Abstract:
Remote sexual intercourse is enabled using mechanical surrogates in the form of human genital components. Pressure and displacement sensors perceive action upon the surrogate. Actuators for pressure and displacement enable a second surrogate to mimic the contact imparted on the first. A computer program repeats contact messages comprising contact characteristics that describe the nature of a physical contact perceived by a surrogate with full duplex capability.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Technical Field  
           [0002]    This invention pertains to the field of remote physical contact, and specifically to remote sexual contact.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Human contact has always involved stimulation of other people&#39;s senses, be it at an informal level or in a more intimate context. The need for sensory perception during the course of human contact can be driven by a myriad of motives. In one context, human emotional involvement has always led to an affectionate caress of a potential or current mate.  
           [0005]    Men and women hold hands, kiss and engage in more prurient appealing activities. When humans desire more intimate contact, they inevitably engage in sexual intercourse. The applicant has created other apparatus that exploit communication networks to enable people to exchange a kiss while being separated by vast distances. That apparatus relies on a method of remote physical contact and is described in the applicants co-pending application entitled “Method and Apparatus for Remote Physical Contact”, Application No. 60/296,907, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
           [0006]    In the referenced application, the applicant teaches a means to enable remote physical contact between people. The method described in the referenced application is based on the exchange of stimulus information from one mechanical surrogate to another. The apparatus described in the Method and Apparatus for Remote Physical Contact is a mechanical surrogate in the form of a human lip. The human lip mechanical surrogate comprises sensors and actuators that enable one surrogate to sense a kiss. The attributes of the kiss, as defined by the sensor readings, are conveyed to a remote location where a second surrogate recreates the kiss so that a second user can experience the kiss imparted onto the first lip surrogate.  
           [0007]    Because humans also desire contact that is more intimate than a kiss, new mechanical surrogates must be realized so that humans can engage in sexual intercourse while being separately located. These surrogates can be fashioned in the form of human genitalia.  
           [0008]    What is lacking in the known art is a mechanical surrogate that transmits tactile or other physical stimulus from one human user to another to enable remote sexual intercourse. The present invention does just this; it enables people to expand on the notion of teleconferencing or computer communications by adding a capability to engage in intimate human contact.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The present invention comprises a method for remote sexual contact that is based on the use of a female surrogate that accepts physical contact from a user. The method provides for monitoring the physical contact imparted onto the female surrogate through the use of sensors. Contact messages are formed that depict the nature of the physical contact. The contact messages are then conveyed to a male surrogate that is capable of mimicking the physical contact experienced by the female surrogate.  
           [0010]    In order to realize the method, the present invention further comprises a system that employs the method, a male surrogate apparatus and a female surrogate apparatus. In the system, the female surrogate has a vaginal cavity that can be used by a user. The female surrogate creates contact messages that are indicative of the physical contact imparted upon the vaginal cavity. The female surrogate is connected to a first user computer that receives the contact messages and then conveys these to a communications network. A second user computer receives the contact messages from the communications network and then conveys these to a male surrogate. The male surrogate comprises an artificial penis mounted in a housing that can be extended from the housing in accordance with contact messages it receives.  
           [0011]    The present invention further comprises a female surrogate. In one embodiment of the female surrogate, a vaginal cavity having an inner surface is provided. Sensors are disposed around the perimeter of the vaginal cavity and enable the female surrogate to detect the amount of penetration of an object into the cavity. The female surrogate further comprises an electronics unit that creates contact messages according to the readings perceived by the sensors. These contact messages are then conveyed to external devices. The sensors in the female surrogate can be either pressure sensors or strain gages.  
           [0012]    In another embodiment of the female surrogate, constriction actuators are disposed around the circumference of the vaginal cavity. The electronics unit receives contact messages from an external device. These contact messages indicate the amount of force that must be exerted upon an object inserted in the vaginal cavity. The electronics unit commands the constriction actuators to reduce the diameter of the vaginal cavity so that the appropriate amount of force results on an object inserted therein.  
           [0013]    One form of a constriction actuator can be realized using a constriction ring with two ends that are fed through slots in a pressure block. The ends of the constriction ring are then affixed to a stop block. A linear actuator can then be used to push upon the pressure block causing the two end of the constriction ring to be pulled through the slots in the pressure block. This causes the constriction rings circumference to be reduced resulting in a reduced diameter in the vaginal cavity.  
           [0014]    In order to be able to sense when a male user has ejaculated, the female surrogate may further comprise a moisture sensor disposed in the vaginal cavity. The electronics unit in this alternative embodiment is capable of detecting when the moisture sensor is activated. In response, the electronics unit will create a contact message that indicates the presence of moisture in the female surrogates vaginal cavity.  
           [0015]    The present invention further comprises a male surrogate that comprises a housing with an artificial penis that protrudes therefrom. The artificial penis has an external surface and a tip. Housed in the housing is an extension mechanism that causes the artificial penis to be moved outward from the housing. The amount of protrusion from the housing is determined by an electronics unit and is based on contact messages received from an external device. The electronics unit receives contact messages by means of an interface. The extension mechanism itself can be built using a heavy gage wire attached to a pulley at one end and to the artificial penis at the other. A stepper or servo motor is used to drive the pulley. As the pulley operates, the heavy gage wire is wound onto the pulley.  
           [0016]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the male surrogate comprises a plurality of sensors disposed about the outer surface of the artificial penis. These sensors monitor the amount of pressure that the artificial penis is exposed to. These pressure readings are then used as a basis of contact messages that the electronics unit creates and forwards to other devices using an interface.  
           [0017]    In yet another embodiment of the male surrogate, a flexible sheath is disposed around the artificial penis. The sheath forms an expansion cavity that accepts a thickened fluid. A pump is used to force the thickened fluid from a reservoir into the expansion cavity. This causes the overall diameter of the artificial penis to increase. The amount of fluid pumped into the expansion cavity is based on contact messages received by the electronics unit and are used to mimic the amount of force experienced by female surrogate.  
           [0018]    Additional embodiments of the male surrogate comprise an ejaculant system. The ejaculant system comprises a reservoir for containing a quantity of ejaculant fluid. This fluid is forced by a pump through a catheter ending in the tip of the artificial penis. The pump is commanded to dispense some amount of ejaculant fluid in accordance with a contact message.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    The foregoing aspects are better understood from the following detailed description of one embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a block diagram that depicts the use of male and female surrogates in a networked environment;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation of a male surrogate according to the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3A is a pictorial representation of the male surrogate in a retracted state;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3B is a pictorial representation of the male surrogate in an extended state;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is pictorial representation of a suite of sensors integral to a male surrogate;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation of a penis expansion system according to the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6A is a pictorial representation in cross section of an artificial penis  75 ;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6B is a pictorial in cross section of an expanded artificial penis;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 is a pictorial representation of an ejaculant system according to the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 is a pictorial representation of a female surrogate sensor system;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is a pictorial diagram that depicts the placement of constriction actuators within the female surrogate; and  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10 is a detailed view of a constriction actuator according to the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]    [0032]FIG. 1 is a block diagram that depicts the use of male and female surrogates in a networked environment. A female surrogate  10  interfaces to a first user computer  15  by means of a first serial interface  20 . The first user computer  15  interfaces to a communications network  25 . The communications network  25  allows the first computer  15  to communicate with a second user computer  30 . The second user computer  30  interfaces to a male surrogate  35  also by means of a second serial interface  40 . Although the interfaces used to connect the surrogates to the user computers are described as serial interfaces, the invention should not be limited to only serial interfaces. Any suitable interface type can be used. It should be noted that the communications network may be any suitable networking structure such as the Internet. Also, the communications network may be comprised of a simple serial interface connecting the first user computer  15  to the second user computer  30 .  
         [0033]    In operation, a male user utilizes the female surrogate  10 . The female surrogate  10  senses penetration of the male user&#39;s penis and creates contact messages that indicate, among other factors, the depth of the penetration. As the male continues to use the female surrogate  10 , additional contact messages are created on a continuous basis to reflect a real-time state of the contact between the male user and the female surrogate  10 . Contact messages emanating from the female surrogate  10  and are propagated to the first user computer  15  by way of the serial interface  20 . Communications software executing in the first user computer  15  dispatches the contact messages from the female surrogate  10  to the second user computer  30  using the communications network  25 .  
         [0034]    As contact messages arrive at the second user computer  30 , they are conveyed to a male surrogate  35  by means of the second serial interface  40 . When the male surrogate  35  receives the contact messages from the second user computer  30 , the male surrogate  35  replicates the activity of the male human user imparted onto the female surrogate  10 . A female user can then position herself in front of the male surrogate  35  in order to experience the activities of the male human user.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation of a male surrogate according to the present invention. The male surrogate  35  comprises a housing that encloses several electronic and mechanical components that collectively enable the male surrogate  35  to mimic the penetration of a penis. The male surrogate  35  may also comprise a mounting structure comprising adjustment knob  45  that allows the male surrogate housing to attach pivotally to a support bracket  50 . The support bracket  50  is itself mounted to a seat platform  55 . The seat platform  55  allows a female user to use the male surrogate  35  while seated in any ordinary chair  60 . The seat platform  55  will ordinarily be upholstered on the top and possibly the bottom surface to provide for additional comfort during use.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 3A is a pictorial representation of the male surrogate in a retracted state. The male surrogate  35  comprises a electronics unit  65  that receives contact messages by means of a serial interface  40 . The contact messages convey the amount of penetration the artificial penis  70  must achieve. Contact messages arriving in real-time by serial interface  40  convey a sequence of penetration states. In response to each contact message, the electronics unit  65  will command an extension mechanism  75  to extend the artificial penis  70 .  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 3B is a pictorial representation of the male surrogate in an extended state. The extension mechanism  75  comprises either a stepper motor or a servo driving a segment a heavy gauge wire  80 . The heavy gauge wire is normally spooled in the confines of the extension mechanism  75 . As the electronics unit  65  commands the extension mechanism  75  to extend the artificial penis  70 , the heavy gauge wire  80  is fed outward causing the artificial penis  70  penetrate a female user. It should be noted that the extension mechanism  75  is much akin to extension mechanisms used to raise automobile antennas. The extension mechanism  75  further comprises position sensors that enable the electronics unit  65  to determine the amount of extension realized that any given moment. It should be noted that the heavy gauge wire need not be metallic. Any pliable material, such as fiberglass or plastic can be used. Again, the type of wire used should be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 4 is pictorial representation of a suite of sensors integral to a male surrogate. The male surrogate  35  may further comprise a plurality of sensors that enable the male surrogate  35  to perceive pressure whenever it is inserted into a cavity. Hence, when a female user exerts pressure onto the male surrogate  35 , the sensors will register a pressure change. The electronics unit  65  monitors the status of the sensors and incorporates changes in pressure into contact messages. The contact messages are then conveyed to the second user computer  30  using a serial interface  40 . Software executing in the second user computer  30  then transmits the contact messages to the first user computer  15  by means of a communications network  25 .  
         [0039]    The first user computer then conveys the contact message to the female surrogate  10  using a serial interface  20 . Actuators in the female surrogate  10  then replicate the pressure that the male surrogate experiences so that the male user will sense the pressure imparted by the female user upon the male surrogate. This is described in greater detail infra.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation of a penis expansion system according to the present invention. The male surrogate  35  may further comprise a system for expanding the diameter of the artificial penis  75 . A thickened saline solution is contained in a saline reservoir  95 . The saline is pumped into the artificial penis  75  by a saline pump  100 . It should be noted that the expansion system can be used with any suitable expansion liquid—a thickened saline solution is only one example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention described here.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 6A is a pictorial representation in cross section of an artificial penis  75 . The core  105  of the artificial penis  75  is comprised of a pliable foam material such as styrene. It should be noted that the invention is not limited to embodiments using only styrene. Surrounding the penis core  105  is a pliable sheath  110 . The pliable sheath  110  forms a cavity that accepts saline solution from the saline pump  100 .  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 6B is a pictorial in cross section of an expanded artificial penis. As the saline pump  100  pumps saline from the reservoir  95 , the cavity formed by the sheath  100  expands. This cavity is called the “expansion cavity”. In the preferred embodiment, a thickened saline solution is used as a working fluid. However, any suitable fluid can be used as an expansion fluid and the use of a thickened saline solution is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.  
         [0043]    As the male user begins using the female surrogate  10 , sensors in the female surrogate  10  will detect the amount of pressure exerted by the male user upon the female surrogates vaginal cavity (see infra). This pressure will be replicated by the male surrogate by expanding the artificial penis  75 . The electronics unit  65  in the male surrogate will command the saline pump  100  to pump the saline into the cavity formed between the core  105  of the artificial penis  75  and the sheath  110  surrounding the core  105   
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 7 is a pictorial representation of an ejaculant system according to the present invention. The male surrogate  35  may further comprise an ejaculant system. The ejaculant system comprises a fluid reservoir  115  for containing a quantity of ejaculant fluid, typically but not limited to artificial semen. The artificial semen is pumped through a semen pump  120 . The output of the semen pump is directed to a catheter  125  that terminates at the tip of the artificial penis  75 .  
         [0045]    Upon receiving an appropriate contact message from the second user computer  30 , the electronics unit  65  will command the semen pump  120  to dispense approximately 15 milliliters of the fluid stored in the semen reservoir  115 .  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 8 is a pictorial representation of a female surrogate sensor system. The female surrogate  10  comprises a plurality of sensors  140  mounted on the periphery of a vaginal cavity  135 . As a male user uses the female surrogate  10 , sensors detect the depth of penetration of the user into the vaginal cavity  135 . The sensors  140  can be either pressure sensors or strain gages.  
         [0047]    The female surrogate electronics unit  130  constantly monitors the state of the sensors  140  to determine if a male user has penetrated the vaginal cavity  135 . The electronics unit  130  measures the depth of penetration by comparing the pressure sensations experienced by adjacent sensors in a linear manner. The electronics unit  130  also monitors the amount of pressure exerted by the male user normal to the wall of the vaginal cavity.  
         [0048]    These measurements enable the electronics unit  130  to create contact messages for depth of penetration and contact pressure. These contact messages are then conveyed to the first user computer  15  by a serial interface  20 . A communications network  25  is used to convey the contact messages from the first user computer  15  to the second user computer  30  and then through to the male surrogate  35 .  
         [0049]    The female surrogate  10  may further comprise a moisture sensor  150  disposed at the end of the vaginal cavity  135 . When the male user ejaculates within the vaginal cavity  135 , the moisture sensor  150  detects the presence of the male user&#39;s seminal fluid. The female surrogate electronics unit  130  monitors the moisture sensor  150 . When the moisture sensor  150  becomes active, the electronics unit  130  will create a contact message that indicates the presence of the male user seminal fluid. This contact message is then conveyed to the male surrogate  35  using the communications path already described.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 9 is a pictorial diagram that depicts the placement of constriction actuators within the female surrogate. In order to convey a sensation of pressure to the male user that mimics the pressure exerted by a female user upon the male surrogate  35 , constriction actuators  160  are placed concentrically to the vaginal cavity  135 . Contact messages received by the female surrogate  10  can be interpreted by the electronics unit  130  so that the constriction actuators  160  can be commanded to mimic the pressure imparted on the male surrogate  35 .  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 10 is a detailed view of a constriction actuator according to the present invention. Each constriction actuators is comprised of a constriction ring  165 , a pressure block  170 , a plunger  172 , a stop block  175  and a linear actuator  180 .  
         [0052]    The constriction ring  165  is length of flexible material approximately ½ inch in width attached at either end to the stop block  175 . The pressure block  170  contains two slots through which the constriction ring  165  is routed through. Upon command from the electronics unit  130 , the linear actuator  180  exerts force upon the pressure block  170 . As the pressure block moves away from the stop block  175 , the constriction ring  165  is drawn through the two slots in the pressure block  170 . This results in a decrease in the diameter of the constriction ring  165  that ultimately imparts radial pressure on the male user&#39;s penis.  
         [0053]    Alternative Embodiments  
         [0054]    While this invention has been described in terms of several preferred embodiments, it is contemplated that alternatives, modifications, permutations, and equivalents thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and study of the drawings. It is therefore intended that the true spirit and scope of the present invention include all such alternatives, modifications, permutations, and equivalents. Some, but by no means all of the possible alternatives are described herein.