Abstract:
Disclosed herein are fluid bladders that include a port and a port closure, a handle, and/or other components. Some disclosed closures can be configured to provide at least two different sized openings for accessing the reservoir, as well as providing a sealing and/or locking mechanism to close the port and seal the port. Exemplary closures comprising a base defining a fill port and mounted to a wall of the bladder, a first cap component that is attached to the base, and a second cap component (e.g., a lid) that is attachable and detachable (via threaded engagement, a pivoting snap fit, or otherwise) to the first cap component. The base can be fixed (e.g., welded) to the bladder to cover the bladder wall opening and provide a second, rigid opening, or port. The first cap component is coupled to the base and can overlie the port or be positioned around the port (optionally providing a third, smaller opening), and the second cap component can cover the first cap component to completely seal off the port and prevent fluid passage in or out of the bladder. The first cap component can include a lid release and locking mechanism.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/172,967, filed on Jun. 9, 2015, and entitled “DUAL OPENING CAPS FOR BLADDERS,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to closure for bladder ports, such as dual-cap closures and locking closures. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Disclosed herein are fluid bladders or other fluid containers that include one or more ports for conducting fluid and/or other objects into and out of the bladder. Also disclosed herein are various port closures, handles, and other components of or for use with such fluid reservoirs. Some disclosed closures can be configured to provide at least two different openings for accessing the internal volume of the reservoir through a port, as well as providing a sealing and/or locking mechanism to close the port and seal the port. 
         [0004]    For example, some disclosed embodiments include a bladder and a closure comprising a base with a fill port mounted to a wall of the bladder, a first cap component that is attachable and detachable (via threaded engagement, a snap fit, or otherwise) to the fill port, and a second cap component (e.g., a lid) that is attachable and detachable (via threaded engagement, a snap fit, or otherwise) to the first cap component. The opening in the flexible bladder wall can have a large cross-sectional area, the base can be fixed (e.g., welded) to the bladder to cover the bladder wall opening and provide a second, rigid opening, or port. The first cap component is coupled to the base and can overlie the port or be positioned around the port (optionally providing a third, smaller opening), and the second cap component can cover the first cap component to completely seal off the port and prevent fluid passage in or out of the bladder. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments, the second cap component can pivot relative to the first cap component to open and close the port, while in other embodiments the second cap component can rotate relative to the first cap component to open and close the port. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, the base or the first cap component includes a locking mechanism that prevents the first or second cap component from pivoting open. The pivoting component can include a latch or other engagement member that engages with an opening or other engagement member in a stationary component to hold the pivoting component in the closed position. When unlocked, a release actuator can be pressed by a user to release the pivoting component to pivot open. When the locking mechanism is engaged, the release actuator can be disabled. The locking mechanism can comprise, for example, a curved slider that slides behind a release button to prevent the release button from being depressed. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the fluid container includes a handle that is integral with and/or extends from the closure (e.g., from the base or from the first cap component). In other embodiments, the fluid container includes a handle fixed directly to the bladder wall and spaced apart from the closure. 
         [0008]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosed technology will become more apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1A  shows an exemplary fluid bladder comprising a dual opening cap and a handle. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1B  shows an exemplary fluid bladder comprising a dual opening cap and no handle. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are perspective views of the bladders of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , respectively. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are cross-sectional views of the bladder with a dual opening cap attached, with and without a handle, respectively. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3C  is a cross-sectional view of the dual opening cap with its tether. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  is a top view of the dual opening cap and tether. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 4B and 4C  are top and cross-sectional views of an outer component of the dual opening cap. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 5A-5C  are views of the bladder with the dual opening cap. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6A  is a partially exploded view of an exemplary fill port and dual opening cap, in a closed, locked position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6B  shows two views of the fill port and cap of  FIG. 7A  in the closed, locked position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6C  shows the dual opening cap of  FIG. 7A  in an unlocked, open position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7A  is a bottom view of the dual opening cap in a closed, locked position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of the dual opening cap in the closed, locked position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8A  is a bottom view of the dual opening cap in the unlocked, open position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view of the dual opening cap in the unlocked, open position. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 9A-9D  are various views of another exemplary fill port and snap cap. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  shows an exemplary fluid bladder with a fill port closure having a contoured handle integral with the port base and a pivoting lid that locked in a closed position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  shows the fluid bladder of  FIG. 10  with the fill port lid pivoted open. 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a side view of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional side view of the closure of  FIGS. 10-14  in the closed position. 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is an external side view of the closure of  FIGS. 10-14  in the closed position, showing a manual actuator for a cap locking mechanism. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]      FIGS. 1A, 2A, and 3A  show an exemplary fluid bladder  10  comprising a flexible bladder wall  12  with a fill port  14  and handle  14  fixed thereto and a dual opening cap  16  coupled to the fill port.  FIGS. 1B, 2B, and 3B  show an alternative fluid bladder  10 A that is similar to the embodiment  10  but without the handle  14 .  FIG. 3C and 4A  show just the dual opening cap  16  with a tether  50 . The cap  16  comprises a first cap component, or outer cap,  18  and a second cap component, or inner cap,  20 .  FIGS. 4B and 4C  show just the outer cap  18 . The outer cap  18  is threadably attachable and detachable to the fill port  14 , and the inner cap  20  is threadably attachable and detachable to the outer cap  18 . While the embodiments disclosed herein are primarily discussed in conjunction with a fluid bladder having a flexible side wall to which the fill port is secured, the disclosed embodiments can also be used with other types of fluid reservoirs, such as a rigid bottle or a flexible bladder with the fill port mounted at a top opening rather than in a side wall. 
         [0033]    The fill port  14  is annular and defines a large opening  30  that passes through the bladder wall  12 . The large opening  30  can have any size, such as a circular cross-section having a diameter of about 80 mm. The cap  16  covers and seals off the large opening  30  when the cap  16  is attached to the fill port and the inner cap  20  is attached to the outer cap  18 . When the cap  16  is removed, the large opening  30  through the fill port  14  can be used to clean the inside of the bladder, add ice cubes into the bladder, etc. 
         [0034]    The outer cap  18  is annular and defines a small opening  42  that has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than that of the large opening  30 . For example, the small opening  42  can have a circular cross-section having a diameter that is less than 80 mm, less than 70 mm, less than 65 mm, less than 60 mm, and/or about 63 mm. The inner cap  20  covers and seals off the small opening  42  in the outer cap. When the outer cap  18  is attached to the fill port  14  and the inner cap  20  is removed, the small opening  42  can be used to add fluid into the bladder while the outer rim  38  of the outer cap can be used to hold the bladder. The outer rim  38  can project radially outwardly and form a recess underneath the rim in which a user can place her fingers to securely grasp the bladder while filling through the small opening  42 . In the embodiment  10 , the handle  24  can also be used to hold the bladder while filling through either the large opening or the small opening. 
         [0035]    The outer cap  18  can include inner threads  34  that engage with outer threads  32  on the fill port. The outer cap  18  can also include a gasket  36  to seal the engagement between the fill port and the outer cap to prevent leakage therebetween. Similarly, the inner cap  20  and the outer cap  18  can include mating threads  44  and a gasket  46  to seal around the perimeter of the small openings  42 . The outer rim  38  of the outer cap  18  can include notches or recesses that help provide grip to rotate the outer cap relative to the fill port  14  and to provide counter-traction while rotating the inner cap  20  relative to the outer cap. Similarly, the inner cap  20  can include a grip  48  for applying torque to the inner cap. 
         [0036]    The inner cap  20  can also be attached to the fill port  14  via a tether  50  that includes a ring  52  that extends around the fill port. When the entire cap  16  is removed from the fill port  14 , the tether retains the entire cap, and when the inner cap  20  is removed from the outer cap  18 , the tether retains just the inner cap. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 5A-5C  shows views of one embodiment of the bladder  10 A with exemplary dimensions, provided in millimeters. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 6A-8B  shows another exemplary dual opening cap  62  with a fill port  60  for a bladder (not shown). The fill port  60  defines a large opening  70  for cleaning/filling the bladder. The fill port  60  and large opening  70  can have properties similar to the fill port  14  and large opening  30 . The cap  62  comprises an outer cap component, or outer cap  64 , and an inner cap component, or inner cap,  66  that are pivotably coupled together at hinge  68 . The outer cap  64  can include inner threads  92  and a gasket  94  ( FIG. 7B ) that engage with and seal against the annular rim of the fill port  60 . 
         [0039]    The inner cap  66  has a closed position shown in  FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7B , and an open position shown in  FIGS. 6C, 8A, and 8B . In the closed position, the inner cap  66  seals off a small opening  82  defined in the outer cap  64 . The small opening  82  can have dimensions similar to those provided for the small opening  42 . The inner cap  66  can include a gasket  77  that seals against an inner rim  84  of the outer cap when the inner cap is in the closed position. 
         [0040]    The inner cap  66  includes a tab  78  that engages with a release mechanism  72  in the outer cap. The release mechanism  72  can include an upper opening  80  ( FIG. 6C ) that receives the tab  78  and secures the inner cap in the closed position. A user can then press the release mechanism  72  inwardly to release the tab  78  and allow the inner cap to pivot open (e.g., via a biasing mechanism or manually). 
         [0041]    The outer cap  64  can also include a locking mechanism  86  that can be manually moved between a locked position ( FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7A and 7B ) and an unlocked position ( FIGS. 6C, 8A , and  8 B). The locking mechanism can comprise a curved, sliding member that can be moved circumferentially along a slot in the outer cap  64 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , with the locking mechanism  86  in the locked position, an inner portion  96  of the release mechanism  72  is blocked by the member  86  to prevent the release mechanism from being depressed radially inwardly, thereby preventing the tab  78  from being released from the release mechanism and preventing the inner cap  66  from pivoting up to open the small opening  82 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , when the locking mechanism  86  is in the unlocked position, the release mechanism can be depressed to release the inner cap. The locking mechanism can include indexing/biasing features, such as grooves  90  in the outer cap and ridge  88  in the sliding locking mechanism member. The ridge  88  can snap into one groove  90  in the locked position and snap into the other groove  90  in the unlocked position. As shown in  FIG. 6C , the locking mechanism can also include an actuator  74  that projects through an lateral opening in the outer wall of the outer cap  64  to allow a user to manually move the locking mechanism  86  between the locked and unlocked positions. 
         [0042]    The dual opening cap  62  can allow a user to hold and operate the bladder with one hand, such as by using her thumb to press on the release mechanism  72  and using her finger to actuate the locking mechanism actuator  74 . The outer cap  64  can also include a handle  76  to hold the bladder with the inner cap open or closed. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 9A-9D  illustrate another exemplary fill port closure  100 , which comprises a fill port  102  and a cap  104  that is pivotably coupled to the fill port at hinge  106 . The cap  104  seals off opening  108  in the fill port when the cap is closed. In the closed position, a tab  110  projecting forward from the cap passes through an opening  112  in a handle  114  of the fill port and engagement features for a locking mechanism between the tab  110  and the opening  112  (see  FIG. 9D ). The cap can snap closed by applying sufficient pressure. To open the cap  104 , a user can resiliently deform the tab  110  by pulling it radially outwardly a small distance such that it can clear the edges of the opening  112  can move back up through the opening. Other types of locking/release mechanisms can also be used alternatively or in addition. The cap  104  can comprise a recessed central region that sits within a rim of the fill port and seals against a lower inner surface of the fill port surrounding the opening  106 , optionally with a gasket therebetween. In some embodiments not shown, the cap  104  can include a smaller second opening (e.g., in the center of the cap  104 ) and a secondary cap that is attachable to the cap  104  to seal off the second opening, wherein the secondary cap can be opened and/or removed from the cap  104  to access the second opening. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 10-16  illustrate an exemplary fluid container  200  comprising a flexible bladder  202  and a closure  204  secured to the bladder over an opening in the wall of the bladder. The container can also include a center weld  250  to maintain a flat shape of the bladder and/or an exit port  260  that is coupleable to a drink tube and/or bite valve. 
         [0045]    The closure  204  can comprise a base  206  secured to the bladder around the bladder opening, the base having a port  214  to allow passage of fluid through the base in or out of the bladder. The closure can further comprise an annular cap retainer  208  secured to the base  206  around an annular wall  232  defining the port  214  and a cap  210  hingedly coupled to the cap retainer via hinge  220  and pivotable between a closed position ( FIGS. 10, 12, 14-16 ) where the cap seals the port  214  closed and an open position ( FIGS. 11 and 13 ) where the port is open for passage of fluid in or out of the bladder. 
         [0046]    The base  206  can further define a shaped, contoured handle portion  216  positioned adjacent to the port  214  such that the fluid container  200  can be held by the handle while filling the bladder through the port. The handle  216  can, for example, include concave portions of the base and/or ridges/bumps/grooves in the surface of the base to provide a gripping location. 
         [0047]    The cap retainer  208  comprises a retainer mechanism  226  that engages and secures an engagement member  230  (e.g., a flange or latch) of the cap  210  in the closed position, and a release actuator  222  (e.g., a push button) that disengages the cap engagement member from the retainer mechanism when actuated by a user. The cap retainer  208  can further comprise a locking mechanism that is adjustable between a locked position ( FIG. 16 ) wherein the release actuator is disabled and an unlocked position wherein the release actuator is enabled. The locking mechanism can include a curved member  228  ( FIG. 15 ) mounted in the cap retainer  208  that slides behind the retainer mechanism  226  when an actuator  224  ( FIG. 16 ) is moved to the locked position. In the locked position, curved member  228  is behind the retainer mechanism  226  and prevents it from moving back when the release actuator  222  is pressed, thereby disabling the cap release mechanism. When the actuator  224  is slid over to the unlocked position, the curved member  228  moves out from behind the retainer mechanism  226  and allows the release actuator  222  to be depressed to release the cap  210  to open. 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 15 , the cap retainer  208  can be permanently or semi-permanently secured to the base  206  with an inner annular wall  236  of the cap retainer mounted around the outside of the port wall  232 . The port wall  232  can include an outwardly turned upper flange that engages the inner annular wall  236  and secures cap retainer to the base. In other embodiments, the cap retainer  208  can be detachable and reattachable to the base, such as via a threaded or snap-fit connection to the base. 
         [0049]    In some embodiments, the closure  204  can include a spring or other biasing mechanism to urge the cap  210  toward the open position, sufficient such that when the release actuator  222  is pressed, the lip flips to the open position. 
         [0050]    The closure  204  can also include one or more gaskets or other sealing members to prevent leaks. For example, an annular gasket  212  can be coupled to the underside of the cap  210  to seal joint between the cap and the port wall  232 . The cap  210  can include an annular projection  234  that enters inside the port wall  232  and squeezes the gasket between the projection  234  and the port wall  232 . The gasket  212  can also seal against an annular surface of the cap retainer in some embodiments for additional leak protection. Additional gaskets, O-rings, or other seals, can also be included, such as at the juncture between the base  206  and the cap retainer. 
         [0051]    For purposes of this description, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the embodiments of this disclosure are described herein. The disclosed methods, apparatuses, and systems should not be construed as limiting in any way. Instead, the present disclosure is directed toward all novel and nonobvious features and aspects of the various disclosed embodiments, alone and in various combinations and sub-combinations with one another. The methods, apparatuses, and systems are not limited to any specific aspect or feature or combination thereof, nor do the disclosed embodiments require that any one or more specific advantages be present or problems be solved. 
         [0052]    Numerical values, characteristics, materials, and other features described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example of the disclosed technology are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. 
         [0053]    Although the operations of some of the disclosed methods are described in a particular, sequential order for convenient presentation, it should be understood that this manner of description encompasses rearrangement, unless a particular ordering is required by specific language. For example, operations described sequentially may in some cases be rearranged or performed concurrently. Moreover, for the sake of simplicity, the attached figures may not show the various ways in which the disclosed methods can be used in conjunction with other methods. 
         [0054]    As used herein, the terms “a”, “an”, and “at least one” encompass one or more of the specified element. That is, if two of a particular element are present, one of these elements is also present and thus “an” element is present. The terms “a plurality of” and “plural” mean two or more of the specified element. As used herein, the term “and/or” used between the last two of a list of elements means any one or more of the listed elements. For example, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means “A”, “B,”, “C”, “A and B”, “A and C”, “B and C”, or “A, B, and C.” As used herein, the term “coupled” generally means physically coupled or linked and does not exclude the presence of intermediate elements between the coupled items absent specific contrary language. 
         [0055]    In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of the disclosed technology may be applied, it should be recognized that the illustrated embodiments are only examples and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the disclosure. Rather, the scope of the disclosure is at least as broad as the following claims. I therefore claim all that comes within the scope of the following claims.