Patent ID: 7819293

Claim:
A handheld drinking vessel comprising: a compressible bladder for being received within a hand of a user wherein the compressible bladder has an open inner volume for retaining a volume of liquid and wherein the compressible bladder is compressible between a non-compressed configuration and a compressed configuration; an inlet member with a fluid flow path, a proximal end in fluidic association with the compressible bladder, and a distal portion; an outlet member with a fluid flow path, a proximal end in fluidic association with the compressible bladder, and a distal portion; an inlet valve arrangement in fluidic association with the inlet member wherein the inlet valve arrangement is configured to permit a flow of liquid into the compressible bladder through the fluid flow path of the inlet member; an outlet valve arrangement in fluidic association with the outlet member wherein the outlet valve arrangement is configured to permit a flow of liquid from the compressible bladder through the fluid flow path of the outlet member; and wherein the compressible bladder has first and second side walls that have proximal portions coupled at an effective axis to form a V shape and to pivot about the axis as the compressible bladder is manipulated between compressed and non-compressed configurations whereby the compressible bladder can be compressed to a substantially flat configuration with a pivoting of the first side wall into proximity with the second side wall; wherein the compressible bladder has an upper portion that spans between upper ends of the first and second side walls and a lower portion that spans between lower ends of the first and second side walls, wherein the lower portion is disposed opposite to the upper portion, and wherein the outlet member projects from the upper portion and the inlet member projects from the lower portion; a means for enabling an exertion of an expansion force on the compressible bladder to draw the compressible bladder toward a non-compressed configuration by one-handed actuation wherein the means for enabling an exertion of an expansion force comprises at least one strap with first and second ends fixed to the first side wall of the compressible bladder and a body portion in combination with a means for restraining the second side wall against movement relative to a user's hand; whereby a volume of liquid can be exhausted from the open inner volume of the compressible bladder through the fluid flow path of the outlet member by a compression of the compressible bladder and whereby a volume of liquid can be drawn into the open inner volume of the compressible bladder through the fluid flow path in the inlet member by a decompression of the compressible bladder.