Surgery – Male reproductory tract shields or birth control devices
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-28
2004-04-06
Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3764)
Surgery
Male reproductory tract shields or birth control devices
C128S844000, C128S918000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06715492
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to condoms, more specifically to abbreviated condoms, and most particularly to methods of manufacturing abbreviated condoms.
2. General Background
Abbreviated condoms are distinguished over conventional condoms by a much shorter, abbreviated, length. Conventional condoms are of sufficient length to encase the entirety of most erect penises including all of the shaft. Abbreviated condoms are of much shorter length intended to enclose just the head of an erect penis while leaving the shaft exposed in order to retain sensitivity and thereby encourage use of the condom. Both types of condom are intended to retain seminal fluid from ejaculation in order to prevent undesired pregnancy and more importantly, as many other types of contraceptives are available, to prevent transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) between sexual partners for which purpose condoms are the only effective means known.
Abbreviated condoms, in contrast to conventional, full length condoms, differ in two major aspects: (a) means of retaining the condom in position during use; and (b) providing a reservoir for the seminal fluid. Conventional condoms possess sufficient length and volume to utilize an elastic band about the open bottom for sealing the structure against leakage of seminal fluid and provide an inherent reservoir for the seminal fluid resulting from ejaculation. There is no need for a separate reservoir structure in a conventional condom and no need for means other than the elastic band at the open bottom of the condom for securing the condom during use. Abbreviated condoms require, in contrast to conventional full length condoms, a separate distinct reservoir, as well as a particular means of securing the condom in position during use which will prevent inadvertent displacement.
A review of the basic structures employed by abbreviated condoms in addressing these two fundamental problems is given below.
Prior Art
Two different basic forms of reservoirs and two different basic means of retaining an abbreviated condom in position during use are known in various forms in the prior art. An expansible area located in the cleft between the bilateral lobes of the glans penis is one type of reservoir. An expansible structure located directly in front of the opening of the urethra is another basic approach. Either type of reservoir is theoretically independent of the two basic approaches known in the prior art for retention of an abbreviated condom in position during use but an anatomically accurate analysis of the head of an erect penis reveals a correlation between these two aspects and exposes many of the difficulties in the prior art in addressing the problem of retention particularly.
One basic approach to a retention means is similar to that utilized by conventional, full length, condoms: use of an elastic band which, in contrast to the elastic band on a conventional condom, is typically intended to be located behind the glans penis in the sulcus thereby taking advantage of the relative increase in elevation from the shaft to the glans which occurs immediately in front of the sulcus. This approach is disadvantaged, however, by the fact that the elevated ridge immediately in front of the sulcus, which is quite pronounced on the back and top of the head of an erect penis, diminishes to practically nothing at the forward and bottom. This ridge also angles downward and forward which anatomical attribute is often neglected in the structure of many abbreviated condoms of the prior art which erroneously assume radial symmetry.
Use of an elastic band as a retention means for an abbreviated condom is hence hindered by the actual anatomical variance of the glans penis from radial symmetry. If this anatomical variance is observed and the elastic band is left as circular the area underneath the cleft and between the forward lobes of the glans penis may be utilized as a reservoir. This approach is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,854 issued Mar. 14, 2000 to the present inventor, Rory P. Blake, which reference also contains a more detailed review of the prior art with regard to specific references relating to abbreviated condoms. One disadvantage of this approach, however, is the fact that this area beneath and below the bilateral glans is particularly sensitive for which reason it is preferably left exposed.
Another basic approach to retaining an abbreviated condom upon the head of an erect penis which can leave the particularly sensitive area beneath and in between the bilateral lobes of the glans penis is to utilize adhesive. Ideally, the application of an appropriate adhesive about the interior perimeter of an abbreviated condom will retain the same in position during use in a structure which only encloses the head of an erect penis, leaving the particularly sensitive area beneath and in between the bilateral lobes of the glans penis exposed. Nearly all of the prior art, with the notable exception of U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,854 issued Mar. 14, 2000 to the present inventor, assumes radial symmetry in the structure of the head of an erect penis and hence utilizes a radially symmetric abbreviated condom structure which renders the use of adhesive applied to the interior perimeter of an abbreviated condom defective with regard to sealing the same against transmission of bodily fluids including seminal fluid. In brief, unless the true anatomical structure of the head of an erect penis is taken into account the means of retaining an abbreviated condom upon the same is considered less than likely to succeed.
Statement of Need
Location of an expansible reservoir at the tip of an abbreviated condom is problematic for another reason. Several known prior art references utilize an accordion or concertina fold type structure for an expansible reservoir located at the tip. Theoretically this is perhaps ideal but there is no known method of manufacture for such a structure which is considered economically feasible. The assumption of radial symmetry, moreover, which has been demonstrated above to hinder effective means of retention of an abbreviated condom upon the head of an erect penis, is further seen to greatly simplify the method of manufacture. Conventional condoms are typically manufactured by dip molding and machining of the mold for the same is greatly simplified with the assumption of radial symmetry which, owing to the size of these condoms, does not present any problems with regard to retention of the same upon an erect penis. An anatomically accurate abbreviated condom, however, preferably does not assume radial symmetry.
Molding of an anatomically accurate abbreviated condom is considered problematic. With conventional tooling which assumes radial symmetry there is no hindrance to removing the condom from the interior mold structure. An anatomically accurate condom requires an anatomically accurate mold and not only is this unknown in the prior art but if it existed the interior mold structure would resist removal of the condom during manufacture because of the complex curves possessed of the bilaterally symmetric but radially unsymmetric lobes of the glans penis which are considered to characterize any head of any penis erect or flaccid. A need is therefore recognized for an economic manufacturing method for the production of anatomically accurate abbreviated condoms which conform to, and therefore possess, complex curves which are not radially symmetric.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Objects of the Invention
The encompassing object of the principles relating to the present invention is the provision of an economic method of manufacturing an anatomically accurate abbreviated condom possessing bilaterally symmetric but radially unsymmetric complex curves.
An auxiliary objective of the principles relating to the present invention is the provision of an economic method of manufacturing an anatomically accurate abbreviated condom possessing bilaterally symmetric but radially unsymmetric complex curves utilizing dip molding.
Brown Michael A.
Gibson Peter
LandOfFree
Manufacturing method for anatomically accurate abbreviated... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Manufacturing method for anatomically accurate abbreviated..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Manufacturing method for anatomically accurate abbreviated... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3214536