US3503080A - Disposable bedpan - Google Patents

Description

March 1970 w. LAUFER ET AL 3,503,080

DISPOSABLE BEDPAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1968 INVENTORS m E WWW E wmw m6 @m March 31, 1970 w, LAUFER ETAL DI SPOSABLE BEDPAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1968 N M Q MW Mm m Wad W United States Patent Filed Mar. 15, 1968, Ser. No. 713,479

Int. Cl. A61g 9/00; B65d 5/40 U.S. Cl. 4-112 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure is directed to a device which may be entitled a disposable bedpan. The entire unit is formed of one piece of strong waterproof cardboard or like material. This single piece of material is laid out flat to be stacked for storage in a small space. After use, the entire unit is disposed of as by incineration. In use the structure is that of a box-like receptacle provided with internal supports to impart rigidity and strength. These internal supports are peripherally disposed channels. A cover or flap member opens out to expose a main opening of conventional size and shape. In open position the cover member serves additionally as a guard against splashing. To empty the pan, the cover may be entirely removed. For this purpose the upper part or deck is provided with scoring whereby the cover can be ripped free from the main unit. The device being entirely disposable, no usual cleaning or autoclave operation is necessary.

In hospitals and other institutions for care of invalids and bed patients, the use of conventional bedpans involves inconvenient, time consuming and unsanitary features. Storage and cleanliness are requisite facilities for which are often diflicult to maintain.

Objects of the present invention include:

The provision of a bedpan which requires no sterilization.

The provision of such article that can be disposed of by incineration.

The provision of an article which will involve a saving of labor on the part of hospital personnel.

The provision of an article that is adapted to be stored in a minimum of space.

The provision of an article of light weight to facilitate shipping and handling.

In accordance with the present invention there is pro.- vided a disposable bedpan which is formed of a combustible material in the nature of cardboard which can be readily disposed of by incineration. Such material moreover is desirably provided with a waterproofing impregnant or coating to prevent penetration of liquids and the leakage in use. The unit bedpan is self-sufficient in that it constitutes an integral, one-piece structure of generally box-like or rectangular shape whereby the entire box may be flattened for storage and transportation purposes and stacked with occupancy of a minimum of storage space. The parts thereof need not be assembled but are adapted to be withdrawn from the stack and folded into the shape of a rectangular container. The cardboard-like material is characterized by suflicient strength such as to support the weight of the human body.

The folded and flattened unit can be bent out into a box-like structure having a floor or bottom, an upper portion or deck, and four vertical sides. The deck is provided with a main or seat opening and a coextensive cover or flap. The latter is in fact integral with the deck. Scored, i.e., perforated lines are provided on the deck portion outlining the seat cover or flap and extending beyond the line defining the front of the opening. The cover when opened, serves as a hinged top closure, which can be opened to serve as a flap attached along a hinge line. When the cover is opened to an extent sufficient to form a substantially upright flap forward of the seat opening, it serves as a sanitary guard against splashing of the contents.

After use the scored lines extending between the forward edge of the opening and the front edge of the container permit tearing the cover forward to separate same from the main body. 'Removal of the flap facilitates emptying of said pan. After emptying, or even before, the bedpan together with its top lip portion may be disposed of by incineration.

Whereas the foregoing description will suffice to make clear the concept and general nature of the present inven tion, and the details thereof are set forth in the appended claims, in order to facilitate further understanding of the practice and principles of the invention, reference now is made to illustrative drawings accompanying the specification.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disposable bedpan of the character involved with a part outlined thereon in dashed lines.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a series of bedpans according to the present invention in stacked formation for storing or shipping showing the top pan in a slightly erected condition.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the disclosed disposable bedpan.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken in the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken in the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, on a smaller scale, of the support insert of the disposable bedpan.

In FIG. 1 the entire device set up and in use, is designated by reference numeral 11. In FIG. 2, the units 17 are unfolded, flattened and stacked for storage and as needed. Floor 31 is covered to considerable extent by unfolded and flattened right support 33r and left support 331 and by unfolded and flattened rear support member 21. The inside surface of deck portion 29 is seen, with lid 15 in place. Side 1 will cover the outside of side 2 (not shown in FIG. 1) the other sides fitting over the inner sides 2, etc., in sequential order as will be understood by reference to FIG. 1. Other possible arrangements of folding the sheets in accordance with the invention will be understood by those skilled in the art.

In order to aid in sustaining the weight of the body of a patient 13 seated on the device, an inner support frame 23 (FIG. 7) is provided. This support means is formed generally from sheets of material angularly folded to form inner angular longitudinal channels which viewed in cross section would have the shape of an inverted angular U clearly shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. The rear of the container is provided with a support member 21 substantially square in cross section (FIGS. 4 and 7). FIG. 2 shows this member 21 unfolded and flattened out.

In FIG. 3, a top view is provided showing particularly the seat cover 19, the arrangement of the support members 33r and 331, the rear support member 21, all except 19 in folded upright position corresponding to FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows also perforated lines 27r and 27l whereby flap 15 can be separated from deck 29 for emptying.

FIG. 4 shows flap or cover 15 partially raised and moved through an are A, hinge line 25 defining the axis or pivot thereof. The position of cover 15 shown in dashed lines indicates substantially the extent to which lid 15 will be opened in use, serving as a shield against splashing or spattering of liquid contents. In FIG. 4, crosspiece 35,

which as illustrated in FIG. 7 is an integral portion joining supports 33r and 331, is shown to be aflixed to floor of pan, binding same to the floor section and serving to join all parts in one integral unit. Rear support portion 21 shown unfolded and flattened in FIG. 2, is shown in FIG. 4 as being adherent to and integral with floor 31.

Whereas the foregoing description is specific to a rectangularbox-like structure it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is adaptable to various conformations and dimensions.

In the claims, the following terms are used and are here defined:

Angular box-like receptacle is not limited to rectangular construction, although in the example illustrated the rectangular construction is shown and constitutes a simple and preferred embodiment.

The term scored means punctured or incised as a series of points on a line.

Reinforcing channels extended along side refers to either the inner or outer surface of contact of the receptacle walls. The illustration is confined to inner contact, although it will be readily evident that outer channels are possible equivalents, and covered by the scope of the phrase.

The extent of scoring of the lines 271 and 1' may be continued down to the floor if it is desired to better break the front end opening for emptying the pan before destruction thereof.

We claim:

1. A hygienic disposable bedpan unit adapted to being stored flat in its entirety, in a stack of like flat sheets, said bedpan being composed of a single sheet of disposable waterproof material, each said unit having a single main body portion adapted to being bent to form an angular box-like receptacle and an integral strengthening structure 4 comprising an inner frame portion adapted to being formed into reinforcing channels positioned along a plurality of sides of said receptacle.

2. A disposable bedpan according to claim 1 wherein said reinforcing channels extend along at least two sides of said receptacle.

3. A disposable bedpan according to claim 1 wherein said reinforcing channels extend along at least two sides and one end of said receptacle.

4. A disposable bedpan according to claim 3 wherein the top side of said receptacle portion is scored to outline a main opening in said receptacle and an integral lid portion coextensive with said main opening, said lid portion being adapted to be bent forward along a crease defining the forward end of said main opening.

5. A disposable bedpan according to claim 4 wherein the scoring of the outline of the lid portion is extended from said crease at least as far forward as the line defining the forward upper edge of said receptacle portion.

6. A disposable bedpan according to claim 1 wherein said unit sheet is composed of incineratable material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,998,061 4/ 1935 Wachs 41l2 3,160,893 12/1964 Steel et al 41l2 3,319,263 4/1967 Udden et al. 4-112 3,347,445 10/1967 Wood 229-23 DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 229-23

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