Reservoir system and method of use

Abstract

A system for structurally supporting the interior of a fluid reservoir is disclosed. The reservoir can have a reinforcing brace within the reservoir. The brace can be splittable or separable, which can allow the reservoir to be inverted, for example for easier cleaning. The brace can maintain the shape of the reservoir when the reservoir is filled with liquid, preventing the reservoir from forming a cylindrical cross-section. The control of the shape of the reservoir can prevent or minimize distortion of a backpack which is carrying the reservoir.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A liquid reservoir system comprising:
 a reservoir container comprising a reservoir first wall, a reservoir second wall opposite the reservoir first wall, wherein the reservoir first wall and the reservoir second wall define a reservoir cavity configured to hold a liquid,
 wherein the reservoir first wall has an interior first wall side and an exterior first wall side, 
 wherein the reservoir second wall has an interior second wall side and an exterior second wall side; 
   an orifice first lip coupled to the reservoir first wall and an orifice second lip coupled to the reservoir second wall, wherein the orifice first lip and the orifice second lip define an orifice in fluid communication with the reservoir cavity,
 wherein the orifice first lip and the orifice second lip extend from a first lateral edge of the reservoir container to a second lateral edge of the reservoir container, and 
 wherein at least one of the first orifice lip and second orifice lip is bendable to open the orifice; 
   a bag seam sealing the first reservoir wall to the second reservoir wall along the first lateral edge of the reservoir container;   a bag first reinforcement at the first lateral edge of the reservoir container and proximate to the orifice;   a bag second reinforcement at the second lateral edge of the reservoir container and proximate to the orifice;   a bag third reinforcement sealing the reservoir first wall to the reservoir second wall along a reservoir bottom edge of the reservoir container;   a brace located within the reservoir cavity, wherein the brace includes a brace first end coupled to the interior first wall side and a brace second end coupled to the interior second wall side;   an outlet socket coupled to the exterior first wall side or the exterior second wall side, wherein the outlet socket is in fluid communication with the reservoir cavity;   a reservoir slider slidable over the first orifice lip and the second orifice lip, wherein the reservoir slider comprises a slider top, a slider first side extending from the slider top, a slider second side extending from the slider top, a slider first arm extending from the slider first side, a slider second arm extending from the slider second side, and wherein the slider first and second arms are configured to releasably press the first orifice lip to the second orifice lip, and wherein the reservoir slider has a slider first end and a slider second end, and wherein at least part of the slider first and second ends flare away from a longitudinal center axis of the slider; and   a guide along at least one of the orifice first lip and the orifice second lip, wherein the reservoir slider is configured to slide over the guide.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a slider hole in the slider. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the reservoir first wall and the reservoir second wall comprises nylon. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the orifice first lip and orifice second lip are thicker than the reservoir walls surrounding the orifice first lip and orifice second lip. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the slider first arm extends at a right angle from the slider first side, and wherein the slider second arm extends at a right angle from the slider second side. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the brace has a brace height from 3 inches to 9 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom edge of the brace is spaced apart from the outlet socket by a distance from zero inches to 3 inches, wherein a top edge of the brace is spaced apart from a top edge of the reservoir container by a distance from zero inches to 5 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the brace has a brace wall thickness from 0.1 mm to 10 mm, and wherein the brace has a brace depth from 0.5 inches to 4 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first reservoir wall and the second reservoir wall are translucent. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the brace first end is coupled to the interior first wall side at a center point of the reservoir first wall between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, and wherein the brace second end is coupled to the interior second wall side at a center point of the reservoir second wall between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bag third reinforcement has two ridges extending laterally across the bag third reinforcement. 
     
     
         12 . A liquid reservoir system comprising:
 a reservoir container comprising an orifice, a reservoir first wall, and a reservoir second wall opposite the reservoir first wall, an orifice first lip coupled to the reservoir first wall, and an orifice second lip coupled to the orifice second wall, wherein the reservoir first wall and the reservoir second wall define a reservoir cavity configured to hold a liquid, and wherein the orifice first lip and the orifice second lip define an orifice in fluid communication with the reservoir cavity,
 wherein the reservoir first wall is coupled to the reservoir second wall along a first lateral edge and a reservoir bottom edge of the reservoir container, 
 wherein the reservoir first wall has an interior first wall side and an exterior first wall side, 
 wherein the reservoir second wall has an interior second wall side and an exterior second wall side, and 
 wherein the orifice first lip and the orifice second lip extend from the first lateral edge to a second lateral edge; 
   a brace located within the reservoir cavity, wherein the brace has a brace first end coupled to the interior first wall side and a brace second end coupled to the interior second wall side;   an outlet socket coupled to the reservoir first wall or the reservoir second wall, wherein the outlet socket is between the brace and the reservoir bottom edge; and   a reservoir slider slidable over the orifice first lip and the orifice second lip to releasably seal the orifice, and wherein the reservoir slider comprises a slider top, a slider first side extending from the slider top, a slider second side extending from the slider top, a slider first arm extending from the slider first side, a slider second arm extending from the slider second side, and wherein the slider first and second arms are configured to releasably press the first orifice lip to the second orifice lip, and wherein the reservoir slider has a slider first end and a slider second end.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 :
 wherein the brace has a brace height from 3 inches to 9 inches;   wherein a bottom edge of the brace is spaced apart from the outlet socket by a distance from zero inches to 3 inches;   wherein a top edge of the brace is spaced apart from a top edge of the reservoir container from zero inches to 5 inches;   wherein the brace has a brace wall thickness from 0.1 mm to 10 mm;   wherein the brace has a brace depth from 0.5 inches to 4 inches;   wherein the brace first end is coupled to the interior first wall side at a center point of the reservoir first wall between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge; and   wherein the brace second end is coupled to the interior second wall side at a center point of the reservoir second wall between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a bag first reinforcement at the first lateral edge of the reservoir container and proximate to the orifice;   a bag second reinforcement at the second lateral edge of the reservoir container and proximate to the orifice;   a bag third reinforcement sealing the first reservoir wall to the second reservoir wall along a reservoir bottom edge of the reservoir container.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the reservoir slider comprises a slider first arm and a slider second arm configured to press the orifice first lip to the orifice second lip. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a guide along the exterior first wall side and the exterior second wall side and wherein the reservoir slider is configured to slide over the guide. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the orifice first lip and the orifice second lip is bendable to open the orifice. 
     
     
         18 . A liquid reservoir system comprising:
 a reservoir container comprising a reservoir first wall, a reservoir second wall opposite the reservoir first wall, an orifice first lip coupled to the reservoir first wall, and an orifice second lip coupled to the reservoir second wall, wherein the reservoir first wall and the reservoir second wall define a reservoir cavity configured to hold a liquid, wherein the orifice first lip and the orifice second lip define an orifice in fluid communication with the reservoir cavity, and wherein the reservoir first wall is coupled to the reservoir second wall along a first lateral edge and a reservoir bottom edge of the reservoir container;   a brace located within the reservoir cavity, the brace including a brace first end coupled to the reservoir first wall and a brace second end coupled to the reservoir second wall,
 wherein the brace first end is coupled to the reservoir first wall at a center point of the reservoir first wall between the first lateral edge and a second lateral edge opposite the first lateral edge, and 
 wherein the brace second end is coupled to the reservoir second wall at a center point of the reservoir second wall between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge; and 
   an outlet socket coupled to the reservoir first wall or the reservoir second wall, wherein the outlet socket is in fluid communication with the reservoir cavity; and   wherein the orifice first lip is releasably sealable to the orifice second lip to seal the reservoir cavity.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 :
 wherein the brace has a brace height from 3 inches to 9 inches;   wherein a bottom edge of the brace is spaced apart from the outlet socket by a distance from zero inches to 3 inches;   wherein a top edge of the brace is spaced apart from a top edge of the reservoir container by a distance from zero inches to 5 inches;   wherein the brace has a brace wall thickness from 0.1 mm to 10 mm;   wherein the brace has a brace depth from 0.5 inches to 4 inches.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a bag first reinforcement at the first lateral edge of the reservoir container and proximate to the orifice;   a bag second reinforcement at the second lateral edge of the reservoir container and proximate to the orifice;   a bag third reinforcement sealing the first reservoir wall to the second reservoir wall along a reservoir bottom edge of the reservoir container.