Patent Publication Number: US-2010107326-A1

Title: Universal fit bedpan pad

Description:
RELATED INVENTION 
     The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to: “Bedpan Pad,” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/110,749, filed 3 Nov. 2008, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a cushioning system for a bedpan. More specifically, the present invention relates to a universal fit bedpan pad adapted to fit a plurality of bedpan shapes and sizes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Bedpans are frequently used in hospitals, long term care facilities, and in homes by patients who are unable to use conventional toilets. Typically, a bedpan is placed beneath the patient and removed after use by a hospital employee or other caregiver for cleaning and sanitizing. 
       FIG. 1  shows a top view of a conventional bedpan  20 . As shown, bedpan  20  includes a top surface  22  containing an opening into a cavity  24  configured to receive and contain bodily waste. Top surface  22  includes a buttocks-support region  26  and thigh-support regions  28 . A handle  30  positioned between the thigh-support regions  26  facilitates placement and removal of bedpan  20  beneath a user. 
     Buttocks-support region  26  is relatively shallow, whereas a raised sidewall  32  at thigh-support regions  28  results in bedpan  20  increasing in height at thigh-support regions  28  relative to the shallow buttocks-support region  26 . The increased height at thigh-support regions  28  relative to buttocks-support region  26  may also be visualized in  FIG. 6 . The configuration of buttocks-support region  26  allows the user to slide his or her thighs over buttocks-support region  26  to rest them on thigh-support regions  28 . The relatively shallow configuration of buttocks-support region permits maneuverability and less lifting by the user, and the increased height of bedpan  20  at thigh-support regions  28  accommodates the natural tendency for the legs to remain slightly elevated and slanted when the lower back is raised such as when the user is seated on buttocks-support region  26  of bedpan  20 . 
     Thigh-support regions  28  of a conventional bedpan, exemplified by bedpan  20 , are typically relatively narrow. When a user&#39;s thighs rest on the relatively narrow thigh-support regions  28 , the weight of the user can cause the flesh on the user&#39;s thighs to press into and wrap around thigh-support regions  26  at inner and outer top edges  34  and  36 , respectively, of sidewall  32 . Accordingly, bedpan  20  can feel hard, cold, and painful on the flesh of the user. For those patients who are especially ill or in a weakened state, a bedpan can cause skin tears, aggravate existing skin tears, or cause other injuries. Due to the discomfort and potential for injury, some individuals would rather use diapers in lieu of a bedpan. Unfortunately, there is a greater risk of urinary tract infections and other types of infections from urine and/or solid waste sitting against the skin inside a diaper. 
     Therefore what is needed is a cushioning system for a bedpan that enables a user to comfortably use the bedpan, that can limit user injury, that is inexpensive, and that is sanitary. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the Figures, and: 
         FIG. 1  shows a top view of a conventional bedpan; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective, bottom view of a universal fit bedpan pad in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of the bedpan pad of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a top view of the bedpan pad being installed on a bedpan; 
         FIG. 5  shows a top view of the bedpan with the bedpan pad fully engaged on the bedpan; 
         FIG. 6  shows a side view of the bedpan with the bedpan pad fully engaged on the bedpan; and 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of a bedpan pad in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the invention comprise a universal fit bedpan pad. The bedpan pad is cushioned for user comfort and is deformable to accommodate various sizes and shapes of bedpans. The bedpan pad can be readily and inexpensively constructed, and can be easily installed on a variety of bedpans. As such, it can be made available for use in hospitals, care facilities, and in homes. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-3 ,  FIG. 2  shows a perspective, bottom view of a universal fit bedpan pad  40  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of the bedpan pad  40 . Bedpan pad  40  generally includes an elongated cushion  42 , a fastener mechanism  44  formed in cushion  42 , and a cover  46  at least partially enclosing cushion  42 . 
     In an embodiment, elongated cushion  42  is a hollow tubular member  48  having a sidewall  50  of a suitable thickness  54 , and an interior cavity  56  extending along a length  58  of hollow tubular member  48 . When elongated cushion  42  is not installed on a bedpan, cushion  42  may be relatively straight or only slightly arched. However, elongated cushion  42  is selectively bendable along length  58  of cushion  42  so that elongated cushion  42  may be bent or wrapped around any of a multitude of shapes and sizes of bedpans. Elongated cushion  42  may be formed from a compressible padding material such as polyurethane, foam, cotton fiber, or any other suitable existing or developing padding material. 
     Fastener mechanism  44  formed in cushion  42  includes an opening  60  extending along length  58  of hollow tubular member  48 . In an embodiment, opening  60  is a lengthwise or longitudinal slit extending through sidewall  50  to expose interior cavity  56  of elongated cushion  42 . As will be explained in greater detail below, cushion  42  may be installed on bedpan  20  ( FIG. 1 ) via opening  60  so that cushion  42  wraps around the opposing inner and outer top edges  34  and  36 , respectively, ( FIG. 1 ) of thigh-support regions  28  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     The shape of hollow tubular member  48  and the configuration of fastener mechanism  44  enable a simple pressure fit and retention of bedpan pad  40  on bedpan  20  for ready installation and removal. However, as illustrated, bedpan pad  40  may optionally further include one or more connectors  62  attached to cushion  42 . For example, bedpan pad  20  may be provided with connectors  62  formed from a pressure sensitive adhesive material suitably positioned on sidewall  50  in interior cavity  56  of elongated cushion  42 . Connectors  62 , in the form of pressure sensitive adhesive material may be protected by a strip of sheet material. When bedpan pad  20  is to be used, this shielding material is removed to expose the adhesive surface of connectors  62 . A caregiver can then properly position bedpan pan  20  on thigh-support regions  28  ( FIG. 1 ) so that connectors  62  couple to thigh-support regions  28  to retain bedpan pad  20  in place. Although connectors  62  of pressure sensitive adhesive material are mentioned herein, other connectors may alternatively be implemented such as snaps, hook and loop, elastic, and so forth. 
     As mentioned previously, cushion  42  is bendable to accommodate a variety of shapes and sizes of bedpans. As elongated cushion  42  bends to adapt to a particular size and shape of any of a variety of bedpans, cushion  42  can pucker and cause an uncomfortable bump or ridge at the locations of greatest curvature. Accordingly, hollow tubular member  48  includes at least one notch  64  extending through a portion of hollow tubular member  48  in order to prevent this puckering of cushioning material. In the illustrated embodiment, hollow tubular member  48  of elongated cushion  42  includes two arch-shaped, or arcuate, notches  64  whose widest portion begin at opening  60  and extend through sidewall  50 . Thus, notches  64  are located on an interior curvature side  66  (see also  FIG. 4 ) of elongated cushion  42 . 
     In an embodiment, one notch  64  may be located a distance  68  from a first end  70  of elongated cushion  42 , and another notch  64  may be located the same distance  68  from a second end  72  of elongated cushion  42 . Distance  68  may be approximately one third of length  58 . In effect, notches  64  constitute a removal of material in sidewall  50  at the locations of greatest curvature of the bedpan so that as elongated cushion  42  bends inwardly, notches close, or get smaller. Furthermore, the arched shape of notches  64  results in stronger material properties that are less likely to tear or kink than, for example, triangular notches having suddenly transitioning corners. 
     Cover  46  may be a thin plastic film such as thin polyethylene, polyvinylchloride polyvinylacetate, cellophane, and so forth that largely encloses those portions of elongated cushion  42  that come into contact with the user. Cover  46  may be moisture resistant and/or can have antimicrobial properties to provide the user with a clean and sanitary surface that will come into contact with their skin. In an embodiment, cover  46  may be a separate material that is wrapped and glued, welded, or otherwise fastened to the exterior surfaces of elongated cushion  42 . In another embodiment, elongated cushion  42  may simply be coated with an appropriate gel material that subsequently solidifies around all surfaces of elongated cushion  42  to form cover  46 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that cover  46  may include a variety of materials applied using a variety of techniques in order to provide a moisture resistant and/or antimicrobial surface of bedpan pad  40  that will come into contact with the user&#39;s skin when it is installed on a bedpan. 
       FIG. 4  shows a top view of the bedpan pad  40  being installed on bedpan  20 . The conventional bedpan  20  is provided for illustrative purposes to in order to depict the use of bedpan pad  40 . However, it bears repeating that the particular configuration of bedpan pad  40  enables its use on a multiple shapes and sizes of a plurality of bedpans. Elongated cushion  42  of bedpan pad  40  is bent to fit the curvature of bedpan  20 . Opening  60  of fastening mechanism  44  is oriented over and is compelled into engagement with raised sidewall  32  of bedpan  20  at thigh-support regions  28  so that opposing inner and outer top edges  34  and  36  are positioned within interior cavity  56  ( FIG. 3 ) of elongated cushion. 
       FIG. 5  shows a top view of bedpan  20  with bedpan pad  40  fully engaged on bedpan  20 . When bedpan pad  40  is fully engaged on bedpan  20 , elongated cushion  42  covers thigh-support regions  28  ( FIG. 1 ) and wraps around inner and outer top edges  34  and  36  ( FIG. 1 ) of raised sidewall  32  of bedpan  20 . Furthermore, notches  64  on interior curvature  66  of elongated cushion  42  close, or get smaller, to adapt to the curvature of bedpan  20 , thereby preventing material bunching or puckering that might otherwise occur when bedpan pad  40  is engaged on bedpan  20 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a side view of bedpan  20  with bedpan pad  40  fully engaged on bedpan  20 .  FIG. 6  reveals the relatively shallow buttocks-support region  26  and the raised sidewall  32  at thigh-support regions  28  that results in the increasing height of bedpan  20  at thigh-support regions. Again, this configuration allows the user to slide his or her thighs over buttocks-support region  26  to rest them on thigh-support regions  28  that are now cushioned by bedpan pad  40 . The wrap-around structure of bedpan pad  40  increases user comfort by preventing the flesh on the user&#39;s thighs from pressing into and wrapping around thigh-support regions  26  at inner and outer top edges  34  and  36 , respectively, ( FIG. 1 ) of sidewall  32 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of a bedpan pad  74  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. Bedpan pad  74  includes elongated cushion  42  and fastening mechanism  44  ( FIG. 2 ) as discussed in detail above. Bedpan pad  74  further includes a cover  76  that fully encloses elongated cushion  42 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , cover  76  is formed as a continuous hollow structure shaped to include fastener mechanism  44  ( FIG. 2 ). That is, the continuous hollow structure may be a C-shaped or U-shaped construct that includes a sealed internal cavity  78  and an exterior surface  80 . Internal cavity  78  may be filled with a compressible fluid material or gel that is injected into internal cavity  78  to form elongated cushion  42 . In alternative embodiments, internal cavity  78  of cover  76  may be filled with a padding or wadding material, foamed material in granular form, a cellulosic padding material such as that commonly used for disposable materials, and so forth. 
     In summary, embodiments of the invention entail a universal fit bedpan pad that is cushioned for user comfort and is bendable to accommodate the multiple shapes and sizes of a plurality of bedpans. The bedpan pad wraps around opposing edges of thigh-support regions in order to protect the flesh of the user. In addition, the bedpan pad includes notches, or regions of material absence, so that the bedpan pad does not pucker or bunch up at the locations on the bedpan of greatest curvature. The cushioned nature of the bedpan pan is comfortable for to use and can limit injuries, and/or limit aggravation to existing injuries, such as skin tears. Thus, individuals may be more willing to use a bedpan, rather than the less sanitary diapers. In addition, the bedpan pad can be readily and inexpensively constructed, and can be easily installed on a variety of bedpans. As such, it can be made available for use in hospitals, care facilities, and in homes. 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims. For example, although the elongated cushion is described as a hollow tubular structure having a slit or opening formed through it, the cushion may alternatively be formed as a U-shaped or C-shaped molded structure.