Abstract:
A male urine collection device is provided. The present invention comprises a container having a removable lid, a urine collection member, and a tube having a first end connected to the urine storage container lid and a second end connected to the elongated urine collection member. In whole, the device provides a continuous channel between the urine collection member and the container. The container, lid, tube, and urine collection member are all removable from each other so that the device can be easily washed. The device provides a means for bedridden male individuals to urinate when there is no assistance currently available to them and to communicate the urine directly into a receptacle without spillage and without requiring the user to uplift themselves from the bed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/871,078 filed on Aug. 28, 2013. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to urine collection devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to urine collection devices for bedridden males. 
         [0004]    Many individuals are afflicted with health problems that impair their mobility and restrict them to beds, such as spinal injuries and obesity. These individuals often require assistance to go to the bathroom because it may be impossible or dangerous for them to attempt to go to leave their bed on their own due to their mobility issues. However, assistance may not be available in certain circumstances, such as in the middle of the night, potentially resulting in these bedridden individuals soiling themselves, which is uncomfortable, embarrassing, and requires effort to clean. 
         [0005]    Some devices attempt to address these issues by providing bedpans or bedpan-like devices that have elongated receptacles into which a male can urinate. However, these devices have open tops that leave the urine exposed to the air around the individual. The exposed urine can smell and if the device is knocked over or otherwise jostled, the liquid contained within the bedpan can spill therefrom, creating a mess. Other devices provide bags or other liquid holding devices that have an elongated receptacle extending therefrom into which a male can urinate. However, these devices can be difficult to use for bedridden individuals because they are not easy to urinate into unless the individual is standing or in a vertical position. 
         [0006]    The present invention provides a male urine collection device that has a container with a removable lid, a urine collection member, and a flexible tube connecting the container and the urine collection member. The removable lid makes it easy to empty liquid from the container, while also preventing spills or other accidents that are common with devices having configurations where the stored liquid is exposed. The flexible tube allows the present invention to be used by bedridden individuals from a number of different positions, allowing individuals with severe mobility issues to use the present invention without moving a substantial amount. The urine collection member is ideally configured for males to urinate into without any spillage, further preventing any possible accidents. Finally, the entire device is constructed from reusable and washable material so that the device can be used repeatedly. 
         [0007]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0008]    Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to bedpans for bedridden individuals or devices specifically adapted to collect urine from males. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to urine containers having a tubular portion attached thereto. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art. 
         [0009]    One such device is U.S. Pat. No. 1,642,255 to Lowenstein, which discloses a bedpan that is adapted to be used by bedridden individuals. The device comprises a bedpan having an inflexible outwardly protruding portion that may be urinated into without having to hold the device. The present invention also comprises a urine collecting apparatus having an outwardly extending portion; however the present invention&#39;s outwardly extending portion is a flexible tube that can be used by a bedridden individual without having to get out of bed. 
         [0010]    Another such device is U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,461 to Attaway, which discloses a bedpan with an integral urinal. The integral urinal comprises a flexible tubular portion that can be extended from the bedpan. The present invention also includes a flexible tubular portion, but it further includes a lid over the urine container, reducing the chance that any urine will spill from the container if the container is jostled. 
         [0011]    U.S. Published Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0177070 to Levinson discloses a urine collection device comprising a urine receptor having an open perimeter that tapers to an outlet aperture, an elongated tubular member connected to the outlet aperture, and a means for coupling a container to the tube member. The present invention differs in two key respects. First, the present invention is designed to be used only by male users, rather than both by male and female users as with Levinson. Second, the container is an integral component of the present invention and therefore the flexible tubular portion is intended to specifically couple with the provided container. 
         [0012]    Another such device is U.S. Published Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0262451 to Broden, which discloses a device for collecting urine comprising a flexible bag that has a member for receiving fluid extending therefrom. The present invention also comprises a container for collecting urine and a member for collecting urine, but it further comprises a flexible tube connecting these two separate components. 
         [0013]    U.S. Published Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0145288 to Mathews discloses a urinal that is designed to avoid spills, which utilizes a tubular portion that has a plurality of flexible sections separating a number of rigid sections. The tubular portion of the present invention is composed of flexible material all along its length and does not utilize alternating sections of flexible and rigid material. Therefore, the tubular portion of the present invention is much more adaptable and easier to use for bedridden male individuals. 
         [0014]    A novel male urine collection apparatus is provided. The present invention comprises a urine collection container, a member adapted for males to urinate into from a seated or laying position, and a flexible tubular portion connecting the two other components. The present invention allows men who are bedridden or otherwise have poor mobility to relieve themselves without soiling themselves. The lid of the present invention keeps liquid securely stored within the container, without any risk of spilling. However, the lid is also removable, allowing users to easily dispose of liquid stored within the container and to easily clean the container after use. It substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing urine collection devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of urine collection devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new urine collection device wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when the user is bedridden or has poor mobility and thus has great difficulty rising in the middle of the night to relieve himself. 
         [0016]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved male urine collection device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
         [0017]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a male urine collection device that may be used without having to get out of bed. 
         [0018]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a male urine collection device that has a lid to prevent spills and keep the urine stored within the container secure. 
         [0019]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a male urine collection device that has a separable components so that the device is easy to clean. 
         [0020]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a male urine collection device that has a flexible tube connecting the storage portion and the collection portion, allowing the device to be used from a number of different positions. 
         [0021]    Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the container portion of the present invention, with a call out showing the connection between the lid and the container. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the collection portion of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the present invention in use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the male urine collection device. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for allowing a bedridden male user to relieve himself from a laying down position. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of the present invention. The present male urine collection device comprises a container  11  having a removable lid  12 , a urine collection member  14 , and a tube  13  connecting the container  11  and the urine collection member  14 . The present invention is adapted to allow a user who is bedridden or otherwise has mobility issues to urinate from his bed without having to get up or otherwise move, as the user could harm himself if he attempted to get up and go to the bathroom. The present invention is composed of reusable and readily-washable materials so the device can be cleaned out after each use and then used again as needed. The present invention is adapted for use by men suffering from all manner of afflictions affecting their mobility, including spinal injuries, obesity, and so on. 
         [0029]    The container  11  of the present invention is composed of a base and a plurality of sidewalls  19  extending from the perimeter of the base, said sidewalls  19  having an upper edge that defines an open top. The container  11  is preferably composed of hard plastic, but no claim is made as to the material composition of the container  11 , except that the material is preferably washable. As depicted, the container  11  has a rectangular base and rectangular sidewalls  19 , but the container  11  of the present invention may be provided in all manner of shapes and sizes. 
         [0030]    A lid  12  is provided for covering the open top of the container  11  and has a lid connection means  16  for removably affixing the lid  12  to the upper edge of the sidewalls  19 . The lid  12  is preferably composed of soft plastic so the device can be easily removed from the container  11 , but no claim is made as to the specific composition of the lid  12 . The lid  12  has an aperture  15  and a first tube coupling means  17  surrounding and extending from the edges of the aperture  15 . As depicted, the aperture  15  is circular and the first tube coupling means  17  comprises a cylindrical sidewall extending from the aperture  15 , creating a channel. The aperture  15  is preferably disposed in the center of the lid  12 , but no claim is made as to the precise location of the aperture  15  and it may be disposed at any point along the surface of the lid  12 . The aperture  15  is provided to allow liquid to flow from the tube  13  into the container  11 . The first tube coupling means  17  is provided to removably affix the lid  12  and the tube  13  together and to allow the free communication of fluid from the tube  13  through the lid  12  and into the container  11  without spillage or interruption. The first tube coupling means  17  generally comprises a cylindrical sidewall that has a diameter substantially equal to the tube interior diameter, or alternatively the tube exterior diameter, thereby allowing the first end  32  of the tube  13  to be securely, but removably, affixed onto the first tube coupling means  17 . The first tube coupling means  17  has substantially the same cross-sectional shape as the tube  13  such that they may be fitted together. The tube  13  and the first tube coupling means  17  of the lid  12  may be affixed via the close tolerance between the two diameters thereof, or the connection may be facilitated by a hose clamp or similar clamping means (not shown) around the exterior of their connection area. It is submitted that this connection is well known in the art, wherein the present invention contemplates a secure connection that is also removable on demand to allow for separating and cleaning of each respective part (tube and lid). 
         [0031]    The tube  13  comprises an elongated, generally cylindrical member having a hollow interior with a first end  32  and a second end  31 . The second end  31  is adapted to attach to the urinal collection member  14  and the first end  32  is adapted to attach to the lid  12 . The tube  13  provides an uninterrupted channel allowing liquid to flow from the urinal collection member  14  to the container  11 . The tube  13  is composed of a flexible material, preferably soft plastic, which allows the present invention to be manipulated into a large number of different positions so that users can relieve themselves from any laying or sitting position. The present invention is designed for men who are bedridden or who otherwise have poor mobility, thus it needs to be highly adaptable to whatever position the user finds himself in so that a substantial amount of movement is not needed to utilize the device. Like the other components of the device, the tube  13  is preferably composed of reusable, washable material so that the present invention can be used for a number of times. 
         [0032]    The urinal collection member  14  is roughly a substantially cylindrical or slightly conical funnel that comprises a hollow body  20  having a rim defining an inlet  22  at one end and a second tube coupling means  21  disposed at the opposite end. The urinal collection member  14  is designed such that a male user can urinate into the device without having to rise from a bed. As such, the second tube coupling means  21  is provided to direct the flow of the liquid into the tube  13  and the body  20  is provided to prevent urine from splashing out of the urinal collection member  14  and to give users an elongated member that is easy to urinate into. The second tube coupling means  21  preferably comprises a series of stepped members of decreasing diameter, which can be inserted within the tube  13  and then gradually expand the tube  13  as they are pushed in, generating a secure seal between the second tube coupling means  21  and the tube  13 . It is submitted that this connection is well known in the art, wherein the present invention contemplates a secure connection that is also removable on demand to allow for separating and cleaning of each respective part (tube and urinal collection member). The urinal collection member  14  is preferably composed of hard plastic. Like the other components of the device, the urine collection member  14  is preferably composed of reusable, washable material so that the present invention can be used for a number of times. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a perspective view of the container portion of the present invention, with a call out showing the connection between the container and the lid. The lid  12  is removably affixed on the upper edge  18  of the sidewalls  19  to cover the open top of the container  11 . This prevents liquid stored within the container  11  from spilling therefrom when the container  11  is jostled. The lid  12  is also removable so that the liquid held within the container  11  can be easily disposed of and so that the present invention can be easily and thoroughly washed between uses. In the depicted embodiment, the lid connection means  16  comprises a notched, flexible flange portion on the lid  12  that engages with a complementary portion on the upper edge  18  of the container  11 . No claim is made as to the precise mechanism for the lid connection means  16 , as long as the lid  12  is removable. The lid connection means  16  may also comprises a plurality of latches that engage with complementary aligned notches on the upper edge of the sidewalls  19 , hook and loop fastener material, or any other type of removable fastening means. 
         [0034]    As depicted, the first tube coupling means  17  comprises a smooth, cylindrical sidewall extending from the central aperture that has a diameter substantially equal to that of the inner diameter of the tube  13 . The tube  13  and the first tube coupling means  17  are affixed via the close tolerance between the two diameters thereof, or the connection may be facilitated by a hose clamp or similar clamping means (not shown) around the exterior of their connection area. Alternatively, the first tube coupling means  17  may comprise series of stepped members that gradually decreasing diameters, as seen for the urinal collection member of  FIG. 3 . However, no claim is made as to the precise structure of the first coupling means  17 . 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a perspective view of the urine collection member of the present invention. The urine collection member  14  generally comprises an elongated, cylindrical, or funnel-shaped member having a body  20  and a second tube coupling means  21 . When all of the components of the present invention are connected together, the present invention provides a single, uninterrupted channel extending from the inlet  22  to the container  11 , allowing liquid to flow from the former to the latter without spillage or interruption. The second tube coupling means  21  may comprise a series of stepped portions having an increasingly smaller diameter or may comprise a single smooth portion having a gradually decreasing diameter. In either case, the increasing diameter of the second tube coupling means  21  generates a secure connection between the tube  13  and the second tube coupling means  21  via the close communication between the inner diameter of the tube  13  and the diameter of the second tube coupling means  21 . 
         [0036]    The second tube coupling means  21  both allows liquid to flow therethrough into the tube  13  and secures the tube  13  and the urine collection member  14  together. The depicted embodiment of the second tube coupling means  21  comprises a series of stepped portions having gradually decreasing diameters. In use, the second tube coupling means  21  is placed within the interior of the second end  31  of the tube  13 . The tube  13  and the urine collection member  14  are thereby held together by the close tolerance between the interior diameter of the second end  31  and the diameter of the second tube coupling means  21 , or the connection may be facilitated by a hose clamp or similar clamping means (not shown) around the exterior of their connection area. However, no claim is made as to the precise structure of the second tube coupling means  21 . 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a perspective view of the present invention in use. The present invention is designed primarily for use by male individuals that are either bedridden or that have a substantial mobility impairment. It can be impossible or even dangerous for such individuals to attempt to rise from their bed, without assistance, to urinate. Therefore these individuals require a simple, reusable method for relieving themselves that is also clean and reduces the chance for any spills to occur. 
         [0038]    Individuals utilize the present male urine collection device by positioning the urine collection member  14  as needed and then urinating into the urine collection member  14 , through the inlet. The liquid automatically flows from the urine collection member  14 , through the tube  13 , to the container  11  where it is stored until it can be disposed of. The tube  13  is long and highly flexible, allowing it to be ideally positioned whether the user is lying on his side, sitting, or in any other position. Furthermore, the present invention is composed of washable material so that it can be readily reused. 
         [0039]    It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. 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. 
         [0040]    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.