Abstract:
An external, body worn urine catchment and drainage appliance for bedridden females, which cooperates with the natural contours of the human body. The urine catchment device comprises a receptacle which has external bulges or corresponding configurational features providing structure for cooperating with and engaging recesses of the anatomy and a discharge tube for discharging collected urine. Although upwardly open to the atmosphere in the operative position, the urine catchment device has structure for sealing against urine escaping past the receptacle as it flows into the receptacle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/233,223 filed on 08-12-2009. The entire content of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/233,223 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is directed to a urine catchment and drainage appliance or device for bedridden females. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Women who are bedridden and/or are not easily or safely ambulatory must be attended to for safe disposal of urine. Various devices have been proposed to collect urine for subsequent disposal. These devices address the need for a device that can be held against the body in different ways. Some may rely upon adhesive or encirclement of the body for example. These devices may also include engagement elements that are adapted to maintain the subject device in an effective, stable position despite body movements, gravity, and other disturbing influences. 
         [0005]    There exists a need for a body engaging urine catchment device which is more effective and easier to use than other known urine collection devices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is an external, body worn urine catchment and drainage appliance for such as bedridden females and women are not easily or safely ambulatory. The purpose of the appliance or device is to intercept and collect discharged urine for disposal, and to prevent contamination by urine of the body, clothing, a bed, and bedclothes. The device utilizes the natural configuration of the human body to engage the body of a bedridden female and is retained in operative position thereon. To this end, the novel urine catchment device comprises a receptacle which has external bulges or corresponding configurational features providing structure to cooperatively engage the recesses, curves, and convexities of the female user&#39;s anatomy. However, these anatomy engaging features do not require deep penetration for example of the vagina. Therefore, cooperation with the anatomy is such that a comfortable fit is achieved, while still improving on the ability of a collection device to remain in place on the body and entrapping discharged urine. In particular, the novel device accommodates lying on the side while sleeping. 
         [0007]    Generally, the urine catchment device comprises a bowl of special configuration for collecting urine from the urethra, and a discharge tube for emptying. Although upwardly open to the atmosphere in the operative position, the urine catchment device includes a seal for contacting against the female body to prevent urine from leaking out of the receptacle as it flows into the receptacle. A foundation garment worn by the user or patient, such as briefs, diaper, etc., may assist in keeping the urine catchment device in place, but is not critical. 
         [0008]    The receptacle may be drained through a collection tube which may be connected to a drainage conduit which is integral with the receptacle or bowl. 
         [0009]    The urine catchment device eliminates any need for devices such as bedpans and absorbent apparel such as briefs or panties that are worn to absorb urination, although use of foundation garments may help in keeping the urine catchment device in place during movements while sleeping, for example. The urine catchment device does not require straps or other structure for encircling the human body or adhesives to assure retention thereon, although such features may optionally be provided if desired. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a urine catchment device according to at least one aspect of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top front perspective view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an environmental side elevational view of a urine catchment device such as the urine catchment device of  FIG. 1  shown in operative position on the body of a person using the urine catchment device. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of  FIG. 5 , with panties or briefs rendered in broken lines. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top plan line drawing of the urine catchment device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 7A  shows a section view of the urine catchment device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic view of an alternative configuration of an opening for a urine catchment device according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic view of a further alternative configuration of an opening for a urine catchment device according to the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10A  is a side cross sectional view of a urine catchment device according to an aspect of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10B  is a rear elevational view of  FIG. 10A . 
           [0022]      FIG. 11A  is a side cross sectional view of a urine catchment device according to another aspect of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11B  is a side cross sectional view of a urine catchment device according to still another aspect of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a side cross sectional view of a urine catchment device according to a further aspect of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a side elevational view of a urine catchment device according to yet another aspect of the invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a side elevational view of a urine catchment device according to still another aspect of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a top plan view of a urine catchment device according to a further aspect of the invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  is a side perspective view of a urine catchment device according to a still further aspect of the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  is a side elevational view of a urine catchment device according to another aspect of the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 18  is a side elevational view of a urine catchment device according to still another aspect of the invention, with alternative positions of two members shown in broken lines. 
           [0031]      FIG. 18A  is a top view as shown in  FIG. 2 , but with spring spars added according an additional aspect of the invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 19  is a side elevational view of a urine catchment device according to an additional aspect of the invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 20  is a top plan view of a urine catchment device according to a further additional aspect of the invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 21  is a top plan view of a urine catchment device according to a still further aspect of the invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 22  is a top plan view of a urine catchment device according to another aspect of the invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 23  is a side elevational view of a urine catchment device according to a still further aspect of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    A urine catchment device  100  according to at least one aspect of the present invention is depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 ,  7  and  10 A. The urine catchment device  100  has a collection receptacle or bowl  120  bounded by a circumferential lateral wall  140  and a floor  160 , the floor being located on the bottom of the device  100 . The floor  160  may be flat so as to cooperate with a flat bed surface such as the top of a mattress (not shown). The bowl  120  defines a hollow interior chamber  125  and opposite right and left sides  130   a  and  130   b . The terms “collection receptacle” and “bowl” are hereinafter regarded as equivalent terms. In addition, the terms “patient” and “female user” are regarded as equivalent terms. 
         [0038]    The bowl  120  is in fluid communication with a discharge tube  180  having a fluid passageway  200  extending longitudinally therethrough, which terminates at an opening  220 . The top of the lateral wall  140  forms a lip  240 . The lip  240  defines an opening  400   a  of bowl  120 . The opening  400   a  allows urine to be collected into the hollow interior chamber  125 . In one embodiment the circumferential lateral wall  140 , floor  160  and discharge tube  180  are manufactured as a single integrated structure. 
         [0039]    It will be seen that a front bulge  260 , a right side bulge  280 , and a left side bulge  300  may be formed in the urine catchment device  100 . More specifically, the circumferential lateral wall  140  defines front bulge  260 , right side bulge  280 , and left side bulge  300 . The bulges  260 ,  280 , and  300  are convexities for cooperatively engaging anatomical features of the body to assist in holding the urine catchment device  100  in operable position, as will be further detailed hereinafter. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show the urine catchment device  100  in operable position installed on the body of a patient P, shown lying on her back, such as on a mattress (not shown). The urine catchment device  100  has been placed in abutment with the perineum just below the vagina. Although open at the top, the urine catchment device intercepts and retains a flow of urination in the bowl  120 . Because of the precise placement of the urine catchment device, anatomical features such as the labia majora or the labia minora deflect urine so that the urine is not ejected in a forceful stream which would bypass the urine catchment device  100 . However, as will be described hereinafter, structure for intercepting such forceful streams may be provided. Also, structural features of the urine catchment device  100  assure effective sealing at the interface between the body and the urine catchment device  100  so as to preclude entirely or almost entirely leakage past the urine catchment device  100  onto the mattress. 
         [0041]    The urine catchment device  100  may be retained on the body in the following way. First, the urine catchment device  100  has projections such as the bulges  260 ,  280 , and  300 , which engage the body. The bulges  280 ,  300  engage inner and posterior thigh areas and into the swellings of inferior buttocks. Secondly, a garment such as a brief B or other pelvis hugging or surrounding garment may entrap the urine catchment device  100  between the body and the garment. The front surface  320  (see  FIG. 10A ) formed in the urine catchment device  100  is received in and is gripped by the inferior gluteal cleft, thereby preventing side to side motion and loss. It will be seen in  FIG. 10A  that the front surface  320  when viewed from the side is somewhat concave. Although other surfaces which contact the skin of the user to establish grasp may be textured in various ways to enhance frictional engagement of the skin, the frontmost portion of the front surface  320  may be smooth. 
         [0042]    Referring specifically to  FIG. 10A , curvature  420  and curvature  440  may cooperate with a garment such as the brief B to assist in retaining the urine catchment device  100  in place. These curvatures  420  and  440  may collectively form an arc that passes between the thighs in the midsagittal plane from posterior and inferior to or behind the anterior mons pubis to the posterior rump to establish a snug fit relative to the garment. 
         [0043]    The lip  240  may establish a seal with the perineum, posterior to the genitals (i.e., just below the female user&#39;s vaginal area), and anterior to the anus. This seal does not fully close the receptacle  120  to the atmosphere; rather, it seals against escape of the urine by preventing it from flowing downwardly along the body of the patient or the exterior of the urine catchment device  100 . The sides of the urine catchment device  100 , as best seen in  FIG. 10B , form concave recesses  340 ,  360  just above the bulges  280 ,  300 , generally midway between the top and bottom of the urine catchment device  100 . These concave recesses  340 ,  360  are shaped to compliment and engage the inside shape of the female user&#39;s thighs to enable the surfaces of the recesses  340 ,  360  to be fitted and comfortably gripped by the inner thighs of the female user to keep the device  100  in the operative position as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0044]    The walls of the urine catchment device  100  at the recesses  340 ,  360  may bear texturing to enhance frictional grip of the skin. Texturing may take the form of bumps, wrinkles, or knurling, or other corresponding elements introduced into the otherwise smooth surface. 
         [0045]    The sealing effect against the perineum, i.e., just below the female&#39;s vaginal orifice, when the female user is in the supine position, and overall fit of the urine catchment device  100  to the body may be enhanced by certain characteristics of the urine catchment device  100  apart from those already described. Referring particularly to  FIG. 7 , it will be seen that the lip  240  takes on a somewhat pointed and rounded configuration at the front end  380  thereof. This pointed front end  380  modifies the overall shape of the opening  400   a  bounded by the lip  240  from what would otherwise be an oval. The modified oval of  FIG. 7  is not the only possible configuration of the opening. Other examples of corresponding openings  400   b ,  400   c  are seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , respectively. 
         [0046]    Another characteristic which may assist in retaining the urine catchment device  100  to the body is flexifbility of the constituent material. While it is possible that a rigid material may be employed, it is also possible to use partially flexible materials and fully flexible plastic materials, and to form some parts of the device from one constituent material and other parts from other constituent materials. Suitable constituent materials include but are not limited to polymeric materials and silicone materials, alone or in combination. Flexibility may be imparted by materials which incorporate substances in granular or particle form, inflatable constructions, and constructions having bubble-like inclusions. A partially flexible material is one which has sufficient rigidity to hold its form when not subjected to external forces other than gravity, but which will yield or deform responsive to forces such as finger pressures. A fully flexible material is one which may spontaneously slump or otherwise not hold its form in response only to gravity. Of course, flexibility may be a function of wall thickness as well as of the selected constituent material. 
         [0047]    As seen in  FIG. 10A , the discharge tube  180  may be arranged to incline downwardly to assist flow of urine to an external device (not shown) for disposal. The external device may comprise a tube or hose or other device, or alternatively may comprise complementing conduits and conduits formed in complementing sections, at least one of which may be detachable and replaceable. Connection may be by friction, resilient grip, bayonet connection, and in other ways. It would be possible to engage the discharge tube  180  by inserting the end of a cooperating conduit into the opening  220 . The discharge tube  180  may comprise one or more circumferential ridges  460  which enhances engagement of an external tube or hose or a specially designed connector or adapter (not shown) which may be slipped over the discharge tube  180 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 11A  depicts a urine catchment device  500  which may be generally similar in structure and function to the urine catchment device  100 , with the following exception. The floor  520  of the urine collection receptacle  540  may slope towards a discharge tube labeled in  FIG. 11A  as  560 . The sloping surface may be either straight or curved. 
         [0049]      FIG. 11B  depicts a urine catchment device  580 , which is generally similar in structure and function to the urine catchment device  100  except that in the urine catchment device  580  there is an additional open hollow chamber  600 . Hence urine catchment device  580  is a modified form of urine catchment device  100  having a chamber  125  (depicted by alpha-numeric label “ 125   a ”). The additional hollow chamber  600  is located below a floor  620 . A discharge tube  180  is linked to chamber  125   a  such that collected urine can be discharged through opening  200  of discharge tube  180 . The modified construction of urine catchment device  580  serves to conserve constituent material of and also helps to maintain flexibility of the urine catchment device  580 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 12  shows a further example of a urine catchment device  660  which may be generally functionally and structurally similar to the urine catchment device  500  for example. However, in the urine catchment device  660 , the floor  680  of the urine collection receptacle  700  can be curved as shown. 
         [0051]      FIG. 13  shows a further example of a urine catchment device  720  which may be generally functionally and structurally similar to the urine catchment device  100  for example. However, the urine catchment device  720  may have an air passage  740  molded thereinto. The air passage  740  is provided for the purpose of relieving vacuum which may develop within the urine collection receptacle  760  should pressures below ambient air pressure arising from interaction with the patient&#39;s body force closed the otherwise open top of the urine catchment device or otherwise interfere with intended operation. As depicted, the air passage  740  may comprise a ridge  780  which is discernible as a discrete entity, having a proximal opening  800  for entry of air and a corresponding distal opening (not visible in  FIG. 13 ) which allows air to flow into the urine collection receptacle  760 . Of course, as an alternative to being contained within the ridge  780 , the actual air passage may be molded into the wall of the urine catchment device  720  so as not to be discernible, or alternatively may comprise a raised open channel, or an open channel depressed into the surface of the urine catchment device  720 . The top of the raised open channel, where used, may be notched to provide intake vacuum reliefs. The open channel may include several of these characteristics, and may vary in number and location from the examples actually illustrated and described herein. Not all of the possible permutations and combinations of an open channel or an equivalent thereof are shown. 
         [0052]      FIG. 14  shows a urine catchment device  820  which may be generally functionally and structurally similar to the urine catchment device  100  for example, which provides another way to relieve vacuum. A slit  840  or other opening is formed in the rear wall  860  of the urine collection receptacle  880 . It will be understood that venting can be provided with a combination of one or more slits and one or more vent openings. 
         [0053]      FIG. 15  shows a further example of a urine catchment device  900  which may be generally functionally and structurally similar to the urine catchment device  100  for example. However, in the urine catchment device  900 , an air passage (not visible in  FIG. 15 ) is formed in a projecting conduit  920  which may extend in a direction generally parallel to that of the discharge tube  940 . The air passage may extend between an exposed proximal opening  960  and an exposed distal opening  980  which opens to the interior of the urine collection receptacle  1000 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 16  shows a still further example of a urine catchment device  1020  which may be generally functionally and structurally similar to the urine catchment device  100  for example. The urine catchment device  1020  may have a hood  1040 , or alternatively stated, an extension of the rear wall  1060  of the urine collection receptacle  1080 . The hood  1040  imposes an elevated barrier which may intercept and obstruct urine which might have been ejected as a jet from the body, or may intercept and obstruct splashing of urine contained within the urine collection receptacle  1080 . It will be understood that the length of the hood  1040  can be any suitable length. 
         [0055]    A loop  1100  may serve as a handle for holding and maneuvering the urine catchment device  1020 , and may be fixed to the hood  1040  as shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 16  also shows variations of the bottom surface  1120  of the urine collection receptacle  1080  which are possible. The bottom surface  1120  may incorporate a downwardly projecting bulge (rendered in solid line) if desired. Alternatively, the bottom surface  1120  may have a flat, straight configuration (represented in broken line) if desired. Still other configurations are possible. 
         [0057]    Referring now to  FIG. 17 , anchorage of a urine catchment device  1140  to the body of a patient may be enhanced by elastic or resilient engagement of the garment such as the briefs B (see  FIG. 6 ). The urine catchment device  1140  provides a further example of a urine catchment device which may be generally functionally and structurally similar to the urine catchment device  100  for example. The urine catchment device  1140  may comprise a resilient or elastic member  1160 , which may comprise a block of synthetic resin foam for example, and which projects outwardly from the urine catchment device  1140  proximate the discharge tube (such as the discharge tube  180  of  FIG. 10A ). The elastic member  1160  may be somewhat compressed between the garment and the urine catchment device  1140 , and thereby assist in immobilizing the urine catchment device  1140 . The elastic member  1160  may be integral with the urine catchment device  1140 , or alternatively may comprise a physically separate member which of course may be readily attachable and detachable. 
         [0058]      FIG. 18  shows another approach to the issue of securing a urine catchment device on the body, and illustrates a further example of a urine catchment device  1200 . The urine catchment device  1200  shown in  FIG. 18  comprises a spring  1220  made up of an upper spring spar  1240  and a complementary lower spring spar  1260 , both attached to the body of the urine catchment device  1200 , and extend outward from the bowl  120  as shown. The upper spring spar  1240  and lower spring spar  1260  are shown in their uncompressed positions in solid lines, and as deflected in broken lines. The uncompressed positions are those which would be seen when the spring  1220  is not compressed by the garment worn by the patient, such as the briefs B (see  FIG. 6 ); for example, the spring spars  1240  and  1260  can be compressed in the vertical plane against the center portions of the front and rear sides of the briefs when the female user is in the supine position. Donning of such a garment would move the spring  1220  to the compressed or deflected positions indicated in broken line showings, such that resilient engagement of the garment is caused by spring action of the spring  1220  to maintain the device  100  in the operative position. The spring  1220  may be of the same constituent material as the rest of the urine catchment device  1240 , or may comprise a different constituent material. For example, the spring  1220  may comprise a thin metallic leaf (not separately shown) embedded within a surrounding coating of the constituent material of the urine catchment device  1200 . 
         [0059]    The spring  1220  can also be molded into the urine catchment device  100 ; the urine catchment device  100  can also comprise the spring  1220 , i.e., the bowl  120  can include upper and lower spring spars  1240  and  1260  as shown in  FIG. 18A . The upper and lower spring spars  1240  and  1260  respectively extend upward and downward in the vertical plane at right angles with respect to the plane  400   p  of the opening  400   a  (see next paragraph). 
         [0060]    The plane of the opening  400   a  defines an opening plane  400   p  that can be inclined in a downward direction towards end  380  from the end  385 . The downward angle between the plane of the opening  400   a  and the horizontal can vary between 0° and 25°. Thus, the plane  400   p  can be horizontal or be inclined in a downward direction up to 25°; this is shown in  FIG. 7A  which shows a downward angle alpha between the plane  400   p  and the horizontal plane HP. It will be understood that the plane angle of the openings in the other embodiments described in this paper can also be horizontal (i.e., have an alpha angle of 0°) or can be inclined in a downward direction up to 25°. 
         [0061]    Still another way of engaging the garment is shown in  FIG. 19 .  FIG. 19  depicts a further example of a urine catchment device  1300  which is structurally the same as the urine catchment device  100  except that the device  1300  further comprises a hook  1320  attached to the bowl  120  by means of an elongated hook connecting member  1340  as shown in  FIG. 19 . More specifically, the hook is attached to one end of the elongated hook connecting member and the other end of the elongated hook connecting member is attached to the bowl. In typical use, the hook  1320  is slipped over the edge of the briefs B (see  FIG. 6 ) or other garment worn by the user of the urine catchment device  1300 . A clip or other fastener (not shown) may be used in place of the hook  1320 . The elongated member  1340  may be elastic and may have spring characteristics. 
         [0062]      FIG. 20  shows another example of a urine catchment device  1400  which may be generally functionally and structurally similar to the urine catchment device  100  for example. The urine catchment device  1400  may incorporate a single member spring  1420  anchored at one end to the rear wall  1440  of the urine collection receptacle  1460 . The spring  1420  may elastically bend downwardly against the urine collection receptacle  1460  as the garment such as the briefs B (see  FIG. 6 ) compress thereover. Shape, curvature, width, thickness, and other characteristics of the spring  1420  or any corresponding spring utilized with the present invention may be varied in configuration or constituency or both to cooperate with anatomical detail, to optimize spring action, and to promote comfort. 
         [0063]      FIG. 21  shows a still further example of a urine catchment device  1500  which may be generally functionally and structurally similar to the urine catchment device  100  for example. The urine catchment device  1500  may incorporate a two member spring comprising a first spring member  1520  and a second spring member  1540 . The spring members  1520  and  1540  may each be anchored at one end to the lip  1560  of the urine collection receptacle  1580 . Alternatively, spring members such as the spring members  1520  and  1540  may be anchored to other parts of the urine catchment device  1500  or another urine catchment device according to the present invention. 
         [0064]    The spring members  1520  and  1540  may elastically bend downwardly against the urine collection receptacle  1580  and/or the female user&#39;s body; wherein the female user&#39;s briefs can also cooperatively work to bend the spring members  1520  and  1540  over the urine collection receptacle  1580  and against the female user&#39;s body. It will be seen that the spring members  1520  and  1540  project in a direction towards the head of the patient when the urine catchment device  1500  is installed on the user&#39;s body in the manner depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 22  shows a urine catchment device  1600  which is generally similar in structure and function to the urine catchment device  1500  of  FIG. 21 . However, in the urine catchment device  1600 , spring members  1620  and  1640 , which in other ways may be identical to corresponding spring members  1520  and  1540 , are arranged to project in a direction facing the feet of the user rather than towards the head of the user. 
         [0066]    It will be appreciated that the spring members  1520  and  1540  of  FIG. 21  and the spring members  1620  and  1640  of  FIG. 22  may be anchored at the side walls of their respective urine collection receptacles  1580  or  1680  or alternatively to the respective lips  1560  ( FIG. 21 ) or  1660  ( FIG. 22 ). 
         [0067]    Spring members such as the spring members  1620  and  1640  may additionally be held in place by leg encircling members, such as elastic bands, garters, and the like (none shown). 
         [0068]      FIG. 23  shows yet another example of a urine catchment device  1700  which may be generally functionally and structurally similar to the urine catchment device  100  for example. The urine catchment device  1700  may comprise a conduit stub  1720  which serves as a supply conduit for a genital rinsing or spraying appliance (not shown in its entirety). A supply of pressurized cleaning fluid (not shown) such as water may be connected to the conduit stub  1720 . The conduit stub  1720  will be understood to have an internal passage (not shown) to deliver supplied cleaning fluid to the genital area, which is accessible from the urine collection receptacle  1740 . The internal passage may incorporate a nozzle, spray head, or other device for directing flow (none of these is shown), which may be integral with the urine catchment device  1700  or which may be removable therefrom. 
         [0069]    The urine catchment device  1700  may have a finger grip handle  1760  molded therein. The handle  1760  may take the form of two opposed recesses (not shown) formed in the rear wall  1780  of the urine collection receptacle  1740 . The recesses may have individual recesses for receiving fingertips, or any other structure which is commonly utilized for handles and grips molded into bottles and other hand held containers (none shown). 
         [0070]    The urine catchment device  1700  may have a short hood  1800  projecting from the rear wall  1780 . The short hood  1800  may be adapted to provide at least some of the benefits of the relatively larger hood  1040  seen in  FIG. 16 . 
         [0071]    A urine catchment device according to any aspect of the present invention, such as the urine catchment device  100 , may have dimensions suitable for performance as described. Since the human body may assume different dimensions and configurations, the urine catchment device may be dimensioned and configured accordingly. 
         [0072]    Any urine catchment device according to the present invention may be formed in more than one section. For example, a urine catchment device may be formed in two sections wherein one section may comprise the actual urine collection receptacle, and the other section could comprise a partially surrounding support which not only holds the urine collection receptacle, but also bears anatomy engaging features. 
         [0073]    It should be understood that where feasible, features presented in the singular may be provided in the plural, the opposite also holding true. Also, where utilized herein, mention of “at least one” explicitly contemplates one, two, and numbers greater than two. 
         [0074]    Any of the features of any of the urine catchment devices described herein may be combined with any other features, where feasible. 
         [0075]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.