Personal hydration system with an improved mouthpiece

A personal hydration system, comprising:

• a reservoir configured to hold a supply of fluid and including an output port through which the fluid may be passed;
• a flexible hose with first and second ends, the first end being connected to the output port;
• and
• a mouthpiece connected to the second end of the hose and configured to be placed in the user's mouth to provide fluid delivery thereto, the mouthpiece comprising:
• a neck adapted to receive a supply of fluid from the hydration system;
• and
• a resilient head in fluid communication with the neck and having a dispensing face with a pair of lips defining a normally closed slit extending therebetween to provide a sealable opening through which fluid is selectively dispensed when the lips are urged from a closed position, in which the lips extend against each other to close the slit and prevent fluid from being dispensed therethrough, to a dispensing position in which the lips are spread at least partially away from each other to enable fluid to be dispensed through the slit, wherein the face further includes a plurality of resilient ribs extending from the lips along the face to bias the lips against each other.

A hydration system for use in providing fluid to a user, the hydration system comprising:

• a reservoir configured to hold a supply of fluid and including an output port through which the fluid may be passed;
• a flexible hose with first and second ends, the first end being connected to the output port;
• and
• a mouthpiece connected to the second end of the hose and configured to be placed in the user's mouth to provide fluid delivery thereto, the mouthpiece comprising:
• a neck adapted to receive a supply of fluid from the hydration system;
• and
• a resilient head in fluid communication with the neck and having a dispensing face with a pair of lips defining a normally closed slit extending therebetween to provide a sealable opening through which fluid is selectively dispensed when the lips are urged from a closed position, in which the lips extend against each other to close the slit and prevent fluid from being dispensed therethrough, to a dispensing position in which the lips are spread at least partially away from each other to enable fluid to be dispensed through the slit, wherein in the dispensing position the slit forms an opening with an area sufficient to dispense fluid from the mouthpiece at a flowrate greater than 30 ml/sec when the mouthpiece is placed in a user's mouth, urged to the dispensing position and drawn upon by the user.

A hydration system for use in providing fluid to a user, the hydration system comprising:

• a reservoir configured to hold a supply of fluid and including an output port through which the fluid may be passed;
• a flexible hose with first and second ends, the first end being connected to the output port;
• and
• a mouthpiece connected to the second end of the hose and configured to be placed in the user's mouth to provide fluid delivery thereto, the mouthpiece comprising:
• a neck adapted to receive a supply tube through which a supply of fluid is selectively delivered from the reservoir, wherein the neck includes an inner wall that defines an internal diameter and a cross-sectional area measured transverse to the direction of fluid flow;
• and
• a resilient head in fluid communication with the neck and having a dispensing face with a pair of lips defining a normally closed slit extending therebetween to provide a sealable opening through which fluid is selectively dispensed when the lips are urged from a closed position, in which the lips extend against each other to close the slit and prevent fluid from being dispensed therethrough, to a dispensing position, in which the lips are spread at least partially away from each other to enable fluid to be dispensed through the slit, wherein the slit has a length that is at least 150% of the internal diameter of the neck.

A hydration system for use in providing fluid to a user, the hydration system comprising:

• a reservoir configured to hold a supply of fluid and including an output port through which the fluid may be passed;
• a flexible hose with first and second ends, the first end being connected to the output port;
• and
• a mouthpiece connected to the second end of the hose and configured to be placed in the user's mouth to provide fluid delivery thereto, the mouthpiece comprising:
• a neck adapted to receive a supply of fluid from the hydration system;
• and
• a resilient head in fluid communication with the neck and having a dispensing face with an inner surface and a pair of lips defining a normally closed slit extending therebetween to provide a sealable opening through which fluid is selectively dispensed when the lips are urged from a closed position, in which the lips extend against each other to close the slit and prevent fluid from being dispensed therethrough, to a dispensing position, in which the lips are spread at least partially away from each other to enable fluid to be dispensed through the slit, wherein inner surface of the dispensing face has a convex configuration in which the face has a thickness distal the slit that is less than the thickness of the face proximate the slit.