FEEDING BAG SYSTEM WITH INTERCHANGEABLE ATTACHMENTS
A feeding bag system, comprising at least one reusable feeding bag suitable for holding liquids and solid foods, each bag defining a mouth at an upper end of the bag, and a plurality of attachments for regulating the passage of material into or out of the bag, each attachment having a connecting assembly for detachably connecting the attachment to the mouth of the at least one bag to form a liquid-proof seal therewith.
The present disclosure relates to containers for food and drink and more particularly to devices for feeding infants and toddlers.
BACKGROUNDVarious bottles and other containers are used for feeding liquids to infants and toddlers. Some such containers have attachments for dispensing the liquid, including nipples and various spouts.
References disclosing drinking containers, spouts, and related matter include U.S. Pat. No. 7,832,576 to Cohn; U.S. Pat. No. 2,831,484 to Garner; US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0087551 A1 to Reid; U.S. Pat. No. 7,549,548 to Kraus et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,506,754 to Segovia et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,479 to Prentiss; U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,053 to Verbovszky et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,496 to Rudell et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,111 to Brown; U.S. Pat. No. 2,953,170 to Bush; U.S. Pat. No. 2,927,708 to Kristoffersen; US Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0151069 to Harding; US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0308003 to Morrill et al.; US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0258519 to Shelby; US Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0238495 to Anderson; U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,564 to Verbovszky; U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,121 to Kipperman et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,345 to Blanding; U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,937 to DeJong et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,776 to Simmons et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 2,885,104 to Greenspan; U.S. Pat. No. 2,446,451 to Allen; and US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0072161 to Viggiano.
The prior art does not disclose a reusable feeding bag with multiple interchangeable attachments for use with different solid and liquid food types, and different attachments oriented toward different stages of child development. Furthermore, none of the prior art discloses a reusable feeding bag which can also be used to receive and store breast milk from a breast pump.
Thus, there exists a need for an environmentally-friendly reusable feeding bag system which can be used for both solid and liquid foods and can be used in for a variety of different food storage and feeding scenarios over the course of a child's early development.
It will be noted that throughout the drawings and description similar features are identified by the same reference numerals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present disclosure describes a feeding bag system having multiple interchangeable mouth or spout attachments. The feeding bag system comprises at least one reusable feeding bag suitable for holding liquids and solid foods, each bag defining a mouth at an upper end of the bag; and a plurality of attachments for regulating the passage of material into or out of the bag, each attachment having a connecting assembly for detachably connecting the attachment to the mouth of the at least one bag to form a liquid-proof seal therewith.
In another aspect, the plurality of attachments includes a breast pump input attachment comprising a breast pump connector element adapted to secure the attachment to a breast pump output for channelling breast milk from the breast pump output into the mouth of the at least one bag.
In yet a further aspect, the plurality of attachments includes a nipple attachment for nursing an infant.
In yet a further aspect, the plurality of attachments includes at least one sip cup attachment comprising a spout having one or more small holes to allow drinking but prevent spillage if the container is upset.
In yet a further aspect, the at least one sip cup attachment comprises a plurality of sip cup attachments having spouts of varying rigidity.
In yet a further aspect, the plurality of attachments includes a spoon-shaped spout attachment comprising a spout ending in a spoon-shaped depression for receiving semi-solid food or liquid from the bag.
In yet a further aspect, the mouth of the bag is large enough to accommodate a child's hand, and the plurality of attachments includes a snack opening attachment defining a large opening through the mouth of the bag for permitting a child's hand to reach within the bag.
In yet a further aspect, the plurality of attachments includes a mesh attachment comprising a cap defining an opening into the mouth of the bag; and a mesh fabric shroud attached at a first end about at least a portion of the perimeter of the opening in the cap, the mesh fabric being sufficiently porous to allow semi-solid foods to be extruded through the fabric.
In yet a further aspect, the mesh fabric shroud is attached at its first end about the entire perimeter of the opening in the cap and forms a closed bag shape at a second end.
In yet a further aspect, the plurality of attachments includes a wide drinking mouth attachment defining a large opening through the mouth of the bag for use of the bag as a drinking cup.
In yet a further aspect, the plurality of attachments includes a sport spout attachment comprising a spout having a mechanism for sealing and unsealing the spout.
In yet a further aspect, the plurality of attachments includes a straw attachment comprising a spout defining a first portion of a narrow channel for carrying liquids, and a straw body extending away from the spout into the bag, the straw body having an open end distal from the spout and defining within its length a second portion of the narrow channel.
In yet a further aspect, the at least one reusable feeding bag comprises an insulated feeding bag for preserving the temperature of food or liquid contained therein.
In yet a further aspect, the at least one reusable feeding bag comprises a multi-compartment feeding bag having a mouth at an upper end of a first compartment, the mouth having an annular first connecting assembly about a perimeter of the mouth.
In yet a further aspect, the multi-compartment feeding bag has a second compartment having a resealable mouth.
In yet a further aspect, the multi-compartment feeding bag has a second compartment separated from the first compartment by a breakable seal.
In yet a further aspect, the breakable seal is resealable.
In yet a further aspect, the multi-compartment feeding bag has a second compartment for holding and displaying one or more identification items identifying a user or owner of the bag.
In yet a further aspect, the at least one reusable feeding bag comprises at least one reusable feeding bag composed of a flexible non-bisphenol A plastic.
In yet a further aspect, the at least one reusable feeding bag is semi-rigid, thereby allowing it to retain an upright shape when placed on a surface.
In yet a further aspect, the present disclosure describes a reusable feeding bag suitable for holding liquids and solid foods, comprising an open mouth at an upper end of the bag, and a plurality of attachments for regulating the passage of material into or out of the bag, each attachment having a connecting assembly for detachably connecting the attachment to the mouth of the at least one bag to form a liquid-proof seal therewith, the attachments including at least one attachment selected from the following list: a nipple attachment, a flexible sip cup spout attachment, a rigid sip cup spout attachment, a spoon-shaped spout attachment, a resealable spout attachment, a drinking straw spout attachment, a solid snack wide mouth attachment large enough to accommodate a child's hand, a wide drinking cup mouth attachment, or a breast pump input attachment.
Other example embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTSThe present disclosure relates to a feeding system for infants and toddlers using one or more reusable feedings bags having a neck fitted with an assembly for mounting several interchangeable spout or mouth types. The spout or mouth types may include in various embodiments nipples of varying hardness, sip cup spouts of varying hardness, a spoon-shaped spout, a wide mouth for drinking, a wide mouth for allowing toddlers' hands to retrieve snacks, a mesh cloth for holding and squeezing semi-solids, a sport spout, and a straw hole. There may also be provided in some embodiments a breast pump input attachment for receiving breast milk into the bag from a breast pump. The bags used may include multi-compartment bags and insulated bags for holding hot or cold foods in some embodiments.
Using a reusable bag rather than disposable bags may provide advantages in terms of environmental friendliness, sophistication of the bag construction (e.g. insulation or multiple compartments), and overall cost savings.
Using multiple spout types may provide advantages in terms of allowing one bag to be used for multiple applications (e.g. receiving from a breast pump, storage, feeding) and for multiple food types (e.g. semi-solids, liquid, small solid snacks). It also allows different spouts types to be used as the child reaches different stages of development (e.g. a nipple, then a soft sippy spout, then a hard sippy spout).
By providing multiple reusable bags, each usable with a plurality of mouth attachments, the system may provide flexibility and economy over time, as different containers can be washed while others are in use, and a single set of attachments may be taken on an outing along with two or more containers containing different food and drink types, with the attachments swapped between the different containers as each is used.
The use of a bag rather than a rigid bottle for feeding may provide ease of storage and collapsibility when empty, and also reduces the risk of a child drinking from the container swallowing air thereby causing gas or colic. Furthermore, embodiments providing a semi-rigid bag combine these advantages with a container which may be able to stand upright when placed on a flat surface, thereby reducing the risk of spillage or contamination.
Turning to the drawings,
In the illustrated embodiment, the bag 200 has marked along its side a set of measurement indicators 206. These indicators allow measurement of the amount of liquid or food contained within the bag 200.
Some embodiments may use a semi-rigid bag composed at least in part of material which allows the bag to maintain an upright form when resting on a surface. Such semi-rigidity may be achieved by forming the sides and/or bottom of the bag from a semi-rigid material, or through the use of internal structures such as spines running down the sides of the bag or a rigid insert inside the bag. The semi-rigid bag would still be collapsible for easy storage and to prevent a drinker from swallowing air, but would retain its upright shape in the absence of external compressing or deforming forces.
The system 100 may include a number of different attachments for receiving and/or dispensing food or liquid from the bags 110. A number of potential attachments used by various embodiments are described below.
The nipple attachment 300 has an attachment connector assembly 304 adapted to detachably interconnect with the mouth connector assembly 204 of the bag 200 to form a liquid-proof seal therewith. Other attachments 120 as further described below may have similar connector assemblies.
The detachably interlocking mechanism of the mouth connector assembly 204 with the attachment connector assembly 304 may take different forms in various embodiments. The two assemblies 204, 304 may interconnect in some embodiments using a threaded ring of the type used in standard baby bottles. Other embodiments may use other connecting mechanisms, such as a spring-biased releasable latch, to detachably interconnect the two elements. In some embodiments, the interconnecting assemblies 204, 304 include a compressible element suitable for forming a liquid-proof seal.
In some embodiments, the mouth 202 of the bag 200 does not have a distinct mouth connector assembly 204. Instead, the attachment connector assembly 304 is adapted to connect directly around the perimeter of the flexible mouth 202 directly. For example, the attachment connector assembly 304 could use a clamping mechanism to clamp the perimeter of the mouth 202 to form a liquid-proof seal around the mouth 202.
Returning to the drawings,
The breakable seal 1306 may take different forms in different embodiments. In some embodiments, it may take the form of a resealable sandwich-bag style zipper fastener. In other embodiments, it may take the form of a pressure-sensitive one-way valve, or any other breakable seal.
In some embodiments, one or both compartments 1302, 1304 of the bag 1300 include a measurement indicator 1312 visible on their sides, thereby facilitating precise measurement of their contents.
While the example embodiment shown in
In some embodiments, one or more of the attachment connector assemblies used by the various attachments 120 may take the form of a threaded ring rotatable independently from the rest of the attachment 120, thereby allowing attachment or detachment of the attachment 120 without rotating either the attachment 120 or the bag 110. In the case of the breast pump input attachment 110, this provides the further benefit of allowing attachment or detachment of the breast pump without rotating either the breast pump or the bag 110.
In some embodiments, a single versatile bag type may be used in the system 100, although multiple identical bags 110 may be owned by a single user to allow multiple different foods or liquids to be stored at the same time, or to allow one or more bags to be used while others are being washed. In such an embodiment using a single type of bag 110, a user on an outing with the child may carry several bags 110 containing various foods and drinks, along with various attachments 120. The attachments 120 may then be swapped between the various bags 110 as needed.
In other embodiments, various types of bags 110 used in the system 100 may have different qualities. For example, some types of bags 110 may be insulated to preserve the temperature of hot or cold food or drink stored within them. Bags 110 may be of different sizes and shapes in some embodiments, making them more convenient for different uses, such as a large round bag for storing snacks, a small narrow bag for storing and dispensing mashed fruit or vegetables, and a small round bag for nursing an infant. In some embodiments, some of the bags 110 may have multiple compartments, as shown in
The bags 110 may be formed from various materials. In some embodiments, they are formed from a flexible non-BPA (bisphenol A) plastic rugged enough to retain its integrity through repeated washings. Other embodiments may use different material for different types of bags. Any flexible material suitable for storing food and/or liquid may be used to form the bags 110.
The example embodiments of the present disclosure described above are intended to be examples only. Those of skill in the art may effect alterations, modifications and variations to the particular embodiments without departing from the intended scope of the present disclosure. In particular, features from one or more of the above-described example embodiments may be selected to create alternate example embodiments included of a sub-combination of features which may not be explicitly described above. In addition, features from one or more of the above-described example embodiments may be selected and combined to create alternate example embodiments included of a combination of features which may not be explicitly described above. Features suitable for such combinations and sub-combinations would be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art upon review of the present disclosure as a whole. The subject matter described herein and in the recited claims intends to cover and embrace all suitable changes in technology.
Claims
1. A feeding bag system, comprising:
- at least one reusable feeding bag suitable for holding liquids and solid foods, each bag defining a mouth at an upper end of the bag; and
- a plurality of attachments for regulating the passage of material into or out of the bag, each attachment having a connecting assembly for detachably connecting the attachment to the mouth of the at least one bag to form a liquid-proof seal therewith.
2. The feeding bag system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of attachments includes a breast pump input attachment comprising a breast pump connector element adapted to secure the attachment to a breast pump output for channelling breast milk from the breast pump output into the mouth of the at least one bag.
3. The feeding bag system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of attachments includes a nipple attachment.
4. The feeding bag system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of attachments includes at least one sip cup attachment comprising a spout having one or more small holes to allow drinking but prevent spillage if the container is upset.
5. The feeding bag system of claim 4, wherein the at least one sip cup attachment comprises a plurality of sip cup attachments having spouts of varying rigidity.
6. The feeding bag system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of attachments includes a spoon-shaped spout attachment comprising a spout ending in a spoon-shaped depression for receiving semi-solid food or liquid from the bag.
7. The feeding bag system of claim 1, wherein:
- the mouth of the bag is large enough to accommodate a child's hand; and
- the plurality of attachments includes a snack opening attachment defining a large opening through the mouth of the bag for permitting a child's hand to reach within the bag.
8. The feeding bag system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of attachments includes a mesh attachment comprising:
- a cap defining an opening into the mouth of the bag; and
- a mesh fabric shroud attached at a first end about at least a portion of the perimeter of the opening in the cap, the mesh fabric being sufficiently porous to allow semi-solid foods to be extruded through the fabric.
9. The feeding bag system of claim 8, wherein the mesh fabric shroud is attached at its first end about the entire perimeter of the opening in the cap and forms a closed bag shape at a second end.
10. The feeding bag system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of attachments includes a wide drinking mouth attachment defining a large opening through the mouth of the bag for use of the bag as a drinking cup.
11. The feeding bag system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of attachments includes a sport spout attachment comprising a spout having a mechanism for sealing and unsealing the spout.
12. The feeding bag system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of attachments includes a straw attachment comprising:
- a spout defining a first portion of a narrow channel for carrying liquids; and
- a straw body extending away from the spout into the bag, the straw body having an open end distal from the spout and defining within its length a second portion of the narrow channel.
13. The feeding bag system of claim 1, wherein the at least one reusable feeding bag comprises an insulated feeding bag for preserving the temperature of food or liquid contained therein.
14. The feeding bag system of claim 1, wherein the at least one reusable feeding bag comprises a multi-compartment feeding bag having a mouth at an upper end of a first compartment, the mouth having an annular first connecting assembly about a perimeter of the mouth.
15. The feeding bag system of claim 14, wherein the multi-compartment feeding bag has a second compartment having a resealable mouth.
16. The feeding bag system of claim 14, wherein the multi-compartment feeding bag has a second compartment separated from the first compartment by a breakable seal.
17. The feeding bag system of claim 16, wherein the breakable seal is resealable.
18. The feeding bag system of claim 14, wherein the multi-compartment feeding bag has a second compartment for holding and displaying one or more identification items identifying a user or owner of the bag.
19. The feeding bag system of claim 1, wherein the at least one reusable feeding bag comprises at least one reusable feeding bag composed of a flexible non-bisphenol A plastic.
20. The feeding bag system of claim 1, wherein the at least one reusable feeding bag is semi-rigid, thereby allowing it to retain an upright shape when placed on a surface.
21. A reusable feeding bag suitable for holding liquids and solid foods, comprising: the attachments including at least one attachment selected from the following list:
- an open mouth at an upper end of the bag; and
- a plurality of attachments for regulating the passage of material into or out of the bag, each attachment having a connecting assembly for detachably connecting the attachment to the mouth of the at least one bag to form a liquid-proof seal therewith,
- a nipple attachment, a flexible sip cup spout attachment, a rigid sip cup spout attachment, a spoon-shaped spout attachment, a resealable spout attachment, a drinking straw spout attachment, a solid snack wide mouth attachment large enough to accommodate a child's hand, a wide drinking cup mouth attachment, or a breast pump input attachment.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 9, 2011
Publication Date: Mar 14, 2013
Inventors: Krista Elaine HALLIDAY (Ancaster), Daniel J. Taylor (Flemington, NJ)
Application Number: 13/228,678