Suction assisted urine collector

Abstract

A urine collector is comprised of a container with an electric suction pump. A hose extending from the pump is connected to a funnel for collecting urine. The funnel is comprised of an interchangeable female or male funnel. The funnel can be positioned against the body through a fly in the pants, through a loosened waistband, or under a dress. Urine deposited in the funnel is rapidly drawn into the container by the motor even when the funnel and the top end of the tube are angled up and define an initially uphill path for the urine, such as when the user is seated. An alternative embodiment includes a urine container connected to the hose, and a vacuum device connected to the container for drawing urine and air into the container, and expelling only air from the container.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A urine collector, comprising: 
 a funnel for being pressed against a crotch of a user for collecting urine, wherein said funnel includes air holes for drawing in air to propel said urine;    a hose with a distal end connected to said funnel;    a urine collection container connected to a proximal end of said hose;    an entry nozzle connected to said proximal end of said hose;    an exit nozzle connected to said container; and    a vacuum device connected to said exit nozzle for sucking said urine and said air from said funnel through said hose said container, and sucking only said air out of said urine container.    
     
     
         2 . The urine collector of  claim 1 , wherein said funnel is comprised of a cup with an opening which is elongated when seen in a top view, and curved when seen in a side view for closely fitting under a vulva.  
     
     
         3 . The urine collector of  claim 1 , wherein said funnel is comprised of a cup with an opening which is elongated when seen in a top view, and curved when seen in a side view for closely fitting under a vulva, said cup includes a double wall that defines an interior chamber which is communicably connected to said distal end of said hose, a drain hole at a bottom of an inner wall for draining said urine into said interior chamber, a screen across said drain hole, and a resilient sealing strip around said opening.  
     
     
         4 . The urine collector of  claim 1 , wherein said funnel is comprised of a penis-shaped tube for sealing around a penis.  
     
     
         5 . The urine collector of  claim 1 , wherein said funnel is comprised of a penis-shaped tube with a resilient, inwardly tapered conical sealing ring around an open end for sealing around a penis, a front portion of said penis-shaped tube is comprised of a rigid tube with a double wall that defines an interior chamber which is communicably connectable to said hose, said penis-shaped tube further including drain holes around an inner wall for draining said urine into said chamber.  
     
     
         6 . The urine collector of  claim 1 , further including a housing enclosing said vacuum device and said collection container, a handle attached to said housing, and an on/off switch connected to said pump and position on said handle for facilitating operation while a user is gripping said handle.  
     
     
         7 . The urine collector of  claim 1 , further including a housing enclosing said vacuum device and said collection container, and a storage compartment in said housing with a hinged cover for storing said funnel when said funnel is not in use.  
     
     
         8 . The urine collector of  claim 1 , further including a drain plug on a bottom of said collection container.  
     
     
         9 . The urine collector of  claim 1 , wherein said entry nozzle is divergent for slowing said urine and said air for reducing splashing.  
     
     
         10 . The urine collector of  claim 1 , wherein said exit nozzle is convergent for accelerating said air out of said container.  
     
     
         11 . The urine collector of  claim 1 , further including an exit nozzle guard adjacent said exit nozzle for preventing any splashing urine from being sucked out of said container.  
     
     
         12 . The urine collector of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said funnel is comprised of a female funnel for being pressed against a vulva of a female user for collecting urine, wherein said female funnel is comprised of a cup with an opening which is elongated when seen in a top view, and curved when seen in a side view for closely fitting under said vulva; and further including    a housing with a storage notch for storing said female funnel when said female funnel is not in use, wherein said storage notch is shaped for mating with said opening of said female funnel, and when said female funnel is attached to said storage notch, a continuously curved contour is formed by a bottom of said female funnel and said top contour of said housing.    
     
     
         13 . The urine collector of  claim 1 , further including a one-way valve connected to said hose to prevent backflow when said vacuum device is turned off, a shut-off valve connected to said exit nozzle, and an orientation sensor connected to said shut-off valve and arranged to open said shut-off valve when said container is upright and close said shut-off valve when said container is tilted beyond a predetermined angle to prevent said urine from entering said vacuum device.  
     
     
         14 . A urine collector, comprising: 
 a funnel for being pressed against a crotch of a user for collecting urine, wherein said funnel includes air holes for drawing in air to propel said urine;    a hose with a distal end connected to said funnel;    a urine collection container connected to a proximal end of said hose;    a divergent entry nozzle connected to said proximal end of said hose for slowing said urine and said air for reducing splashing;    a convergent exit nozzle connected to said container for accelerating said air out of said container;    an exit nozzle guard adjacent said exit nozzle for preventing any splashing urine from being sucked out of said container; and    a vacuum device connected to said exit nozzle for sucking said urine and said air from said funnel through said hose said container, and sucking only said air out of said urine container.