Abstract:
The adult male urinary incontinence device is a disposable unit to catch urine from an adult male patient. The T-shaped device is comprised of a top layer that is fluid permeable, a middle layer that absorbs fluid, and a bottom layer that is fluid impermeable. The “T” shaped device is positioned under a patient&#39;s scrotum and rests on the upper thigh of the patient. The front flap of the device is folded over the patient&#39;s penis with the opposing side flaps folding over the front flap and fastened. The adult male urinary incontinence device allows the patient to be changed without moving the patient or awaking them.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/962,283 filed Nov. 5, 2013 entitled Adult Male Urinary Incontinence Article which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to the field of adult incontinence pads/diapers. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    There are several products and methods to accommodate adult males suffering from urinary incontinence. The most common devices include the use of hour glass shaped diapers, indwelling urinary catheters, and suprapubic catheters. The catheters are invasive and have a high rate of infection. This also requires a tube to be continually running out of the patient. The current hourglass diapers also create complications as they are large and extend under the male patient&#39;s buttocks. To change a bedridden patient, a provider must role the patient onto his side to position the diaper and then role the patient to the other side to correctly position the diaper. This process is time consuming and physically demanding for the provider and patient alike. Many male patients suffering from urinary incontinence are physically weak and unable to assist the provider with rolling over. Furthermore, it is disruptive to a patient&#39;s sleep and creates unnecessary anxiety in the patient in dealing with routine changing. As a result, many healthcare providers delay changing male patients causing patients to suffer through soiled diapers which leads to skin break down and pressure ulcers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The adult male urinary incontinence device is a disposable unit to catch urine from an adult male patient. The device is comprised of a top layer that is fluid permeable, a middle layer that absorbs fluid, and a bottom layer that is fluid impermeable. The top layer and bottom layer are connected around their edges with the middle layer disposed between. The edges are sealed to prevent leakage of fluid. The device is “T” shaped with a front flap and two opposing side flaps. The top layer is positioned under the male patient&#39;s penis and scrotum with the back edge against the patient and the front flap extending away from the patient. The back edge contains elastic which allows for a more secured fit against the patient&#39;s scrotum without being overly tight or restrictive. In this configuration, the penis is positioned along the outer face of the center portion. The front flap is folded over the patient&#39;s penis. The opposing side flap is folded over the front flap. The other side flap is then folded over the first side flap such that a fastener may engage fastener receiving strip on the second side flap. As the patient urinates, the urine passes through the top layer and into the interior layer where the urine is stored. The bottom layer prevents the urine from leaking out and irritating the patient&#39;s skin. The adult male urinary incontinence device allows the patient to be changed without moving the patient or awaking the patient. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a top view of an embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of an embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section view of an embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a view of an embodiment positioned on a patient. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , the adult male urinary incontinence device  1  is comprised of a bottom layer  10 , a top layer  30  and interior layer  50 . The adult male urinary incontinence device  1  resembles a block “T” having a center portion  2 , front flap portion  3 , and opposing side flap portions  4 ,  5 . The opposing side flap portions  4 ,  5  are positioned at the rear of the adult male urinary incontinence device  1  such that the back edge  6  is comprised of an edge of each opposing side flap portion  4 ,  5  and an edge of the center portion  2 . The front flap portion  3  extends away from the back edge  6  and is positioned at an approximate ninety degree angle relative to each opposing side flap portion  4 ,  5 . 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the bottom layer  10  resembles a block “T” having a center portion  12  with a front flap portion  14  and two opposing side flap portions  18 ,  22  extending therefrom. The front flap portion  14  has a front edge  15  and rounded side edges  16 ,  17 . Each opposing side flap portion  18 ,  22  has a back edge  19 ,  23 , opposing edge  20 ,  24 , and a rounded front edge  21 ,  25 . The back edge  11  of the bottom layer  10  is comprised of the back edges  19 ,  23  of each opposing side flap portions  18 ,  22  and back edge  13  of the center portion  12 . The front flap portion  14  extends away from the center portion  12  and is positioned at an approximate ninety degree angle relative to each opposing side flap portions  18 ,  22 . The rounded side edges  16 ,  17  of front flap portion  14  connect with respective rounded edges  21 ,  25  of each respective opposing side flap portions  18 ,  22 . 
         [0014]    The bottom layer  10  is constructed of a flexible nonwoven fabric sheet that forms the body of the diaper and is impervious to fluid. Nonwoven fabrics are made from plastic resins, such as nylon, polyester, polyethylene, or polypropylene. Polyethylene is the resin of choice for the non-permeable bottom layer as it is substantially impervious to fluid. Alternatively, the bottom layer  10  may be a woven material laminated with polyethylene such that polyethylene side faces the inner face of the top layer  30 . In the disclosed embodiment, the bottom layer  10  is a single piece of material with all edges  13 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  19 ,  20 ,  21 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25  connect to form a continuous edge. In the disclosed embodiment the opposing side flap portions  18 ,  22  are identical in size. In the disclosed embodiment the front edge  15  of front flap portion  14  is longer than the opposing edge  20 ,  24  of each opposing side flap portion  18 ,  22 . A wetness indicator may be positioned on the outside face  26  to show if the interior layer is wet. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the top layer  30  resembles a block “T” having a center portion  32  with a front flap portion  34  and two opposing side flap portions  38 ,  42  extending therefrom. The front flap portion  34  has a front edge  35  and rounded side edges  36 ,  37 . Each opposing side flap portion  38 ,  42  has a back edge  39 ,  43 , opposing edge  40 ,  44 , and a rounded front edge  41 ,  45 . The back edge  31  of the top layer  30  is comprised of the back edges  39 ,  43  of each opposing side flap portions  38 ,  42  and back edge  33  of the center portion  32 . The front flap portion  34  extends away from the center portion  32  and is positioned at an approximate ninety degree angle relative to each opposing side flap portions  38 ,  42 . The rounded side edges  36 ,  37  of front flap portion  34  connect with respective rounded edges  41 ,  45  of each respective opposing side flap portions  38 ,  42 . 
         [0016]    The top layer  30  is constructed of a flexible material that is fluid permeable such as a nonwoven fabric made from polypropylene. Polypropylene is typically the material used for the permeable top sheet. In the disclosed embodiment, the top layer  30  is a single piece of material with all edges  33 ,  35 ,  36 ,  37 ,  39 ,  40 ,  41 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45  connect to form a continuous edge. In the disclosed embodiment the opposing side flap portions  38 ,  42  are identical in size. In the disclosed embodiment the front edge  35  of front flap portion  34  is longer than the opposing edge  40 ,  44  of each opposing side flap portion  38 ,  42 . 
         [0017]    In the disclosed embodiment, the bottom layer  10  and top layer  30  are substantially identical in dimensions such that center portion  12 , front flap portion  14 , and opposing side flap portions  18 ,  22  of the bottom layer  10  correspond and match in shape the center portion  32 , front flap portion  34 , and opposing side flap portions  38 ,  42  of the top layer  30 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , interior layer  50  is disposed between the bottom layer  10  and top layer  30 . The interior layer  50  resembles a block “T,” similar to the bottom layer  10  and top layer  30 . The interior layer  50  is made of a flexible material that is fluid absorbent. This layer may be composed of two elements, a hydrophilic polymer and a fibrous material such as wood pulp. The polymer is made of fine particles of an acrylic acid derivative, such as sodium acrylate, potassium acrylate, or an alkyl acrylate. Polymers with this ability are referred to as hydrogels, superabsorbents, or hydrocolloids. 
         [0019]    In the disclosed embodiment the top layer  30  and bottom layer  10  are bonded together with the interior layer  50  disposed between. Such bonding may occur by mechanically, chemically, or thermally interlocking the plastic fibers. The three components are in long strips and must be joined together and cut into diaper-sized units. This is accomplished by feeding the absorbent pad onto a conveyor with the polyethylene bottom sheet. The polypropylene top sheet is then fed into place, and the compiled sheets are joined by gluing, heating, or ultrasonic welding. The bonding occurs along bottom layer edges  13 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  19 ,  20 ,  21 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25  and the respective counterpart top layer edges  33 ,  35 ,  36 ,  37 ,  39 ,  40 ,  41 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 . The bonding or sealing prevents any leakage of fluid out of the sides. 
         [0020]    In the disclosed embodiment, elastic fibers are attached to the sheets through the back edge  11  of the bottom layer  10  and the back edge  31  of the top layer  30 . After the diaper is assembled the elastic fibers cause the back edges  11 ,  31  to gather or bunch the edges of the diaper into the proper shape so it fits snugly around the user&#39;s crotch. It creates a curvature of the back edge  6  which pulls opposing side flap portions  4 ,  5  away from the front flap portion  3 . Alternatively, an elastic band may be stitched or adhered between the top layer  30  and bottom layer  10 . 
         [0021]    Disposed on the outer face  26  of the opposing side flap portion  22  is a fastener receiving strip  60 . In the disclosed embodiment the fastener receiving strip  60  is rectangular in shape with the length dimension extending from the opposing edge  24  towards the center portion  12 . The fastener receiving strip  60  contains a fastening receiving material  61  on its exposed face. On the other opposing side flap portion  18  a fastener  62  is attached to the outer face  26 . The fastener  62  is partially attached with a portion of the fastener  62  extending beyond the opposing edge  20 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , the interior face of fastener  62  contains a fastening material  63 . In the disclosed embodiment the fastening material  63  and fastening receiving material  61  are hook and loop fasteners. Other fastening material and fastening receiving material are suitable such as weak adhesives. 
         [0022]    Use of the Adult Male Urinary Incontinence Device  1  is described in relation to  FIG. 4 . The top layer  30  is positioned under the male patient&#39;s penis and scrotum with the back edge  6  against the patient and the front edge  7  extending away from the patient. The device  1  rests on top of the patient&#39;s upper thighs. The back edge  6 , with the elastic, allows for a more secured fit against the patient&#39;s scrotum without being overly tight or restrictive. In this configuration, the penis is positioned along the outer face of the center portion  32 . The front flap  2  is folded over the patient&#39;s penis. The opposing side flap portion  4  is folded over the front flap portion  3 . The opposing side flap portion  5  is then folded over the opposing side flap portion  4  such that fastener  62  may engage fastener receiving strip  60  on opposing side flap portion  4 . As the patient urinates, the urine passes through the top layer  30  and into the interior layer  50  where the urine is stored. The bottom layer  10  prevents the urine from leaking out and irritating the patient&#39;s skin. 
         [0023]    The present invention is described above in terms of a preferred illustrative embodiment of an adult male urinary incontinence device. Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternative constructions of such a device can be used in carrying out the present invention. Aspects such as the material used, fasteners, and dimensions are changeable without affecting the principles of the invention. Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention may be obtained from a study of this disclosure and the drawings, along with the appended claims.