Patent Application
20050060798
This invention is related to bedpans and other similar receptacles, and in particular to a ventilation assembly for bedpans and the like which provides rapid odor elimination.
It is frequently necessary for invalids, bedridden hospital patients and persons otherwise infirm to use bedpans instead of plumbed toilet facilities. A responsible caregiver must place the bedpan in the appropriate position and then remove the used bedpan, and both the caregiver and the patient are subjected to the objectionable odor, which will remain in the ambient air unless proper ventilation is available.
It would be highly desirable to provide a bedpan with an integrated odor elimination system. In the prior art, patents having an objective of bedpan odor control are directed either to disposable bedpans or bedpan liners, and include Oberstein, U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,798, Scrafield et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,011,606, and Royal, U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,233.
In order to provide an improved odor elimination system for bedpans, the present invention includes an ozone producing apparatus. As is known in the art, ozone is much more active chemically than ordinary oxygen and is a powerful oxidizing agent and microbiocide, useful for sterilizing air. Prior art toilet systems having odor elimination features are directed to standard-sized facilities, and the mechanisms described therein would not be adaptable for use with a bedpan, which must have a relatively “flat” configuration so as to accommodate a patient in a prone position.
Kishi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,081,935, discloses a portable toilet having a purifying agent producing/supplying device built into a periphery of a toilet bowl. Due to an ozone producing mechanism, a tank assembly, and a bubble generating tank, which are provided by this purifying agent producing/supplying device, when an upper cover of the toilet is opened, a purifying agent that is an aggregate of ozone-containing bubbles is supplied to an inside of the toilet bowl.
Sasaki et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,749, discloses a portable toilet stool or bowl having an upper opening which is effectively closed by an air-curtain formed by currents of air flowing all over the opening to evacuate odors. One or more air suction openings are provided adjacent to the upper opening of the stool, and air is forcibly sucked into the air-suction openings by a suction fan. An ionizer is located in the air passages connected to the air suction openings to deodorize the air.
Maisch, U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,253, discloses a toilet fitting comprising a hollow seat adapted to be mounted on a toilet bowl and containing suction orifices through which air is drawn off into a suction chamber and thence to atmosphere or to an outlet pipe by an air extractor. To simplify servicing and to reduce noise the air extractor assembly comprising a fan, an electric motor and the necessary switchgear is mounted in a replaceable cartridgelike device which is housed in a hollow extension of the seat.
It is not shown or suggested in the prior art to incorporate electro-mechanical odor elimination devices into bedpans of standard dimensions. Thus, there remains a need for a improved bedpan which includes an ozone producing device in combination with an air flow assembly in order to provide a highly efficient odor elimination system constructed and arranged for use with a conventional bedpan.
It is an objective of the invention to provide an improved bedpan having an electrically-powered odor elimination system in the form of a integral ventilation unit which incorporates a fan in combination with an ozone producing device.
It is another objective to provide an improved bedpan having an electrically powered ventilation unit which can be readily detached to allow cleaning of the bedpan. It is still another objective to provide an improved bedpan having an electrically powered ventilation unit which conforms to the configuration of the bedpan so that it does not interfere with normal use of the bedpan.
It is yet another objective of the invention to provide an improved bedpan having an electrically powered ventilation unit which is actuatable either by a manual on/off switch or a pressure sensor in the top surface of the bedpan.
It is a further objective of the invention to provide a battery-operated portable ventilation unit for toilet receptacles which incorporates a fan in combination with an ozone producing device.
It is yet a further objective of the invention to provide a portable ventilation unit which can be used with any type of toilet facility, including bedpans.
It is still a further objective of the invention to provide a portable ventilation unit for toilet receptacles which can be suspended from the side edges of the toilet receptacle.
In accordance with the above objectives, the instant invention teaches a bedpan having a ventilating means which is constructed and arranged for cooperation with ozone producing means for the purpose of odor elimination from a bedpan. A ventilated bedpan assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a bedpan having at least one venting port in a side wall and a ventilation unit detachably connected to the bedpan at the venting port. In a preferred embodiment, a ventilation unit including a plenum chamber having at least one intake opening and an outlet port in airflow communication with said at least one venting port in the bedpan is provided. An ozonation means is disposed in the plenum chamber; and an air flow means, e.g. a fan or equivalent air movement induction means, is situated in air flow communication or disposed within the plenum chamber, in a manner effective to induce airflow through the outlet port. In the preferred embodiment, the ozonation means is an UV light fixture. An electrical power supply means (either a battery or A/C connection) is in electric communication with the ozonation means and the fan. An actuator is coupled to the electric power means, and can be a manually operated on/off switch. The actuating means can also be a pressure or proximity sensor located with respect to the top surface of the bedpan so that the electric power means is actuated, e.g. when pressure is exerted on the bedpan during use, or when the nearness of the patient to the proximity sensor completes the circuit.
The ventilation unit can be disposed in a housing having opposing openings therein to facilitate air flow through the housing, and the bedpan and the housing can respectively include mated attachment means whereby the housing and the bedpan can be selectively attached to one another.
In an alternative embodiment, a ventilation unit is connected to the bedpan via a segment of flexible hose which allows airflow from the interior of the bedpan to the ventilation unit. The ventilation unit is disposed in a housing having opposing openings therein to facilitate air flow through the housing, and includes a plenum chamber having an intake opening and an outlet port in airflow communication with the venting port, an ozonation means disposed in the plenum chamber; a fan disposed in the plenum chamber configured to induce airflow through the outlet port; electric power means in electric communication with the ozonation means and the fan, and a flexible hose having a first end peripherally attached to the venting port of the bedpan and a second end peripherally attached to the intake opening in the plenum chamber. The venting port can include a cylindrical flange portion contiguous thereto extending outwardly from the bedpan, wherein the flange is slidingly engagable with the hose.
In still another embodiment, a portable ventilation unit for a toilet receptacle having generally upright sides is provided. The portable ventilation unit comprises a plenum chamber having an intake port and an outlet port and a venting tube in airflow communication with the intake port. The venting tube having first and second ends, wherein the first end is adapted to extend into the toilet receptacle and the second end is contiguous to the intake port. An ozonation means is disposed in the plenum chamber, and a fan is disposed in the plenum chamber configured to induce airflow through the outlet port. An electrical power supply means, preferably a battery, are constructed and arranged for operative electrical communication with the ozonation means and/or the fan. The ozonation means can be a UV light fixture. The portion of the venting tube proximate the first end can have a curvilinear configuration allowing hanging engagement with the sides of the toilet receptacle. Alternatively, the unit can include hanger means which engage with the sides of the toilet receptacle.
Although the invention will be described in terms of a specific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art that various modifications, rearrangements, and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.
The bedpan 12 has the standard configuration for the purpose and includes a bottom wall 17, generally upright side walls 18, and a top surface 19 having an opening 20 therethrough adapted to receive human waste materials, thus defining an interior void area 25 and an exterior surface 27. The side walls 18 include a venting port 21, preferably proximate the top of the bedpan 12 to avoid contamination of the ventilation unit 14. The venting port 21 can have any suitable configuration, and can be in the form of a single aperture or a plurality of apertures in an array. The side walls 18 preferably include a splash shield 30, approximately perpendicular to the side walls 18, which is located below the venting port 21 and extends into the interior void area 25. The splash shield 30 serves to prevent waste materials deposited into the void area 25 from contacting the venting port 21.
The ventilation unit 14 includes a housing 34 which preferably conforms to the configuration of the bedpan 12 so as to appear to integrally formed with the bedpan 12 when it is attached.
Disposed within the plenum chamber 36 is an ozonation means, such as UV light fixture 42, which includes the bulb socket and corresponding UV light bulb. A fan 40 is also disposed in the plenum chamber 36, and is configured to induce air flow through the outlet port 38. The fan 40 thus draws fouled and noxious air from the interiors void area 25 of the bedpan 12 into the plenum chamber 36, where the air is then is deodorized by UV light fixture 42 and expelled through outlet port 38. It is within the scope of the invention to also include a scented air freshener means in the form of a replaceable cartridge within the plenum chamber 36.
The fan 40 and the UV light fixture 42 are each electrically coupled to an electrical power means, such as the batteries 44. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 34 includes a battery housing 48 which is segregated from the plenum chamber 36 and accessible through a battery housing door (not shown). The electrical power means can also be a standard A/C power connection assembly. An actuator is coupled to the electrical power means, such as the manual on/off switch 51 which is coupled to batteries 44. The actuator can also be in the form of a pressure or proximity type sensor (not shown) which is located proximate the top surface 19 of the bedpan 12 which serves to activate the fan 40 and UV light fixture 42 when the bedpan is in use.
An alternative embodiment 60 of the ventilated bedpan assembly of the invention is shown in
The housing 66 has an intake port 74 which provides the intake port for the plenum chamber located within the housing 66. The intake port 74 is configured for airflow engagement with the second end of hose 68 such that the second end of hose 68 is peripherally attached to intake port 74 in an airtight arrangement.
A third embodiment of the invention is shown in
An ozonation means, such as UV light fixture 90, is disposed in the plenum chamber 82. The plenum chamber 82 also includes a fan 92 configured to induce airflow through the outlet port 84. The UV light fixture 90 and fan 92 are each coupled to a electric power means, preferably a battery power source such as batteries 94. As shown in
The portion of the venting tube 86 proximate the first end 87 can have a curvilinear configuration, as shown in
In use, the first end of the venting tube 86 is be positioned inside the toilet receptacle, and the unit 80 can be suspended from the edge so as to be outside of the toilet receptacle. The fan 92 and the UV light fixture 90 are actuated so that air from inside the toilet receptacle is drawn into the plenum chamber 82, where it is deodorized by the UV light fixture 90 and expelled through outlet port 94. The unit 80 can also be used with a bedpan, in which case the unit 80 is positioned so that the first end 87 of the venting tube 86 is inside the bedpan, and the unit 80 is placed outside the bedpan and then adjusted to comfortably accommodate the user. The venting tube 86 can constructed from a shapable tubular material so that the configuration can be adjusted to the optimum shape at the time of use.
All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification.
One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.
