Drinking bladder
The present invention relates to liquid containers. In particular, it relates to accessories that are specially configured to serve specific functions, such as a drinking bladder during activity. The drinking bladder is a container that allows various fluids to be worn around the hand for consumption during various activities. This helps aid an individual in the replenishing process of fluids to the body. This device will help prevent dehydration during a wide variety of activities in an active person's life.
The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/507,371, filed Sep. 30, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to liquid containers. More specifically, it is a flexible drinking bladder with a spout or an interchangeable spout assembly constructed for storing fluids for consumption on the hand which does not limit the usefulness of the other areas of the hand.
2. Description of the Related Art
The health benefits of remaining properly hydrated are well known and many containers have been created for carrying fluids. Previous container designs often cause injury or circulatory problems when carried on the body. Because of these issues, those engaging in physical activities often forego carrying a container thus leading to dehydration and the health problems related thereto. In some cases, the difficulty of remaining properly hydrated during activities prevents an individual from performing various active tasks.
Various devices have been developed to allow fluid consumption in order to replenish liquids in the body; however, some methods of containment are highly susceptible to punctures. Related art, such as White, U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,347 issued Sep. 28, 1999, discloses an elastic potable liquid wristband worn on the wrist while performing activities such as jogging. This form of attachment serves as a distraction while a jogger moves his arm in stride. Furthermore, the device is free to move up and down the wrist and forearm area.
Other fluid containers have been created that attach to parts of the body such as the arm or leg regions. Related art, such as Abreu-Marston, U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,089 issued Aug. 17, 1999, pertains to a portable liquid container that provides a fluid container used as a weight or as a source of hydration. This type of structure is likely to restrict circulation in the limb to which it is connected. Additionally, movement of the device along the limb is possible.
Another example of a fluid container designed to be attached to the body is shown in Gotta, U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,650 issued May 23, 1978. Because a solid container is employed, injury to the body is likely during any type of physical activity. Further, circulatory restriction and movement along the torso are also possible with this design.
Various elastic containers have been created for feeding and hydrating infants. I. D. Boynton and George A. Wood., U.S. Pat. No. 3,204,855 issued Sep. 7, 1965, discloses a flexible container for an infant nursing device. Although this type of container serves its purpose in infant nursing liner bottles, the structure is limited in adapting to other traditional nursing bottles.
Related art, such as Dejong, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,937 issued Jul. 9, 2002, discloses a bottle adapter that allows the interchangeable attachment of bottle nipples to traditional and disposable liner bottles. This method of attachment will not secure to other container or bottle configurations if the size or shape does not permit. When this type of adapter is connected to some narrow bottles, a space between the bottle and adapter is exposed that may be harmful to an infant.
The previous designs for portable fluid containers used for hydrating the body include many deficiencies. These devices restrict circulation of blood, serve as a distraction during physical activities, cause injury due to their design or move easily on the body.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fluid container that can comfortably be worn on a user's hand.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fluid container that is flexible and lightweight.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fluid container that can be used during physical activities.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a fluid container which allows for transporting fluids to hydrate, cool and replenish the body.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a drinking bladder that can comfortably be worn on a user's hand that does not restrict movement or use of the hand.
Finally, it is an object of the present invention to accomplish the foregoing objectives in a simple and cost effective manner.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREA drinking bladder is described which includes a bladder body which is impermeable to fluids, and thus, is capable of retaining a fluid within the body of the bladder. The bladder body is preferably flexible and made from a durable material such as a flexible plastic. The drinking bladder further includes a spout mounted, preferably by a removable means, on the outer surface of the bladder body. The preferable mounting means is through a threaded opening on the outer surface of the bladder body which mates with a threaded surface on the spout. The spout is preferably made from a durable, fluid impermeable material such as plastic, rubber and silicone and includes a means for dispensing fluid from within the bladder body. Preferably, the spout includes an opening means for allowing fluid to flow and a closing means for preventing such fluid flow. A spout such as a push-pull nozzle or a nipple is acceptable as are many other types of spouts. The spout may also be of a more complicated design which includes a reservoir which mounts to the outer surface of the bladder body, a ring which mounts to the reservoir, a nipple from which fluid may be dispensed, a washer which connects to the ring and which retains the nipple between the washer and the ring such that the fluid dispensing portion of the nipple extends through the washer and a cap which removably covers the fluid dispensing portion of the nipple and prevents fluid from being dispensed therefrom until the cap is removed. In this spout design, the reservoir preferably further includes a plurality of guide means which allow mounting on the outer surface of the bladder body at varying angles and an air reduction means for reducing the amount of air in the bladder body. Finally, the drinking bladder includes an attachment means for attaching the bladder body to a user. This can be a simple means such as a portion of hook and loop fastener, one or more snaps, one or more buttons or a zipper. Or, if desired, a more complicated pocket device may be used. In this embodiment, the drinking bladder is placed within the pocket device and then the pocket device is attached to the user by any appropriate means. Preferably, such attachment means provides a comfortable, non-slip attachment to the user.
A drinking bladder is described that may be attached to a user's extremity and which includes an interchangeable spout and base for carrying desired fluids for consumption. The drinking bladder includes a flexible base to which a spout is mounted. The base may be housed in a device such as the hand wallet secured to the user by use of a zipper or by elongated straps which surround the user's extremity connected to each other by means of hook and loop fastener or other appropriate fastening means. In a further preferred embodiment, the spout can be interchangeable depending on the type of consumption method. Alternatively, a nipple can be used with the spout assembly for feeding infants or an individual on a liquid diet. As previously stated, the spout assembly has the unique function of controlling the flow of fluid. In an alternate embodiment, the drinking bladder may cover the entire base of the hand but does not limit the usage of the other areas of the hand.
The present invention is designed for carrying fluids for hydrating or cooling the body while being active, whether walking, jogging, camping, attending carnivals, touring vacation spots, or going to concerts, among many other activities. The drinking bladder allows a person to carry fluids while serving as a secondary means of protection when housed in a hand wallet but is not limited in anyway to this type of containment.
The limitations of the related art previously discussed are overcome by the present invention. This invention's ability to expand, along with the flexibility of its shape, allows the fluid to shift to various areas of said drinking bladder. A variety of configurations allow this invention to contain various quantities of fluids for consumption while engaged in activities.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Element List
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- 20. cap
- 21. threaded opening
- 22. washer
- 24. nipple
- 26. spout operation angles
- 28. zipper
- 30. ring
- 32. reservoir guides slits
- 34. ring guides
- 36. wrist strap
- 38. hook and loop fastener
- 40. spout assembly notches
- 42. reservoir
- 44. ring guide notches
- 46. reservoir liquid outlets
- 48. hand wallet
- 50. opening
- 52. pocket
- 56. spout
- 58. bladder body
- 60. drinking bladder
- 62. reservoir air restrictor
- 64. spout assembly
- 66. locking guides
The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in
The bladder body 58 is capable of holding fluids for drinking and serves as a means to cool the body as shown in
An alternate spout assembly 64 shown in
An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in
While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
Claims
1. A drinking bladder, comprising;
- a fluid impermeable bladder body, having an outer surface and an inner surface, capable of retaining a fluid material therein;
- a spout mounted on the outer surface of said bladder body; and
- an attachment means for attaching the bladder body to a user.
2. The drinking bladder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bladder body is made from a durable, flexible material.
3. The drinking bladder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bladder body is made from plastic.
4. The drinking bladder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spout is removably mounted onto the outer surface of the bladder body.
5. The drinking bladder as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
- the bladder body includes a threaded opening; and
- the spout includes a threaded surface wherein the spout is mounted to the outer surface of the bladder body by threading the spout onto the threaded opening.
6. The drinking bladder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spout is made from a durable, fluid impermeable material.
7. The drinking bladder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spout is made from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, rubber and silicone.
8. The drinking bladder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spout includes an opening means for allowing fluid to flow therethrough.
9. The drinking bladder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spout includes a closing means for preventing fluid from flowing therethrough.
10. The drinking bladder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spout is selected from the group consisting of a push-pull nozzle and a nipple.
11. The drinking bladder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spout comprises:
- a reservoir which mounts to the outer surface of the bladder body;
- a ring which mounts to the reservoir;
- a nipple from which fluid may be dispensed;
- a washer which connects to the ring and which retains the nipple between the washer and the ring such that the fluid dispensing portion of the nipple extends through the washer; and
- a cap which removably covers the fluid dispensing portion of the nipple and prevents fluid from being dispensed therefrom until the cap is removed.
12. The drinking bladder as set forth in claim 11 wherein the reservoir further includes a plurality of guide means which allow mounting on the outer surface of the bladder body at varying angles.
13. The drinking bladder as set forth in claim 11 wherein the reservoir further includes an air reduction means for reducing the amount of air in the bladder body.
14. The drinking bladder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the attachment means is selected from the group consisting of a portion of hook and loop fastener, one or more snaps, one or more buttons and a zipper.
15. The drinking bladder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the attachment means is a pocket device designed to be worn by and attached to a user and which is adapted to accept and retain the bladder body such that by attaching the pocket device to the user, the bladder body is also attached to the user.
16. A drinking bladder, comprising;
- a fluid impermeable bladder body, made from a durable, flexible material, having an outer surface and an inner surface, capable of retaining a fluid material therein;
- a spout made from a durable, fluid impermeable material and removably mounted on the outer surface of said bladder body; and
- an attachment means for attaching the bladder body to a user.
17. The drinking bladder as set forth in claim 16 wherein the bladder body is made from plastic and wherein the spout is made from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, rubber and silicone.
18. The drinking bladder as set forth in claim 16 wherein:
- the bladder body includes a threaded opening;
- the spout includes a threaded surface wherein the spout is mounted to the outer surface of the bladder body by threading the spout onto the threaded opening;
- the spout includes an opening means for allowing fluid to flow therethrough; and
- the spout includes a closing means for preventing fluid from flowing therethrough.
19. The drinking bladder as set forth in claim 16 wherein the spout comprises:
- a reservoir which mounts to the outer surface of the bladder body wherein the reservoir includes a plurality of guide means which allow mounting on the outer surface of the bladder body at varying angles and wherein the reservoir further includes an air reduction means for reducing the amount of air in the bladder body;
- a ring which mounts to the reservoir;
- a nipple from which fluid may be dispensed;
- a washer which connects to the ring and which retains the nipple between the washer and the ring such that the fluid dispensing portion of the nipple extends through the washer; and
- a cap which removably covers the fluid dispensing portion of the nipple and prevents fluid from being dispensed therefrom until the cap is removed.
20. A drinking bladder, comprising;
- a fluid impermeable bladder body, made from a durable, flexible material, having an outer surface and an inner surface, capable of retaining a fluid material therein, the bladder body including a threaded opening;
- a spout having a threaded surface, made from a durable, fluid impermeable material and removably mounted on the outer surface of said bladder body by threading the spout onto the threaded opening on the bladder body wherein the spout includes an opening means for allowing fluid to flow therethrough and a closing means for preventing fluid from flowing therethrough; and
- an attachment means for attaching the bladder body to a user.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 29, 2004
Publication Date: Apr 28, 2005
Inventor: Christopher Reid (Virginia Beach, VA)
Application Number: 10/954,061