Waste handling apparatus for wheelchair

Abstract

A waste disposal system which is incorporated into a wheelchair. The system is compact enough to be installed in a standard sized motorized or manual wheelchair. The system allows for the separation of solid waste from liquid waste, with separate receptacles allowing for separate containment. The system may be incorporated into both collapsible and non-collapsible wheelchairs with minimal modification. In order to facilitate incorporation into a collapsible wheelchair, at least one of the components of the system is hinged at a point corresponding to the folding axis of the collapsible wheelchair. The other components are either selectively removable or attachable to the wheelchair without adding a significant amount of weight or girth thereto. The separate receptacles for containing solid and liquid waste may be separately emptied and cleaned.

1 . A waste disposal system comprising: 
 a seat portion, said seat portion having a substantially planar main top panel with a central aperture, said seat portion having a coupling means dependent from an edge region;    a solid waste receptacle contained within said seat portion, said solid waste receptacle having a contoured bottom surface shaped to direct fluid flow to a drain opening;    a conduit in fluid communication with said drain opening and adapted for fluid tight coupling to one end of a length of flexible tubing; and,    a liquid waste receptacle fluidly coupled to an opposing end of said flexible tubing;    whereby solid waste is accumulated on the bottom surface of said solid waste receptacle, and liquid waste is directed to said liquid waste receptacle.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  including cushioning means sized for placement on said top panel of said seat portion, said cushioning means having an opening aligned with said central aperture in said seat portion when positioned on said seat portion.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said liquid waste container includes an opening for fluid coupling to said tubing, said opening sized to reduce spillage of said liquid waste when tubing is released from said opening.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  including garments adapted to be worn by patients using said system, said garment including an open seat portion with a movable flap portion, whereby said open seat portion may be positioned over the central aperture in the seat portion.