Method and apparatus for use in applying elastomeric coverings to body

Claim 1

An apparatus for use in applying an elastomeric covering to a body member, comprising: a) a hollow member being formed by a wall and having an interior cavity for receiving said covering; b) said wall having a first opening that communicates with said interior cavity, said first opening being sized large enough so that said body member can be inserted through said first opening, said wall having a lip that surrounds said first opening, said lip being adapted for receiving and retaining a portion of said covering; c) said interior cavity having a volume, said wall being expandable and contractible so as to change the volume of said interior cavity, said wall having means automatically and resiliently for returning said wall to a relaxed condition from an expanded or contracted condition; d) said wall having a second opening that is separate and apart from said first opening, said second opening communicating with said interior cavity, said second opening being capable of being opened and closed.

Claim 2

An apparatus for use in applying an elastomeric covering to a body member, comprising: a) a hollow member being formed by a wall and having an interior cavity for receiving said covering; b) said wall having a first opening that communicates with said interior cavity, said first opening being sized large enough so that said body member can be inserted through said first opening, said wall having a lip that surrounds said first opening, said lip being adapted for receiving and retaining a portion of said covering; c) said interior cavity having a volume, said wall being expandable and contractible so as to change the volume of said interior cavity, said wall having means automatically and resiliently for returning said wall to a relaxed condition from an expanded or contracted condition; d) said wall having a second opening that is separate and apart from said first opening, said second opening communicating with said interior cavity, said second opening being capable of being opened and closed.

Claim 8

An apparatus for use in applying a condom onto a body member, comprising: a) an elongated hollow member being formed by a wall and having an interior cavity for receiving said covering, said interior cavity having a volume, said wall extending between first and second ends and around a circumference of said interior cavity such that said wall encompasses said interior cavity; b) said wall having a first opening located at said first end, said first opening communicating with said interior cavity, said first opening and said interior cavity being sized large enough so that said body member can be inserted through said first opening, said first end of said wall having a lip that extends circumferentially around said first opening, said lip being rigid so that an open end of said condom can be located around said lip; c) said wall having pleats that extend circumferentially around said interior cavity such that said wall can be contracted and expanded to respectively contract and expand the volume of said interior cavity, said wall having means for automatically and resiliently returning said wall to a relaxed condition from an expanded or contracted condition; d) said wall having a second opening located at said second end, said second opening communicating with said interior cavity, said second opening being capable of being opened and closed.

Claim 9

An apparatus for use in applying a condom onto a body member, comprising: a) an elongated hollow member being formed by a wall and having an interior cavity for receiving said covering, said interior cavity having a volume, said wall extending between first and second ends and around a circumference of said interior cavity such that said wall encompasses said interior cavity; b) said wall having a first opening located at said first end, said first opening communicating with said interior cavity, said first opening and said interior cavity being sized large enough so that said body member can be inserted through said first opening, said first end of said wall having a lip that extends circumferentially around said first opening, said lip being rigid so that an open end of said condom can be located around said lip; c) said wall having pleats that extend circumferentially around said interior cavity such that said wall can be contracted and expanded to respectively contract and expand the volume of said interior cavity, said wall having means for automatically and resiliently returning said wall to a relaxed condition from an expanded or contracted condition; d) said wall having a second opening located at said second end, said second opening communicating with said interior cavity, said second opening being capable of being opened and closed.

Claim 12

A method of applying an elastomeric covering to a body member, said covering having an open end portion and a closed end portion, comprising the steps of: a) providing bellows means with an interior volume that can be expanded and contracted, and providing said bellows means with a bypass opening; b) inserting said closed end portion of said covering into said interior volume of said bellows means and securing said open end portion of said covering to said bellows means so as to form an airtight seal between said covering open end portion and said bellows means and so as to form a volume of air between said covering and said bellows means, said airtight seal being separate from said opening; c) contracting said volume of air between said covering and said bellows means while venting said air in said volume through said opening and then sealing said opening; d) expanding said bellows means so as to lower the air pressure in said volume of air to expand said covering inside of said interior volume; e) inserting said body member through said open end portion of said expanded covering; f) increasing the air pressure in said volume of air to allow said covering closed end portion to contract onto said body member, wherein said body member is covered by said covering; g) removing said covered body member from said bellows means.

Claim 13

A method of applying an elastomeric covering to a body member, said covering having an open end portion and a closed end portion, comprising the steps of: a) providing bellows means with an interior volume that can be expanded and contracted, and providing said bellows means with a bypass opening; b) inserting said closed end portion of said covering into said interior volume of said bellows means and securing said open end portion of said covering to said bellows means so as to form an airtight seal between said covering open end portion and said bellows means and so as to form a volume of air between said covering and said bellows means, said airtight seal being separate from said opening; c) contracting said volume of air between said covering and said bellows means while venting said air in said volume through said opening and then sealing said opening; d) expanding said bellows means so as to lower the air pressure in said volume of air to expand said covering inside of said interior volume; e) inserting said body member through said open end portion of said expanded covering; f) increasing the air pressure in said volume of air to allow said covering closed end portion to contract onto said body member, wherein said body member is covered by said covering; g) removing said covered body member from said bellows means.