Baby Bottle Holder

Abstract

The present invention is a baby bottle holder attachable to a car baby seat such that a baby can feed without the attention of the car's driver. The holder consists of an elongated pouch-like baby bottle holder body constructed of a pliable but non-stretchable sheet material such as a woven textile fabric and wherein the holder has two ends each having an attachment means capable of attaching to one of two diametrically opposed vertical rail elements of a car baby seat. In use, the bottle holder body is disposed horizontally between the vertical rail elements of the car baby seat such that a baby bottle disposed within is accessible to the baby.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to baby bottle holders. Specifically this invention relates to baby bottle holding devices attachable to a baby car seat such that infants can be fed without the attention of the an adult.

BACKGROUND

Baby bottle holders that allow infants to feed without the attention of an adult are known in the art including baby bottle holders that are attachable to a car seat or a baby carrier handle. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,623 discloses a bottle sling, which holds the bottle, and has one strap with which it is attached to a car seat. This design requires the baby to turn its head and it does not maintain a proper feeding angle. More importantly such a bottle-in-sling combination is freely swinging and can easily impact the baby's head and cause injury if the car makes a sudden stop.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,547 discloses a hanging adjustable baby bottle holder with two straps for attaching to a car seat handle. This design has a bar across the middle from which a ring is attached to hold the bottle. Such a configuration wherein the bottle is hanging by a flexible vertical strap in front of the face of the infant presents a danger since the bottle and retainer assembly can easily impact the infant's face or head and cause injury if the car makes a sudden stop.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,213,791 describes a baby bottle holder for self-feeding that comprises a hanging mechanism with a bottle-holding mechanism attached such that when hung, a bottle inserted into the bottle holding mechanism hangs directly in front of the baby's face. Since such a hanging mechanism is vertically suspended and free-swinging, it presents a potential hazard wherein the bottle easily impact the baby's face or head and cause injury if the car makes a sudden stop.

Therefore, a need exists for a baby bottle holder which is of simple construction, and which would be easily attachable to the many different types of baby car seats or other support, which would dispose the bottle at an appropriate feeding angle, and which would alleviate the potential hazards to the baby inherent in the hanging pendulum-type designs described in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an isometric view of a baby bottle holder attached to an automobile baby seat wherein a baby is feeding from a bottle disposed therein.

FIG. 2 depicts an exploded isometric view of a baby bottle holder.

FIG. 3 depicts an isometric view of a detail of the attachment of a baby bottle holder to a vertical member of an automobile baby seat.

FIG. 4 depicts a frontal orthogonal view of a baby bottle holder.

FIG. 5 depicts a sectional frontal orthogonal view of a baby bottle holder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the baby bottle holder of the present invention consist of a bottle holder body having a top layer and a bottom layer of a pliable but non-stretchable and non-elastic sheet material, such as a woven textile fabric, defining an elongated pouch with a center opening sized to accommodate a baby bottle. Such an elongated pouch has two ends each having an attachment means capable of attaching to one of two diametrically opposed vertical rail elements of a car baby seat such that the bottle holder body is tautly disposed horizontally between the vertical rail elements and wherein the center opening is disposed to be in front of a baby seated in the car baby seat. In such a relationship a baby bottle disposed within the center opening is accessible to the baby for feeding. Also, the tightly pulled (taut) non-stretchable, non-elastic bottle holder prevents a bottle therein from swinging freely and impacting the baby's face or head if the car makes a sudden stop.

In preferred embodiments each attachment means consists of two lengths of hook and loop fastening tape. Also in certain preferred embodiments the baby bottle holder is provided with a thermally insulting sleeve disposed within the center opening of the elongated pouch. In other preferred embodiments the baby bottle holder has an elastic band around the circumference of the body opening such that the center opening can expand and contract to retain the body of a baby bottle disposed within the bottle holder body. Such an elastic band also functions to retain the thermally insulting sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the purposes of the invention described herein, the terms listed below shall have the following respective meanings:

The term “non-stretchable” refers to that property of a material that prevents the material from being extended or enlarged beyond the normal intended geometric limits.

The term “non-elastic” refers to that property of a material that prevents the material from resuming its original shape after being stretched or expanded.

The term “taut” means to be pulled tightly with no slack.

In FIG. 1 is illustrated an isometric view of a baby bottle holder 10 attached to a rail element 21 of an automobile baby seat 20, wherein a baby is feeding from a baby bottle 25 disposed within a bottle pouch 12 that is defined in the bottle holder body 11. The bottle holder body 11 is removedly attached to the rail element 21 by attachment straps 14, which are fixedly attached to the bottle holder body 11. In such an embodiment the bottle holder body 11 is disposed such that it is taut between the vertical areas 22 of the rail element 21 and is disposed essentially horizontally with respect to the road surface.

In FIG. 2 is illustrated an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of baby bottle holder of FIG. 1 clearly depicting that the bottle holder body 11 is essentially a pouch or bag-like structure having a top layer 11A and bottom layer 11B disposed to define a bottle holder body opening 16. A retaining collar 13 extends around the circumference of the body opening 16 to retain a thermally insulting sleeve 15 disposed within the opening 16. In preferred embodiments the bottle holder body is fabricated from a soft or pliable, non-stretchable fabric such as a woven flannel although any of a wide range of suitable textile and non-textile sheet materials can be employed. The thermally insulting sleeve 15 is dimensioned to accommodate a standard baby bottle 25 tightly disposed therein. In preferred embodiments the thermally insulating sleeve 15 is fabricated from a closed-cell foam material. Suitable foam materials include, but are not limited to, polyethylene foam, polychloroprene foam, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam and the like, as well as blends and combinations thereof. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 the retaining collar 13 is formed from an elastic band sewn to the fabric around the circumference of the body opening 16 allowing the opening 16 to expand and contract to retain the insulting sleeve 15 and the body of a baby bottle 25 disposed therein.

In FIG. 3 is illustrated a detail of the attachment of the baby bottle holder 10 of FIG. 1 to rail element 21 by attachment straps affixed diametrically opposed ends of the bottle holder body 11 wherein each attachment straps consists of two lengths of hook and loop fastening tape 14A and 14B. In FIG. 4 is illustrated a frontal orthogonal view of the baby bottle holder 10 and FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the baby bottle holder 10 of FIG. 4. These figures clearly show the relationship between the various elements of the baby bottle holder 10. Also clearly illustrated in FIG. 5 is elastic band 18, which extends around the circumference of the body opening to retain the insulting sleeve 15.

Although the invention has been disclosed in the context of certain embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A baby bottle holder comprising:

a bottle holder body comprising a top layer and a bottom layer of a pliable non-stretchable sheet material arranged to define an elongated pouch having a holder body center opening sized to accommodate a baby bottle and two ends, wherein the two ends each comprise an attachment means capable of attaching to one of two diametrically opposed vertical rail elements of a car baby seat such that the bottle holder body is tautly disposed horizontally between the vertical rail elements and wherein the holder body center opening is disposed to be in front of a baby seated in the car baby seat such that a baby bottle disposed within the center opening is accessible to the baby for feeding.

2. The baby bottle holder of claim 1 further comprising a thermally insulting sleeve disposed within the bottle holder body and accessible through the center opening.

3. The baby bottle holder of claim 1 further comprising an elastic band around the circumference of the body opening such that the center opening can expand and contract to retain the body of a baby bottle disposed within the bottle holder body.

4. The baby bottle holder of claim 1 wherein each attachment means is comprised of two lengths of hook and loop fastening tape.

5. The baby bottle holder of claim 1 wherein the pliable non-stretchable sheet material is a woven textile fabric.