Abstract:
Embodiments of the apparatus is a personal hydration apparatus comprising a drink manifold with a receptor configured such that a water tight seal can form between a threaded bottle and the receptor. A check valve is coupled to the drink manifold configure to allow air into manifold and a first tube coupled to the manifold that is configured to allow liquid to be drawn from the threaded bottle. The hydration manifold allows an individual the convenience of using a conventional bottle filled with liquid in a hydration system accessible through a hose.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    For some time people have recognized the need to stay hydrated. Conventionally, many individuals carry drink bottles that contain water or other potable beverages. These bottles are formed from plastic and include a cap. Some conventional drink bottles include a threaded or other neck from which a user drinks fluid contained in the drink bottle after removal of the cap. Additionally, many individuals use water bladders with a bite activated mouth piece. The bladders are usually only filled with water. The bladders are connected to the bite actuated mouthpiece by a hose. 
         [0002]    Flexible bladders are usually only filled with water because of the difficulty in cleaning. Flexible bladders cannot hold hot liquids because the thin plastic can melt. Flexible bladders are difficult to fill and cannot be purchased full of liquid. The hydration manifold provides a system that allows a variety of hot and cold drinks to be accessed with a hose and bite activated mouth piece. Additionally, the hydration manifold allows the liquid to be placed in bottles which can be filled by an individual or purchased full of liquid. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Embodiments of a system are described. In one embodiment, the system is a personal hydration system comprising: a drink manifold with a receptor. The receptor is configured such that a water tight seal can form between a bottle and the receptor. A check valve connected to the drink manifold configure to allow air into manifold and a tube connected to the manifold that is configured to allow liquid to be drawn from the bottle. Other embodiments of the system are also described. 
         [0004]    Embodiments of an apparatus are also described. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a personal hydration apparatus comprising a drink manifold with a receptor configured such that a water tight seal can form between a threaded bottle and the receptor. A check valve is coupled to the drink manifold configure to allow air into manifold and a first tube coupled to the manifold that is configured to allow liquid to be drawn from the threaded bottle. Other embodiments of the apparatus are also described. 
         [0005]    Other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrated by way of example of the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of the hydration manifold. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  depicts top view of the hydration manifold. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  depicts a side view of the hydration manifold. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  depicts a side view of the hydration manifold. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  depicts the hydration manifold apparatus. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  depicts a side view of the flow divider apparatus. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  depicts a side view of the flow divider apparatus. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  depicts a top view of the flow divider apparatus. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  depicts the hydration manifold with the flow divider apparatus inside. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  depicts the adjustable check valve. 
       
    
    
       [0016]    Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be used to identify similar elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of the hydration manifold. Hydration manifold  4  includes receptor  8  and hose barb  12  and hose barb  16 . Receptor  8  is configured to allow a bottle filled with liquid to be connected with a water tight seal. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment the connection is threaded. Adaptor  20  is configured to form a water tight seal with receptor  8 . Barbs  12  and  16  can be connected to a hose forming a water tight seal. In one embodiment receptor  8  and barbs  12  and  16  are all connected in manifold  4  and allow a liquid to flow through the manifold. 
         [0019]    Manifold  4  can be made of any non corrodible material including plastics, aluminum, stainless steel, or any other suitable material. Receptor  8  can form any type of seal with a bottle including being threaded, gasket, compression seal, or any other seal that will form a water tight connection. Barbs  12  and  16  can be configured to form any suitable water tight connection with a hose. This includes clamps, barbs, sealant, adhesive, or any type of connection that forms a water tight seal. 
         [0020]    Adaptor  20  can be configured to seal to a smaller bottle opening than receptor  8  by being placed inside receptor  8 . Adaptor  20  can also be configured to form a seal with a larger bottle opening (see  40   FIG. 5 ). Adaptor  40  can also be configured to allow multiple bottles to be connected to manifold  4 . A shut off valve would be used to allows an individual to turn off the supply from either bottle (see  44   FIG. 5 ). Any suitable valve could be used such as a ball valve. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  depicts top view of the hydration manifold. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  depicts a side view of the hydration manifold. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  depicts a side view of the hydration manifold. 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  depicts the hydration manifold apparatus. Hose  20  is connected to barb  16  and check valve  24 . Check valve  24  is configures to allow air into the manifold when when liquid is removed from bottle  36 . Hose  28  is connected to barb  12  and bite valve  32 . Bite valve  32  is typical of hydration systems and operates to allow liquid though the tube with an individual bites the valve and creates a vacuum in hose  28 . 
         [0025]    Hoses  20  and  28  can be made of any suitable material such as plastic. Check valve  24  can be any small check valve that open to allow air when a negative pressure is created. Bite valve  32  can be in type of valve or can be omitted from the system. The check valve  24  can be set to prevent water from exiting from tube  28  by a small amount of negative pressure maintained in the system. An individual can create enough negative pressure to open check valve  24  by sucking on tube  28 . 
         [0026]    Adaptor  40  is configured to allow a water bottle with a larger opening to attach with a water tight seal to receptor  8 . Adaptor  44  is configured to allows multiple bottles to attach to manifold  4 . In one embodiment the adaptor  44  allows the bottles to attached at an angle so large bottles can be connected to the manifold. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment an individual connects a bottle filled with liquid to receptor  8 . The individual then draws fluid from the bottle through bite valve  32 . Check valve  24  allows air into the manifold to fill the space created by removing the liquid. After all of the liquid has been consumed from the bottle  36 , bottle  36  can be refilled or a new bottle can attached to receptor  8 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  depicts a side view of the flow divider apparatus  48 . Wall divider  60  has a top edge  52  and a bottom edge  56 . Bottom edge  56  is rounded to fit into the rounded bottom of manifold  4 . Tube  50  encloses wall  60  creating two chambers. 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  depicts a side view of the flow divider apparatus  48 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 8  depicts a top view of the flow divider apparatus  48 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 9  depicts the hydration manifold  4  with the flow divider  48  inside. Flow divider apparatus  48  is inserted into hydration manifold  4  through receptor  8 . Wall divider  60  is placed perpendicular to hydration manifold  4 . When negative pressure is applied to bite valve  32 , air will flow through check valve  24  into bottle  36 . The liquid in bottle  36  will flow into bite valve  32 . Flow divider  48  prevents air from flowing into bite valve  32  until after bottle  36  is empty. This assures the user will not get a mouthful of air when using the hydration manifold  4 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 10  depicts the adjustable check valve. The adjustable check valve  70  can be used in place of check valve  24 . Jam nut  74  is threaded onto core  82  and holds barrel  78  in place. Interior o-ring  86  fits on the end of core  82  to form a seal with barrel  78 . Disc  90  is pressed into the bottom of core  82  by plunger  94  and spring  98  and forms a seal on the core  82 . Core  82  is inserted into base  102  and threaded into place. Exterior o-ring  106  provides an seal when the adjustable check valve  24  is threaded into the manifold. 
         [0033]    Adjustable check valve  70  allows the user to adjust the cracking pressure of disc  90 . The is accomplished by rotating barrel  78  to change the tension in the spring  98 . The adjustable check valve  70  allows the user of the hydration manifold to adjust the suction pressure required to draw liquid from the manifold. The hydration manifold can be customized to individual user suction preferences. 
         [0034]    Although the operations of the method(s) herein are shown and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of each method may be altered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in an intermittent and/or alternating manner. 
         [0035]    Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.