Hydration System

Abstract

Disclosed is a hydration system that generally includes a tank and a bracket. The hydration system may include a two-part bracket comprising a conveyance bracket portion and a tank bracket portion. The tank may be provided with an elongate sleeve disposed in the tank proximal a fill opening and defining a fluid conduit, the sleeve being provided with a plurality of apertures, the tank further being provided with a float sized to fit within the fluid conduit and cooperating with the sleeve to occlude the fill opening in response to the tank being filled with fluid. In many embodiments, the hydration system described herein permits ready and rapid filling of the tank through the fill opening while inhibiting splashing of the fluid out of the tank.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a tank and a bracket,   the bracket comprising a conveyance bracket portion and a tank bracket portion, the tank bracket portion being releasably coupled to the conveyance bracket portion;   the tank being connected to the tank bracket portion and comprising a container having a fill opening and a straw opening, the tank further including an elongate sleeve disposed in the tank proximal the fill opening and defining a fluid conduit, the sleeve being provided with a plurality of apertures;   the tank further being provided with a float sized to fit within the fluid conduit and cooperating with the sleeve to occlude the fill opening in response to the tank being filed with fluid.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , the tank bracket portion comprising engaging first and second sections that define a tank-retaining region, the tank being connected to the tank bracket portion assembly at the tank-retaining region. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , the plurality of apertures including opposing columns of spaced-apart apertures, at least one aperture in each row being aligned with a corresponding aperture on the opposing column. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , the tank including a cap, the cap having a flange sized to restrict movement of the float device out of the sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 4 , including plural floats. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , the bracket including a plug and socket mechanism, whereby one of the tank bracket portion and the conveyance bracket portion includes a prong and the other of the tank bracket portion and the conveyance bracket portion includes a socket, the socket including a bearing to enable releasable retention of the prong and socket. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , the prong and socket mechanism including three prongs and three sockets. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , including a straw extendable through the straw opening into the tank. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , the tank having a non-flat bottom wall defining a sump. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , including a straw extendable through the straw opening into the tank, the straw having a distal end, the distal end being proximal the sump when the straw is inserted at normal operating depth into the tank. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 a tank having a container with a fill opening and a straw opening, the tank further including an elongate sleeve disposed in the tank proximal the fill opening and defining a fluid conduit, the sleeve being provided with a plurality of apertures;   the tank further being provided with a float sized to fit within the fluid conduit and cooperating with the sleeve to occlude the fill opening in response to the tank being filed with fluid;   the tank having a bracket coupling portion.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , the plurality of apertures including opposing columns of spaced-apart apertures, at least one aperture in each row being aligned with a corresponding aperture on the opposing column. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , the tank including a cap, the cap having a flange sized to restrict movement of the float out of the sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 13 , including plural floats. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , including a straw extendable through the straw opening into the tank. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , the tank having a non-flat bottom wall defining a sump. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 16 , including a straw extendable through the straw opening into the tank, the straw having a distal end, the distal end being proximal the sump when the straw is inserted at normal operating depth into the tank. 
     
     
         18 . An assembly comprising the apparatus of  claim 11  coupled to a tank portion of a bracket.