Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2059292
A CONTRACEFTIV~
The present invention relates to a contraceptive in the
form of a condom.
The condom has long been a f requent ly used alternat ivEa to
other existing forms of contraception.
More recently, however, apart from being a contraceptive,
the condom has been recognized as offering protection
against sexually-transmitted diseases, and against I~:IDS in
particular.
Known to the prior art is a condom which, after being drawn
over the penis, is intended to remain in place during the
course of coition. This is also a necessity, if the condom
is to provide adequate protection against the transmission
of AIDS, from one partner to the other, among other sEyual
diseases.
Obviously, there is a risk of the condom s:!.iding-cuff the
2m penis during intercourse. Should this occur, it caauld
considerably enhance the risk of infection being
transmitted between the partners.
The present invent ion relat es t o a condom modif ~_ed 1 n orr~ar
to ensure that the condom will remain on the penis during
intercourse.
2059292
1a
Accordingly, the present inventic~u relates to a
contraceptive in the form of a condom made from a material
conventional in the manufacture of condoms, which condom in
its extended state has an envelope surface ( 5 ) between its
opening (2) and its closed front end, characterized in that
an additional opening (4) is provided in said envelope
surface (5) and in the part (3) of the condom nearest its
opening (2) through which additional opening (4) the
testicles (scrotum) of the wearer are intended to be
lm inserted and in that a reinforcement ( 6 ) is provided on the
wall constituting said envelope surface of the condom
around said additional opening (4), which reinforcement
comprises a thickening of the condom material in the
reinforced area (6).
The invention will now be described in more detail with
reference to an exemplifying embodiment thereof illustrated
in the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 illustrates a condom in accordance with the
invention, and
WO 91/00076 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ PCT/SE90/00454
2
Figure 2 illustrates a modified version of the condom.
Figure 1 illustrates a contraceptive in the form of an inventive
condom 1, said condom being shown in its extended state. The condom
S is made from a material conventional in the manufacture of condoms.
According to the invention, the condom is provided with an additional
opening or aperture 4 in its envelope surface 5, at a location 3
nearest the opening 2 of the condom. Subsequent to drawing the condom
onto the penis, the testicles (scrotum) of the wearer are intended to
be inserted through the additional opening 4.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the condom wall around
the additional opening is provided with a reinforcement 6. The purpose
of the reinforcement is to allow easier application of the condom in
the aforedescribed manner, without the risk of tearing the condom in
the area 3. The reinforcement may either comprise a separate piece of
material, of suitable quality, applied to the surface of the original
condom material, or may comprise a thickening of the condom material
in the area or location 6.
The aforesaid reinforcement may have a smaller or larger dimension
than the dimension shown in the illustrated example.
The invention provides essentially a full guarantee against the
condom sliding-off the penis of the wearer, thus solving the problem
mentioned in the introduction.
Two embodiments of the invention have been described in the aforegoing.
It will be understood, however, that the configuration of the addi-
tional opening can be varied. For instance, the periphery 7 around
the opening can be provided with a greater wall thickness than the
remainder of the condom or the reinforcement 6 in general, so as to
further safeguard against tearing of the condom in the region thereof
closest to the mouth or opening of the condom.
The present invention should therefore not be regarded as being
restricted to the aforedescribed embodiments, since modifications
can be made within the scope of the following Claims.
