Multiflow Teat-Ring With Anti-Colic Venting and Leak-Tight Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing baby bottles face issues with air ingress and fluid leakage due to impaired polymer materials from repeated sterilization, complex assembly, and handling difficulties, leading to colic and compromised cleanliness.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece teat-ring with a flexible teat and skirt, chemically secured to a rigid ring, featuring anti-colic valves and simplified screw mechanism, mimicking breast-like feeding and ensuring fluid tightness through molecular interaction and overmolding techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the teat and ring are made from separate polymer materials (rigid ring with elastic teat), then the functional characteristics are improved, but the interface between them becomes fragile and loses fluidtightness after repeated sterilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ring and teat into a single monolithic piece made from the same elastomeric polymer material. This eliminates the interface between dissimilar materials that becomes fragile after sterilization, while maintaining the functional characteristics of having a rigid support structure and an elastic feeding portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a single elastomeric polymer material that exhibits both rigid and elastic properties within the same structure. The material has a Shore A hardness between 20-40, providing the necessary combination of flexibility for the teat and structural integrity for the ring, eliminating the need for separate materials.
2Strength
If the ring is made from rigid polymer material, then the structural integrity is improved, but the material impairs after repeated sterilization at 100 degrees C
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from rigid polymer to elastomeric polymer with specific Shore A hardness (20-40). This elastomeric material maintains structural integrity while being more resistant to degradation from repeated sterilization, extending the service life of the baby bottle components.
3Reliability
If the screw threads are made long to ensure sealing, then the fluidtightness is improved, but the handling operation becomes awkward requiring 270-360 degrees rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing function with the cap structure itself rather than relying on long screw threads. The cap is designed with an elastomeric material that provides sealing through compression and deformation, allowing secure closure with minimal rotation and improving ease of operation.
4Duration of action of moving object
If the teat material is made from elastomer of silicone or latex type, then the elasticity and deformability are improved, but the material cracks and deforms after repeated sterilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies an elastomeric polymer material with Shore A hardness between 20-40 that is specifically selected for its resistance to degradation from repeated sterilization. This material maintains its elastic properties and deformability while being more durable than traditional silicone or latex elastomers when subjected to repeated autoclaving or boiling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances feeding similarity to breast-feeding, reduces colic risk, maintains cleanliness, and simplifies handling by ensuring air-tightness and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
The cleaning and sterilization of the various components that make up the baby bottle after use is usually performed by raising said components to approx. 100 degrees C... this repetitive treatment ultimately significantly impairs the properties of the polymer materials employed: change in coefficient of elasticity, cracking, deformation, etc.
Implementation Method 2
raising said components to approx. 100 degrees C, namely by keeping them for a few minutes in water that has been brought to the boil. Evidently, this repetitive treatment ultimately significantly impairs the properties of the polymer materials employed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4
AI summary
In the baby bottle (2) intended for feeding infants, the rigid ring (6) is secured to the external face (9a) of the base of the skirt (7), the ring (6) is arranged in such a way that the opening or, respectively, the closing of the baby bottle (2) is performed by rotation through 90 degrees or less, the ring (6) comprises on its periphery at least two cutouts (6a, 6b) each providing access to a section (7a, 7b) of the base of the skirt through which there are formed two devices (13a, 13b) allowing air to be drawn into the baby bottle, the teat (3) further comprises at its upper end several orifices (3a, 3b, 3c, etc.) acting as milk ducts during suckling. The baby bottle (2) is most generally made up of a teat-ring as defined hereinabove, of a baby bottle body (14) and of a protective cap (15).