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US 7,007,502 B2Granted
In-car hydration systems
AssigneeStokely-Van Camp, Inc.
InventorsKurt Kreutzmann, Don Prestley, Dennis Broeske, Steve Ehardt, John R. Califf, John Konieczka, Jeff Zachwieja
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for a liquid delivery system for a race vehicle to provide the driver of the race vehicle with readily available cool fluids are disclosed. One embodiment is directed to an insulated bag mounted in the race vehicle having a collapsible fluid bladder and a cooling medium within the bag. Tubing connects the bladder to a valve for the driver to drink from. Preferably, a pump is coupled to the tubing to move fluid through the system.
Claims21
A hydration system for a driver of a vehicle comprising:
- a reservoir for holding a liquid;
- tubing having two ends with one end coupled to said reservoir;
- a valve connected to the other end of said tubing;
- a pump coupled to said tubing to move liquid between said reservoir and said valve, and
- a rocker switch and battery pack coupled to said pump,
- wherein said reservoir is mounted within said vehicle, and
- wherein said liquid flows out of said reservoir through said tubing to said valve when the driver activates said pump by pushing said rocker switch to activate said battery pack which powers said pump.
4 more elements
A hydration system for a driver of a vehicle comprising:
- a reservoir for holding a liquid;
- tubing having two ends with one end coupled to said reservoir;
- a valve connected to the other end of said tubing;
- a pump coupled to said tubing to move liquid between said reservoir and said valve, and
- a rocker switch and battery pack coupled to said pump,
- wherein said reservoir is mounted within said vehicle, and
- wherein said liquid flows out of said reservoir through said tubing to said valve when the driver activates said pump by pushing said rocker switch to activate said battery pack which powers said pump,
- wherein said reservoir has first and second openings and tubing is coupled to both openings,
- whereby when said driver activates said pump, said liquid flows out of said first opening in said reservoir, through one piece of said tubing to said valve and unused fluid flows from said valve through a second piece of tubing to said second opening in said reservoir and back into said reservoir.
6 more elements
A hydration system for a driver of a vehicle comprising:
- a reservoir for holding a liquid;
- tubing having two ends with one end coupled to said reservoir;
- a valve connected to the other end of said tubing;
- a pump coupled to said tubing to move liquid between said reservoir and said valve, and
- a rocker switch and battery pack coupled to said pump,
- wherein said reservoir is mounted within said vehicle, and
- wherein said liquid flows out of said reservoir through said tubing to said valve when the driver activates said pump by pushing said rocker switch to activate said battery pack which powers said pump,
- wherein said valve is a bite valve.
5 more elements
A hydration system for a driver of a vehicle comprising:
- a reservoir for holding a liquid;
- tubing having two ends with one end coupled to said reservoir;
- a valve connected to the other end of said tubing;
- a pump coupled to said tubing to move liquid between said reservoir and said valve, and
- a rocker switch and battery pack coupled to said pump,
- wherein said reservoir is mounted within said vehicle, and
- wherein said liquid flows out of said reservoir through said tubing to said valve when the driver activates said pump by pushing said rocker switch to activate said battery pack which powers said pump,
- wherein said reservoir is located within an insulated bag which can be mounted to a roll bar in the vehicle.
5 more elements
A hydration system for a driver of a vehicle comprising:
- a reservoir for holding a liquid;
- tubing having two ends with one end coupled to said reservoir;
- a valve connected to the other end of said tubing;
- a pump coupled to said tubing to move liquid between said reservoir and said valve, and
- a rocker switch and battery pack coupled to said pump,
- wherein said reservoir is mounted within said vehicle, and
- wherein said liquid flows out of said reservoir through said tubing to said valve when the driver activates said pump by pushing said rocker switch to activate said battery pack which powers said pump,
- wherein said liquid is an isotonic sports drink.
5 more elements
A hydration system for a driver of a vehicle comprising:
- a reservoir for holding a liquid;
- tubing having two ends with one end coupled to said reservoir;
- a valve connected to the other end of said tubing;
- a pump coupled to said tubing to move liquid between said reservoir and said valve, and
- a rocker switch and battery pack coupled to said pump,
- wherein said reservoir is mounted within said vehicle, and
- wherein said liquid flows out of said reservoir through said tubing to said valve when the driver activates said pump by pushing said rocker switch to activate said battery pack which powers said pump,
- further including a bag for holding said reservoir, wherein said bag has an inside layer and an outside layer of Kevlar fiber and aluminized Mylar with insulation between the inside and outside layers.
5 more elements
A hydration system for a driver of a vehicle comprising:
- a reservoir for holding a liquid;
- tubing having two ends with one end coupled to said reservoir;
- a valve connected to the other end of said tubing;
- a pump coupled to said tubing to move liquid between said reservoir and said valve, and
- a rocker switch and battery pack coupled to said pump,
- wherein said reservoir is mounted within said vehicle, and
- wherein said liquid flows out of said reservoir through said tubing to said valve when the driver activates said pump by pushing said rocker switch to activate said battery pack which powers said pump,
- further including a bag for holding said reservoir, wherein said bag has an outside layer of Kevlar fiber and aluminized Mylar and an inside layer of a tetrafluoroethylene polymer with insulation between the inside and outside layers.
5 more elements
A hydration system for a driver of a vehicle comprising:
- a reservoir for holding a liquid;
- tubing having two ends with one end coupled to said reservoir;
- a valve connected to the other end of said tubing;
- a pump coupled to said tubing to move liquid between said reservoir and said valve, and
- a rocker switch and battery pack coupled to said pump, wherein said reservoir is mounted within said vehicle, and
- wherein said liquid flows out of said reservoir through said tubing to said valve when the driver activates said pump by pushing said rocker switch to activate said battery pack which powers said pump,
- further including at least one quick disconnector on said tubing.
4 more elements
A hydration system for a driver of a vehicle comprising:
- a reservoir for holding a liquid;
- tubing having two ends with one end coupled to said reservoir;
- a valve connected to the other end of said tubing;
- a pump coupled to said tubing to move liquid between said reservoir and said valve, and
- a rocker switch and battery pack coupled to said pump, wherein said reservoir is mounted within said vehicle, and
- wherein said liquid flows out of said reservoir through said tubing to said valve when the driver activates said pump by pushing said rocker switch to activate said battery pack which powers said pump,
- further including a dip tube in said collapsible bladder, said dip tube being coupled to said tubing.
4 more elements
A hydration system for a driver of a vehicle comprising:
- a collapsible bladder for holding a liquid, said collapsible bladder having first and second openings;
- a cooling medium for keeping said liquid cool;
- an insulated bag for holding said bladder and said cooling medium;
- first tubing having two ends with one end coupled to first opening in said collapsible bladder;
- a pump coupled to the other end of said first tubing;
- second tubing having two ends with one end coupled to said pump;
- a Y-connector coupled to the other end of said second tubing;
- third tubing having two ends with one end coupled to said Y-connector;
- to move liquid between said bladder and said valve,
- a mouthpiece coupled to the other end of said third tubing;
- and
- fourth tubing having two ends with one end coupled to said Y-connector and the other end coupled to said second opening of said collapsible bladder,
- wherein said bag is mounted in said vehicle, and
- wherein said liquid flows out of said first opening of said collapsible bladder through said first tubing, through said pump, through said second tubing, through said Y-connector, through said third and fourth tubing and to said mouthpiece and said second opening of said collapsible bladder when the driver activates said pump, making cool liquid available to said driver at said mouthpiece.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.