Flexible fluid reservoirs with closures and structural members

Disclosed fluid reservoirs include closure mechanisms for sealing an upper opening of the reservoir. The reservoir can have plates adjacent the upper opening. When the upper end of the reservoir is folded, the plates can be positioned on opposite sides, and a closure frame can be slid over the plates to pressure them together. The plates can have pins that engage with slots in the closure frame, and a separate closure lock can be slid over the end of the closure frame to prevent the pins from exiting the slots. The plates can also bias the opening open when the closure is not engaged. Also disclosed are flexible fluid reservoirs that include structural elements, such as baffles, that help retain a desired shape of the reservoir when filled or empty. Some baffles can be elastically deformable to allow flattening and expansion of the bladder while biasing toward a neutral position.

FIELD

This application relates to fluid bladders and other flexible fluid storage containers.

BACKGROUND

Wearable personal hydration systems are used by athletes, recreationalists, workers, military personnel, and others, to provide convenient access to fluid while in action. For activities requiring more than a liter of fluid, for example, a soft-sided fluid reservoir carried in a backpack or waistpack is often used. Hydration systems such as this can consist of a pack and a soft-sided reservoir paired with a flexible drink tube ending in a closable mouthpiece. Fluid capacities for pack-mounted reservoirs typically range from 1 to 3 liters. They often feature a sealable fill port and an exit port at the base of the reservoir which connects to the drink tube. Fill and exit ports can be integrated into the edge of the soft-sided reservoir or sealably attached to the reservoir's flat top surface. The drink tube ends in a mouthpiece which can be activated by the user to initiate fluid flow.

Pack-mounted hydration reservoir systems provide storage and access for longer-term physical activity. With their soft sides they can be relatively comfortable against the body and they have the added benefit of collapsing near flat when they are empty. Their collapsibility also helps minimize fluid sloshing. The mouthpiece can be tethered to the chest area for easy access and drinking can be largely hands-free.

While the collapsibility of soft sided reservoirs provides convenience and they are lightweight, their shape when full and their difficulty of filling and cleaning can be problematic. A typical flat reservoir will take a roughly cylindrical shape when filled with fluid, making it uncomfortable to carry next to the user's body. When empty of fluid, the reservoir returns to its totally flat shape, trapping residual liquid between the front and back sheets, limiting the ability of the reservoir to inhibit bacteria growth by drying out. A reservoir's collapsed nature can also make it hard to fill. For some type of reservoir ports, the user may need to manually hold the reservoir open in order to start the filling process. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to construct a hydration reservoir that features the benefits of reliable sealing, collapsibility, comfort, and lightness while facilitating filling, drying, and reservoir shaping.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are flexible fluid reservoirs that can include closure mechanisms for sealing an upper opening of the reservoir. The reservoir can be formed from two flexible sheets sealed around a perimeter, leaving an upper portion open to define the upper opening. Two or more semi-rigid plates can be coupled to one or both sheets adjacent the upper opening. When the upper end of the reservoir is flattened and folded, the plates can be positioned on opposite sides of the folded sheets, and a closure frame can be slid over the plates to pressure them together. The plates can have pins that project outwardly and that engage with slots in the closure frame, and a separate closure lock can be slid over a lateral end of the closure frame to prevent at least some of the pins from exiting the slots. The plates can also have a natural curvature that acts to bias the upper open when the closure is not engaged.

Also disclosed are flexible fluid reservoirs that include structural elements, such as internal baffles or external plates, that help retain a desired shape of the reservoir when filled and/or empty. Some baffles can be elastically deformable to allow flattening and expansion of the bladder while biasing the bladder toward a neutral position.

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the disclosed technology will become more readily appreciated by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed herein are closure mechanisms for sealing an upper opening of a bladder or other flexible fluid reservoir. The disclosed closure mechanisms can provide easy and reliable sealing. Also disclosed herein are flexible fluid reservoirs that include structural elements that help retain a desire shape of the reservoir when filled or empty.

Any of the embodiments or features disclosed in this application may be combined with any other embodiments or features disclosed elsewhere in this application without limitation, and all such combinations are expressly included as part of this application. For example the features described herein in relation to flexible fluid reservoirs with structural elements for retaining a desired reservoir shape can be combined with the features described herein in relation to closure mechanisms for top-fill openings.

As used herein, the singular terms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless context clearly indicates otherwise. The term “comprises” means “includes without limitation.” The term “coupled” means physically linked and does not exclude intermediate elements between the coupled elements. The term “and/or” means any one or more of the elements listed. Thus, the term “A and/or B” means “A”, “B” or “A and B.”

Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present technology, only certain suitable methods and materials are described herein. The devices, materials, methods, and other features described herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

As can best be seen inFIG.1, a bladder100can be used to hold water or other liquids. The bladder100can be made of plastic or another flexible material. The bladder100can have an upper opening for pouring, drinking, or filling with liquid. The upper opening can be sealed with a closure108as described herein. The closure, or sealing mechanism,108can comprise a closure frame110, a bottom front plate130, a top front plate (not pictured), and a trigger or closure lock120. Bladder100features thin-walled container with open top150. A front sheet and a rear sheet can be sealed together around a perimeter except for the open top. Bladder100can include a lower exit port160for connecting a fluid transfer tube.

FIG.2shows a perspective view of closure mechanism108. Frame110captures bottom front plate130and folded over top front plate140while trigger120locks frame110to the bottom and top front plates by trapping the pins on the plates within notches in the frame.

InFIG.3closure108is partially assembled with frame110disengaged from the folded top front plate (not shown) and bottom front plate130. Bottom front plate130includes first pin132and second pin134on opposite sides.

FIG.4shows bladder100with top opening102in an unfolded open position. Top front plate140and bottom front plate130are coupled to the front sheet of the bladder adjacent to each other. All four pins142,132,134,144face frontward/outward on the top and bottom front plates. Closure108is separated from bladder100. A folding crease line can be defined between the two front plates.

FIG.5shows a back view of bladder100in an open position with closure108removed.

FIG.6shows bladder100with bladder top edge partially folded at a crease line between the top edge of bottom front plate130and bottom edge of bottom front plate140. Bottom front plate130and top front plate140are shown as separate elements, but can be a single plate attached to the bladder in some embodiments, featuring a living hinge at the desired fold location.

InFIG.7, closure108is positioned for loading/attachment over folded top front plate140and bottom front plate130. Trigger120is in the open position exposing pin slot112.

FIG.8depicts an exploded view of closure108and shows pin slot112and locking rib slot114. Trigger120features side members122and124and locking rib126, which rides in the rib slot114.

FIG.9shows the exploded view of closure108from another angle. Pin slots, or channels,116are on the opposite end of frame110from pin slots112. The internal channel118extending across the closure frame is sized to receive and compress top front plate140and bottom front plate130along with the folded bladder therebetween such that a seal is formed at the fold line. Trigger120can include locking ribs126and128, which can be molded in opposition to each other on trigger120side members122and124.

FIG.10shows closure108engaged with the folded front plates with the folded front plates inserted into frame110. Pin132is captured within pin channel116and trigger is in the open position. Pin channel is designed to capture pin132and allow closure108to pivot to fully capture top front plate140and bottom front plate130.

InFIG.11closure108is fully inserted over the folded front plates, pin132on the front side and pin142on the back side are captured within closure channel108. Pins134and144are loaded within pin slot112. Trigger120is in the open position, ready to be pushed inward to lock pins134and144to closure108.

FIG.12shows a perspective view of closure108in the engaged and ready to lock position.

FIG.13shows a front view of closure108in its sealed position. Trigger120has been slid inward so that lock ribs126and128(not shown) block pin slot112. Closure108is locked to the folded front plates and compresses them together such that a seal is formed at the fold line.

FIG.14depicts a full front view of bladder100in a sealed state.

FIG.16A-16Dshows various views of an alternate embodiment of closure108. Closure108in this version includes internal spring-loaded trigger200. Spring-loaded trigger200pin slot220and compression spring230. In this embodiment, pin slot220is designed such that trigger200will deflect against spring230as pin slot220comes in contact with pins132and142(not shown). As a result, closure108will automatically lock onto the folded top plates as closure108is pivoted onto the folded plates.

In addition, the edges of the bladder and/or the plates can be curved or otherwise non-straight to provide distinction between the overlapping edges so that they can each be more easily grasped or manipulated to open/close/fold them.

FIG.17shows another embodiment of closure108. In this embodiment, trigger320is designed to wrap over the top of frame110.

InFIG.18, trigger420is integrated into the body of frame110such that pin132is automatically captured when closure108is rotated to capture the folded top plates. To release closure108, trigger420is pushed outward.

FIG.19shows an embodiment similar toFIG.18. In this case, release of closure108is achieved by pulling trigger420inward.

FIGS.20A and20Bshow a front and back view of bladder100and enclosure108.

FIGS.21A and21Bshow the top and front and back views of the bladder portion of bladder100. In this embodiment top front plate130and bottom front plate140are formed such that they take a convex form when not in a folded and captured position. InFIG.21B, an additional back plate136is attached the opposite side of the bladder (e.g., the rear sheet) from top front plate and bottom front plate. Back plate136may also be pre-formed to take a bowed or convex form. As a result, when closure108is removed, top front plate130and/or bottom front plate140in combination with back plate136deflect outward to hold bladder top opening102in an open position. Top front plate130, bottom front plate140, and back plate136may be constructed from a plastic and molded or formed such that they are biased towards a bowed shape that helps draw the bladder top into an open position in the absence of closing forces. Top front plate130, bottom front plate140, and back plate136may include a spring member that is biased towards drawing the bladder top into an open position in the absence of closing forces. Top front plate130, bottom front plate140, and back plate136may be constructed such that they are deformable and can be manipulated to temporarily hold the bladder top in an open position.

In the embodiment shown inFIG.21Cthe bladder top can also include a tension spring member137spanning across the opening and connected at opposite side seams such that the tensile force exerted pulls the ends together and causes the front and back plates to bow outwards drawing the bladder top to an open position in the absence of closing forces. Spring member137may be constructed of an elastic material that can stretch when the bladder top is flattened for closing.

In any of the herein disclosed embodiments, and additional sealing member can be coupled to the rear sheet at the level of the lower front plate130or the upper front plate140, such that the sealing member becomes sandwiched between two layers of the rear sheet, and between the two front plates, when they are folded into the closed position by further pressing the sheet material against the plates. The sealing member can help prevent any leakage channels when the upper opening is closed. In some of these embodiments, rear surfaces of the one or both of the front plates can have concavities that are sized to partially receive the extra thickness of the sealing member when the sealing member is sandwiched between the two front plates, further helping to seal the upper opening.

FIG.22depicts bladder100with handle180. Handle180includes integrated quick connector182, bladder exit port connection184, and bottom front plate connection186. Handle180can include a fluid transfer channel bored into handle180or a drink tube that sits within a channel on the back side of handle180.

FIGS.23A and23Bshow a front and side view of an insulated version of bladder100. Insulating layers191and192cover the front and back of bladder100. Insulating layers191and192can be laminated to bladder100via adhesive, welding, or encapsulation.FIG.23Cshows a cross-section of the preferred insulating material for insulating layers191and192. The bladder walls can include an outer reflective layer193, an insulating foam layer195, and bladder film layer194.

FIGS.24A and24Bshow a front and side view of bladder100featuring handle180and handle base188, where handle base188wraps around the base of bladder100and is attached to front and back sides of bladder100.

Flexible Fluid Reservoirs with Structural Members

Disclosed herein are embodiments of flexible fluid reservoirs that may include a front sheet and a rear sheet that may be fully or partially sealed around their mutual perimeters to form a bladder. In some embodiments, the front and/or rear sheet may be formed to create a 3-dimensional shape. The reservoirs may include at least a first fluid port in an upper portion of the reservoir and at least a second fluid port in the upper or a lower portion of the reservoir. The first fluid port may be relatively larger than the second port and can be used to fill the reservoir with fluid and/or solids (e.g., ice), dispense the contents from the reservoir, and/or to clean the reservoir by inserting objects into the reservoir. The first port can be sealed to the front or rear sheet or consist of an opening between the front and rear sheets that can be sealed in some fashion. The second port can be used as an exit port, such as by coupling the exit port to a tube and/or outlet valve. The second port can be sealed to the front or rear sheet or sealed in-between front and rear sheets. The embodiments can include one or more internal baffles that attach to front and rear sheets that limit the reservoir's expansion and shape it in a predetermined way.

Some embodiments of the reservoir can include a flexible reservoir with at least one port and front and rear sheets that are connected by one or more baffles. In some embodiments the reservoir may include baffle elements along with rigid elements that act to separate the reservoir walls from each other. In other embodiments, the reservoir can include the rigid elements, but no baffles.

In a preferred embodiment a rigid element is spaced close to and in parallel with a baffle element. The baffle is welded to the front and rear sheet while the rigid element is welded only to the rear sheet. The rigid element is welded to the rear sheet via a living hinge arrangement allowing the rigid element to stand up or lay flat within the reservoir. The baffle's height is such that front and rear sheet displacement relative to each other is limited. The rigid element height is equal to or slightly greater than the baffle element height resulting in tight fit when the rigid element is in the standing position. This arrangement allows the reservoir user to lay the rigid element flat during reservoir use and to stand the rigid element up to aid reservoir drying.

In a second embodiment, a foldable rigid element is designed to act as both baffle and drying aid. In this design, a rigid element featuring a longitudinal hinge is welded to the front and rear sheets. The hinge is designed so that the foldable rigid element is normally in a folded configuration allowing the reservoir walls to collapse inward as fluid is drained. For drying the hinge is straightened slightly beyond normal so that the heels of the upper and lower folding halves of the foldable rigid element meet, creating a relatively stable standing rib within the reservoir to aid drying. Tabs attached to the outside of the reservoir may be included to help pull the reservoir walls away from one another and to deploy the foldable rigid element.

Baffles are used to limit reservoir ballooning when the reservoir is filled with fluid. As described above they can also be used to temporarily hold the reservoir walls apart during drying. Baffles can also be used to influence the cross-sectional shape of the reservoir. For instance, an s-shaped longitudinal baffle can be employed to give the reservoir an s-like curve when full. A shaped baffle may be used in a standard reservoir with flat front and rear sheets. In other embodiments, the front and/or rear sheet may be formed in a 3-D shape itself that works with the shaped baffle to impart a desired shape to the reservoir. Front and rear sheets may be 3-D formed using a multi-panel, pinch welding, or heat/vacuum forming approach.

In some embodiments, rigid standing elements may be combined with shaped baffles to create reservoirs that are shaped and include integrated drying mechanisms. The rigid element systems described above can also be used in reservoirs that feature 3-D formed walls and/or shaped baffle designs.

In another embodiment, the baffle may be a constructed to act as a spring against the reservoir walls, keeping the front and back reservoir walls apart from one another when the reservoir is empty, yet offering sufficient compliance such that the reservoir can collapse on itself as it drains. Spring-like baffles can be created via the material properties, shape, and/or placement of the baffle pieces within the reservoir. These baffles act to both hold the reservoir in an open shape for drying and also limit reservoir expansion depth as the reservoir is filled. Spring baffles can also be constructed to help shape a reservoir in a 3-dimensional manner. The spring baffle may vary in height, thereby limiting reservoir expansion depth by differing degrees along the baffle's length. Multiple spring baffles may be employed to shape a reservoir as it expands and/or control a reservoir's 3-D profile when empty.

To provide the force necessary to hold apart the reservoir walls, the spring baffle may be pre-formed, constructed of a less-flexible material than the bladder, thicker, and/or pleated in some fashion.

In another embodiment, an internal baffle may be combined with one or more spring members attached to the reservoir walls such that the reservoir walls are naturally held apart from each other. In this case, it is advantageous to position the spring members near the opening of the reservoir to aid filling of the reservoir as well as drying. For a top fill reservoir, first and second arced spring members may be attached to the reservoir wall and positioned opposite one another near the reservoir opening. The spring members would assume their pre-formed shapes and hold the reservoir open in the absence of sealing forces. The spring members would be designed to allow use of a closure mechanism to seal the reservoir when needed. The spring members may be integrated into the closure mechanism. For example, the spring members could also act as fold plates in a closure mechanism where the reservoir top is folded over as part of the sealing process. The spring members can be designed to work with a variety of reservoir port closure types including, but not limited to; screw ports, flip cap ports, slide top ports, folded ports, and clamped ports.

In other embodiments, members or plates can be constructed from deformable or malleable material(s) so that they can be shaped to hold the reservoir in an open position. These can be incorporated within or on reservoir walls near the reservoir opening or other locations on the reservoir walls.

FIGS.25A and25Bshow front and side views of a reservoir with baffle in its collapsed state.

FIGS.26A and26Bshow front and side views of a reservoir with baffle in an expanded state.

FIGS.27A and27Bshow front and side views of a reservoir with baffle and parallel rigid element in an expanded state.FIGS.28A and28Billustrate a transverse cross-section of the reservoir ofFIGS.27A and27Bshowing a flexible baffle and hinged rigid element in the collapsed and then expanded state where the rigid element is rotated to a standing position to hold the reservoir walls apart.

FIGS.29A and29Bshow front and side views of a reservoir with foldable rigid element in an expanded state.FIGS.30A and30Cillustrate a transverse cross-section of the reservoir ofFIGS.29A and29Bshowing a foldable rigid element (shown in detail inFIG.30B) in the collapsed and then expanded state where the rigid element is unfolded to achieve a standing position such that the reservoir walls are held apart.

FIGS.31A and31Bshow front and side views of a reservoir with a shaped baffle in an expanded state.FIGS.32A and32Bshow front and side views of a reservoir with a seam-welded exit port at the bottom and a shaped baffle in an expanded state.FIGS.33A and33Bshow front and side views of a 3-D reservoir formed using pinch welds in the front sheet and including a shaped baffle.FIGS.34A and34Bshow front and side views of a 3-D reservoir with heat/vacuum formed front and rear sheets and including a shaped baffle.

FIGS.35A and35Bshow front and side views of a reservoir with shaped baffle and parallel shaped rigid element in an expanded state.FIGS.36A and36Billustrate a transverse cross-section of the reservoir ofFIGS.35A and35Bshowing a shaped flexible baffle and shaped hinged rigid element in the collapsed and then expanded state where the rigid element is rotated to a standing position to hold the reservoir walls apart.

FIGS.37A and37Bshow front and side views of a reservoir with shaped folding rigid element in an expanded state.FIGS.38A and38Billustrate a transverse cross-section of the reservoir ofFIGS.37A and3Bshowing a shaped foldable rigid element in the collapsed and then expanded state where the rigid element is unfolded to achieve a standing position such that the reservoir walls are held apart.

FIG.39shows a cross-sectional view of a reservoir having a resiliently deformable Z-shaped spring baffle that can both limit expansion between the two walls and resist the two walls being collapsed together.FIG.40Ashows a perspective view of an exemplary Z-shaped spring baffle that can be included in the reservoir ofFIG.39. InFIG.40B, the Z-shaped spring baffle is made from a thicker and more resistant material compared toFIG.40A. InFIG.40C, the Z-shaped spring baffle includes embossed or dimpled features that are out of plane with the rest of the mid-section, or strut member, of the baffle to give the baffle additional resistance against crushing/buckling. The strut member can form an oblique angle relative to the first sheet and the second sheet when in the neutral position shown, and can tilt toward a flattened position parallel to the sheets when the bladder is flattened, and can tilt toward a perpendicular position when the bladder is expanded. As shown inFIG.39, the first end of the baffle is coupled to a mid-portion of the first sheet between the perimeter edges, and the second end of the baffle is coupled to a mid-portion of the second sheet between the perimeter edges. The baffle and its strut portion are elongated in a direction extending lengthwise between an upper opening of the reservoir and a lower fluid outlet of the reservoir. As shown inFIG.40C, the dimples are elongated in a direction extending between the first end of the baffle and the second end of the baffle.

FIGS.41A-41Fshows cross-sectional views of reservoir having various resiliently deformable spring baffles.FIG.41Ashows an S-shaped spring baffle.FIG.41Bshows a pair of C-shaped spring baffles.FIG.41Cshows a diamond-shaped spring baffle.FIG.41Dshows a pair of cylindrical baffles.FIG.41Edepicts a pair of accordion-shaped baffles.FIG.41Fshows a V-shaped spring baffle.

FIGS.42A and42Billustrate a slide top reservoir with an interior baffle and front and back spring members coupled to the front and rear walls near the reservoir opening.FIGS.43A and43Bshow a top view and front view of the slide top reservoir ofFIGS.42A and42Bin an open position with an internal baffle and spring members attached to the front and back of the reservoir walls.FIGS.43C and43Dshow a top view and side view of the slide top reservoir with the spring members holding the upper opening in an open position. The front and back spring members can comprise pre-formed curved members that are resiliently deformable and are biased toward the curved, open position ofFIGS.43C and43D.

FIGS.44A and44Billustrate another slide top reservoir with an interior baffle, comprising left and right side spring members near the reservoir opening. In this embodiment, the spring members are V-shaped and mounted around the side seams of the bladder, each coupled to both the front and rear walls.FIGS.45A and45Bshow a top view and front view of the slide top reservoir ofFIGS.44A and44Bin an open position with the internal baffle and the spring members attached around the left and right sides of the reservoir holding the upper opening open.FIGS.45C and45Dshow a top view and side view of the slide top reservoir in an open position.