US2944551A - Body appliance - Google Patents

Description

July 12, 1960 INVENTOR.

647/ ,5 reef,

J, tv

2,944,551 PatentedJtiiy 12, 1960 ice- 2,944,551 BODY APPLIANCE Carl Breer, 15600 Windmill Point Drive,

' Grosse Pointe, Mich.

Filed Sept. 8, 1958, Ser. No, 759,637

3 Claims. (or. 123-295 V This invention relates to a device or apparatus for the confining, collection and removal of urine discharged by an invalid or an infant. This invention is concernedparticularly with an apparatus having a collector bag that can be sealingly applied to the crotch portionof'the human body by means of a suction action that also acts to collect and withdraw the fluid resulting from anact of urination or the like. e e

2 a the attainment of the maximum amount of rest and the benefits associated therewith. This invention relates to a device in the nature of an undergarment that may be readily applied to and worn on the crotch portion of the human body without any discomfort whatever and which *device will entrap and drain away the results of any act of urination or the like without causing any soiling of the patients bed garments or the bedding on which the posited in an accumulator jar, tank. or the like.

7 the urine will not be'in contact with the exterior skin surfaces of thecrotch portion for any appreciable time vwhatever. This tends to prevent the development of It is a primary object of this invention to provide an;

apparatus including a collector bag that may befapplied to the crotch portion ofthe human body and, sealingly re tained in position by sub-atmospheric internal-pressure such that any fluid discharged into the bag will be trapped within the bag and readily removed 'therefro nby means of the suction source producing the sub-atmospheric pressure within the bag. 1

It is still another object of this invention to provide a urination control device that is easily-applied to and.

comfortably retain in position on the crotch portion of a human being such that the user has'freedom of movement and can enjoy uninterrupted rest while using this device.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a urination control device having a pants-like collector bag to be worn on the crotch portion of the human body with said collector bag being readily connectible'to any common type of sub-atmospheric pressure source such that the subatmospheric pressure within the bag will produce a liquid tight seal between the bag and the surrounded body portion and also cause withdrawal of any fluid discharged into the bag.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a device for persons experiencing urination control prob lems wherein a pressure difierential'is utilized to effect a leakproof seal and to drain away any, fluid' that may be emitted.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be- 7 come readily apparent from a reading of the following description and a consideration of the related; drawings wherein: a 1

Fig. 1 is'an elevational view, partly i embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view bribed-,5

lector bag utilized with the invention shown inFi'g, 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line4--4ofFig. 3;

and furthermore, these acts produce objectionable bed conditions that disturb the patient or infant and prevent viewof the collector bag skin irritations that sometimes result from the contact between urine and the external skin around the crotch portion. Also, because the urine is immediately drained away after .its emission there is little chance for any leaksage to develop or' for any odors to develop.

The immediate removal of the urine from the collector bag after its collection prevents any uncomfortableness that might result from having'the bag swell due to liquid filling the bag interior. I I

This invention involves the use of a physical principle in a specific manner that is thought to be new and novel as applied to devices of this general type. 'It is a Wellknown principle that liquid will not, in and of itself, flow up hill. Likewise, liquid cannot freely flow. from a low pressure chamber to a high pressure chamber. Accordingly, if liquid is collected in a collector bag, or the like, wherein the internal pressure is sub-atmospheric, then the collected liquid cannot flow or leak out of the bag to the adjacent, relatively high pressure, atmosphere. By the connection of the aforedescribed collector bag to a subatmosphericor vacuum source, the low pressure source accomplishes two functions that are new and quite advantageous in devices of this type. I First the low pressure produced within the collector bag causes the relatively high atmospheric pressure outside of the bag to hold the bag in sealing engagement with the patients body so that any urine or other liquid matter discharged into the col lectorbag cannot leak out of the bag. Second, the low pressure suction source will cause immediate withdrawal of the liquid from the'collector bag after'the urinary act so that the liquid may be readily discharged into an accumulator jar, reservoir, discharge trap, or the like. ;v I This'prevents any bu lkiness-being developed Wlthillrth, n'section of one bag during use. Quick removal of the urine .deposited in the bag will also 'preventiskin irritation. The immediate removal of the urine from the collector bag will alsorprevent thedevelopment of odors Immediate removal of the, urine also keeps the bag dry on the inside'so that in 2 the eventa leak should accidentally develop due to activity a on thepart of the patient, then there will be nospillageof urine onlto the/adjacentv bedding, undergarments, or

the like. The dual function of the, sub-atmospheric pressure source that is attached to the urine collector bag is thoughtto be new and novelin devices of the general type herein described;

Looking at the' drawings Fig. .1 shows one form oft"; this invention wherein the collector bag 10 is connected by a conduit 11a, 11b to a subatmospheric suction pump P. Intermediate the adjacent ends of the conduit sec- 5 v tions 1-1a,11b,;there is anaccumulator jar or reservoir 13. In the instance shown the jar 13 is in the form of a pitcher having a handle 14, a pouring spout 15 that is a closed off by a removable cap 16, and a removable cover 17 to seal ofi the interior of the pitcher, Conduit section 11a has one end connected to the interior of the accumulator 13 through a sealproof grommet 18. The other end of conduit section 11a is sealingly connected to the collector bag 11 as will be presently explained. One end of the conduit section 11:! is likewise connected to the interior of the pitcher 13 by means of a sealproof grornmet 19. The other end of conduit section lib is conneeted to the suction pump P. 7

Pump P- is preferably electric motor driven by a motor M. The motor M may be of variable speed control, or at least have two speeds, so that one sub-atmospheric pres sure can be produced at a relatively low motor speed to take care of the patient when he is normally resting in bed-in a relaxed condition and a second higher speed to produce a greater sub-atmospheric pressure to take care of the patient when he might be more active than normally. The motor M is shown with a control lead 21 having a control switch 22 with two contacts F and S to denote fast or slow speed depending on what degree of sub-atmospheric pressure is desired. For normal requirements pump speeds that will produce snb atmos pheric pressures of from 2 to 8 inches of mercury are satisfactory,

The pump P can be any form of suction pump such as l a vane, slipper, piston or rotor type. It is necessary that the pump P be quiet and of a type that does not'require oil or grease type lubrication. There is 'a dangerof fumes or impurities being discharged into the room of r the patient if oil or grease lubricants are required for either the pump P or the motor M. Pump P is provided with an adjustable suction control valve such that the maximum sub-atmospheric pressure to be developed in the collector bag it can be readily controlled. Any type of limit valve V may be used. The type shown is just by way of example and is not indicative of any preferred type.

The collector bag 10, which involves the nucleus ofthis invention, is essentially a' pair of waterproof pants formed from a sheet of elastic material. These pants have zipper fasteners 31 along each'side seam so that the pants-like unit can be opened up into substantially a flat sheet for easy insertion beneath a patient. Any typeof fastening means 31 could be 'used. Alternatively fthe collector bag unit 19 could be a single piece or integral unit that would be applied to the patientas a conventional pair of underpantswould be put on. The leg openings 32 in collector bag it have enlarged roll edges 33 so that they may efiectively seal against the patients legs when the interior of the collector bag is subject to a sub-atmospheric pressure. The upper edge 34 of the collector bag It} is also formed with an enlarged roll edge so that it may effectively seal against the patients body. The actual crotch portion '35of the collectorbag ltl is outlined by a series of inwardly projecting ribs 36. These ribs 36 prevent complete collapse of the collector bag 10 when it is subjected to a sub-atmospheric pressure. These ribs 36 also provide effective sealing lips to define the area within which the urine will be collected. The spaced apart ribs 3dprovide multiple iip seals that prevent leakage of any urine from within'the bag 10. It will be noted that the lip seals 36 are of such a shape that they restrict the urine collection a-rea to a relatively small part of the pants-like collector bag 10. The portions of thebag it above the ribs as can be perforated V as at 39 to permit air to readily circulate and thus prevent perspiration formation. The lowerpart 38 of the crotch portion 35 of the collector bag 10 is shaped toprovide a trough-like channel to collect the urine discharged into the bag. Trough 38 is connected to the conduit 11a so that any urine collected intrough 38 can be readily passed into the accumulator jar i3. It, has

4 been found that the very thin, flexible, rubber-like materials and synthetic rubbers and waterproof plastic materials that are being used for certain undergarments at I the present time are also quite adaptable'for formation 6 of the collector bag 10. It will also be noted from the drawings that the walls of the trough 38 may be relatively thick to resist collapse when the conduit 11a is connected to a sub-atmospheric pressure source. Trough 38 is not a stiff section because it must he flexible enough 10 to conform to body crotch portion.

' Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of this invention that is quite inexpensive and quite satisfactory if a water outlet is conveniently located with respect to the patient. In this form of the invention the same type of collector bag Ill is adapted to be applied to the patient and the conduit 11a connects the drain trough 38 of the collector bag 10 to a water ejector fitting 41. Ejector fitting 41 is essentially nothing other than a venturi such that when waterfront outlet 42 passes through conduit 11c and through the ejector venturi 41 into the discharge conduit 11d a subfatmospheric pressure will be developedin the conduit 11d and in the interior of the collectorbag 10. As'fwith the other form of the invention shown in Figs. l-5,fthe s'ub atmos'pheric pressure in conduit 11:: is applied to the interio'r'of the collector bag'ltl to eifecta leakproof seal between the bag 10 and the body of the patient using the device. Furthermore, the sub-atmospheric pressure in conduit 11a produces a suction that withdraws the liquid'collected inbag trough 38 and deposits it in the discharge conduit 1161 so that it may be conducted to'a discltiarge traporthe like. From the'foregoing description it is clear that there has been provided a new and improvedtype of urination control device that is of a simple, inexpensive, form one that is equally applicable to a male or female person. The design'of the collector bag unit of this device is such that it is easy to apply, leakproof, comfortable to wear and conducive to uninterrupted rest. The use of a two-speed motor M to drive the suction pump P and the incorporation of a pressure limit valve V in the suction system are other features that'insure the efficient operation of this device without any discomfort to the user.

.I claim:

45 l. Ina urination control device a urine collector bag comprising a pants-like garment of water-proof material having a collector trough formed in the crotch portion thereof, a discharge conduit connected to said'collector trough, and inwardly projecting ribs ion the interior eut- 5 face of said garment surrounding said crotch portion and adapted to seal oif said crotch portion against'the adjacent portions of a human body when the interior of said garment is subjected 'to a sub-atmospheric pressure while the. bag is applied to the crotch portion of a human body,

a motor driven source of sub-atmospheric pressure connected to said conduit means, and a pressure control valve connected to said pressure source to limit the pressure; :applied to said collector hag. i

" "2. In a urinationcontrol' device a urine collector bag 0 comprising a pants-like garment'of water-proof material having a collector trough formed in the crotch portion thereof, a discharge conduit connected to said collector trough, and inwardly projecting ribson the interior Surface of said garment surrounding said crotch portion and 35 adapted to seal on said crotch portion against the adjacent portions of a human body when the interior of said garment is subjected to a sub-atmospheric pressure while I the bag is applied to the crotch portion of a human body,

a motor driven source of sub-atmospheric pressure con- 7 nected to said conduit means, and a pressure control valve connected to saidpressure' source tov limitthe pressure applied to said collector bag, said motor driven pres: sure source including a variable speed motor to provide means to varythe pressure applied to said collector bag. .275 3. A urination control device for use by a human being comprising a'fluid collector bag to be worn by a patient in the form of a liquid-proof, pants-like, garment having a trough-like crotch portion that is surrounded by internally disposed sealing rib means extending continuously around said crotch portion, a fluid drain conduit connected to said crotch portion, a motor driven suction pump connected to said conduit to provide a sub-atmospheric pressure within the collector bag to cause the continuous, internally ribbed, portions of the bag to be drawn into sealing engagement with the body of the patient, said pump also functioning to withdraw any fluid deposited within the bag crotch portion, and an accumulator tank connected to said fluid drain conduit to receive the fluid withdrawn from the collector bag by said pump;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Businger Jan. 21, 1930 Kurtz Jan. 10, |1950 Lent et al June 12, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS

Images