US3864759A

US3864759A - Article to be used by human females when urinating

Info

Publication number: US3864759A
Application number: US369275A
Authority: US
Inventors: Akira Horiuchi
Original assignee: YOSHIHIDE FUJIMOTO
Current assignee: YOSHIHIDE FUJIMOTO
Priority date: 1972-06-19
Filing date: 1973-06-12
Publication date: 1975-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-11
Also published as: FR2189002B1; JPS527673B2; SE407740B; FR2189002A1; CH566774A5; JPS4920993A

Abstract

An article for use by human females when urinating. The article includes an elongated body having a relatively large inlet end and a substantially smaller opposed outlet end which is adapted to be connected to a tube for conveying urine beyond the outlet end of the body. The body is formed with a passage extending from the inlet to the outlet end of the body longitudinally therethrough. The body has a cross section which diminishes gradually from the inlet to the outlet end of the body. The relatively large inlet end of the body is of a generally oval configuration facilitating positioning of the body at a location where the passage at the inlet end of the body is adapted to receive urine from the urethra.

Description

United States Patent 1 Horiuchi 1 1 ARTICLE TO BE USED BY HUMAN FEMALES WHEN URlNATlNG [75] Inventor: Akira Horiuchi, Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignees: Yoshihide Fujimoto; Akigoshi Kurihara, both of Tokyo, Japan; part interest to each [22] Filed: June 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 369,275

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 1 1 Feb. 11, 1975 Primary E.\aminerHenry K. Artis Attorney, Agenl, or FirmSteinberg & Blake 57 ABSTRACT An article for use by human females when urinating. The article includes an elongated body having a relatively large inlet end and a substantially smaller opposed outlet end which is adapted to be connected to a tube for conveying urine beyond the outlet end of the body. The body is formed with a passage extending from the inlet to the outlet end of the body longitudinally therethrough. The body has a cross section which diminishes gradually from the inlet to the outlet end of the body. The relatively large inlet end of the body is of a generally oval configuration facilitating positioning of the body at a location where the passage at the inlet end of the body is adapted to receive urine from the urethra.

17 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB1 1 '3. 864.759

v SHEET 30F 4 ARTICLE TO BE USED BY HUMAN FEMALES WHEN URINATING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an article to be used by human females when urinating.

The article of the present invention is particularly designed for use by human females under conditions where difficulties are encountered with respect to urination.

Thus, a woman confined to a sickbed finds it difficult to urinate conveniently. Also, women who are out on camping trips or are in other situations where facilities such as water closets are unavailable find it difficult to urinate conveniently.

In the case of a female individual who is confined to a sickbed, there are conventional urinals available, but these generally require the individual to assume a posture where she is seated on the urinal with the hips and knees suitably bend in an extremely uncomfortable position. Under conditions where an ill woman cannot assume a posture of this latter type as, for example, when the illness necessitates complete rest without the possibility of deviating from a prone position, especially difficult conditions are encountered. Thus, under such conditions a woman cannot walk to a water closet, or the particular individual may suffer from a disease related to nerves, bones or muscles or deformation of the lumbar verterbrae, with the result that particularly difficult conditions are encountered. Of course, under certain conditions it is possible for an individual in this latter type of situation to be supported by a plaster cast or other fixing device so that it may be possible even with difficulty to use a portable urinal of small size. Such urinals have conventionally, without exception, taken the form of a relatively large container of glass or synthetic resin having a urine inlet projecting therefrom. With the use of such a conventional urinal the patient still is required to extend both thighs at a relatively wide angle with the lower part of the body exposed, so that there frequently is a heightening of the sense of shame and a spell of psychological uneasiness particularly with respect to such factors as, for example, whether or not the particular individual can properly urinate into such a conventional urinal without soiling the bed. Such a sense of shame and psychological disturbance have sometimes caused dysuria.

ln view of the above considerations there is a serious requirement for an instrument for enabling urination to be carried out conveniently and without any difficulty by a patient in a prone position while eliminating any sense of shame or psychological uneasiness. In spite of the fact that various studies have been carried out by hospitals, manufacturers of medical appliances, and similar institutions, there has been no development of any article which is useful for solving the above problems.

Problems of the above type are not confined solely to females who are ill. Thus, women who are in normal health encounter difficulties when they are at locations where facilities such as water closets are unavailable. For example, when out on camping trips or at locations such as mountains, woods, or beaches, such facilities are generally unavailable. Under these conditions certain embarrassment is encountered because of the fact that a woman in good health cannot urinate while standing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide an article which will avoid the above drawbacks.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an article capable of being effectively and conveniently used by an ill female in a prone position, without in any way disturbing the rest of such an individual so that even if such an individual cannot assume the natural posture required for urination nevertheless it will be possible to urinate conveniently.

It is in particular an object of the present invention to provide an article which is relatively inexpensive and convenient to use for the purpose of enabling a human female who is in a prone position, facing upwardly, to urinate conveniently while maintaining hygienic conditions without any particular embarrassment or uneasiness, and with an assurance that the bedding will not become soiled.

It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide an article of this general type which can be used by normal healthy women who are at locations where facilities such as water closets are unavailable, in such a way that urinating can take place in a standing posture while preserving conditions of cleanliness and avoiding possible embarrassment which might be encountered by the necessity of assuming a seated posture.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an article of the above general type which can either be cleaned and sterilized in a fully hygienic manner of which lends itself to being readily disposed of after use.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an article of low cost which can be conveniently carried about because of its relatively small size and which can be very conveniently used when required without creating any embarrassment and while at the same time giving confidence that the urine will be properly carried away from the body without, for example, any risk of soiling bed sheets or the like.

According to the invention the article includes an elongated body having a relatively large inlet end and an opposed substantially smaller outlet end which is adapted to be connected with a tube for conveying urine beyond the outlet end of the body. The body gradually diminishes in cross section from its relatively large inlet end to its opposed outlet end, and the body is formed with a passage extending from the inlet to the outlet end of the body longitudinally through the body. The relatively large inlet end of the body is of a generally oval configuration to facilitate positioning the body so that it is located with the passage at the relatively large inlet end capable of effectively receiving the urine from the urethra.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the body is generally of a muttonchop configuration having a length of approximately 7.5-l0 cm, with a maximum transverse dimension of approximately 4 cm, while the maximum thickness is on the order of 1.5-2 cm. The inner diameter of the passage which extends longitudinally through the body at the relatively large end thereof is approximately 1-1.2 cm.

When the article is used one end of a tube of rubber, synthetic resin, or the like is connected to the smaller end of the body, and the other end of this tube can be connected with a urinal or other urine-receiving receptacle. In the case of an individual who is confined to bed, such a tube may extend to a urinal situated on the floor beside the bed. The relatively large end of the body is positioned by the user so that this relatively large end covers the cavity inside the labium minus pudendi, including the ostium urethrae externum and the vestibulum vaginae (vestibule of the vagina). In this way it is possible to position the end of the passage at the relatively large end of the body so that it coincides with the ostium urethrae externum, thus assuring that urine discharging from the urethra will be directly received in the passage of the body to flow through this passage into the tube connected to the relatively small end of the body.

As a result, it is possible for a patient to use the article of the invention without extending both thighs to such an extent that such an individual encounters a sense of shame. At the same time an ill individual can maintain her rest uninterrupted because of the relatively small size of the article according to the present invention.

With the article of the present invention the construction is such that no urine can flow rearwardly or leak. It is possible to removably provide on the above body of the article of the invention around the passage 1 at the relatively large end of the body an attachment in the form of a material such as paper which is capable of absorbing water and which at the same time is capable of being disposed of in water, so that any residual urine is reliably prevented from clinging in an unhygienic manner to the ostium urethrae externum and the vestibulum vaginae (vestibule of the vagina). In this way any possible inflammation is prevented from occurring at such areas.

Particularly in the case of an article of the invention to be used by an ill female who is confined to bed, the passage extending longitudinally through the body is arranged in such a way that an upper inner surface of the passage adjacent the relatively large end of the body is slightly inclined upwardly as the passage extends above the relatively large end of the body toward the relatively small end of the body, while this passage is then inclined downwardly from a point which is selected at a distance of approximately 1.52 cm from the opening of the passage at the relatively large end of the body toward the relatively small end thereof. The lower inner surface of the passage inclines downwardly with this construction from a location situated directly at the relatively large end ofthe body of from a location which is stepped slightly downwardly from the relatively large end of the body, with this opening extending in this way from the relatively large end to the relatively small end of the body to which the tube is connected.

Where the relatively large end of the body is covered with a paper cap or the like, an attachment of this latter type can be discarded after use.

In fact, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention the entire body is made ofa material such as paper so that it can fall apart into a condition where its fibers are separated from each other in water enabling the article of the invention to be readily disposed of.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of one embodiment of an article according to the present invention, this embodiment of FIG. 1 being particularly designed for use by a human female in a prone position, such as a patient lying in bed;

FIG. 2a is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the article of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2b is a longitudinal sectional elevation of an article of the invention which differs from that of FIG. 20 by having rounded edges at the relatively large end of the body;

FIG. 2c is a sectional illustration of an article as shown in FIG. 2b taken transversely with respect to the plane of FIG. 2b;

FIG. 3-6 respectively illustrate different configurations of attachments to be used with the article of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of an article according to the invention adapted particularly for use by a human female in a standing posture;

FIG. 8a is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the article of FIG. 7;

FIG. 8b is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a device similar to that of FIG. 8a differing therefrom only in that the relatively large end of the body has rounded edges;

FIG. 8c is a transverse sectional elevation of the article of FIG. 8b taken in a plane transverse to the plane of FIG. 8b; and

FIGS. 9-12 are respectively perspective illustrations of different types of attachments which may be used with the embodiment of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the invention which is particularly suited for use by a woman lying prone in a sickbed is illustrated in FIG. 1. The article shown in FIG. 1 includes the elongated body 11 having at its left, as viewed in FIG. 1, a relatively small end 12 adapted to be connected with a tube such as a rubber or synthetic resin tube one end of which may be slipped over the relatively small discharge end 12 of the article 11. The opposite inlet end 13 of the body 11 is substantially larger than the relatively small outlet end 12. As may be seen from FIG. 1, the body 11 is generally of a muttonchop configuration, and the cross section of the body 11 gradually diminishes from the relatively large inlet end 13 to the relatively small outlet end 12 thereof.

The relatively large inlet end 13 of the body 11 is of a generally oval configuration. More specifically, however, it has a relatively large oval portion 14 situated next to the lower edge 18 of the body 11, as viewed in FIG. 1, this edge 18 being ofa generally S-shaped configuration. Adjacent its upper edge 19, which has a more sharply curved S-shaped configuration, as compared with the configuration of the lower edge 18, the body 11 has at its inlet end 13 a smaller oval portion 15, as compared to the area of the oval portion 14, and these

oval portions

14 and 15 of end surface 13 are intersected by a narrow neck portion 16. The larger oval area 14 of the generally oval inlet end 13 of the body 11 surrounds an opening 17 situated at one end of an elongated passage 21 which extends longitudinally through the body 11 from its relatively large inlet end 13 to its relatively small outlet end 12, as shown particularly in FIG. 2a. The substantially S-shaped lower and

upper edges

18 and 19 which are respectively of a lesser and more pronounced curvature, as described above and shown in FIG. 1, are referred to as the lower and upper edges inasmuch as the body 11 of FIG. 1 when used will have the generally horizontal attitude shown in FIG. 1.

As is apparent from FIG. 2a, the lower edge 18 extends from the relatively large inlet end 13 of the body 11 at an angle which is somewhat greater than 90. The smaller oval area is formed with a slight depression 20 which serves as an aid in positioning the article so that it can be properly used. Thus, the clitoris (glans clitoridis) included in the pupendum feminium has an extremely sensitive sense of touch which may be utilized for facilitating proper positioning of the article of the invention. More specifically, the end 13 is positioned with the recess 20 receiving the clitoris to cause the opening 17 to coincide exactly with the area of the ostium urethrae externum, so that in this way the urine flowing from the urethra will travel through the opening 17 into the passage 21.

This passage 21 extends from the opening 17 longitudinally through the body 11 to the end 12 to which the tube is connected as pointed out above, and the inner surface of the passage 21 has the special configuration apparent from FIGS. 2a and 2b. The passage 21 has a configuration according to which the urine will flow smoothly through the passage 21 without any undesired splashing and with an effective prevention of backward flow of the urine during use of the article of the invention. The passage 21 has an upper surface 22 situated closest to the upper edge 19 of the body 11 during use of the article when the body 11 is positioned substantially horizontally as shown in the drawings. This upper surface 22 of the passage 21 has an upwardly sloping portion 23 extending from just inside the opening 17 inwardly away from the end 13, and from the apex 24 of the upper surface 22 of passage 21, the surface 22 is inclined downwardly at a gradual slope to the end 12 to which the tube is connected for conveying the urine away from the outlet end 12 of the device. The apex 24 is situated at a distance of 1.5-2.0 cm from the opening 17.

When a human female urinates while in a prone position facing upwardly, the flow of urine is inclined upwardly, so that the urine is smoothly guided by the upper surface 22 of the passage 21 which is curved as described above toward the outlet end 12 to which the tube is connected, so that there will be no splashing within the passage 21 and the urine will be effectively discharged beyond the outlet end 12 into the tube extending therefrom.

On the other hand, it will be noted that the passage 21 has a lower surface 25 which extends from a stepped portion 27 directed downwardly from the substantially horizontal portion 26 immediately at the opening 17, this surface 25 sloping gently downwardly to the outlet end 12 of the body 11. The stepped part 27 prevents backward flow of the urine.

Thus, as may be seen from FIG. 2a, the article has a body 11 of generally muttonchop configuration with the cross section of the body 11 gradually diminishing from the relatively large inlet end 13 to the relatively small outlet end 12, although the rate at which the cross section diminishes is substantially larger at the region of the relatively large inlet end 13, this rate at which the cross section diminishes becoming more gradual toward the outlet end 12. It will be noted that the diameter of the passage 21 also gradually diminishes so that the passage 21 tapers generally toward the outlet end 12 with the wall thickness of the body 11 being substantially uniform at the region of the outlet end 12 while a substantially thicker part of the body 11 is situated between the substantially S-shaped upper edge 19 of sharper curvature and the passage 21 than between the latter and the lower edge 18 which is of a substantially less-pronounced substantially S-shaped CUI'VQIUIC.

The embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIGS. 2b and 2c is substantially identical with that of FIGS. 1 and 2a, with the same parts designated by the same reference characters. Thus, as may be seen from FIGS. 2b and 2c, the edges at the relatively large inlet end 13 of body 11 are chamfered or rounded both at the outer periphery of end 13 as well as along the opening 17, so that in this way the

rounded regions

28 and 29 are provided for the embodiment of FIGS. 2b and 2c. The chamfering particularly at the outer peripheral edge region 28 of the relatively large inlet 13 of the body 11 insures to a greater extent that the article of the present invention will be properly positioned and maintained stably at the required location since with this arrangement the article may be held on the pudendum feminium with the edge region 28 enclosing the area of the labium minus pudendi in contact therewith.

FIGS. 3-6 illustrate the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2a in connection with attachments 30a-30d of various shapes which are made of a material which is capable of absorbing water and which at the same time is incapable of remaining coherent in water, such as paper, this attachment or cap 30 serving to cover either the entire relatively large inlet end 13 of the body 11 or at least the larger oval portion 14 thereof. Use of the article with these caps 30a-30d will achieve an additional hygienic effect inasmuch as any urine residues resulting from urination will be absorbed by the caps. In addition, these caps may be discarded after use, as by flushing in a toilet.

In the case of FIG. 3, the attachment or cap 30a has a configuration matching that of the relatively large end 13. This cap 30a has a peripheral flange 31a which extends along the edge of the end 13 which is entirely covered by the attachment 30a. At the location of the opening 17 the attachment 30a is formed with an opening 32a.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the cap or attachment 30b covers only the larger oval portion 14, rather than the entire end 13. This attachment or cap 3012 also has a peripheral flange 31b for extending along the edge of end 13 at the region of its larger oval area 14, but this flange 31b does not extend endlessly along the entire periphery of cap 30b, as is the case with flange 31a with respect to the attachment 30a. Instead with the embodiment of FIG. 4 the free edges of the flange 31b define a notch 38 into which the free end 13 extends so that the intermediate portion 16 is received in the notch 38. This cap 30b of FIG. 4 also has an opening 32b which coincides with the opening 17.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the cap or attachment 300 has a configuration similar to that of FIG. 4 except that in the case of FIG. 5 there is no outer peripheral flange. Instead the opening 320 has at its edge a flange 33 adapted to extend into the opening 17 so that the embodiment of FIG. 5 will also properly cover the large oval area 14 of the body 11.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the cap or attachment 30d is in the form of a simple substantially oval sheet which does not have any flanges either at its outer periphery or along the edge of the opening 32d which is aligned with the opening 17. Instead with this embodiment the body 11 is hingedly connected at a portion 35 with a wire bail-shaped holder 34 made of stainless steel wire and having the configuration shown in FIG. 6. Thus, free ends of the wire bail 34 extend into openings formed in the portion 35 of the body 11 at the lower end region of the larger area oval portion 14 of the relatively large end 13. The opposite legs of the bail 34, which are interconnected by the cross member 37, are each bowed outwardly at their intermediate portions so as to extend around the opening 17. The end 13 is formed with the grooves 36 which will coincide with the side portions of bail 34 particularly at the outwardly bulged portions thereof. Thus, when, after the attachment or cap 30d is placed on the end 13 with opening 32d aligned .with opening 17, the bail 34 is swung against the end 13 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6, the sides of the bail 37 will be received in the grooves 36 with portions of attachment 30d pressed into these groov'es. At the same time, the outer free cross portion 37 of the bail 34 will engage with the end of the smaller oval portion of the relatively large inlet end 13. Thus, with the embodiment of FIG. 6 after the cover 30d is placed against the end 13 with opening 32d coinciding with opening 17, the bail 34 is swung against the end 13 so as to hold the cover 30d reliably in position.

The embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIG. 7 is adapted to be used by a human female in a standing posture. The embodiment of FIG. 7 is substantially similar to that of FIG. 1 in its external config uration. Thus, it will be seen that in this case also the article of the invention takes the form of an elongated body 11 having a cross section which gradually diminishes from the relatively large inlet end 13' to the relatively small outlet end 12' which is adapted to be connected with a flexible tube as was the case for the embodiment of FIG. 1. This relatively large inlet end 13 is also of a substantially oval configuration. Moreover, this relatively large end 13' has a relatively large oval area 14' in a relatively small oval area 15 interconnected by the narrow neck portion 16. In addition, this embodiment also has an elongated passage 21 extending longitudinally through the body 11 from the opening 17, which is at the end 13, to the outlet end 12'. However, it will be seen that the embodiment of FIG. 7 differs from that of FIG. I in that the rear edge 18, which corresponds to the lower edge 18 of FIG. 1, is more sharply curved than the front edge 19' which corresponds to the upper edge 19 of FIG. 1. However, in the case of FIG. 7 these edges 18 and 19' also are of a substantially S-shaped configuration. Although entire body 11' of FIG. 7 also is of a generally muttonchop configuration, it will be seen particularly from the sectional illustration of FIG. 8a that the entire body is curved and the passage 21 also is curved in the manner which is most clearly shown in FIG. 8a. It will be noted that the smaller oval area portion 15 also has a depression 20' to facilitate proper positioning of the article. Although the article of the invention is shown in an upright position of FIG. 7, during use it will be tilted slightly in a clockwise direction from the attitude shown in FIG. 7.

Furthermore, itwill be noted particularly from FIG. 8a that with this embodiment although the cross section gradually diminishes from the relatively large inlet and 13 to the smaller outlet end 12' which is connected to the flexible tube, with this embodiment also the rate at which the cross section diminishes is greater at the region of the larger end 13'. Also the wall thickness of the body 11 is substantially uniform at the region of the smaller outlet end 12' with this thickness being greater at the region of the front edge 19' than at the region of the rear edge 18' at the upper end region of the body 11', as viewed in FIG. 8a.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8b and 8c respectively differ from that of FIG. 7 in much the same way that the embodiment of FIGS. 2b and 2cdiffer from that of FIG. 1 in that the embodiment of FIGS. 8b and have the rounded or chamfered edges 28' and 29' respectively situated along the outer periphery of the end 13 and along the edge of the inlet opening 17'. Thus, the embodiment of FIGS. 8b and 8c will operate with the same efficiency and achieve the same advantages as the embodiment of FIGS. 2b and 2c.

FIGS. 9-12 respectively illustrate various attachments ments or caps 30' 30'd of various configurations conforming to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3-6, respectively, made also of a water-absorbing material which is also incapable of remaining coherent in water, such as paper. These caps or attachments also will cover only the larger oval area portion 14 in the case of FIGS. 10-12 and the entire end 13 in the case of FIG. 9 with the flanges being provided in precisely the same way as described above for the embodiments of FIGS. 9-11, while with the embodiment of FIG. 12 the bail 34 will operate in the same way as described above in connection with FIG. 6. The reference characters of FIGS. 9-12 respectively correspond to those of FIGS. 3-6 to designate the same parts, these reference characters of FIGS. 9-12 being primed so as to be distinguished from those of FIGS. 3-6. Thus, it is apparent that the embodiments of FIGS. 9-12 can also be used hygienically in a standing posture in the manner already described.

Although the article of the present invention as described above may have a body which is solid and made of glass, synthetic resin, or the like, it is to be understood that the body 11 or 11' may also be made in its entirety of a material such as paper which is incapable of remaining coherent in water, so that the entire article may be discarded after each use.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described above, it is apparent that the invention is not limited to the specific details described above and shown in the drawing and that various modifications are possible without departure from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. For use by human females when urinating, an elongated solid body having a relatively large inlet end and an opposed relatively small outlet end adapted to be connected with a tube, said solid body gradually diminishing in cross section from said inlet to said outlet end thereof and being formed with an elongated passage extending from said inlet to said outlet end of said body longitudinally therethrough, said inlet end of said body terminating in a substantially flat end surface and being of an elongated generally oval configuration to be comfortably positioned at a location where the end of said passage at said inlet end will receive urine from the urethra, said solid body having a cross section which diminishes more sharply at an intermediate region of the body substantially midway between the opposed ends thereof than in the region of said opposed ends thereof, and said body being of a generally muttonchop configuration and having between its opposed ends a pair of opposed side edges which are of substantially S-shaped configuration with one of said side edges being curved to a substantially greater degree than the other, and said body having a substantially uniform wall thickness extending between said outlet end and said intermediate region of said body, and said body having between said intermediate region and said inlet end thereof at least along said side edge of greater curvature a thickness which is substantially greater than the thickness of said body from said intermediate region thereof to said outlet end thereof.

2. For use by human females when urinating, an elongated body having a relatively large inlet end and an opposed relatively small outlet end adapted to be connected with a tube, said body gradually diminishing in cross section from said inlet to said outlet end thereof and being formed with an elongated passage extending from said inlet to said outlet end of said body longitudinally therethrough, said inlet end of said body being of an elongated generally oval configuration to be comfortably positioned at a location where the end of said passage at said inlet end will receive urine from the urethra, the cross section of said body diminishing more sharply at an intermediate region of the body substantially midway between the opposed ends thereof than in the region of said opposed ends thereof, said body being of a generally muttonchop configuration and having between its opposed ends a pair of opposed side edges which are of substantially S-shaped configuration with one of said side edges being curved to a substantially greater degree than the other, said passage being of a generally tapered configuration from said inlet to said outlet end of said body with the latter having a substantially uniform wall thickness at the region of its outlet end and at the region of its inlet end a wall thickness which is substantially greater along one side edge than along the opposed side edge, said inlet end of said body having a relatively large portion of substantially oval configuration surrounding said passage and beyond said relatively large oval portion a substantially smaller oval portion connected with said relatively large oval portion by a relatively narrow intermediate neck portion.

3. An article as recited in claim 2 and wherein said relatively small oval portion of said inlet end of said body is formed with a substantially central indentation for receiving the clitoris to assist in properly locating the body.

4. For use by human females when urinating, an elongated solid body having a relatively large inlet end and an opposed relatively small outlet end adapted to be connected with a tube, said solid body gradually diminishing in cross section from said inlet to said outlet end thereof and being formed with an elongated passage extending from said inlet to said outlet end of said body longitudinally therethrough, said inlet end of said body being of an elongated generally oval configuration to be comfortably positioned at a location where the end of said passage at said inlet end will receive urine from the urethra, the body being adapted to be used by a female in a prone position with said body extending substantially horizontally, said body having a generally muttonchop configuration and generally S-shaped edges which respectively form upper and lower edges when said body extends substantially horizontally, with said upper edge being more sharply curved than said lower edge and said passage being situated substantially in the region of said lower edge of said body and said body having above said passage between the latter and said upper edge a thickness in the region of said inlet end which is substantially greater than the thickness of said body below said passage.

5. An article as recited in claim 4 and wherein said passage has an interior cross section which gradually increases relatively sharply inwardly from said larger end of said body and then gradually diminishes toward said relatively small end of said body with said passage having an internal apex at its region which is nearest to said upper edge of said body at the vicinity of said relatively large inlet end thereof.

6. An article as recited in claim 5 and wherein said passage is stepped downwardly at the region of said inlet end of said body.

7. An article as recited in claim 6 and wherein the edges of said body at said inlet end thereof are rounded.

8. An article as recited in claim 1 and wherein said body is adapted to be used in a generally upright position by a standing female, with said body having rear and front edges of substantially S-shaped configuration, said rear edge being more sharply curved than said front edge and said passage also being of a substantially S-shaped configuration and tapering from said inlet t0- ward said outlet end of said body with the latter having a wall thickness which is greater forwardly of said passage than rearwardly thereof at the region of said relatively large inlet end of said body.

9. For use by human females when urinating, an elongated body having a relatively large inlet end and an opposed relatively small outlet end adapted to be connected with a tube, said body gradually diminishing in cross section from said inlet to said outlet end thereof and being formed with an elongated passage extending from said inlet to said outlet end of said body longitudinally therethrough, said inlet end of said body being of an elongated generally oval configuration to be comfortably positioned at a location where the end of said passage at said inlet end will receive urine from the urethra, said body being made of a material which is incapable of remaining coherent in water.

10. For use by human females when urinating, an elongated body having a relatively large inlet end and an opposed relatively small outlet end adapted to be connected with a tube, said body gradually diminishing in cross section from said inlet to said outlet end thereof and being formed with an elongated passage extending from said inlet to said outlet end of said body longitudinally therethrough, said inlet end of said body being of an elongated generally oval configuration to be comfortably positioned at a location where the end of said passage at said inlet end will receive urine from the urethra, a liquid-absorbent cover removably car ried by said body at said relatively large end thereof and covering at least that part of said relatively large end which extends around said passage with said cover being formed with an opening coinciding with said passage.

ll. An article as recited in claim and wherein said cover has an edge flange extending along and partly overlapping an exterior surface of said body which extends from said relatively large end thereof.

12. An article as recited in claim 11 and wherein said flange is formed with a notch receiving part of said body adjacent said relatively large end thereof with said cover covering only that part of said relatively large end which surrounds said passage.

13. An article as recited in claim 10 and wherein said cover is formed with a flange extending into said passage.

14. An article as recited in claim 10 and wherein said body carries a holding means for releasably holding said cover on said relatively large end of said body.

15. The article of claim 14 and wherein said holding means is in the form of a wire hingedly connected to said body for swining movement to and from a position holding said cover on said body, said body being formed with grooves for receiving said wire and part of said cover displaced by said wire into said grooves.

16. An article as recited in claim 15 and wherein said wire extends along opposite sides of said passage at said relatively large end of said body.

17. An article as recited in claim 16 and wherein said wire is made of stainless steel.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,864,759

DATED I February 11, 1975 INVENTOR(S) Akira Horiuchi it IS certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Parent are hereby corrected as shown below: v

In the heading, change the name of the second assignee from "Akigoshi Kurihara to --=Xkiyoshi Kurihara--.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of July 1375.

(52) Attest:

C. IEARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks RUTH C. I 'EASON Arresting Officer

Claims

8. An article as recited in claim 1 and wherein said body is adapted to be used in a generally upright position by a standing female, with said body having rear and front edges of substantially S-shaped configuration, said rear edge being more sharply curved than said front edge and said passage also being of a substantially S-shaped configuration and tapering from said inlet toward said outlet end of said body with the latter having a wall thickness which is greater forwardly of said passage than rearwardly thereof at the region of said relatively large inlet end of said body.

10. For use by human females when urinating, an elongated body having a relatively large inlet end and an opposed relatively small outlet end adapted to be connected with a tube, said body gradually diminishing In cross section from said inlet to said outlet end thereof and being formed with an elongated passage extending from said inlet to said outlet end of said body longitudinally therethrough, said inlet end of said body being of an elongated generally oval configuration to be comfortably positioned at a location where the end of said passage at said inlet end will receive urine from the urethra, a liquid-absorbent cover removably carried by said body at said relatively large end thereof and covering at least that part of said relatively large end which extends around said passage with said cover being formed with an opening coinciding with said passage.

11. An article as recited in claim 10 and wherein said cover has an edge flange extending along and partly overlapping an exterior surface of said body which extends from said relatively large end thereof.