Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Dry closets – Urinal
Patent
1997-03-14
1999-07-13
Phillips, Charles E.
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Dry closets
Urinal
A47K 1100
Patent
active
059209160
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a urine collecting device, and more particularly to a urine collection funnel for directing urine into a container.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Being able to collect urine conveniently is important in several medical contexts. Tests on an individual's urine can reveal important medical information, such as the presence of substances in the body or specific medical conditions such as gastric ulcers. And the disabled, such as bed-ridden patients or invalids, also require a convenient manner of collecting urine that does not require them to get to a toilet.
However, it is not always easy to collect urine, especially for a female. While a male can usually direct his urine flow into a container, such as a glass bottle or a plastic container, a female generally has a much more difficult time accurately directing the flow of her urine. Thus, females sometimes have difficulty filling a container without some spilling and/or splashing of urine.
In a hospital, urine samples are sometimes collected using what is known as a "hat" because it resembles an upside down hat with a wide brim and a crown that is open at the top. The "brim" sits on the rim of a toilet under the toilet seat. After the patient urinates into the container formed by the open crown, the urine is emptied into a container for storage, testing or disposal. For bed-ridden or otherwise non-ambulatory patients in a hospital, a bed pan can be used instead of a hat. However, these devices, not being easily stored and readily portable, are not particularly convenient or practical outside a hospital or doctor's office. These devices may also experience spillage or contamination in transferring the urine into a container.
There are known in the art many different kinds of portable devices for collecting urine. Typically, such a device includes a funnel for receiving the urine and a detachable container for collecting and, if necessary, transporting the urine. Examples of urine collectors are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,657,975 (Shiells), No. 3,161,891 (Bauman), No. 3,473,172 (Friedman et al.), No. 3,927,426 (Geddes) and No. 4,559,649 (Burnett). Those patents disclose funnels with top edges that fail to properly fit the anatomy of a user, and thus are not particularly suitable for fitting against the pelvic region of an individual, particularly a female. Moreover, the funnel and detachable containers of these patents are not provided with adequate means for preventing or limiting leakage and/or spillage. The overall result of such conventional designs is that these urine collection devices can experience splashing and/or spilling of the urine as it is deposited into the funnel and drains into the container.
It is also known to design urine collection funnels to prevent leaking or contamination by the urine as it drains into an attached container. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,711,871 (Sherin) and No. 3,878,571 (Seeley) show urine collection devices with a bottom portion having a U-shaped channel for fitting over a lip of a urine collecting container. However, such conventional designs are still capable of leaking urine and contaminating the urine container and/or the urine sample.
It is desirable, therefore, to provide an improved device for collecting urine. The device should be simple, effective and convenient to use, for women as well as men, and also be inexpensive and sufficiently portable and easily stored to be practical for the home, as well as in professional medical settings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved urine collection device that can assist in collecting the urine of an individual.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a urine collection funnel for directing, or funnelling, urine from an individual into a urine collector.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a urine collection funnel that is convenient and comfortable to use by women and men, provi
REFERENCES:
patent: 105979 (1870-08-01), Price
patent: D267118 (1982-11-01), Burnett
patent: D269378 (1983-06-01), Work
patent: D274469 (1984-06-01), Huang et al.
patent: 1657975 (1928-01-01), Shiells
patent: 2703670 (1955-03-01), Voight
patent: 3000015 (1961-09-01), Hart
patent: 3161891 (1964-12-01), Bauman
patent: 3473172 (1969-10-01), Friedman et al.
patent: 3711871 (1973-01-01), Sherin
patent: 3815770 (1974-06-01), Gaula
patent: 3878571 (1975-04-01), Seeley
patent: 3927426 (1975-12-01), Geddes
patent: 4408905 (1983-10-01), Ehrenkranz
patent: 4559649 (1985-12-01), Burnett
patent: 5129892 (1992-07-01), McCarthy
Sporty's Pilot Shop, "Lady J. Adapter", p. 73 (date unknown).
G.D. Searle & Co.
Phillips Charles E.
LandOfFree
Urine collection funnel does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Urine collection funnel, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Urine collection funnel will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2265138