FR2727858A1 - Condom fitting instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

The instrument consists of an outer ring (1) equipped with a series of inward-facing flexible petal-shaped elements (2), each having a holder (10) on its tip to receive the rolled-up edge (4) of a condom and an aperture which allows it to unroll. The instrument is made in one piece from moulded plastic; it can have a radial bar (8) to press against the tip of the condom to prevent it from trapping air, and the outer ring has a zone of reduced strength to allow it to be broken for removal after the condom has been fitted.

Description

 The present invention consists of a device intended to facilitate the fitting of a condom.

 Currently condoms are applied by hand, impractical, slow and unhygienic.

 The invention more particularly aims to resolve these drawbacks.

 The device according to the invention consists of a peripheral part of any shape (by way of nonlimiting example it can be round, square, hexagonal, etc.) and of sufficient section to ensure its rigidity.

 Elements in the shape of petals come to rest on this peripheral part and are directed inwards. The number of these elements may vary.

 Each of these elements comprises, for example at its end, an enveloping shape which is intended to partially or almost completely surround the interior or exterior, receive and hold the rolled part of the condom. In all cases this enveloping form has an open portion of sufficient size to allow the condom to unfold.

 In addition, each of these elements can be raised in an axial plane perpendicular to that including the peripheral part, either because of the flexibility of the material constituting it, or because it comprises an articulation.

According to particular embodiments:
- the petals can be of various shapes (flat, square, cylindrical or other), be either articulated, or flexible, or articulated and flexible, or rigid, or elastic. There are any number of them, provided there are enough petals to keep the condom in place during application.

 - the articulation of the petals with the peripheral part can consist of a zone of lesser thickness.

 - The peripheral part can include a weak area that can be easily broken and an area of lesser thickness forming a joint.

 - The peripheral part may include an articulation allowing its opening and a closing device.

 - The joint can be provided with a spring or be sufficiently elastic for the peripheral part to open by itself, without any external energy supply, when it is no longer kept closed by the breakable zone or by the closing device.

 - the device can be disposable or be integrated into a rechargeable device.

 - If the device is disposable, it can either be packaged in an individual sachet, or include on its peripheral part two watertight tabs easily removable allowing 1 access to the condom.

 each petal can have one or more enveloping shapes (which allows better support with a smaller number of petals).

 - the enveloping shape with which the petals are provided can open thanks to a joint or its elasticity in order to facilitate the fitting of a condom and to close again thanks to a lockable mechanism to hold this condom.

 - the raising of the petals can be the direct consequence of the push of the sex or that of the push of a piece fitting into the peripheral part coming to press on the lower part of the petals, and being able to keep them blocked in the high position in the purpose of removing the device up.

 - The device may include a tongue attached either to the peripheral part, or to one of the petals, a tongue of sufficient length to partially or completely cover the center, while being located slightly higher than the petals.

 - The device may include a keying element either tactile, (relief or hollow) or visual (possibly fluorescent) intended to allow use in the dark or without the aid of the gaze.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:
Figure 1 shows the device according to the invention.

 Figure 2 shows in section the device according to the invention.

 Figure 3 shows a variant of this device. (not limiting).

 Figures 4 to 7 show several possible shapes for the enveloping shape with which the petals are provided (not limiting).

 Figure 8 shows a variant of the device allowing easy opening (not limiting).

 Figure 9 shows a variant of the device comprising an element (7) which allows the opening and maintaining of the petals in the high position (not limiting).

 Figure 10 shows the device during operation.

 The device comprises a peripheral part (1), petals (2) provided with enveloping shapes (10) holding a condom (4).

 In a particular embodiment by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to these drawings, the device comprises a circular peripheral part (1). This peripheral part receives eight elements in the form of petals (2) directed inwards and regularly distributed.

Each of these elements (2) has at its end an enveloping shape (10) consisting of a slightly curved part coming in opposition to a hook shape;
This enveloping shape is intended to receive the rolled-up part of the condom (4) by surrounding it partially or almost completely (FIG. 5).

 The elements (2) can deviate from their original position in an axial plane because they are linked to the peripheral part by an articulation (3), this articulation being able for example to be simply constituted by a reduction in the thickness of the petal (not shown).

 The peripheral part (1) has a thinner zone (5) forming a joint and a very thin zone (6) which can be easily broken.

 A flexible tab (8) is fixed to one of the petals (2); it is intended to crush the top of the condom (its reservoir part) to prevent air from entering it (as recommended by the condom manufacturers).

 Once the zone (6) is broken, the peripheral part moves apart thanks to the elastic zone and (5) molded so as to be at rest when the peripheral part is open. Sufficient pressure along F 1 and F2 can make it possible to break the device with one hand, thanks to the abutment (9) acting as a fulcrum (FIG. 8).

 By deviating from their original position under the action of the relative movements of the sex and the peripheral part, the petals (2) cause the diameter of the condom (4) to increase, facilitate penetration of the sex into the latter , and cause it to unfold (FIG 10).

 The condom will be released as soon as the part still wound will have a diameter small enough to allow it to escape through the opening of dimension 'e' arranged in the enveloping form (FIG. 5).

 The zone (6) is then broken, the peripheral part opens thanks to the elasticity of the zone (5) and the device is thrown away.

 By way of nonlimiting example, the device will be made from a single block of flexible molded plastic; the peripheral part will have a diameter of about 60 mm, a square section of 4 mm, will have eight petals whose circle tangent to the ends will have a diameter of 35 mm. The end of these petals will have a slightly curved part coming in opposition to a hook shape taking support about one centimeter from the end of the petal. The distance 'e' between the end of this hook shape and the curved part of the petal will be 1.5 mm.

 The surface condition of the interior of the enveloping form thus formed must be of sufficient quality not to cause any damage of any kind to the condom during its unfolding, in particular with regard to the standards in force. For the same reason, the sharp edges will be eliminated in favor of rounded shapes.

Claims (10)

 1) device intended to facilitate the fitting of a condom, characterized in that it comprises a peripheral part (1), which is provided with elements in the form of petals (2) directed inwards, capable of move away from their rest position in an axial plane thanks to their flexibility, the said elements comprising an enveloping shape (10) intended to partially or almost completely surround from the inside or the outside, receive and hold the rolled-up portion of the condom (4 ) during its application, said wrapping form (10) having an opening at least sufficient to allow the condom to unfold.  2) device according to claim 1 characterized in that the petals (2), rigid or flexible, can deviate from their original position by means of a joint (3)  3) device according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterized in that the articulation (3) between the petals (2) and the peripheral part (1) is formed by an area of reduced thickness.  4) device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an element (7) which fits into the peripheral part (1) and pushes the petals (2) from below so as to spread them apart from their rest position, this element being capable of keeping the petals in the raised position.  5) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral part (1) comprises a weakened zone (6) which can break easily and a zone of reduced thickness (5) allowing its opening.  6) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral part (1) comprises a hinge allowing its opening and a closing system.  7) Device according to claim number 6 characterized in that the articulation which is provided with the peripheral part (1) is sufficiently elastic or has a spring so that said peripheral part opens without supply of external energy dice that it is no longer kept closed.  8) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the enveloping shape (10) with which the petals (2) are provided can be opened thanks to a hinge or its elasticity in order to facilitate the establishment of '' a condom and close to maintain it.  9) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral part (1) or one of the petals (2) receives a flexible tongue (8) directed towards the center and of length such that it partially covers or totally the center.  10) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a keying element either tactile (relief or hollow) or visual (possibly fluorescent) intended to allow use in the dark or without the aid of the look.