Automatic self cleaning bladder relief system and failsafe

• US 20050119630A1
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark R. Harvie
• Original Assignee: Mark R. Harvie
• Inventors: Harvie, Mark R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,131,964 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/355
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/451 Genital or anal receptacles A61F5/441, A61F5/442, A61F5/443 take precedence ; other body securing means A61F5/4408; devices for taking faeces samples A61B10/0038; devices for taking urine samples A61B10/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/453 for collecting urine or other discharge from male member A61F6/04 takes precedence ; devices for taking sperm samples A61B10/0058
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/455 for collecting urine or discharge from female member

Abstract

This invention relates to an automatic or semi-automatic bladder relief system, specifically designed to increase the overall sanitation and comfort for users that may require a means to dispose of their urine in the absence of other sanitary facilities due to situations such as aircraft pilots and incontinent individuals. For user comfort this invention incorporates an inflatable urine collection means that may be deflated after use. To prevent user error and failure to recharge the power unit this invention incorporates a disposable battery that is integrated into a disposable urine storage bag. This invention also utilizes a disposable urine storage bag with an isolated cleaning fluid chamber with a directional valve system and directional pump system that automatically rinses and sanitizes the pump, hoses, collection means and the user with a cleaning fluid stored in the cleaning fluid chamber of the disposable urine storage bag. The urine storage bag has an additional feature as a failsafe device in the event that the automatic system fails. The urine storage bag is easily detached from the pump unit and has an internally stored extendable portion that forms a seal to the user'"'"'s body allowing the user to urinate into the bag without splash-back of their urine and upon completion the user simply places the extended portion back into the unit and draws it closed with a simple zip lock. The disposable urine storage bag also contains absorbent polymer crystals capable of absorbing the urine as it is deposited in the bag during use.

Claims

1. An automatic bladder relief system comprised of:

a urine depository means;

a urine transport means attached to the urine depository means;

a combination automatic and manual urine storage means attached to the urine transport means;

a flexible extender attached to the combination automatic and manual urine storage means;

the flexible extender having an input end and a discharge end;

the input end forming an opening about which opening a fluid absorbent material is attached which is capable of being pressed by a user against the user'"'"'s genital area such that as the user urinates during manual use of the combination automatic and manual urine storage means the user'"'"'s urine passes into the flexible extender through the opening of the input end and then the user'"'"'s urine passes inside the flexible extender to the discharge end of the flexible extender where the user'"'"'s urine is then discharged into the combination automatic and manual urine storage means;

the flexible extender is also comprised of a one way valve positioned such that when the user'"'"'s urine passes through the flexible extender to the discharge end the one way valve prevents the user'"'"'s urine from passing out the input end of the flexible extender;

the combination automatic and manual urine storage means is also comprised of a flexible extender storage compartment capable of storing the flexible extender while the combination automatic and manual urine storage means is in automatic use;

a sealing means attached to the flexible extender storage compartment such that when the sealing means is sealed the flexible extender is in a stored and dry condition.

a disposable power source means;

a cleaning means;

the urine depository means is comprised of;

a base pad;

at least one air cushion tubing attached to the base pad; and

an air pump attached to the air cushion tubing such that when the air pump is activated the air cushion tubing inflates from a generally flat condition to an inflated condition thereby forming with the base pad an area where urine discharged by a user can pool generally away from contact with the user'"'"'s body and then the pooled urine can be transported by the transport means and upon deactivation of the air pump the air cushion tubing discharges the pumped air by means of compression caused by the user'"'"'s seated body weight and returns to the generally flat condition.

3. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 1 wherein the urine transport means is a pump.

5. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 3 wherein the pump further comprises the cleaning means wherein the pump also functions as a cleaning fluid pump.

7. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 1 wherein the urine transport means is a suction pump.

9. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 1 wherein the urine transport means is controlled manually by a user by the means of a switch.

11. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 1 wherein the combination automatic and manual urine storage means is comprised of:

a leakproof storage bag;

the leakproof storage bag having an air vent that allows only air to escape.

13. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 11 wherein the leakproof storage bag contains absorbent polymer crystals.

15. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 1 wherein the urine transport means is powered by DC electrical current.

17. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 1 wherein the urine transport means is powered by AC electrical current.

19. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 11 wherein the leakproof storage bag is comprised of:

a urine storage compartment; and

a cleaning fluid compartment.

21. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 11 wherein the disposable power source means is attached to the leakproof storage bag.

23. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 21 wherein the disposable power source means is at least one disposable battery.

26. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 1 wherein the air cushion tubing is also comprised of:

a foam insert of open cell composition which when placed under compression by the user'"'"'s seated body weight allows the air cushion tubing to maintain a generally flat condition and the foam of open cell composition when relieved of the user'"'"'s seated body weight causes the air cushion tubing to expand to a condition resembling the air cushion tubing inflated condition.

28. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 1 wherein the fluid absorbent material attached to the flexible extender is moistened with a sanitizer.

2. An automatic bladder relief system comprised of:

a urine depository means;

a urine detection means attached to the urine depository means;

a urine transport means attached to the urine depository means and the urine detection means wherein the urine transport means is activated to transport urine from the urine depository means by the urine detection means when urine is present in the urine depository means;

a combination automatic and manual urine storage means attached to the urine transport means;

a flexible extender attached to the combination automatic and manual urine storage means;

the flexible extender having an input end and a discharge end;

the input end forming an opening about which opening a fluid absorbent material is attached which is capable of being pressed by a user against the user'"'"'s genital area such that as the user urinates during manual use of the combination automatic and manual urine storage means the user'"'"'s urine passes into the flexible extender through the opening of the input end and then the user'"'"'s urine passes inside the flexible extender to the discharge end of the flexible extender where the user'"'"'s urine is then discharged into the combination automatic and manual urine storage means;

the flexible extender is also comprised of a one way valve positioned such that when the user'"'"'s urine passes through the flexible extender to the discharge end the one way valve prevents the user'"'"'s urine from passing out the input end of the flexible extender;

the combination automatic and manual urine storage means is also comprised of a flexible extender storage compartment capable of storing the flexible extender while the combination automatic and manual urine storage means is in automatic use;

a sealing means attached to the flexible extender storage compartment such that when the sealing means is sealed the flexible extender is in a stored and dry condition.

a disposable power source means;

a cleaning means;

the urine depository means is comprised of;

a base pad;

at least one air cushion tubing attached to the base pad; and

an air pump attached to the air cushion tubing such that when the air pump is activated the air cushion tubing inflates from a generally flat condition to an inflated condition thereby forming with the base pad an area where urine discharged by a user can pool generally away from contact with the user'"'"'s body and then the pooled urine can be transported by the transport means and upon deactivation of the air pump the air cushion tubing discharges the pumped air by means of compression caused by the user'"'"'s seated body weight and returns to the generally flat condition.

4. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 2 wherein the urine transport means is a pump.

6. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 4 wherein the pump further comprises the cleaning means wherein the pump also functions as a cleaning fluid pump.

8. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 2 wherein the urine transport means is a suction pump.

10. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 2 wherein the urine detection means is comprised of:

a urine sensor capable of detecting the presence of a fluid in the urine depository means; and

a urine detection signal transmission means attached to the urine sensor and the urine transport means activating the urine transport means by transmitting a signal thereto when the urine sensor detects the presence of the fluid.

12. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 2 wherein the combination automatic and manual urine storage means is comprised of:

a leakproof storage bag;

the leakproof storage bag having an air vent that allows only air to escape.

14. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 12 wherein the leakproof storage bag contains absorbent polymer crystals.

16. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 2 wherein the urine transport means is powered by DC electrical current.

18. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 2 wherein the urine transport means is powered by AC electrical current.

20. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 12 wherein the leakproof storage bag is comprised of:

a urine storage compartment; and

a cleaning fluid compartment.

22. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 12 wherein the disposable power source means is attached to the leakproof storage bag.

24. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 22 wherein the disposable power source means is at least one disposable battery.

25. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 24, claim 20, claim 14, claim 10 and claim 6 being further comprised of:

a urination completion sensor capable of detecting the completion of a user'"'"'s urination in the urine depository means;

a cleaning fluid contained in the cleaning fluid compartment; and

a urination completion detection signal transmission means attached to the urination completion sensor and the cleaning means capable of activating the cleaning fluid pump by transmitting a signal thereto when the urination completion sensor detects the user'"'"'s completion of urination, thereby pumping the cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid compartment through the urine transport means to the urine depository means to the user and then to the urine storage compartment thereby cleaning away a user'"'"'s residual urine from the automatic bladder relief system and depositing the user'"'"'s residual urine and the pumped cleaning fluid in the urine storage compartment of the leakproof storage bag.

27. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 2 wherein the air cushion tubing is also comprised of:

a foam insert of open cell composition which when placed under compression by the user'"'"'s seated body weight allows the air cushion tubing to maintain a generally flat condition and the foam of open cell composition when relieved of the user'"'"'s seated body weight causes the air cushion tubing to expand to a condition resembling the air cushion tubing inflated condition.

29. The automatic bladder relief system of claim 2 wherein the fluid absorbent material attached to the flexible extender is moistened with a sanitizer.