GB2333755A

GB2333755A - Urine collection device

Info

Publication number: GB2333755A
Application number: GB9900346A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Meirion Rees
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-05-08
Filing date: 1999-01-11
Publication date: 1999-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 2019-01-11
Also published as: GB9900346D0; GB2333755B

Abstract

A portable urine collection device includes a urine receptacle having a base and an upstanding perimeter wall extending away from the base to a constricted neck portion 5. The device also includes an adaptor 8, having a throat portion and a mouth portion, the mouth portion being of greater cross-section than the throat portion to define a funnel. The throat portion is arranged to engage with the constricted neck portion during use 5, and the mouth portion is arranged to releasably engage with the upstanding perimeter wall during storage or transportation of the device. The receptacle may be of plastics material, preferably substantially transparent or incorporating a transparent panel.

Description

Urine Collection Device The present invention is concerned with a portable urine collection device, and in particular a portable urine collection device which is small and can be carried in, for example, a persons handbag.

Urine bottles are known for use when providing urine samples which are required for analysis. However another use for urine bottles is in the absence of a toilet, for example when camping or sailing, or when simply travelling, a person needs to urinate. The use of such urine bottles is particularly advantageous for smaller children.

Portable urine bottles are well known and typically comprise a waterproof container which are sealed by means of a cap. Urine collection devices known are typically made of a number of parts and are usually disposable.

Examples of urine bottles are disclosed in US patents 4064760 and 4221295, and UK patents 857987, 1311491 and 1443060. Such urine collection devices are typically long and cumbersome, and/or difficult to use.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a urine collection device which is portable, easy to use, which includes a limited number of parts, and is reusable.

According to the present invention, there is provided a portable urine collection device which includes a urine receptacle having a base and upstanding perimeter wall extending away from the base to a constricted neck portion, and an adaptor having a throat portion and a mouth portion, the mouth portion being of greater crosssection than the throat portion, wherein the throat portion is arranged to releasably engage with the constricted neck portion during use, and the mouth portion is arranged to releasably engage directly or indirectly with the upstanding perimeter wall during storage or transportation of the device.

It is preferred that the device further includes a cap member arranged to sealingly engage with the neck portion during storage or transportation of the device. The cap member may be of a snap-on type or a push-in stopper; however, it is preferred that the cap member has an internal screw-thread which engages with a complementary external thread on the neck portion.

Advantageously, the throat portion may have a screw thread on its internal surface which engages with a complementary external thread on the neck portion during use. However, it is preferred that the throat portion is shaped and dimensioned to sit inside the constricted neck portion during use.

Preferably, the adaptor includes a funnel. It is desired that the mouth portion of the funnel is arranged to releasably engage with the upstanding perimeter wall.

Further preferably, the mouth portion of the funnel is provided with at least one formation to releasably engage with a corresponding formation on the upstanding perimeter wall. The formations typically include a "snap-on snap-off" type arrangement.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention the receptacle is opaque or thranslucent; the receptacle therefore advantageously further includes a window arranged to gauge the urine in the receptacle during and/or after use. The window is typically an elongate transparent panel preferably arranged along substantially the entire length of the upstanding perimeter wall.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention the receptacle is substantially transparent so that the user can gauge the urine in the receptacle during and/or after use.

The receptacle may be of any suitable cross-section, for example oval or square; however, a circular cross-section is preferred.

Preferably, the receptacle and/or the adaptor is of plastics material, for example, polyethylene terephthalate or polycarbonate. Advantageously, the receptacle and the adaptor are made from the same material.

It is advantageous that the mouth portion is ergonomically shaped and dimensioned so as to be easily used by a female.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of a urine collection device according to the present invention in storage mode; igure 2 is a side view of the urine collection device of Figure 1 with the funnel removed; and Figure 3 is a side view of the urine collection device of Figure 1 ready for use.

Referring to the Figures, where like numerals have been used to indicate like parts, a portable urine collection device is generally indicated by the numeral 1.

A cylindrical plastics bottle 2 has a base 3, an upstanding perimeter wall 4 and a constricted neck 5 onto which a plastics screw-cap 6 may be screwed. A plastics funnel 7 has a mouth 8 of greater cross-section than its throat 9. A transparent window 10 is provided in bottle 2.

In storage, mouth 8 of funnel 7 is releasably engaged with upstanding perimeter wall 4 of bottle 2 by use of an indentation (not shown) which extends around the outer periphery of perimeter wall 4.

When it is desired to use device 1, funnel 7 is removed from bottle 2. Screw-cap 6 is removed from neck 5 and retained for later use. Funnel 7 is inverted, throat 9 is positioned to sit in neck 5; the user then urinates into bottle 2 via the mouth 8 of the funnel 7.

After use the funnel 7 is removed from neck 5 and screwcap 6 is screwed back onto neck 5. Funnel 7 is inverted so that it can be engaged back onto upstanding perimeter wall 4. The user can observe the volume of urine in bottle 2 through window 10, so that the user is aware when the bottle is full and requires emptying. Once the user is at an appropriate sanitary disposal unit, they may empty and subsequently clean bottle 2 so that it may be reused.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A portable urine collection device which includes a urine receptacle having a base and upstanding perimeter wall extending away from the base to a constricted neck portion, and an adaptor having a throat portion and a mouth portion, the mouth portion being of greater cross-section than the throat portion, wherein the throat portion is arranged to releasably engage with the constricted neck portion during use, and the mouth portion is arranged to releasably engage directly or indirectly with the upstanding perimeter wall during storage or transportation of the device.
2. A device according to claim 1, which further includes a cap member arranged to sealingly engage with the neck portion during storage or transportation of the device.
3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the cap member is of a snap-on type.
4. A device according to claim 2, wherein the cap member has an internal screw-thread which engages with a complementary external thread on the neck portion.
5. A device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the throat portion has a screw thread on its internal surface which engages with a complementary external thread on the neck portion during use.
6. A device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the throat portion is shaped and dimensioned to sit inside the constricted neck during use.
7. A device according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the adaptor includes a funnel.
8. A device according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the mouth portion is arranged to releasably engage with the upstanding perimeter wall.
9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the mouth portion is provided with at least one formation to releasably engage with a corresponding formation on the upstanding perimeter wall.
10. A device according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the receptacle is opaque or translucent.
11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the receptacle includes a window arranged to gauge the urine in the receptacle during and/or after use.
12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the window is an elongate transparent panel arranged along substantially the entire length of the upstanding wall portions
13. A device according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the receptacle is substantially transparent so that the user can gauge the urine in the receptacle during and/or after use.
14. A device according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the receptacle has an oval, square or circular corss-section.
15. A device according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the adaptor and/or the receptacle is of palstics material, for example, polysthylene terephthalate or polycarbonate.
16. A device according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the mouth portion is erognomically shaped and dimensioned so as to be easily used by a female.
17. A urine collection device substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.