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US 12,350,091 B2Granted
Retractable stethoscope
OwnerMark Grossinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retractable stethoscope comprising a case, at least one piece of acoustic tubing, at least one ear piece, and a chest piece. The chest piece is coupled to one end of the acoustic tubing, and at least one ear piece is coupled to another end of the acoustic tubing. The length of the acoustic tubing may extend from and retract into the case from the ear piece end, the chest piece end of the acoustic tubing, or both ends either independently or simultaneously. The retractable stethoscope may further comprise a belt clip.
Claims17
A portable retractable acoustic stethoscope, comprising:
- a portable case having a top tubing exit, a bottom tubing exit, and having a retracting reel within the case;
- a first length of acoustic tubing open to atmosphere having one continuous airpath within the acoustic tubing, the first length of the acoustic tubing being housed around the retracting reel, and having one top end extending from the top tubing exit, and
- a second length of acoustic tubing open to atmosphere having one continuous airpath within the acoustic tubing, the second length of acoustic tubing having one bottom end extending from the bottom tubing exit;
- at least one ear piece coupled to the top end of the first length of acoustic tubing;
- and
- a chest piece coupled to the bottom end of the second length of acoustic tubing;
- wherein each ear piece is in fluid communication with the chest piece via the at least one continuous airpath within the first length acoustic tubing;
- and
- wherein the first length of the acoustic tubing extends and retracts through the top tubing exit and the second length of acoustic tubing extends and retracts through the bottom tubing exit;
- a front tube connector having a rear end and a first prong portion at a front end, wherein the first prong portion is inserted into a bottom end of the first length of acoustic tubing to maintain fluid communication therebetween;
- a back tube connector having a rear end and a second prong portion at a front end, wherein the second prong portion is inserted into a top end of the second length of acoustic tubing to maintain fluid communication therebetween;
- and
- a gasket positioned and compressed between abutting rear ends of the front tube connector and the back tube connector such that the chest piece is in fluid communication with the at least one ear piece, wherein, as a function of the gasket, the front tube connector and the back tube connector freely rotate, increasing mobility of the first and second length of acoustic tubing during extension and retraction.
10 more elements
A portable retractable acoustic stethoscope, comprising:
- a case having a top tubing exit, a bottom tubing exit, a front independently retracting reel,
- a back independently retracting reel, and a center case member, the case including:
- an extension lock configured to lock acoustic tubing in one or more extended positions to prevent retraction through the top tubing exit or the bottom tubing exit;
- a front reel tension spring within the front independently retracting reel;
- a back reel tension spring within the back independently retracting reel;
- a switch tension spring and a locking switch coupled to the front reel tension spring or the back reel tension spring operable, together, to tension and/or secure the acoustic tubing;
- and
- a lock top piece coupled by the switch tension spring to the locking switch and operable to relieve and/or reapply retracting pull force to the acoustic tubing from one or both tension springs;
- wherein each retracting reel comprises at least one locking tooth configured to lock the acoustic tubing in extended positions corresponding to the size and number of locking teeth;
- a first length of acoustic tubing open to the atmosphere having one top end extending from the top tubing exit, the first length of acoustic tubing having one continuous airpath within the acoustic tubing and being housed around the back the independently retracting reel;
- and
- a second length of acoustic tubing open to the atmosphere having one bottom end extending from the bottom tubing exit, the second length of acoustic tubing having one continuous airpath within the acoustic tubing and being housed around the front independently retracting reel;
- at least one ear piece coupled to the one top end of the first length of acoustic tubing;
- a chest piece coupled to the one bottom end of the second length acoustic tubing;
- wherein the one continuous airpath at the one top end of the first length of the acoustic tubing is coupled to the one continuous airpath at the one bottom end of acoustic tubing such that the chest piece is in fluid communication with the at least one ear piece;
- and
- wherein the first length of the acoustic tubing extends and retracts through the top tubing exit and the second length of acoustic tubing extends and retracts the bottom tubing exit;
- a back tube connector having a rear end and a first prong portion at a front end, wherein the first prong portion is inserted into a bottom end of the first length of acoustic tubing to maintain fluid communication therebetween;
- a front tube connector having a rear end and a second prong portion at a front end, wherein the second prong portion is inserted into a top end of the second length of acoustic tubing to maintain fluid communication therebetween;
- and
- a gasket positioned and compressed between abutting rear ends of the front tube connector and the second tube connector, wherein, as a function of the gasket, the front tube connector and the back tube connector freely rotate, increasing mobility of the acoustic tubing during extension and retraction.
18 more elements
A portable retractable acoustic stethoscope, comprising:
- a case having a top tubing exit, a bottom tubing exit, a front independently retracting reel, a back independently retracting reel, a front tube connector, a back tube connector, and a gasket, wherein the gasket couples together the front tube connector and the back tube connector;
- a first length of acoustic tubing open to the atmosphere having one top end extending from the top tubing exit, the first length of acoustic tubing having one continuous airpath within the acoustic tubing and being housed around the back independently retracting reel, wherein the first length of acoustic tubing couples to the back tube connector, and
- a second length of acoustic tubing open to the atmosphere having one bottom end extending from the bottom tubing exit, the second length of acoustic tubing having one continuous airpath within the acoustic tubing and being housed around the front independently retracting reel, wherein the second length of acoustic tubing couples to the front tube connector;
- at least one ear piece coupled to the one top end of the first length of acoustic tubing;
- a chest piece coupled to the one bottom end of the second length of acoustic tubing;
- wherein one continuous airpath at the one top end of the first length of acoustic tubing is coupled to the one continuous airpath at the one bottom end of the second length of acoustic tubing such that the chest piece is in fluid communication with the at least one-ear piece;
- and
- wherein the first length of the acoustic tubing extends and retracts through the top tubing exit and the second length of acoustic tubing extends and retracts through the bottom tubing exit;
- the back tube connector having a rear end and a first prong portion at a front end, wherein the first prong portion is inserted into a bottom end of the first length of acoustic tubing to maintain fluid communication therebetween;
- the front tube connector having a rear end and a second prong portion at a front end, wherein the second prong portion is inserted into a top end of the second length of acoustic tubing to maintain fluid communication therebetween;
- and
- wherein the gasket is positioned and compressed between abutting rear ends of the front tube connector and the second tube connector such that the chest piece is in fluid communication with the at least one ear piece via a single continuous acoustic airpath throughout the first length of acoustic tubing and the second length of acoustic tubing, wherein, as a function of the gasket, the front tube connector and the back tube connector freely rotate and thereby increase mobility of the acoustic tubing during extension and retraction.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.