Hydration system with improved fluid delivery system

• US 6,497,348 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2001
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CamelBak Products LLC (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CamelBak Products LLC (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Inventors: Choi, Robert, Forsman, Barley A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CRONIN, STEPHEN K
• Application Number:
  US09/902,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20020074369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 224/148.2, 224/148.4, 224/148.5, 224/627, 224/643, 224/660, 224/662, 224/676, 224/680, 224/682, 220/705, 220/714, 220/718, 215/11.4, 215/388, 222/105, 222/212, 222/215, 222/501, 222/531, 222/537, 222/548, 222/549, 222/554, 222/555
• US Class Current: 224/148.2
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/006 comprising a suspension strap or lanyard
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/005 Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of a single strap around the waist
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/04 Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of two straps passing over the two shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/16 Water-bottles; Mess-tins; Cups
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping

Abstract

A personal hydration system with a flow-restricting device. The hydration system includes a fluid reservoir configured to store fluid and a tube assembly that is coupled to the reservoir and configured to deliver fluid to a user'"'"'s mouth, such as via a mouthpiece. The system further includes a flow-restricting device that is configured to selectively restrict the flow of drink fluid between the reservoir and the mouthpiece. In some embodiments, the flow-restricting device includes a body and a rotatable core.

Claims

1. A personal hydration system, comprising:

a fluid reservoir configured to store drink fluid;

a flexible tube assembly coupled to the reservoir and adapted to receive drink fluid from the reservoir; and

a flow-restricting device, comprising

a body having an input mount and an output mount and a fluid passageway extending therebetween, wherein the input mount is configured to be coupled to the tube assembly to receive drink fluid therefrom, and

a core rotationally coupled to the body and including a drum that extends into the passageway, wherein the drum includes a drum conduit with openings, and further wherein upon rotation of the core, the flow-restricting device is selectively configured between a defined range of configurations that include an open configuration, in which the drum conduit forms a portion of the passageway and drink fluid may flow from the reservoir, through the passageway and through the output mount, and a closed configuration, in which the drum obstructs the passageway and drink fluid cannot flow through the device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the hydration system further includes a pack adapted to receive the fluid reservoir.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the pack includes at least one shoulder strap.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the pack includes at least one waist strap.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the core is removably attached to the body.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the output mount is adapted to be coupled to a mouthpiece.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the mouthpiece is a self-sealing mouthpiece.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the mouthpiece is a bite-actuated mouthpiece.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the output mount is adapted to be coupled to a downstream portion of the tube assembly.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the input mount and the output mount are adapted to be at least partially inserted into an end of the tube assembly.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein both of the input mount and the output mount are adapted to be at least partially inserted into ends of the tube assembly.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the input mount and the output mount includes mounting structure in the form of at least one projecting barb.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the input mount and the output mount includes mounting structure in the form of a sleeve into which at least one of an end of the tube assembly and an end of a mouthpiece are adapted to be received.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the input mount and the output mount includes mounting structure in the form of a sleeve over which at least one of an end of the tube assembly and an end of a mouthpiece are adapted to be received.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the output mount extends at an angle of approximately 180 degrees relative to the input mount.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the output mount extends at an angle in the range of 30°

and 150°

relative to the input mount.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the angle is approximately 90 degrees.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the core is removably coupled to the body.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the core includes a rim that is adapted to engage the body in a snap-fit configuration.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the core includes a sealing structure configured to engage the body to form a fluid tight seal between the core and the body.

21. A personal hydration system, comprising:

a fluid reservoir adapted to receive a volume of drink fluid and including an exit port through which drink fluid may be dispensed from the reservoir;

a tube assembly that includes at least one flexible tube coupled to the output port and adapted to receive drink fluid therefrom; and

a flow-restricting device comprising;

a body defining a fluid passageway and including an input mount and an output mount, wherein the input mount is removably coupled to the tube assembly and the output mount is coupled to a selected one of a second flexible tube and a mouthpiece; and

a core configured to be removably coupled to the body, wherein the core includes a fluid conduit extending through the core and a handle, wherein the handle is adapted to configure the core between an open configuration where the fluid conduit is in fluid communication with the passageway and drink fluid may flow from the reservoir through the flow-restricting device, and a closed configuration, in which the core obstructs the passageway and drink fluid cannot flow from the reservoir through the flow-restricting device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the hydration system further includes a pack adapted to receive the reservoir.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein in output mount is removably coupled to the selected one of the second flexible tube and the mouthpiece.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the output port includes an integral mouthpiece.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the core is rotatably coupled to the body.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein in the open configuration, the fluid conduit defines a portion of the fluid passageway.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the core further includes a sealing ring that engages the body in a snap-fit configuration.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the input mount and the output mount are adapted to be at least partially inserted into an end of the tube assembly.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein both of the input mount and the output mount are adapted to be at least partially inserted into ends of the tube assembly.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the input mount and the output mount includes mounting structure in the form of at least one projecting barb.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the input mount and the output mount includes mounting structure in the form of a sleeve into which at least one of an end of the tube assembly and an end of a mouthpiece are adapted to be received.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the input mount and the output mount includes mounting structure in the form of a sleeve over which at least one of an end of the tube assembly and an end of a mouthpiece are adapted to be received.

33. The system of claim 21, wherein the output mount extends at an angle of approximately 180 degrees relative to the input mount.

34. The system of claim 21, wherein the output mount extends at an angle in the range of 30°

and 150°

relative to the input mount.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the angle is approximately 90 degrees.

36. A personal hydration system comprising:

a fluid reservoir configured to store drink fluid and having an output port through which drink fluid may be dispensed from the reservoir;

a tube assembly extending from the output port of the fluid reservoir and adapted to receive drink fluid therefrom; and

a manually operable flow-restricting device coupled with the tube assembly and configured to selectively regulate the flow of drink fluid through the tube assembly, the device comprising;

a body, and

a rotatable core, wherein the core is attached to the body and is configured to rotate to a plurality of positions within the body to selectively restrict fluid flow.

37. The personal hydration system of claim 36, further comprising a pack configured to receive the fluid reservoir.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the body further includes an input mount attached to the tube and an output mount attached to a mouthpiece.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the core is selectably rotated between an open configuration where there is fluid communication between the input mount and the output mount and a closed configuration where there is no fluid communication between the input mount and the output mount.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the tube assembly includes a plurality of lengths of tubing, and further wherein the flow-restricting device is coupled between and in fluid communication first and second ones of the plurality of lengths of tubing.

41. The system of claim 36, wherein the flow-restricting device further includes at least one tactile position indicator.

42. The system of claim 36, wherein the flow-restricting device further includes at least one audible position indicator.