KR-20260064685-A - Small-volume hydration method and related personal hydration system

Abstract

A fluid delivery method for a user during an activity includes a fluid reservoir, a fluid pump, an electric pump, an electric motor, a battery, an alarm device, a drinking button, a processor, and a fluid delivery device configured to deliver fluid to the user for consumption. The sweat rate is equal to the fluid delivery rate for the activity and determines a fluid delivery schedule having a fluid drinking amount and a fluid drinking frequency. The fluid drinking amount is constrained by a fluid drinking amount range. The fluid drinking frequency is constrained by a fluid drinking frequency range. The user is repeatedly notified by the alarm device whenever the fluid drinking frequency elapses. The drinking button turns on the electric motor for the duration of the runtime configured to deliver the fluid drinking amount through the fluid delivery device.

Inventors

• 예거 에릭 매튜
• 스탈 로버트 그레고리
• 보울스 제이콥 팀

Assignees

• 플루이드로직, 인크.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20240710

Priority Date

20230710

Claims (20)

1. It is a method of delivering fluid to the user during an activity, and the method Step of providing a fluid storage unit; A step of providing a fluid pump that communicates with a fluid storage unit; A step of providing a fluid delivery device configured to deliver fluid to a user for consumption, wherein the fluid delivery device communicates fluidly with a fluid pump; A step of providing an electric motor configured to drive a fluid pump; A step of providing a battery configured to provide power to an electric motor; A step of providing a processor that is electrically connected to a fluid pump and controls an electric motor that drives the fluid pump; A step of determining the sweating rate for the activity and setting a sweating rate equal to the fluid transfer rate for the activity; As a step of determining a fluid transfer schedule from the fluid transfer rate, The fluid delivery schedule includes fluid intake volume and fluid intake frequency based on the user's predicted fluid loss through sweating during activity, and The fluid intake volume is limited by the fluid intake volume range, and The fluid drinking frequency is constrained by the fluid drinking frequency range, step; A step of providing at least one alarm device that communicates electrically with a processor, wherein the at least one alarm device comprises a light, a speaker and/or a vibrator; A step of repeatedly notifying the user by the at least one alarm device whenever the fluid drinking frequency elapses as controlled by a processor, wherein the fluid drinking frequency is configured to restart whenever the fluid drinking frequency elapses during an activity; The method comprises the step of providing a drinking button operably connected to a processor, wherein the drinking button is configured to transmit a drinking command to the processor. A method in which, upon activation of a drinking button by a user, the processor turns on an electric motor for an execution time configured to deliver a fluid drinking amount and distributes a fluid drinking amount from a fluid storage unit to the user for consumption through a fluid delivery device.
2. In paragraph 1, A method in which the fluid intake range is 5 milliliters or more and 25 milliliters or less.
3. In paragraph 1, A method in which the fluid intake range is 5 milliliters or more and 50 milliliters or less.
4. In paragraph 2, A method in which the fluid drinking frequency range is 30 seconds or more and 5 minutes or less.
5. In paragraph 2, A method in which the fluid drinking frequency range is 30 seconds or more and 10 minutes or less.
6. In paragraph 2, A method in which the fluid drinking frequency range is 30 seconds or more and 4 minutes or less.
7. In paragraph 1, A method in which the fluid intake is 5 milliliters or more and 25 milliliters or less.
8. In Paragraph 7, A method in which the frequency of fluid consumption is 30 seconds or more and 5 minutes or less.
9. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of providing computer executable software configured to be executed on a personal electronic device, wherein the computer executable software is configured to communicate with a processor at least temporarily.
10. In Paragraph 9, Computer executable software comprises an algorithm configured to run on a personal electronic device.
11. A method according to claim 10, comprising the step of receiving at least one static variable describing a user for an algorithm through a personal electronic device executing the algorithm, wherein the at least one static variable describing the user includes weight, height, age, or gender.
12. A method according to claim 11, comprising the step of receiving at least one static variable describing an activity for an algorithm through a personal electronic device executing the algorithm, wherein the at least one static variable describing the activity includes an activity difficulty, a distance traveled, an elevation traveled, or a description of the activity.
13. In Paragraph 12, A method in which, through an algorithm, the step of determining the sweat rate is based at least partially on the at least one static variable describing the user and the at least one static variable describing the activity.
14. A method according to claim 13, comprising the step of receiving a fluid transfer schedule from a personal electronic device by a processor.
15. A method according to claim 14, comprising the step of allowing a user to adjust a fluid delivery schedule between a fluid intake volume range and a fluid intake frequency range through a personal electronic device.
16. In paragraph 15, A method in which the adjustment of fluid intake volume and fluid intake frequency is combined, and a single adjustment of the fluid delivery schedule is maintained within their respective ranges by changing both the fluid intake volume and fluid intake frequency, and the fluid delivery rate for the activity does not change.
17. A method according to claim 14, comprising the step of determining at least one static variable describing an environment through a personal electronic device and inputting it into an algorithm for determining a sweating rate, wherein the at least one static variable describing the environment includes ambient temperature, relative humidity, altitude, solar irradiance load, wind speed, and wet-bulb temperature.
18. A method according to claim 14, comprising the step of receiving at least one static variable describing a microclimate for an algorithm to determine a sweating rate through a personal electronic device executing the algorithm, wherein the at least one static variable describing the microclimate includes clothing, vehicle enclosures, welding suits, chemical protection suits, and/or high-temperature environments.
19. In paragraph 1, The sweating rate is equal to the sweating required for body cooling, excluding body cooling by radiation, conduction, and convection.
20. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of preventing the user from dispensing a fluid intake amount outside of the fluid delivery schedule.

Description

Small-volume hydration method and related personal hydration system Cross-reference regarding related applications This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/512,892 filed July 10, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference as fully described herein. The present invention generally relates to hydration. More specifically, the present invention relates to a small-volume hydration method and a personal hydration system configured to perform such method. The human body relies on water for survival. Every cell, tissue, and organ within your body requires water to function properly. For example, the human body uses water to maintain body temperature, remove waste products, and lubricate joints. Overall, water is necessary for good health and performance. This is particularly important during high-intensity activities such as exercise, during competition in sports events, or during work in hazardous environments. For instance, delivering fluids to a mountain biker while riding on rough and dangerous terrain is difficult. Delivering fluids to a race car driver during a car race is difficult. Delivering fluids to a soldier during training, transport, or on the battlefield is difficult. As can be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the relevant technical field, delivering the necessary hydration while engaged in these activities is challenging. Adequate hydration increases not only physical performance but also mental performance. Therefore, there is a need to develop fluid delivery methods and systems that are easily worn and/or transported for improved hydration and performance. The present invention meets this need and provides other related benefits. An exemplary embodiment of a method for delivering fluid to a user during an activity comprises: providing a fluid storage unit; providing a fluid pump in fluid communication with the fluid storage unit; providing a fluid delivery device configured to deliver fluid to a user for consumption, wherein the fluid delivery device is in fluid communication with the fluid pump; providing an electric motor configured to drive the fluid pump; providing a battery configured to provide power to the electric motor; providing a processor electrically connected to the fluid pump and controlling the electric motor driving the fluid pump; determining a sweating rate for an activity and setting a sweating rate equal to the fluid delivery rate for the activity; determining a fluid delivery schedule from the fluid delivery rate, wherein the fluid delivery schedule includes a fluid drink volume and a fluid drink frequency, wherein the fluid drink volume is constrained by a fluid drink volume range and the fluid drink frequency is constrained by a fluid drink frequency range; providing at least one alarm device in electrical communication with the processor, wherein the at least one alarm device includes a light, a speaker and/or a vibrator; The method comprises the step of repeatedly notifying the user by the at least one alarm device whenever the fluid drinking frequency elapses as controlled by the processor, wherein the fluid drinking frequency is configured to restart whenever the fluid drinking frequency elapses during the activity; and the step of providing a drinking button operably connected to the processor (wired or wirelessly), wherein the drinking button is configured to transmit a drinking command to the processor, and upon activation of the drinking button by the user, the processor is configured to turn on an electric motor for an execution time configured to deliver the fluid drinking amount and to distribute the fluid drinking amount for consumption to the user from the fluid storage unit through a fluid delivery device. In another exemplary embodiment, the fluid consumption range may be 5 milliliters or more and 25 milliliters or less. The fluid consumption range may be 5 milliliters or more and 50 milliliters or less. The fluid consumption frequency range may be 30 seconds or more and 5 minutes or less. The fluid consumption frequency range may be 30 seconds or more and 10 minutes or less. The fluid consumption frequency range may be 30 seconds or more and 4 minutes or less. In yet another embodiment, the fluid consumption frequency may be 30 seconds or more and 2.5 minutes or less. The fluid consumption volume may be 5 milliliters or more and 25 milliliters or less. The fluid consumption frequency may be 30 seconds or more and 5 minutes or less. The method may include the step of providing computer executable software configured to run on a personal electronic device, and the computer executable software is configured to communicate with a processor at least temporarily. Computer executable software may include algorithms configured to run on personal electronic devices. The method may include a step of manually inputting at least one static variable describing the user into an algorithm via a personal electronic d