US20020179794A1

US20020179794A1 - Disposable female urine sample cup holder for hospital use

Info

Publication number: US20020179794A1
Application number: US09/866,784
Authority: US
Inventors: Hsuan Yang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-05-30
Filing date: 2001-05-30
Publication date: 2002-12-05

Abstract

A disposable female urine sample cup holder for hospital use includes an elongated handle having an end provided with a rectangular sleeve with a rectangular slot at a top thereof, a metal sheath made of a T-shaped metal sheet having an end with two sides folded on a bottom of an end of the handle, another end of the metal sheath being bent to a bottom of the handle to form a U-shaped member for mounting on a toilet bowl seat, a cup holder having a circular end shaped to hold a disposable cup in place, and a rectangular portion containing a foldable protruding tongue located near another end of the cup holder, the rectangular sleeve having an opening at both ends thereof to enable forward and reverse movement of the cup holder so that a user can adjust the cup holder according to her preference for urinating distance.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is related to a hygienic and convenient improvement in the method of obtaining urine samples from women requiring urine tests in hospitals using a disposable cup and in particular to one which enables women who are elderly to be seated on a toilet while obtaining said urine sample by using a disposable urine sample cup holder which can be affixed to a toilet bowl seat.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Urine samples from women are often required in hospitals. The conventional method to obtain a urine sample is for a woman to urinate in a disosable cup. However, this method is often unhygienic and very awkward, particularly for elderly women, as this method does not enable them to sit while urinating, and may cause difficulty in urinating for women who find it difficult to squat and urinate, and furthermore is unhygienic, particularly where a woman is inaccurate in placing the cup in a correct position to receive her urine.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable female urine sample cup holder for hospital use which can be affixed to a toilet bowl seat and therefore will enable women to sit on the toilet bowl and urinate easily into a disposable cup, thereby obviating and mitigating the above-mentioned drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to a disposable female urine sample cup holder for hospital use.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a disposable female urine sample cup holder for hospital use which can be affixed to a toilet seat, thereby enabling women who must obtain urine samples to sit on a toilet and urinate easily into the disposable cup.

According to a referred embodiment of the present invention, a disposable female urine sample cup holder comprises a disposable cup, a disposable cup holder for containing the disposable cup, the disposable cup holder having a protruding tongue which is fitted into a rectangular slot with a lug of a handle to keep the cup holder in place and to enable the disposable cup holder's adjustment according to the user's requirements for urinating distance. The handle extends upwardly from the disposable cup holder to connect to a metal sheath, which is folded inwardly on two sides to enclose the end of the handle and which is then bent into a U-shaped slot for mounting on a toilet bowl seat.

The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention; [0011]
FIG. 2 is another exploded view of the present invention; [0012]
FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating how the present invention is adjusted in length; [0013]
FIG. 4 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0014]
FIG. 5 is a side view of the second preferred embodiment; and [0015]
FIG. 6 illustrates how the present invention is mounted on a toilet bowl seat. [0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings. Specific language will be used to describe same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. [0017]
With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1, 2, and [0018] 3 thereof, the disposable female urine sample cup holder according to the present invention generally comprises a disposable cup 1, a handle 2, a metal sheath 3, and a disposable cup holder 4.
The [0019] handle 2 is an elongated member having upper end 21, an intermediate portion 22 and a second end 23. The metal sheath 3 is made of a T-shaped metal sheet having an end with two sides 31 folded on the bottom of the first end 21 of the handle 2. The other end of the metal sheath 3 is bent to the bottom of the handle 2 to form a U-shaped member for mounting on a toilet bowl seat. The second end 23 of the handle is provided with a rectangular sleeve with a rectangular slot 5 at the top thereof.
The [0020] disposable cup holder 4 has a circular end 4 having an opening 41 adapted to hold a disposable cup 1 in lace, and a rectangular portion containing a foldable protruding tongue 6 located near the other end of the disposable cup holder 4. The rectangular portion of the disposable cup holder 4 is fitted into the rectangular sleeve of the handle 2, which has an opening at both ends to enable the forward and reverse movement of the cup holder 4 so that the user can adjust the disposable cup holder according to her preference for urinating distance. The rectangular slot 5 is designed to enable the tongue 6 to protrude and keep the disposable cup holder 4 in place once the user has adjusted the location of the disposable cup holder. The handle 2 and the cup holder 4 are all constructed of cardboard with rough surface, thereby preventing slippage. The rectangular sleeve (i.e. the second end 23) of the handle 2 has an end connected to the intermediate portion 22 of the handle 2, which extends at an upward angle to the first end 21 of the handle 2, thereby ensuring that the disposable cup 1 and the cup holder 4 are at a lower angle than that of the metal sheath 3, which has an end portion folded inwardly on two sides to enclose the end of the handle and which is then bent into a U-shaped slot for mounting on a toilet bowl seat.
FIG. 4 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side view of the second preferred embodiment. As shown, the disposable female urine sample cup holder according to the present invention generally comprises a metal sheath [0021] 7 and a handle 8. The handle 8 comprises an upper end 81, an intermediate portion 82, and a lower portion 83. The metal sheath 7 is made of a T-shaped metal sheet having an end with two sides folded on the bottom of the first end 81 of the handle 8 and the other end of the metal sheath 7 is bent to the bottom of the handle 8 to form a U-shaped member for mounting on a toilet bowl seat. The lower end 83 of the handle 8 is formed with a circular opening 84 for holding a cup 1. When in use, the disposable female urine sample cup holder is mounted on a toilet bowl seat 9 (see FIG. 6).
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. [0022]
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. [0023]

Claims

I claim:

1. A disposable female urine sample cup holder for hospital use comprising:

an elongated handle made of a cardboard with rough surface and having upper end, an intermediate portion and a second end, said second end of the handle being provided with a rectangular sleeve with a rectangular slot at a top thereof;

a metal sheath made of a T-shaped metal sheet having an end with two sides folded on a bottom of said first end of said handle, another end of said metal sheath being bent to a bottom of said handle to form a U-shaped member for mounting on a toilet bowl seat;

a disposable cup holder made of a cardboard with rough surface and having a circular end shaped to hold a disposable cup in place, and a rectangular portion containing a foldable protruding tongue located near another end of said disposable cup holder, said rectangular portion of said disposable cup holder being fitted into said rectangular sleeve of said handle, said rectangular sleeve having an opening at both ends thereof to enable forward and reverse movement of said cup holder so that a user can adjust said cup holder according to her preference for urinating distance, said rectangular slot being for enabling said tongue to protrude and keep said cup holder in place once said user has adjusted location of said cup holder.

2. The disposable female urine sample cup holder for hospital use as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rectangular sleeve having an end connected to said intermediate portion of said handle and extending at an upward angle to said first end of said handle thereby ensuring that said disposable cup and said cup holder are at a lower angle than that of said metal sheath.