cover for flowing the flowable food products with solid materials mixed with the flowable food products through the spout of the rigid cover.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein the interior surface of the rigid cover has a funnel shape that leads to the spout having a straight cylindrical configuration.
3. The container of claim 2 wherein the valve is a one way valve which has the upper surface, the upper surface has a configuration identical to the interior surface of the rigid cover.
4. The container of claim 2 wherein the valve is a one way valve which has an outwardly protruding rib that engages the interior surface of the rigid cover at the spout.
5. The container of claim 2 wherein the rigid cover has a downwardly protruding lip extending from the interior surface circumscribing the valve when the valve is seated on the interior surface of the rigid cover.
6. The container of claim 5 wherein the valve has a lower surface and a pull tab extends below the lower surface in order to remove the valve from the rigid cover when the valve is seated on the rigid cover.
7. The container of claim 1 wherein the rigid cover has a lid that engages with the spout to stop flow of the flowable food product through the spout when the lid is engaged to the spout and to allow flow of the flowable food product through the spout when the lid is disengaged from the spout.
8. The container of claim 1 wherein the valve is a one way valve having a cross slit formed in a membrane.
9. A method of providing a flowable food product to a toddler, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a receptacle, a collar, a rigid cover and a one way valve with an opening, the rigid cover having a spout which is alignable to the opening of the one way valve, an upper surface of the one way valve contactable with an interior surface of the rigid cover, the toddler capable of sucking out the flowable food product disposed within the receptacle through the opening of the one way valve and spout, the collar and rigid cover capable of forming a seal with a flange portion of the receptacle so that a seal is formed between the rigid cover, flange portion of the receptacle and the collar;
inserting the flange portion of the receptacle through the collar;
filling the receptacle with the flowable food product;
aligning the opening of the one way valve and the spout so that the flowable food product flows out of the opening of the one way valve and the spout;
disposing the one way valve between the flange portion of the receptacle and the rigid cover so that the flowable food product flows out of the spout when sidewalls of the receptacle are being compressed or suction is formed at the spout;
fastening the rigid cover on the collar so as to compress the flange portion of the receptacle between the rigid cover and the collar to form the seal with the flange portion.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the method further comprises the step of flowing the flowable food product out of the receptacle and through the opening of the one way valve and the spout.
11. A method of providing a flowable food product to a toddler, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a receptacle, a collar, a rigid cover and a one way valve with an opening, the rigid cover having a spout which is alignable to the opening of the one way valve, an upper surface of the one way valve contactable with an interior surface of the rigid cover, the toddler capable of sucking out the flowable food product disposed within the receptacle through the opening of the one way valve and the spout, the collar and rigid cover capable of forming a seal with a flange portion of the receptacle;
inserting the flange portion of the receptacle through the collar;
filling the receptacle with a fluid having a viscosity about equal to a viscosity of a puree of vegetable and fruits;
removing the one way valve between the flange portion of the receptacle and the rigid cover so that the flowable food product does flow out of the spout without pressure on sidewalls of the receptacle;
fastening the rigid cover on the collar so as to compress the flange portion of the receptacle between the rigid cover and the collar to form the seal with the flange portion.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the method further comprises the step of flowing the flowable food product out of the receptacle and through the spout.