Patent Application
20110017856
The present invention was first described on May 17, 2007 in a notarized, Official Record of Invention on file at the Offices of Invent SAI in Washington, Pa. There are presently no filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world.
The present invention relates generally to an oxygen tubing reel and, more particularly, to a convenient oxygen tubing reel capable of attachment to residential supplemental medical oxygen generating devices.
Supplemental oxygen is common used by patients in hospitals and extended care facilities. These facilities use a central oxygen station which delivers medical grade oxygen to multiple rooms, surgery centers and the like. Supplemental oxygen is also used in the home environment. In residential situations, a small oxygen generator or even a large tank is provided in one room with a long hose system to reach various points in the house. The hose system poses a tripping hazard to the patient, who is frequently elderly and others. Additionally, the patient must constantly battle the hose to keep it from becoming tangled, knotted or becoming caught on furniture legs with movement. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which the disadvantages of long oxygen lines in a residential environment can be reduced or eliminated. The development of the invention herein described fulfills this need.
An apparatus to aid in the holding and retention of oxygen tubing used in a home health care environment, comprising approximately fifty (50) feet of clear oxygen tubing wound upon a retractable reel. A spring-loaded tensioning system is provided for automatic deployment and retraction of the oxygen line. The spring-loaded system would allow the user or care provider the ability to extend or retract the tubing or cable by simply tugging on it. The invention would be provided with a universal mounting bracket suitable for use on any make of oxygen generator or even oxygen tank. As such, the patient would no longer be encumbered by excessive slack when moving about in any room in their home.
The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
a is a side cut-away view of a retractable oxygen tubing reel 10 depicting a fully retracted tubing state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and,
b is a front cut-away view of a retractable oxygen tubing reel 10 depicting a partially deployed tubing state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within
The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.
The present invention describes an apparatus and method for a retractable oxygen tubing reel (herein described as the “apparatus”) 10, which provides an apparatus to aid in holding and retaining oxygen tubing 40 used in a home health care environment, comprising approximately fifty (50) feet of clear oxygen tubing 40. An internal spring-loaded tensioning spool 61 is provided for automatic retraction of the oxygen line 40. The spring-loaded system 61 would allow the user or care provider the ability to manually extend the tubing 40 and retract the tubing 40 using a release mechanism 60. The invention would be provided with a hand grip opening 25 and a belt clip 27 for convenient holding and transport. As such, a patient would no longer be encumbered by excessive slack tubing 40 when moving about in a hospital or in their home.
Referring now to
The housing 20 comprises a hollow two-piece hinged construction further comprising a pair of integral molded or metal hinges 32 and a front mounted latch 30. The latch 30 is located adjacent thereto the grip opening 25 providing an opening means thereto the housing 20 providing access thereto the oxygen tubing 40 for periodic cleaning or replacement as required. The latch 30 is envisioned to comprise a common cylindrical half-turn mechanical device providing a finger activated latch appendage 35 or similar grasping feature to gain access thereto an interior portion of the housing 20.
Referring now to
The apparatus 10 further provides a means to store, extend, and retract the oxygen tubing 40 therefrom the housing 20 comprising a manual release mechanism 60, a spool 61, a plurality of spool grooves 63, and a pair of spool flanges 65. The manual release mechanism 60 provides automatic retraction of the oxygen tubing 40 therefrom am extended state thereto a retracted and stored state therewithin the housing 20 via a vertically mounted internal spool 61. The release mechanism 60 is envisioned to be a plastic push button, sliding switch, or the like, providing a mechanical locking function thereto the spool 61. The spool 61 is envisioned to comprise an internal friction device providing slight rotating resistance thereto the spool 61 during deployment of the oxygen tubing 40. Additionally, the spool 61 is envisioned to comprise an internal pre-loaded radial spring device which upon activation of the release mechanism 60, provides a torque thereto the spool 61 being sufficient so as to rotate said spool 61 and retract the oxygen tubing 40 therewithin the housing 20. The spool 61 is also envisioned to be made of a rugged metal or plastic material further comprising integral features to prevent tangling of said oxygen tubing 40 therewithin the housing 20 including a plurality of spool grooves 63 and a pair of spool flanges 65. The spool grooves 63 comprise a radial spiral pattern and a particular female diameter corresponding thereto a profile of the oxygen tubing 40, thereby propagating smooth reeling of the oxygen tubing 40 during automatic retraction thereof in an expected manner.
Referring now to
It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus 10, it would be utilized as indicated in
The method of utilizing the apparatus 10 may be achieved by performing the following steps: connecting the supply fitting 50 thereto an oxygen supply tube 110 using integral connecting features; connecting the stop fitting 45 thereto peripheral devices 41 such as a nasal cannula 100 using integral connecting features; deploying a desired length of oxygen tubing 40 therefrom the housing 20; applying said nasal cannula 100 thereto a patient's head and nose areas in a normal manner; initiating and regulating a supply of oxygen therefrom a supply source 110 thereto the apparatus 10; deploying an additional length of oxygen tubing 40 therefrom the housing 20 necessary to facilitate a laying, standing, or walking position; grasping the apparatus 10 during manipulation thereof during normal activities and/or tasks using the hand grip opening 25; clipping the apparatus 10 thereto ones belt or clothing using the belt clip 27, thereby providing greater freedom to use one's hands to perform various tasks; retracting all or a length of the oxygen tubing 40 thereinto the housing 20 by pressing the activation mechanism 60 as desired; opening the housing 20 using the latch 30 and hinges 32 for periodic cleaning or replacement of the oxygen tubing 40 as needed; and, benefiting from the portability of the apparatus 10 as well as the convenient retraction and storage of an excess length of oxygen tubing 40 during the application of oxygen thereto patients in a hospital and/or home setting.
An alternative method of use of the present invention 10 comprises using the apparatus 10 to store and administer excess intravenous or specialty gas tubing.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
