Patent ID: 7311231

Claim:
A hydration system comprising: a supply of prefilled, flexible pouches having fluid therein, each of the pouches having an outlet for passing fluid from the pouch and including a check valve; a hydration tube having two ends and removably coupled at one end to an outlet of one of the pouches; a user actuated valve connected at one end of the hydration tube distal from the outlet, wherein the check valve is open to allow fluid to flow from the flexible pouch when the hydration tube is coupled to the flexible pouch and the check valve is closed to prevent fluid from flowing from the flexible pouch when the hydration tube is decoupled from the flexible pouch, such that the pouch may be disconnected from the hydration tube and replaced with another pouch from the supply of prefilled, flexible pouches without leakage; a threaded connector attached to an end of the hydration tube away from the user actuated valve; and a quick disconnect connector including flanges attached to the threaded connector; wherein the outlet includes seat openings for accommodating the flanges and the check valve includes a spring biased valve stem.