Abstract:
An in-line pump assembly attachable to a hydration bladder includes an electrically driven pump held in a casing and placed in the flow of hydrating liquid. The pump connects to the outlet of the hydration system. Bulbs at the respective ends of a switch line hold an essentially incompressible liquid. Pinching a bite valve bulb on the output end of the drinking tube cause a switch line bulb on the other end of the switch line to expand, closing a pressure switch and causing the pump to pump liquid from the hydration bladder through the drinking tube. Releasing the bite valve bulb reduces the pressure in the switch bulb, disengaging the switch and stopping the flow of liquid. The in-line pump assembly may be connected to a preexisting hydration system through an adapter.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/016,544 filed Jun. 24, 2014 and titled “PUMP AND DELIVERY TUBE,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This application relates generally to personal hydration systems, such as backpacks that carry water for use during exercise, and in particular to an electrically powered pump and a delivery tube that may be affixed to a hydration bladder of a personal hydration system. Such hydration systems are often used by participants in cycling, hiking, racing, skiing and other outdoor activities. 
     When exercising, participants often want to carry water or another hydrating liquid. This is particularly true when the participant is going a significant distance between possible water stops. Often, people do not want to carry a rigid or semi-rigid water bottle in their hands or backpacks. 
     Therefore, there are a number of hydration devices on the market today that improve upon the rigid water bottle commonly seen on bicycles and found in the backpacks of hikers. These hydration devices typically carry a larger volume of liquid, often use flexible bladders to hold the liquid, and typically have a tube coming out of the bladder from which the liquid can be dispensed. Hence, these hydration devices can be effective in keeping the end user hydrated during physical exercise or during hot weather. Examples of such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,095,726; 4,420,097; 4,948,023; 5,060,833; 5,085,349; 5,282,557; 5,427,290; 5,645,404; 5,727,714; 5,722,573; 5,806,726; 5,864,880; 5,911,406; 5,941,640; 5,975,387; 5,984,145; 6,032,831; 6,039,305; 7,007,826; and 8,220,664; the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by this reference. 
     These hydration devices have other ancillary uses. For example, a larger hydration device that delivers liquid under pressure on demand would also be convenient in sharing of the liquid with a thirsty friend, washing out a wound, or washing dirt or mud off of a surface. These ancillary uses can be tricky when the liquid must be suctioned out, forced out by pushing on the bladder, or require gravity to cause the liquid to flow. Attaching a pump, such as a pump powered by squeezing or other exertion by the user, further complicates use of the hydration system because the pump interferes with many physical activities. In addition, prior devices may be difficult for athletes involved in physical exertion and high respiration rates to use. During such activity, it may take significant effort to stop breathing and to suck liquid from the hydration system. 
     Another prior attempt to provide liquid under pressure on demand involved including a tank or bladder, of air under pressure, attached to the regular hydration bladder of liquid (which in effect squeezes the hydration liquid bladder) to force the liquid through the output tube. Adding the additional volume of an air pressure bladder is wasteful of the limited space and inconvenient. In addition, the pressure curve (of the stored air pressure bladder) goes downward as liquid is used and thus must be periodically pumped up during the emptying of just one bladder. This causes the pressure of the liquid stream to be inconsistent. That is, the output stream of water from the bladder starts out strong but the pressure goes down with each use and is typically insufficient to empty a whole bladder of water, thus requiring the end user to carry a pump and to devote time and effort to re-pressurizing the system. 
     Thus, considerably less energy may be expended if the liquid from the hydration system could be automatically pumped through the drinking tube without the user expending significant effort or time. Such a system may give a competing athlete a measurable advantage over competitors. Furthermore, such a system would permit easy sharing of liquids with a friend, and may permit washing of a wound or dirty surface with what amounts to a low pressure stream of water. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to the present disclosure, a small, light-weight, in-line pump assembly connects to the existing liquid output port of the bladder of a hydration unit. The in-line pump assembly attaches to a drinking tube through which a user may suck water (or other liquid) from the bladder. A casing in the in-line pump assembly contains an electrically driven fluid delivery pump that is configured to pump liquid from the bladder and through the in-line pump assembly and the drinking tube to the user. 
     According to one embodiment, an expanding and contracting bulb system inside the delivery tube activates the fluid delivery pump by simply pressing a bite valve. That is, a switch line runs inside the drinking tube from the pump casing to a bite valve at the output end of the drinking tube or delivery tube. An expandable switch bulb affixed to the end of the switch line extends into the casing. The switch bulb abuts a pressure switch, so that when liquid is forced into the switch bulb, the switch bulb expands and the switch is closed, thereby activating the pump. 
     The bite valve at the delivery end of the switch line contains a bite valve bulb. When a user has the delivery end of the drinking tube in their mouth, the user may bite down on the bite valve, which will cause the liquid in the bite valve bulb to flow out of that bulb and into the switch bulb at the other end of the switch line. The liquid in the switch line is essentially incompressible, and thus when the user bites the bite valve, that liquid pressure causes the switch bulb (on the other end of the switch line) to expand, thereby closing the pressure switch. This design has the advantage of not having electricity in the bite valve and therefore in the user&#39;s mouth (or anywhere around the user&#39;s mouth). 
     The present in-line pump assembly may be designed, with appropriate different adapters, to attach to multiple brands of hydration systems and therefore is an accessory to the personal hydration system. The pump and delivery hose can be quickly attached or removed. Furthermore, in the event that the battery is discharged or depleted, the user may continue to suck fluid from the hydration system even after the energy source for the pump is depleted. 
     While any of these advantages are possible, it may be the case that only some or even none of them are made use of in connection with the present invention. Whatever the case, the present invention includes systems comprising any of these features described herein. Methodology described in association with the devices disclosed also forms part of the invention. The invention further comprises such hardware and methodology as may be used in connection with that described, all of which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a plan view of a hydration bladder with the present pump and tube apparatus attached thereto; 
         FIG. 2  depicts an exploded view of the pump and tube apparatus depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  depicts an exploded view of an in-line pump assembly of the apparatus depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  depicts an exploded view of a pump of the present apparatus according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a cross-sectional view of the pump housing, pump and tube of the apparatus depicted in  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment; and 
         FIG. 6  depicts a switching mechanism for the pump and tube apparatus depicted in  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , a typical personal hydration system  10  comprises a bladder  12  having a input port  14  that may be sealed by a screw-on cap  18 . To fill the bladder, the cap is screwed off, liquid is poured into the bladder, and the cap is screwed back on to the bladder. The bladder also has a drain port  20  from which the liquid is dispensed out of the bladder. In the embodiment shown in the FIGURES, the drain port includes a bladder connection barb  22  to which a drinking tube of appropriate diameter may be attached. In other embodiments, a quick release mechanism is formed or attached as part of the drain port. 
     According to the present disclosure, an in-line pump assembly  24  may be connected to the bladder connection barb  22  (or other mechanism) of a new or existing hydration bladder  12 . The in-line pump assembly  24  includes a pump and a tube to assist in delivery of liquid from the bladder to a user. In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a short adaptation tube  28  is removably mounted between the bladder connection barb  22  and a pump input connection barb  30  formed on a tapered end cap  32  at the input end of an outer pump housing  34  (see  FIG. 3 ). Although the adaptation tube  28  is depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , depending on the style or manufacturer of the bladder  12 , the connection between the bladder and the pump housing may take the form of a quick release mechanism or other design that is compatible with the bladder. 
     A drinking tube  38  is removably mounted to a pump output connection barb  40  that is formed on an output end cap  42  formed in, or affixed to, the second end (or output end) of the pump housing  34 . Again, different connection mechanisms may be used. Inside (or mounted alongside, in other embodiments) the drinking tube  38  resides a removable, flexible, hollow switch line  44  with expandable bulbs formed or attached on each end. One bulb, a bite valve bulb  48 , fits into a bite valve  50  on the delivery end of the drinking tube  38 . The other expandable bulb, a switch bulb  54  (see  FIG. 5 ), is mounted in a switch bulb holder  56  held inside the inner pump cap  58  that is attached to the pump housing  34  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     As depicted in  FIG. 3 , the in-line pump assembly  24  comprises the outer pump housing  34  having, at the input end of the outer pump housing, the tapered end cap  32  with formed pump input connection barb  30 . The output end cap  42  with formed pump output connection barb  40  attaches to the opposite end of the outer pump housing  34 , typically with an O-ring  64  to seal liquid inside the housing. 
     A pump  62  is held within the housing  34 . As depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the pump  62  includes a motor  68  that is powered by a battery  70  (or other energy store). The battery may be kept in place by a battery holder  72  on which a pressure switch  74  is also attached. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4 , the motor and battery are held within a pump casing  60  that is sealed off from the hydration liquid at one end by an O-ring  52  and the inner pump cap  58  and at the opposite end by a press-fit lower pump cap and stabilizer  82 . In this embodiment, the switch bulb holder  56  screws into the inner pump cap  58 , and is typically sealed with the assistance of an O-ring  92 . 
     A multi-bladed impeller  84  is mounted on the drive shaft  88  of the motor  68 . The impeller is shrouded by the tapered end cap  32 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 , for efficiency, the taper of this end cap typically matches or closely matches the contour of the impeller, but other embodiments could be implemented, to vary the flow characteristic of the hydration liquid, that did not follow the contour of the end cap. According to this embodiment, the lower pump cap and stabilizer  82  is press-fit into the pump casing  60 . O-rings  93  and  94  are placed on the motor shaft  88  on both sides of the lower pump cap and stabilizer  82  to help seal the entry end of the pump  62 . The other (exit) end of the pump  62  is sealed from the hydration liquid being pumped by the inner pump cap  58 , typically with the O-ring  52  between the inner pump cap and the casing  60 . 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , two arms  96  formed on the inner pump cap  58  fit flush into notches  97  formed on the inside of the outer pump housing  34  to prevent the pump  62  from twisting within the outer pump housing  34 . This flush fitting allows the O-ring  64  to seal between output end cap  42  and outer pump housing  34 . Posts  98  formed in the lower cap and stabilizer  82  abut against the interior diameter of the outer pump housing  34  to center and to stabilize the lower end of the pump  62  so that the impeller  84  blades do not rub or come in contact with either the outer pump housing  34  or the tapered end cap  32 . Alternatively, stabilizing vanes or other mechanisms could be used. The purpose is to keep the impeller stable during pumping of the fluid, thereby making the device more efficient. 
     The switch line  44  and the switch bulb  54  and bite valve bulb  48  hold an essentially incompressible liquid and thereby form a sealed unit. Compressing the bite valve bulb  48  causes the non-compressible liquid to travel through the switch line  44 , thereby causing the switch bulb  54  to expand. The switch bulb is mounted against a pressure switch  74  on the battery holder  72 . Thus, when the switch bulb  54  expands, the abutting pressure switch  74  is closed, thereby actuating the motor  68 . The motor turns the impeller  84 , causing the hydration liquid (or other liquid in the bladder  12 , such as an antiseptic liquid or a vitamin supplement or a cleaning liquid) to be pumped from the bladder drain port  20  through the pump housing  34 , through the drinking tube  38 , and to exit under pressure through the bite valve  50 . 
     In other embodiments, rather than using the bite valve bulb  48 , switch bulb  54 , and hollow switch line  44 , the pump assembly  24  can be activated by a bluetooth (or other frequency or communications protocol) remote switch typically attached to a bicycle handle bar or carried inside the user&#39;s pocket. As depicted in  FIG. 6 , in this embodiment an actuator  100  resides inside the pump  62  between the battery  70  (or other energy storage) and the inner pump cap  58  and attached to battery holder  72 . A switch holder  102  is mounted to a handle bar  106  or paddle by a plastic zip tie or other attachment method (such as a half circle mount with two screws). A remote switch  104  snaps into and out of the switch holder  102  so that the remote switch may be removed and carried within frequency range of the in-line pump assembly  24 . This enables the personal hydration system  10 , with in-line pump assembly  24 , to be used in other applications. Pressing the remote switch  104  sends a signal to the actuator  100 , which then activates the pump  62  to send pressurized liquid to the bite valve  50  for use. Releasing the remote switch deactivates the pump  62  and stops the flow of liquid from the bite valve  50 . 
     Thus, the present in-line pump assembly  24  overcomes the problem of requiring the user to exert effort or stop breathing to suck liquid from the hydration system. The user may easily share water with others, significantly reducing the risk of disease transmission that sharing of the bite valve might create. The same is true of using the hydrating liquid to clean a wound. The present assembly is also light-weight, takes up very little additional space, and will expel liquid at a generally stable pressure over the life of the battery or other stored energy source. Also, the present design may have sufficient power to pump out several bladders full of liquid without requiring a replacement battery or re-charging of a stored energy source. 
     According to other embodiments, the in-line pump assembly  24  may be mounted on liquid reservoirs to be used to water plants, transfer liquid from one location to another, administer vitamins or antibiotics to children in war torn or impoverished areas. Furthermore, because the liquid flow is not blocked by the pump  62 , should the battery power run out, the user may still suck out the liquid, or may use gravity or pressure on the bladder  12  to force the liquid through the drinking tube  38 . 
     The present delivery mechanism provides a user with hydrating liquid essentially on demand, and without requiring suction or other potentially difficult effort or distraction while exercising or during competition. Thus, the present device has several advantages over the prior art. It will be obvious to those of skill in the art that the invention described in this specification and depicted in the FIGURES may be modified to produce different embodiments. Although embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.