Patent Grant
9488164
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to water dispensing devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to water amusement and hydration devices.
2. Related Art
Popular water amusement devices, such as squirt guns, typically utilize hand-operated pumps to pressurize air, which is then used to propel water from the devices. Although claimed launch ranges can approach 50 feet, such devices require the user to manually pump the devices to generate the energy required to propel the water. Repeated use of the devices can therefore become tiresome for children, which reduces the effectiveness of the devices. In addition, due to the relatively high pressure water delivery of these devices, it is difficult to use these devices for hydration purposes.
It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a combination water amusement and drinking device that provides ample water pressure for amusement purposes, while also being capable of providing lower pressure water delivery for hydration purposes.
The invention provides a combination water amusement and drinking device, which can include a container to contain water. The container can have an outlet port, a multipurpose port, and a fill port. An amusement nozzle can be removably coupled to the outlet port and a drinking nozzle can be removably coupleable to the multipurpose port. The device can also include a water pump operable to pump the water from the container through the outlet port for delivery to the amusement nozzle. In addition, the device can include a gas pump operable to pressurize gas in the container to move the water from the container through the multipurpose port for delivery to the drinking nozzle when the drinking nozzle is coupled to the multipurpose port. The multipurpose port and the fill port can each be coupleable to a water source to provide water to the container.
In addition, the invention provides a combination water amusement and drinking device, which can include a container to contain water. The container can have an outlet port, a multipurpose port, and a fill port. An amusement nozzle can be removably coupled to the outlet port and a drinking nozzle can be removably coupleable to the multipurpose port. The device can also include a water pump operable to pump the water from the container through the outlet port for delivery to the amusement nozzle. A gas chamber can be disposed within the container to contain pressurized gas. In addition, the device can include a gas pump operable to pressurize gas in the gas chamber to move the water from the container through the multipurpose port for delivery to the drinking nozzle when the drinking nozzle is coupled to the multipurpose port. A wall of the gas chamber can act to stabilize the water in the container. The multipurpose port and the fill port can each be coupleable to a water source to provide water to the container.
Furthermore, the invention provides a combination water amusement and drinking device including a support structure and an insulated container carried by the support structure and configured to contain water. The container can have an outlet port, a multipurpose port, and a fill port coupleable to a water source to provide water to the container. An amusement nozzle can be removably coupled to the outlet port via a fluid delivery conduit. The amusement nozzle can comprise a stream nozzle, a spray nozzle, and/or a mist nozzle. A drinking nozzle can be removably coupleable to the multipurpose port. The device can also include a motorized water pump carried by the support structure and operable to pump the water from the container through the outlet port for delivery to the amusement nozzle. A heat transfer mechanism can be associated with the container and configured to heat or cool the water in the container. A battery can be carried by the support structure to power the water pump and the heat transfer mechanism, and an electrical outlet can be electrically coupled to the battery. The battery can be configured to provide power to an external electronic device electrically coupled to the electrical outlet. A flexible bladder can be disposed within the container to contain pressurized gas. The device can include a human-powered gas pump removably coupleable to the container and operable to pressurize gas in the gas chamber to move the water from the container through the multipurpose port for delivery to the drinking nozzle when the drinking nozzle is coupled to the multipurpose port. A wall of the flexible bladder can act to stabilize the water in the container. A reservoir can be removably coupleable to the multipurpose port to provide water to the container when coupled to the multipurpose port. Additionally, the device can include a carrying strap coupled to the support structure and configured to facilitate transporting the combination water amusement and drinking device.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention; and, wherein:
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended.
Description
The present invention provides a combination water amusement and drinking device or system capable of dispensing water from two ports to provide water for relatively high pressure applications and, alternatively, for relatively low pressure applications. Thus, the combination water amusement and drinking device can be used in many different activities, including by way of example, water fights, ATV riding, motorcycle riding, bicycle riding, horseback riding, camping, hunting, hiking, human and animal hydration, misting, showering, cleaning, and emergency uses, such as cleaning wounds, etc. Example embodiments utilizing aspects of the present technology with a bicycle are described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/518,926, filed Dec. 20, 2014, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Different nozzles can be used to provide a variety of spray patterns for higher pressure applications. Lower pressure applications can utilize suitable low pressure nozzles, such as a drinking nozzle or a misting nozzle. The present invention provides a combination water amusement and drinking device with a water pump for higher pressure applications and a gas pump to pressurize gas for delivery of water in lower pressure applications. In addition, the combination water amusement and drinking device can be converted to a backpack configuration for ease of carrying. Furthermore, a reservoir can provide reserve water, which can then be pumped directly from the reservoir by the water pump for high pressure applications or stored for later use in any suitable application.
More specifically, the container 110 can have an outlet port 111, a multipurpose port 112, and a fill port 113. The amusement nozzle 120 can be removably coupled to the outlet port 111 via a hose 122 or other suitable conduit, and the drinking nozzle 121 can be removably coupled to the multipurpose port 112 via a hose 123 or other suitable conduit. The hose 122 and/or the hose 123 can be of any suitable length or construction. For example, the hose 122 and/or hose 123 can be insulated.
In one aspect, the amusement nozzle 120 can comprise a stream nozzle, a spray nozzle, and/or a mist nozzle. In one example, the amusement nozzle 120 can be adjustable to provide for a variety of different spray and/or stream patterns. In another aspect, the drinking nozzle 121 can comprise a personal hydration nozzle, such as a “bite” valve or other such valve that can be operated by a user's mouth. Thus, when equipped with the drinking nozzle 121, the device 100 can have two water dispensing nozzles and hoses. Couplings 124-126 for the hoses 122, 123 can be of any suitable type. In one aspect, the couplings 124-126 can be “quick connect” couplings for easy and rapid coupling and decoupling of the hoses 122, 123. In another aspect, the couplings 124-126 can be associated with manual and/or automatic valves to prevent water leakage when decoupled.
The water pump 130 can be operable to pump water from the container 110 through the outlet port 111 for delivery to the amusement nozzle 120. For example, the outlet port 111 can be configured to directly extend from the container 110 or from the water pump 130, such as when the water pump 130 is disposed inside the container 110. On the other hand, the gas pump 131 can be operable to pressurize gas in the container 110 to move water from the container 110 through the multipurpose port 112 for delivery to the drinking nozzle 121 when the drinking nozzle 121 is coupled to the multipurpose port 112. Thus, multiple pumps of different types can be used to dispense water from the container 110 via respective ports and for different purposes. For example, the water pump 130 can be used to provide water at relatively high pressures, such as for a water fight, and the gas pump 131 can be used to provide water at relatively low pressures, such as light misting, light spraying, and drinking. In one aspect, the multipurpose port 112 can be located at a bottom of the container 110 so that water can also drain from the container 110 via the multipurpose port 112 under the influence of gravity. In addition, the multipurpose port 112 and the fill port 113 can each be coupled to a water source to provide water to the container 110. For example, a reservoir 140 can be removably coupled to the multipurpose port 112 of the container 110 to serve as a water source for the container 110. It should be recognized that the reservoir 140 can also be coupled to the fill port 113 to provide water to the container 110. The reservoir 140 can be of any suitable configuration. In some examples, the reservoir 140 can be collapsible for reduced storage size. In one aspect, the fill port 113 of the container 110 and/or a fill port 141 of the reservoir 140 can include a water input filter to remove contaminants from the water prior to entry into the container 110 and/or the reservoir 140.
The water pump 130 and/or the gas pump 131 can be any suitable type of motorized pump. Accordingly, the device 100 can include a power source, such as a battery 150 (i.e., 12 volt or any other suitable battery type or voltage), to power the motorized pumps. Although only a single battery is illustrated, it should be recognized that any suitable number of batteries can be included. The motorized pumps can be electrically coupled to the battery 150 in any suitable manner, such as by wires 151, 152, cables, etc. In one aspect, the wires 151, 152 may be bundled and combined in a wiring harness for convenience in coupling with the motorized pumps. Operation of the water pump 130 and the gas pump 131 can be controlled locally by switches 132, 133, respectively. The switches described herein can be of any suitable configuration for controlling an associated device, such as the pumps 130, 131. For example, a switch can comprise a dial, trigger, toggle, lever, button, etc. In addition, the water pump 130 can be controlled by a switch 134 associated with the amusement nozzle 120 and electrically coupled via a wire 153 or cable to the water pump 130 to remotely control operation of the water pump 130 to dispense water from the nozzle 120. In one aspect, the water pump 130 can be a variable speed pump and the switch 132 and/or the switch 134 can be configured to control the variable speed pump to obtain a desired flow rate of water.
In addition to providing power for the pumps, 130, 131, the battery 150 can be configured to power various other components of the device 100, as described in more detail hereinafter. In one aspect, an electrical coupling 154, such as an electrical outlet, can be coupled to the battery 150 to provide power to a device 160 or component external to the device 100. For example, the battery 150 can be used to charge a personal electronic device, such as a cell phone, power a light, jump-start a vehicle, etc. In one aspect, the battery 150 can be rechargeable, and can be recharged via the electrical coupling 154. For example, the battery 150 can be recharged from a 110 volt outlet, a portable battery charger, a solar battery charger, a 12 volt vehicle outlet, etc. Although only a single electrical coupling is illustrated, it should be recognized that any suitable number of electrical couplings can be included. The device 100 can include an AC/DC power conversion device 156 to facilitate charging the DC battery 150 with an AC power source and/or to provide AC power from the DC battery 150 to power external components. It should be recognized that any device or component electrically connected to the battery 150 can be coupled directly to the battery 150 and/or via the electrical coupling 154.
In one aspect, the water and gas in the container 110 can be physically separated from one another, such as by a flexible bladder 114, thereby defining a water chamber 115 in fluid communication with the water pump 130, and a gas chamber 116 in fluid communication with the gas pump 131. For example, as illustrated in
In addition, as illustrated in
As mentioned above, the gas pump 131 can be used to pressurize the container 110 (i.e., with outside air) to dispense water from the container 110 via the multipurpose port 112. In addition, the gas pump 131 can be configured to maintain a predetermined gas pressure in the container 110 as water is removed from the container 110. This can ensure that sufficient pressure is available within the container 110 to dispense water from the container 110 via the multipurpose port 112. For example, operation of the gas pump 131 and the water pump 130 can be coordinated so that as water is dispensed from the container 110 by the water pump 130, the gas pump 131 can operate automatically to maintain gas pressure in the container 110, thus providing gas pressure for dispensing water from the multipurpose port 112 and/or for stabilizing the water in the container 110, as discussed above. In this mode of operation, the gas pump 131 can function based on a sensed gas pressure within the container 110 and/or based on operation of the water pump 130.
In one aspect, a gas pump of the device 100 can be powered by a human to pressurize gas in the container 110, thereby dispensing water from the container 110 via the multipurpose port 112, and without utilizing the water pump 130 to dispense water. For example, the gas pump 131 can be human-powered and/or the device 100 can include a separate human-powered gas pump 135 that is removably coupleable to the container 110, such as by a gas port 118, to pressurize gas in the container 110. In one aspect, the gas port 118 can include a sealing plug operable with an inflation needle to serve as a one-way valve and facilitate pressurizing gas in the container 110. The gas port 118 can include any suitable valve or feature to facilitate pressurizing gas in the container 110, such as a Schrader valve, a Presta valve, or any other valve used for air inflation. A human-powered gas pump can be a hand pump, a floor pump, or any other suitable type of human-powered pump. Thus, with a human-powered gas pump, the device 100 can provide water dispensing functionality even when the battery 150 is unable to operate the water pump 130. It should be recognized that an external motorized gas pump can also be used to pressurize gas in the container 110, such as a compressed air pump at a service station. In addition, the container 110 can include a gas pressure relief valve 119 to discharge gas from within the container 110. In some examples, such as when the gas port 118 includes a Schrader valve or a Presta valve, the gas port 118 can be operable to discharge gas from within the container 110. The gas pump 131, the gas port 118, and the gas pressure relief valve 119 can therefore be fluidly coupled to the gas chamber 116 within the container 110.
The components of the device 100 that may come into contact with water can be made of any suitable material for such use. For example, the container 110, flexible bladder 114, hoses 122, 123, nozzles 120, 121, reservoir 140, and internal pump components can be made of steel, aluminum, plastic, rubber, etc. that can withstand the operating pressures and water environment of the device 100. In one aspect, such components can be constructed of food-safe materials. Thus, the device 100 can be suitable for use with water or other consumable liquids, such as beverages (i.e., water, coffee, tea, soft drinks, wine, beer, etc.).
In one aspect, the device 100 can include a heat transfer mechanism 161 that can be associated with the container 110 to heat and/or cool the water. The heat transfer mechanism 161 can comprise any suitable heating and/or cooling device or structure known in the art suitable for use in the device 100. The heat transfer mechanism 161 can be controlled by a switch 162 that controls power to the heat transfer mechanism 161 from the battery 150 via a wire 155 or cable. In one aspect, the container 110 and/or the water chamber 115 can be insulated to minimize or reduce heat transfer to/from the water through the container 110 and/or the water chamber 115. Thus, the container 110 can be configured to receive water from an external source, such as the reservoir 140, and heat and/or cool the water prior to dispensing the water for use. In one aspect, the heat transfer mechanism 161 can be removable from the device 100 and can be configured to receive power from the battery 150 via the electrical coupling or outlet 154. In some embodiments, the device 100 can include a heat transfer mechanism 142 that can be associated with the reservoir 140 to heat and/or cool the water. The heat transfer mechanism 142 can be electrically connected to the battery 150 in any suitable manner, such as via the electrical coupling 154. Thus, the reservoir 140 can provide hot or cold water to the container 110. The heat transfer mechanism 142 can be permanently coupled or removably attached to the reservoir 140.
In one aspect, the device 100 can include a stand 170 for supporting the amusement nozzle 120. For example, the stand 170 can direct the amusement nozzle 120 in a desired direction for spraying, watering, and/or drinking. The stand 170 can include a nozzle attachment feature 171, such as a bracket, to couple with the nozzle 120 and/or hose 122. The stand 170 can also include one or more support legs 172a, 172b to position the amusement nozzle 120. The support legs 172a, 172b can be configured to rest on a support surface and/or to penetrate a support surface. The support legs 172a, 172b can be length adjustable to facilitate supporting the amusement nozzle 120 at a desired height and/or oriented to direct water in a desired direction. The stand 170 can facilitate hands-free use of the device 100 once a desired water dispensing configuration has been achieved, such as at a desired angle, spray pattern, flow rate, etc. In one aspect, one or more of the legs 172a, 172b can have a wheel or roller coupled to the end to facilitate moving the stand 170. In another aspect, the legs 172a, 172b can be hinged to facilitate storage and/or transport of the stand 170.
In use, as illustrated in
The water pump 130 can be capable of producing high pressure flow, shooting a stream of water at a distance of greater than 50 feet. The gas pump 131, on the other hand, will typically deliver water at a lower pressure than that provided by the water pump 130. The gas pump 131 can therefore be adequate for low pressure uses, such as drinking, washing hands, etc. The gas pump 131 can pressurize gas in the container 110 to dispense water from the container via the multipurpose port 112, in which case the drinking nozzle 121 can be used. If the battery 150 is insufficient to operate a motorized water pump 130 and/or gas pump 131 or if battery power is being conserved, the human-powered gas pump 135 may be used to dispense water from the container via the multipurpose port 112. The human-powered gas pump 135 can therefore provide backup for the motorized pumps to ensure that water is available even when the battery 150 has been drained of power. In one aspect, the gas pump 131 can be human-powered. In another aspect, the battery 150 can be removable from the device 100 to reduce weight. In this case, a human powered gas pump, such as the gas pump 131 and/or the gas pump 135, can be used to provide water for drinking.
Many of the components of the device 100 can be contained within and/or coupled to a housing or case 180. For example, the container 110, the water pump 130, the gas pump 131, and/or the battery 150 can be contained at least partially within the housing 180. Although the water pump 130 is illustrated as being within the housing 180 but external to the container 110, it should be recognized that the water pump 130 can be disposed within the container 110 and, in some examples, within the water chamber 115. The housing 180 can be configured to provide user access for the switches 132, 133, 162, the electrical coupling 154, the fill port 113, the gas port 118, and/or the gas pressure relief valve 119. In addition, the couplings 124, 125 can be supported about the housing 180 to provide access for a user when coupling/decoupling the hoses 122, 123. In some examples, the hose 122 and/or 123 can be retractable into the housing 180. In one aspect, the housing 180 can include a cover 181 (
In one aspect, the device 100 can include a support structure 185, which can carry or support some or all of the components of the device 100. For example, the support structure 185 can be coupled to the housing 180, thereby supporting or carrying the container 110, the water pump 130, the gas pump 131, the battery 150, and associated components. The support structure 185 can be configured to facilitate coupling the device 100 to an external support surface for transporting the device 100 or fixing the device 100 to a stationary object. For example, the support structure 185 can include one or more coupling features 186, such as holes, clips, rings, D-rings, etc. In one aspect, the device 100 can include one or more carrying straps 187a, 187b coupled to the support structure 185 via the coupling features 186 and configured to facilitate transporting the device 100 by converting the device 100 to a backpack style hydration system. Thus, in the configuration illustrated in
In another aspect, illustrated in
Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described using specific terms, devices, and methods, such description are for illustrative purposes only. The words used are words of description rather than of limitation. It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit or the scope of the present invention which is set forth in the following claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged, both in whole, and in part. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained therein.
While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.
Priority is claimed to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 61/998,465 and 61/998,466, both filed Jun.30, 2014, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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