Patent Publication Number: US-2018027955-A1

Title: Belt and bottle mounting system for a belt

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure herein is directed to a belt and a bottle mounting system for a belt, and more particularly to a sports belt having a mounting system for a hydration bottle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hydration systems have been proposed in the prior art for freeing runners during extended runs from dehydration worries. Such systems include belts designed to be worn about the waist or arm and which are provided with a pocket or pockets for holding cans or bottles of liquid. 
     A disadvantage with the prior art hydration system belts is the cumbersome mounting of the cans or bottles, and the lack of an ergonomic fit for running or other physical activities. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a belt that overcomes these and other disadvantages by providing an ergonomic bottle mounting system for a belt that is suitable for use during physical activities. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosure herein is directed to a belt comprising a belt portion; a bottle connector integrated into said belt portion, said bottle connector defining a receiving opening; and a bottle including a bottle hook; wherein said bottle hook is configured to be inserted into said receiving opening of said bottle connector, thereby mounting said bottle on said belt. 
     A further aspect of the disclosure is directed to a bottle mounting system for a belt, said mounting system comprising a bottle having a spout and a removable cap; a hook configured to be disposed over the bottle spout and retained on the bottle by the removable cap; and a connector integrated into a belt to define a receiving opening for the hook. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a rear view of a bottle and clip assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a mounting assembly for the bottle shown in  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a belt including the mounting assembly shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of the bottle and clip assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the bottle and clip assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the bottle shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the bottle and clip assembly being secured to the mounting assembly on a belt. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates the bottle and clip assembly when secured to the mounting assembly on a belt. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A belt according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure herein is shown generally by reference numeral  18  in  FIG. 3 . The belt  18  is preferably a waist belt incorporating a bottle mounting system including a bottle  10  and a bottle hook  14  as shown in  FIG. 1  and a bottle clip or connector  16  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The bottle connector  16  is integrated or otherwise secured into the waist belt  18  such that the bottle  10  can easily be connected or removed therefrom, as shown best in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     The bottle  10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure is a hydration bottle suitable for use during running or other physical activity due to its lightweight and easy open mouthpiece  20 . Still further, the bottle  10  includes ergonomic contours in the vertical direction to follow the natural curvature of a wearer&#39;s lower back. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the bottle  10  has a preferred ergonomic spout angle θ 1  in the range of approximately 15.0°-18.0°, and most preferably a spout angle θ 1  of 17.88°. In addition, the bottle  10  has a preferred ergonomic back angle θ 2  in the range of 3.0°-4.5°, and most preferably a back angle θ 2  of 3.69°. The back angle is the angle of the rear surface of the bottle  10 . 
     A bottle hook  14  is provided on the rear surface of the bottle  10  to provide a mounting mechanism for connection of the bottle  10  to the bottle connector  16  on the belt  18 . The bottle hook  14  includes a central through opening (not shown), preferably circular, that allows it to be placed over the spout  22  of the bottle when the removable cap  12  is removed. When the cap  12  is replaced onto the threaded spout  22 , the bottle hook  14  is thus held in place. The bottle hook  14  includes “shoulders”  24  form-fitting to the bottle  10 , and preferably disposed on the front and rear, so as to reduce the likelihood that it will rotate on the bottle  10 . The bottle hook  14  has a tapered shape from the shoulders  24  to the terminal end  28  which allows it to easily be inserted into connector  16  and moved down such that the connector  16  fully engages the hook  14 . Further, the bottle hook  14  includes a rear surface  26  that is also ergonomically contoured and in line with (parallel to) the angle of the rear surface of the bottle  10  to follow the natural curvature of a wearer&#39;s lower back, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     The bottle connector  16  includes opposing side flange portions  30  via which the connector  16  is integrated into the waist belt  18 . The connector  16  further includes a protruding central portion  32  spaced from a surface of the belt  18  which defines an opening for receiving the bottle hook  14 . The central portion  32  is also tapered from the top opening to the bottom opening in order to easily receive the bottle hook  14  therein and fully engage the bottle hook  14  when it is seated therein. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the hydration bottle  10  with the hook  14  attachment is positionable in an upright orientation in the bottle clip or connector  16 , as shown by the arrow in  FIG. 7 , and the connector  16  locates the bottle  10  with the hook  14  in the correct ergonomic position for running or walking. More particularly, the preferred location of the bottle  10  is approximately in alignment with the kidneys, sitting between the back and gluteus muscles of the wearer. 
     The detailed description above describes a belt and a bottle mounting system disclosed by way of example. The disclosure is not limited, however, to the precise embodiment and variations described. Various changes, modifications and equivalents can be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims. It is expressly intended that all such changes, modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the claims are embraced by the claims.