Patents by Inventor Douglas Whitcher

Douglas Whitcher has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9186476
    Abstract: The present invention describes methods and systems to provide a liquid oxygen delivery system that efficiently delivers therapeutic oxygen in accordance with a patient's respiratory cycle. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a portable liquid oxygen delivery system having a liquid oxygen device, an oxygen conserving device, and an accumulator device. The portable liquid oxygen delivery system has a collective gaseous oxygen volume and the accumulator device is enabled to actuate and reduce the collective gaseous oxygen volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Whitcher, Jeremy Blair, Don Griffin
  • Patent number: 8468839
    Abstract: A portable liquid oxygen (PLOX) unit and method of filling. The LOX unit includes a LOX container. An inlet line communicates LOX from a LOX supply to an the LOX container, and an outlet line communicates LOX from the LOX container ultimately for consumption by a user. A vent line communicate the interior of the LOX container to ambient atmosphere. A vent valve is coupled to the vent line to selectively communicate the LOX container to the ambient atmosphere. An auto shutoff assembly is associated with vent line to substantially block the vent line when the LOX in the LOX container reaches a predetermined level. A reset element associated with the auto shutoff assembly causes at least a portion of the auto shutoff assembly to unblock the vent line for subsequent filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: RIC Investments, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Whitcher, Robert J. Maddox, Jr., Joseph T. Dolensky
  • Patent number: 8256415
    Abstract: A portable liquid oxygen medical delivery system including a portable liquid oxygen delivery apparatus and a portable liquid oxygen recharger. The portable liquid oxygen delivery apparatus contains an initial quantity of liquid oxygen. The liquid oxygen delivery apparatus is sufficiently lightweight for portability by an ambulatory patient and has a fill port for receiving liquid oxygen. The liquid oxygen recharger stores a supplemental quantity of liquid oxygen and is also sufficiently lightweight for portability by an ambulatory individual. The liquid oxygen recharger has an interface for interfacing the liquid oxygen recharger with the portable liquid oxygen delivery apparatus for delivering the supplemental quantity of liquid oxygen to the portable liquid oxygen delivery apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: RIC Investments, LLC
    Inventors: Roy A. Hughes, Jonathan C. McLellan, Margaret McLellan, legal representative, Douglas Whitcher
  • Patent number: 7721733
    Abstract: A portable liquid oxygen medical delivery system including a portable liquid oxygen delivery apparatus and a portable liquid oxygen recharger. The portable liquid oxygen delivery apparatus contains an initial quantity of liquid oxygen. The liquid oxygen delivery apparatus is sufficiently lightweight for portability by an ambulatory patient and has a fill port for receiving liquid oxygen. The liquid oxygen recharger stores a supplemental quantity of liquid oxygen and is also sufficiently lightweight for portability by an ambulatory individual. The liquid oxygen recharger has an interface for interfacing the liquid oxygen recharger with the portable liquid oxygen delivery apparatus for delivering the supplemental quantity of liquid oxygen to the portable liquid oxygen delivery apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: RIC Investments, LLC
    Inventors: Roy A. Hughes, Jonathan C. McLellan, Margaret McLellan, legal representative, Douglas Whitcher
  • Publication number: 20080178610
    Abstract: A portable liquid oxygen (PLOX) unit and method of filling. The LOX unit includes a LOX container. An inlet line communicates LOX from a LOX supply to an the LOX container, and an outlet line communicates LOX from the LOX container ultimately for consumption by a user. A vent line communicate the interior of the LOX container to ambient atmosphere. A vent valve is coupled to the vent line to selectively communicate the LOX container to the ambient atmosphere. An auto shutoff assembly is associated with vent line to substantially block the vent line when the LOX in the LOX container reaches a predetermined level. A reset element associated with the auto shutoff assembly causes at least a portion of the auto shutoff assembly to unblock the vent line for subsequent filling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas Whitcher, Robert J. Maddox, Joseph T. Dolensky
  • Publication number: 20080178881
    Abstract: The present invention describes methods and systems to provide a liquid oxygen delivery system that efficiently delivers therapeutic oxygen in accordance with a patient's respiratory cycle. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a portable liquid oxygen delivery system having a liquid oxygen device, an oxygen conserving device, and an accumulator device. The portable liquid oxygen delivery system has a collective gaseous oxygen volume and the accumulator device is enabled to actuate and reduce the collective gaseous oxygen volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: RIC Investments, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Whitcher, Jeremy Blair, Don Griffin
  • Patent number: D568997
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: RIC Investments, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph T. Dolensky, Jeremy Blair, Douglas Whitcher, Don Griffin
  • Patent number: D568998
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: RIC Investments, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph T. Dolensky, Jeremy Blair, Don Griffin, Douglas Whitcher, Robert J. Maddox, Jr.