WO2008032308A2

WO2008032308A2 - Hygienic device

Info

Publication number: WO2008032308A2
Application number: PCT/IL2007/001106
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ran Rahimzada
Original assignee: Ran Rahimzada
Priority date: 2006-09-13
Filing date: 2007-09-09
Publication date: 2008-03-20
Also published as: WO2008032308A3; GB0618005D0

Abstract

A hygienic device comprises a shoe with a container therein for storing a person's urine. The container has an inlet for connecting to a catheter tube. The container is an integral part of the shoe or the shoe's sole. The container may be connected to a standard catheter. The device may further include an urine level indicator. The container is made of a rigid material, capable of holding a user's weight without mechanical deformation or allowing for a minimal amount of deformation. The container may further include vertical support means therein, for achieving a rigid structure.

Description

Hygienic Device

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

The present application is related to, and claims priority from, the patent application No. GB0618005.3 filed on September 13, 2006 in Great Britain by the present applicant and entitled "Hygienic Device".

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a hygienic device allowing a person to urinate outside a toilets, and including a new shoe with a container for storing a person's urine.

Background of the Invention

An embarrassing situation may arise, when people sometimes need to urinate and there may not be toilets readily available, for example when a person is driving a car on a highway, while touring a city with not public toilets readily accessible, while traveling in a bus, etc.

There are people who need to urinate more frequently, for example pregnant women, oldsters or ill persons. For them, frequent visits to the toilets are a necessity and a significant continuous disturbance.

A prior art solution includes a catheter tube connected to a bag attached to a person's foot. The person can urinate anytime, filling the bag. This solution is uncomfortable and apparently did not gain wide usage.

Sherman, US Patent 501,372, discloses an urinary apparatus having a receptacle for urinating which is connected to a tube, with a lower opening to the ground.

There is apparently a need, not solved by prior art devices, of allowing a person to discreetly urinate where no toilets are available. Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention, a new shoe includes a container to store a person's urine. The person may use a standard catheter, which is connected to the container in the shoe .

This is an unobtrusive device, there is no bag attached to one's foot, etc. The device may be used discreetly, without attracting undue attention.

The new device may be used with any type of shoe, a standard shoe for example, sandals, sport shoes, boots, etc.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of a shoe with urine collection space

Fig. 2 illustrates a top view of the shoe with urine collection space

Fig. 3 illustrates a top view of another embodiment of the shoe with urine collection space

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of a shoe 2 with a built-in urine collection container 28.

The container 28 may be built as an integrated part of the shoe 2.

A catheter tube 1 (a standard device) is connected to the container 28, to allow the user to urinate freely as need be.

The catheter tube 1 passes all the way from the customer's penis, along his foot, to the container 28 in the shoe 2. In the shoe or boot 2 itself, the urine tube 27 is preferably installed within the padding 21, so as not to irritate the user's foot.

The container 28 may optionally include an urine level indicator 26, that is a transparent tube located on the outer surface of the container 28 , to allow the user to check the level of urine in the container. When the container is filled up, it can be taken away to be emptied.

The container 28 is preferably made of a rigid material, capable of holding the user's weight without mechanical deformation (or allowing for a minimal amount of deformation). This is important so as to keep the urine in the container, otherwise it may be driven out when the container's volume decreases .

To aid in achieving a rigid structure, the container 28 may include vertical support means, such as vertical bars 29 located inside the container.

Fig. 2 illustrates a top view of the shoe 2 with urine collection container 28. The shoe 2 preferably has a padding 21 on its inner surface. The container 28 has an inlet 23 to be connected to the catheter tube 1, and an outlet 24, to output excess air or for emptying the container 28.

Fig. 3 illustrates a top view of another embodiment of the shoe 2 with urine collection container 28.

This embodiment includes an enlarged urine collection container 28, shown as a device wider than the shoe itself. Increasing the width of the container will significantly increase its volume, so the user may use it for prolonged time periods. There will be no need to empty the container too often.

Preferably the shoe 2 will include an inner surface padding 21. Furthermore, the container 28 will include an inlet 23 to be connected to a catheter tube, and an outlet 2k , to output excess air or for emptying the container.

The inlet 23 and outlet 24 may be located anywhere on the shoe 2. They may be located on the inner part of the shoe, so as to be less visible to passersby. Alternately, the inlet is located on one side of the shoe and the outlet on the other. Preferably, the inlet tube has a larger diameter than that of the outlet.

The shoe 2 and the container 28 may be made of various materials, such as leather, plastic, textile, etc.

The shoe may be made in various sizes, practically to any size as desired.

Various embodiments are possible, for example:

The container 28 may be installed underneath the shoe, as part of the sole as illustrated in Fig. 1. The container 28 may be an integral part of the shoe's sole.

The catheter tube 1 may be either fixedly or removably attached to the container 28. In the latter case, attaching means may be used to secure the tube 1 in place while preventing urine leakage.

The outlet 24 may include means for allowing air out, but not urine, using for example a valve with a float. When it is desired to empty the container through outlet 24, the valve may be disabled.

Two catheter tubes may be used, each to one shoe, to store urine in both shoes; alternatively, one tube may be connected to either shoe as desired.

In place of a catheter, the user may use a condom with an opening connected to one end of a tube; the other end of the tube is connected to the container in the shoe.

It will be recognized that the foregoing is but one example of an apparatus and method within the scope of the present invention. Various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading the present disclosure together with the drawings. Other embodiments of the invention may be implemented, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hygienic device comprising a shoe with a container therein for storing a person's urine, and wherein the container has an inlet for connecting to a catheter tube.

2. The hygienic device according to claim 1, wherein the container is an integral part of the shoe.

3. The hygienic device according to claim 1, wherein the container is an integral part of the shoe's sole.

4. The hygienic device according to claim 1, wherein the container is installed underneath the shoe.

5. The hygienic device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the container is connected to a standard catheter.

6. The hygienic device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, further including an urine level indicator.

7. The hygienic device according to claim 6, wherein the urine level indicator comprises a transparent tube located on the outer surface of the container, allowing a user to check a level of urine in the container.

8. The hygienic device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the container is made of a rigid material, capable of holding a user's weight without mechanical deformation or allowing for a minimal amount of deformation.

9. The hygienic device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the container further includes vertical support means therein, for achieving a rigid structure.

10. The hygienic device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the container further includes an outlet to output excess air or for emptying the container.

11. The hygienic device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the container is connected to one end of a tube, with the other end of the tube being connected to an opening in a condom.