US3546717A

US3546717A - Disposable single-use bedpan arrangement

Info

Publication number: US3546717A
Application number: US706051A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry S Kuhn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-02-16
Filing date: 1968-02-16
Publication date: 1970-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 1987-12-15
Also published as: JPS51400B1

Description

Dec. 15, 1970 H. s. KUHN DISPOSABLE SINGLE-USE BEDPAN ARRANGEMENT Filed Feb. 16, 1968 II II I I'll II United States Patent 3,546,717 DISPOSABLE SINGLE-USE BEDIAN ARRANGEMENT Henry S. Kuhn, 609 Austin, Park Ridge, Ill. 60068 Filed Feb. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 706,051 lint. Cl. A61g 9/00 US. Cl. 4113 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A disposable, single-use bed pan constructed from material which is impervious to air and water, the pan comprising a bottom portion and a hollow inflatable side wall portion, which may be stored in folded flat relation and subsequently inflated at the time of use. The structure is so constructed that by use of suitable means it may be inflated from the oxygen line present in the usual hospital room and is further cooperable with means associated with a toilet bowl structure or the like for rupturing the bottom of the pan while over such a bowl to permit emptying of the contents, the toilet structure preferably also being provided with means for rupturing the inflated portion of the device, following emptying thereof, whereby the same may be discarded in a deflated condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to a bed pan structure designed for a single usage following which it may be readily disposed of.

The bed pan problem, particularly in hospitals and the like has received considerable attention over the years in an effort to eliminate some of the difficulties and objections in connection with the use of the common rigid bed pan of metal or plastic. Pans of such type have been objectionable both from the patients standpoint as well as the hospital or other agency.

From the users standpoint, such pans were rigid and unyielding to the body and thus uncomfortable, were cold to the touch, required the patient to be lifted unto the pan as well as off and their use usually is one of the most dis-- agreeable aspects of hospitalization.

Such bed pans were equally objectionable to the hospital as they required cleaning and sterilization, in most cases packaging in a plastic bag, occupied considerable space in storage, required considerable physical effort in getting the patient onto the pan and created personnel problems in view of the disagreeable conditions attendant to emptying and cleaning of such pans.

The present invention therefore is directed to a method and a bed pan construction which eliminates these objections and disadvantages, the pan being so designed and sufficiently inexpensive that it may be utilized only once and thereafter disposed of, thereby eliminating cleaning and reuse.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a bed pan construction which may be fabricated from sheet material and transported, stored and generally handled prior to use in a flat deflated condition, or folded into a very small package, thus permitting storage of a relatively large number of such devices in the space normally occupied by one rigid bed pan, thereby reducing storage space to but a fraction of that required with the usual rigid bed pan. Furthermore, being inflatable, the deflated device may be placed under a patient with a minimum of effort, thereby relieving personnel of relatively heavy and difficult lifting as well as contributing materially to the comfort of the patient when being placed upon the pan. At the same time, upon inflation of the pan the patient is automatically lifted above the bottom of the pan and while using the pan has substantially all the comfort of an air cushion. Consequently sliding of the pan relative to the bed sheet is also eliminated, reducing the possibility of tearing such sheet etc.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a inflatable bed pan which is designed for cooperation with novel means for permitting its inflation from the oxygen line which is usually present in the average hospital room, but which, at the same time, is capable of being inflated by a small manually operated pump of the bellows type, and which in an emergency can be directly inflated manually prior to its positioning under the patient.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a bed pan which is provided with novel means for emptying the same as well as effecting a deflation of the device following emptying.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a bed pan which is exceedingly simple in construction, capable of being fabricated completely from sheet stock whereby the cost of manufacture is sufiiciently low to make a single use of the device economically feasible.

Many other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention contemplates the production of an inflatable bed pan formed from sheet material in which the side walls are of tubular formation and adapted to be inflated with air or suitable gas to form a generally doughnut-like structure to which the bottom wall is attached. The inflated structure possesses adequate rigidity for the purposes to which it is to be subjected but at the same time permits the device to be folded more or less along its longitudinal axis bringing the upper edges of the doughnut-like structure in contacting relation to, in effect, seal the container thus formed, thereby facilitating transporting and handling of the used structure prior to emptying. The bottom of the pan is so constructed that it may be engaged with cooperable means mounted on the toilet bowl or other receptacle in which the pan is to be emptied and, by relative movement of the pan with respect thereto, a rupturing of the bottom wall may be effected to permit discharge of the contents into the receiving receptacle. A part of the latter may also be provided with means for rupturing the inflated portion of the device following, emptying thereof, whereby disposal can be effected in a deflated condition.

The inflatable portion of the device is provided with a suitable filler valve structure which is cooperable with novel means forming a part of a valve discharge line adapted to be connected to the oxygen supply line present in the usual hospital room.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a bed pan embodying the invention, illustrating the same in deflated condition;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the device upon inflation, as well as means for inflating the same;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line III-III of FIG. 1; 1

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the bottom of the structure taken approximately on the line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inflated pan, following use thereof, illustrating how the structure may be folded back upon itself to close the same for transporting and handling; and

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through an inflated pan illustrating how the same may be emptied over a toilet bowl or the like.

3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 1 indicates generally a pan structure comprising a bottom portion 2 and a tubular side wall portion 3 of generally doughnutlike configuration, which is slightly elongated from front to rear, with the front portion 4 having a shorter radius of curvature than the rear portion 5. The structure preferably is fabricated from sheet materials such as sheet plastic capable of receiving air or gas under pressure whereby the same may be inflated to the condition illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5. Normally a gas pressure of 12 to 15 ounces per square inch is adequate for this purpose.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the embodiment therein illustrated is constructed from three individual pieces of material, the bottom 2 comprising one piece and the wall structure comprising two like pieces 6 and 7 respectively which initially have a planar shape as illustrated in FIG. 2. The sections 6 and 7 are suitably secured in sealed relation along their inner edges by thermal welding or other suitable means to form a seam 8 and in like manner the outer edges of the panel 6 and 7, as well as the adjacent pheripheral portion of the bottom 2 are similarly secured together as indicated at 9. Secured to the upper panel 6 is a filler valve structure designated generally by the numeral 10 which is illustrated as being constructed in the form of a check valve, comprising a housing portion 11 of generally dome-like configuration terminating at its upper end in a tubular neck portion 1'2, and having a coaxially disposed inwardly extending tubular portion 113 closed at its inner end by a wall 14. A transversely extending slit 14 is formed in the portion 13 adjacent the wall 14, the slit extending partially through the tubular structure with enough material being left unsevered to insure retention of the bottom wall 14 in operative position, as illustrated. However, when air is forced into the valve the bottom portion may pivot inwardly with the unsevered portion functioning as a hinge, to permit the ingress of air or gas and when fully inflated the internal pressure will maintain the opposed portions of the structure at the slit 14 in airtight engagement to prevent discharge through the valve. The specific details of the valve structure with respect to its sealing function form no part of the present invention, the specific instruction illustrated merely being presented by way of example. The portion 12 of the valve member is constructed for cooperation with a fitting 16 illustrated as being generally cylindrical and terminating at its lower end in a flange 16' having rounded peripheral edges. The internal diameter of the neck portion 12 and the fitting 16 are so dimensioned and proportioned that the neck 12 possesses sufficient resiliency to receive the flanged end of the fitting and create a good seal therebetween.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the fitting 16 is adapted to be attached to a valve structure 17, illustrated as being generally of pistol shape, having a manually actuatable valve button 18 and operatively connected to a flexible line 19, between which is interposed a suitable reducing valve 21, the opposite end of the tubing 19 being provided with a fitting 22 suitable for connection to the usual type of coupling employed on oxygen supply lines which are present in all modern hospital rooms. While the inflated pressure of the bed pan will depend to a certain extent on the materials employed in its fabrication, it would appear that in most cases approximately twelve to fifteen ounces per square inch is adequate to provide a sufiicient firmness and thus form retention of the structure when in use and at the same time provide maximum comfort for the user. Consequently, for the majority of the applications, the reducing valve 21, which may be any suitable construction, preferably is designed to reduce the discharge pressure at the fitting 13 to the desired maximum.

The present invention also makes provision for readily emptying the pan, following the use thereof, with a minimum of difficulty and inconvenience, as Well as reduce the disagreeableness associated with handling and emptying of the pan. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, extending longitudinally along the bottom 2, from rear to front is a relatively narrow strip '23 defined by a pair of parallel lines 24 of reduced thickness, forming weakened lines along which the panel 23 may be severed from the remainder of the bottom 2. Secured to the portion 23, closely adjacent to the rear end thereof, is a tab or flap 25 of generally ring-shape which is provided with a mounting portion 26, secured to the portion 23 by a suitable seam or Weld 27. Thus by gripping the tab 25 and pulling downwardly toward the end 4 of the pan, the bottom '2 may be ruptured along the lines 24 to form an elongated slot in the bottom through which the pan may be emptied, as for example over a toilet bowl or the like as illustrated in FIG. 6. The weakening along lines 24 in the bottom 2 should be such that the bottom has more than adequate strength to retain any contents which it may receive in normal usage but at the same time will rupture relatively easy when force is suitably applied to the tab 25.

Obviously a bed pan construction in accordance with the present invention may, in non-inflated condition, be readily folded into a very compact flat mass of approximately 4 by 4 inches and less than /2 inch thick (with the exception of the filler valve 11). Consequently a relatively large number of such devices may be stored in the space normally occupied by one stored bed pan of the usual rigid construction. Thus a considerable saving in storage space may be achieved.

When such a pan is to be used, it is unnecessary to lift the patient onto the pan as is necessary in the usual case, the present pan preferably being disposed in noninflated condition underneath the patient, which may be readily accomplished by merely rolling the patient on his side. When the patient is in proper position on the device, it may be inflated, either by means of a small inexpensive air pump, for example a foot actuated pump of the bellows type or if a hospital use is involved, it may be readily inflated with oxygen from the oxygen line provided in all modern hospital rooms, utilizing the tubing and valve structure previously described. In this case the tubing 19 is coupled to the oxygen fitting provided and oxygen admitted into the hose following which the fitting 13 is inserted into the bore 16, of the neck 12 of the filler valve and the button 18 depressed which will admit oxygen until the pressure determined by the reducing valve 21 has been reached. The fitting 16 may then be withdrawn from the filler valve, the latter, in the embodiment illustrated, being provided with a small tab or flap 28 which may be manually grasped to facilitate the withdrawal operation. Following usage, the patient may be removed from the pan and the latter carried to the point of disposal. The present invention facilitates such handling as the pan is sufliciently flexible that it may be longitudinally foldedupon itself to a position similar to that illustrated in FIG. 5, in which the top faces of the folded halves of the panel 6 are brought into engagement and thus form an effective closure or seal for the pan during such handling.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, to facilitate rupturing of the bottom 2 when it is desired to empty the pan, as for example over the toilet bowl 31, illustrated in FIG. 6, there may be provided a small hook member 32 which is mounted on a small sheet 33 of adhesively backed material which sheet is thereby adhesively secured to the top surface of the bowl 31 at the forward or front edge thereof, with the hook portion 32 directed outwardly. To utilize this structure for effecting a rupturing of the bottom 2, the pan is initially disposed with the rear portion overlying the hook 32. The tab 25 may then be readily engaged with the hook 32 by a slight movement of the pan in a rearward direction with respect to the bowl 31 and by a subsequent sharp movement of the pan rearwardly the bottom will readily rupture along the line 24 so that when the pan is disposed directly above the toilet bowl 31 the bottom 2 will be ruptured along at least approximately half of its front to rear length, which is more than adequate to permit emptying of the pan. Mounted on the underside of the toilet seat 34 is a sharp pointed projection 35 which, for example, may be carried by an adhesively backed sheet 36, similar to the sheet 33 whereby the projection 35 will be firmly mount ed on the seat. It will be apparent that following emptying of the pan into the bowl 31 the latter may be moved sharply rearwardly into engagement with the projection 35 to effect a rupturing of the inflated side wall structure of the device permitting the same to become deflated in which condition the pan may be readily disposed of, again occupying a very small volume.

It will be apparent from the above disclosure that I have provided a bed pan which eliminates the vast majority of the disadvantages and objections to the usual type of bed pan, eliminating the necessity of lifting a person on to the pan, providing maximum comfort, equivalent to an air cushion, while being used, eliminates as much as possible the disagreeable conditions surrounding handling of the pan following usage prior to emptying, facilitates emptying with a minimum of manual handling, and provided for deflating in a very simple manner. Furthermore, the invention enables the device to be in flated from the usual oxygen fitting provided in hospital rooms and with the features surrounding handling and emptying, considerably reduces the objections of personnel required to perform the handling and emptying function. Likewise, the invention eliminates the subsequent rehandling of the usual pan with respect to rinsing, sterilization, packing in a plastic bag or the like, and a considerable reduction in storage space, all of which are of particular importance to those in hospital administration.

It will also be apparent that the simplicity of construction as well as the fact that expensive material are not required, readily makes the single use and subsequent disposal of the pan both practical and economical.

Having thus described my invention will be understood that variations and modification may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of my invention.

We claim:

1. A disposable bed pan primarily intended for single use comprising a tubular envelope of ring-shape configuration, capable of being inflated to form a generally doughnut-shaped body, with a bottom wall extending across the central opening of said body, said tubular envelope comprising two like, ring-shaped halves of flat sheet material, and said bottom wall comprising a flat sheet of like material having a peripheral configuration of the same size and shape as the outer peripheral configuration of said halves, the latter being superimposed one upon the other with their outer peripheral edges in alignment and having their opposed inner faces joined in sealed relation along a continuous line adjacent said aligned inner peripheral edges, said halves being superimposed on said bottom with their outer peripheral edges and the outer peripheral edge of said bottom in alignment, forming a flat stack, the opposed inner faces of said halves and the opposed inner faces of said bottom and the adjacent half being respectively joined sealed relation along a common continuous line adjacent said aligned outer peripheral edges.

2. A disposable bed pan according to claim 1, wherein said tubular envelope is adapted to be inflated from an external source of gas under pressure, comprising in further combination valve means constructed in the form of a check valve, having a body portion carried by said body and providing a passageway from the interior of said body to the exterior thereof, said body portion being constructed to permit insertion and detachable retention of a gas-supply fitting in the outer end of said passageway,

and a valve element adjacent the inner end of said passageway constructed to permit the entry of gas through said passageway into said envelope and seal said passageway in response to pressure upon the inner surface of said valve element.

3. A disposable bed pan according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional dimensions of said body, and the thickness and characteristics of said sheet material are such that the structure, when inflated, may be folded substantially along the longitudinally center line thereof to bring the portions of the body at each side thereof in contact substantially throughout their length and thereby temporarily substantially seal the contents thereof.

4. A disposable bed pan according to claim 1, wherein said bottom wall is provided with means for effecting a rupture of the bottom wall to facilitate emptying of the pan.

5. A disposable bed pan according to claim 4, wherein said means for facilitating emptying the pan comprises a weakened portion, operative to localize such rupturing to a predetermined area, and means disposed at such weakened portion, at the exterior side of said bottom wall, which upon the application of force thereto is operative to effect such a rupturing of the bottom wall.

6. A disposable bed pan primarily intended for single use comprising a tubular envelope of ring-shaped configuration, capable of being inflated to form a generally doughnut-shaped body, a bottom wall extending across the central opening of said body and having its peripheral edges secured thereto in fluid-tight relation, valve means on said body, operative upon inflation of said body to retain the same in inflated condition, said bottom wall being provided with means for effecting a rupture of the bottom wall to facilitate emptying of the pan comprising a weakened portion in the form of a relatively narrow elongated panel extending along the longitudinal centerline of the bottom wall, operative to localize such rup turing to a predetermined area, and a tab secured to one end of said panel and extending outwardly therefrom at the exterior side of said bottom wall, which upon the application of force thereto is operative to effect rupturing of the bottom wall at said panel.

7. A disposable bed pan according to claim 6, comprising in further combination, a hook member constructed for mounting on a receptacle into which said pan is to be emptied, adjacent the front edge thereof, said tab having an opening therein for the reception of said hook member.

8. A disposable bed pan according to claim 7, comprising in further combination, an envelope-rupturing mem ber constructed for mounting on such a receptacle adjacent the rear edge thereof for engagement with said body to effect a rupture and deflation thereof.

9. In a disposable bed pan arrangement primarily intended for single use, the combination of a bed pan structure, constructed for use when inflated, and provided with a passageway through which the same may be inflated, valve means adjacent the inner end of said passageway constructed in the form of a check valve operable to permit entry of gas under pressure into said structure and retain the pan in inflated condition in response to internal gas pressure upon said valve means, and conduit means constructed at one end for connection to a supply line of an inflating fluid, valve means connected to the opposite end of said conduit, said valve means terminating in a fitting detachably insertable in said valve passageway in fluid-tight relation, and pressure reduction means operatively disposed in the fluid path to said fitting for limiting the maximum pressure thereat and thus within the inflated bed pan structure.

10. A disposable bed pan arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said fitting is of generally tubular construction and terminates at its free end in a head portion of greater diameter than that of the adjacent tubular portion thereof, said valve passageway having an effective diameter less than that of said head portion and greater than that of the remainder of the insertable part of said fitting.

11. A disposable bed pan arrangement primarily intended for single use, comprising an inflatable bed pan structure formed from sheet material, said structure constructed for use when inflated and having a relatively easily rupturable noninflatable Wall, and following use thereof to be emptied in a receiving receptacle, and means adapted to be associated with such a receptacle, engageable with said bed pan structure for effecting a rupture of a noninflated wall thereof to permit emptying in such a receptacle.

12. A disposable bed pan arrangement according to claim 11, comprising in further combination means adapted to be associated with such a receptacle for effecting a deflation of said bed pan structure following emptying thereof.

13. A disposable bed pan arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said deflation means is mounted on a part associated with the receiving receptacle adjacent the rear edge thereof, operative to be engaged with said bed pan structure by movement of the latter, following emptying thereof, toward and into engagement with said deflation means.

14. A disposable bed pan arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said rupturing means is mounted on the receiving receptacle adjacent the front edge thereof and engageable with cooperable means on said pan, op-

erative to effect a rupturing of said bottom wall by move- 30 ment of said pan, relative to said receptacle, into a position thereover.

15. A disposable bed pan arrangement according to claim 14, comprising in further combination, means 8 mounted on a part associated with the receiving receptacle adjacent the rear edge thereof, operative to be engaged with said bed pan structure by movement of the latter, following emptying thereof, toward and into engagement with said deflation means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 399,508 3/1889 Eggers 4-ll3 435,058 8/1890 Freund 41l3 750,103 1/1904 Eggers 4 113 959,379 5/1910 Otis l113 1,132,056 3/1915 Wesley 4113 1,382,593 6/1921 Arata et a1. 4113 2,246,205 6/1941 Gray 4-113 2,503,284 4/1950 Mason 4-113 2,671,226 3/1954 Lychenheim 4113X 3,013,279 12/1961 Neudigate 41 13 1,362,751 12/1920 Snyder 4113 1,783,640 12/1930 Chambers 4-1 13 1,981,666 11/1934 Ridley 4112UX 2,466,142 4/ 1949 Yost 41 13 2,714,212 8/1955 Reed 4113X 2,750,600 6/1956 MacDonald 4-1 13 3,008,153 11/1961 Coulter 4-1 13X 3,061,840 11/1962 Presseisen 4113 FOREIGN PATENTS 249,325 3/1926 Great Britain 4-113 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner