Hydration Bladder Hourglass Chamber Baffle Sloshing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hydration bladders in user-borne packs experience significant liquid movement during vigorous activities, causing discomfort and distraction for users.

Innovation Solution

A hydration bladder with an hourglass-like chamber shape and a baffle within the chamber, which reduces liquid movement by tapering inwardly and outwardly between the inlet and outlet ports, and is formed from flexible sheets such as TPU or PET, with a baffle disposed at the minimum chamber width and featuring a central hub and legs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional hydration bladder is used, then the pack remains lightweight and compact, but liquid movement occurs during vigorous activities causing discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomfort during useVSAvoidliquid movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The bladder is divided into multiple compartments by internal partitions or baffles, which segment the liquid into smaller sections. This segmentation prevents large-scale liquid movement while maintaining the overall lightweight and compact structure of the hydration bladder.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bladder incorporates localized structural features such as rigid zones, reinforcement panels, or asymmetric wall thicknesses in specific areas to restrict liquid movement. These local quality modifications provide stability where needed without adding significant weight or reducing overall pack compactness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If liquid movement is reduced through structural modifications, then comfort improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomfort during useVSAvoidbladder structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses flexible membranes, thin-walled chambers, or elastic partitions that naturally resist liquid movement through their material properties rather than complex rigid structures. These flexible elements maintain simplicity in design while effectively reducing liquid sloshing and improving user comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Stability of the object's composition

If the chamber shape is modified to an hourglass-like configuration, then liquid movement is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid movement reductionVSAvoidchamber shape tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The bladder employs curved, rounded chamber shapes or spherical segments that naturally minimize liquid movement through their geometry. These curved forms are more tolerant of manufacturing variations compared to sharp angles or precise geometric shapes, reducing the need for high manufacturing precision while maintaining liquid stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP3462982B1Hydration bladder including liquid movement-reducing features

Publication Date: 2021.11.24 SHOCK DOCTOR INC

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AI summary

A hydration bladder includes a flexible body. A port is coupled to the flexible body. A chamber is formed by the flexible body, and the chamber is configured to carry a liquid therein and is in communication with the port. The chamber has an hourglass-like shape that tapers inwardly and outwardly. A baffle is coupled to the flexible body within the chamber.