URINE CAPTURE SYSTEM

Abstract

The present application is directed towards urine capture systems. The system includes a substantially liquid impermeable enclosure and a substantially liquid impermeable receptacle.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates generally to the field of urine storage. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to a urine capture and storage system that can be used by males.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

An issue that faces many men is the need to urinate and the lack of a proper facility that is accessible within a short amount of time. This issue is a near constant concern for many men that eventually leads to discomfort, pain and uncomfortable situations. Although there are portable devices available for men to urinate, they each have several disadvantages, including a large size, failure to effectively capture and store urine during and after urination and a lack of disposability.

What is desired is a urine capture and storage system that is portable, effective at urine capture and storage, easy to use, sanitary to use and is easily disposable.

Embodiments of the present application provide a system that addresses the above and other issues.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The system of the present application is directed towards urine capture systems. This capture system includes a substantially liquid impermeable enclosure and a substantially liquid impermeable receptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of a urine capture system;

FIG. 2 is a right hand side view of a first embodiment of a urine capture system;

FIG. 3 a top view of a second embodiment of a urine capture system;

FIG. 4 is a left hand side view of a second embodiment of a urine capture system; and

FIG. 5 is a top view of a third embodiment of a urine capture system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present application is directed towards a urine capture system 1, as illustrated in FIG.

1. The capture system 1 includes a substantially liquid impermeable enclosure 2 composed of a suitable material. Enclosure 2 is illustrated as having two recesses, first recess 4 and second recess 6, but enclosure 2 may include more than two recesses, such as three recesses, four recesses or five recesses. Each of the recesses can be configured to be the same size, or they may have different sizes as compared to each other. The term “substantially liquid impermeable” is meant to mean that the material does not allow a liquid to pass through the material, under ordinary use conditions, in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of material at the point of liquid contact, for a predetermined amount of time. Depending on whether the material is biodegradable or not, this predetermined time can range from one or more minutes to many years.

Enclosure 2 is configured to contain a human's hand, and as can be seen by FIG. 1, the person's hand would enter enclosure 2 through an opening 8 with the thumb of the hand entering first recess 4 and the remaining fingers entering second recess 6. This description of how the person's hand would enter enclosure 2 is described, for exemplary purposes, for the placement on the person's left hand, but the person's right hand could also be placed into enclosure 2 so that the thumb enters second recess 6 and the remaining fingers enter first recess 4. For ease of understanding, the urine capture system 1 will be described as being placed on a person's left hand but the urine capture system 1 can be used on either hand.

Urine capture system 1 also includes a substantially liquid impermeable receptacle 10 composed of a suitable material. The receptacle 10 is open to the environment at the top, the top created by a rim 12 that is formed by an edge of the first recess 4 and second recess 6. Rim 12 is shown as the darkened line in FIG. 1 that forms a substantially circular opening and forms a connection between first recess 4 and second recess 6. Rim 12 is flexible and expandable based on the manipulation of a user. Receptacle 10, shown as extending vertically downward past enclosure 2, creates a volume that is substantial enough to hold a typical, average or near average volume of urine released during one urination.

Both the enclosure 2 and the receptacle 10 can be made of the same substantially liquid impermeable material or of a different material from each other. The substantially liquid impermeable material can be any suitable non-woven material, including but not limited to latex, nitrile rubber, vinyl, isoprene and neoprene. The interior of one or both of enclosure 2 and receptacle 10 can include a lubricant to aid in application and removal prior to and after use. This lubricant can include cornstarch or a latex-based or water-based lubricant.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, a right hand side view of system 1, receptacle 10 protrudes a distance below enclosure 2 and first recess 4, vertically downward. Receptacle 10 can be empty on the inside or can be filled or partially filled with a liquid absorbent material such as a hydrophilic gel or a cellulosic or fiber based material.

In a second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, system 1 can include three recesses, first recess 4, second recess 6 and third recess 7. Although FIG. 3 is shown as including three recesses, more recesses, such as five can be included. In this embodiment, the rim 12 of receptacle 10 is still formed by an edge of the first recess 4 and second recess 6. As one example, a person's hand could enter enclosure 2 so that the thumb would fit into first recess 4, while the pointer finger could fit into second recess 6 and the remaining fingers enter third recess 7.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, a left hand side view of the second embodiment of system 1, receptacle 10 protrudes a distance below enclosure 2, second recess 6 and third recess 7, vertically downward.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, a top view of a third embodiment of system 1 is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 5, system 1 can include a sealing mechanism 14. System 1 can also include two or more sealing mechanisms. Each sealing mechanism 14 can be on the interior of enclosure 2 adjacent opening 8, or on the exterior of enclosure 2 adjacent opening 8. Sealing mechanism 14 can be any mechanism that is suitable for sealing opening 8 closed, such as, for example, an adhesive material, a drawstring (similar to a garbage bag drawstring) or a tongue and groove mechanism (similar to a Ziploc® bag).

EXAMPLE 1

The following example describes one embodiment, and the use thereof, of the present disclosure and refers to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5. Although sealing mechanism 14 is shown on the interior of enclosure 2 in FIG. 5, in the present example, a strip of adhesive on the exterior of enclosure 2 acts as the sealing mechanism 14.

A male human user needs to urinate and finds that there is no easily accessible lavatory nearby. The user then removes a urine capture system 2 from his pocket and removes it's packaging. The user then places his left hand through the opening 8 of the enclosure 2 and places his thumb in the first recess 4 and his pinky, ring, middle and pointer fingers in the second recess 6. Once the enclosure is on the user's hand, he inserts his penis a distance into receptacle 10 past rim 12 and urinates. Because the enclosure 2 and receptacle 10 are formed of latex, both are flexible and can conform to the user's body.

After urination, the user removes his penis from receptacle 10 and begins the process of removing system 1. With the user's right hand, he grips a portion of enclosure 2 adjacent opening 8, while keeping his left hand within enclosure 2, and pulls the area adjacent opening 8 up, over and around receptacle 10 and both first recess 4 and second recess 8. The user then presses the adhesive of sealing mechanism 14 together, which seals opening 8 and ensures that none of the urine stored in receptacle 10 escapes system 1. The entire system 1 can then be disposed of immediately or at a later time.

During this entire process the user remains in a standing position, but system 1 can be used in a sitting, laying, crouching or any other suitable position.

The described embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, and are not intended to represent every embodiment of the present disclosure. Various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims both literally and in equivalents recognized in law.

Claims

1. A urine capture system for a male human, the system comprising:

a substantially liquid impermeable enclosure having an opening and two or more recesses, wherein the enclosure is configured to contain a human's hand; and

a substantially liquid impermeable receptacle, a rim of the receptacle formed by an edge of two or more of the two or more recesses, wherein the receptacle is capable of accepting a volume of urine.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a sealing mechanism adjacent the opening.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sealing mechanism comprises at least one of a draw-string device, a tongue and groove mechanism and an adhesive device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has three recesses.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has five recesses.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure and the receptacle are comprised of a polymer selected from the group consisting of latex, nitrile rubber, vinyl, isoprene and neoprene.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the rim of the receptacle is formed by an edge of a first recess and a second recess.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the receptacle contains a liquid absorbent material.