Electrically conductive covering for a human body part

• US 5,201,327 A
• Filed: 10/09/1991
• Issued: 04/13/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles Mutterperl
• Original Assignee: Charles Mutterperl
• Inventors: Johnson, Gary D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/775,153
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 128/79, 128/842, 128/844, 128/918, 604/330, 604/347-353
• US Class Current: 128/842
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 6/04 Condoms, sheaths or the like , e.g. combined with devices protecting against contagion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/918 Condoms and shields

Abstract

An electrically conductive condom includes a generally cylindrical protective sheath having an open end for receiving a penis therein and an opposite closed end, the sheath being made from a thin, elastic, electrically conductive material which may be formed from a non-conductive elastic material having electrically conductive particles embedded therein. The electrically conductive material is preferably a thin elastomeric material with small conductive particles, such as carbon and/or silver particles, embedded therein. A reinforcing layer may be secured to the open end of the sheath. Optionally, a retaining strap may be secured to the reinforcing layer for retaining the sheath on a person, and quick release is provided for releasably securing the retaining strap about a person so as to releasably secure the sheath on the person.

Claims

1. An electrically conductive covering for a body part of a living body comprising a thin, protective sheath member having an open end for receiving a body part therein and for covering the received body part, and an opposite closed end, said sheath member being made from an elastic, electrically conductive material, which passes electric energy therethrough for increasing sensitivity with respect to adjacent nerve endings of at least one of the body part inserted in and covered by the sheath member and a human body part which is touched or contacted by the body part covered by the sheath member.

2. An electrically conductive body part covering according to claim 1, wherein said elastic electrically conductive material includes a thin non-conductive elastic material having electrically conductive particles embedded therein.

3. An electrically conductive body part covering according to claim 2, wherein said non=conductive elastic material is selected from the group consisting of latex, rubber and urethane.

4. An electrically conductive body part covering according to claim 2, wherein said electrically conductive particles are of a microscopic size.

5. An electrically conductive body part covering according to claim 2, wherein said electrically conductive particles are made from carbon.

6. An electrically conductive body part covering according to claim 2, wherein said electrically conductive particles are made from silver.

7. An electrically conductive body part covering according to claim 6, wherein said silver particles are substantially spherical and have diameters substantially less than the thickness of said elastic sheath material.

8. An electrically conductive body part covering according to claim 1, wherein said open end of said sheath has a reinforcing layer secured thereto.

9. An electrically conductive body part covering according to claim 8, wherein said reinforcing layer is made from a plurality of folded layers of said sheath member at said open end thereof.

10. An electrically conductive body part covering according to claim 1, wherein said sheath member has a substantially cylindrical or tubular configuration.

11. An electrically conductive body part covering according to claim 1, further including conductive gel means on at least one surface of said sheath member for increasing electrical conduction thereof.

12. An electrically conductive body part covering according to claim 1, wherein said elastic material is selected from the group consisting of latex, rubber and urethane.

13. An electrically conductive body part covering according to claim 1, wherein said elastic electrically conductive material comprises an electroconductive polymer material.

14. An electrically conductive body part covering according to claim 13, wherein said electroconductive polymer is an electroconductive polymer-latex composite material.