GB2523912A

GB2523912A - Receptacle

Info

Publication number: GB2523912A
Application number: GB1503655.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Johnson
Original assignee: Datesand Ltd
Current assignee: Datesand Ltd
Priority date: 2014-03-04
Filing date: 2015-03-04
Publication date: 2015-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 2035-03-04
Also published as: GB201403798D0; GB201503655D0; GB2523912B

Abstract

A receptacle 1 for receiving and disposing of a liquid having an internal surface and agranular super absorbent material 3 bound to the internal surface by the use of a liquid. The receptacle 1 may be a bedpan, urine bottle or commode liner. The receptacle may moulded from recycled pulp. The super absorbent material 3 may be a superabsorbent polymer and may be a polyacrylate or a polyacrylamide. The bonding liquid may be water or a water soluble adhesive and may be polyvinyl acetate or PVA. A method for forming a receptacle 1 by coating a liquid onto a surface and applying a superabsorbent material 3 to the coated surface so that the material 3 becomes bound to the internal surface. The liquid may be water or an adhesive PVA which may dissolve in water.

Description

RECEPTACLE

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a receptacle, and particularly but not exclusively to a receptacle for receiving and disposing of liquids, especially body fluids and human arid medical waste.

Background to the Invention

Receptacles are widely used in healthcare to collect and dispose of liquids such as body fluids and other human waste.

Often these receptacles themselves are disposable, and to facilitate this are formed from pulp. Pulp, typically comprising recycled paper and/or cardboard, is a convenient low cost and biodegradable material to use, which can be disposed of via a macerator.

To help contain liquids collected in these receptacles it is known to introduce a sachet of granules of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) into the receptacle. The sachet is arranged to break down or rupture on contact with liquid in order to release the polymer.

The polymer is capable of absorbing many times its own weight in liquid to form a gel.

This facilitates handling of receptacles by reducing or eliminating the risk of spillage of liquid.

Manufacturing and introducing sachets of SAP into receptacles does, however, increase the cost and complexity of manufacture (or use) of what is intended to be a very low cost disposable product. Additionally, there is always a risk that a sachet is not introduced into a receptacle, or one that is introduced comes out of the receptacle before it is used to collect liquid, leading to a potential hazard.

Embodiments of the present invention have been made in consideration of these problems.

Summary of the Invention

According to an aspcct of the present invention there is provided a receptacle for receiving and disposing of a liquid, the receptacle having an internal surface and a granular super absorbent material bound to the internal surface by the use of a liquid.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of producing a receptacle for receiving and disposing of a liquid, the method comprising the steps of providing a receptacle having an internal surface coating a liquid onto at least part of the internal surface, applying a superabsorbent material to the coated internal surface so that it becomes bound to the internal surface.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing a receptacle for receiving and disposing of a liquid, the method comprising the steps of forming a receptacle having an internal surface from a material comprising a superabsorbent material so that at least some of the material is comprised in the internal surface of the receptacle.

By providing a granular superabsorbent material bound to an internal surface of the receptacle by a liquid the material can be easily introduced during manufacture ofthe receptacle, avoiding a subsequent step of introducing a sachet of superabsorbent material into the receptacle. It is also prevents the superabsorbent material from being removed from the receptacle. When liquid is introduced into the receptacle it will be absorbed by the superabsorbent material.

The receptacle may be disposable. The receptacle may be formed from pfrlp.

Suitable pulp includes pulp made from waste paper or card or other fibrous materials.

The receptade may be moulded from pulp.

The receptacle may be a bowl, bed pan, commode pan, commode liner or urine bottle, amongst other receptacles.

The superabsorbent material may be provided on a base of the receptacle.

The superabsorbent material may be any suitable superabsorbent material known to those of skill in the art, The superabsorbent material may be a superabsorbent polymer.

Suitable superabsorbent polymers include polyacrylate and polyacrylamide copoh'mers.

The super absorbent material may comprise Sodium polyacrylate.

The liquid may be, or comprise, water. It may comprise an adhesive, which may be a water soluble adhesive.

The superabsorbent material may be bonded to an inside surface of the receptacle with an adhesive, The adhesive may be water soluble, A suitable adhesive is polyvinyl acetate (PVA) adhesive.

In one embodiment a mixture of adhesive and superabsorbent material is coated onto at least part of the internal surface of the receptacle.

In another embodiment an adhesive is coated onto at least part of the internal surface of the receptacle and a superabsorbent material is subsequently applied to the adhesive, In another embodiment water is coated onto at least part ofthe internal surface of the receptacle and superabsorbent polymer is subsequently applied to the coated surface.

Moistening of the superabsorbent material has been found to be sufficient to cause it to adhere to the surface of the receptacle without the need for use of an adhesive. This reduces the cost of manufacture.

The liquid and/or the granular superabsorbent material may comprise a disinfectant, which may comprise any or all of an antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and/or antiviral substance.

In yet another embodiment a superabsorbent material is combined with a material from which the receptacle is formed. For example superabsorbent material may be combined with a pulp form which a receptacle is moulded, or coated onto at least an internal surface of a moulded receptacle before the material from which it is moulded is completely dried or set so that the superabsorbent material becomes bound to or embedded in the surface of the receptacle.

The quantity of superabsorbent material provided on an internal surface of the receptacle may depend upon the volume and intended use of the receptacle. Sufficient superabsorbent material may be provided so that there is at least 5 grams of superabsorbent material for every litre of capacity of the receptacle.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bowl; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the bowl of figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a male urinal bottle; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the bottle of figure 3, Referring to figures 1 and 2, a bowl 1 is moulded from recycled paper (or other S fibre) pulp. The bowl has an open top, and sides which taper to a generally flat base 2.

In one embodiment the inside surface of the base ofthe bowl is coated with P1/A (Polyvinyl acetate) adhesive. Subsequently, superabsorbent polymer (SAP) granules 3 are introduced into the bowl so that they contact and become adhered to the adhesive.

Suitable superabsorbent polymers include polyacrylate and polyacrylarnide copolymers.

The P1/A adhesive binds the SAP granules to the base of the bowl, forming a coating to the surface of the base of the bowl. The bowl has a capacity of approximately one litre, and the base of the bowl is coated with approximately seven grams of superabsorbent polymer which is sufficient to absorb up to a litre of liquid.

In use the bowl is used to collect waste liquids. When liquid is introduced into the bowl it contacts the superabsorbent polymer coated onto the base of the bowl, and is absorbed by the polymer. Additionally, the liquid will dissolve the P1/A adhesive releasing frirther SAP granules into the liquid, which is then absorbed by the granules.

Coating the base of the bowl with adhesive and then applying SAl? granules can take place during manufacture of the bowl overcoming the need for the steps of manufacturing a sachet of SAP, and then introducing that into the bowl subsequent to manufacture of the bowl. It also overcomes the need for use of a sachet or other stmcture to contain the SAP. Also, since the SAP granules are bonded to the base of the bowl they cannot be separated, accidentally or otherwise, from the bowl.

In another embodiment, the PVA adhesive is replaced with water, which may be substantially pure. The water is coated onto the base of the bowl, wetting the base, and granules of SAP applied to the wetted surface. It has been found that water is sufficient to cause the granules of SAP to adhere to the base of the bowl, and so become bound to it, This is thought to be because wetting the granules causes their outside surfaces to soften, forming a gel which adheres to the bowl. When the water evaporates the granules harden, but remain bound to the bowl.

In use, when a liquid is introduced into the bowl, it wets and is absorbed by the granules of SAP in a similar manner to the first embodiment, save that it is not necessary for adhesive to be dissolved in order to release the granules of SAP. Instead, as the granules are wetted and absorb water then will soften, and as they become softer they will release from the surface of the bowl.

In yet another embodiment, granules of SAP are mixed with PVA adhesive, or water, and the mixture is coated onto the surface of the bowl.

Referring to figures 3 and 4 there is shown a male urinal bottle 4. This is also moulded from pulp, and the inside of its base 5 is coated with PVA adhesive or water and granules of superabsorbent polymer 6 applied to the adhesive or water coated surface in a similar way to the bowl of figures 1 and 2.

The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMSI. A receptacle for receiving and disposing of a liquid, the receptacle having an internal surface and a granular super absorbent material bound to the internal surface by the use of a liquid.
2. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the receptacle is formed from pulp.
3. A receptacle as claimed in claim 2 formed from pulp made from waste paper or card or other fibrous materials.
4. A receptacle as claimed in either claim 2 or 3 moulded from pulp.
5. A receptacle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the receptacle is a bowl, bed pan, commode pan, commode liner or urine bottle.
6. A receptacle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the superabsorbent material is provided on a base of the receptacle.
7. A receptacle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the superabsorbent material is a superabsorbent polymer.
8. A receptacle as claimed in claim 7 wherein the superabsorbent polymer comprises a polyacrylate or polyacrylamide copolymer.
9. A receptacle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the liquid comprises water.
10. A receptacle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the liquid comprises an adhesive.
11. A receptacle as claimed in claim 10 wherein the adhesive is water soluble.
12. A receptacle as claimed in claim 11 wherein the adhesive is polyvinyl acetate adhesive.
13. A receptacle as claimed in preceding claim wherein the liquid is coated onto at least part ofthe internal surface ofthe receptacle and the superabsorbent material is subsequently applied to the liquid.
14. A receptacle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein sufficient superabsorbent material is provided so that there are at least 5 grams of superabsorbent material for every litre of capacity of the receptacle.
15. A method of producing a receptacle for receiving and disposing of a liquid, the method comprising the steps of providing a receptacle having an internal surface; coating a liquid to at least part of the internal surface, applying a superabsorbent material to the coated internal surface so that it becomes bound to the internal surface.
16. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the liquid is water.t7. A method as claimed in claim P5 wherein the liquid comprises water.18. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the liquid is an adhesive.19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the adhesive is water soluble.20. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the adhesive is polyvinyl acetate adhesive.21. A receptacle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.