TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present technology is directed to a structure for a hydration backpack reservoir. More particularly, the hydration backpack reservoir includes a sealable fill port and is designed to facilitate opening the sealable fill port to facilitate filling the reservoir with liquid, washing the reservoir, and drying the reservoir as disclosed herein.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Backpacks are useful devices for carrying many items. Backpacks have long been used to facilitate physical activities, such as hiking and camping. Over time, backpacks capable of holding a liquid became more desirable. These types of backpacks are frequently called hydration backpacks. They provide, among other things, the ability to carry one or more liquids, such as water, without the need to separately carry a canteen, thermos, water bottle, or the like.

[0003] Hydration backpacks are generally made with a flexible bladder that forms the reservoir, a.k.a. a flexible liquid reservoir. The bladder is typically formed from a plastic, such as polyethylene or the like. The bladder generally is formed by multiple plies of plastic. When not filled, the bladder may be considered to have a top margin, a left margin, a right margin, and a bottom margin. The margins of the plies are sealed on multiple sides to form a liquid barrier. The seals are generally formed by a heat weld, but may be a sonic weld, glue, or other mechanism to join the edges. Although all the margins may be sealed and a fill port may be formed in a side of the bladder, many of today’s bladders have an open top margin (or top edge). The top edge is engageable with a closure device to seal or unseal the top edge. The closure device is removed to open the top edge to allow filling the bladder, and the closure device is installed to close the top edge for use. During use, a user accesses the liquid, typically water, in the bladder by accessing a flexible hose that extends from the bladder and terminates in a nozzle that includes a conventional bite valve. By biting on the valve, as generally known in the art, the valve opens, and the user can ingest the liquid by sucking on the nozzle.

[0004] Although hydration backpacks and flexible liquid reservoirs exist in the art, deficiencies exist with existing flexible liquid reservoirs. One deficiency comprises the ability to handle the flexible liquid reservoir, or bladder, when not in the hydration backpack, such as, for example, for filling, washing, and drying. Thus, for this and other reasons, improvements in the flexible liquid reservoir are desirous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples are described with reference to the following figures.

[0006] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hydration backpack having a flexible liquid reservoir in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

[0007] Figure 2 is a view of a prior art hydration backpack with an open compartment having a removable flexible liquid reservoir.

[0008] Figures 3 is a view of a top portion of a flexible liquid reservoir with a slider coupled to a strap in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

[0009] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a flexible liquid reservoir in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

[0010] Figure 5 is an illustration of sealing a sealable fill port of the flexible liquid reservoir of Figure 4 with a slider in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

[0011] Figure 6 is a view of a handle assembly of the flexible liquid reservoir of Figure 4 in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

[0012] Figures 7A and 7B are plan views of an upper portion of the flexible liquid reservoir of Figure 4 in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. [0013] Figure 8 is a top view of the flexible liquid reservoir of Figure 4 in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

[0014] Figure 9 is a view of an optional backer plate in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

[0015] Figure 10 is a view of the flexible liquid reservoir of Figure 4 with the optional backer plate of Figure 9 in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Various aspects of the disclosure are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show specific exemplary aspects. Different aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the aspects set forth herein. Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the aspects to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0017] The present technology is directed to a flexible liquid reservoir usable with a hydration backpack. The flexible liquid reservoir may be removable from the hydration backpack in certain embodiments. The flexible liquid reservoir as will be described is generally provided with a sealable fill port and may include a handle assembly to facilitate use of the hydration backpack. The handle assembly may be configured to carry and/or support the flexible liquid reservoir and/or manipulate portions of the flexible liquid reservoir as described herein.

[0018] The flexible liquid reservoir has a sealable fill port. Generally, the sealable fill port is provided with a closure device that engages with the edges of the bladder to close or seal the sealable fill port. The closure device may have a channel and the sealable fill port may have protrusions that engage in a tongue and groove connection to form a liquid tight seal. [0019] The flexible liquid reservoir can include a plastic bladder, a handle assembly, a sealable fill port, and a fastener assembly, such as a slider, configured to seal the sealable fill port. The flexible liquid reservoir has a top, a bottom, and sides. The bottom and sides are generally sealed, such as by a heat or sonic weld, glue, adhesive, or the like. The top may have a generally sealed portion and a sealable fill port. The sealable fill port may have top edges or margins that may be apart, opened, or abutting, closed. The sealable fill port is sealable with a fastener, such as a slider or other device. The handle assembly, which generally comprises a flexible plastic, includes a transversely extending top cross bar portion extending symmetrically from a central longitudinally extending handle. The central longitudinally extending handle extends longitudinally downward from the transversely extending top cross bar portion and terminates in an inverted V shaped anchor or an inverted T shaped anchor depending on the dimensions of the flexible liquid reservoir. In other words, the handle assembly may be shaped similar to an I-beam or a modified I-beam. The central longitudinally extending handle lifts from the transversely extending top cross bar portion and angles down towards the inverted V shaped anchor such that a user’s fingers may fit between the outer surface and the handle.

[0020] The flexible liquid reservoir may include a backer plate. The backer plate may provide strength, form, and rigidity to the flexible liquid reservoir. In certain embodiments, the backer plate shape, such as when it has a generally triangular top, works in conjunction with the handle assembly to create an open shape, such as a funnel or big opening, to facilitate filling the flexible liquid reservoir as will be described. In certain embodiments, the backer plate may include a baffle slot.

[0021] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hydration backpack 100 consistent with the technology of the present application. The hydration backpack 100 shown is but one of many configurations for backpacks that may have a hydration component and, therefore, should only be considered exemplary. The hydration backpack 100 includes a reservoir compartment 102, in which the flexible liquid reservoir may be stored, a pair of shoulder straps 104, a waist/hip belt 106, and a chest strap 108. As shown, the waist/hip belt 106 and chest strap 108 comprise at least two straps connectable by a fastener 110, such as a snap buckle as is generally known. A flexible tube 112 extends from the flexible liquid reservoir, out of the reservoir compartment 102 and over one of the left or right shoulder strap 104 and terminates in a nozzle 114, which includes a bite valve as is generally known. The flexible tube 112 (or hose) may be threaded through a web of material 116 on the associated shoulder strap 104 and coupled to the chest strap 108 as shown or left to hang free in certain embodiments.

[0022] Figure 2 is a view of the reservoir compartment 102 of a prior art hydration backpack 201 . The reservoir compartment 102 of the prior art hydration backpack 201 would be similar in the reservoir compartment 102 of the hydration backpack 100, and is sized to hold a flexible liquid reservoir 200. The reservoir compartment 102 may be opened and closed by a closure mechanism 202, such as a zipper in this case. A flexible liquid reservoir 300 of the present technology that would replace the flexible liquid reservoir 200 will be explained further below with respect to Figure 3.

[0023] Figure 3 shows a view of the flexible liquid reservoir 300 consistent with the technology of the present application. The flexible liquid reservoir 300 may be sized and shaped to fit within hydration backpack 100 or the prior art hydration backpack 201. The flexible liquid reservoir 300 includes a slider 301 , which will be explained further below, that seals a sealable fill port 406 (see Figure 4). The slider 301 includes a through hole 302 that is sized to allow a button 304 to slip through. The button 304 is horizontal to slip through the through hole 302 and vertical to engage the slider 301 . The button 304 is attached to a strap 306 that is coupled to the hydration backpack 100 to releasably couple the flexible liquid reservoir 300 to the hydration backpack 100. A portion of the handle assembly (described below with respect to Figure 4) is shown in Figure 3.

[0024] To fill the flexible liquid reservoir 300, the button 304 is slipped through the through hole 302 and the flexible liquid reservoir 300, with the slider 301 attached, is removed from the reservoir compartment 102. The slider 301 is taken off to unseal the sealable fill port 406. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the flexible liquid reservoir 300 removed from the hydration backpack 100 and with the slider 301 removed. The flexible liquid reservoir 200 includes a handle assembly 400, a catch/pour component 402, and a first slider lock bar 404, sometimes referred to in the industry as fish lips, about the unsealed sealable fill port 406. A first slider lock track 407, which can be made up of a plurality of spaced protrusions, is provided on the first slider lock bar 404. The handle assembly 400, shown separately in Figure 6, comprises a transversely extending top cross bar 408. The transversely extending top cross bar 408 is proximal the sealable fill port 406 when affixed to the flexible liquid reservoir 200. The transversely extending top cross bar 408 has a second slider lock track 410 and pinch tabs 412, 413. The pinch tabs 412, 413 are arranged on opposed parts of the sealable fill port 406, e.g., a first pinch tab 412 is on a left part and a second pinch tab 413 is on a right part of the sealable fill port 406. A user 401 in figure 4, may pinch the pinch tabs 412, 413 using, for example, a thumb and forefinger, to open the unsealed sealable fill port 406 such that the catch/pour component 402 acts like a funnel or channel to facilitate filling the flexible liquid reservoir 200. As shown in Figures 6 and 7B, a central longitudinally extending handle 414 extends from the transversely extending top cross bar 408 to an inverted V shaped anchor 416. The first pinch tab 412 is arranged on a first (left in Figures 6 and 7B) part of the sealable fill port 406 on the left side of the transversely extending top cross bar 408. The second pinch tab 413 is arranged on a second, opposed, (right in Figures 6 and 7B) part of the sealable fill port 406 on the right side of the transversely extending top cross bar 408. The central longitudinally extending handle 414 has a lift portion 418 generally extending away from the transversely extending top cross bar 408 and a descent portion 420 that angles from an apex 419 of the central longitudinally extending handle 414 to the inverted V shaped anchor 416. When the first pinch tab 412 and the second pinch tab 413 are pinched together, or towards one another, the pinch force provided by the user 401 causes the transversely extending top cross bar 408 to open the sealable fill port 406and the inverted V shaped anchor 416 to flare and open the flexible liquid reservoir 200 to facilitate filling the same. [0025] As shown in Figure 5, the flexible liquid reservoir 300 has a first side 501 and a second side 502 opposite the first side 501 . The sides 501 , 502 are sealed at the outer edge margins. The sealable fill port 406 has a top edge portion 503 that is formed on both sides 501 and 502 and is positioned above a hinge portion 505. The handle assembly 400 is coupled to the first side 501 at the transversely extending top cross bar 408 at a position below a top edge 507 of the top edge portion 503, e.g., a first distance below the top edge 507. The first slider lock track 407 is coupled to the first side 501 below the top edge 507 and above the location of the transversely extending top cross bar 408, e.g., a second distance below the top edge 507 less than the first distance. The catch/pour component 402 is coupled to the second side 502 and can include the hinge portion 505, which can be located below the top edge 507 and between the transversely extending top cross bar 408 and first slider lock track 407, e.g. a third distance below the top edge 507 less than the first distance and more than the second distance. If desired, the hinge portion 505 can be formed separately from the catch/pour component 402.

[0026] To seal the sealable fill port 406, the top edge portion 503 is folded about the hinge portion 505 such that the first slider lock track 407 aligns with second slider lock track 410. The slider 301 is slid onto the first slider lock track 407 and the second slider lock track 410 such that the first slider lock track 407 and second slider lock track 410 are gripped by channels 506 on the slider 301 . Notice, the first slider lock track 407 and second slider lock track 410 are shown as a plurality of discontinuous protrusions. This tends to reduce the force needed to move the slider 301 over the lock tracks and, albeit minimally, reduces the overall weight of the hydration backpack 100. Also, while shown as two lock tracks, more lock tracks may be used. The slider 301 would be formed to have a corresponding number of channels.

[0027] Figures 7A and 7B show a view of the first side 501 (Figure 7B) and the second side 502 (Figure 7A) of the flexible liquid reservoir 300 consistent with the technology of the present application. The first side 501 may be considered a front side or a handle side. The second side 502 may be considered a back side or a catch/pour side. The first side 501 has the first slider lock track 407 and the handle assembly 400 arranged on the first side 501. The second side 502 has the catch/pour component 402 that traverses the top edge portion 503 and helps form a fill opening at the sealable fill port 406 when the pinch tabs 412, 413 are squeezed together by the user. Notice, pinching the pinch tabs 412, 413 causes the central longitudinally extending handle 414 to transfer force to the inverted V shaped anchor 416 that causes the inverted V shaped anchor to spread and open the flexible liquid reservoir 300 to facilitate filling the same.

[0028] Both the catch/pour component 402 and the handle assembly 400 are formed of a plastic material in this exemplary embodiment. The catch/pour component 402 and the handle assembly 400 may be formed from polyurethane, such as a thermoplastic polyurethane, or similar plastics. The catch/pour component 402 and the handle assembly 400 may be formed from the same or different materials in certain embodiments. Other components, such as other thermoplastics, thermosets, natural or synthetic rubbers, ceramics, fibers, or the like may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present technology. Generally, the catch/pour component 402 is formed from a plastic material having a softer durometer than durometer of the plastic material in the first slider lock bar 404, the first slider lock track 407 and the handle assembly 400. The first slider lock bar 404, the first slider lock track 407 and the handle assembly 400 are often made from the same plastic material of the same durometer. The catch/pour component 402 being a softer durometer than the first slider lock bar 404, the first slider lock track 407 and the handle assembly 400 facilitates the opening as the catch/pour component 402 does not hinder the pinch of the handle assembly 400 at the pinch tabs 412, 413.

[0029] Figure 8 shows the unsealed sealable fill port 406 having a big opening to allow filling of the flexible liquid reservoir 300. The handle assembly 400, which is below the first slider lock track 407 in this view and not seen, is pinched at pinch tabs 412, 413 on the first side 501 such that the transversely extending cross bar 408 from the first pinch tab 412 to the second pinch tab 413 causes the catch/pour component 402 to flare and open away from the first slider lock bar 404. The second slider lock track 410 on the transversely extending cross bar 408 is obscured from view. Pinching the pinch tabs 412, 413 squeezes the top edge portion 503. The catch/pour component 402 flexes on itself to open forming the big opening.

[0030] Figures 9 and 10 show an optional backer plate 600. Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the backer plate 600 and Figure 10 shows a plan view of the backer plate 600 in the flexible liquid reservoir 300. The backer plate 600 is generally oblong with a narrower portion 602 proximal the top of the flexible liquid reservoir 300 and a wider portion 604 distal the top of the flexible liquid reservoir 300. The backer plate 600 may have chamfered edges and holes 603. The chamfered edges may reduce wear and promote a better feel for the backer plate 600. The holes are generally for weight reduction. The backer plate 600 may have a longitudinally extending baffle slot 608 that facilitates weight reduction and the profile of the overall apparatus. The narrower portion 602 of the backer plate 600 has a triangular shaped apex 606. The triangular shaped apex 606 may promote opening the sealable fill port 406 when the pinch tabs 412, 413 (not shown in Figure 10) are pinched.

[0031] The description and illustration of one or more aspects provided in this application are not intended to limit or restrict the scope of the disclosure as claimed in any way. The aspects, examples, and details provided in this application are considered sufficient to convey possession and enable others to make and use the best mode of claimed disclosure. The claimed disclosure should not be construed as being limited to any aspect, example, or detail provided in this application. Regardless of whether shown and described in combination or separately, the various features (both structural and methodological) are intended to be selectively included or omitted to produce an embodiment with a particular set of features. Having been provided with the description and illustration of the present application, one skilled in the art may envision variations, modifications, and alternate aspects falling within the spirit of the broader aspects of the general inventive concept embodied in this application that do not depart from the broader scope of the claimed disclosure. [0032] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.