Protective mask drinking tube coupling device and method of use

Abstract

A coupling device is provided for allowing one wearing a protective mask to drink fluids from a standard drinking fluid container. The device includes a punch at one end, a central body, and a capture port at the other end of the central body. The punch punctures a wall of a fluid container. Drinking fluid flows into the central body. The drinking tube is inserted into the port to allow one to drink fluid from the container. The device allows one wearing a protective suit in a contaminated environment to obtain drinking fluid from a standard, commercially-available container.

1 . A device for coupling a drinking tube of a protective mask to a drinking fluid container comprising: 
 a punch for piercing a wall of the fluid container, the punch having an aperture for fluid to flow therein;    a central body in fluid communication at a first end with the punch; and    a port disposed at the second end of the central body, the port having an inner bore in fluid communication with the central body, the inner bore having a female receptacle for receiving a male connector of the drinking tube;    wherein the aperture in the punch, the central body, and the inner bore of the port form a flow path through which the fluid from the container flows to a drinking tube of a protective mask.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve disposed in the central body for controlling fluid flow through the central body.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the valve is biased to a first, closed position wherein a flange is seated at an end of the port, and the valve is moved against its bias to a second open position by the male connector of a drinking tube when the male connector is inserted into the female receptacle.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a thread on the punch for threading the punch into the wall of the fluid container.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the thread on the punch increases in diameter from an initial thread to a terminal thread.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the terminal thread on the punch is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the punch.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising a gasket between the terminal thread on the punch and the first end of the central body.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7  further comprising a locking ring positioned adjacent the gasket to move the gasket against a container.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the locking ring is threadably engaged with the device.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising one or more annular ridges on the punch.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more ridges comprise a plurality of ridges that increase in height from an initial ridge to a terminal ridge.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more ridges have angled leading edges and trailing edges that are generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the punch.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a gasket the terminal ridge and the first end of the central body.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a locking ring positioned adjacent the gasket to move the gasket against the wall of the container.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the locking ring is threadably engaged with the device.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a movable arm positioned along the surface of the punch.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the back end of the arm is biased away from the punch.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising a gasket between the between the back end of the arm and the first end of the central body.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18  further comprising a locking ring positioned adjacent the gasket to move the gasket against the wall of the container.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the locking ring is threadably engaged with the device.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a gasket between the punch and the first end of the central body.  
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising means for biasing the gasket against a wall of a container.  
   
   
       23 . A method for a wearer of a protective mask with a drinking tube to drink fluid from a standard fluid container comprising: 
 a) acquiring a fluid container having drinking fluid therein;    b) puncturing a wall of the fluid container with a punch of a coupling device;    c) inserting the coupling device into the fluid container;    d) securing the coupling device to the fluid container;    e) inserting a drinking tube into a port in the coupling device; and    f) drinking fluid from a fluid container through the drinking tube.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the step of inserting the coupling device comprises threading the punch into a container wall.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the step of securing the coupling device to the container comprises seating a terminal thread of the punch against an inside surface of a wall of a container.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the step of inserting the coupling device comprises forcing one or more ridges of a ridged portion of the punch into a container wall.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein step of securing the coupling device to the container comprises seating a terminal ridge of the punch against an inside surface of a wall of a container.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the step of inserting the coupling device comprises forcing a punch having an arm through a container wall.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the step of securing the coupling device to the container comprises allowing the arm to be biased out from the punch so that an end of the arm bears against an inside surface of a wall of the container.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising compressing a gasket against an outer wall of the container to create a seal between the coupling device and the container.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising threading a locking nut against an outer wall of the container to create a seal between the coupling device and the container.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising checking the container for contamination.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising decontaminating a portion of a contaminated container.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising blowing air into the container through the drinking tube to create positive air pressure in the container.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising blowing air into the container through the drinking tube after several swallows to maintain positive air pressure in the container.  
   
   
       36 . A device for coupling a drinking tube of a protective mask to a drinking fluid container comprising: 
 a punch for piercing a wall of the fluid container, the punch having an aperture for fluid to flow therein;    a central body in fluid communication at a first end with the punch;    a port disposed at the second end of the central body, the port having an inner bore in fluid communication with the central body, the inner bore having a female receptacle for receiving a male connector of the drinking tube; and    a cover attachable to the central body for covering the punch;    wherein the aperture in the punch, the central body, and the inner bore of the port form a flow path through which the fluid from the container flows to a drinking tube of a protective mask.    
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 36  further comprising a stopper for covering the port.  
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 37  wherein the stopper is tethered to the central body.  
   
   
       39 . The device of  claim 36  further comprising a valve at the second end of the central body.  
   
   
       40 . The device of  claim 39  wherein the valve comprises an elastomeric band having a first position covering apertures on a central body, the band moveable to a second position uncovering the aperture to allow fluid to flow therethrough.