Title: Musical baby bottle
Abstract: An improved baby bottle adapted with handles and a sound-generating module for generating audible sounds. A generally cylindrical baby bottle is adapted with longitudinally extending slots on opposing sides of the bottle. The slots receive and retain a removable handle assembly having first and second opposing handles that facilitate holding of the bottle while feeding. Additionally, the handle assembly includes a portion adapted for receiving an interchangeable sound-generating module in removable engagement therewith. The sound-generating module includes a battery power source, memory chip, speaker, and electrical circuitry required to selectively produce sounds when disposed on the handle assembly. The sound module may be adapted to play single or multiple songs such as the ABC song or lullabies, or may be configured for educational purposes such as number counting lessons. The sound modules are interchangeable and the production of multiple sound modules provides the user with a variety of sounds to choose from. The baby bottle is provided with an enlarged base for stability.
Patent Number: 6,872,116 Issued on 03/29/2005 to Dunnum, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Dunnum; Christopher (19600 NW. 5th Pl., Miami, FL 33169);
Anthony; Michael M. (10189 W. Sample Rd., Coral Springs, FL 33065)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
801787 |
| Filed:
|
March 16, 2004 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
446/73; 446/267; 446/297; 446/304; 446/76; 215/396; 206/217 |
| Intern'l Class: |
A63H 003//00 |
| Field of Search: |
446/73,76,77,267,297,304,397,71,74,81,175
206/217,542,216,459.1
215/6,396,395,11.2
40/329,453
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Miller; Bena B.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bowen, Esq.; Mark D.
Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A.
Claims
We claim:
1. A baby bottle comprising:
a hollow, substantially cylindrical container having an exterior surface, a
closed end and an opposing open end;
a nipple extending from said container open end and secured by a retaining
member connected to said open end;
a handle assembly removably connected to said container, said handle
assembly including opposing left and right handles each extending
substantially between said container open and closed ends;
said handle including a module-receiving compartment adapted for removably
receiving a sound module, said module-receiving compartment including clip
means for securing the sound module within said compartment; and
an electronic sound module removably attached to said module-receiving
compartment, said sound module including means for generating audible
sounds.
2. A baby bottle according to claim 1, wherein said container closed end is
radially enlarged relative the remaining container body.
3. A baby bottle according to claim 1, wherein said sound module is adapted
to play music.
4. A baby bottle according to claim 1, wherein said sound module is adapted
to play audible educational material.
5. A baby bottle comprising:
a hollow, substantially cylindrical container having an exterior surface, a
closed end and an opposing open end;
said closed end defining a radially enlarged base;
a nipple extending from said container open end and secured by a retaining
member connected to said open end;
a handle assembly removably connected to said container, said handle
assembly including opposing left side and right side handles each
extending substantially between said container open and closed ends, said
left and right handles each including a radially inner surface defining a
sine-wave pattern;
said handle assembly including means for removably attaching a sound module
thereto;
a sound module removably attached to said handle assembly, said sound
module including means for generating audible sounds.
6. A baby bottle according to claim 5, wherein said means for removably
attaching a sound module includes a compartment adapted with opposing
latch members for engaging a sound module, said latch members biased to a
first portion wherein said sound module is secured and movable to a second
position wherein said sound module is unsecured.
7. A baby bottle according to claim 5, wherein said means for generating
audible sounds includes an internal battery power source, memory chip,
speaker, and electrical circuitry for selectively produce sounds.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
N/A
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
N/A
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that
is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection
to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent
disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file
or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a baby bottle, and more particularly, to a
baby bottle and attachable handles adapted with an electronic sound
generating module capable of generating audible sounds including music,
stories, or other pleasant soothing sounds.
2. Description of the Background Art
The use of infant bottles for feeding infants and children is well known.
It is further known to adapt infant feeding bottles with one or more
handles to assist the infant and/or parent in handling the bottle.
The present inventor has contributed to advancements in the art in the
development of a baby bottle having removable handles and an automated
sound producing means as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,872 (the "'872
patent") the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference. The '872 patent discloses a baby bottle that includes one or
more removable handles with integral voice chips received therein. The
integral voice chips are electrically actuated by a mechanical thermostat
received within a portion of the handle that is grasped by a user. Upon
the thermostat sensing a predetermined temperature, a pair of timer
circuits in communication therewith activate the voice chip. When the
thermostat detects a temperature below the predetermined value, the timer
circuits disable the voice chip after a predetermined duration.
Accordingly, when a baby or other user grasps the handle, music or other
sound recordings will be automatically emitted. When the baby releases the
handle, the voice chip will be deactivated within a predetermined duration
thereafter.
While the musical baby bottle disclosed in the '872 patent is considered
acceptable for its intended purpose, the present inventor believes there
are a number of limitations with the musical baby bottle disclosed in the
'872 patent that can be overcome. More particularly, the attachment of
handles on the bottle as disclosed in the '872 patent may render the
bottle unstable and prone to tipping when placed on a supporting surface
such as a table. In addition, it is considered desirable to provide a
musical bottle wherein a variety of sounds may be generated.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved baby bottle adapted with handles
and a sound generating module for generating audible sounds. In a
preferred embodiment, a generally cylindrical baby bottle is adapted with
longitudinally extending slots on opposing sides of the bottle. The slots
receive and retain a removable handle assembly having first and second
opposing handles that facilitate holding of the bottle while feeding.
Additionally, the handle assembly includes a portion adapted for receiving
an interchangeable sound-generating module in removable engagement
therewith. The sound-generating module includes a battery power source,
memory chip, speaker, and electrical circuitry required to selectively
produce sounds when disposed on the handle assembly. The sound module may
be adapted to play single or multiple songs such as the ABC song or
lullabies, or may be configured for educational purposes such as number
counting lessons. The sound modules are interchangeable and the production
of multiple sound modules provides the user with a variety of sounds to
choose from. The baby bottle is provided with a radially enlarged base for
stability.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved baby bottle.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved baby
bottle having attachable handles.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a musical baby
bottle having an interchangeable sound module.
Still these and other objects will become apparent with reference to the
detailed description below and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sound generating baby bottle according to
the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main bottle body;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the attachable handle;
FIG. 5 is a side view of the sound generating baby bottle;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view thereof;
FIG. 7 is another perspective view thereof with cap removed;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view with the handle assembly depicted in partial
section;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the handle assembly;
FIG. 10 is a view of an alternate embodiment handle assembly and sound
generating module;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view thereof with the sound generating module
removed;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view thereof with the handle assembly removed; and
FIGS. 13 and 14 are perspective views of a sound generating module.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference now to the drawings, there is depicted an improved baby
bottle, referenced as 10, according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention. Baby bottle 10 includes a hollow container 12 having a
closed bottom end 14 and a top end 16 defining an opening. Bottom end 14
is preferably radially enlarged to provide a widened base for stability.
Top end 16 includes a radially projecting lip 18 and a threaded neck
portion 20. A rubber nipple 22 is secured to top end 16 by theaded
engagement of a retaining member 24. A cap 26 may be disposed in covering
relation with nipple 22 and retaining member 24.
The outer surface of container 12 defines a pair of opposing recessed
elongate slots, referenced as 30, for use in securing a handle assembly
40. More particularly, slots 30 each receive a mounting bracket 42 on
handle assembly 40 in sliding/locking engagement. Handle assembly 40
further includes left and right handle grips 44 having ergonomic arcuate
surfaces to facilitate easy grasping and holding by an infant. Handle
assembly 40 further includes a top portion 46 defining an annular opening
sized for mating engagement with container neck 20. As best illustrated in
FIG. 2, handle assembly 40 is attached to container 12 by sliding the
handle assembly mounting brackets 42 into container slots 30 such that
container neck is disposed within the annular opening defined by the
handle assembly top portion. Handle assembly 40 is further retained once
retaining member 24 is affixed.
As best depicted in FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, handle assembly 40 is further
adapted for receiving a sound-generating module 50 in removable engagement
therewith. As best depicted in FIG. 1, handle assembly 40 includes a
portion thereof, referenced 48, comprising a compartment for receiving and
securing a sound module therein. In a preferred embodiment, compartment 48
includes opposing latch members including clips 49 having inwardly
projecting lips that function to secure a sound module within compartment
48. The sound module may be removed (and replaced) by manually pressing
the clip ends so as to spread the clip lips from the normally engaged
configuration so as to allow for removal of the sound module from
compartment 48.
Sound module 50 comprises a compact housing containing an internal battery
power source, memory chip, speaker, and electrical circuitry required to
selectively produce sounds when disposed on the handle assembly. Sound
module 50 may be adapted to play single or multiple songs such as the ABC
song or lullabies, or may be configured for educational purposes such as
number counting lessons. The sound modules are interchangeable and the
production of multiple sound modules provides the user with a variety of
sounds to choose from. The electronic aspects of the sound module are
generally known in the art and thus are not shown or described in further
detail.
FIGS. 10-14 depict a bottle 12 having an alternate handle assembly and
sound module configuration. More particularly, bottle 12 is shown with an
alternate handle assembly, referenced as 60, adapted for receiving an
alternately shaped sound module 70. In this embodiment, handle assembly 60
is adapted with a compartment 62 shaped for receiving a generally
cylindrical portion of sound module 70. In all other respects, the handle
60 and sound module 70 are structurally and functionally similar to the
handle and sound module disclosed above.
The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is
considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is
recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the
scope of the invention and that obvious structural and/or functional
modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
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