U.S. patent application number 10/636814 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-10 for irrigation bag support.
Invention is credited to Romine, Donald W..
Application Number | 20050051681 10/636814 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34225899 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050051681 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Romine, Donald W. |
March 10, 2005 |
Irrigation bag support
Abstract
A support for an irrigation bag. The support includes a base for
positioning on a floor. Extending upwardly from one end of the base
at an incline is a brace for receiving an irrigation bag. Slidably
positioned in the brace is a cup within which the bottom of the
irrigation bag is positioned. The cup is adjustably secured within
the brace of by a releasable fastener.
Inventors: |
Romine, Donald W.; (Vilonia,
AR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stephen R. Greiner, Esquire
GREINER LAW OFFICES, P.C.
Suite 110
6701 Democracy Blvd.
Bethesda
MD
20817
US
|
Family ID: |
34225899 |
Appl. No.: |
10/636814 |
Filed: |
August 8, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/146 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 5/442 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/146 |
International
Class: |
A47G 023/02 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An irrigation bag support, comprising: a base; a brace extending
upwardly from said base at an incline, said brace being adapted to
receive and support an irrigation bag; a cup slidably positioned
within said brace for receiving the bottom of the irrigation bag;
and, a releasable fastener selectively securing said cup within
said brace.
2. An irrigation bag support, comprising; a base including: a
plate; and, a mounting ring affixed to said plate and extending
upwardly therefrom; a brace secured to said base, said brace
including: a retaining ring snugly, yet releasably and rotatably,
engaged with said mounting ring; and, a trough affixed to said
retaining ring and extending upwardly at an incline therefrom, said
trough being adapted to cradle an irrigation bag therein; a cup
slidably positioned within said brace for receiving the bottom of
the irrigation bag; and, a releasable fastener selectively securing
said cup within said brace.
3. The irrigation bag support in accordance with claim 2 wherein
said releasable fastener is a hook and loop-type fastener.
4. An irrigation bag support, comprising: a base including: a
plate; and, a mounting ring affixed to said plate and extending
upwardly therefrom; a brace secured to said base, said brace
including: a retaining ring snugly, yet releasably and rotatably,
engaged with said mounting ring; and, a trough affixed to said
retaining ring and extending upwardly at an incline therefrom, said
trough being adapted to cradle an irrigation bag therein; a cup
slidably positioned within said brace for receiving the bottom of
the irrigation bag; and, a releasable fastener selectively securing
said cup within said trough, said releasable fastener including: a
first portion secured to said cup having a dense mat of small,
uncut loops; a second portion adapted to mate with, and releasably
adhere to, said first portion, said second portion being secured
within said trough and having a plurality of hooks being releasably
fastenable to said loops of said first portion.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to supports and,
more specifically, to stands and brackets having tilted supporting
surfaces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] During a colostomy, a stoma is typically provided through
the abdominal wall of an individual to permit his bowels to be
emptied. Such a stoma may be temporary in duration or permanent
depending upon the nature and extent of the individual's
affliction. Regardless of the stoma's likely duration, it must be
meticulously cared for. When the stoma is new, the surrounding
tissue is particularly susceptible to infection as the bowels
provide a significant source of bacteria and other irritants. Of
course, a colostomy eliminates the control that the individual once
had over his bowels.
[0003] Through trial and error, a colostomy patient must manually
void his own bowels by means of irrigation. This procedure is
similar to one employed in giving an enema. Here, a measured
quantity of fluid is introduced into the bowels through the stoma.
After a predetermined time, the fluid is permitted to escape into a
collection or irrigation bag, thereby cleansing the bowels. During
the procedure, the patient must avoid leakage from the bag and the
remainder of his irrigation equipment that can cause a mess in
addition to bodily infection and irritation. The patient does not
need the hassle of an unwieldy irrigation bag throughout the
procedure.
[0004] The typical colostomy patient sits upon a toilet or stool
during irrigation. Proper drainage of the irrigation fluid from the
bowels requires that the irrigation bag be at a slightly lower
elevation than the stoma. Usually, a patient holds the bag in his
hands to maintain the proper elevation. Often this is difficult for
aged and infirm individuals to accomplish.
[0005] Some have proposed supports for irrigation bags, but these
have been complex and cumbersome affairs. They typically suspend a
bag from above, dangling it from a hook unsteadily above the ground
at the side of a patient. Because they do not meet the needs of
most colostomy patients, these supports have not seen widespread
commercial acceptance. In fact, many colostomy patients find it
easier to rest an irrigation bag on the floor rather than use the
bag supports that are currently available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In light of the problems associated with the use of the
known irrigation bag supports, it is a principal object of the
invention to provide a support that stably supports an irrigation
bag at an appropriate elevation and closely adjacent to a seated,
colostomy patient during an irrigation procedure. The support
maintains the irrigation bag slightly below the patient and at an
incline for proper drainage and easy handling of the bag. If
necessary, a portion of the support can be pivoted by a user to
more precisely position the top of the irrigation bag near his
stoma.
[0007] It is another object of the invention to provide an
irrigation bag support of the type described that is easily
disassembled for compact transport and storage.
[0008] It is a further object of the invention to provide a support
of the type described that can catch small spills from an
irrigation bag used therewith.
[0009] It is an object of the invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements thereof in an irrigation bag support for
the purposes described which is rugged, inexpensive to manufacture
and fully dependable in use.
[0010] Briefly, the irrigation bag support in accordance with this
invention achieves the intended objects by featuring a base
including a plate and a mounting ring affixed to the plate and
extending upwardly therefrom. A brace is secured to the base and
includes a retaining ring snugly, yet releasably and rotatably,
engaged with the mounting ring and a trough affixed to the
retaining ring and extending upwardly at an incline therefrom. The
trough is adapted to cradle an irrigation bag therein. A cup is
slidably positioned within the trough for receiving the bottom of
the irrigation bag. A releasable fastener selectively secures the
cup within the trough.
[0011] The forgoing and other objects, features and advantages of
the present invention will become readily apparent upon further
review of the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The present invention may be more readily described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of an irrigation bag support in
accordance with the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a top view of the irrigation bag support of FIG.
1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the irrigation bag support
holding an irrigation bag that is partially filled with irrigation
fluids.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a front view of the irrigation bag support.
[0017] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] Referring now to the FIGS., an irrigation bag support in
accordance with the present invention is shown at 10. Support 10
includes a base 12 for positioning upon a horizontal surface such
as a bathroom floor. Extending upwardly from one end of base 12 at
an incline is a brace 14 for receiving and supporting an irrigation
bag 16. Slidably positioned in brace 14 is a cup 18 within which
the bottom of irrigation bag 16 is positioned. Cup 18 is adjustably
secured within brace 14 by a releasable fastener 20.
[0019] Base 12 includes a rectangular plate 22 sized to retain
support 10 in an upright orientation during normal conditions of
use. Firmly affixed to one end of plate 22 and extending upwardly
therefrom is a mounting ring 24. Preferably, there are no gaps or
spaces between the bottom of ring 24 and the top of plate 22 so
that, should irrigation bag 16 ever leak, the leaked liquids will
be trapped within ring 24.
[0020] Brace 14 has a retaining ring 26 sized to snugly encircle
mounting ring 24 and an elongated trough 28 affixed to, and
extending upwardly at an incline from, retaining ring 26. As shown,
the inner diameter of retaining ring 26 is slightly larger than the
outer diameter of mounting ring 24 thereby enabling brace 14 to be
removed from base 12 so that support 10 can be disassembled and
transported in a compact fashion. Additionally, brace 14 can be
pivoted about ring 24 to place irrigation bag 16 in a comfortable
position for a user. Trough 28, on the other hand, has an inner
diameter that is sized to easily receive irrigation bag 16 and a
length sufficient to support bag 16 at an incline.
[0021] Cup 18 is movably positioned within trough 28. Cup 18 has an
outer diameter that is substantially equal to the inner diameter of
trough 28 so that it cannot easily turn upside down once joined
together. One portion 20A of releasable fastener 20 is secured
about the exterior of cup 18 and comprises a pair of bands of
loop-type fastening material respectively positioned at the top and
bottom of cup 18. As is well known, loop-type fastening material is
also known as "Velcro" pile material and has a dense mat of small,
uncut loops 30 formed a thread.
[0022] Another portion 20B of releasable fastener 20 is secured
within trough 28. Portion 20B comprises three, parallel strips of
hook-type fastening material, a.k.a. "Velcro" hook material, having
a plurality of transverse lines of hooks 32 spaced along its
length. The ends of hooks 32 are turned inwardly so as to catch in
loops 30 of portion 20A when fastening portions 20A and 20B are
pressed together. Preferably, the strips of hook-type fastening
material extend from the bottom of trough 28 to a point proximate
the top of trough 28 so that fastener portion 20A can be fastened
at various points along the length of trough 28. Thus, cup 18 can
be releasably secured within trough 28 at various heights to
accommodate irrigation bag 16 in different stages of being
filled.
[0023] The use of bag support 10 is straightforward. First, base 12
is positioned upon a floor and retaining ring 26 is slipped over
mounting ring 24 so as to attach brace 14 to base 12. Then, cup 18
is secured by means of releasable fastener 20 within trough 28 at a
desired height. Irrigation bag 16, next, is positioned within
trough 28 with its bottom end located within cup 18. Now, a normal
irrigation procedure is conducted by a user with the irrigation bag
16 being filled through its spout 34. With irrigation bag 16
supported and retained in a comfortable position, the possibility
of spilling the contents of bag 16 is greatly reduced.
[0024] Should irrigation bag 16 fill to the point where it is
drooping over the top of trough 28, the position of cup 18 can be
adjusted. To this end, cup 18 is grasped in the hand of a user and
is pulled outwardly from trough 28. This will cause hooks 32 and
loops 30 to disengage. The transverse line of disengagement will
progress lengthwise of the interlocked fastening portions 20A and
20B so that they will separate smoothly. Once separated, cup 18 is
moved downwardly and hooks 32 and loops 30 are pressed together
once again. In the unlikely event that cup 18, brace 14 or base 12
become soiled by the spilled contents of irrigation bag 16, such
can be easily washed with soap and water and reused when
needed.
[0025] While the invention has been described with a high degree of
particularity, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that modifications may be made thereto. Therefore, it is to be
understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole
embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments
within the scope of the following claims.
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