Orthodontic feeding nipple

Abstract

An orthodontic feeding nipple adapted for attachment to a feeding bottle, said feeding nipple having a monolithic, single-walled hollow body, e.g. of a thermoplastic elastomer. The body has an annular securing flange at a base end of the body. An inner contour of the flange defines an inlet opening for liquid into said feeding nipple. The body has a hollow shell portion integral with the flange at the inner contour thereof. The shell portion has a lower shell portion, a central shell portion, and a top shell portion. The top shell portion includes a dispensing holes containing wall section that is provided with a group of multiple liquid dispensing holes.

Description

[0001] ORTHODONTIC FEEDING NIPPLE

[0002] The present invention relates to an orthodontic feeding nipple adapted to be attached to a feeding bottle.

[0003] It has been found that known orthodontic feeding nipples e.g. as disclosed in WO 2012 / 038526 are not entirely satisfactory. In particular the tear resistance of the feeding nipple maybe unsatisfactory, e.g. when the nipple is made of a thermoplastic elastomer.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide an improved orthodontic feeding nipple, e.g. with an improved tear resistance.

[0005] The invention provides an orthodontic feeding nipple according to claim 1.

[0006] The orthodontic feeding nipple provides an improved tear resistance by having a larger wall thickness at and in the proximity of the second axis in the mouth engagement zone of the elongate central shell portion. During use, potentially one or more teeth of a child may engage the mouth engagement zone at and near the second axis, the localised stresses will therefore be significantly higher near these areas. In order to provide this increase in tear resistance while also reducing the amount of material used, a relatively smaller wall thickness is present at and near the first axis of the mouth engagement zone which relatively smaller wall thickness is also present in for the bulbous top shell portion, while the larger wall thickness is only present near the second axis at the mouth engagement zone.

[0007] In an embodiment, the upper transition zone starts at the point of the mouth engagement zone where the wall thickness at the second axis starts to decrease. Optionally, in the upper transition zone the wall thickness at the first axis remains constant, e.g. the wall thickness being equal to the wall thickness of the bulbous top shell portion adjacent to the inlet opening of the convex lower portion of the bulbous top shell portion.

[0008] In an embodiment, the lower shell portion has a constant cross-section over its height, or a slightly inward tapering cross-section such that the internal cross-section at the upper end of the lower shell portion is at least 80% of the internal cross-section of the lower shell inlet opening. Optionally, the lower shell portion has a constant wall thickness over its entire height. In an embodiment, the wall thickness at the first axis in the mouth engagement zone is between 1.20 to 1.22 mm, and the wall thickness at the second axis in the mouth engagement zone is between 1.24 to 1.26 mm.

[0009] The elongate central shell portion further has a lower transition zone which is arranged between the mouth engagement zone and the lower shell portion. The wall thickness of the transition zone of the central shell portion at the second axis decreases from a wall thickness which is equal to the wall thickness of the mouth engagement zone at the second axis to a wall thickness which is equal to a wall thickness of the lower shell portion adjacent to the lower shell outlet opening. Optionally, the lower transition zone extends over a maximum of 10% of the central length of the central shell portion. Optionally, the wall thickness of the lower central shell portion is substantially similar to the wall thickness of the mouth engagement zone at the first axis.

[0010] In an embodiment, the mouth engagement zone extends over at least 50% of the central length of the elongate central shell portion.

[0011] In an embodiment, the upper transition zone extends over a maximum of 10% of the central length of the elongate central shell portion.

[0012] In an embodiment, multiple, e.g. three bosses are arranged at the lower side of the lower shell portion. The bosses protrude outwards from the lower shell portion. Said bosses allow for easier engagement of the feeding nipple by a union nut or other engagement device which releasably connects the nipple to the body.

[0013] In an embodiment, the annular securing flange is further provided with a ventilation feature, e.g. a ventilation hole, this ventilation hole allows - when installed on a feeding bottle - air to enter the feeding bottle making it possible for a liquid to be sucked out of the dispenser hole (s).

[0014] In an embodiment, the body is made of a thermoplastic elastomer.

[0015] In an embodiment, the dispenser hole or group of dispenser holes in the bulbous top shell portion is aligned with the second axis of the elliptical outer contour of the elongate central shell portion. In an embodiment, the feeding nipple is symmetrical relative to a plane encompassing the second axes of the elliptical outer contour of the elongate shell portion over the length of these second axes.

[0016] In an embodiment, the bulbous top shell portion is non-symmetrical relative to a plane encompassing the first axes of the elliptical outer contour of the elongate shell portion over the length of these first axes.

[0017] In an embodiment, the bulbous top shell portion has a bulb tip, which bulb tip is arranged eccentrically in the bulbous top shell portion.

[0018] In an embodiment, the wall thickness of the elongate central shell portion gradually increases from one of the points of the first pair to one of the points of the second pair.

[0019] In an embodiment, the wall thickness is constant over a part of the cross section of the central shell portion, which part optionally extends over an area on both sides of at least one of the two opposite points of the second pair.

[0020] In an embodiment, the wall thickness of the central shell portion at the second axis is at least 1.5% larger than the wall thickness at the first axis.

[0021] In an embodiment, the annular securing flange has an upper face on the side facing the lower shell portion, and the lower shell portion extends over a height of between 8 and 14 millimeters with respect to the upper face of the securing flange.

[0022] In an embodiment, the elongate central shell portion extends over a height between 8 and 14 millimeters between the lower shell portion and the bulbous top shell portion.

[0023] In an embodiment, the bulbous top shell portion forms a tip end of the feeding nipple at a height of between 33 and 40 millimeters with respect to the upper face of the annular securing flange.

[0024] In an embodiment, the at least one dispenser hole is part of a group of multiple distinct dispenser holes, which group optionally is formed by or comprises three dispenser holes in a triangular arrangement. In an embodiment, the bulbous top shell portion includes a non-recessed wall section in which the at least one dispenser hole is provided. The wall section is of substantially uniform wall thickness in the region of the at least one dispenser hole or the group of dispenser holes, and has an outer face. The outer face of the wall section is arranged at an angle between 30° and 40° with respect to a reference plane normal to the plane of the securing flange, preferably between 33° and 38°. The wall section is arranged directly adjacent to a tip end of the nipple, e.g. within 3 millimetres from the tip end.

[0025] In an embodiment, the bulbous top shell portion furthermore comprises an opposed wall section opposite the wall section which comprises the dispenser hole or group of dispenser holes. The wall sections of the bulbous top shell portion generally form - in vertical crosssection view of the nipple in a median plane of the nipple - an inverted V with said wall sections having an angle between 75° and 95° to one another.

[0026] The invention further relates to a feeding bottle that is provided with the orthodontic feeding nipple described herein.

[0027] The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing the orthodontic feeding nipple described herein, wherein the monolithic single-walled hollow body is manufactured by injection moulding.

[0028] The present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows the orthodontic feeding nipple in perspective view, Fig. 2 shows the feeding nipple from above, Fig. 3 shows the feeding nipple in front view, Fig. 4 shows the feeding nipple in side view, Fig. 5 shows the feeding nipple in rear view,

[0029] Fig. 6 shows the feeding nipple in side view wherein the different portions of the body have been indicated,

[0030] Fig. 7 shows a vertical cross-section of the feeding nipple,

[0031] Fig. 8 shows a horizontal cross-section of the mouth engagement zone, Fig. 9 shows an enlarged view of the tip end region of the feeding nipple.

[0032] The orthodontic feeding nipple 1 is adapted to be attached to a feeding bottle.

[0033] The feeding nipple 1 has has a monolithic, single-walled hollow body of thermoplastic elastic material, e.g. thermoplastic elastomer, that was formed via injection moulding. The body has an annular securing flange 2 at a base end of the body, the securing flange 2 having an upper face 2a. The body furthermore has a hollow shell portion integral with said annular securing flange 2.

[0034] The hollow shell portion has a lower shell portion 3, an elongate central shell portion 4, and a bulbous top shell portion 5, which are clearly shown in Figure 6.

[0035] The lower shell portion 3 is arranged between the annular securing flange 2 and the elongate central shell portion 4. The lower shell portion 3 has a circular lower shell inlet opening 3a on a side facing the annular securing flange 2 and a circular lower shell outlet opening 3b on a side facing the elongate central shell portion 4. The lower shell portion 3 has a rotational symmetrical wall between the inlet and outlet openings 3a, 3b.

[0036] The elongate central shell portion 4 is arranged between the lower shell portion 3 and the bulbous top shell portion 5. The central shell portion 4 has an outer surface 4a, a circular central shell inlet opening 4b with a center point 6 on the side facing the lower shell portion 3 and an elongate central shell outlet opening 4c on the side facing the bulbous top shell portion 5. The elongate central shell portion has a longitudinal axis 7 which extends perpendicular to the securing flange 2 and through center point 6 of the circular elongate central shell inlet opening 4b.

[0037] The outer surface 4a of the elongate central shell portion 4 has a concave shape in each cross-sectional plane which contains the longitudinal axis 7, and wherein the elongate central shell inlet opening 4b is in communication with the lower shell outlet opening.

[0038] The elongate central shell portion 4 has a central length along the longitudinal axis 7 between the center point 6 of the elongate central shell inlet opening 4b and a transition point 8 between the elongate central shell portion 4 and the bulbous top shell portion 5.

[0039] The bulbous top shell portion 6 has an upper dispenser portion 10 and a convex lower portion 9.. The convex lower portion 9 has a convex outer surface 9a and an bulbous top shell inlet opening 9b which is in communication with the elongate central shell outlet opening 4c, and which convex lower portion 9 adjoins the elongate central shell portion 4.

[0040] The upper dispenser portion 10 comprises a group of three distinct dispenser holes 21 arranged in a triangular arrangement. The bulbous top shell portion 5 has a minimum wall thickness.

[0041] The elongate central shell portion 4 has a wall thickness, and wherein the mouth engagement zone 11 has in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis a cross-sectional shape having a generally elliptical outer contour, shown in Figure 8. The cross-sectional shape has a first axis a1 connecting a first pair of two opposite points p1, p2 on the generally elliptical outer contour with each other, and a second axis a2 connecting a second pair of two opposite points p3, p4 on the generally elliptical outer contour with each other.

[0042] The two opposite points of the first pair p1, p2 are those two opposite points on the generally elliptical outer contour that have the largest distance between each other of any pair of two opposite points on the generally elliptical outer contour.

[0043] The two opposite points of the second pair p3, p4 are those two opposite points on the generally elliptical outer contour that have the smallest distance between each other of any pair of two opposite points on the outer surface in the cross-sectional shape.

[0044] The elongate central shell portion 4 has a mouth engagement zone which extends over a section of the central length of the elongate central shell portion. The wall thickness t1 of the elongate central shell portion 4 at the first axis a1 is at least the same as the minimum wall thickness of the convex lower portion 9 of the bulbous top shell portion 5. The wall thickness t2 of the elongate central shell portion 4 at the second axis a2 is larger than the wall thickness at the first axis a1.

[0045] The elongate central shell portion 4 further has an upper transition zone 12 which is arranged between the mouth engagement zone 11 and the bulbous top shell portion 14, in which upper transition zone 12 the wall thickness of the elongate central shell portion at the second axis a2 decreases from a wall thickness which is equal to the wall thickness of the mouth engagement zone 11 at the second axis a2 to a wall thickness which is equal to the wall thickness of the bulbous top shell portion 5 adjacent to the bulbous top shell inlet opening 9b of the convex lower portion 9 of the bulbous top shell portion 5.

[0046] In the shown embodiment, three bosses 15 are arranged at the lower side of the lower shell portion 3. The bosses 15 protrude outwards from the lower shell portion 3. The bosses 15 allow for easier engagement of the feeding nipple 1 by a union nut. The annular securing flange 2 is further provided with a ventilation hole 16, this ventilation hole 16 allows - when installed on a feeding bottle - air to enter the feeding bottle making it possible for a liquid to be sucked out of the dispenser hole 21.

[0047] The upper transition zone 12 starts at the point of the mouth engagement zone 11 where the wall thickness t2 at the second axis a2 starts to decrease. In the upper transition zone 12 the wall thickness t1 at the first axis a1 remains constant, the wall thickness t1 being equal to the wall thickness of the bulbous top shell portion 5 adjacent to the inlet opening 9b of the convex lower portion 9 of the bulbous top shell portion.

[0048] The lower shell portion 3 has a slightly inward tapering cross-section such that the internal cross-section at the upper end of the lower shell portion is at least 80% of the internal crosssection of the lower shell inlet opening 31 . The lower shell portion 3 has a constant wall thickness over its entire height as can be seen in Figure 7.

[0049] The wall thickness t1 at the first axis a1 in the mouth engagement zone is between 1.20 to 1.22 mm, and the wall thickness t2 at the second axis a2 in the mouth engagement zone 11 is between 1.24 to 1.26 mm.

[0050] In the shown embodiment, the elongate central shell portion 4 further has a lower transition zone 13 which is arranged between the mouth engagement zone 11 and the lower shell portion 3. The wall thickness t2 of the transition zone 13 of the elongate central shell portion 4 at the second axis a2 decreases from a wall thickness which is equal to the wall thickness of the mouth engagement zone 11 at the second axis a2 to a wall thickness which is equal to a wall thickness of the lower shell portion 3 adjacent to the lower shell outlet opening 4b. The lower transition zone extends over approximately 10% of the central length of the elongate central shell portion 4.

[0051] The mouth engagement zone extends over at approximately 80% of the central length of the elongate central shell portion 4 and the upper transition zone 12 extends over approximately 10% of the central length of the elongate central shell portion.

[0052] The three dispenser openings 21 arranged in the bulbous top shell portion 5 is aligned with the second axis a2 of the elliptical outer contour of the elongate central shell portion 4. The feeding nipple 1 is symmetrical relative to a plane encompassing the second axes a2 of the elliptical outer contour of the elongate shell portion 4 over the length of these second axes.

[0053] The bulbous top shell portion 5 is non-symmetrical relative to a plane encompassing the first axes a1 of the elliptical outer contour of the elongate shell portion over the length of these first axes.

[0054] In the shown embodiment, the bulbous top shell portion 5 has a bulb tip 17, which bulb tip is arranged eccentrically in the bulbous top shell portion, as can be clearly seen in Figure 2.

[0055] As shown in Figure 8, the wall thickness of the elongate central shell portion gradually increases from one of the points of the first pair p1 , p2 to one of the points of the second pair p3, p4.

[0056] The annular securing flange 2 has an upper face 2a on the side facing the lower shell portion 3, and the lower shell portion 3 extends over a height of between 8 and 14 millimeters with respect to the upper face 2a of the securing flange.

[0057] The elongate central shell portion 4 extends over a height between 8 and 14 millimeters between the lower shell portion 3 and the bulbous top shell portion 5.

[0058] The bulbous top shell portion 5 forms a tip end of the feeding nipple 1 at a height of between 33 and 40 millimeters with respect to the upper face 2a of the annular securing flange.

[0059] As shown in Figure 9, the bulbous top shell portion 5 includes a non-recessed wall section 18 in which the at least three dispenser holes 21 is provided. The wall section 18 is of substantially uniform wall thickness in the region of the three dispenser holes 21 and has an outer face 18a. The outer face 18a of the wall section is arranged at an angle of 36° with respect to a reference plane normal 19 to the plane of the securing flange 2. The wall section 18 is arranged directly adjacent to a tip end of the nipple.

[0060] The bulbous top shell portion 5 furthermore comprises an opposed wall section 20 opposite the wall section 18 which comprises the three dispenser holes 21. The wall sections 18, 20 of the bulbous top shell portion 5 generally form - in vertical cross-section view of the nipple in a median plane of the nipple - an inverted V with said wall sections having an angle of 75° with respect to each other.

Claims

C L A I M S1. Orthodontic feeding nipple (1) adapted for attachment to a feeding bottle, said feeding nipple having a monolithic single-walled hollow body, e.g. being made of thermoplastic elastomer material, said body having an annular securing flange (2) at a base end of the body and having a hollow shell portion integral with said annular securing flange, wherein the hollow shell portion has a lower shell portion (3), an elongate central shell portion (4), and a bulbous top shell portion (5), wherein the lower shell portion (3) is arranged between the annular securing flange (2) and the elongate central shell portion (4), and wherein the lower shell portion has a circular lower shell inlet opening (3a) on a side facing the annular securing flange and a circular lower shell outlet opening (3b) on a side facing the elongate central shell portion, and has a rotational symmetrical wall between the inlet and outlet opening, wherein the elongate central shell portion (4) is arranged between the lower shell portion (3) and the bulbous top shell portion (5), and wherein the central shell portion has an outer surface (4a), a circular central shell inlet opening (4b) with a center point (6) on the side facing the lower shell portion and a central shell outlet opening (4c) on the side facing the bulbous top shell portion, wherein the central shell portion has a longitudinal axis (7) which extends perpendicular to the securing flange (2) and through the center point (6) of the circular central shell inlet opening (4b), wherein the outer surface (4a) of the central shell portion has a concave shape in each cross- sectional plane which contains the longitudinal axis (7), and wherein the central shell inlet opening (4b) is in communication with the lower shell outlet opening (3b), wherein the elongate central shell portion has a central length along the longitudinal axis between the center point of the central shell inlet opening and a transition plane between the elongate central shell portion and the bulbous top shell portion, wherein the bulbous top shell portion (5) has an upper dispenser portion (10) and a convex lower portion (9), which upper dispenser portion comprises at least one dispenser hole (21), andwhich convex lower portion (9) has a convex outer surface and an bulbous top shell inlet opening (9b) which is in communication with the elongate central shell outlet opening (4c), and which convex lower portion adjoins the elongate central shell portion, wherein the bulbous top shell portion has a minimum wall thickness, wherein the elongate central shell portion (4) has a mouth engagement zone (11) which extends over at least 50% of the central length of the elongate central shell portion, and wherein the mouth engagement zone has in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (7) a cross-sectional shape having a generally elliptical outer contour, wherein the cross- sectional shape has a first axis (a1) connecting a first pair of two opposite points (p1, p2) on the generally elliptical outer contour with each other, and a second axis (a2) connecting a second pair of two opposite points (p3, p4) on the generally elliptical outer contour with each other, wherein the two opposite points of the first pair (p1, p2) are those two opposite points on the generally elliptical outer contour that have the largest distance between each other of any pair of two opposite points on the generally elliptical outer contour, wherein the two opposite points of the second pair (p3, p4) are those two opposite points on the generally elliptical outer contour that have the smallest distance between each other of any pair of two opposite points on the outer surface in the cross-sectional shape, wherein the wall thickness (t1) at the first axis (a1) is at least the same as the minimum wall thickness of the convex lower portion (9) of the bulbous top shell portion, and wherein the wall thickness (t2) at the second axis (a2) is larger than the wall thickness at the first axis, wherein the elongate central shell portion further has an upper transition zone (12) which is arranged between the mouth engagement zone (11) and the bulbous top shell portion (5), in which upper transition zone the wall thickness of the central shell portion at the second axis decreases from a wall thickness which is equal to the wall thickness (t2) of the mouth engagement zone at the second axis (a2) to a wall thickness which is equal to the wall thickness of the bulbous top shell portion (5) adjacent to the bulbous top shell inlet opening of the convex lower portion of the bulbous top shell portion, wherein the elongate central shell portion further has a lower transition zone (13) which is arranged between the mouth engagement zone (4) and the lower shell portion (3), in whichlower transition zone the wall thickness of the central shell portion at the second axis decreases from a wall thickness which is equal to the wall thickness of the mouth engagement zone at the second axis to a wall thickness of the lower shell portion adjacent to the lower shell outlet opening, wherein optionally the lower transition zone extends over a maximum of 10% of the central length of the elongate central shell portion.

2. Orthodontic feeding nipple according to claim 1 , wherein the upper transition zone extends over a maximum of 10% of the central length of the elongate central shell portion.

3. Orthodontic feeding nipple according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the feeding nipple is made of a thermoplastic elastomer.

4. Orthodontic feeding nipple according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the dispenser hole (21) or group of dispenser holes in the bulbous top shell portion is aligned with the second axis (a2) of the elliptical outer contour of the elongate central shell portion.

5. Orthodontic feeding nipple according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the bulbous top shell portion (5) is non-symmetrical relative to a plane encompassing the first axes (a1) of the elliptical outer contour of the elongate shell portion over the length of these first axes.

6. Orthodontic feeding nipple according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the bulbous top shell portion (5) has a bulb tip, which bulb tip is arranged eccentrically in the bulbous top shell portion.

7. Orthodontic feeding nipple according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the wall thickness of the elongate central shell portion gradually increases from one of the points of the first pair (p1 , p2) to one of the points of the second pair (p3, p4).

8. Orthodontic feeding nipple according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the wall thickness is constant over a part of the cross section of the elongate central shell portion, which part optionally extends over an area on both sides of at least one of the two opposite points of the second pair.

9. Orthodontic feeding nipple according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the wall thickness of the elongate central shell portion at the second axis is at least 1.5% larger than the wall thickness at the first axis.

10. Orthodontic feeding nipple according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the annular securing flange (2) has an upper face (2a) on the side facing the lower shell portion, and the lower shell portion (3) extends over a height of between 8 and 14 millimeters with respect to the upper face of the securing flange.

11. Orthodontic feeding nipple according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate central shell portion extends over a height between 8 and 14 millimeters between the lower shell portion and the bulbous top shell portion.

12. Orthodontic feeding nipple according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the annular securing flange has an upper face on the side facing the lower shell portion, and wherein the bulbous top shell portion forms a tip end of the feeding nipple at a height of between 33 and 40 millimeters with respect to the upper face of the annular securing flange.

13. Orthodontic feeding nipple according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one dispenser hole (21) is part of a group of multiple distinct dispenser holes, which group optionally is formed by or comprises three dispenser holes in a triangular arrangement.

14. Orthodontic feeding nipple according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the bulbous top shell portion includes a non-recessed wall section (18) in which the at least one dispenser hole (21) is provided, wherein said wall section is of substantially uniform wall thickness in the region of the at least one dispenser hole or the group of dispenser holes, and has an outer face (18a), and wherein the outer face of the wall section is arranged at an angle between 30° and 40° with respect to a reference plane (19) normal to the plane of the securing flange, preferably between 33° and 38°, wherein said wall section is arranged directly adjacent to a tip end of the nipple, e.g. within 3 millimetres from the tip end.

15. Orthodontic feeding nipple according to claim 14, wherein the bulbous top shell portion furthermore comprises an opposed wall section (20) opposite the wall section which comprises the dispenser hole or group of dispenser holes, and wherein - in vertical crosssection view of the nipple in a median plane of the nipple - said wall sections of the bulboustop shell portion generally form an inverted V with said wall sections having an angle between 75° and 95° to one another.

16. Feeding bottle provided with a feeding nipple according to one or more of the preceding claims.

17. Method for manufacturing an orthodontic feeding nipple according to any of the claims 1-16, wherein the monolithic, single-walled hollow body is manufactured by injection moulding.

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