Systems and methods for inflating an article of outdoor gear or apparel using a dry gas
OwnerRobert Nathan Alder, Cory Tholl +1inventors
InventorsRobert Nathan Alder, Cory Tholl, Brady Woolford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inflation system includes a bladder incorporated into an article of outdoor gear or apparel. The bladder is incorporated into the article of outdoor gear and apparel so as to provide insulation to a user. The inflation system includes a gas canister that includes a reservoir of dry gas. A valve mechanism allows the dry gas to be used to selectively inflate and deflate the bladder to provide a desired amount of insulation.
Claims31
An inflation system for inflating an article of outdoor gear or apparel using a dry gas, comprising:
- an article of outdoor gear or apparel that includes a gas inflatable bladder configured and positioned in the outdoor gear or apparel so as to provide insulation to a user in an outdoor environment when the bladder is at least partially inflated with a dry gas;
- a pressurized reservoir of a dry gas in fluid communication with the gas inflatable bladder;
- and
- an actuateable valve positioned between the pressurized reservoir and the gas inflatable bladder, the actuateable valve being capable of being selectively opened and closed to allow gas from the pressurized reservoir to flow into the gas inflatable bladder.
An inflation system for inflating an article of outdoor gear or apparel with a dry gas, comprising:
- an article of outdoor gear or apparel that includes a gas inflatable bladder configured and positioned in the outdoor gear or apparel so as to provide insulation to a user in an outdoor environment;
- filling means for inflating the gas inflatable bladder with a dry gas, the filling system means including a gas reservoir that can be selectively removed from the filling system and a valve configured to be selectively opened and closed to release dry gas from the gas reservoir.
A method of using a dry gas reservoir to inflate an article of outdoor gear or apparel, comprising:
- providing an article of outdoor gear or apparel that includes a gas inflatable bladder configured and positioned in the outdoor gear or apparel so as to provide insulation to a user in an outdoor environment;
- providing a filling system having an inlet for receiving a pressurized dry gas and an actuateable valve;
- providing a gas reservoir including a dry gas, the gas reservoir having an outlet configured to couple to the inlet of the filling system;
- and
- connecting the gas reservoir to the filling system so as to create a seal therebetween and actuating the actuateable valve to at least partially fill the inflatable bladder with the dry gas.
A gas canister for inflating an article of outdoor gear or apparel with a dry gas, comprising:
- a portable canister having an elongate shape with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end including a neck with an opening;
- a thread pattern positioned on a threaded portion of the neck of the canister;
- a smooth neck portion extending distally from the threaded portion, the smooth neck portion having a smaller diameter than the threaded portion;
- a dry gas disposed within the portable canister under a pressure of at least about 1000 psi;
- and
- a rupturable membrane covering the opening to the neck and providing a seal for the dry gas until the membrane is ruptured.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.