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An apparatus for steam heating a baby bottle comprising a reservoir in which water is heated by an electric resistance-type heater to produce steam, which is controlled via an on/off switch and an electronic control panel, is herein disclosed. A probe is used to measure an exact temperature of the h

An apparatus for steam heating a baby bottle comprising a reservoir in which water is heated by an electric resistance-type heater to produce steam, which is controlled via an on/off switch and an electronic control panel, is herein disclosed. A probe is used to measure an exact temperature of the heated liquid such as milk or formula, and displays said temperature upon a digital readout. Thus, the parent or caregiver is assured of the liquid being heated to the exact temperature without danger of burning. The apparatus is capable of heating a bottle of liquid in mere seconds in lieu of the minutes usually taken by conventional heating methods. It is envisioned that the apparatus can not only heat a bottle in a shorter period of time, but also can do so in a more consistent and accurate manner compared to current manual methods.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A heating device for heating a bottle filled with a liquid, comprising: a housing, comprising a base and an internal reservoir for retaining water therewithin;a heating means for heating said water within said reservoir to produce steam;a delivery means in fluid communication therewith said reser

1. A heating device for heating a bottle filled with a liquid, comprising: a housing, comprising a base and an internal reservoir for retaining water therewithin;a heating means for heating said water within said reservoir to produce steam;a delivery means in fluid communication therewith said reservoir therefor delivering said steam thereto said bottle; and,a control means for controlling said heating means and said delivery means, further comprising a desired programmable function entered by a user;wherein said device heats said bottle thereto a desired temperature in a minimal amount of time and with an increased accuracy;wherein said housing comprises integrally molded components further comprising: said reservoir located of a rear portion of said base and comprising an upstanding rear vertical wall;a hinged lid along a top horizontal surface of said reservoir, comprising a gripping means and providing access to said reservoir;a front portion located at a top front location of said reservoir, further comprising said control means; and;a bottle loading area defined between said base and said front portion;wherein said delivery means further comprises: internal steam tubing in fluid communication with said reservoir at a proximal end;an external steam tube in fluid communication with a distal end of said internal steam tube; and,a hinging feature hingedly and removably attaching said external steam tube to a central location of a bottom surface of said front portion of said housing; and,wherein said internal steam tubing delivers said steam from said reservoir to said external steam tube;wherein said external steam tube delivers said steam to said bottle and said liquid, thereby initiating a steaming process;wherein said hinging feature enables a user to rotate said external steam tube in an upward direction for loading of said bottle at a convenient approach angle;wherein said hinging feature enables said external steam tube to be removed, thereby providing a sanitation means;wherein said hinged lid allows said reservoir to be manually filled with said water; and,wherein said bottle loading area comprises a height large enough to accommodate conventional feeding bottles. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said base further comprises a wide flat lower surface, thereby providing a stable foundation when placed thereon a horizontal surface. 3. The device of claim 2, further comprising an anti-skid platform thereof a top surface thereof said base. 4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a fluid level indicator along a side vertical surface thereof said housing, thereby providing a means to view an amount of water within said reservoir. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein said heating means further comprises an electric resistance-type heater to produce said steam. 6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a thermocouple probe in electronic communication therewith said control means, routed therethrough said hinging feature, and situated along a vertical outer surface of said external steam tube; wherein said thermocouple probe and monitors a current temperature of said liquid therein said bottle during said steaming process. 7. The device of claim 6, wherein said control means further comprises an electronic control panel located thereon an outer front surface thereof said front portion thereof said housing, thereby providing said desired programmable function thereto said device. 8. The device of claim 7, wherein said electronic control panel further comprises: an electronic display which provides a visual display thereof a desired programmable function;an electronic clock displayed thereon said electronic display;a plurality of programmable feature keys for entering said desired programmable function;a speaker for audibly alerting when said desired programmable function is completed; and,an ON/OFF power switch for providing power therefrom a power source thereto said device. 9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a removably detachable automobile cigarette lighter adapter in electrical communication therewith said ON/OFF power switch. 10. The device of claim 8, further comprising a power cord with an integral AC adapter/transformer in electrical communication therewith said ON/OFF power switch. 11. The device of claim 8, wherein said desired programmable function further include: an incrementing and a decrementing button providing an entering means thereto a timer function, wherein said heating process commences at a desired time and a desired temperature function, wherein said heating process proceeds until said desired temperature is achieved;an enter function for commencing said desired programmable function;a cancel function for canceling said programmable functions;a clock setting function for setting a desired clock setting;a start function for commencing said heating process;a pause function for pausing said heating process; and,a stop function for ceasing said heating process;wherein said thermocouple probe provides a feedback thereto said electronic control panel when said desired temperature has been achieved. 12. A method of heating a bottle filled with a liquid thereto a desired temperature with a programmable bottle heating device producing a heating process comprises the steps of: providing said heating device, further comprising: a housing, comprising a reservoir located thereof a rear portion thereof a base and comprising an upstanding rear vertical wall with a fluid level indicator along a side vertical surface thereof, a hinged lid along a top horizontal surface thereof said reservoir, comprising a gripping means and providing access thereto said reservoir, a front portion located at a top front location thereof said reservoir, and a bottle loading area defined therebetween said base and said front portion;a heating means for heating said water within said reservoir to produce steam;internal steam tubing in fluid communication therewith said reservoir at a proximal end;an external steam tube in fluid communication therewith a distal end of said internal steam tube; and,a hinging feature hingedly and removably attaching said external steam tube thereto a central location thereof a bottom surface thereof said front portion thereof said housing;an electronic control panel located thereon an outer front surface thereof said front portion thereof said housing, further comprising: an electronic display which provides a visual display thereof a desired programmable function;an electronic clock displayed thereon said electronic display;a plurality of programmable feature keys thereby initiating said desired programmable function;a speaker for audibly alerting when said desired programmable function is completed; and,an ON/OFF power switch for providing power therefrom a power source thereto said device;a thermocouple probe in electronic communication therewith said control means, routed therethrough said hinging feature, and situated along a vertical outer surface of said external steam tube;providing power therefrom said power source thereto said device;adding a desired amount of water therein said reservoir;preparing one (1) or more bottles with a desired volume of liquid;rotating said hinging feature upward such that said external steam tube and said thermocouple probe is at an upward position;inserting said external steam tube and said thermocouple thereinto said bottlerotating said hinging feature downward such that said external steam tube and said thermocouple probe to a downward position such that said bottle is fully within said bottle loading area;resting said bottle thereon a top portion thereof said base;switching said ON/OFF power switch thereto an “ON” position;entering said desired programmable function thereto said device thereby said plurality of programmable feature keys to commence said heating process;observing and verifying said desired programmable function thereupon said electronic display;initiating said heating process, wherein said heating means heats said water therein said reservoir to produces steam, wherein said steam travels through said internal steam tubing, said external steam and into said bottle, and wherein said thermocouple probe monitors said temperature therein said bottle;ceasing said heating process directed thereby said desired programmable function;observing a visual indicator displayed thereupon said electronic display when said heating process is completed;audibly hearing said speaker when said heating process is completed;switching said ON/OFF switch thereto an “OFF” position;waiting for any residual steam to escape therefrom said external steam tube;grasping said bottle;rotating said hinging feature upward such that said external steam tube and said thermocouple probe is at an upward position;removing said bottle therefrom said external steam tube and said thermocouple probe;dispensing and consuming said liquid therein said bottle; and,repeating the above steps for subsequent bottles. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: removing said external steam tube and said thermocouple probe therefrom said hinging feature for cleaning and sanitation. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of providing power therefrom said power source thereto said device further comprises removably detaching an automobile cigarette lighter adapter thereto said device. 15. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of providing power therefrom said power source thereto said device further comprises connecting a power cord with an integral AC adapter/transformer thereto an electrical wall socket. 16. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of entering said desired programmable function further comprises the steps of: entering a timer function, wherein said heating process commences at a desired time therewith an incrementing and a decrementing button;entering a desired temperature function, wherein said heating process proceeds until said desired temperature is achieved therewith said incrementing and said decrementing button;entering an enter function for commencing said desired programmable function;entering a cancel function for canceling said desired programmable function;entering a clock setting function for setting a desired clock setting;entering a start function for commencing said heating process;entering a pause function for pausing said heating process; and,entering a stop function for ceasing said heating process;wherein said thermocouple probe provides a feedback thereto said electronic control panel when said desired temperature has been achieved. 17. The method of claim 12, further comprising an anti-skid platform thereof a top surface thereof said base, thereby providing a stable means of placing said bottle thereon said base.