U.S. patent application number 11/377564 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-20 for female urinal with discharge conduit.
Invention is credited to Mario Carromba, Rosemary Veramendi.
Application Number | 20070214553 11/377564 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38516184 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070214553 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Carromba; Mario ; et
al. |
September 20, 2007 |
Female urinal with discharge conduit
Abstract
A disposable sanitation device to assist a female while
urinating is provided. The device can have a basin manufactured
from a flexible water resistant membrane. The basin can have a rim
with a sealing surface. A discharge conduit can be sealably
connected to the basin. The discharge conduit can have an inlet
coupled to the basin at a first end. At a second end of the
discharge conduit an outlet can direct a stream of urine. The
device including the sealing surface can be made from a latex
compound such that it can form a substantial seal with the body.
The device can have a wire frame reinforcing member that dictates
the shape of the device. In one embodiment the wire can form a
basin that conforms to female body and has a gripping surface such
that pressure can be applied with the sealing surface to increase
the sealing feature.
Inventors: |
Carromba; Mario; (Sterling,
VA) ; Veramendi; Rosemary; (Sterling, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Galasso & Associates, LP
P.O. Box 26503
Austin
TX
78755-0503
US
|
Family ID: |
38516184 |
Appl. No.: |
11/377564 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/144.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 5/4556 20130101;
A47K 11/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/144.4 |
International
Class: |
A47K 11/00 20060101
A47K011/00 |
Claims
1. A disposable sanitation device comprising: a foldable liquid
deflecting membrane forming a basin having a curved rim; a sealing
surface coupled to the curved rim of the membrane; and a flexible
discharge conduit sealably connected to the membrane wherein the
sealing surface can be placed against a users skin and a stream of
urine can be directed in a desired direction utilizing the flexible
discharge conduit.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the membrane comprises latex.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the sealing surface comprises
latex.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the discharge conduit comprises
latex.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein the discharge conduit is glued to
the foldable liquid deflecting membrane.
6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a reinforcing member
proximate to the sealing surface.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein the reinforcing member comprises a
wire.
8. The device of claim 6 wherein the reinforcing member comprises
plastic.
9. The device of claim 6 further comprising a gripping surface
formed by the reinforcing member.
10. The device of claim 1 wherein the membrane is
biodegradable.
11. The device of claim 1 wherein the curved rim is adapted to fit
over a labia.
12. A method for manufacturing a hygiene device comprising: forming
a basin with a latex membrane, the basin having an oval edge;
placing a sealing surface on the oval edge; and attaching a
discharge conduit to the basin.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein forming comprises heating the
latex.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein forming comprises applying a
chemical to the latex.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein attaching comprises heating the
latex.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein attaching comprises applying a
chemical to the latex.
17. An apparatus comprising: an oval latex membrane having a first
end; and a conduit attached to the first end of the latex membrane
wherein placement of the oval latex member proximate to a female
urethra can divert a stream of urine into the conduit.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first end has a
curvature.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the conduit is longer than
four inches in length.
20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the oval latex member
measures more than an inch wide by four inches long.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The present disclosure is generally related to feminine
hygiene products and more particularly to a disposable female
urinal with a discharge conduit.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Sickness and disease caused by pathogens, "germs," and/or
viruses continues to be a concern for many. Pathogens can enter the
body through the skin or mucous membranes and when this occurs,
serious illnesses and even death can result. Many pathogens are
airborne in small densities however, harmful pathogens can be found
in higher concentrations on horizontal surfaces in places such as
bathrooms. One reason for such high concentrations of harmful
pathogens in bathrooms, is that a large number of people from
diverse origins, possibly with questionable hygiene practices and
possibly with infectious dieses, frequent bathrooms and leave
pathogens in bathrooms. Tests have shown that abnormally high
amounts of pathogens exist in some bathrooms and high amounts of
pathogens can occur on surfaces such as the surface of a lavatory
seat.
[0003] One reason that pathogens get deposited on these surfaces is
that the bare skin of an individual often directly contacts the
seat, and any pathogens on one's skin can be transferred to people
who subsequently sit down on the seat. Not everyone has the highest
level of hygiene and caution should be exercised when using such
facilities. However, limiting the amount of physical contact with a
lavatory seat may prove rather awkward for females during
urination. Paper liners are sometimes available in bathrooms but
these liners are difficult to use and can slip on the seat exposing
the users skin to surfaces of the lavatory seat. The female
population generally desires to relieve themselves without making a
mess and without contacting a seat of a lavatory.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a front view of a female urinal with a discharge
conduit; and
[0005] FIG. 2 is a side view of a female urinal with a discharge
conduit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The following is a detailed description of novel embodiments
depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such
detail as to clearly communicate the subject matter. However, the
amount of detail offered is not intended to limit anticipated
variations of the described embodiments, but on the contrary, the
claims and detailed description are to cover all modifications,
equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope
of the present teachings as defmed by the appended claims. The
detailed descriptions below are designed to make such embodiments
understandable to a person having ordinary skill in the art.
[0007] Generally, methods and arrangements for allowing a female to
urinate in a clean and sanitary manner are provided herein. While
specific embodiments will be described below with reference to a
physical configuration, those of skill in the art will realize that
embodiments may advantageously be implemented with other
configurations.
[0008] Referring to FIG. 1, a front view of a female urinal with a
discharge conduit is depicted. The urinal 2 can have a basin 4
connected to a discharge conduit 8. The urinal can also have a
sealing surface 6 formed or attached at a rim of the basin 4. The
basin 4 can be oval when viewed from the front and shaped to fit
over a female's labia. The discharge conduit 8 can be a tube that
includes an entry port 10 and a discharge port 12. The basin 4 can
be made from a nonabsorbent semi rigid or flexible material such as
a biodegradable plastic. In a specific embodiment, the basin 4 can
be made from a thin latex material and sealing surface 6 can be
made from rolling a latex material at the rim or edge of the basin
4 to provide the sealing surface 6 such that a good seal can be
achieved between the basin 4 and the skin of the user.
[0009] Referring to FIG. 2, a side view of the urinal 2 is
provided. Urinal 2 is shown with a basin 4 that follows a compound
curve. The rim of the basin 4 can have a sealing surface 6 which
has an arcuate shape such that the urinal 2 can better conform to
the radius of the body of a female, proximate to the urethra.
[0010] As stated above the urinal 2 can have a discharge conduit 8
connected to a first end of the basin and the discharge conduit 8
can have an entry port 10 and a discharge port 12. The back side of
the basin 4 can have a raised portion to act as a griping surface
16 such that the urinal 2 can be easily held into position by the
user. During operation, the user can hold the gripping surface 16
and apply pressure to the body to create a watertight seal between
the sealing edge 6 and the body. The discharge conduit 8 can direct
a stream of urine away from the body of the user in a known
direction.
[0011] In a specific embodiment, the discharge conduit 10 of the
urinal 2 can be flexible and can be directed to discharge the urine
stream in a desired direction. This allows a user to direct the
stream of urine into a lavatory thereby allowing the urinator to
avoid contact with the lavatory seat and prevent urine from being
sprayed in an undesirable direction.
[0012] A reinforcing member 18 can be placed proximate to the
sealing surface 6 such that the sealing surface 6 can retain a
shape that is similar to a female's labia majora or labia minora.
The reinforcing member 18 can also extend outward from the sealing
surface 6 such that the reinforcing member can form the gripping
surface 16, where the gripping surface 16 can be securely gripped
between the thumb and index finger allowing the user to press the
urinal 2 to the body. The reinforcing member 18 could be made from
a wire or it could be made from plastic such as ABS or PVC.
[0013] During operation, a female can stand directly over a
lavatory, grip the gripping surface 16 and place the urinal over
her labia and begin to relieve herself. When urine is discharged
from the urethra of the female, the basin 4 can capture the urine
and funnel the urine into the entry port 10 of the discharge
conduit 8.
[0014] Discharge tube 10 could be manufactured from latex tubing
and basin 4 could be manufactured from a sheet of stretchy latex
material. The urinal 2 could be manufactured by partially folding a
specially cut sheet of latex and gluing the sheet on two opposing
ends, then fusing a latex tube to the folded latex membrane. The
latex membrane could have a thickness and grade similar to that
utilized in the manufacture of condoms or surgical gloves. Sealing
surface 6 could be made from a soft material such as a foam rubber
to provide the seal between the urinal 2 and the body of the
urinator.
[0015] In a specific embodiment, the basin 4 is oval shaped having
a width of approximately 2 inches and a length, not including the
discharge conduit 10 of approximately 5 inches. The basin 4 could
have a depth of approximately one and a half inches. The discharge
conduit 10 could be approximately six and a half inches long and
three quarters of an inch in diameter such that flow is not
restricted. However, urinal 2 could be manufactured in various
sizes. For example, in other embodiments a urinal could be
manufactured that fits younger females and such urinals would be
smaller. In another embodiment the basin 4 and sealing surface 6
could be small and only cover an area around the urethra. In this
embodiment the urinal 2 can have a sealing surface 6 that will fit
over the urethra and the sealing surface 6 can be pressed to the
peripheral floor.
[0016] After the individual has finished urinating the individual
can dispose of the urinal 2 into a waste basket. When packaged for
sale urinal 2 can be folded or roller into a very small package.
Urinals 2 made out of latex it can be rolled into a very small
cylindrically shaped package. For example, urinal could be carried
in a small container similar to how tampons are carries. Further,
the urinals could be placed in a vending machine on the walls of
public restrooms.
[0017] The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered
illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are
intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other
embodiments which fall within the true spirit and scope of the
present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the
scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest
permissible interpretation of the following claims and their
equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the
foregoing detailed description.
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