초록 ▼

Condoms are disclosed of the type having a main sheath portion closed at a distal end and open at a proximal end thereof, which are amenable to construction from thermoplastic elastomeric materials. In one preferred aspect, such condoms have an annular-shaped sealing element, formed of an elastic ma

Condoms are disclosed of the type having a main sheath portion closed at a distal end and open at a proximal end thereof, which are amenable to construction from thermoplastic elastomeric materials. In one preferred aspect, such condoms have an annular-shaped sealing element, formed of an elastic material, circumscribing an interior opening of smaller size than the proximal end opening of the condom, and joined at the outer periphery of the sealing element to the main sheath, at or in the vicinity of the proximal end opening. Such construction thereby provides a membrane dam in the proximal segment of the condom to enhance its effectiveness as a contraceptive and to minimize the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases. Also disclosed are various condom manufacturing and processing apparatuses, as well as applicators for applying the condoms to the penis of a wearer.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A condom, comprising: a generally tubular main sheath portion (i) of elongate form, (ii) defined by an enclosing wall formed of a thermoplastic elastic material, (iii) enclosing an interior volume of the condom, and (iv) closed at a distal end thereof and open at a proximal end thereof; a pro

1. A condom, comprising: a generally tubular main sheath portion (i) of elongate form, (ii) defined by an enclosing wall formed of a thermoplastic elastic material, (iii) enclosing an interior volume of the condom, and (iv) closed at a distal end thereof and open at a proximal end thereof; a proximal segment comprising a continuous reentrant fold of the enclosing wall (i) longitudinally extending into and terminating in the interior volume of the condom, (ii) having a central opening therein of smaller size than the proximal end opening, and (iii) marginally sealed to the main sheath portion at diametrally opposed side margins of the main sheath portion. 2. A condom according to claim 1, wherein the marginal seals are heat seals. 3. A condom according to claim 1, wherein the main sheath portion is formed of a thermoplastic elastic polyurethane material. 4. A condom according to claim 1, comprising diametrally opposed heat seals extending longitudinally along the main sheath portion and converging at said distal end thereof, with the reentrant fold being marginally sealed by said diametrally opposed heat seals. 5. A condom according to claim 1, with proximal end flanges at the proximal open end, and with the reentrant fold being continuous with said flanges, with heat seals along longitudinal side edges of the condom extending from the distal end to the proximal end flanges thereof flanges. 6. A condom according to claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic elastomeric material is selected from the group consisting of: polyurethanes; polyether block amides; styrene-rubber-styrene block copolymers; polyesters; olefinic homopolymers and copolymers; and copolymers, composites, and alloys thereof. 7. A condom according to claim 1, wherein the main sheath portion and sealing element are formed of polyurethane material having: a specific gravity of from about 1.00 to 1.25; a Shore A hardness of from about 80 to about 100; a break tensile strength of from about 4,500 to about 6,000 psi; a tensile stress at 50% elongation of from about 400 to about 2400 psi; an ultimate elongation of from about 350% to about 600%; a flexural modulus of from about 4,000 to about 37,000 psi; and a tear strength of from about 500 to about 1,000 pli. 8. A condom according to claim 1, wherein the main sheath portion has a thickness of from about 0.05 to about 0.25 millimeter. 9. A condom according to claim 1, wherein the main sheath portion has a thickness of from about 0.05 millimeter to about 0.1 millimeter. 10. A condom according to claim 1, wherein the main sheath portion has a diameter on the order of about 2 inches, and the central opening in the reentrant fold has a diameter on the order of 0.5 inch. 11. A method of making a condom, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sheet of a thermoplastic elastic film; (b) laterally folding said sheet along a lateral fold line to provide lapped main panel portions of the folded sheet; (c) forming an opening in the laterally folded sheet at an intermediate part of the lateral fold line; (d) longitudinally inserting a portion of the sheet comprising the fold line reentrantly into the folded sheet to position the fold line between the folded sheet main panel portions and at a leading edge of the inserted reentrant portion; and (e) heat sealing the folded sheet along lateral peripheral margins thereof, from the inserted reentrant portion forwardly to a distal portion thereof, to sealingly enclose an interior volume of the folded sheet, with the reentrant portion heat sealed at lateral peripheral margins thereof to the lateral peripheral margins of the main panel portions of the folded sheet. 12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said thermoplastic elastic material is selected from the group consisting of: polyurethanes; polyether block amides; styrenerubber-stryrene block copolymers; polyesters; olefinic homopolymers and copolymers; and copolymers, composites, and alloys thereof. 13. A method according to claim 11, wherein said sheet is formed of a polyester-based polyurethane. 14. A condom article, comprising; a generally tubular main sheath portion, closed at a distal end thereof and opened at a proximal end thereof, formed by elongate superposed panels (i) continuously perimetrally heat-sealed to one another along side and distal margins thereof to form an interior volume of the condom bounded by the panels, and (ii) formed of a flexible thermoplastic elastomeric material; and a proximal segment comprising a continuous reentrant fold portion of the panels (i) longitudinally extending into and terminating in the interior volume of the condom, (ii) having a central opening therein of smaller size than the proximal end opening, and (iii) marginally sealed to the main sheath portion at diametrally opposed side margins of the main sheath portion.