Abstract:
An article of jewelry provides an internal compartment for storing and concealing a catheter. When the catheter is needed, the user releases the fastening device which keeps the catheter inside the article of jewelry. After releasing the fasteners, the user extracts the catheter and uses it accordingly. Once the user finishes, the catheter is cleaned. The user then places the catheter within the article of jewelry and secures the catheter using the fasteners. Thus, the article of jewelry cleverly disguises the catheter from public view.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to an article of jewelry and more specifically, to an article of hollowed jewelry for storage and concealment of a catheter. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Many people require the use of a catheter for various medical reasons. Catheters may be needed to facilitate urine flow because of medical conditions, including but not limited to neurological disorders, multiple system atrophy, spina bifida, and cerebro-vascular disease. Catheters have provided a way for people affected by these medical conditions to induce urine flow from their bladder. Catheters are well known. Due to the importance of expelling urine from the bladder at multiple times each day, a catheter is a daily essential to users that require catheters for urination. 
   Catheters are generally composed of flexible tubes. In most embodiments, catheters are comprised of two ports. The larger port drains the urine. The other port holds the catheter in place in the urinary tract. 
   Most catheters are of a length and cross section diameter that enable them to be carried in purses or pockets. However, carrying items such as a purse restricts the user from their daily routines. Moreover, some articles of clothing lack pockets to contain the catheters. 
   As a result, a need exists to provide an improved way of transporting a catheter that overcomes the above mentioned problems. A need exists for containing a catheter while allowing for a user to perform their daily routines without having to carry a purse or restricting the style of clothes they wear. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, an article of jewelry includes a receptacle therein for housing a catheter. 
   The article of jewelry preferably totally conceals the catheter and is constructed to allow ready access and ease of removability when the user needs to use the catheter. 
   In accordance with the present invention, the catheter may be extracted from the article of jewelry, used, cleaned, and inserted back into the article of jewelry. 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, the article of jewelry may be adapted to house accessory items such as lubrication for the catheter. 
   In yet another embodiment of the present invention, two catheters are housed within an article of jewelry. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the article of jewelry may be a bracelet, a watch, or a necklace. 
   In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an article of jewelry for housing and concealing a catheter is described. The article of jewelry stores the catheter in a hollowed area within the jewelry. An opening device to the hollowed area allows insertion of and later removal of the catheter. A fastening device may be employed to secure the opening device to prevent the catheter from sliding out. When the fastening device is opened, the catheter may be extracted from the opening device. After usage, the catheter is cleaned and then inserted back into the hollowed area through the opening device and secured by the fastening device. 
   The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals and symbols represent like elements. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a gemstone bracelet adapted for storing and concealing a catheter; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial cut-away view of the bracelet of  FIG. 1 , showing a catheter therein; 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention showing an ID bracelet for storing and concealing two catheters; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial cut-away view of the bracelet of  FIG. 4  showing how the article of jewelry stores a single catheter; 
       FIG. 6  is cross-section view taken from  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the bracelet of  FIG. 4  showing the interiorly held catheters and accessory compartment; 
       FIG. 8  is a front view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a necklace adapted for storing and concealing a catheter; 
       FIG. 9  is a partial cross-section view showing the interior hollow portion of the necklace of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a partial cross-section view of the necklace of  FIG. 8  showing the opening and fastening device which enables insertion of the catheter into the necklace and later removal; 
       FIG. 11  is a partial cut-away view of the necklace of  FIG. 8  showing the inserted catheter; 
       FIG. 12  is a front view of the necklace of  FIG. 8  with an ornament fastened to the necklace containing an accessory compartment; 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a watch adapted for storing and concealing a catheter; 
       FIG. 14  is an interior plan view of the watch showing a coiled catheter in a hollowed area under the watch face; 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a cloth sleeve adapted to be worn as a bracelet for storing and concealing a catheter; 
       FIG. 16  is a partial cut-away view of the cloth sleeve of  FIG. 15  showing the catheter within the cloth sleeve; 
       FIG. 17  is a cross-section view of the cloth sleeve of  FIG. 15  with an inserted catheter. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to the Figures, an article of jewelry  20  with an inserted catheter  24  will be described. When the catheter  24  is needed, the user extracts the catheter  24  from the article of jewelry  20 . After using the catheter  24 , the user simply washes the catheter  24  and places it back into the article of jewelry  20 . As a result of its easy use, the article of jewelry  20  containing the inserted catheter  24  will allow for a user to perform their daily routines unrestricted by what they carry or the clothes they wear. 
   A catheter  24  for inserting into an article of jewelry  20  is now described. A catheter  24  comes in a variety of sizes and forms. In length, catheters  24  range from three to sixteen inches. The diameter of the catheter  24  varies from four to seven millimeters. Moreover, some catheters  24  contain flat heads and others have circular heads. 
   Typically, catheters  24  comprise a set of ports placed in the bladder to drain urine. In most embodiments, the catheter  24  contains two ports. The holder port maintains the catheter  24  in place. The drainer port removes the urine from the malfunctioning bladder. As a result, the catheter  24  maintains its position within the malfunctioning bladder while draining urine. 
   Catheters  24  generally consist of a flexible material that is compatible with intimate bodily use. Catheters  24  may be made of a poly(tetrafluoroethylene) such as that available commercially under the trademark TEFLON, flexible plastic, latex, or silicone rubber, depending on the user&#39;s preferences. By using the flexible material, the catheter  24  conforms to the urinary tract while inserted into the malfunctioning bladder. Additionally, the flexible material conforms to the article of jewelry  20  while not in use. 
   In order to lessen the restrictions on carrying the previously described catheters  24 , the novel interior holder  28  of an article of jewelry  20  stores and conceals the catheter  24 . Now referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the interior holder  28  of a gemstone bracelet  20  is described. The interior holder  28  comprises a hollowed area  26  for storing the catheter  24 . The length and width of the hollowed area  26  depends on the length and width of the catheter  24 . Consequently, the longer and wider the catheter  24 , the longer and wider the hollowed  26  area will be. 
   The hollowed area  26  also includes special features where the catheter  24  is prevented from falling out and shifting within the article of jewelry  20 . In  FIG. 3 , the hollowed area  26  is coupled by a material with a high coefficient of friction  32 . As a result of the material  32 , the catheter  24  is prevented from falling out and shifting inside the hollowed area  26 . In another embodiment, the hollowed area  26  may also contain rivets which may be used to prevent the catheter  24  from falling out and shifting inside the hollowed area  26 . 
   In still yet another embodiment, the hollowed area  26  is also coupled to guides. Similar to the material with a high coefficient of friction  32  and the rivets, the guides prevent the catheter  24  from falling out and shifting inside the hollowed area  26 . However, the guides also create the easy insertion of the catheter  24  into the hollowed area  26 . 
   Additional to the hollowed area  26 , the novel interior holder  28  comprises an opening device  34  for accessing the hollowed area  26  and a fastening device  30  for securing the opening device  34  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The opening device  34  of the gemstone bracelet  20  contains a single opening  34  on an end section of the gemstone bracelet  20 . The fastening device  30  includes a screw-like device  30 . When the user goes to the restroom, the user unscrews the fastening device  30  from the single opening  34  and removes the catheter  24  along with the fastening device  30 . The user then extracts the catheter  24  from the ball-shaped portion fastening device  30 . When the user is finished with the catheter  24 , the user inserts the catheter  24  back into the ball-shaped portion fastening device  30  and screws the fastening device  30  back onto the opening device  34 , thus securing the catheter  24  from falling out. 
   In addition to a single opening on an end section  34 , the gemstone bracelet  20  may also contain a set of openings at both end sections  34  of the gemstone bracelet  20 . In this embodiment, the gemstone bracelet  20  allows for the easy retrieval of a catheter  24  stuck within the hollowed area  26 . 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 4 through 7 , the interior holder  28  of an ID bracelet  20  is described. The interior holder  28  of the ID bracelet  20  is similar to the gemstone bracelet  20 , which stores and conceals a catheter  24 . However, there are several different features of this embodiment which are not present in the gemstone bracelet  20 . For instance, the opening device  34  includes a horizontal planed section  34 . The horizontal planed section  34  opens and closes through different fastening devices  30 . On one width side of the horizontal planed section  34 , pivoting hinges  30  couple the horizontal planed section  34  to a body portion of the ID bracelet  20 . By using hinges  30 , a freely pivoting horizontal planed section  34  is created. In addition, a set of fasteners  30  are coupled to the opposite side of the permanently fixed hinges  30  to secure the freely pivoting horizontal planed section  34 . As a result, the pivoting hinges  30  and fasteners  30  allow the user to secure the catheter  24  within the hollowed area  26 . 
   In another embodiment, the freely pivoting horizontal planed section  34  is removed. In lieu of the pivoting hinges  30 , a plurality of fasteners  30  couples the horizontal planed section  34  to the body of the article of jewelry  20 . Thus, the user may completely remove the horizontal planed section  34  when accessing a catheter  24 . 
   In another difference, the ID bracelet  20  may store two catheters  24  in relation to the gemstone bracelet&#39;s one  20 . When opened, each side of the bracelet  20  comprises a hollowed area  26  for storing catheters  24 . The ID bracelet  20  carries a pair of regular sized catheter  24  by extending its length through a U-shaped hollowed area  26 . Thereby, the ID bracelet  20  may contain two full length catheters  24 . 
   In an embodiment not depicted, the lubrication holder  22 , which will be described later, may be curtailed in order to store an elongated catheter  24 . By drilling two holes in the lubrication holder  22 , an elongated catheter  24  may be placed into the ID bracelet  20 . As a result, the ID bracelet  20  would contain only one catheter  24 , but it would be much longer. 
   Similar to the bracelets  20  presented above, the article of jewelry  20  with an inserted catheter  24  also pertains to necklaces  20  as shown in  FIGS. 8 through 12 . The interior holder  28  contains the same hollowed area  26  as the bracelets  20 , but the necklace  20  differs in the opening device  34  and the fastening device  30 . When the user goes to the restroom, the user pulls, instead of unscrewing or lifting, the fastening device  30  from the single opening  34 . After pulling the fastening device  30  from the opening device  34 , the user removes the catheter  24  and fastening device  9 . The user uncouples the catheter  24  from the ball-shaped portion fastening device  30 . When the user is finished with the catheter  24 , the user inserts the catheter  24  back into the ball-shaped portion fastening device  30  and force-fits the fastening device  30  back into the single opening  34 , thus securing the catheter  24  from falling out. 
   In addition to a single opening on an end section  34 , the necklace  20  may also contain a set of openings at both end sections  34  of the article of jewelry  20 . In these embodiments, the necklace  20  allows for the retrieval of a catheter  24  stuck within the hollowed area  26 . 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the interior holder  28  of a watch  20  with an inserted catheter  24  is described. Accordingly, the watch  20  stores the catheter  24  in two ways through differently shaped hollowed areas  26 . First, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the catheter  24  is coiled within a circular shaped hollowed area  26 . The opening device  34  includes a watch top  34  where the user may tell the corresponding time as shown in  FIG. 13 . The fastening device  30  connects the watch top  34  to the body of the article of jewelry  20 . 
   Second, a watch  20  stores the catheter  24  through a hollowed area  26  of a wristband of the watch  20 . The wristband allows the user to insert the catheter  24  into an opening on an end section  34  of the wristband of the watch  20 . The fastening device  30  secures the catheter  24  from falling out of the opening device  34 . 
   In another embodiment of the second hollowed area  26  of the wristband of the watch  20 , the wristband contains a set of openings at both end sections  34 . In this embodiment, the wristband of the watch  20  allows for the easy retrieval of a catheter  24  stuck within the hollowed area  26 . Additionally, the opening at both end sections  34  allow for an elongated catheter  24  to be inserted into the article of jewelry  20 . The elongated catheter  24  can be inserted into the article of jewelry  20  by first pushing the catheter  24  through one opening  34  and out the other opening  34 . Then, the catheter  24  can once again be inserted through the first opening  34 . The user may repeat this as many times as they wish. However, the amount of times the user may do this procedure is limited by the hollowed area  26 . 
   In the final embodiment shown in  FIGS. 15 through 17 , the article of jewelry  20  stores and conceals the catheter  24  in a cloth sleeve  20  that ties around the wrist. Similar to the previous embodiments, the cloth sleeve  20  comprises an interior holder  28  which includes a hollowed area  26  for the catheter  24 , an opening device  34  for inserting and extracting a catheter  24  from the hollowed area  26 , and a fastening device  30  which prevents the catheter  24  from falling out of the opening device  34 . The cloth sleeve  20 , however, is differentiated by a rolling feature. Accordingly, the user may roll down the cloth sleeve  20  surrounding the catheter  24  for easy extraction of the catheter  24 . 
   In the previously depicted embodiments, fastening devices  30  secured the opening device  34 . The fastening devices  30  include any means or material which may secure the catheter  24  from falling out. For instance, a clip, Velcro, or metal latch may secure the catheter  24  from falling out of the opening device  34 . 
   Now referring to the Figures, the exterior of different pieces of jewelry  20  is shown. The pieces of jewelry  20  come in a variety of forms as previously depicted. In  FIG. 1 , the article of jewelry  20  holding a catheter  24  is a gemstone bracelet  20 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the article of jewelry  20  holding a catheter  24  is an ID bracelet  20 . Furthermore, the article of jewelry  20  holding a catheter  24  is a necklace  20  as shown in  FIG. 8 . In  FIG. 13 , the article of jewelry  20  containing the catheter  24  is a watch  1 . Finally, the article of jewelry  20  containing the catheter  24  includes a cloth sleeve  20  as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
   Each article of jewelry  20  described in the Figures varies in price range. One factor of price depends on the previously described embodiments the article of jewelry  20  may take. For instance, a gemstone bracelet  20  costs more than a cloth sleeve  20  bracelet. Another factor depends on the material selected to construct the article of jewelry  20 . For example, the material used in constructing the article of jewelry  20  varies from a relatively cheap stainless steel or copper to a more expensive material such as silver or gold. Additionally, the article of jewelry  20  may include etchings or items, including diamonds, fastened to the article of jewelry  20 . Accordingly, the more technical the etchings and the more items fastened on the article of jewelry  20  the higher the price. 
   An additional factor which may increase the price of the necklace  20  as shown in  FIG. 12  is the ornament  22 . Besides the price, however, the ornament also comprises a holder  22  for lubrication. In operation, the lubrication  22  in conjunction with the catheter  24  provides a smooth catheter  24  insertion into the urinary tract. Extending beyond the necklace  20  embodiment, the lubrication holder  22  comes in a variety of forms depending on the article of jewelry  20 . For example, the gemstone bracelet  20  stores the lubrication holder  22  within the top portion of the article of jewelry  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 7 , the ID bracelet  20  stores the lubrication holder  22  along the catheter  24 . In  FIG. 14 , the watch  20  stores the lubrication  22  within the top of the article of jewelry  20 . Finally, the cloth sleeve  20  attaches the lubrication  22  through an ornament  22  as shown in  FIG. 16 . As a result, the article of jewelry  20  stores and conceals the lubrication holder  22  along with the catheter  24 . 
   While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.