US20050218154A1

US20050218154A1 - Low Profile Fluid Container

Info

Publication number: US20050218154A1
Application number: US10/906,994
Authority: US
Inventors: Adam Selsby
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-24
Filing date: 2005-03-15
Publication date: 2005-10-06

Abstract

A flexible, low profile, wearable, concealable fluid container is filled with fluid through at least one filling ports. The thin, wearable, concealable, container comprises one or more separate fluid bladders having at least one sealed point between the front and rear bladder walls to ensure a low profile expansion of the container when filled with fluid to maintain concealment while the container is being worn. The wearable fluid container pouch comprises two opposing pliable sidewalls.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/555,655 filed on Mar. 24, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to carry fluid under ones clothing without being noticed visually. More specifically, the present invention is a low profile, wearable, concealable fluid container that retains its thin shape when filled by means of sealed points. Container may contain fluids from a full spectrum of low to high viscosity, density, and thickness.

BACKGROUND

The use of a flexible fluid container to store and transport fluid is well documented. For example, intravenous bags are used in the medical field. Flexible fluid containers are also used for beverages designed for human consumption. And fluid containers are used for human waste such as Ostomy and catheter bags.
A number of issues were identified with current technology fluid containers for personal use. These include carrying the container without using hands, and a flexible container that does not bulge and or sag. Common solutions to these problems include putting the pouch inside another container that is then affixed to the user. This solves the hands-free but does not evenly distribute the weight of the fluids over a very wide area.
These arrangements have drawbacks. The pouch is not a self-contained system. The container apparatus cannot be concealed under clothing. The pouch itself is subject to shape-distortion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention consists a container that can be worn in a number of embodiments and or configurations. Each container is thin and flexible and may be concealed under clothing. The wearable container comprises one or more separate fluid bladders. The bladders are created by using two layers of a material that may be welded, heat or RF sealed to form sidewalls and have sufficient integrity to hold fluid without leakage. Composition materials include, but are not limited to, polypropylene, urethane, and vinyl. Each chamber has at least one sealed point between the front and rear bladder walls. The sealed point may also be welded, heat, or RF sealed. These sealed points ensure a low profile thickness of the container when filled with fluid and while the container is being worn. The bladder of the container is filled with fluid through at least one filling ports.
It is, therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved container capable of holding, storing, and carrying, internally therein, fluid.
It is, further, an object to provide a means of holding a fluid without the use of the hands and without means of detection by ordinary viewing of the users apparel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Objects and advantages together with the operation of the invention may be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein
FIG. 1 is a front schematic view of a first embodiment of the inventive system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the view of FIG. 1, the concealable container is worn and held up by a belt that fits through the loops A around the users waist. The fluid enters the container through fill port opening B. The tube extends out of the bladder or main body of the container 1, through the drain port D. The drain port is connected to the tube F by means of a barbed connection E. The tube continues down the length of the users leg, to the ankle, where the tube ends with the fluid control dispensing mechanism G—including but not limited to a tube clamp, pushbutton valve, or stopcock. This all happens out of view, under external clothing because it maintains a low profile, aided by the sealed points C found throughout the main container body.
The perimeter seal of the bladder defines the shape of the bladder. A port may be included in this seal if necessary to achieve desired result. In this scenario, the perimeter seal includes a seal with the port to continue the perimeter seal and will aid to define the shape of the bladder.
The sealed point is a spot where the two opposing sides of the bladder are connected at a location within the perimeter of the enclosing perimeter seal. This sealed point limits the expansion of the bladder when filled with fluid.
Sealed points are constructed with to allow the flow of air to pass through both sidewalls of the bladder, at the sealed point. This provides more comfort for the body wearing the bladder. This ventilating hole may be constructed during manufacturing whereby including the hole creating punch or seal in the manufacturing tooling or process, so as to remove excess material that is within the sealed point of the connection of the two opposing sidewalls. The ventilation hole does not infringe on or alter the integrity of the fluid-containing bladder.
An alternative ventilation hole creation method allows for an individual to determine if ventilation holes are necessary after the initial manufacturing and sealing process. This ventilation hole is prepared for during manufacturing by a perforation so as to allow the excess sealed material of the opposing two bladder sidewalls, within the sealed point, to be removed. The ventilation hole does not infringe on or alter the integrity of the fluid-containing bladder.
A low profile, wearable, concealable fluid container is filled with fluid through at least one fill port, and the container is worn by the user. In this configuration, the user has access to one or more valves each at the end of a piece of flexible tubing, which extends from the lowest point of the body of the container when the container is worn.
The thin, wearable, concealable container comprises one or more separate fluid bladders having one or more sealed points between the front and rear bladder walls to ensure a uniform thickness of the container when filled with fluid and while the container is being worn. The wearable container bladder comprises two opposing pliable sidewalls, and the sidewalls are formed of a composite material, such as, but not limited to, polypropylene, urethane, and or vinyl.
The thickness of the material the bladder sidewalls are constructed from has an impact on the flexibility of the container. Therefore, the material thickness must not be less than 0.25 mil gauge and not greater than 50 mil gauge. The flexibility affects the capacity, durability, rigidity, shape integrity when filled, manufacturing process, as well as other factors.
The materials for construction of the sidewalls of the fluid bladder may determine the containers most effective use. The first and second sheets used to construct the opposing sidewalls may be of material that is permeable or impermeable. The possibility to release gas through all or a portion of the sidewall material constructed thereof, may aid in such uses as Ostomy. The release of gas may be desirable to allow for more fluids while maintaining the bladders low profile. Conversely, it may be desirable for material to lock in all gas so as to retain the smell of the fluid contained in the bladder.
The materials of the sidewalls of the fluid bladder may be pigmented. The color offers functional or stylistic reason for the need for different colors of fluid containers.
For added comfort, one side of the fluid container may be constructed of material that provides added comfort when worn against the skin. This may be an additional layer added after initial construction or sealing of the fluid bladder.
The materials of the first and second sheets, used for constructing the sidewalls of the bladder may be of a washable consistency. The materials may be of the nature that allows the bladder to be washed in a dishwasher or clothes washer, which require a high level of heat resistance.
The materials of the first and second sheets, used for constructing the sidewalls of the bladder may be of a flushable consistence. It may be desirable for disposable or semi-disposable fluid containers, such as Ostomy bags, the ability to flush the bag down a standard toilet.
The materials of the first and second sheets, used for constructing the sidewalls of the bladder are hypoallergenic. The fluid bladders will often be against the skin. To allow wider usage of this bladder, it should not harm or cause discomfort to the skin.
The materials of the first and second sheets, used for constructing the sidewalls of the bladder may be noise dampening. This characteristic is desirable to decrease the sound generated from the sloshing of fluids.
The fluid container is designed to stay thin when filled so that it is not obvious or noticeable under clothing. Therefore, the maximum capacity of said container ranges from fifty milliliters to two liters, and still maintains the desired level of concealability.
The release of gas from the fluid container from a gas release valve may be used for Ostomy bags. Ostomy bags fill with gas and may be released, offering more capacity for fluid, which may not be desirable to release. This gas release does not release other contents of the fluid container.
The bladder may be constructed with or added to, an absorbent material therein. This material, will act like a sponge for fluid, or gelatinize a fluid within the fluid container. This will limit the fluidity of the fluid contents of the fluid container.
Securing the fluid container to the human body may be achieved but not limited to adhesive, Velcro, tape, strap or an additional garment that is designed to hold the bladder in place. These methods of securing the fluid container provide the ability for use by all sizes of humans and multiple locations on the body for which to secure the container.
The shape of the fluid container is constructed to fit the curvature of the human body at the intended placement on the human body, when filled. This is achieved through the pattern of sheet one and sheet two and the pattern of the external perimeter seal that connects sheet one and sheet two. This provides added concealability under clothing when bladder is filled with fluid.
Thus as can be seen, the present invention provides a flexible, concealable system that retains its low profile when filled with fluid while being worn. The present invention has demonstrated shape retention versus bulging sac for current flexible container technology. Thus the present invention provides comfort by virtue of broad weight distribution, hands free portability while providing compatibility with outer garments.
Additional configurations may include but are not limited to containers in the form of a vest, smock, poncho, chaps, pants, cummerbunds, and shorts as well as an assortment of shapes to provide for use for as Ostomy type bag.
The foregoing embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. These description and embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure. While the previous description and figure refers to one shape, it is understood that other shapes are appropriate for use in the invention. Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular arrangement of parts, features, and the like, these are not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and indeed many other modifications and variations will be ascertainable to those of skill in the art.

Claims

1. Having thus described the invention, I claim A fluid container comprising

at least one bladder, the bladder having a first sidewall and a second sidewall connected at their periphery so as to define a fluid cavity;

at least one port fluidly connected with the bladder; and

at least one sealing point connecting the first sidewall with the second sidewall to prevent overexpansion of the fluid cavity,

a. at least one separate and enclosed fluid bladder,

b. wherein each fluid bladder is filled through at least one fill port, and

c. each fluid bladder comprises two opposing pliable sidewalls, and

d. each bladders perimeter seal connects side one and side two, and

e. each fluid bladder has at least one sealed point between side one and side two, and

f. multiple fluid containers may be connected in various configurations to create the final product, although each container remains its own separate and enclosed system, and

g. each chamber may have one piece of flexible tubing connected, and

h. each piece of tubing may terminate in a valve or short tube following and attached to valve.

2. A flexible fluid pouch comprising

at least one port fluidly connected with the bladder; and

at least one ventilating sealing point connecting the first sidewall with the second sidewall to prevent overexpansion of the fluid cavity,

a. At least one separate and enclosed fluid pouch,

b. a walled cavity which is sealed at perimeter creating a void fluid pouch; and

c. a port for filling said void; and

d. each fluid cavity has at least one sealed point connecting the walls of said cavity at a location other than said perimeter, thus limiting the expansion of the pouch when void is filled with fluid; and

e. each chamber sealed point contains a ventilation hole or perforation for ventilation hole therein; and

f. each ventilation hole does not diminish the integrity of the fluid containing fluid cavity.

3. A flexible contoured fluid container comprising

at least one port fluidly connected with the bladder; and

a contoured design to form to the shapes of the human body thereon; and

a plurality of means for attaching bladder to a human body,

a. At least one separate and enclosed fluid pouch,

c. a port for filling said void; and

d. each fluid cavity has at least one sealed point connecting the walls of said cavity at a location other than said perimeter, thus limiting the expansion of the pouch when void is filled with fluid.

4. The fluid container of claim 1, wherein said first and second sidewalls comprise a material selected from the group but not limited to consisting of polyethylene, urethane, and vinyl, or combination thereof.

5. The fluid container of claim 1, wherein said first and second sidewalls comprise a material at a thickness of not less than 2 mil gauge and not greater than 50 mil gauge.

6. The fluid container of claim 2, wherein at least one said the sealed point comprise of at least one ventilation hole to allow the flow of air through to a human body of a wearer of the fluid container thereon.

7. The fluid container of claim 2, wherein at least one said sealed point contains at least one perforation for a removable piece of material therein, to provide a ventilation holes to allow the flow of air through to a body of a wearer of the fluid container.

8. The fluid container of claim 1, wherein maximum capacity of the bladder ranges from 50 ml to 2 liters.

9. The fluid container of claim 1, wherein said first and second sheets are constructed with permeable or impermeable polymer based materials.

10. The fluid container of claim 1, wherein said first and second sheets are constructed with colored material or color is affixed thereon.

11. The fluid container of claim 1, wherein said first and second sheets are constructed with comfort external layer for on-body wear.

12. The fluid container of claim 1, wherein said first and second sheets are constructed with washable materials for multiple reuses.

13. The fluid container of claim 1, wherein said first and second sheets are constructed with hypoallergenic material.

14. The fluid container of claim 1, wherein said first and second sheets are constructed with flushable material.

15. The fluid container of claim 1, wherein said first and second sheets are constructed of noise dampening material.

16. The fluid container of claim 1, wherein said valve provide for gas release without releasing fluid.

17. The fluid container of claim 1, wherein said bladder contains a sponge or other absorbent material that limits the motion of fluids contained therein.

18. The fluid container of claim 3, wherein said bladder is attached to the human body using but not limited to adhesive, Velcro, tape, strap, or garment thereon.

19. The fluid container of claim 3, wherein said bladder is molded to stay thin when filled with fluid and expand in accordance with the curvature of the human body, the intended placement on the body thereon.