CA2124383A1 - Specimen bag/emergency toilet - Google Patents
Specimen bag/emergency toiletInfo
- Publication number
- CA2124383A1 CA2124383A1 CA 2124383 CA2124383A CA2124383A1 CA 2124383 A1 CA2124383 A1 CA 2124383A1 CA 2124383 CA2124383 CA 2124383 CA 2124383 A CA2124383 A CA 2124383A CA 2124383 A1 CA2124383 A1 CA 2124383A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- vessel
- container
- stiffener
- perimetal
- bag
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
- Non-Flushing Toilets (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION
A container, or bag, for urine collection or use as an emergency toilet, especially suitable for women, includes a flexible vessel portion having a closeable, sealable, top and a semi-flexible stiffener in the form of a band or collar attached to a perimetal portion of the interior or exterior of the vessel portion and positioned between the top and bottom of the vessel or extending from the top of the vessel. In use of a preferred embodiment of the container, the top of the vessel portion is folded inside-out to the top edge of the stiffener, providing, in this manner, a generally rigid surface of contact between the container and, particularly, a woman's anatomy. The stiffener further provides a way to more easily hold and manipulate the container during use. The invention alternatively includes a tab for hanging the container prior to use for storage, or after use in an analysis queue, for example, and graduated markings on the vessel portion for instant visual measurement of the quantity of the contents after use. The invention is manufactured as a disposal, single use product.
A container, or bag, for urine collection or use as an emergency toilet, especially suitable for women, includes a flexible vessel portion having a closeable, sealable, top and a semi-flexible stiffener in the form of a band or collar attached to a perimetal portion of the interior or exterior of the vessel portion and positioned between the top and bottom of the vessel or extending from the top of the vessel. In use of a preferred embodiment of the container, the top of the vessel portion is folded inside-out to the top edge of the stiffener, providing, in this manner, a generally rigid surface of contact between the container and, particularly, a woman's anatomy. The stiffener further provides a way to more easily hold and manipulate the container during use. The invention alternatively includes a tab for hanging the container prior to use for storage, or after use in an analysis queue, for example, and graduated markings on the vessel portion for instant visual measurement of the quantity of the contents after use. The invention is manufactured as a disposal, single use product.
Description
' 212~3~3 SPECIMEN BAG/EMERGENCY TOILET :: ::
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application ~ ~ -Serial No. 08/073,530, filed June 8,1993.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
S ELD OF THE INVENTION ;
This invention relates generally to Ieceptacles and more particularly to a single use urine collection system suitable for institutional use or , personal use as an emergency toilet, especia y by females.
DESCRII~ION OF THE RELATED ART
The patent literature includes numerous urine, OI specimen, collection devices. Austin U.S. Patent No. 4,790,834 describes a single use external catheter for males that includes a flexible bag having a penile closure and a layer of flexible vapor permeable material located inside of the bag. This device is limited to use by males.
Brothers U.S. Patent No. 5,009,236 describes a urine collection system including a flexible bag having a wide mouth that includes a press to close sealing arrangement, with sleeves formed along the opposite mouth edges. The device includes a holder having mounting rods which are inserted into the sleeves of the bag for maintaining the bag in a sanitary, 20 open position during use. The additional components of this invention require cleaning or sterilization between uses and render the device buLky;
while the bag does not appear to be calibrated, and costs more to manufactllre than the present invention.
Other systems typically comprise rigid devices such as cups or 25 trays, or collection devices that are either worn by a patient or that Iequire semi-surgical implantation. These are not only cumbersome due to their construction, but are impractical for personal emergency use when a toilet is unavailable.
Fur~ermore, emergency receptacles, or bags, used for the effects of 30 nausea due to motion sickness, for example, that are typicaUy found on . _ airplanes and boats, are messy to use because the area of contact of the bag with the user's mouth is flimsy and thus does notreadily conform to the user's face nor allow the user to conveniently hold the bag.
212~3~
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a human waste ~ -collection system that is sanitary, disposable, inexpensive, and convenient for peIsonal emergency use by men and especially by women.
It is another object of this invention to provide a urine co~lection system which is self-contained and requires no external components which ~;
must be cleansed or sterilized after use.
It is a furtheI object of this invention to provide a urine collection system suitable for use in doctor's offices, hospitals, and other institutional settings, that can receive a fuU range of specimen output quantity regardless ;
of the user and from which ~e quantity of specimen collected can be instantly visually measured.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a urine collection system that requires comparatively less space to store in large quantities than conventional systems and that can conveniently be hung for pre-use storage or post-use specimen analysis.
It is another object of the invention to provide a convenient and unobtrusive receptacle for personal use during episodes of nausea due to motion sickness or other causes.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the description and illustrations to follow.
S~ARY 01~ 1~ INVENTION
In accordance with the above objectives, a preferred aspect of the invention comprises a container, henceforth referred to as the bag, for receiving a urine specimen, or other human waste as the need may dictate, including a flexible vessel portion having a closeable, sealable, top which opens to a generally canoe shape, and a flattenable, semi-flexible stiffener attached to the vessel and spaced apart from the sealable top, adapted to perrnit the top part of the vessel above the stiffener to be folded down during use to present a generally rigid surface for contact with the user's anatomy; to aid women, especia11y, in the sar~itary collection of urine.
1 In general, the vessel portion of the bag resembles a common plastic storage bag, being rectangular in shape, and having a ridge and groove type press-to-close seal adjacent the top of the bag. The bag may, however, be constructed so as to have a curvilinear perimeter. In addition, other types of closures including adhesive closures and paper or plastic coated wire 3 3 ~
closures, for example, will be suitable. The preferred vessel material is cleaT
polyethylene on the order of 1.2 to 2.0 mils thick, which provides urine impermeability and functional convenience, especially when the invention is used in an institutional setting; the transpaTency of the vessel permitting immediate visualization of the contents. In this and otheT aspects of the invention the clear vessel exterior can contain indicia for instant visual measuTement of the quantity of the contents. In an embodiment of the invention intended for personal/emergency use, the vessel portion can suitably be fabricated from frosted polyethylene or coated or waxed paper.
A bag so constructed will in general be preferably opaque, and may further contain decorative indicia on ~e vessel exterior to render the bag less obtrusive. Furthermore, opaque vessels can contain a vertical window having graduated markings for quick visual content analysis in the event such a style is preferred.
lS ~ one embodiment of the invention ~e stiffener comprises a flattenable, semi-flexible, band of material that is attached to the inside of the bag. The stiffener can be positioned anywhere between the top and bottom of the bag and preferably is located between approximately 1.5 to 2.5 inches below the top. In one aspect of this embodiment, the entire surface of the stiffener can be attached to the interior of the vessel portion.
In an alternative aspect of this embodiment, the stiffener can be joined to the ~ -inside of the bag along the lower perimetal edge of the stiffener; the preferred style depending principa11y on the technique of manufacture of the bag. In either case, however, the stiffener is encircled by a continuous perimetal portion of the vessel. The stiffener is flattenable to allow the bag to be stored without requiring excessive space or to be furtively carried for personal use. ~ semi-flexible stiffener permits a fall range of open bag positions a110wing for better conformation to the user's anatomy for convenience and hygiene.
To use the bag as intended, the top of the vessel portion above the stiffeli~ is folded inside-out and down to where it attaches to the stiffener, thus presenting the generally rigid suTface of the stifEener perimeter as that paIt of the bag thatmakes contact with the user's anatomy. The stiffener allows the user to maintain the bag in an open position with the fingers of one hand, making the invention easier to use by females especially, than if ~` 212433~ ;
the container were totally flexible. When the user is finished, she merely rolls the inverted sides of the vessel back up over the stiffener and seals the vessel shut.
Another embodiment of the invention includes a stiffener as 5 described above in which the entire suIface of the stiffener, however, is attached to the vessel poItion around the outside of the vessel. A user of this aspect of the invention folds the top portion of the vessel inside-out and down over the top of the stiffener. In this manner the invention again provides for a generally rigid surface of that part of the vessel which comes 10 in to contact with the user's anatomy.
In another aspect of the invention the container comprises a flexible vessel having a closeable, sealable, top portion and a collapsible, or flattenable, stiffener in the form of a continuous collar that is attached to and extends upwardly from the top of the vessel. The vessel closure is located 15 adjacentthebottomperimetalportion of the stiffener.
The stiffener, in all cases, is pIefeIably made of a semi-flexible material such as vinyl, appIoximately 4 - 5 mils thick; however, high density polyethylene, closed cell foam, P~ , and cardboard, for example, are candidate stiffener materials which also provide suitable rigidity. The 20 choice of stiffener material will principally depend on the manufacturing technique used for the invention. The stiffeneI is pIeferably between about .75 to 2.50 inches wide. This range of widths provide the best sized surface for manipulating the bag, especially under emergency use conditions.
In one aspect of the inven~ion the bag includes a tab foI hanging the 25 vessel either for storage prior to use or post-use in an analysis queue, for example. The hanging tab includes a strip of semi-flexible weight bearing material sin~lar to that used for the stiffener, including a central protruding section having a hole for engagement with a hook OI post, attached to and extending from the top of the bag. Such hanging means are well known to 30 ~ose s~dlled in the art; an example of this adaptation being commonly found on I.V. bags used in ho~i~als.
In anotheI aspect of the invention the stiffener includes a bead of foam, or other cushioning material, around its top perimetal surface to make usage of the invention by women moIe comfortable.
2~2~3~
Another embodiment of the invention includes a vessel portion similar to that described above having a sealable, reclosable top, and a collapsible funnel portion that is open at its ends and which can be partially, telescopically withdrawn from the vessel through the vessel top opening S during use and reintroduced into the vessel prior to sealing the vessel shut after use. One open end of the funnel portion is attached to the inside walls of the vessel below the vessel top. The other open end of the collapsible fuMel includes a stiffener in the form of a band, or collaT, making it more convenient for the user to suIround that part of the user's anatomy from where the waste is being discharged. Prior to use of the bag, the collapsible fuMel is conveniently located wi~in the vessel. In use, after opening the vessel, the portion of the fuMel containing the stiffener is extracted from the vessel as far as the fuMel portion will perrnit After use, the funnel portion including the stiffener is simply pushed back down into the vessel, which can then be sealed shut and disposed of as desired.
A primary consideration of the invention is the manufacture of the bag in an efficient enough maMer to render it disposable after single use.
Certain embodiments of the invention will permit co-extrusion of the vessel and stiffener. If co-extruded, the bag including the sealable vessel and the stiffener would be produced in sheet form requiring that the sheet be cut into strips of the desired bag width, and the strips then folded upon themselves whereupon sealing the common sides along seams results in a two-sided sealable vessel. Conventional means are known to those skilled in the art for performing such clos"re and include welding techniques consisting of thermosealing or ultrasonics, for example, OI by adhesive methods including hot melt and solvent bonding. It may alternatively be necessary to manufacture the vessel and stiffener sections of the container independently and thereafter attach them, especially in the aspect comprising the stiffener attached to the interior of the bag.
Finally, it will be appreciated that the invention will readily lend itself for use during episodes of nausea due to motion sickness or other causes because of the ability to hold the bag and conform the opening to the portion of the face around the user's mouth.
DESCRIPlION OF 1~ DRAWlNGS
--~ 212~3~
Figure 1 diagrammatically shows an aspect of the preferred embodiment of the invention in which a stiffener band is fully attached to the interior of the vessel, the top of the bag being folded down for use; . ~ .
Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the stiffener has a cushioned upper perimeter and in which the stiffener is attached to the interior of the vessel along the bottom perimetal edge of the stiffener;
Figures 3a and 3b show the bag in cross section along lines 3-3 of Figure 2 wherein the stiffeneI includes a foam bead along its upper perimeter, and without a cushioning bead, respectively;
Figure 4 shows an aspect of the invention in which the stiffener is attached around the outside of the vessel below the top of the bag, also showing means for hanging the bag, and gradation markings on the vessel;
Figure 5 shows an altemative embodiment of the invention in which the stiffener extends from dle top of the vessel;
Figure 6 diagrammatically shows an extruded portion of the alternative embodiment of the invention in sheet form prior to individual bag separation and assembly;
Figure 7 is a schema~ic perspective of an alternative embodiment of the invention showing a vessel and a collapsible funnel having a stiffener, which can be paItially telescopically removed from and Ieintroduced into the vessel; and Figure 8 is a right side cross sectional view ofthe bag of Figure 7.
DETAlLED D~SCRIPIION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMEINTS
Refer~ing to the drawings in which likeIeference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, ~igure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the specimen collection system 10 of the invention, referred to as "the bag". The bag 10 includes a flexible vessel portion 14 comprising side panels 12 and 13 which are sealed together along their common side seams 11. Apress-to-seal closure strip 16, conventional in the resealable bag art, consists of a groove section 16A and an interlocking ridge section 16B, located oppositely one another on vessel side panels 12 and 13 respectively, and extending across the width of the bag adjacent the top 15.
:~ one aspect of the preferred embodiment of the invention a flattenable, semi-rigid, stiffener 18 generally in the shape of a band is 212~333 attached to the interior of the vessel 14 along the full sides of the stiffener;the band being located between about 1.5 to 2.5 inches below the top 15 of the vessel. When the top of the vessel is turned inside out and folded down to the point where the side panels attach to the stiffener, in preparation for S use, the exposed stiffener 18 presents a relatively Iigid portion of the bag for contact with the user's anatomy.
In an altemative aspect of this embodiment of the invention, i~lustrated by Figure 2, the stiffener 18 is adhered to the interior of the bag only along the lowerperimetal surface 19 of the stiffener. Figure 2 further 10 shows this embodiment of the invention in which stiffener 18 includes a foam cushioning bead 24 around the upper perimetal edge 21 of stiffener 18. In this manner, when the top of the bag is folded down for use the foam edged stiffener is presented for contact with the user's anatomy. This feature provides added comfort for female users of the invention.
Figures 3a and 3b, respectively, show the alternative aspect of the preferred embodirnent in cross section, in which the stiffene~ upper edge 21 includes a foam cushioning bead 24, and wi~out a cushioning bead.
In an alternative embodiment, shown in Figure 4, the stiffener 18 comprises a flattenable, semi-flexible band of mateIial that is attached ;
20 around the exterior of the vessel l4. The stiffener l8 is preferably located approximately 1.5 to 2.5 inches below the top opening 15 of the bag.
In an aspect of the foregoing embodiments of the invention specially designed for use in a doctor's office or institutional setting, also illustratedin Figure 4, the bag further comprises a tab 32 for hanging the bag, and 25 indicia 33 on the vessel portion 14 for instant visual measurement of the quantity of the bag's contents. Hanging tab 32 includes a strip of material similar in composition to that of the stiffener 18, attached to the top of the bag 15 along one side 13 of the bag opening. Tab 32 further contains a central protruding section 31 having a centered hole 34 for suspending the 30 bag from a hook or pole. In this manner multiple bags can be stored on a hange~ prior to use, or one or more post-use bags can be hung while awaiting analysis, for instance. The bag 10 further includes measurement indicia in the form of graduated markings 33 which permit the quantity of ~ ;
specimen in the bag to be instantly measured by direct visual observation.
2:~2~3;~
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 5 in which the stiffener 18 is attached to and extends from ~e top 15 of the vessel for appIoximately 1.5 to 2.5 inches. In one aspect of this embodiment the stiffener 18 is merely an extension of the top of the vessel. Alternatively, the5 stiffener can be affixed to the exterioI of the bag at the top 15, above the press to seal closure strip 16, or similarly, to the interior of the vessel above the closure strip. These embodiments of the invention lend themselves better to manufacture by co-extrusion techniques; however, a bag incorporating less expensive non-extrudable materials such as cardboard, for example, 10 will require other manufacturing methods.
In each embodiment described, the stiffener 18 is pIefeIably constructed from a material having moIe rigidity than the vessel portion while being both most economically manufactured and functional. Materials including vinyl, high density polyethylene, closed cell foam, PVC, and 15 cardboard or other papeI-based materials, for example, which can be joined to the bag as described, or preferably co-extruded with the vessel, are suitable.
Figure 6 shows the embodiment of bag illustrated in FiguIe 5 after it is extruded in sheet form 50 but prior to seam connection for assembly of 2C individual vessels~ Beginning at the top of the figure, the sheet 50 of rnaterial includes a first stiffener portion 18A in the form of a strip approximately 1.5 - 2.5 inches wide. Stiffener strip 18A integrally becomes the top of vessel side panel 12, which includes sealing closure groove 16A
located adjacent the bottom edge of strip 18A. Side panel 12 continues to the 25 centerline 35, denoting the bottom of the bag, whereupon the following section of sheet material represents opposite bag side panel 13. Press-to-seal ridge 16B delineates the top of side panel 13 and is adjacent the bottom edge of stiffener strip 18B. The sheet is cut along dotted lines 55, Iepresenting the seam edges 11 of an individual bag. The cut sections are folded along 30 centerline 35 andcormected along their common edges 11.
' Figures ~ and 8 show a bag 100 for collecting urine, vomit, and the like, comprising a flexible vessel 110 having at least two side walls 112, 113, and a top opening 115 including means for resealably closing the top.
The bag 100 further comprises a co~lapsible funnel 120 having a first open 35 end 125 and a second open end 130. The fuMel 120 is attached to the 3 i~ 3 .
vessel 110 along the inside of walls 112 and 113 as shown at 126. The attachment is adjacent the second open end 130 as shown at 126. ~s such, a portion of the funnel 120 including the second open end 130 is always located within vessel 110 below the top opening 115. The first open end 125 of funnel 120 includes a stiffener 132 in the form of a band or collar attached to the fimnel at the first open end. The stiffener 132 provides a surface for conveniently holding the container 100 during use, and also provides a surface having greater rigidity than that of the funnel itself, which greatly adds to the convenient use of the bag. The flexibility of the vessel 120 allows the user to partially extract a portion of the funnel 120 including the stiffener 132 from the vessel 112 prior to use, and to tuck the funnel completely into the vessel 110 after use, so that the top 115 of the vessel can be sealed shut and the bag disposed of as desired. The stiffener ;
132 can also be cushioned in the manner shown for stiffener 18 at 24 in Figure 2.
A person sl~lled in the art will recognize that the embodiments and aspects of the invention illustrated and described herein are merely ;
exemplary and modifications, variations, and adaptations may become apparent without depar~ng from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
.. ._, . . .
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application ~ ~ -Serial No. 08/073,530, filed June 8,1993.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
S ELD OF THE INVENTION ;
This invention relates generally to Ieceptacles and more particularly to a single use urine collection system suitable for institutional use or , personal use as an emergency toilet, especia y by females.
DESCRII~ION OF THE RELATED ART
The patent literature includes numerous urine, OI specimen, collection devices. Austin U.S. Patent No. 4,790,834 describes a single use external catheter for males that includes a flexible bag having a penile closure and a layer of flexible vapor permeable material located inside of the bag. This device is limited to use by males.
Brothers U.S. Patent No. 5,009,236 describes a urine collection system including a flexible bag having a wide mouth that includes a press to close sealing arrangement, with sleeves formed along the opposite mouth edges. The device includes a holder having mounting rods which are inserted into the sleeves of the bag for maintaining the bag in a sanitary, 20 open position during use. The additional components of this invention require cleaning or sterilization between uses and render the device buLky;
while the bag does not appear to be calibrated, and costs more to manufactllre than the present invention.
Other systems typically comprise rigid devices such as cups or 25 trays, or collection devices that are either worn by a patient or that Iequire semi-surgical implantation. These are not only cumbersome due to their construction, but are impractical for personal emergency use when a toilet is unavailable.
Fur~ermore, emergency receptacles, or bags, used for the effects of 30 nausea due to motion sickness, for example, that are typicaUy found on . _ airplanes and boats, are messy to use because the area of contact of the bag with the user's mouth is flimsy and thus does notreadily conform to the user's face nor allow the user to conveniently hold the bag.
212~3~
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a human waste ~ -collection system that is sanitary, disposable, inexpensive, and convenient for peIsonal emergency use by men and especially by women.
It is another object of this invention to provide a urine co~lection system which is self-contained and requires no external components which ~;
must be cleansed or sterilized after use.
It is a furtheI object of this invention to provide a urine collection system suitable for use in doctor's offices, hospitals, and other institutional settings, that can receive a fuU range of specimen output quantity regardless ;
of the user and from which ~e quantity of specimen collected can be instantly visually measured.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a urine collection system that requires comparatively less space to store in large quantities than conventional systems and that can conveniently be hung for pre-use storage or post-use specimen analysis.
It is another object of the invention to provide a convenient and unobtrusive receptacle for personal use during episodes of nausea due to motion sickness or other causes.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the description and illustrations to follow.
S~ARY 01~ 1~ INVENTION
In accordance with the above objectives, a preferred aspect of the invention comprises a container, henceforth referred to as the bag, for receiving a urine specimen, or other human waste as the need may dictate, including a flexible vessel portion having a closeable, sealable, top which opens to a generally canoe shape, and a flattenable, semi-flexible stiffener attached to the vessel and spaced apart from the sealable top, adapted to perrnit the top part of the vessel above the stiffener to be folded down during use to present a generally rigid surface for contact with the user's anatomy; to aid women, especia11y, in the sar~itary collection of urine.
1 In general, the vessel portion of the bag resembles a common plastic storage bag, being rectangular in shape, and having a ridge and groove type press-to-close seal adjacent the top of the bag. The bag may, however, be constructed so as to have a curvilinear perimeter. In addition, other types of closures including adhesive closures and paper or plastic coated wire 3 3 ~
closures, for example, will be suitable. The preferred vessel material is cleaT
polyethylene on the order of 1.2 to 2.0 mils thick, which provides urine impermeability and functional convenience, especially when the invention is used in an institutional setting; the transpaTency of the vessel permitting immediate visualization of the contents. In this and otheT aspects of the invention the clear vessel exterior can contain indicia for instant visual measuTement of the quantity of the contents. In an embodiment of the invention intended for personal/emergency use, the vessel portion can suitably be fabricated from frosted polyethylene or coated or waxed paper.
A bag so constructed will in general be preferably opaque, and may further contain decorative indicia on ~e vessel exterior to render the bag less obtrusive. Furthermore, opaque vessels can contain a vertical window having graduated markings for quick visual content analysis in the event such a style is preferred.
lS ~ one embodiment of the invention ~e stiffener comprises a flattenable, semi-flexible, band of material that is attached to the inside of the bag. The stiffener can be positioned anywhere between the top and bottom of the bag and preferably is located between approximately 1.5 to 2.5 inches below the top. In one aspect of this embodiment, the entire surface of the stiffener can be attached to the interior of the vessel portion.
In an alternative aspect of this embodiment, the stiffener can be joined to the ~ -inside of the bag along the lower perimetal edge of the stiffener; the preferred style depending principa11y on the technique of manufacture of the bag. In either case, however, the stiffener is encircled by a continuous perimetal portion of the vessel. The stiffener is flattenable to allow the bag to be stored without requiring excessive space or to be furtively carried for personal use. ~ semi-flexible stiffener permits a fall range of open bag positions a110wing for better conformation to the user's anatomy for convenience and hygiene.
To use the bag as intended, the top of the vessel portion above the stiffeli~ is folded inside-out and down to where it attaches to the stiffener, thus presenting the generally rigid suTface of the stifEener perimeter as that paIt of the bag thatmakes contact with the user's anatomy. The stiffener allows the user to maintain the bag in an open position with the fingers of one hand, making the invention easier to use by females especially, than if ~` 212433~ ;
the container were totally flexible. When the user is finished, she merely rolls the inverted sides of the vessel back up over the stiffener and seals the vessel shut.
Another embodiment of the invention includes a stiffener as 5 described above in which the entire suIface of the stiffener, however, is attached to the vessel poItion around the outside of the vessel. A user of this aspect of the invention folds the top portion of the vessel inside-out and down over the top of the stiffener. In this manner the invention again provides for a generally rigid surface of that part of the vessel which comes 10 in to contact with the user's anatomy.
In another aspect of the invention the container comprises a flexible vessel having a closeable, sealable, top portion and a collapsible, or flattenable, stiffener in the form of a continuous collar that is attached to and extends upwardly from the top of the vessel. The vessel closure is located 15 adjacentthebottomperimetalportion of the stiffener.
The stiffener, in all cases, is pIefeIably made of a semi-flexible material such as vinyl, appIoximately 4 - 5 mils thick; however, high density polyethylene, closed cell foam, P~ , and cardboard, for example, are candidate stiffener materials which also provide suitable rigidity. The 20 choice of stiffener material will principally depend on the manufacturing technique used for the invention. The stiffeneI is pIeferably between about .75 to 2.50 inches wide. This range of widths provide the best sized surface for manipulating the bag, especially under emergency use conditions.
In one aspect of the inven~ion the bag includes a tab foI hanging the 25 vessel either for storage prior to use or post-use in an analysis queue, for example. The hanging tab includes a strip of semi-flexible weight bearing material sin~lar to that used for the stiffener, including a central protruding section having a hole for engagement with a hook OI post, attached to and extending from the top of the bag. Such hanging means are well known to 30 ~ose s~dlled in the art; an example of this adaptation being commonly found on I.V. bags used in ho~i~als.
In anotheI aspect of the invention the stiffener includes a bead of foam, or other cushioning material, around its top perimetal surface to make usage of the invention by women moIe comfortable.
2~2~3~
Another embodiment of the invention includes a vessel portion similar to that described above having a sealable, reclosable top, and a collapsible funnel portion that is open at its ends and which can be partially, telescopically withdrawn from the vessel through the vessel top opening S during use and reintroduced into the vessel prior to sealing the vessel shut after use. One open end of the funnel portion is attached to the inside walls of the vessel below the vessel top. The other open end of the collapsible fuMel includes a stiffener in the form of a band, or collaT, making it more convenient for the user to suIround that part of the user's anatomy from where the waste is being discharged. Prior to use of the bag, the collapsible fuMel is conveniently located wi~in the vessel. In use, after opening the vessel, the portion of the fuMel containing the stiffener is extracted from the vessel as far as the fuMel portion will perrnit After use, the funnel portion including the stiffener is simply pushed back down into the vessel, which can then be sealed shut and disposed of as desired.
A primary consideration of the invention is the manufacture of the bag in an efficient enough maMer to render it disposable after single use.
Certain embodiments of the invention will permit co-extrusion of the vessel and stiffener. If co-extruded, the bag including the sealable vessel and the stiffener would be produced in sheet form requiring that the sheet be cut into strips of the desired bag width, and the strips then folded upon themselves whereupon sealing the common sides along seams results in a two-sided sealable vessel. Conventional means are known to those skilled in the art for performing such clos"re and include welding techniques consisting of thermosealing or ultrasonics, for example, OI by adhesive methods including hot melt and solvent bonding. It may alternatively be necessary to manufacture the vessel and stiffener sections of the container independently and thereafter attach them, especially in the aspect comprising the stiffener attached to the interior of the bag.
Finally, it will be appreciated that the invention will readily lend itself for use during episodes of nausea due to motion sickness or other causes because of the ability to hold the bag and conform the opening to the portion of the face around the user's mouth.
DESCRIPlION OF 1~ DRAWlNGS
--~ 212~3~
Figure 1 diagrammatically shows an aspect of the preferred embodiment of the invention in which a stiffener band is fully attached to the interior of the vessel, the top of the bag being folded down for use; . ~ .
Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the stiffener has a cushioned upper perimeter and in which the stiffener is attached to the interior of the vessel along the bottom perimetal edge of the stiffener;
Figures 3a and 3b show the bag in cross section along lines 3-3 of Figure 2 wherein the stiffeneI includes a foam bead along its upper perimeter, and without a cushioning bead, respectively;
Figure 4 shows an aspect of the invention in which the stiffener is attached around the outside of the vessel below the top of the bag, also showing means for hanging the bag, and gradation markings on the vessel;
Figure 5 shows an altemative embodiment of the invention in which the stiffener extends from dle top of the vessel;
Figure 6 diagrammatically shows an extruded portion of the alternative embodiment of the invention in sheet form prior to individual bag separation and assembly;
Figure 7 is a schema~ic perspective of an alternative embodiment of the invention showing a vessel and a collapsible funnel having a stiffener, which can be paItially telescopically removed from and Ieintroduced into the vessel; and Figure 8 is a right side cross sectional view ofthe bag of Figure 7.
DETAlLED D~SCRIPIION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMEINTS
Refer~ing to the drawings in which likeIeference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, ~igure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the specimen collection system 10 of the invention, referred to as "the bag". The bag 10 includes a flexible vessel portion 14 comprising side panels 12 and 13 which are sealed together along their common side seams 11. Apress-to-seal closure strip 16, conventional in the resealable bag art, consists of a groove section 16A and an interlocking ridge section 16B, located oppositely one another on vessel side panels 12 and 13 respectively, and extending across the width of the bag adjacent the top 15.
:~ one aspect of the preferred embodiment of the invention a flattenable, semi-rigid, stiffener 18 generally in the shape of a band is 212~333 attached to the interior of the vessel 14 along the full sides of the stiffener;the band being located between about 1.5 to 2.5 inches below the top 15 of the vessel. When the top of the vessel is turned inside out and folded down to the point where the side panels attach to the stiffener, in preparation for S use, the exposed stiffener 18 presents a relatively Iigid portion of the bag for contact with the user's anatomy.
In an altemative aspect of this embodiment of the invention, i~lustrated by Figure 2, the stiffener 18 is adhered to the interior of the bag only along the lowerperimetal surface 19 of the stiffener. Figure 2 further 10 shows this embodiment of the invention in which stiffener 18 includes a foam cushioning bead 24 around the upper perimetal edge 21 of stiffener 18. In this manner, when the top of the bag is folded down for use the foam edged stiffener is presented for contact with the user's anatomy. This feature provides added comfort for female users of the invention.
Figures 3a and 3b, respectively, show the alternative aspect of the preferred embodirnent in cross section, in which the stiffene~ upper edge 21 includes a foam cushioning bead 24, and wi~out a cushioning bead.
In an alternative embodiment, shown in Figure 4, the stiffener 18 comprises a flattenable, semi-flexible band of mateIial that is attached ;
20 around the exterior of the vessel l4. The stiffener l8 is preferably located approximately 1.5 to 2.5 inches below the top opening 15 of the bag.
In an aspect of the foregoing embodiments of the invention specially designed for use in a doctor's office or institutional setting, also illustratedin Figure 4, the bag further comprises a tab 32 for hanging the bag, and 25 indicia 33 on the vessel portion 14 for instant visual measurement of the quantity of the bag's contents. Hanging tab 32 includes a strip of material similar in composition to that of the stiffener 18, attached to the top of the bag 15 along one side 13 of the bag opening. Tab 32 further contains a central protruding section 31 having a centered hole 34 for suspending the 30 bag from a hook or pole. In this manner multiple bags can be stored on a hange~ prior to use, or one or more post-use bags can be hung while awaiting analysis, for instance. The bag 10 further includes measurement indicia in the form of graduated markings 33 which permit the quantity of ~ ;
specimen in the bag to be instantly measured by direct visual observation.
2:~2~3;~
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 5 in which the stiffener 18 is attached to and extends from ~e top 15 of the vessel for appIoximately 1.5 to 2.5 inches. In one aspect of this embodiment the stiffener 18 is merely an extension of the top of the vessel. Alternatively, the5 stiffener can be affixed to the exterioI of the bag at the top 15, above the press to seal closure strip 16, or similarly, to the interior of the vessel above the closure strip. These embodiments of the invention lend themselves better to manufacture by co-extrusion techniques; however, a bag incorporating less expensive non-extrudable materials such as cardboard, for example, 10 will require other manufacturing methods.
In each embodiment described, the stiffener 18 is pIefeIably constructed from a material having moIe rigidity than the vessel portion while being both most economically manufactured and functional. Materials including vinyl, high density polyethylene, closed cell foam, PVC, and 15 cardboard or other papeI-based materials, for example, which can be joined to the bag as described, or preferably co-extruded with the vessel, are suitable.
Figure 6 shows the embodiment of bag illustrated in FiguIe 5 after it is extruded in sheet form 50 but prior to seam connection for assembly of 2C individual vessels~ Beginning at the top of the figure, the sheet 50 of rnaterial includes a first stiffener portion 18A in the form of a strip approximately 1.5 - 2.5 inches wide. Stiffener strip 18A integrally becomes the top of vessel side panel 12, which includes sealing closure groove 16A
located adjacent the bottom edge of strip 18A. Side panel 12 continues to the 25 centerline 35, denoting the bottom of the bag, whereupon the following section of sheet material represents opposite bag side panel 13. Press-to-seal ridge 16B delineates the top of side panel 13 and is adjacent the bottom edge of stiffener strip 18B. The sheet is cut along dotted lines 55, Iepresenting the seam edges 11 of an individual bag. The cut sections are folded along 30 centerline 35 andcormected along their common edges 11.
' Figures ~ and 8 show a bag 100 for collecting urine, vomit, and the like, comprising a flexible vessel 110 having at least two side walls 112, 113, and a top opening 115 including means for resealably closing the top.
The bag 100 further comprises a co~lapsible funnel 120 having a first open 35 end 125 and a second open end 130. The fuMel 120 is attached to the 3 i~ 3 .
vessel 110 along the inside of walls 112 and 113 as shown at 126. The attachment is adjacent the second open end 130 as shown at 126. ~s such, a portion of the funnel 120 including the second open end 130 is always located within vessel 110 below the top opening 115. The first open end 125 of funnel 120 includes a stiffener 132 in the form of a band or collar attached to the fimnel at the first open end. The stiffener 132 provides a surface for conveniently holding the container 100 during use, and also provides a surface having greater rigidity than that of the funnel itself, which greatly adds to the convenient use of the bag. The flexibility of the vessel 120 allows the user to partially extract a portion of the funnel 120 including the stiffener 132 from the vessel 112 prior to use, and to tuck the funnel completely into the vessel 110 after use, so that the top 115 of the vessel can be sealed shut and the bag disposed of as desired. The stiffener ;
132 can also be cushioned in the manner shown for stiffener 18 at 24 in Figure 2.
A person sl~lled in the art will recognize that the embodiments and aspects of the invention illustrated and described herein are merely ;
exemplary and modifications, variations, and adaptations may become apparent without depar~ng from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
.. ._, . . .
Claims (26)
1. A container for receiving waste comprising:
(a) a flexible vessel portion having a sealable closeable top and a closed bottom; and (b) a flattenable semi-flexible stiffener having an upper and a lower perimetal edge and a given width, attached to the vessel in such a way that the stiffener engages a continuous perimetal portion of the vessel.
(a) a flexible vessel portion having a sealable closeable top and a closed bottom; and (b) a flattenable semi-flexible stiffener having an upper and a lower perimetal edge and a given width, attached to the vessel in such a way that the stiffener engages a continuous perimetal portion of the vessel.
2. The container of Claim 1 in which the given width of the stiffener is preferably in a range of approximately .75 to 2.50 inches.
3. The container of Claim 1 in which the stiffener is attached to the vessel intermediate the top and the bottom of the container.
4. The container of Claim 3 in which the upper perimetal edge of the stiffener is preferably located in the range of approximately 1.5 to 2.5 inches below the top of the vessel.
5. The container of the Claim 3 in which the stiffener comprises a band of material fully attached to an exterior perimetal portion of the vessel
6. The container of Claim 3 in which the stiffener comprises a band of material attached to an interior perimetal portion of the vessel.
7. The container of Claim 6 in which the stiffener is attached to the vessel along the lower perimetal edge of the stiffener.
8. The container of Claim 6 in which the stiffener is fully attached to the interior perimetal portion of the vessel.
9. The container of Claim 1 further comprising a hanging tab comprising a strip of semi-flexible material including a protruding central portion having a centered hole, joined to the top of the container along a side of the vessel portion, for hanging the container.
10. The container of Claim 1 in which the stiffener comprises a continuous collar attached to the top of the container along the lower perimetal edge of the stiffener.
11. The container of Claim 10 further comprising a hanging tab in which the hanging tab comprises a strip of semi-flexible material including a protruding central portion having a centered hole, joined to the top perimetal edge of the stiffener along a bottom portion of the hanging tab, for hanging the container.
12. The container of Claim 1 in which the stiffener includes a cushioning bead along the upper perimetal edge of the stiffener.
13. The container of Claim 1 in which the vessel portion comprises measurement indicia, whereby the indicia permits instant visual measurement of the quantity of the contents of the vessel.
14. The container of Claim 1 comprising decorative indicia on an exterior surface of the vessel portion.
15. The container of Claim 1 in which the closed bottom of the vessel portion has a rectilinear shape.
16. The container of Claim 1 in which the closed bottom of the vessel portion has a curvilinear shape.
17. The container of Claim 1 in which the vessel portion comprises an opaque material.
18. The container of Claim 1 in which the vessel portion has a resealably closeable top.
19. A disposable bag for receiving urine comprising:
(a) a flexible portion having a closeable, sealable, top and a closed bottom;
(b) a press to seal closure attached to an interior portion of the vessel and located adjacent the top of the vessel; and (c) a flattenable, semi-flexible, stiffener comprising a continuous band of material having an upper and a lower perimetal edge and a given width of between approximately .75 to 2.50 inches, in which the stiffener is fully attached to the vessel around an exterior perimetal portion of the vessel intermediate the top and the bottom of the vessel, further in which a section of the vessel portion extending from the stiffener upper perimetal edge to the top is foldably invertible over the stiffener, whereby upon inverting the extending vessel portion a generally rigid surface of the bag is made available for contact with a female user's anatomy especially, for the convenient collection of urine.
(a) a flexible portion having a closeable, sealable, top and a closed bottom;
(b) a press to seal closure attached to an interior portion of the vessel and located adjacent the top of the vessel; and (c) a flattenable, semi-flexible, stiffener comprising a continuous band of material having an upper and a lower perimetal edge and a given width of between approximately .75 to 2.50 inches, in which the stiffener is fully attached to the vessel around an exterior perimetal portion of the vessel intermediate the top and the bottom of the vessel, further in which a section of the vessel portion extending from the stiffener upper perimetal edge to the top is foldably invertible over the stiffener, whereby upon inverting the extending vessel portion a generally rigid surface of the bag is made available for contact with a female user's anatomy especially, for the convenient collection of urine.
20. A container for collecting urine, vomit, and the like, comprising:
a) a flexible vessel including at least two walls and a top opening having means for resealably closing the top opening; and b) a collapsible funnel including abody having a first open end and a second open end, in which the second open end is in the vessel and the body is attached to the inside of the vessel adjacent the second open end below the top opening of the vessel, and a semi-rigid deformable collar attached to the funnel at the first open end, in which the funnel can be in one of a position entirely within the vessel and partially without the vessel, whereby a user of the container can extract the collared portion of the funnel from the vessel for convenient deposit of material therein and, after use, reintroduce the collared portion into the vessel and seal the vessel for disposal.
a) a flexible vessel including at least two walls and a top opening having means for resealably closing the top opening; and b) a collapsible funnel including abody having a first open end and a second open end, in which the second open end is in the vessel and the body is attached to the inside of the vessel adjacent the second open end below the top opening of the vessel, and a semi-rigid deformable collar attached to the funnel at the first open end, in which the funnel can be in one of a position entirely within the vessel and partially without the vessel, whereby a user of the container can extract the collared portion of the funnel from the vessel for convenient deposit of material therein and, after use, reintroduce the collared portion into the vessel and seal the vessel for disposal.
21. The container of claim 20 in which the collar includes an upper perimetal surface in which the upper perimetal surface comprises a cushion.
22. The container of claim 20 in which the vessel is clear.
23. The container of claim 20 in which the vessel is opaque.
24. The container of claim 20 in which the at least two vessel walls have indicia on their exterior surfaces.
25. The container of claim 20 in which the collar is preferably between about 0.75 inches to 2.50 inches wide.
26. The container of claim 20 in which the vessel has a width and the funnel has a width, wherein the width of the funnel is approximately equal to the width of the vessel.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US7353093A | 1993-06-08 | 1993-06-08 | |
| US073,530 | 1993-06-08 | ||
| US12946193A | 1993-09-29 | 1993-09-29 | |
| US129,461 | 1993-09-29 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2124383A1 true CA2124383A1 (en) | 1994-12-09 |
Family
ID=26754576
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2124383 Abandoned CA2124383A1 (en) | 1993-06-08 | 1994-05-26 | Specimen bag/emergency toilet |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2124383A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2529657A (en) * | 2014-08-27 | 2016-03-02 | Louise Broom | Device for measuring the volume of urine |
-
1994
- 1994-05-26 CA CA 2124383 patent/CA2124383A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2529657A (en) * | 2014-08-27 | 2016-03-02 | Louise Broom | Device for measuring the volume of urine |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |