Patent Application
20210251799
The present invention relates in general to wearable medical devices, and, more specifically, to a male genital discharge absorption and retention device.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent application may contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.
Certain marks referenced herein may be common law or registered trademarks of third parties affiliated or unaffiliated with the applicant or the assignee. Use of these marks is by way of example and should not be construed as descriptive or to limit the scope of this invention to material associated only with such marks.
The external male genitalia are very generally comprised of the scrotum and the penis. In normal anatomy the scrotum houses a pair of testicles, each having a single epididymis, and a pair of ductus deferentia connecting these structures to the penis. Sperm are produced in the testicles and mature as they travel through the ductus deferentia to the seminal vesicles. Secretions from the male prostate gland are then combined with the sperm to produce semen, which is delivered through the urethra within the penis for normal discharge during ejaculation.
The male bladder is contained within the lower abdomen and comprises a muscular sac meant to store urine produced in the kidneys. Urine enters the bladder via a pair of ureters, and passes out via a single urethra that, then, passes through the prostate gland into the shaft of the penis to allow for normal discharge during urination.
Penile discharge, which may be any unintended or pathologic discharge from the urethra of the penis, may be watery or cloudy. A watery discharge is generally clear and usually indicates a non-infectious cause of the discharge. A cloudy discharge, which can be white, yellow, green, or any other color, usually indicates that the discharge contains pus, suggesting an infectious origin.
Watery discharge, specifically, can result from such innocuous causes as failing to properly clear the penis after urinating, which may result in dribbling, or from pre-ejaculation caused by sexual arousal. Other causes of watery discharge may include inflammation of any component of the urinary or seminal systems, such urethritis, prostatitis, or epididymitis.
Cloudy discharge, on the other hand, may result from any infectious inflammation or direct infection of the various components of the urinary or seminal systems. Viral or bacterial bladder and prostate infections may result in the depositing of pus within the urine or semen, as can sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, and other common pathologies.
Such penile discharge, whether of infectious or non-infectious origin, may cause spotting or staining of clothing worn by the affected person. Some solutions exist to prevent such spotting or staining, especially in the form of child and adult diapers. Diapers, though, may cause embarrassment to the wearer by virtue of their bulk or by social stigma against the user. Diapers, also, may not be easily carried, such as when there is the need for additional diapers if the worn item is soiled, and may not be easily changed without the user also removing the article of clothing worn over the diaper.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a male genital discharge absorption and retention device that comprises a small form factor while also providing effective penile discharge absorption to prevent spotting and staining of the wearer's clothing. The male genital discharge absorption and retention device may further be easily carried and easily changed without the need for additional carrying devices or the removal of articles of clothing worn over the device. It is to these ends that the present invention has been developed.
To minimize the limitations in the prior art, and to minimize other limitations that will be apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention describes a male genital discharge absorption and retention device.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a male genital discharge absorption and retention device that may comprise a wearable device.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a male genital discharge absorption and retention device that may comprise a fabric main body.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a male genital discharge absorption and retention device that may comprise an absorbent main body.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a male genital discharge absorption and retention device that may comprise an attachment mechanism.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a male genital discharge absorption and retention device that may comprise an absorption mechanism.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a male genital discharge absorption and retention device that may be worn on the male genitalia of a user.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a male genital discharge absorption and retention device that may absorb discharge secreted from the male genitalia of a user.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a male genital discharge absorption and retention device that may comprise a single-component construction.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a male genital discharge absorption and retention device that may comprise a multiple-component construction.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a male genital discharge absorption and retention device that may comprise a resilient material of construction.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a male genital discharge absorption and retention device that may comprise a cleanable material of construction.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a male genital discharge absorption and retention device that may comprise a reusable material of construction.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a male genital discharge absorption and retention device that may comprise an antimicrobial layer.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a male genital discharge absorption and retention device that may comprise an antimicrobial material of construction.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a male genital discharge absorption and retention device that may comprise an analgesic layer.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a male genital discharge absorption and retention device that may comprise an analgesic material of construction.
These and other advantages and features of the present invention are described herein with specificity so as to make the present invention understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art, both with respect to how to practice the present invention and how to make the present invention.
Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of these various elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention.
Certain terminology is used in the following description for reference only and is not limiting. The words “front,” “rear,” “anterior,” “posterior,” “lateral,” “medial,” “upper,” “lower,” “outer,” “inner,” and “interior” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the invention, and designated parts thereof, in accordance with the present disclosure. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” are not limited to one element, but instead should be read as meaning “at least one.” The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
The illustrations of
The illustrations of
In an embodiment wherein the main body 100 comprises a multiple-component construction the vertical component 102 of the main body 100 may substantially comprise a planar sheet of material formed into a substantially cylindrical shape, and may further comprise an upper edge, a lower edge, an outer side, and an inner side. The horizontal component 104 of the main body 100 may substantially comprise a circular planar sheet, and may further comprise a perimeter, an upper side, and a lower side. The enclosure component 106 may substantially comprise a planar sheet of material formed into a substantially cylindrical shape, and may further comprise an upper edge, a lower edge, an outer side, and an inner side.
In one embodiment the perimeter of the horizontal component 104 may be attached to the upper edge of the vertical component 102 so as to form a shape having a semi-circular or u-shaped cross-section. The lower edge of the vertical component 102 may be attached to the upper edge of the enclosure component 106 so as to form a generally continuous cylindrical plane when both components are fully straightened. The lower edge of the enclosure component 106 may, then, be curved around and attached to an area on the outer surface of the vertical component near the lower edge of the vertical component 102 so as to form a loop around the perimeter of the main body 100.
In an embodiment wherein the main body 100 comprises a single-component construction the horizontal component, vertical component, and enclosure component may comprise a single sheet of material appropriately shaped to create the structure and orientation described in the multiple-component design.
In some embodiments the vertical component 102, horizontal component 104, and enclosure component 106 of the main body 100 of the male genital discharge absorption and retention device disclosed herein may be substantially constructed of any suitable material or combination of materials, but typically is constructed of a resilient material or combination of materials such that the combination is resistant to tearing and damage as a result of compression, flexion, or submersion in water. As an example, and without limiting the scope of the present invention, various exemplary embodiments of the combination may be substantially constructed of one or more materials of fabric, latex, nitrile, rubber, polyurethane, animal skin, plastic, or combinations thereof.
The male genital discharge absorption and retention device may further comprise an attachment mechanism 108, which may comprise a substantially circular or oval shape having a perimeter and a central opening. The attachment mechanism 108 may be designed so as to be somewhat flexible and formable while substantially maintaining its general shape. The attachment mechanism 108 may be installed within the loop of the enclosure component 106 and may provide structural support to the vertical component 102 and horizontal component 104 of the main body 100. The perimeter of the attachment mechanism 108 may be large enough to fit comfortably around a head or a shaft of a penis, and the material of construction of the attachment mechanism 108 may be partially flexible to permit installation, wearing, and removal of the main body 100 without causing discomfort to a user of the device.
The main body 100 may be sized large enough that the attachment mechanism 108 is placed proximal to a corona of the penis, the base of the glans penis usually forming a projection resulting in an area of slightly wider diameter, such that the corona of the penis aids in securing the main body 100 to a user of the device.
In some embodiments the attachment mechanism 108 of the male genital discharge absorption and retention device disclosed herein may be substantially constructed of any suitable material or combination of materials, but typically is constructed of a resilient material or combination of materials such that the combination is resistant to tearing and damage as a result of compression, flexion, or submersion in water. As an example, and without limiting the scope of the present invention, various exemplary embodiments of the combination may be substantially constructed of one or more materials of fabric, latex, rubber, polyurethane, animal skin, plastic, or combinations thereof.
The male genital discharge absorption and retention device may further comprise an absorption mechanism 110, which may comprise any appropriately shaped sheet of absorbent material having an upper side, a lower side, and a perimeter. The absorption mechanism 110 may be designed so as to be somewhat flexible and formable while substantially maintaining its general shape. The upper side of the absorption mechanism 110 may be fixedly attached to the lower side of the horizontal component 104 of the main body 100 by any appropriate means such that the lower side of the absorption component 110 is positioned near or against the meatus of a user of the device.
The shape and size of the absorption mechanism 110 may vary as desired, and the absorption mechanism 110 may partially or completely cover the lower side of the horizontal component 104. In one embodiment the absorption mechanism 110 may further partially or completely cover the inner side of the vertical component 102.
In some embodiments the absorption mechanism 110 of the male genital discharge absorption and retention device disclosed herein may be substantially constructed of any suitable material or combination of materials, but typically is constructed of an absorbent material or combination of materials such that the combination is resistant to damage as a result of exposure to fluids. As an example, and without limiting the scope of the present invention, various exemplary embodiments of the combination may be substantially constructed of one or more materials of fabric, polypropylene, cellulose, wood pulp, hemp fiber, animal skin, or combinations thereof.
In some embodiments the male genital discharge absorption and retention device may further comprise a material of construction that either comprises a material having antimicrobial properties or comprises a layering of antimicrobial material or coating. Antimicrobial properties comprise the characteristic of being antibacterial, biocidal, microbicidal, anti-fungal, anti-viral, or other similar characteristics.
In some embodiments the male genital discharge absorption and retention device may further comprise a material of construction that either comprises a material having analgesic properties or comprises a layering of analgesic material or coating. Analgesic properties comprise the characteristic of relieving pain, inflammation, itching, discomfort, or other similar characteristics.
The illustrations of
Removal of the male genital discharge absorption and retention device involves detaching the attachment mechanism 108 from the shaft of the penis 112 and withdrawing the penis 112 from the main body 100. Due to the size and form factor of the device a user may install, wear, remove, and replace the male genital discharge absorption and retention device without removing any article of clothing worn over the device.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
