Mechanized dildo

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 8500627
  • Patent Number
    8,500,627
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, November 3, 2010
    14 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 6, 2013
    11 years ago
Abstract
A mechanized dildo, including a motor driven coaxial plurality of longitudinally spaced drive cams, and corresponding sets of passive cams that operate within an elastic phallic sleeve to locally cyclically expand a girth of the sleeve. Optional vibratory elements are positioned proximate a distal extremity of the sleeve, and in a laterally extending arm that is formed for clitoral stimulation. A battery powered control handle provides multiple operating modes and speeds.
Description
BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to sexual stimulation devices, and more particularly to a mechanized dildo.


Sexual stimulation devices of the prior art include dildos that have vibratory elements such as disclosed in U.S. Application Publication No 2002/1013415 and International Publication No. WO 2007/041853. It is also known to provide arcuate deformation of a prosthetic device such as a dildo as disclosed in U.S. Application Publication No. 2006/0069329. However, it is believed that none of this class of devices of the prior art has proven entirely satisfactory, for a variety of reasons.


Thus there is a need for a sexual stimulation device in the form of a dildo that provides an improved form of stimulation and enhanced versatility as compared with existing devices.


SUMMARY

The present invention meets this need by providing a dildo that features an expandable girth, preferably a reciprocatingly expanding girth. In one aspect of the invention, the dildo includes a cam mechanism having a motor-driven shaft, a drive cam on and rotationally coupled to the shaft, a passive cam, and a guide structure for guiding the passive cam generally radially relative to the drive cam; a phallic sleeve preferably made of an elastic material; and a support structure supporting the sleeve in generally coaxial relation to the shaft and enclosing the passive cam in proximal relation to the sleeve, wherein the drive cam moves the passive cam to deflect a corresponding local region of the sleeve outwardly for expanding a girth of the sleeve. As the shaft rotates further, the cam recedes, and the elasticity of the deflected portion of the sleeve returns that portion of the sleeve to substantially its original unexpanded dimensions. Therefore the girth expansion is preferably reciprocating, as the shaft continues to rotate.


Preferably the passive cam is one of a plurality of passive cams in a set thereof, and the guide structure locates each passive cam of the set in a different radial orientation relative to the drive shaft for enhanced girth expansion. The drive cam can have a plurality of outwardly projecting lobes corresponding to the number of passive cams of the set, wherein the passive cams of the set operate in unison in response to rotation of the shaft. The drive cam can be one of a plurality of axially spaced drive cams, each drive cam having a corresponding set of passive cams associated therewith, and each drive cam can have the plurality of outwardly projecting lobes equal to the number of passive cams of the corresponding set, the passive cams of each set operating in unison in response to rotation of the shaft to produce corresponding girth enlargements. The sets of the passive cams can be angularly aligned, the drive cams also being angularly aligned for producing simultaneous girth enlargements. Alternatively, longitudinally alternating sets of the passive cams can be angularly offset, alternating ones of the drive cams being correspondingly angularly offset for producing differently oriented simultaneous girth enlargements. In another alternative, the sets of the passive cams are angularly aligned, and alternating ones of the drive cams are correspondingly angularly offset for producing alternating girth enlargements. In a further alternative, longitudinally alternating sets of the passive cams are angularly offset, and the drive cams are angularly aligned for producing differently oriented and alternating girth enlargements.


Preferably the dildo includes a motorized controller for operating the drive shaft. The controller can include a housing forming a handle for the dildo, a drive motor reduction-gear coupled to the drive shaft, and a main speed control for the motor. Preferably a vibrator mechanism is elastically supported by the phallic sleeve, the controller further including a vibrator speed control for the vibrator mechanism. The vibrator mechanism can be located in a head region of the phallic sleeve. The phallic sleeve can include a laterally extending arm portion for clitoral stimulation, the vibrator mechanism being located in the arm portion, a second vibrator mechanism being optionally located in the head region of the sleeve.


Preferably the controller is operative for changing speeds of the main motor and the vibration mechanism in response to a singular operator-controlled element. Alternatively, the controller includes separate operator-controlled elements for independent speed control of the main motor and the vibration mechanism.





DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:



FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mechanized dildo according to the present invention;



FIG. 2 is a lateral sectional view of the mechanized dildo of FIG. 1;



FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a drive shaft and drive cams of the mechanized dildo of FIG. 1;



FIG. 4 is a perspective view as in FIG. 3, showing the drive shaft and drive cams assembled in a cam mechanism of the dildo;



FIG. 5 is a sectional view as in FIG. 2, showing an alternative configuration of the mechanized dildo;



FIG. 6 is an axial sectional view on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;



FIG. 7 is an axial sectional view on line 7-7 of FIG. 5;



FIG. 8 is a perspective view as in FIG. 3, showing drive cams and shaft of the mechanized dildo of FIG. 5;



FIG. 9 is a perspective view as in FIG. 6, showing the drive cams and shaft together with associated passive cams of the dildo of FIG. 5; and



FIG. 10 is a perspective view as in FIG. 7, showing the cams and drive shaft assembled in a cam mechanism of the dildo of FIG. 5.





DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to a mechanized dildo that is particularly effective in stimulating female genitalia. With reference to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, a mechanized dildo 10 includes a motorized cam assembly or mechanism 12, a control module 14, and a phallic sleeve 16 that encloses the cam mechanism. The cam mechanism 12 includes a main motor 18 that is operatively connected to a drive shaft 20 through a reduction gear train 22. A plurality of drive cams 24 (and individually designated 24A, 24B, and 24C) are rigidly supported on the shaft 20 for rotation therewith, each drive cam engaging a set 26 of passive cams 27 that are circumferentially equally spaced around the drive shaft, the passive cam sets being designated 26A, 26B, and 26C (numbered A,B,C in the direction of the shaft), the cams of each set being individually designated 27A, 27B, and 27C (numbered A,B,C around the shaft). The passive cams 27 are guided for generally radial motion by a plurality of guide rods 28 that engage corresponding slots 29 that are formed in the passive cams 27. A support member 30 holds a proximal end of each rod 28 in fixed relation to the motor 18, and a dome member 32 locates a distal end of each rod for holding the rods in parallel relation to the drive shaft 20. The phallic sleeve 16 contacts each of the passive cams 27, biasingly holding each cam 27 in sliding engagement with its associated drive cam 24. The phallic sleeve 16 is preferably made of an elastic material.


Each of the drive cams 24 has outwardly projecting and equally circumferentially spaced lobes 34 corresponding to the number of passive cams 27 of the corresponding set 26. Accordingly, and since the passive cams 27 of each set are also equally spaced, rotation of the drive shaft 20 produces synchronous radial reciprocation of the passive cams 27 of each particular set, correspondingly producing outward local elastic radial expansion and contraction of the sleeve 16 proximate each of the passive cams of that set, thereby increasing and decreasing a local girth of the sleeve 16 in a region thereof associated with the set 26of passive cams 27. The elastic tension within the phallic sleeve moves the passive cams inwardly as the respective lobes rotate beyond maximum passive cam displacement.


Preferably the phallic sleeve has a nominal diameter of from approximately 1.2 inches (30 mm) to approximately 2.0 inches (50 mm), and a nominal length of from approximately 5 inches (127 mm) to approximately 9 inches (228 mm), and the girth expansion can be from approximately 0.12 inch (3.1 mm) up to approximately 0.79 inch (20 mm), which corresponds to an increase in diameter of from approximately 0.04 inch (1 mm) to approximately 0.39 inch (10 mm). Of course, other dimensions are possible, depending on user preference.


In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the drive cams 24A, 24B, and 24C are “in-phase” on the drive shaft 20 and the passive cams of each set 26A, 26B, and 26C are also “in-phase” relative to the other sets; thus the expansion and contraction of the respective local girths is also both in unison and in phase, the sleeve 16 expanding from a relatively relaxed condition shown by solid lines to an expanded condition shown by broken lines as indicated, for example, at 38 in FIG. 2.


As also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dildo 10 has an arm member 40 that is formed as a lateral extension of the phallic sleeve 16 in a shape and dimension preferably facilitating contact with the clitoris of a user of the dildo, a first vibrator 42 being locatingly supported within an arm cavity 43 of the arm member 40. As further shown in FIG. 2, a second vibrator 44 is locatingly supported within a head cavity 45 proximate a distal end of the phallic sleeve 16. Each of the vibrators 42 and 44 preferably includes a two-piece housing 46 enclosing a vibrator motor 47 that rotates an eccentric weight member 48 in a conventional manner and as further described below.


The control module 14 includes a control housing 50 that serves as a handle of the dildo 10 and which also encloses a battery pack 52 (which is retained by a removable cap 53) and a circuit board 54, there being appropriate wiring or other conductors (not shown) between the battery pack 52, the circuit board 54, the main motor 18, and the vibrator motors 47. In the configuration shown in FIGS. 1-4, the control module has a power switch actuator 56, a mode switch actuator 57, and a speed switch actuator 58, each actuator protruding the housing 50 for operation by a user and having an associated switch (not shown) on the circuit board 54. The circuit board 54 has a power indicator 60 and a plurality of intensity indicators 62 that project through the housing for facilitating operation by the user. The mode switch actuator 57 sequentially selects a plurality of vibration and throbbing (reciprocating girth expansion) combinations, by selectively activating the main motor 18 and/or the vibrator motors 47 in accordance with methods known to those skilled in the art. The speed switch actuator sequentially selects different speeds of both vibration and throbbing, also in accordance with methods known to those skilled in the art.


Regarding the throbbing, or reciprocating girth expansion, a preferred range of throbbing rates is between approximately 50 to approximately 180 times per minute. Preferred vibration rates are from approximately 20 per second to approximately 120 per second.


Suitable materials for the drive shaft 20 and the guide rods 28 include hardened steel; suitable materials for the support member 30, the dome member 32, the vibrator housings 46, the control housing 50, and the switch actuators 56, 57, and 58 include ABS. Suitable materials for the drive cams 24 and the passive cams 27 include POM and other substantially rigid plastics; suitable materials for the battery module include polypropylene; and suitable materials for the phallic sleeve include elastic plastic materials such as TPE. A suitable battery complement is four type AAA alkaline batteries.


With further reference to FIGS. 5-10, an alternative configuration of the mechanical dildo, designated 10′, includes counterparts of the cam mechanism, designated 12′, the control module, designated 14′, the phallic sleeve, designated 16′, the main motor 18, and the gear train 22. There are four of the drive cams, designated 24′ (and individually 24A′, 24B′, 24C′, and 24D′), and correspondingly four sets of four equally spaced passive cams, designated 26′ (individually 26A′, 26B′, 26C′, and 26D′), the cams of each set being designated 27′. A drive shaft 20′ and a plurality of guide rods 28′ are lengthened counterparts of the drive shaft 20 and guide rods 28 of the configuration of FIGS. 1-4, for accommodating the extra drive cam 24D′ and passive cam set 26D′. A support member 30′, and dome member 32′ are counterparts of the above-described support member 30 and dome member 32, configured for supporting additional guide rods associated with the extra passive cam 27′ of each set 26′.


As further shown in FIGS. 6-10, each of the drive cams 24′ has four equally spaced drive cam lobes, designated 34′, such that the passive cams 27′ of each set 26′ move in unison with the other passive cams of that set. Alternating pairs of the drive cams 24′ are 45 degrees out of phase on the drive shaft 20′. More particularly, the drive cams 24A′ and 24C′ are in-phase with each other and 45 degrees out of phase with the drive cams 24B′ and 24D′. Also in the same manner, alternating sets of the passive cams 27′ are out of phase with each other. Accordingly, all of the passive cams 27′ move in unison in response to rotation of the drive shaft 20′; however, the local girth expansions that result are staggered at 45 degrees between regions of the sleeve 16′ associated with adjacent sets 26′ of the passive cams 27′. It will be understood that aligned mounting of the drive cams 24′ in combination with the staggered arrangement of the passive cams 27′ will produce alternating expansion and contraction of the phallic sleeve 16′ proximate adjacent pairs of passive cam sets 26′. For example, during simultaneous expansion proximate the passive cam sets 26′A and 26′C there is corresponding contraction of the sleeve proximate the other passive cam sets 26′B and 26′D. Continued rotation of the drive shaft 20′ produces expansion proximate the passive cam sets 26′B and 26′D and corresponding contraction proximate the cam sets 26′A and 26′C. Conversely, the staggered configuration of drive cams 24′ shown in FIG. 8, in combination with an aligned configuration of passive cams (corresponding to the arrangement shown in FIG. 4) also produces simultaneous expansion and contraction proximate alternating sets of the passive cams, but with the local expansions being axially aligned as in the configuration of FIGS. 1-4. In configurations having one or the other of the of the drive cams and the passive cam sets out of phase, the rotation of the drive shaft 20′ causes the girth of the dildo to expand and contract in different lengthwise portions corresponding to the out-of-phase cam sets along the length of the dildo.


Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, any number of drive cams and passive cam sets, and any number of passive cams per set are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Also, the number of lobes on each cam can be different than the number of passive cams operated thereby, although a multiple or submultiple of that number is preferred, the equal numbers (three and four) described above being most preferred. Further, the drive cams can be supported other than rigidly on the drive shaft, such as with back-lash, or with an elastic connection. Moreover, a single cam member can form plural drive cams. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

Claims
  • 1. A dildo comprising an elastic phallic sleeve enclosing a mechanism, the mechanism being operative for expanding a girth of the sleeve at plural locations along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve, axially adjacent ones of the plural locations expanding in phase and in unison.
  • 2. The dildo of claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises a drive shaft with outwardly projecting lobes and a plurality of cams arranged along the drive shaft and operatively connected to the drive shaft whereby the lobes cause the reciprocating expansions of the girth of the sleeve at the plural locations.
  • 3. A mechanized dildo comprising: (a) a cam mechanism comprising: (i) a rotatable drive shaft;(ii) a drive cam on and rotationally coupled to the shaft;(iii) a plurality of passive cams in plural sets of the cams, the sets of cams being distributed at corresponding locations along the drive cam, the passive cams of each set being distributed about the drive cam; and(iv) a guide structure for guiding the passive cams generally radially relative to the drive cam;(b) a phallic sleeve comprising an elastic material; and(c) a support structure supporting the sleeve in generally coaxial relation to the drive cam, the sleeve enclosing the passive cams in proximal relation to the sleeve,wherein the drive cam in response to rotation of the drive shaft moves the passive cams to deflect a corresponding local region of the sleeve outwardly for expanding a girth of the sleeve, further rotation of the shaft permitting relaxation of the local regions of the sleeve, the passive cams moving inwardly, continued rotation of the shaft producing reciprocating simultaneous and in-phase girth expansions and contractions of the sleeve by axially adjacent sets of the passive cams.
  • 4. The mechanized dildo of claim 3, wherein the drive cam, at respective axially distributed locations, has a plurality of outwardly projecting lobes related to the number of passive cams of the corresponding set, wherein the passive cams of the set operate in unison in response to rotation of the shaft.
  • 5. The mechanized dildo of claim 3, wherein the drive cam is one of a plurality of axially spaced drive cams, each drive cam having a corresponding set of passive cams associated therewith.
  • 6. The mechanized dildo of claim 5, wherein each drive cam has a plurality of outwardly projecting lobes related to the number of passive cams of the corresponding set, wherein the passive cams of each set operate in unison in response to rotation of the shaft.
  • 7. The mechanized dildo of claim 5, wherein the sets of the passive cams are angularly aligned, and the drive cams are angularly aligned for producing the simultaneous girth enlargements.
  • 8. The mechanized dildo of claim 5, wherein longitudinally alternating sets of the passive cams are angularly offset, and alternating ones of the drive cams are correspondingly angularly offset for producing differently oriented simultaneous girth enlargements.
  • 9. The mechanized dildo of claim 3, further comprising a motorized controller for operating the drive shaft.
  • 10. The mechanized dildo of claim 9, wherein the controller comprises; (a) a housing forming a handle for the dildo;(b) a drive motor reduction gear-coupled to the drive shaft; and(c) a main speed control for the motor.
  • 11. The mechanized dildo of claim 10, further comprising a vibrator mechanism elastically supported by the phallic sleeve, the controller further comprising a vibrator speed control for the vibrator mechanism.
  • 12. The mechanized dildo of claim 11, wherein the vibrator mechanism is located in a head region of the phallic sleeve.
  • 13. The mechanized dildo of claim 11, wherein the phallic sleeve comprises a laterally extending arm portion for clitoral stimulation, the vibrator mechanism being located in the arm portion.
  • 14. The mechanized dildo of claim 13, wherein the vibrator mechanism is a first vibrator mechanism, a second vibrator mechanism being located in a head region of the phallic sleeve.
  • 15. The mechanized dildo of claim 11, wherein the controller is operative for changing speeds of the main motor and the vibration mechanism in response to a singular operator-controlled element.
  • 16. The mechanized dildo of claim 11, wherein the controller is operative for changing speeds of the main motor and the vibration mechanism independently in response to separate operator-controlled elements.
  • 17. The dildo of claim 3, wherein the mechanism is powered for reciprocatingly expanding the girth.
  • 18. A mechanized dildo comprising: (a) a cam mechanism comprising: (i) a motor-driven shaft;(ii) an axially spaced plurality of drive cams on and rotationally coupled to the shaft;(iii) a plurality of passive cams circumferentially spaced about each of the drive cams, the drive cams each having a plurality of outwardly projecting lobes corresponding to the number of passive cams of the corresponding set of passive cams, wherein the passive cams of each set operate in unison in response to rotation of the shaft; and(iv) a guide structure for guiding the passive cams generally radially relative to the drive cams;(b) a phallic sleeve comprising an elastic material;(c) a support structure supporting the sleeve in generally coaxial relation to the shaft, the sleeve enclosing the passive cams in proximal relation to the sleeve; and(d) a motorized controller for operating the drive shaft,wherein the drive cams in response to rotation of the drive shaft move the passive cams to deflect corresponding local regions of the sleeve outwardly for expanding a girth of the sleeve, further rotation of the shaft permitting relaxation of the local regions of the sleeve, the passive cams moving inwardly, continued rotation of the shaft producing reciprocating simultaneous and in-phase girth expansions and contractions of the sleeve at axially adjacent ones of the local regions.
  • 19. The mechanized dildo of claim 18, further comprising a vibrator mechanism elastically supported by the phallic sleeve.
  • 20. A dildo comprising an elastic phallic sleeve enclosing a rotatable mechanism, the mechanism comprising a drive shaft and a plurality of cams with outwardly projecting lobes arranged along the drive shaft and operatively connected to the drive shaft whereby the lobes cause reciprocating expansions of a girth of the sleeve at the plural locations being operative for expanding a girth of the sleeve at plural locations along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve, the dildo expanding in phase and in unison at all of the plural locations.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/971,797, filed Jan. 9, 2008, which claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/978,315, filed Oct. 8, 2007, both applications being incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference.

US Referenced Citations (63)
Number Name Date Kind
3417743 Carrera Dec 1968 A
4162675 Kawada Jul 1979 A
4515167 Hochman May 1985 A
4779615 Frazier Oct 1988 A
4909263 Norris Mar 1990 A
5516396 Maurer et al. May 1996 A
5561879 Everall Oct 1996 A
5573499 McAllister Nov 1996 A
5601529 Wollman Feb 1997 A
5941834 Skladnev Aug 1999 A
6063022 Ben-Haim May 2000 A
6175981 Lizama et al. Jan 2001 B1
6183427 Ishii Feb 2001 B1
6350230 Kontos Feb 2002 B1
6378150 Minegishi et al. Apr 2002 B1
6616621 Kohr Sep 2003 B1
6632185 Chen Oct 2003 B2
6647572 Lee Nov 2003 B2
6648840 Cutler et al. Nov 2003 B2
6741895 Gafni et al. May 2004 B1
6758826 Luettgen et al. Jul 2004 B2
6902525 Jewell Jun 2005 B1
6976970 Siddhartha Dec 2005 B2
7081087 Jannuzzi Jul 2006 B2
7104950 Levy Sep 2006 B2
7122015 Luettgen et al. Oct 2006 B2
7341566 Nan Mar 2008 B2
7438681 Kobashikawa et al. Oct 2008 B2
7503892 Squicciarini Mar 2009 B2
7527589 Squicciarini May 2009 B2
7559886 Knyrim Jul 2009 B2
7608037 Levy Oct 2009 B2
20020029008 Pow Wong et al. Mar 2002 A1
20020103415 Manska et al. Aug 2002 A1
20030036678 Abbassi Feb 2003 A1
20030083590 Hochman et al. May 2003 A1
20040186344 Jannuzzi Sep 2004 A1
20050012406 Moret Jan 2005 A1
20050070827 Lee Mar 2005 A1
20050113636 Tucker May 2005 A1
20050113724 Wriggle May 2005 A1
20050159685 Klein et al. Jul 2005 A1
20050228219 Jewell Oct 2005 A1
20060047181 Hsu Mar 2006 A1
20060069329 Nan Mar 2006 A1
20060084837 Klearman et al. Apr 2006 A1
20060094992 Imboden et al. May 2006 A1
20060143092 Gardos et al. Jun 2006 A1
20070038019 Weng Feb 2007 A1
20070149903 Nan Jun 2007 A1
20070179336 Knyrim Aug 2007 A1
20070179414 Imboden et al. Aug 2007 A1
20080009775 Murison Jan 2008 A1
20080065187 Squicciarini Mar 2008 A1
20080082028 Blevins Apr 2008 A1
20080119767 Berry et al. May 2008 A1
20080139980 Fladl et al. Jun 2008 A1
20080208083 Lin et al. Aug 2008 A1
20090093856 Attila et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090099413 Kobashikawa et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090112055 Hyde et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090171144 Squicciarini Jul 2009 A1
20110218395 Stout Sep 2011 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (9)
Number Date Country
202004010534 May 2005 DE
102004033932 Sep 2005 DE
102005042092 Oct 2007 DE
202007012531 Dec 2007 DE
0472965 Mar 1992 EP
1720503 Jun 2007 EP
2047833 Apr 2009 EP
2005084605 Sep 2005 WO
2007041853 Apr 2007 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (5)
Entry
The First Office Action of the State Intellectual Property Office of China in Chinese Patent Application No. 200810134310.7; May 31, 2010. (No English Translation Available).
The second office action issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 200810134310.7 (filed on Jul. 22, 2008), issued on Aug. 31, 2011. (No English translation available).
Notice of Opposition from European Patent Office in Application No. 08009779.3, dated May 27, 2011 (1 page).
Opposition Papers Filed in European Patent Application No. 08009779.3, dated May 17, 2011, by Jörg Knyrim (10 pages).
European Search Report and European Search Opinion issued in European Application No. 10004175.5; Mar. 18, 2011.
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20110105837 A1 May 2011 US
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60978315 Oct 2007 US
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 11971797 Jan 2008 US
Child 12938513 US