Abstract: A breast pump includes a housing, a suction unit mounted in the housing, a rippled funnel for engaging a mother's breast, and an adapter for interconnecting same. The adapter is configured to sealingly support the funnel, frictionally sealingly support a bottle for collecting milk, and frictionally sealingly engage the housing. The adapter includes a tubular protrusion/stem defining a passageway for communicating air from the bottle to the suction unit to create a vacuum in the bottle. A pair of "O" rings are positioned on the protrusion to sealingly and stably engage the housing. A check valve is located in the protrusion to prevent back flow of milk from the bottle to the suction unit. The housing includes an outer surface defining a hand grip, and vacuum adjustment controls including a wheel for fine vacuum adjustment and a vacuum releasing push bottom are conveniently positioned on the hand grip.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a product and a process for producing a fruit juice and vegetable puree beverage. The process comprises comminuting cooked vegetables to allow their passage through an 80 mesh screen (U.S. Standard). The vegetable puree is then combined with fruit juice and/or fruit juice concentrate and water in proportions to yield a fruit juice/vegetable puree product having a vegetable solids content of from about 1% to about 4% by weight of the product. The resulting puree and fruit juice combination is then thoroughly mixed and homogenized.

Abstract: A sterilizer assembly for sterilizing infant accessories such as baby bottles, nipples, nipple hoods and collars simultaneously, especially in microwave ovens. Preferably, the assembly is formed from heat resistant, nonmetallic, microwavable materials and includes a base defining a receptacle for receiving water to be heated to form steam. A rack is received on the base over the water and preferably includes a plurality of upstanding supports removably mounted over steam passage apertures in the rack. A dome-like hood encloses the rack, supports, and any items to be sterilized. A vent member on the hood may be rotated to uncover an aperture and release steam from the assembly before removing the hood and after heating to avoid burn injuries. Each support will suspend a baby bottle or, alternately, will suspend a nipple hood, mount a nipple and locate a bottle collar all in position for effective steam contact and water drainage.

Abstract: Beverages including a liquid carrier and a combination of gum arabic and pectin having a degree of esterification of at least 50%, at a level to provide at least 2 grams of fiber per 8 fluid ounce serving.

Abstract: A piggyback food container having a polymeric bowl forming a first food compartment and a removable cover thereover, a polymeric overcap on said bowl forming a central second food compartment and a peripheral wall, a breakaway juncture between this central compartment and the peripheral wall, enabling the wall to add volume capacity to the uncovered bowl.

Abstract: A vessel which is self-righting and stable without the need for a weighted base is comprised of a planar base and sides whose cross section is an arc of an involute defined by a circle inside the cup. The most extended point on the involute is at or adjacent to the rim of the cup while the least extended point is the point where the side joins the planar base. In preferred embodiments, the vessel includes both a cup portion and a lid which retains liquids in the cup portion such that the overall center of gravity remains on the side of the reaction force vector at the point of contact between the cup and the surface on which it is placed, toward the center of the vessel.

Abstract: A cover for a child's pacifier includes a top wall and walls depending therefrom which defines an enclosure for the pacifier and terminate in a common bottom edge. The bottom edge defines an opening to the enclosure allowing insertion of the pacifier and is contoured to fit closely around the periphery of the pacifier shield. At least one retaining flange is separated by spaced slots from the remainder of the depending walls and resiliently flexes outwardly to receive and retain one of variously sized pacifier shields. The flange includes a rounded detent which cams the flange outwardly for snap-in insertion of the shield. The detent holds the shield against supporting stops on the cover interior.

Abstract: A cover for closing an opening of a container which is easily removable from the container. The cover is elongated and has two opposite narrow ends and two opposite elongated ends. The cover is attached to the container by latching means positioned at the narrow ends. The container includes an outwardly extending lip positioned on the upper edge of the container. The cover includes a flange resting on the outwardly extending lip. The latching means includes an inwardly extending protrusion extending from a connecting portion of the latching means beneath the outwardly extending lip to lock the latching means to the container. The cover includes pressure points for deforming the cover in an elongated direction. Latching means are provided on the narrow ends and may be released by deforming the cover in an elongated direction.

Abstract: A tray is secured to a baby carrier in a manner which permits both pivoting and removal by use of a hinge connection combined with a releasable hook. The hinge is joined to the tray edge while the hook is inserted through a slot in the side arm of the carrier, to engage an external flange on the carrier in a locking relationship. The hook is releasable by manual pressure. In preferred embodiments, the hinge connection has two pivot axes together providing a wide arc of rotation. A latch on the opposite side of the tray, similarly releasable by manual pressure, secures the tray in place.

Abstract: A swinging apparatus such as a child's swinging play seat is driven by an extension spring linked between the suspension arm of the swing and a gear wheel which is coupled to a motor-driven drive shaft through meshed gears. In preferred arrangements, two gear wheels are used, arranged in coplanar configuration for reciprocal rotation in opposite directions, each driving an extension spring in alternating manner to swing the apparatus back and forth. In certain embodiments, pivot links are included to permit the extension springs to float when either the motorized drive shaft or the swing itself are stopped, and in certain further embodiments, guide pins are included to hold the springs in a bowed configuration. The mechanism is characterized by the lack of a tendency to jolt, and by the ability to start up and shut down smoothly at any point in the rotation cycle of the drive mechanism.