GB2125287A

GB2125287A - Urine deflector

Info

Publication number: GB2125287A
Application number: GB08223866A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leslie George Lowther
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-08-19
Filing date: 1982-08-19
Publication date: 1984-03-07

Abstract

A deflector is substantially in the shape of a trough open at both ends, and is of a uniform cross-section along its whole length or along its whole length with the exception of one end thereof.

Description

SPECIFICATION Urine deflector The invention relates to a deflector for urine, intended to be used mainly by women, to deflect urine accurately into e.g. the toilet, a bedpan or specimen jar.

Although the deflector can be used by fit persons in a number of situations, it is particularly useful and beneficial for people suffering from a permanent or temporary physical handicap, such as people restricted in movement from the waist down and people with bandages, burns or bedsores.

The aim of the deflector is to allow fit women not wishing to sit on a public toilet or having to use various types of toilets with no support to sit on, and also disabled women who cannot squat on to a toil, to deflect urine in any desired manner.

The urine deflector is particularly beneficial for people who are confined and restricted by bandages and dressings around upper and inner thighs or having stitches along the groin, who can use the deflector to deflect urine such as not to contaminate any bandages, burns or sore parts.

The invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a deflector according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a second embodiment, Figure 3 shows a third embodiment, and Figure 4 shows an example of use of the deflector.

The embodiment shown in Figure 1 is a preformed, substantially V-shaped deflector with rounded lateral edges made e.g. of PTFE, PVC or polyethylene, which may be, if desired, washed or even sterilised.

The embodiment shown in Figure 2 is formed of paper which may be on the inner and/or outer side, preferably outside the lateral edges formed by folding, treated or provided with a suitable coating (e.g. of silicone) or gloss, to make it permanently or temporarily waterproof. An advantageous treatment or coating is one which reduces the permeability of the deflector so that urine does not pass therethrough for a short period, corresponding to the usual period of use, say one minute, but after that the deflector breaks up and may be flushed down the toilet.

It will be appreciated that although the lateral edges are shown, for simplicity of drawing, as angled, they wiil, in fact, be substantially rounded.

The embodiment shown in Figure 3 is made of non-woven material, such as wadding, bent at the lateral edges to provide soft edges and treated, e.g. sprayed with a plastics material, in the inner area below the rounded edges to reduce its permeability as explained with the embodiment shown in Figure 2, to provide a disposable deflector.

The embodiments shown in Figures 2 and 3 may also be made permanently waterproof by treatment or by the addition of a waterproof layer (not shown) secured (e.g. bonded or stitched) to the basic material, to make them re-usable.

All the three illustrated embodiments have rounded, preferably soft edges, to prevent discomfort to persons, particularly patients, sensitive in the area which comes into contact with the lateral edges of the deflector. For that reason the waterproofing or permeability reducing treatment is not given to the lateral edges of the deflector to retain their natural softness.

Figure 4 shows diagrammatically use of the deflector by a woman in part-crouching position, one leg being left out for better visibility.

Although only substantially V-shaped deflectors were shown, they can have any other suitable shape; so for instance the cross-section of the deflector may be in the shape of a trapezium, semi-circle or semi-ellipse.

It will also be understood that the deflector need not have rounded edges, particularly if it is made from a material which is partly pliable, such as paper. A deflector, especially one used by persons whose skin is not sensitive in the area of contact with the deflector, may be made of a strip of suitable paper or cardboard folded in half.

Alternatively the edges (marginal areas) may be treated to make them softer than the basic material.

Successful experiments were made with V-shaped deflectors 1 50-250 mm long, the side walls of which were 50 mm wide.

Although in the illustrated embodiments the end edges of the deflectors are contained in a plane substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the deflector it may be advantageous if e.g. the edges at the outlet end of the deflector are contained in a plane extending at an acute angle to the bottom of the deflector to facilitate directioning of the stream of urine.

The deflector may also be adapted for simple urine testing for medical purposes. All these tests and materials used for them are well known in the art. The testing is made by means of strips of paper or testing sticks impregnated or treated with suitable chemicals to indicate pH, or to detect the presence of e.g. albumin, bile, blood or glucose in urine. Such a testing strip of paper could either be secured to the deflector at a suitable part thereof or a portion of the deflector may be provided with the appropriate indicating chemical.

Claims

1. A urine deflector which is substantially in the shape of a trough open at both ends, and is of a uniform cross-section along its whole length or along its whole length with the exception of one end thereof.

2. A urine deflector according to Claim 1 which is pliable.

3. A deflector according to Claim 1 or 2 which is substantially V-shaped in cross-section.

4. A deflector according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 the lateral edges of which are rounded and/or soft or softened.

5. A deflector according to Claims 1 to 4 made of paper or cardboard.

6. A deflector according to Claim 5 treated to be temporarily or permanently impervious to urine.

7. A deflector according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 made of plastics.

8. A deflector according to Claim 7 made of PTFE, PVC or polyethylene.

9. A deflector according to any one of the preceding claims provided with means, or treated, so as to be usable for urine testing.

10. A urine deflector constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.