Teat unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9168204-B2
Application number	US-85699210-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2010
Priority date	Aug 20, 2009
Publication date	Oct 27, 2015
Grant date	Oct 27, 2015

Abstract

A teat unit has a teat, a securing device for securing the teat on a liquid container, and an air valve, the securing device having a first securing part and a second securing part. The air valve has a first valve part, which is arranged in the first securing part, and a second valve part, which is arranged in the first or in the second securing part. The air valve opens and closes with respect to the second securing part. The valve is preferably a diaphragm valve, and the first valve part is a valve diaphragm. This teat unit functions very reliably even at very small pressure differences between the bottle and the environment. Moreover, the range of function of the various teat units of the same type is relatively narrow, such that different teat units function very similarly and the air valves are actuated at similar pressure differences.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A teat unit including a teat, a securing device for securing the teat on a liquid container, and an air valve, the securing device having a first securing part and a second securing part, and the air valve having at least a first valve part and a second valve part, wherein the first and second securing parts are each rigid, at least in the area of the air valve, wherein
a) the first valve part is arranged in the first securing part, and the second valve part is arranged in the second securing part; or
b) the air valve opens or closes with respect to the second securing part and the first valve part and the second valve part are arranged in the first securing part, wherein the first securing part has an annular main body and a truncated cone formed integrally in the annular main body, wherein a liquid through-flow channel extends along a longitudinal center axis of the truncated cone, and wherein the diaphragm of the air valve is arranged in a circumferential surface of the truncated cone.

2. The teat unit according to claim 1 , wherein the teat can be clamped sealingly between the two securing parts.

3. The teat unit according to claim 1 , wherein the air valve is a diaphragm valve, and the first part is a valve diaphragm.

4. The teat unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second securing parts can be connected to each other.

5. The teat unit according to claim 1 , wherein the teat is arranged independently of the air valve.

6. The teat unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second securing parts form an air channel that opens into at least one air opening leading to the outside.

7. The teat unit according to claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm has an air through-flow opening that is designed permanently open and that can be closed by means of the second securing part.

8. The teat unit according to claim 7 , wherein the air through-flow opening is strengthened at a circumference of the air through-flow opening.

9. The teat unit according to claim 7 , wherein the air through-flow opening is circular, elliptical, oval or annular.

10. The teat unit according to claim 7 , wherein the diaphragm has a substantially planar main surface and a truncated cone arranged in the main surface, the air through-flow opening being arranged in the truncated cone.

11. The teat unit according to claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is secured about an entire periphery of the diaphragm in the first securing part.

12. The teat unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first securing part has a circumferential sealing ring for bearing in a leaktight manner on an end face of the liquid container, and wherein the diaphragm and the sealing ring are preferably designed together in one piece.

13. The teat unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first securing part is a base part and the second securing part is a receiving head, wherein the receiving head and the base part can be connected to each other via a releasable plug connection, wherein the receiving head for this purpose has plug elements that can be plugged into the base part and that are designed to secure the assembled base part and receiving head on the liquid container.

14. The teat unit according to claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm of the air valve is substantially flush with the circumferential surface of the truncated cone.

15. A nipple apparatus for a feeding bottle having a pressure regulating feature, comprising:
a flexible teat having an internal conduit through which liquid passes from a supply to an exit port;
a securing device attaching said teat to a container, said securing device having first and second securing parts, said first securing part being located toward a container interior relative to said second securing part;
a valve element provided on said first securing part, said valve element having a first valve part which is movable relative to said first securing part, with an orifice formed in said first valve part communicating with the container interior, said second securing part having a portion against which said first valve part engages to thereby close said orifice in a first state;
a channel for ambient air to enter between said first and second securing parts and pass through said orifice into the container interior in a second state, said channel being closed to the container interior in said first state, the container interior otherwise being sealed against entry of air by said securing device;
said first valve part moving away from said portion of said second securing part and toward the container interior upon removal of liquid through said teat internal conduit to thereby open said channel for air to pass, the removal of liquid creating an underpressure in the container interior in said second state.

16. A teat unit including a teat, a securing device for securing the teat on a liquid container, and an air valve, the securing device having a first securing part and a second securing part, and the air valve having at least a first valve part and a second valve part, wherein
a) the first valve part is arranged in the first securing part, and the second valve part is arranged in the second securing part; or
b) the air valve opens or closes with respect to the second securing part and the first valve part and the second valve part are arranged in the first securing part; and
wherein the first securing part is a base part and the second securing part is a receiving head, wherein the receiving head and the base part can be connected to each other via a releasable plug connection, wherein the receiving head for this purpose has plug elements that can be plugged into the base part and that are designed to secure the assembled base part and receiving head on the liquid container.

17. A teat unit including a teat, a securing device for securing the teat on a liquid container, and an air valve, the securing device having a first securing part and a second securing part, and the air valve having at least a first valve part and a second valve part, wherein
a) the first valve part is arranged in the first securing part, and the second valve part is arranged in the second securing part; or
b) the air valve opens or closes with respect to the second securing part and the first valve part and the second valve part are arranged in the first securing part; and
wherein the first securing part has an annular main body and a truncated cone formed integrally in the annular main body, wherein a liquid through-flow channel extends along a longitudinal center axis of the truncated cone, and wherein the diaphragm of the air valve is arranged in a circumferential surface of the truncated cone.

Assignees

• Pfenniger Erich
• Rigert Mario
• Medela Holding Ag

Inventors

• Pfenniger Erich
• Rigert Mario

Classifications

• A61J11/04

  with means for fastening to bottles · CPC title

• A61J11/0065

  for improving rigidity, e.g. anti-bite-through or anti-collapsing · CPC title

• B29L2031/7412

  Dummy teats, pacifiers · CPC title

• A61J11/005

  for imitating a nipple · CPC title

• A61J9/04

  with means for supplying air · CPC title