Modular Teat Unit With Detachable Base And Integrated Vent Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing teat units for baby bottles are limited in variability and cannot meet the needs of premature babies or infants with difficult drinking habits, as they often compromise on functionalities such as optimal milk flow, safe closing, ventilation, easy attachment, and ease of cleaning due to complex structures and high manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A modular teat unit design consisting of a flexible teat, a dimensionally stable receiving head, and a base part connected via a detachable plug connection, allowing for flexible optimization of various functionalities without affecting others, enabling different teat and receiving head shapes, valve placements, and manufacturing cost reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex structure with multiple components is used to optimize specific functionalities (valve, ventilation, flow control), then the functional performance is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components (valve, ventilation system, flow control elements, and teat) into a single integrated receiving head made of elastomeric material. This merging of previously separate components into one multifunctional unit reduces device complexity while maintaining all necessary functionalities for controlled milk flow, ventilation, and safe closing.
2Device complexity
If the teat is attached directly to the bottle neck without an intermediate ring, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of attachment and removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving head serves multiple functions simultaneously: it attaches to the bottle neck via threaded ring, holds the teat, provides ventilation, controls milk flow through integrated valve mechanisms, and ensures safe closing. This multifunctional design eliminates the need for separate intermediate components while maintaining ease of attachment and removal.
3Reliability
If thick-walled teat design is used to ensure durability and safe closing, then the reliability is improved, but the manufacturing difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving head is made of elastomeric material that provides both the necessary mechanical strength for safe closing and durability, while allowing for easier manufacturing compared to thick-walled rigid teat designs. The elastomeric material's inherent flexibility and strength properties achieve reliable sealing without requiring excessive wall thickness.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
A suction nipple unit comprises a flexible suction nipple (4), a receiving head (3), and a dimensionally stable base part (2). The suction nipple (4) is arranged on the receiving head (3). The receiving head (3) and the base part (2) are detachably connected to each other. A vent valve (23, 38) is provided, which is arranged in, held in, or can be inserted through the base part (2).