Accessories Patents (Class 4/457)
  • Patent number: 9027173
    Abstract: A toilet training device includes an odor remediation system for absorbing or masking odors that may be created during toilet training. The odor remediation system may include a modular odor remediating insert that may be releasably positioned within a recess that is provided within the toilet training device. The odor remediating insert may include an odor absorbing substance such as sodium bicarbonate, an odor masking substance such as a fragrance or a combination of an odor absorbing substance and an odor masking substance. The toilet training device also includes a system for dispensing wipes that may utilize a recess that is defined in a side wall of the main body portion of the toilet training device. A wipes cartridge is designed so that it can be used to conveniently dispense wipes regardless of whether it is separated from the toilet training device or mounted within the recess of the toilet training device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Munchkin, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven B. Dunn, Keith G. Ciampa, Mark A. Hatherill, Mark G. Tebbe, Huisok Pyon
  • Patent number: 8744313
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus driving unit includes a rotatable member which is rotatably supported, a pair of bearing portions for rotatably supporting the rotatable member, and a motor for driving the rotatable member. In addition, a driving gear is provided on a driving shaft of the motor, and a driven gear, provided outside the pair of bearing portions with respect to a rotational axis direction of the rotatable member, engages with the driving gear to be rotated integrally with the rotatable member. At least one of the driven gear and the driving gear has, with respect to the rotational axis direction of the rotatable member, a crown shape so that a central tooth surface of a tooth projects more than end tooth surfaces of the tooth at a side where the driven gear and the driving gear engage each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shusuke Miura
  • Publication number: 20100107326
    Abstract: A bedpan pad (40) includes a bendable elongated cushion (42) and a fastener mechanism (44) formed in the cushion (42). The fastener mechanism (44) includes a longitudinally aligned opening (60) extending along a length (58) of the cushion (42). Notches (64) are located on an interior curvature side (66) of the cushion (42). The fastener mechanism (44) is configured to engage with a bedpan (20) via the opening (60) such that the cushion (42) wraps around opposing inner and outer top edges (34, 36) of thigh-support regions (28) of a bedpan (20). The notches (64) close in response to bending of the cushion (42) to provide a smooth surface at regions of greatest curvature of the bedpan (20). The bending capability of the cushion (42), attachment feature of mechanism (44), and notches (64) enable the bedpan pad (40) to fit multiple shapes and sizes of a plurality of bedpans (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventor: David J. Joseph
  • Patent number: 7266852
    Abstract: An inflatable mattress having an inflated torso support pad, a first leg extending out from a first portion of the inflated torso support pad, and a second leg spaced from the first leg and extending out from a second portion of the inflated torso support pad. The first leg and the second leg define a gap between them to allow the legs to be spread apart for toileting or cleaning of the patient, or deflated and rolled upon themselves so as to provide easy access to the patient during clinical procedures. A method is provided for positioning a patient with the inflatable mattress. The bottom panel of the mattress has a plurality of perforations that permits the use of the mattress as a patient transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Woodlark Circle, Inc.
    Inventor: David T. Davis
  • Patent number: 6785916
    Abstract: A care bedpan and a care bedpan system that are capable of reducing the burden of wasting excrements within the care bedpan, of enabling easy use of the bedpan, and of reducing the burden on both, the care-receiving person as well as the care-giving person are provided. A movable and portable care bedpan provided with a bedpan main body 10 having an opening 31 that is pressed against or disposed to oppose a pubic region of a care-receiving person for receiving excrements, and with a cover 33 provided to extend frontward from an upper portion of the opening 31 of the bedpan main body 10 to thereby comprise an entire opening of the bedpan together with the opening 31 of the bedpan main body 10. In the cover 33 is held by a holding mechanism which angle is adjustable, either in a multi-staged or non-staged manner, so as to adjust the size of the entire opening and to shield one's pubic region to be hardly visible from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Birumen Kagoshima Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6651267
    Abstract: A toilet device, in particular for bedridden persons, includes a lower shell (20) whose top side has a support surface (45; 80, 82) surrounding an opening (30) to receive the stool and urine of a person on the lower shell, in such a way that there is a first sealing line portion between the person and lower shell, which first sealing line portion extends from the inside of one buttock over the coccyx or lower back region to the inside of the other buttock. An upper shell (22) can be mounted to the lower shell and is so formed that in a transitional region between the lower shell and the upper shell (22) connected thereto there are second and third sealing line portions, adjoining the first sealing line portion, in the region of the uppermost insides of the thighs or the lowermost trunk region, which are adjoined by a fourth sealing line portion which extends from one side of the lowermost trunk region over the pubic region or lower abdomen region to the other side of the lowermost trunk region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Helmut Utz
  • Patent number: 6505354
    Abstract: A urinal for collecting urine from a user while the user is driving. The urinal includes a housing comprising a perimeter wall. The perimeter wall defines an interior space of the housing. The interior space of the housing comprises an open top end. The open top end of the interior space is designed for permitting insertion of the penis of the user, and the scrotum if necessary, into the interior space of the housing when the user needs to urinate whereby the interior space of the housing is for collecting and storing the urine. A lid member is hingably coupled to the housing. The lid member is for selectively pivoting over the open top end of the interior space of the housing to close the open top end for inhibiting leakage from the interior space of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Inventor: Luis Almonte
  • Patent number: 6256804
    Abstract: A pillow-like protector and body support device having a central section stuffed with polyurethane and covered with soft hypoallergenic material is provided with cut-away air gaps and medial seams that form air grooves or channels. The pillows and supports are made for supporting various body parts, e.g., the neck, shoulder, torso, elbows, and tailbone. Many of the pillows/supports are capable of being used together into an integrated system for alleviating bedsores and other medical problems associated with sitting or lying in the same position for long periods of time. One embodiment of the invention relates to a coccyx protector and is adapted to slip over a bedpan. In addition, embodiments are disclosed related to breast supports. One version is a small pillow/protector with an airflow pocket. Another version is sling-like and includes an air circulation seam for the skin just beneath the pillow. Yet another version of the breast support for protecting both breasts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: Emeline Stevens
  • Patent number: 6223368
    Abstract: A support device provided to be arranged on a base member (1) such as a mattress, a bunk or a bed, and comprising an inflatable portion (2) which is arranged to be in an inflated state in order to lift a person resting upon the inflatable portion (2), the inflatable portion (2) comprising an inlet opening (5) and an outlet opening (6) for the supply and evacuation respectively of an inflation medium. The inflatable portion (2) comprises a lateral projection (4) provided to project beyond a lateral edge (3) of the base member (1) and at which the inlet opening (5) and the outlet opening (6) are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Jyrki Anslin
  • Patent number: 5907874
    Abstract: An apparatus for disposing of body waste in a portable toilet is comprised of a container (100) and an associated hollow housing structure (14) which are adapted to be seated on a conventional toilet (B). Waste in container (100) is dumped into the toilet via a cable mechanism (154) on the intake stroke of a hand pump (170). A water intake hose (172) is manually lowered into the toilet water via a hose control handle (162) prior to the operation of the pump. While the container (100) is in a vertical dumping position, the exhaust stroke of pump (170) forces water siphoned from the toilet through a jet outlet (180) to clean the interior of the container (100). The waste and toilet water in the container (100) is discharged directly into the bowl without impinging the hollow housing structure. The container (100) automatically returns to its rest, or horizontal, position due to the action of a return spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Dgic, llc
    Inventor: Dean L. Guyton
  • Patent number: 5839130
    Abstract: An inflatable bed-pan pad-support of the invention has a shape geometry and configuration in its deflated state that is different from that in its inflated state, so that, when the pad is inflated, it assumes a natural, rectilinear-shaped outline, with the bed-pan receiving, U-shaped opening thereof having a substantially uniform width along its length when the pad is in inflated. Strengthening ribs are provided in the interior of the pad, which additional strengthening ribs extend between the closed, head end of the bed-pan receiving, U-shaped opening and the opposite, head-end end-wall of the pad, which strengthening ribs provide the necessary support to the bed-pan receiving, U-shaped opening so that it assumes, in its inflated state, a uniform width substantially along its length. Another pair of outer strengthening ribs are also provided, one on either lateral side of the U-shaped opening strengthening ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Inventor: Robert Markus
  • Patent number: 5819334
    Abstract: An all plastic bedpan has a seat with textured upper surface which prevents the formation of surface tension and provides air passageways at the interface between the patient and the textured seat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Medline Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Maze
  • Patent number: 5797891
    Abstract: A saponin for use in the reduction and/or elimination of undesirable odors by placement in diapers, women's sanitary items for their menstrual cycle, bed pans, and related incontinent problems and for situations where there is a desire to control undesirable odors associated by the emission of body fluids and solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Nouveau Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack G. Wiersma
  • Patent number: 5778461
    Abstract: A conventional bedpan having sidewalls topped by an outwardly curved seat contains, in the forward end, a cabinet with a wall opening into the bedpan and containing a large extendible tube which may be withdrawn to function as a urinal for male patients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Vesta M. Attaway
  • Patent number: 5638555
    Abstract: An apparatus for disposing of body waste in a children's toilet is comprised of a container (100) and an associated housing structure (14) which are adapted to be seated on a conventional toilet (B). Waste in container (100) is dumped into the toilet via a cable the intake stroke of a hand pump (170). A water intake hose (172) is manually lowered into the toilet water via a hose control handle (162) prior to the operation of the pump. While the container (100) is in a vertical dumping position, the exhaust stroke of pump (170) forces water siphoned from the toilet through a jet outlet (180) to clean the interior of the container (100). The container (100) automatically returns to its rest, or horizontal, position due to the action of a return spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Dgic, llc.
    Inventor: Dean Lee Guyton
  • Patent number: 5615420
    Abstract: An apparatus for disposing of body waste in a portable toilet is comprised of a container (100) and an associated housing structure (14) which are adapted to be seated on a conventional toilet (B). Waste in container (100) is dumped into the toilet via a cable mechanism on the intake stroke of a hand pump (170). A water intake hose (172) is manually lowered into the toilet water via a hose control handle (162) prior to the operation of the pump. While the container (100) is in a vertical dumping position, the exhaust stroke of pump (170) forces water siphoned from the toilet through a jet outlet (180) to clean the interior of the container (100). The container (100) automatically returns to its rest, or horizontal, position due to the action of a return spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Dgic, llc
    Inventor: Dean L. Guyton
  • Patent number: 5375270
    Abstract: A washing guard for a bed pan provides a means for deflecting splash back and aerosolized particulates from readily passing onto health care workers and/or other patients thereby exposing them to a potential hazard and/or contamination by the particulates and/or splashed effluent coming to rest or splashing onto the worker. The washing guard is further provided with a means for allowing it to be readily attached to a bed pan and includes a means for grasping and holding it in a vertical oriented orientation such that the health care worker is free to use his or her free hand to wash the bed pan with a spray jet while assembled to the washing guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Inventors: Paul Demers, Jr., Robert Barnoski
  • Patent number: 5363514
    Abstract: A portable bedpan operated by pump comprising a body including a water box, a remnant box, two filth boxes, and a vacuum pump, a pan engagable with the body, a pushing cylinder located in the body for pushing the bedpan and the front end of cylinder being detachably connected with the bedpan, a plurality of hoses contractibly connected between the first filth box and the bedpan, the first filth box sucking filth of the bedpan, the second filth box being interconnected with the first filth box so as to receive overflowing filth from the first filth box, a remnant box for accumulating remnant filth of the pan bottom, and plurality of valves installed at each connecting hose for regulating the fluid flow in connection with the pumping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Inventor: Seong-Kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 5341526
    Abstract: An apparatus for the hygiene care of a person confined to a bed, comprising an inflatable tub with two cavities therein that is easily placed under a person and inflated. The device is equipped with separate drains and aprons which create pockets that contain disposable waste water bags which retrieve all waste water from the bed. The inflatable bed is supplied with water and air from a free-moving service apparatus. The inflatable bed and service apparatus are integral parts and together provide a practical and convenient method to administer personnel hygiene care to a person confined to a bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Inventor: Linda J. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 5224223
    Abstract: The invention includes in part of a disposable. inflatable receptacle formed from a thermoplastic material, which when inflated can withstand compressive pressures, for body wastes of persons who are unable to use conventional bathroom facilities because they are confined to a bed due to illness or injury. The receptacle is larger than the conventional metal receptacle to provide more stability for a patient because of his bed confinement. The receptacle also provides improved positioning for the patient on the receptacle by the presence on at least two opposing sides of a rim surrounding the seating area. The receptacle has an upstanding portion on the front part of the seat which acts as a urinary shield. In a second form, the receptacle has a wedge-shaped rearward extension to support the back of a patient who cannot sit upon the receptacle but must use it from the prone position. The remaining part of the invention is a super absorbent pad inserted into the interior of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Inventor: Grace S. Royal
  • Patent number: 5193232
    Abstract: A collapsible bed-pan support or pad for bed-ridden persons. The pad has a U-shaped opening provided with a pair of camming, catch members for removably retaining a bed pan in place. The U-shaped opening is reinforced along its annular wall to prevent bulging, in order to better retain the bed pan in the U-shaped opening of the pad. A bottom apron is provided to protect bed sheets while the bed pan is being used. A specially-designed bed pan cooperates with the camming members of the pad to retain the bed pan in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Inventors: Robert Flood, Robert Markus
  • Patent number: 4998301
    Abstract: A collapsible bed-pan support for bed-ridden persons, which has an upper supporting surface that inclines from its head-end toward its feet-end in order to gradually elevate the back of the patient. A series of webs of different height provide for the upper sloping supporting surface. The support is made of thin, flexible material that, when collapsed, is only about 1.5 mm. thick, so that the bed-pan support may remain underneath the patient until required for the next use of a bed pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Inventor: Robert Markus
  • Patent number: 4899399
    Abstract: This invention is an inflatable bedpan apparatus and method whereby an inflatable torus is mounted to a liquid-impervious base sheet. The torus is placed under the pelvis of a bed-ridden patient and inflated to create a waste collection reservoir on the base sheet. An end of the base sheet is secured at the inside bottom of a waste disposal bas so that the base sheet can be pulled into the waste disposal bag while the mouth of the waste disposal bag is held stationary. The inflatable torus includes an inflation system from a pressure vessel and a deflation port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Inventor: J. Winslow Young
  • Patent number: 4779566
    Abstract: A disposable receptacle for animal and other waste having a rigid container for receiving an absorbent material and the deposited waste. A flange extends around the container and at least partially defines a channel which receives a flexible sleeve-like closure in a stored out-of-the-way position which has one end secured to the container. When the closure is unfolded, it extends over the container to close it and the free end of the closure may be gathered and secured by a twist tie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Inventors: Donald G. Morris, Gregory J. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4334330
    Abstract: A bedside commode carried on a mobile frame including a ramp for bridging the space between the bed and the commode, and a peripheral railing mounted to extend above the commode platform for providing a protective barrier as well as a gripping bar for the patient. A front railing with a raised lateral portion is mounted in a fixed position on the forward edge of the commode platform. At least one side railing is manually movable from an upright locked position to an unlocked lower position below the upper surface of the commode platform, and the preferred embodiment also includes a rigidly mounted side railing opposite the manually movable side railing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1982
    Inventor: Arthur K. Marshall
  • Patent number: 4295232
    Abstract: The invention is a device to assist people who are incapacitated by age, injury, illness, or other causes, to eliminate body waste. The device may be used while in bed or while seated. The device consists of two segments. A first segment (in conjunction with the second segment) is used when the user is confined to a bed. A second segment is combined with the first segment for use when the user is able to sit up, as in a chair. The first segment consists of a pair of side supports which are fastened to the second segment and may be set at various angles in relation to the horizontal. A transverse member is affixed to the side supports, the transverse member having suitable leg rests therein to support the user's legs at various angles in a plurality of positions to assist in the human waste elimination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Inventor: Jeweral E. Marshall
  • Patent number: 4271546
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device to be used by patients who when confined to bed are required to use bedpans and in particular a device having an inflatable portion that is so located in relation to the patients body as to exert a lifting force adjacent the base of the patient's spine so as to raise the lower body portion of the patient's torso and thus to allow with or without some cooperation of the patient the insertion of a bedpan under the patient in a proper position for use by the patient. The device is characterized as being constructed to be placed on the body of the patient and be worn so to speak, by the patient throughout the day or night, or both, in a deflated state and be maintained at all times of possible need, in place and in a state of readiness to be inflated with air or gas from a source under pressure such as a tank, individual can or a pump so as to lift the patient's body as required without resorting to manual lifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1981
    Inventor: Mary Martin