Surgery – Male reproductory tract shields or birth control devices – Condoms
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-13
2001-02-06
Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3764)
Surgery
Male reproductory tract shields or birth control devices
Condoms
C128S918000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182661
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to condoms, and it is particularly concerned with condoms intended to be worn on the penis during sexual intercourse to reduce the risks of unwanted pregnancy or infection.
By using a grooved mandrel on which condoms are manufactured by a dip moulding process, it is known to produce condoms with ribs which are claimed to heighten female stimulation during coitus. However, the ribs on such condoms produced by the known method are not effectively positioned or lack sufficient structural rigidity to produce effective clitoral and labial stimulation, and the production of pronounced ribbing by shaping of the mandrel weakens the structural integrity of the condom which is plainly unacceptable.
The present invention addresses the deficiencies of the known method of manufacturing condoms designed to promote stimulation of the clitoris, and it resides in a method of manufacturing a condom having an open end and a closed end, the method comprising the step of coating a former, and as a separate step, selectively applying material additional to the coating material to areas of the former to form stimulation means between the ends of the completed condom.
The simulation means may comprise one or more monolithic projections. The or each projection may have a predetermined configuration defined by the selective application of the additional material.
The condom of the invention is preferably manufactured by a multi-dip moulding process in which a conventionally shaped former is dipped into successive liquid baths, e.g. of latex, liquid polyurethane or another synthetic polymer, and the stimulation means are applied between dips. Alternatively, the stimulation means could be secured to an otherwise completed condom.
The additional material may be applied by dispensing means in a continuous stream or in a series of discrete pulses. Preferably the dispensing means comprise one or more dispensing guns. The former may be rotated about its longitudinal axis during application of the additional material, and additionally the dispensing means can be moved along the longitudinal axis of the former at the same time.
The invention also provides a condom manufactured in accordance with the method.
Furthermore, in accordance with the invention there is provided a condom comprising a body having a closed end and an open end, and stimulation means between the ends of the condom for clitoral and labial stimulation, the stimulation means comprising one or more firm projections.
The additional material can be a thickened latex formulation, a heat-sensitive latex formulation, a silicone rubber or another suitable polymeric material.
The projections are defined by a local increase in thickness of the condom material and preferably they comprise a harder material than the remainder of the body enabling projections to be obtained by directly applying the material in a viscous fluid state. According to one embodiment of the invention the stimulation means comprise a plurality of domelike studs, which may be arranged in a regular circumferential array. In another embodiment, the stimulation means comprises an elongate helical ridge.
The protrusion or protrusions massage and stimulate the clitoris during coitus and can serve as a visual and tactile indication that the condom is correctly oriented on the penis before and during intercourse.
The stimulation means may span a distance of between 30 mm and 100 mm along the condom, and preferably they span a distance of approximately 70 mm.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2586674 (1952-02-01), Lonne
patent: 3809090 (1974-05-01), Povlacs
patent: 4329312 (1982-05-01), Ganz
patent: 4852586 (1989-08-01), Haines
patent: 1400332 (1975-07-01), None
patent: 89/07428 (1989-08-01), None
patent: 91/06268 (1991-05-01), None
patent: 94/20052 (1994-09-01), None
Rodgers Janette Louise
Solanki Suren
Brown Michael A.
Dykema Gossett PLLC
LRC Products Limited
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