Abstract:
The invention provides a vibrating ring, which includes a ring and a vibrating device mounted with the ring. The vibrating device comprises a casing, a power module, a resilient base, a vibrating motor and a massage pad connected with the vibrating motor through an oscillating rod. The power module lodges a battery, and is provided with a rotary or push switch. When turned on, the vibrating device produces vibrations which are transmitted to the ring and make the massage pad oscillate.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to sexual stimulating devices, and more particularly to a vibrating ring configured to provide enhanced sexual pleasure by applying an effective vibrating stimulation. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,907,883 describes a vibrating ring implemented as an apparatus for sexual stimulation. The vibrating ring includes a plastic ring having a pocket mounted with a vibrating device. The pocket is formed with the ring in a single body, and has a surface provided with a protrusion. The vibrating device is internally mounted with a vibrating motor having an eccentric mass rotor. When the vibrating device is turned on, the rotation of the motor creates vibrations which propagate to the ring body and its protrusion on the surface of the pocket. 
         [0003]    Unfortunately, the operation of the foregoing vibrating ring does not bring satisfactory results. One reason may be that the vibration mode produced by the vibrating device fails to provide an effective stimulation through the ring. 
         [0004]    Therefore, there is presently a need for an improved apparatus that can provide enhanced performance and effectively stimulate sexual pleasure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present application describes a vibrating ring for sexual stimulation. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, the vibrating ring comprises a ring for encircling a penis and provided with a mount pocket, and a vibrating device mounted within the pocket of the ring, wherein the vibrating device includes a massage pad driven in movement by an oscillating rod. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the vibrating device includes a casing, a vibrating motor mounted with a resilient base inside the casing, and a power module. The resilient base may be a spring or a flexible plastic. The oscillating rod connects the massage pad to the motor. The oscillating rod may be mounted by sleeving over a portion of the motor. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the oscillating rod extends through an opening of the casing. The oscillating rod in movement repeatedly hits a rim of the opening of the casing to generate vibrations. The vibrating device is thereby configured to make the ring vibrate and oscillate the massage pad. The massage pad exposes outward through an opening of the mount pocket of the ring. The massage pad can be configured to apply vibrations to a vaginal area. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the power module includes a switch and a battery. The switch is operable to selectively connect the battery with the motor to turn on the vibrating device. In some variations, the switch may be a rotary or push switch. 
         [0010]    The foregoing is a summary and shall not be construed to limit the scope of the claims. The operations and structures disclosed herein may be implemented in a number of ways, and such changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader aspects. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of the invention, as defined solely by the claims, are described in the non-limiting detailed description set forth below. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a general schematic view of a vibrating condom ring according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along section A in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3   a  is a schematic view of a vibrating device implemented in a vibrating condom ring according to according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3   b  is a view opposite  FIG. 3   a;    
           [0015]      FIG. 4   a  is a schematic view of a vibrating device implemented in a vibrating condom ring according to another embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4   b  is a view opposite  FIG. 4   a.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a vibrating condom ring according to an embodiment of the invention. Reference number  10  generally designates the vibrating condom ring, which includes a ring  14  and a vibrating device  16  mounted with the ring  14 . For example, the vibrating device  16  may be installed inside a pocket  19  provided on a portion of the ring  14 . The vibrating device  16  includes a massage pad  27  protruding outward through an opening of the pocket  19 . In an embodiment, the pocket  19  can be made of rubber and molded with the ring  14  in a single piece. More generally, any flexible or elastic material can be suitable for making the ring  14  and pocket  19 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a vibrating device implemented with a vibrating ring according to an embodiment of the invention. The vibrating device  16  includes a casing  18  in which are assembled a resilient base  20 , a power module  40 , a motor  23  having a rotor  24  with an eccentric mass, and an oscillating rod  26 . The shape of the casing  18  may be generally oblong or oval to allow easier mount inside the pocket  19  of the ring  14 . The power module  40  includes a switch  42  and a battery case  43  configured to lodge a battery  41  for supplying electric power to the motor  23 . The battery  41  is preferably a flat battery. However, other types of power supply may be suitable. 
         [0019]    As shown, the motor  23  is mounted on the resilient base  20  inside the casing  18 . The resilient base  20  is configured to position the motor  23  inside the casing  18  while allowing its vibrating. In an exemplary embodiment, the resilient base  20  is formed in a single body by molding of a flexible plastic material, and has a first end  20   a  movably connected with a notch provided on the casing and a second end  20   b  which sleeves over a section  23   a  of the motor  23 . 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the oscillating rod  23  includes a hollow portion in which a second section  23   b  of the motor  23  including the rotor  24  inserts. The motor  23  thus is securely positioned with the oscillating rod  26 , so that the motor  23  when vibrating causes an oscillating movement of the rod  26 . The oscillating rod  26  is connected with the massage pad  27 , which extends and exposes outward through an opening  32  of the casing  18 . 
         [0021]    Preferably, the oscillating rod  26  is made of a rigid material for transmitting vibration to the massage pad  27 . In turn, the massage pad  217  can be made of a flexible material and has a shape profiled to provide a soft and comfortable touch feeling. According to an implementation, the massage pad  27  can be made of a material composition including silica gel. However, other materials such as rubber, thermoplastics, or the like may also be suitable. 
         [0022]    When turned on, the motor  23  drives the rotor  24  in rotation to produce vibrations. The created vibrations propagate through the casing  18  to the ring  14 . Additionally, the movement produced by the motor  23  cause oscillation at a high frequency of the rod  26 , which repeatedly hits the rim of the opening  32 . The repeated collision of the oscillating rod  26  against the rim of the opening  32  creates vibration of the casing  18  and the massage pad  27 . In an embodiment not illustrated, the rim of the opening  32  may be additionally provided with protruding beads to promote the generation of vibrations when it is hit by the oscillating rod  26 . 
         [0023]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are opposite sectional views of an internal structure of the vibrating device, particularly showing the switching mechanism between the power module and the motor according to an embodiment of the invention. As illustrated, the power module  40  includes electrically conductive plates  44  and  46 . The power terminals of the motor  23  are exposed through the resilient base  20  and the oscillating rod  26  for electrically connecting with the conductive plates  44  and  46  through conductive wires (not shown). In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b,  the switch  42  is exemplary a rotary switch including a rotating button  47 . 
         [0024]    The switching circuit may be implemented through different ways. In the illustrated embodiment, the conductive plates  44  and  46  extend into contact terminals which are positioned relative to the battery case  43  to resiliently contact the positive and negative poles of the battery  41 . The rotating button  47  is configured to drive an insulating flange  45  in rotation. The insulating flange  45  is configured to contact with the peripheral and bottom faces of the battery  41 , which correspond to the positive and negative poles of the battery  41 . 
         [0025]    When the switch  42  is in an OFF state, the insulating flange  45  lies in a position interposed between the contact terminals of the conductive plates  44  and  46  and the positive and negative poles of the battery  41  to disconnect the electric circuit between the motor  23  and the battery  41 . To turn the vibrating device on, a user turns the rotating button  47  to an ON state position, the movement of which causes the insulating flange  45  to disengage from the position between the conductive plates  44  and  46  and the electric poles of the battery  41 . As a result, the terminals of the conductive plates  44  and  46  contact with the positive and negative poles of the battery  41  to establish an electrical connection and turn on the motor  23 . 
         [0026]    An advantage of the aforementioned design is that the conductive plates  44  and  46  are isolated from the electric poles of the battery  41  in the OFF state, which can prevent undesirable oxidation of these metallic parts which may be induced by mechanical contact between them. Additionally, the vibrating device can be easily and conveniently operated with a simple rotation of the button  47 . To facilitate its hand manipulation, an outer surface of the button  47  may be provided with protrusions  49 , as shown in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b.    
         [0027]    The vibrating ring according to this invention may be used in many ways. According to one embodiment, the ring  14  may be placed so as to encircle a penis. During a sexual act, the vibrating device  16  can be turned on so as to generate vibrations in the ring  14 , while the massage pad  217  additionally applies a vibrating contact on a sensitive area of the other partner (for example, a vaginal region of the female partner). The vibrating ring according the invention thus can bring fin and enhance the sexual stimulation. 
         [0028]    It should be understood that the vibrating ring according to this invention is not limited to any specific use, and many use configurations are possible. In particular, the vibrating ring can be commercialized independently, or combined with a condom in a package product for inciting people to purchase and use condoms. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are schematic views illustrating a vibrating device suitable for use with a vibrating ring according to a variant embodiment of the invention. The vibrating device  110  includes a casing  118  in which are assembled a resilient base  120 , a power module  140 , a motor  123  having an eccentric mass rotor  124 , and an oscillating rod  126 . The vibrating device  110  can be associated with a ring as described above. In this embodiment, the resilient base  120  is a spring used to position the motor  123  within the casing  118 . As the stiffness of the resilient base  120  modifies the vibration produced by the motor  123 , the material and the type of the resilient base  120  can be generally chosen according to the desired degree of vibration set for the vibrating device. A massage pad  127  is also provided, which is connected through an oscillating rod  126  to the motor  123 . The motor  123  is electrically connected with conductive plates  144  and  146  through electric wires  155  and  157 , for example. 
         [0030]    In the embodiment of  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b,  the power module  140  uses a pushing switch  142 , and includes a battery case  143  for lodging a battery  141 . Each conductive plate  144  and  146  extends into a contact terminal adjacent to the battery  141 . The battery case  143  is movably assembled with the casing  118 , and includes resilient flanges  152 , each of which having a notch  154  configured to engage with a protrusion  156  provided on an inner surface of the casing  118 . 
         [0031]    In  FIG. 4   a,  the switch  142  is in an OFF state. The position of the battery case  143  separates and disconnects the battery  141  from the conductive plates  144  and  146  to turn off the vibrating device  110 . In the OFF state, the resilient flange  152  has a rib  158  that resiliently engages with a slot  159  of an adjacent portion of the casing  118 , which can prevent the switch  142  from inadvertent slipping and turning the vibrating device  110  on. 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 4   b,  the switch  142  is in an ON state. As a user exerts a sufficient pushing force on the switch  142 , the rib  158  disengages from the slot  159  and the battery case  143  slides and brings the electric poles of the battery  41  in contact with the conductive plate  144  and  146  to supply electric power to the motor  123 . In the ON state, the protrusion  156  snap fits with the notch  154  to impede the return of the battery case  143  to the OFF state position. To turn off the vibrating device, the user exerts a pulling force on the switch  142  to disengage the protrusion  156  from the notch  154  and pull the battery case  143  back to the OFF state position, which disconnects the battery  141  from the conductive plates  144  and  146 . 
         [0033]    As described above, the present invention therefore provides a vibrating ring configured to apply a vibrating stimulation through at least two separate ways, which include a vibration of the ring and an oscillation and vibration of the massage pad. The vibrating ring according this invention thus can provide an improved sexual stimulation compared with the prior art devices. 
         [0034]    Realizations in accordance with the present invention have been described in the context of particular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. Accordingly, plural instances may be provided for components described herein as a single instance. Structures and functionality presented as discrete components in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims that follow.