WO2005004788A1

WO2005004788A1 - Silicon baby bottle

Info

Publication number: WO2005004788A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/000854
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kyung-Sung Cho
Original assignee: Kyung-Sung Cho
Priority date: 2003-07-15
Filing date: 2004-04-14
Publication date: 2005-01-20
Also published as: KR200332505Y1

Abstract

Disclosed is a silicon baby bottle capable of preventing an environmental hormone, which is detrimental to human bodies, from affecting infants even when the bottle is disinfected in boiling water by fitting and coupling a bottle coupler onto an outer peripheral surface of a silicon baby bottle and coupling a nipple cap, which is fitted with a nipple, onto the bottle coupler so that powdered milk is kept away from plastic material. The silicon baby bottle comprises: a bottle body made of a silicon material; a bottle coupler adapted to be coupled onto the bottle body; a nipple cap adapted to be coupled onto the bottle coupler; and a nipple coupled onto the nipple cap.

Description

SILICON BABY BOTTLE

Technical Field The present invention relates to a silicon baby bottle, and more particularly to a silicon baby bottle made of a silicon material which does not generate an environmental hormone.

Background Art In general, baby bottles are used to feed new-born babies and toddlers (hereinafter, referred to as "infants") with powdered milk, instead of mother's milk, which is necessary for their growth. Recently, it has been widespread to feed infants with powdered milk, rather than with mother's milk. This happens when a woman wants to keep in a good shape even after delivery, as well as when it is considered convenient to use powered milk. Such a choice may be even unavoidable when a woman has a job. A baby bottle for feeding powered milk will now be describe with reference to accompanied drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional baby bottle. A conventional baby bottle 10 is, as shown FIG. 1, composed of a bottle body 11, which is made of a synthetic resin and has a cylindrical volume for containing powdered milk necessary for baby, and a nipple cap 12, which is adapted to be screwed on and removed from the bottle body 11 and is used to fasten a nipple

13, which is made of a silicon material, on the bottle body 11. The nipple 13 is made of a soft material (silicon) and is provided with a nipple aperture 14 so that an infant can suck powered milk contained in the bottle body 11 with mouth for intake. The nipple cap 12 is provided with an opening (not shown) so that the nipple 13 can be fitted therein and then fastened on the bottle body 11. As the nipple cap 12 is rotated and coupled on the bottle body 11, the nipple 13 is tightly fastened on the bottle body 11. The bottle body 11, which is fitted with the nipple 13, further includes a bottle cap (not shown) adapted to be fitted on an outer peripheral surface of the nipple cap 12 to prevent the nipple 13 from being contaminated by alien substance. The conventional baby bottle 10 is generally made of a transparent plastic material and has a pouring opening formed on its upper portion so that powdered milk can be poured into and contained in it. The nipple cap 12 is fitted with the nipple 13 and then fastened on the bottle body 11. Such a conventional baby bottle 10 is made of a plastic material which is inexpensive, light, and not easily broken. Once used, the baby bottle 10 is subject to a disinfection treatment by dipping it into boiling water. Otherwise, an infant, who has no immunity yet, may be infected with germs through the baby bottle 10. However, conventional baby bottles 10, which are made of a plastic material, have a problem in that they generate an environmental hormone, which is detrimental to human bodies, when they are disinfected in boiling water. As has been known in the academic world through experiments, when a plastic material is subject to heating, it generates an environmental hormone. It can be a serious problem if such an environmental hormone is transferred to an infant's body through powdered milk.

Disclosure of the Invention Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above- mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a silicon baby bottle capable of preventing an environmental hormone, which is detrimental to human bodies, from affecting infants by fitting and coupling a bottle coupler onto an outer peripheral surface of a silicon baby bottle and coupling a nipple cap, which is fitted with a nipple, onto the bottle coupler so that powdered milk is kept away from plastic material. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a silicon baby bottle comprising: a bottle body made of a silicon material; a bottle coupler adapted to be coupled onto the bottle body; a nipple cap adapted to be coupled onto the bottle coupler; and a nipple coupled onto the nipple cap. The bottle body includes: a body portion for containing powdered milk necessary for baby; a pouring opening formed in an upper portion of the body portion; and a protrusion portion formed along the pouring opening. The bottle coupler includes: a body portion adapted to receive a portion of the bottle body therein; a lower insertion opening formed in a lower portion of the body portion and adapted to receive the bottle body into the body portion; and an upper insertion opening formed in an upper portion of the body portion and adapted to guide the protrusion portion of the bottle body, which has been inserted into the body portion, so that it protrudes to the outside. The each of an outer peripheral surface of the upper insertion opening of the bottle coupler and a corresponding inner surface of the nipple cap is provided with a threaded groove which can be fastened together.

Brief Description of the Drawings The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional baby bottle; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a silicon baby bottle according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the silicon baby bottle shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a silicon baby bottle according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 5 is an assembled perspective view of the silicon baby bottle shown in FIG. 4.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a silicon baby bottle 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the silicon baby bottle 100 shown in FIG. 2. The silicon baby bottle 100 comprises, as shown in FIGs. 2 and 3, a bottle body 110 made of a silicon material; a bottle coupler 120 adapted to be coupled onto the bottle body 110; a nipple cap 130 adapted to be coupled onto the bottle coupler 120; a nipple 140 coupled onto the nipple cap 130; and a bottle cap 150 adapted to be coupled on the nipple cap 130. The bottle body 110, which is made of a silicon material, includes a body portion 110a for containing powered milk necessary for baby; a pouring opening 110b formed in an upper portion of the body portion 110b; and a protrusion portion 110c formed along the pouring opening 110b. The bottle coupler 120 includes a body portion 120a adapted to receive a portion of the bottle body 110 therein; a lower insertion opening 120b formed in a lower portion of the body portion 120a and adapted to receive the bottle body 110 into the body portion 120a; an upper insertion opening 120c formed in an upper portion of the body portion 120a and adapted to guide the protrusion portion 110c of the bottle body 110, which has been inserted into the body portion 120a, so that it protrudes to the outside; and a threaded groove 120d formed on an outer peripheral surface of the insertion opening 120c. The nipple cap 130 includes, as shown in FIG. 3, a cylindrical body portion

130a; a nipple fitting opening 130b formed in an upper portion of the body portion 130a to fit the nipple 140 therein; a protrusion portion 130c formed in a lower portion of the body portion 130a; and a threaded groove 130d formed in an inner portion of the body portion 130a. The nipple 140 is made of a silicon material and is provided with a nipple aperture 140a so that an infant can suck milk. The nipple 140 is fitted and fastened into the nipple fitting opening 130b before the nipple cap 130 is coupled onto the bottle coupler 120. The nipple fitting opening 130b is larger than a stopper step 130c of the nipple 140. As a result, when the nipple 140 is fitted through the nipple fitting opening 130b and is exposed to the outside, the stopper step 130c keeps the nipple 140 secured on the nipple cap 130. The threaded groove 120d, which is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the upper insertion opening 120c of the bottle coupler 120, and the threaded groove 130d, which is formed on an inner surface of the nipple cap 130, are complementary and adapted to be coupled together by rotation. The bottle cap 150 is tightly fastened and coupled onto the outer peripheral surface of the nipple cap 130. The silicon baby bottle 100, as configured above, is assembled by fitting and coupling the bottle coupler 120 onto the upper outer portion of the bottle body 110, which is made of silicon, and then fastening the nipple cap 130, which is fitted with the nipple 1 0, onto the bottle coupler 120 by rotating it. Once the silicon baby bottle 100 is assembled, an infant can suck its nipple 140 to take in powdered milk, which is contained in its bottle body 110. The powdered milk contained in the bottle body 110 is transferred from the bottle body 110, which is made of silicon, through the nipple 140, which is also made of silicon, into the infant's mouth. The bottle coupler 120, which is made of a plastic material, is fastened on the outer portion of the bottle body 110 to engage with the nipple cap 130 through rotation, so that the powdered milk is kept away from the plastic material. To be more specific, the protrusion portion 110c, which is formed along the pouring opening 110b, engages with the bottle coupler 120 and protrudes out of the upper insertion opening 120c. The nipple cap 130 then engages with the threaded groove 120d through rotation, which is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the bottle coupler 120, to tightly fasten the stopper step 140b of the nipple 140 onto the protrusion portion 110c of the bottle body 110. As a result, the powdered milk comes into contact only with the bottle body 110 and the nipple 1 0, both of which are made of silicon, but not with the bottle coupler 120, which is made of plastic. Accordingly, even when the silicon baby bottle 100 is disinfected in boiling water, there is no concern that any environmental hormone detrimental to human bodies might be generated or transmitted to the infant. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a silicon baby bottle 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 5 is an assembled perspective view of the silicon baby bottle 200 shown in FIG. . The silicon baby bottle 200 comprises, as shown in FIGs. 4 and 5, a bottle body 210 made of a silicon material; a bottle coupler 220 adapted to be coupled onto the bottle body 210; a nipple cap 230 adapted to be coupled onto the bottle coupler 220; a nipple 240 coupled onto the nipple cap 230; and a bottle cap 250 adapted to be coupled onto the nipple cap 230. The bottle body 210, which is made of a silicon material, includes a body portion 210a for containing powered milk necessary for baby; a pouring opening 210b formed in an upper portion of the body portion 210b; and a protrusion portion 210c formed along the pouring opening 210b. The bottle coupler 220 is of a cylindrical shape having an insertion opening

220b formed therein. The pouring opening 210b of the bottle body 210 is inserted through the insertion opening 220b so that the protrusion portion 210c of the bottle body 210 protrudes out of the insertion opening 220b. A threaded groove 220d is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the insertion opening 220b. The nipple cap 230 includes, as shown in FIG. 5, a cylindrical body portion

230a; a nipple fitting opening 230b formed in an upper portion of the body portion 230a to fit the nipple 240 therein; a protrusion portion 230c formed in a lower portion of the body portion 230a; and a threaded groove 23 Od formed in an inner surface of the body portion 230a. The nipple 2 0 is made of a silicon material and is provided with a nipple aperture 240a so that an infant can suck milk. The nipple 240 is fitted into and fastened onto the nipple fitting opening 230b of the nipple cap 230 before the nipple cap 230 is coupled onto the bottle coupler 220. The nipple fitting opening 230b of the nipple cap 230 is larger than a stopper step 230c of the nipple 240. As a result, when the nipple 240 is fitted through the nipple fitting opening 230b of the nipple cap 230 and is exposed to the outside, the stopper step 230c keeps the nipple 240 secured on the nipple cap 230. The threaded groove 220a, which is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the insertion opening 220b of the bottle coupler 220, and the threaded groove 23 Od, which is formed on an inner surface of the nipple cap 230, are complementary and adapted to be coupled together by rotation. The bottle cap 250 is tightly fastened and coupled onto the outer peripheral surface of the nipple cap 230. The silicon baby bottle 200, as configured above, is assembled by fitting and coupling the bottle coupler 220 onto the upper outer portion of the bottle body 210, which is made of silicon, and then fastening the nipple cap 230, which is fitted with the nipple 240, onto the bottle coupler 220 by rotating it. Once the silicon baby bottle 200 is assembled, an infant can suck its nipple 240 to take in powdered milk, which is contained in its bottle body 210. The powdered milk contained in the bottle body 210 is transferred from the bottle body 210, which is made of silicon, through the nipple 240, which is also made of silicon, into the infant's mouth. The bottle coupler 220, which is made of a plastic material, is fastened onto the outer portion of the bottle body 210 to engage with the nipple cap 230 through rotation, so that the powdered milk is kept away from the plastic material. To be more specific, the protrusion portion 210c, which is positioned along the pouring opening of the bottle body 210, engages with the bottle coupler 220 and protrades out of the insertion opening 220b. The nipple cap 230 then engages with the threaded groove 220a through rotation, which is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the bottle coupler 220, to tightly fasten the stopper step 240b of the nipple

240 onto the protrusion portion 210c of the bottle body 210. As a result, the powdered milk comes to contact only with the bottle body 210 and the nipple 240, both of which are made of silicon, but not with the bottle coupler 220, which is made of plastic. Accordingly, even when the silicon baby bottle 200 is disinfected in boiling water, there is no concern that any environmental hormone detrimental to human bodies might be generated or transmitted to the infant. While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment and the drawings, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Industrial Applicability As can be seen from the foregoing, according to the present invention provides, the silicon baby bottle can prevent an environmental hormone, which is detrimental to human bodies, from affecting infants even when the bottle is disinfected in boiling water by fitting and coupling a bottle coupler onto an outer peripheral surface of a silicon baby bottle and coupling a nipple cap, which is fitted with a nipple, onto the bottle coupler so that powdered milk is kept away from plastic material.

Claims

Claims 1. A silicon baby bottle comprising: a bottle body made of a silicon material; a bottle coupler adapted to be coupled onto the bottle body; a nipple cap adapted to be coupled onto the bottle coupler; and a nipple coupled onto the nipple cap.

2. The silicon baby bottle according to claim 1, wherein the bottle body includes: a body portion for containing powdered milk necessary for baby; a pouring opening formed in an upper portion of the body portion; and a protrusion portion formed along the pouring opening.

3. The silicon baby bottle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottle coupler includes : a body portion adapted to receive a portion of the bottle body therein; a lower insertion opening formed in a lower portion of the body portion and adapted to receive the bottle body into the body portion; and an upper insertion opening formed in an upper portion of the body portion and adapted to guide the protrusion portion of the bottle body, which has been inserted into the body portion, so that it protrudes to an outside.

4. The silicon baby bottle according to claim 1 or 3, wherein each of an outer peripheral surface of the upper insertion opening of the bottle coupler and a corresponding inner surface of the nipple cap is provided with a threaded groove which can be fastened together.