Urine bag abstract
A garment (1) is disclosed for fixing a urine bag (2) on the leg
(3) of a user. The garment includes a tubular part (6) having elastic
bands (9 10) at its ends, said bands fitting tightly around the
leg (3) of the user. The tubular part is provided with an integrally
formed pocket (11), the tubular part being formed by a dual layer
knitted structure except in the area of the pocket (11). At the
pocket bottom (13) there is an opening (14) for the discharge pipe
(15) of the urine bag. The garment (1) is manufactured easily in
endless webs, which are separated, and subsequently the two end
edges (31 32) are knitted together (33) in order to form the tubular
shape. The garment provides safe fixing of the urine bag (2) as
the latter will be supported inside the pocket (11) and be held
against the leg of the user due to the elastic bands (9 10), which
are dimensioned so as to be able to carry a full urine bag. Owing
to the use of elastic threads across the height of the garment,
the full urine bag is held against the leg of the user without collapsing.
Urine bag claims
I claim:
1. A garment for fixing a urine bag on a leg of a user and comprising
at least one tubular part to be positioned on the leg of the user
and which is manufactured by knitting, the tubular part comprising
at its ends elastic bands and a pocket having an upwardly oriented
opening in a service position and a bottom oriented downwardly in
a service position, the bottom having at least one opening for the
passage of a discharge pipe of the urine bag, wherein the elastic
bands are arranged to be able to carry a full urine bag, and wherein
the pocket is produced as an integral part of the tubular part,
which has a dual layer structure that is knitted together except
in a central area for the pocket.
2. A garment according to claim 1 wherein the opening (13) in
the pocket bottom (13) is located in a middle of the pocket.
3. A garment according to claim 1 wherein an edge area at the
upwardly oriented pocket opening is provided with holes for the
passage of the inlet pipe of the urine bag.
4. A garment according to claim 3 wherein at least one hole is
located at a corner of the pocket that, when in use, will face an
opposite user leg of the leg on which the garment is placed.
5. A garment according to claim 1 wherein at least over a height
of the pocket elastic threads are knitted in at a mutual distance
and extending in the circumferential direction of the tubular part.
6. A method for manufacturing a garment for fixing a urine bag
on a leg of a user, wherein a first web is knitted on two needle
tracks, wherein said first web is knitted of yarns from said two
needle tracks except in a central area for a pocket having an upwardly
oriented opening in a service position, wherein elastic bands are
knitted at either edge area of the first web, wherein in a position
between each subsequent pocket cutting lines are formed transversely
of the knitted first web, wherein the first web is cut up in the
cutting lines, and wherein ends of the web sections thus formed
are assembled for the formation of a tubular garment having such
size that it will fit snugly around the leg of a user.
7. A method according to claim 6 wherein at least one edge area
the first web is knitted together with an additional web, and wherein
cutting lines are found across said additional web at a larger mutual
distance than the distance between the cutting lines of the first
web that upon cutting and assembling of the ends formed the additional
web will form a tubular shape intended to surround the waist area
of the user.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein on either side of the
first web (48) an additional web (48) is knitted, and wherein the
length of the web sections corresponds to the double of the length
of the first web sections.
9. A method according to claim 6 wherein a number of openings
are formed in the bottom and top edge area of the pocket for the
passage of the inlet and discharge pipes of the urine bag.
10. A method according to claim 6 wherein at least over the height
of the pocket elastic threads are knitted in, arranged at a mutual
distance and extending in the longitudinal direction of the first
web.
Urine bag description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a garment for fixing a urine bag
on the leg of a user, preferably on the front of the user's thigh,
and including at least one tubular part to be positioned on the
leg of the user, and which is manufacturing by knitting.
The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a garment
for fixing a urine bag on the leg of a user, preferably on the front
of the user's thigh.
2. The Prior Art
Such a garment for placing on the thigh of a user is known, e.g.,
from German patent publication No. 4113133. This patent publication
discloses a knitted garment consisting of a tube. In order to fix
a urine bag, it must be placed on the outside of a tube section,
and subsequently the remaining part of the tube is folded over the
urine bag and the first section of the tube. Thus, positioning the
urine bag is difficult.
Putting it on would also involve some difficulty when the tube
is pulled in a stretched state over the foot and the leg. Thus,
the free end of the tube may become tight against the leg and impede
pulling up. If, instead, the tube is rolled up into an annular shape
for pulling over the leg, it will subsequently be difficult to straighten
out the tube so that it has sufficient length over the thigh and
knee of the user.
The known garment is further disadvantageous in that it only provides
partial fixing of the urine bag. Thus, the urine bag will be positioned
in the space between the two overlying tube sections. This space
forms an annular chamber. The urine bag will be able to move within
this pocket. The only fixing of the urine bag obtained in relation
to the garment is established by the passage of a discharge pipe
through an opening in the intersection of the two tube sections.
It is undesirable that the bag is thereby able to "tilt"
as there is a risk that the inlet pipe will disengage from a catheter.
At the same time it will involve a considerable disadvantage to
the user that the fastening of the upper end of the urine bag is
accomplished by the catheter. This may be particularly uncomfortable
with a full urine bag.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a garment
that remedies the abovementioned disadvantages and which is easy
and simple to use while at the same time obtaining a secure and
reliable fixing of the urine bag to the leg of a user. It is a further
object of the invention to provide a method for the manufacture
of such a garment, which may be manufactured in endless webs with
a minimum of subsequent tailoring.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This is obtained according to the present invention by a garment
characterised in that the tubular part includes elastic bands at
its ends and arranged to be able to carry a full urine bag, and
that a pocket is produced as an integral part of the tubular part,
which has a dual layer structure that is knitted together except
in a central area for the pocket, that the pocket has an upward
oriented opening in the service position, and that at the bottom
oriented downward in the service position the pocket has at least
one opening for the passage of a discharge pipe of the urine bag.
As the tubular part comprises elastic bands, the garment and, consequently,
the pocket containing the urine bag will be held tight against the
leg of the user even if the urine bag is full. Fixing may be against
the user's thigh as well as his tibia. The tubular part is simply
manufactured with dimensions corresponding to the thigh or tibia
and with a pocket, which may have the same size in different sizes
of the tubular part.
As the tubular part comprises a pocket, secure fixing of the urine
bag is obtained. With a suitable dimensioning of the pocket for
the size of the urine bag, the urine bag will be prevented from
"tilting", and the urine bag will stand steadily due to
the pocket surrounding the urine bag.
The urine bag may easily be positioned in the pocket through the
upward oriented opening once the user has placed the tubular part
around his leg. The tubular part only needs to have a length corresponding
to the height of the urine bag. This reduces the risk that the tube
would become tight against the leg when the tube is pulled over
the foot and leg in order to be placed around the thigh or the leg
below the knee. Even if the tubular part is not positioned quite
smoothly, it will still be easy to place the urine bag in the pocket.
The tubular part will stretch and be positioned smoothly on the
leg as the urine bag is placed in the pocket. The discharge pipe
of the urine bag passes through an opening in the bottom of the
pocket so as to make it possible to empty the urine bag without
removing the urine bag from the pocket.
A method making it possible to manufacture the garment in endless
webs is characterised in that a first web is knitted on two needle
tracks, that the first web is knitted of yarns from the two needle
tracks except in a central area of a pocket having an upward oriented
opening in the service position, that elastic bands are knitted
at either edge area of the first web, that in a position between
each subsequent pocket cutting lines are formed transversely of
the knitted first web, that the first web is cut up in the cutting
lines, and that the ends of the web sections thus formed are assembled
for the formation of a tubular garment having such size that it
will fit snugly around the leg of a user.
By this method the first web is knitted in endless webs on conventional
flat knitting machines, preferably double Raschel machines. The
only kind of subsequent tailoring needed is the mutual assembling
of the ends of the web sections, preferably by sewing in order to
form the tubular garment.
The web is preferably formed by means of two sets of latch needles
and the various laying tracks. By different types of knitting these
will form the pocket, the bands, the opening for the discharge pipe
and the cutting lines.
Alternatively, it is also possible to assemble the ends of the
web sections by other fastening means, such as bur locks, press
buttons, snap fasteners or similar devices. This makes it possible
to apply the garment to a user with whom pulling it over the foot
and leg is impossible. For example this could be the case with seriously
disabled persons or persons having their legs in plaster.
According to a preferred embodiment, elastic threads will be knitted
in across the height of the pocket at a mutual distance and extending
in the circumferential direction of the tubular part. Such elastic
threads will help to keep a full urine bag tight against the leg
of the user. This reduces the risk of splashes, and at the same
time the urine bag is prevented from "caving in" at increased
load. The elastic threads will also help to fix the urine bag. Thus,
the elastic threads will reinforce the effect obtained by the elastic
bands. In this manner it is possible to distribute the pressure
to be exercised over a larger area. This ensures the user a more
unhampered blood circulation, and at the same time the discomfort
that may result from tight elastic bands is reduced.
The edge area at the upward oriented opening of the pocket is preferably
provided with a number of holes for the passage of the inlet pipe
of the urine bag. Owing to this arrangement, the pocket may be designed
to contain different types of urine bags having their inlet pipes
located centrally or in a lateral area. Such a hole in the edge
area will further help to orient the inlet pipe correctly in the
direction of a catheter. Thus, preferably there will be at least
one hole located at the comer that in use faces the opposite leg
of the user. This will cause the inlet pipe of the urine bag to
be oriented directly towards a catheter. Such a garment will be
comfortable to the user.
The invention will now be explained in detail with reference to
the accompanying schematic drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a view of a first embodiment of a garment according
to the invention;
FIG. 2 shows a view of a second embodiment of the garment according
to the invention;
FIG. 3 shows a view illustrating the garment shown in FIG. 1 when
in use;
FIG. 4 shows a view illustrating the garment shown in FIG. 2 when
in use;
FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of
a method according to the invention;
FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of
a method according to the invention;
FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of a third embodiment of
a method according to the invention; and
FIG. 8 shows a partial knitting diagram for illustration of the
knitting in the formation of a pocket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Identical reference numerals will be used in different figures
to designate corresponding or identical items. A detailed explanation
of these items will not be given for each embodiment.
FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate a first embodiment of a garment 1 according
to the invention The garment is designed to fix a urine bag 2 on
the leg 3 of a user. In the embodiment shown it is fixed against
the thigh 4 of the user. Alternatively, it is possible to fix the
urine bag on the leg of the user below the knee 5. In the position
shown the urine bag 2 is placed on the front of the right thigh
4.
The garment 1 comprises a tubular part 6 dimensioned so as to be
placed against the thigh 4 of the user. The garment 1 is manufactured
by knitting. The tubular part 6 is provided at either open end 7
8 with an elastic knitting forming a band 9 10 in the edge areas,
which delimit the openings 7 8. The elastic bands 9 10 will keep
the garment tight against the thigh 4 of the user.
The tubular part 6 is provided with a pocket 11 which is produced
as an integral part of the remaining tubular part 6 the latter
being produced with a dual layer structure. As it is knitted on
a double Raschel knitting machine, the web of the tubular part 6
is knitted together across its total extension except at the pocket
11. The pocket 11 is dimensioned such that the urine bag 2 will
fit inside the pocket and is supported in lateral directions. The
pocket 11 will preferably be placed in a central position on the
tubular part. It should also be understood, however, that the pocket
11 may be placed in an upper or lower area of the tubular part 6.
In a position for use the opening 12 of the pocket 11 will be oriented
in upward direction and, therefore, will allow easy introduction
and removal of the urine bag 2 without removing the garment.
At the bottom 13 of the pocket at least one opening 14 is formed
for the passage of a discharge pipe 15 of the urine bag 2. A number
of holes 17 18 for the passage of an inlet pipe 19 of the urine
bag 2 are positioned at an edge area 16 along the upward oriented
opening 12. The holes may be placed in a central position, as indicated
by 17 or displaced toward a comer 20 of the pocket, which will
face the opposite leg of the user (see hole 18 in FIG. 3) when in
use. As the inlet pipe 19 passes through this hole 18 positioned
at the comer 20 it will be oriented directly toward a catheter
so that the user has a more comfortable feel in use.
The tubular part is provided with a number of elastic threads 21
that are knitted in to extend in the circumferential direction of
the tubular part 6. The threads 21 will at least extend across the
height of the pocket 11 but in the embodiment shown they also extend
over and under the pocket. These elastic threads will help to retain
the urine bag in the pocket and thus distribute, the thrust load
over a larger area. This improves the user comfort.
Colored elastic yarns 22 are knitted in at the bottom and the top
of the pocket. This arrangement makes it easy for the user to find
the position of the opening 12 as well as the position of the opening
14 for the discharge pipe 15 at the bottom 13 of the pocket 11.
FIGS. 2 and 4 show a second embodiment of the garment 1 according
to the invention. This garment comprises a tubular part 6 substantially
corresponding to the garment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The embodiment
of FIGS. 2 and 4 differs in that the tubular part 6 is interknitted
at its upper end 23 with a second tubular part 24 having a larger
diameter dimensioned to fit around the waist 25 of a user. By this
arrangement the garment may be conceived of as panty briefs with
a long leg consisting of the tubular part 6. At their upper end
these briefs will have a circumferential elastic band 26 and across
their height they will be provided with a number of elastic threads
27 to hold the briefs tight against the abdomen of the user. The
band 26 defines a waist opening 28 and at the bottom elastic threads
will be knitted in corresponding to those used in the band 9 of
the tubular part 1 so that a leg band 29 is formed, which defines
a leg opening 30.
A urine bag 2 will be placed in the pocket 11 in the same manner
as explained above. in the outward oriented edge area 16 around
the opening 12 of the pocket. Instead, these openings 17 18 will
be positioned in the edge area facing the user so that the inlet
pipe 19 is directed from the pocket 11 to the inside of the briefs.
A common feature of the embodiments shown is that they are formed
by one web section, which is folded onto itself so that two ends
31 32 may be assembled with each other, preferably by a seam 33
in order to form the closed tubular part 6. Similarly, two ends
34 35 of the second tubular part 24 are sewn together. These two
ends 34 35 are also assembled with each other by a seam 36.
FIG. 5 illustrates that the garment 1 is manufactured from an endless
first web 37. The first web 37 is manufactured from yarns from two
needle tracks being interknitted except in a central area 40 for
the formation of the pocket 11.
The first web 37 is produced by two needle tracks on a double Raschel
knitting machine. The web is produced by latch needles and different
laying tracks interknitting the yarns from the two needle tracks
except in the area for the pocket 11. The pocket 11 is formed by
the interknitting so that there is an assembly of the web formed
by the two needle tracks at the two sides 41 42 and the bottom
43 of the pocket. The end of the pocket intended to be upward oriented
in use is not knitted together and, thus, an opening 12 is formed.
Further openings 14 17 and 18 for the inlet and discharge pipes
19 15 of the urine bag 2 are also formed during the knitting. Elastic
threads are interknitted at either edge area of the web to form
the elastic bands 9 10 and further elastic threads (not shown)
21 are interknitted across the width of the web.
Between subsequent pockets in the first web 37 cutting lines 44
are formed extending transversely of the longitudinal direction
45 of the first web 37. The first web is cut up 46 at the cutting
lines to form web sections 47. The two ends 31 32 of the web sections
47 are subsequently joined by a seam 33 to form the tubular garment
1 having a size designed to fit snugly around the leg of a user.
This means that the distance between subsequent cutting lines 44
varies depending on whether the garment is intended for children,
for adults for positioning on a thigh, or for positioning on a leg
below the knee.
It should be noted that not all details of the garment 1 are shown
in FIG. 5 since that figure only serves to illustrate the principle
of the method.
FIG. 6 illustrates a further embodiment, which differs from the
one shown in FIG. 5 in that the first web 37 is interknitted with
a second web 48 at one of its edge areas (at the band 9). Cutting
lines 49 are formed in the second web 48 at a mutual distance that
is larger than the distance between the cutting lines 44 in the
first web 37. The second web is cut 50 at the cutting lines 49.
The cuttings 46 and 50 of the first web 37 and the second web 48
are carried through to an intersection 51 of the two webs. During
knitting, the opening 52 extending between subsequent cutting lines
44 is formed in said intersection 51 so that separate web sections
53 result from the cuttings 46 50. The web sections 53 are substantially
T-shaped. After the formation of the seam 33 and the seam 36 joining
the two ends 34 35 formed by cutting the second web 48 a garment
1 results, which may be conceived of as briefs having a long leg.
After the cutting of the two webs 37 48 the sheets 57 will be
waste pieces that are not used.
FIG. 7 illustrates a further embodiment of the method. According
to this embodiment, a second web 48 is placed on either side of
the first web 37. In this manner all material is used since there
is no waste corresponding to the sheets 57. In this further embodiment
the web sections 53 are formed with alternating orientation. Owing
to this arrangement the entire knitted webs are used since the length
of the web sections 53 in the second web 48 measured between subsequent
cutting lines 49 corresponds to the double length of the first
web sections measured between subsequent cutting lines 44. As a
consequence, there will be no waste in the embodiment shown in FIG.
7.
A common feature of all the garments and embodiments is that a
number of openings 14 17 18 for the passage of the inlet and discharge
pipes of the urine bag are formed in the pocket 11 and edge areas
at the bottom and the top, and that at least across the height of
the pocket 11 elastic threads 21 27 are knitted in, arranged at
a mutual distance and extending in the longitudinal direction of
the web.
FIG. 8 illustrates a partial knitting diagram for the manufacture
on a double Raschel knitting machine. The knitting diagram illustrates
the manufacture of the embodiment of the garment 1 shown in FIG.
5.
FIG. 8 illustrates the knitting in an area 58 at the side of the
web 12 intended to face the body of the use, whereas the area 59
illustrates the knitting on the other track for the formation of
the side of the web 12 turning away from the body of the user. The
area 60 61 illustrates the area 40 in the first web 12 in which
the pocket 11 is formed. The areas 62 63 illustrate areas with
ordinary interknitting of the yarns/threads from the two needle
tracks. As the cutting line 44 is formed as a very traditional cutting
line, the knitting of it is not illustrated.
It is seen that the bands 9 10 are manufactured from elastic threads
64 extending transversely of several needle rows to form, in a manner
known per se, an elastic band. The hole 14 is seen at the bottom
13 of the pocket, and a hole 17 18 is seen in the upper edge area
16 of the pocket. The holes are formed in areas between elastic
threads forming band-like areas, which, particularly in the bottom
13 provide a firm delimitation of the holes.
The briefs may be produced from different types of yarns, including
in particular polyester and elastan. It will also be possible to
knit in cotton in order to improve user comfort. |