Compact Condom With Elastic Rings for Sensation and Fit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional male condoms reduce sensation during intercourse due to covering the entire penis, while attempts to alleviate this through thinner materials often result in increased breakage risks.

Innovation Solution

A compact male condom with a flexible cylindrical body and selectively movable elastic rings that secure around the glans, distributing force across a larger surface area to minimize discomfort and prevent leakage, featuring an applicator ring for easy application and accommodation of various penis sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the condom covers the entire length of the penis, then protection against disease and pregnancy is improved, but sensation during intercourse deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against disease and pregnancyVSAvoidreduced sensation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The condom is segmented into two distinct parts: a reservoir that covers only the glans (head) of the penis, and an applicator ring that remains external. This segmentation allows the protective function to be concentrated where it is most needed (at the glans) while leaving the shaft exposed to maintain sensation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The traditional continuous condom structure is extracted and reconfigured. The protective covering is extracted from the shaft portion and concentrated only at the glans, while the applicator ring function is extracted and placed externally for application purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the thickness of condom material is reduced to maintain sensation, then sensation is improved, but the risk of breakage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensation during intercourseVSAvoidrisk of breakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The condom structure is segmented such that the reservoir portion can be made very thin to preserve sensation, while the applicator ring provides structural support and protection. This segmentation allows thin material to be used without compromising overall reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reservoir is constructed from thin flexible material that maintains sensation while providing protection. The thin film design is made feasible by the segmented structure where the applicator ring provides the necessary structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Object-affected harmful factors

If elastic rings are disposed at regular intervals to distribute force, then comfort is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediscomfort during wearVSAvoidstructure of elastic rings

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The applicator ring is segmented into multiple elastic rings arranged at regular intervals. This segmentation distributes the securing force across multiple points, improving comfort while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic rings are configured with specific spacing parameters (e.g., three millimeter increments) to optimize force distribution. By carefully controlling the spacing parameter, comfort is improved without significantly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances sensation during intercourse by contouring to the penis, reducing discomfort, and minimizing the risk of breakage and fluid leakage while maintaining protection against sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.

Implementation Method 1

A plurality of elastic rings are disposed about a circumference of the cylindrical body, wherein the plurality of elastic rings is selectively movable between an expanded position and a retracted position. The plurality of elastic rings are biased towards the retracted position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the plurality of elastic rings are disposed at regular intervals along a length of the cylindrical body, such that the force generated by the elastic rings is distributed over a larger surface area to minimize discomfort

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure distribution: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

the open second end is wrapped about an applicator ring, wherein the applicator ring is configured to maintain the plurality of elastic rings in the expanded position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical constraint: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS11491046B2Compact male condom

Publication Date: 2022.11.08 HALE JOSHUA

AI summary

A compact male condom is provided having a flexible cylindrical body having a closed first end opposite an open second end defining an interior volume. The interior volume is dimensioned to receive a glans of a penis therein. A plurality of elastic rings is disposed about a circumference of the cylindrical body, wherein the plurality of elastic rings is selectively movable between an expanded position and a retracted position. The plurality of elastic rings is biased towards the retracted position.