Athletic hydration pack

Abstract

A disposable, hydration pack intended, in a preferred embodiment, for use within a back pack or similar receptacle is disclosed. A gel filled ice pack surrounding the bladder of the pack allows for chilling of the contents of the bladder. In a disposable embodiment, the hydration pack may be pre-packaged with an energy beverage concentrate. A flexible, thin walled, disposable, or semi-flexible straw, passing through the wall of the bladder or through the cap of an access cap, delivers a beverage from the pack to the mouth of a user without the need for bringing the container of the pack to the region of the mouth. In an alternate embodiment, a belt attached to the bladder allows a user to strap the pack around his waist or over his shoulder.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hydration pack comprising: 
 a pliable bladder,    access means for filling said bladder with a potable liquid, and    delivery means for conveying said potable liquid from within said bladder to the mouth of a user.    
     
     
         2 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said pliable bladder further comprises: 
 a first wall and a second wall, said first wall and said second wall being joined along an upper end, a lower end and two sides, a void being formed therebetween.    
     
     
         3 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said pliable bladder is formed of a polymer.  
     
     
         4 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said first wall and said second wall are joined along said upper end, said lower end and said two sides by at least one method of the group: folding of a single piece of said polymer and heat welding of corresponding edges of said first wall and said second wall one to the other, heat welding of two separate pieces of said polymer, and blow molding of said polymer.  
     
     
         5 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said access means comprises 
 a substantially cylindrical neck, being substantially hollow through the interior of the length thereof, having a proximal end and a distal end, said neck affixed to said first wall by a flange formed substantially normal to and proximate said proximal end, and    a cap, adapted to matingly engage said distal end of said neck, substantially sealing said hollow interior of said neck.    
     
     
         6 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said flange is formed of a polymer.  
     
     
         7 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said neck is affixed to said bladder by heat welding.  
     
     
         8 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said delivery means comprises a flexible straw, said straw having a proximal end and a distal end, said straw adapted to pass through said bladder at a point proximate said upper end such that said proximal end of said straw may be raised to the mouth of a user and said distal end of said straw extends within said bladder to a point proximate said lower end.  
     
     
         9 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said passage of said straw through said bladder comprises one of the group: 
 an aperture through said bladder adapted to snugly, slidably and removably receive said straw, and    permanent affixment of said straw Lo said bladder at said aperture by a flange, said flange being substantially normal to the cylindrical surface of said straw at a point along the length of said straw.    
     
     
         10 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said aperture for receiving said removable straw is reinforced.  
     
     
         11 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said flange is affixed to said bladder by heat welding.  
     
     
         12 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said delivery means comprises a straw, said straw having a proximal end and a distal end, said straw adapted to pass through said cap such that said proximal end may be raised to the mouth of a user and said distal end extends within said bladder to a point proximate said lower end.  
     
     
         13 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said passage of said straw through said cap comprises one of the group: 
 an aperture through said cap adapted to snugly, slidably and removably receive said straw, and    a aperture through said cap adapted to rigidly and permanently receive said straw, and    a aperture through said cap adapted to removeably receive an end of an upper straw section external to said cap and an end of a lower straw section internal to said cap.    
     
     
         14 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said aperture further comprises one of the group: a hollow nipple adapted to engage an interior surface of said straw and an adapter adapted to engage an exterior of said straw.  
     
     
         15 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said straw is a continuous, flexible tube.  
     
     
         16 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said straw further comprises an accordion pleat proximate said cap.  
     
     
         17 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an ice pack formed around said bladder, said ice pack formed of a polymer and filled with a cold retentive gel for maintaining the contents of said bladder in a chilled state.  
     
     
         18 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said ice pack is removable from said bladder.  
     
     
         19 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the length of said two sides is greater than the length of said upper end and said lower end.  
     
     
         20 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the length of said two sides is less than the length of said upper end and said lower end.  
     
     
         21 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 a belt, one half of said belt being attached at each of said two sides of said bladder such that said belt may be extended around the waist of a user and joined by a buckle proximate the front of said user such that said pack may be suspended from said waist of said user.    
     
     
         22 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said neck is affixed internal of said bladder, and said cap, when installed, is internal of said neck.  
     
     
         23 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said cap further comprises an aperture through a side thereof, said aperture adapted to receive an end of a straw, said straw adapted to be raised to the mouth of a user.  
     
     
         24 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 12  wherein said cap further comprises: 
 a sump extending internal of said bladder, said sump maintaining said first side and said second side of said bladder apart from one another, thereby facilitating flow of a liquid therein in to flow without frictional resistance from said first side and said second side, and  
 a nipple external of said cap, said nipple adapted to removably and frictionally receive a straw.  
 
     
     
         25 . A hydration pack, as defined in  claim 1 , pre-packaged with one of the group: a liquid beverage and a powered, beverage concentrate adapted for rehydration by the user.