(12) United States Patent
`Perricone
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,669,064 B2
`Dec. 30, 2003
`
`US006669064B2
`
`(54) BONDING NURSER
`
`Inventor; Nicholas V_ Pgrricone,
`CL’ Guilford, CT
`
`Coginchaug
`06437
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.s_C. 154(b) by 51 days.
`21 A 1‘ N ‘Z 10 077 557
`)
`pp
`0
`/
`’
`(
`(22) Filed:
`Feb. 14, 2002
`(65)
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2003/0150890 A1 /\11g- 14, 2003
`Int CL7 ................................................ H A45F 5/00
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`................ .. 224/148.6' 215/113‘ 215/116‘
`,
`’
`’
`'
`,
`’
`224/148.5 224/603' 248/102- 248/104
`_
`’
`’
`,
`’
`(58) Fleld of Search ““““““““““
`2,24/1486’ 1485’
`224/602’ 603/’ 1481’ 215/113’ 114’ 115’
`116’ 248’102’ 103’ 104’ 606'/234’ 236
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(56)
`
`,4/,1987 Cabemoch """""""" " 215/116
`4557451, A is
`10/1988 Goldson et al.
`4,776,546 A
`10/1990 Jones
`4,965,888 A
`2/1992 Jones
`57086517 A
`4/1992 Griffin
`5,108,686 A
`5,566,869 A * 10/1996 Katz ..................... .. 224/148.6
`5,582,335 A
`12/1996 Beard et al.
`
`5,690,679 A
`5,947,427 A *
`A *
`5,993,479 A
`6,241,135 B1 *
`
`11/1997 Prentiss
`................ .. 248/102
`9/1999 Holmquist
`Beck. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
`_
`11/1999 Prentiss
`6/2001 Thatcher ................ .. 224/148.5
`
`4 Cited by examiner
`‘
`_
`.
`.
`firzriuzry EEcamzi1er—Gregory V\17:]l0]V3'1Cl'1
`1
`revarc
`S.S'£St‘am‘ xr1mmer—M aerena
`.
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firnt%t. Onge Steward Johnton
`&ReensLLC
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`.
`,
`A bonding nurser that can be used to closely approximate
`breast feeding mechanically and psychologically comprises
`ahfeeding contaifnerl thatdsimulatisgafbreast irfilfluid dlelivebrly,
`5 ape’ texture’. ee ’ an
`case 0 m.am.SuC
`re easl y
`attached to a sling so that the container is positioned on the
`.
`breast area of the adult feeding the baby, and the adult’s
`hands are free for cuddling the baby during feeding. The
`feeding Container is a breast-shaped flexible housing that
`holds a collapsible bag which delivers milk or other fluids
`through a nipple protruding through the apex of the housing
`and is filled through a screw cap opening at the base opposite
`the apex and secured in the housing by retaining straps
`surfaced with Velcro”. Wlien the container is assembled,
`i.e., a bag is positioned in the housing, the straps present a
`1
`-
`«
`-
`V
`«
`oop interface that mechanically couples the base of the
`.
`d. 61
`. dh k
`t
`t
`f
`d
`eon ainer o a correspon in,,, y size
`oo -sur ace
`a shoulder strap (or a hand strap).
`
`area on
`
`11 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`DMC Exhibit 2030_001
`
`Target v. DMC
`|PR2013-00530, 531, 532, 533
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 30, 2003
`
`Sheet 1 0f 5
`
`US 6,669,064 B2
`
`DMC Exhibit 2030_002
`
`Target v. DMC
`|PR2013-00530, 531, 532, 533
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 30, 2003
`
`Sheet 2 0f 5
`
`US 6,669,064 B2
`
`DMC Exhibit 2030_003
`
`Target v. DMC
`|PR2013-00530, 531, 532, 533
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 30, 2003
`
`Sheet 3 0f 5
`
`US 6,669,064 B2
`
`DMC Exhibit 2030_004
`
`Target v. DMC
`|PR2013-00530, 531, 532, 533
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 30, 2003
`
`Sheet 4 0f 5
`
`US 6,669,064 B2
`
`DMC Exhibit 2030_005
`
`Target v. DMC
`|PR2013-00530, 531, 532, 533
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 30, 2003
`
`Sheet 5 0f 5
`
`US 6,669,064 B2
`
`DMC Exhibit 2030_006
`
`Target v. DMC
`|PR2013-00530, 531, 532, 533
`
`

`
`'lhe present invention relates to an infant feeding device
`that closely approximates natural breast feeding in the
`sensory experiences provided to the baby and promotes
`parent-baby bonding 1) mechanically, as the feeding con-
`tainer simulates a breast in its fluid delivery, shape, texture,
`feel, and ease of infant attachment for suckling, and 2)
`psychologically, as the nurser is designed to permit both the
`infant and the parent to assume a natural position where the
`infant can feel the body heat and heartbeat of the parent, the
`parent’s hands are free to cuddle the infant during feeding,
`and the infant’s face is pressed against the nipple to stimu-
`late the perioral area and imitate a breast.
`One of the largest shortcomings of conventional baby
`bottles and modern nursers with improved shapes is that the
`devices do not provide the full maternal benefits that are a
`necessary part of maximizing sustenance to the child, both
`physically and psychologically. Even recently engineered
`feeding containers that deliver more fluid with less air are
`typically advanced as baby bottle substitutes to be used by
`an adult holding the bottle in one hand which is olfered to
`an infant cradled by the the adult’s opposite arm and hand.
`Both the adult’s hands are devoted to feeding and not
`cuddling the infant, the infant is not positioned next to the
`chest area of the adult, and the infant’s face is not pushed
`against the nipple. Thus, important bonding opportunities ’
`that are inherent in the practice of breast feeding are not
`available with ordinary bottle feeding. This deprives infants
`cared for by their fathers or other men such as grandfathers,
`who now take an active role in child rearing in industrialized
`societies, or by non-nursing mothers, surrogate parents, and
`other infant caretakers, of the important positive. bonding
`advantages obtained by infants who breast feed, and
`deprives the adults of significant bonding experiences with
`the infant. This invention addresses these concerns.
`
`10
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`15
`
`35
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`40
`
`|)escription of Related Art
`2.
`Myriad vessels with nipples, pap boats, and other nursing
`devices have been used for millenia for feeding infants as a
`substitute for breast feeding. In modern times, an elongated
`cylindrical bottle of glass or plastic, equipped with a cap and
`an enlongated latex nipple, became universally known and
`used as a conventional baby bottle. Only more recently have
`alternative feeding apparatuses been suggested as improve-
`ments over this basic design. These roughly fall into two
`groups: designs with a nipple that more closely approximate
`the shape of a human breast and designs that position the
`baby for feeding in a configuration more closely approxi-
`mating that of an infant suckling from a breast.
`In the former category, for example, Prentiss suggested an
`infant feeding container that was wider than a conventional
`baby bottle and had a nipple more closely approximating a
`breast-shape (U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,679; this and subsequent
`cited patents are expressly incorporated in their entireties by
`reference). This was said to more closely approximate the
`experience of natural breast feeding, and provide a bottle
`that was more stable for an older child to put down Without
`tipping it over.
`In U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,710, Dieringer and Suarez dis-
`closed an improved natural nipple baby feeding apparatus
`which includes detachable inner and outer membranes
`which both extend substantially across a distance larger than
`the diameter of a standard baby bottle, providing a nipple
`
`60
`
`65
`
`US 6,669,064 B2
`
`1
`BONDING NURSER
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`2
`surface more closely approximating a the areola of a human
`breast. The device was said to make it easier for a baby to
`“latch on” to in a manner similar to natural suckling of a
`breast, rather than sucking from an elongate smooth single
`rubber nipple of a conventional baby bottle, and hence,
`easier for the baby to alternate between breast feeding and
`bottle feeding. Prentiss suggested an infant feeding con-
`tainer in the overall shape of a breast, rather than just the
`nipple portion (US. Pat. No. 5,993,479). Holmquist pro-
`vided a cushion under the nipple portion of a baby feeding
`apparatus and a spring-biased pressure plate to force a milk
`bag in the container portion toward the nipple as the milk
`level fell with the infant’s feeding (US. Pat. No. 5,947,427).
`Griffin even more closely approximated a human nipple by
`suggesting nipple manufacture using a device formed from
`a mold taken of the nursing mother’s breast so that the shape
`exactly replicated the mother’s nipple (U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,
`686).
`In the latter category of designs directed to positioning the
`infant, Jones disclosed a surrogate nursing bib that secured
`around the neck and around the waist of the wearer, and held
`a milk pouch that protruded from either of two orifices in the
`bib located on the chest of the wearer at the wearer’s breast
`position (U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,517). Goldson and Goldson
`suggested a similar bib (U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,546). Beard and
`Beard suggested a nursing baby bottle holder that was a sling
`that could be draped around the neck of the person feeding
`the baby, which supported the baby bottle in a nursing
`position (US. Pat. No. 5,582,335).
`It would be desirable to combine many of these desirable
`features with fluid delivery more closely approximating
`breast feeding to provide a baby nurser that more closely
`mimicks natural breast feeding and contributes to parent-
`infant bonding during feeding, and thus to the emotional
`stability of a healthy child.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`These objectives and others are provided by the present
`invention which describes an infant nurser that has a con-
`tainer that closely simulates the sensation provided by a
`mother’s breast in its shape and fluid delivery and which is,
`in the preferred embodiment, attached to a shoulder sling
`and positioned over the breast of the person feeding the
`infant, leaving both am'1s free to caress the infant held in
`close proximity to the adults chest.
`In an alternate
`embodiment, the same advanced design container may be
`attached to a hand strap so the infant can be fed as if the
`nurser were an ordinary baby bottle.
`The two embodiments are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 12,
`more fully described below. Briefly, the container has two
`main parts: a flexible, dome-shaped housing approximately
`in the form of a human female breast and having a centrally
`positioned aperture in the apex region of the housing and a
`securing means in the base rim region opposite the apex for
`holding a pouch in the interior of the housing and rele asibly
`attaching the container to a hand strap or shoulder sling, and
`a pouch that contains fluids and conforms to the housing
`interior when placed inside it and comprises a collapsible
`bag having a nipple which protrudes through the housing
`aperture and allows passage of fluids therethrough when an
`infant su ekles on the nipple, and an attachment collar and lid
`which holds a flanged end of the bag opposite the nipple
`through which fluids may be poured to fill the bag and hold
`fluids in it. Typical securing straps that hold the pouch in the
`dome housing have hook and loop fasteners such as Vel-
`croTM so that the container can be easily emptied or filled by
`
`DMC Exhibit 2030_007
`
`Target v. DMC
`|PR2013-00530, 531, 532, 533
`
`

`
`US 6,669,064 B2
`
`3
`pulling apart the VelcroTM and putting in or taking out the
`pouch (illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4). The bag of the pouch
`is preferably disposable plastic that doesn’t need to be
`sterilized for repeated use, and the cap of the pouch has an
`attachment collar that holds and secures a flange on the bag
`and is threaded to receive a sc ew-on pouch lid (illustrated
`in FIGS. 5 to 7), the flange serves as a gasket, making the
`pouch leakproof when containing liquids and excluding air
`from the bag as the infant suckles.
`The container is releasibly a tached to either a hand strap
`or a shoulder sling. Preferred embodiments employing hook
`and loop fasteners, e.g., Velcro"'M, are illustrated in FIGS. 3
`and 11. Both have container attachment sites that present a
`hook fastener area so that tie container can be easily
`attached or removed from the sling or hand strap by simply
`placing the container on a Ve croTM patch on the sling or
`wrist strap and pulling it off. As mentioned above, in the
`preferred sling embodiment, the container attachment site is
`positioned over the breast of he person feeding the baby
`(FIG. 1). The hand strap embodiment positions the container
`attachment site in the palm area for convenience in feeding I
`the infant by conventional means. In both cases, however,
`the suckling infant using a nurser of the invention has the
`benefit of of a feeding experience that simulates natural
`breast feeding in that the baby’s face is pressed up against
`the container (as illustrated in FIG. 13) and the internal
`pouch slowly deflates while the baby is held up against the
`chest of the nurturing adult.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
`
`10
`
`15
`
`the detailed
`To illustrate and explain the invention,
`description that follows make reference to the following ’
`annexed drawings:
`FIG. 1 is a front prospective View of a nurser of the
`invention in place on a person who will feed an infant, which
`comprises a breast-shaped container attached to a shoulder
`sling.
`FIG. 2 shows a back prospective view of the container
`portion of the nurser depicted in FIG. 1 detached from the
`sling, exposing the interior of the container and illustrating
`that the container comprises a dome-shaped housing which
`holds a lidded pouch that conforms to the interior shape of
`the apex region of the housing, with folded securing straps
`on the base rim of the housing holding the pouch inside the
`housing, and that the straps have loop surfaces of a Velcro”
`or similar attachment means.
`
`35
`
`40
`
`FIG. 3 shows a front prospective view of the sling portion
`of the nurser of FIG. 1 with the container portion detached,
`exposing a hook surface of a VelcroTM or other attachment
`means on the sling which conforms to the circular shape of
`the container so that the container illustrated in FIG. 2 may
`be attached by mechanical coupling to assemble the nurser
`for use as depicted in FIG. 1.
`FIG. 4 is a back perspective view of the container of FIG.
`2 illustrating the securing straps unfolded for removal of the
`pouch from the container housing and illustrating that the
`securing straps have hook surfaces of a VelcroTM or similar
`attachment means on the reverse side of the loop surface so
`that, when folded, the securing straps secure the pouch in the
`housing.
`FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a collapsible bag that
`holds fluid in the pouch and has a nipple on one end and a
`circular flanged opening on the other.
`FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of an attachment collar
`and lid for the bag of the pouch.
`FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of how the bag is
`inserted through the collar, nipple end first, until the bag
`flange meets the collar.
`
`60
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`65
`
`4
`FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the dome-shaped
`housing portion of the container which has an aperture in the
`apex region and securing straps attached in the base rim
`region.
`FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional View of the container showing
`the strap attachment to the container and illustrating the
`pouch comprising the filled fluid bag with its collar in place
`in the container, and with the bag nipple protruding through
`the housing aperture, and further comprising a nipple cap.
`FIG. 10 is an exploded side cross-sectional view of the
`container nipple area of FIG. 9 with the a nipple cap installed
`over the nipple.
`FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of an alternative
`embodiment comprising a container attached to a hand strap
`instead of the sling of FIG. 2 and showing the same type of
`hook surface of a Velcro'”" or other attachment means for
`attaching the container.
`FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the hand strap
`embodiment of the invention with the container attached,
`illustrating its placement in the palm of the hand of a person
`who will feed an infant.
`
`FIG. 13 is a side perspective view of an infant suckling
`from a nurser of the invention, illustrating how the entire
`area of the infant’s face around the mouth, including the
`nose, presses up against the nipple area of the nurser in use
`as an infant’s does in breast feeding.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`Various features of preferred embodiments of the inven-
`tion are depicted in the figures. FIG. 1 is a front perspective
`view of a preferred embodiment of a nu rser according to the
`invention, which is designated generally by the reference
`numeral 10, which depicts a shoulder sling nurser briefly
`described above. Nurser 10 includes a flexible shoulder sling
`12 to which is attached, positioned in the breast area of
`users chest 14 depicted in the Figure as a woman, container
`16, which has the overall shape of a human breast in that
`housing 18 is dome-shaped with a nipple cap 20 protruding
`from the center of the apex region of the dome. Sling 12 fits
`over shoulder 22 of user 14 and under arm 24 as indicated,
`and is depicted as being slightly wider in shoulder region 22
`and narrower under arm 24 for the comfort of user 14, but
`the relative widths are immaterial so long as the sling holds
`container 16 ir1 the breast area of the user’s. Typical slings
`used for nursers of the invention are fabricated from heavy
`duty fabric or belting materials; preferred slings are suffi-
`ciently soft to be comfortable for the user to wear year round
`and are machine-washable, e.g., cotton, cotton blends, and
`the like, typically reinforced with some polymeric fibers to
`provide durability.
`FIG. 2 illustrates container 16 removed from sling 12 and
`shows a back prospective view exposing the interior of
`housing 18, which holds pouch 26, and FIG. 3 shows a front
`perspective View of sling 12 with container 16 detached.
`Pouch 26 comprises bag 28, which extends from its bottom
`near nipple cap 20 to its top at attachment collar 30 and lid
`32,
`to be more fully described below in descriptions of
`FIGS. 5 to 7. At circular base rim 34 of housing 18, four
`straps 36 are attached through four slots 38 that protrude
`from base rim 34 as tabs 46. Straps 36 are arranged on base
`rim 34 in pairs of two opposite one another along the
`circumference of the circle. Though the Figure shows two
`slots 38 closer together on either side of housing 18, they can
`be spaced further apart, as will become clearer in the
`description of FIG. 4 below. Surface 40 of straps 36 com-
`
`DMC Exhibit 2030_008
`
`Target v. DMC
`|PR2013-00530, 531, 532, 533
`
`

`
`US 6,669,064 B2
`
`10
`
`15
`
`5
`prise loops in a loop pile of VelcroTM fabric to attach to
`hooks 42 in a hook pile of VelcroTM fabric attached to strap
`12 as circular attachment surface 44. Circular attachment
`surface 44 l1as tl1e same circumference as base rim 34 so that
`container 16 can be neatly attached to sling 12 when nurser
`10 is in use, and can be secured to sling 12 using standard
`means such as glueing or sewing.
`Since FIG. 3 shows sling 12 when not worn by user 14
`fastener 48 on the back side of the sling is exposed. Fixed
`length slings may be employed in the practice of the
`invention, but adjustable slings are preferred so that sling
`size can be changed for the comfort of user 14 and adjusted
`to fit different-sized users using buckle assembly 48, but
`other buckle assemblies, ties, snaps, hooks and eyes, fabric
`latches, etc., alternative fasteners typically employed for
`belts and the like may also be employed (not shown). Buckle
`assembly 48 is comprised of slotted member 50 to which one
`end of sling 12 passes and is fixed to buckle member 50 in
`a stationary configuration by passing sling end 52 through a
`slot in 50 and joining end 52 to sling 12 at seam 54 by ,
`standard means such as sewing, riveting, or gluing. Buckle
`member 50 is sized to reversibly latch to buckle member 60
`as a male-fem ale joint. The other end 56 of sling 12 passes
`through cuff 58 as well as a slot on buckle member 60, so
`that end 56 can be pulled at the discretion of the user to
`shorten or lengthen the sling. Many variations of coupling
`connections of this type, including standard belts and belt
`buckles fabricated to releasibly attach easily, are known to
`the skilled worker, particularly for the manufacture of child
`care and sports equipment.
`FIG. 4 is a back perspective view of container 16 with
`securing straps 36 unfolded to illustrate how container 16 is
`opened to remove pouch 26 from housing 18, exposing
`surface 62 on the other side of surface 40 of the strap.
`Surface 62 has hooks like those on surface 42. Use of
`VelcroTM fabric for securing straps 36 provides a very
`convenient hook and loop attachment means for the straps,
`since surface 40 on the straps can interact with both surface
`62 or surface 42, providing attachment of the securing straps
`to each other to hold pouch 26 in housing 18 and to attach
`container 16 to strap 12 at surface 42 by mechanical
`coupling, providing nurser 10 of the invention. FIG. 4, like
`FIG. 2, shows straps 36 attached to housing 18 by passage
`through slots 38 in tabs 46 protruding from base rim 34, but
`any attachment means known to the skilled artisan such as
`hinges or rings that mount straps 36 to housing 18 accoin-
`plish the same purpose may be employed in alternate
`embodiments (not shown).
`FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of bag 28, which is
`collapsible and holds whatever fluid is going to be fed to the
`infant, such as milk, formula, juice, or water, in pouch 26.
`Preferred bags used in nursers of the invention are clear or
`translucent plastic and are disposable, but sterizable ones
`can also be used. Myriad polyethylene and the like materials
`are known to the skilled worker for the fabrication of bag 28.
`Bag 28 is sized to fit inside housing 18 when assembled into
`pouch 26 to be more fully discussed below in the explana-
`tion of FIG. 9. Nipple 64 is located at the bottom of bag 28,
`and has orifice 66 through which fluids flow when the infant
`suckles on the nurser. Circular flange 68 on the top of bag
`28 is sized to be sufficiently large enough for pouring liquids
`into bag 28 and to fit snugly against surface 70 of collar
`when bag 28 is fitted through collar 30 as depicted in FIG.
`7. The assembly of bag 28, 30 and 32 together form pouch
`26, which holds fluids for the infant’s consumption in
`container 16 without leakage. Therefore, lid 32 of FIG. 6 is
`sized to tightly fit collar 30. FIG. 6 shows collar 30 having
`
`6
`threads 72 that interact with corresponding threads in cap 32
`(not shown), providing a screw—on pouch top, but a simple
`cork assembly (not shown) will suffice. IIowever, the illus-
`trated embodiment is r11ucl1 preferred because the assembly
`of flange 68 of bag 28 against surface 70 of collar 30 with
`lid 32 screwed on enhances the seal because the flange acts
`like a gasket between lid 32 and collar 30. Thus, not only is
`fluid leakage minimized, but air entry into the bag as the
`infant feeds is also minimized, with consequent minimiza-
`tion of discomfort to the baby often observed with conven-
`tional baby bottles to be more fully discussed below).
`FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of dome—shaped hous-
`ing 18, which, without bag 28, has aperature 72 in the apex
`region of the dome through which nipple 64 protrudes.
`Housing 18 is fabricated from a durable, pliable, resilient
`material, preferably plastic, sufliciently strong to provide a
`durable container 16, but sufliciently soft and malleable to
`mimic a breast when a filled bag 28 is installed therein. As
`with bag 28, any plastic materials are available to the skilled
`artisan for the fabrication of housing 18, and preferred
`embodiments employ optimal plastics that function well
`together to achieve an optimal container 16. Preferred plas-
`tics for use in all container components of the invention are
`sterilizable, preferably autoclavable, for home or hospital
`use. Housing 18 may even be flesh-colored and slightly
`textured like skin. It is an advantage of the invention that the
`nurser so closely resembles a breast that nipple confusion
`often observed when infants switch from a breast to a bottle,
`which interrupts feeding and can cause infants considerable
`distress, is minimized or eliminated.
`FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of container 16 of the
`invention. Strap 36 is joined to housing 18 by passage
`through slots 38 in tab portion 48 as previously described.
`The Figure illustrates cap 32 threaded at 72 onto collar 30 as
`previously described, with flange 68 flaring out from neck
`region 74 of bag 28 and to fit against surface 70 of cap 30
`and held down by cap 32 so that lluids do not leak. Nipple
`64 passes through aperture 72, and has a circumferential
`indentation 74 that is sized to clip on to circumferential
`protrusion 84 of FIG. 10 in nipple cap 20 when the nurser
`is not in use (to be discussed below). The nipple design
`advantageously provides an excellent attachment site for the
`infant’s mouth to easily grip and suckle. FIG. 9 also shows
`another important structural feature of the invention, namely
`that bag 28 fits against and ajoins interior surface 76 of the
`apex region of dome—shaped housing 18 when bag 28
`contains fluid 78. The design of collapsible bag 28 against
`pliable housing 18 held in place by straps 36 provides a
`unique container for nursers of the invention because both
`the bag and the housing act in concert to mimic the mal-
`leabihty and texture of a breast and collapse slightly against
`the face of the infant in the mouth and nose area as depicted
`in FIG. 13 (to be more fully discussed below). As shown in
`FIG. 9, in preferred embodiments, housing 18 is thinner in
`apex area 80 and thicker in area 82 near and at base rim 34.
`Thicker base region 82 in housing 18 provides structural
`integrity to container 16, and thinner apex region 76 pro-
`vides the supple plianey of the container area around the
`nipple. Moreover, the design allows for bag 28 to slowly
`deflate as fluid 78 drops in container 16. Since lid 32 is
`screwed down on collar 32 when pouch 26 is prepared, with
`flange 68 on bag 28 acting like a gasket, fluid 78 is sucked
`out of container 16 with very little air delivery to the infant
`as it suckles, feeding is more comfortable for the baby and
`gas delivery to the intestinal tract is minimized, avoiding
`stomach cramps and frequent and/or excessive belching
`after feeding.
`
`DMC Exhibit 2030_009
`
`Target v. DMC
`|PR2013-00530, 531, 532, 533
`
`35
`
`40
`
`60
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`US 6,669,064 B2
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`FIG. 10 is an exploded side cross-sectional view of the
`nipple area of FIG. 9 with the nipple cap 20 installed to
`cover nipple 64. When nipple cap 20 covers nipple 64,
`circumferential flange 84 in stem area 86 of nipple cover 20
`clicks into place in circumferential indentation 74 in the
`stern area of nipple 64 (shown in FIG. 9). Circumferential
`indentation 74 in nipple 64 is sized to fit circumferential
`flange 84 of nipple cap 20 to protect nipple 64 when
`container 16 is not in use. FIGS. 9 and 10 together also show
`that flange 76 of nipple cap 20 fits snugly fit against housing 10
`18 in the area around aperture 72 to protect the nipple and
`provide a detachable cap that is easy for the user topremove
`or replace and large enough to be readily ‘round if misplaced
`by the user.
`FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate an alternate nurser embodiment H
`to the sling depicted in FIG. 1, but using the same container.
`FIG. 11 is a front perspective View of hand strap 90
`presenting circular attachment surface 92 which is analo-
`gous to, and the same size as, circular attachment surface 42
`on sling 12. Surface 92 has hooks that engage with the loops
`on surface 40 of securing straps 36 on container 16 to attach I
`container 16 to the handstrap to provide nurser 100 depicted
`in FIG. 12. Hand strap 90 has an adjustable buckle assembly
`94 corresponding to buckle assembly 48 of sling 12 shown
`in FIG. 3.
`As shown in FIG. 12, which is a front perspective View of
`the handstrap embodiment, illustrating placement of a nurser
`of the invention in the palm region of user hand 102. As
`shown by the arrow, strap end 96 is simply pulled through
`buckle 94 to fasten nurser 100 to the hand, so that infant 110
`of FIG. 13 can be fed as with a conventional baby bottle. An
`advantage of the invention is that, since both the shoulder
`sling and the hand strap are designed to attach to the same
`container, either nurser 19 or nurser 100 can be conveniently
`provided in a kit with sling 12, hand strap 90, housing 18,
`collar 30 and lid 32, and nursers can be assembled for either
`breast-type or lap-type feeding at the option of the person
`feeding the infant by adding disposable bags 28.
`FIG. 13 is a perspective View of infant 110 suckling from
`container 16. The drawing illustrates another important
`feature of the invention mentioned above, namely that the
`face of infant 110 in nose area 112, chin area 114 and
`adjacent areas around lips 116 are pressed up against con-
`tainer 16 as the baby feeds from the nurser. This is what
`happens in natural breast feeding. When combined with the
`design of container 16 as described above, nursers of the
`inVenti0n rn0re closely rnirnie natural breast feeding than
`previously described nursers by stimulating the sensory
`perCeptiVe nerVeS Of the infant in the periOral region 0f the
`face. The sling embodiment of FIG. 1 allows the free hands
`Of the adult feeding adult to caress the baby and hold it close go
`to the warmth, smell, and heartbeat of the adult. Taken
`together, the nurser of the invention provides an optimal
`bonding experience during feeding for fathers, non-nursing
`rnOtherS, and Other infant Caretakers.
`The above description is for the purpose of teaching the 55
`person of ordinary skill in the art how to practice the present
`invention, and it is not intended to detail all those obvious
`rn0dillCati0nS and "ariati0nS 0f it Whieh Will l3eCOn1e app ar-
`ent to the skilled worker upon reading the description. It is
`intended, h0WeVer, that all S1lCh 0bViO11S rI10diflCati0nS and 60
`variations be included within the scope of the present
`inVenti0n, Which is defined by the f0ll0WlHg ClalH15~
`What is Claimed is:
`1. An infant nurser that provides a feeding experience
`closely resembling natural breast feeding comprising
`a container which has a flexible, dome-shaped housing
`approximately in the form of a human female breast
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`and having a centrally positioned aperture in the apex
`region of the housing and a releasable securing means
`in the base region opposite the apex for holding a pouch
`in the interior of the housing and said securing means
`further releasably attaching the container to a hand
`strap or shoulder sling, and a pouch that contains fluids
`and conforms to the housing interior when placed
`inside it and comprises a collapsible bag having a
`nipple which protrudes through the housing aperture
`and allows passage of fluids there-through when an
`infant suckles on the nipple, an attachment collar and
`lid which holds a flanged end of the bag opposite the
`nipple through which fluids may be poured to flll the
`bag and hold fluids in it, and a nipple cap.
`2. A nurser according to claim 1 which comprises a
`container attached to a shoulder sling that fits over a shoul-
`der and under an arm of a person feeding the infant, and has
`a container attachment site on the sling which is positioned
`such that the container attaches in the breast area of a person
`using the nurser to feed an infant.
`3. A nurser according to claim 1 which comprises a
`container attached to a hand strap which has a container
`attachment site positioned to fit into the palm of a person
`feeding the infant.
`4. A nurser according to claim 1 wherein the securing
`means for holding the pouch in the container housing
`comprise securing straps attached to the base rim of the
`container housing which can be mechanically coupled to
`secure the pouch in the housing.
`5. A nurser according to claim 4 wherein the securing
`straps have hook and loop fasteners on their inner and outer
`surfaces which, after being mechanically coupled to secure
`the pouch in the housing, present loop surfaces for releasable
`attachment to a shoulder sling or wrist strap which have a
`corresponding hook surface.
`6. A nurser according to claim 1 wherein the attachment
`collar of the pouch is threaded so that
`it can receive a
`screw-on pouch lid.
`7. A nurser according to claim 1 wherein the bag is
`disposable plastic.
`8. An infant nurser that provides a feeding experience
`closely resembling natural breast feeding comprising
`a container which has a flexible, donie-shaped housing
`approximately in the form of a human female breast
`and having a centrally positioned aperture in the apex
`region of the housing and straps in the base region
`opposite the apex, said straps having an inner hook
`surface and an outer loop surface which can be fastened
`and unfastened to ho1d a fluid_containing pouch in the
`interior of the housing, so that that the pouch can be
`placed inside or removed from the housing, wherein
`said pouch comprises a collapsible bag having a nipple
`which protrudes through the housing aperture and
`allows passage of fluids therethrough when an infant
`sucldes on the nipple, a threaded attachrnent collar and
`screw-on lid which holds a flanged end of the bag
`opposite the nipple through which fluids may be poured
`to fill the bag in the pouch and hold fluids in it, and a
`n