Accessories for maintenance of water bladders

Abstract

A ventilation system for a water bladder includes a fan. The fan has a fan housing defining at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening and at least one fan blade rotatably secured within the fan housing. A motor rotates the at least one fan blade and a controller is secured to the housing for controlling the motor. At least one power port provides power to at least one of the motor and the controller. The system includes a mating adapter secured to the fan housing that defines an air inlet end proximate the fan housing and an air outlet end disposed opposite the air inlet end. A securing structure is disposed proximate the air outlet end for selectively securing the mating adapter to a drinking bladder.

1 . A ventilation system for a water bladder, the ventilation system comprising:
 a fan comprising:
 a fan housing defining at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening; 
 at least one fan blade rotatably secured within the fan housing; 
 a motor for rotating the at least one fan blade; 
 a controller secured to the housing for controlling the motor; and 
 at least one power port for providing power to at least one of the motor and the controller; 
   a mating adapter secured to the fan housing, wherein the mating adapter defines an air inlet end proximate the fan housing and an air outlet end disposed opposite the air inlet end; and   a securing structure disposed proximate the air outlet end for selectively securing the mating adapter to a drinking bladder.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the mating adapter is integral with the fan housing. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , further comprising an adapter lock for releasably securing the mating adapter to the fan housing. 
     
     
         4 . The ventilation system of  claim 3 , wherein the adapter lock comprises:
 a locking tab defined by a first one of the fan housing and the mating adapter; and   a detent defined by a second one of the fan housing and the mating adapter, wherein the detent is selectively engageable with the locking tab.   
     
     
         5 . The ventilation system of  claim 4 , wherein the locking tab is at least partially defined by the mating adapter. 
     
     
         6 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the securing structure comprises at least one threaded connection at least partially defined by the air outlet end of the mating adapter. 
     
     
         7 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a mating adapter extension selectively securable to the air outlet end of the mating adapter. 
     
     
         8 . The ventilation system of  claim 7 , wherein the mating adapter extension comprises a securing structure for selectively securing the mating adapter extension to the drinking bladder. 
     
     
         9 . The ventilation system of  claim 7 , wherein the mating adapter extension comprises a plurality of mating adapter extensions, wherein each of the plurality of mating adapter extensions are individually selectively securable to the mating adapter. 
     
     
         10 . The ventilation system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of mating adapter extensions define an air outlet end comprising a different form factor. 
     
     
         11 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises at least one of a dial, a button, a switch, and a toggle. 
     
     
         12 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a circuit for substantially directly connecting the motor to the power port. 
     
     
         13 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the mating adapter comprises an adapter body disposed between the air inlet end and the air outlet end, and wherein the adapter body comprises a body surface area. 
     
     
         14 . The ventilation system of  claim 13 , wherein the body defines at least one relief opening comprising a relief opening area. 
     
     
         15 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a hanging hook releasably secured to the fan housing. 
     
     
         16 . The ventilation system of  claim 15 , wherein the hanging hook comprises a support hook and an insert configured to be inserted into a tube port of a bladder. 
     
     
         17 . The ventilation system of  claim 16 , wherein the hanging hook further comprises at least one of a hinge or a pivot, wherein the at least one of the hinge or the pivot is configured to change a position of the insert relative to the support hook. 
     
     
         18 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a drying snake releasably secured to the fan housing. 
     
     
         19 . A kit for drying an interior of a drinking bladder, the kit comprising:
 a mating adapter, wherein the mating adapter is releasably securable to a mouth of the drinking bladder; and   a fan for introducing air from an exterior of the drinking bladder to the interior of the drinking bladder, via the mating adapter.   
     
     
         20 . A method of introducing air to an interior of a drinking bladder, the method comprising:
 securing a fan housing in a position to introduce air into a mouth of the drinking bladder; and   activating the fan.