US 8,025,168 B2Granted

Apparatus and method for the separate storage and mixing of substances

AssigneeBrian L. Bullard

InventorsBrian L. Bullard, Jon Hull

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A storage device has a second cap for actuating a rod and permitting a fluid to flow through that cap. The storage device has an outer container and an inner container. Mounted at one end of the inner container is a first cap that rotates open and closed for allowing the contents of the inner and outer containers to mix together when desired. The other end of the inner container has an opening that is enclosed by the second cap that is operable to actuate the rod. When actuated, the rod pushes against the first cap thereby opening it in order to mix the contents. Moreover the second cap defines a plurality of holes adapted to permit a fluid to flow through them. Thus the second cap actuates the rod, yet also is disposed at the same end of the outer and inner containers from which the fluid can flow.

Claims39

Dependent claims

A device for holding a first substance and a second substance, the device comprising:

a first container defining a first chamber for containing the first substance;
a second container defining a second chamber for containing the second substance and further defining a second container proximate opening leading into the second chamber and a second container distal opening leading into the second chamber;
a first cap coupled to the second container and configured for movement from a sealing position to an open position and for movement from the open position to the sealing position, wherein the first and second chambers are in a first state when the first cap is in the sealing position, wherein the first and second chambers are in a second state when the first cap is in the open position, wherein the first state is the first and second chambers being sealed from one another, and wherein the second state is the first and second chambers being in communication with one another,
wherein the first cap is configured to cover the second container proximate opening when the first cap is in the sealing position;
an operating member configured to move the first cap from the sealing position to the open position;
and
a second cap configured to cover the second container distal opening, wherein at least a portion of the second cap is movable between a cap first position and a cap second position, and wherein the operating member is configured to be coupled to the second cap and to be moved by the second cap when the at least a portion of the second cap moves from the cap first position to the cap second position,
wherein the second cap defines a plurality of second cap holes configured to permit the first substance and the second substance to pass through the plurality of second cap holes.

5 more elements

An insert for use with a baby bottle, wherein the baby bottle includes a nipple and a first container defining a first chamber and further defining a first container opening leading into the first chamber, the insert comprising:

a second container defining a second chamber;
an actuating cap configured for attachment to the second container;
and
an operating member coupled to the actuating cap,
wherein at least a portion of the second container is configured to be inserted into the first container opening,
wherein the second container has a proximate end and a distal end, wherein the second container further defines a second container proximate opening located at the proximate end and leading into the second chamber, and a second container distal opening located at the distal end and leading into the second chamber, and wherein the second container comprises:
a first cap configured to enclose the second container proximate opening and configured for movement from a sealing position to an open position and for movement from the open position to the sealing position, wherein the first cap is coupled to the second container when the first cap is both in the sealing position and in the open position,
wherein the actuating cap is configured to cover the second container distal opening and wherein at least a portion of the actuating cap is configured for movement between a cap first position and a cap second position;
wherein the actuating cap is further configured to be disposed adjacent to the nipple and wherein the at least a portion of the actuating cap is configured to move between the cap first position and the cap second position in response to an external force applied to the nipple;
wherein the operating member is configured to be moved by the actuating cap when the at least a portion of the actuating cap moves between the cap first position and the cap second position, and wherein the operating member is further configured to move the first cap from the sealing position to the open position upon movement by the actuating cap, and
wherein the first and second chambers are in a first state when the first cap is in the sealing position, wherein the first and second chambers are in a second state when the first cap is in the open position, wherein the first state is the first and second chambers being sealed from one another, and wherein the second state is the first and second chambers being in communication with one another.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/464,371Filed 12 May 2009 · continuation in part
Priority: 5 Jun 2008
Published: US 2009/0301904 A110 Dec 2009
Granted: 27 Sep 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

A61J 9/00
Feeding-bottles in general
A61J 9/008
Feeding-bottles in general: having storage compartments, e.g. for storing a teat
A61J 1/2093
Arrangements for transferring or mixing fluids, e.g. from vial to syringe: containers having several compartments for products to be mixed
A61J
Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes

Family

Application12/134,161Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 5 Jun 2008
US 2009/0301905 A1Pre-grant publication · published 10 Dec 2009
US 2009/0301904 A1Published application
US 7,992,735 B2Related patent
US 8,025,168 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.