Patent Publication Number: US-2021186742-A1

Title: Using wicking material to collect liquid for transport

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/171,968, filed on 2 Jun. 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein, in its entirety, by this reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally pertains to using wicking material to collect liquid for transport and is particularly directed to a container that can be used to so collect a liquid, such as urine, from the body of a person or an animal in such a manner that the liquid can be readily transported from the container as the liquid is being collected, and is also directed to a wicking material applicator for use with such a container. 
     A container for collecting urine and transporting the collected urine voided from a person&#39;s body is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,287,508 to Robert A. Sanchez. The container described in said patent is made of plastic or some other material and defines a chamber for collecting urine. The container is closed, except for having an array of openings through which urine can be drawn into the chamber for collection and at least one outlet port through which urine can be drawn away from the chamber by a transport tube inserted into the chamber. The exterior of the container is configured for enabling a moisture-wicking article to be secured over the array of openings and for enabling the secured moisture-wicking article to be disposed in contact with the region of a female body surrounding the urethral opening. A vacuum pump is attached to the transport tube in order to create a partial vacuum in the chamber in order to draw urine into the chamber for collection of the urine and in order to draw the collected urine away from the chamber. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a container for collecting liquid for transport, comprising: a shell having a port adapted for receiving tubing and configured to define a chamber that has a window in an exterior surface of the shell, with the window being so positioned that when a wicking material, which is adapted to be applied against a particular source of moisture and which is so dimensioned that when the wicking material is received within the shell and applied through the window to the particular source of moisture, the shell is at least partially closed so that when tubing is inserted through the port into the shell chamber and the shell is otherwise closed a partial vacuum can be created within the shell chamber to draw moisture into the shell chamber through the wicking material for collection as a liquid within the shell chamber for transport from the shell chamber via the tubing. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the above-described container is combined with a wicking material applicator that is adapted for so supporting the wicking material that the wicking material can be received within the shell and applied through the window against the particular source of moisture. 
     The invention also provides a wicking material applicator for use with a container for collecting liquid for transport that comprises: a shell having a port adapted for receiving tubing and configured to define a chamber that has a window in an exterior surface of the shell, with the window being so positioned that when a wicking material, which is adapted to be applied against a particular source of moisture and which is so dimensioned that when the wicking material is received within the shell and applied through the window to the particular source of moisture, the shell is at least partially closed so that when tubing is inserted through the port into the shell chamber and the shell is otherwise closed a partial vacuum can be created within the shell chamber to draw moisture into the shell chamber through the wicking material for collection as a liquid within the shell chamber for transport from the shell chamber via the tubing, wherein the wicking material applicator is adapted for so supporting the wicking material that the wicking material can be received within the shell and applied through the window against the particular source of moisture 
     The invention provides an improved container and an improved wicking material applicator that are particularly configured and adapted for applying the wicking material against a particular source of moisture. 
     The invention is particularly useful for persons or animals during various circumstances. These circumstances include a condition such as incontinence or a disability that limits or impairs mobility. These circumstances also include restricted travel conditions, such as sometimes experienced by pilots, drivers, workers in hazardous areas, etc. These circumstances further include collection of urine for monitoring purposes or clinical testing. 
     Additional features of the invention are described with reference to the detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a container according to the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the embodiment of the container shown in  FIG. 1   
         FIG. 3  is a view of an exemplary embodiment of a sheet of material having openings included in an exemplary embodiment of a wicking material applicator according to the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a view of the exemplary embodiment of a wicking material applicator according to the invention 
         FIG. 5  is a view of the wicking material applicator shown in  FIG. 4  with wicking material disposed about the applicator. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of a container  10  according to the invention includes a shell  12  having a port  14  that is adapted for receiving tubing (not shown). The shell  12  is configured to define a chamber  18  that has a window  20  in an exterior surface of the shell  12 . 
     The window  20  is so positioned that when a wicking material  24 , which is adapted to be applied against a particular source of moisture (not shown), and which is so dimensioned that when the wicking material  24  is received within the shell  12  and applied through the window  20  to the particular source of moisture, the shell  12  is at least partially closed so that when tubing is inserted through the port  14  into the shell chamber  18  and the shell  12  is otherwise closed a partial vacuum can be created within the shell chamber  18  to draw moisture into the shell chamber  18  through the wicking material  24  for collection as a liquid within the shell chamber  18  for transport from the shell chamber  18  via the tubing. 
     In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the shell  12  is made of a compliant impermeable plastic material, such as silicone. 
     In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the portion of the shell  12  adjacent the window  20  is arched so that the wicking material can be better applied against the region of a female body surrounding the urethral opening. 
     An exemplary embodiment of a wicking material applicator  28  is described with reference to  FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 . The applicator  28  includes material having symmetrical or non-symmetrical openings and formed to define an extended hollow framework about which the wicking material can be, or is, disposed. In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , material  30 , such as porous spun plastic or plastic netting material, having openings  32 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , is formed to define an extended hollow framework  34 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , about which framework  34  wicking material  24  can be, or is, disposed, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Preferably, the material  30  is flexible polypropylene. In other embodiments, the material is nylon, polyester, some other plastic or a natural material. 
     Because the preferred framework  34  is flexible, the wicking material applicator  28  is compliant and is dimensioned accordingly to fit snuggly within the shell chamber  18  so that the wicking material can be pressed through the window  20  against the particular source of moisture. 
     An exemplary method of assembling a wicking material applicator  28  within the chamber  18  of the shell includes the steps of: 
     (a) disposing a wicking material  24 , such as tubular gauze, about a hollow plastic pipe (not shown); 
     (b) inserting the pipe bearing the wicking material  24  into the shell chamber  18  through the port  14  in one end of the shell whereupon the wicking material  24  is positioned so that the wicking material  24  can be applied through the window  20  against a particular source of moisture; 
     (c) forming a wicking material applicator  28  from material having symmetrical or non-symmetrical openings to define the extended hollow framework  34  that is shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
     (d) inserting the extended hollow framework  34  through the pipe so that the framework  34  is coextensive with the wicking material  24 ; and 
     (e) removing the pipe from the shell chamber  18  while simultaneously grasping both the wicking material  24  and the extended hollow framework so that the wicking material  24  is disposed about the extended hollow framework  34  to provide an assembled a wicking material applicator  28  that is so positioned that the wicking material  24  can be applied through the window  20  against a particular source of moisture. 
     Alternatively, the wicking material applicator  28  is assembled outside of the shell chamber  18  and is then positioned within the shell chamber by inserting the applicator  28  through the window  20  and flexing the shell  12  around and over the sides of the wicking material applicator  28 . 
     Preferably, the method of assembling the applicator  28  outside the shell chamber  18  includes the steps of 
     (a) disposing a wicking material  24 , such as tubular gauze, about a hollow plastic pipe (not shown); 
     (b) flexing a sheet of the flexible material  30  to define the extended hollow framework  34  that is shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
     (c) inserting the extended hollow framework  34  through the pipe so that the framework  34  is coextensive with the wicking material  24 ; 
     (d) removing the pipe while simultaneously grasping both the wicking material  24  and the extended hollow framework  34  so that the wicking material  24  is disposed about the extended hollow framework  34 ; and 
     (e) while the wicking material  24  is disposed about the extended hollow framework  34 , cutting a section of the so-disposed wicking material  24  to the desired length to thereby provide an assembled a wicking material applicator  28 . 
     In an alternative method of assembling the applicator  28  outside the shell chamber  18 , wicking material such as rolled gauze is applied to a sheet of material having openings and attached thereto with an adhesive or by compression of a frame around the perimeter of the sheet. Assembly of the wicking material applicator is then completed by shaping the sheet having the wicking material applied thereto into an extended hollow framework and maintaining the shape of extended hollow framework with adhesive or adhesive tape. Alternatively, the shape of the extended hollow framework is maintained due to compression when inserted into the shell  12 . 
     Different embodiments of a container for a urine collection device according to the invention are configured for use by both adult and pediatric applications, and for veterinary applications involving animals of different species and sizes. 
     The benefits specifically stated herein do not necessarily apply to every conceivable embodiment of the present invention. Further, such stated benefits of the present invention are only examples and should not be construed as the only benefits of the present invention. 
     While the above description contains much specificity, these specifics are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the present invention, but rather as examples of the embodiments described herein. Other variations are possible and the scope of the present invention should be determined not by the embodiments described herein but rather by the claims and their legal equivalents.