WO1997032557A1

WO1997032557A1 - Urinal for women

Info

Publication number: WO1997032557A1
Application number: PCT/NL1997/000110
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonius Daniel Van Den Burg; Arnold Charles Buringa
Original assignee: Antonius Daniel Van Den Burg; Arnold Charles Buringa
Priority date: 1996-03-08
Filing date: 1997-03-05
Publication date: 1997-09-12
Also published as: NL1002558C2

Abstract

A urinal for use by a woman comprises a container with supporting means for supporting the container on a flat surface, as well as an opening which opens into the container and is surrounded by an annular collar which is matched to the anatomy of the region around the vulva. Stabilizing means are situated on the outside of the container. The stabilizing means comprise a supporting surface situated below the collar. Moreover, receiving means are provided for receiving any liquids which leak along the collar.

Description

Urinal for women

The invention relates to a urinal for use by a woman, comprising a container with supporting means for supporting the container on a flat surface, as well as an opening which opens into the container and is surrounded by an annular collar which is matched to the anatomy of the region around the vulva.

A urinal of this kind is known from CH-A-34 7^4. A urinal of this kind is used by placing the collar around the vulva of a lying or half-lying-half-sitting woman. The collar has to prevent urine from emerging from the container. However, in practice it has been found that leakfree collection of urine is not easily possible using this urinal. Leakage can still occur in the event of sudden movements, since the connection between collar and body is then lost. The urinal can then tilt, one reason for this being the absence of a support directly in the vicinity of the freely projecting collar.

The object of the invention is to provide a urinal for women which is more satisfactory. This object is achieved in that stabilizing means, such as a supporting surface situated below the collar, are situated on the outside of the container. The stabilizing means enable the urinal to maintain its position better, even if the body is moved. Moreover, the stabilizing means counteract tipping over of the urinal.

In a simple embodiment, the supporting means as well as the stabilizing means may be formed by a flat baseplate which projects beyond the container on the side on which the collar is situated. A flat baseplate of this kind provides a very stable support for the urinal.

As mentioned above, leakage can occur in known urinals. Although the risk of leakage is already considerably lower in the case of the stable urinal according to the invention, there is nevertheless a slight risk of leakages. A further improvement in this respect can also be obtained according to the invention if receiving means are provided for receiving any liquids which leak along the collar.

The presence of the receiving means also has a major psychological advantage. These receiving means increase the confidence of the user, which will result in a more relaxed position when using the urinal. The result is that convulsive movements are avoided, which also reduces the risk of leakages.

Preferably, the flat baseplate bears receiving means at the location of the projecting part. These receiving means may be designed in 2 various ways; for example, the projecting part of the baseplate may have a raised rim. Also, the receiving means may comprise at least one cavity in the top side of the projecting part of the baseplate.

The reliability of the urinal may be improved further if the front container wall, which extends between the collar and the stabilizing means, has a shape which is matched to the anatomy of the region below the vulva. The connection of the urinal, also in combination with countering leakages by improving the connection to the body, is further improved as a result; in particular, the front container wall may possess a central rib for this purpose.

The rib may extend as far as over the projecting part of the baseplate, forming two receiving cavities situated on either side of the rib.

The reliability of the receiving means may be increased further if the raised rim has a central raised portion so as to create a seal with respect to the anal cleft. Preferably, the central rib ends at the level of the central raised portion.

In order further to improve the connection, the collar may have an outwardly facing projection on its bottom portion. Also, in this regard the collar may have a raised position with respect to the baseplate sloping slightly towards the baseplate.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiment depicted in the figures.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a urinal according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a front view.

Figure 3 shows the side view.

The urinal depicted in the figures comprises a container 1, which is provided on the underside with a flat baseplate 2 for stable support. On the top side, the container is closed by a curved cap 3. which on the front side has a collar 3 defining the opening 4. On the underside, the collar has a projection 5 which, in use, comes to rest against the underside of the vulva.

The front wall 6 of the container 1, which is situated beneath the collar 3. has a central rib 7 which on either side defines collection trays 8. These collection trays 8 are further bordered by the raised rim

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Any urine which may leak along the collar 3 is collected in the collection trays 8. Further prevention of leakage is provided by the fact 3 that the front wall 6, in particular the central rib 7 and the upwardly running rim 9. provide a good seal for the region beneath the vulva.

As can be seen in Figure 3. the collar 3 slopes slightly forwards and towards the baseplate 2. Moreover, the collar 3 an the projection 6 are formed anatomically, as a result of which a good connection is ensured.

As well as an additional collection capacity, at the location of the collection trays 8 in the top side of the baseplate 2, the projecting part 10 of the baseplate affords excellent stabilization against tilting of the urinal.

Moreover, the raised rim has a raised portion 11, which affords good sealing with respect to the anal cleft. Any urine which leaks out is as a result reliably guided into the collection means.

Claims

1. Urinal for use by a woman, comprising a container (1) with supporting means (2) for supporting the container (1) on a flat surface, as well as an opening (4) which opens into the container (1) and is surrounded by an annular collar (3) which is matched to the anatomy of the region around the vulva, characterized in that stabilizing means (10) are situated on the outside of the container (1).

2. Urinal according to Claim 1, the stabilizing means comprising a supporting surface (10) which is situated below the collar (3). 3> Urinal according to Claim 1 or 2, the supporting means (2) as well as the stabilizing means (10) being formed by a flat baseplate which projects beyond the container (1) on the side on which the collar (3) is situated.

4. Urinal according to one of Claims 1-3i receiving means (8) being provided for receiving any liquids which leak along the collar (3)-

5. Urinal according to Claim k , the flat base plate bearing receiving means (8) at the location of the projecting part (10).

6. Urinal according to Claim 5. the projecting part (10) of the baseplate having a raised rim (9) • 1. Urinal according to Claim 6, the raised rim (9) running over the front wall (6) towards the underside of the collar (3). 8. Urinal according to Claim 5. 6 or 7. the receiving means (8) comprising at least one cavity in the top side of the projecting part (10) of the baseplate. 9. Urinal according to one of the preceding claims, the front container wall (6), which extends between the collar (3) and the receiving means (8) , having a shape which is matched to the anatomy of the region below the vulva.

10. Urinal according to Claim 9. the front container wall (6) having a central rib (7).

11. Urinal according to Claim 10, the rib (7) extending as far as over the projecting part (10) of the baseplate, forming two receiving cavities (8) situated on either side of the rib.

12. Urinal according to one of Claims 9^_10, the raised rim (9) having a central raised portion (11) so as to create a seal with respect to the anal cleft.

13. Urinal according to Claims 11 and 12, the central rib (7) ending at the level of the central raised portion (11).

14. Urinal according to one of the preceding claims, the collar (3) having an outwardly facing projection (5) on its bottom portion. 15. Urinal according to one of the preceding claims, the collar (3) having a raised position with respect to the baseplate and sloping slightly towards the baseplate.