Nursing unit

Claim 2

A disposable, seamless, thermoplastic liner adapted to receive and contain liquid and adapted to be supported in an opening defined within a self-supporting holder of a nursing unit, said plastic liner being drawn from a sheet of thermoplastic material and comprising: A. a flexible, collapsible body portion of a pre-shaped and set self-supporting open configuration which is sustained under ambient, uniform pressure, said body portion including a substantially continuously rounded bottom region and a sidewall region extending upwardly and tapering outwardly from said bottom region said body portion defining a cavity for containing liquid and terminating at an upper end defining an open mouth into said cavity for permitting egress and ingress of said liquid, said body portion being sufficiently thin for permitting at least a substantial portion thereof to collapse as liquid is drawn out of said liner during nursing to prevent the formation of a vacuum in said cavity during substantially the entire nursing operation, whereby a steady flow of liquid from said liner is achieved without labored sucking and excessive air swallowing; and B. an upper, firm flange extending outwardly from and transversely beyond the upper end of said body portion, said flange being thicker than said body portion and non-collapsing during handling of said liner for sustaining Said mouth in an open configuration when assembling said liner with a selfsupporting holder, said flange being adapted to be supported on an upper margin of a self-supporting holder of a nursing unit.

Claim 3

The disposable, seamless, plastic liner according to claim 1, wherein said flexible, collapsible body portion collapses under a pressure differential of less than 0.5 lbs. per square inch.

Claim 4

The disposable, seamless, plastic liner according to claim 1 having an internal depth to maximum internal transverse dimension ratio of greater than 2:1.

Claim 5

The disposable, seamless, plastic liner according to claim 3, wherein said body portion has a thickness of between approximately 1- 1/2 mils and 8 mils.

Claim 6

The disposable, seamless, plastic liner according to claim 3, wherein said internal depth to maximum internal transverse dimension ratio is in the range of 2:1 to 3:1.

Claim 7

The disposable, seamless, plastic liner according to claim 5, wherein said flexible, collapsible body portion collapses under a pressure differential of less than 0.5 lbs. per square inch.

Claim 8

The disposable, seamless, plastic liner according to claim 6, in combination with at least one other liner of the same construction, said liners being disposed in telescopic relationship with each other.

Claim 9

The disposable, seamless, plastic liner according to claim 5, wherein said body portion has a thickness of between 1- 1/2 mils and 8 mils.

Claim 10

The disposable, seamless, plastic liner according to claim 8, wherein said flexible, collapsible body portion collapses under a pressure differential of less than 0.5 lbs. per square inch.

Claim 11

The disposable, seamless, plastic liner according to claim 9, in combination with at least one other liner of the same construction, said liners being disposed in telescopic relationship with each other.

Claim 12

The disposable, seamless, plastic liner according to claim 1, in combination with at least one other liner of the same construction, said liners being disposed in telescopic relationship with each other.

Claim 13

A nursing unit including a self-supporting tubular holder having an inner wall defining an opening therein which terminates at an upper margin of said holder; a seamless, thermoplastic liner drawn from a sheet of thermoplastic material, said liner including a body portion disposed within the opening of said holder and a flange disposed on the upper margin of said holder, said body portion including a bottom region and a side wall region defining a cavity for containing liquid, said side wall region terminating at an upper end defining an open mouth into said cavity for permitting egress and ingress of liquid, said flange extending outwardly from and transversely beyond the upper end of said body portion; and a nipple disposed on said holder for closing the open end thereof, said nipple having a shoulder overlying the upper margin of said holder for clamping the flange of the liner between the shoulder of the nipple and the upper margin of the holder to retain the liner in assembled relationship with the nipple and the holder, wherein the improvement comprises said bottom region of the body portion being substantially continuously rounded, and said side wall region extending upwardly and tapering outwardly from said bottom region, said body portion of said liner being of a pre-shaped and set self-supporting open configuration which is sustained under ambient, uniform pressure, said body portion being sufficiently thin for permitting at least a substantial portion thereof to collapse as liquid is drawn out of said liner during nursing, said body portion having a transverse dimension relative to the transverse dimension of the opening in the holder for permitting the body portion to be assembled and maintained within the opening of the holder without transverse distortion of the pre-shaped open configuration of said body portion said flange being thicker than said body portion and non-collapsinG during handling of said liner for sustaining the mouth of the liner in an open configuration when assembling said liner with the self-supporting holder.

Claim 14

A nursing unit including a self-supporting tubular holder having an inner wall defining an opening therein which terminates at an upper margin of said holder; a seamless, thermoplastic liner drawn from a sheet of thermoplastic material, said liner including a body portion disposed within the opening of said holder and a flange disposed on the upper margin of said holder, said body portion including a bottom region and a side wall region defining a cavity for containing liquid, said side wall region terminating at an upper end defining an open mouth into said cavity for permitting egress and ingress of liquid, said flange extending outwardly from and transversely beyond the upper end of said body portion; and a nipple disposed on said holder for closing the open end thereof, said nipple having a shoulder overlying the upper margin of said holder for clamping the flange of the liner between the shoulder of the nipple and the upper margin of the holder to retain the liner in assembled relationship with the nipple and the holder, wherein the improvement comprises said bottom region of the body portion being substantially continuously rounded, and said side wall region extending upwardly and tapering outwardly from said bottom region, said body portion of said liner being of a pre-shaped and set self-supporting open configuration which is sustained under ambient, uniform pressure, said body portion being sufficiently thin for permitting at least a substantial portion thereof to collapse as liquid is drawn out of said liner during nursing, said body portion having a transverse dimension relative to the transverse dimension of the opening in the holder for permitting the body portion to be assembled and maintained within the opening of the holder without transverse distortion of the pre-shaped open configuration of said body portion said flange being thicker than said body portion and non-collapsinG during handling of said liner for sustaining the mouth of the liner in an open configuration when assembling said liner with the self-supporting holder.

Claim 15

The nursing unit according to claim 12, wherein said flexible, collapsible body portion collapses under a pressure differential of less than 0.5 lbs. per square inch.

Claim 16

The nursing unit according to claim 12, said plastic liner having an internal depth to maximum internal transverse dimension ratio of greater than 2:1.

Claim 17

The nursing unit according to claim 14, wherein said body portion has a thickness of between 1- 1/2 mils to 8 mils.

Claim 18

The nursing unit according to claim 12, wherein the side wall region of the body portion of the liner in the preshaped open configuration of said body portion is spaced inwardly from the inner wall of the tubular holder, whereby the liner can be assembled with the tubular holder without altering the pre-shaped open configuration of said body portion.