초록 ▼

A nipple simulating the shape, surface geometry and function of a woman's breast is provided. The nipple has a stem and a base. The base has an areola region and a bulbous region. The areola region is positioned between the stem and the bulbous region, and can simulate the areola of a woman's breast

A nipple simulating the shape, surface geometry and function of a woman's breast is provided. The nipple has a stem and a base. The base has an areola region and a bulbous region. The areola region is positioned between the stem and the bulbous region, and can simulate the areola of a woman's breast. The bulbous region can simulate the region of a woman's breast surrounding the areola. The areola region has a texture or surface geometry that is different from the texture or surface geometry of the stem or bulbous region.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of molding a nipple having a stem region, an areola region, and a third region, the areola region being between the stem and the third regions, the method comprising: finishing a first portion of a mold to a smooth finish, said first portion forming the stem region of the nipple;adding a

1. A method of molding a nipple having a stem region, an areola region, and a third region, the areola region being between the stem and the third regions, the method comprising: finishing a first portion of a mold to a smooth finish, said first portion forming the stem region of the nipple;adding a desired texture to a second portion of the mold, the second portion forming the areola region of the nipple, said desired texture being sufficient to provide an outer surface of the areola region with a rough texture; andfinishing a third portion of the mold to a smooth finish, said third portion forming the third region of the nipple;overmolding thermoplastic elastomer on the areola region;wherein the outer surfaces of the stem region and the third region are a different material than the overmolded region. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the stem, the areola region, and the third region are integrally molded. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the stem, the areola region, and the third region are integrally formed of a flexible material. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the flexible material is selected from the group consisting of silicone, latex, rubber, or any combination thereof. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the areola region is a different material than the stem region and third region. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising molding the nipple so that outer surfaces of the stem region and the third region are of silicone, rubber, latex, or combinations thereof. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the areola region has dimples or ribs. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the adding the desired texture to the second portion of the mold comprises electrical discharge machining or chemical etching the mold. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the areola region has an outwardly curved shape. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the areola region is integrally molded with the third region along an areola edge. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the third region has an outwardly convex shape. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the third region has a greater surface area than the areola region. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the third region has an upper portion and a lower portion. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the third region has an upper portion and a lower portion. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the lower portion extends substantially vertically downward from the upper portion. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the upper portion has a wall thickness that is thinner than a wall thickness of the lower portion. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the third region is connected to and surrounded by a securing structure comprising a flange that is perpendicular to an outer surface of the lower portion. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the lower portion has an annular ring extending outwardly from the lower portion. 19. The method of claim 9, wherein the stem region is substantially cylindrical in shape. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the stem region has an inwardly concave circular shape between the stem region and the areola region.