CONDOM HAVING A RAISED CONTOURED SURFACE AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING
Condoms, condom formers, and methods for forming condoms are disclosed. A condom includes an open end, a closed end, a tubular sheath extending from the open end to the closed end, a tip portion adapted to cover a glans of a penis, disposed adjacent to the closed end, and a plurality of raised features disposed on the tubular sheath, having a top surface area and a base surface area, wherein the total raised top surface area is greater than the total base surface area of the condom.
1 . A condom, comprising:
an open end;
a closed end;
a tubular sheath extending from the open end to the closed end, comprising:
a tip portion, adapted to cover a glans of a penis, disposed adjacent to the closed end;
a plurality of raised features disposed on the tubular sheath, having a top surface area and a base surface area, wherein the total raised top surface area is greater than the total base surface area on the condom.
2 . The condom of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of raised features are of different sizes.
3 . The condom of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of raised features are of different shapes.
4 . The condom of claim 3 , wherein the raised features are square-, rectangular-, oval-, or circular-shaped.
5 . The condom of claim 4 , wherein the sides or axes of the raised features range in size from 1.0 to 14.0 mm and from a height between 0.05 to 1.5 mm.
6 . The condom of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shapes form a pattern.
7 . The condom of claim 6 , wherein the pattern forms a snakeskin pattern.
8 . The condom of claim 6 , wherein the pattern is parallel or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the condom.
9 . A condom former, comprising:
a first end;
a second end;
a middle portion extending between the first end and second end, the middle portion of the former comprising a plurality of depressions and raised features disposed on a top surface area and a base surface area, wherein the total raised top surface area is less than the total base surface area on the condom.
10 . The condom former of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of depressions are diamond-shaped.
11 . The condom former of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of depressions range in size from 1.0×1.0 mm to 14.0×14.0 mm.
12 . The condom former of claim 9 , wherein the pattern is arranged in a pattern parallel with the longitudinal axis of the former.
13 . The condom former of claim 9 , wherein the pattern is arranged in a pattern lateral to the longitudinal axis of the former.
14 . The condom former of claim 9 , wherein the pattern is a snakeskin pattern.
15 . The condom former of claim 9 , wherein the depth of the plurality of depressions range from 0.05 to 1.5 mm.
16 . The condom former of claim 9 , wherein the middle portion comprises a plurality of sections.
17 . The condom former of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of sections further includes sections having no pattern.
18 . A method for forming a condom, comprising:
disposing a first elastomeric layer on a former having a plurality of raised features to form a tubular sheath; and
curing the elastomeric layer to form a cured elastomeric layer.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of features are disposed on at least one of the tip segment, or the bottom portion of the former, the plurality of features forming a snakeskin pattern parallel or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the former.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein a second elastomeric layer having a different color than the first elastomeric layer is disposed on the first elastomeric layer.