US4889532A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Female urinary incontinence device with forwardly-directed discharge passage and support surface portions
Assignee: Hollister Inc
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Filing: 1988-06-21
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Granted: 1989-12-26
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Expires: 2008-06-21
Abstract
Abstract A female urinary incontinence device including a periurethral cup, an external pad of soft, flexible, resilient material, and a compressible tubular elastic bellows extending between a lower opening of the cup and the inlet to a fluid discharge passage extending through the pad. The discharge passage extends forwardly (anteriorly) in a generally horizontal direction along the sagittal midplane of the pad, and the undersurface of the pad is provided with laterally-disposed and generally-horizontal surface portions, and preferably also a coplanar medial surface portion, for distributing forces and preventing inversion of the pad when a wearer is seated. A flexible discharge tube has one end detachably connected to the pad's discharge passage by means of a tubular coupling having an insert portion received in the outlet of that passage. The coupling includes a laterally-directed vent and valve, and an upwardly-extending T-shaped (in section) projection of the coupling is frictionally received in a T-shaped slot in the pad for preventing rotation of the coupling with respect to the pad and for holding the coupling in alignment, and in flow communication, with the pad's discharge passage.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Metz
- 👤 Joseph S. Tokarz
- 👤 Marvin E. Jensen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/44; A61F5/451; A61F5/455
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A female urinary incontinence device having a periurethral cup of soft, compressible material having an upper opening defined by smoothly-rounded contact surfaces for engaging the periurethral floor and vaginal introitus of a wearer; said cup also having a lower opening; an external pad of soft, flexible, resilient material having an upper surface for externally contacting the labia majora of a wearer; said pad having an inlet in said upper surface and having a generally horizontal discharge passage extending there through along the sagittal midplane thereof; said discharge passage having a first end portion communicating with said inlet and a second end portion terminating in an outlet; a compressible tubular elastic bellows extending between said lower opening of said cup and said inlet of said pad; said pad having an undersurface with laterally-disposed support surface portions; said support surface portions being located on opposite sides of said sagittal midplane and extending below and generally parallel with said discharge passage; said undersurface also including a medial support surface portion disposed between said lateral surface portions and extending towards said outlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A female urinary incontinence device having a periurethral cup of soft, compressible material having an upper opening defined by smoothly-rounded contact surfaces for engaging the periurethral floor and vaginal introitus of a wearer; said cup also having a lower opening; an external pad of soft, flexible, resilient material having an upper surface for externally contacting the labia majora of a wearer; said pad having an inlet in said upper surface and having a generally horizontal discharge passage extending there through along the sagittal midplane thereof; said discharge passage having a first end portion communicating with said inlet and a second end portion terminating in an outlet; a compressible tubular elastic bellows extending between said lower opening of said cup and said inlet of said pad; said pad having an undersurface with laterally-disposed support surface portions; said support surface portions being located on opposite sides of said sagittal midplane and extending below and generally parallel with said discharge passage; said undersurface also including a medial support surface portion disposed between said lateral surface portions and extending towards said outlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 1 in which there are a pair of laterally-disposed support surface portions spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of said sagittal midplane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 2 in which said laterally-disposed support surface portions are elongated and parallel with each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 in which said lateral and medial support surface portions of said undersurface lie in a common plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 4 in which said bellows has a longitudinal axis extending normal to said common plane of said support surface portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 1 in which said outlet faces anteriorly and said medial surface portion extends anteriorly beyond said lateral support surface portions.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
17 words
The device of claims 1 or 2 in which said upper surface of said pad is concave.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
24 words
The device of claims 1 or 2 in which a discharge tube has one end thereof detachably connected to said pad at said outlet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 8 in which said discharge tube includes a relatively rigid tubular coupling at said one end; said coupling having an insert portion received in said outlet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 9 in which said coupling includes a laterally-directed vent; and valve means disposed within said vent for permitting gaseous inflow into, but blocking fluid outflow from, said coupling.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 9 in which means are provided by said pad and said coupling for preventing rotation of said coupling in said outlet and for holding said tubular coupling in longitudinal alignment with said discharge passage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 11 in which said means includes a longitudinal projection extending upwardly from said coupling and a slot formed in said pad above said outlet for frictionally receiving said projection.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 12 in which said projection and said slot are T-shaped in transverse cross section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
190 words
A female urinary incontinence device having a periurethral cup of soft, compressible material having an upper opening defined by smoothly-rounded contact surfaces for engaging the periurethral floor and vaginal introitus of a wearer; said cup also having a lower opening; an external pad of soft, flexible, resilient material having an upper surface for externally contacting the labia majora of a wearer; said pad having an inlet in said upper surface and having a generally horizontal discharge passage extending there through along the sagittal midplane thereof; said discharge passage having a rear end portion communicating with said inlet and having a front end portion terminating in an outlet; a compressible tubular elastic bellows extending between said lower opening of said cup and said inlet of said pad; and a discharge tube having one end thereof detachably connected to said pad at said outlet; said discharge tube including a relatively rigid tubular coupling at said one end; said coupling having an insert portion received in said outlet; said coupling also including a laterally-directed vent and one-way valve means at said vent for permitting fluid inflow but preventing fluid outflow through said vent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
190 words
A female urinary incontinence device having a periurethral cup of soft, compressible material having an upper opening defined by smoothly-rounded contact surfaces for engaging the periurethral floor and vaginal introitus of a wearer; said cup also having a lower opening; an external pad of soft, flexible, resilient material having an upper surface for externally contacting the labia majora of a wearer; said pad having an inlet in said upper surface and having a generally horizontal discharge passage extending there through along the sagittal midplane thereof; said discharge passage having a rear end portion communicating with said inlet and having a front end portion terminating in an outlet; a compressible tubular elastic bellows extending between said lower opening of said cup and said inlet of said pad; and a discharge tube having one end thereof detachably connected to said pad at said outlet; said discharge tube including a relatively rigid tubular coupling at said one end; said coupling having an insert portion received in said outlet; said coupling also including a laterally-directed vent and one-way valve means at said vent for permitting fluid inflow but preventing fluid outflow through said vent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 14 in which means are provided by said pad and said coupling for preventing rotation of said coupling in said outlet and for holding said tubular coupling in longitudinal alignment with said discharge passage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 15 in which said means for preventing rotation includes a longitudinal projection extending upwardly from said coupling and a slot formed in said pad above said outlet for frictionally receiving said projection.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 16, in which said projection and said slot are of T-shaped transverse section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-25 | 1993-06-26 | 1993-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-25 | 1997-06-26 | 1997-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-25 | 2001-06-26 | 2001-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |