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US 2001/0012448 A1Published application
Method for preparing infant formula from powder with dispensing and filtering means
OwnerDanny J. Robersoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for preparing infant formula from powdered formula dispenses water at a temperature substantially in a range around body temperature into a baby bottle containing powdered infant formula for mixing and immediate feeding to a baby, thereby avoiding unnecessary inconvenience to the baby's caregiver associated with typical methods of preparing infant formula for feeding. The water is filtered, disinfected and heated to the appropriate temperature for dispensing on demand.
Claims15
An apparatus for preparing baby formula comprising:
- a manually portable housing for freely standing on a surface for supporting a reservoir for holding a supply of water;
- a heating element for slowly heating the water in the reservoir well in advance of its need to a predetermined set point with a range of temperatures having an upper limit at which infant formula may still be safely fed to a baby, the heating element being relatively small compared to the size of the reservoir for more easily controlling heating;
- a thermostat for controlling warming of the water to, and maintaining the temperature of the water at, the set point for an extended period until ready for use, the thermostat including means for sensing the temperature of the water and, response thereto, controlling coupling of power source to the heating element;
- a spigot mounted to the housing at a height above the surface for positioning the baby bottle between the surface and the spigot;
- a means for visually indicating that the temperature of the water is acceptable for immediate feeding to a baby;
- a lever for controlling a valve of the spigot extending below the spigot and adapted to receive and to be displaced by a conventional baby bottle when the bottle is maneuvered below the spigot, the displacement of the lever causing water to flow from the reservoir into an opening in top of the bottle;
- means for manually adjusting the set point within the range of temperatures;
- a baby bottle positioned for receiving water dispensed from the reservoir through the spigot;
- and
- a supply of powdered formula for immediately mixing with water dispensed from the reservoir and feeding of a resultant mixture to an infant.
7 more elements
An apparatus for preparing baby formula comprising:
- a manually portable housing for freely standing on a surface for supporting a reservoir for holding a supply of water, the reservoir including an opening for receiving water poured by a user;
- a heating element for slowly heating the water in the reservoir well in advance of its need to a predetermined set point with a range of temperatures having an upper limit at which infant formula may still be safely fed to a baby;
- a thermostat for controlling warming of the water to, and maintaining the temperature of the water at, the set point for an extended period until ready for use, the thermostat including means for sensing the temperature of the water and, response thereto, controlling coupling of power source to the heating element;
- a spigot mounted to the housing at a height above the surface for positioning the baby bottle between the surface and the spigot;
- wherein the opening to the reservoir, the reservoir and the spigot form a water flow path through the apparatus, to the baby bottle, and wherein the apparatus further includes means for filtering disposed within the water flow path for filtering contaminates from the water.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.