US 6,161,710 AGranted

Natural nipple baby feeding apparatus

OwnerMary F. Dieringer, Fernando Suarezinventors

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Abstract

An improved natural nipple baby feeding apparatus includes detachable inner and outer membranes which both extend substantially across a distance larger than the diameter of a standard baby bottle to which the nipple apparatus may be attached. The membranes have a width approximately double that of the height of the nipple apparatus. The apparatus functions as a training device for an infant by requiring the infant to correctly "latch-on" to the apparatus by grasping the apparatus outwardly of the central nipple area and stretching the outer membrane upwardly so that it contacts the inner membrane which facilitates the flow of fluid from the bottle through both the membranes and out of the nipple. The nipple apparatus may be used in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, breast-feeding of an infant.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A natural nipple baby feeding apparatus comprising:

a container for holding fluid therein and including an open neck for the passage of fluid therethrough;
a flexible first membrane secured to said neck of said container along an outer edge of said first membrane, said first membrane including an outer surface, an inner surface, a central nipple region centrally positioned with respect to said outer edge and having in said central nipple region at least one aperture which allows the passage of fluid though said first membrane upon suction pressure being applied to said central nipple region, and an outer nipple region extending radially outwardly from said central nipple region to a distance approximately halfway between said central nipple region and said outer edge of said first membrane, and wherein said central nipple region comprises a projection that extends upwardly from said outer nipple region;
and
a flexible second membrane including an outer edge and being secured between said container and said first membrane such that said outer edge of the second membrane is contiguous with said outer edge of the first membrane, said second membrane further including an outer surface, an inner surface, a central valve region positioned centrally with respect to said outer edge of the second membrane and including a valve positioned therein, said central valve region being aligned with said central nipple region and comprising a projection which extends upwardly from a remainder of said second membrane,
wherein said valve is in a closed position when said inner surface of said first membrane in said outer nipple region is spaced apart from said outer surface of said second membrane in said central valve region, and wherein said valve is moved to an open position so as to allow fluid flow therethrough when said inner surface of said first membrane in said outer nipple region is compressed inwardly against and compresses said outer surface of said second membrane completely around said central valve region.

2 more elements

A double membrane nipple apparatus comprising:

a flexible inner membrane including an edge and an upwardly extending valve region having a valve which is movable from a closed position to an open position wherein said valve allows fluid flow therethrough;
and
a flexible outer membrane releasably securable to said inner membrane, said outer membrane including an edge which contacts and is aligned with said edge of said inner membrane when said outer membrane is releasably secured to said inner membrane, said outer membrane having an upwardly extending nipple region including an aperture which allows fluid flow therethrough upon a suction pressure being applied to said upwardly extending nipple region, and said outer membrane including an outer nipple region surrounding said upwardly extending nipple region and extending outwardly from said upwardly extending nipple region toward but spaced from said edge of said outer membrane,
wherein said valve moves from said closed position to said open position upon compression of said outer nipple region of the outer membrane into contact against and radially around said upwardly extending valve region of said inner membrane.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.