Female Urinal Apparatus

Abstract

A disposable female urinal comprises a funnel shaped body formed from a moulded fibre material. The body includes a relatively wide receiving mouth at one end narrowing along the length of the body to an outlet opening at the opposing end which forms a spout. The receiving mouth is surrounded by a sealing rim having a shape configured to be pressed against a user's pubic area in use. The rim comprises a curved return edge such that the exposed end surface of the moulded fibre body is directed away from the front end of the device that faces the user in use, ensuring that the edge does not contact the user when the device is pressed against the user in use to improve user comfort.

Claims

1. A disposable female urinal apparatus comprising a funnel shaped body formed from molded fiber material, the body including a receiving mouth at one end narrowing along the length of the body to an outlet opening at the opposing end, wherein the receiving mouth is surrounded by a sealing rim having a shape configured to be pressed against a user's pubic area in use, and wherein the rim comprises a curved return edge.

2. The disposable female urinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mouth includes an upper end that in use is arranged uppermost relative to the lower end, the upper end being narrower than the lower end such that the mouth has a substantially tear drop shape.

3. The disposable female urinal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the body curves upwardly along its length toward the outlet end.

4. The disposable female urinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the return edge is configured such that the exposed end of the body is directed away from the front if the device that contacts the user in use.

5. The disposable female urinal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rim has a convex profile along the height of the mouth defined between the upper and lower ends of the mouth.

6. The disposable female urinal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body is formed from a thermoformed or post pressed fiber material.

Description

[0015] The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following illustrative figures in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a female urinal device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 1 there is provided a female urinal device to enable urination by a female in a standing or prone position. The device includes a body 2 formed from a thermoformed or post pressed fibre material. The body is substantially cylindrical having an inlet opening 4 at a first end and an outlet opening 6 at the opposing end. The inlet opening 4 comprises a reltively wide mouth having a substantially elliptical rim 8 defining a sealing surface for pressing against the pubic area of a user. The mouth 4 is narrower at its upper end 10 than at its base 12 such that the mouth 4 has a substantially tear drop shape. The body 2 tapers radially along its length from the relatively wider mouth 4 to the outlet 6 forming such that the body defines a funnel arrangement. The narrower outlet end 6 defines the spout of the funnel.

[0018] The mouth 4 has a width w and a height h. The rim 8 has a convex profile along the height of the mouth 4 to provide it with an ergonomic form for placing against the pubic region of a user. The rim 8 includes a return edge, with the edge being radiussed such that the free exposed edge faces rearwardly in the substantially in the direction of the spout. As such, the rim 8 defines a curved contact surface that is pressed against the user in use to seal the mouth and ensure the urine flow is directed and channelled to the outlet.

[0019] Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.