One-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges

Abstract

A one-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges is the nipple designed and developed such that a nipple head has milk flow channels configured as curved lines and defining open-close valves to allow infants and children to control milk flow rate by themselves. The flow will not occur without suction, thereby reducing the chance of choking on milk. The one-size-fits-all nipple can be used from newborns to older children, is easy to use, and gives a natural bottle-feeding experience. The one-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges reduces the difficulty for parents of infants and children in choosing the suitable nipple sizes for each age range and also reduces parents' expenses in purchasing nipples.

Description

[0001] Title of the invention

[0002] One-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges

[0003] Field of the invention

[0004] The present invention relates to a one-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges. of the invention

[0005] A nipple is a component that is assembled with a screw cap and a feeding bottle for milk consumption of infants and children. It has a long history of use and has undergone widespread design and development. Natural breastfeeding refers to feeding directly from the mother's breast. If a mother was unable to breastfeed, in ancient civilizations, infants were fed milk from clay containers. Later, in the 19th century, the first glass feeding bottle was invented, along with natural rubber nipples molded to resemble a mother's nipple. Bottle feeding then became widely popular. From the late 20th century to the present, silicone nipples have become the preferred material due to their clarity, softness, durability, safety, and ease of cleaning. Additionally, nipples have been designed and developed in various shapes, sizes, and milk flow rates to meet different needs of infants and children at each stage of development, as follows:

[0006] • Size S nipple: slow milk flow rate, suitable for newborn to 3 -month-old babies

[0007] • Size M nipple: medium milk flow rate, suitable for 3- to 6-month-old babies

[0008] • Size L nipple: fast milk flow rate, suitable for children aged 6 months and older

[0009] Moreover, nipples come in various shapes (narrow base, wide base) and have different configurations of suction holes (single hole with round / cross / Y shape, and multiple holes / lines), making it difficult for parents to choose the suitable nipple for their infants and children. To prevent milk flow from being too fast or too slow, this issue has led to the idea of designing and developing a safe nipple that meets the needs of infants, children, and parents, making bottle feeding more convenient and naturally smooth, thereby improving the well-being of infants and children.

[0010] Summary of the invention

[0011] The present invention is a nipple made of rubber or a flexible plastic material, produced by molding. The main components of the nipple can be divided into three parts:

[0012] 1. Nipple head: the part that the infants suck on, designed to resemble a mother's nipple to familiarize the infants and allow for a natural-like sucking experience. 2. Nipple base: the widest part of the nipple provided at the nipple base with air vents that allow air to replace milk, preventing the nipple from collapsing

[0013] 3. Milk flow channels from the milk bottle into the infants' and children's mouth provided with open-close valves on the nipple head wherein the thickness, quantity, and size of the valves control the milk flow rate allowing for more or less milk depending on the suction force of the infants and children.

[0014] The present invention is inspired by the natural principle of the mother's breast, which allows infants and children to suck at any age. However, with bottle and nipple feeding from the past to the present, it has been found that nipples have multiple suction hole sizes, divided according to the age range of infants and children. This is the concept of the present invention: to develop a nipple by testing it in a laboratory with a milk suction simulator to study various variables affecting the amount of milk. The laboratory test results showed that the number, thickness, and radius of curvature of the open-close valves on the nipple tip significantly affect the milk flow rate. This is demonstrated by the relationship between the suction force from the milk suction simulator and the milk flow rate, as shown in the graph below. of the one-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges compared to exemplary single-suction hole nipples in sizes

[0015] S, M. and L

[0016] The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problem for new parents in choosing a nipple.

[0017] Currently, they must select from a variety of nipple sizes without knowing which suction hole size is appropriate for their infants and children in each age range. If the suction hole is too large, the milk will flow too quickly, causing the children to choke. If the hole is too small, the children must use a lot of effort to suck, which can be tiring. Another issue is the timing of nipple replacement. New parents do not know when to do so because the nipples currently on the market come in many sizes, divided according to the age of the infants and children. The inventor is therefore determined and committed to successfully developing the present invention for practical use, to solve these problems for parents and to benefit infants and children.

[0018] Brief description of the drawings

[0019] Figure 1 shows a view of the nipple base, nipple head, and the open-close valves located on top of the nipple head of the one-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges according to the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 shows a view of the air vents located at the nipple base of the one-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges according to the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 shows a view of the open-close valves located on top of the nipple head and the radius of curvature of the one-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges according to the present invention.

[0022] Figure 4 shows a view of the thickness of the open-close valves located on top of the nipple head of the one-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges according to the present invention.

[0023] Figure 5 shows a simulated view of the operation of the open-close valves located on top of the nipple head of the one-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges according to the present invention.

[0024] Figure 6 shows a view of the feeding bottle, consisting of the bottle, screw cap, and the one-size- fits-all nipple for all age ranges according to the present invention.

[0025] Figure 7 shows a view of the milk flow channels and the simulated milk flow of the one-size-fits- all nipple for all age ranges according to the present invention.

[0026] Detailed description of the invention

[0027] The following examples are provided to show the details of this disclosure, which will be explained according to the accompanying drawings as follows:

[0028] The present embodiments are intended to explain specific examples of the disclosure and include various related technical characteristics. The scope of the present disclosure is not limited to these exemplary embodiments.

[0029] Figure 1 shows the front view of the one-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges according to the present invention, illustrating the structure of the nipple having key components: nipple base (1), nipple head (2), and the open-close valves located on the top of the nipple head (3). Figure 2 shows the bottom view of the one-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges according to the present invention, illustrating the air vents (4) at the nipple base, which allows air to replace milk and prevents the nipple from collapsing while being sucked by infants from newborn up to over 1 year old.

[0030] Figure 3 shows the top view of the one-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges according to the present invention, illustrating the open-close valves on top of the nipple head, showing the curve of the open-close valves (5), which is designed with an appropriate radius of curvature (6), which results in the open-close valves controlling the milk flow rate into the infants' and children's mouth, allowing for more or less amount depending on the infants' and children's suction force.

[0031] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of the open-close valves on the nipple tip of the one- size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges according to the present invention, illustrating the thickness of the open-close valves (7) on the nipple head, which functions to control the milk flow rate into the infants’ and children’s mouth, allowing for more or less amount depending on the infants' and children's suction force.

[0032] Figure 5 shows a simulated operation view of the one-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges according to the present invention, in a cross-sectional side view of the open-close valves on the nipple head according to the present invention. When the infants and children apply a suction force to the nipple head, the open-close valves on the nipple head open (8), allowing milk from the bottle to flow through the nipple into the infants' and children's mouth. When suction force is not applied, the open-close valves on the nipple head close (9), shutting off the milk flow channels of the nipple and milk cannot pass into the infants' and children's mouth.

[0033] Figure 6 shows a 3-dimensional view of the one-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges according to the present invention, illustrating the nipple (12) assembled with the screw cap (11) and the feeding bottle (10) for use.

[0034] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional side view of the one-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges according to the present invention, illustrating the milk flow, consisting of the nipple base (13) provided with the air vents (14), for air intake that allows air to replace milk and prevents the nipple from collapsing while being sucked by infants and children, connected to the wall of the nipple body (15) and to the wall of the nipple head (16), which has the open-close valves on top thereof. These valves function as valves to control opening (17) of the milk flow channels and to regulate the milk flow rate into the infants' and children's mouth, providing more or less amount depending on the infants' and children's suction force.

Claims

Claims1. A one-size-fits-all nipple for all age ranges having 3 to 8 milk flow channels for newborn to over1 year old babies consisting of a nipple head (2), a nipple base (1), and air vents (4) characterized in that the top of the nipple head (3) is perforated to form milk flow channels configured into curved lines (5) and define open-close valves having a radius of curvature (6) of from 0.30 to 0.80 millimeters and a thickness of the open-close valves (7) of from 0.60 to 0.95 millimeters which function as valves to control opening (8) and closing (9) of the milk flow channels and to regulate the milk flow rate into the infants' and children's mouth, providing more or less amount depending on the infant's and child's suction force, if the infants and children does not apply suction, milk will not flow.

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