MY104437A - Female condom - Google Patents

Abstract

A CONDOM DESIGNED FOR USE BY FEMALES INCLUDES AN OBLONG TUBE FORMED OF A PLIANT, THIN MATERIAL IMPERVIOUS TO SPERMATOZOA AND PATHOGENIC ORGANISMS, AND INCLUDING A CLOSED DISTAL END.THE PROXIMAL END IS OPEN, AND IS PROVIDED WITH A SEMI- RIGID RETAINING RING SECURED TO THE OPEN END TO MAINTAIN THE OPENING. THE PROXIMAL PORTION OF THE TUBE IS ROLLED ABOUT THE RETAINING RING TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE DEVICE IN A VENDING PACKAGE. THE INVENTION INCLUDES A TAMPON-LIKE LUBRICATED APPLICATOR HAVING A SOFT, BROAD TIP PORTION RECEIVED WITHIN THE CLOSED DISTAL END, AND A TUBULAR HANDLE EXTENDING DISTALLY THEREFROM. THE APPLICATOR IS ADAPTED TO FACILITATE VAGINAL INSERTION OF THE CONDOM, WITH THE RETAINING RING HAVING A SUFFICIENT DIAMETER TO PREVENT THE PROXIMAL END FROM PASSING INTO THE VAGINA. THE TUBULAR HANDLE MAY BE PROVIDED WITH A TELESCOPING PORTION WHICH IS COLLAPSED IN THE VENDING PACKAGE AND EXTENDED TO FACILITATE INSERTION OF THE CONDOM, THE PROXIMAL END PORTION OF THE CONDOM BEING UNROLLED FROM THE RETAINING RING SUFFICIENTLY TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT LENGTH FOR VAGINAL INSERTION AND THE APPLICATOR THEN BEING REMOVED. A THICKENED, RESILIENT CAP PORTION MAY BE PROVIDED AT THE DISTAL END OF THE CONDOM TO AID RETENTION OF THE CONDOM AFTER INSERTION. (FIG. 4)(FIG. 19)