Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02377021 2005-02-09
PADLESS PROTECTION FOR BLADDER CONTROL
Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to protective garments for women who
suffer urinary incontinence.
Background of the Invention
Existing products for protection against incontinence include dispos-
able products and washable, reusable garments.
Disposable products typically consist of liners, pads and shields.
Washable, reusable garments vary in construction; they may have waterproof
shells, center panels, snaps or distinctive closures but all employ some
means of attaching liners or pads. Whether disposable or reusable, all
existing incontinence products work by acting as a receptacle for leaked
urine.
The inconveniences of existing incontinence products are manifold.
Many current products are bulky, heavy and not suitable for individuals who
play sports or otherwise lead active lifestyles. Reusable products often lack
"wash and wear" versatility. Disposable products have the disadvantage of
environmental consequences.
As well, almost all available products are prone to some degree of odor
and leakage during use and demand constant personal awareness. High
cost, skin irritation, "pit stops" and the need for frequent changes are other
common disadvantages of existing incontinence products.
Patents related to incontinence garments include:
~ U.S. Patent No. 3,554,184 (Habib);
-1-
CA 02377021 2006-03-31
~ U.S. Patent No. 4,352,356 (Tong);
~ U.S. Patent No. 4,940,464 (Van Gompel et al);
~ U.S. Patent No. 5,683,373 (Darby); and
~ U.S. Patent No. 6,520,946 (Krueger).
U.S. Patent No. 5,683,373 (Darby) exemplifies existing incontinence
products for women by teaching an undergarment that receives a sanitary
napkin that absorbs leaked urine.
U.S. Patent No. 3,554,184 (Habib) attempts to overcome the
disadvantages of receptacle-based incontinence products by means of a
device that presses against the anterior wall of the vagina to block the flow
of
urine from the bladder to the urethra. However, the Habib device is clearly
invasive, unwieldy and uncomfortable for the user.
There exists a need for a simple, discrete and versatile garment that
overcomes the disadvantages of existing protection against incontinence.
Summar)i of the Invention
One aspect of the invention relates to a garment for preventing the
leakage of urine comprising a waistband connected to resilient front and back
portions with respective lower extensions that form a continuous thong
portion. The front and back portions are adapted to pull the thong portion to
cause sufficient pressure against the wearer's urethra to prevent the leakage
of urine when the garment is worn.
-2-
CA 02377021 2006-03-31
The garment may comprise two leg openings respectively finished with
elastic leg bindings. The back portion of the garment may be smaller than the
front portion of the garment. The thong portion may be no wider than '/2 inch.
The waistband may be no greater than 1 inch wide and may be constructed
of a non-roll elastic material. The resilient front and back portions may be
constructed of fabric containing 88% nylon and 12% lycra.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a garment for preventing the
leakage of urine comprising a resilient front and back portions with
connecting
side extensions forming a waist portion. The front and back portions further
comprise respective lower extensions that form a continuous thong portion.
The front and back portions are adapted to pull the thong portion to cause
sufficient pressure against the wearer's urethra to prevent the leakage of
urine when the garment is worn.
A further aspect of the invention relates to a garment having a thong
portion adapted to cause sufficient pressure to be applied against the
wearer's urethra to prevent the leakage of urine when the garment is worn.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a garment embodying the present invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the front portion of the garment in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a plan view of the back portion of the garment in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a partial view of the waistband of the garment in Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a partial view of one of the leg bindings of the garment in Figure
1;
Figure 6 is a rear view of the garment of Figure 1 seen in place upon a
wearer; and
Figure 7 is a front view of the garment of Figure 1 seen in place upon a
wearer.
-3-
CA 02377021 2005-09-09
Detailed Descrption
Figure 1 shows one particular embodiment of the present invention.
Garment 1 has a waistband 2 attached to front portion 3 and back portion 4.
Side extensions 5 of front portion 3 attach to corresponding side extensions 6
of back portion 4 at sideseams 11 and 22. The lower extension of front
portion 3 and the lower extension of back portion 4 narrow and connect at
seam 33 to form a continuous thong portion 7. Leg bindings 20 and 20' (not
shown in Figure 1 ) finish the openings for the legs.
Figures 2 and 3 show isolated plan views of front portion 3 and back
portion 4 of garment 1, respectively. Front portion 3 and back portion 4 are
resilient and preferably constructed from fabric that can stretch horizontally
and vertically such fabric containing 12% spandex and 88% nylon, for
example.
The front portion 3 has symmetric front leg openings 8 and 8'
comprising symmetric arcuate sections 9 and 9', respectively. The back
portion 4 has symmetric back leg openings 11 and 11' comprising symmetric
arcuate sections 12 and 12'. Preferably, the radius 10 of arcuate sections 9
and 9' is greater than the radius 13 of arcuate sections 12 and 12'. This
difference in radii, and the resulting difference in the position of the leg
openings, facilitates greater pressure of the thong portion 7 against the
wearer's urethra while at the same time providing a more comfortable fit at
the wearer's buttocks.
-4-
CA 02377021 2006-03-31
For an average-sized wearer, front portion 3 and back portion 4 may
comprise the following measurements: total width 70 and 70' of 14 '/z inches;
total height 71 and 71' of 7'/2 inches; side extension height 72 and 72' of 1
'/4
inches; back portion side extension length 73 of 3'/4 inches; front portion
thong length 74 of 1 inch; back portion thong length 75 of 2 '/2 inches; and
thong width 76 of'h inch. Arcuate section 10 may have a radius of 7'/2
inches and arcuate section 13 may have a radius of 3 3/ inches.
Figure 4 shows an isolated partial view of the waistband 2. As shown,
waistband 2 is constructed from a web-fashioned elastic material in this
particular embodiment. In terms of fabric composition, the waistband may
consist of 49% rubber and 51 % polyester, for example. The waistband 2 is
preferably no wider than 1 inch.
Figure 5 shows an isolated partial view of a leg binding 20 (identical to
leg binding 20' - not shown) in an open position. Leg bindings 20 and 20' are
preferably constructed from an elastic material, such as 59% nylon and 41
other fibers. Leg bindings 20 and 20' are preferably no wider than '/2 inch in
the open position.
Figures 6 and 7 show back and front views, respectively, of garment 1
in place on a wearer. Preferably, garment 1 will sit lower in the back than in
the front, where waistband 2 should approach the wearer's navel. Thong
portion 7 extends from the back between the wearer's buttocks 60 to the front
between the wearer's labia minora 61. The crotch seam 33 should sit
approximately on the wearer's perineum (not shown).
When garment 1 is worn, the front portion 3 and back portion 4 stretch
vertically. The resilience of the front portion 3 and back portion 4 causes
thong portion 7 to stretch and become narrower, creating continual upward
and lateral pressure against the wearer's urethra to prevent any leakage of
-5-
CA 02377021 2006-03-31
urine. Frictional resistance of waistband 2 at the wearer's waist and
frictional
resistance of leg bindings 20 and 20' at the wearer's thighs provide added
support for the upward and lateral pull of the thong portion 7 against the
wearer's urethra.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the
foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the
practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.
For example:
~ the garment may be constructed without a separate waistband.
Instead, the garment may rely on resiliency of the side extensions of
the front portion 3 and back portion 4 to provide sole support for the
garment around the wearer's waist;
~ the garment may be constructed out of a single piece of resilient
material, obviating the requirement to assemble distinct front and back
portions together; and
~ instead of directly pressing against the wearer's urethra, thong portion
7 may be adapted to cause another element, such as a resilient pad,
to apply direct pressure against the urethra.
-6-
