WO2015063621A1

WO2015063621A1 - Device for use in maintaining an erection

Info

Publication number: WO2015063621A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/064250
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carl Frederick Wilhelm Supra
Original assignee: Composite Formwork (Proprietary) Limited
Priority date: 2013-10-28
Filing date: 2014-09-04
Publication date: 2015-05-07

Abstract

This invention relates to a device for maintaining an erection and more particularly but not exclusively, to a non-medicai, mechanical device for maintaining a penile erection. The device includes a flexible tubular body for receiving a shaft of a penis therethrough; and a flexible head section extending from the tubular body. The device is characterized in that the modulus of elasticity of the head section is lower than the modulus of elasticity of the tubular body in order for the head section to be softer to the touch.

Description

DEVICE FOR USE IN MAINTAINING AN ERECTION

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to a device for maintaining an erection and more particulariy but not exclusively, to a non-medical, mechanical device for maintaining a penile erection.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence is a sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual activity. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction increases with age, although various other psychological and physiological factors also play a part in the occurrence of the condition. Physiologically, erection is triggered by the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), causing nitric oxide (a vasodilator) levels to rise in the trabecular arteries and smooth muscle of the penis. The arteries dilate causing the corpora cavernosa of the penis to fill with blood. Simultaneously, the ischiocavernosus and bulbospongiosus muscles compress the veins of the corpora cavernosa restricting the egress and circulation of this blood. The corpora cavernosa is surrounded by a sheath which is called the tunica albugenia. The tunica albuginea is directly involved in maintaining an erection by constricting the deep dorsal vein of the penis, preventing blood from leaving the penis, and thus assisting to sustain the erect state. As men age, the tunica tends to soften and weaken, and fails to exert sufficient force onto the deep dorsal vein, therefore not playing the desired part in maintaining an erection.

Medication and various other methods are available to overcome the symptoms leading to erectile dysfunction. The problems associated with medication include that they have to be prescribed by a doctor and that the lasting effect is short lived. The cost of these medications is furthermore often prohibitive. In addition, the various medications available are contradicted in certain conditions, for example cardiac conditions. The available medication is also often associated with certain side effects and risks to the patient.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device for maintaining an erection that will, at least partially, alleviate the above disadvantages.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device for maintaining an erection which will be a useful alternative to existing devices, and to pharmacological treatments. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a device for use in maintaining an erection, the device including:

a flexible tubular body for receiving a shaft of a penis therethrough; and

a flexible head section extending from the tubular body;

characterized in that the modulus of elasticity of the head section is lower than the modulus of elasticity of the tubular body in order for the head section to be softer to the touch.

There is provided for both the head section and the tubular body to be made of a polymeric material, preferably an elastomeric material.

The head section may be tubular in order for the head of the penis to remain exposed in use, or may alternatively be dome-shaped, in which case the head of the penis will be covered by the head-section of the device.

There is provided for an end of the head section to be of tapering configuration.

A further feature of the invention provides for ribs and/or grooves to be provided in the tubular body.

The ribs and/or grooves may be defined by the tubular body being of a bellows-like configuration when viewed in cross-section.

In a preferred embodiment the ribs and/or grooves are orientated in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular body. In this embodiment there is provided for the ribs and/or grooves to provide longitudinal rigidity to the tubular body, whilst also facilitating resilient circumferential stretch. There is also provided for an end of the tubular body opposite the head section to terminate in a radially outwardly extending, circumferential base flange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described by way of a non- limiting example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for maintaining an erection in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a schematic representation showing the device in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like features, a non-limiting example of device for use in maintaining an erection in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

The device 10 comprises a tubular body 20 and a head section 30 extending from the tubular body 20. The head section 30 may be manufactured separately from the tubular body 20, and may then be secured to the tubular body 30, or may be integrally formed with the body 20, for example in an additive manufacturing process. Irrespective of the manufacturing method, the important part is that the material properties of the head section 30 and the tubular body 20 will be different, as is described in more detail below.

The tubular body 20 is circular in cross-section, and includes a first end 21 and a second end 22. The first end 21 terminates in a circumferential flange 22, which extends radially outwardly from the tubular body so as to define a support surface perpendicular to the tubular body, which surface wilt in use abut the body of a user, and will assist in anchoring and stabilizing the device. The second end 22 of the tubular body 20 is connected to, or terminates in, the head section 30 of the device 0, as is described in more detail below.

The tubular body 20 may include additional securing means (not shown) which may be used to secured the device to the body of a user. The securing means may for example be in the form of a strap or a belt, which may for example be secured to the flange 22.

The wall of the tubular body may be smooth, but in a preferred embodiment is of an undulating bellows-like configuration when viewed in cross-section so as to define longitudinal ribs 23 and grooves 24. The ribs 23 are defined by peaks of the undulating bellows-like sidewali, whereas the grooves 24 are defined by troughs of the undulating bellows-like sidewali. It will be appreciated that the ribs and/or grooves may be formed in many different ways, and ribs may, for example, be molded to protrude from an otherwise smooth and uniform sidewali. However, the bellows-like construction is preferable because it provides longitudinal stiffness to the flexible tubular body, whilst also allowing circumferential stretch of the tubular body in order to be compatible with varying penis girth, tt is important to note that the feature that makes the device work is the fact that the tubular body exerts a force onto the shaft of the penis, so as to augment a force exerted by the tunica. It is therefore of utmost importance that the tubular body is circumferentially expandable, but that the body remains resilient enough still to maintain the required pressure on the penis shaft.

The tubular body will be made from a resilient polymeric material, and the material may be selected to correspond to a required rigidity and stability, which may differ for different users. It is therefore foreseen that devices of different stiffness grades may be made available to the public.

The head section 30 of the device 10 is, in this embodiment, a separate element that is secured to the tubular body 20, but it will be appreciated that new manufacturing technologies, such as additive manufacturing, may make it possible for the device to be manufactured as a single, integrally formed unit of which different parts have different material properties.

The head section 30 is in the form of a tubular body having a first end 31 and a second end 32. The first end 31 is secured to the second end 22 of the tubular body 20. The second end 32 is at least partially tapered so as to define a smooth outer profile. In use, as is seen in figure 4, the second end 32 will be located behind the head 12 of the penis 13.

A very important aspect of this invention is that the head section 30 will have a lower modulus of electivity than the tubular body 20. This means that the head section will have less resistance to non-permanent deformation when a force is applied thereto, compared to that of the tubular body, thus resulting in a softer feel, which is critical insofar as comfort levels are concerned. If the entire device is made of the same lower elasticity modulus material, the device will not be structurally strong enough. Conversely, if the entire device is made from the higher elasticity modulus material of the tubular body, the end of the device will be too hard, and will result in discomfort for the other person, in one example, the tubular body is moulded in a shore hardness of between 50 and 70A, preferably 60A₍ and the head section is moulded in a shore hardness of 20 to 40A, preferably 30A.

In use, shown in Figure 4, the device extends from the base of the penis to behind the tip of the penis. In some of the variations of the invention, the tip of the penis is exposed, which is beneficial due to the concomitant exposure of nerve endings.

The device is made from a thermoplastic that can stretch as the penis expands during an erection and contracts as the penis shaft changes shape to provide stability to the penis. The soft rounded head section fits behind the head of the penis in order to stabilise the device on the penis shaft. The location of the head section may also assist in introducing slight pressure on the penis so as to reduce the return of the blood flow and to maintain the erection. The device will expand and contract to maintain consistent pressure over the shaft to assist with intercourse and to maintain pressure on the penis shaft.

It will be appreciated that the above is only one embodiment of the invention and that there may be many variations without departing from the spirit and/or the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device for use in maintaining an erection, the device including:

a flexible tubular body for receiving a shaft of a penis therethrough; and

a flexible head section extending from the tubular body, the head section configured and dimensioned to fit over and/or around a head of the penis;

characterized in that the modulus of elasticity of the head section is lower than the modulus of elasticity of the tubular body in order for the head section of the device to be softer to the touch than the tubular body.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the head section and the tubular body are made of a polymeric material.

3. The device of claim 2 in which the polymeric material is an elastomeric material.

4. The device of any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the head section is tubular in order for the head of the penis to remain exposed in use.

5. The device of any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the head section is dome-shaped, in order for the head of the penis to be covered by the head-section of the device in use.

6. The device of any one of the preceding claims in which an end of the head section is of a tapering configuration.

7. The device of any one of the preceding claims in which ribs and/or grooves are provided in the tubular body.

8. The device of claim 7 in which the ribs and/or grooves are defined by the tubular body being of a bellows-like configuration when viewed in cross-section.

9. The device of claim 7 or 8 in which the ribs and/or grooves are orientated in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular body.

10. The device of any one of the preceding claims in which an end of the tubular body opposite the head section terminates in a radially outwardly extending, circumferential base flange.

11. The device of claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying figures.