DRINKING SUPPORT SYSTEM

Abstract

A drinking support system for delivering liquid to an individual in which one or more bottles are each connected through a sealing cap using a tube to the individual on demand. The cap is elastic and contains sealing and anchoring elements to matches a variety of respective sealing surfaces. Through the cap a tube is inserted, mechanically supported by a conical support.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of auxiliary appliances for performers of physical activity and sports. The present invention provides a convenient system for the support of drinking through tubes. More specifically the invention is a drinking appliance for bicycle riders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Continuous physical activity results in dehydration through loss of water through sweat. The replenishment of body water through drinking while performing sports and physical exertion requires the person involved to set aside other activity and spend time on finding a source of drink and then partaking of said beverage. However, for those engaged in sport activities the non-interruption of the activity may be crucial for succeeding in the competition in which they are engaged. Also, noncompetitive people may prefer a having handsfree water drinking source for satisfying their thirst. The present invention provides a solution for implementing handfree drinking while permitting physical activity to continue by the performer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic isometric description of a narrow bottleneck of a bottle that is typically used in a system implementing the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a schematic side view of a sealing cap of the invention applied to a bottle;

FIG. 1C is a cross sectional view in a narrow bottleneck sealed by a sealing cap of the invention, with a drinking tube inserted;

FIG. 1D is a detailed cross sectional view in the sealing arrangement of FIG. 1C;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view in a sealing cap possessing internal and external sealing regions;

FIG. 3A is a cross sectional view in the upper part of a wide bottlenecked container sealed by a sealing cap of the invention;

FIG. 3B is a cross sectional view in the upper part of a wide bottlenecked container sealed by a sealing cap of the invention, describing the sealing regions;

FIG. 4A is an isometric view of a conical drinking tube support showing straight drinking tube inserted and seat accommodated for handlebar of a bicycle;

FIG. 4B is an isometric view of a conical drinking tube support showing a spiral drinking tube resting its spiral son the conical support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is a drinking support system providing for handsfree delivery of fluids to an individual, in which a single or a plurality of water/liquid reservoirs deliver their contents typically on demand. Usually one or more tubes for drawing water from the reservoirs are made available to the drinker, who can repeatedly engage her/himself in sipping liquid from the reservoirs.

One aspect of the invention is a water container cap, inclusive of a to through passage for a drinking tube. The cap can be applied to the orifices of a variety of water containers such as bottles or canteens. The use of such a cap obviates the need to exchange caps and drinking tubes for specific water containers available.

Typically soft drink and water bottles orifices have an either small is (referred to as 28 or 30 millimeter neck size), or 30 millimeter neck size. Wider orifice sizes are less common but commonly occur. In accordance with the present invention three classes of adaptable caps are provided. Category “a” caps are such caps that hermetically seal small neck size bottle. In FIG. 1A to which reference is now made a schematic description of bottleneck 22 of the category is shown. There are typically several sealing regions applicable in such bottles, that the cap of the invention may engage, all, some or one, to seal the liquid passageway from the bottle through the drinking tube. Sealing region 24 is the horizontal surface at the topmost part of the bottleneck. All other sealing surfaces in the bottle are associated with the vertical surface of the bottle neck. Accordingly sealing region 26 is the peripheral section below the horizontal surface and above screw thread 28. Below the thread, smooth circumferential zone 30 is a potential sealing zone. Peripheral ridge 32 is typically slanted but can also be used for sealing. Smooth circumferential area 34 below ridge 32 can be used for sealing as well. Peripheral ridge 36 is typically a most prominent topographic element on the bottleneck, making it a candidate of choice for sealing purposes. Smooth circumferential area 38 below ridge 36 can be used for sealing as well. For accomplishing high-quality sealing it is required that two to surfaces are tightly juxtaposed without leaving any spaces in between. The sealing cap must be anchored sufficiently tightly to the bottle in order to prevent juxtaposed sealing surfaces from separating. The ridges and thread on the bottleneck are utilized for such anchoring. In FIG. 1B to which reference is now made, bottle top 42 is shown with cap 44 of the invention covering the bottle neck, while drinking tube 46 passes through from the outside to the inner side of the bottle, typically reaching the bottom. In FIG. 1C to which reference is now made, a cross sectional view in the bottleneck, sealing cap and drinking tube is shown, showing the intricate association between the cap and the bottle neck features. This association is shown more clearly in FIG. 1D to which reference is now made. A cross sectional view in the cap engaged with sealing regions in the bottle is shown. The right side of cap 44 is shown hatched in the section, while the symmetrical left half of the cap is not shown to enhance the neck topography. Sealing region 24 is shown fully engaged by cap 44 in the right side of the drawing. Sealing region 26 is abutted by a complementary ridge in the cap (shown in the right side), thread 28 is unmatched, and is not used in sealing. All the other topographic features of the bottle cap as explained in FIG. 1A above are present and numbered the same in FIG. 1D. All sealing regions are matched by an equivalent part in the cap. The top most sealing region, 24, which is the horizontal surface at the top of the bottle, is abutted from above and from the inside of the bottle by cap element 62. It should be noted that the drinking tube held by the cap is also sealed by the cap.

In another aspect of the system of the invention, category “b” caps include a substantial internal sealing structural element in addition to the external neck sealing elements or in some embodiments only internal sealing elements may be provided. In FIG. 2 to which reference is now made, a cross sectional view in a bottle neck 68—cap 70—drinking tube 72 assembly is shown. Internal sealing structure 74 is shown on the left side without the external sealing structure. In this example, the external sealing elements of the cap are exactly as shown above, but in other embodiments there may be no lateral external sealing elements at all. In the left side of the drawing, symmetrical with the right side, the bottle wall and external sealing structure was removed to emphasize internal sealing elements 76, 78, and 80. Upper sealing surface 82 is usually a preferred sealing site because by sealing the orifice of the bottle, the delivery of liquid from the bottle is stopped at the origin. Different varieties of the cap exist implementing various numbers and size of internal sealing elements.

In another aspect of the system of the invention, category “c” caps are provided which seal bottles with larger than usual orifices, referred to also as wide bottlenecked bottles. The diameter of such large orifice is in the range of 30-40 millimeters, or even in the range of 50-70 millimeters. As can be seen in FIG. 3A-B to which reference is now made, the cap in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is capable of sealing orifices of varying large sizes. Cap 92, shown without the left half, tightly wraps drinking tube 94, providing sealing. On the left hand side of the drawing in FIG. 3A, the bottle neck external topography is exposed, showing thread 96 which as can be seen on the right hand side, is not engaged by the internal sealing elements of the cap. The sealing elements of the cap are better seen in FIG. 3B, showing upper sealing surface 102, topmost lateral sealing element 104, and the rest of the lateral sealing elements 106, 108 and the lowest 110.

The tube ending in the container may be set to the lowest point in the container or to any height in the bottle up to the cap itself. The other side of the tubing may be very short, just enough to attach a mouthpiece to it, or it may be made as a very long connection between the cap and the mouthpiece, for example if the container, one or more are kept in back of the vehicle and the mouthpiece is kept in the driver's mouth.

Other Cap Features

The cap of the invention is preferably flexible and elastic, typically made of a flexible thermoplastic resin, rubber, silicone rubber and/or thermoplastic elastomers. However, the cap in some embodiments is non-homogenous or it may be made composed of different structural zones. For example, the sealing regions can be made of softer resin while the structural body of anchoring elements such as the sealing element clinging to ridge 36 of rigid resin. A vent is typically a perforation in the upper plain of the cap but it may be a one way valve inserted in a specially prepared hole in the cap. In some embodiments a gasket is inserted in the cap to seal the upper sealing region of the container. In some embodiments the cap is made such the horizontal upper zone superposed above the upper sealing region of the bottle is rigid whereas the anchoring regions in the lateral sections of the cap are elastic. In some embodiments the cap is entirely rigid in.

In some embodiments of the present invention a mouthpiece is directly connected to the cap having a connection with the void of the container below, to with or without a tube reaching inside the container.

Drinking Tube Support

Another aspect of the invention is a drinking tube support member, as shown in FIGS. 4A-B, to which reference is now made. In FIG. 4A conical mechanical support 128 is shown into which straight drinking tube 130 is inserted. Typically, the drinking tube bears a mouthpiece 132. In a most prevalent case, the conical mechanical support of the invention is to be attached to a bar of a bicycle, and to accommodate to such bar, bar adapter 134 is included at the bottom of the conical mechanical support. The conical mechanical support once engaged with the handle bar of bicycle can be locked in situ for example by a flexible band arrangement or by one or more screws. In FIG. 4B, conical mechanical support 128 is wrapped by a spiral section of the drinking tube. The tubing can be picked up using the mouthpiece 132. In the direction of arrow 136 the tubing leads to a water reservoir, not shown. A straight tubing as previously described may be included but not shown here. The conical mechanical support once attached to a handlebar of the bicycle permits the rider to adjust the inclination and positioning of the mechanical support, to easily pick up the free end a, release it and pick up again conveniently.

Applications of the Invention

The drinking support system of the invention is implemented in association with mobile platforms. Typically a bicycle, boat, tractor, car or any bag, typically a bag worn on the back such as rucksack or knapsack. The users may be grouped into characteristic implementation of the drinking need. Athletes requiring free hands over long periods are an obvious group. Working people requiring free hands over long periods of time, such as manual abourers, farmers, typists and computer technicians. Disabled individuals can make use of a system of the invention, because the system lends itself easily to application in a wheelchair environment. Hard working scholars, office workers or students is may also find the system useful for support drinking over long sitting periods.

Recreational uses such as trekkers, hunters, and any outdoor garners, soldiers watchmen and the like are potential users of the system of the invention.

Claims

1. A drinking support system for delivering liquid to an individual, said system comprising:

at least one liquid reservoir;

an elastic cap for sealing said reservoir, wherein said cap comprises: at least one sealing and anchoring element at least one of which matches respective at least one sealing surface of said at least one reservoir; a passage for a drinking tube;

a tube for delivering liquid from said reservoir to said individual, and

a physical conical support for said drinking tube wherein said support is attached at its base to a platform.

2. A drinking support system as in claim 1 wherein said liquid reservoir is a narrow bottlenecked bottle.

3. A drinking support system as in claim 1 wherein said liquid reservoir is a wide bottlenecked bottle.

4. An elastic cap for sealing a container of liquids wherein said cap is capable of being sealingly engaged with at least one sealing region of said container.

5. A cap for sealing a container of liquids as in claim 4 wherein said cap is sealingly engaged with six lateral and one horizontal sealing regions of said container, and wherein said container is a drink bottle.

6. A cap for sealing a container of liquids as in claim 4 wherein said cap is sealingly engaged with an internal surface of said container.

7. A cap for sealing a container of liquids as in claim 4 wherein said cap is sealingly engaged with an internal surface of said container and with at least one external sealing region of said bottle.

8. A cap for sealing a container of liquids as in claim 4 wherein a mouthpiece is directly connected to an aperture in said cap.

9. A drinking support system as in claim 1 wherein said elastic cap is non homogeneous, comprising different zone materials.

10. A drinking support system as in claim 9 wherein the horizontal upper layer of said cap is rigid whereas the anchoring regions in the lateral sections of the cap are elastic.

11. A mechanical conical support for at least one drinking tube wherein said support retains said at least one drinking tube in a position for the free end of said tube to be picked up by an individual, and wherein the base of said mechanical support is accommodated for attaching to a support whereby said individual is able to release said free end without losing said free end.

12. A mechanical conical support for at least one drinking tube as in claim 11 wherein two tubes are retained.

13. A mechanical conical support for at least one drinking tube as in claim 11 wherein one tube is spiral.

14. A mechanical conical support for at least one drinking tube as in claim 11 wherein said mechanical conical support is engaged with a bar of a bicycle.

15. A mechanical conical support for at least one drinking tube as in claim 11 wherein the position of said support is adjustable by said individual.