Patent Publication Number: US-2010116848-A1

Title: Conduit assembly for a polymer heated hydration system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/114,317 filed on Nov. 13, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to conduits for hydration systems, and, more particularly, to a conduit assembly for a portable hydration system capable of preventing freezing of potable liquid in cold weather conditions. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Water canteens or other carriers may be used to hydrate active individuals while participating in various outdoor activities. For example, water carriers may be used to hydrate skiers, mountaineers, trekkers, and soldiers. However, these carriers may not adequately insulate the water from the ambient temperature, such that the water in the carrier may freeze during use in cold weather conditions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     One embodiment of a conduit assembly for carrying a potable liquid may include a tube having a passage communicated between a first open end and a second open end. The conduit assembly may also include a heating assembly having a sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the tube. The sleeve may be made of a polymer and a plurality of metal particles embedded within the polymer. Furthermore, the heating assembly may also have a power supply and a pair of electrical conductors in connection between the sleeve and the power supply to direct current through the sleeve for generating heat from the metal particles and directing the heat toward at least a portion of the sleeve. 
     One embodiment of a polymer heated hydration system (“system”) may include a carrier constructed and adapted to be worn by an individual. The system may further include a receptacle carried by the carrier and adapted to store a potable liquid. The receptacle may have an inlet opening and an outlet opening. In addition, the system may also have a conduit assembly for carrying the potable liquid. The conduit assembly may include a tube having passage communicated between a first open end and a second open end. Further, the conduit assembly may also include a heating assembly having a sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the tube and the receptacle. The sleeve may be made of a polymer and a plurality of metal particles embedded within the polymer. Furthermore, the heating assembly may also have a power supply and a pair of electrical conductors in connection between the sleeve and the power supply to direct current through the sleeve for generating heat from the metal particles and directing the heat toward the at least one of the sleeve and the receptacle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partially cutaway perspective view of an embodiment of a conduit assembly having a tube, showing the tube having an inner surface defining a passage; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a heating assembly of the conduit assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a first cover of the conduit assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second cover of the conduit assembly of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a partially exploded view of one embodiment of a polymer heated hydration system utilizing the conduit assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The exemplary embodiments described herein provide detail for illustrative purposes and are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to a particular conduit assembly for a polymer heated hydration system, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. 
     The present disclosure provides a conduit assembly for preventing freezing of a tube dispensing potable liquid from a water hydration system in cold weather conditions. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , one embodiment of a conduit assembly  1000  may be adapted to carry potable liquid (not shown) in cold weather conditions. The conduit assembly  1000  may include a tube  100  having a passage  105  communicated between a first open end  110  and a second open end  120 . The tube  100  may be made of a any material capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions. In one form, the tube  100  may be made of a flexible plastic material. In another form, the tube  100  may be made of rubber. 
     The conduit assembly  1000  may further include a heating assembly  200 . The heating assembly  200  may include a sleeve  210  surrounding at least a portion of the tube  100 . The sleeve  210  may be made of a polymer material and a plurality of metal particles (not shown) embedded within the polymer material. The metal particles may be spaced apart from each other and have a predetermined coefficient of resistance, such that an electrical current may pass through the sleeve from between the metal particles to generate a predetermined amount of heat. Further, this arrangement may prevent thermal runaway which generates significant heat in one of its portions and may pass the electrical current even if the sleeve is punctured. The sleeve  210  may be made of a waterproof, chemical resistant and a flexible material. In one form, the sleeve  210  may be a made of a material commercially known as FABROC. 
     Further, the heating assembly  200  may include a pair of electrical conductors  220 ,  230 . The electrical conductors  220 ,  230  may be made of electrical conducting materials such as tin and copper. The electrical conductors  220 ,  230  may be disposed on the sleeve  210  in a braided form running parallel along a length of the sleeve  210 . The connecting wires  250 ,  260  may be covered by a covering member  270  or sheathing. Furthermore, the heating assembly  200  may also have a power supply  240  coupled to ends of the connecting wires  250 ,  260  opposite the sleeve  210 , such that the power supply  240  may be adapted to provide power through the wires to the sleeve  210 . In one form, the power supply  240  may be a lithium-ion battery. In another form, the power supply  240  may be a nickel-metal hydride battery. In yet another form, the power supply  240  may be a solar rechargeable battery. Further, the sleeve  210  may be adapted to heat up when a current may be allowed to pass through the electrical conductors  220 ,  230  powered by the power supply  240 . 
     Additionally, the heating assembly  200  may include a controller  300  coupled to the power supply  240  to provide a constant current through the electrical conductors  220 ,  230  and the sleeve  210 . Of course, the controller  300  may instead be configured to provide a predetermined pulse. Further, the heating assembly  200  may also have one or more switches  310  that may selectively connect the power supply  240  to the electrical conductors  220 ,  230 . By regulating the current, the sleeve  210  may be allowed to heat up to a predetermined temperature in order to achieve a uniform distribution of heat, avoid hot spots and conserve battery life. 
     The conduit assembly  1000  may also include a first cover  400  surrounding the sleeve  210 . The first cover  400  may be made of an insulating and soft material, such as a fleece material. The first cover  400  may be adapted to retain the heat produced in the sleeve  210  such that the heat is transferred to the tube  100  and any liquid therein. Of course, the first cover  400  may be made of any suitable insulating material. 
     Further, the conduit assembly  1000  may include a second cover  500 . The second cover  500  may surround the first cover  400  and be made of rubber. In another form, the second cover  500  may be made of a thermoplastic material, such as polyolefin or fluoro-polymer. The second cover  500  in one form may be heat shrunk around the first cover  400  and the tube  100 . Heat shrinking of the second cover  500  may be performed with the help of an oven, a hot air gun and the like. 
     Furthermore, the conduit assembly  1000  may include a third cover  600  that may surround the second cover  500  and may be made of synthetic rubber, such as a neoprene. The third cover  600  may protect and further insulate the sleeve  210  and the tube  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an embodiment of a polymer heated hydration system  5000  may include the conduit assembly  1000  of  FIGS. 1-4 . The system  5000  may be adapted to store and dispense potable liquid (not shown) in cold weather conditions. However, the system  5000  may further include a carrier  2000  that may be constructed and adapted to be worn by an individual. The carrier  2000  may also include at least one one or more fastening members  2100 ,  2200  capable of securing the carrier  2000  on the individual. Furthermore, the system  5000  may include a receptacle  3000 , which may be carried by the carrier  2000  and adapted too store the potable liquid. The receptacle  3000  may have an inlet opening  3100  configured to receive the potable liquid for storage. Further, the receptacle  3000  may also have an outlet opening  3200  communicated with the first open end  110  of the tube  100  of the conduit assembly  1000 . The outlet opening  3200  may be configured to dispense the potable liquid stored in the receptacle  3000 . 
     Furthermore, the system  5000  may include a valve  4000  removably attached to the second open end  120  of the tube  100  of the conduit assembly  1000 . The valve  4000  may be movable between open and closed positions to selectively communicate with the second open end  120  of the tube  100  for dispensing the potable liquid. Also, the system  5000  may include a cap  4100  releasably carried by the valve  4000 . 
     The system  5000  may further include a sleeve or covering (not shown) that may be similar to the sleeve  210  of  FIGS. 1-4 . However, the covering may snugly wrap around the tube, the receptacle, the valve, combination thereof and any portion thereof. 
     In use, the potable liquid may be received through the inlet opening  3100  and into the receptacle  3000 . When an individual carrying the system  5000  needs to drink, he or she may use the valve  4000  to draw the potable liquid from the receptacle  3000  through its outlet opening  3200 , through the tube  100  and toward the valve  4000 . Further, the controller  300  may be actuated to supply power from the power supply  240  to the sleeve  210  for generating heat within the sleeve  210  and transferring the heat to the tube  100  or any portion of the system adjacent to the sleeve  210 . Furthermore, the controller  300  may provide one of a constant current and a predetermined pulse to the electrical conductors  220 ,  230 , and the switch  310  may selectively connect the power supply  240  to the electrical conductors  220 ,  230 . The controller  300  in one form may regulate the constant current in order to allow the sleeve  210  to heat up to the predetermined temperature in order to achieve a uniform distribution of heat. Further, the first cover  400  may insulate the sleeve  210  and the tube  100  and prevent the loss of heat. In addition, the second and third covers  500 ,  600  may secure the sleeve  210  and the first cover  400  to the tube  100  and further insulate the sleeve  210  and the tube  100 . Accordingly, the conduit assembly  1000  may reduce or prevent the potable liquid from freezing in any portion of assembly or the hydration system. The conduit assembly  1000  may help to dispense the potable liquid irrespective of the cold weather conditions, thereby helping people to keep themselves hydrated in the cold weather conditions 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure.