Disposable container with a spill prevention mechanism

Abstract

Disclosed is a container useful for containing bodily wastes such as a sample bag, urine bag, vomit bag, commode liner and the like. The container has a receiving portion, a collection portion, and an anti-splash member disposed between the receiving portion and the collection portion. The anti-splash member directs the flow of bodily wastes into the collection portion while restricting the flow of bodily wastes in the opposite direction thereby minimizing or reducing spilling of bodily wastes while transporting the container for disposal. The container is especially adapted to be flushable by a toilet.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A container comprising: 
 A first opposing member and a second opposing member joined together defining a top, a bottom, and a pair of opposing sides, the top having an opening formed therein for receiving materials;    an anti-splash member dividing the container into a receiving portion and a collection portion, the anti-splash member having at least one seam formed by joining the first and second opposing members together defining at least one aperture; and    wherein passage of materials through the aperture from the receiving portion to the collection portion is promoted by the anti-splash member, and passage of materials from the collection portion to the receiving portion is restricted.    
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the first and second opposing members are trapezoidal in shape and the top is a larger dimension than the bottom.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein the aperture is located between two seams and both seams are declined towards the aperture directing materials towards the aperture.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the pair of opposing sides are curvilinear and the top is a larger dimension than the bottom.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the seam is declined towards the aperture directing materials towards the aperture.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the aperture is located adjacent one of the opposing sides.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container is flushable.  
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1  comprising at least one handle formed in the container.  
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the receiving portion has a volume V 1 , the collection portion has a volume V 2 , and the ratio of V 2 /V 1  is from about 0.9 to about 0.7.  
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein the ratio of V 2 /V 1  is from about 0.4 to about 0.  
     
     
         11 . A container comprising: 
 a top and a bottom connected by at least one sidewall, the top having an opening formed therein for receiving materials;    an anti-splash member dividing the container into a receiving portion and a collection portion, the anti-splash member having at least one restrictor flap defining a passageway between the restrictor flap and the sidewall into the receiving portion; and    wherein passage of materials through the passageway from the receiving portion to the collection portion is promoted by the anti-splash member, and passage of materials from the collection portion to the receiving portion is restricted.    
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the passageway is initially closed and the passageway opens when materials contact the restrictor flap.  
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the restrictor flap is resilient.  
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 11  further comprising two restrictor flaps joined to the container defining two passageways and the restrictor flaps are declined towards the passageway.  
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the sidewall comprises a first opposing member and a second opposing member joined together, the first and second opposing members formed from a flexible material.  
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the receiving portion has a volume V 1 , the collection portion has a volume V 2 , and the ratio of V 2 /V 1  is from about 0.9 to about 0.7.  
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16  wherein the ratio V 2 /V 1  is from about 0.4 to about 0.  
     
     
         18 . A container comprising: 
 a top and a bottom connected by at least one sidewall, the top having an opening formed therein for receiving materials;    anti-splash means for reducing spilling dividing the container into a receiving portion and a collection portion, the anti-splash means promoting passage of materials from the receiving portion to the collection portion while restricting passage of materials in a reverse direction; and    the container is formed from a material that is water degradable.    
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18  wherein the receiving portion has a volume V 1 , the collection portion has a volume V 2  and the ratio of V 2 /V 1  is from about 0.9 to about 0.7.  
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19  wherein the bottom can fit inside a pipe having an inside diameter of less than about four inches.  
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 18  wherein the water degradable material is a laminate having a barrier layer, a water sensitive layer, and an outside saturation layer.  
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 1  made by the process comprising the steps of: 
 unwinding a first web of material and unwinding a second web of material;  
 placing the first web adjacent the second web;  
 joining the first web to the second web forming a two-ply third web of material; and,  
 cutting at least a portion of the third web into a plurality of containers.  
 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 22  wherein the plurality of containers are nested.  
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 23  wherein the nested containers comprise a proceeding container and a subsequent container, and the subsequent container is inverted relative to the proceeding container.  
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 22  wherein the cutting step comprises perforating the third web.  
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 25  further comprising the step of winding the perforated third web into a roll.  
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 22  further comprising the steps of separating the containers, folding the containers, stacking the containers, and packaging the containers.