Abstract
An oxygen trainer assembly for use in athletic activities to increase inspiratory muscular endurance includes a mouthpiece having a mouthpiece opening, a circulation chamber housing having a circulation chamber in fluid communication with the mouthpiece opening, a first endcap having a first endcap aperture, and a second endcap having a second endcap opening in fluid communication with the circulation chamber housing. The oxygen trainer assembly further includes a first endcap insert disposable in the first endcap operative to control the level of air resistance in the assembly during inhalation and exhalation and a one-way valve disposable in the second endcap sized and configured to allow the flow of air away from the circulation chamber during exhalation.
Claims
1. An oxygen trainer system comprising: a mouthpiece; a circulation chamber attached to, and in fluid communication with, the mouthpiece, the circulation chamber being a single open chamber having a first chamber end and a second chamber end, the first chamber end having a square first tab comprising a first circulation aperture and the second chamber end having a second circulation aperture, wherein a first wall of the circulation chamber is in fluid communication with the mouthpiece and spans between the first chamber end and the second chamber end, wherein the first wall includes a first wall surface and wherein the first circulation chamber aperture and the second circulation aperture are situated at opposite ends of the first wall surface; a plurality of endcap inserts, each having a front face consisting of a single endcap insert opening in fluid communication with the first circulation aperture of the first chamber end, and wherein the single endcap insert opening present in each of the plurality of endcap inserts has a radius size ranging between 2.5 mm and 7 mm, and wherein two or more of the plurality of endcap inserts in the system have a single endcap insert opening characterized by a different radius size; an endcap assembly in fluid communication with the second circulation aperture of the second chamber end, the endcap assembly comprising an endcap and a one-way valve, wherein the endcap and the second chamber end of the circulation chamber housing are operable for securing the endcap onto the second chamber end of the circulation chamber, the one way valve is formed with the second chamber end so that air flows from the endcap assembly out through the one-way valve during exhalation and the one-way valve blocks the flow of air into the endcap assembly during inhalation; and wherein an airflow resistance of the system during inhalation is incrementally adjustable by selectively securing or replacing one of the plurality of endcap inserts having the single endcap insert opening of one radius size with a different endcap insert of the plurality of endcap inserts having the single endcap insert opening of a different radius size.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece has a mouthpiece channel mounted to the circulation chamber, a mouthpiece opening of the mouthpiece being disposed proximate the mouthpiece channel.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the endcap inserts and the endcap have a rectangular configuration, and wherein the endcap inserts have a square or rectangular shape sized to be mountable onto the first tab.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the endcap has a square or rectangular shape sized to be mountable onto a second tab.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the one way valve has a rectangular shape sized to be disposable in the endcap.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one-way valve is fitted between the endcap and the second chamber end.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the one-way valve is fitted between the endcap and the second chamber end such that the one-way valve is freely movable with the passage of air through the second circulation aperture.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of endcap inserts in the system comprises the single endcap insert opening characterized by a different radius size.
9. An oxygen trainer system comprising: a mouthpiece; a circulation chamber attached to, and in fluid communication with, the mouthpiece, the circulation chamber having a first chamber end and a second chamber end, the first chamber end having a square first tab comprising a first circulation aperture and the second chamber end having a second circulation aperture, wherein a first wall of the circulation chamber is in fluid communication with the mouthpiece and spans between the first chamber end and the second chamber end, wherein the first wall includes a first wall surface and wherein the first circulation chamber aperture and the second circulation aperture are situated at opposite ends of the first wall surface; a plurality of endcap inserts, each having a front face consisting of a single endcap insert opening in fluid communication with the first circulation aperture of the first chamber end, and wherein the single endcap insert opening present in each of the plurality of endcap inserts has a radius size ranging between 2.5 mm and 7 mm, and the system comprising 10 of the plurality of endcap inserts having a different radius size of the single endcap insert opening; an endcap assembly in fluid communication with the second circulation aperture of the second chamber end, the endcap assembly comprising an endcap and a one-way valve, wherein the endcap and the second chamber end of the circulation chamber housing are operable for securing the endcap onto the second chamber end of the circulation chamber, the one way valve is formed with the second chamber end so that air flows from the endcap assembly out through the one-way valve during exhalation and the one-way valve blocks the flow of air into the endcap assembly during inhalation; and wherein an airflow resistance of the system during inhalation is incrementally adjustable by selectively securing or replacing one of the plurality of endcap inserts having the single endcap insert opening of one radius size with a different endcap insert of the plurality of endcap inserts having the single endcap insert opening of a different radius size.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the oxygen trainer assembly in use during the inhalation of air;
(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the oxygen trainer assembly in use during the exhalation of air;
(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the oxygen trainer assembly depicting a first endcap insert opening with a first endcap insert slit and a second endcap insert slit generally orthogonal to and bisecting the first endcap insert slit, a first endcap mountable to a first tab on the first chamber end, and a second endcap mountable to the second tab on the second chamber end;
(5) FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the oxygen trainer assembly using a first endcap insert having a first endcap insert slit and a second endcap insert slit;
(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of a second chamber end with the second endcap mounted to the second tab on the second chamber end, showing the second endcap insert deployed in a sealed position disposed against the second circulation aperture during the intake of oxygen and the second endcap insert deployed in an open position away from the second circulation aperture during the exhaust of oxygen;
(7) FIG. 6 is a frontal view of a plurality of first endcap inserts, each having a different first endcap insert radius, with a longer first endcap insert radius found in a first endcap insert having a larger first endcap insert opening;
(8) FIG. 7 is a further embodiment of the oxygen trainer assembly having a plurality of first endcap inserts whose openings are circular and have a horizontal slit and a vertical slit generally orthogonal to and bisecting the horizontal slit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(9) The drawings referred to herein are for the purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiments of the present invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same.
(10) The oxygen trainer assembly 10 may have a mouthpiece 12 with a mouthpiece opening 14. (See FIG. 3). The oxygen trainer assembly 10 may further have a circulation chamber housing 16 with a circulation chamber 17 in fluid communication with the mouthpiece opening 14 (see FIG. 1-3). The circulation chamber housing 16 may have a first chamber housing end 18 and a second chamber housing end 20. The first chamber housing end 18 may have a first circulation aperture 22 and the second chamber housing end 20 may have a second circulation aperture 24 (see FIG. 3). The oxygen trainer assembly 10 may further have a first endcap 26 mountable to the first chamber housing end 18. The first endcap 26 may have a first endcap aperture 28 in fluid communication with the first circulation aperture 22 (see FIG. 3). In FIGS. 1-3, the first endcap 26 is shown mounted or mountable to the first chamber housing end 18. The oxygen trainer assembly 10 may further have a second endcap 30 mountable to the second chamber housing end 20. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the second endcap 30 may have a first depth 32 and an opposing second depth 34 wider than the first depth 32. In FIGS. 1-3, the second endcap 30 is shown mounted or mountable to the second chamber end 20. The second endcap 30 may have a second endcap opening 36 in fluid communication with the second circulation aperture 24 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). As shown in the embodiment of the oxygen trainer assembly 10 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second endcap opening 36 may be disposed proximate the bottom of the second endcap 30.
(11) The oxygen trainer assembly 10 may further include a first endcap insert 38 disposable in the first endcap 26. The first endcap insert 38 may have a first endcap insert opening 40. The first endcap insert opening 40 may be aligned between and in fluid communication with the first endcap aperture 28 and the first circulation aperture 22. The first endcap insert opening 40 may be sized and configured to control the level of air resistance into the circulation chamber 17 during inhalation and out of the circulation chamber during exhalation. (See FIGS. 1-3). In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, the first endcap insert 38 may have a first endcap insert opening 40 that is circular in shape. In this embodiment, the first end cap insert opening 40 may have a first endcap insert radius 50. In yet a further embodiment, the first endcap insert opening 40 may be circular and also have a horizontal slit and a vertical slit that is generally orthogonal to and bisects the horizontal slit. (See FIG. 7). In this embodiment of the oxygen trainer assembly, the horizontal slit and the vertical slit uniquely serve as intermediary level settings of aspiratory muscular endurance training by enabling more air flow to pass through the first endcap insert opening 40 than would otherwise occur by use of a first endcap insert 38 having a smaller first endcap insert opening 40, but less air flow than would be allowed by a first endcap insert 38 having a larger first endcap insert opening 40. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first endcap insert opening 40 may alternatively be a first endcap insert slit 56 and a second endcap insert slit 58 that is generally orthogonal to and bisects the first endcap insert slit 56. However, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the oxygen trainer assembly 10 may have a first endcap insert opening 40 of any shape that is suitable to control the level of air resistance into the circulation chamber 17 during inhalation and out of the circulation chamber 17 during exhalation.
(12) The oxygen trainer assembly 10 may further have a one-way valve 42 disposable in the second endcap 30. (See FIGS. 2 and 4). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the one-way valve 42 may be sized and configured to allow the flow of air from the second circulation aperture 24 and away from the circulation chamber 17 during exhalation. As show in FIG. 1, the one-way valve 42 may be sized and configured to block the flow of air from the second circulation aperture 24 and into the circulation chamber 17 during inhalation. As such, during the intake of oxygen, there is complete resistance to the passage of airflow through the second circulation aperture 24 caused by the blockage of the second circulation aperture 24 by the one-way valve 42. In one embodiment, the one-way valve 42 may be fitted between the second endcap 30 and the second circulation aperture 24 such that the one-way valve 42 may be able to freely move at one end with the passage of air through the second circulation aperture 24 during exhalation. (See FIG. 5). In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the top portion of the one-way valve 42 is shown fitted between the second chamber end 20 and the second endcap 30, thereby allowing the bottom of the one-way valve 42 to freely move away from the second circulation aperture 24 and toward the back of the second endcap 30 during exhalation. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a second depth 34 is shown to be disposed at the bottom of the second endcap 30, thereby giving the one-way valve 42 space to allow the movement of the flow of air from the second circulation aperture 24 and away from the circulation chamber 17 during exhalation. A first depth 32 is shown disposed at the top of the second endcap 30. However, it is also contemplated that the second depth 34 may be positioned at the top of the second endcap 30 with the bottom portion of the one-way valve 42 fitted between the second chamber end 20 and the second endcap insert 42.
(13) As discussed above, the oxygen trainer assembly 10 is innovative in that the level of air resistance between the first endcap 26 and the first chamber end 18 may be readily modified by the mere insertion of the first endcap insert 38, with the first endcap insert opening 40 being disposably aligned between and in fluid communication with the first endcap aperture 28 and the first circulation aperture 22. The size of the first endcap insert opening 40 may therefore control the level of air resistance into the circulation chamber 17 during inhalation and exhalation. For example, with a larger circular first endcap insert opening 40 with a longer first endcap insert radius 50 (see FIG. 5), the air resistance may be decreased into and out of the circulation chamber 17 during the inhalation. Likewise, a first endcap insert opening 40 having a shorter first endcap insert radius 50 may increase the level of air resistance into and out of the circulation chamber 17 during inhalation or exhalation.
(14) The oxygen trainer assembly 10 is further innovative in that its component parts may be relatively easy to assemble and disassemble, are portable, and may be able to be conveniently cleaned. As such, the oxygen trainer assembly 10 may be adopted to a variety of different aerobic and athletic training activities and may be maintained in a hygienic condition so as to reduce the transmission of germs through the mouthpiece 12. The oxygen trainer assembly 10 may reliably control the level of air resistance through the circulation apertures 22, 24 in order to improve the user's inspiratory muscular endurance during training.
(15) In the embodiment of the oxygen trainer assembly depicted in FIG. 4, the oxygen trainer assembly 10 may have a mouthpiece 12 with a mouthpiece channel 44 mounted to the circulation chamber housing 16. The mouthpiece opening 14 may be disposed proximate the mouthpiece channel 44.
(16) In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the oxygen trainer assembly 10 may further include a first tab 46 extending from the first chamber housing end 18 and a second tab 48 extending from the second chamber housing end 20. The first circulation aperture 22 may be disposed on the first tab 46 and the second circulation aperture 24 may be disposed on the second tab 48. The first endcap 26 may be mounted on the first tab 46 and the second endcap 30 may be mounted on the second tab 48 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The first tab 46 and the second tab 38 on the circulation chamber 16 may have a square configuration. In this embodiment, the first endcap 26 may also have a square shape sized and configured to be mountable onto the first tab 46. Also, the second endcap 30 may have a square shape sized and configured to be mountable onto the second tab 48. Likewise, the first endcap insert 40 may have a square shape sized and configured to be disposable in the first endcap 26. In this embodiment, the one-way valve 42 may also have a square shape sized and configured to be disposable in the second endcap 30. However, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the first tab 46 and the second tab 48, the first endcap 26 and the second endcap 30, and the first endcap insert 38 and the one-way valve 42 may be of any size and shape that is suitable to enable the control of the level of air resistance at the first circulation aperture 22 and the second circulation aperture 24 of the circulation chamber housing 16 during inhalation and exhalation.
(17) As shown in the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-3, the first circulation aperture 22 and the second circulation aperture 24 may be circular. In this embodiment, the first endcap aperture 28 may also be circular. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second endcap opening 36 may be rectangular. However, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the first circulation aperture 22 and the second circulation aperture 24, the first endcap aperture 28, and the second endcap opening 36 may be of any size and shape that is suitable to enable the convenient and reliable adjustment of air resistance into and out of the circulation chamber 17 during air intake and exhaust.
(18) As suggested by FIGS. 3-4, and 6-7, the first endcap insert opening 40 may have a cross-sectional area less than or equal to each of a cross-sectional area of the first endcap aperture 28 and a cross-sectional area of the first circulation aperture 22. The reduced cross-sectional area of the first endcap insert opening 40 as compared to the first endcap aperture 28 and the first circulation aperture 22 enables the user to experience increased air resistance upon inhalation and exhalation so as to increase their aspiratory muscular endurance. This feature may uniquely enable the oxygen trainer assembly 10 to simulate the affects of high-altitude training to improve aspiratory muscular endurance.
(19) The first endcap insert 38 may be made of rubber. Likewise, the one-way valve 42 may also be made of rubber. However, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the oxygen trainer assembly 10 may have a first endcap insert 38 and a one-way valve 42 made of any resilient material that is suitable to enable the convenient adjustment of air resistance into and out of the circulation chamber 17 during air intake and exhaust, that can be readily cleaned, and that is breathable.
(20) As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the oxygen trainer assembly 10 may also use one of a plurality of first endcap inserts 38, 52, each first endcap insert 38, 52 being sized and configured with a first endcap insert opening 40 and a first endcap insert radius 54 operative to control the level of air resistance into and out of the circulation chamber 17 during inhalation and exhalation. This feature uniquely enables the setting of the oxygen resistance in the oxygen trainer assembly 10 to be readily adjusted, thereby customizing the level of desired inspiratory endurance training to different sports or aerobic activities. For example, the first endcap insert opening 40 may range from as large as 14 mm (with a first endcap insert radius 54 of approximately 7 mm) to as little as 5 mm (with a first endcap insert radius 54 of approximately 2.50 mm). The first endcap insert 38 may be numerically arranged from numbers 1 to 10, with first endcap insert no. 1 having a first endcap insert radius 54 of 7 mm and first endcap insert no. 10 having a first endcap insert radius 54 of 2.50 mm. As discussed above, the oxygen trainer assembly 10 may have a first endcap insert opening 40 that is a first endcap slit 56 and a second endcap insert slit 58 in lieu of a circular opening 40 (see FIGS. 3-4). The second endcap insert slit 58 may be generally orthogonal to and bisect the first endcap insert slit 56. The first endcap slit 56 and the second endcap insert slit 58 are operative to control the level of air resistance into and out of the circulation chamber housing 16 during inhalation and exhalation. The oxygen trainer assembly 10 may use one of a plurality of first endcap inserts 52 wherein the first endcap insert opening 40 is a first endcap insert slit 56 and a second endcap insert slit 58 orthogonal to and bisecting the first endcap insert slit 56. The thickness of the first endcap insert 38 may be modified to enable the setting of the oxygen resistance into and out of the circulation chamber housing 16 to be readily adjusted for the desired intake and exhaust of oxygen during different athletic or aerobic activities.
(21) In another embodiment of the claimed invention, the plurality of first endcap inserts 38, 52 may also include in addition to a circular first endcap insert opening 40 a horizontal slit 62 and a vertical slit 64 proximate the first endcap insert opening 40. As discussed above, these first endcap inserts 38, 52 have an intermediary size first endcap insert opening 40 between these first endcap inserts 38, 52 having a larger circular first endcap insert opening 40 and a smaller circular first endcap insert opening 40. This configuration of the oxygen trainer assembly 10 uniquely enables the user to incrementally increase or decrease the level of air resistance into the circulation chamber 16, thereby enabling convenient adjustment of the oxygen trainer assembly 10 to vary the desired level of inspiratory muscular endurance training. (See. FIGS. 6 and 7).
