초록 ▼

A personal hydration system includes a control valve assembly including a valve body provided with a first inlet port, a second inlet port, and an outlet port provided with a delivery hose for dispensing at least fluid from the hydration bladder. The control valve assembly further includes a non-col

A personal hydration system includes a control valve assembly including a valve body provided with a first inlet port, a second inlet port, and an outlet port provided with a delivery hose for dispensing at least fluid from the hydration bladder. The control valve assembly further includes a non-collapsible reservoir which holds an additive and is directly mounted via a rigid connection to the second inlet port of the valve body. A supply hose is connected between the hydration bladder and the first inlet port of the valve body. A valve core is rotatably mounted in the valve body to establish at least either a single flow condition of the liquid or a mixed flow condition of the liquid and the additive. In the mixed flow condition, the liquid from the hydration bladder freely flows through the valve core and is admitted into and circulated through the reservoir to produce a mixture of liquid and additive deliverable to the outlet port.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A personal hydration system comprising: a hydration bladder for holding a liquid;a control valve assembly including a valve body provided with a first inlet port in communication with the liquid in the hydration bladder, a second inlet port and an outlet port for dispensing, at least the liquid f

1. A personal hydration system comprising: a hydration bladder for holding a liquid;a control valve assembly including a valve body provided with a first inlet port in communication with the liquid in the hydration bladder, a second inlet port and an outlet port for dispensing, at least the liquid from the hydration bladder therefrom;the control valve having a reservoir holding an additive and being mounted to the second inlet port of the valve body such that the additive is in communication with the second inlet port; andthe control valve assembly also including a valve core mounted within the valve body to establish a mixed flow condition of the liquid and the additive,whereby the valve body and the valve core cooperatively define a liquid circulation arrangement with flow directing structures to divert a first portion of the liquid from the hydration bladder into the reservoir to mix with the additive and direct a second portion of the liquid to the outlet port, wherein the first portion of the liquid and the additive form a mixture, the valve body receives the mixture and provides the mixture to the outlet port. 2. A personal hydration system comprising: a hydration bladder for holding a liquid;a control valve assembly including a valve body provided with a first inlet port, a second inlet port and an outlet port provided with a delivery hose for dispensing at least the liquid from the hydration bladder therefrom;the control valve assembly having a non-collapsible reservoir holding an additive and being directly mounted via a rigid connection to the second inlet port of the valve body such that the additive is in communication with the second inlet port and the reservoir extends from the valve body at a substantially 90° orientation thereto; anda supply hose connected between the hydration bladder and the first inlet port of the valve body such that the liquid is in communication with the first inlet port,the control valve assembly also including a valve core rotatably mounted within the valve body to establish at least either a single flow condition of the liquid or a mixed flow condition of the liquid and the additive,whereby, in the mixed flow condition, liquid from the hydration bladder flows freely through the valve core, the valve body being provided with flow directing structure that diverts a first portion of the liquid into the reservoir to mix with the additive and directs a second portion of the liquid to the outlet port, the valve body receives the mixture of the first portion of the liquid and the additive from the reservoir and provides the mixture to the outlet. 3. The personal hydration system of claim 2, wherein the valve body is formed with a reservoir receiver that defines a second inlet port and the rigid connection to which the non-collapsible reservoir is mounted, wherein in the mixed flow condition, the valve body diverts the first portion of the liquid out of the valve body into the reservoir and receives the mixture from reservoir into the valve body. 4. The personal hydration system of claim 2, wherein the mixture of the first portion of the liquid and the additive received in the valve body mixes with the second portion of the liquid, and the valve body provides the combined first portion, second portion, and additive to the outlet port and the delivery hose. 5. The personal hydration system of claim 2, wherein the valve body includes retaining structure adapted to be used in fastening the control valve assembly to supporting straps for the hydration bladder. 6. The personal hydration system of claim 2, wherein the valve core is provided with liquid passageways which permit liquid flow from the hydration bladder to freely flow into the second inlet port and the reservoir in the mixed flow condition. 7. The personal hydration system of claim 2, wherein the valve core is mourned in the valve body so as to define a recess extending between an internal wall of the valve body and an outer surface of the valve core for receiving liquid from the hydration bladder. 8. The personal hydration system of claim 2, wherein the rigid connection is provided with scaling structure for enabling a leak-free attachment of the reservoir on the valve body. 9. A control valve assembly adapted for use with a personal hydration system having, a hydration bladder holding a liquid and provided with a supply hose in communication with the liquid, the control valve assembly comprising: a tubular valve body having a first inlet port adapted to be connected to the supply hose, a second inlet port extending from the valve body, the second inlet port being directly and rigidly mounted to a non-collapsible reservoir holding an additive thereon such that the additive, as well as liquid from the hydration bladder, is permitted to flow through the second inlet port, and an outlet port adapted to be connected to a delivery hose for dispensing at least liquid from the hydration bladder; anda valve core movably mounted in the valve body and having liquid passageways cooperable with the first and second inlet ports and the outlet port to establish at least a single flow condition of the liquid and a mixed flow condition of the liquid and the additive deliverable to the outlet port and the delivery hose,wherein, in the mixed flow condition, the valve core enables liquid from the hydration bladder to flow freely through the first and second inlet ports and be admitted and circulated through the reservoir to produce a mixture of liquid and additive deliverable through the second inlet port to the outlet port and the delivery hose, and the valve body is provided with flow directing structure for directing a first portion of liquid flow from the hydration bladder into the reservoir to facilitate circulation of the first portion of liquid and additive in the reservoir and directing a second portion of liquid flow from the hydration bladder to the outlet port, the valve body receives the mixture of the first portion of the liquid and the additive and provides the mixture to the outlet port. 10. The control valve assembly of claim 9, wherein, in the mixed flow condition, the non-collapsible reservoir defines an interior space which is continuously replenished by liquid flow from the hydration bladder. 11. The control valve assembly of claim 9, wherein the valve body is formed with a reservoir receiver that defines the second inlet port and the rigid connection to which the non-collapsible reservoir is mounted. 12. The control valve assembly of claim 9, wherein the non-collapsible reservoir is removably connected directly to the valve body to enable cleansing and refilling of the reservoir with a desired additive. 13. The control valve assembly of claim 9, wherein the valve body includes retaining structure adapted to be used in fastening the control valve assembly to supporting straps for the hydration bladder. 14. The control valve assembly of claim 9, wherein the valve core is mounted in the valve body so as to define a recess extending between an internal wall of the valve body and an outer surface of the valve core for receiving liquid from the hydration bladder. 15. The control valve assembly of claim 9, wherein the rigid connection is provided with a sealing structure for enabling, a leak-free attachment of the reservoir on the valve body. 16. A kit adapted to be used to control flow in a personal hydration system having a hydration bladder filled with liquid and supported by straps upon a body of a user and provided with a supply hose in communication with the liquid, the kit comprising: a non-collapsible reservoir for holding an additive therein;a control valve assembly including a tubular valve body having a first inlet port adapted to be connected to the supply hose, a second inlet port defining a flow connection for directly and rigidly mounting the reservoir thereto such that the additive and the liquid from the hydration bladder is selectively permitted to flow into and out of the second inlet port, and an outlet port in communication with the first and second inlet ports adapted to be connected to a delivery hose for dispensing, at least the liquid from the hydration bladder, the control valve assembly also including a valve core movably mounted within the valve body and having liquid passageways cooperable with the first and second inlet ports and the outlet port, the valve core being adapted to establish at least a single flow condition of the fluid and a mixed flow condition of the liquid and the additive, wherein in the mixed flow condition the valve core directs a first portion of the liquid from the hydration reservoir through the second inlet port into the reservoir, receives the additive and the first portion of the liquid, provides the additive and the first portion of the liquid to the outlet port, and the valve core directs a second portion of the liquid to the outlet port; andan attachment arrangement adapted to connect at least one of the control valve assembly and the reservoir to the straps supporting the hydration bladder. 17. The kit of claim 16, wherein the valve body includes a first retaining element located between the first and second inlet ports and engageable with the attachment arrangement. 18. The kit of claim 17, wherein the valve body includes a second retaining element spaced from the first retaining element and engageable with the attachment arrangement. 19. A personal hydration system comprising: a liquid supply means for holding a liquid;a control valve means including a valve body means provided with a first inlet means in communication with the liquid in the liquid supply means, a second inlet means, and an outlet means for dispensing at least the liquid from the liquid supply means;the control valve means having to reservoir means for holding an additive, the reservoir means being mounted to the second inlet means such that the additive is in communication with the second inlet means; andthe control valve means also including a valve core means mounted within the valve body means for establishing, at least either a single flow condition of the liquid or a mixed flow condition of the liquid and the additive;whereby the valve body means and the valve core means cooperatively define flow directing means for directing a first portion of flow from the supply means into the reservoir means to permit circulation and form a mixture of the liquid and the additive in the reservoir means and for directing a second portion of flow horn the supply means to the outlet means, the valve body means receives the mixture from the reservoir means and provides the mixture to the outlet means.