Abstract:
A mechanized dildo, including a motor driven coaxial plurality of longitudinally spaced drive cams, and corresponding sets of passive cams that operate within an elastic phallic sleeve to locally cyclically expand a girth of the sleeve. Optional vibratory elements are positioned proximate a distal extremity of the sleeve, and in a laterally extending arm that is formed for clitoral stimulation. A battery powered control handle provides multiple operating modes and speeds.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/931,059, filed Jun. 28, 2013, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/938,513, filed Nov. 3, 2010, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/971,797, filed Jan. 9, 2008, which claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/978,315, filed Oct. 8, 2007, all applications being incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to sexual stimulation devices, and more particularly to a mechanized dildo. 
         [0003]    Sexual stimulation devices of the prior art include dildos that have vibratory elements such as disclosed in U.S. Application Publication No 2002/1013415 and International Publication No. WO 2007/041853. It is also known to provide arcuate deformation of a prosthetic device such as a dildo as disclosed in U.S. Application Publication No. 2006/0069329. However, it is believed that none of this class of devices of the prior art has proven entirely satisfactory, for a variety of reasons. 
         [0004]    Thus there is a need for a sexual stimulation device in the form of a dildo that provides an improved form of stimulation and enhanced versatility as compared with existing devices. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present invention meets this need by providing a dildo that features an expandable girth, preferably a reciprocatingly expanding girth. In one aspect of the invention, the dildo includes a cam mechanism having a motor-driven shaft, a drive cam on and rotationally coupled to the shaft, a passive cam, and a guide structure for guiding the passive cam generally radially relative to the drive cam; a phallic sleeve preferably made of an elastic material; and a support structure supporting the sleeve in generally coaxial relation to the shaft and enclosing the passive cam in proximal relation to the sleeve, wherein the drive cam moves the passive cam to deflect a corresponding local region of the sleeve outwardly for expanding a girth of the sleeve. As the shaft rotates further, the cam recedes, and the elasticity of the deflected portion of the sleeve returns that portion of the sleeve to substantially its original unexpanded dimensions. Therefore the girth expansion is preferably reciprocating, as the shaft continues to rotate. 
         [0006]    Preferably the passive cam is one of a plurality of passive cams in a set thereof, and the guide structure locates each passive cam of the set in a different radial orientation relative to the drive shaft for enhanced girth expansion. The drive cam can have a plurality of outwardly projecting lobes corresponding to the number of passive cams of the set, wherein the passive cams of the set operate in unison in response to rotation of the shaft. The drive cam can be one of a plurality of axially spaced drive cams, each drive cam having a corresponding set of passive cams associated therewith, and each drive cam can have the plurality of outwardly projecting lobes equal to the number of passive cams of the corresponding set, the passive cams of each set operating in unison in response to rotation of the shaft to produce corresponding girth enlargements. The sets of the passive cams can be angularly aligned, the drive cams also being angularly aligned for producing simultaneous girth enlargements. Alternatively, longitudinally alternating sets of the passive cams can be angularly offset, alternating ones of the drive cams being correspondingly angularly offset for producing differently oriented simultaneous girth enlargements. In another alternative, the sets of the passive cams are angularly aligned, and alternating ones of the drive cams are correspondingly angularly offset for producing alternating girth enlargements. In a further alternative, longitudinally alternating sets of the passive cams are angularly offset, and the drive cams are angularly aligned for producing differently oriented and alternating girth enlargements. 
         [0007]    Preferably the dildo includes a motorized controller for operating the drive shaft. The controller can include a housing forming a handle for the dildo, a drive motor reduction-gear coupled to the drive shaft, and a main speed control for the motor. Preferably a vibrator mechanism is elastically supported by the phallic sleeve, the controller further including a vibrator speed control for the vibrator mechanism. The vibrator mechanism can be located in a head region of the phallic sleeve. The phallic sleeve can include a laterally extending arm portion for clitoral stimulation, the vibrator mechanism being located in the arm portion, a second vibrator mechanism being optionally located in the head region of the sleeve. 
         [0008]    Preferably the controller is operative for changing speeds of the main motor and the vibration mechanism in response to a singular operator-controlled element. Alternatively, the controller includes separate operator-controlled elements for independent speed control of the main motor and the vibration mechanism. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mechanized dildo according to the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a lateral sectional view of the mechanized dildo of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a drive shaft and drive cams of the mechanized dildo of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view as in  FIG. 3 , showing the drive shaft and drive cams assembled in a cam mechanism of the dildo; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view as in  FIG. 2 , showing an alternative configuration of the mechanized dildo; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an axial sectional view on line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an axial sectional view on line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view as in  FIG. 3 , showing drive cams and shaft of the mechanized dildo of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view as in  FIG. 6 , showing the drive cams and shaft together with associated passive cams of the dildo of  FIG. 5 ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view as in  FIG. 7 , showing the cams and drive shaft assembled in a cam mechanism of the dildo of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    The present invention is directed to a mechanized dildo that is particularly effective in stimulating female genitalia. With reference to  FIGS. 1-4  of the drawings, a mechanized dildo  10  includes a motorized cam assembly or mechanism  12 , a control module  14 , and a phallic sleeve  16  that encloses the cam mechanism. The cam mechanism  12  includes a main motor  18  that is operatively connected to a drive shaft  20  through a reduction gear train  22 . A plurality of drive cams  24  (and individually designated  24 A,  24 B, and  24 C) are rigidly supported on the shaft  20  for rotation therewith, each drive cam engaging a set  26  of passive cams  27  that are circumferentially equally spaced around the drive shaft, the passive cam sets being designated  26 A,  26 B, and  26 C (numbered A,B,C in the direction of the shaft), the cams of each set being individually designated  27 A,  27 B, and  27 C (numbered A,B,C around the shaft). The passive cams  27  are guided for generally radial motion by a plurality of guide rods  28  that engage corresponding slots  29  that are formed in the passive cams  27 . A support member  30  holds a proximal end of each rod  28  in fixed relation to the motor  18 , and a dome member  32  locates a distal end of each rod for holding the rods in parallel relation to the drive shaft  20 . The phallic sleeve  16  contacts each of the passive cams  27 , biasingly holding each cam  27  in sliding engagement with its associated drive cam  24 . The phallic sleeve  16  is preferably made of an elastic material. 
         [0021]    Each of the drive cams  24  has outwardly projecting and equally circumferentially spaced lobes  34  corresponding to the number of passive cams  27  of the corresponding set  26 . Accordingly, and since the passive cams  27  of each set are also equally spaced, rotation of the drive shaft  20  produces synchronous radial reciprocation of the passive cams  27  of each particular set, correspondingly producing outward local elastic radial expansion and contraction of the sleeve  16  proximate each of the passive cams of that set, thereby increasing and decreasing a local girth of the sleeve  16  in a region thereof associated with the set  26  of passive cams  27 . The elastic tension within the phallic sleeve moves the passive cams inwardly as the respective lobes rotate beyond maximum passive cam displacement. 
         [0022]    Preferably the phallic sleeve has a nominal diameter of from approximately 1.2 inches (30 mm) to approximately 2.0 inches (50 mm), and a nominal length of from approximately 5 inches (127 mm) to approximately 9 inches (228 mm), and the girth expansion can be from approximately 0.12 inch (3.1 mm) up to approximately 0.79 inch (20 mm), which corresponds to an increase in diameter of from approximately 0.04 inch (1 mm) to approximately 0.39 inch (10 mm). Of course, other dimensions are possible, depending on user preference. 
         [0023]    In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the drive cams  24 A,  24 B, and  24 C are “in-phase” on the drive shaft  20  and the passive cams of each set  26 A,  26 B, and  26 C are also “in-phase” relative to the other sets; thus the expansion and contraction of the respective local girths is also both in unison and in phase, the sleeve  16  expanding from a relatively relaxed condition shown by solid lines to an expanded condition shown by broken lines as indicated, for example, at  38  in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0024]    As also shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the dildo  10  has an arm member  40  that is formed as a lateral extension of the phallic sleeve  16  in a shape and dimension preferably facilitating contact with the clitoris of a user of the dildo, a first vibrator  42  being locatingly supported within an arm cavity  43  of the arm member  40 . As further shown in  FIG. 2 , a second vibrator  44  is locatingly supported within a head cavity  45  proximate a distal end of the phallic sleeve  16 . Each of the vibrators  42  and  44  preferably includes a two-piece housing  46  enclosing a vibrator motor  47  that rotates an eccentric weight member  48  in a conventional manner and as further described below. 
         [0025]    The control module  14  includes a control housing  50  that serves as a handle of the dildo  10  and which also encloses a battery pack  52  (which is retained by a removable cap  53 ) and a circuit board  54 , there being appropriate wiring or other conductors (not shown) between the battery pack  52 , the circuit board  54 , the main motor  18 , and the vibrator motors  47 . In the configuration shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the control module has a power switch actuator  56 , a mode switch actuator  57 , and a speed switch actuator  58 , each actuator protruding the housing  50  for operation by a user and having an associated switch (not shown) on the circuit board  54 . The circuit board  54  has a power indicator  60  and a plurality of intensity indicators  62  that project through the housing for facilitating operation by the user. The mode switch actuator  57  sequentially selects a plurality of vibration and throbbing (reciprocating girth expansion) combinations, by selectively activating the main motor  18  and/or the vibrator motors  47  in accordance with methods known to those skilled in the art. The speed switch actuator sequentially selects different speeds of both vibration and throbbing, also in accordance with methods known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0026]    Regarding the throbbing, or reciprocating girth expansion, a preferred range of throbbing rates is between approximately 50 to approximately 180 times per minute. Preferred vibration rates are from approximately 20 per second to approximately 120 per second. 
         [0027]    Suitable materials for the drive shaft  20  and the guide rods  28  include hardened steel; suitable materials for the support member  30 , the dome member  32 , the vibrator housings  46 , the control housing  50 , and the switch actuators  56 ,  57 , and  58  include ABS. Suitable materials for the drive cams  24  and the passive cams  27  include POM and other substantially rigid plastics; suitable materials for the battery module include polypropylene; and suitable materials for the phallic sleeve include elastic plastic materials such as TPE. A suitable battery complement is four type AAA alkaline batteries. 
         [0028]    With further reference to  FIGS. 5-10 , an alternative configuration of the mechanical dildo, designated  10 ′, includes counterparts of the cam mechanism, designated  12 ′, the control module, designated  14 ′, the phallic sleeve, designated  16 ′, the main motor  18 , and the gear train  22 . There are four of the drive cams, designated  24 ′ (and individually  24 A′,  24 B′,  24 C′, and  24 D′), and correspondingly four sets of four equally spaced passive cams, designated  26 ′ (individually  26 A′,  26 B′,  26 C′, and  26 D′), the cams of each set being designated  27 ′. A drive shaft  20 ′ and a plurality of guide rods  28 ′ are lengthened counterparts of the drive shaft  20  and guide rods  28  of the configuration of  FIGS. 1-4 , for accommodating the extra drive cam  24 D′ and passive cam set  26 D′. A support member  30 ′, and dome member  32 ′ are counterparts of the above-described support member  30  and dome member  32 , configured for supporting additional guide rods associated with the extra passive cam  27 ′ of each set  26 ′. 
         [0029]    As further shown in  FIGS. 6-10 , each of the drive cams  24 ′ has four equally spaced drive cam lobes, designated  34 ′, such that the passive cams  27 ′ of each set  26 ′ move in unison with the other passive cams of that set. Alternating pairs of the drive cams  24 ′ are 45 degrees out of phase on the drive shaft  20 ′. More particularly, the drive cams  24 A′ and  24 C′ are in-phase with each other and  45  degrees out of phase with the drive cams  24 B′ and  24 D′. Also in the same manner, alternating sets of the passive cams  27 ′ are out of phase with each other. Accordingly, all of the passive cams  27 ′ move in unison in response to rotation of the drive shaft  20 ′; however, the local girth expansions that result are staggered at 45 degrees between regions of the sleeve  16 ′ associated with adjacent sets  26 ′ of the passive cams  27 ′. It will be understood that aligned mounting of the drive cams  24 ′ in combination with the staggered arrangement of the passive cams  27 ′ will produce alternating expansion and contraction of the phallic sleeve  16 ′ proximate adjacent pairs of passive cam sets  26 ′. For example, during simultaneous expansion proximate the passive cam sets  26 ′A and  26 ′C there is corresponding contraction of the sleeve proximate the other passive cam sets  26 ′B and  26 ′D. Continued rotation of the drive shaft  20 ′ produces expansion proximate the passive cam sets  26 ′B and  26 ′D and corresponding contraction proximate the cam sets  26 ′A and  26 ′C. Conversely, the staggered configuration of drive cams  24 ′ shown in  FIG. 8 , in combination with an aligned configuration of passive cams (corresponding to the arrangement shown in  FIG. 4 ) also produces simultaneous expansion and contraction proximate alternating sets of the passive cams, but with the local expansions being axially aligned as in the configuration of  FIGS. 1-4 . In configurations having one or the other of the of the drigve cams and the passive cam sets out of phase, the rotation of the drive shaft  20 ′ causes the girth of the dildo to expand and contract in different lengthwise portions corresponding to the out-of-phase cam sets along the length of the dildo. 
         [0030]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, any number of drive cams and passive cam sets, and any number of passive cams per set are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Also, the number of lobes on each cam can be different than the number of passive cams operated thereby, although a multiple or submultiple of that number is preferred, the equal numbers (three and four) described above being most preferred. Further, the drive cams can be supported other than rigidly on the drive shaft, such as with back-lash, or with an elastic connection. Moreover, a single cam member can form plural drive cams. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.