Abstract:
A condom having an indicia disposed on the lower side of the roll when the condom is in the rolled configuration. Preferably, the indicia is a fluorescent marking disposed on the inner side of the condom disposed at a location so that, when the condom is in the rolled configuration, the indicia is visible from the lower side only. More preferably, the indicia is a ring-shaped marking extending about the inner side of the tubular body. In this configuration, a user holding a rolled condom can easily determine which is the upper side of the roll and which is the lower side of the roll. The user may then quickly orient the condom with the lower side facing toward the penis and unroll the condom in the proper direction.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 12/642,897, filed Dec. 21, 2009, entitled CONDOM, which application is continuation-in-part and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/983,022, filed Nov. 6, 2007, entitled CONDOM. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a condom and, more specifically, to a condom having an indicia indicating the proper orientation for use. 
     2. Background Information 
     Condoms are well known prophylactic devices. The condom is typically made from latex or another plastic, however, natural condoms are still in use. A condom includes a thin, elastic, generally tubular body having an open first end, an elongated medial section, and a closed second end section thereby defining a partially enclosed space. Further, the body, as well as each of the elements set forth in the prior sentence, has an inner side and an outer side. Typically, the open end includes an elastic ring or rib. When used, the penis is disposed in the partially enclosed space with the inner side of the condom contacting the penis. 
     While condoms are used in an unrolled, or unfurled, configuration, condoms are typically stored in a rolled configuration. The rolled configuration is created by rolling the rib over the outer side of the body medial section. That is, in the rolled configuration, the condom includes a ring-like roll having multiple layers of the medial section of the body being wound about the first end rib. As the rib is initially rolled over the outer side of the body medial section, the outer side of the body medial section is disposed immediately adjacent to the rib. Thus, the exposed side of the roll is the inner side of the body medial section. With each revolution of the roll, the inner side of the body medial section is placed into contact with the exposed section of the roll while the corresponding inner side of the body medial section, i.e. the outer side of the body medial section directly opposite the inner side of the body medial section that is being placed into contact with the exposed section, becomes the outer side of the roll. 
     In this configuration, the second, closed end of the condom is no part of the roll and extends across the opening in the roll. The roll may be said to have an upper side and a lower side. The roll upper side includes the outer side of the second, closed end while the lower side includes the inner side of the second, closed end. As noted above, the roll always has a section of the inner side of the body medial section exposed. Thus, to wear the condom correctly, the user must unroll the condom with the lower side, and therefore the inner side of the second closed end and medial section, contacting the penis. 
     Users often have difficulty orienting the condom properly with the lower side of the roll facing downwardly. That is, the upper and lower sides of a rolled condom have a nearly identical appearance. Thus, users who are often distracted by the associated physical activity and/or may be in a dim or dark area, may attempt to put on the condom with the upper side, and therefore the outer surface of the condom, against the penis. Due to the direction of the roll, the condom cannot be unrolled when it is put on upside down. 
     While the mis-orientation of the condom is easily corrected, many users find such fumbling with a prophylactic device to interrupt what is, hopefully, a passionate activity. As such, many users choose to forego use of a condom and thereby potentially expose themselves, and their partners, to various diseases and the possibility of pregnancy. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a condom having an indicia disposed on the lower side of the roll when the condom is in the rolled configuration. Preferably, the indicia is a fluorescent marking disposed on the inner side of the condom disposed at a location so that, when the condom is in the rolled configuration, the indicia is visible from the lower side only. More preferably, the indicia is a ring-shaped marking extending about the inner side of the tubular body. In this configuration, a user holding the condom can easily determine which is the upper side of the roll and which is the lower side of the roll. The user may then quickly orient the condom with the lower side facing toward the penis and unroll the condom in the proper direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a condom. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a partially rolled condom. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a rolled condom. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a rolled condom. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of a rolled condom. 
         FIG. 6  is an alternate bottom view of a specific indicia. 
         FIG. 7  is an alternate top view of a specific indicia. 
         FIG. 8  is an alternate bottom view of a specific indicia. 
         FIG. 9  is an alternate bottom view of a specific indicia. 
         FIG. 10  is an alternate bottom view of a specific indicia. 
         FIG. 11  is an alternate bottom view of a specific indicia. 
         FIG. 12  is an alternate bottom view of a specific indicia. 
         FIG. 12A  is a  partial side view of the condom shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 13  is an alternate bottom view of a specific indicia. 
         FIG. 14  is an alternate bottom view of a specific indicia. 
         FIG. 15  is an alternate bottom view of a specific indicia. 
         FIG. 16  is an alternate isometric view of a specific indicia. 
         FIG. 17  is an alternate bottom view of a specific indicia. 
         FIG. 17A  is a  partial side view of the condom shown in  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 18  is an alternate bottom view of a specific indicia. 
         FIG. 19  is an alternate bottom view of a specific indicia. 
         FIG. 20  is an alternate bottom view of a specific indicia. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As used herein, the “user” is the male wearing the condom and, as described, is the person handling the condom. It is understood that a condom may be handled by someone other than the person wearing the condom. 
     As used herein, “fluorescent” shall mean any very bright and/or dazzling color and does not require the color and/or substrate to fluoresce. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a condom  10  is shown in a second, unrolled configuration. As described below, and as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the condom  10  is typically stored in a first, rolled configuration. The condom  10 , which is typically made from a thin, elastic latex or plastic, has a generally circular tubular body  12  having an open first end  14 , an elongated medial section  16 , a second end  18  and a closed second end section  20 . The closed second end section  20  is coupled to, and preferably formed as an integral part of the body second end  18 . The closed second end section  20 , preferably, is shaped as a convex dome. The body  12  and the closed second end section  20  each have an outer side  22 ,  24  and an inner side  26 ,  28  ( FIG. 5 ), respectively. Preferably, the body outer side  22  and the second end section outer side  24  form a contiguous surface. Similarly, the body inner side  26  and the second end section inner side  28  preferably form a contiguous surface. Thus, the body  12  and the closed second end section  20  define a generally enclosed space  30 . The body first end  14  preferably includes a reinforced rib  40 . The rib  40  is shaped as a generally circular torus and is made from the same material as the body  12 . Typically, the rib  40  is formed as an integral part of the body first end  14 . 
     The condom  10 , as noted above, is typically stored in a first, rolled configuration. Thus, after the condom  10  is formed, typically on an elongated mandrill, the condom  10  is rolled as shown in  FIG. 2  as indicated by the arrow “A.” That is, the body first end  14  and/or the rib  40  is rolled over the body outer side  22 . The body first end  14 , and/or the rib  40 , is rolled over substantially all of the body medial section  16 . The process of rolling the condom  10  creates a roll  50 , as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , that is a generally circular torus having multiple layers of the body medial section  16  wound about the body first end  14  and/or the rib  40 . Further, when substantially all of the body medial section  16  has been rolled about the body first end and/or the rib  40 , the roll  50  is generally planar having an upper side  52  and a lower side  54 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , respectively. When a condom  10  is put on, the user typically orients the roll  50  so that the lower side  54  is disposed at the tip of an erect penis and unrolls the condom  10  downwardly as indicated by arrow “B” in  FIG. 2 . 
     The condom  10  further includes an indicia  60 , best shown in  FIG. 5 , disposed on the roll lower side  54 . The indicia  60  provides a visual indication as to the orientation of the roll  50 . That is, the indicia  60  is generally not visible when the roll  50  is viewed from a position generally normal to the roll upper side  52 . Thus, a user simply orients the roll  50  so that the user cannot see the indicia  60  and then unrolls the condom  10  as described above. Preferably, the indicia  60  is fluorescent so that it may be easily seen, even in low light conditions. The indicia  60  may be printed, or otherwise applied, to the body inner side  26 , or on the second end section inner side  28 , adjacent to the body second end  18 . Alternatively, the indicia  60  may be incorporated into the body  12 . For example, a dye may be injected into the liquid latex used to form the condom  10 . The indicia  60  is positioned so that, when the condom  10  is in the rolled configuration, the indicia  60  is disposed on the roll lower side  54 . It is noted that, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the indicia  60  may be partially visible through the body  12 . It is further noted that, when the condom  10  is in the rolled configuration, the indicia  60  is not clearly visible, or may not be visible at all, through the multiple layers that comprise the roll  50 . Further, while the indicia  60  may have any shape or characteristics, in the preferred embodiment, the indicia  60  is a solid mark extending generally about the circumference of the lower side  54  of the roll  50 . 
     It is noted that while the preferred indicia  60  is at least one solid ring  60 A ( FIG. 6 ), the indicia  60  may have any shape and/or characteristics so long as the indicia  60  provides a visual indication as to the orientation of the roll  50 . Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 7-11 , the indicia  60  may be selected from the group including an intermittent pattern, such as, but not limited to, a series of dashed lines  100  ( FIG. 7 ), a dotted pattern  102  ( FIG. 8 ), alphanumeric text  104  ( FIG. 9 ), a repeating pattern  106  ( FIG. 10 , as shown, a “candy cane” pattern), a design  108  ( FIG. 11 , as shown, a dragon), or any combination thereof. 
     Further, the indicia  60  may be created by an alteration in the thickness of the body  12 . That is, a body  12  made of latex, or similar material, tends to be generally smooth. Thus, a visual indicia  60  may also be created by providing deformation  110  to the body  12 . The deformation  110  may be of any type, but, as a condom body  12  is typically thin, preferably the deformation  110  is an intermittent thickening or raised portions on the body  12 , i.e. one or more “bumps” on the body  12 . More preferably the deformation  110  forms a repeating pattern so that it may be more easily seen. Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 12-14 , the indicia  60 , that is, the deformation  110 , may be a pattern of intermittent raised portions  123  selected from the group including: a dashed circular line  120  ( FIG. 12 ), a plurality of dots  122  ( FIG. 13 ), or a plurality of ovals  124  ( FIG. 14 ). Such an indicia  60  has a visual as well as a tactile element. That is, in addition to being visible, the indicia  60  may be felt, for example, by running a finger over the indicia  60 . Thus, the user may determine the orientation of the roll  50  via a tactile feedback. It is noted that other forms of tactile feedback may be provided, e.g. electrical stimulation and ultrasound feedback. 
     The indicia  60  may be formed by, or incorporated with, a material  130  structured to perform an additional function. The material  130  may be, but is not limited to, an adhesive, a lubricant, an anesthetizing agent, and an enhancement agent. An enhancement agent may be a drug or other pharmacological compound. Materials such as these, e.g. an adhesive or a drug structured to enhance an erection, should decrease the chance of having the condom  10  slip of the penis or rupture, therefore increasing the effectiveness and safety of the condom  110 . The material  130  may naturally have a noticeable color or be florescent, or, the material  130  may have a dye or similar coloring agent added thereto. As shown in  FIG. 15 , the material  130 , preferably, extends substantially over the circumference on one side of the roll  50 . That is, while a continuous ring of material  130  is preferred, the material  130  may be applied in a pattern such as, but not limited to, a broken ring (not shown). Further, there may be more than one area of material  130  disposed on the body inner side  26 . In this embodiment, shown in  FIG. 16 , the material  130  is, preferably, applied in a series of spaced rings  130 A,  130 B,  130 C, etc., located on the body inner side  26  and extending substantially over the circumference of the body inner side  26 . The material ring  130 A closest to the closed second end section  20  in the unrolled configuration becomes the indicia  60  in the rolled configuration, hereinafter the “primary ring  130 A.” Thus, if the material  130  is visible through multiple layers of the roll  50 , the location of the additional material rings  130 B,  130 C,  130 D,  130 E is structured so that the material  130  is aligned on the same side of the roll  50  as the primary ring  130 A when the body is rolled. Alternatively, if the material  130  cannot be seen through the layers of the roll  50 , the material  130  may be disposed anywhere in the body inner side  26  so long as the primary ring  130 A is the only visible indicia  60 . 
     It is noted that, if the material  130  is an adhesive  132 , the adhesive  132  is, preferably, weak, i.e. the adhesive  132  may be easily peeled away from skin while still helping to maintain the condom  10  in place during use. The adhesive  132  may serve an additional purpose. That is, like the “bumps” discussed above, the adhesive  132  provides a tactile indication of the orientation of the condom roll  50 . Thus, the user may determine the orientation of the roll  50  via a tactile feedback. 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , the indicia  60  may also be created from a reactive-luminescent material(s)  140 . That is, the indicia  60  may be made from a material  140  that glows when exposed to light, typically identified as a “glow-in-the-dark” material, or a second material  142 , as in carnival “glow-sticks.” If the reactive-luminescent material  140  is non-liquid and stable, it may be applied to the body inner side  26  in a manner similar to ink. 
     As shown in  FIG. 18 , if the indicia  60  is formed from two reactive-luminescent materials, a first reactive-luminescent material  140  and a second reactive-luminescent material  142 , the reactive-luminescent materials  140 ,  142  are typically liquids that must be combined, as in “glow sticks.” So as to accommodate the two reactive-luminescent materials  140 ,  142 , the body  12  may include a circumferential plenum  143 . The plenum  143  is positioned on the body  12  so that, when the condom  10  is configured as a roll  50 , the plenum  143  is visible from only one side of the roll  50 . The circumferential plenum  143 , preferably, does not extend all the way around the body inner side  26  while still extending substantially about the body inner side  26 , i.e. the plenum  143  is not a continuous ring. The plenum  143  may include a deformable barrier  144 , e.g. a wax bead, therewithin structured to separate two liquids. The reactive-luminescent materials  140 ,  142  are disposed within the plenum  143  on opposite sides of the deformable barrier  144 . When the barrier  144  is deformed or torn, the two liquids may combine and luminesce. 
     As discussed above, the indicia  60  is preferably fluorescent. However, other color schemes may also act so as to provide a visual indication as to the orientation of the roll  50 . It is known that certain multi-color combinations, identified as high-contrast color schemes, are more likely to be seen/noticed by a human than other color schemes. High contrast color schemes are found both in nature, e.g. on venomous snakes and insects, as well as human made objects, e.g. road signs. High-contrast color schemes include, but are not limited to, black-yellow, black-white, and white-green. The color of the body  12  and the indicia  60  may be any high-contrast color scheme wherein the body  12 . is a first color and the indicia  60  is a second color and wherein the first and second colors are a high-contrast color scheme. For example, the body  12  may be black and the indicia  60  may be yellow, or, conversely, the body  12  may be yellow and the indicia  60  may be black. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 19 , at least two high contrast colors  146 ,  148  disposed in alternating bands may form the indicia  60 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 19 , the indicia  60  may also be an optically variable device  150 , such as, but not limited to a hologram or similar security devices. An optically variable device  150  may be dazzling or not depending upon the viewing angle and the angle of the light applied to the indicia  60 . The optically variable device  150  may be incorporated into a foil  152 , or other thin, flexible material which is then coupled to the body  12 . Alternately, the optically variable device  150  may be imprinted upon the body  12  itself. The optically variable device  150  may take any of the forms of the indicia  60  discussed above. That is, the optically variable device  150  may be a complete ring, a plurality of dots or dashes, a pattern, or may include a design. Similarly, it is noted that any of the different forms of the indicia  60  described above may be combined. For example, the indicia  60  could include, but is not limited to, a solid ring  60 A disposed over a pattern of intermittent raised portions  123  ( FIG. 20 ). 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. For example, as noted above the indicia  60  is disclosed as providing an indication of orientation. In the preferred embodiment the indicia is disposed on the roll lower side  54 . An equivalent design may have the indicia  60  on the roll upper side  52 . That is, as long as the indicia  60  is on only one side of the roll, the indicia  60  provides an indication of orientation. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.