Abstract:
An improved sports hydration system uses a plurality of bladders and tube branches communicating through tube branch controlling valve to a single feed tube.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     Priority is claimed based on U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/340,931 filed Oct. 22, 2001 entitled “Dual Bladder Sports Hydration System” and invented by Randall B. Bailey. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Summary of the Invention 
     A sports hydration system uses separate bladders or bladder portions containing different fluids, such as an electrolyte sports drink and water, or separate quantities of the same fluid. Each separate bladder or bladder portion feed to separate tube branches. Each branch communicates through a lever or arm operated valve to a single feed tube. In this manner the user can switch between the preferred beverage, feed both beverages, close both, or otherwise use the selection function for endurance and training advantage. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Sports hydration systems have developed primarily in the area of improved suspension, improved tube routing and improved terminals, outlets or ‘bite’ valves. While these are useful improvements they fail to address a primary limitation, namely that each arrangement is operably limited to the supply of a single fluid at a time. 
     A “Y” connector is used in U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,457 to join separate outlet tubes to a single bladder, the disclosure of this patent being incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. A dual function outlet is used in U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,298, changing outlet flow between a stream and a mist, from a single bladder, the disclosure of this patent being incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Bite valves or outlet valves are also taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,039,305 and 6,062,435, the disclosure of these patents being incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Routing of the feed tube is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,344, the disclosure of this patent being incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     The athlete or sportsperson, however, frequently desires alternative fluids during the course of an event or activity. For example, electrolyte sports drinks, such as Gatorade, can provide important performance enhancing elements, yet at other times, pure water is preferred, whether for taste or other functional reasons, or simple preference. Separate bladders can also be used to monitor or ration fluids, such as providing one bladder for a bicycle ride or run in one direction, with the exhaustion of that bladder signifying the need to return to a starting point and the second bladder providing hydration for the return. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the components of the multiple bladder hydration system. 
     FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the components of the single bladder, multiple portion hydration system. 
     FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the valve. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a directional flow control valve. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a pinch valve controlling flow. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a pinch valve. 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of a preferred pinch valve in a both sides open configuration. 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of a preferred pinch valve with a right side closed and left side open configuration. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A hydration system  10  has a plurality of bladders  12 ,  14 . Each bladder  12 ,  14  flows through an outlet  20 ,  22  to a tube branch  24 ,  26 . Tube branches  24 ,  26  interconnect at a valve  28 , controlled between positions off  30 , left  32  and right  34 . Selecting positions off  30 , left  32  and right  34  is accomplished by moving lever  36 . In the preferred embodiment (FIG. 6-8) positions off  30 , left  32  and right  34  are selected by the selective engagement or disengagement of cam arms  204 ,  206  as more fully described below. The terms “left” and “right” are relative, as the unit could be inverted, for example, while in use Valve  28  then permits fluid passage to feed tube  40  and thence to mouthpiece or bite valve  42 . 
     In the alternative hydration system  110  has a single bladder envelope  112 . bladder envelope  112  is subdivided by seam or baffle  114  into left and right bladder sections  116 ,  118 . bladder sections  116 ,  118  flow through an outlet  120 ,  122  to a tube branch  124 ,  126 . Tube branches  124 ,  126  interconnect at a valve  128 , controlled between positions off  130 , left  132  and right  134 . Selecting positions off  130 , left  132  and right  134  is accomplished by moving lever  136 . Valve  128  then permits fluid passage to feed tube  140  and thence to mouthpiece or bite valve  142 . 
     Bladders  12 ,  14  or  112  may be formed by a variety of methods that result in a durable, sanitary, economical, flexible reservoir that is chemically compatible with water or typical sports drinks. Vinyl sheet that is heat or ultrasonically welded is suitable. Similar materials can be used for outlets  20 ,  22 ,  120 ,  122 , although a hybrid of a formed outlet in the bladder and a tubing connection  50 ,  52  or  150 ,  152  may be used, wherein the tubing connection may be either a durable, complex connection, such as a pivoting connection, a simple hose receiving barb type connection, or a permanent hose connection. 
     Tube branches  24 ,  26 ,  124 ,  126  can join either directly to valve  28 ,  128  or can be joined at a “Y” connector  158  to tube  40 ,  140 . In the former arrangement, flow is directly through valve  28 ,  128 , wherein valve  28 ,  128  functions in the manner of a directional flow control valve  160 , having appropriate inlet and outlet fittings for the respective tubes. In the alternative, a ball valve could also be used, set up in the manner of a flow control valve to direct flow between off  30 ,  130 , left  32 ,  132  and right  34 ,  134  positions. 
     As another alternative, a pinch valve type  162  can be used where valve  28 ,  128  indirectly controls flow by selectively pinching one or both of tube branches  24 ,  26 ,  124 ,  126 . By pinching one branch and not the other, flow is controlled, but only the tube contacts the water or sports drink, facilitating easy cleaning. By pinching both branches, flow is completely cut off. 
     While alternative valve arrangements such as a pinch valve with a rotating cam or a dual flow valve may be used, as shown in FIG.  4  and FIG. 5, a pawl and rack locking pinch valve is preferred. This embodiment is shown in FIGS. 6-8. Valve  200  has a body  202  comprising left and right pinch cam arms  204 ,  206  extending from central rib  208 . Rib  208  is spaced from lower rib  210 . Rib  208  has an enlarged cylindrical portion  212  that defines a clip post receiving aperture  214 . “Y” connector  158  fits in a slot  216  in between ribs  208 ,  210  and the legs  205  L and  205  R of conduit  158  pass on either side of cylindrical portion  212 . Each arm  202 ,  204  has a resilient web  218 ,  220  attaching it to rib  208 . Each arm  202 ,  204  has a finger grip  222 ,  224  and then an end  226 ,  228  opposite the respective webs  218 ,  220 . Ends  226 ,  228  terminate in pawls  230 ,  232 . Generally opposite finger grips  222 ,  224  facing “Y” connector  158  are cam surfaces  236 ,  238 . 
     At the top portion of body  202  are left and right rack members  240 ,  242 . Rack members  240 ,  242  are fixed to rib  204  with resilient webs  244 ,  246  in a “T” shaped configuration. Each member  240 ,  242  has a finger grip  248 ,  250  and then an end  252 ,  254  opposite one another, on either side of the respective webs  244 ,  246 . Ends  252 ,  254  terminate in racks  256 ,  258  which are engageable with pawls  230 ,  232 . FIG. 8 shows the valve  202  with the respective arms  204 ,  206  and rack members  240 ,  242  in disengaged condition. Fig. Shows right arm  206  engaged with rack  158  and member  240  displaced to disengage rack  256  from pawl  230 . 
     It will be observed that valve  200  in FIG. 8 is in the position  32  for the left tube to be used. This is because rack  256  is disengaged, thereby enabling free flow through legs  205  L because cam  236  is not compressing leg  205  L, while cam  238  is compressing, and therefore closing, leg  205  R to fluid flow. Engagement of rack  258  and pawl  232  is holding cam  238  tightly against leg  205 R, compressing leg  205 R against cylindrical portion  212  to stop fluid flow therethrough. Closing cam member  204  while leaving cam member  206  engaged would change valve  200  to the off position  30 , and in turn, disengaging rack  258  and pawl  232  while leaving cam member  204  closed would place valve  200  in the right position  34 . FIG. 7 provides a both “on” position 
     As shown more fully in FIG. 6, valve  200  is completed by the compression fitting of clip  270  through aperture  214 . Aperture  214  is then closed by affixation of cap  272  and decal  274 . Alternate, larger cap  276  and decal  278  could also be used. 
     While the present invention has been disclosed and described with reference to these embodiments, it will be apparent that variations and modifications may be made therein. It is also noted that the present invention is independent of the specific hydration system, and is not limited to the specific hydration system. It is, thus, intended in the following claims to cover each variation and modification that falls within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.