GB2508663A - Bedpan and bedpan support - Google Patents

Abstract

A support 10 for a bedpan (100, figure 5) comprises a base wall 18 and an enclosing wall 20 extending upwardly from the periphery of the base wall which, together with the base wall, defines a bedpan-receiving volume 22. The support 10 further comprises a plurality of spaced-apart support projections 36, 38 configured to engage with and support a bedpan (100) received in the bedpan-receiving volume 22. Also disclosed is a moulded paper pulp bedpan (100) comprising a base wall (102) and an enclosing (104) extending upwardly from the periphery of the base wall which, together with the base wall, defines a receiving volume (104). At least part of the periphery of the edge of the enclosing wall (104) comprises a flexibly connected lip portion (140).

Description

DESCRIPTlON

BEDPAN AND BEDPAN SUPPORI

The present invention relates to bedpans and supports therefore.

Bedpans are used by patients in hospitals, nursing homes and the Uke, S where it is not possible for the paflent easily to visit a toilet, In order to reduce the risk of cross-infection, the use of disposable bedpans is preferred.

Disposable bedpans are moulded from paper pulp and, after use, can be reduced to smail particles in a macerator and then discharged into the normal drainage system.

Disposable hedpans are not self-supporting since they are made from dried mouided paper puip. It is therefore usual to use the disposable bedpan in conjunction with a reusable support n order to prevent collapsing of the disposable bedpan in use.

GB 2461586A discloses an open-based, generaUy annular bedpan support which engages with the undersurface of a rim on the bedpan. In use, the base of a bedpan positioned or the support projects through the base. Whilst in normal use this provides no problems, as the used bedpan will be disposed of soon after use, there are circumstances when it is not possible to dispose of a used bedpan straightaway. For exampie, whilst moulded paper pulp bedpans are able to retain liquid for a period of time, f that period is exceeded then they begin to leak. n addition, if the bedpan is damaged in use, which is more ik&y to occur with heavier paUents, it is again possible for liquid to leak out of the bedpan. The open base of the bedpan support allows any leakage to come into contact with the bed surface on which the bedpan and support are being used, thereby requiring replacement of bedeheets and increasing the likelihood of cross-contramination.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a bedpan and a support for a bedpan which overcome or alleviate the problems associated with the prior art.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a support for a bedpan comprises a base wall and an endosirg wall extending upwardly from the periphery of the base wall which, together with the base wall, deflnes a bedpan-receMng volume, the support further comprising a plurality of space& apart support prolections configured to engage with and support a bedpan received in the bedpan-receiving volume.

Such a bedpan support has a base wall, in contrast to the prior art described above. Consec.uently, if the bedpan begins to leak, there will be an extra layer provided by the base wall of the bedpan support for resisting leakage to the exterior.

Preferably, the support comprises one or more upwardly-projecting support projections.

Preferably, the support projections are located around the periphery of the base wall.

ln a preferred embodiment, a plurality of support projections project from the enclosing wall, more preferably from the interior face of the enclosing wall.

In a preferred embodiment, one or more of the support projections projects above the upper periphery of the enclosing walL One or more of the support projections may be stepped.

One or more of the support projections may be partially frust.oconical.

in a preferred embodiment, the enclosing wall comprises a stepped portion.

Preferably the enclosing wall is stepped around the whole of its periphery.

The enclosing wail may comprise an upper portion and a lower portion, connected at a shoulder portion, the lower wall portion projecting further than the upper wall portion into the receiving volume.

One or more support projections may project from the lower portion of the enclo&ng wall.

Alternatively, or in addition, one or more support projections may project from the upper portion of the endosing wall.

One or more support projections may project from both the upper and lower portions of the enclosing wall.

The support may further comprise an outwardlyprojecting lip around at least part of the periphery of the upper edge of the enclosing wait Preferably, the outwardlyprojecting lip extends around the whole of the periphery of the upper edge of the enclosing wall, in a preferred embodiment, the enclosing wall comprises a front, narrower portion and a rear, wider portion.

One or both of the front, narrower portion and the rear, wider portion may be rounded.

The enclosing wall may comprise generally straight side wall portions extending between the front, narrower portion and the rear, wider portion.

Preferably, the support is formed from dried moulded paper pulp.

The support is preferably disposable in a macerator.

in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a bedpan comprises a base wall and an enclosing wall extending upwardly from the periphery of the base wall which! together with the base wall, defines a receiving volume, at least part of the periphery of the upper edge of the enclosing wall compring a flexibly connected lip portion.

in use, the weight of a user of the bedpan will be borne at the upper edge of the periphery of the base wail. By providing a flexibly connected llp porfion at the upper edge of the endosing wall, the bedpan is ess Ukely to be damaged in use.

Preferaby, the bedpan comprises hinge or fold means by which the flexibly connected llp porUon a fiexiby connected.

The hinge or fold means is preferably boated inwardy of the flexibiy connected llp portion.

In one embodiment, the hinge or fold means comprises a groove.

In a preferred embodiment, at least part of the periphery of the upper edge of the enclosing wall comprises an inner lip portion located inwardly of the hinge or fold means.

Preferably, the enclosing wall comprises one or more recesses configured to engage with support means of a bedpan support.

The bedpan may comprise one or more elongate recesses configured to engage with support means of a bedpan support.

In one embodiment, the bedpan comprises twospaced apart dongate recesses.

The bedpan may comprise a further recess configured to engage with the support means of a bedpan support, located between the two elongate recesses.

In a preferred embodiment, the enclosing wall comprises a front, narrower portion and a rear, wider portion.

Preferably, one or both of the front, narrower portion and the rear, wider portion is rounded.

The enclosing wall preferably comprises generally straight side wall portions extending between the front, narrower portion and the rear) wider portion.

The bedpan is preferably formed from dried moulded paper pulp.

Preferably, the bedpan is disposable in a macerator.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support for a bedpan in accordance with the first aspect of the present S invention in combination with a bedpan in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention.

By way of example only, a specific embodiment of the present will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of bedpan support n accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bedpan support shown in Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a front view of the support shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side view of the support shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of bedpan in accordance with Urn present invention, for use with the bedpan support of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the bedpan of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a side view of the bedpan of Fig. 5; and Fig. 8 is a rear view of the bedpan of Fig. 5.

Referring firstly to Figs.1 to 4, a bedpan support 10 is generally tear-shaped in plan view having a rounded narrower front end 12 and a wider rounded rear end 14, the two ends being joined by two generally straight indined sides 16.

The bedpan support comprises a generally planar base wall 18 and an outwardly flared endosing wail 20 extending upwardly and outwardly from the periphe of the base wall 18. The base wall 18 and the enclosing wall 20 in combination define a receiving volume 22 which is adapted to recve a bedpan such as that illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, to be described later, The upper edge of the enclosing wall is also formed into an overturned peripheral lip 23.

The support 10 is mouided from dried paper pu'p in a conventional vacuum pup moulding process but in use is substantiaNy rigid.

The eridosing wall 20 of the support 10 comprises a narrower rounded front wall porUon 24 and a wider rear rounded portion wall 26 and two generally planar side wall porfions 28, 30 joining the ends of the narrower and wider wall portions 24, 26. It will also be observed that the side wall portions 28, 30 end wider rear rounded wall portion 26 are formed into stepped upper and lower enciosirig wall portions 2Cc, 2Db separated by a shoulder 34. the lower endosing wall portion 2Gb projecting further into the receiving volume than the upper enclosing wall portion 2Cc, The bedpan support 10 further comprises a plurality of integratly4ormed upwardly extending space&apart bedpan support projections 36, 38 around the periphery of the base wall 18, which project inLo the receiving volume 22. The projections 36,38 are moulded into the enclosing wall 20 of the support 10 during the moulding process, torming recesses 42, 44 in the outer face of the enclosing wall 20.

Two different types of projections are present in the support. The first type of projections 36 is generally part frusto<onicat with a rounded head 36a.

The projection 36 merges into, and extends over the full height of, the lower wail portion 2Db and also merges into, and extends over part of the height of, the upper wall portion 20a. As best seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the upper ends of the projections 36 project beyond the upper peripheral edge of the endosing walls 20 of the support 10. Two projections 36 are located on each side of the support 10, one projection 36 being located at approximately the front end of each of the side wall portions 28 and another projection 36 being located at approximately the centre of each of the side wall portions 28.

The second type of projection 38 has a stepped configuration and comprises a lower, part frusto-conical portion 38b which merges into, and is of approximately the same height as the lower wall portion 20b. The lower portion 38b merges into an upper flattened frusto-conical portion 36a at a shoulder 46,.

The upper portion 30a merges into, and extends for part of the height of the upper wall portion 20a and has a rounded head 48 which projects beyond the upper periphery of the rim of the support 10. as seen in FIgs. 3 and 4. Seven projections 38 of the second type are provided, one at each of the rear end of the side wall portions 28 and the remaIning five projectIons 38 beIng approxImately equally spaced around the rounded rear wall portIon 26, wIth one prt$ction 38 being located at the centre of the wider rounded rear wail portion 26.

As seen from the Figures. the base wail portion 18 comprises a tear shaped recess 50 having a rounded shoulder 52, the shape of the recess corresponding generally to the shape of the tim of the upper edge of the side wall 20. A further triangular recess 54 having rounded corners is located In the recess 50 towards Its front end and a further part-circular recess 56 is located towards the rear of the recess 50, the recesses 54 and 56 being separately by a reinfurcing rib 58.

It will also be observed that a further projection 60 Is moulded Into the side wall of the support at its front end 12.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 8, a bedpan 100 is generally complementarlly-shaped with the receiving volume 22 of the support 10 of Figs. I to 4 and similarly Is generally tear-shaped in plan view and comprises a generally flat planar base wall 102 and an outwardly flared enclosing wall 104 which extends upwardly and outwardly from the periphery of the base wall 102. The base wall 102 and the side wall 104 In combination define a receMng volume 103. In the same manner as hr the support 10. the enclosing wall 104 of the bedpan r d comprises a front narrower rounded wall portion 106 and a rear wider rounded wafi portion 106, the ends or the narrower and wider rounded portions 106, lOS being connected by means of straight side wall portions 110. The base wall portion is also provided with three recesses in the form of a generally efflpflcal front recess 114 and two kientical sllghfly flattened rear recesses 116 located at the curved rear periphery of the base wall portion 102.

As for the support 10. the bedpan 100 is formed from dried moulded paper pulp and is formed in a conventional paper pulp vacuum moulding process.

It wl also be observed that the enclosing wall is provided with two arcuate elongate projections 120 projecting into the receiving volume 103 end being located where the rear wall portion 108 and the side wail portions 110 merge. The projections 120 are of constant height and width and have a shouider portion 122. The rear end of each of the two elongate curved projections 120 is separated by a respective short triangular gap 124 from a further, trapezoidallysheped, projection 126 having a shoulder 128, which eso projecUon in the receiving volume 103. The two arcuate elongate projections 120 and the further projection 126 are formed by moulding corresponding recesses 120, 126 in the outer wall of the bedpan duhng the moulding process. As will be explained, the two arcuate recesses 120 are each intended to be a complementary fit with the shoulder 46 of three of the support projections 38 of the support 107 with the undersurface of the shoulder 122 in contact with the upper surface of the shoulder 46 of the projections 38, whereas the recess 124 corresponding to the projection 124 is intended to fit in a complementary fashion with the rearmost supporting projection 38, with the undersurface of its shoulder in contact with the upper surface of the shoulder 46 of the rearmost projection 36.

The upper periphery of the side wall 104 is formed into a rim 130 which extends outwardly from the entire periphery of the upper edge of the side wail 9.

104 and which in use forms a seat portion which extends around the periphery of the recessed receiving portion. As best seen in Fig. 7, the rim 130 is upwardly convex.

The rearmost portion of the rim 130, immedat&y above hte projection 124, a formed into a widened and recessed portion 134 which, in use, is intended to receive the coccyx of a user, as wUl he explained. Extending fOrwardly from the recess 13$ around the remainder of the rim is a continuous recess or groove 138, The groove 138 defines an outer rim portion 140 extending around most of the periphery of the bedpan rim 130 (with the exception of the region of the recessed portion 134) which is flexibly or hingedly connected to the remainder of the rim by means of the groove.

In use, the bedpan 100 as illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 is tilted into the receiving volume 22 of the bedpan support 10 of Figs. Ito 4. When the bedpan is fitted into the support, the undersurface of the rim 130 rests on the heads 36a of the four front support projections 36 and on the heads 43 of the seven rear projecting portions 38. In addition, as explained previously, the undersurface of the shoulders of the o arcuate inwardly directed projections 120 and the undersurface of the rear projection 126 in the side wall of the bedpan 100 engage with the upper surface 46 of the shoulder of the projections 33. In addition, the projections 114, 116 on the base wall 102 of the bedpan rest on the upper surface of the base wall 18 of the bedpan support 10.

The combined bedpan/support is then presented to a patient in the normal manner, In use, a patient using the bedpan/support combination will be in contact with and supported on, the seat portion of the bedpan formed by the peripheral rim 130. However, the majority of the weight of the patient wlll be transferred to, and borne by, the projections 36, 28 of the support, thereby providing a stable, safe and robust assembly.

The flexible/hinged connection of the outer rim portion 140 to the remainder of the rim 130 permits a degree of movement when a patient is seated on the bedpan. This not only improves the comfort for the patient but also reduces the likShood that the bedpan wifi become damaged in use.

After the pafient has used the bedpan/support the sthled bedpan 100 can be disposed of in a conventional hospital macerator, in which the bedpan and its contents are reduced to particles of a size which can be safely disposed of in normal drains. The support 10 can also be disposed of after each use, if desired.

However, in view of the fact that the support is unkely to come into direct contact with a patient, it is more Ukely that the support 10 wifi be reused one or more times and oniy disposed of after several uses. Disposal of the support would normay take place in a conventional hospital macerator, as for the disposable bedpan.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment.

For example, one or both of the bedpan and the support (more likely, hut not exdusively, the support) could he made from a material which is not designed to be disposed of after use. For example, one or both of the bedpan and support could be formed from plastics material.

Moreover, the number and/or shape and/or size and/or configuration of the bedpan supports 36, 38 could differ from those of Figs. Ito 4.