Abstract:
A coupling device is provided for allowing one wearing a protective mask to drink fluids from a standard drinking fluid container. The device includes a punch at one end, a central body, and a capture port at the other end of the central body. The punch punctures a wall of a fluid container. Drinking fluid flows into the central body. The drinking tube is inserted into the port to allow one to drink fluid from the container. The device allows one wearing a protective suit in a contaminated environment to obtain drinking fluid from a standard, commercially-available container.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a coupling device for connecting a drinking tube of a protective mask with a standard, commercially-available drinking fluid container.  
           [0003]    2. Related Art  
           [0004]    Protective suits worn by individuals in hazardous or contaminated environments often include head coverings with protective masks. Governments, militaries, and private industries have developed such protective masks and suits in an attempt to allow personnel to function in areas where there may be nuclear, biological, or chemical contamination. These protective masks and suits are hot to wear. As a result, major problems for the wearers of such protective masks and suits include rapid and potentially life-threatening dehydration and associated elevated core body temperature, which necessitate frequent fluid intake.  
           [0005]    Many masks, such as the “M” series protective type, have drinking tubes that allow the mask wearer to access and drink from compatible “canteen” fluid sources. However, the canteen sources have a limited volume, and are very difficult to safely refill in a contaminated area. In order to obtain additional fluids, individuals are forced to leave the contaminated site, decontaminate themselves, and drink hydrating fluids from non-contaminated sources. From a military standpoint, as well as a Post-9/11 First Responder perspective, this is not only dangerous, but also impractical. Today&#39;s operating environment may require military forces, allies, first responders, and critical infrastructure managers to remain “in place” for extended periods of time, even days, to accomplish their assigned tasks.  
           [0006]    Thus, there is a need for a system of connecting the drinking tube of a protective mask with a commercially-available fluid container in a contaminated environment, both the mask, wearer and the fluid in the container contaminant-free, and which also allows the uninterrupted functioning of personnel in the contaminated environment.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention relates to a device for connecting a drinking tube extending from a protective mask to a standard, commercially-available drinking fluid container, such as a plastic water bottle, to enable the wearer of the mask to drink the fluid from the container without contaminating the wearer or the fluid.  
           [0008]    The present invention provides a hand-operated coupling device which includes a central cylindrical body with a punch at one end for insertion into a fluid container, and a capture port at the other end for insertion of a drinking tube extending from a protective mask. The punch has a sharp tip at one end which punctures a wall of the fluid container. The coupling device can be secured to the container in a number of ways. For example, the punch could include a threaded portion which is rotated into the container, whereby the threads secure the punch to the wall of the container. Alternatively, the punch could include one or more annular ridges shaped to engage a wall of the container upon insertion of the punch thereinto. Another way to secure the coupling device to the container is with a spring-loaded arm extending along the punch which bears against the inner wall of the container after the punch is inserted into the container. A gasket could be included for engaging with the outer wall of the container to seal the connection between the coupling device and the container. The gasket could be provided adjacent the central body of the coupling device. Apertures in the wall of the punch allow fluid to enter the punch and flow to the central body. A central bore that may vary in diameter extends through the central body. A valve, positioned within the central body and seated in the port, controls fluid flow between the punch and the port. Insertion of the mask drinking tube into the port moves the valve from a closed position seated in the bottom of the port to an open position so that fluid can flow through the device and into the mask tube to allow an individual wearing the protective mask to drink from the drinking fluid container.  
           [0009]    The present invention also provides a method for a wearer of a protective mask in a contaminated environment to access fluid from a standard fluid container. The method of the present invention comprises piercing a wall of the fluid container with a punch on the coupling device, securing the device to the wall of the fluid container, and inserting a male connector of a drinking tube into a port on the device. Insertion of the male connector into the port unseats the valve from a closed position to an open position, forming a flow path between the punch and the port through which the drinking fluid flows from the container to the drinking tube of the protective mask.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0010]    Other important objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following Detailed Description of the Invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is an exploded exterior side view of the main components of an embodiment of the device of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional exploded view of the device shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional exploded view of another embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 2 in which the shaft of the punch has a uniform diameter.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional exploded view of another embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 2 in which the punch has annular ridges.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional exploded view of another embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 3 in which the punch includes a spring-loaded arm.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a gasket of the device taken along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 2.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional exploded view of another embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 3 wherein the gasket may is biased against a container wall.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an annular projection within the device taken along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 2.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in an assembled form.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 9 connected at one end to a drinking fluid container and connected at the other end to a protective mask drinking tube.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 1 having a locking nut for urging the gasket against a wall of a drinking fluid container.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]    The present invention provides a drinking fluid delivery system comprising a coupling device suitable for connecting drinking tubes found on military-type protective masks (e.g., M-Series including M17A1 series masks and M40/42 series masks, as well as mask upgrades, such as Joint Service General Purpose Masks (JSGPM) found on NATO-standard government issue and industrial protective clothing and equipment, or other similar marks) to standard, commercially-available drinking fluid containers, such as plastic water bottles and the like. The coupling device includes a central body with a punch at one end and a port at the other end. The punch penetrates the wall of a fluid container and creates a contamination-resistant seal. The central body includes a valve assembly which is activated by inserting a mask drinking tube into the port. The coupling device of the present invention provides a safe and contamination-resistant means of connecting a drinking fluid container and a protective mask drinking tube in a contaminated environment.  
         [0023]    The device of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 through 11, wherein like numbers are used to designate like parts throughout the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the coupling device of the present invention is generally indicated at  10 . The components of the coupling device, shown in exploded view, are centrally-oriented on a longitudinal axis as indicated by line  19 . The coupling device includes a punch  20 , central body  30 , port  50  and gasket  60 .  
         [0024]    The punch  20  is made of rigid plastic, resin, or other suitable material strong enough for the tip of the punch to puncture or pierce a wall of a drinking fluid container using moderate manual force without damaging the integrity of punch  20 . The punch  20  is connected to the body  30 , and could be formed integrally therewith. Optionally, the gasket  60  could be provided, and is preferably disposed annularly about a cylindrical portion of the punch  20  and proximate to an end of the body  30 , so as to seal the entire coupling device  10  against a side wall of a container. The port  50  preferably resides within an end of the body  30 , and receives an end of a standard drinking tube. Preferably, the port  50  includes one or more ridges for engagement with and retention by the body  30 .  
         [0025]    Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the punch  20  has a tip  21 , one or more apertures  22 , a threaded shaft portion  23 , and a cylindrical shaft portion  24 . Threaded shaft portion  23  includes initial thread portion  26  which winds around to terminal thread portion  27 . Terminal thread portion  27  is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  19 . The thread is of an increasing diameter as it advances away from the tip of the punch and along the threaded portion. Preferably, the thread has a sharp peripheral edge to facilitate catching and entering through the container wall. The punch  20  has one or more apertures  22  through which the fluid in the container flows into threaded shaft portion  23  and into cylindrical shaft portion  24 . Cylindrical shaft portion  24  may be formed integrally with threaded shaft portion  23 , or it could be formed separately and attached to threaded shaft portion  23  when the device is assembled. The diameter of cylindrical shaft portion  24  may vary. As shown in FIG. 3, the diameter of cylindrical shaft portion  124  is the same as the threaded shaft portion  123 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 shows a punch configuration that does not include a thread. The punch  220  includes a tip  221 , one or more apertures  222 , a ridged shaft portion  223 , and cylindrical shaft portion  224 . Ridged shaft portion  223  has one or more annular ridges  280  along the length of shaft portion  223 . Where more than one ridge is included, initial ridge  281  is positioned closest to the tip of the punch, and terminal ridge  282  is positioned farthest from the tip. Each ridge has a leading edge extending on an angle from the ridged shaft portion  223  to a peak, and a second trailing edge extending generally perpendicularly from the ridge back to the ridged shaft portion  223 . The peaks of succeeding ridges extend further out from the ridged shaft portion.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 shows a punch  320  having a tip  321 , one or more apertures  322 , an angled shaft portion  323 , a shoulder  396  defining the back edge of the angled shaft portion, a cylindrical shaft portion  324 , and a spring-loaded arm  390 . Arm  390  is attached to the angled shaft portion  323  towards the tip and extends back to the shoulder. The arm  390  is biased away from the angled shaft portion  323  such that the back end  393  of the arm  390  moves outward from the angled shaft portion  323 . The bias can be provided by a spring  394  positioned in recess  395 . Further, the bias could be provided by the flexibility of the arm  390  itself, such that the arm  390  snaps back to an initial position after being pressed against the shaft portion  323 . Such an arrangement would obviate the need for a spring.  
         [0028]    Central body  30  of the device is generally cylindrical and includes a lower receptacle  31  for engaging punch  20 , and an upper receptacle  37 . Central body  30  is preferably made of rigid plastic, resin, or other suitable material. Cylindrical shaft portion  24  of punch  20  may be permanently affixed to the interior of central body  30 , for example, by glue or other adhesive or attachment means, or it may be formed integrally therewith. The diameter of lower receptacle  31  is sized to securely receive cylindrical shaft portion  24  of punch  20 .  
         [0029]    A gasket  60  is provided between punch  20  and central body  30 . As shown in FIG. 6, gasket  60  has a central aperture  61  for positioning over cylindrical shaft portion  24 ,  124 ,  224 , or  324 . Gasket  60  may be made of a rubber, polymeric, or other similar compressible material. When the device of the invention is inserted into a fluid container, the container wall is held between a terminal portion of the punch and the gasket. For example, terminal thread portion  27  of punch  20 , or, likewise, terminal flange  282  of punch  220 , or shoulder  396  and arm end  393  of punch  320 , engages the interior wall  7  of fluid container  8  (as shown in FIG. 10), and gasket  60  bears against the exterior wall of container  8 , to provide a seal resistant to leakage and contamination. Gasket  60  may be permanently secured to the central body  30  using adhesive or the like.  
         [0030]    Gasket  60  could be biased away from the central body, and against a container wall, by one or more springs contained within the central body  30 . As shown in FIG. 7, spring  100  is positioned in an annular recess, preferably within the periphery of the central body adjacent lower receptacle  31 . Spring  100  bears against gasket  60  to bias the gasket  60  against the container wall.  
         [0031]    A valve  45  is disposed within central body  30  to control the flow of fluid through the device. Valve  45  has a cylindrical shaft  46  and an annular flange  47 . Shaft  46  has a lower shaft portion  46   a  and upper shaft portion  46   b . Spring  48  is inserted onto lower shaft portion  46   a  adjacent to annular flange  47  to bias shaft  46  in a first, closed position wherein flange  47  is seated in seat  52  at the edge of port  50 .  
         [0032]    Shaft  46  of valve  45  is maintained in an orientation along the longitudinal axis  19  by an annular projection  32  within central body  30 . Annular projection  32  separates upper receptacle  37  and lower receptacle  31  of central body  30 . As shown in FIG. 8, annular projection  32  includes an inner ring  34  having a central aperture  36  and spokes  35 . Shaft  46  extends through central aperture  36  of annular projection  32 . Fluid can flow through openings between spokes  35  from lower receptacle  31  of central body  30  and into upper receptacle  37 .  
         [0033]    A port  50  allows a mask drinking tube to be removably connected with the coupling device  10 . Port  50  is preferably constructed of firm, compressible rubber or other suitable material generally in the shape of a cylinder. Port  50  is positioned within upper receptacle  37  of central body  30 . Port  50  may include exterior grooves  51 , an inner bore  53 , and a seat  52  centrally located at a first end of inner bore  53 . Exterior grooves  51  engage one or more annular ribs  38  on the inner wall of upper receptacle  37  to secure port  50  within central body  30 . A lip  40  on the open end of upper receptacle  37  further engages port  50  to retain the port within central body  30 . Other configurations of the port, and its attachment to the central body, are considered within the scope of the invention. Port  50  includes a compressible female receptacle  55  at the second end of inner bore  53  sized and shaped to receive a rigid male connector on the mask drinking tube, and to retain the male connector therein. The receptacle could include a shoulder to retain the male connector in position. The male connector can be removed by pulling it from the female receptacle with sufficient force.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 9 and 10 show the assembled components of the device of the invention. Referring to FIG. 9, cylindrical shaft portion  24  of punch  20  is inserted in lower receptacle  31  of central body  30 . Gasket  60  is seated between the bottom end of lower receptacle  31  of central body  30  and terminal thread portion  27  of threaded shaft  23 .  
         [0035]    Valve  45  extends from upper receptacle  37  to lower receptacle  31  of central body  30 . Lower portion  46   a  of shaft  46  extends through central aperture  36  of annular projection  32 . Spring  48  is positioned against upper side  32   b  of annular projection  32 . The upper shaft portion  46   b  extends into inner bore  53  of port  50 . Annular flange  47  of valve  45  is seated in seat  52  at the first end of inner bore  53  of port  50 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 10 shows the coupling device of the present invention inserted into a fluid container  8 . As threaded shaft portion  23  is rotated, the thread rides into the drinking fluid container. Initial thread portion  26  is open-angled to catch the wall of container  8 . Terminal thread portion  27  is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  19  of the device and enters container  8  and engages or entraps the punch within the container by sitting against interior wall  7  of container  8 .  
         [0037]    Similarly, with reference to the ridged punch configuration described above and shown in FIG. 4, cylindrical shaft portion  224  of punch  220  is inserted in lower receptacle  31  of central body  30 . Gasket  60  is seated between the bottom end of lower receptacle  31  of central body  30  and terminal ridge  282  on shaft  223 . As the ridged punch is inserted into the drinking fluid container  8 , the terminal ridge  282  enters container  8  and the trailing edge thereof engages or entraps the punch within the container by sitting against interior wall  7  of container  8 .  
         [0038]    Likewise, with reference to the spring-loaded arm punch configuration described above and shown in FIG. 5, cylindrical shaft portion  324  of punch  320  is inserted in lower receptacle  31  of central body  30 . Gasket  60  is seated between the bottom end of lower receptacle  31  of central body  30  and shoulder  396  and the back end  393  of arm  390 . As the punch is inserted into the drinking fluid container, arm  390  is retained against angled shaft  323  by the force of the container wall bearing on the arm. Once inside the container, arm  390  is urged away from the angled shaft, along with shoulder  396  engages or entraps the punch within the container by sitting against interior wall  7  of container  8 .  
         [0039]    After punch  20  is inserted into fluid container  8 , fluid from container  8  enters the device through apertures  22 , flows into cylindrical shaft portion  24  which is positioned within lower receptacle  31 , and flows through the openings between spokes  35  in annular projection  32  into upper receptacle  37 . The male connector of mask tube  70  is inserted into female receptacle  55  at the second end of the inner bore  53  of port  50 . The male connector pushes valve  45  against its bias in the direction of the fluid container, unseating annular flange  47  from seat  52 . Fluid contained in upper receptacle  37  can then flow into the first end of inner bore  53  of port  50  through the connection between the male connector and female receptacle and into mask drinking tube  70  which is connected to a mouth inlet of the protective mask.  
         [0040]    The device of the invention may further include a fitted cap placed over the top of the open end of upper receptacle  37  of central body  30  to secure port  50  in the central body. The cap would have an aperture to provide access for mask drinking tube  70  to port  50 . The device could further include a protective covering placed over the cap to cover the access port until the device is used. The device could also include a protective covering over the entire device to protect it from contamination before use. Such protective covering should be strong to resist inadvertent tearing, yet be capable of being torn open by hand, for example, along a scored line. An example of such a covering is plastic wrapping.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the invention which includes a nut for further tightening and securing the device to a wall of the fluid container. The nut could be a locking wheel, winged nut, or the like which can be threaded down to compress the gasket against the side wall of the fluid container. The nut engages a second set of threads on the shaft  23  of punch  20 . Similarly, for the alternate embodiments shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and  5 , the nut could engage a second set of threads on shaft  124 ,  223  or  324 , respectively.  
         [0042]    The device of the present invention can be used as follows:  
         [0043]    1. A drinking fluid in a standard container, such as water in a plastic water bottle, is obtained.  
         [0044]    2. The container wall is checked for contamination with a commercially available detection device, e.g., military issued M8 detector paper.  
         [0045]    3. If contaminated, the exterior of the container, or a portion thereof, is decontaminated using a commercially available decontamination kit, e.g., &gt;5% dilute chlorine bleach solution or a military issued M258A1 decontamination set.  
         [0046]    4. The drinking coupling device is removed from a protective covering or wrapper if present.  
         [0047]    5. The wall of the container is punctured with the tip of the punch of the drinking coupling device.  
         [0048]    6. The punch is engaged with the container by threading a threaded shaft portion though the wall of the container, or by applying force to engage a terminal ridge with the wall of the container, or by applying force to engage a spring-loaded arm with the container, or otherwise engaging the punch with the container, a gasket of the punch, if present, bearing against the exterior of the container wall.  
         [0049]    7. A locking wheel, if present, is screwed down to urge the gasket against the wall of the container.  
         [0050]    8. A protective covering, if present, is removed from the access port of the coupling device cap.  
         [0051]    9. The male connector of the drinking tube from the M-series protective mask is pushed into the female receptacle of the port of the drinking coupling device.  
         [0052]    10. Air is blown into the container to create positive pressure.  
         [0053]    11. Several swallows of fluid are taken from the container by raising and inverting the container.  
         [0054]    12. Pressure in the container is equalized after several swallows by a) removing the tube from the mouth, b) lowering the container, and c) blowing air into the mask tube and into the container to prevent the container from collapsing.  
         [0055]    13. The drinking procedure is repeated as required.  
         [0056]    14. After drinking is completed, the container with the drinking coupling device attached is discarded, and the drinking tube is replaced in the M-series Protective Mask.  
         [0057]    Having thus described the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is not intended to limit the spirit and scope thereof. What is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.