URINAL SHEATH FOR INCONTINENT MEN

Abstract: A urinal sheath for incontinent men comprises a bag (1) adapted to enclose the user's penis. The bag is provided at its opening (2) with a tightening means (3) to retain the bag on the penis and to prevent leakage of urine.

Description: URINAL SHEATH FOR. INCONTINENT MEN "^ The present invention relates to a urinal sheath intended for incontinent men and comprising a bag adapt¬ ed to enclose the user's penis. Known urinal sheaths of the above-mentioned type 5 suffer from a number of shortcomings. A known urinal sheath consists, in principle, of a diaper that has been folded, although not in the middle, and then has been put into a plastics bag. The disadvantage of this sheath is that it is extremely difficult to put on and 10 maintain in position because the opening is far too large so that the penis may easily slip out of the sheath, This happens especially to persons having a retarded penis where the distance between the glans and ' the root is very small, only about 10-15 mm. Prior to disposal, 15 this urinal sheath must therefore be placed in a suit¬ able disposal package, and consequently the user must carry not only the urinal sheaths, but also suitable disposal packages. Another known urinal sheath has a more anatomical form, but its opening is still too large 20 so that the user is faced with exactly the same problem as occurs in the known urinal sheath as first referred to above. Also the last-mentioned urinal sheath must be put, after use, in a.special disposal package. The last-mentioned urinal sheath is relatively large, for 25 which reason persons having a retarded penis are using this sheath in such a manner that both the penis and the scrotum are put in the "bag". It will be readily appreciated that, after this sheath has been used for ' 'II some time, the skin will be irritated. For both of these 30 known urinal sheaths, the manufacturers recommend the use of tight-fitting underpants to retain the urinal sheaths. Thus, these urinal sheaths cannot be worn with shorts-type underpants. The main object of this invention therefore is O PΪ to provide a urinal sheath that can be used and attached regardless of the type of underpants worn by the user, and to make the urinal sheath function satisfactorily both with a normal penis and with a retarded penis. A further object is to provide a urinal sheath which is smaller than prior art urinal sheaths and which, thus, can be carried discreetly and in combination with modern clothing. Still another object is to solve the disposal pro- blem by providing a urinal sheath which, after use, can be carried until a suitable disposal vessel is found. These objects are achieved by means of a urinal sheath of the type which has been mentioned by way of introduction and whose special features will appear from the characterising clauses of the appended claims. The invention will be described in greater detail below, reference being had to an embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective and schematic view of a urinal sheath according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a section along line II-II in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 illustrates a urinal sheath according to the invention, comprising a bag 1 with an opening 2. An elastic drawstring 3 is provided at the opening for tightening the urinal sheath around the user's penis. Furthermore, the urinal sheath has a cover 4 with an adhesive layer 5 for sealing the opening 2 after the urinal sheath has been used. The adhesive layer 5 may consist of a two-side-coated tape carrying a release paper which is removed when the cover is to be folded over the opening and affixed to the opposite side of the urinal sheath by means of the tape. The urinal sheath also has a so-called friction band 6 which, like the adhesive layer on the cover 4, may consist of two-side-coated tape having a release paper on that side of the urinal sheath which will be facing the user's underpants. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the urinal sheath which comprises the following layers, starting from the outer side of the sheath: An outer layer 8 of poly¬ ethylene, a powder layer 10 consisting of a superabsor- bent, an absorption layer 11 consisting of fluff and a powder layer 13 of the same type as the layer 10, as well as an inner nonwoven layer 12. As will appear from Fig. 2, the outer layer 8 is folded back upon itself at the opening 2, and the end of the folded part of the layer is secured in some suit¬ able manner to the remaining layer to form a channel 9 accommodating the drawstring 3. The drawstring pre¬ ferably is endless and wound twice around the bag in the channel 9, the string ends projecting out of the channel at one and the same location, as will appear from Fig. 1. At the lower side of the urinal sheath, the folded part of the outer layer 8 is extended to form the seal¬ ing cover 4. The advantage of using an elastic drawstring is the continuous adjustability. After the urinal sheath has been fitted over the penis, the string is tightened, without causing discomfort to the user, and then the string ends are used to tie a simple bow. The urinal sheath thus cannot fall off. It is essential that the distance between the drawstring and the opening edge of the urinal sheath is not greater than the normal distance between the glans and the root of a retarded penis. After use, the urinal sheath is sealed by removing the release paper on the tape 5, folding the cover 4 over the opening 2 and securing the latter to the outer layer 8 by means of the tape 5. Although this seal is not completely tight, it is sufficient for convenient handling of the urinal sheath. To provide an additional seal, the drawstring may be further tightened, whereby an even more reliable seal is obtained. OMPI

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A urinal sheath intended for incontinent men and comprising a bag (1) adapted to enclose the user's penis, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the bag is provided at its opening (2) with a tightening means (3) to retain the bag on the penis and to prevent leak¬ age of urine. 2. A urinal sheath as claimed in claim 1, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i s e d in that the tightening means (3) is elastic. 3. A urinal sheat as claimed in claim 2, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i s e d in that the tightening means is a drawstring (3). 4. A urinal sheath as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d by a cover (4) provided at the bag opening (2) and adapted to seal the bag (1) after the urinal sheath has been used. 5. A urinal sheath as claimed in claim 4, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i s e d in that the cover has a self-adhering surface (5) for engaging the outer side of the bag when the latter is sealed. 6. A urinal sheath as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d by a self- adhering surface (6) on one side of the bag (1) for engagement with the user's pants. 7. A urinal sheath as claimed in claim 3, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i s e d in that an outer layer {8) of the bag is longer than the bag and also is folded and at¬ tached to the outer side of the bag to form a channel (9) accommodating the drawstring. 8. A urinal sheath as claimed in claim 4, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i s e d in that an outer layer (8) of the bag projects beyond the bag along a portion of the cir¬ cumference at the opening (2) to form the cover (4) . OMPI

Inventors: ANDERSSON LARS, DAHL GOERAN, ELLERS BERNE, ANDERSSON, LARS, DAHL, GOERAN, ELLERS, BERNE
Applicants: MEDICARE DISPOSABLES AB, SWEDISH TISSUE AB
Application year: 1982
Main classification: A61F5
IPC codes: A61F5, A61F13