Inflatable bladders for game gloves

A game glove including a front and a back forming a major region for the fingers of the wearer and a minor region for the thumb of the wearer thereby defining a hand space therebetween; an opening at the lower edge of the glove for the passage of the hand of a wearer into the hand space; a bladder positioned in the hand space, the bladder having a major portion in the major region of the glove and a minor portion in the minor region for the glove; and a pump system to selectively inflate and deflate the bladder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Summary of the Invention 
This invention relates to inflatable bladders for game gloves and, more 
particularly, to baseball or softball gloves having bladders which are 
selectively inflatable. 
2. Description of the Background Art 
The technology for game gloves, whether for baseball, softball or the like 
involves a glove particularly sized and configured for the preference of 
the player. Human factors involved with glove design relate to a plurality 
of factors. One human factor, hand motion, includes two ways for closing 
the hand. The thumb to the index finger, a natural motion which is the 
strongest motion. In the alternative, the thumb can move to the ring 
finger, the traditional glove closing motion. Strength is effected by the 
finger position. Two fingers are stronger than one, but there is less 
strength when the fingers are spread apart. 
Another human factor relates to the flex points on the hand. The palm has 
two flex points, the first is across the palm about 1/2 inch below the 
base of the fingers. The second begins at the base of the index finger 
around the thumb. These flex points create a wide wedge when using the 
natural hand motion and a narrow wedge with the traditional hand motion. 
The back of the hand also has flex lines, a first is across the knuckles 
and a second begins about 1/2 inch outside of the index finger straight to 
wrist at the base of the hand. There is an additional flex line along the 
middle knuckle of the fingers. 
In comparing glove design versus hand design, current gloves are designed 
for the natural hand closure. The flex lines will create a wide wedge. The 
thumb lays across the fingers in the closed position which reduces the 
size of the well. The enclosed backs, however, hinder closure while 
material layering hinders flex. Design recommendations for traditional 
closures include the fact that the flex lines should create a narrow 
wedge. The thumb of the glove lays parallel to the ring hand pinkie finger 
which maximizes the size of the well. The enclosed backs hinder closure. 
The pocket includes the index finger. 
With regard to material stiffeners, advanced glove designs require 
stiffness along the thumb and outer fingers to enhance closure as well as 
a stiff connection between the closing fingers and the glove. 
Cushioning should be along the lower palm of the hand, in the palm of the 
hand, and provide for the index finger. With respect to fit features for 
glove retaining, considerations should include: (1) thumb and finger 
internal loops, (2) the fan shaped spreading of fingers, (3) the well 
shape which allows gravity to assist in glove retention, (4) tight finger 
slots with sufficient room for fingers, and (5) finger tension on glove. 
With regard to hand position versus glove performance, two hand positions 
are considered. The traditional position and the position of fingers 
closer together with the thumb at 90 degrees. This latter position offers 
a larger pocket but less sensitivity. 
In view of the foregoing, a preferred glove concept employs (1) air in a 
bladder in the back of the hand, (2) an air system that retains the 
fingers, (3) an active air system that encloses the ball after the catch, 
(4) quilted air bladders to create the proper flex points and (5) an 
active air system that enhances the closing of the glove. 
There have been a wide variety of technical advances associated with 
baseball gloves and with inflatable devices. By way of example, boxing 
gloves with inflatable bladders are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 320,972 to 
Rumsy; 531,872 to Shibe; 570,092 to Harvey; 600,779 to Frazier; 1,622,322 
to Kennedy; 2,275,206 to Sutherland; 2,653,319 to Slizus; and 3,217,333 to 
Sweet. 
Pneumatic pads and guards for use in athletic contests include U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,067,063 to Ettinger and 4,370,754 to Donzis. Gloves and mittens for 
miscellaneous purposes include U.S. Pat. Nos. 972,224 to Pease; 1,053,204 
to Morrison; 2,842,771 to Foti, and 4,486,975 to Harreld. Lastly, 
advancements in baseball gloves which include pneumatic devices include 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 450,717 to Reach; 1,465,223 to Kobbe; 1,602,027 to Kennedy, 
and 4,937,882 to Hayes. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an 
improved game glove, as for baseball, softball, etc., including a front 
and a back forming a major region for the fingers of the wearer and a 
minor region for the thumb of the wearer thereby defining a hand space 
therebetween; an opening at the lower edge of the glove for the passage of 
the hand of a wearer into the hand space; a bladder positioned in the hand 
space, the bladder having a major portion in the major region of the glove 
and a minor portion in the minor region for the glove; and a pump system 
to selectively inflate and deflate the bladder. 
A further object of the invention is to implement light weight air bladders 
into baseball gloves to provide an inner structure for custom fit and 
shock absorption. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide pump buttons and 
releases, and the like which are accessible for easy use. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a consistent flex 
pattern by the appropriate air system design while maintaining traditional 
design details and materials. 
A further object of the present invention is to maintain or reduce the 
weight of all gloves by use of air technology to eliminate heavier 
padding. 
A further object of the present invention is to improve break in 
characteristics of game gloves. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a true custom fit 
for baseball gloves by utilizing inflation technology. 
A further object of the present invention is to allow baseball players to 
change the fit of gloves by altering inflation pressures. 
A further object of the present invention is to improve the design of pumps 
for use in selectively inflating bladders. 
A further object of the present invention is to supplement a baseball glove 
with an inflation system comprising a low pressure bladder for hand 
retention and a high pressure bladder for glue rigidity. 
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the 
invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of 
some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended 
invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the 
disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention 
within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a 
fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the 
summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred 
embodiments in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the 
claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
For the purpose of summarizing this invention, this invention may be 
incorporated into an improved game glove including a front and a back 
forming a major region for the fingers of the wearer and a minor region 
for the thumb of the wearer thereby defining a hand space therebetween; an 
opening at the lower edge of the glove for the passage of the hand of a 
wearer into the hand space; a bladder positioned in the hand space, the 
bladder having a major portion in the major region of the glove and a 
minor portion in the minor region for the glove; and a pump system to 
selectively inflate and deflate the bladder. 
The pump system includes a diaphragm for selectively inflating the bladder 
to improve the fit of the glove on a wearer's hand. The pump system 
further includes a pair of valves operatively coupled with the diaphragm 
the first valve adapted to allow for the flow of air to the bladder from 
the diaphragm upon the depression thereof, and the second valve adapted to 
allow for the flow of air from atmosphere to interior of the diaphragm 
upon the release thereof. Each valve is a one way, duck-bill check valve. 
The pump system also includes a button for selectively deflating the 
bladder. The glove further includes a housing for supporting the pump 
system in the back of the glove with the diaphragm and button exposed for 
contact and use by the wearer of the glove. The glove further includes a 
second bladder positioned within the hand space for inflating portions of 
the glove unoccupied by the first mentioned bladder. The glove further 
includes a supplemental pump system for inflating the second bladder. The 
first mentioned bladder is located in regions corresponding to the back of 
a wearer's hand and fingers and is adapted to be inflated to a low 
pressure while the second bladder is located in regions beyond the fingers 
and thumb of the wearer extending essentially to the tips of the glove 
thumb and fingers and is adapted to be inflated to a higher pressure for 
adding rigidity to the glove. 
In addition, the invention may be incorporated into an improved game glove 
having a front layer and a back layer formed of material defining a hand 
space therebetween, the glove having an opening at its lower edge for the 
passage of the hand of a wearer into the hand space, the glove also having 
a major region for the fingers of the wearer and a laterally disposed 
minor region for the thumb of the wearer, and a bladder adjacent to the 
back material in the hand space behind the hand of the wearer. 
The game glove further includes a layer of additional material within the 
hand space to support the bladder adjacent to the back material. The game 
glove further includes valve means to selectively inflate and deflate the 
bladder with aperture means in the back material in the minor region to 
expose the operative portions of the valve means for operation and control 
by a wearer of the glove. The bladder includes a major portion in the 
major region cf the glove and a minor portion in the minor region of the 
glove with an intermediate portion therebetween. The game glove further 
includes quilting dots heat sealing front and back faces of the bladder. 
The game glove further includes quilting lines heat sealing front and back 
faces of the bladder. The major portion of the bladder may be formed of 
separate fingers essentially the lenghts of the wearer's fingers or the 
length of the fingers of the glove. The intermediate portion is 
positionable in the central portion of the back of the wearer's hand or in 
the lower portion of the back of the wearer's hand. The lower edge of the 
back material extends toward the wrist of a wearer. The glove includes a 
second bladder positioned within the hand space for inflating portions of 
the glove unoccupied by the first mentioned bladder and a supplemental 
pump system for inflating the second bladder, the first mentioned bladder 
is located in regions corresponding to the back of a wearer's hand and 
fingers and is adapted to be inflated to a low pressure while the second 
bladder is located in regions beyond the fingers and thumb of the wearer 
extending essentially to the tips of the glove thumb and fingers and is 
adapted to be inflated to a higher pressure for adding rigidity to the 
glove. 
Lastly, the invention may be incorporated into an improved pump for 
inflating a bladder within a glove to insure the secure coupling thereof 
with the hand of a wearer, the pump comprising a diaphragm formed of a 
resilient material and capable of being depressed and released by the 
wearer, a pair of valves coupled with the diaphragm, the first valve 
adapted to allow for the flow of air to the bladder from the diaphragm 
upon the depression thereof, and the second valve adapted to allow the 
flow of air from atmosphere to interior of the diaphragm upon the release 
thereof, and a release valve associated therewith which, when depressed, 
will relieve the air pressure from the bladder. The pump further includes 
a housing for supporting the diaphragm and valves. 
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important 
features of the present invention in order that the detailed description 
of the invention that follows may be better understood so that the present 
contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features 
of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of 
the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in 
the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be 
readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures 
for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should 
also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent 
structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set 
forth in the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a game glove 10, as for baseball, softball or the 
like, having an inflatable bladder 12 constructed in accordance with the 
principles of the present invention. The glove 10 is a generally 
conventional baseball glove in its design. It is fabricated of a plurality 
of pieces or layers 14, 16, etc. of material, preferably leather, front 
and back. The material defines a major region 20 for the receipt of the 
wearer's fingers and a minor region 22 for the receipt of the wearer's 
thumb. An opening 26 is formed at the lower edge of the glove 10 between 
the front and back component pieces 14 and 16 through which the wearer may 
insert his hand into a hand space. Stitching and cords 28 couple the 
various pieces of the glove to render it a unitary device. Located between 
the thumb region and finger region of the glove are the webbing 30 at the 
upper extent and the well 32 at the lower extent which together form a 
pocket in which the ball is preferably caught. An aperture 34 is formed in 
the back piece 16 through which the wearer may extend his index finger. 
The thumb region 22 and finger region 20 are pivotable about the well and 
webbing areas by the movement of the wearer's thumb toward the fingers or 
the fingers towards the thumb to entrap the ball when being caught. 
The glove 10 is essentially conventional in most regards except for a 
bladder 12 with an additional layer of material 38 interior of the glove 
for forming a bladder-receiving pocket 40 and a pump system 44 to inflate 
the bladder 12 with an aperture 46 in the glove 10 for exposing portions 
of the pump system. 
The glove 10 of the primary embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the 
bladder 12 in dotted line configuration. Such bladder is more particularly 
seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. The bladder is formed of two pieces 50 and 52 of 
air impervious elastomer, preferably urethane. Other similar light weight, 
air impervious, inflatable materials could readily be utilized. The two 
pieces of bladder material are essentially of the same shape front and 
back and are heat sealed around their edges 54. In addition to the heat 
sealing around the edges, additional heat sealing is provided in the 
nature of dots 56. Such dots preclude the inflated bladder from becoming 
excessively thick. They also constitute built-in flex points at the 
knuckles or other joints of the wearer for the enhancement of glove 
bending and closure. 
The bladder 12 is formed of two distinct major portions, the finger or 
major portion 60 and the thumb or minor portion 62 with an elongated 
coupling portion 64 therebetween. The finger portion 60 has essentially 
linear parts 66 adapted to extend from near the central portion of the 
glove 10 upwardly into the fingers of the glove toward the tip ends of 
each finger of the glove. Such finger portions 66 of the bladder are 
adapted to be received in the lower extents of the fingers 68 of the 
glove. The thumb portion 70 of the bladder is also extended and adapted to 
be positioned within the lower extent of the thumb portion 72 of the glove 
10. 
The thumb and finger portions of the bladder are each provided with a 
plurality of quilting dots 56 of heat sealing along the lengths thereof. 
Such dots add rigidity and support for the fingers and thumb. Flexibility 
is also enhanced due to their locations at the joints of the fingers and 
thumb as well as at the finger and thumb regions of the glove. A plurality 
of such dots 56 are also located in the coupling portion to keep the 
bladder portions together to a limited extent. The coupling portion 64 of 
the bladder 12 is relatively thin simply to couple the thumb and finger 
portions 60 and 62 together for concurrent inflation and deflation. The 
dots also function to preclude excess ballooning of the bladder when in 
operation and use. 
FIG. 4 is an alternate embodiment similar to FIG. 3. In the FIG. 3 
embodiment, the coupling portion 64 is located at the lowermost edge of 
the back of the glove. In the FIG. 4 embodiment, the coupling portion 65 
is raised slightly, midway between the lower edge of the glove and the 
lower edge of the finger opening 34 to give support to the back of the 
wearer's hand. 
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the bladder shown 
positioned within a glove, the glove being positioned on a wearer's hand. 
The deflated bladder is shown in solid lines while the inflated bladder is 
shown in dashed lines. Shown in the central extent of the glove is the 
finger space 76, a portion of the hand space 78 for the wearer's hand. The 
front and back layers 14 and 16 of the glove as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are 
also seen at the front and back of the FIG. 5 sectional view. Also shown 
in FIG. 5 is an intermediate layer 80 as of material such as leather or 
the like to separate the finger from additional padding 82 between such 
intermediate layer and the front piece. Also located behind the finger 
space is a layer of flexible material 38, as for example lamb skin or the 
like, which can breathe appropriately. The flexible material with the rear 
piece 16 of the glove forms a pocket 40 in which the bladder 12 is 
located. The lower edge of the fabric encloses such pocket with the aid of 
a coupler such as adhesive or stitching to maintain the pocket closed. A 
releasable coupler could also be readily utilized. In addition, the lower 
edge of the bladder may be stitched to the glove. The bladder 12 may be 
inflated to an appropriate extent through the use of the pump system 44. 
Similarly, the air may be selectively removed from the bladder. In this 
manner, the glove may be made to conform more securely to the wearer's 
hand so that upon catching the ball, jarring of the glove with respect to 
the hand is abated for increasing comfort, security and efficiency in 
catching balls. 
Inflation and deflation of the bladder is effected through a pump system 44 
which is most readily seen in FIGS. 6 through 10. The pump system 44 
includes a pump or diaphragm 86, preferably blow molded, with associated 
check valves 88, 90 and a release valve 92, all interrelated with each 
other and with the bladder 12 to effect the desired result of selectively 
inflating and deflating the bladder for insuring proper fit of the 
particular glove to the particular wearer. 
The diaphragm 86 is a one piece element formed of a resilient elastomeric 
material such as rubber, natural or synthetic or blend thereof. It is 
adapted to be depressed on its exposed exterior surface 94 by a user to 
decrease the volume of air within the diaphragm chamber. Upon release of 
the diaphragm, the volume of air within the chamber increases as the 
diaphragm returns to normal expand configuration as shown. 
Along one edge of the diaphragm are a pair of essentially rigid tubes 96, 
98, one for conveying air from the interior of the diaphragm into the 
bladder and one for conveying air from the atmosphere to interior of the 
diaphragm. The interior surface of each of the tubes receive the exterior 
surfaces of one of the pair of check valves 88 and 90, preferably of the 
conventional duck-bill type. The upper check valve 90 as shown in FIG. 6 
is oriented to allow for the suction of air from the atmosphere to the 
chamber interior of the diaphragm 86 upon release of the diaphragm which, 
upon resiling of the diaphragm, increases the diaphragm chamber volume and 
generates a suction. A similarly configured but oppositely directed check 
valve 88 is in operative association with the second tube 96 for the 
moving of air from interior of the diaphragm to the bladder upon 
depressing of the diaphragm which decreases the volume within the 
diaphragm chamber to increase the pressure therein. 
The valves 88 and 90 themselves are formed of elastomeric material, 
preferably silicone, with an aperture near the tip and a tube 102 of 
flexible, elastomeric material in a flat, ribbon-like configuration. Such 
arrangement constitutes a conventional duck-bill valve. Under normal 
conditions, each valve is such as to preclude the flow of air 
therethrough. When, however, a pressure differential is generated on 
opposite sides thereof through the depression or release of the diaphragm, 
the tube 102 of the check valves will open for the flow of air in one 
direction as shown by the arrows. Note FIG. 6. Upon the cessation of 
pumping, the tube 102 of each check valve will close to preclude further 
movement of air therethrough. 
The check valves 88 and 90 are supported in a housing 104. The housing also 
supports an adapter 112 which couples the diaphragm tubes with the one-way 
valves. The housing and the adapter are constructed of a rigid material 
preferably a plastic such as polyurethane. The housing includes an upper 
aperture 106 in which is located a release ball 108. The release valve 92 
has an upper surface or button 110 adapted to be depressed by the user to 
force a stopper downwardly. The release ball 108 is spherically shaped and 
seated in the apertur 106 which is correspondingly shaped. Downward 
movement of the button 110 and release ball 108 thus creates an opening 
between the stopper and the walls of the housing aperture for the release 
of the pressurized air within the bladder. A coil spring 114 is located 
between the button 110 and the housing 104 to urge the stopper 108 
upwardly upon the release of pressure generated by the finger of the 
operator to thereby retain the air within the bladder. Beneath the release 
ball 108 is a continuation of the air passage 118 for pneumatically 
coupling the bladder and the diaphragm. 
The housing 104 is coupled with the bladder 12 as through an adhesive or 
welding and extends through an aperture 46 in the glove 10 to expose the 
diaphragm 86 and button 110. In this manner, the diaphragm is exposed so 
that it may be used by the wearer while the button of the release valve is 
similarly exposed, also for use by the wearer. 
Alternate embodiments of the bladders are shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Further 
alternate embodiments are shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16. The first 
alternate embodiment as shown in FIG. 11 is a bladder 122 similar to the 
primary embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3 except for the fact that the 
fingers 120 are more elongated than in the first embodiment, extending the 
full length of the fingers of the glove. In addition, heat sealing 
quilting includes lines 124 are provided in the bladder fingers and thumb 
for adding rigidity and strength to the glove in the region beyond the 
wearer's fingers and thumb. 
Shown in FIG. 12 is another alternate embodiment of the invention. In this 
embodiment, the inflatable bladder 128 is actually a bladder system formed 
of a first or low pressure bladder 130 of a construction the same as or 
similar to that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. And, in 
addition, a second or high pressure bladder 132 is located in other 
regions of the glove. The high pressure bladder 132 extends outwardly from 
the thumb and finger portions of the low pressure bladder 130 to fill the 
spaces of the glove previously unoccupied by thumb or fingers of the low 
pressure bladder. The purpose of the high pressure bladder is to add 
rigidity to the thumb and fingers of the gloves all the way to a location 
adjacent their tips 134, regions which are normally unsupported except for 
the strength and rigidity of the leather or other material of which the 
glove is fabricated. In this manner, the glove can be made of less 
expensive material or thinner constructions of conventional leathers for 
cost saving purposes. 
It has been found that such high pressure of the second bladder 132 should 
not be placed between the hand and glove in the location of the primary 
bladder since the excess pressure would cause discomfort to the wearer and 
possibly cut off circulation after extended use. Further, in the FIG. 12 
embodiment, no fingers are provided in the high pressure bladder adjacent 
to the middle and index finger of the wearer since the rigidity is mostly 
needed at the extremities of the glove beyond the thumb as well as the 
ring and little finger of the wearer. Flexibility is thus desirably 
extended to the central portion of the glove at the middle finger and 
index finger. In this manner, the entire glove and bladder are constructed 
to add maximum flexibility for the wearer when catching a ball. Note is 
taken that the primary bladder has no finger component in the index finger 
area about which the thumb and other fingers pivot when catching a ball. 
Similarly, there is no bladder in the back of the hand immediately beneath 
the knuckles since such might abate flexibility at such location. This is 
accommodated by having the central bladder portion 136 of both the primary 
and secondary bladders behind the hand immediately above the wrist rather 
than across the back of the hand adjacent to the knuckles. In order to 
accommodate this bladder construction, the back of the glove extends 
downwardly a greater distance to cover the entire wrist of the wearer to 
provide a covered passageway for the central portion of the bladder 
coupling the thumb with the fingers. 
The central connecting portion of the low pressure bladder is simply an 
extension of the sheets of air impervious material which constitute such 
bladder. In the second bladder, a hollow tube 138 connects the two 
portions of the high pressure bladder effecting a common pressure 
throughout the secondary bladders. Further, a second pump 142 is located 
on the back of the glove near the tip end of the little finger for 
inflating and deflating the high pressure bladder in a manner the same as 
for the first bladder but pneumatically independent thereof. The high 
pressure bladder is intended to be inflated to about 4 to 5 pounds per 
square inch while the low pressure bladder is intended to be inflated to 
about 2 to 3 pounds per square inch. 
Lastly, the configuration of the second bladder is such that each finger 
area is provided with a central opening 144 at its base in which is 
located the corresponding thumb and finger parts of the primary bladder. 
In this manner, the two extreme fingers and thumb of the wearer are 
contacted by the primary bladder but surrounded by the secondary bladder 
for adding the desired rigidity to the glove without providing excess 
pressure to the wearer's hand. A sectional view of this embodiment, taken 
through the ring finger, is shown in FIG. 13. 
FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 illustrate modified alternate designs for the primary 
bladder. In the FIG. 14 embodiment, the thumb and finger portions of the 
bladder 148 are substantially the same as those in the embodiment of FIGS. 
1 through 3, extending a length substantially equal to the wearer's 
fingers and thumb. The weld dots of such prior embodiment, however, are 
replaced by weld lines 150 axially along the lengths of the thumb and 
finger portions. Similarly, weld lines 152 are provided in the back and 
retention area across the back of the wrist to preclude excessive 
enlargement of the primary bladder at such location. 
The FIG. 15 embodiment is a bladder 154 similar to FIG. 14 except that the 
fingers are of a shorter construction providing support only at the 
central portions of the fingers of the wearer. Specifically, the bladder 
is located to extend from above the knuckles, across the middle joints of 
the fingers and halfway to the outermost joints of the fingers. In 
addition, a modified air channel 156 provides for a more direct coupling 
between the wrist, thumb and finger regions of the bladder. 
The last embodiment, shown in FIG. 16, is a bladder 160 similar to FIG. 14 
except that the central area 162 of the bladder, that coupling the thumb 
and fingers is enlarged to provide a back hand fill area to provide 
additional support to the central portion of the back of the wearer's hand 
above the wrist and beneath the knuckles or other bend points of the hand. 
The lowermost cross-piece 164 is thereby located beneath the lowermost 
edge of a conventional glove, immediately above the wearer's wrist. In 
order to accommodate such new cross-piece 164, the back of the glove is 
extended downwardly, an increased amount as compared to conventional 
gloves, nearly to the wearer's wrist, for effecting the desired securement 
between the wearer's hand and glove. In the earlier embodiment, the back 
of the glove is also extended downwardly, an increased amount as compared 
to conventional gloves, in order to accommodate the bladder or bladders. 
The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as 
well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has 
been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of 
particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the 
preferred forms has been made only by way of example and that numerous 
changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement 
of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of 
the invention. 
Now that the invention has been described,