Patent Application
20060021999
The present application is related to Republic of Croatia Patent Application Number P20040907A, filed on Jul. 28, 2004, and makes claim to priority there pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119.
The present invention broadly relates to the art of automated sports contains. More specifically it relates to a novel air pump/pressure switch module unit that has utility in an automated sports contain environment as well as other environments such as hand spayers and misters.
Most energy consuming activities such a various sports activities often require the expendature of physical activity for extended periods of time. Exemplary, but not exclusive of such activities are: running, bicycling, wind surfing, rock climbing, car racing, motorcycling, in-line skating, auto racing and jogging. During such strenuous activity the human body naturally loses bodily fluids through perspiration. Depending on the physical conditions, intensity of activity and climate conditions, the human body can lose as much as one (1) liter of bodily fluids per hour. If these fluids are not replenished during these times of activity, at best a marked decline in the performance of the activity, or at worst more serious consequences, e.g., heat stroke, can result. Specifically, in the case of sports activities, an athlete's competitive edge will be lost. Thus, the efficient and effective replenishment of lost fluid during such activities has presented a problems to the practitioners of the prior art. Moreover, problems exist among handicap individuals who do not have manual dexterity sufficient to quench themselves.
The prior art has attempted to solve these problems in various ways, as exemplified by the following patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,087, to Wery, et al., issued Mar. 4, 1997, discloses A pressurized fluid dispensing device for storing and dispensing pressurized fluid, such as water, to individuals during the performance of their particular activity. The pressurized fluid dispensing device may be mounted on a bicycle frame, wheel chair frame, car dash, or may even be worn on the body by mounting the device to what is commonly known as a water bottle or fanny pack located on the waist of the individual. The device includes a fluid vessel, support cage (optional), male coupling member, a vessel cap with a female coupling member with a check valve incorporated within, tubing, actuateable valve, and a pressure adapter with a check valve. The fluid vessel is pressurized by slidingly inserting the pressure adapter and charging the system with a common air pressurizing system. The vessel now acts as a pre-charged cassette and may be sealingly engaged with the male coupling member which activates the one way valve and allows the contents to flow through the tubing to the actuate-able valve. The valve is actuated by deforming the hollow member by activities such as biting with the mouth or pinching with the fingers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,124, to Allemang, issued Jul. 5, 1994, discloses an improved water delivery apparatus which may be adapted to be mounted for use on a bicycle in which water may be delivered to be sprayingly discharged through the sprayer or to a mouthpiece which may be placed in a bicycle rider's mouth to permit water to be discharged directly therein. This apparatus operates with an existing standard water bottle for a bicycle and alleviates the possibility of having a stream of water misdirected, distracting the rider, nor will a rider be caught off-guard receiving a stream of water in the face when a spray was anticipated
U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,404, to Zelenak, issued Jul. 8, 1997, discloses a personal fluid delivery device that includes an electronic pump system and may also include a fluid reservoir system. The fluid reservoir system includes a fluid reservoir and a delivery tube disposed in communication therewith. The electronic pump system includes a pump operable for delivering fluid from the fluid reservoir, an electrical power supply for supplying power to the pump, a dispensing tube operable for providing a passageway for dispensing fluid from the fluid reservoir and an actuating device operable for selectively actuating the pump
U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,231, to Paczonay, issued Jun. 1, 1993, discloses and apparatus for dispensing liquid into the mouth of a bicyclist. The apparatus includes a container with a flexible wall, an adjustable holder for holding the container on a bicycle, a liquid delivery tube extending from the container, and at least one compressor arm that can be actuated by the bicyclist for compressing the container wall and forcing liquid into the liquid delivery tube. Valves connected to the liquid delivery tube prevent back flow of liquid in the direction of the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,591, to Runkel, issued Nov. 5, 1991, discloses a drinking system for a rider of a bicycle characterized by inflatable upper portion with suitable conduit and valves for conveying the potable beverage stored in the inflatable upper portion to the drinker on the bicycle so the bicycle rider can drink a potable beverage without having to stop the bicycle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,635, to Porter, issued Mar. 28, 1989, discloses a water supply apparatus that can be utilized in conjunction with a bicycle to enable a rider to receive either a spray of cooling water or a stream for drinking purposes. A diaphragm-type pump supplies the water. Plural reservoirs enable a plurality of liquids to be transported and utilized, such as water for cooling the rider and a sucrose solution for energy.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,339, to Cushing, issued Mar. 27, 1990, discloses a liquid dispensing apparatus, suitable for mounting on a bicycle safely that provides the rider of the bicycle a way to refresh himself without having to stop and dismount the bicycle. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus generally includes a cylindrical housing containing a supply of liquid. The liquid is dispensed through an unrestricted length of flexible tubing, leading from the housing to a nozzle which is disposed on the handle bars of the bicycle. A pleated bellows is disposed at the bottom of the housing and forms a chamber for holding compressed air. Each inward stroke of the bellows forces air into the chamber so as to hold the contents under pressure. Adjacent the nozzle, and integrally connected thereto is a hand operated valve which, in its normal state is closed. Depressing the valve forces the liquid out of the container, through the tubing and nozzle, to the rider.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,679, to Englert, issued Apr. 20, 2004, discloses a liquid dispensing apparatus, suitable for mounting on a bicycle safely provides the rider of the bicycle a way to refresh himself without having to stop and dismount the bicycle. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus generally includes a cylindrical housing containing a supply of liquid. The liquid is dispensed through an unrestricted length of flexible tubing, leading from the housing to a nozzle which is disposed on the handle bars of the bicycle. A pleated bellows is disposed at the bottom of the housing and forms a chamber for holding compressed air. Each inward stroke of the bellows forces air into the chamber so as to hold the contents under pressure. Adjacent the nozzle, and integrally connected thereto is a hand operated valve which, in its normal state is closed. Depressing the valve forces the liquid out of the container, through the tubing and nozzle, to the rider.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,440, to Regalbuto, issued Apr. 7, 1998, discloses a fluid dispensing apparatus is mounted to and supported by any of numerous sizes and styles of bicycles. The fluid dispensing apparatus has a means for storing water, a means for pressurizing stored water, a means for controlling the release of pressurized water in the form of a plurality of high velocity water jets, a means for independently aiming said water jets, a means for conducting fluid between components, and a means for mounting components to the frame of a bicycle. One embodiment of the invention incorporates one or a plurality of serially connected pressurized water reservoir assemblies, a dual piston-in-cylinder water pump assembly, a manually operated water pump lever assembly, an assembly of multiple independent, manually-activated triggers, and multiple independently aimable nozzles. The reservoir, pump, and trigger assemblies are mounted to and supported by frame members of the bicycle. The nozzles are mounted to the trigger assembly, a point on the frame, or to the helmet or body parts of the rider.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,218, to Wery, issued Oct. 27, 1992, discloses a pressurized fluid dispensing device for storing and dispensing pressurized fluid, such as water, to athletes during the performance of their particular activity, particularly endurance events such as a bicycle tour, biathlon, triathlon and the like. The pressurized fluid dispensing device may be mounted to the frame of a bicycle between the vertical and diagonal supports above the center bracket or crank assembly to provide as low as possible center of gravity. The device includes a support cage, fluid vessel, tubing and an actuateable valve. The fluid vessel may be pressurized and slidingly inserted into the support cage to supply fluid through the tubing to the valve. A check valve extends from the bottom of the vessel which is sealingly engageable with a recess formed in the bottom of the support cage through which the fluid may flow. The actuateable valve is actuated to dispense fluid by being bitten. In addition, the actuateable valve may be actuated by hand to spray fluid therefrom to refresh the rider.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,860, to Paczonay, issued Apr. 12, 1994, discloses an apparatus for dispensing liquid into the mouth of a bicyclist, the apparatus including a container with a flexible wall, an adjustable holder for holding the container on a bicycle, a liquid delivery tube extending from the container, and at least one compressor arm actuatable by the bicyclist for compressing the container wall and forcing liquid into the liquid delivery tube. Valves connected to the liquid delivery tube prevent back flow of liquid in the direction of the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,442, to Bakalian, issued Apr. 13, 1993, discloses a remotely actuated apparatus is provided for delivering a liquid to a desired location, particularly for use with a bicycle. The invention includes a reservoir, a pump adapted to receive liquid from the reservoir regardless of the orientation of the reservoir, a delivery tube for delivering liquid from the pump to a desired location, and a remote actuator for remotely actuating the pump. Also included in a preferred embodiment is a manifold which receives liquid from the pump. The manifold has a plurality of outlet ports to facilitate attachment of the delivery tube thereto regardless of the orientation of the apparatus. The actuator is disposed remotely from the reservoir and sends a signal which is received by a receiver means which actuates the pump to dispense refreshment liquid through the manifold to a delivery tube and then to a dispensing tube which is in close proximity to the mouth of the bicycle rider.
Typically, the sports bottles of the prior art include a short straw on the top lid and and a plug on the other end. In order to accomplish hydration, one has to reach out for the bottle, press with their teeth on the plug on the other side of the short straw, tilt their head into an unnatural backward movement, drink by active sucking movements, place the plug back and then return the bottle to the initial placement. In order to complete this complex action, the athlete loses their concentration and disrupts their pattern of breathing, and the action is time consuming.
The majority of the prior art sports bottle designs dispense liquids by suction produced by the mouth of the user. Typically these designs are directed toward polymeric liquid containers that can be placed in a backpack. A straw extends from the backpack, to near the user's mouth. This permits comfort of drinking and may be a suitable solution for some users of the bottle such as joggers and walkers, and the like.
However, from a practical prospective, these designs embody certain drawbacks for the competative athlete. An athelete is in effect, a highly complex system. A highly complex system is subject to drawbacks. These drawbacks can best be illustrated by reference to the “butterfly effect.” Simply stated, when a butterfly flaps its wings in China, it can ultimately effect the weather in New York. The analogy to competitive sports is manifest: the slightest distraction from the athelete's focus, or althelete's slightest waste of energy, can result in a profound effect in performance. As applied to the art of sports bottles, with the typical sports bottle on the market today, the athlete is required to waste valuable energy to produce sufficient oral suction to withdraw the liquid from it. This twofold problem, e.g., (1) the waste of energy; and, (2) distraction from focus on the objective (e.g., winning a competition), although arguably slight, could be sufficient to disrupt the athelete's patterns of breathing; thereby profoundly impairing the athelete's competative edge (e.g., causing the athelte to lose the competition).
Various of the prior art patents (e.g., those cited above) solves the energy waste aspect of the problem through the employment of liquid pumps to force feed the liquid from the sports bottle. However, these inventions have had only met with limited success.
Of those prior art patents cited above, only two (2) employ an electrical switch in a sports bottle environment. These are Zelenak '404 and Bakalian '442.
The mercury switch of Zelenak '404 is preferably operable to selectively actuate the pump based on its orientation. When the Zelenak mercury switch is positioned near the dispensing end of a dispensing tube, this arrangement provides the advantage of making the pump of Zelenak, selectively actuatable based on the manipulation of the dispensing end of the dispensing tube. This arrangement is preferred because it reduces the need for manual dexterity in operating the pump. When the dispensing end of the dispensing tube is oriented in a downward vertical direction, the mercury switch does not permit the electrical circuit with the pump to be completed, so that the pump does not run. Alternatively, when the dispensing end of the dispensing tube is raised in an upwardly vertical direction, the mercury switch permits the electrical connection with the pump to be completed, thereby actuating the pump and causing the pump to remain in operation until the dispensing tube is returned to a downward vertical position, thereby discontinuing the electrical connection with the pump.
Bakalian '442, on the other hand, teaches a pump drive actuating means for actuating the pump drive that typically includes a solenoid switch connected to a radio receiver. Also included in the actuating means is an antenna. A relay is connected between the radio receiver and to a battery, to enable a signal from the remote actuating means to be received by the pump actuator antenna and then to be relayed through the pump drive actuating means to cause the pump drive to drive the pump for a predetermined interval to dispense a specific quantity of liquid into the outer concentric manifold and then into the delivery tube.
Although the Zelenak '404 and Bakalian '442 inventions arguably have some limited success in addressing the waste aspect of the problem, they have little or no impact on the distraction aspect of the problem which is crucial to maintaining a competitive edge in highly competitive sports activities.
In contrast to Zelenak '404 and Bakalian '442, the present invention employs an automated air pump unit having application in a sports bottle environment for providing a substantially constant, predictable on-demand flow of liquid by merely biting down on the dispensing tube of the present invention. As will be described in further detail below, with respect to two (2) of its embodiments, the automated air pump unit is designed to be detachably, attachable in a sports bottle environment. As will be described in further detail below, in a third embodiment, the automated air pump unit is permanently integrated into the sports bottle environment. By providing these alternate embodiments, the present invention solves the problems of energy waste and distraction that have been recognized by the prior art, in any of the attachably, detachable or integrated embodiments reference above.
Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an new and improved air pump and pressure switch combination module unit that that has particular utility in a sports bottle environment.
It is an object of the invention to provide an new and improved air pump and pressure switch combination module unit that that has broader application in environments other than sports bottle environments, such as a spray bottle or mister environments.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a new and improved sports bottle that employs a new and improved means for providing predictable, substantially constant on-demand flow of thirst quenching liquid to a user.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide ready, predictable and substantially constant, on-demand, thirst quenching of participants in physical activities such as sports, wherein the human body is prone to rapid dehydration. A further object of this invention is to provide a device that includes structure enabling it to be mounted a diversity of environments: including but not limited to, exercise equipment, e.g., stairmasters, tread mills, and the like; belt systems adapted, e.g., to be worn around the waiste of the user; and car dash-board mounts, and the like. These expedients are designed to permit hands-free use of the device in these inviroments. The device comprises a container, such as, a bottle or a polymeric bag, either of which is designed with a (typically female) plug connector for enabling detachable, attachment of an elongated flexible despensing tube extending from the bottom of the container. The free end of the dispensing tube is preferably provided with a valve that may, preferably, be acutated by the teeth and/or mouth of the user. As a further refinement, a clip may be mounted on the valve for enabling it to be clipped onto the clothing of the user at a site excessible to the user's mouth (e.g., the lepal or breast pocket). The clip may be similar in design to that of the clip of a pen.
The invention comprises three (3) basic embodiments. The first embodiment is an article of manufacture in the form of an automated air pump/pressure switch module unit for use with a sports bottle. Sports bottles are typically used dispensing a liquid to an individual who is engaged in a physical activity whereby bodily fluids are lost at an accelerated rate though the process of perspiration. The typical sports bottle (or, polymer sports bag, as the case may be) embodies a substantially fluid tight container having an interior for containing both the liquid and an airspace above the liquid. The bottle typically includes a conduit having a valve mounted in it at one end, and structure for fixing the other end. The article of manufacture is a compact module unit that includes a support that has a twofold function. The first function of the support is to securingly integrate the other individual elements of the article. The other function of the support is enable the other elements of article to be sealingly, detachably attached to the bottle as a single unit. The other elements of the module unit include: an air pump having an air intake and an air discharge; a holder for securing a power source for driving the air pump (typically batteries); a pressure switch operatively connected to the air pump that preferably includes high and low pressure sensors; and, structure for enabling the air discharge of the air pump to be detachably attached to the container sufficient to enable the module unit to pump air into the the interior of the container. Optionally, the module unit may include an on/off switch designed to override the automated pressure switch.
The second embodiment of the invention, differs from the first embodiment only in respect to the dispensing tube. In the case of the second embodiment the dispensing is integrated into the unit. As noted above, In the case of the first embodiment, it is not integrated into the unit.
The third embodiment of the invention comprises the all of the elements of the novel automated unit combined with all of the elements of the typical sports bottle system.
The units of the first and second embodiments may be marketed separately from the device; with or without batteries. Alternatively, as in the case of the third embodiment of the invention, the unit can be marketed in combination the device; with or without batteries.
The individual automated liquid dispensing system of the present invention includes a polymeric bottle or a polymeric bag-type container, sealingly secured; either permenantly; or, attachably, detachable; to the novel automated air pump/pressure switch module unit structure.
Referring now to
When bottle 18 is emptied, the system will continue pumping the air into a reserve bottle 19 through the flexible conduit 17 until the reservoir of the reserve bottle 17 is emptied as well. The air pump will continue to operate until the maximum set pressure of the high pressure sensor is reached. When the maximum pressure value is reached, air pump 8 will be deactivated by pressure switch 10 as more specifically depicted in
As is the case in other of the embodiments of the present invention, top plug 2 secures flexible conduit 3 to the top portion of bottle 1. Flexible conduit 3 sealingly extends through top plug 2 to about the bottom of the liquid contained within bottle 1. The other end of flexible conduit 3 includes valve 4. Valve 4 optionally includes a pen like clip (not shown) for securing that end to, e.g., the clothing, and the like, of the user. Air pump 8 is an integral part of unit 7 and communicates with the liquid volume contained within bottle 1 by air tube 9. The bottle 1 is filled with liquid indicate as indicated at about 13. Pressure switch 10 is typically activated during the entire period of liquid demand, e.g., the time period during physical activity. Activation of pressure switch 10, causes air pump 8 to force air into the bottle reservoir 6 through the air tube 9. Deactivation of valve 4 causes the pressure to rise within the bottle to the predetermined high pressure switch set point which in turn causes pressure switch 10 to deactivate pump 8.
When valve 4 is opened by the mouth and/or teeth of the athlete/user, the liquid will flow through the flexible conduit 3, forced by the pressure within bottle 1. The automated air pump/pressure switch unit 7 will maintain sufficient pressure within bottle 1 to accommodate liquid demand in response to the activation of mouth activated valve 4. Stated otherwise, so long as the valve 4 is activated by the mouth and/or teeth of the athelete/user, the minimum set point pressure will be tend to be maintained within the bottle 1 by unit 7 and air pump 8 will continue to be activated. Conversely, when valve 4 is de-activated, the pressure within the bottle 1 will rise to and/or above the predetermined high pressure set point and the air pump will be deactivated.
Preferrably, conduit 28 is constructed of a substantially rigid, flexible material and designed to enable it to be temporarily deformed. Although any suitable plastic material know to the prior art can be used to construct conduit 28, the preferred materials of contruction are polyethylene or polypropylene. Preferrably the bending joint of conduit 28 is typically formed in a well-known accordian-type construction which enables the conduit to be readily deformed into to either the drinking/non-drinking configurations.
The symbol “™” as used herein refers to a trademark.
The term “polymeric” as used herein, refers to any suitable material of construction that the bottle or bag of the present invention may be constructed. Any suitable plastic presently know by the prior art is contemplated by the present invention. Particularly preferred are any species of polypropylene or polyelthylene and/or mixtures thereof.
Although the invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the broad principles of the invention. Hence, it is intended that the preferred embodiments and all of such variations and modifications be included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as defined by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| P20040907A | Jul 2004 | HR | national |
