Wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration systems, devices, components and methods

• US 10,179,726 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2017
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arapaho Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Matthew J. Steele
• Inventors: Steele, Matthew J
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US15/720,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20180093875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 340 1229, 600549, 604347, 604319, 604326
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/44 Devices worn by the patient for reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge; Portable urination aidsabsorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, A61F13/15; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00; emptying devices for urine bags B65B69/0016; Colostomy devices adhesives for colostomy devices A61L24/00; materials for colostomy devices A61L28/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/00 Suction or pumping devices for medical purposes; Devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body-liquids; Drainage systems catheters A61M25/00; tube connectors, tube couplings, valves or branch units specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; devices for taking samples of blood A61B5/15; filters implantable into blood vessels A61F2/01
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/086 Adaptations for consuming refreshments without unmasking
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0005 the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/10 Pump mechanism in general F04
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1243 comprising flow or pressure sensors, e.g. for controlling pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0097 using a pump
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00131 wearable by a person, e.g. as a backpack or helmet

Abstract

Described herein are various embodiments of systems, devices, components and methods for providing hydration to a user from a fluid reservoir or bladder, where the fluid is provided on demand by the user activating and controlling a user interface that communicates wirelessly with a control assembly operably connected to a pump and the fluid reservoir.

Claims

1. A wirelessly-controlled and activated hydration system configured for use by a plurality of users, the system comprising:

a plurality of portable first control systems, each first control system comprising a first control assembly comprising a first wireless transceiver and at least a first computing device, the first computing device comprising at least a first non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store first instructions executable by at least a first processor;

a second control system configured for mounting on one or more of a vehicle, motorcycle and a bicycle, the second control system comprising a second control assembly, the second control assembly comprising a user interface, a second wireless transceiver configured to transmit user control signals to the first wireless transceivers of the plurality of first control assemblies, the control signals corresponding to one or more inputs provided to the user interface by a user included among the plurality of users, and at least a second computing device operably connected to the user interface and the second wireless transceiver, the second computing device comprising at least a second non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store second instructions executable by at least a second processor, the second non-transitory computer readable medium having a unique identification code stored therein;

corresponding to each of the first control systems, a quick connect mechanism configured for rapid attachment to and disconnection from a fluid reservoir, a fluid input tube comprising first and second ends, the first end being attached to the quick connect mechanism, fluid output tube comprising first and second ends, the second end being configured to deliver fluid to a mouth of a user, and a fluid pump operably connected to the first control assembly and comprising input and output ports, operation of the fluid pump being controlled by the first computing device, the input port of the fluid pump being operably connected to the second end of the input tube, the output port of the fluid pump being connected to the first end of the output tube, the pump being configured to pump fluid from the fluid reservoir through the fluid input tube, the pump and the fluid output tube to the mouth of the user;

wherein the first instructions of the first computing device in each of the first control systems are programmable and include instructions executable by the first computing device to control operation of the pump thereby, the second instructions of the second computing device of the second control assembly are programmable and include instructions executable by the second computing device corresponding to the user control signals, the second wireless transceiver is configured to transmit user control signals wirelessly to each of the first wireless transceivers for processing and execution by the first computing device of each of the plurality of first control systems thereby to control operation of the pump thereby, and the plurality of first control assemblies and the second control assembly are configured such that the second control assembly can pair wirelessly with each of the first control assemblies using the unique identification code and a wireless communication frequency selected from among a plurality of available wireless communication frequencies, thereby to prevent interference or crosstalk between the first control systems and the second control system and other undesired nearby wirelessly communicating devices.

2. The wirelessly-controlled hydration system of claim 1, wherein the second control assembly is further configured to confirm successful pairing with each of the first control systems.

3. The wirelessly-controlled hydration system of claim 1, wherein each of the first control systems is further configured to confirm successful pairing with the second control system.

4. The wirelessly-controlled hydration system of claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir corresponding to one or more of the first control systems is a hydration bladder.

5. The wirelessly-controlled hydration system of claim 1, wherein the user interface of the second control assembly is one of a push button, a mechanical switch, an electro-mechanical switch, a capacitive proximity switch, and an electronic switch.

6. The wirelessly-controlled hydration system of claim 1, wherein the fluid pump in each first control assembly is operably connected to and included in a portable hydration pack.

7. The wirelessly-controlled hydration system of claim 1, wherein the first instructions executed by the first processor in each of the first control assemblies include one or more of pump control instructions or portions thereof, pump on instructions, pump off instructions, pump rate instructions, pump duration instructions, pump rate instructions, and pump pulse width modulation instructions.

8. The wirelessly-controlled hydration system of claim 1, wherein the second instructions executed by the second processor include one or more of user control instructions or portions thereof, pump on instructions, pump off instructions, pump rate instructions, pump duration instructions, and pump pulse width modulation instructions.

9. The wirelessly-controlled hydration system of claim 1, wherein each of the first control assemblies is configurable by a user to control one or more of a pressure at which fluid is delivered by the pump, a rate at which fluid is delivered by the pump, and a duration of time over which fluid is delivered by the pump when the user interface of the second control assembly is actuated by the user.

10. The wirelessly-controlled hydration system of claim 9, wherein each of the first control assemblies further comprises an on-board potentiometer configurable by the user to control one or more of a pressure at which fluid is delivered by the pump, a rate at which fluid is delivered by the pump, and a duration of time over which fluid is delivered by the pump when the user interface of the second control assembly is actuated by the user.

11. The wirelessly-controlled hydration system of claim 1, wherein the second control assembly is configurable to send repeated pump-on commands to the first control assembly for a predetermined period of time after the user interface has been pressed.

12. The wirelessly-controlled hydration system of claim 1, wherein each of the first control assemblies is configured to repeat listening commands for a predetermined period of time after the user interface has been pressed.

13. The wirelessly-controlled hydration system of claim 1, wherein the second control assembly is configured to generate the unique identification code.

14. The wirelessly-controlled hydration system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first processor in each of the first control assemblies and the second processor comprises a microprocessor, a controller, a micro-controller, and a CPU.

15. The wirelessly-controlled hydration system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of first and second control assemblies is configured to enter a power-saving sleep mode after a predetermined period of time has passed with no user inputs or activity.

16. The wirelessly-controlled hydration system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second control assemblies is configured to wake up from the power-saving sleep mode when the user provides an input to the user interface or initiates a power reset in the first or second control assemblies.

17. The wirelessly-controlled hydration system of claim 1, further comprising one or more light emitting diodes operably connected to at least one of the first and second control assemblies, the one or more LEDs being configured to provide the user with visual feedback and information regarding control assembly pairing status, pairing signal strength, and power status.