WO1989001768A1

WO1989001768A1 - Oral condom

Info

Publication number: WO1989001768A1
Application number: PCT/DK1988/000140
Authority: WO
Inventors: Glen Russell Harding
Original assignee: Glen Russell Harding
Priority date: 1987-08-27
Filing date: 1988-08-29
Publication date: 1989-03-09
Also published as: EP0391908A1; AU2385788A

Abstract

An elastic and flexible oral condom conforms to a wearer's lips, tongue, and mouth, and provides prophylaxis for oral intercourse. The condom may include non-toxic flavor, lubrication, color, and texture means on surface parts as enhancements to oral intercourse.

Description

Oral Condom

Ffeld of the Invention

This invention relates generally to the field of hygienic appliances, and more particularly to prophylactic devices.

Acts of oral intercourse, including kissing, are as old as sexuality. The need for an oral prophylactic, or oral condom, is as old as oral diseases, including communicable diseases. Throughout history mankind has suffered from oral problems such as oral candidiasis, oral hairy leukoplakia ~ and simply rotting teeth. Furthermore, age-old venereal diseases have oral paths, pharngeal gonorrhea being one specific example.

A contemporary and sensational disease, such as herpes and more specifically AIDS, has replaced gonorrhea and syphilis, also once contemporary and equally sensational health epidemics. Sexual epidemics increase the awareness of problems associated with sexual contact. Moreover, old diseases like syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and herpes, and newer ones like AIDS, have specific oral routes. In fact dentists played a key role in the early detection of AIDS by observing lesions in the oral mucosa of infected patients. But the oral problems of diseases, including venereal diseases, have existed for centuries.

The traditional male condom has evolved through centuries. The first condoms recorded in regular use were primarily worn for disease prevention rather than contraception. These were bladders of animals used in ancient Rome. Other records show the Chinese later developed the idea in oiled silk paper. The Japanese later developed the idea in leather. The evolution exists for male and female condoms.

In contradistinction, the prior art does not show the technical evolution of an oral prophylactic, or preventative against diseases for oral intercourse. This is true though the subject matter as a whole for the invention of the oral condom, including hygienic need and viable construction materials, has co-existed with male and female condoms. The sexual health focus today is via AIDS but the subject matter as a whole for the oral condom is parallel with traditional condoms.

The specific problem that is important because of its immediate and devastating consequences is sexually transmitted diseases. Many externally and internally worn devices have been developed more specifically for avoiding pregnancies and some of these, most notably condoms, are effective for preventing sexually transmitted diseases. Condoms are most closely related to the present invention; they are effective contraceptives, effective prophylactics against sexual diseases, and sometimes effective prosthetics for sexual stimulation. However, traditional condoms are designed solely for sexual intercourse and sexuality includes oral intercourse. Moreover, fluids are passed by oral intercourse and sexually transmitted diseases have oral paths. It should therefore be evident that a new device that provides the protective benefits that traditional condoms provide for sexual intercourse butfbr oral intercourse would constitute a significant improvement over the state of the art.

A main disadvantage of the prior art is that it provides explicit prophylaxis only for sexual intercourse. The present invention accomplishes a novel and complementary method of protection for oral intercourse including kissing, fellatio, and cunnilingus. The immediate protection the new condom provides is particularly suited, for example, to individuals that otherwise suffer by oral paths of venereal or other distressing diseases.

In view of the foregoing factors and conditions characteristic of the prior art, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a novel condom that helps reduce the incidents of transmission of sexual diseases, particularly by oral intercourse.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an oral condom that is comfortable and safe to wear.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive oral condom that allows maximum tactile sensation for a wearer and a partner.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide an oral condom that may incorporate compositions of textures, and non-toxic flavors, lubricants, and colors to enhance its use for oral intercourse.

Still a further objective of the present invention is to provide effective and comfortable means of securing the oral condom in place.

And still a further objective of the present invention is to provide a condom that protects the lips, tongue, and the mouth for oral intercourse while still permitting air to pass for breathing.

And yet still a further objective of the present invention is to provide an oral condom that inhibits the transmission of sexual diseases to and from the mouth area of a wearer during oral intercourse while still allowing the comfortable swallowing and maintenance of the wearer's own saliva.

a primary objective of the present invention to provide an oral condom that is orally; pleasurable and comfortable, and massages the gums, while fulfilling prophylaxis for oral intercourse.

Summary

The oral condom includes a resilient, elastic and flexible body construction having a thin-walled portion to be received into the mouth over the tongue of a wearer, and further havinga labial portion that fits about the lips of the wearer.

Drawings

Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the oral condom showing a tubular portion for location inwardly in the mouth over the tongue of a wearer, the closed end of said tubular portion explicitly defining a flexible pocket for receiving the wearer's tongue, and further having a labial portion that fits about the lips of the wearer.

Figure 2 is a frontal view of an embodiment of the oral condom showing surface parts of the condom.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the oral condom as worn on a user.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the oral condom comprising textured areas located on surface parts.

Hgure 5 shows another embodiment of the oral condom including adhesive tabs to secure the condom in place. Moreover, the embodiment does not explicitly define a flexible pocket portion for receiving a wearer's tongue. However, the tubular portion is elastic and thus adapted to snugly receive the wearer's tongue extending into the inner space of said tubular portion.

Hgure 6 illustrates additional means of securing the condom in place by a strap.

Hgure 7 shows yet another embodiment of the oral condom configured as a thin sheet having a substantially elastic ovate tubular portion for location inwardly in the mouth as a substantially tubular portion over the tongue of a wearer.

Hgure 8 shows still another embodiment of the oral condom comprising breathing ducts integrally formed with the embodiment of Figure 7. Figure 9 is a cross-section view of an embodiment of the oral condom showing a pocket portion explicitly extending into the inner space of the tubular portion.

Hgure 10 depicts an example dipping tool for manufacturing the embodiment of the condom ώown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a cross-section view of an embodiment of the oral condom further comprising labial sulci ridges.

Description

Referring now to the drawings and particularly Figure 1, an oral condom is shown having a tubular portion 2 for location in the mouth cavity over the tongue of a wearer, a pocket portion 12 for receiving the tongue of the wearer, and a labial portion 4 that fits about the lips of the wearer. The condom is dimensioned to fit comfortably for the human mouth and lips; it is elastic and flexible to adapt the natural range of movement of the lips, tongue, and mouth.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the tubular portion 2 explicitly defines a pocket 12 extending into and completely contained in the closed end of said tubular portion for snugly receiving the tongue of a wearer. In the embodiment of Figure 5, the pocket poprtion 12 is not explicitly defined. However, the tubular portion 2 is elastic and thus adapted to also extend forwardly towards the labial portion 4 and into which the tongue of the wearer may be received.

One preferred embodiment of the present invention is fabricated as a unitary construction in a process using well known rubber or synthetic materials. Typical materials are latex, PVC, polyethylene. The thickness of the tubular material can range between 0.20mm and 0.02mm, approximately. Thickness of the labial portion can range between 4.00mm and 0.02mm, approximately, depending upon flexible to elastic embodiments.

The tubular portion 2 is adapted to the natural shape of the mouth cavity and references the state of the art in condom manufacture. The labial portion 4 is adapted to the natural outline of human lips or simply elliptical shapes. The labial portion 4 further functions to prevent swallowing the condom, especially for flexible embodiments that extend beyond the natural outline of a wearer's lips. The upper lip definition of the labial portion 4, particularly for flexible embodiments, may extend further to protect the wearer's nose membranes.

An elastic embodiment of the labial portion 4 may have adhesive means on its inner surface for fastening to skin about the mouth of a wearer. Typical manners of fastening are by hypo-allergenic adhesives of the type used in surgical bandages. A peel-off type of paper, for example, is removed and the exposed adhesive is affixed to facial skin about the lips.

In one embodiment of the invention at least part of the condom is a semi-permeable membrane. The semi-permeability relates liquid repellance and gas permeability.

Dr accordance with another embodiment of the invention, textured areas may be located on surface parts of the condom to enhance its tactile use for a wearer and a partner. Moreover, these textured areas may be located on the condom in a decorative fashion.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, non- toxic lubrication, flavoring, an color means may be located on surface parts of the condom. Moreover, these lubrication, flavoring, and coloring means may be located on the condom in a decorative fashion.

fir accordance with still another embodiment of the invention, Figure 5 shows that the condom may be secured in place with adhesive tabs 6. These tabs are integrally formed with the condom body and have adhesive means on their inner surface. In packaging the condom the adhesive is protected, for example, by a peel-off type of paper.

Li accordance with yet still another embodiment of the invention, Figure 6 shows that the elastic tension of an integral strap 8 may be used to secure the condom in place. The oral condom in this embodiment is applied to the mouth and the strap is set around the back of the head; the strap suspends the condom when it is not in use.

Li accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, Figure 7 shows the oral condom configured as a thin, substantially rectangular sheet. A substantially elastic ovate tubular portion 2 is adapted for location inwardly in the mouth as a substantially tubular portion over the tongue of a wearer. The elastic ovate tubular portion further defines a pocket 12 for snugly receiving the tongue of the wearer. Figure 8 shows this oral condom embodiment with spacing means forming air flow channels between the inner surface of the condom material and wearer's facial skin.

fii accordance with still a further embodiment of the invention, Figure 9 shows a cross-section view of an oral condom defining an elastic pocket portion 12 completely contained in the inner space of the tubular portion 2. The pocket portion 12 is adapted for snugly receiving the tongue of a wearer. Figure 10 depicts a corresponding tool for manufacturing the condom embodiment, for example, by dipping into latex or similar material. The tool may be constructed, for instance, from porcelain or a metal such as bronze or steel.

In accordance with yet still a further embodiment of the invention, Figure 11 shows a cross-section view of an oral condom including labial sulci ridges 14 to position and secure the condom in place within a wearer's mouth. Both upper and lower ridges are shown though only the upper or lower ridge may be necessary. The ridges are a means to grip and secure the condom within the wearer's mouth; they additionally prevent tearing condom material by the wearer's teeth. The material resiliency of these ridges area is therefore important

The flexibility of the labial portion 4 and the resiliency of the ridges 14 contribute to effectively securing and positioning the oral condom within a wearer's mouth. Moreover, it is consequently possible to breathe through the mouth when the device is clenched down upon by the wearer's teeth. Some spring action incorporated into the device is desireable for this condom embodiment. The spring action tendency is holding the wearer's mouth open. Manufacturing alternatives for the labial and ridges portions include flexible rings and thermal set plastics. Furthermore, the well-known natural latex and inert silicone compositions for infant teething and suckling devices are potential construction materials.

It is to be pointed out that materials herein specified are examples and any ones having similar characteristics may be substituted for those specifically identified. Although a limited number of embodiments of the invention have been described in some detail, it should be realized that modifications and other embodiments incorporating the inventive features may be constructed; those skilled in the art will envision many variations within its scope. For example, skilled artisans will readily be able to change the dimensions and shapes of the various embodiments, and substitute alternative materials to make the oral condom. Accordingly, it is intended that the foregoing disclosure and drawings shall be considered only as illustrations of principles of this invention.

A primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a means of protection against sexually transmitted diseases for oral intercourse. In the manner that traditional condoms protect against the transmission of bodily fluids during sexual intercourse, the present invention operates by providing a barrier method that inhibits the transfer of bodily fluids to and from the mouth area during oral intercourse.

In the embodiment depicted by Figure 1, the tubular portion 2 is placed in the mouth cavity over the tongue of a wearer. The wearer's tongue is snugly received in the pocket portion 12 explicitly defined within the inner space of said tubular portion. The labial portion 4 is positioned about the wearer's lips.

In the embodiment depicted by Figure 5, the pocket portion 12 is not explicitly defined. However, the tubular portion 2 is elastic and adapted to further receive a wearer's tongue in -a pocket portion 12 defined into the inner space of said tubular portion. The integral tabs 6 function to secure the condom in place by fastening to the wearer's facial skin. The tabs are affixed by first peeling away a protective paper on the inside surface of the tabs, and then pressing the adhesive surface onto facial skin.

fit the embodiment depicted by Figure 6 the integral strap 8 functions to secure the condom in place. After the condom is set for a wearer's mouth, the strap 8 is placed behind the wearer's head and elastic tension anchors the condom body in place.

fii the embodiment depicted by Figure 7, the oral condom is configured as a thin sheet comprising a substantially elastic ovate tubular portion 2 for location inwardly in the mouth as a substantially tubular portion over the tongue of a wearer. The ovate tubular portion 2 is adapted to further receive the wearer's tongue in a pocket portion 12 defined in the inner space of said ovate tubular portion. Moreover, the condom embodiment has adhesive means on its inner surface. The integral tabs 6 provided at corners of a substantially rectangular sheet facilitate anchorage about the mouth of the wearer. The condom is placed over the mouth and the adhesive area is affixed to the wearer's facial skin.

Figure 8 shows an embodiment of the present invention incorporated with breathing ducts 10. Spacing means provided on the inner side of the sheet form air flow channels between the sheet and a wearer's skin. Moreover, the condom may incorporate a semi-permeable membrane. The semi-permeability relates liquid repellance and gas permeability.

fii the embodiment depicted by Figure 9, the portion 2 is drawn inwardly into the mouth cavity as a tubular portion over the tongue of a wearer. Moreover, the portion 2 is elastic and adapted to extend forwardly towards the labial portion 4 thus defining a pocket 12 contained in said tubular portion for snugly receiving the tongue of the wearer. The labial portion 4 of the embodiment is flexible and extends beyond the outline of the wearer's lips. Furthermore, stiffness of the labial portion 4 facilitates handling the condom including easy insertion to and removal from the mouth of the wearer.

In the embodiment depicted by Figure 11 resilient and flexible ridges 14 are included to position and secure the condom in a wearer's mouth. No adhesive, for example, is required to secure the condom embodiment in place. An upper ridge is set into the upper labial sulcus of the wearer. A lower ridge is set into the lower labial sulcus of the wearer. These ridges preferably have rigidity and resiliency to hold their shape and position within the wearer's mouth. Moreover, the rigidity and resiliency may extend behind the wearer's teeth adapted for occlusal contact.

A user primarily wears the oral condom during oral intercourse for advantages of protecting the wearer's lips, tongue, and mouth. The tubular portion 2 provides a barrier method for a human engaging anatomical body portion. The pocket portion 12, explicitly or implicitly defined into the inner space of said tubular portion, provides a barrier method for the wearer's tongue.

The labial portion 4 functions to provide a barrier method for a wearer's lips. This labial portion, particularly for resilient and flexible embodiments, additionally functions to prevent swallowing the condom. A spring action incorporated into the labial portion, for instance, has tendency to press against the wearer's facial skin. The upper lip definition of a flexible embodiment of the labial portion may extend further to protect the wearer's nose membranes. The oral condom consequently functions as a barrier method to prevent sexually transmitted diseases during oral intercourse.

fii all of the embodiments shown, the oral condom directly functions to protect a user's lip, tongue, and mouth membranes during oral intercourse. A specific need for the oral condom is protection for oral intercourse for clinical patients having chronic and acute oral problems. The planned condom use is by patients desiring the social rehabilitation of a renewed sex life. These patients, particularly those suffering by oral paths of venereal diseases, require protection for themselves and their partners.

The oral condom further functions as a sexological tool,¥or example, when it^'is appropriately textured, lubricated, colored, and flavored, fii particular, the oral condom is potentially an enhancement for that segment of the female population requiring oral stimulation to achieve orgasm. A further advantage is increasing fertility by decreasing sexual infections. Moreover, the oral condom may provide oral satisfaction to a wearer, including gum massage, suc ing pleasure, and biting resiliency. A sexually healthy society is a more productive society.

The above specifics exemplify some embodiments of the present invention as its advantages relate to protection against sexually transmitted diseases for oral intercourse; variations from this purpose particularly employing adroitness of the human tongue are possible. One diverse example is mouth-painting by specific handicapped individuals.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, other versions are possible. Therefore the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to description of the preferred versions contained herein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

L. An oral condom for use in the mouth and about the lips of a wearer comprising: an elastic unitary, liquid impermeable body having a thin-walled tubular portion to be received into the mouth over the tongue of the wearer, the tubular portion being closed at a first end for location in the mouth of the wearer, and having a labial portion at a second end remote from said first end for fitting over the lips of the wearer, and means for attaching the body to the wearer.

2. The oral condom according to claim 1 further comprising textured areas located on surface parts.

3. The oral condom according to claim 1 further comprising non-toxic flavoring means located on surface parts.

4. The oral condom according to claim 1 further comprising non-toxic lubrication means located on surface parts.

5. The oral condom according to claim 1 wherein surface parts include decorations selected from the group consisting of color designs, texture designs, and patterns including non-toxic flavoring means.

6. The oral condom according to claim 1 wherein the labial portion extends beyond the lips of the wearer.

7. The oral condom according to claim 1 wherein said labial portion includes an inner surface having an endless band of adhesive for attachment to facial skin around the mouth of the wearer.

8. The oral condom according to claim 1 including integrally formed adhesive tabs about the labial portion for securing the body to facial skin about the mouth of the wearer.

9: The oral condom according to claim 1 including an integral elastic strap affixed to the labial portion to be worn behind the head for attachment about the head of the wearer.

10. The oral condom according to claim 1 wherein at least part of the construction material is a semi-permeable membrane.

11. An oral condom comprising: aϋquid-impermeable thin unitary sheet for covering the mouth of a wearer, said sheet having a substantially elastic ovate tubular portion for location inwardly in the mouth cavity as a substantially tubular portion over the tongue of the wearer, the tubular portion being closed at a felt end for location in the mouth of the wearer, and means for attaching the sheet to the wearer.

12. The oral condom according to claim 11 wherein surface parts of the sheet include decorations selected from the group consisting of color designs, texture designs, and patterns mcluding non-toxic flavoring and lubrication means.

13. The oral condom according to claim 11 having a substantially elastic ovate tubular portion of the sheet for snugly receiving the tongue of the wearer defined in a pocket extending into said ovate tubular portion.

14. The oral condom according to claim 11 including adhesive means on an inner surface of the sheet for fastening the sheet to facial skin about the mouth of the wearer.

15. The oral condom according to claim 11 including spacing means on the inner side of the sheet forming air flow channels between the sheet material and the wearer's facial skin.

16. The oral condom according to claim 11 wherein at least part of the sheet is a semi-permeable membrane.

17. An oral condom for use in the mouth and about the lips of a wearer comprising: an elastic flexible, resilient body having a thin- walled tubular portion to be received into the mouth over the tongue of the wearer, the tubular portion being closed at a first end for location in the mouth of the wearer, said first end defining a pocket extending into and completely contained in said first end for snugly receiving the tongue of the wearer, and having a labial portion at a second end remote from said first end for fitting about the lips of the wearer.

18. The oral condom according to claim 17 wherein the pocket defining first end includes at least one projection extending from an inner surface of the tubular portion.

19. The oral condom according to claim 18 wherein at least one projection is directed towards the open second end of the tubular portion.

20. The oral condom according to claim 17 including labial sulci ridges to position and secure the body within the mouth of the wearer.