Abstract:
Applicant&#39;s invention provides an ostomy bag cover for containing within an ostomy bag. The cover has a distal panel and an proximal panel with an optional belt attachment. The two panels are of similar size and shape and are placed together and joined, as by sewing for example, along their perimeters. However, the two (2) joined panels, forming a cover, have an opening at top for accepting the ostomy bag and an opening along the bottom, for emptying the ostomy bag.

Description:
[0001]    This application is based on and maintains priority from provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/219,382, filed under 35 C.F.R. 1.53(b)(2), on Jul. 19, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Field of The Invention  
           [0003]    An ostomy bag cover, more specifically, an ostomy bag cover for providing a functional but aesthetically pleasing protective cover to an ostomy bag.  
           [0004]    Background Information  
           [0005]    After undergoing an ostomy surgery, wherein an opening is created to provide removal of waste from within the body, an ostomy bag may be required to be worn for collection of these secretions. These bags are typically transparent or semi-transparent. Usually, the bags have a flanged opening in the upper section thereof, and a drain opening in the lower portion. The upper portion of the bag receives the waste from the body and the lower portion can be opened to release the waste.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Applicant&#39;s invention provides an ostomy bag cover for cooperation with an ostomy bag, the cover comprising a distal panel and a proximal panel with an optional belt attachment. The proximal panel, which is shaped and sized similar to the distal panel, rests against the wearer and provides a separation layer between the bag and the wearer. The proximal panel, providing the separation layer, may be constructed of a double-layer of fabric or other suitable material, including cotton material for comfort. The distal panel may be constructed of satin, cotton, terry cloth or other typically opaque material, or a combination of these materials to provide a pleasing external view of the cover. Additionally, all materials or fabrics used in the construction of the cover are preferably made of washable materials.  
           [0007]    The proximal panel includes an opening therein for encircling the ostomy bag when the bag is attached to the body. The opening is comprised of two arms with a releaseable means of attachment, including but not limited to velcro or the like. These arms surround the flanged opening of the ostomy bag and may provide for ties for direct attachment to ostomy bags which are designed with eyelets. These eyelets allow for the cover to be attached to the bag by a means of horizontally opposed ties affixed to the arms. These ties provide means for securing the cover to the bag to prevent accidental removal of the cover from the bag.  
           [0008]    Some bags may omit the eyelets. In this case, the cover provides a top closure which adjoins the proximal and distal panels at the apex of the curve. This top attachment prevents the removal of the cover from the bag.  
           [0009]    The bottom opening of the cover is created by the joining of the two panel along an outer edge perimeter seam. This seam creates an opening at the bottom of the cover for the removal of waste from the bag.  
           [0010]    Furthermore, the cover may include a belt, typically worn around the waist and attached to the top of the cover. This allows the cover to be held in position on the bag while being worn. The belt may be removed from the rest of the cover by means of a releaseable attachment.  
           [0011]    The present invention may include a decorative design on any portion thereof. This design may include lace, ruffles or the like, which may be affixed to the perimeter of the panels. Additionally, design elements may be incorporated on the face of the proximal or distal panels. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the proximal side of the ostomy bag cover;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1A is a front elevation view of the proximal side of a typical ostomy bag illustrated here with eyelets;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1B is a cross sectional view of a typical ostomy bag with Applicant&#39;s cover attached thereto;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a left side elevational view of the cover;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the proximal panel of the cover; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cover illustrating the attachment of the belt to the proximal panel of the cover. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    With reference to the figures, FIG. 1A and 1B show a typical ostomy bag A (FIG. 1A showing optional eyelets D). The ostomy bag (A) has a body (B) with lower opening E, sealing member C for adhesively and releasably sealing against the skin of the wearer and a neck F between the body B and sealing member C.  
         [0019]    FIGS.  1 , 2 , 3 , and  4  refer to an ostomy bag cover  10  for use with the ostomy bag (A) by ostomy patients. The cover consists of a distal panel  12  and a proximal panel  14  and an upper opening  13  between the two panels for insertion of a ostomy bag between the two panels (See also FIG. 1B). Additionally, the cover depicts optional decorative border lace  16  and decorative panel design lace  16   a  used in conjunction with the cover.  
         [0020]    Referring to FIG. 1, this view depicts the proximal side of the cover (the side of the cover that will rest against the skin) and the opening  13  created by the arms  14 A and  14 B, which arms form the upper portion of the proximal panel  14 .  
         [0021]    The arms  14 A and  14 B are releasably attached to one another at their removed ends by arms attachment means  22  (such as Velcro®) for engaging and disengaging cover with the ostomy bag A. Attachment means  22  allows for the arms  14 A and  14 B to detach and reattach to form the upper opening  11 , typically circular, allowing for encircling of the neck F of an ostomy bag (See FIG. 1B). Horizontally centered on the upper opening  11  on each arm  14  are, optionally, ties  20  which may be utilized to attach the cover to an ostomy bag, providing that such bag allows for such attachment, such as eyelets D adjacent the flange portion (See FIG. 1A).  
         [0022]    About midway between the top and the bottom of the proximal panel  14 , seams  18 A and  18 B are located along (typically adjacent the lower arc of the upper opening  11 ) the right and left side of the cover providing for the attachment of the proximal panel  14  to the distal panel  12 . These seams extend from about the widest portion of the panels  12 , 14  to the bottom edge of both panels  12 , 14 , typically without sealing the bottom edge, thereby creating a bottom opening  15 . The upper sections of the panels  12 , 14  are connected to one another by means of a top connection  24  (such as Velcro®). This connection is also capable of being released and reattached for access to the bag and for joining the bag to the cover.  
         [0023]    Distal panel  12  faces away from the wearer and may be viewed by others when the cover is in use on the wearer. Thus, FIG. 3 illustrates a possible decorative lace  16  attached to the perimeter of the distal panel  12 . Further depicted is a decorative design lace  16   a  which may be attached across the face of distal panel  12 . Indeed, Applicant provides for a variety of material and decorating for the face of the distal panel, those illustrated being only examples of a wide variety of possible designs.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4, illustrates the optional attachment of a belt  30 , which is typically worn around the waist of the wearer, for support of the cover  10 . This belt  30  may be releasably attached to the cover by means of paired attachments  31   a / 31   b , such as Velcro®. Further, this belt adjusts to different patient body sizes by means of long paired strips of velcro  33   a / 33   b  placed along the removed ends of belt  30 .  
         [0025]    The cover is utilized by inserting the ostomy bag into the cover between between the panels by releasing the top attachment  24  holding the apex of the two panels together. Next, the arms attachment  22  which holds the arms  14 A and  14 B of the proximal panel  14  together is released. This permits the easy easy insertion of a ostomy bag into the cover with the bottom of the bag extending to the bottom opening  15  and the flange of the bag protruding out of the upper opening  11  that is reformed by the attachment of the arm velcro attachments  22 .  
         [0026]    If the neck portion (F) of the ostomy bag contains eyelets, the cover may be secured to these eyelets by means of the ties  20 . Alternatively, if the bag does not contain these eyelets, the bag may be held in place by means of the belt  30  attached to the cover by velcro attachments  31   a / 31   b.    
         [0027]    There are three openings in cover  10 . The arms  14 A and  14 B define upper opening  11 , of the bag which will encircle snugly the neck of the bag allowing the arms to lay between sealing member C and body B. Thus the diameter of this opening d 11  is slightly greater than the diameter of the neck of the ostomy bag.  
         [0028]    The second opening  13  is defined by the upper limit of the two seams  18 A and  18 B and, has a diameter d 13  that is slightly greater than the widest part of the bag.  
         [0029]    The third opening, bottom opening  15  is slightly wider than the mouth of the body of the colostomy bag. It is provided for flushing the ostomy bag without removing the cover.  
         [0030]    Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.