WO2010129377A1

WO2010129377A1 - A baby bottle holder

Info

Publication number: WO2010129377A1
Application number: PCT/US2010/032867
Authority: WO
Inventors: Evan Anderson; Charla Johnson; Emerson Naylor; Deliena Stone
Original assignee: Florida A&M University
Priority date: 2009-04-29
Filing date: 2010-04-29
Publication date: 2010-11-11

Abstract

A baby bottle holder/holster which includes an elongated body having an interior cavity for a baby bottle holding. The baby bottle holster further including a voice recorder, a memory unit, an audio playing device, a microphone, speakers, a display screen, a night light, a communications port, control/navigation buttons, and a baby bottle securing device. The baby bottle holster can be preprogrammed by a parent, guardian, etc. so that merely placing a baby bottle into the holster will initiate a soothing sound/image sequence with no further actions being needed. This leaves the caregiver (baby sitter, nanny, etc) free to attend to the needs of the child while the sound/images are played.

Description

A Baby Bottle Holder

BACKGROUND OF THE I]NfVENTION

[001] Field of the Invention

[002] The present invention relates to baby bottle holding devices that include an elongated body having an interior cavity for holding a baby bottle. More particularly bottle holding devices which include music and multimedia communications components.

[003] Description of Related Inventions

[004] U.S. Patent 4,898,060 presents a musical adapter for nursing bottle; U.S. Patent 6,335,691 presents a musical bottle; U.S. Patent 6,359,559 presents a toy which provides and indication when an end users consumes a consumable substance; U.S. Patent 6,379,018 presents a portable illuminated drinking vessel assembly; U.S. Patent 6,652,346 presents a musical bottle system; U.S. Patent 6,872,116 presents a musical baby bottle; U.S. Patent 6,960,171 presents an infant eye trainer. US Patent Publication 2007/0161325 Al presents a musical holder accessory.

[005] While the above patents present inventions acceptable for their purpose, for sanitation reasons generally parents and guardians usually only use a baby bottle for a limited period of time and then discard it and select a new baby bottle. A need therefore exists for a multimedia enabled baby bottle holder into which users can place their present and subsequent baby bottles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[006] The present invention is a baby bottle holder/holster which includes an elongated body having an interior cavity for a baby bottle holding. The baby bottle holster further including a voice recorder, a memory unit, an audio playing device, a microphone, speakers, a display screen, a night light, a communications port, control/navigation buttons, and a baby bottle securing device.

[007] Advantages: The baby bottle holster allows users to play soothing music, voice recordings, or other familiar sounds and images to infants and toddlers in a variety of settings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[008] Figure 1 presents a front view of the baby bottle holster.

[009] Figure 2 presents a top isometric view of the baby bottle holster.

[0010] Figure 3 presents a rear view of the baby bottle holster.

[0011] Figure 4 is a block diagram of the baby bottle holster.

[0012] Drawing Re ference Numerals :

[0013] 1 - baby bottle holster

[0014] 2 - elongated body

[0015] 3 - night light

[0016] 4 - communications port

[0017] 5 - speakers

[0018] 6 - control/navigation buttons

[0019] 7 - volume control buttons

[0020] 8 - audio/video player unit

[0021] 9 - interior cavity

[0022] 10 - elongated body first end

[0023] 11 - elongated body second end

[0024] 12 - display screen

[0025] 13 - microphone

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] The baby bottle holster 1 includes an elongated body 2 having a first end 10 extending towards a second end 11 , and an interior cavity 9 extending within the elongated body 2 from the first end 10 towards the second end 11 , the interior cavity 9 formed to contain a baby bottle (not shown) or similar device. [0027] The baby bottle holster 1 includes at least one night light 3 attached to the elongated body 2 first or second end (10,11). The night light 3 may be fashioned as a circular ring or other shape complimentary to the shape of the elongated body first or second end (10,11).

[0028] The baby bottle holster elongated body 2 further includes a communications port

4, speakers 5, control/navigation buttons 6, volume control buttons 7, an audio/video player unit 8, a display screen 12, and at least one microphone 13.

[0029] The night light 3 includes illumination elements such as light emitting diodes

(L.E.D.s), liquid crystal display (LCD) elements, incandescent elements, or other known illumination elements.

[0030] The communication port 4 is an adapter for connecting to an external device and may be a universal serial bus (USB) port, wireless communications port, infrared communications port, or other known communication port adapter.

[0031] The audio/video player unit 8 includes a voice recorder unit and a memory unit.

The audio/video player unit 8 is controlled by the control/navigation buttons 6 and the volume control buttons 7. The audio/video player unit 8 controls the sound output through the speakers

5, the images displayed on the display screen 12, and user selected system operation features (such as music downloading or timed music, and video playback). Further the audio/video player unit 8 allows users to selectively operate the various features of the baby bottle holster 1 such as setting it to display the time and/or setting timed alarms. The audio/video player unit 8 is configurable to record (via the microphone 13) , store, and play the music, audio, video, and image files of common formats as applicable such as H264, MP4, WMV, AVI, MOV, RM, 3GP, fiv, SWF, mpeg-1, mpeg-2, VCD, SVCD, DVD, AC3, AAC, MP2, MP3, MP4, RA, WMA, jpeg, jpg, tiff, raw, png, gif, bmp, ppm, pgm, pbm, pnm, cgm, svg, pdf, swf, eps, wmf, etc. The audio/video player unit 8 may include additional data storage and playback elements for reading and writing data such as compact disk elements, DVD elements, and tape system elements. The audio/video player unit 8 includes a sensor (not shown) that allows the baby bottle holster 1 to automatically power on and play music upon detecting a baby crying.

[0032] As shown in Figure 2, the display screen is positioned on the elongated body 2 such that images on the display screen 12 are presented parallel to the extension of the elongated body 2 from the second end 11 towards the first end 10 (or vice versa). This position allows the display screen 12 to be viewed clearly and head-on even while a bottle is positioned within the elongated body. Further this positioning of the display screen 12 allows the baby bottle holster 1 to project images on a wall or surface which is parallel to the extension of the elongated body 2 from the first end 10 towards the second end 11 , while the baby bottle holster 1 holsters a baby bottle. The display screen 12 is programmable to present selected images and/or sequences of images. Further, the display screen 12 presents system information and system operation menus so that users can navigate through the various features of the baby bottle holster 1. The display presented on the display screen 12 is provided in color, black and white, or gray scale by elements such as light emitting diodes (L.E.D.s), liquid crystal display (LCD) elements, incandescent elements, or other known illumination/display elements. The display screen 12, singularly or in conjunction with the night light 3, provides visual projection features which allows the baby bottle holster 1 to play visually stimulating content.

[0033] The projection feature of the display screen 12 allows the bottle holster 1 to project images onto an external surface such as a wall, ceiling, lamp, or even a sheet of material. For example, the display screen 12 can project soothing, familial, or educational images onto a wall while playing desired sounds.

[0034] The baby bottle holster 1 is powered by an attached or internal battery unit (not shown), or by connection to a power source, such as through a power cord (not shown), or via the communications port 4, such as a powered USB port.

[0035] Operation:

[0036] The baby bottle holster 1 is designed to operate with or without a baby bottle inserted into the interior cavity 9 and held in place by a slide/lock operation of the baby bottle securing device (not shown). During initial usage or setup, the user uses the audio/video player unit 8, the control/navigation buttons 6, and the display screen 12 to set the desired time, date, and alarm information. Sounds, music, images, and/or videos may be provided pre-installed in the baby bottle holster 1 memory unit.

[0037] Users subsequently can download prerecorded sounds, music, images, and/or videos to the memory unit. Users can also record sounds or music and store then in the memory unit. [0038] Using the audio/video player unit 8 users can then select and program the appropriate combination of music/sound and/or images to be played. For example, a mother can record a voice message for her child and program the baby bottle holster 1 to replay the message at selected intervals. Mothers can also select a preferred sequence of songs to play.

[0039] Additionally, mothers (and other users) can select images or video clips to play on the display screen 12 as desired. The images and video clip can be played in coordination with selected music/sound.

[0040] The baby bottle holster 1 can be program to only play the desired sound/image sequence once a baby bottle has been inserted into the holster 1. This allows, for example, a mother, father, guardian, etc to preprogram the baby bottle holster 1 so that merely placing a bottle into the holster 1 will initiate a preprogrammed soothing sound/image sequence with no further actions being needed. This leaves the caregiver (baby sitter, nanny, etc) free to attend to the needs of the child while the sound/images selected by the mother, father, guardian, etc are played. This feature allows an unavailable parent or guardian to provide the environment they feel is most suitable and desirable for their child.

[0041] The night light can be programmed to turn on or off at preselected times, in conjunction with specific music or images, or it can be manually turned on or off, as desired.

[0042] It is envisioned that the baby bottle and baby bottle holster 1 can respectively contain elements, such as a smart card and a smart card reader which allows the baby bottle holster 1 to receive sound and image data from the baby bottle and play that data in a program sequence which can include recorded voice messages from the parent or guardian.

[0043] It is further envisioned that the key components of the baby bottle holster 1 may be composed of a polypropylene material and/or other material deemed suitable for usage with infants and children.

[0044] While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions may be made without departing from the invention herein. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMWhat is claimed is:

1. A baby bottle holster for holding a baby bottle comprising: an elongated body having a first end extending towards a second end, and an interior cavity extending within the elongated body from the first end towards the second end, the interior cavity formed to contain a baby bottle; at least one night light attached to the elongated body first or second end; a communications port on the elongated body; at least one speaker on the elongated body; at least one microphone on the elongated body; control/navigation buttons on the elongated body; volume control buttons on the elongated body; an audio/video player unit on the elongated body; and a display screen on the elongated body.

2. The baby bottle holster of claim 1 wherein the surface of the display screen is positioned parallel to the extension of the elongated body.

3. The baby bottle holster of claim 2 wherein the display projects images onto a wall positioned parallel to the extension of the elongated body once the baby bottle has been inserted into or removed from the elongated body cavity.

4. The baby bottle holster of claim 1 wherein baby bottle holster plays a desired sound/image sequence once the baby bottle has been inserted into or removed from the elongated body cavity.