GB2314068A - Urine containers - Google Patents

Abstract

An opaque urine container 10 has been designed so as to tilt up after use, allowing a visual decision to be made as to its state of use, without recourse to manual weighing. The container 10 comprises a pivot member 11 about which it tilts rearwardly when filled to a predetermined extent. A deflector plate 12 may be provided below an aperture 13 and a buoyancy member may be located below the aperture 13.

Description

URINE CONTAINERS This invention relates to urine containers which are in general use for non-ambulant patients.

The purpose of this application is to improve the management of urine containers in hospitals.

Historically, such containers were of recyclable glass or translucent plastic, enabling the nurse to see if the container was full or empty.

Such designs have been superseded by the modern, one trip opaque containers, which has many advantages but one major disadvantage in that nursing staff are unable to see if the container or bottle has been used or not.

In practice the nurse physically lifts an unknown container, effectively weighing it in her hand, from which she decides whether the 'bottle' is empty or used. This is both tedious, time-consuming and often unnecessary drudgery.

Clearly, if such used bottles could be identified at a glance, much effort would be saved.

There are many ways in which this could be done.

(a) The change in humidity could be used to change the colour or part or all the 'bottle' or a sticker attached to it, using a special formulation of chemicals.

(b) The urine acting as an electrolyte could be used to generate current to operate a flashing or non-flashing LED attached to the bonle - or even a musical chip.

(c) The temperature of the urine at 37.5 C could be detected using thermo-sensitive paints, currently employed in thermometers.

Such methods are all feasible but all incur manufacturing complications and cost penalties. However, there may be altemative strategies such as the one here described.

If the 'attitude' of the bottle', i.e the way in which it 'sits' or 'cocks' on a flat surface visibly changed with use, rapid at-a-glance confirmation of its state would be immediate from across a room or ward.

This application describes the design of such a container.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the proposed container.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross section of the empty container on a flat surface, i.e. a locker top.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section of the partially full container on a flat surface with clearly visible tilt upwards of the open end.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another possible alternative design.

Fig. 1, an opaque paper container 10. similar to a commercially available 1 litre design, typically measures 195 x 90 x 60 mm, lying on its side.

It is however distinguished by an integral pivot, 11 and a modified base which shows the deflector plate 12, which feature is central to the invention.

The oval aperture 13 allows easy use of the container by the patient. On the underside there ia an empty space 14 which helps confer the tilting characteristics and also allows nesting for packaging.

Fig. 2, the container 10 is in its nose down and empty position. To ensure this the pivot I I is positioned so as to ensure that the centre of gravity of the empty container is just foward of the pivot..

The deflector plate 12 is angled so as to direct liquid towards the rear of the container. The deflector can be stepped, flat or curved, which in conjunction with the pivot position, defines the volume of liquid at which the container changes its attitude.

The cavity at 14 and the aperture at 13 are self-explanatory.

Fig. 3, the container has switched to nose up on the locker top 15 after some liquid 16 has been added to the container, moving the centre of gravity towards the rear and then behind the pivot. The effect is to generate a clearly visible gap or space 17 beneath the container, which could be colour printed e.g. in fluorescent pink to aid visibility in poor light for example.

FIG. 4 illustrates in perspective, another one of many possible variants, with a formed entry at 19.The the external cavity has been removed, and replaced with internal buoyancy at 18, This could be fabricated with cardboard honeycomb for example. In addition, [ but not illustrated ] the bottle could also have a large, open, stiffener structure to reduce its flexibility. However the key point remains in that the centre of gravity moves rearwards so as to tilt the container up after use.

Claims (6)

1. A new design of tilting urine container, broadly similar in appearance to a commercial 1 litre drink container is proposed, although it could be moulded to enhance rigidity It is claimed that the up tilting of the invention after use is readily discernible by a nurse, obviating the need for lifting the bottle to establish its state, and thus saving much time and effort.

2. The design is such that the extent of the tilt, and the volume over which it occurs, from 50 to 1000 ml is easily controlled. Thus a bottle of 1 litre capacity could be designed to tilt at, say, 400 ml, allowing the patient to add another 400 ml subsequently,so again minimising effort and bottle usage.

3. A moulded commercial urine container in common use, has a brim capacity of 800 ml and a 'footprint' of 110 x 190 mm = 209 sq. cm.

The proposed container has a capacity of 1000 ml and a 'footprint' of only 117 cm sq. cm.

This parameter is particularly important on the limited space of a locker top.

4. The design lends itself to nesting packaging.

5. The surfaces could be colour overprinted, if thought desirable, to help visibility or inform the patient.

6. The invention will minimise stress and "accidents" by those hapless patients, who only find out in the small hours that, through inadvertence, their full "bottles" have not been replaced.