US 9,220,334 B1Granted

Quick filling and self sealing hydration bag

OwnerDavid M. Dodgeninventor

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Abstract

A hydration bag comprising a storage bag sealed to a collapsible quick filling and self-sealing fill tube, a reusable drink port connection, and a drinking tube with mouthpiece. After filling the storage bag, through the fill tube, to a desired level with water or other fluid, the storage bag is inverted, thereby collapsing and effectively sealing the fill tube against itself. Air is bled from the storage bag through the drinking tube or port. After use, the storage bag may be re-filled, or recycled. In one example, the delivery fluid delivery fittings are detachable from the storage bag and re-usable so that the storage bag and fill tube assembly is curbside recyclable. In one example, a 4 inch wide fill tube extends at 6 inches into the storage bag, with the last 5 inches creating a funnel to a 2 inch bottom width.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A hydration bag comprising

a storage bag comprising
a top portion, and
a bottom portion;
a collapsible fill tube positioned partially within the storage bag, the collapsible fill tube comprising
a first panel having an inside surface, a first side edge, and a second side edge,
a second panel having an inside surface, a first side edge, and a second side edge,
a first fill tube side edge,
a second fill tube side edge, such that the first panel is connected to the second panel at the first fill tube side edge and the second fill tube side edge,
a top having a width, and
a funnel-shaped bottom portion having a bottom opening with a width less than the top width,
the collapsible fill tube having
a collapsed state with inside surface of the first panel in substantial contact with the inside surface of the second panel, and
an open state with the inside surface of the first panel spaced apart from the inside surface of the second panel,
such that an upper portion of the collapsible fill tube extends through top portion of the storage bag, and a storage bag top seal is provided, in proximity to the top of the storage bag, between the storage bag and the collapsible fill tube;
and
a drink hole port.

13 more elements

A method of forming a hydration bag with a collapsible self sealing fill tube, the method comprising

providing a section of flat tubing having a width, a first side edge, and a second side edge;
forming a funnel bottom on the section of flat tubing;
providing or forming a storage bag comprising a first panel and a second panel, the storage bag having a top portion, a first panel, a second panel, a first side edge and a second side edge;
placing the section of flat tubing with funnel bottom between the first panel and a second panel so that a lower portion of the fill tube extends into the storage bag by a distance greater than the length of the funnel bottom;
and
sealing a top portion of the storage bag by
heat sealing an upper portion of the section of flat tubing to the first panel and the second panel in proximity to the top of the storage bag;
creating a first storage bag top seal between the first side edge of the storage bag and the section of flat tubing;
and
creating a second storage bag top seal between the second side edge of the storage bag and the section of flat tubing.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/093,195Filed 29 Nov 2013 · us provisional application
Priority: 29 Nov 2012
Granted: 29 Dec 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A45F 3/20
Water-bottles; Mess-tins; Cups: of flexible material; Collapsible or stackable cups
B31B 50/85
Forming or attaching means for filling or dispensing contents, e.g. valves or spouts: applying patches or flexible valve inserts, e.g. applying…
A45F 3/166
Water-bottles; Mess-tins; Cups: hydration systems incorporated in a backpack
B31B 50/064
From the underside of a magazine: by being moved in the plane they are lying in