Abstract:
An external incontinence clamp for stopping involuntary voiding of urine is provided. The clamp includes a two opposed clamping members hingidly attached together at common ends with the opposite end of each member being releasable secured together at a spaced distance by a connection pin. The connection pin is easily released from the ends of the clamping members to allow voiding of urine. Shape conforming pads are provided and are attached to each clamping member. The pads are positioned to engage and partially conform to a penis to which the clamp is attached. The space between the first and second clamping members can be selectively increased or decreased to adjust the amount of pressure applied to the penis.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/688,053, filed Oct. 20, 2003, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to male incontinency devices. More particularly, relating to an external incontinence device that is clamped to a male&#39;s penis to restrict urine flow through the urethra.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0003]     Due to the anatomy of a penis, external devices that are clamped or other wise secured to a penis can be very effective in controlling urine flow through the urethra. The urethra is a passageway through which urine travels and it is located on the under side of the penis relatively close to the skin surface. A very small amount of pressure applied to the urethra will collapse the passageway and prevent urine from flowing through. There are many know prior art devices that attempt to accomplish this to control or prevent involuntary voiding of a bladder or to prevent urine leakage.  
         [0004]     An example of an aforementioned device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,866 to Timmons. This patent discloses an external incontinency clamp having two arcuate members hinged together at one end and a releasable fastener on the opposite ends, which are adapted to receive and clamp a penis therebetween.  
         [0005]     Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,147,754 to Koessler discloses a device for controlling incontinence having a U-shaped part with a cooperating cross bar, which together serve as a clamp for a penis.  
         [0006]     Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,125 to Chadwick discloses a penis-clamping device including a cushioned clamp that is hinged at one end and provided with an adjustable tensioning closure device at its other end.  
         [0007]     While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe an external incontinence clamp for applying an equal force across a penis to prevent the penis from slipping towards either side of a centerline of the clamp, thereby preventing inadvertent opening of the urethra causing urine leakage.  
         [0008]     Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved external incontinence clamp that can be used for preventing involuntary voiding of a bladder by restricting urine flow through the urethra. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the external incontinence clamp according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     In accordance with the present invention, an external incontinence clamp is provided.  
         [0010]     In general, in one aspect the external incontinence clamp includes: 
        a first clamping member having a first end, a second end, and a mid portion extending between the first and second ends, the first end extending perpendicularly from the first clamping member in a direction inwardly of the clamp, the mid portion having an inward facing surface;     a rigid second clamping member having a first end, a second end, and a mid portion extending between the first and second ends, the first end extending perpendicularly from the second clamping member in a direction inwardly of the clamp, the mid portion having an inward facing surface;     a hinge pin, the first ends defining cooperating hinge pin receiving bores which are formed laterally through each end, the first ends are hingidly attached together by the hinge pin being releasable inserted into the hinge pin receiving bores allowing articulated movement of the first and second clamping members relative to one another; a first pad attached to the inward facing surface of the mid portion of the first clamping member; a second pad attached to the inward facing surface of the mid portion of the second clamping member; and     a connection pin, the connection pin being releasably received by the seconds to retain the second ends at a spaced distance.        
 
         [0015]     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.  
         [0016]     Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0017]     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0018]     An object of the present invention is to provide an external incontinence clamp for stopping involuntary voiding of urine through a penis.  
         [0019]     Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an external incontinence clamp that is easy to operate and does not require removal of the clamp for urination.  
         [0020]     Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an external incontinence clamp and method of operating the same that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such clamp economically available to the buying public.  
         [0021]     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is top plan view a preferred embodiment of the external incontinence clamp constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the external incontinence clamp of  FIG. 1  showing the positioning of the clamp on a penis;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1  illustrating a hinged coupling between clamping members;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1  illustrating a pinned coupling between clamping members;  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a section view taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 2  illustrating a contact pad partially conforming to the shape of a penis;  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is the external incontinence clamp of  FIG. 1  shown in an alternate positions illustrating adjustment of the distance between clamping members to change clamping force applied to the penis; and  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is the external incontinence clamp of  FIG. 1  shown in alternate positions and being placed onto a penis for use.  
     
    
       [0030]     The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]     Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1-6 , a preferred embodiment of the external incontinence clamp of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral  10 .  
         [0032]     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , the external incontinence clamp  10  generally comprises an adjustable clamp  10  for preventing involuntary voiding of a bladder by restricting urine flow through the urethra of a penis. Through out the Figures, The clamp  10  is illustrated in use positioned on a penis  100 , which is shown in broken line.  
         [0033]     The clamp  10  includes a first clamping member  12  and an opposed second clamping member  14 . The first and second clamping members  12  and  14  each include a first end  18  and  18 ′ respectively, a second end  20  and  20 ′ respectively and a mid portion  16  and  16 ′ respectively which is attached to and extends between the first and second ends.  
         [0034]     The first clamping member  12  and the second clamping member  14  can be constructed from any material that affords rigidity to the members and is also hypoallergenic and non-irritating to the skin. Preferably, the first and second members  12  and  14  are constructed from Polyvinyl chloride (PVC).  
         [0035]     The first end  18  of the first clamping member  12  is bent in a direction inwardly of the clamp  10  and the first end  18 ′ of the second clamping member  14  is bent in a direction inwardly of the clamp  10 . One of the first ends, such as end  18  is bifurcated and receives the other first end  18 ′ between the furcations. Preferably, the first ends  18  and  18 ′ are bent inwardly such that each end forms a right angle with its respective clamping member. The first ends  18  and  18 ′ are pivotally secured to one another by a hinge pin  22  and form an adjustable hinged coupling  24  between the first clamping member  12  and the second clamping member  14 .  
         [0036]     The hinge pin  22  is received by cooperating hinge pin receiving bores  24  and  26  formed laterally through the first ends  18  and  18 ′ respectively. Preferably, the first ends  18  and  18 ′ include more than one set of cooperating hinge pin receiving bores  24  and  26 , which permits adjustment of the distance between the first and second clamping members  12  and  14  approximate the first ends  18  and  18 ′.  
         [0037]     For exemplary purposes only, the first end  18  of the first clamping member  12  is shown having a two hinge pin receiving bores  24  and  24 ′ with the hinge pin  22  received by cooperating hinge pin receiving bores  24  and  26 . The distance between the first and second clamping members  12  and  14  can be adjusted by removing hinge pin  22  from bore  24  and aligning bore  24 ′ with bore  26  and then inserting hinge pin  22  through the now cooperating bores  24 ′ and  26 . In this manner, the distance between the first and second clamping members  12  and  14  approximate the first ends  18  and  18 ′ is increased. It is to be understood that the first ends  18  and  18 ′ may having any number of sets and or configuration of cooperating hinge pin receiving bores, and that the total number of bores formed through each end  18  and  18 ′ can vary.  
         [0038]     The second end  20  of the first clamping member  12  and the second end  20 ′ of the second clamping member  14  are each bent in a direction inwardly of the clamp  10 . The second end  20  is bent inwardly such that an acute angle is made with reference line A, and the second end  20 ′ is bent inwardly such that an acute angle is made with reference line A′.  
         [0039]     The second end  20  of the first clamping member  14  includes at least one slot  28  formed through an exterior surface  30  and along the width thereof (laterally across). The second end  20 ′ of the second clamping member  14  includes at least one connection pin receiving bore  32  formed therethrough in a direction along the width of the end  20 ′.  
         [0040]     The second end  20  of the first clamping member  12  and the second end  20 ′ of the second clamping member  14  are releasably held together by a connection pin  34 . The connection pin  34  includes a bridge portion  36  and two opposed legs  38  which extend outward and parallel to one another from the bridge portion. One opposed leg  38  is adapted to be received by the slot  28  of the second end  20  with the opposite leg adapted to be received by the connection pin receiving bore  32  of the second end  20 ′.  
         [0041]     The dimension of the slot  28  is such that a tight interfittment is made between the slot and the leg  38  which is received by the slot. Additionally, the leg  38  which received by the bore  32  is rotatable within the bore along the axis of the leg, thereby allowing the entire connection pin  34  to rotate with respect to the clamp  10  about the leg and the second end  20 ′.  
         [0042]     Preferably, at least two slots  28  are formed laterally across and through the exterior surface  30 , and spaced longitudinally along the second end  20 . Preferably at least two connection pin receiving bores  32  are formed at a spaced distance through the second end  20 ′. The inclusion of more than one slot  28  and more than one bore  32  permits adjustment of the distance between the first and second clamping members  12  and  14  approximate the second ends  20  and  20 ′. While it is preferred to include at least two slots  28  and two bores  32 , it is contemplated that any number of slots and bores can be provided. For example, a plurality of slots  28  can be provided along with a single bore  32  or in the alternative a plurality of bores and a single slot can be provided.  
         [0043]     The mid portion  16  of the first clamping member  12  includes a contact pad  40  and the mid portion  16 ′ of the second clamping member  14  includes an opposed contact pad  40 ′. The contact pads  40  and  40 ′ are attached to each mid portion  16  and  16 ′ along opposed facing surfaces  41  and  41 ′, such that the penis  100  is caused to be compressed between the contact pads when the clamp  10  is secured to the penis. Preferably, each contact pad  40  and  40 ′ is of a visto-elastic type foam which deforms slightly to the contour of the compressed penis  100  and acts to encapsulate the penis between the first and second clamping members  12  and  14 . Most preferably, each contact pad is of a shape memory type foam, such as type manufactured by Zotefoams and sold under the name of EV50. The use of the shape memory foam allows the contact pads  40  and  40 ′ to repeatedly deform to the contour of the compressed penis  100  regardless of the prior or subsequent force exerted on the penis by the clamp  10 .  
         [0044]     Now with reference to  FIG. 6 , a more detailed discussion of adjusting the distance between the first and second clamping members  12  and  14  at second ends  20  and  20 ′ will be add. It is to be understood this particular illustration of arrangement is only for exemplary purposes. More particularly, the clamp  10  is shown in solid line indicating a first positioning of the first and second clamping members  12  and  14 , and the connection pin  34 , and in broken line indicating a second positioning. The second positioning illustrates the first and second clamping members  12  and  14  having a smaller distance therebetween and thus in a position which exerts a greater force than that of the first positioning.  
         [0045]     In the first position, it can be seen that a leg  38  of the connection pin  34  is positioned in to outward most bore  32  of the second end  20 ′ with the opposite leg  38  positioned in the outward most slot  28  of the second end  20 . In this particular example, the positioning of the connection pin  34  allows for the greatest distance between the first and second clamping members  12  and  14 , which in turns provide the least amount of force exerted by the clamp  10  on the penis  100 .  
         [0046]     In the second position, illustrated in broken line, it can be seen the leg  38  of the connection pin  34  received by the outward most slot  28  has been moved to the inward most slot and the opposed leg  38  remains in the outward most bore  32 . In this positioning, the distance between the first and second clamping members  12  and  14  has been reduced approximate the second ends  20  and  20 ′, thereby applying a greater exerted force by the clamp  10  on the penis  100 . In this particular example, the applied force can increased by moving the leg  38  from the outward most bore  32  into the inward most bore.  
         [0047]     With reference to  FIG. 7 , in use it can know be understood, the clamp  10  is first opened and is positioned about the penis  100  such that the penis is aligned approximately about the mid point of the clamp. The clamp  10  is then closed about the penis  100  compressing the penis  100  between the contact pads  40  and  40 ′ and causing the urethra passage  102  to collapse. The clamp  10  is secured in position and clamped about the penis  100  by inserting one leg  38  of the connection pin  34  into a desired slot  28 . If the user wishes to urinate, the second ends  20  and  20 ′ of the clamp  10  are slightly pushed together allowing the end  38  to be removed from the slot  28 . The connection pin  34  is then rotated in a direction away from the end  20  permitting the first and second clamping members  12  and  14  to open about the penis  100  and allowing expansion of the urethra passage  102 . After urination, the user simply reserves the above steps to resecure the clamp  10  about the penis  100 . The user can adjust the positioning of the first ends  18  and  18 ′ and the location of the connection pin  34  as discussed in detail above to adjust the applied force on the penis  100  until the force applied is comfortable and is sufficient to prevent involuntary voiding.  
         [0048]     While a preferred embodiment of the external incontinence clamp has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.  
         [0049]     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.