Abstract:
A container for receiving and retaining human fluid waste is provided. The container is comprised of a flexible bag having a containment chamber and a passage chamber, with resealable sealing elements for closing off each chamber. The bag has handle members disposed on the outside of the bag at the location of the passage chamber. A gap is provided between the handle member and the bag for receiving a user&#39;s fingers for a secure grasp.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to flexible containers and bags for receiving and retaining human waste fluid such as urine. There exist many situations in which a person needs to eliminate urine, yet does not have access to appropriate toilet facilities. Hunters are especially familiar with this situation, as they typically spend many hours out in the woods, oftentimes in the same spot. While relieving oneself on the ground in the great outdoors presents a tempting solution, it is unwise to do so. Besides being unsanitary, the deposited urine leaves a lingering, distinct scent which may alert prey to the hunter&#39;s presence. Therefore, the hunter must either leave his blind or stand in search of a remote area to urinate to avoid compromising his hunting spot, or, instead, must sit still and bear the discomfort. 
     Another option is for the hunter to urinate into a container which can safely retain the fluid waste for later disposal. There exist many devices that provide such a container, ranging from flasks or jugs to flexible plastic bags. For any such type of device, however, it is important that it be made convenient to carry and simple to use. Hunters do not like to carry a lot of excess items out to the field, therefore rigid containers are not usually favored. Weather conditions may be cold and a hunter&#39;s hands may be chilled and cramped, therefore the device should be easily opened and closed to minimize spillage or leakage. The device should also be easy to hold and manipulate so that the hunter does not drop the device during usage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     By means of the instant invention there is provided a container for receiving and retaining human fluid waste, such as urine.. The container is comprised of an elongated flexible bag having a containment chamber and a passage chamber. The containment chamber is designed to receive and hold the deposited urine and has a sealing element at a top thereof. The passage chamber is positioned above and connected to the containment chamber. It is designed to act as a sheath to receive the male&#39;s penis to ensure that deposited urine is directed down to the containment chamber. A second sealing element is placed at the top of the passage chamber. Thus there exist two sealing elements to seal off the container to prevent spillage or leakage of stored urine. The sealing elements are adapted to be opened and closed, so that the container can be used repeatedly. Handles are provided at the sides of the passage chamber so that the user can securely grasp the container. The handles are formed as gaps at the edges of the bag to allow the user&#39;s fingers to pass through for an enhanced grip. Another embodiment of the container comprises a single compartment bag in which a liquid absorbing agent is deposited to soak up the deposited fluid. 
    
    
     IN THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of the fluid container. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in side elevation taken along the lines  2 — 2  in FIG. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  3 — 3  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a person grasping the handles of the fluid container. 
     FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation, with a partial break-away view, showing another embodiment of the fluid container. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The fluid waste container of the instant invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral  10  as shown in FIG.  1 . It is comprised of an elongated, flexible bag  12  made of plastic or other suitable material. Optimally, the bag is tubular shaped, but may be of a rectangular or other appropriate shape sufficient to contain a volume of liquid. The bag may be transparent or colored, or may even be ornamented with camouflage design. A containment chamber  14  is formed at a lower end of the bag. This chamber extends a substantial length of bag  12  as it will retain the deposited fluid. A passage chamber  16  is formed at the top end of the bag, and is in fluid communication with containment chamber  14 . An opening  18  is disposed at the top of bag  12  above passage chamber  16 . Bag  12  is provided with a sealing element  20  at opening  18  so that the bag may be opened and closed as use dictates. The sealing element may comprise a rib-and-groove interlocking arrangement, such as that marketed under the trademark ZIP-LOC®, that is disposed on inner surfaces of the bag near top opening  18 . Alternately, a releasable adhesive may be used, or any form of sealing known to those skilled in the art, so long as the bag may be repeatedly opened and closed. Bag  12  is further provided with a second sealing element  22  at the opening  26  between containment chamber  14  and passage chamber  16 . Sealing element  22  is similarly formed from a rib-and-groove interlocking arrangement, or other similarly described releasable seal as that comprising sealing element  20 . Because sealing element  22  is not positioned near the bag opening, and therefore open ends of the bag are not available for grasping, a pair of tabs  24  may be provided on the outside of bag  12  adjacent to sealing element  22 . These tabs may be grasped by the user to pull apart the bag to allow communication between passage chamber  16  and containment chamber  14  in preparation for use. Handle members  28  are formed into the side of bag  12  adjacent to passage chamber  16 . Gaps  30  are disposed between the handle members and the bag so that a user may insert his fingers through the gaps as shown in FIG. 4 for a secure grip on the container bag. Passage chamber  16  has a smaller diameter than containment chamber  14 , which helps act as a sheath for the penis and prevents splashing during urination. 
     Another embodiment of the fluid waste container is shown in FIG.  5  and is generally indicated by the reference numeral  40 . It is comprised of a single containment chamber consisting of elongated bag  42 . An upper portion  52  of bag  42  has a smaller diameter than lower portion  54 , and helps form a sheath for the penis and prevents splashing during urination. A resealable sealing element  44  is placed at top opening  46 . Handle members  48  are formed into bag  42  toward top opening  46 . A liquid absorbing agent  50  may be provided in the bottom of bag  42  to reduce the chance of the retained liquid from splashing out of the waste container. 
     The fluid containment bag  12  may be easily manufactured from a single, elongated bag. Sealing elements  20  and  22  may be heat-pressed onto the interior sides of the bag at the appropriate locations using methods known to those skilled in the art. Elongated slits  30  can be cut into the bag to form handle members  28 . The open edges of the bag walls formed by the cutting of the slits can be closed by heat sealing. Alternately, the containment bag  12  may be formed by aligning two sheets of plastic one on top of the other and heat sealing the perimeter edges to form an elongated bag. The sealing elements  20  and  22  can be positioned in place before the perimeter edge sealing is performed. Tabs  24  can be glued or heat sealed onto the bag at the area of sealing element  22 . 
     Fluid container bag  12  is very simply employed to receive and retain urine waste. It is very effective in reducing the chance for spillage or leakage, and is capable of repeated use. Prior to use, a user will open up containment chamber  14 , such action being facilitated by pulling tabs  24  so that the rib-and-groove elements of sealing element  22  may be separated as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It is not necessary that opening  26  be extended as wide as possible because liquid will naturally trickle down unimpeded into containment chamber  14  through even a narrow slit. Further, the pressure from the flowing fluid will force apart the walls of the bag. Passage chamber  16  is also opened by pulling apart sealing element  20 . The user will hold the bag by inserting his fingers through gaps  30  as shown in FIG.  4 . Handle members  28  provide support so that the bag does not slip from the grasp of the user. The handles can be manipulated to help keep the passage chamber open and also to vary the size of opening  18  at the top of the bag. Passage chamber  16  has a smaller diameter than containment chamber  14  and is dimensioned so as to receive the user&#39;s penis, acting somewhat as a sheath, to ensure that spillage does not occur during urination into the bag. The deposited fluid will pass from the point of entry in the passage chamber  16  and will flow into containment chamber  14 . After use, the bag is re-sealed at  20  and  22 , locking in the fluid in containment chamber  14 . The dual sealing elements further ensure that no fluid is leaked from the bag. The bag may be re-used until containment chamber  14  is substantially full. Handle members  28  enable the filled bag to be easily carried, and also make it possible for hanging the bag from a supporting element such as a hook or branch. The alternate embodiment of fluid container bag  40  is provided as a single compartment, but is equipped with a liquid-absorbing agent  50  to reduce splashing during use and to reduce the fluid waste to a gel or solid to help eliminate leakage. 
     Various changes and modifications may be made within this invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.