Coupling device for a leg urinal

• US 5,496,300 A
• Filed: 08/26/1994
• Issued: 03/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael P. Hirsch, Patricia Hirsch
• Original Assignee: Michael P. Hirsch, Patricia Hirsch
• Inventors: Hirsch, Michael P., Hirsch, Patricia
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Polutta, Mark O.
• Application Number:
  US08/296,500
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 604/322-327, 604/329, 604/905, 604/280, 137/614.03, 137/614.04, 137/614.05, 285/319
• US Class Current: 604/327
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/4404 Details or parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87965 Valve- or closure-operated by coupling motion

Abstract

A coupling device for a urinal including a urine collection bag and a flexible tube connected to a user'"'"'s catheter. A quick release coupling readily connects and disconnects the flexible tube to the urine collection bag to provide a fluid passageway upon connection. The coupling closes both the tube opening and the bag opening upon disconnection to prevent fluid from spilling out and to avoid contaminants from entering the flexible tube.

Claims

1. A coupling device for a urinal comprising:

a urine collection bag with a liquid inlet line;

a flexible tube having an upstream end operationally connectable to a user'"'"'s catheter and a downstream end; and

quick-release coupling means for readily connecting and disconnecting said downstream end from said inlet line, said coupling means providing a fluid passageway from said tube to said bag inlet line upon connection and closing both said inlet line and said downstream end of said tube upon disconnection to prevent fluid spillage therefrom and to avoid contaminants from entering said tube, said quick release coupling means having an axial and a radial direction and comprising;

(a) a first coupling member securely connected to said liquid inlet line and having a first aperture and a first spring loaded closure member for closing the first aperture upon disconnection;

(b) a second coupling member securely-connected to said downstream end of said flexible tube and having a second aperture and a second spring loaded closure member for closing the second aperture upon disconnection; and

(c) a radially-inwardly extending arm attached to one of said coupling members for positively displacing said spring loaded closure members away from the respective apertures upon connection.

2. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling members having opposed mating surfaces that form a liquid seal upon connection around the fluid passageway to contain the fluid.

3. The coupling device according to claim 2, comprising a gasket mounted on one of said mating surfaces that seals against the other mating surface.

4. The coupling device according to claim 3, wherein said first coupling member includes a recess and said second coupling member includes a resilient clasp to engage the recess and securely connect said coupling members together.

5. The coupling device according to claim 4, wherein said clasp is biased toward the recess, and during connection said first coupling member displaces said clasp against the biasing force until said clasp is aligned with and snaps into the recess.

6. The coupling device according to claim 5, comprising release means on said second coupling member to retract said clasp to disconnect said coupling members.

7. The coupling device according to claim 6, wherein said release means comprises an axially-displaceable collar connected to said clasp.

8. A coupling device for a urinal comprising:

a urine collection bag with a liquid inlet line, a liquid outlet opening for draining said collection bag, and a chemical test strip attached to said collection bag adjacent said liquid outlet opening, so that said chemical test strip is automatically wetted during draining of said collection bag to conduct a chemical test;

a flexible tube having an upstream end operationally connectable to a user'"'"'s catheter and a downstream end; and

quick-release coupling means for readily connecting and disconnecting said downstream end from said inlet line, said coupling means providing a fluid passageway from said tube to said bag inlet line upon connection and closing both said inlet line and said downstream end of said tube upon disconnection to prevent fluid spillage therefrom and to avoid contaminants from entering said tube, said quick-release coupling means comprising a first coupling member securely connected to said liquid inlet line, and a second coupling member securely connected to said downstream end of said flexible tube, said coupling members having opposed mating surfaces that form a liquid seal upon connection around the fluid passageway to contain the fluid;

said first coupling member including a recess and said second coupling member including a resilient clasp to engage the recess and securely connect said coupling members together, said clasp being biased toward the recess, and during connection said first coupling member displacing said clasp against the biasing force until said clasp is aligned with and snaps into the recess;

release means on said second coupling member to retract said clasp to disconnect said coupling members, said release means comprising an axially-displaceable collar connected to said clasp;

each coupling member including an aperture and a spring loaded closure member that closes the aperture during disconnection;

a gasket mounted on one of said mating surfaces for sealing against the other mating surface; and

an arm positioned and configured to displace both closure members and open the apertures upon connection to establish said fluid passageway around said closure members and through the apertures.

9. The coupling device according to claim 8, comprising a plurality of glow-in-the-dark straps each having a first end connected to said bag and a spaced opposite second free end, wherein said free ends are provided with hook and loop fasteners adapted for encircling and releasably connecting said bag to a user'"'"'s leg.

10. The coupling device according to claim 8, comprising a color chart on said urine collection bag adjacent said chemical test strip for comparison with said wetted test strip.

11. A device for coupling to a urinal and automatically conducting a chemical test, the device comprising:

a urine collection bag with a liquid inlet line, a liquid outlet opening for draining said collection bag, and a chemical test strip attached to said collection bag so that said chemical test strip is automatically wetted during use of said collection bag to conduct a chemical test;

a flexible tube having an upstream end operationally connectable to a user'"'"'s catheter and a downstream end; and

quick-release coupling means for readily connecting and disconnecting said downstream end from said inlet line, said coupling means providing a fluid passageway from said tube to said bag inlet line upon connection and closing both said inlet line and said downstream end of said tube upon disconnection to prevent fluid spillage therefrom and to avoid contaminants from entering said tube.

12. The coupling device according to claim 11, comprising a color chart on said urine collection bag adjacent said chemical test strip for comparison with said wetted test strip.

13. The coupling device according to claim 11, comprising a plurality of glow-in-the-dark straps each having a first end connected to said bag and a spaced opposite second free end, wherein said free ends are provided with hook and loop fasteners adapted for encircling and releasably connecting said bag to a user'"'"'s leg.