Abstract:
An improved disposable hydration pouch and method of delivery is disclosed herein. The hydration pouch may be manufactured from poly-ethylene or other high self-friction polymers that can be thermally sealed, which allows the pouch to be inexpensive to manufacture and disposable. The hydration pouch also includes a plurality of latitudinal thermally sealed baffles to provide improved lateral support and strength while holding liquids during use over existing poly-ethylene hydration pouches in the prior art. The disposable hydration pouch may be used by athletes, hikers, cyclists, travelers, and more as a portable hydration source.

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to portable and disposable hydration systems, particularly passive hydration pouches relying on a reservoir or containment area to deliver liquids to a user during an outdoor activity wherein liquids may not be immediately available, such as cycling, skiing, hunting, or hiking. 
     DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
     With the ever-increasing popularity of events such as hiking, snowboarding, downhill mountain biking, and other outdoor strenuous endurance activities, an efficient means to carry and deliver liquids to active participants is needed so that they can maintain sufficient hydration when performing those activities. Because the aforementioned outdoor activities often occur in remote locations, outdoor enthusiasts seek portable hydration pouches to improve their endurance. 
     Prior to the popularity of hydration pouches, athletes relied on water or other liquid bottles for hydration. Using a more solid and rigid plastic, water bottles were inflexible and rigid compared to the flexible hydration pouch system. Hydration pouch systems are increasingly popular amongst outdoor athletes because they can store a much larger volume of liquid than a traditional water bottle. Moreover, hydration pouches are easier for an athlete to access during activity compared to bottle-based systems. 
     Hydration pouches commonly comprise a bladder or pouch with liquids that can be stored on a person or bag and are accessed via an elongated tube connected to the pouch at one end and to a closure valve at the other end wherein a person can intake liquids from the pouch. A popular class of hydration pouches provides a bladder unit filled with liquids to be placed in a backpack or along the body, wherein the wearer can consume the liquids held in the bladder unit via a tube or hose running from the base of the hydration pouch and bite valve to the mouth of the wearer. Examples of such hydration pouch systems include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,420,097, 5,941,640, 7,820,946, 7,806,300, and 7,975,880. 
     Unfortunately, hydration pouches such as those described above still have several issues. First, hydration pouches in the prior art suffer from buildup of bacteria and other pathogens such as mold because certain areas are difficult to clean as well as adequately dry. The openings of several hydration pouches in the prior art do not provide an easily accessible area where one could adequately clean all areas of the inner bladder. The inlets and outlets of most prior art devices are too small for most cleaning tools to easily access without piercing the bladder. Unfortunately, after numerous uses without proper cleaning, bacteria and other microorganisms can buildup along the inner lining of the hydration pouch increasing the likelihood a user could fall ill. Because hydration pouches are fairly expensive, they are not replaced as frequently as they should be replaced. 
     It is also difficult to remove trace amounts of other liquids stored previously in a hydration pouch. Popular electrolyte drinks include a variety of flavors consumed by outdoor athletes. The taste and flavors of electrolyte and other drinks are noticeable long after cleaning the inside of a hydration pouch in the prior art. The challenge in removing certain flavors and tastes from a hydration pouch is an issue with pouches in the prior art. A disposable hydration pouch would overcome this limitation; however, hydration pouches in the prior art are not intended to be disposable and are cost prohibitive to treat as such. 
     Further, most popular hydration pouches in the prior art do not provide a means to prevent excess lateral movement of liquids during use. The excess movement creates noise and requires energy to stabilize, which may inhibit the activity or can make carrying the hydration pouch uncomfortable for the user. 
     Thus, there is a need for an improved portable hydration pouch system that is disposable and affordable with sufficient means to protect against excess lateral movement of liquids. Such an improved hydration pouch should be inexpensive to manufacture, recyclable, and can securely hold one or more liters of liquid at a time. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an improved portable and disposable hydration pouch that is also inexpensive to manufacture. The present invention accomplishes these objectives. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present device is a disposable hydration pouch made from thermally sealable poly-ethylene, poly-urethane, urethane, and/or other polymers. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a hydration pouch that can be easily and inexpensively manufactured. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a hydration pouch that can be easily disposed of by a user. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a hydration pouch system that can be supported from any backpack designed to carry and deliver liquids. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a hydration pouch that can store a large volume of liquid but also with specifically placed baffles to reduce excess lateral movement of liquids stored in the pouch during use. 
     As will be discussed in more detail, the focus of the present invention is to provide a disposable hydration pouch that is more affordable to users than hydration pouches in the prior art. The apparatus and methods discussed herein can apply to any size or shapes that may be disclosed herein and are not limited to this Description. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following Figures, wherein similar reference numbers shall refer to similar parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an unfilled disposable hydration pouch. 
         FIG. 2A  is a side cross-sectional view of an unfilled disposable hydration pouch. 
         FIG. 2B  is a side cross-sectional close-up view of an unfilled disposable hydration pouch of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  2 B- 2 B. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a liquid filled disposable hydration pouch. 
         FIG. 4A  is a side cross-sectional view of a liquid filled disposable hydration pouch. 
         FIG. 4B  is a side cross-sectional close-up view of a liquid filled disposable hydration pouch of  FIG. 3  taken along the line  4 B- 4 B. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below in the accompanying Figures. The following detailed description provides detailed schematics for a thorough understanding of and an enabling description for these embodiments. One having ordinary skill in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without certain details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments. 
     Also, it is noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms, “a,” “and,” “said,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly states to the contrary. Conversely, it is also contemplated that the claims disclosed herein may be drafted as to require singular elements or exclude any optional element indicated to be so here in the accompanying text or drawings. This statement is to serve as an antecedent basis for the use of exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only” and similar terms in connection with the recitation of claims elements or the use of a “negative” claim limitation(s). 
     Further, for clarification purposes, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the terms “reservoir,” “hydration pouch,” “delivery tube,” “bag,” “hose,” “tube,” and are used to provide a basic understanding of the operation of the systems, methods, and apparatuses of this invention. Thus, the terms “reservoir,” “hydration pouch,” “delivery tube,” “bag,” “hose,” and “tube” should not be construed as limiting in any way the systems, methods, and apparatuses of this invention. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a front view of an unfilled disposable hydration pouch is shown. Generally speaking the hydration pouch is generally referred to in  10  and resembles a rectangular shape when unfilled. The initial components to form the hydration pouch include a first  12  and second  13  sheet of plastic or other polymer material and then placing one flat over the other and creating a sealed and bonded perimeter as shown in  15   a - 15   c  around part of the top  11   a  of the first  12  and second  13  sheets, the lateral sides  11   b  of the sheets, and the bottom  11   c  of the sheets. After the bonded  15 ( a )- 15 ( c ) perimeter around the  12  first and second  13  sheets has been formed, an upper baffle  42  seal and a lower baffle  43  seal are created as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Suitable materials for the sheets include but are not limited to poly-ethylene, poly-propylene, poly-urethane, and urethane. Any polymers with a high self-friction will achieve the desired goal of ensuring that both sheets continually engage one another prior to being filled. Although the ideal embodiment of the invention includes bonding the sheets together via a heat sealer, the inventors imagine that any number of bonding methods including ultrasonic welders, adhesives, or other commercially practicable methods may be used. 
     Once the first  12  and second  13  sheets are bonded to one another at a portion of the top  11   a , all of the lateral sides  11   b  and bottom  11   c  to form a perimeter, the basic body  14  of the hydration pouch  10  is in place. A plurality of equidistant inner baffles  41  are placed in the middle of the body  14  and runs generally horizontally or along a latitudinal axis. The inner baffles  41  are arranged parallel to the top  11   a  and bottom  11   c  of the sheets equidistant from each other, and are formed between the first  12  and second  13  sheets via a sealed and bonded baffle perimeter as shown in  44 . Similar to the bonding and sealing methods disclosed above, a heat sealer can be used to create the baffles bonding  44  for the inner  41 , lower  42 , and upper  43  baffles used in the hydration pouch  10 . In the ideal embodiment the inner baffles  41  are “bone-shaped,” with a horizontal linear shaft component and spherical ends connected at each shaft end. Other shapes may be used for the inner baffles  41 , depending on the intended design and needs of the hydration pouch  10 . 
     The upper  42  and lower  43  baffles are used to store liquids and adequately distribute the weight of liquids being carried in the hydration pouch  10  at a given time. The upper baffles  42  are a symmetrical horizontal heat seal originating from each lateral side of the body  14  that runs upward from the lateral perimeter to the tapered neck  18  of the hydration pouch  10  opening  17 . The lower baffles  43  resemble a concave right triangle and is also a symmetrical horizontal heat seal that runs from each lower lateral  11   b  side in a downward curve that meets in the center of the bottom  11   c  of the body  14 . The placement of each lower baffle  43  distributes the weight of the hydration pouch  10  so that too much liquid doesn&#39;t accumulate at the bottom  11   c  of the containment area  16 . The unique placement and design of the upper  42  and lower  43  baffles as well as the inner baffles  41  in the containment area  16  allows the hydration pouch  10  to be manufactured with inexpensive materials with minimal concern for breakage during use. 
     It is important to note that liquids are to be added to the hydration pouch  10  via an opening  17  at the top  11   a  of the body  14  between the first  12  and second  13  sheets. The top  11   a  of the first  12  sheet and the top of the second  13  sheet are unbounded and form an opening  17  for liquid to be added to the containment area  16 . The unsealed top  11   a  of the first  12  and second  13  sheets and curved upper baffle  43  creates a opening  17  and a tapered neck  18  to allow a user to deposit a desired amount of liquid into the containment area  16  of the hydration pouch  10 . When the neck  18  at the top  11   a  is separated to create an opening  18  between the first  12  and second  13  sheets, available liquids can be delivered to the pouch. The ideal amount of liquid to be held by the containment area  16  ranges between 1 and 3 liters. Once the desired amount of liquids is added, the user can seal the top  11   a  of the hydration pouch  10  via a mechanical clamp  52 . 
     The wider opening  17  at the top  11   a  of the body  14  presents several advantages to hydration pouches  10  in the prior art. First, additional items such as ice or cooling articles may be added to liquids stored in the hydration pouch  10 . Most hydration pouches  10  in the prior art require a user to store the pouch overnight in a refrigerator in order for liquids to be chilled and maintain a desired temperature. This design consideration reduces the spontaneity in which outdoor activities can be initiated. The present invention eliminates this consideration because the opening  17  eliminates the need for the pouch to be externally cooled prior to use. Users can easily place ice or other cooling articles into the hydration pouch  10  from the opening  17 . Moreover, the wider mouth of the opening  17  allows a user to quickly deposit liquids into the hydration pouch without having to be slowed by a narrow opening or neck. It is also easier to add powders such as solid nutritional supplements via the opening at the top  11   a  of the hydration pouch  10  than it would with a narrow or limited opening. 
     Once the user has filled the hydration pouch  10  via the open neck  17  and sealed the top  11   a , liquids from the hydration pouch  10  are delivered to the wearer via a connection valve  31  attached to the first sheet  12 , a delivery tube  32  coupled at one end to the connection valve  31  and to a user accessible valve  33  at the other end. In the preferred embodiment, the connection  12  and is proximal to the hydration pouch  10 . Also, in the preferred embodiment, the user accessible valve  33  is a bite valve system and is distal to the hydration pouch  10 . 
     While the device remains ultimately disposable, a user may choose to refill the hydration pouch  10  one or more times before disposing of it. It would be advantageous for a user to maximize use of the hydration pouch  10  by using it and cleaning it on several occasions before disposing of it. A user may refill or fill a partially filled hydration pouch  10  by adding liquids to the containment area  16  via the opening  17  and neck  18  at the top  11   a  of the body  14 . 
     In certain embodiments of the present invention, the delivery tube  32  may include a insulating means such as a delivery tube  32  cover made from neoprene, or other composition that would prevent freezing. The insulating system is important when active in winter athletic events that take place in below-freezing environments. 
     The user accessible valve  33  is placed into an open configuration by biting down on the valve using the jaws and teeth. Once the wearer provides sufficient vacuum-suction to facilitate transfer of liquids via the user accessible valve  33  in an open position, liquids flow from the bottom  11   c  of the hydration pouch  10  through the delivery tube  32 , ultimately to the wearer&#39;s mouth. Once the wearer ceases providing sufficient vacuum-suction through the user accessible valve  33 , the liquids remain available through the delivery tube  32  but are not spilled or lost because the user accessible valve  33  component remains closed. Another advantage of the bite a bottle or other cylindrical liquid storage device. Instead, the user can be actively moving or participating while simultaneously consuming liquids. 
     Because the delivery tube  32  can be quickly and easily separated from the hydration pouch  10 , the preparation and change-out times for the hydration pouch  10  are substantially reduced. Allowing the delivery tube  32  to be detachable improves the storage of the hydration pouch  10  because a user can place or store a hydration pouch  10  without being concerned about the placement of a piece of extraneous tubing. 
       FIG. 2A  is a side cross-sectional view of the disposable hydration pouch  10  without liquid in the containment area  16 . First, the top  11   a , lateral  11   b , and bottom  11   c  are heated around the ends to the first  12  and second  13  sheets to create the body  14  and containment area  16  for the hydration pouch  10 . Because  FIG. 2A  is a side view, the top  11   a  and bottom  11   c  of the hydration pouch  10  is not readily visible. At the bottom of the body  14  is the liquid delivery apparatus  30  attached to the first sheet  12  via the connection valve end  31 . The connection valve end  31  includes an insert to connect one end of the delivery tube  32 , which connects at the other end to the user accessible valve  33 . When the delivery tube  32  is separated from the connection valve end  31 , liquids are quickly expelled from the hydration pouch  10  because the connection valve end  31  is set to a open position without an inserted delivery tube  32 . The delivery tube  32  can be separated from the connection valve end  31  by disconnecting it. 
     Liquids are added to the hydration pouch  10  by widening the opening  17  at the top  11   a  between the first  12  and second  13  sheets and then depositing liquids in the containment area  16  of the body  14 . Once poured into the opening  17  and through the neck  18 , the liquids will begin to accumulate at the bottom  11   c  of the containment area  16  and fill upwards if a delivery tube  32  is attached to the connection valve end  31 . If the first  12  and second  13  sheets are not separated at the opening  17 , then the side profile view of the apparatus resembles the Figure in  FIG. 2A . 
     Further, in the unfilled configuration shown in  FIG. 2A , the hydration pouch  10  may be rolled up for storage purposes and the liquid delivery apparatus  30  may be separated for space saving purposes. When rolled up into a compressed unfilled configuration, the likelihood that the hydration pouch  10  will be damaged during transport is reduced. 
       FIG. 2B  shows a side cross-sectional close-up view of an unfilled disposable hydration pouch of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  2 B- 2 B. Turning our attention to the hydration pouch  10  in  FIG. 2B , the inner baffle is present in  41  and the bonding and seal for the inner baffle is shown in  44 . The first  12  and second  13  sheets are shown with the sealed body  14  including a containment area  16 . Note that the inner baffle  41  prevents the excess lateral movement of liquid and weight thereof when the liquids are being transported during activity. 
       FIG. 3  shows a front view of a disposable hydration pouch filled with liquids  50 . In the filled configuration, the containment area  16  is much more pronounced compared to  FIG. 1  and the body  14  of the hydration pouch  10  protrudes outward. Liquids  50  also surround the inner baffles  41 , providing support to prevent excess lateral movement of the liquids  50 . Note that the hydration pouch  10  is in a closed configuration at the top because it is sealed via a mechanical clamp  52 . 
     The mechanical clamp  52  couples to the outer  19  or inner  20  annular ports located at the top  11   a  of the body  14  and also seals the opening  17  of the first  12  and second  13  sheets. The invention includes both outer  19  and inner  20  annular ports that are symmetrically placed to the lateral ends  11   b  of the hydration pouch  10 . The mechanical clamp  52  acts as a hangar and serves to connect and hang the hydration pouch  10  to another apparatus such as the top of an inner pocket of a backpack or bag. Specifically, the mechanical clamp  52  couples to the inner  20  annular ports of the hydration pouch  10  located at the top  11   a  of the body  14 . Based on the desired use, a user may wish to use the outer  19  annular ports located at the top  11   a  of the body  14  to better stabilize the hydration pouch  10 . Once the hydration pouch  10  is able to hang from a backpack inner pocket or body and the user accessible valve  33  and delivery tube  32  is available to a user&#39;s mouth, the hydration system can be used. By hanging the hydration pouch  10  via the mechanical clamp  52 , liquids can be efficiently delivered to a user during activity. 
     Liquids  50  are delivered to the user via the liquid delivery apparatus  30  by placing the user accessible valve  33  into an open configuration through biting the valve  33  and providing vacuum-suction. Once the user provides sufficient vacuum-suction from the user accessible valve  33  to facilitate transfer of liquids  50  via the delivery tube  32 , liquids  50  flow from the bottom  11   c  of the hydration pouch  10  through the delivery tube  32  and user accessible valve  33  to the user&#39;s mouth. Once the user ceases providing sufficient vacuum-suction through the user accessible valve  33 , the liquids remain available through the delivery tube  32  but are not spilled or lost because the user accessible valve  33  component remains closed once the user ceases biting the user accessible valve  33 . To prevent loss of liquids  50  the default position for the user accessible valve  33  is closed. However, if the liquid delivery apparatus  30  is disengaged from the connection valve end  31 , then liquids  50  are quickly expelled from the hydration pouch  10  via the open connection valve end  31 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a side cross-sectional view of the disposable hydration pouch  10  with liquids  50  in the containment area  16 . Because  FIG. 4A  is a side view, the top  11   a  and bottom  11   c  of the hydration pouch  10  is not readily visible. At the bottom of body  14  is the liquid delivery apparatus  30  attached to the first sheet  12  via the connection valve end  31 . The connection valve end  31  includes an insert to connect one end of the delivery tube  32 , which connects at the other end to the user accessible valve  33 . Similarly, when the delivery tube  32  is separated from the connection valve end  31 , liquids  50  are quickly expelled from the hydration pouch  10  because the connection valve end  31  is set to an open position without an inserted delivery tube  32 . 
     Liquids  50  are added to the hydration pouch  10  by widening the opening  17  at the top  11   a  between the first  12  and second  13  sheets and then adding liquids  50  to the containment area  16  of the body  14 . Once poured into the opening  17  and through the neck  18 , the liquids  50  accumulate at the bottom  11   c  of the containment area  16  and fill upwards if a delivery tube  32  is attached to the connection valve end  31 . If the first  12  and second  13  sheets are not separated at the opening  17 , then the side profile view of the apparatus resembles the Figure in  FIG. 4A . 
       FIG. 4B  shows a side cross-sectional close-up view of a liquid filled disposable hydration pouch of  FIG. 3  taken along the line  2 B- 2 B. The first  12  and second  13  sheets making up the body  14  containment area  16  between the sheets. The lateral bonding  15   b  and sides  11   b  provide support and a shape for the liquid  50  to fill into the hydration pouch  10 . In the hydration pouch  10  of  FIG. 4B , the inner baffle is present in  41  and the bonding and seal for the inner baffle is shown in  44 . The first  12  and second  13  sheets are shown with the sealed body  14  including an expanded containment area  16  as a result of the added liquids  50 . Note that the position of the inner baffle  41  prevents the excess lateral movement of liquids  50  and weight thereof when the liquids are being transported during activity. 
     While a particular embodiment of the invention has been described and disclosed in the present application, it is clear that any number of permutations, modifications, or embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of this invention. Accordingly, it is not the inventor&#39;s intention to limit this invention in the present application, except as by the appended claims. 
     Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention. 
     The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise embodiment or form disclosed herein or to the particular field of usage mentioned in this disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. 
     All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention. 
     In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims. 
     In light of the above “Detailed Description,” Inventors may make changes to the invention. While the detailed description outlines possible embodiments of the invention and discloses the practiced in a myriad of ways. Thus, implementation details may vary considerably while still being encompassed by the spirit of the invention as disclosed by the inventor. As discussed herein, specific terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. 
     While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.