Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6419649
-
Patent Number
6,419,649
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, April 5, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 16, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Brown; Michael A.
- Koo; Benjamin K.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 601 46
- 601 67
- 601 69
- 601 70
- 601 71
- 601 72
- 601 73
- 601 74
- 601 78
- 601 79
- 601 80
- 601 81
- 063 12
- D11 40
- D11 41
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A sexual aid device comprising a battery powered electric vibrator which attaches to the user's tongue. The first embodiment attaches to the tongue using a post (18) which is inserted through a hole previously pierced in the tongue. The assembled device is shaped roughly like a dumbbell consisting of a post (18) with retainers mounted at either end. Post (18) has a diameter narrow enough to fit through the tongue hole, but the retainers have larger diameter and cannot slip through the hole. An electric vibrator motor (14) is incorporated into one of the retainers. At least one of the retainers must be removable to allow device insertion. An electric battery (13) may be mounted in the same retainer as the vibrator motor (14) or in the other retainer. The second embodiment attaches to the tongue using suction, constriction, and friction. The front end of the device houses a vibrator mechanism comprising a vibrator motor (14), battery (13), and switch (38) in a moisture resistant housing (11). A pliable plastic mouthpiece (31) is mounted at the rear of the device. The interior of mouthpiece (31) forms a tongue cup (32) into which the user inserts the tongue. Tongue cup (32), when partially evacuated of air, acts as the means of attachment to the tongue. A sealing lip (33) circles the rim of tongue cup (32). Sealing lip (33) both constricts the tongue and forms an airtight seal against the skin of the tongue. Concentric friction ridges (34) circle the interior of tongue cup (32). Friction ridges (34) grip the tongue and act as secondary air seals.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to sexual aid devices, specifically to those devices that are used by couples and that attach to the body.
There exist a number of devices designed to enhance the quality of sexual activity between partners. Their use is accepted and even promoted by marriage counselors, sexual educators, physicians and the like as an aid in maintaining a healthy and satisfying sexual relationship. That the demand for these devices is substantial is evidenced by the existence of the well-established commercial industry that manufactures and sells them.
Many sexual devices incorporate an electric vibrator to enhance sexual sensation. These devices are most commonly referred to simply as vibrators. Vibrators are produced in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. When used by one partner to stimulate the other, vibrators are most commonly held in the hand, attached to the hand, attached to one or more fingers of the hand, or attached to the body so as to project from the groin area.
The hands, the genitalia, and the mouth are the parts of the body most commonly utilized for sexual touch. Vibrators which are held or attached to the hand or attached at the groin are commercially common, while vibrators which attach at the mouth are commercially uncommon and even unavailable.
The tongue is the most mobile feature of the mouth. Mounting a vibrator on the tongue, however, presents several difficulties. The end of the tongue is pliable and can vary in shape from a blunt cone to a rounded flattened wedge. The surface of the tongue is smooth and slippery. The tongue is sensitive to pain. Any means of attachment needs to be comfortable, secure, simple and quick to attach and detach.
A technique, piercing, exists for attaching jewelry to the tongue. An object with an attached post is fastened to the tongue by inserting the post through a previously pierced hole then attaching another object to the other end of the post to prevent the post from slipping back out. The assembled object has roughly the shape of a dumbbell. However, this technique has never, to the inventor's knowledge, been used to attach any electrically powered device, such as a vibrator, to the tongue.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,765 issued to Steven S. Est on Aug. 19, 1997 discloses an Erotic Stimulator in the form of an enlarged tongue that comprises a flexible elongated member having a mouthpiece at its base end whereby a user can manipulate the stimulator while leaving the hands free during gynecological stimulation with the device. This device has a length greater than three inches, is semi-rigid and non-hollow, and is held to the mouth by biting a mouthpiece. The device may optionally incorporate vibration capability.
Although the Est device is designed to look like a tongue, it cannot move like a tongue. It would be possible to move the device up and down in a limited manner by shifting the jaw, but side to side and in and out movement can only be accomplished by moving the entire head. The user's real tongue, lips, and jaw are immobilized. The user is unable to speak.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,597 issued to George Hopper on Oct. 24, 1995 discloses a hand-held stimulator for use in marital orgasmic and sexual therapy for performing a simulation of cunnilingus. The simulator has an elongated cylindrical housing, simulated lips, a simulated tongue and is battery powered. The tongue is caused to move in and out with respect to the simulated lips; up and down; and side to side. These motions are attainable independently of the others.
The Hopper device simulates the mouth but is hand held and is not designed to attach to the user's mouth area. The simulated tongue is designed to move freely in three dimensions but departs from what Hopper calls the “traditional vibrating” action.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The sexual aid device of this invention comprises a battery powered-electric vibrator which attaches to the user's tongue. The first embodiment attaches to the tongue using a post which is inserted through a hole previously pierced in the tongue. The assembled device is shaped roughly like a dumbbell. It consists of a post with retainers mounted at either end. The post has a diameter narrow enough to fit through the tongue hole, but the retainers have larger diameter and cannot slip through the hole. At least one of the retainers have larger diameter and cannot slip through the hole. At least one of the retainers must be removable to allow device insertion. An electric vibration generator is incorporated into one of the retainers. An electric battery may be mounted in the same retainer as the vibration generator or in the other retainer.
The second embodiment attaches to the tongue using suction, constriction, and friction. One end of the device houses an electric vibration generator and battery. The other end contains an airtight cavity into which the user inserts his or her tongue. The cavity is partially evacuated of air, creating a partial vacuum and producing suction. The force of the suction draws the tongue further into the cavity creating a secure attachment.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are:
(a) to provide a vibrator which attaches securely yet comfortably to the tongue, or other body parts;
(b) to provide a tongue mounted vibrator which is quick and simple to attach and detach;
(c) to provide a tongue mounted vibrator which is small and lightweight;
(d) to provide a tongue mounted vibrator which causes minimal interference with normal movement of the jaw, lips, and tongue;
(e) to provide a tongue mounted vibrator which can be drawn completely within the wearer's mouth such that the mouth may be completely closed; and
(f) to provide a tongue mounted vibrator which allows the wearer to utter understandable speech.
Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and the ensuing description.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
shows a perspective view of the first embodiment of the vibrator.
FIG. 2
shows a sectional perspective view of the first embodiment of the vibrator illustrating placement of the motor and battery.
FIG. 3
shows a sectional orthogonal view of one end of the tongue post of the first embodiment of the vibrator.
FIG. 4
shows a perspective view of an alternate first embodiment of the vibrator.
FIG. 5
shows a disassembled perspective view of an alternate first embodiment of the vibrator.
FIG. 6
shows a front orthogonal view of the second embodiment of the vibrator.
FIG. 7
shows a right-side orthogonal view of the second embodiment of the vibrator.
FIG. 8
shows a perspective view of the second embodiment of the vibrator.
FIG. 9
shows a sectional perspective view of the second embodiment of the vibrator. It shows details of the interior of the mouthpiece and illustrates the vibration mechanism.
FIG. 10
shows an enlarged perspective view of the electrical components of the second embodiment of the vibrator. It shows the motor, switch, battery contacts, and wires. The vibrator housing, mouthpiece, and battery are not shown in this figure.
FIG. 11
shows a perspective view of an alternate second embodiment of the vibrator wherein the mouthpiece and vibrator housing are integral. This view shows the battery cap and battery disassembled.
FIG. 12
shows the vibrator device of
FIGS. 1-3
installed on a tongue.
FIG. 13
shows the vibrator device of
FIGS. 6-10
installed on a tongue.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS.
1
-
3
—First Embodiment
FIG. 1
shows in perspective the preferred first embodiment of the vibrator
10
. The exterior of the upper end (left side of
FIG. 1
) is a moisture resistant vibrator housing
11
of a vibrator component
11
a.
The exterior of the lower end (right side of
FIG. 1
) is a moisture resistant battery holder
12
. A tongue post
18
connects vibrator housing
11
to battery holder
12
. One end of post
18
screws into a post socket
20
in vibrator housing
11
, while the other end of post
18
screws into post socket
20
in battery holder
12
.
FIG. 2
shows a sectional perspective view of the preferred first embodiment of the vibrator. Vibrator housing
11
and battery holder
12
are cut away to show the interior structures. Vibrator housing
11
contains a vibrator motor
14
, wires
16
, and two motor contacts
17
. Motor
14
generates vibration by spinning an unbalanced weight
15
attached to the motor shaft. Two wires
16
conduct current from motor contacts
17
to the motor. Battery holder
12
contains a battery
13
. The ground terminal of battery
13
makes electrical contact with battery holder
12
. Insulator pad
21
has a flattened donut shape. Insulator pad
21
insulates the battery
13
non-ground terminal from battery holder
12
. A hole in the center of insulator pad
21
allows a post conductor core
22
of tongue post
18
to make contact with battery
13
non-ground terminal (not visible in this figure). Vibrator housing
11
, battery holder
12
, and the exterior of tongue post
18
are made from stainless steel or other electrically conductive material, make electrical contact with each other, and together act as electrical ground for the device.
The vibrator motor
14
may be of a known type used in silent pagers, usually known as a vibration motor or a pager motor. For example, the motor can be one identified as “cylindrical DC motor of permanent magnet”, Model OTL-6SL, manufactured by Jinglong Machinery & Electronic Co., Ltd. of Yuequing, Zhejiang, China. The cylindrical motor
14
is about 10 mm in length, and the eccentrically mounted weight
15
adds about 4 mm more to the length of the unit. The motor is about 5.5 mm in diameter. Preferably the motor/eccentric weight unit
14
,
15
is less than about 20 mm in length and less than about 8 mm in width or diameter.
FIG. 3
shows a sectional orthogonal view of one end of tongue post
18
of the preferred first embodiment of the vibrator. Tongue post
18
is generally cylindrical and consists of three concentric layers. The exterior layer of post
18
is post ground
25
. Post ground
25
, made from stainless steel or other electrically conductive material, forms a hollow tube which is threaded at both ends. The middle layer of post
18
is post insulation
24
. Post insulation
24
, made from plastic or other electrically insulating material, forms a hollow tube which is flared at both ends. The center of tongue post
18
is post conductor core
22
. Post conductor core
22
, made from stainless steel or other electrically conductive material, is a solid cylinder which is flared at both ends. The ends of core
22
act as contacts to battery
13
non-ground terminal at one end, and motor contact
17
, via wire
16
, at the other. It will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art to arrange connection among battery
13
, battery contacts
15
, motor
14
, and wires
16
as required and further detail will not be provided.
The vibrator is attached by inserting post
18
through a hole previously pierced in the tongue, as shown in FIG.
12
. The post
18
may be about 1 mm to 2 mm in diameter; a typical tongue post is about 1 mm in diameter, but a slightly larger diameter allows for the conductor and insulator
22
and
24
described above. Vibrator housing
11
and battery holder
12
, mounted at either end of post
18
, act as retainers. Post
18
has a diameter narrow enough to fit through the tongue hole, but vibrator
11
a
(i.e. its housing
11
) and battery holder
12
have larger diameters and cannot slip through the hole. The vibrator is disassembled by unscrewing vibrator housing
11
or battery holder
12
from post
18
. Post
18
is pushed through the tongue hole, the end is wiped to remove excess moisture, then the disassembled part is screwed back on.
The vibrator is powered on when the electrical contacts incorporated into post
18
make contact with the battery and motor contacts. The user may power down the device by slightly unscrewing post
18
from vibrator housing
11
or battery holder
12
.
The vibrator should be removed when not in use. Testing has shown that a watch battery can power the device for a period of between 30 and 60 minutes and the vibrator should only be worn for a like period of time.
If desired, the device
10
can be used on other parts of the body which have been pierced.
FIGS.
4
-
5
—Alternate First Embodiment—Integrated Battery Holder and Vibrator Housing
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of an alternate first embodiment of the vibrator
10
a.
Snap sockets
40
on vibrator housing
11
b
attach to snap tabs
39
on battery holder
12
. Tongue post,
18
screws into post socket
20
on battery holder
12
. Retaining ball
26
, attached to tongue post
18
, acts as a retainer to keep post
18
from slipping out of the tongue hole.
FIG. 5
is a disassembled perspective view of an alternate first embodiment of the vibrator. It is similar to
FIG. 4
but shows battery
13
and battery contacts
30
, shows details of snap tabs
39
and snap sockets
40
, shows details of post
18
and post socket
20
. The battery
13
, as in the above embodiment, may be a standard battery such as Toshiba LR44, about 11.5 mm in diameter and about 5 mm thick.
FIGS. 4 and 5
show both battery housing
12
and vibrator housing
11
b
attached to one end of the body-piercing post
18
. In this case the connection between the post
18
and the vibrator housing can be described as indirect, since the battery housing is directly adjacent to the post end. The terms “secured”, “connected”, etc. as used in the claims are intended to refer to either direct or indirect connections unless otherwise specified.
FIGS.
6
-
10
—Second Embodiment
FIGS. 6-8
show front, side, and perspective views of the preferred second embodiment of the vibrator
36
. The exterior of the forward end of the device is a moisture resistant vibrator housing
11
c.
A mouthpiece
31
is attached at the distal end of the device. Mouthpiece
31
is molded from a pliable plastic such as urethane. The interior of mouthpiece
31
comprises an airtight cavity or tongue cup
32
, which has a cylindrical or oblate cylindrical shape. Tongue cup
32
, when partially evacuated of air, acts as the primary means of attachment to the tongue. Sealing lip
33
creates an airtight seal against the surface of the tongue. Mouthpiece
31
is pliable enough that sealing lip
33
can change shape slightly to conform to the shape of the tongue both for comfort and to better form and maintain an airtight seal.
A series of concentric raised rings or ribs
34
circle the o interior of tongue cup
32
. Friction ribs
34
grip the tongue and increase the friction between the tongue and tongue cup
32
. Friction ribs
34
are acutely triangular in cross-section and are angled in such a way as to facilitate movement of the tongue deeper into tongue cup
32
and to inhibit the opposite movement. Friction ribs
34
also act as secondary or backup vacuum seals to sealing lip
33
. Note that in this figure sealing lip
33
is illustrated as being shaped identically to friction ribs
34
.
FIG. 9
shows a sectional perspective view of the second embodiment of the vibrator. Vibrator housing
11
c
is shown disassembled from mouthpiece
31
. The sectional view of mouthpiece
31
reveals the interior of tongue cup
32
illustrating the shapes and positions of sealing lip
33
and friction ribs
34
. Vibrator assembly
42
is encased in housing
11
c.
Housing
11
c
is snapped together with mouthpiece
31
by means of snap tabs
39
which fit into snap sockets
40
. Battery
13
is removable and is accessed by separating housing llc from mouthpiece
31
. Battery holder
12
b
holds battery
13
in place against battery contacts
35
when mouthpiece
31
is connected to housing
11
c.
FIG. 10
shows an enlarged perspective view of vibration assembly
42
. Vibration assembly
42
comprises a vibrator motor
14
, switch
38
, battery contacts
35
, and wires
16
. As above, the motor
14
generates vibration by spinning an unbalanced weight
15
attached to the motor shaft. An electric battery
13
(
FIG. 9
) powers the motor.
The switch
38
allows motor
14
to be powered on or off. It will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art to arrange connection among battery
13
, battery contacts
35
, switch
38
, motor
14
, and wires
16
as required and further detail will not be provided.
To attach the vibrator the user inserts the tongue into tongue cup
32
, as shown in FIG.
13
. The user pressurizes cup
32
by sucking air out while pressing forward with the tongue. Optionally the user may aid evacuation of air from cup
32
by squeezing mouthpiece
31
at top and bottom with the fingers or by lightly biting down with the teeth.
Tongue cup
32
is shaped in such a way that the tongue does not completely fill the cup but instead leaves some unfilled volume. This unfilled volume or airspace is necessary for the maintenance of suction. Mouthpiece
31
is designed to change shape in response to the in-use air pressure differential between its inside and outside. To maintain suction, however, mouthpiece
31
must be firm enough that it resists complete collapse. In practice the thickness and stiffness of the walls are balanced such that a vacuum pressure is achieved that secures the vibrator but which is comfortable and safe.
The tongue mounted vibrator is held to the tongue by three synergistic forces: vacuum, friction, and constriction. Vacuum is created by the air pressure differential between the inside and outside of mouthpiece
31
. Tongue cup
32
is stretched at its open end by the tongue acting as a wedge as it is drawn forward. Friction is created when ribs
34
and lip
33
press against the tongue surface. The tongue is constricted by lip
33
and ribs
34
. This constriction both increases friction and forms a better vacuum seal.
The user may switch the vibrator on either before of after attachment.
FIG.
11
—Alternate Second Embodiment—Integral Mouthpiece and Vibrator Housing
FIG. 11
shows a perspective view of an alternate second embodiment of the vibrator
50
wherein mouthpiece
31
and vibrator housing
11
d
are integrated as a single unit. The main difference from the preferred embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 6-10
is that battery holder
12
c
is moved from the closed end of mouthpiece
31
to the top of mouthpiece
31
. A removable battery cap
51
secures battery
132
and seals battery holder
12
c
against moisture.
The tongue mounted vibrator of this invention provides a small, lightweight vibrator that attaches securely yet comfortably to the tongue. The vibrator is quick and easy to attach and detach, and causes minimal interference with normal movement of the mouth. The vibrator can be drawn completely into the mouth and the mouth closed. The user can speak while wearing the vibrator.
Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention.
In the first embodiment, for example, soft plastic sleeves might be fitted over the vibrator housing and battery holder to prevent hard surfaces from contacting the teeth; vibrator types other than unbalanced weight may be used, such as reciprocating weight, pulse generator, piezo-electric, etc.; a power switch might be added.
In the second embodiment, for example, the vibrator motor and battery may be mounted in a variety of positions, on top, bottom, sides, etc.; alternate methods for attaching the mouthpiece to the vibrator housing, such as screwing the two components together, could be used; vibrator types other than unbalanced weight may be used, such as reciprocating weight, pulse generator, audio, piezo-electric, etc.; the use of a switch is optional, the vibrator may be turned on/off by inserting/removing the battery; the vibrator housing and mouthpiece may be transparent, semi-transparent, or opaque and may be brightly colored in solids, patterns, and shapes; the vibrator housing and mouthpiece may be textured using ridges, bumps, and pits both for decorative purposes and to enhance tactile stimulation.
Further, the device particularly as shown in
FIGS. 1-5
could be used on other parts of the body, such as the female genitalia. The term “post” or “tongue post” as used herein is intended to be broadly interpreted as applicable to any pierced part of the body, and to include a non-straight shapes such as rings, horseshoe shapes, etc.
The above described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit its scope. Other embodiments and variations to this preferred embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A vibratory erotic stimulator, comprising:a vibrator device comprising a battery-powered electric vibration generator, and a moisture resistant housing encasing said electric vibration generator, a post of diameter suitable to be assembled through a pierced portion of the human body, the post having one end connected to the housing of the vibrator device, a battery housing containing a battery, the battery housing being connected to the post, with means providing electrical connection from the battery to the electric vibration generator so as to provide electrical power for the electric vibration generator, and means for retaining the post on such pierced portion of the body.
- 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said one end of the post is secured directly to the vibrator housing, and the post having an opposite end secured to the battery housing, so that the vibrator housing and battery housing are at opposed positions on the post so as to be at opposite sides of such pierced portion of the body when worn thereon, and wherein said means providing electrical connection comprises electrical conductor means in the post connecting power from the battery through the post to the electric vibration generator, said means for retaining the post comprising the opposed location of the vibrator housing and the battery housing at opposite ends of the post.
- 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the electric vibration generator comprises a pager motor, less than about 6 mm in diameter.
- 4. The device of claim 1, installed on a human tongue with the post passing through a pierced hole in the tongue.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
5660597 |
Fox et al. |
Aug 1997 |
A |