Hydration system for surfers and sportsmen

Abstract

A personal hydration system surfers and sports participants is disclosed that minimizes interruption of the user's sporting activity. A receptacle attached to the rear of a surfer's wetsuit vest retains a removable fluid container therein and the removable fluid container includes a flexible fluid delivery tube to allow a user to suck fluid stored in the removable fluid container through the tube. The upper body garment is constructed of a semi-flexible material that is sufficiently stiff to allow the upper body garment to maintain its shape while conforming to a user's physique. The upper body garment also includes side panels of a very flexible and body conforming material such as Lycra® that aid the user's upper body movements. Other embodiments are shown wherein the garment could be a snow boarding jacket or a fisherman's waders. An embodiment for retrofitting such a personal hydration system to an existing garment is shown also.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hydration system for surfers and sports participants, comprising: 
 an upper body garment having a receptacle positioned thereon;    said receptacle containing a removable fluid container therein;    said removable fluid container including a flexible fluid delivery tube,    said flexible fluid delivery tube adapted to allow a user to suck fluid stored in said removable fluid container through said tube; and,    said upper body garment constructed of a semi-flexible material, said semi-flexible material sufficiently stiff to allow said upper body garment to maintain its shape while conforming to a user's physique.    
     
     
         2 . A hydration system for surfers and sports participants, according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said upper body garment including inset panels of flexible material to aid a user's upper body movements.    
     
     
         3 . A hydration system for surfers and sports participants, according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said receptacle has an opening on its lower end for installing said removable fluid container in said receptacle.    
     
     
         4 . A hydration system for surfers and sports participants, according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said opening on said lower end of said receptacle includes a closure means; and,    said closure means allows any fluid inside said receptacle to drain therefrom.    
     
     
         5 . A hydration system for surfers and sports participants, according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said receptacle includes an outlet for routing said fluid delivery tube therethrough.    
     
     
         6 . A hydration system for surfers and sports participants, according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said receptacle is positioned on the rear of said upper body garment.    
     
     
         7 . A hydration system for surfers and sports participants, according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said closure means is a hook and loop fastener.    
     
     
         8 . A hydration system for surfers and sports participants, according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said upper body garment includes a means for retaining said tube in a position readily accessible to a user.    
     
     
         9 . A hydration system for surfers and sports participants, according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said upper body garment is a vest.    
     
     
         10 . A hydration system for surfers and sports participants, according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said upper body garment includes long sleeves.    
     
     
         11 . A hydration system for surfers and sports participants, according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said upper body garment is a snowboarding jacket.    
     
     
         12 . A hydration system for fishermen, comprising: 
 a pair of fishing waders having a receptacle positioned thereon;    said receptacle containing a removable fluid container therein;    said removable fluid container including a flexible fluid delivery tube, and;    said flexible fluid delivery tube adapted to allow a user to suck fluid stored in said removable fluid container through said tube.    
     
     
         13 . A hydration system for fishermen, according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said receptacle has an opening on its lower end for installing said removable fluid container in said receptacle.    
     
     
         14 . A hydration system for fishermen, according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said opening on said lower end of said receptacle includes a closure means; and,    said closure means allows any fluid inside said receptacle to drain therefrom.    
     
     
         15 . A hydration system for fishermen, according to  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said receptacle includes an outlet for routing said fluid delivery tube therethrough.    
     
     
         16 . A hydration system for fishermen, according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said closure means is a hook and loop fastener.    
     
     
         17 . A hydration system for fishermen, according to  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said pair of fishing waders includes a means for retaining said tube in a position readily accessible to a user.    
     
     
         18 . A system for retrofitting a hydration system for surfers and sports participants to an existing garment, comprising: 
 a piece of material adapted to form a pouch for containing a removable fluid container when attached to an existing garment;    a first plurality of attachment means for attachment to said existing garment;    a second plurality of attachment means on said piece of material adapted to form a pouch, said first and second plurality of attachment means connected together;    said removable fluid container including a flexible fluid delivery tube;    said flexible fluid delivery tube adapted to allow a user to suck fluid stored in said removable fluid container through said tube; and,    said piece of material constructed of a semi-flexible material, said semi-flexible material sufficiently stiff to allow said existing garment to maintain its shape while conforming to a user's physique.    
     
     
         19 . A system for retrofitting a hydration system for surfers and sports participants to an existing garment, according to  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said pouch has an opening on its lower end for installing said removable fluid container in said pouch.    
     
     
         20 . A system for retrofitting a hydration system for surfers and sports participants to an existing garment, according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 said receptacle is positioned on the rear of said upper body garment.    
     
     
         21 . A system for retrofitting a hydration system for surfers and sports participants to an existing garment, according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 said opening on said lower end of said receptacle includes a closure means; and,    said closure means allows any fluid inside said receptacle to drain therefrom.    
     
     
         22 . A system for retrofitting a hydration system for surfers and sports participants to an existing garment, according to  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said pouch includes an outlet for routing said fluid delivery tube therethrough.    
     
     
         23 . A system for retrofitting a hydration system for surfers and sports participants to an existing garment, according to  claim 22 , wherein: 
 said closure means is a hook and loop fastener.    
     
     
         24 . A system for retrofitting a hydration system for surfers and sports participants to an existing garment, according to  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said garment includes a means for retaining said tube in a position readily accessible to a user.