Backpack with magnetic hydration tube return

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11684140-B2
Application number	US-202217568339-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2022
Priority date	May 22, 2017
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

A hydration pack includes a main body, a strap, a bladder, a hydration tube, a first chain of magnets, and a second chain of magnets. The main body defines a storage compartment. The strap is coupled to the main body. The bladder is disposed in the storage compartment of the main body and configured to retain liquid. The hydration tube includes a proximal end coupled to the bladder and a distal end. The first chain of magnets is disposed on the strap. The second chain of magnets is disposed along a length of the hydration tube. The first and second chains of magnets are configured to connect by magnetic forces and disconnect by a force exceeding the magnetic force of the first and second chains of magnets.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hydration pack, comprising:
a main body defining a storage compartment;
a strap coupled to the main body;
a bladder disposed in the storage compartment of the main body and configured to retain liquid;
a hydration tube comprising a proximal end coupled to the bladder and a distal end;
a first chain of magnets disposed on the strap; and
a second chain of magnets disposed along a length of the hydration tube,
wherein the first and second chains of magnets are configured to connect by magnetic forces and disconnect by a force exceeding the magnetic force of the first and second chains of magnets.

2. The hydration pack of claim 1 , wherein:
the first chain of magnets is disposed end-to-end, and
the second chain of magnets is disposed end-to-end.

3. The hydration pack of claim 1 , wherein:
the first chain of magnets is disposed within a first sleeve coupled to the strap, and
the second chain of magnets is disposed within a second sleeve coupled to the hydration tube.

4. The hydration pack of claim 3 , wherein the second sleeve is coupled to a third sleeve disposed about the hydration tube, wherein the third sleeve is configured to slide along a length of the hydration tube.

5. The hydration pack of claim 1 , wherein the first and second chains of magnets are flexible.

6. The hydration pack of claim 1 , wherein the first and second chains of magnets each contain 3 to 9 magnets.

7. The hydration pack of claim 1 , wherein the first and second chains of magnets are diametrically opposed.

8. The hydration pack of claim 1 , further comprising a valve disposed at the distal end of the hydration tube, wherein the bladder comprises a fill port for transferring liquid to the bladder and a discharge port for transferring liquid from the bladder, wherein the discharge port is connected to the proximal end of the hydration tube.

9. The hydration pack of claim 1 , wherein the first and second chains of magnets are each diametrically magnetized magnets arranged such that they are diametrically opposed with opposite polarity.

10. The hydration pack of claim 1 , wherein the first and second chains of magnets are each radially magnetized magnets arranged such that they are radially opposed with opposite polarity.

11. The hydration pack of claim 1 , wherein the first and second chains of magnets are each arranged such that they are opposed with opposite polarity.

12. The hydration pack of claim 1 , wherein the first and second chains of magnets are each bendable magnets arranged such that they are opposed with opposite polarity.

13. A hydration system for providing liquid to a user on demand, comprising:
a pack comprising a main body having a front side facing towards and adjacent to a user when the pack is carried, a back side facing away from the user when the pack is carried, and a strap coupled to the main body;
a bladder disposed in the main body of the pack configured to retain liquid, the bladder comprising a fill port for transferring liquid to the bladder and a discharge port for transferring liquid from the bladder;
a hydration tube extending from the bladder through an opening in the main body, wherein the hydration tube is configured to transfer liquid from a proximal end connected to the discharge port to a distal end;
a valve disposed at the distal end of the hydration tube including an outlet configured to discharge liquid into the user's mouth;
a first plurality of magnets coupled to the strap; and
a second plurality of magnets coupled to the hydration tube,
wherein the first and second pluralities of magnets are configured to connect by gravitational and magnetic forces when the hydration tube is released from the user's mouth and disconnect when the user exerts a force exceeding the magnetic force of the first and second pluralities of magnets, and
wherein upon release of the valve from the user's mouth the second plurality of magnets sequentially connects by magnetic force to the first plurality of magnets.

14. The hydration system of claim 13 , wherein the first and second pluralities of magnets are diametrically magnetized.

15. The hydration system of claim 13 , further comprising an adjustable sleeve disposed about the hydration tube, wherein the second plurality of magnets is coupled to the sleeve and the magnets of the second plurality of magnets are disposed end-to-end.

16. A hydration pack, comprising:
a main body defining a storage compartment;
a strap coupled to the main body;
a bladder disposed in the storage compartment of the main body and configured to retain liquid;
a hydration tube comprising a proximal end coupled to the bladder and a distal end;
a valve disposed at the distal end of the hydration tube;
a first plurality of magnets disposed along a length of the strap; and
a second plurality of magnets disposed along a length of the hydration tube between the bladder and the valve,
wherein the first and second pluralities of magnets are configured to connect by magnetic forces and disconnect by a force exceeding the magnetic force of the first and second pluralities of magnets.

17. The hydration pack of claim 16 , wherein:
the first plurality of magnets is disposed within a first sleeve coupled to the strap, and
the second plurality of magnets is disposed within a second sleeve coupled to the hydration tube.

18. The hydration pack of claim 16 , wherein the main body is configured to be disposed against a user's back and the strap is configured to be disposed on a front side of the user.

19. The hydration pack of claim 16 , wherein the first plurality of magnets is disposed end-to-end in a lengthwise direction of the strap and the second plurality of magnets is disposed end-to-end in a lengthwise direction of the hydration tube.

20. The hydration pack of claim 16 , further comprising a second strap coupled to the main body.

Assignees

• Thule Sweden Ab

Inventors

• Hassett Eric
• Noffsinger Derick
• Thibadeau Mark

Classifications

• A45F3/166

  Hydration systems incorporated in a backpack · CPC title

• A45F5/1566

  Holders or carriers for tubular, rod-shaped articles, e.g. batons · CPC title

• A45F3/04

  Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of two straps passing over the two shoulders · CPC title

• A45F3/16 Primary

  Water-bottles; Mess-tins; Cups · CPC title

• A45F2003/166

  Human Necessities · mapped topic