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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The instant invention relates to water supply apparatus and more
particularly pertains to a new and improved cyclist water supply apparatus
that enables the delivering a liquid to a rider of a bicycle from a
plurality of reservoirs selectively. Additionally, the liquid may be
imparted to the rider in the form of a stream for drinking or a spray for
cooling.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of water supply apparatus in combination with bicycles is well
known in the prior art. As may be appreciated, these devices have either
been of a single reservoir system requiring manual manipulation of the
liquid supply to provide a rider of a bicycle a refreshener or the like,
or they have been limited in the manner of delivering a liquid to a
bicyclist. In this connection, there have been several attempts to develop
water supply apparatus for use in combination with bicycles which may be
easily and efficiently manipulated to provide a rider with liquid
refreshment. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,812 to Rowe sets forth the
use of a reservoir securable to a bicycle wherein an elongated delivery
tube is removable from the confines of a closure whereby a bicyclist may
utilize the retractable tube as a drinking straw to receive fluid from the
associated reservoir. The use of a single reservoir by Rowe as well as a
rather awkward means of extracting fluid from the reservoir limits the
convenience and applicability of the patent to provide a variety of
liquids in a plurality of forms as available by the instant invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,682 to Howarth sets forth the use of a water supply
that may be imparted onto the lenses of goggles worn by a motorcyclist in
a spray form to clear the goggles of debris in a racing situation. A
pressurized tank enables imparting of a spray onto the goggles of the
motorcyclist wherein the limited applicability and rather cumbersome
nature of the apparatus limits its use on a bicycle that normally requires
light weight components for a liquid refreshment system in a typical use
situation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,566 to Rowe comprises essentially an improvement over
the prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,812 in providing a reel-type supply of the
flexible drinking tube for use in a bicycle frame environment. While a
somewhat improvement in the retraction of the flexible drinking tube, the
patent continues to fail in providing a means of supplying alternative
fluid sources in either a spray or stream form to a bicycle rider, as does
the instant invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,638 to Shimano is a typical representation of a water
supply bottle as used by bicyclists wherein the configuration of the
bottle in providing a streamlined shape in the Shimano patent fails to
address the problem of fluid supply during the course of riding to a
cyclist.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,911 to Kusisto provides a somewhat novel means of
imparting a cooling source of air to a cyclist wherein an air flow chamber
is driven by means of the forward wheel to impart a coolant air flow to a
bicycle rider. While a variation of a means to impart a different form of
fluid flow to a cyclist, the device fails to provide the multiple fluid
supply selectively utilized by a cyclist to achieve either a cooling
effect by a water spray or a refreshment means by use of a fluid stream.
As such, it may be appreciated that there is a continuing need for a new
and improved cyclist water supply apparatus which addresses both the
problem of multiple fluid storage, compactness, and versatility, and in
this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of
cyclist water supply apparatus now present in the prior art, the present
invention provides an cyclist water supply apparatus wherein the same may
be completely mounted and positioned for use on a bicycle frame and may be
further easily and efficiently utilized during periods of a bicycling
endeavor to provide a cyclist with either a spray or stream of liquid from
selective sources. As such, the general purpose of the present invention,
which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a
new and improved cyclist water supply apparatus which has all the
advantages of the prior art cyclist water supply apparatus and none of the
disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention comprises a plurality of reservoirs
to selectively supply fluid from either reservoir by means of a valve
member to deliver fluid from selective sources to a nozzle that is
rotatable to impart either a stream or spray onto a cyclist by means of a
diaphragm pump member to facilitate the flow of fluid.
My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in
the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed and claimed and
it is distinguished from the prior art in this particular combination of
all of its structures for the functions specified.
There has thus been outline, rather broadly, the more important features of
the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows
may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to
the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which
will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled
in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure
is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other
structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of
the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be
regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is of enable the U.S. Patent
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and
improved cyclist water supply apparatus which has all the advantages of
the prior art cyclist water supply apparatus and none of the
disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved
cyclist water supply apparatus which may be easily and efficiently
manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and
improved cyclist water supply apparatus which is of a durable and reliable
construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved cyclist water supply apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost
of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which
accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming
public, thereby making such cyclist water supply apparatus economically
available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved cyclist water supply apparatus which provides in the apparatuses
and mehtods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while
simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated
therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved cyclist water supply apparatus wherein plural fluid reservoirs
enable a selective liquid source deliverable to a rider by means of a
valve.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved cyclist water supply apparatus wherein a rotatable nozzle enables
either a stream or spray to be imparted to a rider.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved cyclist water supply apparatus wherein a diaphragm pump inserts a
fluid to a rider of a bicycle.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with
particularlity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set
forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the
following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference
to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an orthographic view in elevation of the instant invention
associated with a typical bicycle.
FIG. 2 is an isometric illustration of the present invention illustrating
the various parts, their configuration, and relationship.
FIG. 3 is an orthographic view taken in elevation of the nozzle and
associated valve structure illustrating the nozzle rotated to a stream
imparting orientation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 2 thereof, a
new and improved cyclist water supply apparatus embodying the principles
and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the
reference numeral 10 will be described.
More specifically, it will be noted that cyclist water supply apparatus 10
essentially comprises a first fluid supply reservoir 11 and a second fluid
supply reservoir 12 securable to a conventional bicycle's "C" post by
means of clamps 13 and 14 to surroundingly engage said post, as
illustrated in FIG. 1 to secure said reservoirs thereto. Upper flange
portions 13a and lower flange portions 14a directly secure said first and
second supply reservoirs for providing a unitary arrangement. The flanges
may, in a typical fashion, either adhesively be secured to said resevoirs
11 and 12 or frictionally engage same for attachment. The precise manner
of securement of said reservoirs to said clamps 13 and 14 is non-essential
but is only necessary to insure a secure unitized arrangement to enable
the so-formed reservoirs to withstand the typical vibrations and bounces
associated with bicycle riding.
A first supply conduit 15 is associated with first fluid supply reservoir
11 and a second supply conduit 16 is accordingly associated with a second
fluid supply reservoir 12. Conduits 15 and 16 are preferably formed of a
rigid material, be it either metallic or plastic-like, but of a preferably
nonflexible nature to ensure its configurational integrity as it is
associated with a typical bicycle frame in a serpentine fashion, as
illustrated in FIG. 1;
The first and second supply conduits 15 and 16 are directed into a valve 17
of conventional construction that selectively associates either first
supply conduit 15 or second supply conduit 16 with a main supply conduit
18. Main supply conduit 18 is itself preferably formed of a flexible
material as the conduit 18 is fixedly secured to nozzle 19 which is in
turn securable to a handle bar of a typical nozzle bicycle by a clamp
means 21. As the nozzle 19 therefore will be directed through an arc of
movement in its association with the handle bar of the bicycle, the main
supply conduit 18 must either be flexible, which is preferred, or either
rigid and pivotally connected in a fluidtight seal arrangement with valve
17. As the use of a flexible main supply conduit 18 is more ecoonomial, it
is preferred that the pivotal connection to valve 17 is itself effective
for use.
For ease of operation, a directional arrow 20 is integrally configured on
valve 17 to provide an understanding to a user as to which supply line is
being used, be it either 15 or 16. For example, FIG. 2 illustrates the
arrow oriented to emanate from supply conduit 16 whereas FIG. 3 conversely
has the arrow indicating a supply source derived from conduit 15.
Nozzle 19 has formed therein a conventional diaphragm pump, as is typically
utilized with novel structures of this category, wherein pump handle 21 is
manually manipulable to direct a flow of fluids from nozzle 19. Nozzle 19
is then itself positionable in a plurality of orientations illustrated as
1 and 2 on FIGS. 2 and 3 on base 22. Nozzles of this class are typically
found on spray bottles to impart either a spray or stream of a variety of
liquid but it is utilized in a unique fashion as currently described to
illustrate that in position 1, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a spray of fluid
will be provided by the activation of pump handle 21 whereas FIG. 3
illustrates a rotation of nozzle 19 by rotating cone 23 about an arc, as
indicated by the associated arrow, to a position 2 whereupon manipulation
of pump handle 21 produces a stream of liquid.
In use, reservoirs 11 and 12 may hold a plurality of liquids of different
types, for example water may be provided in reservoir 11 and a sucrose
solution may be provided in reservoir 12 whereby manuipulation of valve 17
enables either plain water or an energy supplement, such as a sucrose
solution, to be obtained by a cyclist utilizing my invention. Furthermore,
whereby when plain water is utilized, forward one portion 23 is rotatable
to a position 1, as illustrated in FIG. 2, to impart a spray of coolant
liquid onto the cyclist, as utilized to cool and refresh a cyclist during
the course of a race or the like. Should an energy supplement be deemed
desirable, a rotation of forward cone 23 to position 2, as illustrated in
FIG. 3, enables a stream to be imparted whereby the cyclist may enable the
stream to be directed into his mouth for use as a refreshment.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
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