GB2451282A

GB2451282A - A finger mountable sexual stimulation device

Info

Publication number: GB2451282A
Application number: GB0714582A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Vincent Critchley; Sean Joseph Tasker
Original assignee: LRC Products Ltd
Current assignee: LRC Products Ltd
Priority date: 2007-07-26
Filing date: 2007-07-26
Publication date: 2009-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 2027-07-26
Also published as: CN201205349Y; GB2451282B; GB0714582D0

Abstract

A sexual stimulation device 1 comprises a vibrator portion 2 with a vibrator unit disposed therein, and a finger connecting portion 3 for securing the device to the user's finger. The vibrator unit includes an electric motor with an eccentric mass mounted on its output shaft, while the finger connecting portion comprises a cavity 4 for accommodating the user's finger which encloses the fingertip. A resiliently depressible button 6 is provided for switching the device on and off. The switch of the vibrator unit is bi stable so that the device is turned on and off by pressing the button in the same direction. There may be a number of curved ridges extending along the surface of the vibrator. The device may be battery powered.

Description

SEXUAL STIMULATION DEVICE

The present invention relates to sexual stimulation devices, in particular those which are suitable for mounting on a user's finger.

Various finger-mountable stimulation devices are known in the prior art. For example, US 2003/0181835 discloses a miniature sexual aid device which largely resembles a finger ring, and has a small battery-powered vibrator unit mounted on top of a band for connecting the device to the user's finger.

Another example of such a device includes a bracket comprising a pair of arms configured to conform generally to the shape of a finger, with a vibrator portion connected thereto.

The present invention provides a sexual stimulation device comprising a vibrator portion connected to a finger mounting portion, wherein the finger mounting portion includes a cavity for receiving the finger of a user and is adapted to enclose the user's fingertip.

The users finger (or other bodily appendage located in the finger mounting portion) is thereby well gripped and securely located in the finger mounting portion, and a particularly stable mounting of the device is achieved. This reduces the propensity of the device to fall off the finger and furthermore allows the user to orient the device with respect to the finger in any desired way, for example with the vibrator portion facing upwardly, downwardly or sideways relative to the finger.

A vibrator unit is preferably located within the vibrator portion. The vibrator unit can be manufactured separately to the device and incorporated therein in a convenient manner.

By virtue of disposing the vibrator unit in the vibrator portion, the vibrator unit is protected from fluids thereby helping to prevent short circuiting within the vibrator unit, and the device is thus also hygienic.

The vibrator unit comprises a housing which may comprise a pair of half shells which can be sealed together, further contributing to the watertightness of the device. In a preferred embodiment, the half shells are sealed together using ultrasonic welding, which gives a particularly good sealing of the housing and is a convenient mode of manufacture.

Water resistance test have been carried out on embodiments of the invention, in particular against the requirements of European Standard BS EN 60529:1992 (Degrees of protection provided by enclosures). A first test (IP code IPX6) measured the resistance of the vibrator unit against ingress of water under conditions of powerful jetting, while a second test (IP code IPX7) measured resistance against water under conditions of temporary immersion. The vibrator unit passed both tests.

The fact that the vibrator unit has a good level of waterproofing protects the electronic equipment situated inside the vibrator unit from the potentially harmful effects of liquids, such as short-circuiting and corrosion of metallic components.

Fluids emanating from the user(s) are also prevented from infiltrating the device and the vibrator unit, whereby the invention is hygienic. If such fluids were allowed to linger within the device, bacteria could build up, making the device potentially harmful.

There now follows a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. I shows in perspective a sexual stimulation device according to the invention; -o Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a bottom view of device of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an exploded view of a vibrator unit used in the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 shows the contents of the vibrator unit with a switch turned off; Fig. 8 shows the contents of the vibrator unit with the switch turned on; Fig. 9 shows a simplified schematic circuit diagram of the vibrator unit; and Fig. 10 shows in perspective the switch used in the vibrator unit.

Fig. ills an exploded view of a second embodiment of vibrator unit for use in the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the vibrator unit of FIG. 11 in assembled form.

The sexual stimulation device illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a vibrator portion 2 connected to a finger mounting portion 3, wherein the finger mounting portion includes a cavity 4 for receiving the finger of a user and is adapted to enclose the user's fingertip (not shown). The finger mounting portion 3 is integrally formed with the vibrator portion 2, and has a generally conical shape, except in the region where it is connected to the vibrator portion 2. The surface 11 of the finger mounting means 3 has a curved profile and gradually tapers to form a rounded tip 5. The tip 5 is closed off, whereby the user's finger cannot extend beyond this limit. Inside the cavity 4, the tip region can have a flattened surface 12, (shown in Fig. 4), for providing comfortable abutment against the fingertip.

The finger mounting portion 3 includes a region 10 which occupies most of the area of the finger mounting portion 3 that is facing away from the vibrator portion 2. This region 10 can be made of a stiffer material than the rest of the device, thereby acting as a support when a fingertip within the finger mounting portion 3 is applying pressure in the direction of the vibrator portion 2. The vibrator portion 2 is situated towards the tip 5 of the finger mounting portion 3 and the stiffer region 10 can help the user to leverage the device.

The vibrator portion 2 is generally ovaloid in shape, except where it is connected to the finger mounting portion 3. in a region 8 where the vibrator portion 2 and the finger mounting portion 3 are connected, the transition between the two portions is smooth, as shown in Fig. 2. A further departure from the ovaloid configuration of the vibrator portion 2 is apparent at a slightly flattened base region 9 on the side of the vibrator portion 2 opposite the finger mounting means 3. This flattening may spread out the pressure applied by the user to a wider area to be stimulated.

A plurality of curved ridges 7 extend along the surface of the vibrator portion 2, which enhance the stimulation that the device provides. As shown in Fig. 5, the ridges 7 can form a concentric pattern around the flattened base region 9.

An oval button 6 is provided on one or both side regions of the vibrator portion 2, for turning on and off the vibrator unit situated therein. A corresponding oval region 6 can be provided on the opposite side of the vibrator portion 2, which does not necessarily actuate the vibrator unit, but this layout lends itself to a convenient pinching action for turning the device on or off. The oval button 6 can alternatively simply comprise an opening in the side of the vibrator portion 2 through which a resilient rubber button 3 of the vibrator unit 40, may protrude.

The vibrator unit 40 which is illustrated in exploded form in Figure 6, comprises a housing assembled from first and second generally semi-cylindrical half shells 41 and 42 which may be manufactured by moulding. At least one of the half shells 41, 42 includes internal ribs 53 which serve to hold the contents of the housing in place. The half shells 41, 42 include respective threaded portions 51, 52 at an end thereof arranged such that when the half shells 41, 42 are brought together the threaded portions 51, 52 define a threaded tubular connector to which an end-cap, e.g. a screw-cap 45 is attachable and may serve to hold the shells 41, 42 together.

Alternatively, or additionally, the housing half shells 41, 42 may snap-fit together.

On top of the first half shell 41, the operating button 3 is located.

The components accommodated inside the housing 41, 42 are an electric motor 43, a switch 54 and one or more batteries 44 (in the present embodiment, two batteries), as well as various electrical contacts. The electric motor has an eccentric mass 55 connected to its output drive shaft whereby operation of the electric motor produces vibrations. An electrical conductor 50 comprising an elongate metallic strip connects a first electrode of the electric motor, the first electrode comprising a side of a metallic housing of the motor 43, to a pole of the battery 44 formed by a side of a metallic casing of the battery. Situated in a cavity defined between the electric motor and the battery is a switch 54 for switching the electric motor 43 on and off. The switch may be partially located in the cavity or can be entirely within the cavity. The switch 54 includes bi-stable actuating means 47 comprising a push-button 47 which is depressed by the user to operate the switch to turn on the electric motor 43. To switch off the electric motor 43, the user depresses the push-button 47 again. In practice, of course, the user depresses the resilient rubber button 3 on the vibrator unit housing, which is situated directly adjacent to the push-button 47. On either side of the switch 54, there are provided first and second contact means 48, 49 comprising first and second metallic contact plates. The first metallic plate 48 establishes an electrical connection between a pole 56 of the electric motor situated on a longitudinal end face of the electric motor, and a first terminal 61 of the switch (see Fig. 6), whereas the second metallic contact plate 49 establishes an electrical connection between a pole of the battery 44 defined by an end face of the battery 44 and a second terminal 62 of the switch 54. The primary purpose of the metallic plates 48, 49 is to adapt the switch 54 which is a standardised component, to the paiticular application in hand. The metallic plates 48, 49 may include contacting portions which are resiliently biased against the components with which they are in contact to provide a good electrical connection. An 0-ring 46 is disposed around the threaded tubular connector formed by the two housing shells 41, 42, serving to seal the connection between the housing and the screw-cap 45. An annular groove extends around the housing adjacent the end opposite the cap 45 and may receive a rib moulded on the inside of the vibrator portion 2 to assist location of the vibrator unit within the vibrator portion 2.

The inner working components of the vibrator unit are shown assembled together in Figs. 7 and 8, with the switch 54 being in the "off" state in Fig. 7 and in the "on" state in Fig. 8. The actuating button 47 of the switch 54 is connected by a spring 65 to an electrically conductive switch plate 66 which is movable to a position bridging a gap between two contact terminals 61 and 62, illustrated in Fig. 8, thereby completing the circuit for switching on the electric motor. inside the switch are latching means for making the actuating button 47 bi-stable, so that the switch remains in the on condition until the actuating button is depressed again so that the switch contact plate 66 returns to the "off" position of Fig. 7. The electrical conductor 50 has a first curved portion for contacting the side of the electric motor 43 and a second curved portion 64 for contacting the side of the battery 44.

Fig. 9 is a simple circuit diagram showing schematically the electrical connections between the switch 54, the battery 44 and the electric motor 43. In the present embodiment the two batteries 44 are connected in series, but it would also be possible to connect the batteries in parallel with one another to produce vibrations of a lower power. In this regard, the internal components of the vibrator unit can be arranged to allow the user to choose between a series connection or a parallel connection of the batteries, e.g. by pressing the push button 3.

Fig. 10 shows a detail of the switch 54, including the first and second contact plates 48, 49 (in a slightly different configuration to that shown in Fig. 5), the electrical terminals 61, 62 and the actuating means 47. The housing 91 of the switch is made from plastics material whereas the contact plates 48, 49 and terminals are metallic.

Fig. 11 shows an alternative, preferred embodiment of the vibrator unit 68 which is generally similar to the vibrator unit shown in Fig 6, and like reference numerals are used to represent like components thereof. The main difference is that the first and second generally semi-cylindrical half shells 70, 71 are to be connected to each other by sealing or in other words non-mechanically. This leads to a good waterproofing of the vibrator unit, which may exceed the level of waterproofing provided when the half-shells are connected together mechanically.

Advantageously, the sealing can be effected continuously around the perimeter edges of the half-shells 70, 71 along which the half-shells engage one another, and in particular around the entire perimeter. Various methods of sealing may be employed, including for example welding (e.g. ultra-sonic welding and/or rf welding), or chemical sealing, and adhesives may be used. The sealing thus effected is permanent, in that separation of the half-shells 70, 71 destroys the seal.

The currently preferred method of sealing is ultra-sonic welding. In the embodiment of the vibrator unit shown in Fig. 6 the end cap 45 is provided for closing the housing and helping to hold the shells 41, 42 together. The end cap 45 is removable, allowing replacement of the batteries 44. In the embodiment of Fig 11, it is not possible for the user to detach the half-shells 70, 71 from one another and then to re-attach them, and thus the vibrator unit 68 is intended to be disposable when the batteries 44 run out. This disposability leads to improved hygiene because it is not possible to re-use the device over a time period longer than the battery life. One of the half-shells 71 includes a flange 75 extending around its perimeter, and a corresponding rebate is provided along the perimeter of the other half-shell 70 for receiving the flange. This structure provides a larger surface area of connection between the shells than otherwise would be present, and thus helps the sealing process to fuse the two half-shells 70, 71 together strongly.

In the embodiment of the vibrator unit of both Figs 6 and 11, the push button 3 comprises a resilient material which is soft and compressible compared to the material from which the shells 40, 41, 70, 71 are manufactured. One particular way of producing this bi-material shell is to use a two-shot moulding process, wherein a first material is injected into the mould to create one part of the shell and a second material is then injected to create the other part of the shell. This also allows different colours to be used for the parts of the shell. It is of course also possible to make the parts separately and then connect them together.

The vibrator unit 68 includes a pair of annular grooves 74, 77, in distinction to the single groove provided on the housing of the first embodiment of the vibrator unit.

An extra rib can be moulded on the inside of the vibrator portion 2 corresponding to the additional groove, and this helps to ensure that the vibrator unit is positioned correctly within the vibrator portion 2 when it is inserted during manufacture.

A small indent 76 is provided on one of the half shells 70, 71, which is used to assist with aligning the vibrator unit when it is being inserted into the vibrator portion 2. Instead of the indent 76, a mark or a slit may optionally be used.

The metallic contact plates 48, 49 adjacent to the switch 54, as shown in Fig. 6, are dispensed with in the embodiment shown in Fig. 11, and the switch 54 is as shown in Fig. 10, including contact plates 48, 49, smaller than those of Fig. 6. The resulting structure is simple and therefore the unit 68 is easy to manufacture.

The nominal life of the batteries 44 is chosen to be approximately 20 minutes.

The reason for this is that there is a risk of damage to the penis if the device is used or worn for too long. A limit of 30 minutes per use has been proposed. In the embodiment shown, two 03-A 1.5V batteries with a 35mAh capacity are used.

This provides a current of approximately lOOmA and a nominal battery life of 21 minutes. The overall energy provided by the batteries is 3V multiplied by 35niAh, or lO5mWh. This represents an increase in total energy over some prior vibrator units, which may have a longer life than the current device but produce vibrations of a significantly lower power. In comparative tests of the vibrator unit, an accelerometer was used to measure the strength of the vibrations produced, relative to prior devices. The vibrator units disclosed herein produced a measured acceleration of up to 6g (where g is the acceleration due to gravity) which was considerably higher than the prior vibrator units were able to produce.

Although Fig 6 and 11 show the vibrator unit comprising longitudinal half-shells, i.e. shells which define a plane of connection along the length of the unit, other configurations would be possible. For example, the vibrator unit may comprise a cylinder with an end cap at one or both ends which can be screwed or sealed thereon. Alternatively, the half-shells could define a plane of connection which is perpendicular to the length of the vibrator unit and which may bi-sect the vibrator unit. An obliquely angled plane of connection would also be possible.

Claims

1. A sexual stimulation device comprising a vibrator portion connected to a finger mounting portion, wherein the finger mounting portion includes a cavity for receiving the finger of a user and is adapted to enclose the user's fingertip.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the finger mounting portion is integrally formed with the vibrator portion.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the finger mounting portion has a generally conical shape.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the finger mounting portion has a closed tip.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the finger mounting portion has a rounded tip.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vibrator portion is situated towards the tip of the finger mounting portion.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vibrator portion is generally ovaloid in shape.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of curved ridges extend along the surface of the vibrator portion.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein at least some of the ridges form a concentric pattern on the surface of the vibrator.

10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an on-off button is provided on the side of the vibrator portion.

11. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a vibrator unit is located within the vibrator portion.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein the vibrator unit comprises a housing in which is disposed an electric motor provided with a rotatably driveable eccentric mass whereby operation of the electric motor produces vibrations, a battery being disposed in the housing for providing power to the electric motor, an electrical conductor connecting a pole of the battery to a first electrode of the electric motor and a switch connecting the other pole of the battery to a second electrode of the electric motor wherein the switch comprises a bi stable actuating means pushable in one direction to switch on the electric motor and pushable in the same direction to switch off the electric motor, and the housing comprises a resiliently depressible sealing element surmounting the actuating means.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the bi-stable actuating means are resiliently biased away from the switch.

14. A device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein latching means are provided in the switch for making the actuating means bi-stable.

15. A device according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the housing comprises a pair of generally semi-cylindrical half shells.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the half shells are sealed together.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the half shells are sealed together by ultra-sonic welding.

18. A device according to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein a groove extends around the housing at an end region thereof.

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein a groove is provided at both end regions of the housing.

20. A sexual stimulation device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A sexual stimulation device comprising a vibrator portion connected to a finger mounting portion, wherein the vibrator portion has a longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the finger mounting portion, and wherein the finger mounting portion includes a cavity for receiving the finger of a user and iF adapted to enclose the user's fingertip.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the finger mounting portion is integrally formed with the vibrator portion. * S. *5 * * *. * *SS

* * . . . . 3. A device according to claim I or 2, wherein the finger mounting portion has a generally conical shape. S..

S

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the finger * .. * *

mounting portion has a closed tip. S. 5 * S. * S.

8. A device accordir.g to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of curved ridges extend along the surface of the vibrator portion.