US2756750A - Colostomy bag, belt, and drying frame - Google Patents

Description

July 31, 1956 G. PALA COLOSTOMY BAG, BELT AND DRYING FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15 1955 INVENTOR. Geo/"g6 PG/a BY Attorneys July 31, 1956 G. PALA COLOSTOMY BAG, BELT AND DRYING FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15 1955 INVENTOR. Geo/"9e Pa /c7 WZQPYYWW 0m A tier-megs COLOSTOMY BAG, BELT, AND DRYING FRAME George Pala, Hayward, Wis. Application February 15, 1955 Serial No. 488,260

4 Claims. (Cl. 128-283) This invention relates to colostomy devices, and more particularly has reference to an improved colostomy bag and supporting frame therefor, which is particularly adapted to fit the wearer comfortably and yet snugly, even when the wearer is exceptionally active, without danger of slippage of the open end of the bag from a proper position.

The invention further refers to a belt especially adapted for detachable connection to the bag supporting frame of the invention, and so designed as to coact with said frame in fitting the device tightly and yet comfortably to the body of an active wearer.

An object of importance is to so design the colostomy frame as to insure the retention thereof in proper position against the body of the wearer when the bag is being worn, even during periods of considerable muscular exertion. Ordinarily, colostomy bags are so designed as to tend toward slippage from a proper position should the wearer be engaged in active pursuits, and thus, conventional colostomy bags of which I have knowledge are suited etficiently mainly for use by relatively inactive persons.

Another object of importance is to provide a bag supporting frame which will be strongly constructed with a wire frame member molded in an annular rubber bag supporting element, the wire frame member being so designed as to take the contour of the wearers body after a few days of necessary adjustments.

A further object of importance is to so form the frame as to particularly adapt the same not only for permanent and firm connection to the annular rubber bag support, but also for connection to a novelly designed belt that is especially well suited for use by active persons.

Still another object is to provide an improved drying frame for a colostomy bag, which is so shaped as to facilitate the drying of the bag after it has been washed, thus to give the bag a chance to air out fully and eliminate odors.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a colostomy device formed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 4, diametrically of the upper portion of the colostomy device;

Figure 4 is a sectional View on line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a drying frame used when the device has been washed prior to reuse, the colostomy bag being shown in dotted outline on said frame.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral designates a bag support frame, including an annular rubber body in which is molded the intermediate portion of an endless wire frame member 12. The wire States Patent O frame member has been shown to particular advantage in Figure 4, and as will be noted, is of relatively elongated, rectangular formation, having sides 14 integrally formed, medially between their ends, with oppositely curved portions 16 concentric with the rubber support 10. The portions 16 are molded within the rubber support, being offset a short distance from the center point of the circularly cross sectioned support as shown in Figure 3. The straight end portions of the sides 14 project outwardly from the support 10 in opposite directions, and merge at their outer ends into end portions 17, each of which is formed medially between the sides 14 with an inwardly projecting U-shaped part having a bight 18 embedded in the rubber bag support 10 in concentric relation to the bag support, said bight 18 being formed to the same radius as the intermediate portions 16. Extending from opposite ends of the bight part 18 are legs 20 converging in the direction of the associated ends 17 of the wire frame member and spaced a short distance apart at their convergent ends.

This construction has been found to be particularly adapted to provide a firm reinforcement for the rubber bag support 10, which reinforcement, due to the provision of the curved intermediate portions 16 and'bight portions 18, occurs at proper intervals over the full circumference of the annular bag support. Further, the provision of the U-shaped part defines at opposite sides of each U-shaped part short straight end portions on the frame ends 17, adapted to receive a belt in a manner to be presently described.

Opening upon the outer circumference of the annular support 10 is a continuous, relatively narrow circumferential groove 24.

A colostomy bag, formed of suitably thin latex material, has been designated at 22, and has a beaded open end 23 resiliently distendable for engagement in the peripheral groove 24.

At one location on the circumference of the bag support 10, a radial marking 26, which can be in the form of a shallow groove, is provided, this marking being alignable with a cooperating marking 28 on the upper end of the colostomy bag. The purpose of this is to properly adjust the bag in a circumferential direction relative to the support 26, when the bag is being connected to said support, so that the bag will hang properly when the device is being worn. A belt has been generally designated at 30, and is formed of two pairs of elastic members, the members of each pair being designated at 32. At one end, the members'32 of each pair are connected to an end of a connecting piece 34, while at their other ends, the members 32 are provided with hook elements 36 engageable about the end portions of the frame ends 17.

The device illustrated and described is particularly adapted to be worn comfortably by active individuals, who may be performing manual labor or who may otherwise indulge in relatively strenuous physical activity. It is important, of course, that the bag be held in proper position upon the body at all times, and it is obviously desirable that the bag be fitted as comfortably as possible to the body of the wearer. The bag illustrated and described is particularly designed to meet these desirable objects, and it has been found in use that the wire frame is so designed as to cause the bag support to take the contour of the wearer's body after a few days of experimental adjustments. The bag, when worn, stays at all times in proper position, even during heavy physical activity.

In Figure 5 there is illustrated a drying frame generally designated at 38, which is used when the bag 22 is detached from the bag support 10 for the purpose of being washed. After the bag has been washed, the frame 38 is inserted therein, thus to resiliently stretch the bag and hold the same open over its full length, thus permitting it to dry out thoroughly and to eliminate any odors that may tend to persist after the bag has been washed. The frame 38 is formed from wire material, and includes a pair of e1ongated lengths of wire 40. Each length of wire is reversely bent intermediate its ends to provide a bight portion 42 thereon, and the bight portions of the two lengths are crossed at 90 degree angles to one another.

Intermediate their ends, the legs of each piece of wire are bent along curving lines, as at 44, to provide angular extensions on the length of wire. At those ends of the legs remote from the bight portions 42, the extremities of the legs are bent inwardly as at 46 and are secured in crossing relation, these portions of the legs of the drying frame extending diametrically across the open end of the bag 22 when the bag is being dryed.

The colostomy device shown, it will be noted, is particularly adapted to facilitate not only the wearing and cleaning of the bag, but also the attachment or detachment of the bag relative to the associated bag support 10.

scribed above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A colostomy device comprising a tubular bag open at one end; and a bag support frame detachably connected to the bag at the open end thereof, said frame including an annular bag support having a peripheral groove in which is engaged the open end of the bag, and a reinforcing wire frame member approximately oblong in outer configuration, said frame member being embedded intermediate its ends in diametrically opposite portions of the annular bag support, the ends of the wire frame member projecting outwardly in opposite directions from the bag support and being adapted for connection of a belt thereto.

2. A colostomy device comprising a tubular bag open at one end; and a bag support frame detachably connected to the bag at the open end thereof, said frame including an annular bag support having a peripheral groove in which is engaged the open end of the bag, and a reinforcing wire frame member approximately oblong in outer configuration, said frame member being embedded intermediate its ends in diametrically opposite portions of the annular bag support, the ends of the wire frame member projecting outwardly in opposite directions from the bag support and being adapted for connection of a belt thereto, said ends of the wire frame member having intermediate opposite sides of said member, inwardly projecting U-shaped portions having bight parts embedded in diametrically opposite portions of the bag support spaced circumferentially of the portions in which the sides of the frame member are embedded.

3. A colostomy device comprising a tubular bag open at one end; and a bag support frame detachably connected to the bag at the open end thereof, said frame including an annular bag support having a peripheral groove in which is engaged the open end of the bag, and a reinforcing wire frame member approximately oblong in outer configuration, said frame member being embedded intermediate its ends in diametrically opposite portions of the annular bag support, the ends of the wire frame member projecting outwardly in opposite directions from the bag support and being adapted for connection of a belt thereto, said ends of the wire frame member having intermediate opposite sides of said member, inwardly projecting U-shaped portions having bight parts em bedded in diametrically opposite portions of the bag support spaced circumferentially of the portions in which the sides of the frame member are embedded, the bight parts and the portions of the sides of the frame member embedded in the bag support being curved about a common center and being concentric with the bag support.

4. A colostomy device comprising a tubular bag open at one end; and a bag support frame detachably connected to the bag at the open end thereof, said frame including an annular bag support of molded material and having a peripheral groove in which is engaged the open end of the bag; a reinforcing frame of wire material embedded in the bag support, the reinforcing frame being of generally rectangular formation, the sides of said reinforcing frame having curved parts medially between opposite ends thereof molded into the bag support in concentric relation to the bag support, the ends of the reinforcing frame being formed, medially between the opposite sides of the reinforcing frame, with U-shaped parts extending inwardly of the frame, said U-shaped parts each spacing the end portions of the associated reinforcing frame ends from one another, the U-shaped parts each including a curved bight concentric with the bag support and embedded in the bag support at locations spaced circumferentially thereof from the intermediate portions of the reinforcing frame sides; and a Waist encircling belt, said belt comprising two pairs of spaced elastic members, the members of said pairs having means at one end connectable detachably to the end portions of the frame ends at opposite sides of the U-shaped parts, said belt further including a connecting member attached to the other ends of said elastic members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,086,002 Stewart Feb. 3, 1914 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,047,381 France July 22, 1953

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