WO2006029420A1

WO2006029420A1 - Rape victim protector and rapist identifier

Info

Publication number: WO2006029420A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2005/000138
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sonette Elizabeth Ehlers
Original assignee: Sonette Elizabeth Ehlers
Priority date: 2004-09-10
Filing date: 2005-09-12
Publication date: 2006-03-16
Also published as: ZA200702952B

Abstract

An undesired body private cavity penetration identifying cum protecting item in the form of a victim protector and rapist identifier (10) comprises a flexible sheath (12) of liquid impermeable material and an attaching agent in the form of an array of tissue penetrating formations provided by carrier mounted hook shaped tines (16) extend inward in the direction of the distal end (12.1) of the sheath (12) once in its penetrated and thus expanded condition. The most forwardly situated tines (16.3) are situated to limit tine penetration to only the shaft of a penis. Sheath (12) damaging while still unexpanded is prevented by cushions (22) extending alongside opposite sides of each of the carriers (14).

Description

(1) TITLE OF THE INVENTION

RAPE VICTIM PROTECTOR AND RAPIST IDENTIFIER

(2) BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The tracing of the committers of sexual crimes and especially rape is often a difficult task as no hidden motive can often be identified that can be used for investigation. As a result the perpetrators of such offences can be emboldened and proceed with a whole campaign before being caught. Being caught early on in a campaign will serve the end of justice while it will also deter would be perpetrators from committing such acts.

(3) FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a undesired body private cavity penetration identifying cum protecting item and to a method of aiding in identifying perpetrators participating in acts of undesired body private cavity penetration. Although not so limited the invention in particularly useful for bringing rapists to justice and for protecting persons exposed to such conduct.

(4) PRIOR ART Equipment used for protecting a female person against rape by way of location along the vagina is known in the art. US patent number 5769090 deals with a device that can send out a signal when penetration is perceived. The device also provides a needle that amongst others, penetrate the glans of the penis of a perpetrator. Such action is dangerous for the perpetrator even possibly resulting in death. As the device is visible to the perpetrator this can cause pre-rape violence. The devices of US patents 5353811 and 6250304 also have the drawback that the glans is penetrated by spears or prongs with the same consequence as under the first mentioned patent. The device of number 5353811 also holds the danger of blood from the perpetrator being released within the victim.

(5) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention is now described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows an undesired vaginal or other bodily private cavity penetration identifier and protector in the form of a rapist identifier in opened up three-dimensional side elevational below view, Figure 2 shows the identifier in the same view as figure 1 though as partly cut away, Figure 3 shows the identifier in exploded three-dimensional view, Figure 4 shown the identifier in side elevation,

Figure 5 shows the identifier along section line A-A in figure 4 though in its non-penetrated and thus fully laterally contracted condition, Figure 6 also shows the identifier along section line A-A in figure 4 though during penetration and thus in its partly lateral expanded condition, and

Figure 7 shows the identifier along section line B-B in figure 4 though in its fully laterally expanded and thus penetrated condition.

(6) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Referring to the drawings an undesired body private cavity penetration identifying cum protecting item in the form of a victim protector and rapist identifier is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

The identifier 10 comprises a flexible sheath 12 of liquid impermeable material and an attaching agent in the form of an array of tissue penetrating formations provided by an array of inwardly extending tines extending in series from a plurality of circumferentially arranged formation carrying sub-arrays in the form of carriers 14 fitted to the sheath 12. The tines 16 are mounted to extend inwardly in the direction of the distal end 12.1 of the sheath 12 once it is in its penetrated and thus expanded condition, as more clearly shown in figures 1 and 2. The tines 16 are shaped to penetrate tissue against own release byway of their acutely and hook sharpened leading ends 16.1 that require professional aid in identifier release consequently improving the probability of perpetrator identification for appropriate prosecution.

To limit the possibility of lethally or even substantially harming the health of a perpetrator the lengths of the tines 16 are selected to only skin deep penetrate tissue. The sheath 12 is formed with a stepped leading end non-tine carrying portion 12.2 and a trailing tine-carrying portion 12.3 causing the most forwardly situated tines 16.3 to be situated suitably short of the distal end 12.1 of the sheath 12 to limit tine penetration to only the shaft portion of the penis of a perpetrator. The portion 12.2 is of adequate dimensions to generally accommodate the glans of a penis while its shaft fits along the trailing portion 12.3 once so penetrating the identifier 10. Limitation of the possibility of glans tissue penetration by tines 16 on a penis becoming located along the sheath 12 serves as further aspect in limiting the possibility of imparting extensive and even life threatening injury to a perpetrator that could have resulted owing to the sensitivity of the glans.

The carriers 14 thus extend in parallel and regularly spaced circumferentially arranged relationship about the central axis 18 of the sheath 12 up to the position short of its non-tine carrying portion 12.2. As more clearly shown in figure 3 the carriers 16 are in the form of strips of firm though still flexible material each integrally formed with the tines 16. The carriers 14 are either firmly secured to the sheath 12 or integrally formed therewith. The sheath 12 is further strengthened by integrally formed strengthening ribs 20 extending integrally in the direction of axis 18 along the outside surface of the sheath 12. As the sheath 12 is of flexible material, typically of that from which condoms are made, it is damageable by sharp objects, which will naturally also include the tines 16. It is highly desirable if not essential that the sheath 12 should remain undamaged once fitted to protect and serve as identifier and to prevent the passage of semen into a female being raped with the resultant detrimental consequences inclusive of the possibility of the contraction of the HIV virus. To achieve this, the sheath 12 presents protecting cushions 22 extending alongside opposite sides of each of the carriers 14. As more clearly shown in figure 7 the cushions 22 are each formed by an integrally extending length of increased sheath wall thickness.

While the sheath 12 is still in its non-penetrated condition, and referring more specifically to figure 5, the cushions 22 are folded onto the tines 16 to the extent of also covering their acute leading ends 16.1. This prevents the tines 16 from coming into contact with the easily penetrable sections of the wall of the sheath 12. The symmetrical arrangement of the sheath 12 shown in figure 5 will most likely only be found in a still pre-opened identifier 10. Although not as symmetrically arranged the same effect will be achieved once the identifier 10 is operatively inserted but not yet penetrated; thus still in its laterally contracted condition.

To prevent the identifier 10 from being pushed into the vagina of a person carrying it once exposed to a sexual violation the inlet end 12.4 is strengthened by a firm but still flexible circumferential rib 24 integrally formed with the sheath 12. To contribute in holding the item suitably in place once fitted the outside wall of the sheath 12 can be coated with appropriate coating such as a thin cotton wool layer (not shown in the drawings).

Use of the identifier 10 requires its location along the vagina a female desiring its protection and perpetrator identification abilities. The identifier 10 will naturally be made available in sealed packaging within which it will take on the shape of figure 4. Once unsealed the identifier 10 will be positioned by a user within her vagina. This can typically be done by way of a locating rod (not shown) perhaps even pre-positioned along the sheath 12 and used for pushing it into the vagina of a user. Once so fitted, the identifier 10 will generally retain the shape as shown in figure 5.

When sexually assaulted by an attacker the sheath 12 will become progressively laterally expanded from its inlet end 12.4 in response to progressive vaginal penetration. The sheath 12 will thus pass through the position of figure 6 into the full lateral expansion of figure 7 on extensive penis penetration in which position the glans will be located within the leading end region 12.2 of the sheath 12 with its shaft fitting the tine carrying portion 12.3. Inward displacement of the sheath 12 is inhibited by the action of the circumferential rib 24 coming to urge against the inlet to the vagina.

Lateral expansion will have the effect of removing the cushioning protection of the cushions 22 from the tines 16 leaving them fully exposed to perform their hooking actions. On relative retraction of the penis the tines 16 will penetrate the tissue of its shaft. The hooking effects of the leading ends 16.1 of the tines 16 will result in tissue gripping to the extent of preventing a perpetrator to by himself release the identifier 10. Professional medical assistance carrying the probability of exposure and subsequent identification will thus have to be sought.

To limit the possibility of lethally or even substantially harming the health of a perpetrator the lengths of the tines 18 are selected to only penetrate the skin of the shaft while, as the glans is not penetrated, the health of the perpetrator is not endangered.

While not shown the identifier 10 can also incorporate a micro chip of conventional technology that can become activated to send a signal to a receiving station employable for tracking purposes. It is an advantage of the invention as specifically described that an item of protection and identification is provided that has the effect of protecting a female being raped from direct exposure to the semen of the assailant while the identity of the latter person is compromised to become exposed. The item has the particular advantage exposure of the perpetrator thereto does not involve substantial bodily injury.

Claims

(7) CLAIMS

(1 ) An undesired body private sheath-like cavity penetration identifying cum protecting item comprising an at least partly though suitably flexibly extending sheath of liquid impermeable material positionable along such private body cavity of an identifier user for limiting the possibility of liquid release into such cavity while being providing for extending against the possibility of inward displacement once, as operatively positioned, becoming exposed to penetration, and an attaching agent associated with the sheath; characterised by the attaching agent being arranged to attach the item against own release though against serious health damaging bodily injury to an appropriate body part of a body cavity penetration perpetrator, at least once the identifier is in operative use, thereby to promote the possibility of exposure of such perpetrator on requiring removal of the protector.

(2) An item as claimed in claim 1 in which the attaching agent is in the form of tissue penetrating means extending from the inner wall of the sheath, that is constituted to against serious injury penetrate perpetrator body cavity penetration body part tissue to form an effective grip there onto against release.

(3) An item as claimed in claim 2 in which the tissue penetrating means is constituted to perform its tissue penetrating function on attempted perpetrator cavity penetration body part retraction from the identifier.

(4) An item as claimed in claim 3 in which the tissue penetrating means is in the form of an array of tissue penetrating formations formed to promote tissue penetration via their leading ends while facing inward in the direction of the leading end from a variety of sides of the inner wall of the sheath, at least once it progressively becomes opened up on penetration, thus becoming lodged against release within perpetrator body part tissue on its retraction, the sheath being arranged to at least substantially shield the formations against sheath wall sheath unopened condition damaging, in the case of being so damageable.

(5) An item as claimed in claim 4 in which the tissue penetrating formations are each in the form of a tine of which the leading end is hook shaped to become lodged against own release to tissue once so exposed.

(6) An item as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 in which the leading end formations of the array of tissue penetrating formations as regards the distal or inner end of the sheath are situated adequately short thereof to limit their penetration to the trailing end region of the penetrating body part of a perpetrator.

(7) An item as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 in which the array of tissue penetrating formations is regularly arranged in at least the longitudinal direction of the central axis of the sheath, at least once in its opened up condition, thus defining a number of adjacent sub- arrays.

(8) An item as claimed in claim 7 in which the tissue penetrating formations extend in integrally formed series from each of a number of linearly extending penetrating formation carriers each forming part of and extending in parallel with the central axis of the sheath each thus presenting a sub-array.

(9) An item as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 in which the sheath is arranged to at least substantially shield the formations against sheath wall sheath unexpanded condition damaging by way of protecting cushions extending on both sides alongside longitudinally arranged formation sub-arrays that are folded there onto while the item is in its still unexpanded condition to the effect of limiting the penetrating ends of the formations to come into contact with the wall of the sheath thereby shielding the wall of the sheath against penetrating formation incurred damaging.

(10) An item as claimed in claim 9 in which the protecting cushions are formed by sheath axial direction linear zones of increased sheath wall width.

(11 ) An item as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the sheath provides for extending against the possibility of inward displacement once, as operatively positioned, becoming exposed to penetration, by its inlet being formed with an at least semi-rigid circumferential ring that lies against a body cavity inlet once the identifier is operatively positioned.

(12) An item as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the sheath provides for extending against the possibility of inward displacement once, as operatively positioned, becoming exposed to penetration by its outside wall being suitably coated.

(13) An item as claimed in any one of the preceding claims that is constituted to protect a rape victim and aid in identifying a rapist owing to the attaching agent being arranged to attach the item to the effect of requiring professional aid in achieving its release.

(14) A method of identifying a perpetrator committing an act of unauthorised body private sheath-like cavity penetration and simultaneously protecting a victim against body fluid released by the perpetrator on committing the act that comprises attaching the penetrating body part of the perpetrator against own release to an appropriately constituted item pre-located along the body cavity of the victim while also counteracting the release of body fluid into the body cavity of the victim.

(15) A method as claimed in claim 14 that comprises attaching the item to the body part of the perpetrator by way causing penetration of the tissue of the body part of the perpetrator via tissue penetrating means situated along the inside wall of the item.

(16) A method as claimed in claim 15 that comprises causing the attachment of the item on retraction of the perpetrator's body part relative to the body cavity of the victim.

(17) A method as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16 that comprises attaching the penetrating body part of the perpetrator to the effect of requiring professional aid in achieving release.