Female Urine Specimen Kit

Abstract

The present invention relates to a female urinary collection device or specimen kit. The kit comprises an adjustable tool designed for a woman to collect a urine sample in a sanitary fashion. The tool has a conformable base component with an opening to allow fluids to travel therethrough, and an accordion like hose connector that transfers the sample from the base component to the urine collection specimen container. The device is flexible and can be used by women of all sizes and of different physical abilities. Further, the device is small enough to be carried in a purse or small carrying bag when not being used as a specimen collection kit.

Claims

1. A sample collection device comprising: a collection body comprised of a side wall, a base, a rim extending around the collection body, and a pocket disposed on an exterior surface of the collection body, wherein the side wall slopes to the base to form a funnel and the base comprises an opening; a hose comprised of a first and a second end, wherein the opening is connected to the first end of the hose and the hose is both flexible and extendable; and a container provided to collect a sample and having a lid with an opening therein, wherein the second end of the hose is connected to the container, and further wherein the collection body is conformable to fit an anatomy of a female user; and wherein the rim is provided with a gel to form a seal between the collection body and the user.

2. The sample collection device as recited in claim 1, wherein the collection body further comprises a first ovoid shaped portion and a second ovoid shaped portion connected to the first ovoid shaped portion.

3. The sample collection device as recited in claim 2, wherein the first ovoid shaped portion is larger than the second ovoid shaped portion.

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. The sample collection device as recited in claim 1, wherein the collection body is comprised of a width of three inches, a length of five inches and a height of six inches.

7. The sample collection device as recited in claim 1, wherein the collection body is comprised of a medical grade silicone, a rubber, a silicone or a plastic.

8. The sample collection device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a filter positioned in the opening of the collection body.

9. The sample collection device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a test strip positioned on the base of the collection body.

10. The sample collection device as recited in claim 9, wherein the test strip is connected to a sensor.

11. The sample collection device as recited in claim 10, wherein the sensor is in wireless communication with a smartphone.

12. The sample collection device as recited in claim 9, wherein the test strip detects at least one of a wetness, a urine or a pregnancy.

13. A female urination device comprising: a collection body conformable to an anatomy of a female user, the collection body comprised of a first ovoid shaped portion, a second ovoid shaped portion, a wall that slopes toward a base having a hole, and a plurality of finger handles disposed on an exterior surface of the collection body; a flexible tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is removably attached to the base around the hole, and the second end is removably attached around an opening in a lid; a receptacle for receiving a sample from the female user, wherein the receptacle is removably attached to the lid by a threaded closure and comprises a capacity level indicator disposed on an exterior surface of the receptacle; and a set of contaminant seals positioned at least partially on the lid.

14. The female urination device as recited in claim 13, wherein the collection body is comprised of a medical grade silicone, a rubber, a silicone or a plastic.

15. The female urination device as recited in claim 13, wherein the first ovoid shaped portion is larger than the second ovoid shaped portion.

16. The female urination device as recited in claim 15 further comprising a test strip positioned along the collection body.

17. The female urination device as recited in claim 16, wherein the test strip is capable of detecting a urine, a wetness and a pregnancy.

18. The female urination device as recited in claim 17, wherein the test strip is connected to a sensor and the sensor is in wireless communication with a smartphone.

19. The female urination device as recited in claim 13 further comprising an interchangeable filter.

20. A specimen kit for use by a woman, the specimen kit comprising: a collection body; a removable grated filter positioned within the collection body; a container for receiving a specimen; and a tube connecting the collection body to the container; wherein the tube is flexible and extendable and comprises a first end connected to the collection body and a second end connected to a lid having an opening, wherein the lid is removably connected to the container; and further wherein the collection body comprises a first portion, a second portion that is smaller in size than the first portion, a side wall that slopes towards a base having an opening therein that is in fluid communication with the tube, a removable cover, and a plurality of finger handles disposed on an exterior surface of the collection body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the urinary collection device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the urinary collection device of the present invention with a top view of the collection component in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the urinary collection device from a lateral view with all components constructed in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0031] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the urinary collection device of the present invention with the hose component connected to the cap of the urine or sample testing cup in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and

[0032] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the urine drug test cup compatible with the urinary collection device presented in FIGS. 1-4 in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0033] The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

[0034] As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for a urine or sample collection device that specifically provides female users with the ability to independently take a urine-based drug test. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a urinary collection device that allows users to take a drug test while in a plurality of positions. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a urinary collection device that is portable and can be stored in a small luggage bag to allow the individual to use the invention when a toilet is not available or if the sanitary condition of the toilet is not acceptable to the individual. Moreover, there is a long-felt need in the art for a device that prevents excessive spillage of urine onto the user's hands, clothes, or surrounding areas. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a urinary collection device made of material capable of contouring its shape to fit the user's body and to provide a sanitary and efficient way to conduct a test or collect a sample.

[0035] The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a urinary collection or sample collection device. The device has an adjustable funnel for collecting urine from the user and directing it into a standard size urine-based drug test cup or other receptacle if one is needed. Alternatively, the collection component can be used independent of the test cup and/or hose, or just with the hose or tube connected to the collection device to allow some additional directional control to the user. The device comprises a first ovoid shaped portion forming the larger portion and a smaller ovoid shaped portion forming the smaller portion and connected to the larger portion to form the collection component. The collection component has a base and side walls with the side walls sloping to the base to form a funnel like feature. The base has an opening to allow fluid collected in the collection component to flow out of the collection component into a tube or hose connected to the opening. The collection component is pressed against the user's vaginal area and covers the urethra. The device also comprises an accordion style hose component that allows the urine collected in the collection component to reach the urine cup or other receptacle, such as a toilet, without spillage. The hose component can be extended or retracted to any desired size depending on a plurality of scenarios. The hose component is also capable of connecting to the drug test cup through a hole in the container's lid. Further, the device is compact and can be disassembled for easy transportation.

[0036] The present invention also includes a method of securing the device upright and in position to be used. The method includes the steps of providing a urinary collection device comprising a shaped funnel base component made of a flexible material for adjustability. The method also includes the step of positioning the assembled device upright while being utilized. Further, the method includes securing the bottom of the hose component to the supplied drug test cup. The hose is fed through or connected to the lid to the test cup or other receptacle. Finally, transporting the device via a carrying bag specifically made for the kit.

[0037] Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the urinary collection device 100 of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the urinary collection device 100 is an improved drug testing collection device for females that provides users with a way of easily and independently taking a test without spilling excessive amounts of urine. More specifically, the device 100 comprises a shaped body or collection component 110 with an opening 119 on top to collect urine. The device 100 also includes an accordion-like hose connector 140 which connects from the base or collection component 110 to the urine storage container 180. The collection component 110 bends and contours its shape to securely collect streams of urine and the shape can be easily conformed to different users of the device 100.

[0038] The collection component 110 allows for the adjustability of the device 100. Specifically, the device 100 is adjustable and may be used by women with physical limitations. Further, the adjustability is accomplished by providing a base component 110, which is made of a flexible material. The adjustability is also accomplished by a bendable and extendable hose or tube-like connector 140. The device 100 keeps urine contained as it travels from the body or collection component 110, through the tube connector 140, and finally to the urine container 180.

[0039] In one embodiment, the body or collector component 110 has a shaped configuration to fit between the legs of the user with an exterior surface 112 and an interior surface 114 made up of a medical grade silicone, plastic, rubber, or silicon material. The body or collector component also has an opening 119 in which the urine travels through. The first opening 116 is much larger and oval or ovoid shaped as it is placed onto the user and catches the urine. The second opening 118 is smaller in diameter, oval or ovoid shaped, and sized to fit inside the connector component 140. Further, the base component 110 has a lip 117 for providing a surface to grip to the user's skin to hold the device in place while being utilized. In another embodiment, the first or top opening or portion 116 is flexible and can be adjusted depending on the needs and/or wants of a user. In another embodiment, the body or collection component 110 can be manufactured into many various sizes and shapes fitting to the user's needs.

[0040] In one embodiment, the body or collection component 110 measures 3 wide, 5 length, and 6 tall. This is case of plausible dimensions and many other suitable sizes or shapes as is known in the art, depending on the needs and/or wants of a user can be replicated. Further, the body or collection component 110 is configured in an oval or ovoid shape, but could also be configured in a rectangular, triangular, or circular shape, or any other suitable shape as is known in the art and which could be used to accomplish the present purpose. The base component 110 weighs approximately at least 0.5 lb. and is heavy enough to maintain its shape and not break when washed or used.

[0041] In another embodiment, the body or collection component 110 is detachable from the connector hose or tube 140 and the container 180, such that the device 110 can be stored or washed individually if it is not a single use device. Further, the body or collection component lip 117 can be lined with a cloth or gel to prevent irritation. Furthermore, the base component's exterior surface 112 has room for custom indicia, such as the manufacturer of the device. The exterior surface 112 may also be provided with a pocket 113 which has room to store toilet paper or tissues to use once the urinating has been completed. The interior surface 114 may also comprise these capabilities and can be customized to fit a user's needs.

[0042] In another embodiment, the body or collection component 110 has an upper reservoir area 120 for extra storage. The reservoir area 120 is oval or ovoid shaped and allows for urine to retain there as it slowly flows through the continuous opening 119 and drains into the connector 140 through the second opening 118. The body component 110 also has a thin nozzle 121 which narrows as it travels towards the second opening 118. This narrowed opening 121 allows the body or collection component 110 to go inside of the hose connector 140 without leaking. This offers a gravity-based flow of the urine and prevents a spill from occurring.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, the body or collection component 110 comprises a lip surface 117 which is approximately 1 cm (about 0.39 in) in width all around the top of the body or collection component 110. In one embodiment, the lip of the base component 117 can contour to the shape of the user's vaginal area. This lip can be coated with a gel or lined with a material, such as a compressible foam 207, that would prevent irritation of rubber or other material on the skin and to form a seal between the user and the collection component 110 so as to further avoid contamination when giving a drug test.

[0044] In another embodiment, the body or collection component 110 has small rectangular shaped indentations 130 for the user's fingers to grip the cup. The finger handles 130 can be any suitable indentation shape as is known in the art and would typically be located on the elongated sides of the exterior wall 112 regarding the base component 110.

[0045] Furthermore, the shaped body or collection component 110 can have fine interchangeable filters 165 placed in the thin nozzle compartment 121. These would be finely grated filters for preventing hair or other substance from entering the drug testing container 180. They would be the same diameter as the nozzle component 121, being 0.5 cm (about 0.2 in)-1 cm (about 0.39 in). The filter component 165 can be removed by pushing upward through the second opening 118 or by squeezing the bottom of the body or collection component 110. As previously indicated, the collection component 110 includes a first ovoid portion 201 which forms a larger portion of the collection component 110 and a second ovoid portion 203 which forms a smaller part of the collection component 110. The two portions 201 and 203 have side walls and a base area with an opening to allow urine to flow into the tube or hose that is connected to the opening.

[0046] In another embodiment, the shaped collection component 110 comes with a cover 135. This cover lays flush with the rim of the base component 110. The cover 135 can be made from a silicone rubber, Timprene, Neoprene, EPDM, Viton, Butyl or synthetic rubber, plastic, etc., or any other suitable material as is known in the art and maintains the collection component 110 in a sanitary condition if being used for a drug test.

[0047] The body or collection component 110 can also include a pregnancy test strip or wetness strip 205. The strip 205 may be attached to a sensor 211 which is connected to a smartphone 209 or other remote device to allow a user or an observer to monitor the test and to see the results of the test. The strip, in addition to pregnancy testing, may be used to see if the user is pouring water or other fluid into the collection component 110 and not urine.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 3, the body or collection component 110 has a set of grooves 155 located on the nozzle section 121. These grooves are about 2-3 mm (about 0.12 in) in width and serve as a gripping point for the connector hose 140 to attach to. The grooves 155 are a series of ridges 1550 and valleys 1552. These ridges and valleys work to provide traction to other components and prevent the device from falling apart during use. These grooves are exclusive to the interior surface 114 of the body component 110. The interior of the tube or hose is free from any ridges or valleys as such extrusions would prevent the flow of the urine through the funnel component 110.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 4, the body or collection component 110 is placed inside of the connector component 140. The connector hose is threaded through the adaptive lid 184 which can be placed on the container 180. Thus, the lid 184 has an exterior surface 1940 and an interior surface 1842 that is provided with threads with the ability to be twisted onto the container 180. Specifically, the lid 184 can be slid over the connector 140. The connector hose 140, has an accordion style body 142 and has ridges 1420 and valleys 1422 on the exterior surface of the connector hose 150, as opposed to the interior surface 152. The accordion style hose, with its ridges 1420 and valleys 1422, allows for more compact storage and also provides for grabbing points for the adaptive container lid 184 to be placed. Any other suitable securing feature can be utilized to secure the hose connector 140 in position, as is known in the art, depending on the requirements of a user.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 5, the container component 180 has an exterior surface 1820 and an interior surface 1821. Further, the exterior surface 1820 has a continuous back 1824 and extending walls 1825. The container 180 has an exterior bottom material 1823 as well as an interior bottom 18231. On the exterior surface 1820 is a capacity level chart 183 which indicates when the cup is filled to an appropriate level for testing.

[0051] In yet another embodiment, the urinary collection body or collection component 110 is manufactured from Silicone rubber, Timprene, Neoprene, EPDM, Viton, Butyl or synthetic rubber, plastic, etc., or any other suitable material as is known in the art.

[0052] In yet another embodiment, the urinary collection device 100 has a set of straps 160 for securing the device 100 to a user with possible physical limitation. Straps 160 are wrapped around the base of the base or collection component 110 and are fastened via a system of hook and loop patches on the straps connecting when the hook side 161 latches to the loop side 162. The straps 160 can be customized as is known in the art with possibilities, such as, but not limited to, patterns, logos, emblems, images, symbols, designs, letters, words, characters, animals, advertisements, brands, various combinations thereof.

[0053] In use, the urine container 180 has a capacity level strip 183 so that the user can look at the receptacle while using the device to make sure they produce an adequately sized amount to be tested. If the container 180 becomes full, the remaining urine will remain in the hose component 140 which can then be poured out by reversing its previous path of travel through the continuous opening 119.

[0054] Still referring to FIG. 5, the container 180 has a set of contamination seals 185, namely a pre-use contamination seal 1850 and a post-use contamination seal 1852. The seal 1850 is placed onto a partial section of the container's exterior surface 1820. The end of the seal stretches to the lid 1840. This seal is broken when the container 180 is ready to be used. The post-use seal 1852 is placed onto the container exterior surface 1820 once a valid urine sample has been collected. The seal is essential to the cup as it prevents users from contaminating the urine specimen or tampering with the test. The seal can be broken when the adaptive lid 184 is removed from the base of the container 180.

[0055] Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different users may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein female urinary collection device, Urine collection device, and device are interchangeable and refer to the female urinary collection device 100 of the present invention. This rule of hand also applies for the terms base component, body component, Cone-shaped funnel, and funnel component as they are all referring to the main body component 110.

[0056] Notwithstanding the foregoing, the urine collection device 100 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention provided it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the urinary collection device 100 as shown in FIGS. 1-5 are for illustrative purposes only, and many other sizes and shapes of the collection device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the urinary collection device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the female urinary collection device 100 may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

[0057] Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

[0058] What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matters are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term includes is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner like the term comprising as comprising is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.