Patent Publication Number: US-2005115568-A1

Title: Prophylactic device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a prophylactic and contraceptive device.  
      Condoms used during sexual intercourse for contraception and prophylaxis, including preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and auto immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), traditionally are worn by males. Male condoms typically are tube-like pouches made of liquid impermeable material, which roll onto and tightly conform to the penis in order to contain seminal and other bodily fluids released by the male.  
      However, even with proper condom usage, it is still possible for partners to exchange bodily fluids during sexual activity. When such fluid contacts vaginal and other bodily parts, transmission of STDs and AIDS may occur.  
      Moreover, with traditional male condoms, a woman lacks the ability to control contraception and prophylaxis. Instead, she must persuade her male partner to voluntarily wear a condom. Donning a condom takes time and may detract from the romantic mood. Additionally, use of a condom may diminish sensitivity and sexual pleasure. Thus, convincing a male partner to wear a condom can be difficult. In situations involving rape, it is highly unlikely that the woman will have a condom on hand and even more unlikely that she will be able to convince the rapist to wear the condom.  
      Although female condoms exist, they are expensive, difficult to use, and occasionally cause pain to the woman during intercourse. Even if such devices could be used with relative ease, their complex construction and resulting high cost makes them unsuited to countries with depressed economies, with a high incidence of AIDS, and/or with a high incidence of rape.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An aspect of the present invention relates to a prophylactic device. The prophylactic device includes a panty having a crotch portion and an elongated pouch disposed on the crotch portion. The pouch is made of an elastic material, and the panty and the pouch are integrally formed.  
      Another aspect of the present invention relates to a prophylactic device that includes a panty having a crotch portion and an elongated pouch disposed on the crotch portion, wherein the pouch includes longitudinal pleats.  
      Another aspect of the present invention relates to a prophylactic device that includes a panty having a crotch portion and an elongated pouch disposed on the crotch portion, wherein an interior of the panty includes a plurality of raised protrusions to facilitate positioning of the panty on a user.  
      Another aspect of the present invention relates to a prophylactic device that includes a panty having a crotch portion and an elongated pouch disposed on the crotch portion, wherein a rear portion of the panty includes a sculpted portion configured to curve inward to conform to a shape of a user&#39;s lower back when the panty is in an in-use configuration.  
      Another aspect of the present invention relates to a prophylactic device that includes a panty having a crotch portion and an elongated pouch disposed on the crotch portion, wherein the panty is thicker than the pouch.  
      Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a prophylactic device. The method includes providing a mold form that has a panty casting portion and a pouch casting portion. The method includes dipping the mold form into a first coagulant until the pouch casting portion and the panty casting portion are submerged in the first coagulant, dipping the form into a second coagulant until the pouch casting portion is submerged in the second coagulant, dipping the form into latex a first time until the pouch casting portion and the panty casting portion are submerged in the latex, dipping the form into the latex a second time until the pouch casting portion is submerged in the latex, and removing the casting from the form.  
      It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention claimed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain principles of the invention.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a prophylactic device according to the present invention showing a panty and a pouch.  
       FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  showing the panty on a female user and the pouch inserted into a vaginal cavity of the user.  
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  showing the pouch in a folded configuration.  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a prophylactic device according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing a pattern of raised protrusions according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of a mold form according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of a mold form according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a mold form according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 10  is a flow chart illustrating a casting process according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. An effort has been made to use the same reference numbers throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
       FIGS. 1-3  show an embodiment of a prophylactic device  10  suitable for use by a female. The prophylactic device  10  includes a panty  20  and a pouch  30 .  
      The panty  20  has a shape similar to that of conventional underpants, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The panty  20  includes leg apertures  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , so that the panty  20  can be worn by a female user, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The panty  20  has a crotch portion  50  disposed between the leg apertures  40 , as shown best in  FIG. 2 . The panty  20  additionally includes a waistband  45  disposed at a top portion of the panty  20  along a circumference of the panty  20 , as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The panty  20  is configured so that the panty  20  substantially covers the buttocks and genital area of the user.  
      The pouch  30  has an elongated shape and is disposed on the crotch portion  50  of the panty  20 . The pouch  30  is configured to move from an open configuration, in which the pouch  30  extends outwardly from the panty  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 , to an inverted configuration, in which the pouch  30  extends inwardly toward an interior portion of the panty as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the prophylactic device  10  is worn by a female user, the pouch  30  is substantially aligned with the vaginal opening of the user. The pouch  30  can be moved into the inverted configuration and inserted into the vaginal cavity of the user. In the inserted configuration, the pouch  30  is adapted to receive the penis of a male partner during sexual intercourse between the female user and the male partner. The pouch  30  is configured to perform a barrier function so that bodily fluids are not exchanged between the female user and the male partner.  
      According to an embodiment of the invention, the panty  20  and the pouch  30  are integrally formed so that the prophylactic device  10  comprises a single unitary body. In this regard, the prophylactic device  10  is seamless. In addition, the prophylactic device  10  is made of an elastic material that is impermeable to fluids. For example, the prophylactic device  10  may be made of latex; a polymer material, such as polyurethane; or a combination of latex and polymer material. Because the prophylactic device  10  is made of an elastic material, the prophylactic device can conform to fit any sexually mature user.  
      The pouch  30  can include longitudinal pleats  60  disposed on the sides of the pouch  30 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the pouch  30  can include two longitudinal pleats  60  on each side of the pouch  30  for a total of four longitudinal pleats  60 . It will be understood, however, that the pouch  30  can include fewer pleats or more pleats than shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . These longitudinal pleats  60  are generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongated pouch  30 . The longitudinal pleats  60  are configured to fold lengthwise along the pouch, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The longitudinal pleats  60  enable the pouch  30  to move from a relatively flat, compact, folded configuration (shown in  FIG. 4 ) to an open configuration (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) and from an open configuration to an expanded configuration (shown in  FIG. 5 ). In the expanded configuration, a circumference of the pouch  30  is larger than a circumference of an average adult penis, which reduces the likelihood that the pouch  30  will pull out of a vaginal or anal cavity during use. Thus, the pouch  30  is large enough to line the inside of a vaginal or anal cavity and loose enough to prevent the pouch from riding the penis out of the cavity. Additionally, because the pleats  60  fold inward, the size of the pouch  30  appears small, which improves the visual appearance and overall acceptability of the prophylactic device  10 . In this regard, when the longitudinal pleats  60  are in the folded configuration, the user can comfortably wear the prophylactic device  10  with the pouch  30  tucked unobtrusively next to the panty  20 . Also, the panty  20  can be folded along its front-to-back midline in a flattened configuration, which, with the folded pouch  30 , creates a compact arrangement for product packaging.  
      An upper portion of the panty  20  can include a plurality of raised protrusions  70 S,  70 F,  70 R. The raised protrusions  70 S,  70 F,  70 R are disposed closer to the waistband  45  of the prophylactic device  10  than to the crotch portion  50 . The raised protrusions  70 S,  70 F,  70 R can be grouped into patterns, as shown, for example, in  FIG. 6 . In one embodiment, the panty  20  can include six patterns of raised protrusions  70 S,  70 F,  70 R located so as to assist the user in unrolling the waistband  45  or in adjusting the prophylactic device  10  for optimum fit and maximum comfort. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and  5 , a first pattern of raised protrusions  70 S may be located along the panty&#39;s transverse axis A-A on a left side of the panty  20 , and a second pattern of raised protrusions  70 S may be located along the transverse axis A-A on a right side of the panty  20 . The panty  20  also can include patterns of raised protrusions  70 F on a front side of the panty forward of the transverse axis A-A, a first pattern  70 F being equidistant between a midpoint of the front portion of the panty  20  and a point at which the transverse axis A-A intersects the left side of the panty  20 , and a second pattern  70 F being equidistant between a midpoint of the front portion of the panty  20  and a point at which the transverse axis A-A intersects the right side of the panty  20 . The panty  20  further can include patterns of raised protrusions  70 R on a rear side of the panty rearward of the transverse axis A-A, a first pattern  70 R being equidistant between a midpoint of the rear portion of the panty  20  and a point at which the transverse axis A-A intersects the left side of the panty  20 , and a second pattern  70 R being equidistant between a midpoint of the rear portion of the panty  20  and a point at which the transverse axis A-A intersects the right side of the panty  20 . It will be understood that other embodiments of the prophylactic device  10  can include more than six, or less than six, patterns of raised protrusions.  
      The raised protrusions  70 S,  70 F,  70 R project inwardly toward an interior of the panty  20  and result in corresponding recesses located on an exterior portion of the panty  20 . The raised protrusions  70 S,  70 F,  70 R are preferably rounded and are small enough to avoid causing discomfort to a user. For example, the raised protrusions  70 S,  70 F,  70 R may have a diameter of approximately {fraction (1/8)} inch and a height of approximately {fraction (1/16)} inch.  
      The shape of the panty  20  can be configured so that when the panty  20  is moved into an in-use configuration (that is, a configuration where a user is wearing the panty  20 ), a sculpted portion  80  forms along a center rear portion of the waistband  45 . That is, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the rear portion of the panty  20  can include a rounded buttock portion, visible in the in-use configuration, and the waistband  45  disposed above the buttock portion at the top portion of the panty  20 ; the sculpted portion is disposed on the waistband  45 . The sculpted portion  80  (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 ) is configured to curve inward to conform to the shape of a user&#39;s back, which improves the fit of the panty  20  and increases user comfort. The sculpted portion  80  eliminates excess fabric from the panty  20 , thereby enabling the panty  20  to conform to the shape of a user&#39;s body and preventing the panty  20  from presenting a baggy and visually unacceptable appearance when the panty  20  is worn by the user.  
      The panty  20  can be thicker than the pouch  30  to promote comfort and ease of use. A thin pouch  30  is unobtrusive and enables the user and the male partner to experience greater sexual sensitivity than with a thick pouch. A thick panty  20  provides a heavier form than the thin pouch  30  and enables the user to easily manipulate and comfortably wear the panty  20 . For example, a thickness of the panty  20  may be 14 to 16 mil, and a thickness of the pouch may be 8 to 10 mil. The pouch  30  may include two layers of material, such as latex.  
      A method of producing a prophylactic device according to the invention now will be described in connection with  FIGS. 6-10 . The prophylactic device  10  is preferably formed as a casting. The casting (or molding) process includes providing a mold form  90  (shown in  FIGS. 7-9 ) for forming a shape of the casting. The form  90  includes a portion  100  configured to produce a panty casting and a portion  110  configured to produce a pouch casting. The casting process is described below, and an illustrative example of an embodiment of the process is provided in  FIG. 10 .  
      The form  90  first is dipped into a first coagulant until the portions  100  and  110  are submerged in the coagulant. The first coagulant may be, for example, heavy wall coagulant. The first coagulant is formulated so that a casting material (such as latex) will adhere to the first coagulant to form a heavy (or thick) wall. The temperature of the first coagulant is, for example, 135 degrees Fahrenheit. The form  90  is removed from the first coagulant and is subjected to a drying process for, for example, about 2 minutes at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. The form  90  then is dipped into a second coagulant until only the portion  110  is submerged. The second coagulant forms a coating over the first coagulant on the portion  110 . The second coagulant may be, for example, light wall coagulant. The second coagulant is formulated so that a casting material (such as latex) will adhere to the second coagulant to form a light (or thin) wall. The temperature of the second coagulant is, for example, 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The form  90  is removed from the second coagulant and is subjected to a drying process for, for example, two minutes at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. The form  90  is next dipped into latex a first time until the portions  100  and  110  are submerged in the latex. The temperature of the latex is, for example, at ambient temperature (that is, at about 72 degrees Fahrenheit). The form  90  is removed from the latex and is subjected to a drying process for, for example, two minutes at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. The form  90  is dipped into the latex a second time until only the portion  110  is submerged, and, again, the latex is at ambient temperature. Portion  110  is dipped into the latex a second time in accordance with industry standards for condom manufacture. The second latex dip improves the reliability of the casting by preventing pinholes from forming in the pouch portion of the casting. The form  90  is removed from the latex and is subjected to a drying process for, for example, two minutes at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.  
      After the coagulant and latex dips are complete, the form  90  is subjected to a leaching process. The leaching process (or leach dip) removes impurities from the latex. For example, the leaching process may include dipping the form  90  into hot water. This leach dip can last, for example, for twenty minutes at 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The form  90  next undergoes a curing process for 30 minutes at 212 degree Fahrenheit, for example, and then a cool down. The latex cure, which sets the latex, may be performed, for example, by placing the form  90  into a high temperature oven. Prior to removing the cooled latex casting from the form  90 , powder is applied to a portion of the casting to assist in removing the casting from the form  90 . For example, power can be sprinkled on an exterior portion of the casting at a top of the form  90  to permit detachment of the casting from the form. Additional power can be added to the casting as needed (for example, to an interior portion or an exterior portion of the casting) as the casting is removed from the form  90 . The completed casting can be removed from the form  90  using any conventional removal methods. For example, the casing can be removed manually by peeling the completed casting from the form  90  or by air stripping. A casting having a one-layer panty portion and a two-layer pouch portion can be produced by this casting process.  
      The form  90  can include a plurality of depressions D disposed on the portion of the form  90  configured to produce a panty casting. The depressions D are configured to receive a flow of latex when the form is dipped so that a plurality of raised protrusions are formed on the panty casting. For example, the depressions D may include spherical indentations having a diameter of approximately {fraction (1/8)} inch and a depth of approximately {fraction (1/16)} inch.  
      Another embodiment of a prophylactic device  10 ′ is shown in  FIG. 5 . This prophylactic device  10 ′ is similar to prophylactic device  10  of  FIGS. 1-3 ; however, as can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the pouch  30 ′ of prophylactic device  10 ′ is located more rearwardly on the crotch portion  50 ′. When the prophylactic device  10 ′ is worn by a user, the pouch  30 ′ is substantially aligned with an anal opening of the user. The pouch  30 ′ can be moved into the inverted configuration and inserted into the anal cavity of the user. In the inserted configuration, the pouch  30 ′ is adapted to receive the penis of a male partner during intercourse between the user and the male partner. The pouch  30 ′ is configured to perform a barrier function so that bodily fluids are not exchanged between the user and the male partner. According to this embodiment, the panty  20 ′ may optionally include an aperture (not shown) on the front portion of the panty  20 ′ to accommodate the penis of a male user.  
      Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only.