Abstract:
A system for structurally supporting the interior of a fluid reservoir is disclosed. The reservoir can have a reinforcing brace within the reservoir. The brace can be splittable or separable, which can allow the reservoir to be inverted, for example for easier cleaning. The brace can maintain the shape of the reservoir when the reservoir is filled with liquid, preventing the reservoir from forming a cylindrical cross-section. The control of the shape of the reservoir can prevent or minimize distortion of a backpack which is carrying the reservoir.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/353,638, filed Jan. 19, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional App. No. 61/461,559, filed Jan. 19, 2011, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to the field of fluid reservoirs. More specifically, this invention relates to reservoirs that can be stored in a larger bag. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Light weight, resealable bags are used increasingly in sporting activities, such as hiking, biking, and snow sport activities like skiing and snowboarding. The reservoirs are often carried in a separate, larger bag, such as in a pocket of a backpack. When storing liquid, the reservoir passively forms a shape based on the placement of the seams and the strength of the walls. Often, the empty reservoir will be generally flat and the liquid-filled reservoir will form a generally cylindrical shape. This change in overall shape results in an awkward fit of the reservoir within the backpack when full, changing the ergonomics of the backpack and pressing into the wearer&#39;s back. 
         [0006]    Limited access to the interior of typical bags makes cleaning more difficult and increases the potential for unclean and unsanitary bags. Once liquids placed in the bags are consumed, the remaining deposits encourage the growth of bacteria and mold. If left uncleaned, such growths can leave stains on the bag, may retain odors, taint any other fluids subsequently introduced into the bag, and create health risks. Regular and thorough cleaning of the inside of the reservoir is critical. 
         [0007]    Commonly used bags for sporting are typically accessible through a relatively small side port in the bag, often covered by a removable cap. The side port limits the access to the interior of the bag, thereby limiting the ability to clean the interior of the bag. 
         [0008]    Therefore, a closeable reservoir system is desired that is capable of ease of internal reservoir cleaning and able to hold the reservoir in a generally consistent shape whether empty or full. A closeable reservoir system is also desired that can provide rapid, convenient and clean liquid addition and removal without significantly changing the overall shape of the reservoir. It is also desired to have a closeable reservoir system with a reservoir that can withstand significantly increased fluid pressures without leaking or changing shape so much as to significantly distort the overall shapes of surrounding components. A closeable reservoir system is also desired that is easy and fast to open and close without going through a change in shape. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    A reservoir system is disclosed. The system has a container, such as a bag, and a sealing member, and an internal wall, baffle, strut or brace internally connecting opposite sides of the exterior walls. The reservoir system can have a carrier, such as a backpack. The carrier can have one or more pockets. The container can be in one of the carrier pockets. 
         [0010]    The container can have a reservoir and an orifice. The orifice can have closed and open configurations. The reservoir can be in fluid communication with the orifice. The orifice can have an orifice closed length when the orifice is in the closed configuration. 
         [0011]    The sealing member can be configured to slidably attach to the container. The sealing member can have has a seal length. The seal length can be at least substantially equal to the orifice closed length. The sealing mechanism can be configured to seal the container. The sealing member can have a substantially straight configuration. 
         [0012]    The sealing member can be configured to attachably engage the container. The container can have a first end and a first side, and wherein the orifice is at the first end. The container can have an opening on the first side of the container. The reservoir system can have a cap removably attached to the opening. The cap can have a socket configured to attach to a tube. The sealing member can be tethered to the container. The sealing member can be configured to be interference fit to the container. 
         [0013]    The brace can be separable into two pieces and/or from one or more sides of the exterior bag wall. The brace can have a re-attachable component. The re-attachable component can be a zipper, locking fork, brace slider, buckles, buttons and slots, straps and slots, lace and holes, hook and loop tape, or combinations thereof. With the sealing member removed and the brace separated, the bag can be inverted, for example, for ease of cleaning and access. 
         [0014]    When finished with the need to access the inside of the bag, the bag can be everted (or “inverted” if the original motion described herein as inverting is actually considered by the reader as everting), the brace can be reattached. The reservoir can then be refilled with liquid, which may not cause a significant change in the depth of the bag due to the tension of the brace. The slider can be then be reattached to the bag, sealing the liquid in the reservoir. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a variation of the reservoir system. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2 a    is a front view of a variation of the reservoir system. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2 b    is a variation of cross-section A-A along a length of the bag. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2 c    is a perspective view of a variation of the brace of the bag in  FIG. 2   a.    
           [0019]      FIG. 3 a    is a front view of a variation of the reservoir system. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3 b    is a variation of cross-section B-B along a length of the bag. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 3 c  and 3 d    illustrate a variation of a method for assembling the brace of  FIG. 3   b.    
           [0022]      FIG. 4 a    is a front view of a variation of the reservoir system. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4 b    is a variation of cross-section C-C along a length of the bag with the brace slider shown in see-through. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4 c    is a perspective view of a variation of the brace of the bag in  FIG. 4 a    with the brace slider shown in see-through. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5 a    is a front view of a variation of the reservoir system. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5 b    is a variation of cross-section D-D along a length of the bag (with a buckle removed for illustrative purposes). 
           [0027]      FIG. 5 c    is a perspective view of a variation of the brace of the bag in  FIG. 5   a.    
           [0028]      FIG. 6 a    is a front view of a variation of the reservoir system. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6 b    is a variation of cross-section E-E along a length of the bag with the brace in an unassembled configuration. 
           [0030]      FIG. 6 c    is a variation of cross-section E-E along a length of the bag with the brace in an assembled configuration. 
           [0031]      FIGS. 7 a  through 7 c    illustrate a method of attaching two portions of a variation of a brace. 
           [0032]      FIGS. 8 a  through 8 c    are width sectional views  8   a - 8   a ,  8   b - 8   b , and  8   c - 8   c  of a portion of  FIGS. 7 a  through 7 c   , respectively. 
           [0033]      FIGS. 9 a  through 9 c    are length sectional views  9   a - 9   a ,  9   b - 9   b , and  9   c - 9   c  of a portion of  FIGS. 7 a  through 7 c   , respectively. 
           [0034]      FIGS. 10 a  through 10 s    illustrate a variation of a method for using a variation of the reservoir system. 
           [0035]      FIG. 10 m    is a variation of cross-section  10   m  of  FIG. 10   l.    
           [0036]      FIG. 10 o    is a variation of cross-section  10   o  of  FIG. 10   n.    
           [0037]      FIG. 10 q    is a variation of cross-section  10   q  of  FIG. 10   p.    
           [0038]      FIG. 10 s    is a variation of cross-section  10   s  of  FIG. 10   r.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0039]      FIG. 1  illustrates that a reservoir system  10  can have a reservoir container, such as a bag  12 , and a sealing member, such as an elongated slider  14 . The bag  12  can have a reservoir  15 , such as one or more partially or completely hollow cavities defined by the bag  12 . Multiple reservoirs (not shown) can be in the bag  12 . For example, the bag cavity can be divided into one or more separate compartments by one or more septa, bladders and/or other liquid dividers. 
         [0040]    The bag  12  can have one or more bag reinforcements  16 , such as bag seals. The bag reinforcements  16  can strengthen one or more higher-probability mechanical failure areas on the bag  12 . For example, first and second bag reinforcements  16   a  and  16   b  can be located on opposite sides of the bag  12  adjacent to the primary bag opening near the slider  14 . A third reinforcement  16   c  can be located along all or a portion of the width of the bottom of the bag  12 . The bag seals can have thicker dimensions than the surrounding material. The bag seals can have layers of the material of the bag  12  or a different material attached to and/or integral with the bag  12 . The bag seals can be along all or part (as shown) of the circumference of the bag  12 , for example, excluding the portion of the bag  12  adjacent to the orifice. 
         [0041]    The slider  14  and the bag  12  can be configured to facilitate slidably translating the slider  14  on the bag  12 . The slider  14  can have a slider seal configured to seal the orifice. The slider seal can be, for example, the location on the slider  14  where the dimensions of slider arms force the bag  12  to seal the bag  12 . The top of the bag  12  can have an orifice and a first lip  18   a  and a second lip  18   b  surrounding the orifice. The slider  14  can pressure seal the bag  12  by pressing the first lip  18   a  and the second lip  18   b  together. 
         [0042]    The bag  12  can be made from a single sheet or from separate sheets, for example, integrated and/or attached at the bag seams. The lips  18  can have lip seams. The lip seams can be part of the bag seams. The bag and/or lip seams can be leak-proof and water-tight when pressed together, for example by the slider  14 . 
         [0043]    The bag  12  and slider  14  can have any of the features, elements, or other disclosure from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/445,721, filed 2 Jun. 2006, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,043,005, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
         [0044]    The bag  12  can have a brace  20  inside of the reservoir  15 . The brace  20  can be positioned within a brace zone  22 . The brace zone  22  can be spaced from the outflow socket  25  or nozzle by a brace zone bottom gap  24 . The brace zone bottom gap  24  can be from about 0 in. to about 3 in., for example about 0.5 in. The brace  20  can be spaced from the top of the bag  12  by a brace zone top gap  26 . The brace zone top gap  26  can be from about 0 in. to about 5 in., for example about 2.75 in. 
         [0045]    The bag  12  can have a bag width  26 , for example any width or widths about 1 in. wider than those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/445,721, supra. 
         [0046]      FIG. 2 a    illustrates that the bag  12  can have a bag exterior wall  28 . The bag exterior wall  28  can be the wall of the bag  12  excluding the brace wall in the reservoir  15 . 
         [0047]    The bag  12  can have a brace exterior connector  30 . The brace exterior connector  30  may or may not be visible from the outside of the bag  12  (e.g., the bag  12  can be opaque, the brace exterior connector  30  can be transparent, or the bag  12  and/or brace exterior connector  30  can be translucent). The brace exterior connector  30  can be releasably attached or fused to the interior or exterior of the bag exterior wall  30 . The brace exterior connector  30  can be welded, epoxied or glued, melted, snapped, buttoned, connected by a hook and loop tape, or combinations thereof to the bag exterior wall  28 . The brace exterior connector  30  can be an integrated element or feature of the brace  20 . 
         [0048]    The brace exterior connector  30  can be positioned to be laterally centered with respect to the bag  12  and/or the outlet socket  25  or nozzle. 
         [0049]      FIG. 2 b    illustrates that the brace  20  can have a catch or brace first wall  32   a  and/or a catch or brace second wall  32   b . The brace first wall  32   a  can be attached or integrated with a first side of the bag exterior wall  28 . The brace second wall  32   b  can be attached or integrated with a second side of the bag exterior wall  28  opposite the first side of the bag exterior wall where the brace first wall  32   a  is attached or integrated. 
         [0050]    The brace first wall  32   a  can be directly or indirectly separably attached to the brace second wall  32   b  and/or the opposite side of the bag exterior wall  28  (e.g., when the bag  12  has no brace second wall  32   b ). 
         [0051]    The brace  20  can have a brace depth  34  when the brace  20  is assembled (e.g., when the zipper is zipped). The brace depth  34  can be from about 0.5 in. to about 4 in., for example about 2 in. 
         [0052]    The brace  20  can have a zipper  36  or zip fastener. The zipper  36  can be a coil zipper, invisible zipper, metallic zipper, plastic-molded zipper, open-ended zipper, closed-ended zipper, or combinations thereof. The first brace wall  32   a  and second brace wall  32   b  (or opposing exterior bag wall) can be connected to each other when the zipper  36  is lined up and pressed together. 
         [0053]    The zipper  36  can be attached to a zipper first wall  38   a  and a zipper second wall  38   b . The zipper first wall  38   a  can releasably connect with a zipper second wall  38   b . The catch walls or zipper walls  38  can overlap each other beyond the zipper  36 . The zipper first wall  38   a  and/or zipper second wall  38   b  can be part of the brace first wall  32   a  and/or brace second wall  32   b , respectively, or be a separate element attached to the respective brace walls  32 . 
         [0054]    The brace  20  can be configured to maintain a fixed depth and/or maximum depth of the middle of the bag  12 . For example, the brace walls  32  and zipper walls  38  can be configured to resist bending or distortion. For example, the brace walls  32  and/or zipper walls  38  can have two, three or more layers of wall material, reinforcing structural geometry such as ribs, struts, or combinations thereof. 
         [0055]    The brace walls  32  can have a brace wall thickness from about 0.1 mm to about 10 mm, for example about 6.4 mm, about 5 mm, about 2 mm or about 0.25 mm. The brace  20  and the components of the brace  20  can be made from TPU, any of the other materials listed herein or combinations thereof. 
         [0056]      FIG. 2 c    illustrates that the brace exterior connectors  30  can extend at right angles from the ends of each of the brace walls  32 . The brace exterior connectors  30  can be flanges securing the brace  20  to the bag exterior wall  28 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 3 a    illustrates that the bag  12  can have two brace exterior connectors  30  attached to each side (e.g., front and back) of the bag  12 . The lateral center of the connection points or lines brace exterior connectors can be aligned laterally with the outlet socket  25  or nozzle. 
         [0058]      FIG. 3 b    illustrates that the brace  20  can have a removable locking fork  40 . The locking fork  40  can be a clamp. The locking fork  40  can fixedly hold the first brace wall  32   a  to the second brace wall  32   b , for example at a fixed distance spaced apart or compressed together. For example, the brace first wall  32   a  can be held in contact with the second brace wall  32   b  or at a brace wall gap. The brace wall gap can be from 0 mm to about 5 mm, for example about 0 mm. The locking fork  40  can be substantially rigid. 
         [0059]    The locking fork  40  can have a first arm or prong  42   a  and a second arm or prong  42   b . The arms  42  can be held together at a fork head  44 . The fork head  44  can be integral with or attached to the prongs  42 . The fork head  44  can hold the first and second prongs  42  in tension toward each other. 
         [0060]    The brace  20  can have a brace height  46 . The brace height  46  can be from about 1 in. to about 14 in., more narrowly from about 3 in. to about 9 in., for example about 8.8 in. 
         [0061]      FIG. 3 c    illustrates that the brace first wall  32   a  and brace second wall  32   b  can have U-shaped configurations. The brace first wall  32   a  and brace second wall  32   b  can each form a tube with the bag exterior wall  28 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 3 d    illustrates that the locking fork  40  can be slid over the brace walls  32  so that the first prong  42   a  of the locking fork  40  can be positioned lateral to the medial-most portion of the brace first wall  32   a , and the second prong can be positioned lateral to the medial-most portion of the brace second wall  32   b . The first prong  42   a  can be in the tube formed by the brace first wall  32   a  and the second prong  42   b  can be in the tube formed by the brace second wall  38   b . The prongs  42  can press medially against the respective brace walls  32 . 
         [0063]    The locking fork  40  can be translated over the brace walls  32  until the locking fork head interference fits against the brace walls  32 . The locking fork  40  can be slidably removed from the brace walls  32 , for example releasing the brace walls  32  to allow inverting of the bag  12 . 
         [0064]      FIGS. 4 a  through 4 c    illustrate that the brace  20  can have catch first wall  48   a  opposite a catch second wall  48   b . The catch walls  48  can be part of (i.e., integrated with) or extend from the brace walls  32 . 
         [0065]    The catch walls  48  can be configured to slidably engage a brace slider  50 . The first catch wall  48   a  can medially terminate at a catch first side  52   a . The second catch wall  48   b  can terminate at a catch second side  52   b . The catch sides  52  can have guides and/or configurations similar to how the lips  18  of the bag  12  are configured to receive the slider  14 . 
         [0066]    The brace slider  50  can be slid along and over the catch first side  52   a  and catch second side  52   b  similar to the translation of the locking fork  40 , supra. The brace slider  50  can attach to the catch first side  52   a  and the catch second side  52   b . The brace slider  50  can fix the catch first wall  52   a  to the catch second wall  52   b . The brace slider  50  can hold the catch first side  52   a  sealed against or at a fixed distance from the catch second side  52   b . The brace slider  50  can be slidably removed from the catch sides  52 , for example, to release the first catch wall  52   a  from the second catch wall  52   b  allowing inverting of the bag  12 . 
         [0067]      FIGS. 5 a  through 5 c    illustrates that the brace  50  can have one or more buckle straps  54  extending from one or both brace walls  32 . The buckle straps  54  can be integral with the brace walls  32  or attached to the brace walls  32  with strap attachments  56 , such as a weld, epoxy or glue, melting, snap, button, hook and loop tape, or combinations thereof. The buckle straps  54  can be positioned along the height of the bag  12  to align with a buckle strap  54  from the opposite brace wall  32 . 
         [0068]    One or more buckles  58  can be attached to the buckle straps  54 . The buckles  58  can be side release buckles. The buckle straps  54  can be wrapped around, threaded through or otherwise fed through the buckles  58  to attach to the buckles  58 . The buckle straps  54  can be welded, epoxied or glued, melted, snapped, buttoned, attached by hook and loop tape, or combinations thereof to the buckles  58 . The buckle straps  54  can be wrapped around, threaded through or otherwise fed through the buckles  58  and then the buckle straps  54  can be secured to themselves, for example by welding, epoxying or gluing, melting, snapping, buttoning, attaching by hook and loop tape, or combinations thereof. 
         [0069]    The buckles  58  can have two, separable portions or parts, for example, a buckle male portion  60   a  and a buckle female portion  60   b . The buckle male portion  60   a  can be slidably attachable and detachable from the buckle female portion  60   b . The buckle portions  60  can snap together and be squeezed to be released and separated. The buckles  58  can releasably hold the brace first wall  32   a  to the brace second wall  32   b.    
         [0070]      FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b    illustrates that the brace first wall  32   a  can have one or more slots  62  and/or buttons  64 . The brace second wall  32   b  can have one or more buttons  64  and/or slots  62 . The slots  62  and/or buttons  64  can be formed in or on or attached to the brace walls  32  or on wall mounts  66  that are attached to the brace walls  32 . The slots  62  can be molded from or cut into the brace wall  32  and/or wall mount  66  material. The buttons  64  can be a bollard standard molded button. The buttons  64  can be attached to the brace walls  32  and/or wall mounts  66  with a button rivet  65 , adhesive, hook and loop tape, or a combinations thereof. 
         [0071]    The slots  62  can have a slot wide length  68   a  and a slot narrow length  68   b . The buttons  64  can be placed into the slot wide lengths  68   a  of the corresponding slots  62 . The slots  62  and buttons  64  can be configured so the button  64  can pass in and out of, and slide along, the slot wide length  68   a . The slots  62  and buttons  64  can be configured so the button  64  can not pass in and out of (i.e., out of plane with the brace walls  32 ), but can still slide along, the slot narrow length  68   b . For example, the buttons  64  can have button heads and button stems. The button heads can extend from the button stems. The button heads can be wider than the width of the slot narrow lengths  68   b  and narrower than the slot wide lengths  68   a . The buttons  64  and slots  62  can be positioned along the height of the bag  12  to align with the opposite configuration (i.e., if a button  64 , then aligned with a slot  62 , and vice versa) on the opposite brace wall. The button  64  and slot  62  can be configured so the button  64  can slide along the entire length of the slot  62 . The button  64  and slot  62  can be configured so the button snaps or otherwise locks into the terminal end of the slot narrow length  68   b.    
         [0072]      FIG. 6 c    illustrates that the brace first wall  32   a  and second brace wall  32   b  can be brought toward each other, as shown by arrows. The buttons  64  can be attached to the slots  62 , for example, holding the brace first wall  32   a  and the brace second wall  32   b  together or at a fixed distance. 
         [0073]      FIGS. 7 a , 8 a  and 9 a    illustrate that each button  64  can have a button stem  70 . The button stem  70  can extend from the brace wall  32  and/or catch wall at an angle from about 45° to about −45° from the perpendicular. For example, the button stem  70  can extend perpendicular from the brace wall  32  and/or catch wall  48 . The button rivet  65  can attach the button  64  to the brace wall  32  and/or catch wall  48 . For example the button rivet  65  can through the axial centerline of the button stem  70 . The button stem  70  can have a button stem width or diameter  71 . The button stem diameter  71  can be from about 1 mm to about 10 mm, for example about 4 mm. 
         [0074]    The button  64  can have a button head  72  extending laterally from the button stem  70 . For example, the button head  72  can extend perpendicular to the button stem  70  at the terminal end of the button stem  70 . The button head  72  can have a rounded triangular configuration when viewed perpendicular to the plane of the brace wall  32  and/or catch wall  48 . The button head  72  can be spaced from the surface of the brace wall  32  and/or catch wall  48  by the button stem  70 , for example at a length about equal to or greater than the thickness of the opposing brace wall  32  and/or catch wall  48 . 
         [0075]    The slot  62  can have a slot snap  74 . The slot snap  74  can be a narrowing in the slot  62  between the slot wide length  68   a  and the slot narrow length  68   b . The slot snap  74  can have a slot snap width  75 . The slot snap width  75  can be from about 1 mm to about 7 mm, for example about 2.9 mm. The slot snap width  75  can be the same width or a slightly narrower width than the button stem diameter  71 . For example, the slot snap width  75  can be equal to or greater than about 99% of the button stem diameter  71 , more narrowly about equal to or greater than about 95%, yet more narrowly about equal to or greater than about 80%, yet more narrowly about equal to or greater than about 72.5%, yet more narrowly about equal to or greater than about 65%. 
         [0076]      FIGS. 7 b , 8 b  and 9 b    illustrate that the brace first wall  32   a  and/or catch first wall  48   a  can be pulled toward and to overlap the brace second wall  32   b  and/or catch second wall  48   b . The buttons  64  of the brace second wall  32   b  and/or catch second wall  48   b  can be inserted into the slot wide lengths  68   b  of the brace first wall  32   a  and/or catch first wall  48   a . The button heads  72  can be narrower than the slot wide lengths  68   b , for example the button heads  72  can be passed through the slot wide lengths  68   b . The brace second wall  32   b  and/or catch second wall  48   b  can be between the button head  72  and the brace first wall  32   a  and/or catch first wall  48   a.    
         [0077]      FIGS. 7 c , 8 c  and 9 c    illustrate that the brace first wall  32   a  and/or catch first wall  48   a  and the brace second wall  32   b  and/or catch second wall  48   b  can be pulled away from each other, as shown by arrows (i.e., or one of the walls  32   a  and/or  48   a  can be held still while the other  32   b  and/or  48   b  is pulled away). The button stem  70  can be initially in the slot wide length  68   a . When the brace first wall  32   a  and/or catch first wall  48   a  is be pulled away from the brace second wall  32   b  and/or catch second wall  48   b , the button stem  70  can pass the slot snap  74  and be positioned in the slot narrow length  68   b . When the button stem  70  passes the slot snap  74 , the slot snap can elastically deform, for example as the slot snap  74  is forced wider by the passing button stem  70 . The slot snap  74  can resist the button stem  70  from exiting the slot narrow length  68   b.    
         [0078]    The button head  72  can prevent the brace first wall  32   a  and/or catch first wall  48   a  from being separated from the brace second wall  32   b  and/or catch second wall  48   b  out of plane of the brace walls  32  or catch walls  48 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 c   , the button head  72  can be wider than the slot narrow length  68   b . Accordingly, the button head  72  can interference fit against the brace second wall  32   b  and/or the catch second head  48   b.    
         [0079]    The bag, brace, sliders, straps, buckles, buttons and any and all other elements described herein can be made from polyethylene, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) or low density polyethylene (LDPE) (e.g., linear LDPE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyurethane (e.g., thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polyoxymethylene (POM), also known as acetal resin, polytrioxane and polyformaldehyde (e.g., Delrin by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del.), Nylon, or combinations thereof. For example, the slider can be made from POM and the bag can be made from TPU. 
       Method of Making 
       [0080]    The bag can be molded and/or any and/or all of the elements of the bag, including the brace, can be welded (e.g., RF welded) together. The slider can be molded and/or any and/or all of the elements of the slider can be welded (e.g., RF welded) together 
       Methods of Use 
       [0081]      FIG. 10 a    illustrates a front view of the reservoir system  10  that can have a brace  20  with a zipper configuration, similar to the configuration shown in  FIGS. 2 a  through 2 c   . The slider  14  can be tethered to the bag  12  by a leash attached to the slider  14  and the bag  12 , or the slider  14  can be untethered to the bag  12 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 10 b    illustrates a top view showing that the bag  12  can have a bag depth  76 . The bag depth  76  can be substantially or absolutely constant whether the reservoir  15  is full or empty of liquid. For example, the bag depth  76  can be substantially equal to the brace depth  34 , with the additional thickness of the bag exterior wall  28 . Accordingly, the bag  12  can maintain a substantially similar shape whether the reservoir  15  is full or empty of liquid, for example when the brace is in place and assembled (e.g., when the brace first wall  32   a  is attached, fixed or secured to the brace second wall  32   b ). 
         [0083]      FIG. 10 c    illustrates that the slider  14  can be translatably removed, as shown by arrow, from the bag  12 . The removal of the slider  14  from the bag  12  can expose the closed filling orifice  78  of the reservoir  15 .  FIG. 10 d    illustrates that the slider  14  can be completely removed from the bag  12 , allowing the lips  18  surrounding the orifice  78  to be manipulated, such as by being opened or closed. 
         [0084]      FIG. 10 e    illustrates that the bag can have the first lip  18   a  and second lip  18   b , for example, adjacent to the orifice  78 . The first lip  18   a  can be opposite the second lip  18   b . The lips  18  can be reinforced. The lips  18  can be thicker and/or otherwise more reinforced and/or stronger than the surrounding material of the bag  12 . The bag  12  can have one or more guides  80 , for example on the lips  18 . The guide  80  can extend perpendicular to the bag exterior wall  28  and/or lips  18 . The guide  80  direct the slider  14  during use as the slider  14  is slid over and off the lips  18 . The first lip  18   a  can have one or more first engagement members, such as first guides  80 . The guides  80  can be a part or all of the engagement members. The second lip  18   b  can have one or more second engagement members, such as second guides  80 . The slider  14  can slidably engage the guides  80 . The slider  14  can attach to the lips  18  at the guides  80 . 
         [0085]    The first lip  12   a  and second lip  12   b  can be pulled apart, as shown by arrows. When the orifice  78  is open, the brace  20  and zipper  36  can be accessed and manipulated as described herein. 
         [0086]      FIG. 10 f    illustrates that the bag  12  can be partially inverted. (The use of “inverted” herein is describing turning the bag inside out by pulling the lips of the bag outward around the remainder of the bag. This manipulation may also be considered “everted.”) The zipper  36  can be pulled apart, as shown by arrows. The zipper  36  can be pulled apart by inverting the bag  12  and/or by manually pulling the zipper first wall  38   a  away from the zipper second wall  38   b , as shown. 
         [0087]      FIGS. 10 g  and 10 h    illustrate that the zipper  36  can be further separated by further inverting the bag  12  and/or by further manually pulling the zipper first wall  38   a  away from the zipper second wall  38   b , as shown by arrows. The zipper  36  can be progressively separated along the length of the zipper  36 . If the reservoir system  10  has another sequential attachment configuration, such as the buttons  64  and slots  62  disclosed herein, the attachment configuration can be attached or detached in a sequential procession along the length of the attachment configuration, such as the zipper  36 . 
         [0088]      FIG. 10 i    illustrates that the bag  12  can be further inverted after complete separation of the zipper  36 .  FIG. 10 j    illustrates that the bag  12  can be completely inverted, exposing the entire interior surface of the bag exterior wall  28  to the outside of the reservoir system  10 . The bag exterior wall  28  can be washed or otherwise cleaned, dried, repaired, or combinations thereof, while in a completely inverted configuration. 
         [0089]      FIG. 10 k    illustrates that to reconstruct the bag  12 , the bag  12  can be partially everted (i.e., returned to a partially-inverted configuration). The zipper first wall  38   a  can be aligned with the zipper second wall  38   b  to place the two halves of the zipper  36 , on the zipper first wall  38   a  and the zipper second wall  38   b , in contact. The zipper  36  can then be pressed together to close the zipper  36 , for example using manual pressure applied with the user&#39;s fingers, as shown by arrow. 
         [0090]      FIGS. 10 l  and 10 m    illustrate that the closing pressure on the zipper  36  can be applied, as shown by arrows, from one or both sides at the top of the length of the zipper  36 , for example, to progressively seal the zipper  36  along the length of the zipper  36  while further everting the bag  12 . The zipper  36  can be further squeezed, for example to check and secure the attachment of the zipper  36 , while the bag  12  remains in a partially inverted configuration or is fully reconfigured to a non-inverted (i.e., fully everted) outside-out configuration. 
         [0091]      FIGS. 10 n  and 10 o    illustrate that the pressure to close the zipper  36  can be progressively slid down the length of the zipper  36 . For example, the zipper closing pressure can initially be at a first terminal end of the zipper  36 , as shown by arrows  82 , and then be slid down, as shown by arrow  84 , to a second terminal end of the zipper  36 . 
         [0092]      FIGS. 10 p  and 10 q    illustrate that when the bag  12  is fully everted back to an outside-out configuration, manual pressure can be applied through the bag  12  along the length of the zipper  36 , for example to insure a secure connection of the zipper  36 . The closing compressive pressure can be applied at a first length along the zipper  36 , as shown by arrows  86 , and then slid further down the zipper  36 , as shown by arrow  88 . 
         [0093]      FIGS. 10 r  and 10 s    illustrate that the entire length of the entire length of the zipper  36  can be closed by sliding the closing pressure down, as shown by arrow  88 , to the bottom terminal end of the zipper  36 , as shown by arrows  90 . The zipper  36  can be closed and secured (i.e., fixed) along the entire length of the zipper  36 . The bag  12  is shown in a collapsed stated in  FIGS. 10 p -10 s   , but the brace exterior connectors  30  can rotate with respect to the bag exterior walls  28 , for example as the reservoir  15  is filled with a fluid. 
         [0094]    The zipper  36  can, but does not have to, be reattached before liquid is delivered into the reservoir  15 . After the reservoir  15  is desirably refilled, the slider  14  can be reattached, sealing the orifice  78 . The zipper  36  can be substituted with or used in additional to any of the other attachment configurations shown herein, such as the fork  40 , brace slider  50 , buckles  50 , buttons  64  and slots  62 , or combinations thereof. For example, the insertion of the buttons  64  into the respective slots  62  can be concurrent with each other or can be sequential (e.g., as shown for the zipper in  FIGS. 10 k  through 10 s   , for example from the top end of the brace  20  to the bottom end of the brace  20  while the bag  12  is reverted to an outside-out configuration (i.e., while be everted). 
         [0095]    When pressure in the bag  12  increases (e.g., when the bag  12  contains fluid and the bag  12  is squeezed), the brace  20  can apply tension between the front and back walls of the bag  12  to maintain the constant maximum depth of the bag  12 . The slider  14  can apply compression on the orifice  78 , for example, sealing the reservoir  15 . 
         [0096]    When loaded in a backpack, the bag  12  can maintain a maximum depth and shape when internal liquid pressure or external pressure is applied to the bag  12 . The backpack can, in turn, not be subjected to deforming forces from the reservoir system  10 . 
         [0097]    It is apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to this disclosure, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Elements of systems, devices and methods shown with any embodiment are exemplary for the specific embodiment and can be used in combination or otherwise on other embodiments within this disclosure.