Abstract
Provided is a novel hydration system which incorporates a rigid, low-profile, contoured reservoir made of stainless steel or another suitable non-plastic material that replaces typical plastic water bladders and a flexible metal drinking hose in backpack-mounted hydration systems. The rigid metal reservoir hydration system solves several problems and health concerns associated with plastic hydration systems.
Claims
1. A back-mounted hydration system comprising a rigid metal reservoir; an inlet; an outlet; a check valve assembly which allows air to enter the reservoir as liquid exits; a flexible drinking tube; wherein the flexible drinking tube comprises flexible copper tubing having a first end and a second end, the first end being affixed to a fitting at the outlet at the bottom end of the reservoir, and the second end being affixed to a valve, which may be operated by a user's mouth via biting pressure, whereby the liquid may be delivered to the user's mouth for drinking on demand and at the will of the user; and wherein the flexible drinking tube may be flexed and bent by the user into a position or orientation and stays in that position or orientation after the user relinquishes deliberate contact with and is finished adjusting the drinking tube; wherein the flexible copper tubing is surrounded by a sheath comprised of carbon fiber, which is glued, epoxied, or otherwise permanently adhered to the copper tubing, that will allow the copper tubing to bend, but will restrict the bending radius enough so that the copper tubing will not become creased or crimped.
2. The hydration system of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is double-walled, creating an insulating vacuum in the space between the two walls.
3. A back-mounted hydration system comprising a rigid metal reservoir; an inlet; an outlet; a check valve assembly which allows air to enter the reservoir as liquid exits; a flexible drinking tube; wherein the reservoir is surrounded by a sheath comprised of carbon fiber, which is glued, epoxied, or otherwise permanently adhered to the reservoir wall, that will allow the outer walls of the reservoir to be made thinner to reduce the weight of the reservoir, while maintaining adequate strength for the intended use.
4. The hydration system of claim 3, wherein the reservoir is double-walled, creating an insulating vacuum in the space between the two walls.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 illustrates an orthogonal view from the front of one embodiment of a hydration system;
(2) FIG. 2 illustrates closer view from the front of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 1;
(3) FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 1;
(4) FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 1;
(5) FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 1;
(6) FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 1;
(7) FIG. 7 illustrates a rear view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 1;
(8) FIG. 8 illustrates an orthogonal view from the rear of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 1;
(9) FIG. 9 illustrates a partially exploded view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 1;
(10) FIG. 10 illustrates a cutaway side view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 3 taken along lines A-A;
(11) FIG. 11 illustrates a cutaway side view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 7 taken along lines B-B;
(12) FIG. 12 illustrates an orthogonal view from the front of one embodiment of a hydration system;
(13) FIG. 13 illustrates a front view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 12;
(14) FIG. 14 illustrates an orthogonal view from the rear of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 12;
(15) FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 12;
(16) FIG. 16 illustrates a bottom view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 12;
(17) FIG. 17 illustrates a cutaway bottom view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 13 taken along lines C-C;
(18) FIG. 18 illustrates a cutaway top view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 13 taken along lines D-D;
(19) FIG. 19 illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 12;
(20) FIG. 20 illustrates an orthogonal view from the front of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 12;
(21) FIG. 21 illustrates a side view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 12;
(22) FIG. 22 illustrates a front view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 12;
(23) FIG. 23 illustrates a cutaway side view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 22 taken along lines E-E;
(24) FIG. 24 illustrates a side view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 12, with a drinking tube attached;
(25) FIG. 25 illustrates an orthogonal view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 12, mounted inside a backpack;
(26) FIG. 26 illustrates an orthogonal view of one embodiment of a hydration system.
(27) FIG. 27 illustrates a cutaway side view of one embodiment the hydration system of FIG. 22 taken along lines E-E;
(28) FIG. 28 illustrates a diagram of one embodiment the hydration system of FIGS. 1, 12, and 26, mounted in a backpack, which is mounted on a person, showing the use and function of the system.
(29) FIG. 29 illustrates a quick connect coupling assembly affixed to the outlet of one embodiment of a hydration system.
(30) FIG. 30 illustrates steps of one process to make one embodiment of a hydration system.
(31) FIG. 31 illustrates steps of one process to make one embodiment of a hydration system.
(32) FIG. 32 illustrates steps of one process to make one embodiment of a hydration system.
(33) FIG. 33 illustrates steps of one process to make one embodiment of a hydration system.
(34) FIG. 34 illustrates steps of one process to make one embodiment of a hydration system.
(35) FIG. 35 illustrates steps of one process to make one embodiment of a hydration system.
(36) FIG. 36 illustrates steps of the process to make one embodiment of a hydration system.
(37) FIG. 37 illustrates steps of the process to make one embodiment of a hydration system.
(38) FIG. 38 illustrates steps of the process to make one embodiment of a hydration system.
(39) FIG. 39 illustrates steps of the process to make one embodiment of a hydration system.
(40) FIG. 40 illustrates steps of the process to make one embodiment of a hydration system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(41) Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are used herein to designate like elements throughout, the various views and embodiments of a rigid metal reservoir hydration system are illustrated and described, and other possible embodiments are described. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances the drawings have been exaggerated and/or simplified in places for illustrative purposes only. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the many possible applications and variations based on the following examples of possible embodiments.
(42) Referring to FIGS. 1-11, several views of one embodiment of a rigid metal reservoir hydration system 10 are illustrated which provides a solution to the problems associated with plastic bladder hydration systems. In the present example, the system 10 includes a water reservoir 11, to which is affixed an Inlet 12, a check valve assembly 13, an outlet 38, a drinking tube 15, and a bite valve 16. The water reservoir 11 may be constructed of stainless steel or any other metal suitable for the safe storage of water or other drinkable liquids. Other suitable materials may include but are not limited to aluminum, titanium, various metal alloys, etc.
(43) The water reservoir 11 may be contoured in such a manner as to conform to the shape and curvature of a user's back for increased comfort and in such a manner as to easily fit in a hydration bladder compartment in a typical backpack or in a backpack designed primarily for use with a hydration system.
(44) The drinking tube 15 may be constructed with a flexible plastic material, which is common among currently available hydration systems, or it may be constructed of flexible copper tubing, which provides a novel means of supplying water or other liquids to the user without the use of plastic, which may be of concern to many users for aforementioned reasons. Furthermore, the copper tubing may be surrounded by a sheath comprised of carbon fiber or another suitable composite material that will allow the copper tubing to bend, but will restrict the bending radius enough so that the copper tubing will not become creased or crimped. The sheathing may be fitted tightly over the copper tubing, but not glued or permanently attached to the outer wall of the tubing, or it may be glued, epoxied, or otherwise permanently affixed to the outer wall of the tubing.
(45) In this particular embodiment, the Inlet 12 comprises a lid 17 and a lid receiver 20, which is affixed to the reservoir 11, as shown in FIG. 4. The lid 17 and the lid receiver 20 are threaded so that the lid 17 may be tightly secured to the lid receiver 20 by rotating the lid 17 clockwise about the lid axis 35, shown in FIG. 9. Likewise, the lid 17 may be removed from the lid receiver 20 by rotating the lid 17 counterclockwise about the lid axis 35. The lid 17 may be removed temporarily to allow the user of the system 10 to fill the reservoir 11 with water or another drinkable liquid. It is understood that in other embodiments of the system 10 the means and methods of closing or securing a lid 17 to a lid receiver 20 may vary and may take the form of various thread counts sizes and orientations. Other forms of securing a lid 17 to a lid receiver 20 could include a snap-on, press fit, half-twist, click-on, or other type of method to achieve a substantially water-tight seal. The Inlet 12 is set at an angle to the vertical plane of the reservoir 11 such that its location provides ease of use for refilling the reservoir 11 with water or other drinkable liquids.
(46) In this particular embodiment, the outlet 38 comprises the bottom spout tube 21, the bottom spout gasket 22, and the screw cap 14. A hole on the bottom side of the reservoir 11 receives the bottom spout tube 21, which is affixed to the reservoir 11. The bottom spout tube 21 and the screw cap 14 are both threaded in such a manner that the screw cap 14 may be attached to the bottom spout tube 21 by rotating the screw cap clockwise about the bottom spout axis 36, shown in FIG. 9. The outlet 38 connects and secures a drinking tube 15 to the reservoir 11. The drinking tube 15 is routed through a hole in the screw cap 14, centered about the bottom spout axis 36. The drinking tube is affixed to the bottom spout gasket 22, which is compressed between the screw cap 14 and the bottom spout tube 21 to form a water-tight seal. The drinking tube 15 is made of a flexible plastic material, allowing it to easily be routed to a user's mouth. It is understood that the drinking tube 15 may be made of various other materials which may be flexible and appropriate for contact with drinkable liquids.
(47) In this particular embodiment, a bite valve 16 is affixed to one end of the drinking tube 15. The bite valve 16 allows a user to control the flow of water through the hydration system 10.
(48) In this particular embodiment, a hole at the top of the reservoir 11 receives the check valve assembly 13, which comprises the upper check valve body 18, the lower check valve body 23, the check valve spring 24, and the check valve ball 19.
(49) Referring to FIGS. 10-11, a cutaway side view taken along lines A-A in FIG. 3 and a cutaway side view taken along lines B-B in FIG. 7, respectively are illustrated to show the cross-sectional shape of one embodiment of a hydration system 10. In this particular example, the reservoir 11 is slightly concave or arched to conform to a user's upper back, where the hydration system 10 is ideally mounted for use in recreational or outdoor activities. It can be seen that the shape is elongated vertically, and is relatively low profile in the horizontal dimension, allowing the reservoir 11 to properly fit within a specialized hydration backpack or inside a hydration bladder compartment in a hiking or tactical backpack.
(50) Referring to FIGS. 12-19, several views of one embodiment of a rigid metal reservoir hydration system 10 are illustrated. In this particular embodiment, the reservoir 11 is more intricately curved and shaped as is demonstrated by added contour lines. One concern a user may have when using a rigid metal reservoir hydration system 10 may be the possibility that the reservoir 11 could be significantly dented or collapse in the event of the application of significant force. An example of this could be if a user leaned or fell back onto the reservoir 11. To strengthen the structure of the reservoir 11, a corrugation 25 may be added to the surface of the reservoir in order to add structural rigidity and strength to resist denting or collapsing of the reservoir 11 in the event that sudden significant force is applied to the reservoir 11. It is understood that more corrugations may be added to the surface of the reservoir 11 if needed or desired to increase the strength or aesthetics of the reservoir 11.
(51) Referring to FIG. 19, an exploded view of one embodiment of a hydration system 10 is shown. In this particular embodiment, a better view of the components of the check valve assembly 13 can be seen. In this particular embodiment, a hole at the top of the reservoir 11 receives the check valve assembly 13, which comprises the upper check valve body 18, the lower check valve body 23, the check valve spring 24, and the check valve ball 19. The upper check valve body 18 is a hollow cylinder inside which are mounted the check valve spring 24 and the check valve ball 19. The check valve ball is pressed by the spring 24 against a seat integrally formed inside the upper check valve body 18 creating a water-tight seal. The lower check valve body 23 is affixed to the upper check valve body 18 in such a manner as to compress the spring 24, thus applying force to the ball 19 along the check valve axis 39.
(52) The purpose of the check valve assembly 13 is to allow air to make up the volume of liquid leaving the reservoir 11 as the user of the system 11 drinks the liquid through the drinking tube 15 and bite valve 16. As water exits the reservoir 11 accordingly, the air pressure inside the reservoir becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure outside the reservoir 11, and air is allowed to enter the reservoir 11 through the check valve assembly 13 as the vacuum force created exceeds the force of the check valve spring 24, breaking a seal created between the check valve ball 19 and the upper check valve body 18.
(53) It is understood that a person skilled in the art understands the typical operation and function of a standard check valve, and as such, not every detail of the operation of the check valve assembly 13 of the particular embodiment detailed above may have been described. Accordingly, it is also understood that various other check valve types may be used for the above purpose.
(54) In this exploded illustration, a more detailed view of the Inlet 12 can be seen, which comprises a lid 17 and a lid receiver 20. A hole near the top of the reservoir 11 receives the cylindrical lid receiver 20, which is affixed to the reservoir 11. The Inlet 12 is centered about the lid axis 35. It is understood that the location of the Inlet may vary for different embodiments of the system 10.
(55) Referring to FIGS. 20-24, several views of one embodiment of a rigid metal reservoir hydration system 10 are illustrated. In this particular embodiment, the bottom spout tube 21, bottom spout gasket 22, and screw cap 14, illustrated in FIG. 19 are replaced by an angled bottom spout 26. A hole in the bottom side of the reservoir 11 receives the angled bottom spout 26, which is affixed to the reservoir 11. The angled bottom spout 26 protrudes downward from the bottom side of the reservoir 11, and bends toward the front side of the reservoir 11 and curves upward, which aids in directing the drinking tube 15, shown in FIG. 24, back upward toward the top so that it may be routed to the user for drinking. The angled bottom spout 26 is sized so that the drinking tube 15 may snugly be fitted over the spout 26 to form a water-tight seal, allowing the flow of liquids from the reservoir 11 through the spout 26 and drinking tube 15 to the user's mouth for drinking.
(56) Referring to FIG. 25, one embodiment of a rigid metal reservoir hydration system 10 is illustrated, mounted within a backpack 27. The backpack 27 is partially unzipped in order to show the main parts of the hydration system 10 and how it may be oriented inside a backpack 27. The backpack shoulder straps 29 hold the backpack 27 onto a user of the hydration system 10. A backpack compartment 28 holds the hydration system 10 in place. The drinking tube 15 is routed upward through the backpack compartment 28 and out of the compartment 28 toward the user's mouth for drinking. Some hiking backpacks currently available are sized just large enough to hold a hydration system 10 and some other small items inside. Other backpacks are much larger and are designed with multiple compartments for holding various outdoor equipment and supplies. Many of these larger backpacks have a dedicated compartment for a hydration system 10. The rigid metal reservoir hydration system 10 is designed to fit into any standard backpack's hydration system compartment as well as in a specialized backpack 17 designed to be sold with the rigid metal reservoir hydration system 10 as a complete package. Some users may find it beneficial to purchase the rigid metal reservoir hydration system 10 alone without a backpack, and replace their existing flexible plastic bladder hydration system in their existing backpack with the rigid metal reservoir hydration system 10. Therefore, a rigid metal reservoir hydration system 10 may be sold with or without a backpack 17.
(57) Referring to FIG. 26, one embodiment of a rigid metal reservoir hydration system 10 is illustrated. In this particular embodiment, the shape of the reservoir 11 is slightly less complex, and the Inlet 12 is located on top of the reservoir 11 and is slightly smaller than in other embodiments illustrated.
(58) Referring to FIG. 27, one embodiment of a rigid metal reservoir hydration system 10 is illustrated. In this particular embodiment, the reservoir 11 is double-walled and vacuum insulated, in order to keep liquids inside the reservoir cold or hot, as desired by the user. In order to achieve insulation, the reservoir 11 includes a second, inner wall 30, and there is a vacuum space 31 between the inner wall 30 and outer wall 40 of the reservoir 11.
(59) Referring to FIG. 28, one embodiment of a rigid metal reservoir hydration system 10 is illustrated, showing how the system 10 works and how it is used. In this illustration a user 34 is shown wearing a backpack 27, which is strapped to the user 34 via backpack straps 29. The rigid metal reservoir hydration system 10 is mounted inside the backpack compartment 28. The hydration system temporarily stores a drinkable liquid 32, which is sucked through the drinking tube 15 by the user 34. The illustration depicts the flow 33 of the liquid 32 through the drinking tube 15 toward the user 34. The drinking tube 15 is routed upward from the bottom of the hydration system reservoir 11 inside the backpack compartment 28, and exits the backpack compartment 28 through an opening 37 in the backpack compartment 28. In order to cause the liquid 32 to flow into the user's 34 mouth, the user 34 must operate the bite valve 16 by biting down on the bite valve 16 and sucking the liquid 32 into the user's 34 mouth. The hydration system is primarily gravity fed, with the suction by a user's 34 mouth aiding in feeding a liquid 32 through the system. As liquid 32 exits the reservoir 11 through the outlet 38, a vacuum is created within the reservoir 11, which is relieved by air entering the reservoir 11 though the check valve assembly 13.
(60) Referring now to FIG. 29, a quick-connect fitting 41 is affixed to the drinking tube 15 at the end opposite the bite valve 16. The quick-connect fitting 41 may be easily coupled by the user to the quick-connect receiver 42, which is affixed to the end of the angled bottom spout 26. This quick-connect receiver 42 has a check valve within it that is closed when the quick-connect fitting 41 is decoupled from the quick-connect receiver 42. This allows the drinking tube 15 to be easily removed by the user while the reservoir 11 has water inside of it, without worry that the water will leak out through the outlet 38. This quick connect coupling 43 is very helpful to the user when the user needs to remove the reservoir 11 from the backpack (Refer to FIG. 28, No. 27) to refill or when the user needs to replace the drinking tube 15.
(61) Referring now to FIGS. 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34, the process to make the current invention in the embodiment of a single-walled reservoir hydration system includes the following steps: 1. Sheet metal 44 is placed on top of a mold 45 with a cavity 46 in the shape of the front 47 half of the reservoir (Refer to FIGS. 1-29, No. 11). 2. Utilizing a hydraulic fluid 56, fluid pressure 57 is applied to the side of the sheet metal 44 opposite the mold 45. 3. The sheet metal is formed into the cavity 46, creating a front half-shell 48 of the reservoir (Refer to FIGS. 1-29, No. 11). 4. The front half-shell 48 is removed from the mold 45. 5. Excess material 49 is trimmed off of the newly formed part. 6. This process is repeated for the rear half-shell 50 of the reservoir (Refer to FIGS. 1-29, No. 11), substituting the mold 45 with a cavity 46 in the shape of the front 47 half of the reservoir (Refer to FIGS. 1-29, No. 11) with a mold 45 having a cavity 46 in the shape of the rear 51 half of the reservoir (Refer to FIGS. 1-29, No. 11), forming the rear half-shell 52. 7. The front half-shell 48 and the rear half-shell 52 are welded together along the joining plane 53. 8. A water-tight vessel 54 is formed which, when finished, will become the reservoir (Refer to FIGS. 1-29, No. 11). 9. Holes 55 are cut in the vessel 54 along the lid axis 35, the bottom spout axis 36, and the check valve axis 39.
(62) The following steps reference parts from FIGS. 1-29: 10. The lid receiver 20 is inserted into the hole centered about the lid axis 35, the bottom spout tube 21 or the angled bottom spout 26 is inserted into the hole centered about the bottom spout axis 36, and the check valve assembly 13 is inserted into the hole centered about the check valve axis 39, and each part is welded into place. 11. The lid 17 is screwed into the lid receiver 20, and the drinking tube 15 is connected to the outlet 38 by means of screwing the screw cap 14 onto the bottom spout tube 21, by sliding the drinking tube 15 over the angled bottom spout 26, or by coupling the quick-connect fitting 41 on the end of the drinking tube 15 to the quick-connect receiver 42 affixed to the bottom spout tube 21 or the angled bottom spout 26. 12. Referring now also to FIG. 35 (illustrations for Steps 12A and 12B), A neoprene jacket 58 is fit over the reservoir 11, with openings 59 for the inlet 17, outlet 38, and check valve assembly 13. This insulates the reservoir 11, which will keep the liquid inside the reservoir 11 cold for extended periods of time and will reduce condensation or sweating on the outer surface of the reservoir 11.
(63) The process to make the current invention in the embodiment of a double-walled reservoir hydration system includes all of the previous steps except for step number 12, and adds the following steps: 13. Referring now also to FIG. 36, for a double-walled embodiment of the present invention, continuing from step 10 above, the bottom spout tube 21 or angled bottom spout 26, the check valve assembly 13, and the lid receiver 20 are each slightly longer and protrude farther outward than the single-walled embodiment of the present invention to allow for the space between the inner reservoir wall 60 and outer reservoir wall 61. The outer reservoir wall 61 comprises a front half 63 and a rear half 64, which are formed in a similar manner as the front and rear halves of the inner reservoir wall 60 as described in steps 1-6 above. Openings 65 are made in the outer reservoir wall 61 to accommodate the protruding bottom spout tube 21 or angled bottom spout 26, the check valve assembly 13, and the lid receiver 20. The front half 63 and rear half 64 of the outer reservoir wall 61 are clasped together around the inner reservoir wall 60 and are welded together along the outer wall joining plane 62 to form an air-tight seal. 14. Through undisclosed methods a vacuum is created between the inner 60 and outer 61 reservoir walls, which serves as insulation to keep liquids inside the reservoir 11 cold or hot for extended periods of time and eliminates condensation or sweating on the outer surface of the reservoir 11.
(64) Referring now to FIGS. 37, 38, 39, and 40, another process to make the present invention includes the following steps: 1. A metal tube 66 is used as stock for what will become the reservoir 11. The metal tube 66 is temporarily connected and sealed on either end to a gas delivery system 67. 2. Heat 68 is applied to the metal tube by means of a heat source 69. This will make the metal more pliable to the point that it may become closer to a plastic state. The metal tubular member may be heated by an electrical inductive heating method along the axial portions of said metal tubular member. 3. A rear half mold 70 and a front half mold 71, each having a cavity 72 in the shape of the reservoir 11, are brought together along the directional path 73 shown and are clamped together and around the metal tube 66 and gas delivery system 67, such that the metal tube 66 is suspended inside the cavity 72. 4. Now that the rear half mold 70 and front half mold 71 have been clamped together around the metal tube 66 and gas delivery system 67, a temporary seal is created along the joining plane 74, and hot fluid 75, which may be a gas or a liquid, is forced into the metal tube 66 through the gas delivery system 67. This causes pressure inside the metal tube 66 which stretches and deforms outward until it meets the cavity 72 walls and takes on the shape of the cavity 72. The hot fluid 75 may be fed into the metal pipe 66 through both ends or only one end. 5. The rear half mold 70 and front half mold 71 are separated and removed from their temporary clamped position around the metal tube 66 and gas delivery system 67, and are moved away from each other along the directional path 73 shown. The deformed metal pipe 66 is now exposed and has taken the shape of the cavity 72 and has become a semi-finished reservoir 11. The top 76 opening of the metal tube 66 may be used as an opening for the check valve assembly (Refer to FIGS. 1-4, 6-15, 17, 19-22, 24, and 26, No. 13) and may be cut at a desired distance from the newly formed part, and the bottom 77 opening of the metal tube 66 may be used as the outlet (Refer to FIGS. 1-3, 5-14, 16, 18-24, and 26-29, No. 38). 6. Steps 9-14 of the first process listed above to make the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 30-36 may be followed to complete the current process of making the present invention.
Additional Modifications for Improvement to the System:
(65) Weight may be a concern to users of the present invention, as many hikers, backpackers, and other users of hydrations systems often wish to minimize the weight of the loads they carry while performing outdoor and sporting activities. Therefore, efforts will be made to make the present invention as lightweight as possible. One such method may be to minimize the thickness of the metal walls of the reservoir 11. Since the thinning of the metal walls will typically reduce the resistance to deformation or crushing under stress or loads applied to the reservoir walls (e.g. dropping the reservoir on the ground, falling on top of the reservoir 11 while it is in a backpack, etc.), a sheath made of carbon fiber material or another light-weight composite may be wrapped around, conformed tightly to, and adhered to the metal reservoir walls in order to add strength to the metal walls of the reservoir 11. This in combination with various cross-sectional shapes of the reservoir 11 will help ensure a strong and lightweight hydration system reservoir 11.
(66) It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this rigid metal reservoir hydration system represents a new category in the outdoor products hydration space and solves many problems of current hydration systems for hikers, backpackers, cyclists, hunters, fishermen, and any other person needing hydration while enjoying an outdoor or sporting activity. As mentioned above, the present invention's contoured and low-profile shape made possible through new and novel metal forming, assembly, and production processes; check-valve; inlet and outlet; and structural features are novel aspects that make a metal reservoir hydration system viable and highly desirable, particularly given the rising concerns with possible side effects of plastic water containers as well as the typical pain points experienced with the use of plastic reservoirs. As described above, the present invention eliminates the taste of any plastic or chemical from the dispensed drinking water, eliminates the use of plastic polymeric compounds and plasticizers which may exhibit estrogenic activity (EA) leaching into the system's drinking water, reduces the amount of cleaning required, provides a mold and mildew resistant solution, provides a more puncture-resistant solution, provides significant improvements in thermal insulative quality to keep water and other drinks cold, eliminates condensate sweating, and provides an improvement in volumetric stability.
(67) It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description herein are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive manner, and are not intended to be limiting to the particular forms and examples disclosed. On the contrary, included are any further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope hereof, as defined by the following claims Thus, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments.
