DISPOSABLE URINE BAG

Abstract

A disposable human urine bag enables a female to urinate while standing erect. The disposable urine bag comprises a bag for receiving urine and means for holding the bag in place enabling a female to urinate while standing erect. The bag further comprises a reinforced perimeter for maintaining the opening while the urine is received therein. When finished, the female places the filled bag into a toilet for disposal therein.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority of provisional application Ser. No. 60/701,196 filed Jul. 21, 2005, currently pending, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to methods of and apparatus for disposal of bodily waste, and more particularly to a disposable bag for receiving human urine while standing erect.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Public restrooms are often unclean to the point that women in particular are uncomfortable sitting on toilet seats in public restrooms. Heretofore the options available to women for urinating without sitting on toilet seats have been placing tissue or similar items over the seat or squatting/hovering over the toilet. Placing items on the toilet seat does not necessarily prevent receiving germs from the seat, takes additional time to prepare, and can result in clogs due to excessive paper in the drain lines. Squatting prevents receiving germs from the toilet seat but can result in splashing urine on the person's clothing and on the toilet seat adding to the uncleanliness already present. Further, squatting is uncomfortable, often requires stabilization by holding onto a bar on the wall or the walls themselves, and requires utilization of additional muscles thereby hindering a complete emptying of the bladder.

The present invention comprises a disposable urine bag which overcomes the foregoing and other difficulties which have long since characterized the prior art. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, a disposable urine bag comprises a bag for receiving urine and means for holding the bag in place enabling a female to urinate while standing erect.

In accordance with more specific aspects of the invention, a urine bag comprises an opening having a reinforced perimeter therearound for receiving urine therein. A female utilizing the urine bag holds the bag between her legs by handles secured to the perimeter of the bag or incorporated into the upper perimeter of the bag. When urination has been completed the female places the filled bag into a toilet for disposal. Alternative to handles held by a female the bag may comprise tabs having adhesive fasteners which secure to the front and back of the female's legs.

By holding the bag between her legs a female is able to urinate while standing erect without the need to hover or squat over a toilet and without the fear of urine splashing onto her legs and clothing. The female is further relieved from having to touch the toilet seat and surrounding areas or place items thereon for sitting. Clogs due to excessive paper or tissue placed over the seat are also prevented.

The bag is removed from between her legs and placed into a toilet for disposal. All components of the bag are fabricated from biodegradable materials such that there are no risks of excessive clogs or related sewage problems due to disposal of the urine bag. The bag comprises a material which remains fluid impervious during urination, but dissolves when submerged in a volume of water. Alternatively, the bag may comprise a dissolving agent that is either incorporated into the material defining the bag or secured thereto which facilitates dissolving of the bag when placed in the toilet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the use of a urine bag comprising a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the urine bag shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a urine bag comprising a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a urine bag comprising a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a urine bag comprising a fourth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a urine bag 10 comprising a first embodiment of the present invention. The urine bag 10 comprises an opening 12 having a reinforced perimeter 14 therearound for receiving urine therein. A female 16 using the urine bag 10 holds the bag between her legs 18 by handles 20 on each end of the bag 10. When urination has been completed the female 16 places the filled bag 10 into a toilet for disposal.

Referring specifically to FIG. 2, the bag 10 comprises a thin biodegradable material which is capable of supporting a volume of urine without penetration therethrough such as a thin polymer, a tissue having a plastic coating on the outer surface thereof, and other suitable materials known to those skilled in the art of sanitary waste disposal products. The bag 10 may comprise a fluid impervious material incorporating a dissolving agent thereby enabling the bag to dissolve when submerged into a volume of water. Alternatively, the bag may be equipped with a pouch 23 containing a quantity of a material that facilitates dissolution of the bag 10. The handles 20 are not required to prevent penetration of liquids therethrough and may therefore comprise a biodegradable material capable of supporting the bag 10 with a volume of urine therein such as a polymeric material or other suitable materials known to those skilled in the art.

The reinforced perimeter secures the bag 10 in a open position and prevents the opening 12 of the bag 10 from collapsing when urine is received therein. The perimeter 14 is reinforced by a band 22 which may be fabricated from a stiff paper material such as cardboard or other suitable biodegradable materials known to those skilled in the art.

Referring to FIG. 3 there is shown the urine bag 10 comprising tabs 24 in place of the handles 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Similar to the handles 20, the tabs 24 are not required to prevent penetration of liquids therethrough and may therefore comprise a biodegradable material capable of supporting the bag 10 with a volume of urine therein such as a polymeric material or other suitable materials known to those skilled in the art. The tabs 24 comprise fasteners 26 which may be used to secure the tabs 24 to the front and back of the legs 18 when the bag is being inserted therebetween. The fasteners 26 comprise an adhesive which can support the bag 10 on the legs 18 when the bag 10 has a predetermined amount of urine deposited therein. Once the female 16 is through urinating the fasteners 26 are removed from the legs 18 and the bag 10 is deposited into a toilet for disposal in accordance with the procedures described above in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a urine bag 30 comprising a second embodiment of the invention. Many of the component parts of the urine bag 30 are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of the urine bag 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts are designated in FIG. 4 with the same reference numerals utilized above in the description of the transport trailer 10, but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (′) designation.

The urine bag 30 differs from the urine bag 10 in that apertures 32 providing means for holding the bag 30 in place are located below the perimeter 14′ of the bag 30 in lieu of handles 20 or tabs 26. The bag 30 comprises a thin biodegradable material which is capable of supporting a volume of urine without penetration therethrough such as a thin polymer, a tissue having a plastic coating on the outer surface thereof, and other suitable materials known to those skilled in the art of sanitary waste disposal products. Alternatively, the bag 30 may comprise a fluid impervious material having a dissolving agent embedded therein thereby enabling the bag 30 to dissolve once submerged into a volume of water. The bag 30 may also be provided with the pouch 23 of FIG. 2 having a dissolving agent contained therein. The distal edge of the bag 30 is rolled down and secured into mating engagement with itself thereby reinforcing the perimeter 14′.

Referring to FIG. 5 there is shown a urine bag 40 which is similar in many respects to the urine bag 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. The urine bag 40 differs from the urine bag 10 in that the urine bag 40 is formed from a length of fabric 42 as opposed to being formed from a polymeric sheet material. The fabric 42 comprising the bag 40 may comprise a flushable fabric material suitable for disposal in a conventional toilet. The fabric 42 may have embedded therein a dissolving agent. Alternatively, the bag 40 may be provided with a pouch similar to the pouch 23 of FIG. 2 which contains a dissolving agent therein.

Although the urine bag has been demonstrated and described being used by a female, the bag is equally applicable to all persons and may be utilized by both males and females as well as persons of all ages. In addition to utilizing the bag for urinating in public restrooms, the urine bag may also be used in conjunction with receiving urine for medical tests in laboratories and physicians' offices. The urine bag of the present invention may also be utilized by persons caring for a someone with little or no mobility and persons caring for children.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A disposable apparatus for receiving urine therein comprising:

a bag having an opening and a defined perimeter therearound;

the defined perimeter comprising means for maintaining the opening and shape of the bag; and

means for supporting the bag in position while receiving the urine.

2. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the bag comprises a thin polymeric material which is biodegradable.

3. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the bag comprises a tissue impregnated with a thin polymeric material to prevent penetration of water therethrough.

4. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the means for securing the bag in position are handles secured to the perimeter of the bag.

5. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the means for securing the bag in position are tabs having fasteners secured to the perimeter of the bag, the fasteners secured to legs on either side of the bag.

6. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the means for securing the bag in position are handles integrated into the bag below the perimeter thereof.

7. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the bag comprises a fluid impervious material which dissolves when submerged in water.

8. The bag according to claim 1 further comprising a dissolving agent thereby facilitating dissolution of the bag when the bag is disposed into a toilet.

9. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the bag comprises a fabric which is disposable in a conventional toilet.

10. The bag according to claim 9 wherein the bag is provided with a dissolving agent thereby facilitating dissolution of the bag when the bag is disposed into a toilet.