Dispensing – With casing or support – Body carried and/or operated type
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-09
2004-06-15
Mancene, Gene (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With casing or support
Body carried and/or operated type
C222S107000, C222S145500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06749090
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Summary of the Invention
A sports hydration system uses separate bladders or bladder portions containing different fluids, such as an electrolyte sports drink and water, or separate quantities of the same fluid. Each separate bladder or bladder portion feed to separate tube branches. Each branch communicates through a lever or arm operated valve to a single feed tube. In this manner the user can switch between the preferred beverage, feed both beverages, close both, or otherwise use the selection function for endurance and training advantage.
2. Description of Related Art
Sports hydration systems have developed primarily in the area of improved suspension, improved tube routing and improved terminals, outlets or ‘bite’ valves. While these are useful improvements they fail to address a primary limitation, namely that each arrangement is operably limited to the supply of a single fluid at a time.
A “Y” connector is used in U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,457 to join separate outlet tubes to a single bladder, the disclosure of this patent being incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. A dual function outlet is used in U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,298, changing outlet flow between a stream and a mist, from a single bladder, the disclosure of this patent being incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Bite valves or outlet valves are also taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,039,305 and 6,062,435, the disclosure of these patents being incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Routing of the feed tube is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,344, the disclosure of this patent being incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
The athlete or sportsperson, however, frequently desires alternative fluids during the course of an event or activity. For example, electrolyte sports drinks, such as Gatorade, can provide important performance enhancing elements, yet at other times, pure water is preferred, whether for taste or other functional reasons, or simple preference. Separate bladders can also be used to monitor or ration fluids, such as providing one bladder for a bicycle ride or run in one direction, with the exhaustion of that bladder signifying the need to return to a starting point and the second bladder providing hydration for the return.
REFERENCES:
patent: 486698 (1892-11-01), Ketchum
patent: 1964362 (1934-06-01), Nassif
patent: 3197071 (1965-07-01), Kuster
patent: 3272387 (1966-09-01), Katz et al.
patent: 3411534 (1968-11-01), Rose
patent: 3876112 (1975-04-01), Kramer
patent: 4061142 (1977-12-01), Tuttle
patent: 4425113 (1984-01-01), Bilstad
patent: 4526298 (1985-07-01), Boxer et al.
patent: 4739905 (1988-04-01), Nelson
patent: 4753371 (1988-06-01), Michielin et al.
patent: 4856995 (1989-08-01), Wagner
patent: 5188266 (1993-02-01), Loulias
patent: 5332157 (1994-07-01), Proctor
patent: 5405030 (1995-04-01), Frazier
patent: 5433350 (1995-07-01), Graubart
patent: 5753289 (1998-05-01), Ness
patent: 5794819 (1998-08-01), Smith
patent: 5816457 (1998-10-01), Croft
patent: 5865797 (1999-02-01), Zeeman
patent: 5911406 (1999-06-01), Winefordner et al.
patent: 5921440 (1999-07-01), Maines
patent: 5947335 (1999-09-01), Milio et al.
patent: 5967308 (1999-10-01), Bowen
patent: 5967315 (1999-10-01), Langtry, II
patent: 6010034 (2000-01-01), Walthers
patent: 6039305 (2000-03-01), Hoskins et al.
patent: 6062435 (2000-05-01), Hess, III
patent: 6112952 (2000-09-01), Hess, III et al.
patent: 6164822 (2000-12-01), Beer
patent: 6179146 (2001-01-01), Betras
patent: 6283344 (2001-09-01), Bradley
patent: 6589197 (2003-07-01), Doi et al.
patent: 1 106 191 (2001-06-01), None
patent: WO 00/10626 (2000-03-01), None
Barnes & Thornburg
Brezina David C.
Cartagena Melvin
Mancene Gene
Trek Bicycle Corporation
LandOfFree
Dual bladder sports hydration system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Dual bladder sports hydration system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Dual bladder sports hydration system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3343156