Dishwasher basket infant feeding accessory holders

Abstract

A dishwasher basket for use with baby bottle nipples includes a specially designed rack that maintains baby bottle nipples in an upright position during the washing and drying. The base of the nipple is also prevented from resting upon the surface of the rack. Straw and valve holders are also provided that can be attached to the dishwasher basket. The dishwasher basket is able to be opened using only one hand.

1 . An apparatus for positioning a baby bottle nipple of the type that includes a nursing end, a mounting flange and an annular undercut area between said nursing end and said mounting flange, comprising: 
 a dishwasher mounting fixture; and    nipple mounting means on said dishwasher mounting fixture for securely holding a baby bottle nipple by engaging the baby bottle nipple at the annular undercut area.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus for positioning a baby bottle nipple according to  claim 1 , wherein said dishwasher mounting fixture is constructed and arranged to be dishwasher safe.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus for positioning a baby bottle nipple according to  claim 1 , wherein said dishwasher mounting fixture is constructed and arranged to be positioned within a dishwasher.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus for positioning a baby bottle nipple according to  claim 3 , wherein said dishwasher mounting fixture comprises a dishwasher basket for holding small articles within a dishwasher.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus for positioning a baby bottle nipple according to  claim 1 , wherein said nipple mounting means is constructed and arranged to hold the baby bottle nipple in a substantially upright position.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus for positioning a baby bottle nipple according to  claim 1 , wherein said nipple mounting means comprises structure defining a hole in said fixture that is sized for receiving a baby bottle nipple and engaging said annular undercut area at edges thereof.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for positioning a baby bottle nipple according to  claim 6 , wherein said hole has a minimum diameter that is within a range of about 0.5 inches to about 2.0 inches.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for positioning a baby bottle nipple according to  claim 7 , wherein said hole has a minimum diameter that is within a range of about 0.7 inches to about 1.75 inches.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for positioning a baby bottle nipple according to  claim 6 , further comprising at least one radially inwardly extending protrusion extending into said hole.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for positioning a baby bottle nipple according to  claim 10 , wherein there are a plurality of said protrusions.  
   
   
       11 . A method of cleaning a baby bottle nipple of the type that includes a nursing end, a mounting flange and an annular undercut area between said nursing end and said mounting flange, comprising steps of: 
 securely mounting a baby bottle nipple in a nipple mounting fixture by engaging the baby bottle nipple at the annular undercut area with nipple mounting structure that is provided on said nipple mounting fixture; and    using a dishwasher to clean said baby bottle nipple while said baby bottle nipple remains mounted in said nipple mounting fixture.    
   
   
       12 . A method of cleaning a baby bottle nipple according to  claim 11 , further comprising a step of placing said nipple mounting fixture within a dishwasher.  
   
   
       13 . A method of cleaning a baby bottle nipple according to  claim 11 , wherein said step of securely mounting said baby bottle nipple is performed so that the baby bottle nipple is oriented substantially in an upright position.  
   
   
       14 . A method of cleaning a baby bottle nipple according to  claim 11 , wherein said fixture comprises a dishwasher basket for holding small articles within a dishwasher.  
   
   
       15 . A method of cleaning a baby bottle nipple according to  claim 11 , wherein said nipple mounting structure defines a hole in said fixture that is sized for receiving a baby bottle nipple and engaging said annular undercut area at edges thereof.  
   
   
       16 . A method of cleaning a baby bottle nipple according to  claim 15 , wherein said hole has a minimum diameter that is within a range of about 0.5 inches to about 2.0 inches.  
   
   
       17 . A method of cleaning a baby bottle nipple according to  claim 16 , wherein said hole has a minimum diameter that is within a range of about 0.7 inches to about 1.75 inches.  
   
   
       18 . A method of cleaning a baby bottle nipple according to  claim 16 , wherein said step of securely engaging said baby bottle nipple further comprises engaging the baby bottle nipple with at least one radially inwardly extending protrusion that extends into said hole.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for securely holding small articles for cleansing in a dishwasher, comprising: 
 nipple holding means for securely holding a baby bottle nipple; and    straw mounting means for securely holding a drinking straw.    
   
   
       20 . An apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said nipple holding means is constructed and arranged to engage the baby bottle nipple at an annular undercut area of the baby bottle nipple.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said straw mounting means comprises frictional engagement means for frictionally engaging an outer surface of a drinking straw.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein said straw mounting means comprises structure defining a restricted passage for receiving a drinking straw, and wherein said frictional engagement means is constructed and arranged to engage a drinking straw at a location that is proximate to said restricted passage.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein said frictional engagement means comprises a first surface for frictionally engaging a first portion of an outer surface of a drinking straw and a second surface, spaced across said restricted passage from said first surface, for frictionally engaging a second portion of the outer surface of the drinking straw, whereby the drinking straw will be held in place by said first and second surfaces.  
   
   
       24 . An apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising valve mounting means for securely holding a valve from a non-spill drink cup.  
   
   
       25 . An apparatus for positioning a valve from a non-spill drinking cup for cleaning in a dishwasher, comprising: 
 a fixture; and    valve mounting means on said fixture for securely holding a valve from a non-spill drinking cup.    
   
   
       26 . An apparatus for positioning a valve from a non-spill drinking cup according to  claim 25 , wherein said fixture is constructed and arranged to be dishwasher safe.  
   
   
       27 . An apparatus for positioning a valve from a non-spill drinking cup according to  claim 26 , wherein said fixture is constructed and arranged to be positioned within a dishwasher.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus for positioning a valve from a non-spill drinking cup according to  claim 25 , wherein said fixture comprises a dishwasher basket for holding small articles within a dishwasher.  
   
   
       29 . An apparatus for positioning a valve from a non-spill drinking cup according to  claim 25 , wherein said valve mounting means is constructed and arranged to hold the valve in a substantially upright position.  
   
   
       30 . An apparatus for positioning a valve from a non-spill drinking cup according to  claim 25 , further comprising straw mounting means for securely holding a drinking straw.  
   
   
       31 . An apparatus for positioning a valve from a non-spill drinking cup according to  claim 25 , further comprising nipple holding means for securely holding a baby bottle nipple.  
   
   
       32 . An apparatus for positioning a valve from a non-spill drinking cup according to  claim 25 , wherein said valve mounting means comprises a hole that is within a range of about 0.1 inches to about 0.5 inches.  
   
   
       33 . An apparatus for positioning a valve from a non-spill drinking cup according to  claim 25 , wherein said valve mounting means comprises a hole that is within a range of about 0.2 inches to about 0.4 inches.  
   
   
       34 . A method of cleaning a valve from a non-spill drinking cup, comprising steps of: 
 securely mounting a valve from a non-spill drinking cup to a valve mounting fixture; and    using a dishwasher to clean said valve while said valve remains mounted in said valve mounting fixture.    
   
   
       35 . A method of cleaning a valve from a non-spill drinking cup according to  claim 34 , further comprising a step of placing said valve mounting fixture within a dishwasher.  
   
   
       36 . A method of cleaning a valve from a non-spill drinking cup according to  claim 34 , wherein said valve mounting fixture comprises a dishwasher basket for holding small articles within a dishwasher.  
   
   
       37 . A method of cleaning a valve from a non-spill drinking cup according to  claim 34 , wherein said valve mounting means comprises a hole that is within a range of about 0.1 inches to about 0.5 inches.  
   
   
       38 . A method of cleaning a valve from a non-spill drinking cup according to  claim 34 , wherein said valve mounting means comprises hole that is within a range of about 0.2 inches to about 0.4 inches.