Hydration System

Abstract

The invention is a hydration system that is worn on a user's arm. The system has a flexible sleeve made of an elastic material. A bladder, made of a pliable material, has a number of expandable ribs. The bladder is adhered to the flexible sleeve, the bladder has a generally cylindrical shape. A number of adjustable straps are attached to the bladder. The plastic straps extend around the bladder and are perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bladder. A cap is detachably connected to an opening of the bladder. A swivel joint is attached to the cap and provides a fluid passageway between an interior of the bladder and an exterior of the bladder. A flexible drinking straw extends from an exterior end the swivel joint. A tube extends from an interior end of the swivel joint towards an elbow end of the bladder.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority on provisional patent application, Ser. No. 61/135,639, filed on Jul. 22, 2008, entitled “HydraGluv” and is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Athletes involved in strenuous aerobic exercise require 6-8 ounces of fluid every 20 minutes of aerobic activity. The most common systems for maintaining hydration include water bottles, stopping at water stations and backpack hydration systems. Water bottles are awkward to run with, require a grip (hence tightening the athlete's arms/shoulders) and result in more plastic bottles in landfills (when using disposable bottled water). Stopping at water stations interrupts the momentum of a person running or biking. Backpack water hydration systems are not comfortable during hot weather and result in considerable additional apparatus to adjust for the runner or biker.

Thus there exists a need for a hydration system that is simple to use and comfortable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A hydration system that overcomes these and other problem is worn on a user's arm. The system has a flexible sleeve, the lining of which is a wicking material, integral with a pliable bladder or reservoir. The bladder has a number of expandable ribs that allow the user to regulate the amount of fluid contained in the bladder. The bladder is adhered to the flexible wicking sleeve, and the combined system has a generally cylindrical shape. A number of adjustable straps are attached to the bladder. The elastic straps extend around the bladder and are perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bladder, and are adjustable by a hook and loop attachment. A cap is detachably connected to an opening of the bladder, the opening of which serves to put fluid into the bladder. A swivel joint is attached to the cap and provides a fluid passageway between an interior of the bladder and an exterior of the bladder. A flexible drinking straw extends from an exterior end the swivel joint. A tube extends from an interior end of the swivel joint towards an elbow end of the bladder.

This system has flexible bladder that draws a vacuum while drinking through a straw, which mitigates air intake by the athlete. The draw tube terminates at the elbow of the bladder which allows for the maximum extraction of fluid. The draw-down straps reduce the sloshing of liquid while exercising. The external end of the straw is positioned between the thumb and forefinger, which minimizes extraneous motion for the athlete while running/biking and drinking simultaneously. The wrap around bladder cushions the arm in case of a fall. The hydration system just slides over the user's arm, with the user's thumb sliding into the thumb loop and forefinger in the forefinger loop, and the user is ready to exercise. This hydration system is comfortable and easy to use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top left perspective view of the hydration system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the hydration system of FIG. 1 along the 2-2 plane in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section view of the hydration system of FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top left perspective of a bladder of a hydration system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a top left perspective view of a hydration system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a hydration system that is worn on a user's arm. The system has a flexible sleeve made of an elastic material. A bladder, made of a pliable material, has a number of expandable ribs. The bladder is adhered to the flexible sleeve, the bladder has a generally cylindrical shape. A number of adjustable straps are attached to the bladder. The plastic straps extend around the bladder and are perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bladder. A cap is detachably connected to an opening of the bladder. A swivel joint is attached to the cap and provides a fluid passageway between an interior of the bladder and an exterior of the bladder. A flexible drinking straw extends from an exterior end the swivel joint. A tube extends from an interior end of the swivel joint towards an elbow end of the bladder.

This system has flexible bladder that draws a vacuum while drinking through a straw, which mitigates the user's air intake. The draw tube terminates at the elbow of the bladder which allows for the maximum extraction of fluid. The draw-down straps reduce the sloshing of liquid while exercising. The end of the straw is between the thumb and forefinger; which minimizes extraneous motion. The wrap around bladder cushions the arm in case of a fall. The hydration system just slides over the user's arm, with the user's thumb sliding into the thumb loop and the user is ready to exercise. This hydration system is comfortable and easy to use.

FIG. 1 is a top left perspective view of the hydration system 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The hydration system 10 has a bladder 12 made of a pliable material and is generally cylindrical in shape. In one embodiment, the bladder is made of polyurethane. The bladder 12 has a number of expandable ribs 14. A number of adjustable straps 16 are attached to the bladder 12. The straps 16 run perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bladder 12. A cap 18 provides access to the bladder 12. A swivel joint 20 is attached to the cap 18 and provides a fluid passageway between an interior and an exterior of the bladder 12. A flexible drinking straw 22 extends from the exterior end of the swivel joint 20, through a straw loop 24. The straw loop 24 is attached to the thumb loop extensions 26 of a flexible sleeve 28. The flexible sleeve 28 is adhered to the bladder 12. The flexible sleeve 28 is either made of wicking material or has a liner on the inner diameter of the sleeve 28 that is made of wicking material. At the end of the straw 22 is a bit valve 30. Alternatively, a pull valve may be used. A pull valve is opened by pulling on the straw 22 and closed by pushing on the straw 22.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the hydration system 10 of FIG. 1 along the 2-2 plane in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. This view shows that ends of the bladder 12 are heat sealed 32 along with the strap 16. The interior 34 of the bladder shows a tube 36 of the tubing system that connects the interior 34 of the bladder to the exterior of the bladder. The tubing system includes the tube 36, the swivel joint 20 and flexible straw 22.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section view of the hydration system of FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. This view illustrates that the tube 36 terminates at the elbow end 38 of the bladder 12 instead of the hand end 40 of the bladder 12. When a user moves their hand to their mouth in order to drink the liquid naturally falls to the elbow end 38 of the bladder 12. This allows the maximum amount of liquid to be extracted from the bladder 12.

FIG. 4 is a top left perspective of a bladder 12 of a hydration system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. This figure shows the strap loops 42 that hold the straps 16. The bladder 12 is heat sealed along the edges 44.

FIG. 5 is a top left perspective view of a hydration system 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. This view shows an alternative embodiment where the thumb loops,26 are in a separate thumb loop straw holder 50. The thumb loop straw holder 50 has a hole 52 for the drinking straw 22. The thumb loop straw holder 50 is attached to the straw by sliding the straw 22 through the hole 52. The bite valve 30 is then placed over the tip 54 of the straw 22.

Thus there has been described a hydration system that is easy to use and comfortable. This hydration system has flexible bladder that draws a vacuum while drinking through a straw, which mitigates the user's air intake. The draw tube terminates at the elbow of the bladder which allows for the maximum extraction of fluid. The draw-down straps reduce the sloshing of liquid while exercising. The end of the straw is between the thumb and forefinger, which minimizes extraneous motion when drinking. The wrap around bladder cushions the arm in case of a fall. The hydration system just slides over the user's arm, with the user's thumb sliding into the thumb loop and forefinger into the forefinger loop, and the user is ready to exercise.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alterations, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A hydration system carried on an athlete's arm while exercising, comprising:

a flexible sleeve made of an elastic material;

a bladder, made of a pliable material, having a plurality of expandable ribs, the bladder adhered to the flexible sleeve, the bladder having a generally cylindrical shape;

a plurality of adjustable straps attached to the bladder, the plurality of plastic straps extending around the bladder and being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bladder;

a cap detachably connected to an opening of the bladder;

a swivel joint attached to the cap and providing a fluid passageway between an interior of the bladder and an exterior of the bladder;

a flexible drinking straw extending from an exterior end the swivel joint; and

a tube extending from an interior end of the swivel joint towards an elbow end of the bladder.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the flexible sleeve is made of a polyurethane with a moisture absorbent inner liner.

3. The container of claim 1, further including a thumb strap that extends beyond the bladder.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the bladder completely surrounds the flexible sleeve.

5. The container of claim 3, wherein the thumb strap includes a straw loop through which the flexible straw extends.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein an end of the straw includes a bite valve.

7. A hydration system carried on an athlete's arm while exercising, comprising:

a cylindrical sleeve, made of a flexible, expandable material;

a bladder, made of a pliable material, with a plurality of expandable ridges, the bladder attached to the cylindrical sleeve and surrounding the cylindrical sleeve;

a cap detachably attached to the bladder;

a tubing system providing a passageway from an interior of the bladder to the exterior of the bladder; and

a bite valve attached to an end of the tubing system.

8. The container of claim 7, further including a thumb loop straw holder attached to the tubing system.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the tubing system includes a swivel joint attached to the cap.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein the tubing system includes a tube extending from an interior end of the swivel joint towards an elbow end of the bladder.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the thumb loop straw holder includes a straw hole through which the flexible straw extends.

12. A hydration system carried on an athlete's arm while exercising, comprising:

a flexible sleeve made of an elastic material having a moisture absorbent inner liner;

a bladder, made of a pliable material, having a plurality of expandable ribs, the bladder adhered to the flexible sleeve, the bladder having a generally cylindrical shape, wherein the bladder completely surrounds the flexible sleeve;

a plurality of adjustable straps attached to the bladder, the plurality of plastic straps extending around the bladder and being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bladder;

a cap detachably connected to an opening of the bladder;

a swivel joint attached to the cap and providing a fluid passageway between an interior of the bladder and an exterior of the bladder;

a flexible drinking straw extending from an exterior end the swivel joint;

a pair of thumb straps attached to the flexible straw;

a tube extending from an interior end of the swivel joint towards an elbow end of the bladder;

a straw loop attached to one of the pair of thumb straps through which the flexible straw extends; and

a pull valve at an end of the straw.