This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority of U.S. provisional application 60/602,101 filed Aug. 17, 2004, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention in general relates to a barrier against sexually transmitted diseases and in particular to a face-mounted barrier.
While condoms have gained general acceptance for their effectiveness in preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) during intercourse, the dental dam has generally met with limited acceptance. The dental dam, originally developed as an adjunct to dental procedures, has been adapted as a barrier against the spread of STDs during oral sex. The dental dam has a thin sheet of latex which serves as a barrier between partners when placed intermediate therebetween. However, oral dams tend to become displaced from the recipient partner's anal or vaginal area during usage. Thus, there exists a need for an oral protective device against sexually transmitted diseases that is not readily displaced from between sexual partners.
An oral bib includes a thin sheet protective shield portion having resistance to the passage of a sexually transmitted disease microbe therethrough. The shield portion is configured to overlie a chin and mouth region of a wearer and has opposing sides. A strap is adapted to secure said shield portion to a wearer head.
The present invention is further illustrated with respect to the following exemplary and non-limiting embodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings.
The present invention has utility as a device for the prevention of STDs that otherwise are transmitted by oral sex. A thin elastomeric sheeting material that is resistant to transmission therethrough of microbes is fashioned to secure around the chin and mouth of a user and retained in this position with a securement encompassing the ears or head of the user.
Referring now to
A tongue portion 14 is appreciated to be formed from a continuous sheet of material making up the shield portion or alternatively to be formed from a separate piece of material with the proviso that a hermetic seal is formed at the interface between tongue portion and shield portion. The tongue portion 14 is readily formed of the same materials as the shield portion 12, yet dissimilar materials for the tongue portion 14 and shield portion 12 are recognized to be operative herein. Methods of forming a hermetic seal between the shield and tongue portions illustratively include thermal welding, sonic welding, and contact adhesives. Optionally, the tongue portion 14 has contours 15. An illustrative group of such contours is depicted in
Optionally, a terminal area of the tongue portion 14 includes a sealed chamber 16. The sealed chamber containing air, a liquid, or as depicted in
The shield portion 12 is attached to a strap 18. The strap 18 is suited to encompass the back of a wearer head and tension the inventive bib 10 against a user face while the shield portion 12 surrounding a user chin prevents inadvertent bib dislocation during usage. It is appreciated that an inventive bib 10 including the strap 18 is readily formed from a unitary material. Alternatively, a strap 18 is formed of a different material or greater thickness of material relative to the shield portion. Conventional joinders for adhering a strap to a thin shield portion illustratively include contact adhesives, thermal welding, sonic welding, and stitches.
Optionally, a hole 20 or cutout 22 is placed in the shield portion so as to overlie a wearer cheek and afford greater comfort without sacrificing the protective aspects of an inventive bib.
It is appreciated that an inventive bib is suitable for modification with conventional additives illustratively including pigments or dyes, antimicrobial compounds, fragrances, plasticizers and the like. Additionally, an inventive bib is amenable to dusting with conventional anti-stick powders such as talc, cornstarch and the like.
The present invention is amenable to various modifications by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. These modifications nonetheless retain the spirit of the present invention. These modifications and equivalents thereof are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60602101 | Aug 2004 | US |