Abstract:
A disposable urine trap in the form of a foldable pad that envelops the male genitalia and closes around the organ to form a barrier that prevents urine from escaping the trap. The pad includes an asymmetric pair of wings that are separated by a gap and attached to the main body of the pad. The first wing is preferably rectangular in that the distal angles are substantially right angles with parallel side edges and a perpendicular distal edge, and has a length that exceeds a length of a second wing, which is terminates so that the distal edge of the second wing is angled to form an obtuse and an acute angle with respect to its generally parallel sides.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/998,947, filed Jul. 14, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to adult incontinence, and more particularly to a urine absorbent pad designed for a male that provides an easy and convenient manner to more safely replace soiled protective wear than the prior art. 
         [0003]    Urinary incontinence (UI) is defined as the involuntary loss of urine. In both men and women, age is a consistently reported risk factor for UI; however, it is not considered a normal consequence of aging. Overall, UI affects up to 30% of community dwelling older adults and more than 50% of nursing home residents. Despite its high prevalence, up to one-half of cases may not be reported because individuals with UI may not seek medical intervention. Embarrassment and the perception that UI is an expected consequence of aging are common factors in the failure to seek a solution or treatment. That reluctance is particularly strong in men, who often deem the problem to be associated with a loss of masculinity. 
         [0004]    Urinary incontinence is categorized according to pathophysiology and clinical presentation. The four main categories are (1) stress urinary incontinence (SUI), (2) urge urinary incontinence (UUI), (3) overflow incontinence, and (4) functional incontinence. Mixed types of incontinence are common and may complicate diagnosis and treatment because of overlapping symptoms. Studies have found that UI significantly affects psychological well-being and health care-related quality of life. Urinary incontinence may impair sexual function, restrict activities, interfere with interpersonal relationships, decrease self-esteem, increase caregiver burden, increase financial burden, and cause anxiety or depression. It is a common precipitant of institutionalization in older adults. 
         [0005]    Because of current demographic trends, UI is an increasingly common medical and socioeconomic problem. One place where the issue arises with great propensity is nursing homes, where older patients often suffer moderate to severe UI due to a variety of physiological conditions. In men, incontinence is often related to prostate problems or treatments that become exacerbated in the elderly. Certain medical conditions, particularly those affecting the brain or nervous system, such as Alzheimer&#39;s, Parkinson&#39;s, Dementia, Multiple Sclerosis and brain damage, can also lead to incontinence. This is due to the nerve passageways from the brain becoming damaged. The result can be either an overactive bladder (the need to go often and frequently) or an under-active bladder (ineffective emptying leading to leakage). Diabetes and or a stroke can also bring on incontinence. 
         [0006]    With aging, bladder capacity decreases, ability to inhibit urination declines, involuntary bladder contractions (detrusor overactivity) occur more often, and bladder contractility is impaired. Thus, voiding becomes more difficult to postpone and tends to be incomplete. Postvoid residual volume increases in as much as ≦100 mL (normal &lt;50 mL). A weakening of the endopelvic fascia often results as well. In men, the tendency for the prostate to enlarge with age causes the partial obstruction of the urethra, leading to incomplete bladder emptying and strain on the detrusor muscle. These changes occur in many normal, continent elderly males and may facilitate incontinence but do not cause it. 
         [0007]    One challenge associated with male incontinence is the necessity for changing clothing, bedding, and other items that may become soiled due to an incontinence patient. When a disabled patient has voided his urine, the caregiver must remove the patient&#39;s clothing and bedding while the patient is in a prone position. This can be challenging to the caregiver, who must lift the patient to remove the clothing and bedding while simultaneously trying to extract the soiled garments and sheets, blankets, etc. If the patient is large or overweight, the problem becomes magnified even greater. 
         [0008]    Elderly patients and residents of nursing homes who are immobile or have reduced mobility are at high risk for developing pressure ulcers (bed sores). This condition is made worse if the patient is incontinent because the moisture from urine causes the surface of the skin to become irritated and infected. For this reason, it is important to prevent urine from remaining in contact with the skin for any extended period of time, and that it be removed as soon as possible. 
         [0009]    The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there are 76.4 million baby boomers, and the oldest of this generation, which includes those born between 1946 and 1964, are over 65 years old. For many of these people, adult diapers are a way to ameliorate the effects of moderate to severe incontinence. Adult diapers are a $7 billion global market, and sales have grown more than 8 percent over the past five years due to this increasing number of baby boomers entering their 70s and 80s. This trend appears to be rising as the stigma of wearing protective undergarments becomes less and the popularity of these products grow. 
         [0010]    However, for males, particularly invalid males, diapers can be an unsatisfactory solution for several reasons. First, the previously raised issue that, once soiled, the patient must be changed like an infant by a caregiver who may not have the strength to lift a full grown adult male. Changing a diaper can lead to the patient being moved in positions that may strain or injure the patient, particularly when moved by a caregiver with inadequate strength to properly maneuver a full grown adult male. Second, unlike females where the origin and direction of the urine stream is fairly predictable, males tend to urinate from different positions, angles, and directions, and this inconsistency leads to leakage. This is especially true when the patient is lying on his back and suffers incontinence, because a gap in the top of the diaper at the patient&#39;s stomach can provide an opening where urine can leak outside of the diaper, leading to the issues raised above. Patients who go frequently can get ignored because of the challenges in changing the patient, leading to health issues as well. 
         [0011]    The art is in need of a simple, cost effective device that is directed to the problem of male incontinence, and can reduce the opportunity for leakage as well as the frequency in which a patient needs to be moved when an incontinent event occurs. The present invention is directed to this objective. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention is directed to a disposable urine trap in the form of a foldable pad that envelops the male genitalia and closes around the penis to form a barrier to prevent urine from escaping the trap. The pad includes an asymmetric pair of wings that are separated by a void attached to the main body of the pad. The first wing is preferably rectangular in that the distal angles are substantially right angles with parallel side edges and a perpendicular distal edge, and has a length that exceeds a length of a second wing, which is terminates so that the distal edge of the second wing is angled to form an obtuse and an acute angle with respect to its generally parallel sides. The void between the two wings may be formed by eliminating a triangular component from each inner side of the first and second wings to establish a “kite” or “diamond”-shaped void in the pad. The void in the pad may receive the patient&#39;s penis at its base such that the penis extends over the widest and thickest portion of the pad and the head of the penis occupies the middle area of the pad. Once the pad is arranged so that the penis is laid over the pad through the void, the first wing is folded over the top of the penis along a crease where the void lies to overlay the penis and sandwich the penis between the pad and the first wing. The angle that the first wing protrudes away from the pad is selected so that the inner side edge of the first wing aligns with a proximal edge of the second wing when folded over penis as described above. The folding of the first wing closes the void so that the void now encircles the base of the penis as the penis lays on the pad. Once the inner side edge of the first wing is placed against the proximal edge of the second wing, the second wing is then folded over the first wing such that the distal edge of the first wing and the distal edge of the second wing are substantially orthogonal. The asymmetric nature of the first and second wings allow the configuration described above, such that the wings cooperate to overlay the penis can capture the penis between the two wings and the thick portion of the pad. An adhesive strip on the opposite side of the first wing attaches to the second wing and secures the urine trap in the closed configuration. The corners of the pad can then be folded over the outer side edges of the adjacent first and second wings to close the trap and envelope the penis inside the pad. 
         [0013]    A benefit of the present invention is that it can be placed inside a diaper as well as an undergarment. If a male patient should urinate in the urine trap, a caregiver can simply remove the urine trap from the diaper or undergarment without the need to undress, change the diaper, or move the patient. A new urine trap can be placed on the patient with little or no disturbance to the patient and without rolling the patient over, lifting the patient, or undressing the patient. Moreover, the configuration of the urine trap prevents any opportunity for leakage at the patient&#39;s waistline where most diapers can leak for male wearers because of the way the present invention envelopes the penis and the way the corners fold over the pad to eliminate gaps. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of a the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is an elevated, perspective view of the present invention shown on a male user; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged, perspective view of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an elevated, perspective view of the present invention with the first wing folded; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged, perspective view of the present invention with the adhesive strip removed; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the second wing folded into place; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged, perspective view of corners being upturned to enclose the male genitalia; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is an elevated, perspective view of the adhesive strip being removed so as to be applied to a garment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is an elevated, perspective view of the pouch adhered to an undergarment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged, perspective view partially in shadow showing the pouch in place inside an undergarment; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a first cross sectional view of the pad in the pouch configuration; 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is a second cross sectional view of the pad in the pouch configuration; and 
           [0027]      FIGS. 14-23  illustrate an alternate way of wearing the pad of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]      FIG. 1  illustrates a plan view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprising a pad  12  generally formed by a base  24  and first and second wings  14 ,  16 . 
         [0029]    The pad  12  is formed by enclosing fluid absorbent material between an fluid impervious outer lining  18  and a soft fluid transmissive inner lining  20 . The outer lining  18  may be made of a polyethylene film or other low cost, biocompatible material to seal in the urine and prevent leakage outside of the trap. The inner lining  20  that bear&#39;s against the user&#39;s skin may be made of polypropylene or suitable non-abrasive, non-toxic material that transmits fluid while largely staying relatively fluid free at the surface. The absorbent center  22  may contain wood pulp and super-absorbent polymers such as sodium polyacrylate. Sodium polyacrylate is effective in wicking away fluid from the skin through the inner lining  20 , and can soak up to  30  times its weight in urine. The absorbent center is bordered around its edges by adhering the inner lining  20  and outer lining  18 , and the matching of the two mating linings  18 , 20  can be arranged to give the pad a rounded shape in the undeformed condition. That is, a shallow “bowl” or saucer is created by the fit of the two mating edges such that the edges of the pad are raised with respect to the base  24 . The base  24  is particularly padded at this middle portion, which is where the introduction of urine is expected in most cases. 
         [0030]    As further seen in  FIG. 1 , a first wing  14  extends outwardly from a crease  30 . The first wing  14  includes an outer side edge  32 , an inner side edge  34 , and a distal edge  36 . The side edges  32 , 34  are substantially parallel, and the distal edge substantially perpendicular thereto, such that right angels α,β are formed. A generally triangular portion  36  of the inner edge  34  is removed at the juncture  38  of the first and second wings  14 ,  16 , creating half of a void  42  through which the penis  76  is inserted. 
         [0031]    A second wing  16 , which in a preferred embodiment has a length that is approximately one half a length of the first wing  14 , protrudes from a crease  52  and includes an inner side edge  46 , outer side edge  48 , and distal edge  50 . As with the first wing, the inner side edge  46  and outer side edge  48  are substantially parallel, but the distal edge  50  forms an acute angle v with the outer side edge  48  and an obtuse angle σ with the inner side edge  46 . A triangular portion  54  of the inner edge  46  is removed at the juncture  38  of the first and second wings  14 ,  16 , creating the other half of the void  42 , which is thusly formed in a shape of a diamond based on the two triangular resections  36 , 54  on the inner edges  34 ,  46 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  illustrates a rear view of the pad  12 , including a peel away adhesive strip  70  that can be used to secure the pad to the patient or a waistband of the patient. A second adhesive strip  72  is used to hold the pad in a pouch, or folded position to envelope the patient&#39;s genitalia  76 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 3-13  illustrate a first method for how the pad  12  encloses the male organ and creates a cocoon-like wrap around the organ to collect any urine and prevent leakage. With the patient  80  preferably standing or lying on his back, the pad  12  is placed on the user&#39;s thighs with the first wing  14  on the upper right thigh/abdomen and the second wing  16  over the user&#39;s left thigh/abdomen. The user&#39;s penis  76  is placed in the void  42  between the first and second wings  14 , 16  so that the base of the penis is at the juncture  38  and the head of the penis is in the central portion, or base  24  of the pad  12  ( FIG. 4 ). The first wing  14  is then folded along crease  30  over the top of the penis such that the inner side edge  34  is approximately along crease  52  ( FIGS. 4 ,  5 ). The placement of the first wing  14  in this position covers the penis  76 , and exposes the adhesive strip  72  adjacent the second wing  16 . The protective cover is removed from the adhesive strip  72  ( FIG. 6 ), and the second wing  16  is then folded at crease  52  over the first wing  14  such that the distal edge  50  is approximately parallel to and adjacent to the side outer edge  32  of the first wing  14  ( FIG. 7 ). This configuration encloses the penis  76  in the void  42  and creates a leak-proof pouch over the penis. The first and second wings  14 ,  16  overlap and cooperate to form a “V” over the penis ( FIG. 8 ), and the corners  64  can then be folded over the “V” in the direction of arrow  300  ( FIG. 8 ) to close the pouch like an envelope, eliminating any opportunity for urine to escape during urination. A double layer of protection created by the wings  14 ,  16  ( FIGS. 12 and 13 ) reduce the opportunity for leakage and create a drier, more moisture-free environment for the user  80 . 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIGS. 9-11 , the urine trap  12  can be placed inside a diaper or underpants  90  of a patient  80  without the need to fully undress the patient. If the patient should have incontinence while wearing the urine trap, it can be removed easily and replaced by a new pad with minimal jostling or movement of the patient. The larger adhesive strip  70  can be placed on the backside of the pad to secure the pad to the patient&#39;s waistband  92  of his pants or underwear  90  to maintain the urine trap in position. Alternatively, a plurality of adhesive strips can be secured to the back side or front side of the urine trap to secure it to a gown or other more loose-fitting clothing. 
         [0035]    The unique shape of the first and second wings have multiple benefits over the existing prior art. First, the wings minimize the amount of material needed to establish a secure and reliable pouch, and eliminate excess flaps that can catch on garments and inadvertently open the pouch. For example, the inner side edge  46  of the second wing  16  aligns with the base of the first wing  14  at the crease  30  when the second wing  16  is folded over the first wing  14 . Similarly, the inner side edge  34  of the first wing  14  aligns perfectly with the base of the second wing  16  at the crease  52  when the first wing  14  is folded over the penis. The alignment of the inner edges against the opposite crease maximizes the volume of the pouch and eliminates excess wing material bunching up or contacting the penis. The novel shape aligns the edges of the wings to ends of the pouch itself, creating a perfectly formed and reliable pouch with no excess material. Second, cut-outs  36 ,  54  form a more comfortable opening through which the wearer&#39;s penis is secured, reducing chaffing and skin irritation. By eliminating all excess material, the user can wear the urine trap under regular clothes as well without large, bulky bulges that can be created by traditional diapers. A taped border may extend along the wings from the respective creases to ensure that the edges mate more smoothly and prevent gaps that can cause leakage. 
         [0036]    In an alternative embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 14-23 , the pouch can be applied and worn in a reverse manner. Advantages may be seen in this configuration depending on whether the user is prone or ambulatory. The adhesive strip may be secured to the user  80  in this embodiment, wear only a gown or other loose fitting clothing are worn and there is nothing else to which one can apply the adhesive strip. 
         [0037]    The foregoing description is intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. That is, there are many variations and modifications that can be made to the foregoing descriptions and preferred embodiments that would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, and the present invention is intended to include all such modifications and variations. Such modifications may include choice of materials, overall dimensions of the embodiment, etc. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to any specific embodiment, illustration, or description herein, but rather the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims using the plain and ordinary meaning of the words used therein.