MXPA00004932A - Spring action male condom - Google Patents

Abstract

A spring (20) on spring condom (12) has one spring action established by the elasticity of the condom material. The spring (20) on spring condom (12) has another spring action established by a spring formation on the condom that is attributable to a combination of the shape of the spring formation, and the elasticity of the condom material. A method for forming the condom includes the steps of providing a mold having a spring shape on the exterior of a dipping mold adjacent the end thereof, and dipping the mold into an elastomeric material for forming a thin layer of material thereover that when removed from the mold will have the configuration of a spring on spring condom.

Description

MALE CONDOM WITH SPRING ACTION DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to prophylactic devices and more particularly to male condoms. The AIDS epidemic has caused more people to consider the use of condoms for protection against the transmission of bacterial and viral diseases. To ensure the protection of the wall thickness of condoms, it has been increased to ensure that, there will be no openings of small holes therein for the transmission of bodily fluids carrying the disease vectors. Such protection however can reduce the sensitivity and the feeling of the user to the point where the alternative of non-protection can be stimulated. Various types of male condoms have been proposed in whose rings or other formations are formed on the condom cover for psychological stimulation for a woman during its use. Examples of such condoms are shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,004,591 and 3,536,066 where condoms that fit loosely are used to improve use. Other proposals include U.S. Patent Design No. 254,808 which outwardly projecting protuberances are illustrated.

None of these configurations provides an annular configuration in the condom that will move relative to the condom to improve the stimulation of both men and women at the same time. The problem with the configurations of the prior art is that the various formations in the condom cover have been configured for the stimulation of a user. It has not been provided where the condom itself has a spring action built in its configuration that will act to give pleasure to both the woman and the woman during intercourse. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a male condom, which will be more acceptable to both man and woman during use. A feature of the present invention is to provide an elastic male condom having a feature therein that will produce spring action independently of the user's action. A further feature of the present invention is to provide a spring on the spring condom. Yet another feature of the present invention is to provide a condom that can be adjusted to a user and that will be placed during use to cause a portion thereof to have a spring action independent of the condom's fit on a wearer. A further object is to provide mutual pleasure by the provision of a coating formation on the male condom which will act as a spring which will actively position the formation between an extended position and a retracted position independently of any user action. Yet another feature of the invention is to provide a spring on the spring condom where a spring action is established by the elasticity of the condom material which is attributed to a combination of the structure of the spring formation and the elasticity of the spring material. condom. Another object of the invention is to provide such a spring action by providing integrally formed series of corrugations or channels at the end of the male condom which is accommodated to extend during use from a retracted position to an extended position wherein an integrally formed series exerts a spring return force that will move the channels independently of the user's position back to its retracted position. An additional feature is to provide such corrugations or channels formed in a helical configuration near the closed end of the condom.

A further feature is to provide such circumferentially spaced segments as opposing pairs of arcuate segments. Yet another feature is to provide such segments circumferentially separated arched staggered on opposite sides in the circumference of the condom. Yet another additional feature is to provide such channels as a series of sinusoidal configurations formed around the tip of the condom that can be expanded in an extended accentuated position and wherein the sinusoidal configurations act to return the configurations to an unstressed retracted position. Yet another object of the present invention is a method for forming a male condom that includes the steps of providing a condom having any of the aforementioned spring configurations on the outside of an immersion mold adjacent to the end thereof and submerging the mold. in an elastomeric material to form a thin layer of material thereon which when removed from the mold will have the configuration of any of the embodiments of the spring on spring condoms of the present invention. Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, when the same becomes better understood with reference to the following detailed description when considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side elevation view of one embodiment of the invention showing a configured spring helically at the end of an elastic spring coating of a male condom; Figure IA is a view similar to Figure 1 of another embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an extreme elevation view of one embodiment in Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; Figure 3 is a view of the spring configured helically in an extended accentuated position showing a relative unstressed retracted position thereof; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the invention showing a arcuate shaped spring longitudinally and circumferentially spaced apart at the end of an elastic spring covering of a male condom. Figure 5 is an extreme elevation view of the embodiment in Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; Figure 6 is a view of the arcuate shaped spring in an extended accentuated position and showing a relative unstressed retracted position thereof; Figure 7 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the invention showing a spring configured sinusoidally at the end of an elastic spring covering of a male condom; Figure 8 is an extreme elevation view of the embodiment of Figure 7 looking in the direction of the arrows; Figure 9 is a view of the sinusoidal spring in an extended accentuated position and showing a relative non-accentuated retracted position t thereof; Figure 10 is a view of an embodiment having circumferentially spaced segments as arched segments staggered on opposite sides of the condom circumference; Figure 11 is a view of one embodiment having segments circumferentially spaced apart as arched segments staggered on opposite sides of the condom circumference at stepped locations along the length of the condom; and Figure 12 is a view of one embodiment of a mold for practicing the method of the present invention.

Figure 1 depicts a male condom having a tubular sachet or liner 12 with an open end 14 and a closed end 16. The sachet has a small diameter segment 18 formed of the open end 14 and a segment 19 of diameter increased to a point adjacent a spring 20 helically configured adjacent the closed end 18. According to one aspect of the invention, the wall 22 of the cover 12 has an elasticity that will make it easier for the condom to fit a user and therefore it is a first spring due to the elasticity. The spring 20 provides a second spring action on the condom which will actively position between an extended position back to one. retracted position. The spring 20 is formed integrally with the wall 22 and in the first embodiment is configured as a helical spring having corrugations 24 sectioned channel therein which extend radially outwardly from the wall 22 and are wrapped around the wall of the wall. so that they form an additional spring action in it as will be discussed. The wall 22 and the corrugations 24 are thin membranes that improve the feeling during use, although they are of sufficient strength and impermeability to prevent wall separations or configurations of small holes that may be capable of fluid transmission therethrough during the use. therefore the wall 22 and the corrugations therein act to provide protection against AIDS or other social diseases. In addition, the corrugations 24 have an axially unstressed retracted position in a normal manner, shown in Figure 1. When the condom is stretched axially, the corrugations assume a second extended accentuated position shown in Figure 3 where the turns 20a, 20b, 20c of the helical spring 20 are part of each other in order to impose a biased spring action that will return the spring 20 to its retracted position not accentuated in normal fashion again. Since, in use, the male condom can be said to be an "active" condom which, by itself, will have the potential to impart an extremely pleasurable action (side by side with the length of the condom) axially directed both for the woman as for the man during intercourse. Figure IA shows a modality similar to Figure 1 where a tubular cover 12 'has a helical turn 20' adjacent to its closed end. The helical coil is comprised of a helical coil with opposite ends 20 'a, 20'. In this embodiment, the width W of the helical coil is a little larger than the embodiment of Figure 1, approximately the width of the coating 12 '.

Yet another feature of the present invention is to provide a condom that can be adjusted to a user and that will be placed during use to cause a portion thereof to have a spring action independent of the condom's fit on a wearer. Thus, the embodiment of Figures 1-3 provides such mutual pleasure by the provision of an extreme formation in the coating of a male condom, that is, the corrugations 24 which will act as a spring to actively place the formation from an extended position caused by the user who drives back to a retracted position when it is released. Furthermore, in the embodiment of Figures 1-3, such spring action of the corrugations constitutes a "spring on spring" condom where another spring action is established by the elasticity of the condom material and where another spring action it is established by a spring formation in the condom which is attributed to the combination of the configuration of the spring formation and the elasticity of the condom. The increased diameter segment 19 separates the condom slightly from the user so that the spring on the spring action will not be inhibited too much by too narrow a fit. Figure 4 depicts a male condom 30 having a tubular sachet or liner 32 with an open end 34 and a closed end 36. The sachet has a small diameter segment 38 formed from the open end 34 to the large diameter segment 39 to a point adjacent to a second spring 40 formed by an integrally formed series of corrugations 42 at the end of the male condom which is arranged to extend during use from a retracted position to an extended position where the integral formed would be corrugations 42 that are arranged at the end of the condom 30 to exert a spring return force that will move the corrugations back to the retracted position. In the embodiment of Figure 4, such a series of corrugations 42 I have a channel section and are formed as a first series of circumferentially spaced segments 42a-42b. The segments 42a-42b are axially spaced from a second series of circumferentially spaced segments 42c-42d and longitudinal separation strips 44 and 46 are provided in the spaces between the segments. The bands 44, 46 have a retracted position to keep the segments 42a-42d axially arranged and circumferentially spaced in a first retracted or non-accentuated position at the end of the male condom. The bands 44, 46 have an extended accentuated position where the circumferentially spaced segments 42a-42b separate from the segments 42c-42d during use. The bands 44, 46 act to return the segments to their retracted position independently of the user's movement. As in the first embodiment, the wall 32a of the segment 38 of the small diameter and the segment 39 of large diameter has an elasticity that will be able to adjust the condom in a user and therefore is a first spring due to the elasticity. The spring 40 provides a second spring action on the condom which will actively position the extended position caused by the user driving back to a retracted position independently of any user action. The spring 40 is formed integrally with the wall 32a and as in the first embodiment the corrugations 42 extend radially outwardly from the wall 32a and are circumferentially and axially spaced around the wall pair to form an additional spring action thereon as in the first embodiment of Figures 1-3. The segment 39 of large diameter separates the condom slightly from the user so that the spring on the spring action will not be inhibited by too narrow a fit. As the first embodiment of Figures 1-3, the embodiment of Figures 4-6 have corrugations 42 and a wall 32a which are thin membranes that improve the feel during use, although they are of sufficient strength and impermeability to prevent separation of the wall or small-hole configurations that may be capable of transmitting fluid through it during use. therefore the wall 22 and the corrugations 42 therein act to provide protection against AIDS or other social diseases. The corrugations 42 have an axially unstressed retracted position in a normal manner, shown in Figure 4. When the condom 30 is axially stretched, the corrugations assume a second extended accentuated position shown in Figure 6 where the segments 42a-42b separate from the segments 42c-42d and the bands 44, 46 are they stretch to impose a biased spring action that will return the spring 40 to its retracted position not accentuated in normal fashion again. Since, in use, the male condom can be said to be an "active" condom that, by itself, will have the potential to impart an extremely pleasurable action (side by side with the length of the condom) axially directed both for the woman as for the man during intercourse, independently of any movement of the user in the direction of the axially retracted position. Therefore, the embodiment of Figures 4-6 provide such mutual pleasure by the provision of an extreme formation in the coating of a male condom, for example corrugations 42 and bands 44-46 which will act as a spring to actively place 1 training from an extended position caused by the user operating back to a retracted position independently of any user action. Furthermore, in the embodiment of Figures 4-6, as in the case of the embodiment of Figures 1-3, such spring action of the corrugations 42 and the bands constitutes a condom "spring on spring" where a spring action it is established by the elasticity of the condom material and where another spring action is established by a spring formation in the condom and is attributed to a combination of the configuration of the spring formation and the elasticity of the condom material. Figures 7-9 describe a male condom 50 having a tubular sachet or liner 52 with an open end 54 and a closed end 56. The sachet has a small diameter segment 58 formed from the end 54 open to a large diameter segment 59 to an adjacent point of a spring 60 sinusoidally configured adjacent the closed end 56. According to one aspect of the invention, the wall 62 of the constant diameter segment has an elasticity that will be able to adjust the condom to a user and thus it is a first spring due to the elasticity. The spring 60 provides a second spring action on the condom which will actively position between the extended position caused by the user driving back to a retracted position independently of any user action. The spring 60 is formed integrally with the wall 62 and as the first embodiment is configured to provide corrugations 64-68 formed as channels 64a-68a each having a sinusoidal configuration formed around the tip of the condom and which can be expanded to an accentuated position extended where the sinusoidal configurations act to return the configurations to a 'non-stressed' retracted position. The corrugations 64-68 extend radially outwardly from the wall 62 and wrap around the wall so as to form an additional spring action therein as will be discussed. Wall 62 and corrugations 64-68 are thin membs that improve feel during use, although they are of sufficient strength and impermeability to prevent wall separations or small-hole configurations that may be capable of fluid tmission through the wall. same during use. Therefore wall 62 and corrugations 64-68 therein act to provide protection against AIDS or other social diseases. The large diameter segment 59 separates the condom slightly from the user so that the spring on the action of the spring will not be inhibited by too narrow a fit. In addition, the corrugations 64-68 have an axially unstressed retracted position in a normal manner, shown in Figure 7. When the condom is axially stretched, the corrugations assume a second extended accentuated position shown in Figure 9 where the spikes 64- 68 spring sinusoidal configurations 60 are formed to have a greater space between the peaks and valleys of the sinusoidal configuration so as to impose a spring biased action that will return the spring 60 to its axially retracted position not accentuated normally again. As, in use, the male condom can be said to be an "active" condom that, by itself, will have the potential to impart an extremely pleasurable action (side by side with the length of the condom) axially directed both for the woman and for the man during intercourse, as the sinusoidally configured corrugations move in relation to the man and the woman as they are reconfigured in their retracted position when they are released in the direction of the axially retracted position. Yet another additional feature of the present invention is to provide such a condom that can be adjusted to a user and that will be placed during use to cause a portion thereof to have a spring action independent of the condom's fit on a wearer. Therefore, the embodiment of Figures 7-9 provide such mutual pleasure by the provision of an extreme formation in the coating of a male condom, for example the corrugations 64-68 which will act as a spring to actively place the formation from a extended position provoked by the user who drives back to a retracted position independently of any user action. Furthermore, in the embodiment of Figures 7-9 such spring action of the corrugations constitutes a "spring on spring" condom where a spring action is established by the elasticity of the material of the condom and where another spring action is made. It establishes by a spring formation in the condom that is attributed to a combination of the configuration of the spring formation and the elasticity of the material of the condom. In the embodiment of Figure 10, a male condom 70 is provided having the configuration and the corrugations comprising a series of circumferentially spaced segments that are axially separated from a second series of circumferentially spaced segments and wherein the longitudinal separation bands have a position retracted to maintain a first position of the circumferentially spaced segments and an extended stressed position when the circumferentially spaced segments are separated during use that will act to return the segments to their retracted position. In this embodiment, however, the circumferentially separated segments are formed as arcuate corrugations or channels 72-78 as in the case of the previous modalities (in this mode, half circles) although this means that minor arched configurations are also contemplated. Each of the half circles are staggered on opposite sides of the circumference of the condom. As in the above embodiments, the coating is provided with a segment 77 of small diameter and a segment 79 of large diameter. In the embodiment of Figure 11 a male condom 80 is shown with circumferentially spaced segments that are arched segments 82, 84, 86 staggered on opposite sides of the circumference of the condom at different separate locations along the length of the condom. The coating has a segment 88 of small diameter and a segment 89 of large diameter. The method of the present invention includes the steps of providing a mold 90 having an elongated cylindrical portion 92 and an outer surface 94 at one end thereof defining a corrugation 96 therein defining a spring formation; immersing the mold within a liquid elastomeric material to form a thin elastic membrane having a first spring action and forming a sachet with an open end and a closed end with a tubular wall formed therebetween and including a corrugation configured in the form of the corrugation in the mold and integrally formed of the tubular wall adjacent to the closed end that will produce spring movement regardless of the elasticity of the elastomeric material. Searching the embodiments of the male condom inventions described above, the method also contemplates the steps of providing a mold having any of the following configurations; a mold that is provided with a corrugation having a helical shaped exterior surface defining a spring formation; a mold that is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced surface segments that are axially spaced from a second series of circumferentially spaced surface segments to form the spring formation, a mold that is provided with circumferentially spaced surface segments formed as arched segments staggered on opposite sides of the circumference of the mold to form the formation of the spring; a mold that is provided with circumferentially spaced surface segments that are arcuate segments staggered on opposite sides of the circumference of the mold at stepped locations along the length of the mold to form the formation of the spring and a mold that is provided with. surface corrugations forming a series of sinusoidal configurations formed around the tip of the mold to form the formation of the spring. In the present invention the condom and the elastic material of which it is made can be made of a material having an elastic impermeable characteristic, once configured and removed from the mold. Examples of such materials include substances such as natural rubber (e.g. latex); synthetic rubber (for example silicone rubber); polyurethane; and other elastic substances such as thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers. Since the invention has been described in an illustrative manner it should be understood that the invention may be practiced differently as specifically described herein and still remain within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (15)

1. CLAIMS 1. A male condom comprising an elongated tubular portion formed by a thin elastic membrane having a first spring action and forming a sachet with an open end and a closed end with a tubular wall formed therein and having a corrugation integrally formed of the tubular wall adjacent to the closed end characterized in that: the corrugation configured radially outwardly of the tubular portion acts as a spring that will actively position the corrugation from an axially extended position I of the tubular portion caused by the user actuating the return to a retracted position when released to move the corrugation to produce a caressing action that will provide both man and woman pleasure; the tubular portion has an increased diameter in the corrugation to separate the user's condom so that the spring action will not be inhibited.
2. 2. The male condom according to claim 1, further characterized in that the 'corrugations are integrally formed of channels at the end of the male condom which is arranged to extend during use from a retracted position to an extended position where the integrally formed series of channels exerts a spring return force which will move the channels when release back to the retracted position.
3. 3. The male condom according to claim 1, characterized in that the corrugation has a helical configuration near the closed end of the condom.
4. 4. The male condom according to claim 1, characterized in that the corrugation comprises a series of circumferentially spaced segments that are axially separated from a second series of circumferentially spaced segments and where t the longitudinal separation strips have a retracted position to maintain a first position of the segments circumferentially and an extended accentuated position when the circumferentially separated segments are separated during use which will act to return the segments to their retracted position.
5. 5. The male condom according to claim 4, characterized in that the circumferentially spaced segments are arcuate segments staggered on opposite sides of the circumference of the condom.
6. 6. The male condom according to claim 4, characterized in that the circumferentially spaced segments are arcuate segments staggered on opposite sides of the circumference of the condom at stepped locations along the length of the condom.
7. 7. The male condom according to claim 1, characterized in that the corrugation comprises a series of sinusoidal configurations formed around the tip of the condom which can be expanded in an extended accentuated position wherein the sinusoidal configurations act to return the configurations to a retracted position not accentuated.
8. A method for manufacturing a male condom characterized in that it comprises the steps of providing a mold having an elongated cylindrical portion and an outer surface at one end thereof defining a corrugation therein defining a spring formation; immersing the mold within a liquid elastomeric material to form a thin elastic membrane having a first spring action and forming a sachet with an open end and a closed end with a tubular wall formed therebetween and including a corrugation configured in the form of corrugation in the mold and integrally formed of the tubular wall adjacent to the closed end that will produce a spring movement regardless of the elasticity of the elastomeric material.
9. 9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the mold is provided with a corrugation having an outer surface with helical shape.
10. 10. The method of compliance with the claim 8, characterized in that the mold is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced surface segments that are axially spaced from a second series of circumferentially spaced surface segments.
11. 11. The method according to the claim 8, characterized in that the mold is provided with circumferentially spaced surface segments formed as stepped arched segments on opposite sides of the circumference of the mold.
12. 12. The method in accordance with the claim 8, characterized in that the mold is provided with circumferentially spaced surface segments which are arcuate segments staggered on opposite sides of the circumference of the mold in stepped locations along the length of the mold.
13. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the mold is provided with a surface of corrugations that form a series of sinusoidal configurations formed around the tip of the mold.
14. 14. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the mold is provided with a corrugation surface forming a single helical pin having separate ends located at the closed end of the tubular portion and forming the helical pin alone to have a width substantially equal to the diameter of the elongated cylindrical portion.
15. 15. The male condom according to claim 1, characterized in that the corrugation is a single helical spike having separate ends located at the closed end of the tubular portion; the corrugation forms a single helical pin having a width t substantially equal to the diameter of the tubular portion.