Urinary appliance

An improved urinary device for use by male incontinent persons of the type in which a collector bag is supported upon the leg of the user. In lieu of the conventional leg-engaging straps, the collector bag is supported in a pocket on the outer surface of the leg member of an undergarment. The undergarment is made of highly resilient material including a lycra spandex component. The pocket is formed of relatively non-stretchable woven material and includes a rear wall extending from the waistband of the undergarment to a point below the lower edge of the pant leg, and a front wall approximately half the length of the rear wall and congruent with the lower half of the rear wall. A laminar type collector bag is carried within the pocket which has a lower opening for drainage. The rear wall of the pocket is stitched at the entire upper edge and side edges thereof to the undergarment to distribute the weight of a filled bag over a substantial area of the undergarment. This construction thus eliminates the concentration of the weight on the exposed leg of the wearer caused by leg engaging straps at the upper and lower part of the bag, which straps are eliminated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to the field of male urinary appliances 
used by incontinent persons, and more particularly to an improved device 
for mounting a known-urine collecting bag upon the front surface of the 
thigh in an inconspicuous manner such that it can be periodically drained 
without disconnection from the patient. Devices of this general type are 
known in the art, and the invention lies in specific constructional 
details which permit improved comfort on the part of the user, as well as 
increased convenience in use. 
At the present state of the art, there is a marked preference for a 
disposable bag formed from heat-sealed synthetic resinous material, such 
as polyethylene and the like, which can be used during the course of the 
working day, emptied periodically, and disposed of after a relatively 
short period of time without the necessity of restoring the same to 
sanitary condition. Such bags are fitted with a check valve at the upper 
edge thereof, and a drain tube at the lower edge which may be opened 
without disengaging the bag from the user. 
The principal disadvantage of this type of construction is that it requires 
mounting means on the leg of the wearer in the form of upper and lower 
straps which are not only uncomfortable, but tend to inhibit circulation 
when the device is worn over a period of time. While the prior art has 
dealt with this problem to some degree, older constructions require the 
use of a specialized container which is not readily commercially 
available, and which is somewhat difficult to use. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the provision of an improved 
device for utilizing the above-described presently available collection 
bag, without the necessity of employing either of the upper an lower leg 
engaging straps. To this end, the inventive structure comprises an elastic 
undergarment, the body of which is formed from tightly knitted nylon 
including a lycra spandex component. The garment includes an adjustible 
elastic waistband, and elastic terminal edges at the lower ends of the 
pant legs. An inelastic pocket element is formed of heavy duty woven 
material. The pocket includes a rear wall of rectangular elongated 
configuration having an upper edge which terminates at the waistband and a 
lower edge which extends below the lower edge of the pant leg upon which 
it is mounted. The longitudinal edges of the rear member are stitched to 
the outer surface of the pant leg along the entire length of the latter. A 
corresponding front wall is stitched in congruent relation to the lower 
half of the rear wall along the side and lower edges thereof leaving a 
free upper edge for the insertion of the collector bag. A small opening at 
the lower edge of the pocket accommodates a drain tube of the bag. As the 
bag fills, the weight of the contents is transferred to the rear wall of 
the pocket and to the resilient pant leg over substantially the entire 
length of the forward surface thereof, which, through a relatively small 
degree of stretch, supports the entire weight without substantial increase 
in constrictive force upon the leg of the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT 
In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by 
reference character 10, comprises broadly: a leg-engaging undergarment 11, 
an interconnected pocket element 12, and a collector bag 13. 
The undergarment 11 is formed of knitted material, of a gauge substantially 
heavier than that employed for underwear, and similar to a type often used 
for sporting purposes. It will normally include about 15% of LYCRA spandex 
(E. I. Du Pont & Co.). It includes first and second forward panels 20 and 
21, as well as corresponding third and fourth panels (not shown) which are 
interconnected to form an upper waist-enclosing portion 24, and first and 
second pant legs 25 and 26. The garment is bounded by an upper 
waist-engaging edge 27 which preferably includes a draw string 28. Each of 
the pant legs 25 and 26 terminates in a lower edge 30 which may include an 
elastic band 31. A centrally disposed vertical seam 32 adjoins a small 
opening 33 accommodating a collection tube (not shown). 
The pocket element 12, by contrast, is formed of relatively inextensible 
material, preferably woven heavy duty cotton. It includes a rear wall 
member 40 and a front wall member 41. 
The rear wall member 40 is of elongated rectangular configuration, and is 
bounded by an upper edge 45 which is stitched to the waistband 27 as well 
as a free lower edge 46 which extends below the edge 30 of the pant leg 
upon which it is mounted. Side edges 47 and 48 are stitched to the front 
panel 20 to the extent that they overlie the same. 
The front wall member 41 is of configuration corresponding substantially to 
the lower half of the rear wall member, and is bounded by an upper free 
edge 50, as well as interconnected, e.g. stitched side edges 51 and 52 and 
lower edge 53. The upper edge 50 forms an opening leading to a recess 
which accommodates the collector bag 13. 
The collector bag 13 is of well-known type, preferably formed of 
heat-sealed polyethylene. It includes a pair of side walls 60 
interconnected at the upper edges 61, lower edges 62, and side edges 63 
and 64. The corners include strap-engaging means 65, 66, 67 and 68, which 
are not employed. 
The upper edge 61 incorporates an inlet tube 70, a lower end 71 of which is 
provided with a check valve 72 which prevents return of urine 
therethrough. The lower edge 62 incorporates a drain tube 74 provided with 
a removable cap 75 which permits draining at convenient intervals. This 
operation is facilitated by the fact that the pocket extends below the 
lower edge of the respective pant leg. Thus, although the garment exerts a 
general constrictive effect upon the torso of the wearer, it is 
distributed over the entire surface of the engaged body of the user, and 
not localized, as would be the case where leg straps are used. Once the 
bag becomes completely filled, a degree of stretch occurs in one pant leg, 
but because this load is also distributed over the entire length of the 
pant leg, the wearer is hardly aware of the fact that this has occurred. 
Thus, the device can be worn for long hours without any discomfort, and 
the convenience of using standard readily available collection bags which 
are readily replaceable, contributes to the utility of the device. 
I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention to be 
limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in the 
specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in 
the art to which the invention pertains.