Abstract:
A sexual assistance device and methods which may be used as a marital aid are disclosed which include two elongate members secured by a pivotal connection. A biasing element, such as a spring coil, is disposed at or adjacent the pivotal connection for biasing the opposite ends of the two elongate members away from each other. Respective supports are provided at the two opposite ends of the two elongate members which are engageable with the operator&#39;s legs. A sexually stimulating element, such as a vibrator or the like, is preferably removably attached to the pivotal connection. Thus, the operator may produce reciprocal longitudinal movement inwardly and outwardly, relative to the operator&#39;s body, by compressing and uncompressing the two elongate members with the legs of the operator thereby fully controlling movement of the sexually stimulating element by the legs of the operator. The biasing force is preferably relatively weak so as to permit easy closing of the operator&#39;s legs while still providing a suitable force to permit the legs to securely contact the ends of the two elongate members.

Description:
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/225,324 filed Aug. 15, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to sexual assistance or marital aid devices and, more particularly, to apparatus and methods for a sexual assistance device that may be easily held and controlled with the operator&#39;s legs whereby the hands are left free. 
     2. Description of the Background 
     Prior art sexually assisting or stimulating devices, such as marital aid devices, generally require use of the hands and arms for supporting and controlling movement thereof. In many cases, it would be desirable to leave the hands and arms free while being able to support, manipulate movement, and control marital aid devices such as vibrators and the like, by exclusively using the legs. Moreover, it would be desirable to be able to support and manipulate a variety of different types or shaped vibrators and the like exclusively using the legs. 
     Consequently, there remains a need for a sexual assistance or stimulating device, such as a marital aid device, that may be supported and physically moved using the legs alone. Preferably such a device would be flexibly constructed such that a wide variety of sexually stimulating elements could be interchangeably used and controlled. Those skilled in the art have long sought and will appreciate the present invention which provides solutions to these and other problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The sexual assistance device and method of the present invention overcomes numerous problems inherent in the prior art devices. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sexual assistance or marital aid device. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a marital aid device that may be held and manipulated using the legs. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a means operable for holding and manipulating a wide variety of vibrators and other devices using the legs. 
     These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the drawings, the descriptions given herein, and the appended claims. It will be appreciated that any presented objects, features, and advantages are not intended to limit the invention but simply to provide an understanding of some of the benefits thereof. 
     Therefore, a sexual stimulation or sexual assistance device is disclosed that comprises two elongate members pivotally connected to each other at one end with a pivotal connection. A biasing element produces a biasing force between the two elongate members such that the respective ends of the two elongate members opposite the pivotal connection are biased away from each other. Each of the respective ends includes a respective support brace for supporting engagement with the legs of an operator. A sexually stimulating element is secured to the pivotal connection for receipt into an orifice of the operator, e.g. the operator&#39;s vagina, whereby movement of the respective support brace for compressing and relaxing the two elongate members by the operator&#39;s legs results in a translational movement of the sexually stimulating element for a longitudinal reciprocating engagement within the operator&#39;s vagina. In one embodiment, the sexually stimulating element may comprise a vibrator. 
     A releaseable connection is preferably provided for connecting the sexually stimulating element to the pivotal connection whereby a wide variety of stimulating elements may be substituted. For instance, a method is provided for a substantially V-shaped sexual stimulation device having a pivotal connection for two elongate members that are biased outwardly with respect to each other comprising steps such as connecting a first sexually stimulating element to the pivotal connection, disconnecting the first sexually stimulating element, and then connecting a second sexually stimulating element to the pivotal connection. 
     Thus, another aspect of invention comprises a removeable stimulating element connector system for connection to the pivotal connection of the first member and a second member wherein the first member and the second member may be biased outwardly with respect to each other such that the connector system comprises a first tubular member for the connection, the tubular member defining a hole therein, a pin member receiveable into the hole removeably for securing the tubular member to the pivotal connection, and a first stimulating element affixed to the first tubular member. The first stimulating element may comprise a vibrator. The connector system may further comprise a second tubular member for the connection, and a second stimulating element affixed to the second tubular member. In one preferred embodiment, the first stimulating element is non-removeably affixed to the first tubular member. The non-removeable connection may further comprise a glued connection, a pinned connection, a riveted connecting, or any other type of permanent connection between the first stimulating element and said first tubular member. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top view, partially in phantom lines, of a marital aid in accord with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2A is a top view of a preferred spring for use in the marital aid of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a coupling component for the marital aid of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 2C is an enlarged view of one side piece of the coupling component of FIG. 2B; 
     FIG. 3A is a side elevational view of a spring for a marital aid in accord with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3B is top elevational view, with several positions in dash, of the spring of FIG. 3A; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged view, partially in phantom lines, of the marital aid of FIG. 1 with a disconnected vibrator element; and 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged view, partially in phantom lines, of a coupling component with an attached vibrator element. 
    
    
     While the present invention will be described in connection with presently preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents included within the spirit of the invention and as may be defined in the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, device  10  in accord with the present invention, is illustrated. Device  10  is provided to support and manipulate a vibrator or the like using exclusively the operator&#39;s legs. 
     Device  10  includes spring-loaded support elongate members  12  and  14 . Elongate members  12  and  14  preferably are supported by legs  16  and  17  of internal spring  32  that is shown more clearly in FIG.  2 A. Surrounding spring legs  16  and  17  is a preferably soft material outer covering  18 . In a presently preferred embodiment, a closed cell insulation material is used as is readily available for air-conditioning insulation. However, other materials for comfortably contacting the operator&#39;s leg could also be used. 
     In a presently preferred embodiment, elongate support members  12  and  14  include respective brace sections  20  and  22  which may be formed from wire loops. End sections  24  and  26  preferably extend transversely or substantially at right angles to respective members  12  and  14 . Brace sections  20  and  22 , and end sections  24  and  26 , provide additional contact surface with the operator&#39;s legs thereby helping the operator&#39;s legs to securely attach and grab device  10 . Brace sections  20  and  22  are preferably formed by loops but could also be formed of a flat material or other means whereby a wide section, of approximately four inches more or less in diameter, is formed. Additional end sections could be provided, e.g., such as one end section on either side of the operator&#39;s legs, however one end section has been used in a presently preferred embodiment and is found very suitable. 
     Connector  28  connects to a coil  30  (See FIG. 2A) of spring structure  32  as discussed subsequently. Connector  28  also provides a preferably detachable connection to vibrator  34  in a manner described in more detail subsequently. Because of the detachable connection, other types of vibrators or devices may be quickly and easily attached to connector  28  in place of vibrator  34 . Vibrator  34  may include a battery holder  36  connected to vibrator  34  by means of cable  38 . Control  40  may be used in a known way to control the vibration intensity, pattern, speed, or the like as is well known. 
     Referring to FIG. 2A, spring structure  32  is shown. Spring structure  32  forms a skeleton for device  10 . Brace sections  20  and  22  from FIG. 1 are preferably supported by wire loops  42  and  44  in the presently preferred embodiment. End sections  24  and  26  are preferably supported by wire sections  46  and  48 . The various wire loops and support sections may be formed by bending the wire in the desired shape. 
     Coil  30  produces a biasing force that causes spring elements  16  and  17  to move outwardly when the operator&#39;s legs move outwardly. Spring elements  16  and  17 are easily compressible when the operator&#39;s leg compresses members  12  and  14 . This biasing force permits the operator to easily grasp and readily maintain device  10  in position between the operator&#39;s legs without the need for the use of the operator&#39;s hands. It will be noted that the biasing force produced by coil  30  is preferably relatively weak. In a presently preferred embodiment, it is considered to be counterproductive to have a significant biasing force that would make closing or compressing members  12  and  14  towards each other difficult. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, coil  30  is not intended to produce sufficient biasing force to resist muscle movement and effect an exercise machine. Instead, device  10  preferably has a very weak force to allow easy compression for easy manipulation functions as described subsequently. Although it is conceivable that device  10  could be used to exercise the legs with an increased biasing force, the presently preferred light torque due to a light biasing force, as described more precisely subsequently, provides little resistence and allows much easier functioning of device  10  without tiring the operator&#39;s legs. 
     While a spring is provided in the presently preferred embodiment to produce the desired biasing force, it will be understood after viewing the present preferred embodiment that other biasing means such as pistons, cylinders, other spring arrangements, and the like could also be utilized in accord with the mechanical forces preferably utilized as discussed subsequently. 
     Referring to FIG.  2 B and FIG. 2C, connector  28  preferably includes two side sections such as side section  50  shown in FIG.  2 C. Each side section  50  has two holes  52  and  54  in which cylinders  56  and  58  may be positioned. An enlarged view of these sections is shown in FIG.  5 . Large cylinder  56  may be fitted within coil  30  for connection thereto. Small cylinder  58  is used for selective attachment with a device such as vibrator  34 . Other cylinder sizes and configurations could also be used. In a preferred embodiment, sides  50  and cylinders  56  and  58  may be conveniently glued together. Other means for connecting the components could also be used such as threads, screws, fasteners, or the like. 
     In one presently preferred embodiment, a common connector element  60  (See FIG. 2B) is used. Common connector element  60  includes a shaft  62 , as best shown in FIG.  4 . Pin  64  is inserted through a hole in shaft  62  and hole  64  in small cylinder  58  for securing shaft  62  to small cylinder  58 . Connector element  60  has an attachment surface  66  on the opposite end from shaft  62  which may be glued to a flat surface on various devices such as vibrator  34 . In this way, numerous different attachments besides vibrator  34  may be easily and quickly mounted to connector  28 . It will be understood that while a specific embodiment for connector  28  has been described for connecting to spring  32  and also to an attachment such as vibrator  34 , that other connector elements could also be provided. 
     FIG.  3 A and FIG. 3B show details of spring structure  32 . The number of turns  68  and thickness of the wire used to make coil  30  is preferably selected so that the biasing force produced on segments  16  and  17  is strong enough to permit a good contact for the operator&#39;s legs so as to effectively secure device  10  within the operator&#39;s legs but is preferably not so strong as to require excessive exertion. It will be apparent from review of the attached drawings, that each time the operator&#39;s legs compress wire segments  16  and  17  that the coil and thus the attachment, such as vibrator  34 , will be moved longitudinally in a direction generally bisecting the angle formed between members  12  and  14 . This is because support and brace  22  and  26  on one of the operator&#39;s legs, and support  20  and brace  24  on the other of the operator&#39;s legs, are held in position by the biasing force, so that the connector  28  at the apex of the angle between member  12  and  14  must move away from the apex and is preferably oriented to move into the operator&#39;s orifice, e.g, the operator&#39;s vagina. Longitudinal movement is a desired movement path for a marital aid which simulates actual sexual activity. Because repeated movements of this type over an extended period of time may be utilized during stimulation, in a preferred embodiment the foot pounds required to effect the longitudinal movement is kept to a minimum. 
     In one embodiment, coil  30  has from about six to about fifteen turns and may preferably have about eight or nine turns in one presently preferred embodiment. The number of turns changes slightly as the segments  16  and  17  are compressed. The number of turns, thickness of the wire, and length of segments  16  and  17 , are factors that may be adjusted to provide a comfortable number of foot pounds required to compress segments  16  and  17 , i.e., members  12  and  14 . The length of segments  16  and  17  may be in the range of very approximately from one-half foot to about two feet and in a presently preferred embodiment is about one foot. The length is measured from the center or a line through the center of coil  30  to the furthermost ends of segments  16  and  17 . The diameter of coil  30  may vary and may preferably vary between about one inch and three inches while in a preferred embodiment the diameter is about two inches. A width  70  of about four inches more or less may be used to form loops  42  and  44 . Piano wire is preferably used and in the present embodiment has a diameter of about 0.1 inches but could easily range from about 0.9 inches to about 0.12 inches. 
     The resting angle between segments  16  and  17  when unloaded or relaxed is preferably about 110 degrees although this angle may vary such as between a preferred range from about sixty degrees to about one hundred forty degrees. A presently preferred range may be from about ninety degrees to about one hundred thirty degrees. Various other ranges of angles and resting angles may be utilized. For instance, resting angles and ranges of angle movement may include arm angles of seventy-five degrees, one hundred twenty degrees, one hundred sixty-five degrees, and one hundred seventy-six degrees. These ranges provide for easy contacting and holding with the legs whereby compression or biasing force between segments  16  and  17  is maintained even when the operator&#39;s legs may be opened to a relatively wide amount. As the operator&#39;s legs will typically be opening and closing during operation of device  10 , maintaining a biasing force allows the operator to maintain a grip or suitable fixed attachment of the operator&#39;s legs to the device. While straps or other connection means are not considered necessary, such connection means for affixing the operator&#39;s legs to device  10  could also be used if desired. In one presently preferred embodiment, a torque of 2.3 foot-pounds plus or minus 0.2 foot-pounds results in a 45 degree movement of segment  16  with respect to segment  17 . Similarly, a torque of 4.6 foot-pounds results in a 90 degree movement. Preferably a relatively light bias which may be described as a torque in foot pounds for compression of 45 degrees and which may be from about 0.5 foot-pounds to about 5.0 foot-pounds with a presently preferred torque being about two to three foot-pounds for a compression of about 45 degrees. This amount has been selected to permit easy opening and closing of the operator&#39;s legs while still providing sufficient biasing force to maintain ends  20  and  22  in secured in position on the operator&#39;s legs. 
     FIG. 4 provides an enlarged view at the apex of device  10  where connector  28  is attached to the coil. It can be seen that vibrator  34 , or other attachments, are easily and quickly removed or connected to connector  28  by inserting shaft  62  into a receptacle in small cylinder  58 . Pin  64 , which may be spring loaded, may easily and conveniently secure shaft  62  in the receptacle of small cylinder  58 . 
     FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of connector  28  with vibrator  34  attached thereto. As stated hereinbefore, large cylinder  56  which is sized to mate to the diameter of spring coil  30 , preferably extends through the coil for securing connector  28  to device  10 . Then shaft  62  extends into receptacle  72  in small cylinder  58  where it may be removably secured therein by means of pin  64 . Various materials may be used to make connector  28  but a presently preferred embodiment is made from plastic whereby the components are relatively inexpensively manufactured. 
     In one possible example of operation, the operator may engage elongate members  12  and  14  with the inner thighs of her legs. The relative position of device  10  is easily maintained by spring pressure and supported by brace sections  20  and  22  as well as end sections  24  and  26 . If a vibrator or the like are used, then the intensity controls may be adjusted and, in fact, the operator&#39;s hands are free to vary intensity controls as desired. The vibrator  34  may be inserted in the operator&#39;s vagina for operation as a sexual assistance device such as a marital aid. Thrusting longitudinal movement to move vibrator  34  into and out of the operator&#39;s vagina is controlled by the operator by squeezing and expanding her inner thighs. The amount or longitudinal stroke length of such movement, and the rate of movement, may be selectively varied by the operator by the degree or angular span which the operator&#39;s legs open and close as well as the speed or rate of opening and closing by the operator. Thus, the operator can selectively choose long strokes at slow speeds, short strokes at faster repetition rates, and the like, simply completely by controlling her legs. This allows the operator to maintain her hands and arms completely free as may be desired for other purposes. 
     The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof, and it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that various changes in the size, shape and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction or combinations of features of the marital aid device may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.