GB2225721A

GB2225721A - Easy fitting condom

Info

Publication number: GB2225721A
Application number: GB8817211A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Colin Powell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-07-20
Filing date: 1988-07-20
Publication date: 1990-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2008-07-20
Also published as: GB2225721B; GB8817211D0

Abstract

A barrier contraceptive in the form of a condom which is fitted with a tension operated unfurling ribbon to enable faster, easier fitting, less manual contact and easier removal from the package. <IMAGE>

Description

EASY FITTING CONDOM This invention relates to the field of barrier contraceptives.

Barrier contraceptives such as the condom have enjoyed a resurgence due to their benefits in preventing contraction of sexually transmitted diseases. For many, however, the condom is an uncomfortable and inconvenient method of protection. At the peak of sexual desire it is necessary to pause, remove the condom from the packet and fit it. Fitting involves the location of the rolled condom on the tip of the penis and then unrolling it along the length of the penis.

Often the condom becomes entangled underneath the rolled part, making further unrolling difficult. This time consuming activity removes much of the spontaneity of the lovemaking process, and leaves the user's hands smelling of the rubber and lubricant.

According to the present invention there is a novel method of packaging any condom which will allow simpler fitting and reduce the amount of manual contact. The mechanism is shown in Figure 1. During manufacture, immediately before rolling, a thin plastic ribbon (1) is affixed to the condom (2). The ribbon forms a U shape so that both free ends are at the top of the condom. The bottom of the U does not go to the very end of the sheath to prevent users with penises smaller than the total length being unable to extricate the ribbon. The U will preferably end 170mm from the tip of the condom.

Referring to Figure 2, the condom is rolled with the ribbon (1) and the free ends are then firmly fixed to the two halves of the package (3). The package (3) is fitted with a heat sealing adhesive ring (4) which leaves two flaps free at one end (5). The assembly is then heat sealed ready for use.

The condom is fitted in the following way: Once an erection has been achieved, the user opens the package by pulling the two flaps (5). The cap of the condom is placed over the head of the penis, with the two halves of the package (3) attached to the ribbon (1). The user then simply pulls the package halves apart, which causes the condom (2) to unroll.

Near to full unfurling the ribbon comes free, allowing it to be discarded. The last part of the unfurling operation can be continued manually, to adjust for different size penises.

This method of fitting cuts the activity to a few seconds, reducing the disruptive effects on the act of lovemaking.

Claims

1. A contraceptive sheath or condom having a combined package and fitting method.

2. A fitting method as claimed in Claim 1 consisting of a ribbon rolled with the condom at time of manufacture able to cause it to unfurl over the penis by tension being applied to the said ribbon.

3. A package to which the ribbon as claimed in Claim 2 is attached and which pulls apart to offer the method by which the condom may be manouevered and unfurled.

4. A condom and fitting method substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-2 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A packaging arrangement for a sheath condom, which arrangement comprises: a ''flat pack'' of two face to face sheet-like surfaces joined around their common periphery to define a closed volume therebetween; and within this volume an annularly rolled-up condom having rolled with it a bight of narrow tape in such a way that the tape's free ends extend out from opposite points on the rolled up condoms annulus; and wherein the free ends of the tape are secured one to each of the pack's two surfaces; and each surface is provided with an extended grip by which it may be held and the pack pulled apart to release the condom retained therewithin.

2. A packaging arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the sealing of the pack's two sheet-like surfaces around their common periphery is achieved using a peripheral ring of a heat sealable adhesive.

3. A packaging arrangement as claimed in either of the preceding Claims, wherein the bight of tape rolled up with the condom is a simple narrow tape of a plastics substance.

4. A packaging arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the tape is of such a length that it can extend, doubled up into the loop, nearly all the way along the length of the condom to a point where it is loosely affixed to the condom, and still have its ''free'' ends extend from opposite points on the condom annulus and to the mounting positions on each pack side.

5. A packaging arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the tape's free ends are pad-like.

6. A packaging arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the tape's free ends are secured to the internal surface of each pack side, just on the inside of the common periphery.

7. A packaging arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the pack's two grips are flap-like extensions of the pack sheet surfaces.

8. A packaging arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding Claims and substantially as described hereinbefore.