Universal hospital container

Abstract

A rigid universal hospital container comprising a generally ellipsoid body with funnel shaped ends, an opening each end, a cap threaded on each end, a tube with a cap threaded thereon on each cap, and a stand into which the two necks are demountably engaged.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a universal collection and dispensing container for use in hospitals.

The collection of fluids, i.e., body fluids such as urine is a routine procedure in hospitals. Similarly the dispensing of fluids such as for vaginal irrigation is quite common. There are numerous containers for these various purposes, and generally each container is rather specific in its utilization, i.e., urine collection, enema, douche and the like. This can be readily appreciated, since there are entirely different considerations, requirements and purposes.

The end result of this diversification or specialization is a disproporately large amount of storage space or area devoted to fluid containers. This is the result of the need to maintain a sufficient inventory for each class of container, usually far in excess of the predicable total need for containers.

One of the solutions to this problem of space has been collapsable containers, such as rubber bottles. However, collapsable bottles are not looked on with favor by hospital staffs and are more difficult to handle and require more handling and care in their use. Hence, when each use is considered as a part of the total use, there can be a incremental increase in labor cost, which should be avoided, particularly in view of the current high hospital costs and pressures for still higher costs.

It is an object of this invention to provide a universal fluid collection and dispensing container. It is a further object of this invention to provide a relatively rigid container having multiple use capacity. Another object is to achieve a reduction in the total space devoted to container storage by providing a single container with universal application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated the present invention is a universal hospital container comprising an enclosed body having an upper opening, a lower opening, a closure means for each of said openings, said body having a configuration such that said body can be positioned in at least one fixed position wherein substantially complete drainage of fluids therefrom through said lower opening can be achieved.

In addition the container can have a stand means, a handle means and means for hanging or suspending it.

The configuration of the body can vary, but generally the lower end toward the lower opening will have a funnel or frustum configuration so that there will be no obstruction to drainage through the lower opening. It is not essential that the lower opening be in a drainage position in all uses. It is essential only that this configuration be available in at least one fixed position such that substantially complete drainage can be achieved when desired such as in a vaginal irrigation.

The closure means for the openings can be snap-on or screw-on caps and the caps may be equipped with one or more openings or tubes therein which are also equipped with a similar type of closure means. The openings can be substantially flush with the surface of the body of the container; however, they preferably will have a neck adapted to receive the closure means, e.g., with threads or ridges thereon.

A particular feature of the present container is a stand which allows the container to be conveniently positioned for filing. The stand is such that it does not interfere with the positioning of the container for discharge of fluids.

The container can be made of a variety of materials including, for example, rigid or semi-rigid polymeric material, glass or the like. A preferred embodiment employs a polymer such as polyvinyl, chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, methylmethacrylate or the like with a thickness of about 1/64 - 1/16 inch. The material should be at least translucent and a substantially clear, uncolored material is more preferred so that the fluid in the container can be observed. For convenience the container body can have measuring indicia thereon.

The capacity of the container can be any of those generally found in similar service in hospitals; however, it is contemplated that such containers will have capacities of from one pint to a gallon or about 0.5 to 4 liters.

It is an advantage of the present container that it can function in most hospitals functions for the collection and dispensing of fluids. It is a further advantage that the use of this container will reduce the storage space formerly required for the same degree of fluid handling capacity. The present container also provides an advantage in simplification of inventory maintenance and ordering replacements. Another advantage of the present container is its general applicability throughout a hospital. A particular feature of the present container is that it can be used in both a hanging or setting position and can be filled and drain concurrently or without disrupting either of said functions while performing the other function.

These advantages and features of the present invention, as well as others will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, the drawing and the invention in relation to the drawing.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures of the drawing. The present invention will be better understood by reference to the drawing and the detailed description thereof.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present universal hospital container.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of one end of the present container.

FIG. 3 is a partial elevational view of the container in filling or collecting use.

FIG. 4 is a partial elevational view of the container in a draining or irrigating use.

FIG. 5 is isometric view of an alternate cap configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 a universal fluid container is shown mounted with its stand 2. The body 1 of the container is depicted here as substantially ellipsoidal and can be seen to be clear. Along the surface of the body indicia 8 can be used to measure the liquid content. Each end of the body 1 in this embodiment is a substantial duplicate of the opposite end. Located at each apex of the elliposoid body 1 is a neck 5 on which a cap 3 is removably mounted. Each cap 3 has a tube 4 extending therefrom for ingress and/or egress and a small cap 7 removably mounted on the tube 4.

Referring now to FIG. 2 the cap 3 can be seen in detail. The neck 5 is seen to have threads thereon and the cap 3 has corresponding internal threads. Hence the cap 3 is removable and replaceable. Each cap is also fitted with the tube 4 which allows a tube to be attached thereto as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The small cap 7 is internally threaded to mount on threads 10 on the tube 4 and is also removable and replaceable.

Because it is small cap 7 is attached to annular member 12 by strap 11 which is forced down below the threads 10 on tube 4 and is freely rotatable about the tube when so seated. Forcing the annular member over the threads is aided by the notches 13 shown in FIG. 5. Also the cap 7, strap 11 and annular member 12 are a single piece, preferably made from a resilient material such as extruded plastic. The resiliency or give in the material also aids in seating the annular member as shown.

Referring back to FIG. 1 it should be appreciated that each cap 3 need not be the same. For example, a tube 4 need not be present. Moreover in use one or both of the caps 3 can be entirely removed. Similarly small caps 7 can be removed and tubing or other devices attached thereto.

The stand 2 to which body 1 is mounted provides the means to set the container on a counter or on the floor for filling. The essential features of the stand are the flat surface 20 and the two end members 18 and 19, upper and lower respectively. These two ends are substantially parallel to one another and each has a snap fit opening 17 aligned with the opening in the opposite end. The upper end member 18 is connected to surface 20 by member 16. The neck 5 of body 1 snaps into the opening and in a sense makes the stand 2 and body 1 into a single device.

The end members will generally be bent at an angle of 10.degree. to 80.degree. with regard to the flat surface 20. This allows complete drainage from the lower end of the container and also makes filling the container much easier and allows for substantially complete filling of the container.

An alternate means of support for the container is provided by rings 6 on the surface. This utilization is shown in greater detail in FIG. 4, which is a gastric feeding set-up. A cord 26 is looped through opening 21 in the rings and attached to suitable support (not shown). A liquid 22 in body 1 is fed through tube 4 into pet-cock 23, hence into feeding tube 24 to the fitting 25. This same set-up with the appropriate tubing and fitting thereon, such as enema and vaginal fittings, can have additional utility.

In FIG. 3 a filling utilization is shown. For example, the set-up could be a urine drain (non-sterile) with the drain tube 105 carring the flow of urine into the container body 101 through tube 104 on cap 103. A septic gap is provided in line 105 by trap 106. It should be appreciated that the threads or ridges on tube 104 aid in securing the tubing thereto.

In FIG. 5 an alternate or modified cap 3 is shown with a holster 15 attached to the cap by brace 14. The holster provides a convenient means of holding the tube 24 from a set-up such as shown in FIG. 4 from a preparative area to the patient.

It can be readily appreciated that there are numerous conventional modifications which can be made in the present invention without changing the basic concept thereof. For example, the stand 2 can be set-up with surface 16 as the foot or base instead of surface 20. Similarly the shape of the body can be narrowed, fattened, bent, etc. Other obvious changes are addition of one or more ingress and egress means on the cap, a handle on the body or the stand and the like. It can be appreciated that the present system is also adapted for use in vacuum collections, wherein a suction is placed on the container to collect the fluids therein. This can be easily achieved with an embodiment wherein there are two ingress and egress means on one cap, i.e., one of said means is the ingress through which the fluid is collected and the other is the egress on which a vacuum is pulled.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. A universal hospital container comprising an enclosed ellipsoid body having substantially duplicate ends a frustrum at each end of the long axis of said body, a neck extending from each of said frustrums, an opening at the end of each of said necks, a cap threaded onto each neck, a tube extending from each cap and opening into said neck, a cap threaded onto each tube, a base, a plate angularly attached to said base, two end members, one each being attached to said base and said plate respectively and a slot in each of said end members, each of said slots demountably engaging one of said necks.

2. The container according to claim 1 wherein said end members are substantially parallel.

3. The container according to claim 2 wherein said end member lie on a plane at an angle of 10.degree. to 80.degree. to said base.