- Female urination device
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A woman using a female urination device.
A female urination device (FUD) or female urination aid is a device which aids a female to urinate while standing upright. Variations include basic funnel shapes to more obscure and comedic designs. Although it is possible for a woman to aim her urine from a standing position without assistance,[1][2] these devices have remained popular, due to ease of use.
Contents
History
Patented back as far as 1922, these devices have a long history. The "Sanitary Protector" filed for in August 1918 by Edyth Lacy, specifies a "cheap device ...[to be] used but once, being especially suitable as a sanitary device in public toilet rooms."[3] She notes that it is "accordingly unnecessary for the user to sit upon the closet seat; and the urine is led off without danger of soiling the clothes of the user or the closet". It was to be "made of a cheap readily destructible material, such as stiff paper, which can be readily disposed of after its use".
A similar device was patented in 1956: "an efficient urine conductor for use by females eliminating all need for contacting a toilet facility...usable while in a comfortable, erect standing position".[4] Another half a dozen devices with the same basic purpose and form were patented by the end of the century.[5]
The Urinelle,[6] which originates from France, appeared in 1996 and was the first to have mainstream (sic) manufacturing. The Huikeshoven Medical BV from the Netherlands bought the rights for this product in 1997.[citation needed]
The P-Mate: In 1998 Simone Zijp, student of the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam, invented the P-Mate (plastuit). This was an instant success because of the shape ("one size fits all"), and extreme hygienic approach of peeing standing up for women. Since 1998, millions of P-Mates were sold. Since 2009 P-Mate has distributors in over 35 countries all over the world. P-Mate is still expanding. Since 2010, the P-Mate is 100% Eco-friendly and the material used for the P-Mate is biodegradable. P-Mate is partner of the Medical Knowledge Institute. Together with the MKI, P-Mate works on a project in South Africa called Happy Days. With the donations of several companies, MKI distributes hygienic towels to women in South Africa.
Over 35 years ago the Little John with the Lady J adapter was sold widely in the United States selling over 100,000 units.
In 2010 the market for these products is growing due to increasing awareness by women and more marketing around the various products. Hygienic options are a concern for more women and there are a larger variety of products available to choose from. 2010 leading brands include, but are not limited to: Lilium Femme, GoGirl, Shewee, Whiz Freedom, Freshette, P-mate and pStyle.
In female urinals
Women using FUDs at urinals at Glastonbury Festival.Although already in existence prior to the introduction of, and independent of, female urination devices, female urinals for FUD users have become popular in recent years. At some major public events, such as festivals, where providing adequate toilet facilities is difficult, these are now being provided. Pinkpop 2000 was the first event to do this, and the practice has now spread to events in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Finland, Ireland, and England.[7]
See also
- Sanistand
- SATU laboratory
References
- ^ Female urinals: facts and fables
- ^ "http://web.archive.org/web/20030604104917/http://restrooms.org/standing.html". Archived from the original on 2003-06-04. http://web.archive.org/web/20030604104917/http://restrooms.org/standing.html.
- ^ US Patent 1407872 Sanitary Protector (February 1922)
- ^ US Patent 2878486 Sanitary device (January 1956)
- ^ For example:
- US Patent 3964111 Urine conducting apparatus (June 1976)
- US Patent 3995329 Female urinary device (December 1976)
- US Patent 4756029 Feminine urinary device (July 1988)
- US Patent 5370637 Collapsible female urination aid (December 1994)
- US Patent 5408703 Female urination aid (April 1995)
- US Patent 5966748 Tinkle Safe (October 1999)
- US Patent 6434757 Female standing urination cone (October 2000)
- ^ Urinelle - the urination funnel for women
- ^ "Nieuwe kansen voor plastuit" (in Dutch). 2006-01-24. http://www.ad.nl/economie/article114425.ece.
External links
- P-Mate: de originele plastuit voor vrouwen www.p-mate.com Snel, gemakkelijk, comfortabel, maar vooral hygiënisch!
- liliumfemme.com
- Female urinals: facts and fables
- The Straight Dope: What's the deal with urinals in women's restrooms?
- the pStyle and the DivaCup sold by Krista's Cups
- Little-John with Lady J adapter
- liliumfemme.com
- Shewee
- GO GIRL
Toilets Features Types See also Female urination device · Privatization of public toilets · Washroom attendant · Toilet paper orientation · History of sanitationCategories:
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