The invention relates to a urine collector, especially for use by men suffering from slight incontinence.

There are several aids for men suffering from incontinence in the market, some are satisfactory, but there are several un¬ satisfactory means. There is, thus, a demand for more variants and designs to satisfy all variable needs of persons suffer- ing from incontinence.

Most of the urine collectors that are marketed at present are intended for being kept in place by the aid of resilient netting briefs. This manner of fastening such means may cause both practical and psychological trouble to the male user. A known collector means keeps penis in place to a certain degree dependent on the user's activity. The collector means in the briefs will receive a curved shape conforming to the body, and this will make it difficult to place penis in the collector means after urination.

Some urine collector means are provided with fairly rigid edges which are felt under the briefs in use. Furthermore, in known urine collector means an absorbing: medium is used with a layer of textile on top. This medium is transformed into a gel when moisture is added, and the medium is distributed all over the inside of the collector means. Thus, a moist absorb¬ ing medium is formed with the discomfort this means. The dis¬ comfort is further enhanced by pressure from the briefs.

DE-PS 327 495 and US-PS 2 024 241 relate to aids in cases of heavy incontinence intended for bed-ridden patients. The pre¬ sent invention relates to an aid for cases of slight incontin¬ ence, droplet incontinence.

It is an object of the invention to provide a design of the urine collector which will reduce, if possible eliminate, the mentioned discomforts by omitting the briefs as a fasten-

mg means .

The invention, thus, relates to a urine collector means, especially for use by men suffering from slight incontinence. Said collector is characterized by a bag shaped container of a watertight resilient/flexible material, which bag is flexible and open on the entire side which is uppermost in use, and comprises resilient fastening means off each side of the open side, and a conically shaped funnel at the container side intended for facing the user's body when in use, said funnel extending from an opening in the container side and tapering inwards into the container.

From the above mentioned DE-PS 327 495 a conically tapering funnel is known, but this patent relates to a tightening sleeve intended for preventing urine from leaking out when the user is bed-ridden. The present invention relates to a tapering funnel the object of which is to keep the droplet collector in place by the aid of a resilient ribbon around the user's waist.

The combination of a tapering funnel and an opening in the uppermost area is not previously known.

With the known droplet collectors penis must be removed from the collector for urination, and the collector must then be put in place again and be fastened by the aid of briefs or the like, which is a troublesome operation.

According to the invention urination occurs via the upper opening, while the droplet collector remains in place all the time thanks to the combination of fastening funnel/top opening,

The unrine collector means according to the invention has two essential advantageous features which were not known in a combination previously, viz. a simpler, more safe and comfort¬ able fastening arrangement and a stucture permitting urination in the usual manner through the fly.

The invention also relates to a droplet collector which is designed to eliminate previous inconveniencies, being in the first place, fastened to the body by the aid of a conical funnel of a resilient material which envelopes penis and which in case of pressure will keep the droplet collector in place with a resilient ribbon around the waist. In the second place the droplet collector is provided with an opening in the top which permits urination without the need of.-removing the droplet collector. The fastening means may be in the shape of a resilient belt, resilient straps, elastic bands, or the like,

In the drawing an embodiment of the urine collector means according to the invention is shown.

Figure 1 shows the fastening points for fastening band A in front of the collector means.

Figure 2 shows the conical fastening funnel B in a sectional view, which funnel may be cut to the correct diamet¬ er for the user.

Figure 3 shows the position of the droplet collector when it is fastened to the user's body by the aid of funnel B and band A. Opening C is then closed.

Figure 4 shows the situation for urination, opening C then beeing pushed down, and urination occurring without the fastening funnel changeing its position.

Figure 5 shows how the droplet collector may be designed with absorption chamber D being a replaceable unit. It is connected with the upper portion by the aid of suit¬ able fastening means, e.g. buttons, hooks, clips, or the like.

The collector is fastened about the user's waist by the aid of an elastic band or an elastic belt, or elastic straps A which on each side end uppermost on the collector. The

collector is, additionally, fastened to penis by the aid of a funnel-shaped opening B. This opening is made conical to per¬ mit a suitable diameter to be achieved by cutting the funnel to achieve the desired clamping effect preventing the collect- or from sliding off.

It is also an object of the funnel-shape that, with a certain length of the funnel, it can absorb the horizontal relative movement between penis and collector that will necessarily occur, e.g. when the user bends down, sits down,or when penis shrinks in cold surroundings.

The uppermost opening of the collector C is used when the user urinates or moves his bowels. In case of ordinary urination the upper rim "of the container is folded down, and the user may urinate or move his bowels as usual without having to re¬ move the collector.

Opening C is also used for inserting and removing an absorbing medium to be placed at the bottom of the collector. Conseguent _^ ly, the user himself can select the necessary amount of absorbing medium and, thus, reduce the size of the collector to a minimum.

The fastening means securing the urine collector means to the user's body are fastened at both sides of the droplet collect¬ or, at its top, in order to hold it as closely as possibly to the body, and the resilient and conical funnel is attached to penis and shaped so as to hold penis to a maximum degree.

Another advantage is that there is no pressure from any briefs and soft rubber or a resilient material makes the collector comfortable in use, also the absorbing medium is placed at the bottom of the collector.

Absorbing medium can readily be exchanged for dry medium, and visits to the lavatory are,normal, as mentioned, without any need of removing the collector, since penis is guided through

the upper opening of the collector, which is also done for urination.

The urine collector can be manufactured as a disposable means, or for daily use over a longer period of time. The latter solution will provide for essentially reduced expences for use.