US3460164A - Disposable,nestable bedpan - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 12, 1969 T. c. PATTON DISPOSABLE, NESTABLE BEDPAN Filed Dec. 13. 1966 INVENTOR TEMPLE C. PATTON BY I ATTORN EYS United States Patent 3,460,164 DISPOSABLE, NESTABLE BEDPAN Temple C. Fatton, 105 Oxford Terrace,

Westfield, NJ. 07090 Filed Dec. 13, 1966, Ser. No. 601,475 Int. Cl. A61g 9/00 US. Cl. 4-112 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A two-part disposable, nestable bedpan for collection of body wastes which comprises an open-topped receptacle and a removable top section which comprises a seat which engages the upper edge of the open-topped receptacle. Both the open-topped receptacle and the seat are designed so that they are nestable with a plurality of other like receptacles and seats respectively, thereby eflecting a substantial reduction in the spaced required to store the bedpans.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention pertains to a two-part disposable, nestable bedpan which reduces the large storage area required with disposable bedpans currently being used.

Description of the prior art SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable bedpan which is nestable and will result in a substantial economy of storage space.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a two-part disposable and nestable bedpan that can be easily and rapidly assembled.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a two-part disposable, nestable bedpan each part of which is nestable with a plurality of like parts prior to assembly or after disassembly of the bedpan.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the two-part disposable, nestable bedpan of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the two-part disposable, nestable bedpan of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional front view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional side view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the nesting oi the top portion of the two-part disposable, nestable bedpan of the present invention; and

FIGURES 6 and 7 are schematic illustrations of the 3,460,164 Patented Aug. 12, 1969 ice procedure for assembling the two-part nestable, disposable bedpan of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings and in particular FIGURE 1, there is shown a two-part disposable, nestable bedpan having an egg-shaped bottom portion comprising an opentopped walled receptacle 11 having a bottom 12 and outwardly slanting side walls 13 extending upwardly from bottom 12, the side walls 13 having an outwardly extending flange 14 or the like around their upper edge for engaging the grooved outer rim 16 of egg shaped seat member 15 which comprises the top portion of the twopart disposable, nestable bedpan. The posterior portion of the walled receptacle 11 and egg-shaped seat 15 is constructed with a larger radius than the anterior portion to meet the physical requirements of the user.

The posterior portion 17 of egg-shaped seat 15 is designed so that it will engage the buttocks well out from the anus so that the buttocks will be spread in the same manner as when one uses a conventional toilet seat and extends above flange 14 more than the anterior portion 18 of egg-shaped seat 15.

As illustrated in FIGURE 4, the anterior portion 18 of egg-shaped seat 15 has a larger diameter than flange 14 and overlies that flange. The anterior portion of seat 15 is constructed so that the inwardly facing edge projects downwardly over flange 14 forming a lip thereby reducing the likelihood of liquid waste spillage from the bedpan when it is being used.

As illustrated in the drawings, egg-shaped seat 15 is provided with slanting support legs 19, 20 and 21 extending from the interior portion of the seat member 15 to the bottom 12 of receptacle 11 when the seat engages the receptacle. Slanting support legs 19 and 20 each extend from the interior portion of seat 15 substantially opposite each other at the open end part of the U-shaped posterior portion 17 of the seat 15. Support leg 21 extends from the interior portion of seat 15 approximately equidistant from the ends of posterior portion 17. Each of support legs 19, 20 and 21 firmly contact the bottom 12 of the receptacle 11 and thereby provide additional support for the weight placed on seat 15 when the bedpan is in use. Obviously, if desired, additional support legs could extend from the interior portion of seat 15.

As previously described side walls 13 are slanted permitting plural walled receptacles to be nested. Support legs 19, 20 and 21 are also slanted so that seat 15 will nest with a plurality of other like seats 22, 23, 24, 25

as illustrated in FIGURE 5. The construction of the twopart bedpan permits separate stacking and storage of the seat and walled receptacles which overcomes the storage problem encountered with present available disposable bedpans.

The disposable, nestable bedpan of the present invention may be constructed of a polyolefin plastic material such as polypropylene, polyethylene or the like, which is sturdy enough to support the weight of the user, yet inexpensive enough for one-time use. An inexpensive metal may also be used in the construction of the bedpan but the plastic material is warmer, quieter and more com- Iortable than metal.

The two-part bedpan of the present invention is assembled in the following manner: Seat 15 is lifted up and placed over walled receptacle 11 and then inserted in the receptacle by lowering the seat therein so that support leg 21 slips down inside the receptacle at location F, as illustrated in FIGURE 6. When the seat is lowered in the receptacle the grooved rim 16 located around the edge of a substantial segment of the anterior portion of the seat engages the flange of the receptacle at locations E and E Thereafter the seat is fitted in place by sliding it over the receptacle with the grooved rim engaging and riding on the flange to secure a tight fit all along the rim region of the bedpan as the seat is moved from left to right as far as possible, as shown in FIGURE 7. When assembled the grooved rim is closely fitted to the flange but sidewise motion is possible. By moving the seat from right to left, it can be easily detached from the receptacle.

Other variations in the construction of the bedpan are possible. For example, the seat for the bedpan may be U-shaped in construction without any anterior portion to overlie the flange of the anterior portion of the walled receptacle. If desired, the anterior portion of the walled receptacle may be provided with an inwardly extending lip which reduces the likelihood of liquid waste spillage. The overall design of the bedpan may be changed as Well as the means for engaging the seat and the receptacle without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A bedpan, comprising an open-topped wall receptacle including a top flange about at least a portion of the periphery of said receptacle, and a seat member separable from said receptacle including a horizontal extending groove adapted to slidably receive at least a portion of said top flange to substantially retain said seat member from relative vertical movement and said horizontal extending groove engaging said flange extending around said seat member no more than about 180 degrees.

2. A bedpan comprising an open-topped walled receptacle including a top flange about at least a portion of the periphery of said receptacle and a seat member separable from said receptacle and adapted to rest on the said receptacle wherein said seat member includes supporting legs extending downwardly from the interior portion of said seat member and adapted to be braced against the bottom of said receptacle.

3. A bedpan according to claim 2, wherein said top flange engages at least a portion of an outer peripheral area of said seat member.

4. A bedpan according to claim 3, wherein said supporting legs slant inwardly permitting plural seat members to be nested.

5. A bedpan according to claim 4, wherein the side wall of said receptacle slants outwardly.

6. A bedpan according to claim 2 wherein said seat member includes a horizontal extending groove adapted to slidably receive at least a portion of said top flange to substantially retain said seat member from relative vertical movement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,237,673 8/1917 Milligan .41 12 3,069,693 12/1962 Brodsky 41 12 3,249,950 5/ 1966 Wilson 4-112 FOREIGN PATENTS 908,451 10/ 1962 Great Britain. 992,403 5/ 1965 Great Britain.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner

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