Patent Publication Number: US-2011054426-A1

Title: Female portable urinary collection device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/238,909 filed Sep. 1, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a female portable urinary collection device that gives women the ability to urinate anywhere. 
     An increasing number of women are spending a greater amount of time outdoors. As a result, women are frequently left without options or very limited options when needing to urinate. Unfortunately, the complicated shape of the female genital area makes it difficult to provide a non-leaking seal between the female urinary outer part and any urinary device. 
     In addition, toilet seats in public restrooms are often dirty or otherwise in an unsanitary condition. Accordingly, many women are forced to bend above the toilet seat to avoid contact with the dirty seat. It is very difficult for women to bend and urinate simultaneously. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a portable female urinary device that can provide a leak-free sealing engagement with the female genital area, while the female is in a standing, lying or sitting position. In addition, there is a need for a portable female urinary device for women who are partially disabled for instance in a wheel chair or elderly women that get up frequently to urinate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, the portable urinary device comprises a contour funnel; a tube having a first end connected to the contour funnel and a second end connected to a collection pouch; the contour funnel comprises an outer surface that conforms to a contour of a user genital anatomical surface. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the portable urinary device comprises a contour funnel; a tube having a first end connected to the contour funnel and a second end connected to the collection pouch; a collection pouch; and a check valve connected between the second end of the tube and the collection pouch. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the portable urinary device comprises a contour funnel having an outer surface that conforms to a contour of a user genital anatomical surface; a tube having a first end connected to the contour funnel and a second end connected to a collection pouch; a one-way valve connected to the second end of the tube and the collection pouch; and a liner located around an outer surface of the contour funnel. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective front view of the female portable urinary device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view of the female portable urinary device of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a detailed section view of a top portion of the female portable urinary device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a detailed section view of a valve, in a closed position, of the female portable urinary device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a detailed section view the valve, in an open position with fluid flowing there through, of the female portable urinary device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a detailed section view of the collection pouch of the female urinary device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
     Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a female portable urinary device that gives women the ability to urinate anytime. 
       FIGS. 1-2  show one embodiment of the present invention on which the female portable urinary device  10  includes a contour funnel  12 ; a tube  14  connected to the contour funnel  12 , and a collection pouch  18 . In addition,  FIG. 1  shows a valve  16  to connect and disconnect the tube  14  to the collection pouch  18 . 
     The contour funnel  12  may be geometrically molded to conform to the genital anatomy of the user. In one embodiment, the contour funnel  12  may have the shape of the male genital anatomy. In one embodiment, the contour funnel  12  may have the shape of the female genital anatomy. The contour funnel  12  may be formed of a liquid impermeable material that provides an inexpensive and effective means for collecting the urine. In one embodiment, the contour funnel  12  may be made of a molded plastic. In one embodiment, the contour funnel  12  may be made of silicone. The contour funnel  12  may have a sealing surface that conforms to the genital-urinary area of the user. In one embodiment, the contour funnel  12  may have a pear shape. In one embodiment, one end of the contour funnel  12  may be wider than the other end of the contour funnel  12 . In one embodiment, the contour funnel  12  may be a cup-shaped contour funnel having a liner  26  attached to the entire rim of the contour funnel  12 . The liner  26  may be the part of the contour funnel  12  that actually touches the user&#39;s skin. The liner  26  may be made of a flexible and soft material. In one embodiment, the liner  26  may be made of silicone. The user may hold the liner  26  tightly against the genital part to form a tight seal and prevent the escape of fluid (see  FIG. 6 ) from the contour funnel  12 . In one embodiment, the fluid may be urine. 
     In one embodiment, at least one air vent  24  may be placed in the wall of the contour funnel  12 . The air vents  24  may help create the tight seal. 
       FIG. 3  shows an opening  28  located at the bottom of the contour funnel  12  to connect to the tube  14 . The contour funnel  12  may collect the fluid  20  immediately as it leaves the body, funneling the fluid to the tube  14 . The tube  14  may transport the fluid  20  from the contour funnel  12  to the collection pouch  18 . The tube  14  may be made of a soft flexible material. The length of the tube  14  may depend on the user&#39;s requirement. In one embodiment, the length of the tube  14  may be between approximately 4 to 12 inches. 
     In one embodiment, the female portable urinary device  10  may not include the tube  14 . In that embodiment, the contour funnel  12  may be directly connected to the valve  16 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the valve  16  that may be located between one end of the tube  14  and the collection pouch  18 . The valve  16  may prevent the fluid  20  from re-entering the tube  14 . In addition, the valve  16  may prevent leakage of the fluid  20  from the collection pouch  18 . In one embodiment, the valve  16  may be a check valve having a ball seal assembly  22 . In one embodiment, the valve  16  may include a connector on each end. One of the connectors of the valve  16  may connect to the tube  14  or directly to the contour funnel  12 . The other connector of the valve  16  may connect to the collection pouch. In one embodiment, the valve  16  may allow the fluid to flow in only one direction. In one embodiment, the valve  16  may allow the fluid to flow in both directions. On one embodiment, the connectors may be female or male connectors. In one embodiment, the valve  16  may have female connectors. In one embodiment, the valve  16  may have male connectors. 
     The collection pouch  18  may be made of a waterproof material. In one embodiment, the collection pouch  18  may be made of plastic or vinyl. In one embodiment, the collection pouch  18  may include a connector that interconnect with one of the connectors of the valve  16 . In one embodiment, the collection pouch  18  may be removable. In one embodiment, the collection pouch  18  may include an absorbent material to solidify the urine. In one embodiment, the collection pouch  18  may have a lining to prevent leaks. In one embodiment, the collection pouch  18  may have a double lining. 
     In one embodiment, the portable female urinary device  10  may include a fastening device that allows the user to secure the device  10  onto the body; thus the hands of the user may be free. In one embodiment, the fastening device may be straps, belts, clips, or pins. 
     The user may position the contour funnel  12  over the urinary human part and a seal may be created. The user may proceed to urinate into the contour funnel  12  which will direct the fluid  20  through the opening  28  and then down the tube  14  passing through the valve  16  and then into the collection pouch  18 . 
     After the fluid  20  has been collected into the collection pouch  18 , the user may disconnect the collection pouch  18  from the tube  14 . 
     In one embodiment, the collection pouch  18  may be reusable. In one embodiment, the collection pouch  18  may be disposable. In one embodiment, the collection pouch may have a square, round, triangular, cylindrical, or cube shape. In one embodiment, the collection pouch  18  may be a bag. In one embodiment the collection pouch may be approximately 3 inches×5 inches in a rectangular shape. 
     In one embodiment, the portable female urinary device  10  may not include the collection pouch  18 ; thus, the fluid  20  may flow freely to the toilet. 
     In one embodiment, the contour funnel  12  may be shaped to contour a male genital area. 
     The size and the shape of the contour funnel  12 , the tube  14 , the valve  16 , and the collection pouch  18  may depend on the user&#39;s gender and age. 
     In one embodiment, the female portable urinary device  10  of the present invention may be used in the medical field to relieve patients before receiving a catheter. In one embodiment, the device  10  may be used by personnel in the military field. 
     The portable urinary device  10  of the present invention may allow the user to urinate in a standing and/or sitting position and collect the fluid without being visible to onlookers. 
     In one embodiment, the portable urinary device  10  of the present invention may include a carrying case to easily carry the portable urinary device  10 . 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.