US2932830A - Integrated bedpan and support - Google Patents

Description

April 19, 1960 D. w. LUND INTEGRATED BEDPAN AND SUPPORT Filed Feb. 12, 1958 INVENTOR D.W.LUN D ATTORNEY United States Patent INTEGRATED BEDPAN AND SUPPORT Douglas W. Lund, Florence, Ala. Application February 12, 1958, Serial No. 714,892

9 Claims. (Cl. 4--112) This invention relates to the care of persons whose conditions are such that they require attention for their comfort and personal requirements, regardless of whether they are ill or in good health, and either at home, at some other location, or in route, as well as to equipment em ployed in caring for the needs of such persons.

The invention is concerned primarily with caring for the needs of the human body including calls of nature which involve the serving and removing by a member of the family, nurse or attendant, of a collection receptacle such as a bedpan or the like in order to preserve sanitation and personal hygiene.

The serving of a conventional bedpan on account of its awkward size, shape and composition has involved considerable inconvenience and discomfort, has been easy to upset, and has required excessive exertion sometimes be- Another object of the invention is to provide a kit which can be applied to a mattress or seat of any desired character so that an opening or incision may be made for the accommodation of a receptacle, such opening being capable of being closed so that the mattress or the seat may function in the usual way without the receptacle or with the latter removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle for use in the manner of a bedpan with such receptacle having a flared inwardly and downwardly inclined supporting surface in the form of an oval, one end of which is rigid and the other end of which is semirigid and with an elongated generally cylindrical receiving chamber disposed beneath the rigid portion thereof and having its axis parallel to such flared portion and connected thereto by a reduced neck defining a communicating slot or opening between said supporting surface and said chamber through which the discharge from the occupant is adapted to pass into said chamber.

A further object of the invention is to provide a detachable guard to prevent splattering from" the flared supporting surface and which guard may be readily attached and removed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating one application of the invention;

Fig. 2, is a fragmentary view of the surface of a bed, settee, chair, vehicle or other seat having a zippered incision;

Fig. 3, a side elevation of the pan and guard;

Fig. 4, a vertical longitudinal section of the pan itself;

Fig. 5, a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6, a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;,

Fig. 7, a perspective of the guard itself; and

Fig. 8, a fragmentary vertical section of the device applied to a support such as a mattress, seat or the like.

- Briefly stated, the invention comprises a device for use generally in the manner of a bedpan either when a person is sitting or in a prone position and applicable to a bed, seat, or other support for an individual by providing an incision or slit in such bed or support and preferably lined in a manner to provide a pocket, and with closure means for securing together the sides of the incision or slit to form a solid mattress surface or to permit such sides to be separated to permit the introduction or insertion of the enlarged elongated receptacle forming chamber of the bedpan of the present invention. This pan has reduced neck slightly shorter and narrower than the receptacle beneath it which facilitates retention of the pan in place. The insertion of the pan is facilitated by the mere introduction of the nose of the receptacle Within the opening in which the device is applied so that the mouth of the pocket within the mattress will fit about and retain the device in place, such device having a relatively large flared upper portion relatively rigid at one end and less rigidat its opposite end so that it will conform to the person using the same and at the same time due to its nature it will permit the person to recognize when the device is properly applied. If desired, a. removable splatter guard may be applied comprising a hood having an inclined top joined to a curved wall, the curvature of which corresponds to the curvature of the end of the top of the pan and being mounted on a strap attached to a yolk which engages opposite sides of the neck of the device.

With continued reference to the drawing, the bedpan of the present invention is formed of a relatively long narrow receptacle 10 disposed on its side and preferably with a bottom 11 flattened to provide a stable support.

The upper edge of the receptacle 10 is connected by a neck 12 to an enlarged top of apron 13 preferably of high density polyethylene or other plastic which is unbreakable, non-allergic, high heat resistant and preferably which will have a feeling of warmth instead of an icy coldness of metal or enamelware.

The sides of the receptacle and of the neck preferably are substantially parallel to provide a long narrow shape to facilitate insertion of the receptacle into an incision or slit 14 between the coils 15 of a mattress. The neck 12 is of slightly reduced length and width so that one end can be inserted and form a fulcrum in forcing the other end of the device into the mattress and so that the latter will fit' snugly about the receptacle and conform itself to the restricted neck to maintain the receptacle in place.

The top is relatively stiff and is disposed lengthwise of the receptacle with one end substantially co-extensive with one end of the neck and with the opening formed by the neck extending lengthwise and centrally of the top although only slightly more than half the length of the top and with the portion of the top beyond the end of the receptacle of reduced stiffness to facilitate its accommodation at least to a degree to the shape of the user and with such portion of reduced stiffness located in the general direction of the head of the user.

The top i3 is generally oval shaped and substantially larger than the receptacle in order to provide the necessary width and length in accordance with the size of the user. The top also preferably is inclined from its outer portion towards the opening formed by the neck 12 and with an enlarged portion 17 having a wall tapering gently downwardly and merging in the end of the neck to facilitate gravity induced travel of matter from said flared top with said receptacle,

vided with the slit or incision 14 in its surface andsup-' porting layers 20 and 21'and the supporting coils '15 are pushed aside sufficiently to allow the insertion of a pocket formingmember 22 of impervious plastic or other material with the edges 23 of such invaginated pocket fastened to said top surface 20 and connected by an interlocking fastener 24 to fasten such pocket in closed position so that the mattress, seat or other support may be used without an opening in the conventional manner or with an opening in which the receptacle is inserted so that its top will be substantially'flush with the top of the mattress.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which'is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bedpan comprising an elongated flared top portion having'an opening extending centrally from one end lengthwise for more than half its length, said top' portion being relatively rigid for the length of said opening and being of reduced stiffness therebeyond to facilitate its accommodation to a user, an elongated receptacle disposed lengthwise beneath the opening in said top and connected to said top by a reduced neck, said top being constructed to lie in contact with a supporting surface and having its upper surface tapered. downwardly from its margin to said opening for gravity induced travel of matter on said flared topwith said receptacle, the ends of said receptacle being of greater length than the neck which joins said receptacle to said top for facilitating endwise application of said bedpan to a support and the in sertion of said receptacle into an opening in said support, said narrow neck facilitating the retention of bedpan in place;

2. The structure of claim 1 and a detachable splatter guard for one end of said pan.

3. The structure of claim 1, a splatter guard for application thereto, and a pair of spring arms for detachable engagement of opposite sides of said receptacle. 4. A bedpan comprising a relatively long narrow receptacle with substantially parallel sides terminating in opposite ends and a fiat bottom, a neck having substantially parallel sides and of reduced length and width connected to the upper portion of said receptacle, and a top connected to said neck and having an enlarged relatively stifi portion connected to said neck with one end substantially co-extensive with one end of said neck and its other end extending a substantial distance beyond the opposite end of said neck and of reduced stiffness to facilitate application and use, the ends of said receptacle facilitating insertion of said device.

5. The structure of claim 4 and a guard for location on the end portion of said top and having resilient arms for engaging opposite sides of said reduced neck for detachably retaining said guard in place.

6. In combination with a support having an incision and a closure fastener for holding said incision closed to permit normal use of the support or to allow admission to the interior of said support, of member having a substantially flat relatively stiff top with a flared supporting surface and an end portion of reduced stiffness to facilitate application and use and taperingslightly in- Wardly and downwardly from its marginal edge, an elongated receptacle disposed centrally beneath and substan tially parallel to said'rigid end portion and connected to said flared supporting surface by a reduced neck, the end of said neck adjacent the center of said supporting surface being provided'witha' flared enlargement to facilitate passage into said container, said container being of a length and breadth greater than said neck for facilitating application and retention of said device in an opening in a support.

7. The structure of claim 6 and a removable guard for the rigid end of said support, said guard having spring arms for engaging opposite sides of said neck for retaining said guard in place.

8. In combination a support for a human'and a bedpan for complementary application to said support so that its upper surface will be substantially flush with the surface of said support, said support having an incision with a closure fastener for holding the same closed so that the. support can be used in the normal manner and the closure fastener operated to expose the interior of the incision and allow the introduction thereinto' of a bedpan, said bedpan having a generally oval shaped relatively thin fiat top portion inclined from its rirri inwardly and downwardly and into a relativelylong thin receptacle of a length and transverse thickness to be disposed within said incision and to be contained therein by the frictional engagement between the exterior of'the receptacle and the structure of the support which forms the incision.

9. The combination ofa support and bedpan for complementary application to said support in a manner to permit its uppersurface to besubstantiallyflushwith the surface of the support, said support having an incision and an invaginated pocket and a closure fastener for I holdingsaid incision closed. to allow the support to be used in a normal manner, said closure fastenerbeing operable to open the incision and allow. the introduction thereintoof a bedpan, said bedpan having a relatively thin fiat top portion inclined from its riminwardly and downwardly into a relatively long thin receptacle of a length and thickness to permit it to be accommodated within said incision and to be contained therein by the engagement of the exterior of the receptacle and the inva'ginated pocket of the support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS vGreat Britain Oct.4, 1907

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