WO1999052442A1

WO1999052442A1 - Holding member for a urine sampling container

Info

Publication number: WO1999052442A1
Application number: PCT/IB1999/000619
Authority: WO
Inventors: Susan S. Sexsmith; Robert G. Dickie
Original assignee: Sanigrip Corporation
Priority date: 1998-04-08
Filing date: 1999-04-08
Publication date: 1999-10-21
Also published as: AU3047199A

Abstract

A holding member for a urine sampling container for supporting the container when taking urine samples. The urine sampling container includes a container cup, a container lid, a lip and cooperating threads for tightly sealing the container cup and container lid together. The holding member has a neck portion, a handle portion for facilitating handling of the urine sampling device by a user, and an engagement portion for supporting the urine sample container cup. The neck portion is adapted to inhibit fluid from traveling down the neck portion. The engagement portion includes a continuous ring portion forming a receiving hole for receiving the container cup.

Description

- 1 -

Holding Member for a Urine Sampling Container

Background of the Invention

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a urine sampling device and more particularly pertains to enabling females to support a urine sample container cup in a proper orientation in a sanitary, reliable, and convenient manner.

Related Art

The use of urine sample containers is known in the prior art. Conventionally, a user requiring a urine sample would use a urine sample container having a cup and a screw-on lid. The user would grip the urine sample container and hold the container in the appropriate position in order to obtain the urine sample.

This approach has several disadvantages. Firstly, the user' s hands and fingers may be soiled during use. Fluid spraying or spilling out from the container during use will create unsanitary conditions by soiling the user's hands and fingers. Secondly, contamination is a key issue for any medical sampling. Initially, most urine sample containers are sterile. However, the container is easily contaminated if the user fails to exercise proper care. The user may contaminate the container by inadvertently touching an interior surface of the sample container during handling prior to capping the container.

Holding devices have been used to support urine sample containers while taking urine samples. In particular, U.S. Patent No. 5,492,220 to Estay discloses an apparatus for supporting a tapered cup when taking a urine sample. The Estay holding device includes a support ring having an opening which allows flexing of the device to accommodate various sizes.

Although the above-mentioned holding device alleviates some of the disadvantages of a user directly holding a urine sample container, there exists a continuing need for a new and improved holding device which allows a user to tightly cap the urine sample container while holding the container by the holding device. This allows the user to tightly cap the urine sample container without touching the container cup and thereby avoids contamination of the urine sample.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides an improved holding member to support a urine sample container when taking urine samples. The container includes a container cup, a container lid. a lip and cooperating threads for tightly sealing the container cup and the container lid together. The urine sampling device for holding the container includes a holding member having a neck portion, a handle portion for facilitating handling of the urine sampling device by a user, and an engagement portion for supporting the urine sample container. The neck portion includes at least one opening for inhibiting fluid from traveling down the neck portion to the handle portion and the user's hand. The engagement portion includes a continuous ring portion forming a receiving hole for receiving the container cup and engaging the lip of the cup.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved single use device for supporting an uncapped urine sample container remote from the users fingers and hands when taking urine samples. It is another obj ect of the present invention to provide a new and improved device to allow females to obtain urine samples in a clean and sanitary manner despite reduced vision and accuracy due to the anatomical differences between males and females.

It is yet another object of the present invention to support a urine sampling container in a proper orientation in a sanitary reliable convenient manner when taking a urine sample in medical facilities or public washrooms.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a holding device having openings on a neck portion thereof to inhibit fluid from traveling down the handle portion to the user's fingers if fluid is sprayed or spilled out from the container. - 3 -

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a urine sampling device that prevents contamination of the urine sample by preventing the user from directly touching a urine sample container cup until the urine sample container is capped prior to washing or further handling. It is yet another object of the present invention to allow a user to disengage the holding device from a urine sample container by merely placing the urine sample container on a flat surface such as a counter top.

Lastly, it is an obj ect of the present invention to provide a new and improved urine sample device that provides a safe and efficient manner for supporting a urine sample container and encourages rinsing off of the exterior of the urine sample container. These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description and examples which follow.

Brief Description of the Figures

FIG. 1 is atop elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the urine sampling device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a urine sampling container in combination with the device shown in Figure 1.

FIG.4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the urine sampling device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the urine sampling device of the present invention. - 4 -

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to the figures where like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Also in the figures, the left most digit of each reference number corresponds to the figure in which the reference number is first used. While specific configurations and arrangements are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustrative purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other configurations and arrangements can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, while specific elements, materials and dimensions are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustrative purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other materials and method steps can be used.

With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the urine sample device of the present invention will be described. The urine sampling device includes a holding member, generally designated by the reference numeral 100. Holding member 100 includes an elongated neck portion 110, a handle portion 120, and an engagement portion 130. Engagement portion 130 is configured for supporting a urine sampling container 340, as shown in FIG. 3. Urine sampling container 340 includes a container cup 341 and a container lid 342. Typically, container cup 341 and container lid 342 are tightly sealed together by cooperating threads 343. As seen in FIG. 3, threads 343 are disposed about a periphery of container cup 341. Corresponding threads (not visible in FIG. 3) are disposed on the interior periphery surface of container lid 342. Container cup 341 also includes a peripheral lip 344 which encircles container cup 341 below and adjacent to threads 343. Lip 344 provides container cup 341 with a load bearing surface which will abut against engagement portion 130 of holding member 100 during use. Alternatively, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that container cup 341 may be provided without lip 344. In the absence of lip 344, cooperating threads 343 will act as a lip and abut - 5 -

against engagement portion 130 thus providing a load bearing surface for container cup 341.

Neck portion 110 is an elongated portion which includes a proximal end 11 1 and a distal end 112. Neck portion 110 is elongated to sufficiently space the handle portion 120 and a user's hand from engagement portion 130 which is adapted to support urine sampling container 340. Neck portion 1 10 further includes openings 113 to inhibit fluid from traveling down neck portion 110 to handle portion 120 and the user's fingers if fluid is sprayed or spills out from urine sampling container 340. Openings 113 are preferably located adjacent proximal end 111. In the preferred embodiment, neck portion 110 includes two openings 113, however, one skilled in the relevant art would recognize that one or more openings may be used.

One skilled in the relevant art would further recognize that various shapes and other means suitable to prevent fluid travel may also be used. For example, FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In particular, neck portion 110 is provided with a radial collar 414 encircling neck portion 110 to inhibit fluid from traveling down neck portion 110. Likewise, FIG. 5 shows another alternative embodiment of the present invention in which neck portion 110 is provided with a radial groove 515 encircling neck portion 110 to inhibit fluid travel.

Handle portion 120 is secured to distal end 112 of neck portion 110. Handle portion 120 is of a generally rectangular configuration which is elongated to provide a suitable gripping surface for the user. In the preferred embodiment, handle portion 120 includes recessed portion 121 having a plurality of ribs 122 for increasing the structural integrity of handle portion 120. Recessed portion 121 and ribs 122 provide a gripping surface to facilitate handling of holding member 100 and urine sampling container 340 by the user. One skilled in the relevant art, however, would recognize that it is equally suitable to provide a handle portion without ribs if the material of the handle portion has sufficient strength.

Engagement portion 130 is secured to proximal end 1 11 of neck portion 1 10. Engagement portion 130 has a generally circular configuration and includes a ring portion 131 forming a receiving hole 133 for receiving container cup 341 of urine sampling - 6 -

container 340. Ring portion 131 is a continuous ring configuration to provide sufficient strength to support urine sampling container 340 when full. In the preferred embodiment, ring portion 131 includes a shoulder or flange 132 disposed about the periphery of ring portion 131 to further increase structural integrity. Although engagement portion 130 may be configured to provide a friction fit with urine sample container 340, such a friction fit is not necessary, as gravity will prevent urine sample container 340 from disengaging from holding member 100. Furthermore, when engagement portion 130 is configured so that the sides of container cup 341 freely slide into and out of ring portion 131 , a user may place urine sampling container 340 with holding member 100 on a counter whereby holding member 100 will slide down urine sampling container 340 and rest on the counter, thereby allowing container 340 to be lifted away and leaving holding member 100 behind.

In one embodiment, holding member 100 is of an integral design whereby neck portion 110, handle portion 120, and engagement portion 130 are formed from a single piece of material. For example, holding member 100 could be injection-molded from plastic. One skilled in the art would recognize that holding member 100 may be constructed of various low-cost materials including, but not limited to, plastic, corrugated paper and wood.

Holding member 100 of the present invention enables women to give urine samples in a more sanitary and convenient way. Holding member 100 of the preferred embodiment measures approximately six inches long whereby handle portion 120 is approximately one- half inch wide and receiving hole 133 of engagement portion 130 has a diameter of one and three-quarter inches to accommodate a urine sampling container. It is important to the invention that handle portion 120 is sufficiently removed from engagement portion 130 and container 340 to prevent the user's hand from becoming soiled while obtaining a specimen. One skilled in the art would recognize that other dimensions may also be used. For example, different receiving holes may include other diameters in order to accommodate urine sample containers of various sizes. Also, the length of the device and the width of the handle may be modified to improve user comfort. - 7 -

In use, the user unscrews container lid 342 from container cup 341. The user holds holding member 100 by handle portion 120 in one hand, and places container cup 341 through receiving hole 133. Rim 344 of cup 341 rests against ring portion 131 of engagement portion 130 to support container cup 341 in holding member 100. The user then collects a urine sample while holding handle portion 120 of holding member 100.

When finished collecting the sample, the user returns lid 342 to container cup 341. While still holding handle portion 120, the user rinses off the exterior of container 340 prior to handling it. The user then sets container 340 on a countertop and lifts it out of engagement ring 130. Holding member 100 can then be discarded and container 340 is provided to a nurse or lab technician.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

- 8 -What Is Claimed Is:

1. A holding member for a urine sampling container comprising: a neck portion having a proximal end and a distal end; a handle portion attached to said distal end of said neck portion; and an engagement portion attached to said proximal end of said neck portion and including a continuous ring portion, said continuous ring portion forming a receiving hole.

2. A holding member for a urine sampling container according to claim 1, wherein said handle portion has a generally rectangular configuration and comprises a recessed portion and a plurality of ribs disposed in said recessed portion.

3. A urine sampling device according to claim 1 , wherein said continuous ring portion comprises a shoulder disposed about a periphery of said continuous ring portion.

4. A urine sampling device according to claim 1 , wherein said neck portion comprises means for inhibiting fluid from traveling down said neck portion to said handle portion.

5. A urine sampling device according to claim 4, wherein said inhibiting means of said neck portion comprises at least one opening for inhibiting fluid from traveling down said neck portion to said handle portion.

6. A urine sampling device according to claim 4, wherein said inhibiting means of said neck portion comprises two openings for inhibiting fluid from traveling down said neck portion to said handle portion.

7. A holding member for a urine sampling container comprising: a neck portion having a proximal end and a distal end, said neck portion including means for inhibiting fluid from traveling down said neck portion; - 9 -

a handle portion attached to said distal end of said neck portion; and an engagement portion attached to said proximal end of said neck portion and including a ring portion, said ring portion forming a receiving hole.

8. A urine sampling device according to claim 7, wherein said handle portion has a generally rectangular configuration and comprises a recessed portion and a plurality of ribs disposed in said recessed portion.

9. A urine sampling device according to claim 7, wherein said ring portion comprises a shoulder disposed about a periphery of said ring portion.

10. A urine sampling device according to claim 7, wherein said inhibiting means of said neck portion comprises at least one opening for inhibiting fluid from traveling down said neck portion to said handle portion.

11. A urine sampling device according to claim 7, wherein said inhibiting means of said neck portion comprises two openings for inhibiting fluid from traveling down said neck portion to said handle portion.

12. A urine sampling device comprising: a urine sampling container including a container cup, a container lid, and a lip disposed about a periphery of said container cup; and a holding member including,

(a) a neck portion having a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a handle portion attached to said distal end of said neck portion; and

(c) an engagement portion attached to said proximal end of said neck portion, said engagement portion including a continuous ring portion forming a receiving hole for receiving said container cup of said urine sampling container and engaging said lip of said container cup. - 10 -

13. A urine sampling device according to claim 12 , wherein said handle portion has a generally rectangular configuration and comprises a recessed portion and a plurality of ribs.

14. A urine sampling device according to claim 12, wherein said ring portion comprises a shoulder disposed about a periphery of said ring portion for engagement with said container cup.

15. A urine sampling device according to claim 12, wherein said neck portion comprises means for inhibiting fluid from traveling down said neck portion to said handle portion.

16. A urine sampling device according to claim 15, wherein said inhibiting means of said neck portion comprises at least one opening for inhibiting fluid from traveling down said neck portion to said handle portion.

17. A urine sampling device according to claim 15, wherein said inhibiting means of said neck portion comprises two openings for inhibiting fluid from traveling down said neck portion to said handle portion.