US3581743A

US3581743A - Douche

Info

Publication number: US3581743A
Application number: US742286A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lenore M Stein; Fred R Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-07-03
Filing date: 1968-07-03
Publication date: 1971-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-01

Abstract

A vaginal douche in which a tubular, liquid discharge tip engages a liquid-impervious, flexible bag. A conduit extends laterally from the tip and defines an opening for conducting liquid into the bag. The bag is of sufficiently flexible material to have no substantial tendency to distend when empty and forms a single-use, unitary structure with the tip.

Description

United States Patent [721 Inventors Lenore M. Stein Inglewood; Fred R. Brown, Torrance. both of, Calif. [21] Appl. No, 742,286 [22] Filed July 3, 1968 145] Patented June 1, 1971 [73] Assignee Assignor to said Stein and said Brown part interest to each i 541 DOUCHE 15 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl [28/232, 128/239,128/251 [51] lnt.Cl A6lm H00 [50] Field of Search 128/231, 232, 239, 251, 222,227, 239, 347; 23/230, 254; 206/632; 73/29 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,818,863 1/1958 Hoffman et a1. 128/251 3,057,352 10/1962 McKenna 128/239X Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner,l. Yasko Attorney-Nilsson, Robbins, Wills & Berliner ABSTRACT: A vaginal douche in which a tubular, liquid discharge tip engages a liquid-impervious, flexible bag. A conduit extends laterally from the tip and defines an opening for conducting liquid into the bag. The bag is of sufficiently flexible material to have no substantial tendency to distend when empty and forms a single-use, unitary structure with the tip.

noucns BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The fields of art to which the invention pertains includes the fields of vaginal douches and syringes.

2. Description of the Prior Art There is a recognized need for a single-use, disposable vaginal douche or syringe because of the difficulty in keeping reuseable syringes sterile and sanitary and because of the convenience afforded by an inexpensive, compact, throwaway douche. However, prior disposable douches have generally sacrificed convenience and physical safety for compactness and disposability. Where safe-to-use tips have been employed, elaborate bag filling means were utilized. Where convenient bag loading was provided, simplistic nonsafe tip designs were utilized. Other over simplifications were made for the sake of cost savings and compactness which have made such douches inconvenient and often unsafe to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an inexpensive, compact, sterile vaginal douche which can be easily filled and conveniently and safely used. The douche comprises a tubular liquid discharge tip having wall perforations at one end portion, the opposite end thereof engaging a liquid-impervious flexible bag and forming a watertight connection therewith. Conduit means are provided extending laterally from the tip and defining an opening into the tip for conducting liquid into the bag. The bag is of sufficiently flexible material as to have no substantial tendency to distend when empty and forms a unitary structure with the tip.

In particular embodiments, the conduit opening forms an acute angle with the tip, the vertex of such angle pointing towards the bag, and the conduit is built up around its base to form a flange on the tip to limit vaginal penetration thereof. The tip is curved and the conduit flange is disposed approximately normal to the plane of tip curvature. Means are provided for capping the conduit opening.

In further embodiments, the bag is of sufficiently flexible material as to have no substantial tendency to distend when empty and forms a unitary structure with the tip. The bag has an extended neck in engagement with the tip as the sole communication with the interior of the bag, at least a portion of the material of the neck being flexible but substantially thicker than the remainder of the bag to thereby facilitate handling of the douche.

As another important feature, the liquid discharge portion at the end of the tip comprises a plurality of wall perforations at such end. The perforations are of different sizes with perforations nearer the extremity of the tip being larger than perforations further back.

Still other features include disposing a single dosage of water-soluble douche substance within the bag, providing the exterior surface of the bag with a pebbled texture, and including means associated with the bag indicating any decrease in sterility thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the douche of the present invention, with sections broken away;

FIG. 2 is a top, plan view of the douche of FIG. 1, including a cap for the conduit thereon; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the conduit portion of the douche tip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the douche comprises a bag and a tip 12. The bag 10 is shown in collapsed form. It is of liquid-impervious material that is generally sufficiently flexible as to have no substantial tendency to distend when empty. Suitable bag material is polyethylene of a few thousandths inch thickness. The surface of the bag 10 has a pebbled texture, indicated at 14 to provide a nonslip surface so that when the bag is filled it can be readily manipulated with one hand. The bag 10 distends when filled with water and holds about one and one quarter pint.

The bag 10 has an elongated neck 16, a portion of which, near the base 18, is of thicker material than the remainder of the bag 10 but is still flexible so as to allow the bag to bend thereat without crimping. This facilitates control of the flow of liquid for safer introduction and use. The neck 16 is sufficiently long to enable ready manipulation during insertion and use in a sitting position. The neck portion I6 constitutes the sole communication with the interior of the bag 10.

The tip 12 comprises a curved elongated member having a longitudinal discharge passage 24 that terminates at a bulbous end 26.

Outlet apertures

28, 30 and 32 are located in longitudinally recessed portions 34 in the bulbous end 26. The

apertures

28, 30 and 32 are of different sizes and arranged so that perforations nearer the extremity of the bulbous end 26 are larger than perforations further back, i.e., the perforations designated 32 are larger than the perforations designated 30 which are larger than the perforations designated 28.

Referring specifically to FIG. 1, the tip 12, at its end 27 (shown in shadow) opposite the bulbous end 26 is provided with convolutions 29 over which the neck of the bag 16 tightly fits to provide a watertight connection thereat and result in a unitary structure. 7

A conduit 36 extends laterally from the tip 12 adjacent the bag engaging end 27. The conduit 36 defines an opening 38 into the longitudinal discharge passage 24 of the tip 12. The conduit opening 38 forms an acute angle with the longitudinal discharge passage 24, the vertex of such angle pointing toward the bag I0. The bag 10 may be filled by pouring water into the conduit opening 38. Since the opening 38 is at an acute angle with respect to the discharge passage 24, flow of the water toward bag I0 is readily maintained.

The conduit 36 is built up on the included side of the acute opening 38 angle to form a flange 40 thereat. The flange may be radial and circumscribe the tip 12, but a nonradial configuration can be utilized and is illustrated in the drawings. The flange 40 serves as a safety device by limiting vaginal penetration of the tip 12.

Referring to FIG. 3, an enlarged view of the flanged conduit 36 is shown. A plastic cap 42 is provided covering the opening 38 in the conduit 36. The cap 42 may be removed to expose the opening 36 by pushing up on a rim 44 thereof.

Referring back to FIGS. I and 2, the tip 12 is curved and the conduit 36 is disposed normal to the plane of the tip curvature. This arrangement allows ready manipulation of the bag during insertion and use while in a sitting position.

The unitary structure of bag 10 and tip 12 is packaged in a collapsed folded form with the cap 42 sealing the opening 38 of the conduit 36 so as to ensure sterility. In use, the cap 42 is removed and the bag is held under a faucet to allow water to enter the conduit opening 38 and flow into the bag 10. The cap 42 can then be replaced on the opening 38, or one can place a finger over the opening 38 during insertion and use. With some prior devices, the discharge tip was provided with a large opening at the discharge end thereof, the bag being loaded through the tip. While easy to load, such devices do not have the safety and effectiveness of a discharge-directing tip 12 as illustrated. Still other prior devices have utilized tips similar to that illustrated but the bag is loaded at an end opposite the neck portion 16. A separate opening in the bag is provided and must be sealed subsequent to loading by heat sealing means, clamping means, etc. In contrast, the present invention provides a simple means of loading and sealing the bag 10.

Medication can be preincorporated in the bag 10 or can be added prior to filling with water or thereafter. Preferably, a water-soluble douche substance is predisposed inside the bag 10. Referring to FIG. 1, one arrangement is to place a small water-soluble tablet 46 in the bag 10 prior to packaging. Alternatively, the substance can be internally coated on the material of the bag 10. Liquid douche substances can also be utilized in which case such substance can be enfolded within the bag when packaged.

Means can also be provided associated with the bag 10 to indicate a decrease in sterility thereof. For example, one can utilize a patch 48 of absorbent paper which contains material that indicates the presence of bacteria, e.g., by a color change. Alternatively, the douche can be packaged under relatively dry conditions and a moisture-indicating patch can be utilized. For example, blotting paper containing cobalt chloride turns from blue to red when the relative humidity is greater than that calibrated for the particular paper. A wide variety of papers are available and the douche can be packaged under, say, 10 percent humidity with a paper calibrated at that humidity associated with the bag 10. If in subsequent handling the douche is exposed to air (typically, 40 percent relative humidity), the increased moisture therein would turn the patch from blue to red thereby indicating rupture of the container.

We claim:

1. A vaginal douche comprising:

a water-impervious flexible bag having no substantial tendency to distend when empty;

a tubular, liquid discharge tip having a liquid discharge portion at one end thereof, the opposite end thereof engaging said bag to form a watertight connection therewith; and

conduit means extending laterally from said tip and defining an opening into said tip of sufficient size whereby water may be poured through said opening and conducted into said bag said'conduit means opening forming an acute angle with said tip, the vertex of said angle pointing toward said bag.

2. The douche of claim 1, wherein said bag and tip constitute a unitary structure.

3. The douche of claim 1, wherein said bag has an extended neck in engagement with said tip, the material of at least a portion of said neck being flexible but substantially thicker than the remainder of said bag to thereby facilitate handling.

4. The douche of claim 1, wherein said conduit means forms a flange on said tip to limit vaginal penetration of said tip.

5. The douche of claim 1, wherein said tip is curved along a plane offset from the plane along which said conduit means extends. I

6. The douche of claim 1, wherein said conduit means is disposed normal to plane of said tip curvature.

7. The douche of claim 1 including mean for capping said conduit means.

8. The douche of claim 1, wherein said liquid discharge portion comprises a plurality of wall perforations at said one end.

9. The douche of claim 8 wherein said perforations are of different sizes, perforations nearer the extremity of said one end being larger than perforations further back.

10. The douche of claim 1 including a single dosage of water-soluble douche substance within said bag.

11. The douche of claim I including means associated therewith indicating a decrease in its sterility.

12. The douche of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface of said bag has a pebbled texture.

13. The invention according to claim 1 in which said tip is formed with convolutions on the region thereof which is in engagement with said bag neck whereby to effect said watertight connection.

14. A vaginal douche comprising:

a tubular, liquid discharge tip having a liquid discharge portion at one end thereof;

a water impervious flexible bag having no substantial tendency to distend when empty, and having a neck in engagement with the end of said tip opposite said discharge end as the sole communication with the interior of said bag and forming a watertight connection with said tip; and

conduit means extending laterally from said tip and defining an o ening into said tip of sufficient size whereby water may e poured through said opening and conducted into said bag, said conduit means opening forming an acute angle with said tip, the vertex of said angle pointing toward said bag.

15. A vaginal douche comprising:

a water impervious flexible bag having no substantial tendency to distend when empty;

a flange formed on said tip to limit vaginal penetration of said tip and defining a conduit into said tip of sufficient size whereby water may be poured therethrough and conducted into said bag, said conduit being defined at an acute angle with said tip, the vertex of said angle pointing toward said bag.

Claims

1. A vaginal douche comprising: a water-impervious flexible bag having no substantial tendency to distend when empty; a tubular, liquid discharge tip having a liquid discharge portion at one end thereof, the opposite end thereof engaging said bag to form a watertight connection therewith; and conduit means extending laterally from said tip and defining an opening into said tip of sufficient size whereby water may be poured through said opening and conducted into said bag said conduit means opening forming an acute angle with said tip, the vertex of said angle pointing toward said bag.

5. The douche of claim 1, wherein said tip is curved along a plane offset from the plane along which said conduit means extends.

7. The douche of claim 1 including mean for capping said conduit means.

11. The douche of claim 1 including means associated therewith indicating a decrease in its sterility.

14. A vaginal douche comprising: a tubular, liquid discharge tip having a liquid discharge portion at one end thereof; a water impervious flexible bag having no substantial tendency to distend when empty, and having a neck in engagement with the end of said tip opposite said discharge end as the sole communication with the interior of said bag and forming a watertight connection with said tip; and conduit means extending laterally from said tip and defining an opening into said tip of sufficient size whereby water may be poured through said opening and conducted into said bag, said conduit means opening forming an acute angle with said tip, the vertex of said angle pointing toward said bag.

15. A vaginal douche comprising: a water impervious flexible bag having no substantial tendency to distend when empty; a tubular, liquid discharge tip having a liquid discharge portion at one end thereof, the opposite end thereof engaging said bag to form a watertight connection therewith; and a flange formed on said tip to limit vaginal penetration of said tip and defining a conduit into said tip of sufficient size whereby water may be poured therethrough and conducted into said bag, said conduit being defined at an acute angle with said tip, the vertex of said angle pointing toward said bag.