U.S. patent application number 13/380841 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-10 for personal hydration system.
Invention is credited to Michael Pfotenhauer.
Application Number | 20120111876 13/380841 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43387155 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120111876 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pfotenhauer; Michael |
May 10, 2012 |
PERSONAL HYDRATION SYSTEM
Abstract
A personal hydration system has a contoured panel (300) attached
to a surface (506) of a mounting panel (500). The contoured panel
(300) resists bending and is shaped to conform to a human spine.
The perimeter (504) of the mounting panel (500) is attached to a
seam (104) between the upper panel (101) and lower panel (102) of a
hydration reservoir (100), forcing the hydration reservoir (100) to
conform to a human back.
Inventors: |
Pfotenhauer; Michael; (Mill
Valley, CA) |
Family ID: |
43387155 |
Appl. No.: |
13/380841 |
Filed: |
June 26, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
June 26, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2010/040112 |
371 Date: |
December 25, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61220808 |
Jun 26, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/669 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/04 20130101; A45F
3/20 20130101; A45F 2003/003 20130101; A45F 2003/166 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/669 |
International
Class: |
B65D 90/02 20060101
B65D090/02 |
Claims
1. A hydration reservoir comprising a flexible upper panel and a
contoured panel, the upper panel having a first outer perimeter,
the first outer perimeter affixed to a surface of the contoured
panel to form a watertight seal.
2. A hydration reservoir as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
contoured panel conforms to a human spine.
3. A personal hydration system, comprising: a hydration reservoir
comprising a flexible upper panel and a lower panel; and a
contoured panel, the contoured panel affixed to the lower
panel.
4. A personal hydration system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
contoured panel conforms to a human spine.
5. A personal hydration system, comprising: a flexible hydration
reservoir comprising an upper panel having a first perimeter and a
lower panel having a second perimeter, the first perimeter joined
to the second perimeter along a seam; a contoured panel having a
third perimeter, the third perimeter having a length not greater
than the length of the second perimeter; and a mounting panel, the
mounting panel having an upper surface and a fourth perimeter, the
fourth perimeter equal in length to the second perimeter, the
contoured panel attached to the upper surface of the mounting
panel, the fourth perimeter attached to the seam.
6. A personal hydration system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
contoured panel conforms to a human spine.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to personal hydration
reservoirs.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Adequate hydration is critical in maintaining the body's
homeostasis. Maintenance of adequate hydration becomes both more
important and more difficult as the duration of a strenuous
physical activity increases. Various techniques have been employed
to maintain hydration during activity. The most common are
pre-hydration, in which an athlete consumes large quantities of
fluids before starting an activity, and carrying additional fluids
in some external container.
[0003] Though simple and convenient, pre-hydration is of limited
utility. Since consumption of excessive quantities of fluid may
cause bloating, nausea, and hyponatremia, an athlete often cannot
pre-hydrate sufficiently to avoid dehydration during extended
strenuous activity. Unless a reliable source of hydration is
readily available, dehydration and loss of performance will
occur.
[0004] An athlete may carry a much greater volume of fluids in
external containers than may be comfortably consumed in a short
period of time, allowing the athlete to rehydrate more or less
continuously for the duration of an activity. The quantity of
fluids available for hydration is limited only by what the athlete
is willing to carry.
[0005] However, the need to carry large volumes of fluids creates
its own set of problems. Fluids are relatively heavy and change
shape and shift position easily in response to motion and pressure.
Since most athletes find it awkward and tiring to carry more than a
very small fluid container by hand while active, a preferred method
for carrying fluids relies on a backpack that holds one or more
watertight containers.
[0006] A variety of personal hydration systems have evolved to fill
this need. A popular personal hydration system takes the form of a
small, frameless backpack. The backpack contains hydration system
components and usually additional space for personal items such as
clothing, food, and first aid items. Typical hydration system
components are a flexible plastic reservoir with a one to three
liter capacity; a hose, one end communicating with the reservoir
and the other end closed by a bite valve; and a fill cap or roll
top as a means for fluid to enter and fill the reservoir.
[0007] The hydration system components are integrated into the
small backpack to ease their removal for cleaning and re-filling.
Typically, the hydration reservoir is located in a dedicated sleeve
behind the surface of the backpack that contacts the user's back.
This sleeve keeps the backpack's contents separate from the
reservoir and keeps the pack contents dry. The reservoir sleeve
also holds the weight of the fluid-filled reservoir closer to the
individual's center-of-mass, thus enhancing balance and
stability.
[0008] In the current art, when the reservoir is filled with fluid
it assumes a columnar or semi-cylindrical shape in response to
internal fluid pressure. Since most personal hydration systems are
designed to accept a semi-cylindrical reservoir, this shape fits
most hydration systems. However, this design tends to force a
backpack to assume the reservoir's columnar or cylindrical shape.
The resulting non-anatomical structure forces the weight of the
backpack's contents away from user's back and thus away from his or
her center-of-mass. The inability of this structure to conform to
the user's back concentrates pressure on the user's spine, causing
discomfort. It also concentrates more load on small portions of the
user's shoulders and lower back.
[0009] Furthermore, without extensive load control features, the
motions involved in walking or running tend to roll the backpack's
barrel-like form side-to-side across the individual's back. To
arrest this motion, additional weight and expense in the form of
straps, connectors and fabric are needed.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0010] In accordance with the present invention, I provide a
hydration reservoir contoured by a structural element integrated
with or in parallel to the reservoir. By forcing the contour of the
reservoir to follow the shape of the user's back, the carrying
efficiency, balance, stability and user comfort of the pack and its
load increase.
[0011] In a first embodiment a flexible upper panel may be welded
or otherwise joined a its perimeter to a contoured panel to form a
watertight hydration reservoir. The contoured panel forces the
reservoir to conform to a human spine.
[0012] In a second embodiment flexible upper and lower panels may
be joined at their perimeters to form a watertight hydration
reservoir. A contoured panel may be attached to the lower panel.
The contoured panel forces the reservoir to conform to a human
spine.
[0013] In a third embodiment flexible upper and lower panels may be
joined at their perimeters to form a watertight hydration
reservoir. A contoured panel may be attached to a mounting panel.
The perimeter of the mounting panel may be attached to the
perimeters of the upper and lower panels. The contoured panel
forces the reservoir to conform to a human spine.
[0014] All of these features and advantages of the present
invention, and more, are illustrated below in the drawings and
detailed description that follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a side elevation view of a hydration reservoir
.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a person wearing a pack
containing a semi-cylindrical hydration reservoir.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows a rear elevation view of a contoured panel.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows a side elevation view of a contoured panel.
[0019] FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a hydration reservoir, a
contoured panel, and a mounting panel.
[0020] FIG. 6 shows a side elevation view of a hydration reservoir
with an attached mounting panel and contour panel.
[0021] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the hydration reservoir
of FIG. 6.
[0022] FIG. 8 shows a side elevation view of a person wearing a
pack containing the hydration reservoir of FIG. 6.
[0023] FIG. 9 shows a top plan view of a person wearing a pack
containing a semi-cylindrical hydration reservoir.
[0024] FIG. 10 shows a top plan view of a person wearing a pack
containing the hydration reservoir of FIG. 6.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a side elevation view of a hydration reservoir
100 as is known in the art. The reservoir 100 is formed by welding
the perimeter of an upper panel 101 to the perimeter of a lower
panel 102 along a seam 104. The panels are commonly made of
flexible plastic, although other known materials may be used. The
resulting watertight reservoir may be filled through an orifice
closed by a cap 106 retained by a retaining loop 108. Water may
then be withdrawn from the reservoir 100 through a tube 110.
[0026] Since both the upper 101 and lower 102 panels are
semi-rectangular and approximately equal in size, shape, and
flexibility, outward pressure by the fluid within the reservoir
tends to force the filled reservoir 100 into a semi-cylindrical
shape. When the reservoir 100 is inserted into a pack 200 as shown
in FIG. 2, the rounded bulge of the lower panel 102 (not shown in
FIG. 2) causes the back panel 202 of the pack 200 to bulge toward
the user's back, placing pressure on the user's spine and forcing
the pack 200 to stand away from the user's back. A gap 204 may open
between the pack 200 and the user, causing the shoulder straps 206
of the pack to hang uncomfortably while the rounded back panel 202
rolls from side to side on the user's back, throwing the user off
balance.
[0027] This uncomfortable and unbalanced configuration may be
greatly improved by insertion of a stiffened, contoured panel
between the user's back and the reservoir 100. FIG. 3 shows a rear
elevation view of an effective contoured panel 300. The perimeter
304 of the contoured panel 300 fits within the perimeter of a
flattened reservoir 100. In some embodiments longitudinal ribs 302
of thicker material cause the contoured panel 300 to be more
resistant to bending across its short dimension than across its
long dimension, allowing the contoured panel 300 to curve around
the user's spine while preventing the reservoir 100 from bulging
against the user's back. FIG. 4 shows a side elevation view of an
embodiment of a contoured panel 400 that is formed in a gentle
S-curve that conforms well to a user's back.
[0028] The contoured panel 300 may be manufactured from a variety
of known materials. Desirable physical and manufacturing material
characteristics include high strength, low weight and cost,
environmental compatibility, and ease in forming complex shapes.
Molded thermoplastics embody many of these characteristics. The
contoured panel can be injection-molded to include features that
would facilitate attachment directly to an hydration reservoir or
to a fabric sleeve or other attachment means. The mold can also
integrate biased strengthening features and flex reliefs into the
shape required to contour the reservoir to the shape of the user's
back.
[0029] The contoured panel 300 may be affixed directly to the
reservoir 100 or attached to or inserted into a secondary structure
that is attached to the reservoir. FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of
an embodiment in which a contoured panel 300 is stitched, glued, or
otherwise attached to an upper surface 506 of a mounting panel 500
that is the same size and shape as the flattened reservoir 100. The
mounting panel 500 may be made of nylon or polyester fabric and may
be marked 502 to facilitate accurate positioning of the contoured
panel 300.
[0030] The perimeter 504 of the mounting panel 500 is then aligned
with the perimeter of the reservoir 100 and the mounting panel 500
and reservoir 100 are stitched, glued, or otherwise attached along
the reservoir seam 104. When the reservoir 100 and mounting panel
500 are stitched together, a bias tape 510 may be stitched or glued
around the perimeter of the joined edges to cover the exposed scam
and panel edges.
[0031] With the contoured panel 300 thus positioned tightly against
the lower panel 102 of the reservoir 100, the lower panel 102 is
forced to conform to the contoured panel 300. FIG. 6 shows a side
elevation view of a hydration reservoir with an attached mounting
panel 500 and contour panel (not visible in FIG. 6). FIG. 7 shows a
perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6. As is apparent in
FIG. 6, the lower surface 602 of this combination conforms to the
shape of the contour panel and therefore to the shape of a pack
user's back.
[0032] In an alternate embodiment an injection-molded contoured
panel may be welded directly to the lower panel. In still another
alternate embodiment, the contoured panel and lower panel may be
blow-molded as an integrated unit, with an upper panel welded
around its perimeter to the integrated contoured panel and lower
panel to create a hydration reservoir.
[0033] FIG. 8 shows a side elevation view of a person wearing a
pack 800 into which the embodiment of FIG. 6 has been inserted with
the long dimension of the hydration reservoir oriented parallel to
the long dimension of the pack 800. In an embodiment with the
contoured panel affixed to the hydration reservoir, the personal
hydration system is further oriented so that the contoured panel is
between the reservoir and the user's back. In an embodiment where
the contoured panel is separate from the hydration reservoir and
inserted in a dedicated sleeve or compartment within the pack, the
hydration reservoir could be oriented with the cap facing toward or
away from the user's back.
[0034] Unlike the pack 200 shown in FIG. 2, the pack 800 shown in
FIG. 8 conforms closely to the user's back, allowing the shoulder
straps 806 to distribute pack weight evenly over the user's
shoulders and preventing the pack 800 from rolling from side to
side in response to the shifting mass of fluid within the hydration
reservoir without the additional weight and cost of load
stabilization straps and other systems.
[0035] FIG. 9 shows a top plan view of a pack 900 containing a
semi-cylindrical hydration reservoir. FIG. 10 shows a top plan view
of a pack 1000 containing of a hydration reservoir with an attached
mounting panel and contour panel. While the embodiment of FIG. 9
tends to roll easily from side to side, the embodiment of FIG. 10
is markedly more stable.
[0036] The principles, embodiments, and modes of operation of the
present invention have been set forth in the foregoing
specification. The embodiments disclosed herein should be
interpreted as illustrating the present invention and not as
restricting it. The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit
the range of equivalent structure available to a person of ordinary
skill in the art in any way, but rather to expand the range of
equivalent structures in ways not previously contemplated. Numerous
variations and changes can be made to the foregoing illustrative
embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the
present invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0037] From the foregoing it can be seen that the teachings of this
disclosure have applicability in the manufacture and use of
portable hydration reservoirs, particularly those carried in
backpacks. A reservoir manufactured according to the teachings of
this disclosure may increase the stability and comfort of a pack
containing the reservoir.
* * * * *