Urine or stool sample collector

Abstract

A liquid impervious bag that fits inside a toilet bowl and is secured to an outer rim edge of the toilet bowl to provide for the collection of human waste.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a liquid impervious bag for collection of urine or stool samples of human beings or animals.

Currently the collection of human waste samples is done in small containers (usually jars) which have to be held by a patient with one hand while the patient fills the container with human waste. The filling of such containers without splashing waste about the container or onto one's hand holding the container can be difficult.

The current invention provides a hygienic waste container which is easier to use and which eliminates human waste from contacting the outside of the container or the hands of the user.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a fluid impervious bag for use as a human waste sample collector;

FIG. 2 shows a modification of the bag of FIG. 1, wherein an elastic band is provided to secure the bag around the toilet bowl rim;

FIG. 3 shows a modification of the bag of FIG. 1, wherein a hook and loop type fastener is provided to secure the bag around the toilet bowl rim;

FIG. 4 shows a toilet;

FIG. 5 shows a modification of the bag of FIG. 1, wherein the bag has a slot to allow the bag to pass over the toilet seat;

FIG. 6 shows the bag of FIG. 1 inserted into a toilet bowl;

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the bag of FIG. 1 where a glove is made integral with the bag; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 show the bag of FIG. 1 provided with a spoon and cover attached thereto. In FIG. 8 the spoon is shown partially in cross-section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 4 shows a toilet 10 having a toilet bowl portion 12, a water tank portion 14, a toilet lid 16, a rim 18 and with an inward facing cavity 20. FIG. 1 shows a water impervious sample collector bag 30 having a bottom portion 32, an upper portion 34 and with an opening 36 leading into the interior of the bag 30. The bag 30 can be made from a plastic material, a rubber material or any other material (cloth or paper) treated to become water impervious so as to allow liquid to be collected inside the bag.

In use, the bag 10 is inserted within the toilet bowl 12 into the cavity 20 as shown in FIG. 6. The upper end 34 of the bag 30 is stretched over and around a portion of the rim 18 of the toilet bowl 12 to hang below the rim 18 and to frictionally engage the bowl to secure the bag in the toilet bowl 12.

One way to secure the bag would be to have at least the upper portion of the bag 34 be elastic so it could be stretched over a portion of the rim 18 and down the outside of the bowl 12. The toilet seat 16 would not allow for complete coverage of the rim 18, but such a complete covering is not essential. All that is needed is more than half of the opening be covered. An added feature could be provided by constructing the bag 30 with a slot 40. If the bag 30 had this feature, the toilet seat could be pushed through the slot which would then allow the top portion 34 of the bag 30 to completely surround the toilet rim 18 and the hinge portion 40 of the seat 16.

Rather than have the top portion 34 of the bag 30 being elastic, an elastic band such as a rubber band 44 (see FIG. 2) could be utilize to hold the upper portion 34 of the bag 30 around the outer rim 18 of the toilet bowl 12. This rubber band could be formed as a hem to the upper portion 34 of the bag (similarly to an elastic waist band in pants or underwear). Alternatively the band could be a belt 46 with a hook and loop fastener. As the outer circumference of a toilet bowl (below the rim 18) is more narrow than the rim 18 the belt need not be elastic. The belt could have the hooks and loops on opposite end portions, or alternatively one of the hook or loop portions could be on a pad 48 attached to the bag 30.

An additional feature of the bag 30 could be a reduced cross-section portion 50 at the bottom of the bag 30 to concentrate the collection area of the waste. This would make it easier to remove the bag 30 from the toilet bowl 12 and make it easier to create a tie in the neck of the upper portion 34 of the bag 30 to avoid sloshing out of collected bodily wastes.

Alternatively the elastic band 44 or belt 46 could be used to tie the bag 30 after removal from the toilet bowl 12.

While normally the bag 30 would be to collect urine, it could also be used to collect fecal stools. To assist in such an operation the bag 30 could be formed with a glove 50 (see FIG. 7) portion, opened to the outside at 52, to permit someone to insert a hand into the glove 50 and reach into the bag 30 to remove fecal matter.

Alternatively, a spoon 60 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) could be attached to the bag 30 by a hook and loop fastener 64 which spoon 60 could be used to life out fecal material. The spoon 60 would have a deep bowl 62 to capture the fecal material. A cover 66 for the spoon 60 could be provided which would slide on track 88 entering slot 70 in the cover 66 to entrap any fecal matter collected in the bowl 62. The spoon 60 and cover 62 could be made of plastic. In place of a hook and loop attached spoon 60, a set of tweezers could be attached to the bag 30.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only, and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims

1 A human waster sample collector comprising:

a liquid impervious bag having a closed bottom portion and an top portion;

the closed bottom portion sized to be fittable into a toilet bowl;

the top portion of a size to extend above a rim of the toilet bowl when the bottom portion is fitted within the toilet bowl;

the top portion having a opening leading into the bag;

the opening configured to have a cross-sectional area at least equal to the opening of a rim of the toilet bowl; and

wherein the top portion is configured to be secured about an outer edge of the toilet bowl rim.

2 The sample collector of claim 1 wherein the bag is provided with a narrowing area at its bottom portion.

3 The sample collector of claim 1 wherein at least the top portion of the bag is elastic to allow it to at least stretch about most of the circumference of the rim of the toilet bowl to be secured thereto by its elasticity.

4. The sample collector of claim 2 wherein at least the top portion of the bag is elastic to allow it to at least stretch about most of the circumference of the rim of the toilet bowl to be secured thereto by its elasticity.

5 The sample collector of claim 1 wherein the bag is made from elastic material.

6 The sample collector of claim 2 wherein the bag is made from elastic material.

7 The sample collector of claim 3 wherein the bag is made from elastic material.

8 The sample collector of claim 4 wherein the bag is made from elastic material.

9 The sample collector of claim 1 wherein the bag is provided with banded element of a size that can fit around the rim of the toilet bowl and shortened to cause the top portion of the bag extending over the toilet bowl rim to be squeezed against the outside of the toilet bowl below the rim for securing of the top portion to the toilet bowl.

10 The sample collector of claim 2 wherein the bag is provided with banded element of a size that can fit around the rim of the toilet bowl and shortened to cause the top portion of the bag extending over the toilet bowl rim to be squeezed against the outside of the toilet bowl below the rim for securing of the top portion to the toilet bowl.

11 The sample collector of claim 9 wherein the band is elastic.

12 The sample collector of claim 10 wherein the band is elastic.

13 The sample collector of claim 9 wherein the band is provided with a hook and loop type fastener to provide the securement of top end of the bag about an outer edge of the toilet bowl rim.

14 The sample collector of claim 10 wherein the band is provided with a hook and loop type fastener to provide the securement of top end of the bag about an outer edge of the toilet bowl rim.

15 The sample collector of claim 1 wherein the upper portion of the bag is slotted with a hole to accommodate passage of a toilet seat therethrough.

16 The sample collector of claim 2 wherein the upper portion of the bag is slotted with a hole to accommodate passage of a toilet seat therethrough.

17 The sample collector of claim 3 wherein the upper portion of the bag is slotted with a hole to accommodate passage of a toilet seat therethrough.

18 The sample collector of claim 4 wherein the upper portion of the bag is slotted with a hole to accommodate passage of a toilet seat therethrough.

19 The sample collector of claim 5 wherein the upper portion of the bag is slotted with a hole to accommodate passage of a toilet seat therethrough.

20 The sample collector of claim 11 wherein the upper portion of the bag is slotted with a hole to accommodate passage of a toilet seat therethrough.

21 The sample collector of claim 13 wherein the upper portion of the bag is slotted with a hole to accommodate passage of a toilet seat therethrough.

22 The sample collector of claim 1 wherein a fecal collector is attached to the bag.

23 The sample collector of claim 3 wherein a fecal collector is attached to the bag.

24 The sample collector of claim 9 wherein a fecal collector is attached to the bag.

25 The sample collector of claim 13 wherein a fecal collector is attached to the bag.

26 The sample collector of claim 15 wherein a fecal collector is attached to the bag.