US2815511A - Urinal - Google Patents

Description

De- 10, 1957 N. H. FRIEDMAN ErIAL '2,815,511

URINAL Filed May 4, 1955 United States Patent O 2,815,511 URINAL Nathan H. Friedman, Stratford, and Walter Andruschkevich, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application May 4, 1955, Serial No. 505,926 3 Claims. (Cl. 4-110) The present invention relates to urinals in general, and to deformable .and self-recoverable urinals in particular.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a urinal of a type which is ordinarily rigid and may be handled like conventional urinals, yet may temporarily be deformed to accommodate users even in positions most awkward for the purpose.

`It is another object of the present invention to provide a urinal of the aforementioned type which is made of flexible material and has its walls coordinated to form a partially collapsible but self-recoverable receptacle of a definite volume, and a projecting tubular spout which may be bent in all directions, thereby to permit, if necessary, convenient and safe application of the urinal in something like squeeze-on fashion to some part or parts yof an immobilized person in just about any sleeping or supine position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a urinal of the aforementioned type which has provisions for lits ready conversion from most convenient and sanitary male use to rnost convenient and sanitary female use, and vice versa.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a urinal of the aforementioned type having a plurality of surfaces for selective and most convenient use of either as a rstand-on bottom surface in the application of the urinal to supine patients in most any immobilized or enforced position of the patients, or for safe placement of the urinal with any one of these surfaces on a support without spilling the contents thereof.

A further o'bject of the present invention is the provision of a urinal `of the aforementioned type having an adjustable dimension s-o as to accommodate the latter to the physical differences of different patients.

It is another object `of the present invention to provide a urinal of the aforementioned type which lends itself to efficient mass production at remarkably low cost, by being molded in one piece from suitable plastic or plastic-like material.

It is -a further object of the present invention to provide a urinal of the aforementioned type which may ibe molded from transparent for at least translucent plastic or plastic-like material, thereby to permit inspection of the urine therein as to its characteristics as well as quantity, for medical purposes.

AOther objects and advantages will ,appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

`In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a urinal pursuant to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, of the same urinal;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal :sectional view, partly in elevation, of a modified urinal;

Fig. 4 is a frag-mentary perspective view of a urinal embodying the present invention in a modified manner;

Fig. 5 is an end View taken in the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig. 4, and showing the spout of the urinal converted for female use;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side view of the spout end of I lCC a urinal embodying a further modification of the maleto-female conversion arrangement;

Fig. 7 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow 7 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side view of the spout end of a urinal embodying still another modification of the maleto-fernale conversion arrangement; and

Fig. 9 is another side view of the spout end of the same urinal shown in Fig. 8.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown a urinal 10 pursuant to the present invention. Said urinal comprises a hollow body or receptacle 12 ha-ving an elongated hollow spout or funnel 14 extending therefrom. The spout is preferably integral with the body, the urinal being formed of a flexible self-restoring plastic, such as, for example and not lby away of limitation, polyethylene. -In making the urinal of such or similar plastic, the same is virtually unbreakable under ordinary accidental conditions, and has the further advantage of never feeling cold, to the user.

Pursuant to a feature of the 4present invention, the body 12 is provi-ded with a plurality -of stand-on supporting surfaces whereby the urinal may be positioned in .any one of a plurality of ydifferent dispositions thereof. In this connection, the body 12 is defined by the opposing planar end walls 16 and 18 which are interconnected iby the four planar lside walls 20, 22, 24 and 26, respectively. Said side walls preferably taper from the end wall 18 toward the end wall 16.

It will be Vunderstood that the urinal may be positioned or ldisposed t-o stand on any of the side wall surfaces 20, 24 and 26 thereof for use by a supine patient, and that the end wall 16 also provides a convenient stand-on surface after the urinal has been used and removed from the patient. tIn this connection it will be noted that the polyethylene, used to for-rn the urinal, is light-permeable and the .side Wal-l 20 may be provi-ded with indicia or graduations 28 thereon (Fig. 2) so as to measure the contents when the urinal is stood on its end wall 16. The polyethylene is -irradiated by an electron beam generator so that the urinal can withstand the elevated temperatures Iof a sterilizing device without .any change in its shape or flexibility. The irradiated polyethylene is also radiolucent so that, if necessary, a patients torso can be X-rayed without removing the urinal.

Pursuant to another feature 'of the present invention, the urinal is readily usable by patients who differ in physical Icharacteristics Ior bodily dimensions. In this `connection, it will =be noted from Fig. l that the juncture 30 of the spout 14 and the urinal end wall 18 is disposed offcenter with respect to the latter. Consequently, the urinal may be adjusted to any one of two different spout heights above the several urinal stand-on surfaces. More specifically, it will tbe noted that the juncture 30 is closest to the walls 20 and 24 and farther spaced from the wall 26. Consequently, in order to obtain a maximum height of the mouth 32 of spout 14 above a stand-on wall of the urinal, the latter is adjusted `so that the wall 26 is used as the bottom or stand-on wall, .as in Figs. 1 and 2. To reduce the height of mouth 32, the urinal is ad justed to lie on Veither of its walls 20 .and 24.

Pursuant to another feature of the present invention, a maximum degree of bendability or flexibility is provided for `the spout 14 without, however, appreciably deforming the cross-sectional contour or configuration thereof. In this connection it will be noted that the spout 14 is frusto-conical in configuration, as best seen in Figs. 1 and A2. The maximum diameter of the spout occurs at its `open .mouth 32 and the minimum diameter thereof occurs at its juncture 30 with the body 12. Consequently, the spout is readily bendable at said juncture,

as indicated, for example, in the dot-and-dash line position thereof in Fig. 2.

The ready bendability of the spout 14, combined with the ready partial compressibility or collapsibility of the body 12, permits the entire urinal safely to be squeezed and turned into numerous different positions partially beneath or between parts of sleeping or supine persons, especially patients who are immobilized due to paralysis, ankylosis, arthritis, etc. Thus the ready bendability of the spout 14 and ready partial collapsibility of the body or receptacle 12 form an important aspect of the present invention, since this permits the described safe and reliable squeeze-in application of the urinal to a supine person. For this reason, the present urinal adapts itself to a person even in the most awkward position for the purpose rather than requires the person to adapt himself or herself to the urinal as heretofore.

For increased and better controlled bend'ability of the urinals spout, the same may be of the ribbed configuration indicated at 34 in Fig. 3. Also, a cover 36 may be provided for the mouth 32 of the urinals spout (Fig. 2) so as to prevent spilling of the urinals contents as well as entrap the odors therein. The cover 36 may be fairly rigid and snapped on and off the mouth end of the urinals spout.

Pursuant to another aspect of the present invention, the urinal may be used by both male and female patients. Since the mouth 32 is circular, it is readily adapted to receive a male genital for use by a male person. In order to convert the urinal for female use, the mouth 32 is elongated into substantially oval or elliptical configuration, as illustrated in Fig-5, so as to accommodate the female vulva.

Fig. 4 illustrates the presently preferred means to provide the conversion of the urinal from male to female use. In the present embodiment, a flattened or elliptical ring or clamp 44 is provided on the spout 14. The ring is formed of suitable material having a greater degree of rigidity than that of the exibile spout 14. For example, the ring may be formed of metal or of a plastic which is more rigid than the plastic material of which the urinal is formed. The ring is dimensioned so that the distance between the opposite sides 46-46 exceeds the minimum diameter of the frusto-conical spout but is less than the maximum diameter thereof. Consequently when the ring is disposed at the juncture 30, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, it applies no clamping pressure to the spout and the latter is available for male use. However, when the slidable ring is slid to a position adiacent the mouth 32, as shown in dot-and-dashlines in Fig. 4, the ring applies a clamping pressure to the spout to compress the opposite surfaces thereof so as to elongate the mouth into an oval or elliptical configuration, as shown at 32A in Fig. 5. In order to prevent the deformation of the month from said oval configuration, a thickened lip 48 is preferably provided at the mouth. Said oval configuration adapts the mouth of the spout to accommodate the female vulva. When the ring is moved back to the inoperative position thereof, as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 4, the self-restoring spout returns to its circular configuration. While the ring 44 is in Fig. 4 shown slidably arranged on the exemplary smooth-walled frusta-conical spout 14, the same may be arranged on the peripherally ribbed spout 14 of the urinal shown in Fig. 3, with the further advantage that the ribs 34 near the mouth of the spout will releasably lock the ring against sliding back on the spout when the urinal is used by a female.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a modified spout-clamping means 50. As here shown, the clamping means 50 comprises a cover or plug S2 for the mouth 32 of the urinals spout, of which the cover is provided with a substantially U-shaped clamp 54. The cover may be formed of a suitable material, for example and not by way of limitation, plastic or rubber which is more rigid than the material of which the urinal is fabricated. The cover or plug 52 may be like the snap-on cover 36 in Fig. 2. The clamp 54 may be formed of rigid plastic or metal with one arm 58 suitably secured on the cover 52. The other arm 60 extends from the cover and serves as a hand-grip or carrier for readily carrying the urinal when the cover is attached to and closes the mouth of the urinals spout.

The clamping device 50 carried by the spout is readily removed from the latter, whereupon the urinal is available for male use. To convert the spout for female use, the clamp 54 is engaged on the spout below the lip 48 as best illustrated in Fig. 6, to elongate the mouth 32 to the oval configuration thereof, illustrated in Fig. 7, to adapt the spout for female use. Upon removal of the clamp 54, the compressed spout returns to its circular configuration.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a further modification of the clamping means. As here shown provision is made for a substantially U-shaped clamp 62 having a finger 64 which is pivotally mounted on the yoke 66, provided on the spout 14, as by the pivot pin 68. The clamp 62 is formed of suitable material, for example and not by way of illustration, rigid plastic or metal. The clamp is illustrated in the inoperative position thereof in Fig. 9 and in full lines in Fig. 8. From said position, the clamp may be rotated counterclockwise, viewing Fig. 8, to the broken line position 62A thereof in which it compresses kthe spout below the lip 48 to elongate the mouth 32 and thereby convert the urinal for female use. Upon return of the clamp to its full line position, the spout is selfrestored for male use. The clamp may also be pivoted in a clockwise direction to the broken line position 62B thereof. In said position the clamp may be used as a hand-grip or carrier for the urinal.

While We have shown and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the present invention without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A urinal for use by both males and females, said urinal comprising a closed hollow body, and an elongated tube-like spout extending therefrom and terminating in a normally substantially circular mouth to accommodate a male genital, said spout being substantially frustoconical with the minimum diameter substantially at its juncture with said body and the maximum diameter at said mouth, said spout being formed of a tiexible selfrestoring material so that the confronting inner surfaces thereof move together under external pressure `and return to their original condition upon release of the pressure, and a clamping member slidably mounted on said spout, said member being dimensioned to release the pressure from said spout when at said junction and being operable, when slid to a position adjacent said mouth, to compress the spout so as to elongate the mouth thereof into a substantially oval configuration, whereby to accommodate a female vulva.

2. A urinal, as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that the clamping member is an o-blong ring, the distance between the nearest opposing sides of said ring being greater than. said minimum diameter and smaller than said maximum diameter.

3. A urinal as set forth in claim 1, in which said spout is of longitudinally corrugated cross-section throughout.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 241,863 Hopkins May 24, 1881 805,312 Meinecke Nov. 21, 1905 1,386,696 Fishback Aug. 9, 1921 1,727,199 Freitag Sept. 3, 1929 41,951,871 .y vJudah Mar. 20, 1934 i l FOREIGN PATENTS 814,59() France Mar. 22, 1937

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