The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 12, 1995
Filed:
Sep. 17, 1993
Roderick G Rohrberg, Torrance, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for assisting a person perform a self-examination of various body parts including the breasts (B) are disclosed. One of the preferred embodiments of the invention is designed to be used in the privacy of the home shower, either in a standing or seated position. A preferred embodiment (10) includes a pouch ring (12) attached to both a back panel (13) and to the upper portion (14a) of a generally cylindrical, flexible and waterproof retainer pouch (14). The pouch (14) is designed to hold a volume of fluid against the torso below the breasts (B). Although many different fluids may be used to implement the invention, the preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes water (W). Shoulder straps (16) connected to the pouch ring (12) help to bear the weight of the water (W) from the shower head (SH) which fills the pouch (14). The shoulder straps (16) may each include two sections (17) of Velcro.TM. fabric which make the device (10) easier to wear. A pair of support hooks (18 ) extending from the front of the pouch ring (12) are designed to engage a set of similar but inverted hooks (H) that are mounted on the shower wall (SW) below the shower head (SH). The lower portion (14b) of the pouch (14) is gathered together and enclosed by two ends (20a) and (20b) of a closure belt (20) which extends from the back panel (13). After the pouch (14) is secured around the torso and the user enters the shower, water (W) from the shower head (SH) fills the retainer pouch (14). The pouch (12) need only contain as much water (W) as is necessary to partially immerse the breasts (B). The buoyant force of the water (W) lifts the breasts (B) and permits them to assume a symmetric shape that is not distorted by the downward force of gravity. The floatation of the breast (B) permits the user to examine the breast (B) from many different directions. The user is able to comfortably reach into the pouch (14) through the opening (15 ) defined by the pouch ring (12), and then gently uses her fingertips to apply pressure around the breasts (B) in an effort to detect nodules or lumps.