Dual bladder sports hydration system

• US 6,749,090 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trek Bicycle Corporation
• Original Assignee: Trek Bicycle Corporation
• Inventors: Bailey, Randall B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTAGENA, MELVIN A
• Application Number:
  US10/237,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20030075573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 222/175, 222/107, 222/145.5, 604/6.1, 251/9, 251/10, 251/207
• US Class Current: 222/175
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/20 of flexible material; Collapsible or stackable cups

Abstract

An improved sports hydration system uses a plurality of bladders and tube branches communicating through tube branch controlling valve to a single feed tube.

Claims

1. A hydration system leading to a feed tube comprising:

a plurality of bladders;

each of said bladders formed to enable flow through an outlet;

each of said outlets communicating to a tube branch;

said tube branches interconnecting at a six mode selector valve;

said valve being controlled between positions of left off, right off, left on, right on, both on and both off;

a hands free operable two position valve positioned downstream from the valve, said two position valve operable by a user, to permit fluid flow.

2. The hydration system of claim 1 further comprising:

said positions of left off, right off, left on, right on, both on and both off are selected by the selective engagement or disengagement of cam arms controlling the engagement and disengagement of pawls and racks within said selector valve.

3. The hydration system of claim 1 further comprising:

said bladders being formed by partitioning single bladder envelope;

said bladder envelope is subdivided by baffle into left and right bladder sections;

said bladder sections each flow through an outlet to said tube branch.

4. The hydration system of claim 3 further comprising:

said single bladder envelope being formed of thermoplastic sheet which is heat or ultrasonically welded to permanently define the envelope and bladder sections.

5. The hydration system of claim 4 further comprising:

outlets are integrally formed in and a tubing connection bonded to bladder sections to communicate between said bladder sections and said feed tube.

6. The hydration system of claim 4 further comprising:

outlets from said bladder sections being formed of a durable connection namely one of a pivoting connection, a hose receiving barb type connection, or a permanent hose connection.

7. The hydration system of claim 1 further comprising:

said tube branches are joined at a “

Y”

intersection to the feed tube such that said valve indirectly controls flow by selectively pinching one or both of tube branches of the selector valve so that by pinching one branch and not the other, flow is controlled, and by pinching both branches of the selector valve, flow is completely cut off, and only the tube, and not the valve, directly contacts the fluid passing therethrough.

8. The hydration system of claim 1 and said selector valve comprises one of:

a pinch valve with a rotating cam;

a dual flow valve having a rotating disc with internal conduits, or

a pawl and rack locking pinch valve.

9. The hydration system of claim 1 and:

said selector valve comprises a pawl and rack locking pinch valve;

said selector valve having a body with left and right pinch cam arms extending from a central rib, said rib having a slot;

a “

Y”

intersection being formed of a connector fitting in said slot formed and arranged so that first and second legs and of a conduit pass on either side of a cylindrical portion such that flow is controlled by selectively pinching one or both of tube branches, or neither of them.

10. The hydration system of claim 9 and:

each arm has a resilient web attaching said arm to said rib;

each arm further having a finger grip and an end opposite the respective webs;

said ends terminating in pawls.

11. The hydration system of claim 10 and:

cam surfaces located opposite said finger grips so that said cam surfaces face “

Y”

connector;

rack members located at the top portion of said body;

said rack members being fixed to said rib with resilient webs in a “

T”

shaped configuration.

12. The hydration system of claim 11 and:

said hydration system is a dual hydration system and

said valve is symmetric about said rib such that said arms, racks, pawls and finger grips are independently operable opposed pairs.

13. A sports hydration system with a fluid receivable bladder and feed tube comprising:

a plurality of bladders;

tube branches leading from the bladders to a feed tube;

a tube branch controlling valve to a single feed tube;

said valve controlling passage of the fluid from said bladders to said feed tube between one bladder communicating to the feed tube, more than one bladder communicating to the feed tube, and all the bladders closed, said valve comprising one of;

a pinch valve with a rotating cam;

a dual flow valve having a rotating disc with internal conduits, or

a locking pinch valve having a pawl and rack for each feed tube;

a bite valve positioned downstream from the valve, said bite valve bitable by a user, permitting fluid flow.

14. The hydration system of claim 13 and:

said valve comprises a pawl and rack locking pinch valve;

said valve having a body with left and right pinch cam arms extending from a central rib, said rib having a slot;

a “

Y”

intersection being formed of a connector fitting in said slot formed and arranged so that first and second legs and of a conduit pass on either side of a cylindrical portion such that flow is controlled by selectively pinching one or both of tube branches, or neither of them;

each arm has a resilient web attaching said arm to said rib;

each arm further having a finger grip and an end opposite the respective webs;

said ends terminating in pawls.

15. The hydration system of claim 14 and:

cam surfaces located opposite said finger grips so that said cam surfaces face “

Y”

connector;

rack members located at the top portion of said body;

said rack members being fixed to said rib with resilient webs in a “

T”

shaped configuration.

16. The hydration system of claim 15 and:

said hydration system is a dual hydration system and

said valve is symmetric about said rib such that said arms, racks, pawls and finger grips are independently operable opposed pairs.

17. A flow control system for fluids comprising

a fluid source and a fluid outflow conduit;

said source formed from a single pouch permanently divided to form two bladders, each bladder enabled to permit flow through a separate outlet;

a tube branch formed between said source and said conduit;

said tube branch connecting at a valve;

said valve being controlled between positions of off and on;

a valve having a pair of pawl and rack locking mechanisms controlling flow between said source and said conduit.

18. The flow control system of claim 17 and:

said valve having a body with a pinch cam arm extending from a central rib, said rib having a slot;

an intersection being formed of a connector fitting in said slot formed and arranged so that a conduit passes a bearing portion such that flow is controlled by selectively pinching or releasing said tube branch;

said arm has a resilient web attaching said arm to said rib;

said arm further having a finger grip and an end opposite said web;

said end terminating in a pawl;

a cam surface located opposite said finger grip so that said cam surface faces said connector;

a rack member located at the top portion of said body;

said rack member being fixed to said rib with a resilient web in a “

T”

shaped configuration.

19. The flow control system of claim 18 and:

said system is adapted for inclusion in a dual sports hydration system;

said outflow conduit is a feed tube;

said valve is symmetric about said rib such that there is a plurality of said branch, arm, rack, pawl and finger grip in independently operable opposed arrays such that there is a first and second branch, first and second arm, first and second rack, first and second pawl and first and second finger grip;

first and second branches are joined at a “

Y”

intersection to the feed tube such that said valve indirectly controls flow by selectively pinching one or both of said first and second branches so that by pinching one branch and not the other, flow is controlled, and by pinching both branches, flow is completely cut off, and only the tube, and not the valve, directly contacts the fluid passing therethrough.