Patent Application
20080050053
Reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, from which its novel features and advantages will be apparent.
In the drawing:
Referring to
The assembly 20 includes a water-proof and air-tight bag 22 having front and back panels 24, 26 and a peripheral side panel 28. The panels 24, 26, 28 define a chamber 30 internally thereof.
A water-proof and air tight heavy duty zipper 32 is disposed on the front panel 24. The zipper 32 is mounted in a zipper panel 25 fixed hermetically to the front panel 24 by seams 27 sealed with silicone on silicone adhesive.
The panels 24, 26, 28 preferably are of a Cordura®-like material, such as silicone treated Cordura®, or silicone fabric, providing high strength and high abrasion resistance. Cordura® is a high performance, super-durable nylon fabric which provides endurance and rugged durability for equipment exposed to extreme conditions, and is resistant to punctures, cuts, tears and scuffs. The panels are joined together at sealed seams 34 by heavy duty stitching, preferably sealed with a silicone adhesive. In addition to being of high strength and highly abrasion resistant, the material of the panels is inexpensive, permanently mildew-free, and is sufficiently flexible to render the bag collapsible, when empty.
The panels 24, 26, 28 may be of unidirectional nylon woven material, ranging from 500 to 1000 Denier (that is, of a mass of 500-1000 grams per 9000 meters of yarn) which provides mildew resistance to water over a wide range of environments. The interior surfaces of the panels 24, 26, 28 may also be provided with a thin film of anti-microbial material for maintaining the freshness and quality of contained water.
A detachable cover member 36 is fixable to an outside surface of the front panel 24 and is sized and configured to cover the zipper 32. The cover member 36 and the front panel outside surface may be provided with hermaphroditic fasteners, such a Velcro®, for easily affixing the cover member 36 to, and detaching the cover member from, the front panel 24. The zipper 32 is covered to protect the zipper from damage during rough treatment, such as upon impact after an extended free-fall. The cover member 36 is readily detachable to reveal the zipper for manual operation.
The bag 22 may be provided with a strap 38 for handling or carrying by person, pack animal, rope lines, or the like. In addition, the bag 22 is provided with a fabric tab 40 extending from the bag and provided with one or more grommets 42 for receiving a supporting member (not shown), similar to a coat hook, which extends through a grommet and holds the bag in an upright hanging position.
The bag 22 is provided with a closeable and openable tube 44 extending from the chamber 30, through a panel, and outwardly therefrom. The tube 44 is adapted for selective dispersal of liquid from the bag. The tube may be sized and configured for acceptance by the spout of a one quart canteen, or the like, as desired.
When intended for replacing the current standard five gallon water can, the bag 22 is sized to contain five gallons+of water, and an air pocket 46, so as to form a liquid surface 48 within the bag adjacent the air pocket 46 when the bag is hung by the tab 40. The zipper 32 is disposed such that it can be opened from the top thereof downwardly, thus to open a portion of the bag containing air. This allows air to enter the bag as liquid is drawn therefrom via the tube 44.
When the bag 22 is substantially empty, the flexible nature of the bag permits the bag to be compressed into a relatively small volume, compared to its filled volume. The empty bag can be rolled or otherwise re-shaped to fit into other containers.
Further, by fully opening the zipper 32, with the cover 36 removed therefrom, the bag may be pulled through the fully opened zipper to reverse the bag, such that the inside becomes the outside of the bag and can be cleaned for further use.
In use in the field, the bag herein described can be hauled manually, or by pack animal, or vehicle, or helicopter, or the like, to the desired area. In the case of helicopter delivery, the helicopter need not land, but can drop the bags from over hundred foot altitudes and continue out of a hostile zone. After use, empty bags can be rolled and/or compressed and sent for refill, with large numbers of bags requiring relatively little space (compared to current plastic cans).
A still further advantage realized by the new containers is the option of autoclaving the bag, and its contents, without fear of damaging the bag. The bag can be autoclaved to 250° F., which is not an option with the current plastic can. Thus, if clean drinking water is not available, any water that is available can be autoclaved at 250° F. to increase the safety of human consumption thereof.
There is thus provided a new container for liquids, the container providing many advantages not available in the current water container in general use in the military.
It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the particular construction herein disclosed and/or shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modification or equivalent within the scope of the claims.
