US4937890A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flat folded disposable female urinary aid
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-10-05
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Granted: 1990-07-03
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Expires: 2009-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A flat-folded expandable urinary aid for use by females which allows them to urinate from a standing position has an elongate flat-folded tubular portion terminating at an outlet end and a flat-folded funnel-shaped portion extending outwardly and rearwardly from the opposite end of the tubular portion terminating at an inlet end. The tubular portion and funnel-shaped portions are formed by a pair of opposed planar side walls hinged together from the inlet end to the outlet end along their top and bottom longitudinal edges. The side walls of the funnel-shaped portion are scored or creased along a pair of lines converging angularly from the juncture of the funnel-shaped portion with the tubular portion to intersect at a point approximately one-half the length of the funnel-shaped portion. The side walls of the tubular portion and funnel-shaped portion are creased or scored intermediate its longitudinal edges along a line extending longitudinally from the outlet end to the intersection of the converging score lines. Upon compression of the top and bottom longitudinal edges toward each other, the opposed side walls expand laterally outward from a flat-folded configuration to draw the funnel-shaped portion into a substantially elliptical shaped opening at the inlet end and the tubular portion into a generally diamond shaped configuration having a central opening extending the length of the tubular portion. The elliptical shaped opening at the inlet end is configured to surround the labia major of the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Jose J. Tafur
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:55
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47K; A47K11/00; A47K11/12; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/44; A61F5/451; A61F5/455; A61F5/4556
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
An elongate flat-folded expandable urinary aid for feminine use comprising; an elongate flat-folded tubular portion terminating at an outlet end, and a flat-folded funnel-shaped portion extending outwardly and rearwardly from the opposite end of said tubular portion terminating at an inlet end, said flat-folded tubular portion and said funnel-shaped portion defined by a pair of opposed planar side walls hinged together from said inlet end to said outlet end along their top and bottom longitudinal edges, each said planar side wall of said funnel-shaped portion being scored on its surface along a pair of lines converging angularly from the juncture of said funnel-shaped portion longitudinal edges with said tubular portion longitudinal edges to intersect at a point approximately one-half the length of said funnel-shaped portion, and each said planar side wall of said tubular portion and said funnel-shaped portion being creased or scored on its surface intermediate its longitudinal edges along a line extending longitudinally from said outlet end and terminating at the intersection of said converging score lines, whereby said opposed planar side walls expand laterally outward from a flat-folded configuration to define a central longitudinal opening in response to compression of the top and bottom longitudinal edges toward each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
An elongate flat-folded expandable urinary aid for feminine use comprising; an elongate flat-folded tubular portion terminating at an outlet end, and a flat-folded funnel-shaped portion extending outwardly and rearwardly from the opposite end of said tubular portion terminating at an inlet end, said flat-folded tubular portion and said funnel-shaped portion defined by a pair of opposed planar side walls hinged together from said inlet end to said outlet end along their top and bottom longitudinal edges, each said planar side wall of said funnel-shaped portion being scored on its surface along a pair of lines converging angularly from the juncture of said funnel-shaped portion longitudinal edges with said tubular portion longitudinal edges to intersect at a point approximately one-half the length of said funnel-shaped portion, and each said planar side wall of said tubular portion and said funnel-shaped portion being creased or scored on its surface intermediate its longitudinal edges along a line extending longitudinally from said outlet end and terminating at the intersection of said converging score lines, whereby said opposed planar side walls expand laterally outward from a flat-folded configuration to define a central longitudinal opening in response to compression of the top and bottom longitudinal edges toward each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A urinary aid according to claim 1 wherein the cross sectional configuration of said opposed planer side walls in the laterally outward expanded position draws said funnel-shaped portion into a substantially elliptical shaped opening at the inlet end and said tubular portion into a generally diamond shaped opening extending the length of said tubular portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A urinary aid according to claim 2 wherein said substantially elliptical shaped opening at the inlet end of said funnel-shaped portion is configured to surround the labia major of the user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
A urinary aid according to claim 3 wherein the rearward edge of each said planar side wall of said funnel-shaped portion is curved arcuately inward, and said opposed planer side walls in the laterally outward expanded position draws said funnel-shaped portion into a substantially elliptical shaped opening curved inwardly at the inlet end, whereby said inwardly curved portion may be adjustably positioned surrounding the labia major to facilitate direction of the urine stream forwardly and away from the user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
A urinary aid according to claim 3 wherein the top and bottom longitudinal edges of each said planar side wall of said funnel shaped portion are curved outwardly and rearwardly in opposed relation from their juncture with the longitudinal edges of said tubular portion, whereby said curved top and bottom edges of said funnel-shaped portion in the laterally outward expanded position reduces splashing and turbulence and facilitates channeling of the urine stream into said tubular portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A urinary aid according to claim 3 including a rounded rim at the rearward edge of said planar side walls of said funnel-shaped portion adapted to form a peripheral rim surrounding said elliptical opening in said expanded position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A urinary aid according to claim 6 wherein said rim is a separate piece of soft material formed in a loop and secured to said rearward edge of said funnel-shaped portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A urinary aid according to claim 6 wherein said rim is an integral portion of said rearward edge which is rounded over itself to form a rounded lip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A urinary aid according to claim 6 wherein said rim is formed by tabs which extend outwardly beyond said funnel-shaped portion rearward edge and which are folded along said rearward edge and secured back upon said funnel-shaped portion side wall to form a double ply of the side wall material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
105 words
A urinary aid according to claim 3 wherein the rearward edge of each said planar side wall of said funnel-shaped portion is curved arcuately inward and provided with a rim on the curved portion, and said opposed planer side walls in the laterally outward expanded position draws said funnel-shaped portion into a substantially elliptical shaped opening curved inwardly and having a peripheral rim at the inlet end, whereby said inwardly curved portion may be adjustably positioned surrounding the labia major to facilitate direction of the urine stream forwardly and away from the user and to provide a comfortable fit against the body of the user.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A urinary aid according to claim 1 wherein said elongate flat-folded tubular portion and said flat-folded funnel-shaped portion planer side walls are hingedly joined together by strips of flexible tape secured along their top and bottom longitudinal edges.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
A urinary aid according to claim 1 wherein said side walls are formed of two pieces of material, one of which having foldable tabs extending outwardly beyond its top longitudinal edge and the other of which having foldable tabs extending outward beyond its bottom longitudinal edge, said two pieces assembled together with said tabs in opposed relation, and said tabs of one piece folded over the longitudinal edge of the other piece and secured to the opposing side wall to hingedly join said pieces together.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
A urinary aid according to claim 1 including a compact container for receiving a plurality of said urinary aids, and a plurality of said urinary aids are folded transversly along the length of their said tubular portions in a generally Z-shaped configuration and contained in a stacked folded condition within said compact container having a slotted opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
76 words
A urinary aid according to claim 13 wherein said plurality of transversly folded urinary aids are assembled in the stacked condition with the outermost tubular portion of one urinary aid received in the folds of another, whereby upon said tubular portion of the uppermost urinary aid being pulled through the slotted opening of the container, said tubular portion of the next lower urinary aid will be extended partially outwardly from the slotted opening in the container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
84 words
A urinary aid according to claim 14 including a supply of tissues folded and contained in a stacked condition within said container, said container having another slotted opening for dispensing said tissues, said tissues being folded and assembled in the stacked condition with edge of one tissue received in the folds of another, whereby upon the uppermost tissue being pulled through the slotted opening of the container, the next lower tissue will be extended partially outwardly from the second slotted opening in the container.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-07-02 | 1994-01-01 | 1994-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-02 | 1998-01-01 | 1998-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-02 | 2002-01-01 | 2002-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |