Waste container with anti-microbial agent

Abstract

This invention relates to a waste container for receiving thrown up stomach contents. A waste container includes an elongated moisture proof bag having an open end, an inner surface and an outer surface. The area bounded by the bag open end and the bag inner surface defines an inner portion of the bag. A rigid ring integrally connects to the bag open end. At least one anti-microbial agent is located in the inner portion of the bag.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/348,657, filed on Jan. 21, 2003, and also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/446,319, filed Feb. 7, 2003.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This invention relates to a waste container for receiving thrown up stomach contents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Often times health care providers have to deal with patients who have a high probability of getting sick to their stomachs and vomiting. Such a situation occurs regularly in emergency rooms in hospitals and clinics.

[0004] Conventional waste containers are known that are hand held by patients and health care providers. These include various vomit bags, dishes and bowls. However in many situations the patient or user of the vomit collecting device cannot do so on their own because of some incapacity. These patients require assistance from another to hold and handle the vomit collecting device which is not only unpleasant, if the user vomits, but also, in an emergency medical situation, ties up another health care provider. Further, conventional waste containers are difficult to seal shut after the user has vomited into the container. Thus, the contents of the container may spill. Moreover, the contents of the container may be bacterially active and therefore harmful to anyone who accidentally comes into contact with the container contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides a waste container for receiving thrown up stomach contents. The container includes an anti-microbial agent to eliminate bacteria and other harmful microorganisms that may be present in the contents of the waste container.

[0006] According to the invention the waste container for receiving thrown up stomach contents includes an elongated moisture proof bag having an open end at the top of the bag and a rigid ring. The rigid ring is located outside of the bag open end. The upper length of the bag in contact with the inner wall of the rigid ring may be secured to the inner wall of the ring by an adhesive, a thermal weld, or by a heat shrink. The waste container also includes anti-microbial agent(s) that can aide in sterilizing the contents of the bag. The anti-microbial agents may be a brick or a powder at the bottom of the inner portion of the bag, a topical coating integral with the inner surface of the bag or a component of the resin the bag is made from. The anti-microbial agents may include, but are not limited to, substances such as chlorhexidine gluconate, triclosan, silver ion impregnation, silver platinum or carbon impregnation, MEDI-COAT™, SURFACINE™, OMACIDE®, INTERSEPT®, BIOPRUF® and VINYZENE®.

[0007] The waste container may also further comprise neck straps that allow for hands free use of the container whereby the container can be worn around the neck of a patient and easily removed for disposal by the patient or a health care attendant. In such an arrangement, elongated neck straps are connected to the rigid ring at an end and include neck connecting portions. The straps include a fabricated stress riser formed therein between the end connected to the bag and the neck connecting portion. The neck straps are frangible and caused to break along the stress riser through the application of any inadvertent threshold force which might become applied to either the bag, collar, strap, or patient. In the absence of such frangible feature, the patient might be strangled.

[0008] In one embodiment the bag comprises a synthetic resin film such as a polyethylene film. Likewise, the neck straps comprise a synthetic resin film such as a polyethylene film.

[0009] The fabricated stress riser may be a partial cut, a scored line or a perforated line or other weakness formed in the neck strap.

[0010] These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the invention taken together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In the drawings:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waste container having an anti-microbial agent at the bottom of the inside of the waste bag;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a waste container having an anti-microbial topical coating integral with the inner surface of the waste bag;

[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a waste container having an anti-microbial agent as a component of the bag resin;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a waste container in accordance with the present invention having elongated neck straps; and

[0016] FIG. 4A is a blow-up view of the stress riser portion of the waste container neck strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Referring now to the drawings in detail, numeral 10 generally indicates a waste container comprising an elongated moisture proof bag 12 extending through the inside of a rigid ring 14. The rigid ring 14 is integrally connected to a bag open end 16 of the bag 12.

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a waste container 10 in accordance with the present invention. An elongated moisture proof bag 12 extends through the inside of a rigid ring 14. The elongated moisture proof bag 12 has an open end 16, an inner surface 18 and an outer surface 20. The area bounded by the bag open end 16 and the bag inner surface 18 defines an inner portion 22 of the elongated moisture proof bag 12. The rigid ring 14 integrally connects to the bag open end 16. An anti-microbial agent 24 in the form of a brick or powder rests at the bottom of the inner portion 22 of the bag 12.

[0019] FIG. 2 further illustrates a waste container 10 in accordance with the present invention. In the waste container 10 of FIG. 2, a topical anti-microbial coating 26 is integral with the bag inner surface 18.

[0020] FIG. 3 further illustrates a waste container 10 in accordance with the present invention. In the waste container 10 of FIG. 3, an anti-microbial agent 36 is a component of the resin of the bag 12.

[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates a waste container 10 in accordance with the present invention having elongated neck straps 28. The elongated neck straps 28 have a bag connecting end 30 connecting to the ring 14 at the bag open end 16 and a neck connecting portion 32. The waste container 10 is set in front of the neck of a patient and the neck connecting portions 32 of the neck straps 28 are tied behind the neck of the patient (not shown). The elongated neck straps 28 include fabricated stress risers 34 formed therein along the width of the neck straps 28 in an area between the bag connecting end 30 and the neck connecting portion 32. FIG. 4A is a blow-up view of a stress riser 34 on a neck strap 28. Application of a threshold force causes the neck straps 28 to break at the stress risers 34.

[0022] Although the invention has been described by reference to a specific embodiment, it should be understood that numerous changes may be made within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts described. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the described embodiment, but that it have the full scope defined by the language of the following claims.

Claims

1. A waste container for receiving thrown up stomach contents from a patient, said container comprising:

an elongated moisture proof bag having an open end, an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the area bounded by said bag open end and said bag inner surface defines an inner portion of said elongated moisture proof bag;

a rigid ring integrally connecting said bag open end; and

at least one anti-microbial agent located in said inner portion of said elongated moisture proof bag.

2. A waste container as in claim 1, wherein said anti-microbial agent is an anti-microbial brick located at the bottom of said bag inner portion.

3. A waste container as in claim 1, wherein said anti-microbial agent is an anti-microbial powder located at the bottom of said bag inner portion.

4. A waste container as in claim 1, wherein said anti-microbial agent is a topical anti-microbial coating integral with said bag inner surface.

5. A waste container as in claim 1, wherein said elongated moisture proof bag comprises a synthetic resin film.

6. A waste container as in claim 5, wherein said film comprises polyethylene.

7. A waste container as in claim 5, wherein said anti-microbial agent is a component of said resin of said elongated moisture proof bag.

8. A waste container as in claim 1 further comprising elongated neck straps having a bag connecting end connected to said rigid ring and having a neck connecting portion.

9. A waste container as in claim 8, wherein said elongated neck strap includes a fabricated stress riser formed therein between said bag connecting end and said neck connecting portion, whereby said neck strap is caused to break along said stress riser through the application of a threshold force.

10. A waste container as in claim 8, wherein said neck strap comprises a synthetic resin film.

11. A waste container as in claim 10, wherein said film comprises polyethylene.

12. A waste container as in claim 9, wherein said fabricated stress riser is one of a scored line, a partial cut through, and a perforated line.

13. A method for collecting thrown up stomach contents comprising the steps of:

integrally connecting an elongated moisture proof bag open end to a rigid ring; and

inserting a anti-microbial agent into the open end of the elongated moisture proof bag.