Abstract:
A unisex, portable urinal for bedridden individuals. The urinal has a generally triangular shape for stability and to reduce urine levels, both of which prevent spillage. A handle configuration helps users properly position the urinal, for example in a manner that forms a good seal against the relevant portion of the female anatomy. Both male and female users benefit from stable urine storage and a comfortable, ergonomic form.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/414,309, filed Sep. 26, 2002. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Portable urinals have long been used to collect urine from bedridden individuals, whether at home or in hospitals. Urinating while confined to a bed is difficult, particularly for those with limited mobility. Urinal users and their caregivers thus frequently encounter spills and leakage, leading to embarrassment, discomfort, and the need to change and launder bedding. Laundering bedding is costly and time consuming, and moving bedridden patients as necessary to change bedding can be uncomfortable or even dangerous for the patient and caregiver. These disadvantages often lead caregivers to resort to catheterization, an uncomfortable and embarrassing procedure that can lead to dangerous urinary-tract infections. 
     Many conventional urinals address one or more of these problems using a variety of configurations. Unfortunately, users of these urinals still suffer embarrassment, discomfort, and expense as a result of unstable, ill-fitted urinals. There is therefore a need for comfortable, spill-resistant portable urinals that are easily manipulated by those in need of a urinal and their caregivers. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is directed to a unisex, portable urinal for bedridden individuals, or “users.” Individuals employing urinals in accordance with embodiments of the invention can do so in a variety of positions, such as when lying flat on their backs, on their backs with knees raised, or sitting up. Some embodiments have handle and body configurations that help users properly position the urinal, for example in a manner that forms a good seal against the relevant portions of the female anatomy. Both male and female users benefit from stable urine storage, easy urinal positioning, and a comfortable, ergonomic form. 
     This summary does not limit the invention, which is instead defined by the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  depict a urinal bottle  100  from different angles to illustrate various features. 
         FIG. 3  depicts urinal bottle  100  from a perspective facing the mouth of the bottle and includes cross-sections of a user&#39;s leg to illustrate the positioning of bottle  100 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of bottle  100  detailing the position of the mouth of bottle  100  with respect to the handle. 
         FIG. 5  is another perspective of bottle  100 , this one showing the handle removed from the body. 
         FIG. 6  depicts another embodiment of bottle  100 , this one including a gasket that can be used in conjunction with bottle  100  to promote a comfortable seal. 
         FIG. 7  depicts bottle  100  from the side and in the case the bottle is set on a table with the mouth of the bottle facing upward. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  depicts a urinal bottle  100  in accordance with one embodiment. Urinal bottle  100  includes a body  105  to which is attached a handle  110 . A mouth  115  in a first end  120  of body  105  has a “saddle” shape that facilitates formation of a tight seal against the relevant portion of the female anatomy. In the depicted embodiment, the top portion of mouth  115  has a tighter radius than the bottom portion, a shape that has been found to form a tight, comfortable seal against a broad range of users. 
     Body  105  includes a base  125 , a pair of sidewalls  130 , and a second end  135  opposite first end  120 . As is more clearly shown in later figures, sidewalls  130  meet at a crest  140  such that sidewalls  130 , first and second ends  120  and  135 , and base  125  collectively form an interior cavity for collecting urine received via mouth  115 . 
     Handle  110  connects to crest  140  via a connecting portion  146 , and includes a proximal end  145  and a distal end  150 , where “proximal” and “distal” are defined with respect to the hands of a user. Proximal end  145  is located forward of mouth  115  to allow users to comfortably position urinal bottle  100  without a caregiver or to allow the user to assist the caregiver in establishing a good seal. This is an important aspect of bottle  100 , as the user receives tactile feedback regarding urinal placement and can therefore aid in forming a good seal. Distal end  150  may be more convenient for the caregiver, and can be used either separately or in conjunction with proximal end  145 . 
     Both proximal and distal portions of handle  110  include a series of depressions designed provide a secure grip. Bottle  100  can also be hung in a relatively balanced position using the innermost depression  151  associated with distal end  150 . In other embodiments, bottle  100  includes different handle configurations, such as a handle with only a distal portion or only a proximal portion. 
     First end  120  and second end  135  of body  105  are very roughly triangular. This shape causes the user&#39;s legs to hold bottle  100  stably in place and provides a lower center of gravity, thus reducing the probability of tipping and consequent spillage. Also important, storing the majority of urine below the user&#39;s legs maintains the surface of the urine well below mouth  115 , further reducing the probability of spillage. 
     The shapes of the first and second ends  120  and  135  can be made so that sidewalls  130  are concaved. This shape fits more comfortably between a user&#39;s legs, as described below in connection with  FIG. 3 . As show in  FIG. 1 , the lower portion of second end  135  extends upward from base  125  at a steeper gradient than the lower portion of first send  120 , which causes the lower portion of body  105  to have a wedge shape, indicated by a dotted line  160 , that tapers down toward mouth  115 . The shape, when a user&#39;s legs are applied to sidewalls  130 , forces the lower lip of mouth  115  up and against the user&#39;s perineum, which may provide a better seal for some users. In other embodiments, the shapes of the first and second ends  120  and  135  are altered to change the angle of this wedge. The angle can be eliminated, or the body  105  can be shaped so the base of bottle  100  tapers down away from mouth  115  instead of up and away as shown. 
       FIG. 2  depicts urinal bottle  100  from another angle to more clearly illustrate various features. For example, handle  110  is shown to attach to crest  140  of body  105  via a tongue-and-groove connection  165 . Handle  110  may be removed to reduce the volume required for storing and shipping bottle  100 . Some embodiments employ a handle that fits within body  105  when not in use. 
     Also apparent in  FIG. 2 , the roughly triangular cross-sectional area of body  105  tapers down from first end  120  toward second end  135 . When positioned between a user&#39;s legs, this general taper tends to urge mouth  115  against the user to form a more effective seal. In this embodiment, base  125  approximates a trapezoid with parallel edges joining sides  120  and  135 . The edge of base  125  intersecting side  120  is longer than the edge intersecting side  135  in this example. The elevation E 1  of side  135  is less than the elevation E 2  of side  120 . Body  105  thus tapers down away from mouth  115  in both height and width. Second end  135  is relatively flat and includes graduations for measuring urine levels. Body  105  is entirely or partially formed of translucent material so urine can be measured against the graduations. In one embodiment, bottle  105  is of a blow-molded thermoplastic. 
       FIG. 3  depicts urinal bottle  100  from a perspective facing mouth  115 . This perspective shows how the relatively convex cross-sections of a user&#39;s legs  170  form fit to the concave sidewalls  130 , forcing base  125  down against the user&#39;s bed to stabilize bottle  100  and prevent spillage.  FIG. 3  also illustrates how proximal end  145  of handle  110  is presented to the user over mouth  115  in a manner that allows bedridden users to position or aid in positioning mouth  115 .  FIG. 3  also details the egg-shape form of mouth  115  from this perspective, in which the top portion of mouth  115  is of a smaller radius R 1  than the bottom portion of radius R 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of bottle  100  cut along crest  140  and bisecting handle  110  and mouth  115 . This view details the orientation of mouth  115  and inward rolled lip  181 . From this perspective, mouth  115  has a saddle shape that conforms to the corresponding portion of the female anatomy. Lip  181  is rolled inward to increase the size of the area contacting the user for greater comfort. The rolled-in lip  181  additionally serves as a dam to prevent urine from sloshing out of mouth  115 . Other embodiments additionally include one or more additional dams to further reduce the possibility of spillage. The general saddle shape of mouth  115  is tilted slightly back away from the user, thus forming an acute angle A 1  with respect to the plane defined by base  125 . This mouth configuration has been found to promote a comfortable seal and reduce leakage when bottle  100  is pulled away from the user. Proximal end  145  of handle  110  extends over mouth  115  in this embodiment so, as show by dashed line  182 , the upper portion of mouth  115  lies between proximal end  145  and base  125 . 
       FIG. 5  is another perspective of bottle  100 , this one showing handle  110  removed from body  105 . The base of handle  110  is wedge-shaped to mount solidly in the corresponding groove  183  in crest  140 . Handle  110  mounts into groove  183  in the direction of the user, so that pulling on handle  110  to form a seal between the user and mouth  115  does not dislodge handle  110 . A small protrusion  184  snaps up behind handle  110  to secure handle  110  in groove  183 . These aspects of the depicted embodiment minimize the chance of accidental separation of handle  110  and body  105 . 
       FIG. 6  depicts another embodiment of bottle  100 , this one including a gasket  185  that can be used in conjunction with bottle  100  to promote a comfortable seal. Gasket  185  includes a groove  187  that mates with the inward portion of rolled lip  181  so gasket  187  remains affixed to bottle  100 . Lip  181  is comfortable by itself, but gasket  185  improves the level of comfort. 
       FIG. 7  depicts bottle  100  from the side and in the case in which second end  135  is placed against the surface of a table  190 . Distal end  150  of handle  110  helps to stabilize bottle  100  against table  190  to prevent bottle  100  from tipping and spilling a quantity of urine  195 . Graduations (not shown) on base  125  facilitate reading of the volume level of urine  195  when bottle  100  is the depicted position. The distal end of base  125 , the portion contacting table  190  in the illustrative embodiment, includes at least two points of contact with table  190  that, together with the third point provided by distal end  150 , form a second stable base upon which to set bottle  100 . This aspect of bottle  100  allows stable bottle placement in the position shown. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments, variations of these embodiments will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the foregoing description.