Nursing bottle with disposable insert

Claim 2

A nursing bottle comprising: a disposable insert comprising a flexible, liquid tight container, a nipple integral with the container wall and having a small orifice in its end, an access tube integral with the container wall and leading into the container for filling it with liquid, and a flexible flange surrounding the base of the nipple and fixed thereto above the container; a rigid enclosure surrounding the container and having an end that is closed except for an aperture through which the nipple may extend; and a clamp for clamping the flange over the closed end of the enclosure.

Claim 3

The nursing bottle of claim 1 wherein the nipple has a lip spaced below the flange, and the rigid enclosure has an additional opening to admit passage of the access tube, the size of the aperture being such that it fits the base portion of the nipple so that the edges of the enclosure may be confined between the lip and the flange of the nipple to provide additional support therefor.

Claim 4

The nursing bottle of claim 1 wherein the access tube is adjacent the nipple on the flexible container and additional opening is provided on the closed end of the enclosure to admit passage of the access tube, the tube being sufficiently long that, when the clamp is applied, the tube will be covered by the flange and will be confined therewith between the clamp and the rigid enclosure, effectively sealing the access tube and covering the closed end of the rigid enclosure with the flange.

Claim 5

A disposable insert for a nursing bottle comprising: a flexible, liquidtight container; a nipple integral with the wall of the container and having a small orifice in the end thereof; an access tube integral with the wall of the container and leading into the interior thereof; and a flexible flange surrounding the base of the nipple and fixed thereto.

Claim 6

A disposable insert for a nursing bottle comprising: a flexible, liquidtight container; a nipple integral with the wall of the container and having a small orifice in the end thereof; an access tube integral with the wall of the container and leading into the interior thereof; and a flexible flange surrounding the base of the nipple and fixed thereto.

Claim 7

The disposable insert of claim 4 further including a lip on the base of the nipple, spaced below the flange, whereby a rigid member may be gripped between the flange and the lip for support of the container.

Claim 8

The disposable insert of claim 4 wherein the access tube is attached to the container adjacent the nipple, for confinement beneath the flange.

Claim 9

The disposable insert of claim 4 wherein the flange is folded upon itself to enclose the nipple, and its edges are attached but easily separable, whereby a sterile condition of both the nipple and the upper surface of the flange may be preserved until use.

Claim 10

The disposable insert of claim 4 further including an easily removable plug in the orifice of the nipple, so that any liquid in the container may not escape therefrom until desired.

Claim 11

The disposable insert of claim 8 wherein the plug in the orifice of the nipple is attached to the flange, so that the plug may be automaticAlly removed from the nipple when the flange is unfolded.

Claim 12

The disposable insert of claim 4 wherein the container and flange are made of plastic film.

Claim 13

A rigid enclosure for a disposable nursing bottle insert, comprising: a hollow cylinder having an irregularity in its outer surface; a dome on the end of the cylinder having the irregularity, the dome having an aperture just large enough to admit passage of a nipple of a disposable insert so that the nipple and a thin, flexible structure surrounding it may be firmly supported by the dome, an opening to admit fluids into the insert also being provided in the dome; and an annular clamp that fits over the cylindrical surface and may engage the surface irregularity therein, whereby a thin flexible structure may be clamped over the dome.

Claim 14

A rigid enclosure for a disposable nursing bottle insert, comprising: a hollow cylinder having an irregularity in its outer surface; a dome on the end of the cylinder having the irregularity, the dome having an aperture just large enough to admit passage of a nipple of a disposable insert so that the nipple and a thin, flexible structure surrounding it may be firmly supported by the dome, an opening to admit fluids into the insert also being provided in the dome; and an annular clamp that fits over the cylindrical surface and may engage the surface irregularity therein, whereby a thin flexible structure may be clamped over the dome.

Claim 15

The rigid enclosure of claim 11 wherein the clamp is an annulus having circumferentially arranged spring means biased inwardly for firmly gripping the enclosure and disposable insert that may be supported therein.

Claim 16

The rigid enclosure of claim 12 wherein the spring means has the form of resilient fingers extending axially from both sides of the annulus.

Claim 17

The rigid enclosure of claim 11 wherein the clamp comprises: a flexible band; and toggle links joining the ends of the flexible band, whereby it may be tightly fastened about the enclosure.

Claim 18

The rigid enclosure of claim 11 wherein the surface irregularities on the hollow cylinder are external threads and the clamp is a first annulus having internal threads engageable therewith, and is further equipped with an inwardly extending flange that may bear firmly against the rigid enclosure when the threads are tightly engaged.

Claim 19

The rigid enclosure of claim 15 further including a second annulus loosely confined within the first so that it may bear against the enclosure without being rotated as the first annulus threadedly is engaged therewith.

Claim 20

The rigid enclosure of claim 11 wherein at least a portion thereof is transparent to permit visual inspection of contents.