Feeding apparatus

摘要

Colic can be a particular problem for babies feeding on liquid feed from a feeder bottle. The colic can be formed by air from various sources in the liquid feed. Typically, there is less air in the liquid feed towards the bottom of the liquid feed container in the feeding position than towards the top of the liquid feed. The present invention provides apparatus for drawing milk from the bottom of the feeding apparatus chamber when the feeder is held in the operating position. This is achieved by positioning a flow restrictor for allowing the passage of liquid feed from a main chamber into a flexible feeding teat at a suitable location. The present invention also provides a resiliently-biased cartridge to assist in priming and/or draining of the flexible feeding teat. The present invention also provides a construction in which the flow restrictor is always provided in the correct position regardless of the relative angular orientation of the elements of the feeder. The present invention also provides feeding apparatus that can be easily disassembled to facilitate cleaning.

主权项

1. A feeding apparatus comprising:
a container having an open end and for defining a main chamber therein; a flexible mouthpiece for assembly to the open end of the container and for defining a secondary chamber therein, the mouthpiece including a protruding teat provided at a feeding end, the teat protruding along a longitudinal axis; and a partition having a geometric centre and for separating the main and secondary chambers upon assembly of the container to the flexible mouthpiece; wherein said container, flexible mouthpiece and partition are constructed and arranged so that, when the flexible mouthpiece and partition are brought together during assembly of the apparatus for use, a flow restrictor, to allow liquid feed to flow from the main chamber to the secondary chamber, is automatically formed by a flow restrictor-forming portion of the flexible mouthpiece and a flow restrictor-forming portion of the partition, and is constructed and arranged to provide, during feeding, a greater resistance to the flow of liquid feed from the secondary chamber to the main chamber than to the flow of liquid feed from the main chamber to the secondary chamber; wherein, when the assembled apparatus is held with the longitudinal axis of the teat extending horizontally, said flow restrictor can be positioned below the geometric centre of the partition and fluid drawn from the main chamber into the secondary chamber only from a lower half of the main chamber; and wherein the restrictor-forming portion of the flexible mouthpiece comprises a moveable flap of mouthpiece material.