Protective Sheath

Abstract

A protective sheath for use within a vaginal canal of a female user, the protective sheath including a flexible tubular body having a body medial portion disposed between a body closed end portion and a body open end portion; and an annular flange extending radially outward from the body open end portion, the annular flange terminating in an annular flange edge having a generally elliptical annular flange edge perimeter, whereby the generally elliptical annular flange edge perimeter configures to overlay a portion of a vulva of the female user.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A protective sheath comprising:
 a flexible tubular body having a body medial portion disposed between a body closed end portion and a body open end portion; and   an annular flange extending radially outward from said body open end portion, said annular flange terminating in an annular flange edge having a generally elliptical annular flange edge perimeter.   
     
     
         2 . The protective sheath of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible tubular body is formed from one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: polymeric materials, natural rubber latex, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, polyisoprene latex, polyvinyl chloride, polychloroprene rubber, and polyurethane. 
     
     
         3 . The protective sheath of  claim 1 , wherein said body medial portion further comprises a body medial portion wall having a body medial portion wall thickness in a range of between about 0.03 millimeters to about 0.8 millimeters. 
     
     
         4 . The protective sheath of  claim 3 , wherein said body medial portion further comprises at least one body medial portion retention element. 
     
     
         5 . The protective sheath of  claim 4 , wherein said retention element is configured as a circumferential protrusion which extends around a body medial portion outer surface of said body medial portion. 
     
     
         6 . The protective sheath of  claim 1 , wherein said generally elliptical annular flange edge perimeter is greater than a body medial portion perimeter of said body medial portion. 
     
     
         7 . The protective sheath of  claim 6 , wherein said annular flange edge having said generally elliptical annular flange edge perimeter configures to overlay a portion of a vulva of a female user when said protective sheath is used by said female user. 
     
     
         8 . The protective sheath of  claim 7 , wherein said annular flange edge further comprises a bead element extending around said generally elliptical annular flange edge perimeter. 
     
     
         9 . The protective sheath of  claim 8 , wherein said bead element further comprises a bead element thickness which is greater than a body medial portion wall thickness of a body medial portion wall of said body medial portion. 
     
     
         10 . The protective sheath of  claim 9 , wherein said bead element thickness is in a range of between about 0.1 millimeters to about 3 millimeters. 
     
     
         11 . The protective sheath of  claim 8 , wherein said bead element has a generally circular bead element cross section. 
     
     
         12 . The protective sheath of  claim 8 , wherein said bead element has a generally semi-circular bead element cross section, and wherein a generally planar bead element portion of said bead element having said generally semi-circular bead element cross section disposes proximate an annular flange opening bounded by said annular flange edge. 
     
     
         13 . The protective sheath of  claim 8 , wherein said bead element further comprises a texture element coupled to said bead element. 
     
     
         14 . The protective sheath of  claim 8 , wherein said bead element further comprises a non-planar bead element perimeter. 
     
     
         15 . The protective sheath of  claim 8 , wherein said annular flange edge further comprises an arcuate element extending radially outward from said generally elliptical annular flange edge perimeter, wherein an annular flange portion proximate said arcuate element configures to engage a clitoris of said female user when said protective sheath is used by said female user. 
     
     
         16 . The protective sheath of  claim 8 , wherein said annular flange further comprises a first protrusion outwardly extending from an annular flange outer surface of said annular flange, said first protrusion configured to engage a clitoris of said female user when said protective sheath is used by a female user. 
     
     
         17 . The protective sheath of  claim 16 , wherein said first protrusion comprises a plurality of generally linear first protrusions circumferentially extending across a portion of said annular flange outer surface. 
     
     
         18 . The protective sheath of  claim 8 , wherein said annular flange further comprises a second protrusion outwardly extending from an annular flange outer surface of said annular flange, said second protrusion configured to engage a right labial portion of said vulva of said female user when said protective sheath is used by a female user. 
     
     
         19 . The protective sheath of  claim 18 , wherein said second protrusion comprises a plurality of generally linear second protrusions circumferentially extending across a portion of said annular flange outer surface. 
     
     
         20 . The protective sheath of  claim 8 , wherein said annular flange further comprises a third protrusion outwardly extending from an annular flange outer surface of said annular flange, said third protrusion configured to engage a left labial portion of said vulva of said female user when said protective sheath is used by a female user. 
     
     
         21 . The protective sheath of  claim 20 , wherein said third protrusion comprises a plurality of generally linear third protrusions circumferentially extending across a portion of said annular flange outer surface. 
     
     
         22 . The protective sheath of  claim 8 , wherein said annular flange further comprises a fourth protrusion outwardly extending from an annular flange outer surface of said annular flange, said fourth protrusion configured to engage a portion of a perineum of said female user when said protective sheath is used by a female user. 
     
     
         23 . The protective sheath of  claim 22 , wherein said fourth protrusion comprises a plurality of generally linear fourth protrusions circumferentially extending across a portion of said annular flange outer surface. 
     
     
         24 . The protective sheath of  claim 8 , wherein said body closed end portion comprises a body closed end portion wall having a body closed end portion wall durometer which is greater than a body medial portion wall durometer of a body medial portion wall of said body medial portion. 
     
     
         25 . The protective sheath of  claim 24 , wherein said body closed end portion comprises a body closed end portion wall having a body closed end portion wall thickness which is greater than a body medial portion wall thickness of a body medial portion wall of said body medial portion. 
     
     
         26 . The protective sheath of  claim 25 , wherein said body closed end portion wall thickness is in a range of between about 0.1 millimeters to about 1.5 millimeters. 
     
     
         27 . The protective sheath of  claim 24 , wherein said body closed end portion further comprises a body closed end portion perimeter which is greater than said body medial portion perimeter of said body medial portion. 
     
     
         28 . The protective sheath of  claim 27 , wherein said body closed end portion is configured as a bulbous body closed end portion. 
     
     
         29 . The protective sheath of  claim 24 , wherein said body closed end portion further comprises a body closed end portion perimeter which is lesser than said body medial portion perimeter of said body medial portion. 
     
     
         30 . The protective sheath of  claim 24 , wherein said body closed end portion further comprises at least one body closed end portion retention element. 
     
     
         31 . The protective sheath of  claim 30 , wherein said body closed end portion retention element is configured as a body closed end portion protrusion which outwardly extends from a body closed end portion outer surface of said body closed end portion. 
     
     
         32 . The protective sheath of  claim 24 , wherein said body closed end portion is configured as a collapsible body closed end portion, said collapsible body closed end portion collapsible from a body closed end portion deployed condition toward a body closed end portion collapsed condition in which said collapsible body closed end portion occupies a lesser volume of space in relation to said body closed end portion deployed condition. 
     
     
         33 . The protective sheath of  claim 32 , wherein said collapsible body closed end portion further comprises at least one collapsible body closed end portion recess which facilitates collapsing of said collapsible body closed end portion from said body closed end portion deployed condition toward said body closed end portion collapsed condition. 
     
     
         34 . The protective sheath of  claim 32 , wherein said collapsible body closed end portion further comprises a retention material which retains said collapsible body closed end portion in said body closed end portion collapsed condition until deployment into said body closed end portion deployed condition. 
     
     
         35 . The protective sheath of  claim 34 , wherein said retention material comprises a temperature-sensitive polyethylene glycol, wherein said temperature sensitive polyethylene glycol is in a generally solid polyethylene glycol condition at temperatures lesser than a vaginal canal temperature and said temperature-sensitive polyethylene glycol is in a generally liquid polyethylene glycol condition at temperatures equal to or greater than said vaginal canal temperature. 
     
     
         36 . The protective sheath of  claim 24 , wherein said body closed end disposes within a flexible tubular body interior passage bounded by said body medial portion wall toward said body open end portion to reduce a flexible tubular body volume of said flexible tubular body. 
     
     
         37 . The protective sheath of  claim 24 , wherein said body medial portion telescopingly engages within a body closed end portion interior space bounded by said body closed end portion wall to reduce a flexible tubular body volume of said flexible tubular body. 
     
     
         38 . The protective sheath of  claim 24 , wherein said body medial portion is configured as a collapsible body medial portion, said collapsible body medial portion collapsible from a body medial portion deployed condition toward a body medial portion collapsed condition in which said collapsible body medial portion occupies a lesser volume of space in relation to said body medial portion deployed condition. 
     
     
         39 . The protective sheath of  claim 38 , wherein said collapsible body medial portion further comprises at least one collapsible body medial portion recess which facilitates collapsing of said collapsible body medial portion from said body medial portion deployed condition toward said body medial portion collapsed condition. 
     
     
         40 . The protective sheath of  claim 39 , wherein said collapsible body medial portion in said body medial portion collapsed condition disposes within a body closed end portion interior space bounded by said body closed end portion wall to reduce a flexible tubular body volume of said flexible tubular body. 
     
     
         41 . A method of producing a protective sheath, said method comprising:
 providing a flexible tubular body having a body medial portion disposed between a body closed end portion and a body open end portion; and   extending an annular flange radially outward from said body open end portion;   wherein said annular flange terminates in an annular flange edge having a generally elliptical annular flange edge perimeter.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising producing said protective sheath as a one-piece protective sheath construct. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising producing said one-piece protective sheath construct by:
 forming a first coating of a first material on a former, said first coating defining:
 said flexible tubular body having said body medial portion disposed between said body closed end portion and said body open end portion; and 
 said annular flange extending radially outward from said body open end portion, said annular flange terminating in said annular flange edge having said generally elliptical annular flange edge perimeter; and 
   curing said first coating on said former.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein forming said first coating of said first material on said former comprises dipping said former into said first material. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising disposing a former longitudinal axis of said former in a generally vertical position prior to dipping said former into said first material. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein forming said first coating of said first material on said former comprises depositing said first material onto said former. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 disposing a former longitudinal axis of said former in a generally horizontal position prior to depositing said first material onto said former; and   rotating said former about said former longitudinal axis while depositing said first material onto said former.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 forming a second coating of a second material on said former, said second coating overlaying a portion of said first coating defining said body closed end portion; and   curing said second coating on said former.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein forming said second coating of said second material on said former comprises dipping said former into said second material. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising disposing a former longitudinal axis of said former in a generally vertical position prior to dipping said former into said second material. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein forming said second coating of said second material on said former comprises depositing said second material onto said former. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising:
 disposing a former longitudinal axis of said former in a generally horizontal position prior to depositing said second material onto said former; and   rotating said former about said former longitudinal axis while depositing said second material onto said former.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 43  or  claim 48 , further comprising:
 forming a third coating of a third material on said former, said third coating overlaying a portion of said first coating defining said annular flange; and 
 curing said third coating on said former. 
 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein forming said third coating of said third material on said former comprises dipping said former into said third material. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising disposing a former longitudinal axis of said former in a generally vertical position prior to dipping said former into said third material. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein forming said third coating of said third material on said former comprises depositing said third material onto said former. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising:
 disposing a former longitudinal axis of said former in a generally horizontal position prior to depositing said third material onto said former; and   rotating said former about said former longitudinal axis while depositing said third material onto said former.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising:
 forming a fourth coating of a fourth material on said former, said fourth coating overlaying said second coating defining said body closed end portion, said first coating defining said body medial portion, and said third coating defining said annular flange; and   curing said fourth coating on said former.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein forming said fourth coating of said fourth material on said former comprises dipping said former into said fourth material. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , further comprising disposing a former longitudinal axis of said former in a generally vertical position prior to dipping said former into said fourth material. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein forming said fourth coating of said fourth material on said former comprises depositing said fourth material onto said former. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising:
 disposing a former longitudinal axis of said former in a generally horizontal position prior to depositing said fourth material onto said former; and   rotating said former about said former longitudinal axis while depositing said fourth material onto said former.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising producing said protective sheath from a plurality of discrete pieces. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising:
 providing said body medial portion as a discrete body medial portion having opposing discrete body medial portion first and second open ends;   providing said annular flange as a discrete annular flange;   coupling said discrete annular flange to said discrete body medial portion proximate said discrete body medial portion first open end;   providing said body closed end portion as a discrete body closed end portion; and   coupling said discrete body closed end portion to said discrete body medial portion proximate said discrete body medial portion second open end.   
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein:
 coupling said discrete annular flange to said discrete body medial portion comprises adhering said discrete annular flange to said discrete body medial portion with a first adherent layer; and   coupling said discrete body closed end portion to said discrete body medial portion comprises adhering said discrete body closed end portion to said discrete body medial portion with a second adherent layer.   
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein:
 coupling said discrete annular flange to said discrete body medial portion comprises joining said discrete annular flange to said discrete body medial portion with a first joining process; and   coupling said discrete body closed end portion to said discrete body medial portion comprises joining said discrete body closed end portion to said discrete body medial portion with a second joining process.   
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 41 , furthering comprising forming a bead element extending around said generally elliptical annular flange edge perimeter. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said bead element has a generally circular bead element cross section. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein forming said bead element having said generally circular bead element cross section comprises rolling a portion of said annular flange upon itself to provide a rolled bead element. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said bead element has a generally semi-circular bead element cross section, and wherein a generally planar bead element portion of said bead element having said generally semi-circular bead element cross section disposes proximate an annular flange opening bounded by said annular flange edge. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein forming said bead element having said generally semi-circular bead element cross section comprises disposing an elastic annular member about said annular flange and overlaying an annular flange overlaying portion of said annular flange over an elastic annular member outer surface of said elastic annular member. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein forming said bead element having said generally semi-circular bead element cross section comprises circumferentially depositing said bead element about an annular flange outer surface of said annular flange proximate said annular flange edge. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising coupling a body medial portion retention element to said body medial portion. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising configuring said body medial portion retention element as a body medial portion circumferential protrusion which outwardly extends from a body medial portion outer surface of said body medial portion. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein said body medial portion circumferential protrusion can be formed by disposing an elastic annular member about said body medial portion. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein said body medial portion circumferential protrusion can be formed by circumferentially depositing said body medial portion circumferential protrusion about said body medial portion. 
     
     
         77 . A method of using a protective sheath within a vaginal canal of a female user, said method comprising:
 obtaining said protective sheath comprising:
 a flexible tubular body having a body medial portion disposed between a body closed end portion and a body open end portion; and 
 an annular flange extending radially outward from said body open end portion, said annular flange terminating in an annular flange edge having a generally elliptical annular flange edge perimeter; 
   inserting said body closed end portion into said vaginal canal toward a cervix of said female user; and   engaging a portion of a vulva of said female user with said annular flange edge to preclude said annular flange edge from ingress into said vaginal canal.   
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 77 , furthering comprising stimulating said vulva of said female user with said annular flange edge. 
     
     
         79 . A bead element extending around an edge perimeter of an edge bounding an opening, said bead element comprising a generally semi-circular bead element cross section, wherein a generally planar bead element portion of said bead element having said generally semi-circular bead element cross section disposes proximate said opening bounded by said edge. 
     
     
         80 . A bead element extending around an edge perimeter of an edge bounding an opening, said bead element comprising a texture element coupled to said bead element. 
     
     
         81 . A bead element extending around an edge perimeter of an edge bounding an opening, said bead element comprising a non-planar bead element perimeter. 
     
     
         82 . A method of forming a bead element which extends around an edge perimeter of an edge bounding an opening, said method comprising disposing an elastic annular member about said edge and overlaying an edge overlaying portion of said edge over an elastic annular member outer surface of said elastic annular member to provide said bead element having a generally semi-circular bead element cross section, wherein a generally planar bead element portion of said bead element having said generally semi-circular bead element cross section disposes proximate said opening bounded by said edge. 
     
     
         83 . A method of forming a bead element which extends around an edge perimeter of an edge bounding an opening, said method comprising circumferentially depositing said bead element about said edge to provide said bead element having a generally semi-circular bead element cross section, wherein a generally planar bead element portion of said bead element having said generally semi-circular bead element cross section disposes proximate said opening bounded by said edge. 
     
     
         84 . A method of forming a retention element configured as a circumferential protrusion which outwardly extends from a body, said method comprising disposing an elastic annular member about said body. 
     
     
         85 . A method of forming a retention element configured as a circumferential protrusion which outwardly extends from a body, said method comprising circumferentially depositing said circumferential protrusion about said body. 
     
     
         86 . A protective sheath comprising:
 a flexible tubular body comprising a body medial portion having opposing body medial portion first and second open ends, said body medial portion second open end having a body medial portion second open end diameter;   a discrete body end portion having opposing discrete body end portion open and closed ends, said discrete body end portion open end having a discrete body end portion open end diameter;   wherein said discrete body end portion open end diameter is greater than said body medial portion second open end diameter; and   wherein said discrete body end portion open end couples to said body medial portion second open end.   
     
     
         87 . The protective sheath of  claim 86 , wherein said discrete body closed end portion is configured as a bulbous discrete body closed end portion. 
     
     
         88 . The protective sheath of  claim 87 , wherein said discrete body end portion open end disposes at least about 60 millimeters from said body medial portion first open end. 
     
     
         89 . The protective sheath of  claim 88 , wherein said discrete body end portion open end disposes a distance of less than about 80 millimeters from said body medial portion second open end. 
     
     
         90 . The protective sheath of  claim 89 , wherein said distance is selected from the group consisting of: less than about 80 millimeters; less than about 75 millimeters; less than about 70 millimeters; less than about 65 millimeters; less than about 60 millimeters; less than about 55 millimeters; less than about 50 millimeters; less than about 45 millimeters; less than about 40 millimeters; less than about 35 millimeters; less than about 30 millimeters; less than about 25 millimeters; less than about 20 millimeters; less than about 15 millimeters; less than about 10 millimeters; and less than about 5 millimeters. 
     
     
         91 . The protective sheath of  claim 89 , wherein said discrete body end portion further comprises a discrete body end portion wall having a discrete body end portion wall durometer which is greater than a body medial portion wall durometer of a body medial portion wall of said body medial portion. 
     
     
         92 . The protective sheath of  claim 89 , wherein said discrete body end portion further comprises a discrete body end portion wall having a discrete body end portion wall thickness which is greater than a body medial portion wall thickness of a body medial portion wall of said body medial portion. 
     
     
         93 . The protective sheath of  claim 91  or  claim 92 , further comprising an annular flange extending radially outward from said body medial portion first open end, said annular flange terminating in an annular flange edge having a generally elliptical annular flange edge perimeter. 
     
     
         94 . The protective sheath of  claim 93 , wherein said annular flange edge having said generally elliptical annular flange edge perimeter configures to overlay a portion of a vulva of a female user when said protective sheath is used by said female user. 
     
     
         95 . A method of producing a protective sheath, said method comprising:
 providing a flexible tubular body comprising a body medial portion having opposing body medial portion first and second open ends, said body medial portion second open end having a body medial portion second open end diameter; and   providing a discrete body end portion having opposing discrete body end portion open and closed ends, said discrete body end portion open end having a discrete body end portion open end diameter;   wherein said discrete body end portion open end diameter is greater than said body medial portion second open end diameter; and   coupling said discrete body end portion open end to said body medial portion second open end.