MXPA99008823A - Wound tab condom and method of application - Google Patents

Abstract

A condom (10) includes a condom tubular sidewall (14) having a first sidewall end, and a second sidewall end, the tubular sidewall being rolled outwardly and over itself from the second sidewall end toward the first sidewall end to form a sidewall roll;a condom end wall sealably joined to the tubular sidewall (14) at the first sidewall end;and at least one strip (32) of flexible material having a gripping tab end segment (34) with a tactile surface on one side thereof, the at least one strip being wound within the sidewall roll so that the gripping tab end segment (34) and tactile surface of the at least one strip (32) protrudes from the sidewall roll.

Description

CONDOM OF TAB JSN? TOLLADA. AND METHOD OF APPLICATION DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of birth control and sexually transmitted disease prevention devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a condom with an integrated condom applicator assembly. The condom itself is of a generally conventional design, having a tubular side wall, at the end closed with an end wall and an open end with a sidewall edge. The condom is provided with the tubular side wall rolled outward and on itself from the side wall edge towards the end wall to form a sidewall roll. The inventive condom applicator assembly is formed of two strips of flexible material, wound with the tubular side wall within the side wall roll, such that the end tab segments protrude from the roll. The segments of end tabs are preferably provided with a touch surface on one side thereof so that a user can orient the side wall roll in the proper direction in the dark. A condom mounting method is provided in which the strips are wound inside the sidewall roll.

To use the condom, the user places the end wall of the condom against the distal end of the penis, so that the sidewall roll is directed by the user's allegation. This is done in the dark by the user's sense of touch of the optional touch surface when the user takes the two end segments of tab. The user then pulls the two tab end segments laterally outward from the sides of the penis. This simple action causes the lateral wall roll to quickly unwind around and longitudinally along the penis. There have been several types of condoms and condom packaging for a long time. Condoms have included lubricated and non-lubricated versions and have been made from various materials, such as latex. Condom packaging has included sealed envelopes, wraps and flat metal containers. A problem with these condom and anterior condom packages has been that they do not help the user in applying the condom and the application is difficult in the dark because the user can not see how to orient the condom. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a condom that includes an integral applicator assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a condom in which the applicator assembly does not significantly increase the size of the condom. It is a further object of the invention to provide a means for orienting the condom so that the applicator can be releasable and easily operated to the touch in the dark. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a condom in which the applicator assembly causes the condom to unwind rapidly on the penis with a simple movement of the user's hands. It is finally an object of the present invention to provide a condom in which the applicator assembly is inexpensive to manufacture. The present invention accomplishes the objectives set forth in the foregoing, as well as others, as may be determined by a fair reading and interpretation of the total specification. A condom is provided by including a tubular side wall of the condom having a first side wall end and a second side wall end, the tubular side wall being rolled out and on itself from the second side wall end towards the first end of side wall to form a sidewall roll; an extreme wall of the condom is joined in sealed form to the tubular side wall at the first side wall end; and at least one flexible material / strip having ZX: a tab end segment for grasping with a tactile surface on one side thereof, at least one strip being rolled up with the sidewall roll so that the segment of the tab end for grabbing at least one strip protrudes from the sidewall roll such that the tab end segment for grabbing can be easily taken and the touch surface feel. The condom preferably includes at least two of the strips of flexible material wound inside the sidewall roll, the two strips being placed on the laterally opposite portion of the tubular side wall. The condom preferably is formed of a latex condom material, and at least one strip is preferably formed of the latex condom material. At least one strip is preferably of sufficient length to extend at least from the second end of the side wall to the first side wall end. The touch surfaces are preferably provided at least on the tab end segment for grasping therefrom. A method for mounting the condom, including the step of winding at least one strip together with the tubular side wall outwardly and on the tubular side wall towards the first side wall end is provided to form the condom. ^. -aaa ^ 3¡i * 4¿- & -fo a roll of side wall, so that the tab end segment for grabbing and the optional touch surface protrude from the sidewall roll. A method for applying the condom to the penis, including the steps of taking the tab end segment, feeling the tactile surface therein, orienting the condom in the proper direction, placing the end wall of the condom against the distal end of the condom, is provided. penis, so that the tubular side wall roll is directed away from the user; and pulling the segment of the tongue end laterally outwardly of the tubular side wall, so that the side wall roll unwinds and advances longitudinally along the penis. The method preferably includes the additional step of lifting at least one strip away from the tubular side wall. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Several other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the condom and the applicator assembly of the condom in its rolled up configuration as provided to the user. - & _. - g ^^^^^^^^^ "&2 Figure 2 is a side view of the condom body extended in its total length prior to the rolling of the tubular side wall, and of two strips to be rolled together with the side wall within a sidewall roll as shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the condom body and partially assembled strips, the tubular side wall being partially wound inside the sidewall roll and the two strips shown in Figure 2 being rolled together with and into the tubular side wall. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view as in Figure 3, except that the roll is shown partially unrolled in solid lines when the user's hands advance radially outward from the sides of the penis. The fully unrolled tubular side wall is illustrated in dotted lines, with the strips released and separated. Figure 5 is a bottom view showing the touch surface on the tongue end segments. As required, the detailed embodiments of the present invention are described herein; however, this is to be understood that the embodiments described are only exemplary of the invention that can be modified in various ways. Accordingly, details ^^ «^^^ ggj ^ gcj ^ j ^ gi | taiE ^« n specific, structural and functional described herein will not be interpreted as limiting, but only as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis to teach a skilled in the art to employ the present invention in various ways in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein the features and aspects of the present invention shown in the various FIGURES are designated by the same reference numerals. It is described with reference to Figures 1-5, a condom 10 that includes a condom body 20 and an integrated condom applicator assembly 30. The condom body 20 is of a conventional condom design, having a tubular side wall of a condom. condom 14, a first closed side wall end with a condom end wall 16 and a second open side wall end with a tubular condom side wall edge 22. The condom 10 is provided to the consumer in the conventional product configuration , i.e. with the tubular side wall 14 rolled out and on itself from the side wall edge 22 towards the end wall 16 to form a side wall roll R. The inventive condom applicator assembly 30 includes at least one, and preferably two strips 32 of flexible material. The material ®s preferably condom material. The strips 32 are separated from the main condom body 20 and are rolled longitudinally with the rolled tubular side wall 14 so that the end segments of the gripping tabs 34 of the strips 32 protrude from the side wall roll R. See Figure 1 -3. The segments of the grip tab end 34 have, on one side, tactile surfaces 36. See Figure 5. Method In the practice of the invention, the following methods can be used. A condom manufacturing method 10 is provided in which the strips 32 are cut from a sheet of flexible material to be of sufficient length to extend at least from the side wall edge 22 to substantially the end wall of the condom 16 See Figure 2. The strips 32 are wound together with the side wall 14 when the side wall 14 is rolled outward and on itself in the manner of the conventional condom, to an extent that the tab end segments for grasping 34 with the tactile surfaces 32 of the strip 32 remain free and protrude from the side wall roll R. See Figures 3 and 5. Then the condom 10 is preferably packaged in a conventional sealed condom container 10 (not shown).

To use the condom 10, the user takes each tongue end segment 34 between the thumb and index finger of the closest hand and making contact with the tactile surfaces 36 to orient the condom in the appropriate direction because if it does not is properly oriented, it will unroll in the wrong direction. If necessary, the condom is flipped. See Figure 5. The user then places the end wall of the condom 16 against the distal end of the penis P in the form Conventional, so that the tubular side wall roll R is directed away from the user. The user then takes each tab end segment 34 between the thumb and index finger of the closest hand and pulls the tab end segment 34 radially outward from the sides of the penis P. See Figure 4. This simple action causes the winding of the side wall 14 to rapidly unwind and advance longitudinally on the penis P. Once the tubular side wall 14 is fully unwound, the strips 32 are necessarily unrolled as well as also released from the condom body 20, so that the strips 32 can be lifted away from the condom body 20 by the user. The strips 32 are collected later and unloaded together with the used condom body 20.

While the invention has been described, communicated, illustrated and shown in various terms or certain embodiments or modifications, which are assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be conceptualized to be, consequently limited. and other modifications or modalities as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially when they fall within the scope and scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims (8)

1. REVINDICATIONS 1. A condom, characterized in that it comprises: a tubular condom side wall having a first end of the side wall and a second end of the side wall, the tubular side wall being rolled out and on itself from the second end of the condom. side wall towards the first side wall end to form a sidewall roll; an end condom wall is sealedly attached to the tubular side wall at the first side wall end; and at least one strip of flexible material having a tab end segment for grasping, at least one strip being wound with the side wall roll such that the tab end segment for grabbing at least one strip protrudes from the sidewall roll.
2. 2. The condom in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two strips of flexible material wound inside the roll of side wall, the two strips being placed in laterally opposite portions of the tubular side wall.
3. 3. The condom according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a touch surface on one side of the tab end segment for grasping.
4. 4. The condom according to claim 1, characterized in that the condom is formed of latex condom material, and wherein at least one strip is formed of the latex condom material. 5
5. 5. The condom in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that at least one strip is of sufficient length to extend at least from the second side wall end to the first side wall end.
6. 6. A method to assemble a condom including a 10 applicator assembly, the condom is characterized in that it comprises a tubular condom side wall having a first side wall end and a second side wall end and a condom end wall is sealedly joined to the tubular side wall in the first wall end 15 lateral; the condom applicator assembly comprises at least one strip of flexible material having a tab end segment for grasping, comprising the steps of: winding at least one strip together with the tubular side wall outwards and on the side wall towards he The first end of the side wall is formed to form a side wall roll, such that the end segment of the pull tab projects from the side wall roll.
7. 7. A method to apply a condom that has a condom applicator assembly to a penis, the condom is 25 characterized in that it comprises a tubular side wall that , - ^ ri., «. -aü-aüit- -. * .AOSÍ has a first side wall end and a second side wall end, the tubular side wall being rolled out and on itself from the second side wall end towards the first side wall end to form a wall roll lateral and a condom end wall is sealedly joined to the tubular side wall at the first side wall end; such a condom applicator assembly comprises at least one strip of flexible material having a tab end segment for grasping having a tactile surface on one side thereof, at least one strip being wound with the sidewall roll in such a way that the grip tab end segment and the touch surface of the at least one strip protrude from the sidewall roll, comprising the steps of: taking the tab end segment; touch the touch surface; orienting the condom in such a way that the tubular side wall roll is directed away from the user; place the extreme wall of the condom against the distal end of the penis; and pulling the tab end segment laterally outwardly from the tubular side wall, such that the sidewall roll unwinds and advances longitudinally along the penis. ? -flas-si - ...-
8. 8. The method of compliance with the claim 7, characterized in that it comprises the additional step of: lifting at least one strip away from the tubular side wall. ^^^^^^ - ^ g | j¡ ^^^^ - ^^ - ^ ¡^ j * g ^ Í ^^