GB2279258A

GB2279258A - Apparel for containing body fluids.

Info

Publication number: GB2279258A
Application number: GB9313404A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Henry Worley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-06-29
Filing date: 1993-06-29
Publication date: 1995-01-04
Also published as: GB9313404D0

Abstract

Apparel to receive and temporarily contain discharged body fluids comprises a purpose-made carrier under-garment 2, a moulded body plate 5, selected to suit either the male and/or female anatomy, which is extruded to form a conical receptor 5d, a retaining cone 6, the wider base of which is flanged 7 to locate tightly in a flanged seating in the conical receptor, a non-return flow valve 9 located in or on the narrow end of the retaining cone 6, a flexible, sealable, disposable and watertight bag container 10 which is locked between the extruded receptor 5d and retaining cone 6 and a waterproof thigh pad 11 representing a secondary water tight security container 11a capable of receiving and retaining the container 10. In a second embodiment the retaining cone, in modified form (Figs. 14, 15), contains compressed fibre material, as an alternative to the bag container. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS TO RECEIVE AND TEMPORARILY CONTAIN DISCHARGED BODY FLUIDS This invention relates to an apparatus of apparel to receive and temporarily contain fluids discharged in voluntary and involuntary bodily function through either the male or female urinary tract and/or the vagina in the female menstrual function.

Nappies are well nown receptors and temporary containers of such discharged body fluids and are available for both child and adult, whether male or female. Additionally, in women, menstrual discharge is commonly received and temporarily contained by towels worn externally and/or high absorbency plugs fitted internally to the vagina Sanitary towels and tampons are examples of these. All of the above devices are disposably designed and constnrcted.

These receptor/containors depend upon and are Ihnited in application by various factors in different combinations for their efficiency. Bulk, density, absorption capacity, and rate of absorption are some of these. They must be frequently changed and moreover they can be both uncomfortable and inefficient both during and after use as fluid discharge volume may exceed the receptor/containor volume capacity and/or the rate of discharge may exceed the maximum absorption rate of the receptor/containor causing overfill or spillage which can stain clothing and/or bedding.

Additionally, such receptor/containors can cause undesirable and negative medical sideeffects such as skin and other allergic reactions to either the receptor/containor itself or to the fluid impregnated device both during and after use. Such receptor/containors are typically bulky and can limit both the users choice of clothing and physical freedom Of movement. Following use, these devices can be particularly uncomfortable and in particular, the adult version of the nappy, difficult to remove and awkward to dispose of without loss of personal self-esteem. Persons of either sex suffering from the medical condition incontinence are particularly affected by these factors and are often forced to continue to wear such frequently saturated devices for prolonged periods until they can be conveniently removed and replaced According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus of apparel comprising a posenade carrier under-garment, a moulded body phte selected to suit either the male and/or female anatomy which is extruded to form a conical receptor1 a retaining cone, the wider base of which is fhnged to locate tightly in the conical receptor, a non-return flow valve located in or on the narrow end of the retaining cone, a flexible, salable, disposable and watertight containor which is locked between the extruded receptor and retaining cones and a waterproof thigh pad constructed to approximate the inner thigh and representing a secondary watertight security container capable of receiving and retaining the disposable watertight container and a means of attaching and/or securing the thigh pad to the upper and lower thigh A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 shows in phn view the carrier under-garment with top and bottom pockets provided as a means of locating, positioning or retaining a body plate together with an aperture to accept an extended body plate or retaining cone.

Figure 2 shows in plan view the carrier undergarment with the male body plate located and retained in the top and bottom pockets.

Figure 3 shows in side vien the contoured female body plate and receptor cone aperture.

Figure 4 shows in plan vien the contoured female body plate and receptor cone aperture.

Figure 5 shows in side view the contoured male body plate and receptor cone aperture, Figure 6 shows in plan view the contoured male body phte and receptor cone aperture.

Figure 7 shows in side view the flanged retaining cone and Figure 8 shows in phn view the flanged retaining cone and aperture.

Figure 9 shows in side view the open nonsetum valve.

Figure 10 shows in side vien the closed non-return valve.

Figure 1l shows in plan view the flexible, watertight, salable and disposable bag contain.

Figure 12 shows in plan view the male body pate with an integrated thigh pad extension forming a security pouch Figure 13 shows in side vien a schematic assemMy routine of all apparatus components Figure 14 shows the flanged retaining cone modified to cup form to accept a short compressed chopped fibre material providing an alternative to the flexible, watertight, salable and diposable bag contar.

Figure 15 shows the flanged retaining cone modified to elongated cup form to accept a long compressed chopped fibre material providing a fMher alternative to both the flexible, watertight, salable and disposable bag contain and the short compressed chopped fibre material shown in Figure 14.

Referring to the drawings the apparatus comprises a carrier under-garment 2 which is provided with pockets land 4 and an aperture3/3a which permit the location, positioning and retention of a contoured body plate S. The aperture 3/3a also provides access through the garment for the contoured body plate and retaining cone extrusions Sd and 6. The contoured body plate, selected according to the sex of the user, is tucked or inserted into the top 1 and bottom 4 pockets of the carrier under-garment so that in the case of the male contoured body plate, the cone extrusion S protrudes through the aperture3/3a in the carrier under-garment 2 and in the case of the female contoured body plate so that the contour 5a is facing the user and is located covering the vulva and sealing the vaginal area to a point between vagina and anus. The interchangeable flanged retaining cone 6 and non-return valve 9 must, in both male and female variants, protrude through the aperture 3/3a. A means is provided to fix body plate S at a user defined anatomically correct height within the pockets 1 and 4.

Following placement of the contoured body phte S, the flanged retaining cone 6 and fitted nonreturn valve 9 are inserted into the neck 10a of the flexible, watertight, salable and disposable bag container 10 and the whole assembly passed through the contoured body phte extrusion cone Sd and aperture 3 the bag containor badin8, so that the bag containor 10 is correctly positioned outside the carrier under-garment 2.

The bag containor neck 10a is then locked in place by pushing the flanged retaining cone 6 flush into the flange seating Sc (male) or 5e (female) to obtain a tight, close fit In the case of the male, the penis is inserted through the contoured body plate 5 and flanged retaining cone 6.

In the case of the female no further positioning/ & ljustments are necessary.

The assembly is comPleted by inserting the disposable bag container body 10 into the watertight security pouch fia which is mounted on or in the thigh pad 11 and tying the thigh pad 11 to the thigh using the means provided fib.

Following use, the disposable bag container 10 is seled using the means provided 10b and can either be left in the security pouch Ha until convenient to dispose of or the bag can be removed by reversing the above assembly insructs, disposed of and immediatety replaced if required or necessary.

In an alternative version, the watertight disposable bag containor 10 is replaced by a modified flanged retaining cone 14 or IS which, filled with a compressed chopped fibre material provides an alternative disposable high absorbency protection

Claims

CLAIMS L An apparatus of apparel to receive and temporarity contain fluids discharged in voluntary or involuntary bodity function through either the male or female urinary tract and/or the vagina in the female menstrual function comprising a purpose-made carrier under 8arment with a means to locate, position and/or retain a body phte, a body plate extruded to form a conical receptor with a flange seating at its base, a retaining cone which is fhnged to locate in the seating provided in the conical receptor, and a flexible, salable, watertight and disposable bag containor which is locked in position between the bearing surfaces of the receptor and retaining cones and the flange arrangement.
2. An apparatus of apparel as claimed h Claim 1 wherein the extruded body pate is moulded to inversely match male anatomical contours
3. An apparatus of apparel as claimed in Claim I wherein the extruded body phte is moulded to inversely match female anatomical contours.
4. An apparatus of apparel as chimed in Claim 1 or Chim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the retaining cone is interchangeable between the male and the female body pates
5. An apparatus of apparel as claimed in Claim I, Clan 2 or Claim 3 wherein a means of preventing fluid from returning past or back through the retaining cone from the disposable bag contalnor is provided on or in the narrow end of the retaining cone.
6. An apparatus of apparel as claimed in Claim I, Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the body phte is extended by provision of an integrated thigh pad contoured to approximate the area of the inner thigh upon or within which a pouch arrangement is provided to form a permanent secondary watertight security containor capable of receiving and retaining the disposable watertight bag containor.
7. An apparatus of apparel as chimed in Claim I, Claim 2, Claim 3 or Claim 6 wherein a separate thigh pad contoured to approximate the area of the inner thigh upon or within which a pouch arrangement Is provided to form a permanent secondary watertight containor capable of receiving and retaining the disposable watertight bag containor.
8. An apparatus of apparel as claimed in Claim I, Claim 2, Claim 3, Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein means Is provided to secure the thigh pad to either the upper and/or lower thigh
9. An apparatus of apparel as chimed in Claim 1 or Claim 3 wherein the retaining cone in modified form accepts a purpose made, fitted wad of compressed, chopped fibre, thereby providing a high absorbency disposable materhl contain as an alternative to a flexible, salable, di(jposb)e bag contain.
10. An apparatus of apparel as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, or Chim 3 wherein the pockets of the undergarment are provided with means to fix the body phte at a user defined anatomically and indivkiuaüy correct height.

II. An apparatus of apparel as claimed in any preceE Claim wherein the principal components are manufactured from a thermoformable, closed cell, cross linked ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer foam 12.An apparatus to receive and temporgily contain discharged body fluids substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-15 of the accompanying drawings