Hands-free drinking system

• US 6,199,729 B1
• Filed: 12/01/1997
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark Stephen Drzymkowski
• Original Assignee: Mark Stephen Drzymkowski
• Inventors: Drzymkowski, Mark Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Sholl, Linda J.
• Application Number:
  US08/982,273
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 224/148.2, 224/647, 224/650, 224/651, 224/652, 224/627, 239/33, 215/588, 220/705, 251/342, 222/175, 138/120
• US Class Current: 224/148.2
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/20 of flexible material; Collapsible or stackable cups
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0004 the beverage being stored in a container, e.g. bottle, cartridge, bag-in-box, bowl
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00094 Ergonomics
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00131 wearable by a person, e.g. as a backpack or helmet

Abstract

A portable drinking facilitation apparatus is useful for a bicyclist and provides a liquid reservoir and a reservoir delivery tube. The apparatus has a flexible drinking tube having a mounting end and a terminal end. The drinking tube is adapted for shaping, such that said ends are positioned as desired, and the drinking tube will hold the given shape until said ends are repositioned. In its preferred mode, the flexible drinking tube comprises a plurality of tube segments joined end-to-end to form an extended elongate tube. A bite valve is removably mounted at the terminal end of the drinking tube. The apparatus also has a base fitting for receiving the mounting end of the drinking tube. The base fitting is adapted for receiving an end of the reservoir delivery tube and the mounting end of the drinking tube. This arrangement allows water to flow from the reservoir delivery tube, through the base fitting, and into the drinking tube, from which it is dispensed to the user. This base fitting is attached to a flexible base plate having a pair of attachments to hold the flexible base plate to a bicyclist'"'"'s chest strap and place the bite valve within reach of the lips of the bicyclist.

Claims

1. A portable drinking facilitation apparatus removably positionable on a mounting strap for conducting a liquid from a delivery tube to a mouth operated valve, the apparatus comprising:

a flexible drinking tube having a mounting end and a terminal end, the drinking tube providing a means for shaping so as to be adaptive for shaping, such that said ends are mutually positionable as necessary for conducting the liquid from the delivery tube to the mouth operated valve, the tube holding a given shape until said ends are purposely repositioned;

a base fitting for receiving one end of the flexible drinking tube for supporting the drinking tube in extension outwardly therefrom, and further, for receiving an end of the delivery tube for conducting the liquid to the drinking tube;

a base plate providing a means for supporting the base fitting, and further providing a strap mounting means for removably engaging the base plate onto the mounting strap for placing the mouth operated valve for drinking.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shaping means comprises a plurality of tube segments joined end-to-end to form an extended elongate tube, each joined pair of the tube segments being mutually swivelable so that the drinking tube may be articulated into a desired conformation, and further, each joined pair of the tube segments being tightly and stiffly joined so as to conduct a liquid therethrough without leaking therebetween, and for holding a given conformation until purposely manipulated into a further desired conformation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base fitting supporting means is a strap forming a loop for encircling the base fitting for holding the base fitting against the base plate.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base fitting engagement means is formed integrally with the base plate and with the base fitting.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base fitting engagement means is configured for snapping the base fitting into the base fitting engagement means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the strap mounting means is a pair of spaced apart strap engagement means, each of the strap engagement means providing a slot for accepting the mounting strap in such manner as to enable the apparatus to be removably engaged with the mounting strap and positionable therealong wherein the slot is narrower then the thickness of the strap.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of the strap engagement means has a split portion enabling insertion of the apparatus onto the mounting strap laterally.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base plate is made of a plurality of fabric layers.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base plate is made of molded plastic.