Portable urinal

[57] ABSTRACT

A portable urinal consists of a container having an inlet means near its top, and an extendable and retractable hose with one end attached to the inlet. A funnel-type application, designed to be held in the hand and having a forward portion shaped to fit the body against which it is applied, is connected to the other end of the hose for draining the urine into the container. A closure is provided at the applicator end. Also, a carrying case is provided in which pivot means in its bottom permits rotation of the container and winding of the hose therein.

Claims, 8 Drawing Figures

<img file="US3703731A_D0001.tif" />

PATENTED M1V 28197? _{sml0F 2} 3.703,731

<img file="US3703731A_D0002.tif" />

ATTORNEY

PATENTEDN0V28I97? _SHEEI2 „_{F 2} 3.703,731

<img file="US3703731A_D0003.tif" />

<img file="US3703731A_D0004.tif" />

INVENTOR.

FLORENCE E. LEISER

BY

<img file="US3703731A_D0005.tif" />

ATTORNEY

3,703,731

PORTABLE URINAL

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a portable urinal which may be carried by hand and which may be disposed on the ⁵floor of a vehicle, or elsewhere, for urination purposes. For example, it may be used for the individual comfort of each occupant of an automobile, especially when driving on prolonged trips, or when the occupant is ill ₁₀and requires frequent use of such a unit, and it is not convenient to leave the car.

Urinals for travel have been proposed in the art, such as those devices described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,650,154, 1,650,155, 1,664,642, 1,711,325, 1,721,832, 15

1,727,199, 1,749,104 and 1,951,871. However, these devices are designed to be attached to or integral with the vehicle in which the person is riding. There has been a need for a portable urinal which may be conveniently carried along by the person, making it available in any vehicle in which the person happens to ride.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a portable urinal 25 is provided which may be conveniently carried by the person, and which does not require much time to prepare for use. It may be carried on board private aircraft, for example, and used en route. Such a unit may be used, sealed shut, and emptied at the next airport, rest area, or comfort station. The unit comprises a container having an inlet opening to which is connected an extendable and retractable hose, on the outer end of which is connected a funnel-type applicator to be applied to the body when urination is to take place. A closure is provided To retain the urine within the container. A carrying case, in which the container may be rotated for winding the hose and holding the container, is also provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

FIG. 1 presents a side elevational view, partly in cross-section, of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a top cross-sectional view, taken along the plane of lines 2—2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the top of the carrying case partially opened, and the applicator end extending out of the case;

FIG. 4 presents a front view of the applicator end 55 taken along the plane of lines 4—4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 depicts a vertical cross-sectional view of the end shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a side elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention, without the carrying ⁶⁰case;

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the applicator end of the unit depicted in FIG. 6, and

FIG. 8 presents a cross-sectional front view taken along the plane of lines 8—8 in FIG. 7.

The same numerals refer to the same or similar parts in the various figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

EMBODIMENTS

Referring again to the drawings, numeral 10 represents generally a circular carrying case having a removable or openable top portion 11 and a bottom 12. The top portion 11 may be partially opened or completely removable by the use of slide fastener 13. A handle 14 may be provided for facilitating the carrying of case 10.

Within case 10 is disposed a close-fitting container 15 having essentially a circular shape, and having top 16 and bottom 17. Top 16 of the container is disposed in spaced relation with respect to top 11 of the case. Projecting from the inside of bottom 12 of case 10 is a pivot pin 18. A dent or recess 19 in the center of bottom 19 of the container enables container 10 to turn on pivot 18.

Projecting upwardly from the center of container 10 is inlet 20 to which is connected, at 21, the end 34 of flexible hose or tubing 22, in outside sealing relation. Hose 22 is wound as a coil around inlet 20 on top 16 of container 15. Attached to the other end 23 of hose 22, at 24, is the applicator, indicated generally as 25. This funnel-shaped applicator is provided with a body-fitting end 26 which has a widened opening to permit urination therein in comfort. The interior of the narrower portion 27 is provided with a coarse thread 28 into which may be threaded a plug 29 having finger-fitting eye 30. A projecting gasket portion 31 enables flat end 32 of plug 29 to seat thereon, in sealing relation therewith. Union 24 serves to fasten applicator 25 onto thread 33 of the end 23 of hose 22.

When it is desired to use the urinal of the present invention, top 11 of case 10 is partially opened at, say 34, and applicator 25 is disengaged from clamp members 35 which project upwardly from top 16 of container 15. Then, hose 22 is reeled out to the desired length, and stopper or plug 29 is unscrewed by turning eye 30 and removed from the applicator. Then, applicator 25 is applied in tight fitting relation to the body and held there until urination is completed. The urine flows through hose 22 and into container 15. After urination is completed, stopper 29 is screwed into applicator 25, and hose 22 is pushed into case 10, as container 15 revolves around pivot 18. Then, applicator 25 is fastened between clamp members 35, and cover portion 34 is closed by sliding fastener 13.

The embodiment depicted in FIG. 6 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-3 in that it includes a container 15, a raised inlet nipple 20 to which is attached one end 34' of an extendable and contractable hose 22', to the other end 23' of which is attached an adapter 25 (or applicator), having a body-contoured front face 26. Applicator 25 is also provided with a closure 36 for sealing off the outer end 23' of the hose. However, extendable hose 22' is made of pleated accordion-like corrugations which, when the unit is not in use, may be contracted to a small volume for fitting into a carrying case (not shown). In such case, it is not necessary to provide a pivot for rotating container 15.

The closure 36 is a slide valve depicted in greater detail in FIGS. 7 and 8. As is apparent from the drawings, the rear portion of applicator 25 terminates with a cross plate 37 which has two butterfly-type

3,703,731 openings 38 and 39. A lip 46 is provided on the outer edge of plate 37, and a similar lip 40 on the other end 23' of hose 22' enable the anchoring thereon of slide plate 41, via engaging rim 42 attached to the edge of plate 41. Slide plate 41 also has butterfly-type openings 43 and 44 which, when in juxtaposition with openings 38 and 39 of plate 37, will permit flow of urine through the double openings and into hose 22'. When slide 42 is turned to closed position, as in FIG. 8, there are no openings for fluid to leak out.

In order to prevent sliding of container 15, a rubber lip or suction cup may be provided on the bottom thereof (FIG. 6).

The entire unit of the present invention may be made of plastic, such as polyethylene, nylon, polyvinyl chloride, and the like, although the use of other materials, such as metals, is not precluded for at least some of the parts.