Universal standard teat adapter

Abstract

An adapter for positioning a teat on a container having a neck with an outer thread, includes an upper element and a central element, whose upper surface is a platform and whose lower portion includes at least one thread for engaging with the outer thread, the upper element adapted to be juxtaposed on the platform of the central element, the upper and central elements engaging by at least one closing member enabling to rigidly connect the upper element on the central element in a permanent or reversible manner, the space situated between the upper element and the platform being to receive the skirt of the teat, each of the upper and central elements having a central opening, the two central openings being suitable for being juxtaposed, the opening of the upper element intended to receive the teat, which can be slipped on from the inner surface of the upper element.

1 . Adapter ( 1 ) intended for positioning a teat ( 2 ) on a container ( 3 ) comprising a neck ( 4 ) provided with an outer thread ( 5 ), said container ( 3 ) preferably being a bottle or a nursing bottle, characterised in that said adapter ( 1 ) comprises two portions, an upper element ( 6 ) and a central element ( 7 ), the upper surface of which is referred to as the platform ( 7   a ) and the lower portion ( 7   b ) of which comprises at least one thread ( 8 ) suitable for engaging with said outer thread ( 5 ) of said container ( 3 ), said upper element ( 6 ) being suitable for being juxtaposed on the platform ( 7   a ) of the central element ( 7 ), the upper element ( 6 ) and the central element ( 7 ) engaging by at least one closing means ( 14 ) enabling to rigidly connect the upper element ( 6 ) on the central element ( 7 ) in a permanent or reversible manner, said adapter ( 1 ) further comprising a rigid connection area ( 13 ) acting as a hinge between the circumference of the upper element ( 6 ) and the circumference of the platform ( 7   a ), wherein the upper element ( 6 ) and the central element ( 7 ) are not rigidly connected by screwing, the space ( 9 ) situated between the upper element ( 6 ) and the platform ( 7   a ) of the central element ( 7 ) being designed to receive the skirt of the teat, said upper element ( 6 ) and said central element ( 7 ) each having a central opening ( 10 ,  11 ), the two central openings ( 10 ,  11 ) being suitable for being juxtaposed, the opening ( 10 ) of the upper element being intended for receiving the teat ( 2 ), which can be slipped on from the inner surface ( 12 ) of the upper element ( 6 ). 
     
     
         2 . Adapter ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said closing means ( 14 ) is made of at least two means respectively male or female means, provided on the outer periphery of the inner face ( 12 ) of the upper element ( 6 ), which are suitable for engaging with female or male means respectively provided opposite on the platform ( 7   a ). 
     
     
         3 . Adapter ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said closing means ( 14 ) are arranged on the upper element ( 6 ) and opposite on the platform ( 7   a ), bordering the area occupied by the skirt of the teat ( 2 ). 
     
     
         4 . Adapter ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the upper element ( 6 ) further includes means ( 16 ) protruding from the circumference of said upper element ( 6 ), said means ( 16 ) enabling the user to apply upward pressure on the upper element ( 6 ) to detach the closing means ( 14 ) and open the upper element ( 6 ), said protruding means ( 16 ) being diametrically opposite, on the circumference of the upper element ( 6 ), to the rigid connection area ( 13 ). 
     
     
         5 . Adapter ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the lower portion ( 7   b ) of the central element ( 7 ) is circular and threaded in the inner portion thereof and the height thereof is adjustable for fitting on the neck ( 4 ) of a bottle and/or nursing bottle. 
     
     
         6 . Adapter ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the lower portion ( 7   b ) of the central element ( 7 ) comprises two threads ( 8 ,  15 ), one suitable for engaging with the thread of the neck of a bottle and the other suitable for engaging with the thread of the neck of a nursing bottle. 
     
     
         7 . Adapter ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the thickness of the upper element ( 6 ) is less than the distance between the skirt and the circular lip ( 17 ) of the teat ( 2 ). 
     
     
         8 . Adapter ( 1 ) according to  claim 1  further including a filter ( 18 ) rigidly connected to the lower portion ( 7   b ) of the central element ( 7 ). 
     
     
         9 . Container ( 3 ), such as a bottle or nursing bottle, characterised in that it includes a neck ( 4 ) provided with a thread ( 5 ) whereon an adapter according to  claim 1  is fitted. 
     
     
         10 . Method for fitting, with one hand, a teat ( 2 ) on a container ( 3 ), comprising a neck ( 4 ) provided with a thread ( 5 ), characterised in that said method comprises the following steps:
 screwing an adapter ( 1 ) according to  claim 1  onto the neck ( 4 ) of said container ( 3 ),   checking that the adapter ( 1 ) is in the open position or opening the upper element ( 6 ) of the adapter ( 1 ),   fitting a teat ( 2 ), preferably a standard teat, said fitting being carried out by slipping the teat into the central opening ( 10 ) of the upper element ( 6 ) using the inner portion of said upper element ( 6 ), such that the skirt of the teat ( 2 ) is held by the inner annular portion of the upper element ( 6 ),   folding down the upper element ( 6 ) on the platform ( 7   a ),   applying pressure in order to activate the system for closing said adapter ( 1 ).   
     
     
         11 . Adapter ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , characterised in that said closing means ( 14 ) are arranged on the upper element ( 6 ) and opposite on the platform ( 7   a ), bordering the area occupied by the skirt of the teat ( 2 ). 
     
     
         12 . Adapter ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , characterised in that the upper element ( 6 ) further includes means ( 16 ) protruding from the circumference of said upper element ( 6 ), said means ( 16 ) enabling the user to apply upward pressure on the upper element ( 6 ) to detach the closing means ( 14 ) and open the upper element ( 6 ), said protruding means ( 16 ) being diametrically opposite, on the circumference of the upper element ( 6 ), to the rigid connection area ( 13 ). 
     
     
         13 . Adapter ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the lower portion ( 7   b ) of the central element ( 7 ) is circular and threaded in the inner portion thereof and the height thereof is adjustable for fitting on the neck ( 4 ) of a bottle and/or nursing bottle. 
     
     
         14 . Adapter ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the lower portion ( 7   b ) of the central element ( 7 ) comprises two threads ( 8 ,  15 ), one suitable for engaging with the thread of the neck of a bottle and the other suitable for engaging with the thread of the neck of a nursing bottle. 
     
     
         15 . Adapter ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the thickness of the upper element ( 6 ) is less than the distance between the skirt and the circular lip ( 17 ) of the teat ( 2 ). 
     
     
         16 . Adapter ( 1 ) according to  claim 2  further including a filter ( 18 ) rigidly connected to the lower portion ( 7   b ) of the central element ( 7 ). 
     
     
         17 . Container ( 3 ), such as a bottle or nursing bottle, characterised in that it includes a neck ( 4 ) provided with a thread ( 5 ) whereon an adapter according to  claim 2  is fitted.