Personal hydration system

Abstract

A personal hydration system is disclosed that includes a reservoir and a drinking hose (drinking straw). The drinking hose is in fluid communication with the reservoir and includes a textured (irregular) inner surface configuration to facilitate cleaning of the drinking hose. In certain embodiments of the disclosure, the drinking hose is configured and provided as a standalone component (product).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drinking straw comprising an inner surface with a textured configuration to facilitate cleaning of the drinking straw. 
     
     
         2 . The drinking straw of  claim 1 , wherein the drinking straw includes an antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         3 . The drinking straw of  claim 2 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is configured as a coating applied to at least one of an inner surface of the drinking straw and an outer surface of the drinking straw the drinking straw. 
     
     
         4 . The drinking straw of  claim 1 , wherein the drinking straw includes projections extending inwardly from an inner wall thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The drinking straw of  claim 4 , wherein each projection defines an arcuate configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The drinking straw of  claim 4 , wherein the projections are arranged into rows extending in generally parallel relation to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The drinking straw of  claim 6 , wherein the rows extend in generally parallel relation to a longitudinal axis of the drinking straw. 
     
     
         8 . The drinking straw of  claim 6 , wherein the rows are spaced circumferentially from each other such that the projections in adjacent rows are offset from each other along a longitudinal axis of the drinking straw. 
     
     
         9 . The drinking straw of  claim 4 , wherein each projection defines a peak, the drinking straw being configured such that adjacent projections are spaced from each other so as to define a space there between and such that the peaks of the projections in a first row are generally aligned with the spaces defined between adjacent projections in a second row. 
     
     
         10 . The drinking straw of  claim 4 , wherein each projection defines a width and the drinking straw is configured such that adjacent projections are spaced from each other by a distance approximately equal to one-half of the width of each projection. 
     
     
         11 . A drinking straw comprising:
 a longitudinal channel; and   projections extending inwardly into the longitudinal channel from an inner wall of the drinking straw, the projections being arranged in a staggered pattern to facilitate abrasion of the drinking straw via an external force applied during cleaning.   
     
     
         12 . The drinking straw of  claim 11 , wherein adjacent projections are spaced from each other so as to define a space there between configured to receive a corresponding projection upon application of the external force. 
     
     
         13 . The drinking straw of  claim 11 , wherein the projections are substantially identical in configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The drinking straw of  claim 11 , wherein each projection defines a width and the drinking straw is configured such that the projections are spaced from each other by a distance approximately equal to one-half of the width of each projection. 
     
     
         15 . The drinking straw of  claim 11 , wherein the projections are arranged into rows extending in generally parallel relation to each other. 
     
     
         16 . The drinking straw of  claim 15 , wherein the rows extend in generally parallel relation to a longitudinal axis of the drinking straw. 
     
     
         17 . The drinking straw of  claim 11 , further comprising an antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         18 . A method of cleaning a drinking straw, the method comprising:
 applying an external force to the drinking straw such that internal projections arranged along an inner surface of the drinking straw are brought into engagement with each other to facilitate abrasion and removal of contaminants from the drinking straw.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein applying the external force to the drinking straw includes positioning a first series of projections between a second series of projections. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein positioning the first series of projections between the second series of projections includes positioning projections arranged a first row between adjacent projections arranged in a second row.