WO2007048579A1

WO2007048579A1 - Vacuum tube with separate clamping ring provided with an air chamber for the generation and preservation of an erection

Info

Publication number: WO2007048579A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/010248
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johannes Das
Original assignee: Johannes Das
Priority date: 2005-10-26
Filing date: 2006-10-24
Publication date: 2007-05-03
Also published as: WO2007048579A8; BE1016823A3

Abstract

Vacuum tube (5) with separate clamping ring (7), having an air chamber for generation and maintenance of an erection, which is applied before vacuation, having an expandable and contractible air chamber, with a groove in which a flat ring fits, which ring is part of a stretchable material with which the end of the vacuum tube is covered. The air chamber can be shrunk by means of under pressure and expanded by means of an over pressure. The matching air pump (11) can be chosen to function according to the principle of a syringe, in which case the neutral position can be varied by means of the initial amount of air in the air pump which works according to this principle. The insertion of the penis and the removal of the pressure ring can be carried out without problems. The transfer of the pressure ring is avoided. The obturation between the body and the instrument is perfect. Ejaculation is possible and the clamping pressure and size of the air chamber are controllable in a gradual manner.

Description

Vacuum tube with separate clamping ring provided with an air chamber for the generation and preservation of an erection.

DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

A clamping ring and matching air pump, for use together with a cylinder with vacuum pump, for the generation and preservation of an erection.

Prior art.

There are systems available in trade that generate an erection by means of under pressure and have this erection preserved by means of a pressure ring. There are also chemical substances that stimulate the influx of blood into the penis, but these substances have an influence on the metabolism in general and more specifically on the blood stream through the entire body. The systems that are based upon under pressure and a clamping ring have a purely local and mechanical way of working. As a result of the local under pressure in the penis, the blood will, compliant with the laws of physics, be sent to the penis because in and around the penis an under pressure in present. To prevent backflow from the penis to the body when the under pressure is lifted, in other words when the (colloquial) vacuum sucking is ended and the vacuum tube (colloquial) is removed, a clamping ring must be applied.

There are also known vacuum pumps without a pressure ring. These are mainly sold in the erotic trade and are not meant for men with erection problems. The developers of this invention had set the goal of finding a solution for a widespread and serious problem. The systems known in trade, comprise a cylinder, a pump, several adapters, several pressure rings.

Cylinder: the cylinder is usually a transparent tube in which the erected penis has ample space. The generated under pressure causes extra blood influx into the penis and thus causes the generation of an erection.

Adapter: At the end of the cylinder an adapter is placed which adapts the diameter of the open end of the cylinder to the diameter of the penis. Usually this kind of systems are supplied with adapters in different sizes, so the user can choose the size best suited for him. The function of the adapter is to prevent the scrotum from being sucked into the cylinder and to contribute to a better fitting to the body.

The pump: By means of a vacuum pump an under pressure is created. The amount and period of the under pressure will determine the size of the erection. Using a very big under pressure during a very long time can cause abnormal erections, which maybe is not without danger. By means of a push button the vacuum can be lifted at all times, under normal circumstances this will happen after the erection has been realized and the clamping rings have been applied. Despite this, the vacuum can be lifted at all times, when problems would arise.

The pressure rings: The pressure rings are supplied in different diameters and each pressure ring has a different pressure. The smaller the diameter, the higher the pressure. The smaller the ring the more efficient it is in preventing backflow, but sometimes the more unpleasant as well. When a ring with a big diameter does not cause the desired prevention of blood backflow, one should change to a ring with a bigger diameter.

The pressure rings are shoved over the adapter, after this the whole is pushed tightly against the body, subsequently the tube is placed in under pressure. Which causes extra blood influx in the penis and swelling of the penis. Finally the ring is shoved from the adapter onto and around the penis, which prevents backflow of the blood. Drawbacks of the existing technology.

The penis has to inserted into the tube with the adapter and ring. In this the opening must be small enough to assure the vacuum sucking and cause no problems of sucking in part of the scrotum. This makes it difficult to insert the penis. Especially when notwithstanding some swelling would be present, taking into account the situation this would well be possible. The tight fitting of the body part with the tube with adapter and applied clamping ring is less than ideal. On the one hand the fitting is realized only by means of the pressure that is applied manually. On the other hand the pubic hair will disadvantageously influence the fitting. Finally the smallest inappropriate movement can lift the vacuum.

Moving the clamping ring from the adapter onto the penis is difficult. This has to be done with one hand, as the other hand has to hold the tube. This, while the ring is tightened strongly around the adapter, the tube should not move as otherwise the vacuum would be lost. Besides this everything should be done very carefully as otherwise one is confronted with an acute feeling of pain.

During a possible ejaculation the ring stays around the penis, which makes an effective ejaculation virtually impossible. Many times this causes the occurrence of a retrograde ejaculation, during which the semen winds up in the bladder. Besides this there will be a loss of semen during the removal of the ring, which some will experience as being unhygienic. Finally the emotional feeling, which is part of the complete intercourse, including an effective ejaculation, will partly be lost.

The clamping ring can only be removed with difficulty, after it has been applied (possibly after having intercourse). As because of the very nature of the case, the swelling of the penis will remain, as long as the clamping ring is present, as the blood flow from the penis is prevented. Does one want the clamping ring to be efficient for the intended goal, which is the preservation of the erection, the clamping ring will have to clamp enough to prevent backflow of the blood. Nevertheless the clamping ring will have to be pulled from the penis. Which is very often an unpleasant and painful action.

Method and description of the present invention.

l. Goal

The goal of the apparatus is, to offer a good solution for men that have an erection problem which is caused by a limited blood flow to the penis. It often occurs also that^" the erection does exist but does not stay intact long enough because of which the sexual contact does not proceed satisfactorily. One of the methods which can be used very well is to suck blood into the penis with the vacuum pump until the desired erection is achieved. Now it is important that this erection can be maintained while the pump can be removed. To prevent the blood from flowing back into the penis, in the usual cases, a stretchable plastic ring is applied onto and around the penis from the end of the vacuum pump, which ring prevents backflow of the blood. After the sexual activity this ring is removed by hand by means of stretching. In practice though a number of problems occur, a. The vacuum pump does not always fit well onto the body of the user. b. Manually applying the clamping ring from the pump onto the penis is, because of the limited space and the control with just one hand, a very difficult activity. c. The clamping force of the ring is not variable. One can at the most choose a suitable ring from a number of different sizes, by experimenting. d. When during sexual activity an ejaculation takes place it is obstructed in its outflux because the clamping ring still keeps the passage closed. c. The manual removal of the usual clamping ring also gives an unpleasant outflux of the blocked semen because of the still remaining clamping.

2. Method of the present invention

The pumping of the blood to the penis by means of the present inventive vacuum pump is similar to other apparatuses but with the difference of a pre-stretched rubber cuff on the tube fitting nicely and airtight to the newly developed clamping ring which has been applied beforehand. The several non return valves have been improved too, with a good functioning in all positions. In addition the vent valve has been constructed in a simple and effective way. One starts with applying the clamping ring according to the present invention around the relaxed penis. So even before the pumping up starts. The clamping ring is made out of sufficiently flexible material which is comfortable in touch, which clamping ring is continuously adaptable in size of the inner opening. The application of the clamping ring around the relaxed or partly relaxed penis is very simple as the passage can be made larger if necessary.

After enlarging the penis by means of the vacuum pump the opening of the clamping ring can thus be made smaller in an easy way so a clamping will develop which maintains the erection. In addition the possibility exists of using the clamping ring according to the present invention to lift the clamping during the intercourse and just before the ejaculation, so a natural sexual experience is possible. Especially this last mentioned solution is highly appreciated. All of this can be done without the necessity to touch the clamping ring. The enlarging and decreasing in size is done using a small air pump which is carried at the side of one's body, for example on a regular separate belt en can be operated by hand in an easy and fast way. The pressure can be regulated in a continuous way so each person can vary the clamping ring according to their own sensation. Also during removal of the clamping ring, the opening can be enlarged more so this can be done in a fast and easy manner.

The present invention has been developed after studying existing methods and to find a best possible solution for the disadvantages and discomforts of these existing methods. Why the present invention? It works immediately and without side effects such as often is the case with erection pills. The developers surely also had set the goal of finding a serious solution for a common and serious problem.

Description of alternatives of the present invention

1 The vacuum pump For the vacuum pump there already exits a wide range on the market. These are almost always used for the generation of an erection and possibly for masturbation. They do not have a possibility to maintain the erection in an artificial way. Is this possibility indicated for some of them, in that case the erection is maintained by means of a plastic clamping ring which can be stretched by hand. In practice there also exist offers for methods and apparatuses that hardly function or not function at all. Only few have good equipment but still with a lot of disadvantages, (see description of the goal and method.)

I don't see an alternative for the vacuum pump according to the present invention, which still can be protected. It is though possible to apply a commercially available vacuum pump on batteries, which can possibly be recommended to people which are handicapped in the area of their hands. Also with this model, the remainder of the present invention can be used as an enhancement using small adaptations.

In the vacuum pump according to the present invention enhancements are applied with respect to other apparatuses.

Namely: a. A good non return valve which works in all positions. b. An adapted cuff for airtight fit to the clamping ring because of which a good vacuum tight fit to the body is realized, c. A simple control of the air release of the vacuum pump.

2. The special clamping ring according to the present invention. The clamping ring which is applied at the moment consists of a stable outer ring inside and along which an air tight channel is present which can be supplied with pressurized air via a supply tube. Because of the elasticity of the air channel this will expand inwards because of the higher air pressure, as outward expansion is impeded by the less elastic outer ring. Because of this, the passage will become smaller and if an object is supplied in the opening, clamping of this object will take place. When this object is a penis in erection it will thus be clamped along its surroundings because of which the blood flow will be impeded and the erection will be maintained. Lifting the air pressure will cause the clamping to stop and because of the elasticity of the material the passage of the ring will be enlarged automatically. It is also possible to realize an under pressure in the air channel by means of sucking, starting from the neutral position, because of which the elastic material is stretched outwardly onto the outer ring. In this way an even bigger opening will be realized. Because of which the application of an object through the ring becomes even easier and an even larger object can be put through the opening.

Alternative

As an alternative to pressurize air an elastic thread or wire can serve, which has an extra noose and which is applied in the open inner channel. This elastic wire or thread is at both ends fastened to a pull- or push mechanism through a guiding tube and a non compressible outer shell.

By means of this mechanism it is possible to pull or loosen the wire or thread because of which the noose in the open channel of the clamping ring can be made smaller or enlarged. In this manner the same functioning is attained as when using the last mentioned pressurized air system. The technical measures to make the alternative work are obviously more intricate than the method of the air pressure with the matching pump.

3. The air pump

The mechanism that causes the air pressure in the clamping ring is constituted in such a way that it can both suck and press. By means of a flexible hose an air tight connection is made to the supply tube of the clamping ring. By moving the piston in the pump, the over- or under pressure is created, which is transferred to the clamping ring via an air hose. In this way one achieves the alteration of the ring opening of the clamping ring as earlier described. The piston of the pump is constantly impeded in its movement by means of the tightening of the piston so it can be moved only by applying extra force.

This prevents the piston from moving under the influence of pressure of the vacuum

(under pressure) and thus lift the vacuum or over pressure when the piston is not operated any more by hand. An added advantage in this is that because of the previously determined clamping force of the piston, a constant pressure or vacuum will be established. When a too high pressure of vacuum is present, the friction of the piston will be exceeded and the piston will move until the equilibrium is re-established and the too high over- or under pressure has disappeared. The control of the piston thus costs the effort needed to compensate the friction and realize the demanded pressure in the clamping ring. An exceeding pressure will as described always be annulled. Hand control is easy for both the left handed and the right handed. The pump can, when desired, be carried on the body by means of a bracket which is attached to the pump, and which can be clicked onto a belt or band.

Alternative

In normal circumstances nobody had difficulty in operating the pump. But in cases where someone has handicapped hands and thus can hardly produce any force, it is possible to create another embodiment in which the piston of the pump can move without additional friction and thus in an easier way. When one will operate the piston and the pressure of vacuum is being formed this can be done with less force but the piston will partly be inclined to move back to its original position after it is released. To prevent this from happening, an additional part will be supplied which can block the piston against moving, by means of a back stop. The desired pressure for the clamping ring will then be determined by the extent of the piston movement.

Essential features of invention presented in a systematic way

A vacuum tube with a vacuum pump for generating and maintaining an erection in which the stopping ring is not at first applied to the tube adaptor and only after the completion of the erection shoved onto the penis for preventing the blood flow from the penis to the body, but in which the stopping ring is a separate clamping ring. A clamping ring which is provided with a non flexible outer side in a U-shape, along which on its inner side a ring shaped air chamber is placed which is made of a flexible material. This ring shaped air chamber of a flexible material is, when it is neither under over- nor under under pressure, this is when it is in a neutral position, flexible and accommodating, which makes an easy passage of the penis possible. This air chamber can be pressurized using an air pump, so the air chamber will expand because of which it will start to clamp around the penis. But the clamping can be regulated in a gradual manner so the clamping pressure can be adapted in a gradual manner. This air chamber can be sucked into under pressure by means of the same air pump, because of which it will start to shrink and will allow the possibly erected penis to pass.

The neutral position, which is the measure in which the air chamber is expanded, when the air pump modelled after a syringe is in its home position, can be varied by varying the amount of air which is present in the air chamber at the moment of connecting the air tube and thus of the amount of air present in the air chamber when no positive or negative pressure is applied.

So a big under pressure can be applied, when little air is present in the home position, and the air chamber in the ring can be shrunk considerably. And so a big over pressure can be applied, when much air is present in the home position, and the ring can be expanded considerably and be made strongly clamping.

The vacuum tube is supplied with a stretch rubber or any other material which is stretchable and at the same time air tightening, which is pulled around the vacuum tube during production and stays there. In this stretchable rubber a flat ring is centrally present with a given diameter which is fairly broad and which is made from a hard material. In the clamping ring which possesses a U-shape (the ring of figure 2), a groove is present in the upper side which side makes contact with the vacuum tube, in which groove the above mentioned flat ring fits perfectly. The stretchable material with which the tube is covered and the material with which the U-ring is covered, have been selected such that they provide an air tight closure when in contact. After applying the U-ring around the penis and clamping the penis with the U-ring, the U-ring is pressed against the vacuum tube. The contact is stable as a result of the tension in the U-ring and the width of the flat ring. The obturation is perfect because of the choice of material. Subsequently a vacuum is created. Possibly the pressure in the air chamber in the U-ring is decreased gradually, so the size of the ring and thus the pressure applied by the ring is adapted to the swelling. When the complete swelling is attained, the vacuum is lifted and the vacuum tube can be removed from the U-ring without problems. When the ejaculation starts, the pressure in the ring is lifted, so a free ejaculation takes place. Without pressure the swelling will disappear quickly and in a natural way and the U-ring can be removed without problems. If necessary, the air chamber can be contracted by creating an under pressure, so the penis can be released even more easily.

Advantages of the invention

The penis must be inserted through an air chamber made of a flexible material. This air chamber can even be contracted by creating an under pressure, so the penis can also be easily applied when it is in a slightly swollen state. Because of the flexible material of which the air chamber is made and the possibility to contract the air chamber, every penis can be brought in easily.

The obturation between the body and the tube is optimal. The problem of pubic hair which inhibits the obturation, does not occur. The problem of small disadvantageous movements neither, because we are dealing with a stable obturation because of the broad contact surface as a result of the broad applied ring that fits into the groove and as a result of the applied materials on the contact surface, which positively influence the obturation.

The pressure that is applied by the ring can be adapted gradually and kept constant.

Before the creation of the vacuum by sucking starts, it is possible to put much air into the air chamber so it expands strongly and air tightens the penis in the home position.

When the swelling grows as a result of the vacuum sucking, the amount of air in the air chamber can be decreased gradually so the vacuum chamber shrinks and the clamping pressure on the penis remains the same. The difficult operation of moving the pressure ring from the adapter onto the penis is also a thing of the past. For the clamping ring is applied to the penis before the sucking of the vacuum and the achievement of the swelling. The tube and the ring can be separated without problem once the under pressure in the vacuum tube is lifted.

When the ejaculation starts, the pressure in the clamping ring can be lifted completely with one short operation. Because of this retrograde ejaculations during which semen ends up in the bladder, will not occur anymore. There will be no loss of semen during removal of the ring either, which loss is experienced by some people as being 'dirty' and emotionally, the partners will have the sensation of having carried out the complete intercourse including an ejaculation.

The difficult removal of the clamping ring is of course a thing of the past, as with one short operation the pressure in the air chamber can be lifted entirely, so the clamping ring can move totally free over the penis. What's more, because of the lifting of the clamping pressure the blood outflux form the pern^'s will no longer be inhibited, so the swelling will also disappear immediately and there is not in the least a problem in removing the ring.

Optimal embodiment and technical description with explanation of the drawings of the present invention.

Vacuum pump Figure 1.

(1) Non return valve made of plastic for outgoing air from the bellows with built in rubber valve.

(2) Rubber pinching bellows for the sucking and pressing away of air. Diameter 50 mm length 80 mm. (3) Built in non return valve with rubber valve for air coming in from the vacuum tube (5). (4) Rubber tag with collar which during manual operation of the pump, closes off an air hole in the tube.

(5) Transparent plastic tube diameter 60 mm, length 200 mm, which functions as a vacuum chamber. Material PVC or acrylic. (6) An elastic cuff, attached over the end of the tube with glue or by clamping.

Because of its shape and the attained pre-tension by stretching over the tube, a stable en cuff is created, which easily attaches in an air tight way on another object. Material rubber or a flexible plastic.

Clamping ring Figure 2

(7) A fairly fixed shape outer ring which is covered though with soft material, diameter 58 mm, thickness 10 mm, has an inner ring of elastic material and more specifically in such a way that a round air chamber is created in which air can be supplied or sucked out by means of a tube diameter 5 mm. Both are stably connected and more specifically in such a way that the hollow inner ring will expand not outwardly but inwardly, when it is pressurized.

(8) When under pressure is realized by means of sucking by the pump, the opening in the inner ring becomes larger. (9) When an over pressure is realized by pressing air out of the pump, the opening of the inner ring becomes smaller.

Clamping ring Figure 2

(10) Is a flexible air hose made out of PVC having a diameter of 6 mm on the outside and a length of 500 mm which can be shortened according to need. The air hose is attached fixedly to the clamping ring (7) by means of gluing. The air hose is clampingly but removably connected to the exit of the pump

(H) (11) This is a pump which is comparable to a syringe of 20 ml which by means of the movement of a piston (12) can press as well as suck air. (12) Indicates the plastic piston of the pump which can be pressed inwardly or pulled out by hand operation. Because of this an over- respectively under pressure is created in the pump and also because of the connection (10) also in the clamping ring (7). (13) Is a rubber ring which gives a fixed degree of clamping of the piston.

Because of this the movement of the piston is subdue to friction so it will not move by itself, also not under a certain degree of over- or under pressure (vacuum). Because of this a certain degree of air pressure is maintained. When this is exceeded the piston will indeed move until an equilibrium with the clamping is attained.

(14) Is a mounted plastic bracket that on the one hand with the bent part is a support and a point of counter pressure for the hand of the user when he operates the piston of the pump. On the other hand the bracket offers the possibility to click the pump onto a belt or band which is worn around the body. This offers the user the possibility to move with loose hands and he does not need to carry the pump all the time.

Claims

1. claim 1 : Vacuum tube into which the penis in erection fits and which is provided with a vacuum pump for the generation of and maintenance of an erection and which is provided with a clamping ring that prevents the blood flow from and to the penis in order to maintain an erection. Characterized in that: the clamping ring is applied around the penis separately from the vacuum tube and before the vacuating is started.

2. claim 2 according to claim 1 characterized in that: the clamping ring comprises a flexible air chamber, that can be expanded or contracted, for the use of closing off the blood flow in the penis and for the use of air tightening the penis during the vacuation.

3. claim 3 according to claim 2 characterized in that the upper rim of the non flexible U-ring comprises a groove such that the non-flexible ring which is applied centrally in the stretched flexible material which is pulled over the flexible tube end, fits exactly into it.

4. claim 4 according to one of the previous claims characterized in that the clamping ring is covered with a material which is capable of air tightening.

5. claim 5, according to claim 3 characterized in that the flexible material as meant in claim 3 is a material which is capable of air tightening.

6. claim 6 according to one of the previous claims characterized in that the air chamber can be shrunk by means of an under pressure or can be expanded by means of an over pressure by means of an air pump.

7. claim 7 according to claim 6 characterized in that the air pump functions according to the principle of a syringe.

8. claim 8 according to claim 7 characterized in that the neutral position, this is the measure to which the air chamber is expanded when the syringe is in a home position, can be varied by changing the amount of air present in the air chamber at the moment of connection of the air hose and thus of the amount of air present in the air chamber when no positive or negative pressure is applied.