Abstract:
The present invention relates to liquid containers. In particular, it relates to accessories that are specially configured to serve specific functions, such as a drinking bladder during activity. The drinking bladder is a container that allows various fluids to be worn around the hand for consumption during various activities. This helps aid an individual in the replenishing process of fluids to the body. This device will help prevent dehydration during a wide variety of activities in an active person&#39;s life.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/507,371, filed Sep. 30, 2003. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to liquid containers. More specifically, it is a flexible drinking bladder with a spout or an interchangeable spout assembly constructed for storing fluids for consumption on the hand which does not limit the usefulness of the other areas of the hand.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     The health benefits of remaining properly hydrated are well known and many containers have been created for carrying fluids. Previous container designs often cause injury or circulatory problems when carried on the body. Because of these issues, those engaging in physical activities often forego carrying a container thus leading to dehydration and the health problems related thereto. In some cases, the difficulty of remaining properly hydrated during activities prevents an individual from performing various active tasks.  
         [0006]     Various devices have been developed to allow fluid consumption in order to replenish liquids in the body; however, some methods of containment are highly susceptible to punctures. Related art, such as White, U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,347 issued Sep. 28, 1999, discloses an elastic potable liquid wristband worn on the wrist while performing activities such as jogging. This form of attachment serves as a distraction while a jogger moves his arm in stride. Furthermore, the device is free to move up and down the wrist and forearm area.  
         [0007]     Other fluid containers have been created that attach to parts of the body such as the arm or leg regions. Related art, such as Abreu-Marston, U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,089 issued Aug. 17, 1999, pertains to a portable liquid container that provides a fluid container used as a weight or as a source of hydration. This type of structure is likely to restrict circulation in the limb to which it is connected. Additionally, movement of the device along the limb is possible.  
         [0008]     Another example of a fluid container designed to be attached to the body is shown in Gotta, U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,650 issued May 23, 1978. Because a solid container is employed, injury to the body is likely during any type of physical activity. Further, circulatory restriction and movement along the torso are also possible with this design.  
         [0009]     Various elastic containers have been created for feeding and hydrating infants. I. D. Boynton and George A. Wood., U.S. Pat. No. 3,204,855 issued Sep. 7, 1965, discloses a flexible container for an infant nursing device. Although this type of container serves its purpose in infant nursing liner bottles, the structure is limited in adapting to other traditional nursing bottles.  
         [0010]     Related art, such as Dejong, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,937 issued Jul. 9, 2002, discloses a bottle adapter that allows the interchangeable attachment of bottle nipples to traditional and disposable liner bottles. This method of attachment will not secure to other container or bottle configurations if the size or shape does not permit. When this type of adapter is connected to some narrow bottles, a space between the bottle and adapter is exposed that may be harmful to an infant.  
         [0011]     The previous designs for portable fluid containers used for hydrating the body include many deficiencies. These devices restrict circulation of blood, serve as a distraction during physical activities, cause injury due to their design or move easily on the body.  
         [0012]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fluid container that can comfortably be worn on a user&#39;s hand.  
         [0013]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a fluid container that is flexible and lightweight.  
         [0014]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a fluid container that can be used during physical activities.  
         [0015]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a fluid container which allows for transporting fluids to hydrate, cool and replenish the body.  
         [0016]     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a drinking bladder that can comfortably be worn on a user&#39;s hand that does not restrict movement or use of the hand.  
         [0017]     Finally, it is an object of the present invention to accomplish the foregoing objectives in a simple and cost effective manner.  
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0018]     A drinking bladder is described which includes a bladder body which is impermeable to fluids, and thus, is capable of retaining a fluid within the body of the bladder. The bladder body is preferably flexible and made from a durable material such as a flexible plastic. The drinking bladder further includes a spout mounted, preferably by a removable means, on the outer surface of the bladder body. The preferable mounting means is through a threaded opening on the outer surface of the bladder body which mates with a threaded surface on the spout. The spout is preferably made from a durable, fluid impermeable material such as plastic, rubber and silicone and includes a means for dispensing fluid from within the bladder body. Preferably, the spout includes an opening means for allowing fluid to flow and a closing means for preventing such fluid flow. A spout such as a push-pull nozzle or a nipple is acceptable as are many other types of spouts. The spout may also be of a more complicated design which includes a reservoir which mounts to the outer surface of the bladder body, a ring which mounts to the reservoir, a nipple from which fluid may be dispensed, a washer which connects to the ring and which retains the nipple between the washer and the ring such that the fluid dispensing portion of the nipple extends through the washer and a cap which removably covers the fluid dispensing portion of the nipple and prevents fluid from being dispensed therefrom until the cap is removed. In this spout design, the reservoir preferably further includes a plurality of guide means which allow mounting on the outer surface of the bladder body at varying angles and an air reduction means for reducing the amount of air in the bladder body. Finally, the drinking bladder includes an attachment means for attaching the bladder body to a user. This can be a simple means such as a portion of hook and loop fastener, one or more snaps, one or more buttons or a zipper. Or, if desired, a more complicated pocket device may be used. In this embodiment, the drinking bladder is placed within the pocket device and then the pocket device is attached to the user by any appropriate means. Preferably, such attachment means provides a comfortable, non-slip attachment to the user.  
         [0019]     A drinking bladder is described that may be attached to a user&#39;s extremity and which includes an interchangeable spout and base for carrying desired fluids for consumption. The drinking bladder includes a flexible base to which a spout is mounted. The base may be housed in a device such as the hand wallet secured to the user by use of a zipper or by elongated straps which surround the user&#39;s extremity connected to each other by means of hook and loop fastener or other appropriate fastening means. In a further preferred embodiment, the spout can be interchangeable depending on the type of consumption method. Alternatively, a nipple can be used with the spout assembly for feeding infants or an individual on a liquid diet. As previously stated, the spout assembly has the unique function of controlling the flow of fluid. In an alternate embodiment, the drinking bladder may cover the entire base of the hand but does not limit the usage of the other areas of the hand.  
         [0020]     The present invention is designed for carrying fluids for hydrating or cooling the body while being active, whether walking, jogging, camping, attending carnivals, touring vacation spots, or going to concerts, among many other activities. The drinking bladder allows a person to carry fluids while serving as a secondary means of protection when housed in a hand wallet but is not limited in anyway to this type of containment.  
         [0021]     The limitations of the related art previously discussed are overcome by the present invention. This invention&#39;s ability to expand, along with the flexibility of its shape, allows the fluid to shift to various areas of said drinking bladder. A variety of configurations allow this invention to contain various quantities of fluids for consumption while engaged in activities. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]      FIG. 1   a  shows a front view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 1   b  shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 1   c  shows a side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention as used in a hand wallet;  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  shows a bottom view of the alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  as used in a hand wallet;  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the spout assembly of an alternate embodiment of the present invention showing the cap in detail;  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the spout assembly of an alternate embodiment of the present invention showing the washer in detail;  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the spout assembly of an alternate embodiment of the present invention showing the nipple in detail;  
         [0031]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the spout assembly of an alternate embodiment of the present invention showing the ring in detail;  
         [0032]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the spout assembly of an alternate embodiment of the present invention showing the reservoir in detail;  
         [0033]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the spout assembly of an alternate embodiment of the present invention showing the internal guides in detail;  
         [0034]      FIG. 11   a  shows a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0035]      FIG. 11   b  shows a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0036]      FIG. 12  shows a mother feeding an infant with the alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 11   b  as used in a hand wallet;  
         [0037]      FIG. 13  shows a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention as used in a hand wallet with the hand wallet in the open configuration;  
         [0038]      FIG. 14  shows a jogger replenishing the body with fluid contained in the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0039]      FIG. 15  shows an aerobics trainer replenishing the body with liquid contained in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
       [0000]     Element List  
         [0000]    
       
         
           
               20 . cap  
               21 . threaded opening  
               22 . washer  
               24 . nipple  
               26 . spout operation angles  
               28 . zipper  
               30 . ring  
               32 . reservoir guides slits  
               34 . ring guides  
               36 . wrist strap  
               38 . hook and loop fastener  
               40 . spout assembly notches  
               42 . reservoir  
               44 . ring guide notches  
               46 . reservoir liquid outlets  
               48 . hand wallet  
               50 . opening  
               52 . pocket  
               56 . spout  
               58 . bladder body  
               60 . drinking bladder  
               62 . reservoir air restrictor  
               64 . spout assembly  
               66 . locking guides  
           
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0064]     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention.  
         [0065]     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1   a - c ,  3 ,  5 - 10  and  13 , a drinking bladder  60  constructed to maintain and provide liquids for the body is shown and described. The bladder  60  generally includes a body  58  and a spout  56 . The body  58  of the invention is ergonomically designed to fit comfortably about the hand as is further described in detail herein. Preferably, the drinking bladder body  58  embodies an appropriate durable, fluid impermeable base material, such as plastic, and preferably has a threaded opening  21  to receive the spout  56 . The spout  56  can be of any design capable of being affixed to the bladder base  58  for fluid consumption and to cool the body during physical activities. The spout  56  can be of any material appropriate for use with dispensing liquids, for example, plastic. The spout  56  shown in  FIGS. 1   a - c ,  2 - 4 ,  11   a  and  13 - 15  is one commonly used for dispensing liquids. To open the spout  56 , the outer portion is pulled away from the bladder  60  and to closed, the outer portion is pushed back towards the bladder  60 .  FIGS. 14 and 15  demonstrate the spout being utilized in this pull-push method of retrieval. This allows an individual to control the flow of fluids while being active. While this type of spout  56  is shown in the preferred embodiment, many other types of spouts may be used and examples are shown in  FIGS. 5-10 ,  11   b  and  12 .  
         [0066]     The bladder body  58  is capable of holding fluids for drinking and serves as a means to cool the body as shown in  FIGS. 12, 14  and  15 . When filled with fluid, the bladder body  58  may also serve as protection for the hand preventing injuries during various activities. Alternatively, the fluid contained in the bladder  60  serves as a weight while performing activities such as aerobics as shown in  FIG. 15 . The drinking bladder  60  can be installed in a device constructed for carrying items such as a hand wallet  48  as shown in  FIGS. 3, 4  and  12 - 15 . In particular,  FIG. 13  shows the bladder  60  installed in a hand wallet  48  with the hand wallet  48  in the open configuration. The bladder  60  is filled with liquid and placed inside the open hand wallet  48 . To use this particular embodiment, the hand wallet  48  is then folded down over the bladder  60  with the spout  56  extending through opening  50 . The hand wallet is then closed using a zipper  28  and maintained on the user&#39;s hand by means of the shape and a portion of hook and loop fastener extending in part around the user&#39;s wrist. Alternate embodiments of the hand wallet  48  which can be used with the present invention are shown in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/780,048, filed Feb. 17, 2004 and incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
         [0067]     An alternate spout assembly  64  shown in  FIGS. 5-10  is described for delivering a desired substance from within the bladder  60 . This assembly restricts the amount of air ingested by the user. By this arrangement, the spout assembly&#39;s  64  structure, as shown in  FIGS. 5-10 , consists of a cap  20 , washer  22 , nipple  24 , ring  30  and reservoir  42 . The cap  20  is designed to protect the nipple  24  that is formed to fit the spout assembly  64 . The nipple  24  is made of a rubbery material like traditional nipples in the field of infant feeding, and is designed to fold in a downward position when the cap  20  is installed. A washer  22  attaches to the ring  30  that secures the nipple  24  and prevents fluid from escaping when in operation. The ring  30  has guides  34  that allow proper installation to the reservoir  42 . In addition, the ring  30  is secured to the reservoir  42  by spout assembly notches  40 . This arrangement provides a means for controlling the fluid flow from the bladder  60 . The reservoir  42 , as shown in detail in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , along with the ring  30 , provides the means for controlling the fluid flow in this embodiment of the spout assembly  64 . Another purpose of the reservoir  42  is to allow interchangeable spouts to be connected as illustrated in  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b ; also, it has a unique inner surface  62  that aids in reducing the amount of air in the drinking bladder  60 . The outer top section has outlets  46  for the fluid to be dispensed. Guide notches  44  are located on the reservoir  42  to secure the ring  30  or an interchangeable spout  56 . In addition, the guide notches  44  allow the nipple  24  (or, the spout  56 , not shown) as shown in  FIG. 7  to be positioned at varying angles  26  to control fluid flow.  
         [0068]     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, the drinking bladder  60  surrounds and conforms to the entire base area of the user&#39;s hand. As shown in  FIG. 4 , a hand wallet  48  can be used for this embodiment of the drinking bladder  60  as well. The configuration of the alternate embodiment of the drinking bladder  60  shown in  FIG. 2  allows larger quantities of fluid to be stored. As a result, this configuration is particularly useful for activities such as aerobics or boxing as illustrated in  FIGS. 14 and 15 .  
         [0069]     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.