Flow control valve for infant feeding device
AssigneeProxamama LLC
InventorsBob Worrell, Shilo Ben Zeev, Caleb Vainikka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A feeding device includes a fluid reservoir and a nipple configured to be attached to the fluid reservoir. The nipple includes a base portion and a teat portion, where the base portion and the teat portion together define an interior space of the nipple. The nipple also includes a removable flow valve configured to be positioned within the interior space of the nipple and an internal cavity between the removable flow valve and a wall of the nipple. The removable flow valve includes a central opening and at least one valve protrusion extending from a surface of the flow valve into the internal cavity. The removable flow valve is configured to adjust a flow rate of a fluid from the fluid reservoir into the internal cavity.
Claims18
A feeding device comprising:
- a fluid reservoir;
- a nipple configured to be attached to the fluid reservoir;
- a dome-shaped removable fluid flow valve configured to be positioned within an interior space of the nipple;
- an internal cavity between the removable fluid flow valve and a wall of the nipple;
- wherein the removable fluid flow valve comprises:
- a plastic ring;
- a flexible layer overmolded onto the plastic ring,
- wherein the flexible layer comprises 12 bumps to 24 bumps extending into the internal cavity such that the flexible layer comprises a wavy profile,
- wherein the plurality of bumps abut against the wall of the nipple to support the wall of the nipple;
- a central opening having a diameter of diameter in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.32 mm;
- and
- wherein, when the removable fluid flow valve is positioned within the interior space of the nipple, the central opening is configured to control a flow rate of a fluid from the fluid reservoir into the internal cavity.
A kit comprising:
- at least two dome-shaped removable fluid flow valves comprising varying flow rates;
- wherein each of the at least two dome-shaped removable fluid flow valves comprises:
- a plastic ring;
- a flexible layer overmolded onto the plastic ring,
- wherein the flexible layer comprises 12 bumps to 24 bumps such that the flexible layer comprises a wavy profile;
- a central opening having a diameter of diameter in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.32 mm;
- a feeding device comprising:
- a fluid reservoir;
- a nipple configured to be attached to the fluid reservoir,
- wherein the nipple is configured to retain one of the at least two dome-shaped removable fluid flow valves within an interior space of the nipple,
- wherein an internal cavity is formed between the one of the at least two removable fluid flow valves and the nipple,
- wherein the plurality of bumps extend into the internal cavity,
- wherein the plurality of bumps abut against a wall of the nipple to support the wall of the nipple, and
- wherein, when each of the at least two dome-shaped removable fluid flow valves are positioned within the interior space of the nipple, the central opening is configured to control a flow rate of a fluid from the fluid reservoir into the internal cavity.
A nipple comprising:
- a dome-shaped removable fluid flow valve configured to be positioned within an interior space of the nipple;
- an internal cavity between the removable fluid flow valve and a wall of the nipple;
- wherein the removable fluid flow valve comprises:
- a plastic ring;
- a flexible layer overmolded onto the plastic ring,
- wherein the flexible layer comprises 12 bumps to 24 bumps extending into the internal cavity such that the flexible layer comprises a wavy profile,
- wherein the plurality of bumps abut against the wall of the nipple to support the wall of the nipple;
- a central opening having a diameter of diameter in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.32 mm;
- and
- wherein, when the removable fluid flow valve is positioned within the interior space of the nipple, the central opening is configured to control a flow rate of a fluid through the nipple.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.