Dual purpose toilet paper and urinary aid

Abstract

A human urinary aid is described. Simple coatings or modifications are described which provide an additional use to conventional toilet paper as a disposable male urinary aid to allow the transport of a urine stream into a toilet, such as by a human male urinating from a standing position, by consolidating the urine stream onto a conductive path directed into a toilet bowl or other receptacle. A method of making the aid and a method of using the aid are described.

1 . A disposable urinary aid for directing a urine stream into a toilet, said aid comprising an elongated strip of water-dispersible sheet material with at least one essentially continuous water resistant region extending substantially the length thereof, the composite tensile strength of said sheet material being sufficient to support a human male urine stream during urination.  
   
   
       2 . A disposable urinary aid according to  claim 1  including at least one water absorbent region extending substantially the length of said aid.  
   
   
       3 . A disposable urinary aid according to  claim 1  wherein the composite tensile strength of said sheet material is at least 50 grams for the sheet when the aid is exposed to a human male urine stream.  
   
   
       4 . A disposable urinary aid according to  claim 1  wherein said sheet material is toilet paper.  
   
   
       5 . A urinary aid according to  claim 4  wherein said strip is in roll form.  
   
   
       6 . A disposable urinary aid according to  claim 1  wherein from 20% to 80% of its width is water resistant.  
   
   
       7 . A urinary aid according to  claim 1  wherein the minimum dry tensile strength required is reduced by the inclusion of one or more regions of reduced wetting and urine absorbency.  
   
   
       8 . A urinary aid according to  claim 1 , wherein sufficient composite tensile strength is provided by the inclusion of one or more regions having increased tensile strength.  
   
   
       9 . A urinary aid according to  claim 1  wherein said strip is dispersible in water and biodegradable.  
   
   
       10 . A urinary aid according to  claim 1  wherein said strip contains a sanitizer.  
   
   
       11 . A urinary aid according to  claim 1  wherein said strip contains a disinfectant.  
   
   
       12 . A urinary aid according to  claim 1  wherein said strip is visibly identified.  
   
   
       13 . A urinary aid according to  claim 1  wherein said strip is contained within a package having an opening for repeatedly withdrawing a selected length of said strip.  
   
   
       14 . A urinary aid according to  claim 1  wherein said strip is folded flat.  
   
   
       15 . A urinary aid according to  claim 1  wherein said strip is folded flat and a plurality of said strips are contained within a package having an opening for repeatedly withdrawing said strips individually.  
   
   
       16 . A urinary aid according to  claim 1  wherein said strip is contained within a package having an opening for repeatedly withdrawing and separating a portion of said strip for use.  
   
   
       17 . A method of making a disposable urinary aid for directing a urine stream into a toilet wherein said strip is prepared by modifying an elongated strip of conventional toilet paper to have one or more regions of increased wet tensile strength.  
   
   
       18 . A method of directing urine from a human urethra to a receptacle opening located below the urethra, comprising placing a first end of a flexible sheet material proximate said urethra and disposing the second end of said sheet into or in close proximity to said receptacle and directing a urine stream from said urethra into contact with said strip, wherein said strip is a water receptive, elongated sheet of water dispersible, biodegradable sheet of paper treated to have a water resistant region extending along its length so that said urine moves along said sheet and enters said receptacle without said sheet breaking.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein the composite tensile strength of the wet paper sheet is at least 50 grams.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein said strip is a fibrous strip manufactured by compressing the fibers in at least a lengthwise portion thereof by conventional mechanical methods.