SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BEVERAGE STORAGE AND CONCEALMENT
This invention relates generally to containers, and more specifically, to systems and methods for beverage storage and concealment. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a liquid container that includes a flat bag with a front and rear sheet that has one or more cross-connection, which couple portions of the front and rear sheet and thereby reduces bulging of the flat bag when the flat bag is holding liquid. The flat bag also includes an exit port that defines an orifice between the inside of the flat bag and the outside of the flat bag. Additionally, the flat bag is a closed system aside from the orifice defined by the exit port and the flat bag is configurable to hold and dispense liquid. In other embodiments, the flat bag can have a fill port that provides an additional opening to the inside of the flat bag and which can be closed by a fill cap. Additionally, the flat bag is configurable to be concealed beneath or within clothing or various articles of manufacture and in one embodiment a drinking tube can be coupled to the exit port, which allows a user to draw liquid from the flat bag.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 60/715,739 filed Sep. 12th, 2005. The foregoing application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to containers, and more specifically, to systems and methods for beverage storage and concealment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPreviously, wearable beverage containers have been primarily designed to allow a user involved in vigorous exercise to carry and dispense beverage liquids to the user to maintain hydration. These containers typically have a bag-like liquid container that is worn on the back or waist of the user and a long flexible tube attached to an exit port on the container that allows the user to draw liquid from the container through a mouthpiece on the terminal end of the flexible tube. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No 6,820,780.
Other wearable beverage containers are fashioned to mimic pieces of clothing, while also having containers within them that can hold liquids and facilitate delivery of the liquids to a user through a long flexible tube connected to an exit port of the container. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,220,490 and 6,598,770.
While most wearable beverage containers allow a user to comfortably and conveniently carry and drink liquids during exercise, they are not easily concealed when a user desires to carry and drink beverages without others knowledge. Typically, the bag-like liquid container is a large, single chambered pouch, which creates a bulgy profile when worn by the user, even if it is worn under clothing. Additionally, the harness or straps that hold the container onto the user cannot be easily concealed and can be detected by others, even when worn under clothing.
Although some beverage containers are fashioned to resemble articles of clothing, they suffer from limitations regarding volume capacity for liquid and lack of realism as a genuine article of clothing or they are not suitably worn in non-exercise contexts. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,490 discloses a vest that has beverage container within it comprised of sinuous tubing. While this vest appears to effectively conceal the beverage container within it, the tubing container has a thick profile, which makes the vest that contains it thicker than a typical vest; additionally, the vest would not be an article of clothing that would be appropriate to wear in non-exercise contexts. Accordingly, this design does not result in a beverage container that is effectively concealable because the method of storing liquid gives the vest an unnatural a bulky appearance and vest cannot be effectively worn naturally in many social environments. In addition to giving the vest a bulky appearance, the method of liquid storage does not allow a user to store a very large volume of liquid compared to the total volume of the vest itself.
In another example, a beverage container is in the form of a belt. U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,770 discloses a belt-like container that is worn around the waist, which comprises a liquid container which can dispense beverages to the user through a long flexible tube that is attached to an exit port on the liquid container. Although this invention can provide improved concealability to users, it ultimately suffers from an even smaller volume capacity for liquids than the aforementioned vest and does not have the appearance of a typical belt.
Therefore, what are needed are systems and methods for systems and methods for beverage storage and concealment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to containers, and more specifically, to systems and methods for beverage storage and concealment. In one embodiment the present invention provides a liquid container that includes a flat bag with a front and rear sheet that has one or more cross-connection, which couple portions of the front and rear sheet and thereby reduces bulging of the flat bag when the flat bag is holding liquid. The flat bag also includes an exit port that defines an orifice between the inside of the flat bag and the outside of the flat bag. Additionally, the flat bag is a closed system aside from the orifice defined by the exit port and the flat bag is configurable to hold and dispense liquid.
In another embodiment, the flat bag is not a closed system and has one or more opening that allows a user to fill the flat bag with liquid. The one or more opening can then be sealed or closed, thus making the flat bag a closed system aside from the orifice defined by the exit port
In other embodiments, the flat bag can have a fill port that provides an additional opening to the inside of the flat bag and which can be closed by a fill cap. Additionally, the flat bag is configurable to be concealed beneath or within clothing or various articles of manufacture and in one embodiment a drinking tube can be coupled to the exit port, which allows a user to draw liquid from the flat bag. In further embodiments, the drinking tube can have a mouthpiece on its terminal end.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSEmbodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:
This invention relates generally to containers, and more specifically, to systems and methods for beverage storage and concealment. Specific details of certain embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following description and in
As depicted in
The flat bag 8 further includes cross-connections 16 between the two sheets. The cross-connections 16 are achieved by a suitable sealing system or method, which can be similar to or the same as the sealing mechanism that seals or couples the two sheets at the sealed edge 18 as described herein. Again, examples of suitable sealing mechanisms include use of an adhesive, heat sealing, and welding, such as RF welding; however, other mechanisms may be used, and one skilled in the art will immediately recognize the plethora of systems and methods that can be employed to achieve such a result. The cross-connections 16 divide the flat bag 8 into interconnected compartments 14 that reduce bulging of the flat bag 8 when it is filled with liquid and thereby facilitate a flat profile, which allows the concealable beverage container 3 to be concealed within or beneath personal items that also have a relatively flat profile. The cross connections 16 are positioned such that compartments 14 are created in the flat bag 8 which, can be between 0.5 and 1.5 inches in width and of variable length depending of the size of the flat bag 8 and arrangement of the cross connections 16. In one embodiment, one or more compartment can be of any width, including 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, 2.00, 2.25, 2.50, 2.75 inches or any integer between. In a further embodiment the cross connections 16 can be configured such that the compartments are of any size, shape or configuration.
The concealable beverage container 3 further includes a fill port 5, which defines and orifice through which liquid beverages may be poured into or removed from the flat bag 8. As shown in
In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, there is a flat bag 8 that is closed on all sides by a sealed edge 18 and comprises a front sheet 12 and a rear sheet 10. The sealed edge 18 is a waterproof connection or coupling between the front and rear sheets 12, 10, which is achieved by any suitable sealing system or method. Examples of suitable sealing systems and methods include use of an adhesive, heat sealing, and welding, such as RF welding; however, others systems and methods may be used. The flat bag 8 is formed from a flexible, waterproof material. Examples of suitable materials include but are not limited to polyethylene, nylon/polyethylene, metalized laminates, ethylene vinyl alcohol, and polyurethane. In one embodiment, the flat bag 8 can be made of any material. The size and shape of the flat bag 8 may vary, depending on where the concealable beverage container 3 is intended to be concealed. For example,
The flat bag 8 further includes cross-connections 16 of the two sheets. The cross-connections 16 are achieved by a suitable sealing system or method which can be similar to or the same as the sealing mechanism that seals the two sheets at the sealed edge 18 as described herein. Again, examples of suitable sealing mechanisms include use of an adhesive, heat sealing, and welding, such as RF welding; however, other mechanisms may be used. The cross-connections 16 divide the flat bag 8 into interconnected compartments 14 that reduce bulging of the flat bag 8 when it is filled with liquid and thereby facilitate a flat profile, which allows the concealable beverage container 3 to be concealed within or beneath personal items or items of manufacture that also have a relatively flat profile. The cross connections 16 are positioned such that compartments 14 are created in the flat bag 8 which, can be between 0.5 and 1.5 inches in width and of variable length depending of the size of the flat bag 8 and arrangement of the cross connections 16. In a further embodiment the cross connections 16 can be configured such that the compartments are of any size or shape. In one embodiment, there is no sealed edge 18.
In another embodiment the flat bag 8 can be made of a single contiguous flat bag that comprises a front sheet 12 and a rear sheet 10, or a first and second bag plane. In one embodiment the flat bag does not comprise a sealed edge. In a further embodiment, the sealed edge 18 does not completely seal or close the flat bag 8. In a still further embodiment, there is no fill port 5.
In another embodiment, there can be one or more opening in the flat bag 8; for example, a length of the flat bag 8 where the sealed edge 18 is not contiguous and creates a hole, cavity, or slit in the flat bag 8, a user can fill the concealable beverage container 3 with any type of liquid through this opening. In one embodiment, a user can fill the concealable beverage container 3 with any type of liquid through one or more hole, cavity or slit in the flat bag 8 and the user can seal the one or more hole, cavity, or slit in the flat bag 8, either permanently, semi-permanently, or temporarily by any known system or method of permanently, semi-permanently, or temporarily sealing, including, but not limited to use of an adhesive, heat sealing, and welding, such as RF welding, folding, slot and pin, button and slit, clasp, or a system such as or similar Ziploc ® bags and containers (C. S. Johnson & Son, Inc., www.ziplock.com).
The embodiment shown in
The flat bag 8 further includes an exit port 4 that is positioned at the bottom of the flat bag 8, which allows gravity to draw liquid beverage held in the flat bag 8 toward the exit port 4. The exit port 4 creates an orifice through liquid beverage held in the flat bag 8 can exit the flat bag 8 and be subsequently ingested by the user. In one embodiment, the exit port can be positioned anywhere on the flat bag 8. As shown in
As depicted in
As shown in
Additionally, on the terminal end of the drinking tube 2 is a mouthpiece 1. The mouthpiece 1 may have a variety of configurations including an open end of tubing, the configuration as shown in
While preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of these preferred and alternate embodiments. Instead, the invention should be determined by reference to the claims that follow.
Claims
1. A liquid container, the liquid container comprising:
- (a) a flat bag, the flat bag comprising a front and rear sheet
- (b) one or more cross-connection, the one or more cross-connection coupling the front and rear sheet and defining one or more interconnected compartment; and
- (c) an exit port, the exit port defining an orifice between the inside of the flat bag and the outside of the flat bag,
- wherein the flat bag is a closed system aside from the orifice defined by the exit port, wherein the flat bag is configurable to hold liquid, wherein the flat bag is configurable to dispense liquid, and wherein the one or more-cross connection defines one or more interconnected compartment, which is configured to reduce bulging of the flat bag when the flat bag is holing liquid.
2. The liquid container of claim 1, wherein the one or more interconnected compartment does not exceed a width of 2.0 inches.
3. The liquid container of claim 1, wherein the one or more interconnected compartment is defined by:
- (a) a first cross-connection, the first cross-connection being vertically centered in the approximate center of the flat bag and not extending to the edge of the flat bag; and
- (b) a second and third cross-connection, the second and third cross-connection being perpendicular to the first cross connection and not extending to the edge of the flat bag.
4. The liquid container of claim 1, further comprising a sealed edge, the sealed edge coupling the front and rear sheet around the edge of the flat bag.
5. The liquid container of claim 1, further comprising a fill port, the fill port defining an orifice between the inside of the flat bag and the outside of the flat bag, wherein the flat bag is a closed system aside from the orifice defined by the exit port and the orifice defined by the fill port.
6. The liquid container of claim 1, further comprising a drinking tube, the drinking tube being coupled to the exit port, the drinking tube having a terminal end and wherein the drinking tube is configurable to convey liquid from the inside of the flat bag.
7. The liquid container of claim 6, further comprising a mouthpiece, the mouthpiece coupled to the terminal end of the drinking tube.
8. The liquid container of claim 1, wherein the liquid container is concealed within a vest.
9. The liquid container of claim 1, wherein the flat bag is made of plastic.
10. A liquid container, the liquid container comprising:
- (a) a flat bag, the flat bag comprising a front and rear sheet
- (b) one or more cross-connection, the one or more cross-connection coupling the front and rear sheet and defining one or more interconnected compartment; and
- (c) an exit port, the exit port defining an orifice between the inside of the flat bag and the outside of the flat bag,
- wherein the flat bag is not a closed system and the flat bag comprises one or more opening in addition to the orifice defined by the exit port, wherein the opening is configurable to be sealed and make the flat bag a closed system aside from the orifice defined by the exit port, wherein the flat bag is configurable to hold liquid, wherein the flat bag is configurable to dispense liquid, and wherein the one or more cross-connection defines one or more interconnected compartment, which is configured to reduce bulging of the flat bag when the flat bag is holing liquid.
11. The liquid container of claim 10, wherein the one or more interconnected compartment does not exceed a width of 2.0 inches.
12. The liquid container of claim 10, wherein the one or more interconnected compartment is defined by
- (a) a first cross-connection, the first cross-connection being vertically centered in the approximate center of the flat bag and not extending to the edge of the flat bag; and
- (b) a second and third cross connection, the second and third cross-connection being perpendicular to the first cross-connection and not extending to the edge of the flat bag.
13. The liquid container of claim 10, further comprising a sealed edge, the sealed edge coupling the front and rear sheet at one or more edge of the flat bag.
14. The liquid container of claim 10, further comprising a fill port, the fill port defining an orifice between the inside of the flat bag and the outside of the flat bag, wherein the flat bag is a closed system aside from the orifice defined by the exit port and the fill port.
15. The liquid container of claim 10, further comprising a drinking tube, the drinking tube being coupled to the exit port, the drinking tube having a terminal end and wherein the drinking tube is configurable to convey liquid from the inside of the flat bag.
16. The liquid container of claim 10, wherein the liquid container is concealed within a vest.
17. The liquid container of claim 10, wherein the liquid container is concealed beneath the clothing of a user.
18. The liquid container of claim 10, wherein the flat bag is made of plastic.
19. The liquid container of claim 10, wherein the one or more opening in the flat bag can be sealed by folding.
20. The liquid container of claim 10, wherein the one or more opening in the flat bag can be sealed by an adhesive.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 12, 2006
Publication Date: Mar 15, 2007
Inventor: Lee Olson (Seattle, WA)
Application Number: 11/531,036
International Classification: A45F 3/16 (20060101);