US5794769A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Personal and easily-accessible carrier for a condom
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-11-12
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Granted: 1998-08-18
•
Expires: 2016-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A condom carrier comprises a flexible loop having a liquid-impermeable pocket for carrying a condom. The pocket has an opening along one edge that may be sealed with a condom in the pocket and unsealed to remove the condom from the pocket. In some embodiments the liquid-impermeable pocket is mounted directly to the inside or the outside of the loop, and in others the loop has a primary pocket inside or outside the loop, and the liquid impermeable secondary pocket fits into the primary pocket. The liquid impermeable pocket has a user-operable seal along one edge that may be opened to insert a condom and closed to contain the condom without leakage of any liquid placed in the liquid-impermeable pocket along with the condom. The user-operable seal is a quick-release seal that may be operated to open with one hand, typically with pressure from one or two fingers.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Tomlinson
- 👤 Cheryl M. Sinnott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:24
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F6/00; A61F6/005; A45; A45C; A45C11/00; A45C11/24; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S150/00; Y10S150/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A condom carrier comprising: a dedicated elastic loop deformable circumferentially; and a liquid-impermeable pocket attached to the elastic loop, the liquid-impermeable pocket having a sealable opening with a first side and a second side, including a pre-curved leaf-spring strip mounted along the width of the first side, such that with the leaf-spring strip in its not-deformed state the pocket is held closed, and with the leaf-spring strip deformed in a curve opposite the pre-curved shape the pocket is held open.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A condom carrier comprising: a dedicated elastic loop deformable circumferentially; and a liquid-impermeable pocket attached to the elastic loop, the liquid-impermeable pocket having a sealable opening with a first side and a second side, including a pre-curved leaf-spring strip mounted along the width of the first side, such that with the leaf-spring strip in its not-deformed state the pocket is held closed, and with the leaf-spring strip deformed in a curve opposite the pre-curved shape the pocket is held open.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The condom carrier of claim 1 further comprising one or more of decoration, indicia, and printed matter on the elastic loop.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The condom carrier of claim 1 wherein the liquid-impermeable pocket is attached to the inside of the elastic loop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The condom carrier of claim 1 wherein the liquid-impermeable pocket is attached to the outside of the elastic loop.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The condom carrier of claim 1 further comprising a frame adapted to fit inside the pocket, providing shape to the pocket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The condom carrier of claim 5 wherein the frame is a wire formed into a U-shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
A condom carrier comprising: a dedicated elastic loop deformable circumferentially; a primary pocket attached to the elastic loop; and a liquid-impermeable secondary pocket adapted to be carried in the primary pocket, the liquid-impermeable secondary pocket having a sealable opening with a first side and a second side, and including a pre-curved leaf-spring strip mounted along the width of the first side, such that with the leaf-spring strip in its not-deformed state the pocket is held closed, and with the leaf-spring strip deformed in a curve opposite the pre-curved shape the pocket is held open.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
A condom carrier comprising: a dedicated elastic loop deformable circumferentially; a primary pocket attached to the elastic loop; and a liquid-impermeable secondary pocket adapted to be carried in the primary pocket, the liquid-impermeable secondary pocket having a sealable opening with a first side and a second side, and including a pre-curved leaf-spring strip mounted along the width of the first side, such that with the leaf-spring strip in its not-deformed state the pocket is held closed, and with the leaf-spring strip deformed in a curve opposite the pre-curved shape the pocket is held open.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The condom carrier of claim 7 further comprising one or more of decoration, indicia, and printed matter on the elastic loop.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The condom carrier of claim 7 wherein the primary pocket is attached to the inside of the elastic loop.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The condom carrier of claim 7 wherein the primary pocket is attached to the outside of the elastic loop.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The condom carrier of claim 7 wherein the secondary pocket is positioned in the primary pocket with the first side toward the inside of the loop. Such that the pre-curved shape of the leaf-spring strip is curved in the same direction as the loop.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The condom carrier of claim 7 further comprising a frame adapted to fit inside the pocket, providing shape to the pocket.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The condom carrier of claim 12 wherein the frame is a wire formed into a U-shape.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
136 words
A carrier pocket comprising: an envelope of elastically-extensible material permanently sealed on three edges; and a reusable, sealable opening along a fourth edge, the sealable opening having a first side and a second side of equal unextended lengths, and a laterally-flexible, pre-curved leaf-spring strip of a fixed length along the curvature greater than the unextended length, the strip mounted along the first side of the opening with the outside of the curvature facing the second side of the opening by first stretching the opening to an extended length equal to the fixed length of the leaf-spring strip; wherein, with the strip in its normal curved state the pocket is held closed, and by deforming the strip past straight to provide a curvature opposite the normal curvature, the second side provides a force holding the pocket open.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
136 words
A carrier pocket comprising: an envelope of elastically-extensible material permanently sealed on three edges; and a reusable, sealable opening along a fourth edge, the sealable opening having a first side and a second side of equal unextended lengths, and a laterally-flexible, pre-curved leaf-spring strip of a fixed length along the curvature greater than the unextended length, the strip mounted along the first side of the opening with the outside of the curvature facing the second side of the opening by first stretching the opening to an extended length equal to the fixed length of the leaf-spring strip; wherein, with the strip in its normal curved state the pocket is held closed, and by deforming the strip past straight to provide a curvature opposite the normal curvature, the second side provides a force holding the pocket open.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The carrier pocket of claim 14 wherein the flexible material is selected from the group of materials including natural and synthetic rubber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-17 | 2002-02-16 | 2002-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-17 | 2006-02-16 | 2006-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-17 | 2010-02-16 | 2010-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |