Urinal

Abstract

A urinal comprises a first chamber including a first opening, a second opening and a one-way valve controlling flow through the second opening. The urinal further comprises a second chamber housing the one-way valve and a fitting for coupling to a device for collecting urine.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This regular utility patent application claims the benefit of the Apr. 13, 2007 filing date of U.S. Ser. No. 60/923,184. The entire disclosure of U.S. Ser. No. 60/923,184 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Males confined to wheelchairs and beds due to infirmity, disease or the like frequently find it difficult or impossible to use standard bedpans, urinals or the like to relieve themselves. Such use often results in wetting of their clothing, wheelchairs, bed linens, and so on. Without attention, exposure to urine causes their skin to become irritated. Long exposure may cause their skin tissue to begin to break down.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention, a urinal comprises a first housing portion having a first end including a first opening, a second end including a second opening and a one-way valve controlling flow through the second opening. The urinal further comprises a second housing portion having a first end and a second end including a fitting for coupling to a device drainage bag for collecting urine.

Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the first end of the first housing portion includes a diaphragm partially closing the first end of the first housing portion. The diaphragm defines an opening and a perimeter connected to the first housing portion.

According to another aspect of the invention, a urinal comprises a first chamber including a first opening, a second opening and a one-way valve controlling flow through the second opening. The urinal further comprises a second chamber housing the one-way valve and a fitting for coupling to a device for collecting urine.

Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the first chamber includes a diaphragm partially closing the first chamber. The diaphragm defines an opening into the first chamber and a perimeter connected around the first chamber.

Illustratively according to the invention, the diaphragm comprises a resilient diaphragm.

Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the fitting comprises a compression fitting including a tapering inner portion for receiving an end portion of a conduit coupled to the device. Threads are provided on the inner portion. The fitting further comprises an outer portion provided with a tapered inner surface. Complementary threads are provided on the outer portion for engaging the threads provided on the inner portion to capture the end portion of the conduit therebetween and couple the device to the urinal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may best be understood by referring to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a partly broken away partly exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a longitudinal sectional side elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a fragmentary sectional side elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, taken generally along section lines 3,4-3,4 of FIG. 2, with a component of the apparatus in a first orientation;

FIG. 4 illustrates a fragmentary sectional side elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, taken generally along section lines 3,4-3,4 of FIG. 2, with a component of the apparatus in a second orientation;

FIG. 5 illustrates a partly exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a partly broken away partly exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a longitudinal sectional side elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates a fragmentary sectional side elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 6-7, taken generally along section lines 8,9-8,9 of FIG. 7, with a component of the apparatus in a first orientation; and,

FIG. 9 illustrates a fragmentary sectional side elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 6-7, taken generally along section lines 8,9-8,9 of FIG. 7, with a component of the apparatus in a second orientation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, a hand held urinal 20 includes a first housing portion 22 defining a first chamber 24. The first chamber 24 is open at a first end 26 for insertion of the user's penis 28 into the first chamber 24. A second end 30 of the first housing portion 22 narrows in a funnel-like manner to a neck opening 32. The opposite end 34 of the neck 32 is provided with a one-way valve 36. The illustrated one-way valve 36 is a duckbill-type valve, but other types of one-way valves 36 are also contemplated.

A second housing portion 38 defining a second chamber 40 is provided at the second end 30 of the first housing portion 22. The two housing portions 22, 38 are joined at the second end 30 of the first housing portion 22 and the first end 44 of the second housing portion 38. The one-way valve 36 is housed in the second chamber 40 and oriented to permit the flow of urine from the first chamber 24 into the second chamber 40 as illustrated in FIGS. 2-3, but to impede the flow of urine in the opposite direction, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The second end 46 of the second housing portion 38 is provided with a compression fitting 48 including a tapering inner nozzle 50 and a threaded outer nut 52 with a tapered inner surface 54. The threads 56 on the nut 52 engage threads 60 on the outside of a neck 62 at the second end 46 of the second housing portion 38. The drain tube 64 of a drainage bag 66 is cut to a desired length, pushed through the opening 68 in the nut 52 and onto the tapered outer surface of the nozzle 50. The drain tube 64 is then captured on the fitting 48 by engaging the threads 56, 60 of the nut 52 and neck 62 and screwing these two together. Opposite action frees the drain tube 64, and thus the drainage bag 66, from the urinal 20 to service or replace the drainage bag 66.

Referring now to FIG. 5, working sample devices have been constructed using two generally right circular cylindrical clear or colored plastic water or soda bottles 80, 82 or the like. The flat bottom ends 84, 86 of the bottles 80, 82 are cut off and the neck end 88 of one bottle 80 is fitted with a one-way valve 36 constructed from two flexible resin or polymer sheets 90, 92 with their opposite lateral edges fused, glued or otherwise joined together. The thus-formed sleeve is opened at one end and the neck 88 of bottle 80 inserted into it and glued in place. The neck end 88 of bottle 80 is then pushed into the open bottom end 94 of bottle 82 and glued in place. The neck 96 of bottle 82 is then fitted with a compression fitting 48 of the type described above.

Referring now to FIG. 6-9, in a second embodiment, a urinal 120 includes a first housing portion 122 defining a first chamber 124. The first chamber 124 is provided with a diaphragm 125 of elastic material, such as, for example, latex at a first end 126 thereof. Diaphragm 125 includes an opening 123 for insertion of the user's penis 128 into the first chamber 124. The diaphragm 125 is attached around its perimeter 127 to the sidewall of housing portion 122. Diaphragm 125 reduces the likelihood of urine splashing or spilling out of the chamber 124.

A second end 130 of the first housing portion 122 narrows in a funnel-like manner to a neck opening 132. The opposite end 134 of the neck 132 is provided with a one-way valve 136. Again, the illustrated one-way valve 136 is a duckbill-type valve, but other types of one-way valves 136 are also contemplated.

A second housing portion 138 defining a second chamber 140 is provided at the second end 130 of the first housing portion 122. The two housing portions 122, 138 are joined at the second end 130 of the first housing portion 122 and the first end 144 of the second housing portion 138. The one-way valve 136 is housed in the second chamber 140 and oriented to permit the flow of urine from the first chamber 124 into the second chamber 140, but to impede the flow of urine in the opposite direction.

The second end 146 of the second housing portion 138 is provided with a compression fitting 148 including a tapering inner nozzle 150 and a threaded outer nut 152 with a tapered inner surface 154. The threads 156 on the nut 152 engage threads 160 on the outside of a neck 162 at the second end 146 of the second housing portion 138. The drain tube 164 of a drainage bag 166 is cut to a desired length, pushed through the opening 168 in the nut 152 and onto the tapered outer surface of the nozzle 150. The drain tube 164 is then captured on the fitting 148 by engaging the threads 156, 160 of the nut 152 and neck 162 and screwing these two together. Opposite action frees the drain tube 164, and thus the drainage bag 166, from the urinal 120 to service or replace the drainage bag 166.

In the illustrated embodiments, the end 26, 126 of the urinal 20, 120 can be closed when not in use by a molded resin or polymer cap 180 sized to snap fit over the end 26, 126 and close it. The illustrated cap 180 is molded with an integral retaining strap 182 with an opening 184 at its opposite end sized to fit around the neck 62, 162 and be captured thereon when the nut 52, 152 is screwed onto the neck 62, 162.

Claims

1. A urinal comprising a first housing portion having a first end including a first opening, a second end including a second opening, a one-way valve controlling flow through the second opening, a second housing portion having a first end and a second end including a fitting for coupling to a device drainage bag for collecting urine.

2. The urinal of claim 1 wherein the first end of the first housing portion includes a diaphragm partially closing the first end of the first housing portion, the diaphragm defining an opening and a perimeter connected to the first housing portion.

3. The urinal of claim 2 wherein the diaphragm comprises a resilient diaphragm.

4. The urinal of claim 1 wherein the fitting comprises a compression fitting including a tapering inner portion for receiving an end portion of a conduit coupled to the device, threads provided on the inner portion, an outer portion provided with a tapered inner surface, and complementary threads provided on the outer portion for engaging the threads provided on the inner portion to capture the end portion of the conduit therebetween and couple the device to the urinal.

5. A urinal comprising a first chamber including a first opening, a second opening, a one-way valve controlling flow through the second opening, a second chamber housing the one-way valve and a fitting for coupling to a device for collecting urine.

6. The urinal of claim 5 wherein the first chamber includes a diaphragm partially closing the first chamber, the diaphragm defining an opening and a perimeter connected to the first chamber.

7. The urinal of claim 6 wherein the diaphragm comprises a resilient diaphragm.

8. The urinal of claim 5 wherein the fitting comprises a compression fitting including a tapering inner portion for receiving an end portion of a conduit coupled to the device, threads provided on the inner portion, an outer portion provided with a tapered inner surface, and complementary threads provided on the outer portion for engaging the threads provided on the inner portion to capture the end portion of the conduit therebetween and couple the device to the urinal.