Abstract:
The present invention provides a disposable waste container for us in ambulances, planes, sick bays, hospitals, or in other environments where contamination is a risk. The container comprises a bag of appropriate material and a collar extending around the opening of the bag which may serve itself as part of the sealing mechanism. Also the sidewalls of the bag may extend over and under the collar. This invention was designed to contain bodily fluids or human waste in a more hygienic manner over the prior art.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a waste collection containers and in particular to containers which collect human excrement such as vomit, urine and/or faeces in temporary holding devices before permanent disposal. Hereinafter, the invention will be described with reference to this application; however, it will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted this particular field of use. 
       COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0002]    This document is subject to copyright. The reproduction, communication and distribution of this document is not permitted without prior consent from the copyright owner, other than as permitted under section 226 of the Patents Act 1990. 
       PROBLEMS OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0003]    Known waste containers include vomit bags, urine bottles and bed pans. All known waste containers described below share the following common shortcomings; therefore, the shortcomings will be described with regard to vomit bags by way of example but are inclusive of all excrement (vomit, urine and faeces) collection devices. 
         [0004]    Common methods used to capture vomit in crowded and confined environments such as hospitals, clinics, transportation vehicles such as aeroplanes, and sporting environments include the following:
       1. Disposable bags, such as plastic and paper bags, suffer the disadvantage that they are not able to be sealed reversibly, quickly or efficiently to provide a leak-proof and odourless containment.   2. Dishes, such as kidney shaped dishes, suffer the disadvantage that they are prone to spillage, particularly if the individual is heaving during the vomiting and does not limit the odour or seal the waste from the environment.       
 
         [0007]    The smell of vomit can trigger vomiting in people located in the immediate surrounds. Vomit waste needs to be disposed of cleanly and quickly, without contaminating the environment. 
         [0008]    Patented vomit/waste collection devices typically have the following problems:
       1. the collection device lacks a means for sealing the collection bag or dish as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,990,145 and 7,029,463 and US Patent Application 20030116575;   2. the collection device is too large and bulky for use in crowded locations as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,332, 5,822,806; or   3. the collection device requires the addition of sealing means to be added independently to the collection means as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,277, which involves an enclosable bag being laid within a waste collection kidney dish.       
 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,039 is a commonly known vomit/waste collection system with an annular neck. In practice this only partially seals the waste bag at the neck of the bag, leaving the contaminated mouth of the bag exterior to the sealing join and consequently exposed to contaminate the surrounding environment. The content of the vomit/waste bag in practice seals at a point that leaves a section of the vomit/waste bag unsealed. Further, the sealing device is prone to leakage and is not air tight. 
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    An object of the present invention is to provide disposable Waste Containers for use in ambulances, planes, sick bays, hospitals, or in other environments where contamination is a risk. The invention can sealingly contain vomit and/or other human waste in a more hygienic manner than the prior art commonly used. The Waste Container is enabled to minimise contamination of the surrounding air and physical environment by:
       1. sealing all contaminated waste within the container; and   2. decreasing the risk of leakage of waste from the container.       
 
         [0016]    A further object of the present invention is to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative. 
         [0017]    According to the invention, there is provided a Waste Container for receiving excrement including:
       a) a Waste Collection Bag having a closed bottom and an open top with sidewalls extending from said bottom and terminating in said top defining an opening;   b) a sealing means located on said upper portion of said sidewalls substantially near to said Bag&#39;s said top, such that said open top can be closed with sealing engagement of said sidewalls so as to sealingly enclose excrement within said Bag; and   c) a Collar extending around the upper portion of said sidewalls of said Waste Collection Bag;   such that said sidewalls are enabled to:
           I. pass through and over said Collar; and   II. fold back under said Collar,   
           to house said upper portion of said sidewalls and said top of said Waste Collection Bag.       
 
         [0025]    According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a Waste Container for receiving excrement including:
       a) a Waste Collection Bag having:
           i. a closed bottom;   ii. an open top, wherein said top defines an opening; and   iii. one or more sidewalls, wherein said sidewall(s) extend(s) from said bottom and terminate(s) in said top;   
           b) a Collar attached at an upper portion of said sidewall(s), wherein:
           i. said Collar includes a closing means;   ii. said closing means enables said Waste Collection Bag to be sealingly closed to prevent leakage of content.   
               
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0033]    A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0034]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a commonly used background art Waste Container unsealed; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a commonly used background art Waste Container, sealed at the neck of the Waste Container, below the Collar; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a Waste Container according to the invention, illustrating a plastic bag with a zip seal mechanism folded over the Collar and extending past the Collar towards the mid-section of the Waste Container; 
           [0037]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a Waste Container according to the invention, illustrating the Waste Container&#39;s extension tucked under, and held within, the Collar&#39;s inner circumference; 
           [0038]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a Waste Container according to the invention, illustrating how the Collar has been snapped along breakage perforations to release the Waste Container&#39;s extension to expand the Waste Collection Bag; 
           [0039]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a used Waste Container according to the invention, illustrating how the Waste Container is sealed at its mouth such that the potentially contaminated inner surface of the Waste Container is sealed within the enclosed locking mechanism, ready for disposal; 
           [0040]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the Collar according to the invention, illustrating the breakage perforations of the Collar; 
           [0041]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a urine Waste Container according to the invention, illustrating a Waste Collection Bag in the form of a plastic bag with a zip seal mechanism inserted into a urine Waste Container with the Waste Collection Bag 
           [0000]    1) extruding from the Waste Container&#39;s spout; and
 
2) folded back over the Collar of the Waste Container&#39;s spout towards the mid-section of the urine Waste Container;
 
           [0042]      FIG. 9  is a second perspective view of a urine Waste Container according to the invention, illustrating at a more oblique angle with an inserted Waste Container such that the walls of the Waste Collection Bag are 
           [0000]    1) adjacent to the Waste Container&#39;s neck and spout; and
 
2) folded back over the Collar towards the mid-section of the urine Waste Container;
 
           [0043]      FIG. 10  illustrates perspective views of:
       1. a urine Waste Container from which the inner plastic bag, shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , has been removed (along with any captured waste) such that the Waste Container is ready for re-insertion of a new Waste Collection Bag; and   2. a used urine Waste Collection Bag according to the invention, illustrating how the Waste Collection Bag is sealed at its mouth such that the potentially contaminated inner surface of the Waste Collection Bag is sealed within the enclosed locking mechanism, ready for disposal.       
 
           [0046]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the Collar according to one arrangement of the second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0047]      FIG. 12  is a second perspective view of the Collar according to one arrangement of the second embodiment of the invention, illustrating a locking means on the seat of the Collar; and 
           [0048]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the Collar according to a second arrangement of the second embodiment of the invention, illustrating the second locking means on the seat of the Collar. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0049]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by reference to the drawings. The following detailed description in conjunction with the figures provides the skilled addressee with an understanding of the invention. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the applications described below. 
       Dictionary of Defined Terms 
       [0050]    Table 1 is a dictionary of terms defined according to the invention. Terms defined in Table 1 are denoted with the use of capitalisation throughout the document. If a term is not capitalised then its plain meaning is to be construed, unless otherwise specified. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Dictionary of defined terms 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Term 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Collar 
                 A Collar includes and is not limited to a band that surrounds 
               
               
                   
                 the neck of the Waste Container such that the Waste Container 
               
               
                   
                 folds back over the band to open the mouth of the Waste 
               
               
                   
                 Container. The Collar can be a ring or band of a variety of 
               
               
                   
                 shapes or materials. 
               
               
                 Waste 
                 A Waste Container includes and is not limited to plastic and 
               
               
                 Container 
                 other bags suitable for waste collection, compressible 
               
               
                   
                 containers, rigid containers and other devices for collecting 
               
               
                   
                 and storing waste for disposal. 
               
               
                 Waste 
                 A Waste Collection Bag includes and is not limited to plastic 
               
               
                 Collection 
                 and other bags suitable for waste collection, compressible 
               
               
                 Bag 
                 containers and other means of collecting waste that is 
               
               
                   
                 insertable into a Waste Container. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0051]    The elements of the invention are now described under the following headings: 
       Commonly Used Means for Vomit Collection 
       [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a commonly known means for waste collection involves a Waste Container  1  in the form of the following:
       1. a Waste Collection Bag  30  (here shown as a plastic bag) with a base  3  and sidewalls  4  diverging upwardly from the base  3  and terminating in a top  6  defining an opening, which forms the Waste Container&#39;s open mouth  2 . The open mouth  2  is the entry point for waste, such as vomit, as it is heaved forward into the Waste Collection Bag  30 ; and   2. a Collar  5  surrounding and terminates at the Waste Collection Bag&#39;s top  6  such that the Waste Container&#39;s open mouth  2  is formed by the Waste Collection Bag&#39;s top  6  being held open by the Collar  5 . Both the Collar&#39;s top outer rim  20  (the upper edge of the Collar) and the Waste Collection Bag&#39;s top  6  terminate to form the lips of the Waste Container&#39;s  1  open mouth  2 .       
 
         [0055]    In known devices for vomit collection, as described above, vomit waste is retained in the Waste Container  1  by means of threading the neck of the Waste Collection Bag  30  sideways through a slot  6  in the Collar  5 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 2  shows the sealed Waste Container  1  and illustrates how the mouth  2  and upper neck  25  of the Waste Container  1 , which are usually contaminated with vomit as it passes/is heaved into the Waste Container  1 , are left exposed when the Waste Container  1  is sealed. Further, sealing the bag involves manipulating the neck  15  of the bag  30  through a hook-shaped slot in the Collar (not shown). This only captures the excrement in the of the bag&#39;s lower portion  10 . This can result in contamination of the environment as it involves twisting the top of the bag through a slot (not shown in this figure) and potentially wiping the waste that is caught around the open mouth  2  and upper neck  25  of the bag onto the user&#39;s finger and the Collar&#39;s top outer rim  20 , and also possibly splashing waste onto the floor/immediate surrounds. Consequently, this known art suffers from ineffective sealing of the waste material within the Waste Container  1 . 
       THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A First Embodiment 
       [0057]      FIG. 3  shows one preferred embodiment in the form of an unused Waste Container  1  according to the invention. The Waste Container  1  is a Waste Collection Bag  30  in the form of an open tubular plastic bag, with the top folded back over the outer rim  20  of the Collar  5  such that a portion of the internal surface of the Waste Collection Bag  30  is exposed and portions of the external surfaces of the Waste Collection Bag  30  partially touch. 
         [0058]    The Collar  5  surrounds the neck of the Waste Collection Bag  30 . In contrast to the prior art, the Collar  5  in the present invention (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) is not held fixedly in position and can be moved along the tubular bag. This enables the Collar  5  to be moved along the tubular bag beyond the contaminated portion of the open mouth. In other arrangements, the Collar  5  can be removed and/or recycled. 
         [0059]    As a result of the top section of the Waste Collection Bag  30  being folded back over the outer rim  20  of the Collar  5 :
       1. the inner surface of the Collar  5  is held against the external surface of the Waste Collection Bag  30 ; and   2. the folding back of the tubular bag results in the formation of lips  32  at the fold line along the outer rim  20  of the Collar  5 .       
 
         [0062]    The sliding arrangement of the Collar  5  enables the lips  32  to be moved towards the open top of the Waste Collection Bag  30 , eventually meeting a sealing mechanism  35  located substantially at the uppermost peripheral edge of the Waste Collection Bag  30  (that is, the edge furthest away from the base of the Waste Collection Bag  30  when the Waste Collection Bag  30  is fully extended). 
         [0063]    Also shown in  FIG. 3  is the Waste Collection Bag&#39;s sealing mechanism is a zip lock seal  35  immediately preceding and parallel with the uppermost open end of the Waste Collection Bag  30 . Other arrangements may use other sealing means as envisaged by the person skilled within the art. 
         [0064]    When closed, the zip lock seal  35  performs the function of closing the mouth of the Waste Collection Bag  30  and thereby sealing any contaminated waste within the Waste Collection Bag  30 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 4  shows an unused Waste Container  1  in which the open tubular plastic bag, in the form of a Waste Collection Bag  30 , folded back over the Collar&#39;s  5  and tucked under the Collar&#39;s  5  inner rim (the rim or edge of the Collar closest towards the base of the bag) such the Collar  5  is semi-fixedly held in position. This temporarily stops the sliding of the Collar  5  and temporarily fixes the positions of the Waste Container&#39;s  1  mouth and lips  32 . 
         [0066]    Referring to  FIG. 5  of the invention, the Collar  5  of the Waste Container  1  has been opened along one or more opening seams  38 . Snapping the Collar along its opening seams  38  enables the following:
       1. sealing of the top of Waste Collection Bag  30  by using the sealing mechanism to close the mouth;   2. releasing the Collar  5  so it is no longer fixedly held in position and can be removed; and   3. enabling disposal of the Waste Collection Bag  30  (separately to the Collar if so required).       
 
         [0070]    Referring to  FIG. 6  of the invention, the Waste Container&#39;s Collar  5  is shown as detached along its opening seams such that only the Collar&#39;s outer rim  20  is in contact with the Waste Collection Bag  30 . The lips  32  of the Waste Collection Bag  30  are closed by means of the sealing mechanism, thereby forming a sealed Waste Collection Bag  30 . 
         [0071]    Referring to  FIG. 7  of the invention, a Waste Container&#39;s Collar  5  is shown with two opening seams  38 . However, the number of opening seams can vary in other arrangements. The opening seam(s) enable(s) the Collar  5  to be snapped open for easy removal from around the neck of the Waste Collection Bag  30 . 
         [0072]    In a preferred embodiment, an opening seam is located on opposing sides of the Collar  5 . The opening seams  38  pass:
       1. from the Collar&#39;s internal face  60  through to its external face  65 ; and   2. from near the outer rim  20  of the Annular Ring  5  towards the inner rim  40  of the Collar  5 .       
 
         [0075]    The only portion of the Collar that remains intact after snapping open the opening seam(s)  38  is an outer ring  70  along the outer rim  20 . This opening seam  38  can be formed from perforated materials for single use, or made from reversibly snap locking materials for multiple use. 
         [0076]      FIG. 7  shows a radially extending outer ring  70  along the outer rim  20  of the Collar  5 . The outer ring  70  in other arrangements can be moulded to act as a handle for the user when the waste collection is in process. 
         [0077]    In another embodiment of the invention, the outer ring  70  can be extended further upwards in the direction of the inner rim  40  so that the outer ring  70  acts as alternate housing for an unused Waste Container  1 . In this embodiment, the Waste Collection Bag  30  sits hidden passing over the Collar&#39;s inner rim where it is tucked adjacent to the Collar&#39;s internal face  60 , ready for release at the appropriate time. 
         [0078]    The snapping of the Collar  5  breaks apart all regions of the Collar  5  except the outer ring  70 . In this embodiment, this snapping mechanism is enabled by applying pressure on two opposing points of the Collar as marked on  FIG. 7  as Collar pressure point  75  and Collar pressure point  80 . 
         [0079]    Another embodiment of the invention will now be described where the Waste Container and Waste Collection Bag are separate physical entities that can be combined for use and separated for efficient transport and disposal. 
         [0080]    Referring to  FIG. 8  of the invention, urine Waste Container  100  is illustrated. A Waste Collection Bag  110  in the form of a plastic bag with a zip seal mechanism is inserted into the urine Waste Container  100  with the Waste Collection Bag  110 :
       1. extruding from the Waste Container&#39;s spout; and   2. folded back over the exterior surface of the Waste Container&#39;s spout towards the handle of the urine Waste Container  100 .       
 
         [0083]      FIG. 9  shows a second perspective view of the urine Waste Container  100  in  FIG. 8 . The Waste Container  100  is illustrated at a more oblique angle and the Waste Collection Bag  110  can be seen inserted into the urine Waste Container  100  such that the Waste Collection Bag&#39;s  100  walls are:
       1. adjacent to the Waste Container&#39;s  100  neck and spout; and   2. folded back over the Collar towards the mid-section of the urine Waste Container  100 .       
 
         [0086]      FIG. 10  shows the urine Waste Container  100  separated from the Waste Collection Bag  110  also shown as:
       1. a urine Waste Container  100  with the Waste Collection Bag  110  removed (along with any captured waste) such that the Waste Container  110  is ready for re-insertion of a new Waste Collection Bag  110 ; and   2. a used urine Waste Collection Bag  110  according to the invention illustrating how the Waste Collection Bag  110  is sealed  120  at its mouth such that the potentially contaminated inner surface of the Waste Collection Bag  110  is sealed within the enclosed locking mechanism  130 , ready for disposal.
           This figure does not show the Waste Container  100  reversibly locking seams such that the Waste Container  100  can be opened and in some embodiments separated into two parts to lower the Waste Container  100  bulk/volume.   
               
 
         [0090]    This first embodiment of the invention provides the following advantages:
       1. The Waste Container  100  is not contaminated by waste and therefore can be recycled and reused. This is an advantage where the Waste Container  100  is a rigid structure that consumes considerable space and therefore requires greater storage resources;   2. A used Waste Collection Bag  110  can be disposed of in a waste collection bin such that the disposed Waste Collection Bag&#39;s  110  can be stacked more efficiently to assume the volume of the waste only, as opposed to a rigid Waste Container  100  (be it full or empty) which is inefficient in its use of space when disposed of; and   3. An un-used Waste Collection Bag  110  can be transported as a substantially flat packed article and re-inserted into recycled Waste Containers  100  as needed.       
 
         [0094]    Consequently relatively fewer rigid Waste Containers  100  are required to collect effectively more waste. Moreover, a space saving is achieved with this combination of rigid Waste Containers  100  with disposable, sealable insertable Waste Collection Bags  110 . 
       A Second Embodiment 
       [0095]      FIG. 11  shows a second embodiment of the Collar  5  which surrounds the neck of the Waste Collection Bag (not shown). The Collar includes a seat  100  which extends radially from the neck of the Collar  5 . The seat  100  forms a cupping device, which can be placed against the relevant body part (e.g. around the mouth, the urethra or the anus) when the Waste Collection Bag is being used and helps to guide the excrement into the opening of the Waste Collection Bag and thereby to minimise spillage of the contents during the waste collection process. The seat  100  can also function as:
       i. a handle or holding means, for holding the Waste Collection Bag in a position suitable for the collection of waste (for example, when being used as a sick bag or a urine bottle); and   ii. a support (e.g. for resting the buttocks on when the Waste Collection Bag is being used as a bed pan);       
 
         [0098]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , the seat  100  and Collar  5  are represented as an approximately circular shape in one dimension (but could be any symmetrical shape). Two opening seams  38  can be seen at approximately the half way mark on opposing sides of the circle. However, in other arrangements, the number of opening seams can vary. 
         [0099]    In all embodiments, the Collar  5  includes a closing means. The closing means includes one or more opening seams, as illustrated in  FIG. 11  by the label  38 . 
         [0100]    By applying pressure at the opening seams  38 , the Collar  5  can be forced to snap open along the opening seams  38 . This enables one half of the seat  100  to folded over to sit on top of the other half, thereby closing the opening of the Waste Collection Bag, which sits within the Collar  5 . 
         [0101]    The seat includes one or more fold lines  110 , which guide the folding of the Collar  5  along the opening seams  38 . In the arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the seat  100  is folded upon itself so that the Collar is substantially symmetrically mirrored along the fold lines to enclose the Waste Collection Bag (not shown) securely between the seat&#39;s  100  surfaces. This enables any contaminated waste to be sealed within the Waste Collection Bag (not shown). 
         [0102]    The closing means includes a locking means to hold the Collar in a closed position. The locking means can take the form of a variety of fastening devices including a clasp, a clip or a hook.  FIG. 11  shows the locking means  120  in the form of a clasp on one region of the seat  100 . When the Collar  5  is folded into a closed position, as described above, the clasp engages the edge on the opposite side of the seat  100 . This locks the Collar  5  in a closed position and seals the Waste Collection Bag (not shown) closed between the opposing surfaces of the closed Collar. 
         [0103]    Once the Waste Collection Bag&#39;s opening has been sealed, then disposal of the Waste Container can be performed. The Collar  5  in other arrangements may be separated from the Waste Collection Bag allowing the Collar  5  to be reused if so required. 
         [0104]    Other arrangements of the invention will now be described with regard to the Collar, where the Collar and the Waste Collection Bag are separate physical entities that can be combined for various uses, including as a bed pan, urine bottle, sick bag, etcetera. 
         [0105]      FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of the Collar  5  in which the closing means includes a raised portion  150  on one part of the seat  100  and a reciprocal well  160  on the part of the seat symmetrically opposite to the raised portion. By folding the Collar  5 , the raised portion becomes inserted into the reciprocal well, thereby securely closing the Collar and hence the opening of the Waste Collection Bag. 
         [0106]    Once the Collar  5  is securely closed, a locking means is engaged to maintain the Collar in a closed position and the opening of the Waste Collection Bag is sealingly closed. Referring to  FIG. 12 , a locking means can be seen. A fastening device in the form of a series of protruding tabs  170  on one region of the seat and a series of reciprocal slots  180  for receiving the tabs  170  when the Collar  5  is folded. When the tabs  170  and slots  180  are engaged, the Collar  5  is held securely in a closed position. 
         [0107]      FIG. 13  illustrates another arrangement of the locking means. The fastening device takes the form of a series of twin of protruding tabs  190  on one region of the seat and a series of twin reciprocal slots  200  for receiving the twin tabs  190  when the Collar  5  is folded. When the twin tabs  190  and twin slots  200  are engaged, the Collar  5  is held securely in a closed position. 
         [0108]    Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many different other forms.