Baby bottle holder

Details Baby bottle holder Baby bottle holder

2002-10-01

2004-11-30

Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)

Supports

Nursing bottle type

C248S103000, C248S105000, C446S073000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06824112

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This application relates generally to baby bottle holders and, more particularly, to stuffed toys that serve as baby bottle holders.
BACKGROUND
FIG. 1
illustrates a conventional baby bottle
10
. The bottle
10
includes a container
11
and a cap
12
. Cap
12
typically includes interior threads that are screwed onto exterior threads on container
11
to secure cap
12
to container
11
. Container
11
includes a closed end
13
and an open end (not visible in
FIG. 1
due to cap
12
). A side wall
14
extends from closed end
13
toward the open end. As side wall
14
nears the open end of container
11
, side wall
14
narrows to form a neck
15
. The exterior threads on container
11
are usually on neck
15
.
Cap
12
typically includes a nipple
16
that is secured within a base
17
. The interior threads on cap
12
are usually on base
17
. A recess
18
is typically formed on the outside of bottle
10
by a lower edge
19
of base
17
and the slope of neck
15
.
The shape of conventional baby bottles, such as bottle
10
, often makes it difficult for a baby to manipulate their own feeding bottle. A baby will frequently drop their bottle and have problems retrieving the bottle.
One solution to the problem is to have an adult in constant attendance while the baby is feeding. This solution may not be acceptable if the adult is supervising other children.
Another solution is to utilize a baby bottle holder that holds the baby bottle. Baby bottle holders are typically easier for a child to grasp and hold.
FIG. 2
illustrates one type of prior art baby bottle holder
20
. Holder
20
includes a stuffed toy (e.g., animal) body
21
that has an opening
22
defined by a sleeve
23
extending through stuffed body
21
. Sleeve
23
extends from a bottom end
24
to a head end
25
of stuffed body
21
.
Opening
22
formed by sleeve
23
is typically smaller than bottle
10
such that sleeve
23
is compressed outward as bottle
10
is forced into opening
22
. The force generated by stuffed body
21
on bottle
10
is often unsuitable to hold bottle
10
when opening
22
is vertically oriented, especially when holder
20
is subjected to movements caused by a baby.
A retainer, such as elastic retainer
26
, is positioned at the head end
25
of sleeve
23
to secure a portion of bottle
10
inside stuffed body
21
. Retainer
26
includes an opening that is smaller than the diameter of bottle
10
at recess
18
. Retainer
26
expands as bottle
10
is inserted through retainer
26
and moves partially back toward its original size when retainer
26
engages recess
18
. Once retainer
26
is positioned within recess
18
of bottle
10
, the compressive force generated by retainer
26
on bottle
10
as well as the lateral constraint provided by lower edge
19
of base
17
and neck
15
secure bottle
10
inside stuffed body
21
.
One drawback with bottle holder
20
is that it does not present enough of a pleasing appearance. Base
17
of cap
12
is exposed entirely outside of stuffed body
21
thereby detracting from the appearance of bottle holder
20
. In addition, base
17
of cap
12
is typically made from hard plastic that could harm the baby, another child, or property if cap
12
were to strike any such objects, such as when a baby throws bottle holder
20
.
Another drawback with bottle holder
20
is that there is no convenient way to secure bottle holder
20
to another object, such as a baby stroller. When the baby and bottle holder
20
are being transported somewhere, holder
20
needs to be held by the baby or parent, or packed away. Bottle holder
20
may be easily lost when it is held during transportation, especially if bottle holder
20
is held by the baby. Packing the holder away for transportation may be impossible, or at least undesirable because the baby would have limited access to bottle holder
20
during transportation.
Therefore, a baby bottle holder is needed which provides an improved appearance. It would also be desirable if the baby bottle holder concealed any hard plastic parts on a conventional baby bottle within the holder. In addition, the baby bottle holder should be able to be secured to an object that is close to the baby.
SUMMARY
A baby bottle holder that includes a stuffed toy body and a sleeve extending through the stuffed toy body to form at least one opening in the stuffed toy body. The baby bottle holder further includes a bottle retainer that is positioned within the sleeve and spaced from a first end and a second end of the sleeve.
The need to conceal the hard plastic parts on the bottle, especially the cap, is addressed by spacing the bottle retainer away from the ends of the sleeve to position all of the hard plastic parts on a bottle held by the bottle holder within the stuffed toy body. In some example embodiments, the bottle retainer can be positioned with the sleeve such that only the nipple of the baby bottle is exposed outside a mouth of the stuffed toy body when the baby bottle is secured within the bottle holder.
Another aspect relates to a baby bottle holder that includes a stuffed toy body and a sleeve extending through the stuffed toy body to form at least one opening in the stuffed toy body that receives a baby bottle. The baby bottle holder further includes a tether attached to the stuffed toy body to secure the baby bottle holder to an object.
The tether allows the baby bottle holder to be secured to a stroller or the like. Depending on the location of the tether and baby, the tether may provide continuous access to the baby bottle holder by the baby, especially when the baby and bottle holder are being transported from one location to another.
These and other aspects, embodiments and features will become apparent from the following description and referenced drawings.


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