Abstract:
A disposable human urine bag enables a female to urinate while standing erect. The disposable urine bag comprises a bag for receiving urine and means for holding the bag in place enabling a female to urinate while standing erect. The bag further comprises a reinforced perimeter for maintaining the opening while the urine is received therein. When finished, the female places the filled bag into a toilet for disposal therein.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of provisional application Ser. No. 60/701,196 filed Jul. 21, 2005, currently pending, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to methods of and apparatus for disposal of bodily waste, and more particularly to a disposable bag for receiving human urine while standing erect.  
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Public restrooms are often unclean to the point that women in particular are uncomfortable sitting on toilet seats in public restrooms. Heretofore the options available to women for urinating without sitting on toilet seats have been placing tissue or similar items over the seat or squatting/hovering over the toilet. Placing items on the toilet seat does not necessarily prevent receiving germs from the seat, takes additional time to prepare, and can result in clogs due to excessive paper in the drain lines. Squatting prevents receiving germs from the toilet seat but can result in splashing urine on the person&#39;s clothing and on the toilet seat adding to the uncleanliness already present. Further, squatting is uncomfortable, often requires stabilization by holding onto a bar on the wall or the walls themselves, and requires utilization of additional muscles thereby hindering a complete emptying of the bladder.  
         [0004]     The present invention comprises a disposable urine bag which overcomes the foregoing and other difficulties which have long since characterized the prior art. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, a disposable urine bag comprises a bag for receiving urine and means for holding the bag in place enabling a female to urinate while standing erect.  
         [0005]     In accordance with more specific aspects of the invention, a urine bag comprises an opening having a reinforced perimeter therearound for receiving urine therein. A female utilizing the urine bag holds the bag between her legs by handles secured to the perimeter of the bag or incorporated into the upper perimeter of the bag. When urination has been completed the female places the filled bag into a toilet for disposal. Alternative to handles held by a female the bag may comprise tabs having adhesive fasteners which secure to the front and back of the female&#39;s legs.  
         [0006]     By holding the bag between her legs a female is able to urinate while standing erect without the need to hover or squat over a toilet and without the fear of urine splashing onto her legs and clothing. The female is further relieved from having to touch the toilet seat and surrounding areas or place items thereon for sitting. Clogs due to excessive paper or tissue placed over the seat are also prevented.  
         [0007]     The bag is removed from between her legs and placed into a toilet for disposal. All components of the bag are fabricated from biodegradable materials such that there are no risks of excessive clogs or related sewage problems due to disposal of the urine bag. The bag comprises a material which remains fluid impervious during urination, but dissolves when submerged in a volume of water. Alternatively, the bag may comprise a dissolving agent that is either incorporated into the material defining the bag or secured thereto which facilitates dissolving of the bag when placed in the toilet.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the use of a urine bag comprising a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the urine bag shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a urine bag comprising a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a urine bag comprising a third embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a urine bag comprising a fourth embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a urine bag  10  comprising a first embodiment of the present invention. The urine bag  10  comprises an opening  12  having a reinforced perimeter  14  therearound for receiving urine therein. A female  16  using the urine bag  10  holds the bag between her legs  18  by handles  20  on each end of the bag  10 . When urination has been completed the female  16  places the filled bag  10  into a toilet for disposal.  
         [0015]     Referring specifically to  FIG. 2 , the bag  10  comprises a thin biodegradable material which is capable of supporting a volume of urine without penetration therethrough such as a thin polymer, a tissue having a plastic coating on the outer surface thereof, and other suitable materials known to those skilled in the art of sanitary waste disposal products. The bag  10  may comprise a fluid impervious material incorporating a dissolving agent thereby enabling the bag to dissolve when submerged into a volume of water. Alternatively, the bag may be equipped with a pouch  23  containing a quantity of a material that facilitates dissolution of the bag  10 . The handles  20  are not required to prevent penetration of liquids therethrough and may therefore comprise a biodegradable material capable of supporting the bag  10  with a volume of urine therein such as a polymeric material or other suitable materials known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0016]     The reinforced perimeter secures the bag  10  in a open position and prevents the opening  12  of the bag  10  from collapsing when urine is received therein. The perimeter  14  is reinforced by a band  22  which may be fabricated from a stiff paper material such as cardboard or other suitable biodegradable materials known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 3  there is shown the urine bag  10  comprising tabs  24  in place of the handles  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Similar to the handles  20 , the tabs  24  are not required to prevent penetration of liquids therethrough and may therefore comprise a biodegradable material capable of supporting the bag  10  with a volume of urine therein such as a polymeric material or other suitable materials known to those skilled in the art. The tabs  24  comprise fasteners  26  which may be used to secure the tabs  24  to the front and back of the legs  18  when the bag is being inserted therebetween. The fasteners  26  comprise an adhesive which can support the bag  10  on the legs  18  when the bag  10  has a predetermined amount of urine deposited therein. Once the female  16  is through urinating the fasteners  26  are removed from the legs  18  and the bag  10  is deposited into a toilet for disposal in accordance with the procedures described above in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates a urine bag  30  comprising a second embodiment of the invention. Many of the component parts of the urine bag  30  are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of the urine bag  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts are designated in  FIG. 4  with the same reference numerals utilized above in the description of the transport trailer  10 , but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (′) designation.  
         [0019]     The urine bag  30  differs from the urine bag  10  in that apertures  32  providing means for holding the bag  30  in place are located below the perimeter  14 ′ of the bag  30  in lieu of handles  20  or tabs  26 . The bag  30  comprises a thin biodegradable material which is capable of supporting a volume of urine without penetration therethrough such as a thin polymer, a tissue having a plastic coating on the outer surface thereof, and other suitable materials known to those skilled in the art of sanitary waste disposal products. Alternatively, the bag  30  may comprise a fluid impervious material having a dissolving agent embedded therein thereby enabling the bag  30  to dissolve once submerged into a volume of water. The bag  30  may also be provided with the pouch  23  of  FIG. 2  having a dissolving agent contained therein. The distal edge of the bag  30  is rolled down and secured into mating engagement with itself thereby reinforcing the perimeter  14 ′.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 5  there is shown a urine bag  40  which is similar in many respects to the urine bag  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. The urine bag  40  differs from the urine bag  10  in that the urine bag  40  is formed from a length of fabric  42  as opposed to being formed from a polymeric sheet material. The fabric  42  comprising the bag  40  may comprise a flushable fabric material suitable for disposal in a conventional toilet. The fabric  42  may have embedded therein a dissolving agent. Alternatively, the bag  40  may be provided with a pouch similar to the pouch  23  of  FIG. 2  which contains a dissolving agent therein.  
         [0021]     Although the urine bag has been demonstrated and described being used by a female, the bag is equally applicable to all persons and may be utilized by both males and females as well as persons of all ages. In addition to utilizing the bag for urinating in public restrooms, the urine bag may also be used in conjunction with receiving urine for medical tests in laboratories and physicians&#39; offices. The urine bag of the present invention may also be utilized by persons caring for a someone with little or no mobility and persons caring for children.  
         [0022]     Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.