Container assembly

Abstract

A container assembly for supporting and covering a bag for containing a substance discharged from a person, comprising a container, and a frame being receivable in the container and configured to support the bag. The frame is removable from the container whilst continuing to support the bag.

Description

CONTAINER ASSEMBLY

[0001] This invention relates to a container assembly, and in particular to a container assembly for supporting and covering a bag for containing a substance discharged from a person, including but not limited to urine.BACKGROUND

[0002] Catheterisation of patients is a common procedure whereby a tube is inserted into the patient’s urethra in order to drain urine from the patient’s bladder into a urine bag. Typically, the urine bag remains close by the patient’s bed or chair for prolonged periods of time during the catheterisation process. The urine bag and its contents may be considered to be unsightly.

[0003] GB254418 describes a cover means for at least partially concealing a urine bag. The cover means includes a front surface and a rear surface configured to provide a compartment or slot therebetween for receiving the urine bag.

[0004] It is an object of certain embodiments of the present invention to overcome certain problems associated with the prior art and / or improve upon the prior art.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0005] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided a container assembly for supporting and covering a bag for containing a substance discharged from a person, comprising: a container; and a frame being receivable in the container and configured to support the bag; wherein the frame is removable from the container whilst continuing to support the bag.

[0006] In certain embodiments, the frame comprises a plurality of hooks, and each of the plurality of hooks may be arranged to pass through a respective one of a corresponding plurality of holes in the bag so that the bag may be supported on the frame.

[0007] The container may comprise an opening, and the container assembly may further comprise a cover moveable between an open configuration in which the frame may be received in and removed from the container through the opening, and a closed configuration. The cover may be pivotably coupled relative to the container so as to be pivotable between the open configuration and the closed configuration. The cover may be pivotably coupled to a collar insert that is at least partly receivable in the container.

[0008] The container assembly may comprise at least one through hole for permitting an inlet tube to enter the container assembly and provide the substance to the bag when supported and covered in the container assembly.

[0009] In certain embodiments, the cover may comprise at least one of the at least one through holes. At least one of the at least one through holes may comprise a main hole and a slot that extends from the main hole to an edge of the cover to facilitate the disposal of the inlet tube in the main hole.

[0010] The container assembly may comprise a frame stand affixed to the frame for supporting the frame in an upright configuration.

[0011] In certain embodiments, the frame may comprise a frame handle for facilitating removal and reinsertion of the frame from and into the container.

[0012] The container assembly may comprise a drip tray positioned beneath a space where the bag may be supported by the frame and configured to collect any substance that may be discharged from the bag. The frame stand may comprise a drip tray aperture, and the drip tray may be receivable and removable from the drip tray aperture.

[0013] The container assembly may comprise a base attachable to the container for supporting the container assembly in an upright configuration.

[0014] The container assembly may comprise a bag supported on the frame. The bag may comprise an outlet tap for draining the contents of the bag, wherein the bag may be drained through the outlet tap whilst the bag is supported on the frame. The bag may comprise an inlet tube for receiving a substance discharged from a person.

[0015] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of using a container assembly described above, comprising: receiving a substance in the bag from a person whilst the bag is supported on the frame and the frame is received in the container; subsequently removing the frame and the bag supported thereon from the container; and subsequently draining the contents of the bag whilst the bag is supported on the frame.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Embodiments of the invention are further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Figure 1 is an exploded view of a container assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;Figure 2 is a perspective view of a container assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container assembly of Figure 2 with the cover in an open configuration;Figure 4 is a perspective view of the container assembly of Figures 2 and 3, with the container shown in translucent form to reveal the inner components of the container assembly;Figure 5 shows a frame and frame stand supporting a fluid bag in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; andFigure 6 shows a close up view of the frame stand with the drip tray removed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Figure 1 shows a container assembly 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The container assembly 10 is configured to support and cover a bag 16 for containing a substance discharged from a person. In a non-limiting example, the bag 16 may be a urine bag. In other embodiments, the bag 16 may be configured to receive any fluid or other substance that may be discharged from a person. For example, the bag 16 may be a stoma bag.

[0018] The container assembly 10 comprises a container 12 and a frame 14 that is receivable in and removable from the container 12. As is described in further detail below, the frame 14 is configured to support the bag 16 whilst the frame 14 resides in the container 12 and additionally continue to support the bag 16 during and after removal of the frame 14 from the container 12. Consequently, the bag 16 may be concurrently supported by the frame 14 and concealed by the container 12. In certain embodiments, the frame 14 may at least partly comprise a wire frame, e.g. made of or including a metallic material.

[0019] In the non-limiting embodiment shown in the Figures, the container 12 is defined by a front wall 13a, a rear wall 13b and a pair of side walls 13c, 13d. In alternative embodiments, the container 12 may take on any alternative form that defines an internal volume for receiving the frame 14 and a bag 16 supported thereon. The illustrated container 12 includes a pair of carry handles 12a for facilitating movement of the container assembly 10 when desired or required. The illustrated container 12 also comprises a viewing window 12b in the form of an elongated narrow slot in the front wall 13a. The viewing window 12b may permit the a portion of the bag 16 supported in the container 12 to be viewed, for example to assess the volume of fluid or other substance collected in the bag 16, or its colour or other visual properties. In other embodiments, one or more viewing windows may be provided elsewhere in the container, and the viewing window may take on forms other than an elongated slot. In some embodiments, no viewingwindow may be provided at all.

[0020] The frame 14 is affixed to a frame stand 18 that provides a broad stable base for the frame 14 to be supported on. In alternative embodiments, the frame 14 may be formed so that no frame stand 18 is required. For example, the frame 14 may be formed so as to comprise an integrated stand and / or set of legs for supporting the frame 14 in an upright configuration.

[0021] The frame 14 includes means for supporting the bag 16 thereon. In the non-limiting illustrated embodiment, the means for supporting the bag 16 comprise a plurality of hooks 14a that are spaced apart from one another and are each arranged to pass through a respective one of a corresponding plurality of holes 16a on the bag 16 so that the bag 16 may be supported on the frame 14. In alternative embodiments, other means for supporting the bag 16 may be provided for supporting the bag 16 on the frame 14. When supported on the frame 14, the bag 16 may hang such that an inlet tube 26 enters the bag 16 in an upper portion of the bag 16 and an outlet tap 28 of the bag 16 resides at a lower portion of the bag 16. In this configuration, fluid or other substances entering the bag 16 through the inlet tube 26 may collect under the influence of gravity in the lower portion of the bag 16 adjacent to the outlet tap 28. Consequently, whilst supported on the frame 14, the hanging bag 16 may be conveniently drained using the outlet tap 28, thus avoiding the need to touch the bag 16 or remove it from the frame 14.

[0022] The frame 14 is removable from the container 12 to facilitate drainage of the bag 16 into a drain or another receptacle. The frame 14 may comprise a frame handle 14b for facilitating easy removal and reinsertion of the frame 14 (and supported bag 16) from and into the container 12.

[0023] In the illustrated embodiment, the frame comprises a drip tray 19 located beneath the outlet tap 28 in order to collect any small droplets that may inadvertently drip from the outlet tap 28 (e.g. after drainage of the bag 16 into another receptacle or drain). The drip tray 19 may, as illustrated particularly clearly in Figure 5, be supported in a drip tray recess 18a of the frame stand 18. The drip tray 19 may be removable from the frame stand 18 (as shown in Figure 6). Removal of the drip tray 19 from the frame stand 18 may advantageously permit the drip tray 19 to be washed. Additionally or alternatively, the drip tray 19 may be removed so as to permit drainage of the contents of the bag 16 out of the outlet tap 28 through the drip tray recess 18a. In this manner, the frame 18 may be placed over a drain or other receptacle during drainage of the bag 16. The frame stand 18 may additionally comprise a finger recess 18b adjacent to the drip tray recess 18a to facilitate easier removal of the drip tray 19 from the drip tray recess 18a.

[0024] The container assembly 10 may optionally be provided with a support base 30 as illustrated in the Figures. The support base 30 may provide a wider support area for the container assembly 10 than is otherwise provided by the container 12 so as to increase thestability of the container assembly 12. In alternative embodiments, other means for enhancing the stability of the container assembly 10 may be provided (e.g. protruding legs).

[0025] The internal volume of the container 12 is accessible through an opening 15. It is through the opening 15 that the frame 14 (and supported bag 16) may be removed from and reinserted into the container 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening 15 is disposed at a top of the container 12 and is defined by the top edges of the front wall 13a, rear wall 13b and pair of side walls 13c, 13d. However, in other embodiments, the opening 15 may be provided on the container 12 elsewhere. The opening 15 may be selectively closable by a cover 24 that is movable between a closed configuration (shown in Figure 2) in which the cover 24 covers the opening 15 and an open configuration (shown in Figure 3) in which the cover 24 does not cover at least a portion of the opening 15 such that the frame 14 (and supported bag 16) may be removed from and reinserted into the container 12. In certain embodiments, such as the one illustrated in the Figures, the cover 24 may be pivotally or otherwise attached to the container 12 such that the cover 24 remains connected to the container 12 in each of the closed and open configurations. In other embodiments, the cover 24 may be completely removable from the container 12 such that it is disconnected entirely from the container 12 in the open configuration.

[0026] Returning to the embodiment shown in the Figures, the cover 24 forms part of a cover assembly 20 that includes both the cover 24 and a collar insert 22. The collar insert 22 is receivable in the top of the container 12. In particular, the collar insert 22 includes a shoulder portion 22a that limits the degree to which the collar insert 22 may be inserted into the container 12. When fully inserted into the container 12, the shoulder portion 22a rests on a top edge of the container 12 and part of the collar insert 22 extends upwards from the top edge. The collar insert 22 and the cover 24 include a pivot coupling that pivotally connects the cover 24 to the collar insert 22 to permit pivoting of the cover 24 relative to the container 12 between the closed and open configurations.

[0027] In the preferable embodiment depicted in the Figures, the cover 24 additionally comprises a through hole 32 for permitting the inlet tube 26 to pass into the internal volume of the container 12 and into the bag 16 when the cover 24 is in the closed configuration. Further preferably, as depicted in the Figures, the through hole 32 may comprise a main hole 34 and a slot 36 extending from the main hole 34 to an edge of the cover 24 such that the inlet tube 26 can be laterally positioned into the main hole 34 (when the cover 24 is in the open configuration) without needing to thread a free end of the inlet tube 26 through the main hole 34. The main hole 34 itself may be wider or otherwise larger than the slot 36 so that some movement of the inlet tube 26 relative to the container assembly 10 is permitted (e.g. as the patient to whom the inlet tube is connected to moves) when the inlet tube 26 passes through the through hole 32during use of the container assembly 10. The cover 24 (or indeed other components of the container assembly 12) may additionally include further through holes 38 such that several options are provided to the user as to where the inlet tube 26 may enter the container 12. In certain embodiments, the cover 24 may not include any through holes, and one or more through holes may be provided elsewhere on the container assembly 10 for permitting the inlet tube 26 to pass into the internal volume of the container 12 and into the bag 16 when the cover 24 is in the closed configuration. In such embodiments, the one or more through holes may be provided in the container 12 (e.g. in the form of a slot that has an open end when the cover 24 is in the open configuration).

[0028] Whilst not depicted in the Figures, in certain embodiments, the container 12 may comprise one or more holders (e.g. in the form of a mesh netting) for storing certain accessories including but not limited to tissues, wipes or spare bags 16. The one or more holders may be removeable and / or washable.

[0029] Embodiments of the present invention afford the user with enhanced discretion as the bag 16 receiving fluids or other substances discharged from the person may be concealed by the container assembly during use. The bag 16 may further advantageously be removed from the container 12 and drained without removing it from the frame 14.

[0030]

[0031] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of them mean “including but not limited to”, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

[0032] Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and / or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and / or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

[0033] The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A container assembly for supporting and covering a bag for containing a substance discharged from a person, comprising: a container comprising an opening; a frame being receivable in the container and configured to support the bag; a cover moveable between an open configuration in which the frame may be received in and removed from the container through the opening, and a closed configuration; and at least one through hole in the cover or the container for permitting an inlet tube to enter the container assembly and provide the substance to the bag when supported in the container assembly and when the cover is in the closed configuration; wherein the frame is removable from the container whilst continuing to support the bag.

2. A container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a plurality of hooks, and each of the plurality of hooks is arranged to pass through a respective one of a corresponding plurality of holes in the bag so that the bag may be supported on the frame.

3. A container assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover is pivotably coupled relative to the container so as to be pivotable between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

4. A container assembly according to claim 3, wherein the cover is pivotably coupled to a collar insert that is at least partly receivable in the container.

5. A container assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover comprises at least one of the at least one through holes.

6. A container assembly according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the at least one through holes comprises a main hole and a slot that extends from the main hole to an edge of the cover to facilitate the disposal of the inlet tube in the main hole.

7. A container assembly according to any preceding claim, comprising a frame stand affixed to the frame for supporting the frame in an upright configuration.

8. A container assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame comprises a frame handle for facilitating removal and reinsertion of the frame from and into the container.

9. A container assembly according to any preceding claim, comprising a drip tray positioned beneath a space where the bag may be supported by the frame and configured to collect any substance that may be discharged from the bag.

10. A container assembly according to claim 9 when dependent on claim 7 or 8, wherein the frame stand comprises a drip tray aperture, and the drip tray is receivable and removable from the drip tray aperture.

11. A container assembly according to any preceding claim, comprising a base attachable to the container for supporting the container assembly in an upright configuration.

12. A container assembly according to any preceding claim, comprising a bag supported on the frame.

13. A container assembly according to claim 12, wherein the bag comprises an outlet tap for draining the contents of the bag, wherein the bag may be drained through the outlet tap whilst the bag is supported on the frame.

14. A container assembly according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the bag comprises an inlet tube for receiving a substance discharged from a person.

15. A method of using a container assembly according to any of claims 12 to 14, comprising: receiving a substance in the bag from a person whilst the bag is supported on the frame and the frame is received in the container; subsequently removing the frame and the bag supported thereon from the container; and subsequently draining the contents of the bag whilst the bag is supported on the frame.

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