DISPOSABLE TOILET BAG

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present inv ention relates to a disposable toilet bag. More specifically, the

present inv ention is concerned w ith a disposable bag that is mountable to a toilet seat for

collecting faeces and/or urine of a user for toilet disposal thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of toilet dev ices are know n for collecting excrement and/or urine or for

other sanitarv toilet purposes.

United States Patent 3.916,452 issued to Alt on November 4. 1974. teaches a

collapsible bidet that comprises an enveloped flange-like structure at the opening thereof

to be mounted around the toilet seat and a base portion that falls w ithin the bow l. The

bidet is collapsible and made of flexible sheet material. A package for adding liquid into

the bidet is also provided. The bidet mav be re-used or discarded.

United States Patent 6.212.698 issued to Stinglev et al. On April 10. 2001 teaches a

urine collection kit that includes a flexible mounting strip to be positioned atop the toilet

bow l rim so as to be clamped by the toilet seat. A plastic bag extends from the mounting

strip into the toilet bow l. Collection cups are rcleasable sealed w ithin ports at the bottom

of the bag.

United Sates Patent 6.607,226 issued to Poncv on August 19. 2003 teaches a toilet-

disposable bag for aqueous disposal. The bag is multilav ered and includes an interior

material made of w ater-soluble plastic material, such as polyv inyl alcohol, an intermedial- _}

layer made of water retardant material, such as silicone, and an exterior laver made of

biodegradable paper, such as kraft paper. This bag is not mountable to a toilet seat but

used instead as a collection bag for pet excrement, for example, that can be flushed dow n

the toilet since all the materials and contents of the bag degrade when contacting w ater.

International PCT application WO 97/ 17019 published on Mav 15. 1997 teaches a

bag for collecting faecal matter, in particular for medical analv sis. The bag is made of a

liquid-perv ious sheet of non-stretchable and biodegradable material suitable for toilet

disposal. The bag comprises a V-shaped receptacle w ith tw o similar and opposite Haps at

its top open portion that mav include an adhesiv e so as to be adhered on a toilet seat during

use. The bag is short so as not to be in contact λ\ ith the w ater of the toilet bowl. T he bag

provides for a specimen of faecal matter to be probed and placed on an examination kit.

The user will then remov e the flaps from the toilet seat allow ing the receptacle to fall itself w ithin the bow l. The bag can then be flushed down the toilet w ith its contents.

Japanese Patent 22272643 teaches a paper cov er and washing paper for mounting to

the seat of a toilet. The toilet cover is made of water-soluble paper and is attached to the

toilet seat. A water-soluble small bag is connected to the underside of the toilet seat cover

and extends w ithin the toilet bow l, fhe bag includes a deodorant and an aromatic

detergent. The bag prevents excrement for making direct contact w ith the toilet thereb)

prev enting clinging. The toilet is then washed w ith the deodorant and aromatic detergent

w hen flushing.

λ drawback of the known devices is that thev do not provide a bag that can be

mounied on a toilet seat for collection of urine and excrement that can be folded in small

discreet sizes to be packed in a kit containing a plurality of such bags. Another draw back

is that known bags are of a complex construction or geometrv containing accessor ₎

receptacles, liquids, detergents, deodorants and the like. Another draw back resides in that

known devices do not provide a bag made so as to be mounted on a variety of toilet units

and covering the toilet seat and the full internal peripheπ of the toilet unit w hile

substantiall} avoiding tearing for its intended use. λ further drawback of the known

devices is that they do not pro\ ide a bag that can shrink substantially in size when being

put into contact w ith w ater. A \ et further drawback of the know n dev ices is that the\ do

not provide a bag that can be securely positioned about the toilet seat w ithout the use of a

complex configuration or accessories.

Patients in hospitals and other health care facilities or retirement homes that suffer

from physical disabilities. usualh use extensions on toilet seats known as "toilet risers",

these extensions place the user further a wa\ from the water of the toilet bowl, this is also

true in the higher seat structures of handicapped reserved bathroom stalls in commercial

and priv ate areas, this higher distance causes w ater to splash onto the toilet user which ma}'

cause infection. These splashes also attain the interior of the toilet bow l, which oblige

health care personnel to be constantly washing toilets.

There are a varietv of infectious diseases that may be propagated when users are in

contact with a toilet seat, toilet water or the internal walls of a toilet bow l.

Public toilets are also areas where infections ma\ promulgate from the seat of

public toilet, from human w aste such as urine or faeces rebounding from the inner

periphery of a bow l, which is usualh infested w ith bacteria and from water splashing onto

the user during use of a toilet.

There is a need to avoid the possibility of promulgating infections v ia the foregoing.

There thus remains a need for an improved disposable device to be used with a toilet for

collecting human biological waste. 1 he present invention seeks to meet this and other

needs.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to prov ide an improved disposable device to be

used with a toilet for collecting human biological waste.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a

device to be used w ith a toilet unit for collecting human biological waste destined to be

disposed, the device comprising a foldable receptacle portion to be deployed within the

receh ing part of the toilet unit, the receptacle portion comprising a bottom closed end and

a top open end. a foldable mounting portion adjacent to said top open end for being

securely and removably mounted to the seat of the toilet unit during use of the device with

the toilet, wherein when mounting the device to the toilet unit, the receptacle portion is so

configured as to be deployed above the water contained in the toilet receiving part and to

isolate the user from the water and from the receiving part of the toilet unit during

collection of human biological waste, the device and collected contents therein being toilet

disposable.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit

comprising a container having an opening and a plurality of devices to be used w ith the

toilet unit for collecting human biological waste destined to be disposed, folded w ithin the

container and accessible via the opening, each device comprising a foldable receptacle

portion to be deployed w ithin the receh ing part of the toilet unit, the receptacle portion

comprising a bottom closed end and a top open end, a foldable mounting portion adjacent

to the top open end for being securely and removabh mounted to the seat of the toilet unit

during use of the device with the toilet, wherein when mounting the de\ ice to the toilet

unit, the receptacle portion is so configured as to be deplov ed abo\ e the w ater contained in

the toilet receiving part and to isolate the user from the w ater and from receiving part of

the toilet unit during collection of human biological waste, the de\ ice and collected

contents therein being toilet disposable.

In accordance w ith a further aspect of the present inv ention there is prov ided in

combination w ith a toilet riser member mountable on a conv entional seat of a toilet unit, a

dev ice to be used w ith the toilet unit for collecting human biological w aste destined to be

disposed, the device comprising a foldable receptacle portion to be deploved within the

reced ing part of the toilet unit, the receptacle portion comprising a bottom closed end and

a top open end, a foldable mounting portion adjacent to the top open end for being secureh

and removabh mounted to the toilet riser during use of the dev ice w ith the toilet, wherein

when mounting the dev ice to the toilet riser, the receptacle portion is so configured as to be

deplov ed above the water contained in the toilet receiving part and to isolate the user from

the w ater and from the receiv ing part of the toilet unit during collection of human

biological waste, the dev ice and collected contents therein being toilet disposable.

1 he term "human biological w aste ^" shall be construed herein to include w ithout

limitation: excreta, faeces, urine, gastrointestinal fluid, vomit, blood, internal human bodv

dischaige. human organic matter and the like as well as am combination thereof.

The term "toilet unit" shall be construed herein to include without limitation a

variety of conventional and specialized toilet apparatuses known in the art as used in

hospitals, public and commercial areas as well as homes.

The term "toilet riser" shall be construed herein to include w ithout limitation a

v ariatv of seating extension devices to be placed on a conventional toilet seat of a home or

a hospital in order to adjust the seating height of the toilet so as to facilitate the use thereof

by a person inflicted w ith a phy sical disability, a handicap, a mobility reducing disease, or

a senior and other users in need of such an article for using a toilet unit.

λn advantage of the present inv ention is that it prevents the splash from the w ater

during discharge of human biological w aste, which is unpleasant and unhygienic.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it isolates the user from the

internal walls of a toilet bow l, which is infested w ith various microbes.

A further advantage of the present inv ention is that it avoids soiling the internal

walls of a toilet bowl during discharge of human biological w aste thereby substantial!}

diminishing propagating microbes, as well as facilitating the work for health professionals

in sanitizing toilet units.

Still another advantage of the present invention is that it returns a sense of dignity to

patients using toilet risers bv substantialK avoiding the splash and rebound effects during

discharge of human biological waste, which more often than not dirties the patient and

requires them to be washed by health care personnel after toilet use.

Still a further advantage of the present inv ention is that its section that overlies the

toilet seat is liquid impervious thereby isolating the user from the toilet seat of a public

toilet for example, hence, av oiding contact of the user w ith the residue of a prior user.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that a plurality of the de\iees of

the invention can be packaged in a small discreet container.

Yet a further adv antage of the present invention is that the dev ice may be flushed

down the toilet pipe pathw av w ith the collected contents therein while avoiding clogging.

Still >et another adv antage of the present invention is it is made in order to

generally fit ("one size fits all ^" ) on a variety of toilet units hav ing seating structures of

v arious sizes and configurations w hile fully isolating the user from the internal receiving

area of the toilet unit (such as the inner w alls of a toilet bow l) and the w ater contained

therein as well as substantially av oiding tearing, furthermore this adjustable characteristic

does not allow for the dev ice to so stretch as to come into contact with the water when it is

collecting a large amount of human biological w aste.

As aforementioned, the device of the present invention is disposable and preferablv

soluble in w ater. In this regard, one must look for a material or film which can dissolv e in

w ater and is biodegradable. How ev er, as bodv waste materials do hav e a liquid

component, the material must be resistant to the liquid for a giv en period of time.

One approach to enhance the properties of the device would be to use a composite

material. Using such a composite material, one can help resolv e the conflict of the

solubility and resistance of the material. Thus, one mav utilize an outer lav er which has a

higher solubility and an inner lav er which has resistance. One adv antage of the composite

is when the material is put in water, the tw o lav ers separate and dissolve in w ater as a thin

film. λlternativ eK , one mav use two lav ers of a like film material. The materials w ill be a

biodegradable polymer such as a poh v inv 1 alcohol (PVA). PVA is a\ ailable in a number

of degrees of hvdrolvsis and molecular weights. Both the degree of hydrolysis and the

molecular weight influence the solubility of PVA. but the degree of hydrolysis is the more

important factor of the two \ariables. PVA having a degree of hydrolysis of 88% dissoKes

in cold water quickly. PVA having a degree of hydrolysis of up to 96% to 99.5% dissoKes

in hot water. PVA having a degree of hydrolysis of 88% to 95% can be considered as

inteπnediate in solubility. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is also biodegradable.

The variable solubility in water and biodegradable properties of PVA make it a

suitable material for use in the present invention.

PVA has been used for toilet seat co\ers for a long time. A toilet seat cover consists

of at least one layer having a central opening. The layer is formed of a non-porous flexible

foil such as PVC which is soluble in an aqueous medium. PVA is also used for ostomy bags.

A biodegradable, flushable ostomv bag formed from polyvinylacetate/polyvinylalcohol film

which disintegrates within 60 seconds in water at 5O ⁰ C but retains in water at 25 ⁰ C for at

least two days can receive bodily waste of stoma from a patient.

Generally, each of the layers would have a thickness of between 20 to 50 microns and

more preferably, between 30 and 40 microns.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more

apparent upon reading of the following non restrictive description of embodiments thereof,

given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRlEF DESCKIPl ION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the appended draw ings λ\here like elements are referenced bv like reference

numerals and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective \ iew of a first embodiment of a toilet device for collecting

human biological w aste, in accordance w ith the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the dev ice of Figure 1 mounted to a toilet unit

including a toilet riser;

Figure 3 is a perspective v iew of the dev ice of Figure 1 mounted to a conv entional

toilet:

Figure 4 is a perspective v iew of a second embodiment of a toilet device for

collecting human biological waste, also in accordance w ith the present invention: and

Figure 5 is a perspective v iew of the dev ice of Figure 4 mounted to a conventional

toilet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the appended draw ings embodiments of the inv ention w ill be herein

described so as to exemplify the invention and not limit its scope.

F igure 1 show s a device 10, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, to be

used w ilh a toilet unit 12 or 14 as shown in f igures 2 and 3 for the collection of human

biological waste such as excreta, faeces, urine, gastrointestinal fluid, vomit, blood, internal

human bodv discharge, human organic matter and the like as well as am combination

thereof.

In the non-limiting example illustrated in Figure 1. dev ice 10 is in the form of bag and

comprises a receptacle portion 16 for collecting the human biological waste therein and a

mounting portion 18 for being mounted to a variety of toilet seat structures. The receptacle

portion 16 and the mounting portion 18 are both foldable so as to be folded into discreet

units and packed aw ay in a container, and are configured so as to be easih mounted on a

variety of toilet unit configurations w ithout tearing bag 10.

The material used to make such bags 10 can be plastic, cloth or paper material to give

but two non-limiting examples. In another embodiment, the material is a tear resistant thin

material that is adjustable, i.e. suitably and slightly stretchable while avoiding being torn as

well as having the bag so stretch as to come into contact w ith w ater in a toilet unit.

The receptacle portion has a bottom, closed end 20 for collecting the human

biological waste thereon and an opposite open end 22 for giving access to the user.

The mounting portion 18 is formed at the open end 20 of the receptacle portion. In an

embodiment, the mounting portion 18 is pre-moulded or pre-shaped so as to have, at least

generally, the form of a seat structure 24 and 26 as shown in Figures 2 and 3 respectively

and hence, allowing the user to easily mount the bag 10 to a toilet seat structure. In an

embodiment, the mounting portion 18 comprises an elastic member (not shown) at near its

outer contour edge 28 so as to securely fasten the mounting portion to a toilet seat structure

24 or 26. As shown in Figures 2 and 3. the mounting portion 18 exceeds (e.g. by about one

inch) the rim 30 and 32 of the toilet seat structure 24 and 26. respectively, so as to ensure

that the user will not come into contact w ith the toilet seat.

Hence, the mounting portion 18 may be configured in a variety of ways so as to be

suitable for conventional toilet units, such as toilet unit 14 in Figure 3 or specialized toilet

units, such as toilet unit 12 in Figure 2, which has an extended toilet seat structure 24.

Correspondingly, the elastic members of the mounting portions 18 are constructed so as to

be suitable to a variety of seat structures.

With reference to Figure 2. the toilet seat structure 24 comprises a toilet extension

seat or toilet riser 34 mounted on a conventional toilet seat 36.

The mounting portion 18 comprises an outer face 38 that is destined to be in contact

with a structure or seat part of a toilet unit and an inner face 40 that is destined to be in

contact w ith the user. In an embodiment, at least a portion of the outer face 38 is made of

impermeable material so as to protect the seated user from coming into contact w ith residue

on the seating structure that was left from a prior user.

In an embodiment, the outer face 38 comprises adhesive material (not shown) so as to

adhere to a seat structure, 24 or 26 for example. Such adhesive material can be embodied in

one or more pieces of tape provided on the underside of the outer face 38 of the mounting

portion 18. each piece of tape having an adhesive surface covered by a peel-off strip that can

be remov ed w hen the user intents to secure the device or bag 10 to the toilet unit 12 or 14.

In another embodiment, the mounting portion 18 is large enough to be simpK rested upon

the seating structure 24 or 26 w ithout the use of an elastic member or adhesive or any other-

seat mounting element. The largeness of the mounting portion 18 provides the user with the

abilitλ of covering the toilet seating structure and sitting on the mounting portion 18 without

removal thereof.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3. the receptacle portion 16 extends from the mounting

portion 18 and is deployed w ithin the receiving part 42 of a toilet unit 12 or 14. which in the

form of a toilet bow I. The bottom end 20 hangs above the water 44 in the toilet unit 12

or 14. 1 he receptacle portion 16 serves from isolating the user from the w ater 44 during

collecting of human biological waste. In an embodiment, receptacle portion 16 has a bow l-

like structure completely isolating the user from the internal walls 46 of the toilet bow l 42

and from the water 44, hence, avoiding the rebound and splash effect from the walls 46 and

water 44. which can be the cause of infection to a user.

During use, the human biological waste is collected in the receptacle 16. after use. the

user remov es the mounting portion 18 from the toilet seat structure 24 or 26. which also acts

as a seat cover, and drops the bag 10 into the toilet bow l with its contents to be disposed via

flushing.

The bag is made of a material that substantiallv shrinks when it is in contact v\ ith

water, this substantial shrinkage allows the bag to flow through the toilet pipe pathwaλ

w ithout causing am clogging.

In an embodiment, the bag 10 is made of microporous material. In another

embodiment, the bag is made of a biodegradable material. In another embodiment, the

internal face 48 or collection side of the receptacle 16 ma\ contain a bactericide and/or an

aromatic deodorant. The bag 10 may also contain a cleansing substance such as a detergent

that w ill clean the receiving part 42 of a toilet unit 12 or 14 during flushing, this cleaning

substance can be on any surface of the bag 10 that is not in contact w ith a user during use of

the bag 10.

In an embodiment, the bag 10 is made of material that is non-irritable to human skin

and that is hypoallergenic.

1 he device 10 mav be in the form of a bag. a sac, a container or other suitable

structure in accordance w ith the present invention.

Figures 4 and 5 show a variant 10' of the device or bag 10 of Figures 1 to 3. The bag

10' is similar to the bag 10. except that the mounting portion 18' of bag 10' also includes a

pair of side handles 50' to facilitate the handling thereof. Fach handle 50' herein takes the

form of an outwardh projecting integral flap defining an opening therein.

EXAMPLE # 1

λ composite PVA formed of two layers of white films w as formed bv pressing

at 100° C under a pressure of 3 psi. The material was Proudh -Tv pe M45-40 from Proudh

China. The two layers each having a thickness of 40 micrometers were combined bv hot

pressing at 100° C under a pressure of 3 psi. Thev were then tested for resistance to w ater

penetration using standard test method CA1ψCGSB 4.2 No.26.5-M89. The apparatus used

w as a Mullen Tester. The resistance was 10.8 psi.

The composite was also tested for resistance to water sprav . In this test, the

composite film was covered and secured to a beaker. 250 ml of water at 35° C was poured

ov er the film from a distance of 20 cm. The composite film did not break.

The film was also subjected to an artificial blood test using ASTM F903-03

procedure B (modified). Again, the composite film resisted penetration both under tests of

0 psi for one minute and 1 psi for 10 minutes.

EXAMPLE #2

Instead of forming the device of the present invention by folding, moulding is an

alternative. The film utilized was a PVA having a thickness of 75 micrometers and it was

moulded to the required shape. The film was tested for water solubilitv ; it desintegrated at

50° C in one minute. Resistance to w ater penetration was 17 psi using the method

previously outlined while resistance to penetration of artificial blood showed no penetration

at 1 psi for 10 minutes.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details

of construction and parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described

hereinabove. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practised in

v arious ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein is

for the purpose of description and not limitation. Hence, although the present invention has

been described hereinabove by wa\ of embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without

departing from the spirit, scope and nature of the subject invention as defined in the

appended claims.