Package and article carriers – Carried by animate bearer – For liquid or liquid-holding container
Reexamination Certificate
2003-06-30
2004-11-23
Merek, Joseph C (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Carried by animate bearer
For liquid or liquid-holding container
C215S306000, C220S375000, C220S705000, C222S175000, C222S467000, C224S148500, C383S066000, C383S080000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06820780
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to hydration systems, and more particularly to a hydration system with an improved fluid reservoir.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Medical research has demonstrated the importance of maintaining adequate hydration while engaging in strenuous physical activities, such as running, bicycling, hiking, or mountain climbing. In the not too distant past, participants in such activities carried their water in bottles or canteens from which they drank periodically. More recently, personal hydration systems have been developed which allow users to drink more or less continuously while engaged in sporting or recreational activities. These personal hydration systems typically have a bag-like fluid reservoir that is carried in a back- or waist-mounted pack. A long flexible tube is connected to the reservoir through an exit port at one end and terminates in a mouthpiece at the other end. The tube is long enough to allow the mouthpiece to be carried in the user's mouth to enable the user to draw water from the reservoir at will. Examples of hydration systems and mouthpieces therefor are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,727,714, 5,060,833, 5,085,349, and 6,070,767, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Although personal hydration systems have proven to be a great advance over traditional water bottles, they do suffer from some drawbacks. One such drawback is providing a fluid reservoir with an interior that may be readily accessed by the user, such as for cleaning. Fluid reservoirs for hydration systems typically include a sealable opening through which a volume of fluid is added to the reservoir. An example of such an opening is a narrow-diameter neck that is sealed through a friction fit with a cap. Another example is a reservoir with an opening defined by generally opposed ribs that are sealed by compressing the ribs against each other, much like a ZIPLOCK™ brand storage bag. Still another example is a roll top, or folded, opening, much like a dry bag used in camping. These designs suffer from limitations regarding either their accessibility to the interior of the reservoir, or their durability, such as when exposed to repeated opening and closing and to external forces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a hydration system with an improved fluid reservoir. A drinking tube extends from an outlet port of the reservoir and includes a distal end upon which a mouthpiece may be mounted. In some embodiments, the reservoir includes a relatively large-diameter fill port. In some embodiments, the reservoir includes a closure member with a handle for selectively sealing the input port. In some embodiments, the reservoir includes a wrench assembly that enables the user to more easily open and close the input port and/or to position the reservoir for filling. In some embodiments, the hydration system includes a pack into which the reservoir is received, and in some embodiments, the pack includes a hanger assembly adapted to support the reservoir within the pack.
Many other features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which preferred embodiments incorporating the principles of this invention are disclosed as illustrative examples only.
REFERENCES:
patent: 33343 (1861-09-01), Garrick
patent: 357272 (1887-02-01), Donavin
patent: 469613 (1892-02-01), Vinyard
patent: 581767 (1897-05-01), Powers
patent: 607236 (1898-07-01), Hardman, Jr.
patent: 619712 (1899-02-01), Barliff
patent: 1304064 (1919-05-01), Kearn
patent: 1387953 (1921-08-01), Swift
patent: 1619120 (1927-03-01), Heaton
patent: 1637635 (1927-08-01), Corley
patent: 2013358 (1935-09-01), Osborne
patent: 2095351 (1937-10-01), Van Winkle
patent: 2213057 (1940-08-01), Sponsel
patent: 2314650 (1943-03-01), Madsen
patent: 2380372 (1945-07-01), Alderfer
patent: 2412544 (1946-12-01), Waters
patent: 2500363 (1950-03-01), Koeppel
patent: 2610081 (1952-09-01), Bushman
patent: 2687158 (1954-08-01), Owen
patent: 2696235 (1954-12-01), Toffolon
patent: 2738907 (1956-03-01), Lacher
patent: 2802608 (1957-08-01), Gassaway
patent: 2828982 (1958-04-01), Kennedy
patent: 2829386 (1958-04-01), Peer
patent: 2999387 (1961-09-01), Andelin
patent: 3067787 (1962-12-01), Salk
patent: 3087491 (1963-04-01), Gewecke et al.
patent: 3137898 (1964-06-01), Geringer
patent: 3138293 (1964-06-01), Roak et al.
patent: 3160304 (1964-12-01), Peacock
patent: 3233777 (1966-02-01), Farha
patent: 3299442 (1967-01-01), White et al.
patent: 3354924 (1967-11-01), Birrelle et al.
patent: 3814288 (1974-06-01), Wetsrich
patent: 3990596 (1976-11-01), Hoftman
patent: 4089447 (1978-05-01), Achmeteli
patent: 4090650 (1978-05-01), Gotta
patent: 4095812 (1978-06-01), Rowe
patent: 4139130 (1979-02-01), Glusker et al.
patent: 4144607 (1979-03-01), Soubie
patent: 4148420 (1979-04-01), Morrissette et al.
patent: 4159790 (1979-07-01), Bailey
patent: 4176772 (1979-12-01), Danon
patent: 4189075 (1980-02-01), Hall
patent: 4193518 (1980-03-01), Holmes
patent: 4253454 (1981-03-01), Warncke
patent: 4265381 (1981-05-01), Muscatell
patent: 4274566 (1981-06-01), Rowe
patent: 4335770 (1982-06-01), Kulle et al.
patent: 4345704 (1982-08-01), Boughton
patent: 4420097 (1983-12-01), Motsenbocker
patent: 4449654 (1984-05-01), Cappis
patent: 4526298 (1985-07-01), Boxer et al.
patent: 4541117 (1985-09-01), Ashbeck
patent: 4544087 (1985-10-01), Modig
patent: 4629098 (1986-12-01), Eger
patent: 4688643 (1987-08-01), Carter
patent: 4699298 (1987-10-01), Grant
patent: 4739905 (1988-04-01), Nelson
patent: 4739913 (1988-04-01), Moore
patent: 4758099 (1988-07-01), Branson
patent: 4776495 (1988-10-01), Vignot
patent: 4821372 (1989-04-01), Casiello
patent: 4848660 (1989-07-01), O'Connell
patent: 4852781 (1989-08-01), Shurnick et al.
patent: 4941598 (1990-07-01), Lambelet, Jr. et al.
patent: 4948023 (1990-08-01), Tripp
patent: 4955572 (1990-09-01), Simmons
patent: 5060833 (1991-10-01), Edison et al.
patent: 5062591 (1991-11-01), Runkel
patent: 5085349 (1992-02-01), Fawcett
patent: 5114059 (1992-05-01), Thatcher
patent: 5115947 (1992-05-01), McDonnell et al.
patent: 5104016 (1992-08-01), Runkel
patent: 5188266 (1993-02-01), Loulias
patent: 5215231 (1993-06-01), Paczonay
patent: D337273 (1993-07-01), Thatcher
patent: D337274 (1993-07-01), Thatcher
patent: 5228609 (1993-07-01), Gregory
patent: 5230566 (1993-07-01), Jackson et al.
patent: 5282557 (1994-02-01), McCook
patent: 5301858 (1994-04-01), Hollander
patent: 5320240 (1994-06-01), Wehle et al.
patent: 5335809 (1994-08-01), Toida et al.
patent: 5348184 (1994-09-01), Adams et al.
patent: 5400934 (1995-03-01), Ducros
patent: 5427290 (1995-06-01), Thatcher
patent: 5431308 (1995-07-01), Tchen
patent: 5437387 (1995-08-01), Burns
patent: 5566869 (1996-10-01), Katz
patent: 5573135 (1996-11-01), Stolzenfeld
patent: 5577647 (1996-11-01), Pittarelli et al.
patent: 5595325 (1997-01-01), Leres
patent: 5601207 (1997-02-01), Paczonay
patent: 5727714 (1998-03-01), Fawcett
patent: 5730336 (1998-03-01), Lerner
patent: 5755368 (1998-05-01), Bekkedahl
patent: D396630 (1998-08-01), Lerner
patent: 5791510 (1998-08-01), Paczonay
patent: D398776 (1998-09-01), Fawcett
patent: 5803333 (1998-09-01), Fawcett
patent: 5806726 (1998-09-01), Ho
patent: 5816457 (1998-10-01), Croft
patent: 5938095 (1999-08-01), Haar et al.
patent: 6032831 (2000-03-01), Gardner et al.
patent: 6070767 (2000-06-01), Gardner et al.
patent: 6076967 (2000-06-01), Beaudette
patent: 6085947 (2000-07-01), Lien
patent: 6247619 (2001-06-01), Gill et al.
patent: 6352235 (2002-03-01), Cizek
patent: 6644854 (2003-11-01), Lien
patent: 6675998 (2004-01-01), Forsman et al.
patent: 2002/0193856 (2002-12-01), Lu
patent: 3727789 (1988-03-01), None
The Integrator advertisement, FasTrak Systems, Inc., 1996.
The CamelBak Narrow Gauge System advertisement, FasTrak Systems, Inc., 1996.
The Pakster advertisement, FasTrak Systems, Inc., 1996.
The HydroBak advertisement, FasTrak Systems, Inc., 1996.
The H2&bul
Choi Robert
Forsman Barley A.
Miros Robert
CamelBak Products, LLC
Kolisch & Hartwell, P.C.
Merek Joseph C
LandOfFree
Neck-supported fluid reservoir, hydration systems and pack... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Neck-supported fluid reservoir, hydration systems and pack..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Neck-supported fluid reservoir, hydration systems and pack... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3318403