Automatic Oxygen Tube Reel

Abstract

An oxygen tube reel for automatically extending and retracting an oxygen tube. The oxygen tube reel comprises a housing that encloses a reel on which a length of tubing is coiled. The motor is operably connected to the reel and is configured to extend and retract the tubing coiled on the reel. The oxygen tube reel further includes a proximity sensor having a fixed sensor disposed on the housing and a transponder unit securable to the body of the user. The proximity sensor is adapted to determine the distance of the transponder from the fixed sensor and extends or retracts the tubing as the user moves farther from and closer to the housing, respectively. In this way, the tubing is prevented from becoming a tripping hazard and is less likely to become kinked.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/045,137 filed on Sep. 3, 2014. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to reels for tubing. More specifically, the present invention provides an automatic oxygen tube reel adapted to automatically extend and retract an oxygen tube as the user moves further from and closer to the oxygen tube reel. The oxygen tube reel comprises a reel on which a tube is coiled, wherein the reel is motorized. The oxygen tube reel comprises a proximity sensor having a fixed unit on the housing and having a transponder unit that can be worn on the user's body, wherein the proximity sensor determines the distance between the user and the housing to determine whether to extend or retract the reel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Users are often prescribed supplemental oxygen as a part of home therapy for lung or pulmonary disease or dysfunction, heart disease, low oxygen readings, post-surgery situations or cancer. Also, many users require supplemental oxygen for comfort. This supplemental oxygen is inhaled through the nose or mouth into the lungs and then diffuses into the blood stream and increases the amount of oxygen going to the cells. The majority of these users are required to use the oxygen 24 hours a day or possibly just during the night. Oxygen therapy can be delivered from large oxygen tanks, liquid oxygen tanks, or from an oxygen concentrator. The most common mode of oxygen delivery is from an oxygen concentrator.

Durable medical equipment companies that provide home oxygen systems usually place the oxygen concentrator in the user's bedroom. Other locations where oxygen concentrators might be located are the living room, a family room or other central area of the home. If a user is in a particular room of the house where the concentrator is located and subsequently walks into another room the tubing hanging from the user's nose is dragged behind the user and lies on the floor. This tubing is conventionally provided up to 100 feet in length. When the user decides to return to the first room, the user has to walk over or around the lengthy feet of tubing that leads back to the concentrator. This process of walking over or around oxygen tubing lying on the floor is difficult and potentially dangerous, especially if a user is using a walker to assist his/her ambulation. Many users complain of getting their feet tangled up in the tubing.

Devices are known in the prior art that relate to devices for retracting tubing or hoses. Such devices generally relate to motorized reels for dispensing and retracting oxygen tubing. These devices include, U.S. Published Patent Application Number 2010/0307496, U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,456, U.S. Published Patent Application Number 2006/0243282, U.S. Published Patent Application Number 2013/0216627, U.S. Pat. No. 8,636,838, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,350,736.

The devices in the prior art have several drawbacks. Some devices in the prior art disclose oxygen tube reels that can be controlled by a user via remote control or other similar method, however, this requires the user to actively control the extension and retracting of the oxygen tube reel, which can be inconvenient. Other devices provide a coiled or helical oxygen tube that can extend or retract in length, however, the tubing can still serve as a tripping hazard or obstacle since the tube is not held within a housing. Thus, an oxygen tube reel that includes a proximity sensor for automatically extending and retracting the oxygen tube is desired in order to allow the user to move freely while also minimizing the length of cable extended from the oxygen tube reel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of oxygen tube reel devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a system for wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when wearing an oxygen dispensing apparatus with an elongated oxygen tube.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an oxygen tube reel devices having a housing in which a motorized reel is positioned, wherein a length of oxygen tubing is coiled on the reel.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an oxygen tube reel comprising a proximity sensor for determining the user's distance from the oxygen tube reel in order to dispense or retract the oxygen tubing.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an oxygen tube reel device wherein the proximity sensor includes a fixed sensor disposed on the housing and a transponder unit that can be secured to the user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an oxygen tube reel device that may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the oxygen tube reel device.

FIG. 2 shows a transparent view of the oxygen tube reel device.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the oxygen tube reel device as used with an oxygen concentrator.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the proximity sensor of the oxygen tube reel device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the oxygen tube reel device. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for automatically dispensing and retracting an oxygen tube. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a perspective view of the oxygen tube reel device and a transparent view of the oxygen tube reel device, respectively. The oxygen tube reel 100 comprising a housing 102 having an interior volume in which a reel 106 is rotatably positioned. A length of tubing is coiled on the reel and can be selectively extended therefrom. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 102 is shown as having a rectangular configuration, however, in alternate embodiments the housing 102 can have any of various other configurations. The housing 102 further includes openings 116 thereon for allowing the tubing to enter and exit the housing 102

The reel 106 is fixed within the housing 102 via a spoke 120 extending therethrough. The reel 106 is freely rotatable within the housing 102 and is able to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The reel 106 is motorized so that the reel 106 can automatically rotate in order to retract or extend the tubing thereon. In this way, the user is not required to turn a handle or crank, or otherwise manually rotate the reel in order to dispense the tubing held on the reel.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a perspective view of the oxygen tube reel in use with an oxygen concentrator and a view of the transponder unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. The oxygen tube reel 100 is adapted for use in conjunction with an oxygen concentrator 200, wherein the oxygen concentrator 200 provides oxygen through tubing 108, wherein the tubing 108 is coiled on the reel of the oxygen tube reel 100. The free end of the oxygen tube 108 is connected to a breathing mask 201 that the user can position over his or her mouth and nose so as to deliver the oxygen to the user.

The oxygen tube reel 100 further comprises a proximity sensor having a fixed unit 112 and a transponder unit 114. The fixed unit 112 is affixed to the housing 102 and is in wireless communication with the transponder unit 114. The transponder unit 114 is positioned near the free end of the tubing 108. Preferably, the transponder unit 114 includes a fastener 124 for removably securing the transponder unit 114 to the body of the user.

The proximity sensor is adapted to determine the distance between the fixed unit 112 and the transponder unit 114. As the distance between the transponder unit 114 and fixed unit 112 increases, the motorized reel dispenses additional tubing 108 from the housing 102. As the distance between the transponder unit 114 and the fixed unit 112 decreases, the motorized reel retracts tubing 108 so that the excess tubing 108 does not become a tripping hazard. The motorized reel may comprise a control circuit having a microprocessor for coordinating the operation of the motorized reel with the proximity sensor.

The transponder unit 114 comprises a square housing having a reel therein. The transponder unit 114 includes openings 126 thereon through which the tubing 108 may pass so that the transponder unit 114 is secured on the tubing 108. The transponder unit 114 may be movable along the length of the tubing 108 so that the user can adjust the positioning of the transponder unit 114 and provide a desired amount of slack in the tubing 108.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1) An automatic oxygen tube reel device, comprising:

a housing having a motorized reel rotatably disposed therein;

a length of tubing disposed on said reel;

a proximity sensor comprising a fixed unit disposed on said housing and a transponder unit securable to a user, wherein said proximity sensor is adapted to determine a distance between said fixed unit and said transponder unit, wherein said motorized reel is adapted to extend or retract said length of tubing depending upon said distance between said fixed unit and said transponder unit.

2) The automatic oxygen tube reel device of claim 1, wherein said transponder unit comprises a fastener thereon for securing said transponder unit to said user.

3) The automatic oxygen tube reel device of claim 1, wherein said transponder unit is movably positioned on said length of tubing.

4) The automatic oxygen tube reel device of claim 1, wherein a free end of said length of tubing is securable to a breathing mask.

5) The automatic oxygen tube reel device of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises an opening thereon so that said length of tubing can extend outward from said housing.