Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1317~74
JOG~ER'S AID
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device which would provide a
user with access to a fluid during strenuous activity such as
bicycling or jogging while enabling his hands to be free.
One of the major problems with exercising is the inability
to conveniently carry a supply of liquid to replenish the fluids
which are excreted by the body during exercise. Under certain
conditions, a person exercising may lose an excessive amount of
fluids resulting in faintness, heat stroke, or on rare occasions,
death. Because of the inconvenience of carrying a container of
fluid in one's hand while exercising, people simply refrain from
carrying containers with them while engaging in exercise.
Previous devices have consisted of apparatuses which fit
either over a person's shoulders to be carried on the back, or
around the waist. These devices are quite cumbersome and
extremely impractical when used during exercise. The fluid is
usually stored in a container located too far away from a user's
mouth, requiring a great deal of suction to move the liquid to the
user's mouth. Since the user is already expending considerable
energy during exercise, such devices are considered hindrances
rather than aids.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a container for fluid
which is capable of being secured around a user's neck so as to
provide the user with a ready supply of easily accessible fluid
during exercise. More specifically, the device comprises an
integral hollow generally arcuate-shaped container having
individual straps at each end of the container which are capable
of being secured around the user's neck. The container will be
relatively thin so as to be capable of holding a sufficient amount
of liquid wi-thout causing discomfort to the user while exercising.
Thus broadly, the invention contemplates a container for
holding liquid around a user's neck which comprises a one-piece
hollow generally arcuate-shaped container having walls which are
substantially liquid impermeable, including a rear wall adapted
for disposition adjacent the user's front and generally contoured
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in a substantially flat shape for disposition against the user's
front, an aperture formed on an upper arcuate portion of the
arcua-te-shaped container for delivering liquid upwardly to the
user, an integral ring member formed on the container which is
capable of being placed over the user's head, and a straw member
extending upwardly from the container so as to enable the user to
remove the liquid contents therein by means of suction, whereby
the user may remove and consume liquid from the contalner while
engaging in physical exercise.
The invention also includes a container for holding liquid
around a user's neck which comprises a means defining an integral,
hollow generally arcuate-shaped container having walls which are
substantially liquid impermeable, the container having adhesive
disposed on the side of the container facing the user's body, a
pair of strap members extending rom the container which are
capable of being secured to one another so as to support the
container around the user's neck when filled with liquid, and a
straw member extending upwardly from the container so as to enable
the user to remove the liquid contents therein by means of
suction.
A further embodiment provides a container for holding
liquid around the user's neck which comp:rises a means defining an
integral, hollow, generally arcuate-shaped container having walls
which are substantially liquid impermeable, including a rear wall
adapted for disposition adjacent the user's front and generally
contoured in a substantially flat shape for disposition against
the user's chest, a hollow, threaded extension member formed on
the upper arcuate portion of the arcuate-shaped container for
delivering liquid upwardly to the user, and a strap means
extending from the container to support the container when filled
with liquid around the user's neck.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a container
for holding liquid around a user's neck which comprises a means
defining an integral, hollow generally arcuate-shaped container
having walls which are substantially liquid impermeable, and
having a rear wall generally contoured in a substantially flat
shape for disposition adjacent the user's front, aperture means
formed on an upper portion of the arcuate-shaped container for
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delivering liquid upwardly into the user's mouth, a strap
extending from the container and supporting the container around
the user's neck in non-constricting disposi-tion and disposing the
rear wall of the arcuate-shaped container adjacent the user's
front to position the aperture means in upwardly directed
disposition for delivering liquid upwardly therefrom, and a straw
member extending upwardly from the container so as to enable the
user to remove the liquid contents therein by means of suction,
whereby the user is able to suction liquid upwardly from the
container while engaging in physical exercise.
In a still further embodiment the invention includes a
container for holding liquid around a user's neck which comprises
an integral hollow generally arcuate-shaped container having walls
which are substantially liquid impermeable, and including a rear
wall adapted for disposition adjacent the user's front and
generally con-toured in a substantially flat shape for disposition
on the user's front, a hollow threaded extension member formed on
an upper arcuate-shaped portion of the arcuate-shaped container so
as to provide means for delivering liquid in a generally upward
direction to the user's mouth, a st:rap extending from the
container, which is capable of supporting the container when
filled wi.th liquid around the user's neck and a straw extending
upwardly from the con-tainer through the extension member, whereby
the user may suction liquid upwardly from the container while
engaging in physical exercise.
The container may either be rigid or flexible, while the
interior of the container is preferably insulated so as to
minimize the thermal exchange effects between the user's body and
the container. The strap members may be secured to one another
through a variety of means. One means would be a projecting
member extending from one strap and capable of being inserted into
a corresponding aperture member on the opposite strap. An
alternative means for securing the straps would be a series of
projections extending from the ends of each strap which would be
capable of being inserted into the spaces formed between
projecting members in an interlocking fashion when the straps are
pressed together.
Still a third means of securing the strap members together
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would be by placing adhesive material at the ends of each s-trap,
such as VELCR ~, which may be pressed together to form a secure
means to hold a container. All -three securing means identified
above may be readily locked and unlocked by the user.
Adhesive is formed on the back side of the container
which, when pressed against the clothing of the user, will reduce
the movement of the container during exercise. The adhesive will
be formed on the back side of the container and will be covered by
a strip of contact paper which may be readily removed by the user
prior to exercise.
A straw member will extend from the bottom center portion
of the container up through the wall of the container to the
user's mouth. When not in use, the user may fold the straw across
the ridge of the container and secure it thereto with insertion of
the straw between two inwardly-biased, upright projection members.
The straw member itself may have one or more accordion
joint members in that portion of the straw extending from the
container. The purpose of these accordion joints is to provide
the user with flexibility during use at physical activity and to
facilitate the folding of the straw when not in use into the slot
formed by the extension members.
As an alternative embodiment, the container may have a
hollow threaded extension portion formed on the wall of the
container so as -to provide communication with -the interior of the
container. A threaded cap member would be capable of being
screwed onto the threaded extension member to form an air-tight,
liquid-tight seal. When desired, the user would simply screw off
the cap and insert a straw through the extension portion into the
container to remove the liquid.
It is an objective of this invention to provide a user
with a convenient means for storing and drinking liquid during
physical activity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure l is a perspective view of the container in use.
Figure 2 is a front plan view of the container.
Figure 3 is a rear plan view of the container.
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~ i~ure ~ is a cross-sectior.al view of the
cor.tair.er alor.g lir.es IV-IV o~ Fi~ure 2.
Fi~ure 5 is a cross-sectior.al view o~ the
cor.tair.er alor.g lir.es V-V o~ Figure 2.
Figure 6 is ar. e~larged sectior.al view o~ an
alterr.ative embodimer.t o~ the stra~ memher o~ the
cor.tair.er shown ir. Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a cross-sectior.al view o~ the
contair.er alon~ lir.es VII-VII of Fiyure 2.
Figure 8 is an alternative embodimer.t o~ the
securir.g means shown in Figure 7.
Figure 9 is an er.larged view o~ the securir.g
mear.s eor the strap members.
Figure 10 is a side view of the securing
means showr. in Figure 9.
Fi~ure 11 is an alternative securing means
~or the strap members.
Fi~ure 12 is a side view of the alternate
securirg means shown in Figure 11.
. Figure 13 is an er.lar~ed view Oe a threaded
exter.sior. member ~ormed on the cor.tainer; shown with Fig.1.
Figure 14 is an alterr.ate embodiment o~ the
ir.ver.tiont as shown with Figure 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
.
Ir. the drawin3s, Fiyure l illustrates a cor.-
tainer 20 as it is ir.tended to be used~ The container
20, ordir.arily made o~ plastic, such as,polyethyIene or
polypropylene, is a ~ererally arcuate or C-shaped con-
~iguration with a ~lared mid-portion ard havir.g a pair
Oe strap member,s ,22a, ,2,2b, e,xterdiry ~rom the er.ds o~
said arcuate-shaped cor.tair.er 20 ard secured to one an-
other arour.d a user's reck- A st~aw member 24 extends
yenerally ~rom the lowest Inid-poirt of the cor.tainer 20
through the wall Oe the cor.tair.er up to the user's
mouth. Liquid may be extra~ted ~rom the oontair.er by
the user by suokir9 on the erd o~ the straw 24.
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Figure 2 is a ~ore detailed pers~ective o~
the cor.tair.e- 20. Er.d portior.s 2Ga, 26b o~ strap mem-
bers 22a, 22~ have a sel~-a~he.sive substar.ce 23a, 28b
such as VELC~o3 placed ir. such a mar.r.er so that wher.
pressed together ~y the use~r, the er.d ~embers 26a, 26b
will adhere to or.e ar.other ~ith su~icier.t strer.gth to
support the cor.tair.er 20. The adhesive substar.ce 28a,
28b will be o~ su~icier.t strer.gtll to support the con-
tair.er but will rer.der the end members capable o~ beir.g
pulled apart without a great deal o~ e~ort by the
ùser.
As shown in Figure 2, the straw 24 is r.ot
beir.g used. When not in use, it is interded that the
straw member will lay alor.y the upper ridge 30 o~ the
~ontair.er 20 ar.d will be secured thereto by ir.sertior.
betweer. a pair o~ ir.wardly-biased projectior. members,
32a, 32b. The straw 24 may be inserted ar.d removed
~rom the projection members 32a, 32b repeatedly without
detrimental e~ect to the ir.tegrity o~ the straw 24.
The projection members 32a, 32b are ~ormed generally
alony the upper ridge 30 o~ the contair.er 20.
In order to prevent ex~essive movemer.t o~ the
cor.tair.er 20 durir.g exercise, Figure 3 shows a secor.d
adhesive substance 36 placed or. a back side 38 o~ the
contair.er 20. This second adhesive 36 may also be VEL-
CRO~. Prior to use, the secor.d adhesive substar.ce 36
is coverad by a strip o~ tear-away cor.tact paper 40~
As shown in Figure 3, when required ~or use, the user
will tear o~ the paper 40 ar.d press the secord adhes-
ive substance agair.st his or her clothiry. In thismar.r.er, the contair.er 20 will be secured primarily by
strap members 22a, 22b, ard secondarily, by the second
adhesive substarce 36 pressin9 against the user's
clothir.g. The primary purpose o~ this secord adhesive
substar.c~ 20 is to prevert excessive movement o~ the
contair.er 20 durir.y exercise.
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As shown in Figure 4, insulating material ~2 such as
aluminum may be placed around center portion 43 of container 20
for the purpose of maintaining the liquid contained therein at a
specified temperature, and to minimize any thermal exchange which
might occur between the liquid contained in the container 20 and
the user's body. Additionally, the interior walls of the
container may be lined with insulation material to reduce thermal
exchange between the user's body and the container. As an
alternative insulation, a hollow space can be formed between the
outer wall of the container 20 and the center portion 43.
Figure 5 shows the straw 24 extending through a front wall
44 of the container 20. Figure 6 shows an accordion joint member
46 i5 formed on straw member 24 to provide the user with maximum
flexibility in maneuvering the straw to his/her mouth durin~
physical activity. Additionally, the accordion joint member 46
provides a degree of safety to the user in that i~ would d.mi~. slh
serious injury during a fall while the user is drinking.
In Figure 7, the straw 24 is inserted between the two
inwardly-biased projection members 32a, 32b. In this
illustration, the projection members 32a, 32b are generally C-
shaped. The straw 24 may be lifted out of a slot 48 formed
between the projection members 32a, 32b repeatedly without any
detrimental effect to the integrity of the straw 24. The inward
bias of the projection members 32a, 32b will be sufficient merely
to secure the straw without causing any damage to the straw 24 by
repeated removal and replacement. It is contemplated that the
projection members 32a, 32b will be formed directly on the front
wall 44 of the container 20 in a one-piece construction.
An alternative embodiment to the projection
members 32a, 32b is shown in Figure 8. A generally
L-shaped member 50 is formed on the front wall 44 in a
one-piece construction. The straw 24 may be inserted
and secured between one side of the L-shaped member 50
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ar.a the ~.or.t wall ~4. .~S ir t~ vious embodimert
showr. ir ri9UrQ 7, it is c~ ted that the L-shaped
member S~ ~ill be sut~ rtl~ ar~ iased to se~
cure straw 2~ ~nile ~e~it~ir.~ easf !emoval ar.d ir.ser-
tior. without damage to the stra~.
Figures 9 ar.d 1~ sho~ or.e mears to secure thQ
strap mem~ers to~ether sv as to sus~ort the cor.tair.er
in use. Ar. upwardy-directed projectior. member 52 is
~ormed or. strap 22a while a correspor.dir.g aperture is
~ormed or. strap 22b. Wher. use is desired, the user
will ir.sert a projectior. member 52 ir.to the aperture 5~
so as to secure straps 22a ar.d 22b to~ethert er.ablir.y
the cor.tair.er 2~ to be supported arour.d the user's
neck. Wher. the user wishes to remove the cor.tair.er
~rom arour.d his/her r.eck, the user will merel~ push the
projectior. member 52 through the aperture 5~, discon-
r.ectir.g the strap members 22a ar.d 22b.
An alterr.ative mear.s to secure the strap mem-
bers is illustrated ~.r. Figures 11 ar.d 12. Figure 11
shows a series o~ closely spaced, upwardly-directed
projectior. members 56 ~ormed or. strau 22a ar.d a corres-
por.dir.g number o~ closely spaced, dowr.wardly-directed
projectior. members 58 on strap 22b. Wher~ the user de-
sires to secure the straps toc~ether, he/she will com-
press ~he straps 22a ar.d 22b together so that the series o~ upwardly-directed, spaced projection members
will be ir.sert~d ir.to suaces 6~ ~ormed by the series o~
dowr.wardly-directed, spaced projectior; members 58 or.
strap 22b~ Correspor.dir.~ly, the series o~ downwardly-
directed, spaced projection members 58 will be ir.sertedir.to spaces 62 formeà by the upwardly-directed, spaced
projection members 56. Ir. this mar.r.er, a grid will be
~ormed capable o~ securir.g the cor.tair.er to th~ user's
r.eck. Wher. use is ro lorger re~uired, tha user will
merel~ t strau 22b ~rom St-~U 22a ar.d the ~or.r.ection
will be ~roken.
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One alternative to the present invention is shown in
Figure 13. A threaded extension member 64 is formed on the upper
ridge 30 of the container 20. A threaded cap 66 is formed such
that it may be screwed onto the threaded extension member 64 so as
to form an air-tight, liquid-tight seal. When use is desired, the
cap 66 may be unscrewed and the straw 24 may be inserted through
the extension member 64 into the container 20.
Figure 14 represents a second alternative embodiment to
the present invention in which the container is secured around the
user's neck by means of a ring 68 formed from the same material as
the container 20. That is, container 20 and ring 68 are a one-
piece device. The container is simply slipped over the user's
head and may be removed in the same fashion.
Variations and modifications of the present invention may
be made and remain within the spi,it of applicant's invention as
defined herein.
