Patent Publication Number: US-10759566-B2

Title: Modular interchangeable vessel system accepting a plurality of attachments

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/659,512, entitled “MODULAR INTERCHANGEABLE VESSEL SYSTEM ACCEPTING A PLURALITY OF ATTACHMENTS,” by David Czerwinski and Brent Reinke, filed Jul. 25, 2017, which application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/366,490, entitled “MODULAR INTERCHANGEABLE VESSEL SYSTEM ACCEPTING A PLURALITY OF ATTACHMENTS,” by David Czerwinski and Brent Reinke, filed Jul. 25, 2016, both of which applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for storing and dispensing water and other consumable liquids, and in particular to a modular interchangeable flexible vessel such as a water bottle, jug, or reservoir system incorporating a unique fitment that quickly and easily accepts a plurality of attachments and a method for using same. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Personal hydration is an important health consideration for people of all ages and activity levels. Convenient and effective hydration is especially important to those leading active lifestyles Unfortunately, many personal hydration products are typically designed for a specific activity, and are incompatible or unpractical for other active uses. For example, many people engaged in active lifestyles own rigid water bottles for use while at the gym, running, traveling, or biking. The same user may prefer consuming water from a soft reservoir with a drink tube stored inside of a pack for backpacking, hiking, trail running, snowboarding, skiing, hunting, and paddle sports While effective for their purpose, larger size soft reservoirs cannot practically be used as handheld water bottles for other sporting activities as they are not designed to retain their shape, are not self-supporting, and cannot be easily drank from without the entire personal hydration apparatus. Rigid water bottles on the other hand cannot be practically used as hydration reservoirs due to their bulky rigid shape and size. Further, many users engaged in active lifestyle prefer different drinking cap, closure and spout systems for each activity. For example, a user may prefer using a “bite valve” one handed cap system for running and a secure high flow two hand cap for use during travel and/or hiking. 
     What is needed is a single system and method that is adaptable, by use of accessories and attachments to provide personal hydration for a wide variety of active lifestyles and activities. Such a system and method is disclosed herein. 
     SUMMARY 
     A modular interchangeable vessel system, including: a flexible and flat-foldable waterproof vessel having a sealed end and an unsealed end disposed distal from the sealed end, the unsealed end having a kayak shaped endpiece sealingly coupled thereto, the kayak-shaped endpiece having a kayak aperture extending therethrough along a kayak aperture longitudinal axis, the kayak aperture having a circular cross section and a kayak threaded surface parallel to the kayak aperture longitudinal axis; a socket, including: a body, having a first male portion having a first male portion longitudinal axis, the first male portion coaxially insertable in the kayak aperture, the first male portion having a male portion threaded surface for sealingly engaging the first threaded surface; a second male portion, sealingly coupled to the first male portion, the second male portion extending longitudinally and coaxially through the first male portion, the second male portion having a female aperture portion extending longitudinally and coaxially through the second male portion. The modular interchangeable vessel system also includes a latch, slidably coupled to the second male portion, the latch slidably movable to occultationally reduce a cross section of a portion of the female aperture portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a flexible and flat-foldable water vessel; 
         FIGS. 2A-2D  are diagrams depicting one embodiment of a socket that may be inserted and sealingly fastened within the kayak aperture; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are diagrams depicting the socket and an attachment; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram depicting another embodiment of an attachment installed on a vessel via the socket; and 
         FIGS. 5-20  are diagrams depicting various embodiments of the interchangeable vessel system. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and which is shown, by way of illustration, several embodiments. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram depicting one embodiment of a flexible and foldable water vessel  100  for use in the interchangeable vessel system. The vessel  100  comprises a sealed end  104  and an unsealed end  106  disposed distal from the sealed end  104 . The unsealed end  106  comprises a kayak-shaped end piece  108  that is sealingly coupled to the unsealed end  106 . 
     The kayak-shaped end piece  108  further comprises a kayak aperture  110  extending therethrough along a kayak-aperture longitudinal axis  114 . The kayak aperture  110  has a circular cross-section and a kayak threaded surface  116  parallel to the kayak aperture longitudinal axis  114  sized and shaped to accept a socket  200  depicted in  FIGS. 2A-2D  below. The kayak aperture has internal threads  118  that couple with associated threads on the socket  200  to sealingly hold the socket  200  within the kayak aperture  110 . The socket permits connection of different components, thus creating a hydration and water storage and dispensing system otherwise referred to as DRINKLINK. 
       FIGS. 2A-2D  are diagrams depicting one embodiment of a socket  200  that may be inserted and sealingly fastened within the kayak aperture  110 . The socket  200  forms an important part of the DRINKLINK system, as it permits different elements to be coupled together, as described further below. In this embodiment, the socket  200  comprises a cap portion  201  that is placed within the kayak aperture  110  and a latch portion  251  that is used to accept attachments with a lip portion  202  therebetween. The cap portion  201  comprises a first male portion  203  having a first male portion longitudinal axis  205 . 
     The first male portion  203  includes a male portion threaded  207  surface  204 , that, when the first male portion  203  is inserted in the kayak aperture  110  and rotated about axis  205  (collinear with axis  114 ) to screw the male portion  203  into the kayak aperture  110 , engages the threaded surface of the kayak aperture  110  to sealingly hold the socket  200  in place on the vessel. 
     The socket  200  also comprises a second male portion  210  coupled to the first male portion  203 . The second male portion  210  extends longitudinally and coaxially through the first male portion  203 , and includes a female aperture portion  208  that extends longitudinally and coaxially through the second male portion  210  and also through the first male portion  203 . The first male portion  203  and the second male portion  210  are coupled via socket portion  224 , which runs substantially perpendicular to the first male portion longitudinal axis  205 , and seals the first male portion  203  to the second male portion  210 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the second male portion  210  is disposed completely within the first male portion  203 , and coaxially with the first male portion  203 . As further described below, this design places the second male portion  210  (as well as third male portion  216 , when inserted into female portion  208 ) within the first male portion  203 , and hence, within the kayak aperture  110 , thus reducing the distance that socket  200  extends from the kayak aperture  110  when inserted therein. This makes for a more compact assembly of the socket  200  and vessel  100  when assembled, subjects the external portions (including the latch  206 , and latch locking member  214  and any attachments) to reduced load moments, making them more durable in the event that the assembly is dropped, and reducing the probability that the valve assembly will experience lower temperatures and be subject to icing. In one embodiment, the second male portion  203  is inserted substantially within the first male portion  201 , such that the valve assembly is sufficiently insulated to prevent formation of ice under normal use. 
     The socket  200  latch portion  251  comprises a latch  206  that is slidably coupled to the second male portion  210 . When the latch  206  is slidably moved, the female aperture  208  is partially occluded by a portion of the latch, the latch locking member  214 . 
     The vessel system also includes a plurality of different attachments that are insertable into the female aperture portion  208  of the second male portion  210 . These attachments include a third male portion  216  that has an outer surface substantially conforming to the inner surface of the female aperture portion  208 . The third male portion  216  is inserted into the female aperture portion  208 , and held in place by engagement of the latch locking member  214  with a latching surface  220  of the third male portion  216 . O-ring  218  provides waterproof mating of the third male portion  216  and the female aperture portion  208 . Upon disengagement of the latch  214  with the latching surface  220 , spring  222  urges the third male portion out of the female aperture portion  208   
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  are diagrams depicting the socket  200  and one embodiment of an attachment  300 , respectively. The attachment  300  includes the third male portion  216  and a tube portion  302  that may be slid over friction surfaces on third male portion  216  for a waterproof seal and fluid connectivity. 
     As illustrated, the tube portion  302  may comprise a short tube with a bite valve  304  attachment. So configured, when the socket  200  is screwed into the kayak aperture  110 , the female aperture portion  208  is presented. The third male portion  216  of a consumption attachment  300  may then be inserted into the female aperture portion  208 . 
     The attachment  300  may be of different embodiments. In one embodiment, the attachment comprises a short (0.5-2 inch) tube  302  or straw and a bite valve  304  on the end of the tube  302  distal from the third male member  216 . This configures the vessel system for use as a water bottle. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram of one embodiment of a DRINKLINK system  500  in a water bottle configuration. The DRINKLINK system includes a vessel  100 , socket  200  inserted into the kayak and an attachment  300 , having a third male member  216  inserted into the female aperture portion  208 . In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment  300  comprises a simple bite valve, such as the bite valve  304  shown in  FIG. 3 . When configured as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the DRINKLINK system  500  is configured for use as a water bottle. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram of another embodiment of the DRINKLINK system  500  configured to position the bite valve  304  further remotely from the bladder. In the illustrated embodiment, the socket  200  is inserted into and sealingly affixed to the aperture of the kayak, and a male member portion analogous to the third male portion  216  of an attachment  502  is inserted into the female aperture portion  208  of the socket  200 . In addition to the male member portion, attachment  502  also comprises a ribbed male portion  504  that can be sealingly inserted into a tube  506 , thus placing the tube  506  into fluid communication with the vessel  100 . In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment  502  is a right angle attachment, but other configurations can also be included in the DRINKLINK system  500 . 
     The tube  506  can be of a variety of lengths (e.g. 10-36 inches). At the distal end of the tube  506 , another embodiment of the socket  508  may be used. This socket  508  uses a ribbed portion  510  that is sealingly inserted into the tube  506  on one end, and on the other end, includes a structure analogous to the socket latch portion  251 . This allows attachments and accessories (such as bit valve  304 ) to be sealingly attached to the tube  506  via the socket  508 . This allows the flexible vessel  100  to be inserted into a pocket of a backpack, while also allowing the user to draw liquid through the tube and bite valve  304  external to the pocket of the backpack for use in a personal hydration system. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram of the vessel  100  and end piece  108 , as well as the socket  200  having threads matching the threaded structure of the end piece  108 . The socket  200  is shown being inserted into the end piece  108 . 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram of the vessel  100  after the socket  200  is affixed to the end piece  108  by screwing the socket threads into the end piece  108 . 
     The DRINKLINK interchangeable vessel system also includes water vessels that are not used for personal hydration. For example, the DRINKLINK interchangeable vessel system can include a larger size vessel (e.g. one or more gallons in size) that can be used to dispense water (or other consumable liquids) using a spigot or a shower head attachment. The larger size vessels may be used to provide water (or other consumable and/or non-consumable liquids) from such vessel to a variety of accessories via one or more sockets  200  and similar couplers. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram of another embodiment of a larger capacity vessel  802 . In this embodiment, the vessel  802  is not typically used for personal hydration (e.g. it is not carried by the user), but is instead, holds a greater volume of water or other consumable liquids (for example, greater than one gallon). In the illustrated embodiment, the vessel  802  is cube-like in shape, and thus includes a flat side, allowing the vessel to be placed on it&#39;s side on a surface. This embodiment of the vessel  802  also includes a handle  806  on at least one end of the vessel, thus allowing the vessel  802  to be easily carried about (in spite of a weight of about 20 pounds when full), and allowing the vessel  802  to be hung from a supporting structure. The vessel  802  may also include a second handle on the opposing side of the vessel  802 . In the illustrated embodiment, the vessel  802  is sealingly closed with a cap placed on a threaded structure  804 . 
     Depending on the structure of vessel  804 , the socket  200  may be screwed into a kayak-shaped end piece  108  (if the associated portion of the vessel is folded analogously to vessel  100 ), however, other embodiments are possible where the socket  200  is simply screwed into or otherwise attached to an aperture of the vessel  804  having matching physical features. Of course, while socket  200  and other structures are illustrated as screwing into complimentary structures on other elements, other embodiments may be used in which the socket  200  sealingly snaps into the appropriate structure. 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram of the vessel  802  with the socket  200  threaded into the threaded structure  804 . 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram of the vessel  802 , showing the cube shape and folds  1002  that allow the vessel  802  to be folded flat. 
       FIG. 11  is a diagram of a spigot  1102  that can be inserted into the socket  200  female aperture portion  208 . Although not illustrated, the spigot  1102  has a male portion  216  similar to the male portion  216  of  FIG. 3 , that is inserted into the female aperture portion  208  of the socket  200 . The spigot  1102  allows the vessel  802  to easily dispense consumable liquids into cups and similar vessels. Thus, the vessel  802  and spigot  1102  may be placed on a table or other flat surface, and be used to dispense consumable liquids. 
       FIG. 12  is a diagram of the spigot  1102  attached to a tube  506  via a socket  502  having a right angle bend. As described above, this embodiment of the socket  502  does not comprise a threaded male portion  203 , but rather, a ribbed male portion  504  that is inserted into the tube  506  to place the tube  506  and the socket  502  in sealed fluid communication. Spigot  1102  is inserted into the other end of the socket  502 , which has a structure analogous to the latch portion  251  of socket  200 . Attachment/coupler  1204  comprises a right angle joint having a similar ribbed male portion for insertion into the tube  506  and a male portion similar to male portion  216  that is inserted into the female aperture portion of a socket  200 . 
       FIG. 13A  is a diagram showing the socket  200  installed in the vessel  802 , and the coupler  1204  installed in the socket  200 . The coupler  1204  has a ribbed portion inserted into the interior of the tube  1206 . Socket  508  having a ribbed male portion disposed at a right angle is inserted other end of the tube  1206 . In this configuration, accessories may be inserted into the other end of socket  508 , which has a structure analogous to the socket  200 , as further illustrated and described below. 
       FIG. 13B  is a diagram showing the spigot  1102  inserted into the female aperture portion  208  of attachment  508 , thus configuring the system into a large vessel  802  providing consumable liquids to the spigot  1102  via an extended tube  506 . 
       FIG. 14  is a diagram showing an dispersing head  1402 , which can be used as a shower head or similar application. The dispersing head  1402  includes a male portion  216  for insertion into the female aperture portion  208  of the socket  200  or socket  508  (or similar structure). 
       FIG. 15  is a diagram showing the dispersing head  1402  male portion  216  inserted into the female aperture portion  208  of the socket  508  having the right angle ribbed portion and the socket portion. 
       FIG. 16  is a diagram showing the dispersing head  1402  with the male portion  216  inserted into the female aperture portion  208  of the socket  508 . In this configuration, the resulting system may be used as a shower. Although the vessel  800  is illustrated as orange, the vessel for such a configuration may be black or a similar color to absorb solar radiation and warm the liquid inside the vessel  802 . 
       FIG. 17  is a diagram showing another embodiment of a socket  1702 . In this embodiment, the socket  1702  as a structure analogous to that of socket  502 , but no right angle bend. The socket  1702  has a ribbed portion  1704  that is inserted into one end of the tube  1206 , and the ribbed portion of a right angle coupler  1706  is inserted into the other end of the tube. The right angle coupler  1706  includes a male portion  216  that can be inserted into the female aperture portion  208  of sockets  200  or  1202 . 
       FIG. 18  is a diagram of a spray head  1802  having a male portion  216  that can be inserted into the female aperture portion  208  of sockets  200  or  1202 . 
       FIG. 19  is a diagram of the bite valve attachment  304 . The bite valve attachment has a male portion  216  that can be inserted into the female aperture portion  208  of sockets  200  or  1202 . This embodiment of the bite valve  1900  includes a waterproof joint  1904 , allowing the bite valve portion  1902  to be oriented to be collinear with the male portion  216  or angled from being collinear by 90 degrees or more. 
       FIG. 20  is a diagram of a pet hydration attachment  2000  having a male portion  216  that can be inserted into the female aperture portion  208  of sockets  200  or  1202 . The pet hydration attachment includes a module  2002  that accepts and presents fluid to the pet for drinking purposes. 
     CONCLUSION 
     This concludes the description of the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure. The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The claim appended hereto describes features of the subject of this application in detailed terms, including optional features that might be useful in some embodiments, but not required for all embodiments, and is presented for purposes of describing claim features that might be included in various combinations thereof.