GB2371755A

GB2371755A - Protective penis cover for circumcised men

Info

Publication number: GB2371755A
Application number: GB0115046A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil David Olofsson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-20
Filing date: 2001-06-20
Publication date: 2002-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-20
Also published as: GB2371755B; GB0115046D0

Abstract

A cover for the glans of a circumcised penis comprising an elongated, dome shaped tubular sheath made of elastically resilient, breathable material 16. It has a small opening 10 at the dome shaped end 28 and a large opening 30 at the tubular end 26. It has a lining of moistening material 18, and an adhesive material 14 on a portion of the inner surface of the large opening. Preferably the sheath is shaped to fit the glans, durable and insulating. A removable, protective lining may protect the moistening material and/or adhesive material prior to use. The sheath may be of various shapes and sizes, and may cover the circumcision operation scar. The small hole 10 may enable urination. May be used to moisturise a circumcised penis, prevent chafing, increase sensitivity and provide insulation. Methods of moistening the glans using the cover and applying the cover are disclosed.

Description

CIRCUMCISED PENIS COVER DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a specialized cover for the use on the exposed glans of a circumcised penis.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION The purpose of a foreskin is to keep the penile glans, moist, protected and sensitive.

However, a circumcised penis has no foreskin to keep the glans moist and protected.

Instead, the exposed glans of a circumcised penis is continually being chaffed from friction caused by movements during normal physical activity, between the exposed penile glans and that of the persons clothing, which can cause irritation and abrasions to the penile glans. The foreskin also insulates the penile glans. The exposed glans of a circumcised penis has no natural insulation, this can cause the penile glans to become dry and tough. Consequently, through time the penile glans of a circumcised penis gradually becomes dry and calloused. This process of penile skin thickening causes the penile glans to become de-sensitized and thereby reducing the sensitivity and stimulation in sexual activity compared to that experienced by an uncircumcised man.

In recent years, there has been a move towards males attempting to restore their foreskin, by using different methods, which involve stretching the skin around the penis to create a foreskin. However, these methods can take a considerable amount of time to create the foreskin, and involve a lot of effort on the part of the person, where it is successful.

The objective of this invention is to provide a device that moistens the glans of a circumcised penis. Another objective of this invention is to provide protection to the glans of a circumcised penis from chaffing with a persons clothing. Another objective of this invention is to insulate the glans of a circumcised penis. Additional objectives of the invention include a device that is highly efficient in operation, comfortable, durable, strong, easy to use, stays in place on the wearer's penis, disposable, having a minimal number of parts, extremely simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objectives, features and advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a cover that fits closely over the glans and the corona of a circumcised penis. The cover is designed to moisten and protect the penile glans. It comprises an elongated dome shaped tubular sheath member of elastically resilient breathable material with an outer surface and an inner surface. The elongated dome shaped tubular sheath member has a small opening at the dome shaped end of the member, to allow for urination from the urethra, and a large opening at the tubular end of the member, for insertion of the penis. The outer surface and inner surface of the elastically resilient breathable material is dry and soft, and protects the penile glans from irritations and abrasions. The elastically resilient breathable material insulates the penile glans. The inner surface consists of a lining of moistening material that is coupled to the inner surface of the elastically resilient breathable material, and lays smoothly on the penile glans. The lining of moistening material contains moistening agents that have contact with the penile glans. The elastically resilient breathable material may be either essentially planar or may contain a bend outside of such plane to conform to the contours of the penile glans upon which it is placed. An adhesive material is contained on a portion of the circumference of the inner surface of the elastically resilient breathable material at the tubular end of the member, for securing the cover to the wearer's penis shaft. Also disclosed is a method for applying the cover to the glans of the penis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described with reference to Figures (1,2, 3 and 4), which is presented for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims that follow.

Figure I is a perspective view of the cover.

Figure 2 is a side view of the cover.

Figure 3 is a front view of the cover Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cover applied to the wearer's penis.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Definitions: Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that the penis includes: Penis shaft (22), penis glans (20) and the rim or rounded projected border that is known as the corona (12) of the penis. The dome shaped end (28) of the member is the area at the proximal end of the member, at the point around the small opening (10) for the urethra. The tubular end (26) of the member is the area at the distal end of the member around the large opening (30) of the member, at the point around the adhesive material (14). As utilized herein the term"removably adherent"means that the cover can be removed from the penile glans without tearing of the skin.

Number Representation: 10. small opening 12. corona 14. adhesive material 16. elastically resilient breathable material 18. lining of moistening material 20. penile glans 22. penile shaft 24. circumcision operation scar 26. tubular end of member 28. dome shaped end of member 30. large opening DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention is an elongated dome shaped tubular sheath member of elastically resilient breathable material (16), with outer and inner surfaces that moisten and protect the penile glans (20), and corona (12), and is adhered to the penis shaft (22). If desired, the cover may extend to cover any circumcision operation scar (24) that there may be around the circumference of the penis shaft (22).

The said elastically resilient breathable material (16) may be essentially planar or may contain a bend outside of such plane to conform to the contours of the penile glans (20), and corona (12) upon which the cover is placed. The elongated dome shaped tubular sheath member has a small opening (10) at the dome shaped proximal end (28) of the member for the urethra. The small opening (10) enables the wearer to urinate without removing the cover. The elongated dome shaped tubular sheath member has a large opening (30), at the tubular distal end (26) of the member, for insertion of the wearer's penis.

The said material (16) may be fabricated from any suitable material but preferably from one that is sufficiently soft, so that it can be cut using scissors. The said material (16) should have the characteristics of being durable, lightweight and have a smooth and soft finish to avoid any irritation in its use and to provide sufficient protection to the penile glans (20) from chaffing. The said material (16) should insulate the penile glans (20). The said material (16) may be a woven fabric incorporating elastic threads that allow the cover to stretch to some extent, for the swelling of the penis on an erection. The said material (16) is available from a number of commercial sources and is well known in the art.

In Figure 2, reference is made to a lining of moistening material (18) that lays smoothly on the penile glans (20) and corona (12). The said lining of moistening material (18) is coupled to the inner surface of the said material (16). The said lining (18) follows the contours of the inner surface of the said material (16) and may cover the entire area of the inner surface or cover only a selected portion thereof. The said lining (18) contains moistening agents that have contact with the penile glans (20) and the corona (12). The said lining (18) moistens the penile glans (20) and the corona (12), through transdermal absorption of the agents.

The said lining (18) may dispense agents that include, but are not restricted to agents that moisten and restore the sensitivity of the penile glans (20) and corona (12). In the preferred embodiments, the agents dispensed include but are not restricted to liquids, oils, creams, or gels. The moistening agents in the said lining (18) may contain adhesive properties that adhere to the penile glans (20) and corona (12). The details concerning the selection and quantity of suitable agents dispensed onto the penile glans (20), and the procedures and apparatus for applying the agents to the inner surface of the said material (16), are known to those skilled in the art.

The said lining (18) on the inner surface of the said material (16) is preferably covered with a removable protective lining shield material (not shown in the drawings). The removable protective lining shield material may be a thin plastic film with sufficient strength to maintain structural integrity when peeled from the said lining (18) on the inner surface of the said material (16). Further details concerning the procedures and apparatus for applying the removable protective lining shield material are known to those skilled in the art.

The present invention is secured to the penis of the wearer by means of an adhesive material (14) contained on a portion of the circumference of the inner surface of the said material (16) at the tubular distal end (26) of the member. Figure 1, shows the said adhesive material (14) on the inner surface of the said material (16) at the tubular distal end (26) of the member. The said adhesive material (14) is a strip of material with two separate ends. The surface of the adhesive material (14) is covered with a separate removable protective shield material (not shown in the drawings), which is removed once the cover is positioned on the penile glans (20) of the wearer. The said adhesive material (14) is adhered to the circumference of the wearer's penis shaft (22).

Further details concerning the procedures and apparatus for applying the said adhesive material (14) to the said material (16) are known to those skilled in the art.

The removable protective shield material may be a thin plastic film with sufficient strength to maintain structural integrity when peeled from the inner surface of the said material (16). Further details concerning the procedures and apparatus for applying

the removable protective shield material are known to those skilled in the art.

The cover is applied to the penis as shown in Figure 4. The removable protective lining shield material is removed and the wearer's penis is inserted into the cover through the large opening (30), at the tubular distal end (26) of the member. The wearer's urethra is positioned at the dome shaped proximal end (28) of the member, at the small opening (10) for the urethra. The said lining (18) should contact and closely cover the penile glans (20) and the corona (12), and if desired, the circumcision operation scars (24) of the penis. Once the cover is positioned on the penis, the removable protective adhesive shield material is removed thereby exposing the adhesive material (14) thereof.

The wearer then wraps the adhesive material (14) around the penis shaft (22), ensuring that one half of the adhesive material (14) contacts the cover and the other half of the adhesive material (14) contacts the penis shaft (22). The wearer then presses the adhesive material (14) to the cover and the penis shaft (22) thereby securing the cover to the penis.

The cover can be worn for any desired length of time consistent with acceptable medicinal practices and the cover can be disposed of after use. The cover is easy to manufacture at a reasonable cost. The variability in the size and shape of a persons penis, precludes the use of a fixed-sized material, instead, the cover may be manufactured with various shapes and sizes to accommodate penises of different shapes and sizes.

Thus, the circumcised penis cover constituting this invention is easily applied to the penile glans (20) and the corona (12), and lends itself to a safe and effective technique for releasing moisture and restoring the sensitivity of the penile glans (20). The cover also protects the penile glans (20) from abrasions and irritations from the wearer's apparel and insulates the penile glans (20).

Since the above construction and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent, further description is believed to be unnecessary. However, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, since the numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the forgoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the present invention to the precise embodiments shown and described, but rather all the suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. A cover for the glans of a circumcised penis comprising: a) an elongated dome shaped tubular sheath member, for fitting over the glans of a wearer's penis, having: i) an elastically resilient breathable material with inner and outer surfaces; ii) a small opening at the dome shaped end of the member; iii) a large opening at the tubular end of the member; iv) a lining of moistening material coupled to the inner surface of said elastically resilient breathable material; and, v) an adhesive material contained on a portion of the circumference of the inner surface of the said elastically resilient breathable material at tubular end of the member. 2. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the said elastically resilient breathable material may be either essentially planar or may contain a bend outside of such plane to conform to the contours of the penile glans, the corona and the shaft of the penis. 3. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the said elastically resilient breathable material is sufficiently durable to protect the glans of a circumcised penis from irritations and abrasions. 4. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the said elastically resilient breathable material is sufficient to insulate the glans of a circumcised penis. 5. A cover according to claim 1, wherein a removable protective lining shield material protects the said lining of moistening material on the inner surface of said elastically resilient breathable material. 6. A cover according to claim 1, wherein a removable protective shield material protects the said adhesive material on a portion of the circumference of the inner surface of the said elastically resilient breathable material at the tubular end of the member. 7. A cover according to any proceeding claim, wherein the elongated dome shaped tubular sheath member permits it to be shaped and sized to accommodate various shapes and sizes of a penis. 8. A cover for the glans of a circumcised penis substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS

1. A cover for a circumcised penis, the cover comprising: (i) a generally dome-shaped sheath member formed from an elastically resilient gas-permeable material and having a first opening at a proximal end and a second, smaller, opening at a distal end, the distal end comprising the tip of the generally dome-shaped sheath member; (ii) a lining attached to and covering an inner surface of the sheath member, the lining being formed from a moistening material capable of containing a moistening agent ; and (iii) an adhesive material at the proximal end of the sheath member ; wherein the cover can be placed over the glans and corona of a wearer's penis, the penis being inserted through the first opening such that the urethral opening of the penis is positioned adjacent the second opening with the glans and corona contacting the lining, and removably fixed in position through contact of the adhesive material with the shaft of the wearer's penis.

2. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the generally dome-shaped sheath member is shaped to conform to the contours of the glans of a penis.

3. A cover according to claim 2, wherein the generally dome-shaped sheath member is shaped to conform to the contours of the glans, corona and shaft of a penis.

4. A cover according to any of claims I to 3, wherein the elastically resilient gaspermeable material comprises a woven fabric incorporating elastic threads.

5. A cover according to any preceding claim, wherein the lining covers only a portion of the inner surface of the sheath member.

6. A cover according to any preceding claim, wherein the lining is provided with a removable protective shield.

7. A cover according to claim 6, wherein the removable protective shield comprises a thin plastic film.

8. A cover according to any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive material is provided on a portion of the inner surface of the sheath member.

9. A cover according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the adhesive material comprises a strip of material having an adhesive surface, the strip of material being positionable such that a portion of the adhesive surface contacts an outer surface of the proximal end of the sheath member and simultaneously contacts the shaft of the wearer's penis, whereby the wearer may removably fix the cover in position by so positioning the strip of adhesive material around the circumference of the shaft.

10. A cover according to any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive material is provided with a removable protective shield.

11. A cover according to claim 10, wherein the removable protective shield comprises a thin plastic film.

12. A cover according to any preceding claim, wherein there is further provided a moistening agent, the moistening agent being contained by the lining and in use contacting the glans and corona of the wearer's penis, whereby moistening thereof is effected through transdermal absorption of the moistening agent.

13. A cover according to claim 12, wherein the moistening agent is selected from a liquid, oil, cream or gel.

14. A cover according to either of claims 12 or 13, wherein the moistening agent has adhesive properties.

15. A cover according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the moistening agent is capable of facilitating a restoration of sensitivity in the glans and corona of the wearer's penis.

16. A cover for the glans of a circumcised penis substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.