SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BEVERAGE STORAGE AND CONCEALMENT

Abstract

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.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

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 INVENTION

This invention relates generally to containers, and more specifically, to systems and methods for beverage storage and concealment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Previously, 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 INVENTION

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 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 DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of the present invention concealed within a vest, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a concealable beverage container, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the concealable beverage container, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a fill port and a fill cap, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an exit port and attached drinking tube, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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 FIGS. 1-5 to provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments. The present invention may have additional embodiments, or may be practiced without one or more of the details described for any particular described embodiment.

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of the present invention concealed within a vest, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 depicts a user wearing the concealable beverage container 3, where the concealable beverage container is concealed or enclosed within a vest 7. In one embodiment, the concealable beverage container can be configured to be concealed within any article of clothing including, but not limited to a belt, a tie, pants, a bra, or shorts. In a further embodiment, the concealable beverage container can be configured to be concealed within articles of manufacture, including, but not limited to, a chair, a deck chair, an inflatable raft, a binder, or a backpack or a laptop case.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a concealable beverage container, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 depicts a concealable beverage container 3, which comprises a flat bag 8, a fill cap 6, a fill port 5, an exit port 4, a drinking tube 2, and a mouthpiece 1. Additionally, the flat bag 8 comprises a sealed edge 18 and cross-connections 16, which define compartments 14 within the flat bag 8.

As depicted in FIG. 2, there is a flat bag 8 that is closed on all sides by a sealed edge 18 and composed of two sheets. The sealed edge 18 is a waterproof connection or coupling between the two sheets, which is achieved by any suitable sealing system or method. Examples of suitable sealing systems and methods include, but are not limited to, 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 another embodiment the flat bag 8 can be made of or comprise any type of material, either natural or synthetic, including, but not limited to plastic, glass, metal, paper, fabric, or wax. 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, FIG. 1 shows an environmental view of the concealable beverage container 3 adapted to be concealed within a vest 7, which is one of many potential embodiments.

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.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary arrangement of cross-connections 16; however, the arrangement of cross-connections 16 may vary depending on the size and shape of the flat bag 8 and the desired application of the concealable beverage container 3. In one embodiment there can be one or more cross-connection 16. In a further embodiment, one or more cross-connection 16 and the sealed edge 18 can define one or more compartment 14.

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 FIG. 4, the fill port 5 is a tube that is connected to the front sheet 12 of the flat bag 8, which creates an orifice through which liquid may pass. The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 shows the fill port 5 connected to the internal surface of the flat bag 8 on the front sheet 12 of the bag. A person reasonably skilled in the art, however, will immediately recognize that other fill port embodiments are possible, for example, where the fill port 5 is connected to the flat bag 8 on the exterior side of the front sheet 12. Connection of the fill port 5 to the front sheet 12 can be accomplished in the same manner as the sealed edge 18 and cross-connections 16 are achieved. In one embodiment, the fill port 5 and fill cap 6 can be made of or comprise any material.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a concealable beverage container 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 depicts a concealable beverage container 3, which comprises a flat bag 8, a fill cap 6, a fill port 5, an exit port 4, a drinking tube 2, and a mouthpiece 1. The flat bag 8 comprises a front sheet 12 and a rear sheet 10. Additionally, the flat bag comprises a sealed edge 18 and cross-connections 16, which define compartments 14.

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, FIG. 1 shows an environmental view of the concealable beverage container 3 adapted to be concealed within a vest 7, which is one potential embodiment.

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).

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a fill port 5 and a fill cap 6, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 depicts a fill port 5, which defines an orifice in a front sheet 12, and onto which a fill cap 6 can be secured. As shown in FIG. 4, a fill cap 6 may be secured over the fill port 5 to thereby prevent liquid and other substances from passing through the fill port 5.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 shows a typical screw cap, which has threads on the inside of the fill cap 6 that match threads on the fill port 5. Again, a person reasonably skilled in the art will immediately recognize that many other systems and methods can be employed to facilitate securing the fill cap 6 to the fill port 5. Examples of suitable mechanisms that may facilitate securing the fill cap 6 to the fill port 5 include: pin-and slot mechanisms, a snap fit between corresponding tongues and grooves on the neck portion and cap, and a friction fit between the cap and corresponding portion of the fill port 5. Furthermore, any suitable fastening mechanism that facilitates securing the cap to the fill port 5 such that liquid cannot past through the fill port 5 may be used. In one embodiment there can be one or more fill port 5 and the one or more fill cap 5 can be located anywhere and define one or more orifice anywhere on the flat bag 8.

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 FIG. 5, the exit port 4 is a tube that is connected to the front sheet 12 of the flat bag 8 to the internal surface of the of the front sheet 12. Again, as with the fill port 5, a person reasonably skilled in the art will immediately recognize that other exit port embodiments are possible and examples of suitable exit ports are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,085,349 and 5,727,714, the complete disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference; additionally, connection of the exit port 4 to the front sheet 12 may be accomplished in the same manner as the sealed edge 18, fill port 5 and cross-connections 16 are achieved. In one embodiment, the exit port 4 and drinking tube 2 can be made of any material, and be any shape or size.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an exit port and attached drinking tube, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 depicts an exit port 4, which defines an orifice in a front sheet 12 and onto which is coupled a drinking tube 2. Additionally, in one embodiment, there is a mouthpiece (not shown in FIG. 5, but labeled as 1 in other figures), which is coupled to the terminal end of the drinking tube 2.

As depicted in FIG. 5, the drinking tube 2 is attached to the exit port 4, which is a dispensing means by which beverage liquid traveling through the exit port 4 can be conveyed to the mouth of the user. The drinking tube 2 is a long flexible tube composed of a waterproof material such as plastic, which may vary in length and diameter depending on the desired embodiment of the concealable beverage container 3. In one embodiment, the drinking tube can be made of or comprise any material, including, but not limited to plastic, fabric, glass, metal, wax and can be of any length, size, or shape. Typically, the drinking tube 2 will be long enough to comfortably reach the mouth of a user and the diameter of the tube is preferably as small as possible such that a user can comfortably draw a reasonably volume of the beverage liquid through the tube while also being small enough to facilitate reasonable concealment of the drinking tube 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the drinking tube 2 is connected to the exit port 4 with a friction fit between the end of the drinking tube 2 and the exit port 4; however, the drinking tube 2 may also be attached to the exit port 4 with pin-and slot mechanisms, a snap fit between corresponding tongues and grooves on the neck portion and cap, or a corresponding thread screw connection. Other connection means that create a seal that prevents beverage liquid from leaking between the connection of the drinking tube 2 and the exit port 4 are also acceptable. One reasonably skilled in the art will immediately recognize the multitude of additional systems and methods that can be employed to achieve similar results.

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 FIG. 2, a bite-actuated mouthpiece, or a mouthpiece with a manually actuated on/off valve. A bite actuated mouthpiece is placed into a user's mouth and configured from a closed or sealed position, to an open, or dispensing position when a user bites upon the mouthpiece or otherwise compresses the mouthpiece with the user's lips or teeth. Examples of suitable bite-actuated mouthpieces are disclosed in U.S. Pat Nos. 6,070,767, 5,085,349 and 5,060,833, the complete disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Additionally, a manually actuated on/off valve, may be used on the mouthpiece to selectively prevent beverage liquid from being dispensed through the mouthpiece 1. The valve can be manually actuated to an open or closed position by the user and will typically remain in that position.

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.