AU4270899A

AU4270899A - Flasks, in particular collapsible feeding bottles

Info

Publication number: AU4270899A
Application number: AU42708/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Suzanne De Begon De Larouziere
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-06-22
Filing date: 1999-06-22
Publication date: 2000-01-10
Also published as: FR2782497A1; US20010006164A1; JP2002518148A; WO1999067141A1; CA2336166A1; EP1089911A1

Description

UNIQUEMENT A TITRE INFORMATION

Codes utilis6s pour identifier les Etats parties au PCT, sur les pages de couverture des brochures publiant des demandes nternationales en vertu du PCT.

kL Albanie ES Espagne LS Lesotho SI Slov6nie kM Arm6nie Fl Finlande LT Lituanie SK Slovaquic LT Autriche FR France LU Luxembourg SN Sdndgal kU Australie GA Gabon LV Lettonie SZ Swaziland kZ Azerbaldjan GB Royaume-Uni MC Monaco TD Tchad 3A Bosnie-Herz6govine GE Georgie MD Rdpublique de Moldova TG Togo B Barbade GH Ghana MG Madagascar TJ Tadjikistan E Belgique GN Guinde MK Ex-R6publique yougoslave TM Turkm6nistan 3F Burkina Faso GR Grece de Mac6doine TR Turquie 3G Bulgarie HU Hongrie ML Mali TT Trinitd-et-Tobago 3J B6nin IE Irlande MN Mongolie UA Ukraine RR Brdsil IL Israel MR Mauritanie UG Ouganda RY Bdlarus IS Islande MW Malawi US Etats-Unis d'Amdrique :A Canada IT Italie MX Mexique UZ Ouzb6kistan ZF R6publique centrafricaine JP Japon NE Niger VN Viet Nam _G Congo KE Kenya NL Pays-Bas YU Yougoslavie -H Suisse KG Kirghizistan NO Norvege ZW Zimbabwe 31 Cbte d'Ivoire KP Rdpublique populaire NZ Nouvelle-Zdlande CM Cameroun d6mocratique de Corde PL Pologne CN Chine KR Rdpublique de Corde PT Portugal CU Cuba KZ Kazakstan RO Roumanie CZ Rdpublique tcheque LC Sainte-Lucie RU Fdddration de Russie DE Allemagne LI Liechtenstein SD Soudan DK Danemark LK Sri Lanka SE Suede EE Estonie LR Libdria SG Singapour

FLASKS, IN PARTICULAR RETRACTABLE FEEDING BOTTLES

The present invention concerns flasks, in particular feeding bottles. The purpose of the invention is to propose retractable feeding bottles, the height of which may be reduced outside periods of use. In the state of the art, different versions of flasks or retractable bottles have been proposed. French patent FR2467146 discloses in particular semi rigid packaging constituted by a ringed sleeve the corrugations of which, with an essentially triangular shaped cross-section, allow stable contraction by tilting a part at least of them beyond a position of equilibrium so that each of said corrugations has a stable position in the compressed state or in the deployed state. The sleeve delimits an inner volume which can vary in a substantial ratio between extreme states where all the corrugations are compressed or deployed. Another document of the prior art, the American patent US 5,348,173 discloses embodiment details of such retractable packaging. Also known are the American patent US 2,780,378, the American patent US 3,143,429, the British patent GB 2181062 or the European patent EP 300786 concerning compressible containers also having the general shape of bellows. Indeed, prior art products retain compression memory: when the feeding bottle is decompressed after a long period of being kept in the compressed position, it does not regain its nominal capacity. These types of packaging have defects however. They do not guarantee the capacity in the deployed position. Indeed, significant variations may occur when the prior art packaging is subject to multiple extension and retraction manipulations. On the other hand, prior art devices do not guarantee harmonious and regular compression or deployment of the bellows, and often do not guarantee the stability of the extreme and intermediate positions. These drawbacks make the prior art device unsuitable for some applications, particularly for the manufacture of a feeding bottle. Indeed, for such applications, certain characteristics are required. It is desirable for the capacity of the feeding bottle in the deployed position to be constant and reproducible, so as to allow a precise dosage of the content by means of lateral calibration marks. Prior art devices do not allow such consistency of capacity to be guaranteed, and the lateral marks which could be affixed to the wall would not allow the volume of liquid introduced into the packaging to be deduced. Moreover, it will be noted that no prior art document suggests using such calibration marks. Secondly, a feeding bottle must be sufficiently stable, in the deployed position, to prevent unexpected axial pressure from causing an untimely compression. Such a compression would have very prejudicial effects, creating excess pressure of the contents, a liquid overflow, and a risk of choking the baby by excess of liquid delivered by the feeding bottle. Finally, it may be desirable for the capacity of the feeding bottle to be able to be periodically adjusted so as to expel the air, in order to reduce the risks of absorption of air by the baby. The absorption of excessive air causes risks of aerophagia finding expression, for the baby, in abdominal pains. For this reason it must allow compression into stable intermediate positions. Furthermore, the bellows shape in the retracted or partially compressed position must allow a liquid flow without the formation of areas of stagnation of the liquid contained in the container.

The purpose of the invention is to improve prior art bellows packaging in order to overcome these drawbacks. To this end, the invention concerns a flask, in particular a feeding bottle, having a retractable body of approximately cylindrical plastic material, characterised in that the body is constituted by a succession of conical, alternate, rigid/flexible sections making it possible to obtain at least two stable extension positions, and a plurality of stable intermediate positions having axial symmetry, and in that the angle a is greater than the angle $, - a denoting the angle formed between the upper edge and a transverse plane; - P denoting the angle formed between the lower edge and a transverse plane. Preferably, a-P is greater than or equal to 4'. To this end, the upper edge is thicker, and therefore more rigid, than the lower edge, which is thereby more flexible than the upper edge. Advantageously, the radius of curvature of the connection zone between the conical upper wall and the conical lower wall is greater than or equal to twice the thickness of the wall. The angle P formed between the transverse plane and the conical lower wall is between 35' and 400. According to one particular variant, the ratio I/R between the length I of the lower edge and the radius R at the trough is between 0.35 and 0.50. According to another variant, the bottom has a ring to exert traction on the body of the feeding bottle. Advantageously, the ratio between the generators S and I of two consecutive conical sectors is about 1.25. According to an advantageous embodiment, the flask according to the invention has on its wall calibration marks for determining the volume of liquid contained in the bottle in the deployed position.

The invention will be better understood from reading the following description of an embodiment example, with reference to the appended drawings wherein: - figure 1 and 2 show cross-section views of an embodiment detail of a feeding bottle, in the decompressed and compressed positions respectively; - figures 3 and 4 show cross-section views of the feeding bottle; - figures 5 and 6 show views of details of the feeding bottle body. The feeding bottle body according to the invention, shown in the appended figures, is constituted by a succession of conical sections (1 to 2) connected, when the feeding bottle is in the deployed position, in the shape of lenses to form a corrugated hollow body. These conical upper (1) and lower (2) sections are connected at their apexes (100) and in their troughs (200). When the feeding bottle is compressed, the conical lower section (1) is folded back under the conical upper section (2). The conical lower section (2) tilts relative to the transverse median plane (300). The lower section (2) is above the transverse plane (300) passing thorough the trough (200) of a lenticular segment (400) when the feeding bottle is deployed. It is beneath the transverse plane (300) when the feeding bottle is compressed. The feeding bottle will be described below as a non restrictive example, for a maximum capacity (corresponding to the deployed position) of the container of 305 millilitres, for a height of 147.4 mm and a maximum cross section of 64 mm. The body includes a plurality of lenticular elements (3 to 10) formed by the affixing of two conical sections (1, 2). The connection between two lenticular elements, at trough level, has a radius of curvature close to 0, in any case lower than or equal to 0.2 millimetres. The thickness is an element which may upset component operation, compression and decompression and the maintenance of the spiral track in the compressed position, it can even prevent compression if it is substantial. 1-Influence of the optimum distribution of thicknesses on the geometry. 2- Influence of the rigidity of the material: Young's modulus on compression and decompression stresses. The compression and jointing condition of a spiral track at thickness level without mentioning compression energy but only feasibility is expressed by a trough radius in the vicinity of 0 to 0.2 millimetres. The trough is an intersection of the thickness of the lower edge and upper edge. At this point contrary to the apex, the material expands less on account of its proximity to the centre. To create the jointing, it is necessary to break the accumulation of materials at this point so that the spiral track compresses and stays compressed. The mechanisms engaged during compression of the feeding bottle are as follows: Two buckling mode types may appear: 1. The first mode is a mode accompanied by large displacements which leads to a sharp increase in the rigidity of the component (figure 5) 2. The second is a more local mode accompanied by much smaller displacements localised on the edges of the spiral tracks. The appearance of this second mode does not induce any appreciable increase in rigidity (figure 6). A non homogenous distribution of the thicknesses (thicknesses at the apexes, troughs and edges of different spiral tracks according to the spiral tracks) favours the appearance of the first buckling mode. The direct consequence of homogenising the thicknesses is a reduction in the energy required for compression.

Reducing the thickness in the troughs of spiral tracks and at the apexes allows a substantial gain in compression energies. But in both cases, the reductions in thickness do not make it possible to have better control of the buckling mode appearance and type shown in figures 5 and 6. Introducing a more substantial thickness on the upper edges than on the lower edges of the spiral tracks makes it possible on the one hand to control more effectively and to anticipate the appearance of first mode types by increasing the rigidity of the upper edges, on the other hand to create preferential flexion areas on the lower edges. This design therefore allows a consequent gain in the energy necessary for compressing the feeding bottle. Decompression does not lead to the buckling mode appearance but the previous conclusions remain true; a more homogenous distribution of thicknesses makes it possible to reduce energy in decompression, the hinge effect at the apexes is more pronounced than that in the troughs, the creation of thicker and therefore more rigid areas on the upper edges and correlatively that of preferential flexion areas on the lower edges makes it possible to reduce the energy required for decompression. Reducing the Young's modulus of the material does not bring consequent gains relative to those stemming from an optimised distribution of thicknesses. Reducing the modulus if it leads to lower compression energies leads also to more flexible components the stability, particularly lateral, of which in operation may be much reduced. A better distribution of thicknesses and possibly a material of a Young's modulus of less than 950 Mpa, (800 and 650 Mpa) makes it possible to reduce (almost 100%) the energy necessary for decompressing and compressing the feeding bottle. It must be noted that for an identical effort, the decompression energy is overall equivalent to the compression energy but that the observations made above make it possible to decompress . the feeding.. bottle with low intensity efforts which do not allow compression. The feeding bottle may therefore overall be decompressed with less effort than that required to compress it. The lower lenticular element (3) includes a lower element the external cross-section of which is 64 mm and the height 5.4 mm, and an conical upper element the generator of which is 13.0 mm, and forms with the vertical an angle of 28.5'. The total height of this first lenticular element (3) is 17.7 mm. The following lenticular element (4) has a height of 16.9 mm. The conical lower sector has a length of 8.9 mm and forms with the vertical an angle of 39*. The conical upper sector has a length of 10.5 mm, and forms with the vertical an angle of 44'. The five following lenticular elements (5 to 9) are formed by a conical lower sector the generator of which has a length of 10.2 mm and forms with the vertical an angle P of 400, and of an conical upper sector the generator of which has a length of 12 mm and forms with the vertical an angle x of 47'. To avoid the effects of hysteresis, it is necessary to respect a certain geometry of the edges between themselves. The dimensions and angles are denoted in references in figure 3. Dimension of the Lower edge = I Dimension of the Upper edge = S R = Radius from the trough to the centre, on the transverse plane. cx is the angle formed between the Upper edge and the transverse plane P is the angle formed between the Lower edge and the transverse plane. For the feeding bottle according to the invention, the following formulas must be verified: cc being the angle of the upper edge, P that of the lower edge which buckles. I/R must be between 35% and 50%. In the example described, I = 8.9 mm R = 25 mm The ratio is 35.6%. cc must be greater than $ by at least 4'. This value includes the possible thickness of the Lower edge. Ideally $ must be between 350 and 400. Beyond 400, it becomes difficult to compress it. (X must be greater by at least 40 relative to P since after kinematics, the lower edge P will be positioned at $'. If P' stops against the upper edge at 1'-a, the lower edge does not compress but is deformed and may rebound. If the dimensions are respected furthermore, alpha must be larger but must not exceed 20%. According to an embodiment example, a = 440 $ = 39% ($3=88% of cc) The closer the angle 1 to the straight line which starts from the apexes, the easier the compression. The concept of retractable flasks the height of which may be reduced outside periods of use is applied here for disposable feeding bottles characterised by a spiral geometry. The feeding bottle is sold sterile and compressed, it must therefore be decompressed to be used. After use, the feeding bottle is compressed to be disposed of. In every case, the user must be able to decompress and compress the feeding bottle easily. On the other hand, he/she must be able to use it without there being any risk of compression during use. For such feeding bottles, the compression and decompression phases must be able to be carried out with minimum effort nonetheless guaranteeing stability during use.

The "Passage Point" "stress" To ensure that the lower edge buckles before. the upper edge buckles, and to avoid hysteresis events, it is necessary to optimise the stress of the edges. In compression: Lower: The projection of the lower edge towards a virtual point located on the horizontal starting from the apexes, represents with the radius of this same edge on the horizontal, the value of the stress. The stress of P must not exceed 22% +- 1% of the dimension of the lower edge. The stress of P must be between 21 and 23% of I (dimension of the lower edge) The stress of a must be greater than that of $. If the reverse occurs, it is the upper edge which will tend to deform first. In order that only the lower edge compresses, it is necessary to ensure that the stress of the upper edge is greater than that of the lower edge. Nonetheless the gap between the two stresses must be reduced. To this end, the stress $ would have to be greater than or equal to 60% of the stress of a. Below 60% a high energy deployment problem is encountered. A stress of $ = 47% of the stress of a translates for example into an excessively hard manipulation. e.g.: Upper stress 2.9 mm Lower stress 2.0 mm Furthermore, when the stress of P is greater than 70% of the stress of a, the bellows has a shape memory producing the effect of hysteresis. The closer the angle P to the straight line which starts from the apexes, the easier the compression on account of the fact that the stress of the lower edge is closer to its projection and therefore the stress is closer to 0. This condition is obtained with an angle of 25' and below. But with this value, retention of liquid in the spiral tracks may be observed. Reliability and reproducibility of capacity is therefore lost. So as to improve compaction or miniaturisation of the feeding bottle, the lower edge must represent in dimension at least 80% of the dimension of the upper edge. The lower edge may therefore be from 80% to 100% of the dimension of the upper edge. If this value is exceeded, the feeding bottle becomes, after compression, an upturned conical component. This value is preferably between 80% and 95%. The feeding bottle is made up of spiral tracks each representing an effective volume of 30 ml. The upper lenticular element (10) is extended by a threaded cylindrical part (11). The total height of the corrugated part is 127.6 mm in the deployed position. It has volume calibrated calibration marks (12). Retractability is obtained preferentially by pressures along alternate oblique axes, and not along one axial direction. A pressure movement is exerted with lateral dissymmetry to force the tilting of one side of a lenticular element, then a second pressure is exerted with an opposite lateral component to complete the compression of this first lenticular element. This alternate movement is then continued until the compression is obtained of the requisite number of lenticular elements. The feeding bottle then remains in a stable intermediate position. The material selected is here polypropylene with a modulus of 950 Mpa for its greater resistance to heat, necessary when heating the feeding bottle and for its transparency making it possible to see the formation of lumps from powdered milk, and lastly for its rigidity necessary for the proper handling and stability of the feeding bottle.

Claims

1. A flask, in particular a feeding bottle, having a retractable body of approximately cylindrical plastic material constituted by a succession of conical upper (1) and lower (2) sections connected at their apexes (100) and in their troughs (300), an angle a being formed between the conical upper section (1) and a transverse plane and an angle $ being formed between the conical lower section (2) and a transverse plane, characterised in that the body is constituted by a succession of conical (1, 2), alternate, rigid/flexible, sections making it possible to obtain at least two stable extension positions, and a plurality of stable intermediate positions having axial symmetry, and in that the radius of curvature of the trough (200) is less than or equal to 0.2 millimetres.

2. A flask, in particular a feeding bottle, according to claim 1 characterised in that the angle a formed between the conical upper section (1) and a transverse plane is greater than the angle P formed between the conical lower section (2) and a transverse plane.

3. A flask, in particular a feeding bottle, according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that c-$ is greater than or equal to 40.

4. A flask, in particular a feeding bottle, according to claim 1 characterised in that the radius of curvature of the connection zone between the conical upper wall (1) and the conical lower wall (2) is greater than or equal to twice the thickness of the wall.

5. A flask, in particular a feeding bottle, according to claim 1 characterised in that the angle P formed between the transverse plane and the conical lower wall (2) is between 350 and 40*.

6. A flask, in particular a feeding bottle, according to at least one of the previous claims, characterised in that the ratio I/R between the length I of the lower edge (2) and the radius R at trough level (200) is between 0.35 and 0.50.

7. A flask, in particular a feeding bottle, according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it has on its wall calibration marks (12) for determining the volume of liquid contained in the flask in the deployed position.

8. A flask, in particular a feeding bottle, according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the length of the lower edge (2) is greater than 80% of the dimension of the upper edge (1).

9. A flask, in particular a feeding bottle, according to any one of the previous claims characterised in that the stress P is greater than or equal to 60% of the stress of a.

10. A flask, in particular a feeding bottle, according to any one of the previous claims characterised in that the stress @ is less than or equal to 80% of the stress of ct.

11. A flask, in particular a feeding bottle, according to any one of the previous claims characterised in that the upper edges (1) are thicker than the lower edges (2).

CAPTIONS

Figure 3 CONTRAINTE = STRESS CREUX = TROUGH SOMMET = APEX FLANC SUPERIEUR = UPPER EDGE FLANC INFERIEUR = LOWER EDGE

Figure 5/6 MODE DE FLAMBAGE = BUCKLING MODE

Fig. 1

1 200

400 - 100

.2 300

Fig. 2

2 300 200

400] 100

Fig. 3

CONTRAfITE SME CREUX

FLKNC SUPERIEUR

C INFERIEUR

Fig .4

2 -R1.0 53.0*

9 270 "\4 50.0* 10.0 8 47.07 40.0'

10.0

40.0' 1200 45.0'

10.0 6 -> 44.0' 40.0' 4 -- >

5 10.0 7.. 39.0*

4 -(F 44.0* 39.0'

9.2 3 439.0- 44,0. 8.9 4039 '

8.9 39.0* 40 8.9

WO 99/67141 PCTIFR99/01496

4/4

.HH