US20060080768A1

US20060080768A1 - Disposable bedside waste liner

Info

Publication number: US20060080768A1
Application number: US10/968,193
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-19
Filing date: 2004-10-19
Publication date: 2006-04-20

Abstract

A portable commode and method of using the portable commode. The portable commode comprises a frame configured to support a person, the frame having a back, a plurality of legs and a seat. The seat includes a top, a bottom and a seat aperture defined through the top and bottom for the passage of waste from the person. The portable commode further comprises a waste container removably connected to the seat and a waste liner removably positioned within the waste container opposite the seat wherein the waste liner is configured to receive the waste. The method of using the portable commode comprises removably positioning a waste liner into a waste container and removably connecting the waste container to a seat. The waste liner then collects waste discharged from the seat.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a disposable waste liner and a method of using the disposable waste liner. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a disposable waste liner combined with a portable commode in order to handle human waste in a portable fashion.
Healthcare patients such as those admitted to a hospital typically use a catheter to pass urine out of the body. These patients also use a bedpan to collect bowel waste. Catheters, however, require insertion into the body leading to pain experienced by the patient. Additionally, catheters require routine checkups by hospital personnel to monitor the volume status of the catheter. Bedpans, meanwhile, result in waste being discharged directly into a container. For many patients, this direct discharge leads to messy and unsanitary conditions since the waste may contact the patient. As such, the patient must be cleaned immediately after use of the bedpan leading to constant monitoring by hospital personnel. Additionally, the used bedpan requires a thorough cleaning by the hospital personnel leading to increased maintenance cost for the patient.
Other healthcare recipients such as nursing home residents or home hospice residents also use bedpans to collect waste. As previously stated, these bedpans result in a messy and unsanitary condition for the user and for the caretaker personnel who clean the bedpans. Residents who are not confined to a bed must rely on a bathroom located at a distance from the bed. This bathroom may be a common bathroom for a plurality of resident rooms. This situation requires the residents to walk the distance to the bathroom leading to increased risk of injury for the resident.
As such, healthcare institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes need a portable commode for those patients/residents not requiring bed rest. These institutions, though, require a portable commode which is convenient and sanitary for the user while offering low maintenance and efficient clean up by the caretaker personnel.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a disposable commode liner and a method of using the disposable commode liner. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a removable waste liner that collects human waste in a convenient, sanitary and portable fashion. In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a portable commode which comprises a frame configured to support a person. The frame has a back, a plurality of legs and a seat wherein the seat includes a top, a bottom and a seat aperture defined through the top and bottom for the passage of waste from the person. The portable commode further comprises a waste container removably connected to the seat and a waste liner removably positioned within the waste container opposite the seat. The waste liner is configured to receive the waste discharged from the seat aperture.
In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a method of containing waste in a portable commode. The method comprises removably positioning a waste liner into a waste container. Next, the user removably connects the waste container to a seat, wherein the waste liner collects waste discharged from the seat aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating a waste liner and a waste container of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the waste liner removably positioned within the waste container of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a plurality of waste liners disposed within the waste container wherein the plurality of waste liners are held against the waste container by a retainer;
FIG. 4 is a top elevational view of a portable commode using the waste liner of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the portable commode of FIG. 4 illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

As stated, the present disclosure relates to a waste liner and a method of using a waste liner with a portable commode. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a removable waste liner that collects human waste in a convenient, sanitary and portable fashion.
FIG. 1 illustrates in a side elevational view an embodiment of the present disclosure generally shown as apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 comprises a waste liner 10 and a waste container 12. The waste liner 10 includes a body 14 and elastomeric portion 16 associated with the body 14, wherein the elastomeric portion 16 is adapted to a form of a variety of configurations. In an embodiment, the waste liner 10 may comprise any plastic material which can contain human waste. The elastomeric portion 16 further includes a closure means 18 which is adapted to close the elastomeric portion 16 after the waster liner 10 has received the waste as will be discussed. In an embodiment, the closure means 18 may comprise a retractable member such as a draw string or a draw tie. The closure means 18 may be positioned within the elastomeric portion 16. In another embodiment, the closure means 18 may be attached to the body 14 of the waste liner 10.
The waste container 12 is adapted to receive the waste liner 10. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the waste container 12 comprises a substantially rigid body which forms an exterior surface 20, interior surface 22, a bottom surface 24 and a top surface 26. The top surface 26 includes an edge 28 which forms a waste aperture 30 into the interior surface 22. The bottom surface 24, meanwhile partially encloses the interior surface 22. The waste container 12 further includes a plurality of handles 32 removably connected to the exterior surface 20. In an embodiment, the handles 32 extend outward and upward from the exterior surface 20.
Turning to FIG. 2, the waste liner 10 is shown removably positioned within the waste container 12. As illustrated, the waste liner 10 inserts within the waste container 12 to cover the interior surface 22 and bottom surface 24 of the waste container 12. The elastomeric portion 16 is adapted to elastically position over and around the edge 28 (FIG. 1) of the top surface 26 (FIG. 1) in order to secure attachment of the waste liner 10 to the waste container 12. As configured, the elastomeric portion 16 secures the waste liner 10 within the waste container 12 wherein the body 14 of the waste liner 10 inserts through the waste aperture 30 (FIG. 1) to cover the interior surface 22 and bottom surface 24.
Turning to FIG. 3, in an embodiment, the waste liner 10 comprises a plurality of waste liners 10 which may be telescopically positioned within the waste container 12. The elastomeric portions 16 of the plurality of waste liners 10 elastically position over and around the edge 28 of the top surface 26 when disposed within the waste container 12. As configured, the plurality of waste liners 10 may include an outer most waste liner 32 and an inner most waste liner 34.
The outer most waste liner 32 is exposed to the waste aperture 30 (FIG. 1) while being adapted to elastically position over and around the edge 28 of the waste container 12. The inner most waste liner 34 is positioned adjacent the interior surface 22 and bottom surface 24 of the waste container 12. In an embodiment, the inner most waste liner 34 includes an indicia member 36 which is adapted to indicate that the inner most waste liner 34 is the last of the plurality of waste liners 10 positioned within the waste container 12. The indicia member 36 may include indications such as a particular color or a notice printed on the inner most waste liner 34.
A retainer 38 attaches to the waste container 12 in order to maintain the outer most waste liner 32 against the waste container 12. The retainer 38 may attach to the top surface 26 (FIG. 1) of waste container 12. Alternatively, the retainer 38 may attach to the exterior surface 20 (FIG. 1) of the waste container 12. The retainer 38 is adapted to reciprocate between a first position 40 and a second position 42. In the first position 40, the retainer 38 is adapted to apply pressure against the outer most waste liner 32 of the plurality of waste liners 10 such that the outer most waste liner 32 is maintained against the waste container 12. In the second position 42, the retainer 38 is adapted to apply pressure against the outer most waste liner 32 of the plurality of waste liners 10 such that the outer most waste liner 32 is free from being maintained against the waste container 12 during use. In an embodiment, the retainer 38 may not contact the outer most waste liner 32 when the retainer 38 is in the second position 42.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a portable commode 44 of the present disclosure is shown utilizing the waste liner 10 and the waste container 12. The portable commode 44 comprises a frame 46 having a back 14, a plurality of legs 50 and a seat 52. The seat includes a top 54, a bottom 56 and a seat aperture 58 defined through the top 54 and the bottom 56 for the passage of waste 60 from the person using the portable commode 44. The waste container 12 removably connects to the seat 52, wherein the waste aperture 30 of the waste container 12 is in communication with the seat aperture 58. As illustrated, the waste liner 10 is removably positioned within the waste container 12. In an embodiment, the waste container 12 may be positioned below the seat 52 such that the top surface 26 (FIG. 1) and edge 28 (FIG. 1) of the waste container 12 are positioned below the top 54 of the seat 52. In an embodiment, the waste container 12 may be positioned flush with respect to the seat 52 such that the top surface 26 and edge 28 of the waste container 12 are positioned flush with the top 54 of the seat 52. In either embodiment, the handles 32 extend above the seat 52. Additionally, the closure means 18 (FIG. 1) positioned within the elastomeric portion 16 (FIG. 1) is disposed near the seat 52. As configured, the waste liner 10, positioned within the waste container 12, is adapted to receive the waste 60 which passes through the seat aperture 58.
Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the present disclosure relates to a method of containing waste 60 in the portable commode 44. During use, the user removably positions the waste liner 10 into the waste container 12 wherein the user inserts the body 14 of the waste liner 10 against the interior surface 22 of the waste container 12. The user then elastically positions the elastomeric portion 16 over and around the edge 28 of the top surface 26 of the waste container 12 in order to secure attachment of the waste liner 10 to the waste container 12.
In an embodiment, the user may removably position a plurality of waste liners 10 into the waste container 12. In this embodiment, the elastomeric portions 16 of the plurality of waste liners 10 elastically position over and around the edge 28. The user then moves the retainer 38 into the first position 40 in order to apply pressure against the outer most waste liner 32 of the plurality of waste liners 10 such that the outer most waste liner 32 is maintained against the waste container 12. Additionally, in this embodiment, the user may apply the indicia member 36 to the inner most waste liner 34 in order to indicate that the inner most waste liner 34 is the last of the plurality of waste liners 10 positioned within the waste container 12. In an embodiment, the inner most waste liner 34 may already include the indicia member 36.
After positioning the waste liner 10 into the waste container 12, the waste container 12 is removably connected to the seat 52 as shown in FIG. 5. The user may insert the waste container 12 via the handles 32 through the seat aperture 58 in order to connect waste container 12 with the seat 52. In connecting the waste container 12 to the seat 52, the user may place the top surface 26 of the waste container 12 within the seat aperture 58 such that the top surface 26 is positioned below the top 54 of the seat 52. In an embodiment, the user may position the top surface 26 of the waste container 12 flush with the top 54 of the seat 52.
Next, a person such as a patient or nursing home resident sits on the seat 52 and discharges waste 60 through the seat aperture 58. Since the waste aperture 30 is in communication with the seat aperture 58, the waste liner 10 is adapted to receive the waste 60. After receiving the waste 60, the user then positions the waste liner 30 to a closed position by pulling the closure means 18 which encloses the waste 60 within the waste liner 10. The user then removes the waste liner 10 from the waste container 12 by lifting the closure means 18. In an additional embodiment, closure means 18 comprises a draw string or draw tie. After removing the waste liner 10 from the container 12, the draw string or tie is drawn to close the liner 10. The top of liner 10 is then folded over, where the top of liner 10 is positioned approximately at the midsection of the liner. The draw string or draw tie 18 is then wrapped around the liner 10 and tied tightly around the body of liner 10 to secure the waste material in the liner 10. The closed liner 10 is then disposed of as is know in the art.
In an embodiment, when the user lifts the waste liner 10 out of the waste container 12, the retainer 38 may move to the second position 42 wherein the retainer 38 may still apply pressure against the used waste liner 10. The retainer 38, however, does not maintain the used waste liner 10 against the waste container 12 to allow handling of the waste liner 10. As such, the retainer 38 allows the user to pull the waste liner 10 which contains the waste 60 out of the waste container 12. The retainer 38 may then move back to the first position 40 to retain the next waste liner 10 within the waste container 12. By pulling the used waste liner 10 out of the waste container 12, another waste liner 10 of the plurality of waste liners 10 is exposed to the seat aperture 58 for additional use. This process may be repeated until the inner most waste liner 34 of the plurality of waste liners 10 indicates via the indicia member 36 that the plurality of waste liners 10 requires replacement for additional waste.
The present disclosure is configured to allow a person to discharge a waste 60 into the waste container 12 in a sanitary and clean fashion. Since the portable commode 44 containing the waste liner 10 and waste container 12 can be located adjacent to the bed, the person may conveniently access the portable commode 44 without having to walk to a separate bathroom. Additionally, since the waste liner 10 is removably positioned within the waste container 12, the waste liner 10 provides an efficient and sanitary method of collecting waste in which the health care personnel can conveniently remove and dispose of the waste.
While the concepts of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such an illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the illustrative embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected by the following claims.

Claims

1. A portable commode, comprising:

a frame configured to support a person, the frame having a back, a plurality of legs and a seat wherein the seat includes a top, a bottom and a seat aperture defined through the top and bottom for the passage of waste from the person;

a waste container removably connected to the seat; and

a waste liner removably positioned within the waste container opposite the seat wherein the waste liner is configured to receive the waste.

2. The portable commode of claim 1, where the waste container comprises an exterior surface, an interior surface, a bottom surface and a top surface, the top surface having an edge which forms a waste aperture into the interior surface.

3. The portable commode of claim 2, wherein the waste aperture is in communication with the seat aperture.

4. The portable commode of claim 2, wherein the waste liner comprises a plurality of waste liners telescopically positioned within the waste container.

5. The portable commode of claim 4, wherein the waste container comprises a retainer which is configured to reciprocate between a first position and a second position.

6. The portable commode of claim 5, wherein the retainer is configured to apply pressure against an outermost waste liner of the plurality of waste liners when the retainer is in the first position such that the outermost waste liner is maintained against the top surface of the waste container.

7. The portable commode of claim 6, wherein the retainer is configured to apply pressure against the outermost waste liner of the plurality of waste liners when the retainer is in the second position such that the outermost waste liner is free from being maintained against the top surface of the waste container.

8. The portable commode of claim 7, wherein the plurality of waste liners comprise an innermost waste liner which includes an indicia member to indicate that the innermost waste liner is the last of the plurality of waste liners positioned within the waste container.

9. The portable commode of claim 2, wherein the waste liner includes an elastomeric portion which is configure to elastically position over the edge of the waste container.

10. The portable commode of claim 9, wherein the waste liner includes a closure means which is configured to contain the waste within the waste liner.

11. The portable commode of claim 10, wherein the closure means comprises a retractable member positioned within the elastomeric portion.

12. A portable commode, comprising:

a waste container removably connected to the seat, the waste container having an exterior surface, an interior surface, a bottom surface and a top surface, the top surface having an edge which forms a waste aperture into the interior surface; and

a plurality of waste liners telescopically positioned within the waste container opposite the seat wherein the plurality of waste liners are configured to receive the waste.

13. The portable commode of claim 12, wherein the plurality of waste liners comprise an innermost waste liner which includes an indicia member to indicate that the innermost waste liner is the last of the plurality of waste liners positioned within the waste container.

14. The portable commode of claim 12, wherein the waste liner includes an elastomeric portion which is configure to wrap over the edge of the waste container.

15. The portable commode of claim 14, wherein the waste liner includes a closure means which is configured to contain the waste in the waste liner.

16. The portable commode of claim 15, wherein the closure means comprises a retractable member positioned within the elastomeric portion.

17. A method of containing waste in a portable commode, comprising:

removably positioning a waste liner into a waste container;

removably connecting the waste container to a seat; and

collecting waste discharged from the seat into the waste liner.

18. The method of containing waste of claim 17, wherein removably positioning the waste liner into the waste container comprises inserting a plurality of waste liners in a telescopic formation within the waste container.

19. The method of containing waste of claim 18, wherein removably positioning the waste liner into the waste container comprises retaining the plurality of waste liners against a top surface of the waste container.

20. The method of containing waste of claim 18, wherein removably positioning the waste liner into the waste container comprises marking an indicia on an inner most waste liner of the plurality of waste liners.

21. The method of containing waste of claim 17, further comprising positioning the waste liner to a closed position after receiving the waste.

22. The method of containing waste of claim 2 1, wherein positioning the waste liner to the closed position after receiving the waste comprises pulling a closure means of the waste liner.

23. The method of containing waste of claim 21, further comprising removing the waste liner after receiving the waste to expose one of the plurality of waste liners.