Fluid storing and supply means

A fluid storing and supply device includes two fluid containers supported within outer pouches and a conduit extending from each fluid container through which liquid contained in the containers can be consumed. A harnessing arrangement for harnessing the device to the body of a person which includes straps of predetermined length whereby the pouches can be suspended on a person's rib cage with one pouch abutting the person's chest and the other pouch abutting the person's back. Further straps permit tying of the positioned pouches to the rib cage in a manner that the pouches bear upon the rib cage so that a substantial part of the pressure exerted by the weight of fluid stored in the fluid containers is distributed over the surface area of the rib cage borne upon by the pouches and the harnessing arrangement.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a fluid storing and supply means for use by 
individuals. More particularly, but not specifically, the invention 
relates to a fluid storing and supply means for use by athletes, sportmen 
and workmen, who may require intakes of fluid while actively involved in 
their pursuits. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
A loss of body fluids, particularly water, accompanies almost all forms of 
physical activity, from walking and general recreation to vigorous 
exercising, labor and sports. Replenishment of body fluids during outdoor 
activity is therefore extremely important for maintaining the activity at 
a reasonably high performance level and with as little exhaustion as 
possible arising from dehydration. 
Portable fluid dispenser means are known in the prior art. Some portable 
fluid dispensers are strapped to an individuals person and allow him to 
drink fluids when it may not be otherwise convenient to stop the activity 
which he is engaged in. Use of prior art fluid dispensers is cumbersome, 
some are distracting and dangerous to the individual when engaged in 
vigorous activity and others tend to cause the fluid dispenser to be 
irregularly displaced when attached to the body, causing discomfort and 
disorientation. 
Conventional harnessing arrangements for personal fluid dispensers provide 
for fluid dispensers which can be 
(a) suspended from the shoulders, either in a knapsack type configuration 
or with the fluid storing means disposed adjacent to the stomach; or 
(b) tied to the stomach. 
Suspension of the fluid storing means from the shoulders may be a 
satisfactory means of supporting the fluid storing means during 
comparatively leisurely activity. However, such a means of suspension is 
far from satisfactory during vigorous activity. The shoulder straps bear 
down upon the bursa, the deltoid muscles and the clavicle and also cause 
compression of the tissues associated with the neck and the shoulders. 
This pressure restricts blood flow and may also cause pressure on the 
nerves leading to the upper limbs. Friction between the straps and the 
skin because of continuous movement of the bursa, deltoid, trapezia and 
the splenius muscles in this region, as a result of vigorous exercise, 
causes intense chafing of the skin which is positively irritating, often 
leading to bursitis. 
Attempts have been made to attend to this chafing. For instance, shoulder 
pads have been provided between the straps and the skin. These pads have 
proved unsatisfactory. They do not position well on the shoulders, are 
displaceable and in many instances merely transfer the point of chafing. 
Waist supported fluid dispensers are usually in the form of flexible belts 
tied around the waist and are supported by the protuberances on the waist 
caused by the ileus of the hip bone. 
Again in vigorous exercice, such as canoeing and long distance running, 
waist-supported fluid dispensers or fluid dispensers that are disposed on 
the stomach, obstruct the free movement of the external oblique muscles 
and the rectus abdominus of the abdomen. Obstruction to the muscles 
restricts proper breathing. 
Several prior art patents disclose fluid dispensers. For example: 
Wooten, U.S. Pat. No. 3,348,741 discloses a dispenser apparatus that is 
capable of being carried by a user. It comprises an arcuate tank fitted 
with straps for attachment on the back of a user. Dispensing of fluid is 
done by an auxiliary pressurised tank; 
Kassel, U.S. Pat. No. 2,558,181, discloses a portable device having an 
inner tank and an outer casing. Dispensing of liquid is done by means of a 
pressure head; 
Osborne, U.S. Pat. No. 2,013,358, discloses a knapsack containing a water 
bag conforming to the internal contour of the knapsack. Two separate 
openings are required, one for filling the bag and one for dispensing; 
Motsenbocker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,097, discloses a portable liquid 
dispenser with a carrying case which is thin and pillow shaped, but is 
suspended from the body; 
Gotta, U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,650, discloses a canteen provided with a 
drinking straw which is tied to the waist by a belt; 
Eger, U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,098, discloses a portable liquid dispenser which 
requires a flexible bulb for creating pressure within the dispenser for 
dispensing liquid; 
Janus Ronald, W.O. Patent No. 87/02873, discloses a fluid access means 
which is securable to a user's neck and requires the insertion of a straw; 
Modig Ronald, U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,087, discloses a portable fluid holder 
having exchangeable plastics bags. Non-return valve means are required to 
prevent air from entering the bags during the drinking process; and 
Boxer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,298, discloses a hydrating system mounted on a 
suspension system having elastic straps. The entire weight of the 
suspension is centralized at an anatomical pivotal point in the small of 
the back. The system also requires two openings for filling and 
dispensing. 
The prior art in general, all these patents in particular, disclose fluid 
dispenser means having fluid storing means suspended, in use, from the 
body of a person, usually the shoulders, therefore creating pressure 
points on the body where the fluid storing means is suspended and/or 
allowing the fluid contents of the fluid storing means to be irregularly 
displaced. This can clearly cause a lot of discomfort. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing, it is the aim of the invention to achieve the 
following objects jointly, severally, or in combination: 
to provide a fluid storing and supply means from which an individual can 
draw desired quantities of fluid from the fluid storing means by applying 
suction at the supply means; 
to provide a convenient fluid storing and supply means in which fluid can 
be retained at a desired temperature over extended periods of time; 
to provide a fluid storing and supply means that is light, inexpensive and 
does not interfere with the activity being performed by an individual; and 
to provide an attachment system for a fluid storing and supply means that 
distributes the weight and mass of the fluid stored along or across a 
broad surface area of the body, thereby reducing the pressure per unit 
surface area, preventing irregular displacement of the contents of the 
fluid stored and eliminating pressure points. 
In furtherance of the aforesaid and other objects of the invention there is 
provided, in accordance with this invention, 
a fluid storing and supply means, which includes 
two flexible fluid storing means defining an outer peripheral seam and 
walls; 
at least one fluid supply means comprising an elongate fluid conduit 
extending from an operative lowest level of the fluid storing means; and 
harnessing means, being elongate elements secured near the outer peripheral 
seam of the fluid storing means for harnessing and abutting the fluid 
storing means with the rib cage of an individual so that the seam and 
abutting walls of the fluid storing means substantially contour and bear 
upon the rib cage. 
The fluid storing means may include an inner fluid container in which fluid 
can be contained and an outer pouch in which the fluid container is held, 
which defines the outer seam of the fluid storing means. The inner fluid 
container may be made of a synthetic plastic fluid impervious and 
non-toxic material and the outer pouch may be of a natural or synthetic 
textile material which, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this 
invention, is of a thermal insulating material. Alternatively, at least 
one layer of thermal insulating material may be disposed between the inner 
fluid container and the outer pouch. The outer peripheral seam of the 
fluid storing means may be defined by a seam running along the sides of 
the outer pouch, which may be a seam joining walls of the outer pouch 
together, or may be a reinforcing seam. 
The fluid contained in the fluid storing means may be a variety of liquids 
including water and beverages and may further include liquids having their 
dissolved gases removed before filling the fluid storing means with the 
fluid. 
The inner fluid container and the outer pouch may be integral. 
Alternatively, the inner fluid container may be secured to the outer 
pouch. Still alternatively, the inner fluid container may be releasably 
suspended within the outer pouch, the location of suspension being at the 
top of the fluid storing means. Therefore, in an operative configuration 
of the fluid storing means, attached to the body of an individual, the 
force of gravity acts on the fluid in the inner fluid container directing 
it downwards towards a discharge opening in the inner fluid container. 
The fluid supply means may include at least one elongate conduit made of a 
resilient non-toxic material such as natural latex rubber, one end of 
which extends through an outer pouch of each of the fluid storing means 
and is located at an operative lowest level of the fluid storing means. 
The elongate conduit may be an elongate tubular element. One end of the 
elongate conduit may be welded to the discharge opening of the inner fluid 
container, the opening being located at an operative lowest level of the 
inner fluid container, therefore allowing drawing of fluid from the sump 
of the inner fluid container. Alternatively, the inner fluid container of 
the fluid storing means and the elongate conduit of the fluid supply means 
may be integral. 
The elongate conduit may have a free end which is accessible to the mouth 
of an individual having the fluid storing and supply means attached on the 
rib cage of his body. The elongate conduit may be releasably attached 
along its length to the or any of the fluid storing means. A closure clamp 
may be attached to each of the fluid supply means, for permitting or 
restricting the flow of fluid through the fluid supply means. 
The fluid storing and supply means may be attached to a body region of an 
individual in the particular configuration as described herein, by means 
of elongate elements secured to the fluid storing means and particularly, 
the outer pouch of the fluid storing means. 
Preferably, a plurality of such elongate elements, in the nature of 
flexible straps, may be secured to the outer peripheral edge of the fluid 
storing means and may be passed around the body of the individual and may 
be fastened to one another by, for example, tying. The elongate elements 
may be made of soft webbing of non-elastic, natural or synthetic, textile 
material and may be secured at the four corners of the outer peripheral 
seam of the walls of fluid storing means, which define a generally 
rectangular configuration. Where two fluid storing means are provided, one 
or more of the elongate elements may be common to both the fluid storing 
means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawings, a fluid storing and supply means, in accordance 
with this invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. 
The fluid storing and supply means 10 includes two fluid storing means, 12 
and 14. Each of the two fluid storing means, 12 and 14, have fluid supply 
means, generally indicated by 16 and 18, extending through a wall of each 
of the fluid storing means, 12 and 14. 
Each of the fluid storing means, 12 and 14, includes an inner drip bag type 
fluid container 20, as illustrated in FIG. 2, in which a fluid can be 
contained, and an outer pouch 22, in which the fluid container 20 is 
suspended. The fluid containers are made of a non-toxic, fluid impervious, 
food grade natural or synthetic plastic material. The inner fluid 
containers 20 are made by seam welding planar sheet elements around their 
periphery so that when the inner fluid containers are filled with a fluid, 
there is equal pressure exerted all around the seams. At the lowest level 
of each inner fluid container 20 in their in use configuration, a 
discharge opening 26 is provided to which a fluid supply conduit 24 is 
welded to form a leak-proof joint between the inner fluid container 20 and 
the fluid supply conduit 24. 
Each inner fluid container 20 is releasably suspended from its pouch 22 by 
means of suspending formations 28 on the inner top edge of the pouch 22. 
The suspending formations 28 are laces tied into an eyelet located on each 
inner fluid container 20. 
By suspending the inner fluid containers 20 within the pouches 22 as 
described, when the inner fluid containers are filled with liquids they 
will not tend to sag into the bottom of the pouches, which can occur if 
not so suspended. As such, the liquid bodies defined within the fluid 
containers will remain in a relatively flat form in which liquid movement 
is minimized and carrying comfort is enhanced, as is described in more 
detail hereinafter. 
Each outer pouch 22 is of a natural or synthetic textile material which is 
thermally insulating. At least one layer of thermally insulating material 
30 is also disposed between each inner fluid container 20 and its outer 
pouch 22. The outer pouch 22 defines walls 32 and a peripheral seam 34 as 
illustrated in FIG. 1, represented by a stitching seam. Each outer pouch 
22 is provided with a neck opening 36 through which the conduit 24 can 
extend, from the inner fluid container 20 to the outside. 
The fluid supply means, 16 and 18, comprise the elongate conduits 24, made 
of a resilient, non-toxic, material such as natural latex rubber, as seen 
earlier, an end of each of the conduits extending through the neck opening 
36 of the outer pouch 22 and extending further to a free end 38, which is 
accessible to the mouth of an individual (not shown). Each elongate 
conduit 24 may be releasably attached along its length to holding 
formations 40 on one outer pouch 22 of the fluid storing means. A closure 
clamp 44 is attached to each of the conduits 24 for permitting or 
restricting the flow of fluid through the fluid supply means 16 and 18. 
Elongate elements in the nature of straps 42 are secured to the peripheral 
seam 34 of each one of the outer pouches 22 of the fluid storing means, 12 
and 14. 
The straps 42 are secured by stitching at the four corners of the outer 
peripheral seam 34 of each of the pouches 22. The straps 42 are common to 
both pouches 22, extending from one to the other. 
Fluid is filled into each inner fluid container 20 through the elongate 
conduit 24 by using a funnel attachment (not shown) at the free end 38 and 
feeding the fluid in by gravity. Alternatively, fluid may be pumped into 
the inner fluid container 20 through the elongate conduits 24. A variety 
of potable liquids, including water and beverages, may be filled in the 
inner fluid container, which should not have dissolved gasses, in 
practice. 
The fluid storing and supply means can be attached on the rib cage an 
individual (not shown) by means of the fastening straps 42 so that the 
fluid storing means 12 and 14 abut a part of rib cage. For this mode of 
attachment, the straps 42.1 will pass over the shoulders of a user, 
whereas the other straps 42 will pass around the user's body, tying of 
these straps to one another taking place in a manner that tension is 
applied simultaneously to the pouches 22 via their seams in both vertical 
and horizontal directions. The straps 42 direct vectoral forces along the 
seams 34. This, in turn, causes the fluid storing means 12 and 14, to 
substantially contour and bear upon the rib cage, thereby effectively 
distributing the pressure exerted by the weight of the fluid in the fluid 
storing means from the shoulders to a surface area of the body 
approximately equal to the wall surface of the fluid storing containers 
bearing upon the rib cage means. The pressure exerted by the weight of the 
fluid load on the body of the individual is, therefore, evenly distributed 
over the rib cage and the fluid storing means, with its contents, becomes 
effectively contiguous with the body region. The complete load of the 
fluids in the containers will thus no longer be carried by the user's 
shoulders. The use of soft-webbed material for the straps 42 prevents 
chafing at the part of the body region to which the fluid storing and 
supply means 10 is attached. Thus, no pressure points are created anywhere 
on the body surface. The effective tension applied to the outer pouches 
22, when harnessing the fluid storing and supply means 10 onto the body of 
a user, also reduces or prevents bulging of the containers 20 when filled 
with liquids, thus maintaining relatively thin liquid bodies within the 
containers. This greatly enhances the comfort of wearing the means 10 and 
reduces the effect of having a large mass or masses suspended from the 
body. 
The individual desiring fluid and particularly a liquid sucks at the end 38 
of a supply conduit 24, after releasing the clamp 44. Slight suction at 
the end 38, causes fluid to be drawn into the mouth of the individual. As 
is clearly illustrated, the conduit 24 is connected to a discharge opening 
22, of the inner fluid container 20. Liquid is drawn into the mouth only 
by suction. Any excess liquid drawn falls back into the conduit. As liquid 
is drawn, very little or no air is passed back into the inner fluid 
container 20. Draining of liquid collapses the walls of the inner fluid 
container until no liquid is left. Use of this method of supplying liquid 
prevents the supply of liquid at a rate superior to gravity, or suction 
induced flow rates. Any amount fed, more than demanded by suction, will 
lead to choking, particularly when breathing hard during exertion. 
By providing two fluid containers 20, different liquids can be carried and, 
in this way, the user's specific requirements can be accommodated.