Method for sampling urine and collector therefore

Abstract

A urine collector (1) and a method for mounting the urine collector to a toilet bowl. The collector is made of paper sheet and comprises a central collection area (20), a front flap (4), a rear part (23), two side wings (3 A, 3B) each extending from the central collection area (20) and further two rear wings (2 A, 2B) extending from the rear part (23). Each of the wings (2 A, 2B, 3 A, 3B) and the front flap (4) are provided with sticky material (6) for fastening them to the toilet bowl (5). The urine collector (1) is mounted onto a toilet bowl (5) by fastening the front flap (4) to the front part of the bowl opening (5C), and fastening the wings (2A, 2B, 3A, 3B) to the edge of the toilet bowl opening (5). After urine collection in the collection area (20), the front flap is detached from the front of the toilet bowl and lifted, while the side wings and rear wings are still attached. This causes the collected urine to flow over the rear part into a separate sampling container.

Claims

1. A method for collecting urine, the method comprises providing a urine collector (1) made of a flexible sheet, the sheet comprising a central collection area (20), a front flap (4) extending forward from the central collection area (20), and a rear part (23) extending rearward from the central collection area (20), each of two side wings (3A, 3B) extending sideways outward from the central collection area (20) between the front flap (4) and rear part (23), two rear wings (2A, 2B) extending sideways from the rear part (23); each of the rear wings (2A, 2B), side wings (3A, 3B), and front flap (4) being provided with sticky material (6); the method comprising with the sticky material, respectively, fastening the front flap to the front (5C) of the toilet bowl (5), fastening the side wings (3A, 3B) to an edge of the toilet bowl (5) in a front half (5B) of the toilet bowl (5), and fastening the rear wings (2A, 2B) to the edge of the toilet bowl (5) towards the rear of the toilet relatively to the side wings; positioning the collection area (20) as the lowest part of the urine collector (1); collecting urine in the collection area (20); detaching only the front flap (4) from the front (5C) of the toilet bowl (5) and lifting the front flap (4) for elevating the collection area (20) relatively to the rear part (23) and causing the collected urine to flow over the rear part (23) into a sampling container provided separate from the sheet at the rear part (23) and sampling a volume of urine in the sampling container; detaching the side wings (3A, 3B) and the rear wings (2A, 2B) from the toilet bowl (5) and flushing the urine collector (1) out of the toilet bowl (5).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rear part (23) comprises an opening (24) and the method comprises causing a flow of urine from the collection area (20) to the rear part (23) to the opening (24) and through the opening (24) by lifting the front flap (4) and collecting urine from the opening (24).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the urine collector (1) is symmetrical about a central longitudinal line, wherein the opening (24) is provided on the central longitudinal line and wherein the method comprises causing a flow of urine from the collection area (20) to the rear part (23) to the opening (24) along the central longitudinal line and through the opening (24) by lifting the front flap (4) and collecting urine from the opening (24).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the urine collector (1) is symmetrical about a central longitudinal line (16) and comprises a central longitudinal folding along the central longitudinal line (16) and through the rear part (23) as a groove for flow of urine along the groove; and wherein the method comprises causing a flow of urine from the collection area (20) along the groove by lifting the front flap (4) and collecting urine from the groove.

5. A urine collector for collecting urine in a toilet bowl, the urine collector being made of a flexible sheet, the sheet comprising a central collection area (20), a front flap (4) extending forward from the central collection area (20), and a rear part (23) extending rearward from the central collection area (20), each of two side wings (3A, 3B) extending sideways outward from the central collection area (20) between the front flap (4) and rear part (23), two rear wings (2A, 2B) extending sideways from the rear part (23); each of the rear wings (2A, 2B), side wings (3A, 3B), and front flap (4) being provided with sticky material for fastening the front flap to the front (5C) of the toilet bowl (5), for fastening the side wings (3A, 3B) to an edge of the toilet bowl in a front half of the toilet bowl, and for fastening the rear wings (2A, 2B) to the edge of the toilet bowl towards the rear of the toilet bowl relatively to the side wings, while the central collection area (20) is located as the deepest part of the urine collector (1); wherein the central collection area (20) is enclosed by a rear folding (12A) and a front folding (12B) and two side foldings (13); wherein the rear folding (12A) is extending from one to another of two opposite notches (17) on opposite sides of the urine collector (1), each of the opposite notches (17) being provided between a front edge (18A, 18B) of the rear wing (2A, 2B) and a rear edge (14A, 14B) of the side wing (3A, 3B); the front folding (12B) extending from a front edge (15A) of one of the two side wings (3A) to a front edge (15B) of the other side wing (3B); and wherein the rear part (23) comprises an opening (24) for collection of a urine sample by flow of urine from the urine collection area (20) to the rear part (23) to the opening (24) and through the opening (24).

6. The urine collector according to claim 5 wherein the front folding (12B) defines a border between the urine collection area (20) and the front flap (4) for elevation of the front flap (4) relatively to the urine collection area (20) when mounted on a toilet bowl (5).

7. The urine collector according to claim 6, wherein the side foldings are lateral to the front folding (12B).

8. The urine collector according to claim 5, wherein the rear folding (12A) defines a border between the urine collection area (20) and the rear part (23) for elevation of the rear part (23) relatively to the urine collection area (20) when mounted on a toilet bowl (5).

9. The urine collector according to claim 6, wherein the urine collector (1) is symmetrical about a central longitudinal line (16).

10. The urine collector according to claim 9, wherein the opening (24) is provided on the central longitudinal line (16).

11. The urine collector according to claim 9, wherein the sheet when lying flat in a plane has a front edge region (1D) and an opposite rear edge region (1C) and two side edge regions (1A, 1B) between the front edge region (1D) and the rear edge region (1C), wherein two rectangular transition regions (19) are provided symmetrically on either side of the central longitudinal line (16), each transition region (19) extending from the front flap (4) to one of the front edges (15A, 15B) of the side wings (3A, 3B), where each transition regions (19) has a diagonal fold (21) extending from the front fold (2B) at a corner of the urine collection are (20) outwards and towards the front edge (1D) region.

12. The urine collector according to claim 5, wherein the front edges (18A, 18B) of the rear wings (2A, 2B), and the front edges (15A, 15B) of the side wings (3A, 3B) all form an acute angle towards the rear edge (1C) and in a direction away from the front flap (4).

13. The urine collector according to claim 9, wherein the sheet comprises a central longitudinal folding extending along the central longitudinal line (16) and through the rear part (23) as a groove for flow of urine along the groove.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, where

(2) FIG. 1 shows a prior art stool collector

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a urine collector;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the mounted urine collector in perspective on the toilet bowl;

(5) FIG. 4 is an illustration of urine sampling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION/PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(6) FIG. 1 illustrates a stool collector according to the prior art, which is mounted on a toilet bowl. In order to avoid urine, the front part of the toilet bowl is not covered by the stool collector.

(7) FIG. 2 illustrates a urine collector 1 when flat and unfolded, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the urine collector 1 mounted on a toilet bowl 5.

(8) The urine collector 1 comprises two rear wings 2A, 2B that are mounted on a rear half 5A of a toilet bowl 5 and two side wings 3A, 3B that are mounted on the front half 5B of the toilet bowl 5, and a front flap 4 that is mounted on the front part 5C of the toilet bowl 5. When comparing with the prior art of FIG. 1, the mounting procedure is largely circumvented as compared to the mounting procedure of the prior art stool collector.

(9) However, apart from the difference in orientation of the urine collector 1 in FIG. 3 as compared to the prior art stool collector in FIG. 1, there is also a difference in that sticky material 6 in end regions 7 of the rear wings 2A, 2B and the end regions 8 of the side wings 3A, 3B are fastened to the top edge 9A of the toilet bowl 5 in contrast to the fastening of corresponding sticky tape 6 to the sides 9B of the toilet bowl in the prior art stool collector in FIG. 1. The fastening to the top edge 9A of the toilet bowl 5 of the rear wings 2A, 2B and the side wings 3A, 3B has the advantage that the urine collector can extend relatively deep into the toilet bowl 5 while at the same time minimizing the necessary material therefore. The former has the advantage of a relatively large collection volume, and the latter has the advantage of minimizing waste.

(10) The urine collector 1 comprises a number of folding lines shown as stippled lines, which in combination are more complex and sophisticated than in the prior art stool collector of FIG. 1. Folding lines are provided in the urine collector 1 prior to mounting on the toilet bowl 5 and are part of the urine collector 1 product when sold to users.

(11) First foldings 11 are provided close to the region of the sticky material 6 in order to direct a central collection area 20 deep into the bowl 5. The rear wings 2A, 2B have a front edge 18A, 18B with a length L, and the side wings 3A, 3B have a rear edge 14A, 14B with a length L′. The front edge 18A of the rear wing 2A and the rear edge 14A of the side wing 3A form a notch 17. The first folding 11 is provided at a distance which is between ¼ and ¾ of the length L and L′, respectively. In other words, the first folding is provided across the central half of the rear wings 2A, 2B and the side wings 3A, 3B. Optionally, and as shown, in the rear wing 2A, 2B, the first folding line 11 is provided at a distance which is between ⅓ and ⅔ of L. In other words, it is provided across the central third of the rear wings 2A, 2B.

(12) The urine collector 1 is symmetrical about a central longitudinal line 16. An optional central longitudinal folding extends along this line 16. The central longitudinal folding when mounted correctly is directed downwards in order to function as a downward directed groove for flow of urine within that groove.

(13) The central collection area 20 is enclosed by a rear folding 12A and a front folding 12B and two straight side foldings 13. The side foldings 13 extend from the rear edge 1C to the front edge 1D of the urine collector 1 and are parallel to the central longitudinal line 16, optional folding, on either side of the central longitudinal line 16 at a distance d from the central longitudinal line 16. The rear folding 12A and front folding 12B are perpendicular thereto. The rear folding 12A extends between opposite notches 17 on either side of the central longitudinal line 16, optional folding. Each notch 17 is provided between a side wing 3A, 3B and a rear wing 2A, 2B and, thus, adjacent to the rear edges 14A, 14B of the side wings 3A, 3B. The front folding 12B extends from a front edge 15A of one of the two side wings 3A to a front edge 15B of the other of the two side wings 3B.

(14) This configuration is different from the prior art as in FIG. 1, in which there is not provided such rear folding 12A across the central longitudinal line 16, optional folding, from opposite notches 17, each being provided between a side wing 3A, 3B and a rear wing 2A, 2B. In contrast thereto, the prior art stool collector according to FIG. 1 comprises a rear folding which is placed remote from notches between rear and side wings. The advantage of the urine collector 1 having such rear folding 12A implies that the central collection area 20 extends deeper into the bowl 5 as compared to the prior art stool collector of FIG. 1.

(15) The side foldings 13 are parallel with the central longitudinal line 16 and provided at a first distance d from the central longitudinal line 16, optional folding. This first distance d is smaller than a second distance D, where the second distance D is a lateral distance from the front edge 15A, 15B of the side wing 3A, 3B to the central longitudinal line 16, optional folding.

(16) When comparing the prior art stool collector in FIG. 1 with the urine collector of FIG. it is readily seen that the overall shape is very different. For example, the front edges 18A, 18B of the rear wings 2A, 2B, and the front edges 15A, 15B of the side wings 3A, 3B all form an acute angle towards the rear edge 1C and in a direction away from the front flap 4. In the prior art stool collector in FIG. 1 the corresponding edges of the two pairs of wings are directed oppositely, namely only one set of wings forming an acute angel with a rear or front edge region.

(17) It is also readily recognised that the front flap 4 is broader than the distance of 2d between the side foldings 13. In the stool collector of FIG. 1, the extending flap on the rear of the toilet bowl is narrower than the distance between side foldings.

(18) As compared to the prior art in FIG. 1, also the front flap 4 is different. The front flap 4 extends from the front edges 15A, 15B of the side wings 3A, 3B in a forward direction to the front 5C of the toilet bowl 5 when mounted. The front flap 4 bends upwards from the central collection area 20 due to the second folding 2A extending between the front edges 15A, 15B of the side wings.

(19) All these features individually and in common contribute to as successful urine collector 1 due to the urine collection area 20 being lowest and easy to mount and handle for urine collection.

(20) As the third foldings 13 have a distance d closer to the central longitudinal line 16, optional folding, than the distance D from the central longitudinal line 16, optional folding, to the side wings 3a, 3B, a transition region 19 is provided on each side from the front flap 4 to the front edge 15A, 15B of the side wings 3A, 3B, where each transition regions 19 has a diagonal fold 21. The transition region 19 is best seen in FIG. 3. It prevents the urine from unintentionally running out of the urine collection area 20.

(21) The second folding 12A between the notches 17 defines a line from which a rear part 23 of the urine collector 1 is folded upwards. This results in the central collection area 20 being located deepest between the rear part 23 and the front flap 4, which is best seen in FIG. 3. For larger collection volumes, for example larger than 100 ml or larger than 200 ml, for example up to 400 ml, the notches 17 could be provided with a folded transition region similar to the transition region 19.

(22) The rear part 23 is provided with an opening 24 located on the central longitudinal line 16, optional folding. The opening 24 is used for easy emptying of the central collection area 20, once urine has been collected in it. For emptying, the front flap 4 is, typically, detached from the front 5C of the toilet bowl 5 and gently lifted so that the urine flows towards and into the rear part 23. From the rear part 23, it leaves the urine collector 1 through the opening 24. It is also possible to lift part of the front flap without detaching it. Personnel collecting urine would, thus, locate a sample container (not shown) underneath the opening 24 and collect the urine while easily preventing contact with the urine on the hand or on the outer side of the sample container 27, which is a situation illustrated in FIG. 4.

(23) After urine collection, the urine collector 1 is discarded into the toilet 5 and flushed out.

(24) For example, the material of the urine collector 1 is paper of the type that defibrillates in water. Alternatively, the material is biodegradable polymer or starch, especially water soluble materials. Thus, when the sheet is flushed out of the toilet bowl with water, it defibrates or disintegrates similarly to toilet paper. The sticky material 6 on the urine collector 1 is water soluble.

(25) For minimizing the risk for the sheet being prevented from flushing due to air collecting in the sheet, it is provided with a number of flush holes 25, one on each of the rear wings 2A, 2B, side wings 3A, 3B, and front flap 4.

(26) Optionally, the urine collector 1 also comprises a fourth folding line 26 at a distance D from the central longitudinal line 1616 and parallel with the central longitudinal line 16, optional folding, and extending from the notch 17 so as to define an onset of the side wings 3A, 3B.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

(27) 1 urine collector 2A, 2B rear wings 3A, 3B side wings 4 front flap 5 toilet bowl 5A rear half of toilet bowl 5 5B front half of toilet bowl 5 5C front of toilet bowl 5 6 sticky tape regions 7 end regions 7 of the rear wings 2A, 2B 8 end regions of the side wings 3A, 3B 9A top edge of the toilet bowl 5 9B sides of the toilet bowl 11 first foldings on rear wings 2A, 2B and side wings 3A, 3B 12A rear folding 12B front foldings 13 side foldings 14A rear edge of one of the two side wings 3A 14B rear edge of the other side wing 3B 15A front edge of one of the two side wings 3A 15B front edge of the other side wing 3B 16 central longitudinal line, optional folding 17 notch between rear wings 2A, 2B and side wings 3A, 3B 18A, 18B front edges of rear wings 2A, 2B 19 transition region from front flap 4 to front edge 15A, 15B or side wings 3A, 3B 20 central collection area 21 diagonal folding in transition region 19 22 front flap fold 23 rear part of urine collector 1 24 opening in rear part 25 flush holes 26 fourth folding lines at distance D from central longitudinal line 16 27 sampling container