Patent Application
20210235780
The present disclosure is directed towards a hydration vest with a removable waist pack and phone charger application. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed toward a combinable yet modular vest and belt assembly to provide hydration to runners, bikers, hikers, climbers, triathletes and similar persons undergoing exercise wherein the device provides support for accessing one or more of communication, nutrition, hydration, storage, identification or personal items in situ.
There exists an ongoing debate around whether runners and bikers should use hydration vests or waist packs during their respective exercises. In the prior art, there exists a variety of waist packs and hydration vests, each with a separate approach to placing a load on the wearer.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,439B1 (Kelliher et al.) discloses a combination backpack and hydration pack having a hydration pack portion and a standard backpack portion that are detachably connected to each other. Another backpack disclosed in US 2008/0210728A1 (Bihn) teaches a backpack, a solar panel assembly attached to the top half of the backpack, a battery contained in the backpack and in electrical communication with the solar panel, and an interchangeable battery recharge cord for recharging external battery-operated devices.
By comparison, U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,835A (Payne) discloses a carrier apparatus comprising an adjustable belt adapted to be secured about a person's waist, a reusable beverage container, an elastic harness fixed to the belt and adapted to selectively secure the beverage container therein, and a storage receptacle fixed to the belt in spaced relation to the elastic harness and adapted to securely enclose small articles therein.
To date, athletes, hikers and other people engaging in exercise have had to choose between such varied approaches. As a related problem, such athletes and outdoors participants have encountered weight distribution and limited customization options for runs, bikes, hikes, etc. Many bikers prefer packs sitting up high, while many runners tend to like the weight on the hips. For long runs, there exists difficulties with existing approaches due to changes in distribution of weight over the course of the run due to the consumption of water bottles on a belt.
A related problem arises with the need to support the electronic devices of the wearer in the process of bicycling, running, hiking or the like. That is, many hikers, campers, runners, cyclists and the like have immediate needs to power and access electronic devices used for GPS, exercise and fitness tracking, communications, and other varied functions. Unfortunately, a very real limitation on such devices is their effective battery life.
Thus, there is a need to provide an apparatus which enables a user to switch between vest and belt form factors to accommodate user preferences and/or changes in user activities influencing such preferences.
Additionally, there is a further need to provide a combined apparatus that can support and power electronic devices along with hydration and storage functions in vest and belt form factors.
The following terms are used in the claims of the patent as filed and are intended to have their broadest plain and ordinary meaning consistent with the requirements of the law.
A “waist pack” is a belt strap or band for carrying a load on the waist and/or hips used by runners, bicyclists, hikers, climbers, triathletes and similar persons undergoing exercise wherein the device provides support for one or more of hydration, communication, nutrition, storage, identification or personal items in situ.
A hydration vest is an article of clothing, typically sleeveless, worn around the chest, back, and shoulders and used by runners, bicyclists, hikers, climbers, triathletes and similar persons undergoing exercise wherein the device provides support for hydration and one or more of communication, nutrition, storage, identification or personal items in situ.
Where alternative meanings are possible, the broadest meaning is intended. All words used in the claims set forth below are intended to be used in the normal, customary usage of grammar and the English language.
The present disclosure solves existing needs for a combined waist pack and hydration vest, wherein the belt and vest have comprise separable components allowing for the wearer to detach the components from one another so as to choose a given form factor (i.e., vest, belt, or both) for a given activity. In a first embodiment of the disclosure, the system includes a drawbridge mechanism that opens a flap in the back of the vest which secures the belt component to the vest. Thus, the wearer can activate the drawbridge mechanism in situ to detach the components and select a form factor for use. Further variants of this embodiment include lateral snaps or a lumbar traversing pocket which similarly enable a user to attach or detach the belt and vest components at will. Still another embodiment would entail a charger within an internal pocket of the device (either in the vest and/or belt components) which include an adapter for USB, lightning, or comparable connector to attach to an electronic device carried by the wearer.
Thus, it can be seen that one object of the present disclosure is to provide a mechanism and configuration for allowing a wearer to choose between the belt and/or vest configurations for hydration and storage during a variety of exercise formats, including, but not limited to, cycling, running, hiking or climbing.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a combination hydration vest/belt mechanism to support and power electronic devices stored or worn by a user in situ.
It will be understood that not every claim will employ each and every object as set forth above in the operation of the present invention. However, these and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, considered along with the accompanying drawings.
Set forth below is a description of what is currently believed to be the preferred embodiment or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to this preferred embodiment are contemplated. Any alternatives or modifications which make insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure or in result are intended to be covered by the claims in this patent.
The vest component 30 has a front 32 and a back 34 and includes one or more clasps 36 or similar fasteners (typically on the front 32) for releasably securing the vest component 30 to the wearer. The front 32 and back 34 may include reflective materials, such as on the borders of the panels as a safety measure. Like belt component 20, the vest component 30 includes optionally one or more pockets 38, such as slit pockets, zippered pockets and expandable pockets for detachable holding hydration bottles and/or belt loops 40 so as to center the weight load on the wearer's chest and/or back. In addition, the vest component 30 includes a belt attachment mechanism 50 which allows the user to secure the belt component 20 thereto. Finally, the vest mechanism 30 in this embodiment may include a bladder 42 and a dispensing tube 44 for holding and delivering water or other fluid in situ.
The belt attachment mechanism 50 the preferred embodiment as shown in
As shown in
Further, the present disclosure encompasses combining the present assembly 10 with an electronic device support assembly 80, as shown in
The above description is not intended to limit the meaning of the words used in the following claims that define the invention. Rather, it is contemplated that future modifications in structure, function, or result will exist that are not substantial changes and that all such insubstantial changes in what is claimed are intended to be covered by the claims.
