Baby bottle holder and tether system

Abstract

This apparatus provides a means by and through which a children's bottle or sip cup can be secured to structural components, such as car seat headrest, utilizing a bottle holder, a tether, and a clip. The bottle holder is comprised of a flexible, insulating material that securely fits around said bottle in such a manner that it cannot be easily extracted by a child. Furthermore, the bottle holder helps maintain desired temperature of the liquid within the bottle through the utilization of insulating materials. The tether can be adjusted to variable desired lengths. The tether has attached to it, a clip with easily and quickly secures to many different structural components. The clip can be easily removed as well. The invention allows a child to drop or throw a bottle or cup without misplacing the bottle or cup. The caretaker or child simply grabs the tether which has the bottle or cup securely attached.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]U.S. Patent Documents5,147,384September, 1992LaRocca606 / 2345,613,657March, 1997Olaiz248 / 1025,727,842March, 1998O'Neil297 / 188.065,927,661July, 1999Tinsley, et al.248 / 1026,138,882October, 2001Buettner224 / 2506,250,592June, 2001Davis248 / 1026,606,768August, 2003Henry et al. 24 / 3066,811,065November, 2004Brady224 / 311STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableREFERENCE TO A “SEQUENTIAL LISTING,” A TABLE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC[0003]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004](1) Technical Field of Invention[0005]The technical field of this invention relates to the means by which bottles, particularly those used by babies, infants or children, can be secured to structural components in such a fashion as to not allow the bottles to get away from either the caretaker of the child or the child itself. More particularly, this invention facilitates the secure attachm...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The present invention is an apparatus that acts to secure a baby bottle or cup to structural components through the use of a tether, a bottle holder, and a clip or fastener. The invention also utilizes a flexible insulating material in forming the holder of the bottle or cup. This material fits securely around the bottle or cup in such a manner as to where bottle or cup cannot be removed without sufficient force. The insulating material acts to maintain the temperature of the liquid in the container, be it hot or cold. A tether is securely attached to the drink holder. On the opposite end of the tether, a clip or fastener is attached. This clip or fastener provides a quick and sturdy means by which the invention can be attached to various structural components.

[0011]When the bottle is placed within the holder and the clip is securely in place within the vehicle or on another structural component, the child may drop the bottle freely without fear or frustration. The bottle will always be no further distance away than the end of the tether. The child's caretaker can simply grab the tether, retrieve the bottle and give it back to the child if they desire.

[0013]Another embodiment of the holder utilizes the same materials and cylindrical shape, but also adds a zipper or velcro seam for ease of introduction of the bottle within the holder. This seam, whether it is connected with a zipper, velcro, or buttons, will run vertically up the edge of the wall of the holder. The user will simply open this seam and place the bottle or cup inside the holder and fasten the seam by the available means utilized, be it a zipper, velcro or otherwise.

[0015]The tether is manufactured from an elongated fabric. The fabric utilized for the tether can be elastic or inelastic. One potential and preferred embodiment of the tether is adjustable length. This is accomplished with the addition of a slip or adjustment buckle at some point within the length of the tether. Different lengths may be required for different uses or different situations. This allows the user to customize the length of the tether to fit the need of said user.

[0016]On the opposite end of the tether from the holder is the clip and fastening device. Once again, the invention is not limited to any particular clip or securing device, although a preferred embodiment is available. The preferred embodiment utilizes a carabiner clip, also known as a spring clip, to attach the invention to various structures. The carabiner clip provides a fast, easy and sturdy method for securing the invention to structures. The carabiner clip also allows the user to easily remove the invention from the structure when necessary.

[0018]This invention is useful because it allows the caretaker or a child peace of mind with reference to bottles or cups that are frequently dropped or thrown by children. The caretaker of the child will always know where the bottle or cup is even if said bottle is temporarily out of sight. The invention in no way interferes with the child's use of the bottle or cup. Furthermore, the insulating material utilized in the holder helps maintain the desired temperature of the beverage within. The invention secures quickly to many structures such as the posts of a car seat headrest. It is removed just as quickly. When a bottle or cup is dropped, the user simply grabs the tether to grab the bottle which is attached. The tether can be manufactured to be of adjustable length to meet the particular needs of the user within the space inhabited or utilized, whether in a motor vehicle or otherwise.

Problems solved by technology

All too often, the child will drop or throw the bottle and neither the caretaker / driver of the vehicle nor the child has any ability to pick the bottle back up.

Many times, the bottle hits the floor and rolls around making it difficult to even locate the bottle.

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