SELF-OPENING NIPPLE CONSTRUCTION AND NURSING CONTAINER

摘要

A nipple assembly (34) for attachment to sealed nursing containers (30) which includes accessing means for accessing the container contents by manipulating the nipple assembly. In one embodiment, the accessing means (48) is disposed within a flexible nipple (40) and is movable to pierce the container wall (38) upon lateral compression or squeezing of the nipple (40). Other embodiments access the container contents by axially compressing or rotating the nipple assembly (34). Protective covers (80) for the nipple assemblies are disclosed which cooperate to permit the particular manual manipulation needed to access the contents without direct human contact with the nipple surface. Also shown are particular features of a flexible container (102) to which the nipple assemblies may be attached.