Wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration systems, devices, components and methods

Abstract

Described herein are various embodiments of systems, devices, components and methods for providing hydration to a user from a fluid reservoir or bladder, where the fluid is provided on demand by the user activating and controlling a user interface that communicates wirelessly with a control assembly operably connected to a pump and, the fluid reservoir.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 .- 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 .- 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system comprising:
 a first control assembly comprising:
 a first wireless transceiver; 
 a first processor; and 
 at least a first computing device comprising:
 at least a first non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store first instructions executable by at least the first processor; 
 
   a second control assembly comprising:
 a user interface; 
 a second wireless transceiver configured to transmit user control signals to the first wireless transceiver corresponding to one or more inputs provided by a user to the user interface; 
 a second processor; and 
 at least a second computing device operably connected to the user interface and the second wireless transceiver, the second computing device comprising at least a second non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store second instructions executable by at least the second processor; 
   a fluid reservoir configured to store liquid;   a fluid output tube comprising:
 a first end operably connected to the output port of the fluid pump; and 
 a second end configured to deliver fluid to a mouth of a user; 
   a fluid pump operably connected to the first control assembly and comprising:
 an input port operably connected to the fluid reservoir; 
 an output port operably connected to the fluid output tube; and 
 wherein operation of the fluid pump is controlled by the first computing device and configured to pump fluid from the fluid reservoir through the fluid output tube to the mouth of the user; 
   an outlet quick connect mechanism operably connected to the fluid output tube between the first and second ends of the fluid output, the outlet quick connect mechanism configured to provide rapid connection of the second end of the fluid output tube from other components of the hydration system; and   wherein the first instructions of the first computing device of the first control assembly are programmable and include instructions executable by the first computing device to control operation of the pump thereby, the second instructions of the second computing device of the second control assembly are programmable and include instructions executable by the second computing device corresponding to the user control signals, the second wireless transceiver is configured to transmit user control signals wirelessly to the first wireless transceiver for processing and execution by the first computing device thereby to control operation of the pump thereby, and the first and second control assemblies are configured to pair wirelessly and uniquely with one another to prevent interference or crosstalk with other undesired nearby wirelessly communicating devices.   
     
     
         39 . The wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 38  and further comprising:
 a fluid input tube comprising:
 a first end operably connected to the fluid reservoir; and 
 a second end operably connected end in fluid communication with the first end. 
 
 
     
     
         40 . The wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 39  and further comprising:
 an inlet quick connect mechanism operably connected to the fluid reservoir and the first end of the fluid input tube, the inlet quick connect mechanism configured to provide rapid connection of the inlet tube to the fluid reservoir. 
 
     
     
         41 . The portable wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the first control assembly further comprises a first power supply for electrically powering at least portions of the first control assembly.   
     
     
         42 . The portable wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the second control assembly further comprises a second power supply for electrically powering at least portions of the second control assembly   
     
     
         43 . The portable wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the fluid reservoir is a hydration bladder.   
     
     
         44 . The portable wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the user interface of the second control assembly is one of a push button, a mechanical switch, an electro-mechanical switch, a capacitive proximity switch, and an electronic switch.   
     
     
         45 . The portable wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the fluid pump and the first control assembly are operably connected to and included in a portable hydration pack.   
     
     
         46 . The portable wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the first instructions executed by the first processor include one or more of:
 pump control instructions or portions thereof, 
 pump on instructions, 
 pump off instructions, 
 pump rate instructions, 
 pump duration instructions, 
 pump rate instructions, and 
 pump pulse width modulation instructions. 
   
     
     
         47 . The portable wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the second instructions executed by the second processor include one or more of:
 user control instructions or portions thereof, 
 pump on instructions, 
 pump off instructions, 
 pump rate instructions, 
 pump duration instructions, and 
 pump pulse width modulation instructions. 
   
     
     
         48 . The portable wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the first control assembly is configurable by a user to control one or more of:
 a pressure at which fluid is delivered by the pump, 
 a rate at which fluid is delivered by the pump, and 
 a duration of time over which fluid is delivered by the pump 
   when the user interface of the second control assembly is actuated by the user.   
     
     
         49 . The portable wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 46 , wherein:
 the first control assembly further comprises an on-board potentiometer configurable by the user to control one or more of:
 a pressure at which fluid is delivered by the pump, 
 a rate at which fluid is delivered by the pump, and 
 a duration of time over which fluid is delivered by the pump when the user interface of the second control assembly is actuated by the user. 
   
     
     
         50 . The portable wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the second control assembly is configurable to send repeated pump-on commands to the first control assembly for a predetermined period of time after the user interface has been pressed.   
     
     
         51 . The portable wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the first control assembly is configured to repeat listening commands for a predetermined period of time after the user interface has been pressed.   
     
     
         52 . The portable wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 38 , wherein:
 one or more of the first control assembly, the second control assembly, and the pump include one or more of:
 voltage surge spike protection, 
 EMI suppression, and 
 reverse polarity protection. 
   
     
     
         53 . The portable wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 38 , wherein:
 one or more of the first processor and the second processor comprises:
 a microprocessor, 
 a controller, 
 a micro-controller, and 
 a CPU. 
   
     
     
         54 . The portable wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 38 , wherein:
 at least one of the first and second control assemblies is configured to enter a power-saving sleep mode after a predetermined period of time has passed with no user inputs or activity.   
     
     
         55 . The portable wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 38 , wherein:
 at least one of the first and second control assemblies is configured to wake up from the power-saving sleep mode when the user provides an input to the user interface or initiates a power reset in the first or second control assemblies.   
     
     
         56 . The portable wirelessly-activated and controlled portable hydration system of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 one or more light emitting diodes operably connected to at least one of the first and second control assemblies, the one or more LEDs being configured to provide the user with visual feedback and information regarding control assembly pairing status, pairing signal strength, and power status.