Patent Publication Number: US-2010127004-A1

Title: Drinking support system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is in the field of auxiliary appliances for performers of physical activity and sports. The present invention provides a convenient system for the support of drinking through tubes. More specifically the invention is a drinking appliance for bicycle riders. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Continuous physical activity results in dehydration through loss of water through sweat. The replenishment of body water through drinking while performing sports and physical exertion requires the person involved to set aside other activity and spend time on finding a source of drink and then partaking of said beverage. However, for those engaged in sport activities the non-interruption of the activity may be crucial for succeeding in the competition in which they are engaged. Also, noncompetitive people may prefer a having handsfree water drinking source for satisfying their thirst. The present invention provides a solution for implementing handfree drinking while permitting physical activity to continue by the performer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic isometric description of a narrow bottleneck of a bottle that is typically used in a system implementing the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic side view of a sealing cap of the invention applied to a bottle; 
         FIG. 1C  is a cross sectional view in a narrow bottleneck sealed by a sealing cap of the invention, with a drinking tube inserted; 
         FIG. 1D  is a detailed cross sectional view in the sealing arrangement of  FIG. 1C ; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view in a sealing cap possessing internal and external sealing regions; 
         FIG. 3A  is a cross sectional view in the upper part of a wide bottlenecked container sealed by a sealing cap of the invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross sectional view in the upper part of a wide bottlenecked container sealed by a sealing cap of the invention, describing the sealing regions; 
         FIG. 4A  is an isometric view of a conical drinking tube support showing straight drinking tube inserted and seat accommodated for handlebar of a bicycle; 
         FIG. 4B  is an isometric view of a conical drinking tube support showing a spiral drinking tube resting its spiral son the conical support. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention is a drinking support system providing for handsfree delivery of fluids to an individual, in which a single or a plurality of water/liquid reservoirs deliver their contents typically on demand. Usually one or more tubes for drawing water from the reservoirs are made available to the drinker, who can repeatedly engage her/himself in sipping liquid from the reservoirs. 
     One aspect of the invention is a water container cap, inclusive of a to through passage for a drinking tube. The cap can be applied to the orifices of a variety of water containers such as bottles or canteens. The use of such a cap obviates the need to exchange caps and drinking tubes for specific water containers available. 
     Typically soft drink and water bottles orifices have an either small is (referred to as 28 or 30 millimeter neck size), or 30 millimeter neck size. Wider orifice sizes are less common but commonly occur. In accordance with the present invention three classes of adaptable caps are provided. Category “a” caps are such caps that hermetically seal small neck size bottle. In  FIG. 1A  to which reference is now made a schematic description of bottleneck  22  of the category is shown. There are typically several sealing regions applicable in such bottles, that the cap of the invention may engage, all, some or one, to seal the liquid passageway from the bottle through the drinking tube. Sealing region  24  is the horizontal surface at the topmost part of the bottleneck. All other sealing surfaces in the bottle are associated with the vertical surface of the bottle neck. Accordingly sealing region  26  is the peripheral section below the horizontal surface and above screw thread  28 . Below the thread, smooth circumferential zone  30  is a potential sealing zone. Peripheral ridge  32  is typically slanted but can also be used for sealing. Smooth circumferential area  34  below ridge  32  can be used for sealing as well. Peripheral ridge  36  is typically a most prominent topographic element on the bottleneck, making it a candidate of choice for sealing purposes. Smooth circumferential area  38  below ridge  36  can be used for sealing as well. For accomplishing high-quality sealing it is required that two to surfaces are tightly juxtaposed without leaving any spaces in between. The sealing cap must be anchored sufficiently tightly to the bottle in order to prevent juxtaposed sealing surfaces from separating. The ridges and thread on the bottleneck are utilized for such anchoring. In  FIG. 1B  to which reference is now made, bottle top  42  is shown with cap  44  of the invention covering the bottle neck, while drinking tube  46  passes through from the outside to the inner side of the bottle, typically reaching the bottom. In  FIG. 1C  to which reference is now made, a cross sectional view in the bottleneck, sealing cap and drinking tube is shown, showing the intricate association between the cap and the bottle neck features. This association is shown more clearly in  FIG. 1D  to which reference is now made. A cross sectional view in the cap engaged with sealing regions in the bottle is shown. The right side of cap  44  is shown hatched in the section, while the symmetrical left half of the cap is not shown to enhance the neck topography. Sealing region  24  is shown fully engaged by cap  44  in the right side of the drawing. Sealing region  26  is abutted by a complementary ridge in the cap (shown in the right side), thread  28  is unmatched, and is not used in sealing. All the other topographic features of the bottle cap as explained in  FIG. 1A  above are present and numbered the same in  FIG. 1D . All sealing regions are matched by an equivalent part in the cap. The top most sealing region,  24 , which is the horizontal surface at the top of the bottle, is abutted from above and from the inside of the bottle by cap element  62 . It should be noted that the drinking tube held by the cap is also sealed by the cap. 
     In another aspect of the system of the invention, category “b” caps include a substantial internal sealing structural element in addition to the external neck sealing elements or in some embodiments only internal sealing elements may be provided. In  FIG. 2  to which reference is now made, a cross sectional view in a bottle neck  68 —cap  70 —drinking tube  72  assembly is shown. Internal sealing structure  74  is shown on the left side without the external sealing structure. In this example, the external sealing elements of the cap are exactly as shown above, but in other embodiments there may be no lateral external sealing elements at all. In the left side of the drawing, symmetrical with the right side, the bottle wall and external sealing structure was removed to emphasize internal sealing elements  76 ,  78 , and  80 . Upper sealing surface  82  is usually a preferred sealing site because by sealing the orifice of the bottle, the delivery of liquid from the bottle is stopped at the origin. Different varieties of the cap exist implementing various numbers and size of internal sealing elements. 
     In another aspect of the system of the invention, category “c” caps are provided which seal bottles with larger than usual orifices, referred to also as wide bottlenecked bottles. The diameter of such large orifice is in the range of 30-40 millimeters, or even in the range of 50-70 millimeters. As can be seen in  FIG. 3A-B  to which reference is now made, the cap in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is capable of sealing orifices of varying large sizes. Cap  92 , shown without the left half, tightly wraps drinking tube  94 , providing sealing. On the left hand side of the drawing in  FIG. 3A , the bottle neck external topography is exposed, showing thread  96  which as can be seen on the right hand side, is not engaged by the internal sealing elements of the cap. The sealing elements of the cap are better seen in  FIG. 3B , showing upper sealing surface  102 , topmost lateral sealing element  104 , and the rest of the lateral sealing elements  106 ,  108  and the lowest  110 . 
     The tube ending in the container may be set to the lowest point in the container or to any height in the bottle up to the cap itself. The other side of the tubing may be very short, just enough to attach a mouthpiece to it, or it may be made as a very long connection between the cap and the mouthpiece, for example if the container, one or more are kept in back of the vehicle and the mouthpiece is kept in the driver&#39;s mouth. 
     Other Cap Features 
     The cap of the invention is preferably flexible and elastic, typically made of a flexible thermoplastic resin, rubber, silicone rubber and/or thermoplastic elastomers. However, the cap in some embodiments is non-homogenous or it may be made composed of different structural zones. For example, the sealing regions can be made of softer resin while the structural body of anchoring elements such as the sealing element clinging to ridge  36  of rigid resin. A vent is typically a perforation in the upper plain of the cap but it may be a one way valve inserted in a specially prepared hole in the cap. In some embodiments a gasket is inserted in the cap to seal the upper sealing region of the container. In some embodiments the cap is made such the horizontal upper zone superposed above the upper sealing region of the bottle is rigid whereas the anchoring regions in the lateral sections of the cap are elastic. In some embodiments the cap is entirely rigid in. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention a mouthpiece is directly connected to the cap having a connection with the void of the container below, to with or without a tube reaching inside the container. 
     Drinking Tube Support 
     Another aspect of the invention is a drinking tube support member, as shown in  FIGS. 4A-B , to which reference is now made. In  FIG. 4A  conical mechanical support  128  is shown into which straight drinking tube  130  is inserted. Typically, the drinking tube bears a mouthpiece  132 . In a most prevalent case, the conical mechanical support of the invention is to be attached to a bar of a bicycle, and to accommodate to such bar, bar adapter  134  is included at the bottom of the conical mechanical support. The conical mechanical support once engaged with the handle bar of bicycle can be locked in situ for example by a flexible band arrangement or by one or more screws. In  FIG. 4B , conical mechanical support  128  is wrapped by a spiral section of the drinking tube. The tubing can be picked up using the mouthpiece  132 . In the direction of arrow  136  the tubing leads to a water reservoir, not shown. A straight tubing as previously described may be included but not shown here. The conical mechanical support once attached to a handlebar of the bicycle permits the rider to adjust the inclination and positioning of the mechanical support, to easily pick up the free end a, release it and pick up again conveniently. 
     Applications of the Invention 
     The drinking support system of the invention is implemented in association with mobile platforms. Typically a bicycle, boat, tractor, car or any bag, typically a bag worn on the back such as rucksack or knapsack. The users may be grouped into characteristic implementation of the drinking need. Athletes requiring free hands over long periods are an obvious group. Working people requiring free hands over long periods of time, such as manual abourers, farmers, typists and computer technicians. Disabled individuals can make use of a system of the invention, because the system lends itself easily to application in a wheelchair environment. Hard working scholars, office workers or students is may also find the system useful for support drinking over long sitting periods. 
     Recreational uses such as trekkers, hunters, and any outdoor garners, soldiers watchmen and the like are potential users of the system of the invention.