Stackable feeding assemblies
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 239,043, filed Feb. 29, 1972, now abandoned. 
    
    
     This invention relates to single-use feeding assemblies which are preferably pre-sterilised. 
     Known feeding assemblies generally comprise a container, a teat and means for fixing the teat to the bottle. The container and the means for fixing the teat to the container are intended to be used over long periods which can be as long as the whole of the nursing feeding period; only the teat is thrown away after it has been used several times. The container, the teat and the fixing means of the known assemblies must be sterilised each time before the assembly is used. This is tiresome and involves a waste of time; finally, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to carry out the sterilisation operation when travelling; in that case, the only solution is to carry a number of pre-prepared complete bottles. In addition, as the container of the known assembly is to be used throughout the nursing feeding period, the volume of the container does not correspond to the amount of milk (or pap) to be given at each feed, but corresponds to the maximum amount of the last feed period. 
     The feeding assemblies according to the invention make it possible to overcome these disadvantages. In fact, the feeding assemblies according to the invention make it possible to transport or store, in a sterile manner, a certain number of containers, teats and means for fixing teats on the containers; these containers are also of a volume which corresponds to the amount of milk (or pap) for the feed period in question. After an assembly comprising container, teat and fixing means has been used, the used assembly is thrown away, the other assemblies of containers, teats and fixing means remaining sterile and ready for the preparation of the feed. 
     The feeding assemblies according to the invention comprise, stacked one upon the other, a number of containers and/or the bottoms thereof and/or teats and means for fixing the teats on the containers, all these being sterilised; the stacking of the containers and/or teats and fixing means being such that removal from the stack of a container and/or teat and fixing means does not impair the sterility of those remaining in the stack. In accordance with one embodiment, the containers on one hand and the teats and fixing means on the other hand comprise two different stacks. The containers are then disposed in a pile, each container having its bottom disposed sealingly in the preceding container. Likewise, the teats and the fixing means are stacked in a sealed manner, each teat acting as a receptacle for the following teat. Each pile is sealed by means of a cover which can easily be removed. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, the assembly of the container, without its bottom but with the teat fixed in position, is stacked sealingly on the adjacent assembly; this time it is each assembly which acts as a sealed receptacle for the following assembly. The last assembly is closed by a number of container bottoms which are stacked one on the other, the first of the bottoms sealingly closing the last container-and-teat assembly, the number of bottoms obviously being equal to the number of assemblies. 
    
    
     The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example embodiments of the feeding assemblies according to the present invention: 
     FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a pile of teats and in accordance with a first embodiment; 
     FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a stack of containers in accordance with the first embodiment; 
     FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an assembled feeding assembly in accordance with the first embodiment; 
     FIG. 4 shows the pile of containers and the pile of teats and fixing means, put together in the form of a single pile; 
     FIG. 5 shows a feeding assembly, in accordance with another embodiment; 
     FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the containers and the bottoms thereof, the teats and fixing means, put together in the form of a single pile, in accordance with said other embodiment. 
    
    
     A feeding assembly as shown in FIG. 3 comprises a container 10 which is in the general shape of a cup, a teat 30 and means for fixing the teat on the container, which means is here in this embodiment in the form of an intermediate member which has the general shape of a cover 20. It is also provided with a teat protective cover 40. 
     In accordance with the invention, the containers or cups 10 are of a shape which permits them to be stacked sealingly one upon the other. In the embodiment illustrated, the lateral flared wall of the cup 10 has in its upper part two vertical offset portions 101 and 102, and a flange 103. It is the portion 101 of the upper cup which engages into the portion 102 of the lower cup, the two cups being sealed by suitable dimensioning of the portions 101 and 102. The mode of interengagement of the cups is given only by way of example. Other embodiments, for example with a screw thread or with a bayonet-type closure, can be envisaged without thereby departing from the scope of the invention. The pile of cups 10 is closed at its upper part by a cap 50 which engages sealingly by means of offset portions 501 and 502 into the corresponding part of the uppermost cup in the stack. The bottom 504 protects the last cup (FIG. 2). 
     Similarly, the intermediate fixing members on covers 20 which carry teats 30 fixed at 205, for example by engagement on their upper open part, are of a configuration which permits them to engage one into the other by means of projections 201 and an inverted annular groove 202 and 204 which co-operates with said projection in the position in which the teat carriers are engaged (FIG. 1). When the teat and its cover are assembled with the cup 10, the inverted annular groove 202 and 204 co-operates with the flange 103 of the cup and seals the feeding assembly, by clamping the flange 103 by the enlarged portion 203 (FIG. 3). 
     As for the containers, other modes of assembly can be provided. 
     The teats are slit or pierced and are protected by removable caps 40. The cap 40 is not necessarily hermetic and sealing. 
     To ensure the sealing and sterility of the assembly, the pile of teats is sealingly closed by a cap 70 and a cover 60 which are engaged (or screwed) in position according to the system employed for the covers. 
     Operation is as follows: 
     The piles of cups and teats are supplied to the user in a sterilised and sealed condition. 
     To give a feed, a cup 10 is removed from the pile on the side which does not carry the cap 50, and is filled with the feeding preparation. The volume of the cup 10 preferably corresponds each time to the amount of feeding preparation to be given to the nursing infant. Thus there are cups which are of increasing volume, to take account of the growth of the infant, cups of a given volume being for example fitted together in a stack. Then, the protective cap 70 is removed from the upper part of the stack of teats 30 and covers 40. The top cover which carries a teat just below is removed, and the full cap is capped with the cover. The cap 70 is then replaced on the stack of teats. After the full and assembled assembly has been heated, the protective cap 40 has only to be removed from the teat, to give the feed. 
     The corresponding number of cups and teats can be any number whatever, but it is preferably equal to the number of bottles to be given per day. 
     The cups, caps and covers can be of any suitable material, for example glass, synthetic material, treated paper, etc. 
     If the assembly of cups and caps with teats is to be presented, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the form of a single stack, the caps 50 and 60 are omitted and the last teat-carrying cover is fitted directly on the first cup; alternatively (FIG. 4), the cap 70 is replaced by an annular member 80 having two projections 801 and 802 which project upwardly and downwardly respectively; this member makes it possible for the first cover to be fitted onto the first cup, the teat then being turned towards the interior of the cup. In this case, to give the feed, the last teat (the first on top in FIG. 4) is removed, after the cover 60 has been removed (the cover 60 is then replaced on the following cap). 
     In another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the container 11 and the teat 31 are supplied in an assembled condition, the teat in this case also being protected by a cap 41 which is not necessarily a sealing cap, and the container 11 is provided without its bottom in this assembled condition. The container 11 in this embodiment serves as the intermediate fixing member. The cup 11 comprises, moving upwardly: 
     a first straight portion 111, 
     a second straight portion 112 whose diameter is slightly less than the portion 111, 
     a frustoconical portion 113, 
     a straight portion 114, and 
     another frustoconical portion 115 on which the teat is carried. 
     The straight portions 111 and 112 are so dimensioned that the internal wall of the portion 111 co-operates with the external wall of the portion 112, to ensure that the containers 11 are sealingly fitted one upon the other. The portion 111 also comprises a flange 116 which co-operates with a groove 212 and 213 in a stopper 21 for sealing the lower part of the stack (or the lower part of the container 11). For that purpose, an enlarged portion 213 serves to lock the flange 116 in the groove 212 and 213. 
     The stopper 21 also comprises a projection 211 which permits the other stoppers 21 to be stacked one below the other, as shown in FIG. 6. The straight portion 114 is provided for sealingly engaging with the internal wall of a protective cap 71 in the form of a cup. The assembly is thus sterilised. 
     The modes of stacking and of the bottle by engagement are illustrated only by way of example. Other modes, such as screwing or bayonet fixing, can be used without thereby departing from the scope of the invention. 
     When a feed is to be given, the container carrying the cap 71 is removed from the remainder of the pile, and filled with the feeding preparation. It is preferable that the teat should be split at its end rather than pierced, so as to prevent the liquid flowing out during preparation of the feed. The stopper 21 at the other end of the pile is removed and the full container is then closed. It is then separated from the cup 71 which is replaced on the following container. After heating, the protective cap 41 has only to be removed from the teat 31 to give the feed. 
     Many improvements and modifications can be made without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.