GB2255011A

GB2255011A - Inflatable chamber pot

Info

Publication number: GB2255011A
Application number: GB9208975A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rosamund Julia Anne Howard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-04-24
Filing date: 1992-04-24
Publication date: 1992-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-24
Also published as: GB2255011B; GB9108799D0; GB9208975D0

Abstract

An inflatable chamber pot has a central chamber portion (3) and seat portion (2). Support portions (4, 5), may be provided at either end of the pot. The chamber portion (3) is provided with closure means (7) at its mouth for sealing the chamber after use, prior to its disposal. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPOSABLE CHAMBER POTS This invention relates to disposable chamber pots.

Mothers will know very well that small children often want to go to the toilet at the most awkward times: in a crowded shop; in the car; in the street.

Small children have little foresight and just as little control, a parent often receiving only moments notice of an impending need.

According to a first aspect the invention comprises a disposable chamber pot, or potty, which is inflatable from a deflated condition to an inflated condition of use.

Preferably the pot is small enough to be carried in a typical pocket.

Preferably the pot can be deflated after use for disposal.

The pot preferably has closure means at the mouth of its chamber to assist in holding the contents of the pot after use within the pot, even when deflated.

The pot may have, when inflated, a central body portion upon which the user may sit and upwardly projecting support portions at either end of the pot.

The support portions may also comprise closure means.

The pot may have a pocket to hold useful items and/or adapted to comprise a component of the closure means.

The pot may have an associated inflation unit adapted to inflate it. The may comprise an integral compressed gas inflation unit. Alternatively the pot may be inflated by a pump, a cartridge of compressed gas, which may be re-usable, or by mouth.

According to a second aspect the invention comprises a kit comprising a chamber pot in accordance with the first aspect of the invention and absorbent material adapted to be put into the pot after use so as to absorb liquid material to reduce the chance of spillage during disposal of the used pot.

The absorbent material may be scented, or scent may be provided elsewhere, for example incorporated into the pot or gas.

The kit may include toilet paper or other wiping material.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure la shows the an inflatable disposable pot in its pre-use condition; Figure ib shows the pot of Figure la inflated for use; Figures 2 to 4 show pots having different closure means; and Figure 5 shows a kit incorporating a number of pots, absorbent wads, and a cylinder of compressed air.

The pot of Figures la and ib is made of waterproof, urine resistant plastics and has a central body portion 2 defining a wall 3, and forward and rear support regions 4 and 5. Alternatively or additionally the pot may be made of biodegradable material.

A one-shot inflation cartridge 6 of compressed air is integrally moulded in the body. A deflation valve may be associated with the cartridge 6, or provided on the pot separately. The internal face 7 of the rim of the well 3 is self-adhesive.

A parent puts the new, un-inflated pot, in their trouser or coat pocket when they go out with their small child. When the child needs the pot, and no conventional toilet is near enough, the parent takes out the pot, activates the cartridge 6, and within seconds the child has a pot. The support portions 4 and 5 help to support the child and make it feel more secure. Making the pot in the shape of a bird, dinosaur, or other animal with a head and tail may also re-assure the child. When the child has used the pot an absorbent wad of cotton (not shown) kept in another pocket is dropped into the pot to absorb liquid and the pot then deflated and sealed by pressing opposing regions of the self-adhesive face 7 together. The two support regions 4 and 5 may be tied or otherwise held together to assist in closing the pot.The deflated and substantially sealed pot can then be dropped in any convenient litter bin.

The wad of cotton (not shown) is scented so as to make transportation of the used, deflated, pot more pleasant.

The pot 1 and wad may be sold as a kit, with instructions.

Instead, of or in addition to, the self-adhesive rim the pot 1 could have a number of tapes fixed to it adjacent its rim such that they can be unfolded and overlap the opposite side of the rim of the pot to close the collapsed pot. Figure 2 illustrates a pot 20 with a series of tapes 21 near its rim.

Alternatively or additionally a draw cord, or elastic means, may be provided at the mouth of the well 3 to assist in closing the well after deflation of the pot. Figure 3 illustrates an inflatable pot with a draw cord.

A further sealing means is shown in Figure 4 and comprises a flap or ring of material 25 attached to the top region of the pot but free at its lower end to form and inverted pocket. After use the pocket or flap 25 is turned over (lifted upwards) so as to seal the pot.

The flap 25 may seal against itself, for example it could form the top part of a bag when the pot is deflated which could be sealed in any way commonly used with plastic bags, for example by twisting the free edge portions of the flap 25 so as to form a column or spike of twisted material which can be formed into a knot or secured with string or wire.

The flap 25 may have self-adhesive portions to assist sealing. It may have a drawstring at or near its free edge. A top surface 26 of the pot may co-operate with regions of the flap 25 when it is pulled up and folded inwards so as to assist in sealing the pot.

The pocket formed by flap 25 holds toilet paper 27. It may also be used (prior to use of the pot in an emergency) to hold other small sanitary items such as a moist cleaning wipe, a small sachet of baby powder or cream, a plastic bag which could be used either to hold soiled clothing or to put the whole pot in and be sealed around it to serve as a second seal, and a spare pair of pants for the child to replace a soiled pair.

It will be appreciated that the items in the pocket could be put in the pocket during production of the uninflated compact pot and may then be small enough and sufficiently crushable to be compressed along with the pot into a small package. Alternatively they may be provided in the kit separate from the uninflated pot. The kit may include any one or combination of the items described above and need not include them all.

Although the pot has been described as being deflated before being sealed it could be arranged to be sealed first and then deflated.

The pots of the figures can withstand the weight of a small child sitting on them, say 35kg. Pots for adults (for use when camping or in emergencies) are also envisaged.

Instead of having the absorbed wad as a separate, drop-in, article it could be incorporated in the pot.

More than one wad could be provided.

Figure 5 shows a kit comprising about ten pots 30, ten wads of cotton 31, a compressed air cartridge 32 capable of inflating all ten pots, and a set of instructions 33.

An inflated pot need not be disposed of straight away if circumstance permit disposal of its contents in some other way. For example, a pot may be taken with a young child on a visit to relatives who do not have a conventional potty, inflated, and then used as a conventional potty and may be re-used throughout the visit. Furthermore, a pot may exceptionally be cleaned after use, deflated and re-collapsed into a compact package for re-use as an emergency pot.

A further aspect of the invention which is envisaged comprises a vending machine which dispenses pots or kits in accordance with the first or second aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. A disposable chamber pot which is inflatable from a deflated condition to an inflated condition of use.

2. A disposable chamber pot according to claim 1 which is small enough in its uninflated or deflated condition to be carried in a typical pocket.

3. A disposable pot according to claim 1 or claim 2 which can be deflated after use for disposal.

4. A disposable chamber pot according to any preceding claim in which closure means are provide for the chamber at its mouth.

5. A disposable chamber pot according to any preceding claim in which when uninflated the pot has a central body portion and upwardly projecting support portions at either end of the pot.

6. A disposable chamber pot according to claim 5 in which the upwardly projecting support portions comprise closure means for the mouth of the chamber.

7. A disposable chamber pot according to any preceding claim in which the pot has an integral inflation unit.

8. A kit comprising a chamber pot in accordance with any preceding claim and absorbent material.

9. A kit according to claim 8 in which the kit also contains toilet paper or other wiping material.

10. A vending machine which dispenses disposable chamber pots in accordance with claims 1 to 7 and/or kits in accordance with claim 8 or claim 9.

11. A disposable chamber pot substantially as herein described with reference to Figure la, Figure lb, Figure 2, or Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying Figures.

12. A kit substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying Figures.