Patent Publication Number: US-6210382-B1

Title: Emesis device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to devices for collecting and containing vomit when persons have discharged the contents of their stomach through their mouths. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     When people are ill with intestinal problems, have ingested substances to which they are allergic or which are harmful, have consumed excessive quantities of alcoholic beverages, or have motion sickness, they often have an uncontrollable, often violent, vomiting reaction. Such symptoms call for the use of some type of container to hold the vomited material. Even with many types of containers normally used for this purpose, the result is still often soiled clothing and surroundings. Caretakers or companions of the affected persons are themselves often soiled, especially as they attempt to clean up and provide assistance, thus resulting in additional labor for caretakers and increased costs for labor and cleaning services. 
     Although many types of devices have been used for this purpose, there are some containers particularly designed for this purpose. The two most common are the standard, air-sickness backs carried by most airlines and the emesis basin. The airsickness bag, while serving the basic purpose is not really sturdy enough for prolonged or repeated use, and is often difficult to hold and use so that there is no spillage due to its shape and flexibility. 
     A standard emesis basin is shown in FIG.  1 . Generally, it is made of plastic and comprises a shallow elongated bowl originally designed to hold sputum or phlegm and not for large quantities of material. For people who have consumed much food or beverage and are very sick, the prior basin does not provide sufficient capacity, does not provide a means to keep the vomit from splashing out of the container, and is difficult to hold for an extended period. Further, although the front of the basin is gently indented to conform roughly to a person&#39;s lower face, the shape of the opening is narrow, and it is difficult to aim to emitted material so that it does not miss the container, at least in part. Th emesis basin is also relatively narrow bottomed, increasing the likelihood of inadvertent spillage of the contents. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an emesis device which is sufficiently large for the intended purpose, is shaped to reduce splashing, missing of the opening and spillage, and has means of assisting in gripping of the device. 
     Other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent from the following disclosure and appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention herein is an emesis device. The device comprises a container which has an upward opening having a front surrounding edge and front wall having a shape that accommodates placement of a human face in the opening, a handle on the back for carrying the container, indentations on the front and back for gripping the container; and a splash guard along the back edge. The container is of a size and shape to reduce splashing and reduce the likelihood of missing of the opening and of spillage. The container has means of assisting in holding of the device, preferably including a handle and indentations on the container. 
     Other objects and features of the inventions will be more fully apparent from the following disclosure and appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art emesis basin. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of a device of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective back view of a preferred embodiment of the device of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the device of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing an alternative embodiment of the device of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a top planar view of the device of the invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom planar view of the device of the invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS THEREOF 
     The present invention is an emesis device. Generally, the container portion of the device has an upward opening having a surrounding edge with a shape that accommodates placement of a human face in the opening, a handle on the back for carrying the container, indentations on the front and back for gripping the container; and a splash guard along the back edge. The device is of a size and shape to reduce splashing and reduce the likelihood of missing of the opening and of spillage. The device has means of assisting in gripping of the device, preferably including a handle and indentations on the container. 
     Referring in greater detail to the Figures, perspective views of the preferred embodiment are shown in FIGS. 2-3 and additional views are shown in FIGS. 4-8. The device of the invention comprises a container  22  having a base  24  and an upwardly extending wall  26  comprising a front  28 , a back  30 , and two ends  32 . The wall has an upward opening  34  with an edge  36 , comprising a back edge, surrounding the opening. 
     Preferably the wall  26  has a shape that accommodates placement of a human face in the opening. Thus, in the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG.  2  and FIGS. 4-5, the front and the front surrounding edge have an outward contour  38  for placement of a lower face of a person. The central portion of the front wall preferably slopes away from the back wall so that the front of the opening is in a rounded “V”-shape  40  as shown in FIG.  2  and FIG. 8, where a person&#39;s jaw may be placed. 
     The container  22  has a handle  42 , preferably on the back  30 , so that the container may be easily carried. The handle  42  may be any shape, size and design. The primary types of handle that is preferred is either a handle which handle extends downward from near the back edge as shown in FIG. 4 with an unattached lower end or a handle as shown in FIG. 5 which forms a closed loop on the back of the container. 
     Preferably, although not required, on both the front and back of the container are means for gripping the container. These are most preferably elongated vertical indentations  44  on the front and on the back near each end of the container, but may have any other shape for gripping as would be clear to one in the art. Alternatively, there may be other types of indentation or other surface feature that assists in gripping, for example, a bumpy or textured surface that makes it easier to hold on to the container. 
     A very important feature of the device of the invention is a splash guard  46 . This guard  46  preferably extends along the back edge, and most preferably extends around the edge from the outward contour near one end, around the back edge and to the outward contour on the other end as shown in FIG.  2  and FIG.  6 . The splash guard  46  preferably extends at least slightly over the opening  34 . For example, the portion of the splash guard along the back edge curves forward and extends partially over the opening from the back edge toward the front. Similarly, when the splash guard  46  extends around the ends these portions of the splash guard also preferably are angled inward over the opening. In a preferred embodiment, the splash guard  46  extends forward at an angle of about 125 degrees from the rear wall and at about an angle of 55 degrees from horizontal. The length of the preferred splash guard is preferably less than about 10-12 cm, and is most preferably approximately the same as the width of the basin at its widest point, for example, about 6-8 cm. 
     The device may be shaped so that it is stackable with other identical emesis devices, for example, by having a handle that is removable and designing the shape and taper of the sides for this purpose. 
     The device may be made of any material suitable for forming containers for holding liquids, such as sturdy plastics, metal and the like, and most preferably is made of a disposable substance. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that numerous variations, modifications, and embodiments are possible, and accordingly , all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the invention.