Patent Abstract:
A phallic device mount for operably securing a phallic device thereto and a method of use are disclosed. The mount is positioned adjacent to and supported by a bed. A substantially planar bed-engaging portion is positioned below the mattress of the bed and extends to the mount thereby holding the mount in place during use. Preferably, the substantially planar bed-engaging portion is retractable within the mount for easy concealment of the mount when not in use, and it is slideably secured between a box spring and mattress of the bed during use of the mount. In a preferred embodiment, the height of the planar bed-engaging portion and the height of the phallic device are both independently adjustable by a user.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/532,501 filed on Dec. 24, 2003. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates to the field of mounting structures for phallic devices such as penis substitutes, elongate sexual devices, dildos, vibrators, and the like.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Phallic devices have been used for many years primarily for sexual pleasure both by couples and by people who do not have a sex partner. The phallic device is an elongate object sized and shaped to be inserted into the vagina of a woman and/or the anus of a person. Usually, phallic devices are either a smooth edged contoured cylinder or they are shaped to resemble either an erect or flaccid human penis. More recently, modern fabrication methods and materials allow phallic devices to be formed into any shape, size, or texture.  
         [0004]     The use of phallic devices for obtaining sexual pleasure is gaining popularity along with social acceptance. This increased popularity is due to a number of social and environmental factors including: 1) an increase in sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS and the like; 2) an increasingly open attitude towards human sexuality within our society; and 3) a desire for couples and people who do not have a sex partner to privately and safely explore a wide variety of sexual experiences.  
         [0005]     Despite increasing social acceptance of phallic devices, most users prefer to keep them, and any related structures associated with using them, concealed when not in use.  
         [0006]     Historically, most phallic devices are held by the user themselves or by a sexual partner during use. Unfortunately, the number of sexual activities that may be simulated or performed by a user is necessarily limited by the phallic device holders&#39; reach and the holder&#39;s range of movement available. Moreover, physically challenged individuals may not have the capacity to properly hold the phallic device for use. Accordingly, their ability to enjoy the benefits of these devices is limited.  
         [0007]     Recently, efforts have been made to provide hands-free use of phallic devices.  
         [0008]     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,604 to Barnett (“Barnett”) discloses mounting a phallic device to a C-shaped clamp. The C-shaped clamp may then be secured by a user to a support structure, such as a bedpost or the like. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,396 to McAllister (“McAllister”) discloses mounting a phallic device to a universal mount. The universal mount may then be strapped around a wearer&#39;s torso, thereby allowing the wearer to insert the phallic device into their partner and simulate thrusting movements normally associated with performing the sexual act.  
         [0009]     Despite the benefits offered by these types of phallic device mounting structures, they have several drawbacks. For example, a hand-tightened clamp on a bed frame is often insufficient to withstand the forces generated during use of the phallic device.  
         [0010]     Accordingly, the phallic device may tend to move or detach from the bed frame during use. Such movement can damage the bed frame, or worse yet; injure a user.  
         [0011]     Moreover, the mounting structure in Barnett requires a user to have a suitably sized support structure for engaging the C-shaped clamp positioned at substantially the same height where the phallic device must be positioned for use. In practice, this positioning for the support structure is difficult to find in a suitably private environment sufficient for using the phallic device therein.  
         [0012]     Similarly, while the strap on mounting structure in McAllister may offer sexual partners an opportunity to engage in a new sexual experience together, it does not allow hands free use of the phallic device by a single user. Also, both the C-shaped clamp in Barnett and the strap on mounting structure in McAllister are not particularly aesthetically pleasing, nor do they allow for easy concealment and storage when not in use.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     Accordingly, despite the available phallic device mounting structures, there remains a need for an adjustable phallic device mount that provides hands-free use of the phallic device, that is easy to assemble, adjust and use, and provides rigid support for the phallic device during use, and that may be easily concealed and stored when not in use. In addition to other benefits that will become apparent in the following disclosure, the present invention fulfills these needs.  
         [0014]     The invention is a phallic device mount for operably securing a phallic device thereto. The mount is positioned adjacent to and supported by a bed. A substantially planar bed-engaging portion is positioned below the mattress of the bed and extends to the mount thereby supporting the mount during use. Preferably, the substantially planar bed-engaging portion is retractable within the mount for easy concealment when not in use. In a preferred embodiment, the height of the planar bed-engaging portion and the height of the phallic device are both independently adjustable by a user. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is an isometric, front view of a phallic device mount in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention showing a possible in-use position and a possible orientation with respect to a bed.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is an isometric, back view of the phallic device mount structure of  FIG. 1  showing a possible retracted position.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, isometric view of the phallic device mount of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the phallic device mount of  FIG. 1  taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is an isometric, front view of a phallic device mount in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention showing a possible in-use position and a possible orientation with respect to a bed.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is an isometric, back view of the phallic device mount structure of  FIG. 5  showing possible movement of a bed-mounting portion.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of the phallic device mount of  FIG. 5  taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a phallic device mounting portion of an embodiment of the present invention used in a possible alternative mounting to an auxiliary support structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a section view of the phallic device mounting portion of  FIG. 8  taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]     A mount  20  for a phallic device  22  is shown in  FIGS. 1-7 . The mount  20  preferably includes a height adjustable phallic device mounting portion  24  and a height adjustable bed-mounting portion  26 .  
         [0000]     A. General Assembly  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the mount  20  preferably includes a substantially planar base  28  defining a front side  30 , back side  32 , left side  34 , right side  36 , upper edge  38 , lower edge  40 , and left and right edges  42 ,  44 , respectively. Feet  46 , preferably having anti-slip material  48  such as rubber or the like on their lower sides  50 , are secured to the lower edge  40  of the substantially planar base  28 .  
         [0026]     The phallic device mounting portion  24  includes a structure  52  for mounting a phallic device  22  such as a penis substitute, elongate sexual device, dildos, vibrators, or the like, thereto. Preferably, the phallic device mounting portion  24  includes a substantially planar front surface  54  with the phallic device  22  extending substantially perpendicular thereto. More preferably, the phallic device mounting portion  24  is substantially planar and includes a face member  56  and a substantially planar base member  58 . The face member  56  is formed to define a recess  60  therein that is open along a top edge  62 . The recess  60  is preferably sized to detachably receive a substantially planar base portion  64  of the phallic device  22 . An opening  66  extending from the upper edge  38  of the face member  56  through the front surface  54  allows the phallic device  22  to extend therethrough.  
         [0027]     Preferably, the phallic device  22  includes a universal mounting portion  22 ′ that is detachably secured to the phallic device mounting portion  24 , and a plurality of different phallic devices (not shown) each of which is adapted to be installed, one at a time, onto the universal mounting portion  22 ′. Such universal mounting portions  22 ′ are known. One such universal mounting portion is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,396 to McAllister, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0028]     The phallic device mounting portion  24  is preferably slidably secured to the front side  30  of the base  28 . One possible sliding structure  70  includes positioning a left and right substantially planar member  72 ,  74 , respectively, along the left and right sides  34 ,  36 , respectively, of the substantially planar base  28  to define a substantially vertical channel  78  therebetween. The edges  80 ,  82  of the substantially planar members  72 ,  74 , respectively, directed toward the channel  78  each include a lip  84 , or flange, extending toward the channel  78 . Mating recesses  86 ,  88  extending along the left and right sides of the phallic device mounting portion  24  slidably engage the lips  84  on the left and right substantially planar members  72 ,  74  thereby allowing the phallic device mounting portion  24  to slide substantially vertically in the direction of arrows  90  shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0029]     Preferably, the phallic device mounting portion  24  includes a locking system  92  for allowing a user to select a desired height of the phallic device  22  relative to the base  28  and secure the phallic device mounting portion  24  at that height. One known locking system  92  is best shown in  FIG. 3 . The edges of the channel  78  include a plurality of vertically-aligned, spaced apart openings  94 . The phallic device mounting portion  24  includes substantially horizontal levers  96 ,  98  slidably secured thereto with handle portions  100 ,  102 , respectively, extending through parallel-aligned slots  104 ,  106  in the face member  56 . Each lever  96 ,  98  includes a protrusion  108 ,  110 , respectively, extending therefrom for matingly engaging one of the plurality of openings  94  in the edges of the channel  78 . The levers  96 ,  98  are preferably biased to an extended position wherein the protrusions  108 ,  110  engage one of the openings  94 . Such biasing is preferably accomplished with a spring  112  extending between the levers  96 ,  98  thereby urging them apart. More preferably, the spring  112  is operably secured to each lever  96 ,  98  by pins  114 ,  116  extending from each lever  96 ,  98  toward the spring  112  as best shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0030]     A user adjusts the height of the phallic device mounting portion  24  by moving the handle portions  100 ,  102  of each lever  96 ,  98  towards each other, thereby disengaging the protrusions  108 ,  110  from their mating openings  94 . The user slides the phallic device mounting portion  24  along the channel  78  to the desired height and then releases the handle portion  100 ,  102 . The spring  112  urges the levers  96 ,  98  to extend the protrusions  108 ,  110  toward the edge of the channel  78 . Accordingly, the protrusions  108 ,  110  are operably received within the adjacent openings  94  thereby securing the phallic device mounting portion  24  at the selected height.  
         [0031]     The height adjustable bed mounting portion  26  preferably includes a substantially planar bed engaging portion  120  that is operably secured to a base engaging portion  122 . Preferably, the base engaging portion  122  is slidably secured to the back side  32  of the base  28 . More preferably, the bed engaging portion  120  is pivotally secured at a first end  124  to the base engaging portion  122  such that the bed mounting portion  26  moves with respect to the base  28  in the direction of arrows  126  ( FIG. 1 ) to define a retracted position  130  ( FIG. 2 ) in which the bed engaging portion  120  is positioned substantially parallel to and substantially adjacent to the base  28 , and an in-use position  132  ( FIG. 1 ) in which the bed engaging portion  120  is positioned substantially perpendicular to the base  28  as best shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0032]     Even more preferably, the bed engaging portion  120  is pivotally secured to the base  28  with an elongate hinge  138 , and anti-slip material  140 , such as rubber or the like is positioned on the bed engaging portion  120  toward the opposite second end  142  of the bed engaging portion  120 . In order to reduce the overall weight of the phallic device mount  20 , the bed engaging portion  120  may also include a large opening  144  therein as best shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0033]     One possible structure for slidably securing the base engaging portion  122  to the base  28  includes securing left and right rails  150 ,  152 , respectively, each having a lip  154 , or flange, extending therefrom to define a substantially vertical bed mounting portion channel  156  therebetween. Mating recesses  158  in the base engaging portion  122  operably engage the lips  154  thereby allowing the base engaging portion  122  to slide in the direction of arrows  160  ( FIG. 1 ).  
         [0034]     Preferably, the base engaging portion  122  includes a locking system  162  for allowing a user to select a desired height of the bed mounting portion  26  relative to the base  28  and then secure the base engaging portion  122  at that height. One known locking system  162  is best shown in  FIG. 3 . The rails  150 ,  152  include a plurality of vertically-aligned, spaced apart openings  164 . The base engaging portion  122  includes substantially horizontal levers  166 ,  168  slidably secured thereto with handle portions  170 ,  172  extending through slots  174 ,  176  in the face of the base engaging portion  122 . Each lever  166 ,  168  includes a protrusion  178 ,  180  extending therefrom for matingly engaging one of the plurality of openings  164 . The levers  166 ,  168  are preferably biased to an extended position wherein the protrusions  178 ,  180  engage one of the openings  164 . Such biasing is preferably accomplished with a spring  190  extending between the levers  166 ,  168  thereby urging them apart. More preferably, the spring  190  is operably secured to each lever  166 ,  168  by rods  192 ,  194  extending from each lever  166 ,  168  toward the spring  190  as best shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0035]     A user adjusts the height of the bed mounting portion  26  by moving the handle portions  170 ,  172  of each lever  166 ,  168  towards each other, thereby disengaging the protrusions from their mating openings. The user slides the base engaging portion  122  to the desired height and then released the handle portions  170 ,  172 . The spring  190  urges the levers  166 ,  168  to extend the protrusions  178 ,  180  toward the openings  164 .  
         [0036]     Accordingly, the protrusions  178 ,  180  are operably received within the adjacent openings  164  thereby securing the bed mounting portion  26  at the selected height.  
         [0000]     B. Use and Operation  
         [0037]     A user uses the phallic device mount  20  by attaching a phallic device  22  to the phallic device mounting portion  24  and positioning the base  28  substantially vertically next to a bed  200  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The user then adjusts the height of the bed mounting portion  26  so that the hinge  138  is substantially at the same height as a substantially horizontal surface  202  of the bed  200 , such as the break between the box springs  204  and mattress  206 . The user then moves the bed mounting portion  26  from its retracted position  130  ( FIG. 2 ) to its in use position  132  ( FIG. 1 ) and slides the bed engaging portion  120  between the box springs  204  and mattress  206  as shown thereby securing the base  28  to the bed  200 . The weight of the mattress  206  on the bed engaging portion  120  combined with the anti-slip material  140  on the bed engaging portion  120  further secure the base  28  in place. The user then adjusts the height of the phallic device  22  by adjusting the phallic device mounting portion  24  to the desired vertical height.  
         [0038]     Preferably, the channel  78  is sized so as to allow the phallic device  22  to be positioned substantially anywhere along the vertical length of the base  28  including being substantially close to the lower edge  40  of the base  28  and the upper edge  38  of the base  28 . Accordingly, a user can use the phallic device  22  by either lying on their back on the floor adjacent to the phallic device mount  20 , in which case the phallic device mounting portion  24  is positioned toward the lower edge  40  of the base  28 , or by resting on all fours facing away from the phallic device mounting portion  24  such that their buttocks and/or vagina is aligned with the phallic device  22 .  
         [0000]     C. Additional Features and Embodiments  
         [0039]     In view of the wide variety of embodiments to which the principles of the invention can be applied, it should be apparent that the detailed embodiments are illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. For example, the embodiment disclosed in  FIGS. 1-4  discloses the base  28  and bed mounting portion  26  to be substantially rectangular. This allows the bed mounting portion  26  to be received within the base  28  for easy storage and concealment of the mount  20  when not in use.  FIGS. 5-7  disclose different shaped structures. In this alternative embodiment, the base  28 ′ is much narrower thereby allowing a user&#39;s legs to pass-by on either side easily during use. Also, the bed engaging portion  120 ′ includes a flared outer portion  220 , which preferably includes strips of anti-slip material  140  thereon, to thereby increase the surface area of the bed engaging portion  120 ′ and improve the rigidity and stability of the mount  20 ′ during use.  
         [0040]     Also, as shown in  FIGS. 8 &amp; 9 , the phallic device mounting portion  24  may be completely detached from the base  28  and used as a stand-alone phallic device mount. For example, a strap  260  can be secured to the phallic device  22  and wrapped around an auxiliary support structure  262 , such as a door or the like, to allow a user additional opportunities to use their phallic device  22 . In such case, the phallic device mount  20  can include one or more slots  264  for allowing the strap  260  to be passed therethrough. The strap  260  preferably includes securing structures such as a buckle or hook and loop material  266 , thereby allowing a user to detachably secure just the phallic device mounting portion  24  to an auxiliary support structure  262 .  
         [0041]     In addition, the phallic device mount  20  of the present invention may be used in other ways as well. For example, the base  28  may be positioned substantially horizontally extending between the seats of two chairs or the like or resting flat on a substantially horizontal surface such as a bed. In such case, the bed mounting portion  26  preferably remains in its retracted position  130  ( FIG. 2 ).  
         [0042]     In can appreciated that the mount  28  can also be used to assist paraplegics, quadriplegics, and others with conditions that limit their movement, to simulate normal sexual intercourse with a partner. The adjustability of the mount  28  allows the phallic device mounting portion to be laid over, on, under or attached to a wheelchair, hospital bed or other assistive device thereby allowing such individuals to engage in a large variety of sexual experiences. In addition, the mount  28  may stand alone to allow and individual with a disfiguring condition to simulate the experience of sexual intercourse without a partner.  
         [0043]     In light of these additional embodiments and methods of use, the claimed invention includes all such modifications as may come within the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereto.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0