US2475923A - Bottle holder - Google Patents

Description

D. M. SUlCH BOTTLE HOLDER July 12, 1949.

5 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1946 Doro My Mary Suich,

July 12, 1949. D. M. SUICH 2,475,923

- BOTTLE HOLDER Filed June 28, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .July 12,1949. DMSUICH 2,475,923

BOTTLE HOLDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 28, 1946 Doro/fly Mary Suich Patented July 12.1949

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to holders for infants nursing bottles.

Various means have been devised for holding a babys bottle so that it will be in a position comfortable for and convenient to the infant being fed. Some of such devices have means for gripping the bottle but tend to slide away from the infant. Other arrangements have been devised to support a bottle, such as the common expedient of using a folded blanket, but such arrangements are not satisfactory because the bottle may slide downwardly toward the mouth of the infant if the bottle is rested on an inclined surface, as it should be in order that it may have the desired tilt to direct the contents toward the nipple. Such disadvantages are avoided by the present invention.

One of the features of the bottle holder of this invention provides that the baby may rest comfortably with cheek against a soft inclined pillow-like surface while the device is so anchored that it may not slide away.

The particular contour of the pillow portion of the bottle holder contributes another feature of advantage.

tails are described and claimed in the following specification and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates in perspective one of the pillow-like bottle holders of this invention as used;

' Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the apron opened;

Fig. 3 is a view of the bottom of the device shown in Fig. 2, looking upwardly, and illustrating the location of the pocket for the apron;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 2 looking at it from the left, the apron having been stored in the pocket beneath the pillow;

Fig. .5 is a vertical section taken on the line ISO 55 of Fig. 2, except for the fact that the apron is stored as indicated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows an optional type of bottle gripping device having twisted interengaged fingers, prior to being fastened;

Fig. 7 shows the device of F g. 6 in the assembled relation;

Fig. 8 shows a button and loop type of fastening for the bottle gripping device in the unfastened relation; and

Fig. 9 shows the device of Fig. 8 with the button and loop in the bottle gripping relation.

Referring in detail to the several figures of the drawings, like reference characters identify like parts.

The bottle holder of this invention includes a base member or pillow I which is relatively broad so as to thus provide adequate foundation for a bottle when the device is in use. The pillow I is slightly longer from front to back than it is wide, as will be observed by comparing Figs. 3 and 4. The highest portion of the pillow I is toward the rear side of the pillow, that is the left side in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, and the bottle gripping means is mounted on that highest portion, as will be described. From the highest point in the region of the bottle gripping means, the forward surface of the pillow I slopes substantially diagonally downwardly in advance of the bottle gripping means, and to the right as shown in Fig. 5, providing an inclined surface la. which terminates at the extreme forward and lower marginal edge of the pillow I. The sloping surface Iq. serves as a relatively soft pillow against which an infants cheek may rest while the de- Vice is in use. The contour of the surface Ia. may be noted by reference to Fig. 5.

Across the highest portion of the pillow I is securely mounted a bag 2 which preferably is filled with small relatively heavy pellets 211., such as beans or balls. Such a filling makes it possible for the upper surface and contents of the bag 2 to be adapted to the contour of a babys bottle when the latter is firmly placed on the upper surface of the bag or is positioned in bottle gripping means secured to the upper surface of the bag 2. In short, that type of filling for the bag 2 provides a relatively solid yet yieldable support for the bottle, which serves to hold the bottle in any predetermined position.

On the upper surface of the bag 2 is mounted bottle gripping means 3 which is shown in several forms. As illustrated in Figs. 1-5, inclusive, bottle gripping means 3 is a U-shaped clip which may be either of metal or other. material capable of exercising a spring grip on a bottle. Preferably also such a spring-like element is covered with a waterproof textile material, and padding is preferably used between the outer covering and the inner spring member. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the bottle gripping element 3 carries with it a tab 4 which is sewed or otherwise secured to the upper surface of the bag 2 by means of stitching indicated at 4a. It will be noted that the pillow or base I extends laterally in advance or beyond the bottle gripping means 3.

To provide convenient access to the interior of the bag 2, a zipper opening is provided across the rear face as indicated at 5. opening the pellets 2a for the bag 2 may be introduced or removed. Manifestly, the article can be shipped in much lighter and compact form if the pellets are added by the ultimate purchaser. The U-shaped clip and the use of pellets within the bag 2 are conventional. However, a distinct advantage is derived by the location of the bag 2 toward the rear of and on the highest part of the pillow I so that the forward and downwardly extending surface la is provided as a pillow for an infant's cheek.

Desirable modifications of the bottle gripping means are illustrated in Figs. 6 9, inclusive, of the drawings, as will be explained hereinafter.

One of the advantages of the device of this invention results from the construction whereby the weight of the infants head serves to anchor the pillow I and bottle carried thereby from slid ing away from the infant while in use. The construction which provides for thedesired result includes a bib or apron member 6 which is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 as substantially circular in outline when in the opened position. Its upper surface is indicated at 6a and its lower surface at 61). One edge of the apron 6 is stitched or otherwise secured to the under surface of the pillow I as indicated at 6c, Fig. 3. It will" be clear that the apron 6 extends laterally beyond or in advance of the pillow I'. Around the marginal edgeof the apron 6 is a strip of goods! which is stitched or otherwise secured to the apron 6 as indicated at Ia. This strip I is folded over and embraces the outer edge of the apron 6. On its upper surface the strip 1 is free and loosely overhangs the upper surface 6a of the apron 6. The overhanging edge provides a shallow rim which serves to catch and hold on the apron 6 any liquid which may be spilled by the infant using the bottle holder. In Fig. 3 is illustrated a viewof the bottom of the bottle holderwith the apron 6 in the opened. and unfoldedcondition, the lower surface of the apron being indicated at to. In this view is shown also a zipper closure Ib for an opening through which the pillow member I may be stuffed with suitable filling material; Such filling material may be cotton or felt. It is important, however, that the stuffing beneath the surface Ia be quite soft so that it is acceptable to a babys cheek.

On the bottom surface of the pillow I is a pocket 8, shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and the mouth of which pocket faces forwardly. When the apron 6' isfolded, it may be tucked into or inserted into themouth of the pocket and stored in the pocket 8 awaiting furtheruse. The cross sectional view shown in Fig. 5 illustrates the position of the foldedapron 6-in the pocket 8-.

Referring to the modifications of the.- bottle grippin'g'means as-shown-in-Figs. 6-9, Fig. 6 shows one type of fastening. which has disti'nctive ad; vantages;. This form. of fastening membercom- Through this prises two opposed body members which are preferably formed of textile material, within which is located a wire frame, the contour of which frame follows substantially the peripheral outline of the two body members. One of these members is indicated at I0 and the other at II in Figs. 6 and 7. The wire frame of each member is indicated in dotted lines at I2. The body portions of each of the members In and II are secured, as by stitching, to the upper surface of the bag 2. The portions of the two body members In and I I next adjacent each other are characterized by one or more tabs which project as. finger-like members I3 toward each other. As shown in Fig. 6, the fingers I3 are as yet in the disengaged position. When a bottle is to be secured in position, it is placed on the upper surface of the bag 2 between the members II] and II, and the adjacent and opposite fingers I3 are brought together and twisted about each other to the position shown in Fig. 7. A half turn is usually sufficient. to: bring the fingers I3 with their wire frames into interlocking position. Thereafter, when- It is desired to remove or to replace the bottle, it may beread il'y slipped beneath the interlocked fingers. If the goods of which the body members W and H and fingers I3 are formed has-waterproof characteristics or is a textile goods having a waterproof coating, it is highly probable that the surface of such goods will tend to hold a glass bottle fairly firmly against accidental slippage.

In the modifications of the bottle holding device shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the opposed: body members or tabs I4 and I5 have complementary fastening elements secured to them: as wilk now be explained. On the tab I4 is illustrated one or more buttons I6 which. may be secured on the tab by any convenient means. Fastened to the opposing tab I5 are elastic loops I=I.'. At: thee!!- treme ends of the loops II! are: finger gripping tabs I8. When a bottle has beenplaced between the tabs I4 and IS, the adjacent. ends are laid across the top of the bottle and. thev elastic loops H are pulled out and over the buttons IE; on the opposing tab. The fastening arrangements shown in Figs. 6-9; inclusive, are believed to possess distinctive advantages in that they tend to lie close to the bottle and thus are not likely to project far enough out to hurt aninfant.

From the foregoing, it will be clear that the bottle holding device illustrated. with its. pillowlike forward sloping extension serves to holda bottle in the desired. position so. that there may ,be proper flow of milk toward the nipple, while at the same time an infant's head serves to anchor the device not. only by resting. against. the comfortable softand yielding surface Ia but also by resting on the apron 6 It will also be clear from. the foregoing that the portions I and Ia comprising the pillow serve to anchor the bottle hol'der against movement when the bottle holder is in use. In other words, the base of the pillow resists movement over. a supporting surface even more effectively than such movement would be resistant by the bag 2 with its filling of heavy pellets if" the latter constituted the lowermost element of the bottle holding means. The softyield'able surface of the pillow member is relatively broad as compared to the area occupied by'th'e-bag 2.

The entire covering of th'ebottle holder may be of any suitablewashable waterproof materiali The desired size and proportions of the device may be varied within the foregoing requirements: Bottle holders of'wa'shable' andyi'eldable material are more or less conventional. However, distinctive advantages are provided by a foregoing relation of parts and features which have been emphasized.

I claim:

1. A bottle holder comprising a pillow member having a high portion and a base portion having an edge defining the lower edge of the pillow member, bottle supporting means on and secured to said high portion, the upper surface of said pillow member extending from said high portion and laterally beyond said bottle supporting means and sloping downwardly toward and terminating at the edge of said pillow member, whereby an infant may rest one cheek thereon while using a bottle held on said supporting means.

2. A bottle holder having a base, bottle gripping means mounted above said base, said base constituting a pillow and extending laterally in advance of said bottle gripping means, and an apron secured to said base and adapted to extend laterally in advance therefrom and on which apron a babys head may rest to prevent lateral displacement of said base and the bottle gripping means carried thereby.

3. A bottle holder having a base, bottle gripping means mounted above said base, said base constituting a pillow and extending laterally in advance of said bottle gripping means, an apron secured to said base and adapted to extend laterally in advance therefrom and on which apron a baby's head may rest to prevent lateral displacement of said base and the bottle gripping means carried thereby, and a raised marginal edge around said apron.

4. A bottle holder having a base and bottle gripping means mounted above said base, said base constituting a pillow and extending laterally in advance of said bottle gripping means, a pocket located on said base, and an apron secured to said base adjacent the mouth of said pocket and adapted to extend laterally and in advance outwardly from said base.

5. A bottle holder having a base and bottle gripping means mounted above said base, said base constituting a pillow and extending laterally in advance of said bottle gripping means, a pocket located on said base, and an apron secured to said base adjacent the mouth of said pocket and adapted to extend laterally and in advance therefrom, and said apron when folded being adapted to be fitted into and stored within said pocket, and when in opened and unfolded condition to extend laterally beyond said base so that a babys head may rest on it to prevent lateral displacement of said base and the bottle gripping means carried thereby.

6. In a bottle holder, a combination cheek rest and adjustable bottle support comprising a pillow member having one relatively high portion, a flexible bag containing heavy loose particles mounted on and secured to the high portion of said pillow member and constituting bottle supporting means, and bottle gripping means carried by said bag, the upper surface of said pillow member extending from said high portion and laterally beyond said bottle supporting means and sloping downwardly toward the edge of said pillow member, whereby an infant may rest one cheek thereon while using a bottle held on said supporting means.

7. A bottle holding device, a base, a bottle gripping member mounted above said b-ase and comprising a pair of opposed tabs, each tab having one portion secured to said base and a second portion adapted to be raised over a bottle resting horizontally on said base, and each second portion having a projecting finger extending beyond said second portion and adapted to interengage the finger of the other second portion to lock therewith and grip the second portion about a bottle.

8. A bottle holding device, a base, a-bottle gripping member mounted above said base and com prising a pair of opposed tabs, each having one portion secured to said base and the second portion adapted to be raised over a bottle resting horizontally on said base, and each second por- I tion having a projecting finger adapted to interengage the finger of the other second portion to lock therewith and grip the second portion about a bottle, said tabs and fingers having a pliable wire frame therein, whereby when the fingers are twisted about each other, they tend to remain interengaged.

DOROTHY MARY SUICI-I.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,617,944 Gerstner Feb. 15, 1927 1,778,545 Allen Oct. 14, 1930 2,389,390 Silverman et al. Nov. 20, 1945 2,451,718 Corrao Oct, 19, 1948

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