HYDRATION SYSTEM

Abstract

A hydration system for all sports enthusiasts includes a malleable hose with a mouth piece that connects to water in a water bottle, water bottles, a back pack hydration bladder system, a bed side hydration system, or the like. The malleable hose and mouth piece may be adapted to conventional systems to provide a ready-accessible source of hydration in a simple, easy and safe manner. A user can stay focused and keep a competitive advantage with the hydration system, as it eliminates the need to reach for a bottle or a water hose by having the malleable tube right where it is needed, when you need it, with no priming or pumps.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/589-262, filed Jan. 20, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hydration systems and, more particularly, to a hydration system having a malleable hose with a mouth piece that connects to a water bottle or bottles.

Convention hydration systems fail in ease of use, functionality, safety, competitive edge, concentration, deliverability and are all around complex, providing the end user with frustration. With a conventional water bottle, the user has to reach for it, slowing down cadence on a bike, or slowing stride in running, reducing concentration in car racing, shooting, rowing, paddling, hunting or the like. Conventional back pack systems use a water line or tube that is floppy and you have to keep reaching for it to hydrate, resulting in an uncomfortable and bulky system.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved hydration system that may easily provide access to water for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a hydration system comprises at least one container for containing a fluid; and a malleable line having a mouthpiece adapted to fit into a user's mouth, the malleable line formed from a flexible tubing having at least one flexible element disposed along a length of the flexible tubing, wherein the malleable line is adapted to be bent or flexed by a user and maintain its user-positioned shape.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a hydration system installed on a bicycle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a close-up, partial cross-sectional view of a supply tube of the hydration system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a dual bottle hydration system according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a close-up, partial cross-sectional view of a supply tube of the hydration system of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are front and side views of the supply tube of FIG. 2 applied to a conventional back pack hydration system;

FIG. 6 shows a side view the supply tube of FIG. 2 applied to a water bottle.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a supply tube according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the supply tube of FIG. 7A with a mouthpiece disposed therein;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a supply tube according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is perspective view showing an exemplary medical use for the supply tube of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a back pack hydration system having a supply tube of the present invention along with a conventional supply tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a hydration system for all sports enthusiasts. The hydration system includes a malleable hose with a mouth piece that connects to water in a water bottle, water bottles, a back pack hydration bladder system, a bed side hydration system, or the like. The malleable hose and mouth piece may be adapted to conventional systems to provide a ready-accessible source of hydration in a simple, easy and safe manner. A user can stay focused and keep a competitive advantage with the hydration system of the present invention, as it eliminates the need to reach for a bottle or a water hose by having the malleable tube right where it is needed, when you need it, with no priming or pumps.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hydration system 10 may include a bottle 12 adapted to contain a hydration liquid, such as water. A supply tube 14 may fluidly connect the inside of the bottle 12 to a malleable line 16. A mouth piece 18 may be attached to a distal end of the malleable line 16. A clamp 20 may secure the supply tube 14 to, for example, a bicycle 22. The malleable line 16 may be moved by a user, for example, as shown by the arrows 24.

The malleable line 16 may be made of a bendable material that may be bent by a user and may retain that position. In some embodiments, the malleable line 16 may be made of a flexible tubing having a bendable material formed along its length on at least a portion of its outside circumference. For example, the malleable line 16 may be a flexible plastic tube with a copper wire 28 attached to it. More than one copper wire may be run along the exterior of the plastic tube, depending on the desired resiliency of the malleable line 16. In other embodiments, the line itself may be made of a bendable material. For example, the malleable line 16 may be copper tubing, such as type K copper tubing, which may provide fluid carrying and bendable functions. In still other embodiments, the malleable line 16 may be made of still other materials, provided that the malleable line 16 may be bent and flexed by a user, and retain its position until bent or flexed again. As shown in FIG. 2, a sheathing 26 may be disposed about the malleable line 16 for protective and aesthetic purposes.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a dual bottle hydration system 30 is shown. In this embodiment, the single bottle 12 described above may be replaced with two bottles 32. A supply line 34 may run from a first bottle to the malleable line 16. The supply line 34 may include a T-fitting 36 to connect the supply line 34 to the second water bottle via a second water bottle supply line 38.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the malleable line 16 may be adapted for use with conventional back pack type hydration systems 48. Typically, with these conventional systems, a flexible tube is supplied from the water bladders. This tube must be found and positioned by a user when hydration is desired. With the malleable line 16 of the present invention, the mouthpiece may be disposed in a specific location and be readily available for use as needed, without requiring the user to search for the tubing, saving time, energy, and concentration. The back pack system 48 can include a fill cap 46 where fluid can be placed into the bladder 44. A tube 41 can carry water from the bladder to the malleable line 16 for use by the user. The back pack system can be a pressurized back pack bladder or system and such systems can still benefit with the malleable line of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the malleable line 16 may be used directly in a workout bottle 50. This may allow the user to use the workout bottle 50 with the malleable line 16 arranged in a position of use for the user. In this embodiment, the malleable line 16 may be from about 10 to about 12 inches long. In some embodiments, a flexible line 49 can be disposed in the workout bottle 50 and the malleable line 16 can extend from the workout bottle 50. Typically, the workout bottle 50 may be used in various exercises, such as spin class, stationary bikes, treadmills and the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the malleable line can be made from a flexible tubing 70 with a flexible material 72 attached thereto. In some embodiments, the flexible material 72 can be a copper wire. Typically, the flexible material 72 will have one or both ends flattened to prevent rotation or displacement of the flexible material 72 relative to the tubing 70. A mouthpiece 74 can be disposed in one end of the flexible tubing 70 to form the malleable line.

Referring to FIG. 8, in some embodiments, a malleable tubing 80 can be made from a flexible tubing 82 with a flexible material 84, such as copper tubing, disposed along-side the tubing. A sheathing 86 can cover both the flexible tubing 82 and the flexible material 84. In some embodiments, the flexible material 84 can be extruded or formed with the flexible tubing 82.

Referring to FIG. 9, a medical hydration system 90 can include a malleable tube 94 can be attached, via a coupling 92, to a hydration source. Dehydration is a medical issue in many patients in hospitals, long term care centers and hospice. The medical hydration system 90 can bring independent hydration to the patient to better patient care and reduce cost to bring hydration independence.

The medical hydration system 90 can be attached to, for example a hospital bed, as shown in FIG. 9, or to some other medical appliance, such as a wheelchair, and the patient can obtain “hands free” delivery of hydration from a hydration bladder on, for example, an IV pole, or delivered from a bottle to the flexible hydration line (malleable tube 94). The medical hydration system 90 can include FDA approved drinkable tubing that is positioned near the patient's mouth. Depending on the patient's disease or disability, the patient can simply have hands free hydration. The system of the present invention can provide better patient care and less dependence on the caregiver, while bringing independence to the individual.

Referring now to FIG. 10, in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, two hydration lines can be provided from a single back pack hydration system. A back pack 106 can include a bladder 110 that splits with a line splitter 108 (such as a tee or a wye) into a malleable line 100 and a flexible line 102. Like the prior bladder back pack hydration system, a cap 104 can provide access to fill the bladder 110. While the figure shows the line splitter 108 attached with a tube from the exit of the bladder 110, various embodiments can be envisioned to have two lines extending from the back pack 106. For example, two lines could be connected directly to the bladder 110.

The hydration system of the present invention may be used in many areas where hydration is needed and there is limited or no time for a shift of focus. For example, the hydration system of the present invention may be useful in car racing, military maneuvering, cycling, rowing, shooting, paddling, and the like.

The hydration system may include other features. For example, a check valve may be disposed in the malleable line 16 or in the supply tube 14. The check valve may prevent the water from flowing back into the bottle when the user finishes hydrating. This would provide the water further up the tubing and limit the amount a user would have to initially suck on the tubing to get fluid. The malleable line 16 may further include reinforcements to, for example, permit pending of the malleable line 16 at a particular location without damaging the line itself. The mouth piece may be of various shapes, sizes and designs. In some embodiments, the mouth piece may be interchangeable into the malleable line 16. In other embodiments, the mouth piece may be formed integrally with the malleable line 16.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A hydration system comprising:

at least one container for containing a fluid; and

a malleable line having a mouthpiece adapted to fit into a user's mouth, the malleable line formed from a flexible tubing having at least one flexible element disposed along a length of the flexible tubing,

wherein the malleable line is adapted to be bent or flexed by a user and maintain its user-positioned shape.

2. The hydration system of claim 1, further comprising at least one supply line fluidly connecting the at least one container with the malleable line.

3. The hydration system of claim 1, wherein the at least one container includes at least one water bottle.

4. The hydration system of claim 3, wherein the at least one container is two water bottles, wherein each of the two water bottles are fluidly connected with the malleable line.

5. The hydration system of claim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece on a distal end of the malleable line.

6. The hydration system of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible element is a copper wire.

7. The hydration system of claim 6, wherein the copper wire is flattened on at least one end thereof.

8. The hydration system of claim 6, wherein the at least one container is a bladder of a back pack hydration system.

9. The hydration system of claim 8, further comprising a flexible line fluidly connected with the bladder of the back pack hydration system.

10. The hydration system of claim 1, wherein the flexible element and flexible tubing are encased in an external casing.

11. The hydration system of claim 1, wherein the at least one container is a hydration bladder and the malleable tubing is attached to a medical appliance.

12. The hydration system of claim 11, wherein the medical appliance is a bed.

13. The hydration system of claim 11, wherein the medical appliance is a wheelchair.