U.S. patent application number 13/220282 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-01 for hydration storage and dispensing device.
Invention is credited to Tommy Dyer, Reginald Franklin.
Application Number | 20120048898 13/220282 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45695777 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120048898 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Franklin; Reginald ; et
al. |
March 1, 2012 |
Hydration Storage and Dispensing Device
Abstract
A convenient liquid storage and dispensing device for the
purpose of providing hydration to those engaged in activities where
accessing a traditional beverage container would be inconvenient or
disruptive. The device can be made from a variety of flexible,
liquid impermeable materials and can be manufactured in various
sizes and volumes to accommodate the needs of the user. The device
includes a reservoir for holding a liquid and a straw for accessing
the liquid contained in the reservoir. The device also has a
protective slide mechanism that hides and protects the straw from
the environment when the device is not in use. The device is
further adapted to be fastened around various objects, including a
user's wrist.
Inventors: |
Franklin; Reginald; (Hurst,
TX) ; Dyer; Tommy; (Fort Worth, TX) |
Family ID: |
45695777 |
Appl. No.: |
13/220282 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61378038 |
Aug 30, 2010 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
224/148.2 ;
224/148.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 2005/008 20130101;
A45F 3/20 20130101; A45F 5/00 20130101; A45F 2003/166 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/148.2 ;
224/148.6 |
International
Class: |
A45F 3/20 20060101
A45F003/20 |
Claims
1) A liquid storage and dispensing device for the convenient
storage and access to a contained liquid, comprising; a reservoir
having a first and a second end, which holds said liquid and has a
reservoir access port which grants access to said contained liquid;
an attachment means by which said reservoir's first and second ends
can be attached to one another around an object for which said
device will fit; a drinking means used for accessing said liquid
contained in said reservoir through said reservoir access port.
2) The device of claim 1, wherein said reservoir is made from a
material that is flexible and impervious to liquid.
3) The device of claim 1, wherein said reservoir is capable of
containing liquid.
4) The device of claim 1, wherein said attachment means are
snaps.
5) The device of claim 1, wherein said drinking means comprises a
straw.
6) The device of claim 5, wherein said straw further comprises an
internal, one-way valve to prevent leakage of liquid from said
reservoir, a drinking end and a threaded non-drinking end.
7) The device of claim 1, wherein said drinking means comprises a
port with a screw-off cap device.
8) The device of claim 1, wherein said drinking means comprises a
port with a snap top cap.
9) The device of claim 1, wherein said drinking means comprises a
port with a push-pull cap device.
10) The device of claim 1, further comprising: a protection
mechanism located on said reservoir; wherein said protection
mechanism is capable of moving into an open and a closed position;
wherein, when said protection mechanism is in said open position, a
user can access said drinking means to drink said contained liquid
from within said reservoir; wherein, when said protection mechanism
is in said closed position, said drinking means is hidden from view
and protected from an outward environment, and said device will not
leak any of said reservoir liquid through said straw.
11) The device of claim 10, wherein said protection mechanism is a
slide lock comprising a movable protective cover and a locking
button that must be depressed to slide said protection mechanism
into an open or closed position.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/378,038 filed on Aug. 30, 2010, entitled
"Wristeeez Wrist Quencher."
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a device for providing
convenient access to and storage of a beverage by those engaged in
any activity where accessing a beverage or storing a traditional
beverage container would be inconvenient, impossible or irksome.
More specifically, the present invention can be worn by a user or
fastened around various objects.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] There are many situations where dehydration poses a serious
problem. Dehydration can cause headaches, light-headedness,
dizziness, fainting and in extreme cases delirium, unconsciousness
or death. While keeping adequately hydrated is important to
maintaining one's health and wellness, the need to hydrate can be
disruptive of activities that an individual is engaged in. An
individual engaged in exercising may not want to break rhythm in
order to rehydrate, or a student may be disrupting a lecture by
asking permission for a drink break. Storage of a traditional
beverage container may also be impossible given the nature of an
activity an individual is engaged in. Bike riding, jogging and
other physical activities make it challenging to hold a traditional
beverage container.
[0006] Several patents have been granted to devices that attempt to
provide hydrating beverages and convenient storage thereof to those
who are exercising or weight training. These prior art devices have
several known drawbacks in their design, which impact the
healthfulness of drinking from a reservoir access port. The present
invention provides a cover mechanism that protects a drinking port
from the environment, dirt and germs, making for a hygienic and
innovative solution that provides users with easy access to
hydrating liquids and convenient storage of said liquids.
[0007] Included in the similar prior art are patents describing
liquid containing and dispensing devices that are secured around a
user's wrist for easy access to the contained liquid. U.S. Pat. No.
6,173,866 to Taylor Jr. describes a wrist band that contains a
removable and replaceable liquid reservoir inside. The wrist band
is wrapped around the user's wrist and secured in place by a hook
and loop fastener method like VELCRO.TM.. Access to the contained
liquid is achieved through a drinking straw, which is partially
covered by a cover flap when the device is secured to the user's
wrist. The drinking portion of the drinking straw remains exposed
when the cover flap is in place. To drink from the reservoir, a
user must pull back the cover flap to free the drinking straw,
using the exposed portion of the drinking straw as a pull-tab to
begin pulling back the hook and loop fastened cover flap. Not only
is the drinking portion of the drinking straw exposed to the
elements when not in use, but the user must actually touch the
drinking portion of the drinking straw in order to pull back the
cover flap and access the entire drinking straw. The present
invention provides an innovative mechanism for protecting the
drinking straw of a reservoir device from dirt and germs. Namely, a
movable cover mechanism protects and hides the drinking port when
in the closed position, and provides for easy user access to the
drinking straw when in the open position.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,041 to DiTomasso describes a wrist band
and attached reservoir pouch that is strapped to the wrist of a
user. The reservoir pouch can either be removed and disposed of
once depleted of liquid, or refilled for reuse. The device claims
to automatically dispense the contained liquid via positive
pressure attributed to the forced swell of the wristlet's elastic
material from the volume of liquid contained inside. Access to the
liquid inside the device is achieved through a dispensing nipple
that is located on the exterior of the device. The positive
pressure dispensing method is unique to the DiTomasso patent and it
presents the potential hazard that the contained liquid will spurt
out of the device in the event that the nipple is accidentally
opened. The present invention does not pose the same risk of
spurting as the DiTomasso patented device because the present
invention has a sliding protective mechanism that can be locked
into place when in a closed position, preventing leakage. Since the
reservoir in the DiTomasso patent is removable, there are also
concerns that the reservoir will accidentally detach from the
wristband during rigorous physical activity. The present invention
encompasses the liquid reservoir--that is, the device is
inseparable from the reservoir bladder. There is no need to be
concerned about reservoir detachment.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,347 to White claims a wristlet beverage
dispenser that is made of an elastic, liquid-impervious material so
that it can be slipped on and off over the user's hand, rather than
wrapped around the wrist. The claims suggest an annular shape
which, due to the elastic properties of the material the device is
made from, will allow the device to snuggly fit the wrist of the
user once slipped over the hand. The device is a reservoir, and the
liquid contained within is accessed by the user through a
resealable closure, such as a nipple, located on the exterior of
the device.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,097 to Smith is similar to the Taylor
Jr., DiTomasso and White patents. The Smith patent describes a
reservoir and liquid dispensing device with a C-shaped wrist cuff
design. The device serves as both a water weight and a water
dispensing device. User's access to the liquid contained within is
achieved by accessing a drinking port, which is located on the
exterior of the device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,529 to Levit also
describes a C-shaped wrist cuff reservoir designed to serve as both
a water weight and a water dispensing device for runners. Users can
access the water contained in the weights by opening a dispenser
and drinking from it. Users must securely reseal the dispenser or
risk leakage. The C-shaped device design in both the Smith and
Levit patents each lack a means of securing the device to the
user's limb. Without any means of attachment, the device could
possibly fall off a user's wrist. The present invention will
include an attachment means, which includes, but is not limited to:
snaps, hook and loop fasteners or a buckle, to ensure that the
device remains securely fastened around whatever the user has
attached it to.
[0011] Several other patents have issued for drinking devices that
are secured to a user's arm, rather than a user's wrist. U.S. Pat.
No. 5,566,869 to Katz describes a reservoir device that is secured
to a user's arm. The user drinks directly from the reservoir
through a protruding straw. The straw internally harbors a sealing
ball and spring configuration serving as a one-way valve to prevent
liquid from exiting the reservoir. The straw is positioned so that
it protrudes out into the open; it cannot be tucked into the device
nor hidden when not in use. The present invention describes a
sliding protective mechanism that can be moved to cover the
reservoir accessing straw. Moving the protective mechanism to the
closed position protects and hides the straw from the environment
when the device is not being used.
[0012] Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,960 to Fink describes a
liquid dispensing apparatus that places the liquid reservoir on the
upper arm of a user and runs a dispensing line down the user's arm
to an unprotected dispensing port attached to the user's wrist,
which the user can drink from. The dispensing line has a flow
control valve, which can be adjusted to restrict the flow of the
dispensing liquid. There is the potential for the dispensing line
to become detached from the reservoir as the line is not secured to
the arm in any way. The present invention does not pose the risk of
reservoir detachment as the device encompasses the liquid
reservoir, which is tapped into directly by a liquid accessing
straw.
[0013] Both the Katz and Fink patents describe a durable and
reliable construction of their liquid storage and dispensing
devices. Yet the use of a rigid material in the construction of a
reservoir could be uncomfortable when fastened to a user's limb.
The present invention describes a reservoir pouch that is made from
a material that is impermeable to liquid and flexible, making the
device comfortable for the user to wear by fastening the device
around their wrist.
[0014] The prior art cited here describes reservoir and liquid
dispensing systems and devices that can be secured to a user's limb
for easy access to the liquid contained therewith. Users of the
prior art can access liquid from these reservoir devices at their
leisure. These inventions, while providing novel ways to
conveniently store and provide liquids to a user, all prescribe
access to the liquid contained within via an unprotected dispensing
port that is exposed to the environment, germs and dirt. After
accessing the liquid using any one of the cited prior art devices,
the liquid access point--be it a nipple, straw or dispensing
port--after use is covered with the user's saliva and excess liquid
remaining on the dispensing port. This wet surface is then exposed
to the environment, and could easily collect dust, dirt and germs,
which the user would ingest the next time they drink from the
liquid access point. The present invention provides an innovative
hygienic improvement over the prior art; a sliding mechanism that
hides and protects the liquid accessing straw when not in use,
protecting the drinking end of the straw from unnecessary exposure
to dirt, germs and dust. This invention substantially diverges in
design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear
that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing
devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially
fulfills these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of liquid storing and dispensing devices now present in the
prior art, the present invention provides a new liquid storing
device with a liquid accessing port protection mechanism wherein
the same can be utilized for providing convenient storage of a
liquid by the user, and protection from germs and dirt when in the
liquid accessing port protection mechanism is in the closed
position.
[0016] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a new and improved liquid storage and dispensing device
that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the
disadvantages therein.
[0017] Another object of the present invention to provide easy
storage of a hydrating beverage and easy access to that beverage
during activities where accessing a traditional beverage container
would be challenging and/or inconvenient.
[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
protective mechanism for keeping the liquid accessing straw hidden
from sight, and protected from the environment, germs, dirt and the
like, when not in use.
[0019] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Although the characteristic features of this invention will
be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and
manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood
after a review of the following description, taken in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are
provided throughout.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, and
how it can be used.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention in a
working position fastened around a user's wrist. The protective
mechanism is in the open position, providing straw access.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention in an
unfastened configuration. The protective mechanism is in the closed
position, which prevents the contained liquid from leaking out.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view
of the present invention, wherein a user is using the device. The
device comprises an internal reservoir 11 and is made from a
flexible material that is impermeable to liquid. The reservoir has
two ends--a first end and a second end. The device is designed with
a means of attaching the first end and the second end of the device
to each other by an attachment means, here depicted as snaps 12. A
user 15 can open the protective mechanism 13, providing access to
the contained liquid within the reservoir 11 by use of a reservoir
access port. In this embodiment, the user 15 is drinking from the
reservoir access port by a straw 14 drinking means. However, the
device is not limited to only the use of a straw for accessing the
liquid contained inside the reservoir. Other embodiments of the
draining means may have a reservoir access port that includes a
push-pull "sports bottle" cap, a snap top cap, screw-off cap, or
the like.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view
of the present invention fastened around the wrist of a user 15 by
an attachment means, here depicted as snaps 12. The protective
mechanism 13 has been slid to the open position by the user, and
the straw 14 has been exposed.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view
of the present invention in its unfastened configuration. The
protective mechanism 13 has been slid to the closed position,
hiding the straw 14 and protecting it from exposure to the
environment.
[0027] In use, a user 15 can wear the device around his or her
wrist by fastening the first end of the reservoir 11 to the second
end of the reservoir 11 using the attachment means 12. The
attachment means 12 can include, but are not limited to, snaps (as
depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3), buckles, buttons, tying strings or
hook and loop fasteners. A user 15 is not limited to only wearing
the device around a limb. A user 15 could also fasten the device to
or around other various objects. For example, a user 15 could
fasten the device to a belt loop, around a bike handle, or fasten
the device around the neck of a pet, as one would a pet collar.
[0028] To access the liquid inside the reservoir 11, the user must
open a moveable protective mechanism 13 in order to gain access to
the straw 14. The purpose of the protective mechanism 13 is to hide
the straw 14 from sight, and protects the straw 14 from the
environment when the device is not being used, keeping the drinking
end of the straw 14 hygienic and clean for the next time a user 15
wants to drink from the device. The protective mechanism 13 has two
parts: the protective cover 16 and a locking button 17. The locking
button 17 locks the protective mechanism in either the open or
closed position. To open the protective mechanism 13 and expose the
straw 14, a user 15 must depress a locking button 17, which is
located on top of the protective cover 16. Unlocking the protective
mechanism 13 allows a user 15 to move the protective mechanism 13
from an open position to a closed position and vice versa. Once in
the open position, a user 15 can sip as much of the liquid as
desired, then depress the locking button 17 to slide the protection
mechanism 13 to the closed position to protect the straw 14 from
collecting dirt, germs, and the like. The straw 14 also has a
one-way valve contained therein, which will only allow liquid to
flow through the straw 14 when a user 15 produces enough suction on
the straw 14 to extract the liquid from the reservoir 11 through
the straw 14. The one-way valve prevents unwanted spills or
leakage. Additionally, when the protecting mechanism 13 is in the
closed position, the device is spill-proof.
[0029] One of the embodiments of the present invention is a
refillable version of the device. This embodiment of the device has
a straw 14 that has two ends; a drinking end and a threaded
non-drinking end. To refill the device, a user 15 would open the
protective mechanism 13 to reveal the straw 14. The user 15 would
then unscrew the straw 14 and refill the reservoir 11 with fresh
liquid. In the alternative, another embodiment of a refillable
version of the device will have a separate filling portal for
refilling the reservoir 11 that is distinct from the liquid
accessing straw 14. The device can be manufactured in a variety of
sizes and volumes, and could be made to be both disposable and/or
reusable. The disposable variation of the device would be made from
a material similar to that which disposable juice boxes are made
from, or similar inexpensive and disposable material.
[0030] The present invention could be used by joggers, weight
trainers and athletes, as these individuals may find the device
very useful during their specific activities. These types of
physical activities make it very difficult for participants to
carry or hold a traditional beverage container. These users can
wear the device either around a body part--for example, around a
limb, around the neck, or around the waist using an optionally
removable and extendable attachment means--or they could wrap the
device around a nearby object for storage while they exercise. By
using the present invention, this group of users would easily be
able to access a beverage while remaining engaged in the physical
activity.
[0031] Another embodiment of the device is designed to be
child-friendly. The sliding protection mechanism 13 is so simple to
manipulate, even children can operate the mechanism with ease. The
child user 15 simply depresses the locking button 17 and slides the
protective mechanism 13 open. In addition to using the device
during typical childhood activities, such as bike riding or playing
outdoors, the device could be used by students during class time.
Rather than disrupt a classroom lecture by raising their hand for
permission to take a drink break, students can sip from the device
during class time without disrupting anyone else's learning.
Schools could also encourage student use of the device during class
time, gym class, and field trips.
[0032] To this point, the instant invention has been shown and
described in what is considered to be the most practical and
preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures
may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious
modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With
respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that
the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the
invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,
function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed
readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all
equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and
described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by
the present invention.
[0033] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications
and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within
the scope of the invention.
* * * * *