Protective Undergarment for Prevention of Sexually-Transmitted Diseases and Infections

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/643,118 entitled “PROTECTIVE UNDERGARMENT FOR PREVENTION OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND INFECTIONS,” filed on May 6, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Sexually transmitted diseases and infections are communicable health risks prevalent in society and can result in major health problems including disability and death. Many sexually transmitted diseases and infections do not have cures or effective treatments. Problematically, condoms used as a form of protection against such sexually transmitted diseases and infections usually do not extend all the way down to the base of a user's penis and beyond, and may not provide a good seal in the lower regions of a user's penis to serve as a barrier against infection. Furthermore, normal appearing skin of the genital and anal regions may be infected by bacteria, viruses, etc. associated with sexually transmitted diseases and infections which are not visible to the naked eye. This may lead to unsuspected transmission of sexually transmitted diseases and infection during sexual activity via regions of the body that condoms do not protect against such as the base of the penis, scrotum, inguinal region, anal region, etc.

Accordingly, there is a need for user-friendly and comfortable apparatuses that may provide barrier protection over the genital and anal regions of the male anatomy during sexual intercourse to prevent bi-directional infection and transmission of diseases between sexual partners.

In general, described herein are methods and apparatuses for a protective undergarment for the prevention of sexually transmitted disease and infections. According to one example, there is an undergarment constructed from an impermeable material, further having a raised central and cylindrical-shaped extension region with an opening configured to receive a shaft of a user's penis through the opening, and further configured to create a seal between the extension region and a condom placed over the user's penis and the extension region. In certain examples, the extension region may have a cylindrical or circular circumference configured to retain the condom's smooth and cylindrical or circular shape for a strong seal. In this or other examples, and to enhance the strength of the seal, the outer surface of the extension region may be smooth for the condom to better contour over to form a strong seal. Other ways that a strong seal may be achieved include longitudinal ribs or protrusions along the outer surface of the extension region, with an absence of circumferential or transverse ribs or protrusions along the outer surface of the extension region. Having circumferential or transverse ribs or protrusions on the outer surface of the extension region may interfere with the strength and quality of the seal by impeding the contouring of the condom to the outer surface of the extension region.

According to certain examples, the undergarment covers one or more of: a scrotum, buttocks, anus, perineum, inguinal region, and upper thighs of the user.

According to certain examples, a diameter of the opening of the extension region is 1-2 inches in length.

According to certain examples, the opening of the extension region is radially extendible to accommodate variable sizes of the shaft of the user's penis.

According to certain examples, one or more of a length and a thickness of the extension region is increased to bolster girth of the shaft of the user's penis for improvement of one or more of: (i) sexual stimulation and (ii) the seal between the extension region and the condom placed over the user's penis and the extension region.

According to certain examples, the impermeable material is a breathable fabric material, in which the breathable fabric material is configured for user comfort during wear.

According to certain examples, the impermeable material is a latex material.

According to certain examples, the extension region is constructed from an impermeable latex material and other regions of the undergarment are constructed from an impermeable breathable fabric material configured for user comfort during wear, further in which the latex material of the extension region is affixed to the breathable fabric material of the other regions via one or more of: (i) adhesive material, (ii) electro-scaling, and (iii) stitching.

According to certain examples, the extension region is an impermeable breathable fabric material configured for user comfort during wear having added latex material including one or more of: (i) a latex coating, (ii) stitched latex, and (iii) threaded latex, wherein the added latex material is configured to enhance one or more of: (a) stretchability of the extension region, (b) impermeability of the extension region, and (c) the seal between the extension region and the condom placed over user's penis and the extension region.

According to certain examples, the added latex material forms a ridge around the circumference of the extension region.

shows a perspective view of an undergarment for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases as a boxer brief with integrated extension region. Shown here is undergarment bodyhaving a waistband region. There is a raised extension regionover undergarment bodywith an openingof extension region. According to certain examples, the thickness and length of extension regionmay be varied to accommodate sizes of user's penises and for increasing girth of a user's penis for enhanced sexual stimulation.

Various examples of protective undergarmentmay take other shapes and forms of underwear including briefs, boxer shorts, bikini-cut briefs, trunks, shorty briefs, jock straps, long underwear, and mini-briefs. One such example is shown in.

According to various examples, undergarment bodyand extension regionmay be constructed from a breathable fabric material configured for user comfort during wear, or alternatively undergarment bodyand extension regionmay be constructed from a latex material. According to yet other examples, undergarment bodymay be constructed from a breathable fabric material while extension regionmay be constructed from a latex material and attached to undergarment bodyvia adhesive material, electro-sealing, stitching, etc. According to still other examples, extension regionmay be constructed from a breathable fabric with latex material added to its outer surface, such as a latex coating, stitched latex, threaded latex, etc. for increased impermeability and a stronger seal between the extension region and a condom placed over the user's penis and the extension region. In certain examples, the latex coating or other material coating of the extension region's outer surface may be configured to create a strong seal with the condom by having a high coefficient of friction with the condom material, which may be latex. The added latex material may form a ridge or other arrangement around the circumference of the extension region to enhance the seal between the condom placed over the user's penis and the extension region and/or the girth of the user's penis.

According to various examples, protective undergarmentmay cover one or more of a user's scrotum, buttocks, anus, perineum, inguinal region, and upper thighs. According to yet other examples, protective undergarmentmay be modified for a female user to cover various parts of the external and internal female anatomy.

In certain examples, protective undergarmentmay be configured to be disposable after use. For example, at least undergarment bodymay be partially or fully constructed from easily removable, degradable, and/or inexpensive materials such as polyester that the user may, for example, tear off from their body after use for disposal.

In yet other examples, protective undergarmentmay be non-disposal and configured for longer use and wear, for example by being constructed at least partially or entirely from materials that are durable, washable, and easily disinfected for reuse. Such materials may include linen, cotton, nylon, microfibers, etc. In some examples, one or more components of protective undergarment, for example components that are most prone to environmental exposure or skin contact such as extension region, may be disposable, whereas undergarment bodymay be reusable.

shows a side viewof the undergarment of. Shown here is undergarment bodywith waistband region, extension region, and openingof extension region.

shows a side viewof the undergarment ofworn on a user with the user's penisinserted through an opening of the extension region. Shown here is undergarment bodywith waistband region, extension region, and user's penis passed through openingof extension region(see).

shows the side of view of the undergarment on the user ofwith a condom placed over the user's penis. Again shown are undergarment bodyand waistband region. Shown here is condompreparing to be unrolledover a user's penispositioned through the extension region(via openingof extension region, see).

shown the side view of the undergarment on the user ofwith the condom unrolled over the user's penis and the extension region of the undergarment. Shown as before are undergarment bodyand waistband region. As shown here, condomis unrolled over a user's penisand creates a seal by unrolling further over extension region.

is a side view of one example of an extension region with a base. According to certain examples, extension regionmay include a baseintegrated into or placed under undergarment body(see). In yet other examples, extension regionmay not have a base and be integrated or attached to undergarment body(see). Also shown is openingof extension region. According to certain examples, the diameter of the openingof extension regionmay be 1-2 inches. Similarly, the length of openingof extension regionmay be variable to accommodate the length of a user's penis or enhance the seal when a condom is unrolled over extension region. According to these or yet further examples, thickness of the extension regionmay be increased to bolster the girth of the shaft of a user's penis, for example in order to improve or enhance sexual stimulation and the grip of the seal between the extension regionand the condom unrolled or otherwise placed over the user's penis and extension region. Still further, openingof extension regionmay be radially extendible to accommodate various sizes and thicknesses of the shaft of a user's penis.

is an exemplary basic ring of the undergarment. Shown here is basic ring, Which may be constructed of a silicon or latex material and may have a rounded/circular or cylindrical shape. In certain examples, basic ringmay be attached to or integrated with the undergarment, such as protective undergarmentform, and may be configured to be in place of or as an alternative to extension region with basefrom. Basic ringmay be configured to receive the user's penis through it and a condom placed or unrolled over the user's penis, with the base of the condom secured or attached to basic ring.

is an exemplary custom ring of the undergarment. In certain examples, basic Ringfrommay be a custom ringor custom ringmay be integrated with or attached to the undergarment, such as protective undergarmentfrom. Custom ringmay have an angled tipconfigured to receive and facilitate unrolling of a base of a condom over user's penis after user's penis is inserted through ring. Custom ringmay further include indentation, which may be a half or full cylindrical indentation configured to secure the base of the condom. Also shown is baseof the custom ring, which may be a wide base configured for attachment or integration with the undergarment such as protective undergarmentfrom.

is an embodiment of an undergarmentwith the basic ringof. As shown here, basic ringmay be attached to or integrated with an undergarment such as protective undergarmentfrom, in a location where basic ringis configured to align with and receive the user's penis through ringwhen the user is wearing undergarment with the basic ring.

In certain examples, basic ringand/or custom ringmay be configured to be attached to an undergarment such as protective undergarmentfromby various methods including adhesives (gluing), electro-scaling and stitching.

is a perspective view of the undergarment as a brief with integrated extension region.

Shown again are waistband region, undergarment body, extension regionand openingof extension region. It should be noted that the shape of protective undergarment may in certain examples take other shapes and forms of underwear including boxer shorts, bikini-cut briefs, trunks, shorty briefs, jock straps, long underwear, and mini-briefs.

are views of another embodiment of the undergarment with a deployable extension region.

is a side view of the undergarment. Shown are waistband region, undergarment body, extension regionand openingof extension region. According to certain examples, undergarmentincluding extension regionmay be constructed of the various examples or combinations of materials, added latex material, and disposable or reusable/durable materials, as well as the expandable properties and girth enhancement of extension regionall as previously described, for example in. Extension regionmay be a rolled latex material or material with a latex coating or added latex configured to be deployed or unrolled anteriorly after a user wears undergarmentand the user's penis is passed through openingof extension region. In certain examples, extension regionmay be integrated as a single piece with the rest of undergarment-. In certain examples, undergarment-may be sterile and designed for single use.

is a perspective viewof the undergarment of. The same features are depicted as mentioned inincluding waistband region, undergarment body, and openingof extension regionis more clearly visible.

is a side viewof the undergarment of. As shown here, a user is shown wearing undergarmentwhich includes waistband regionand undergarment body, with user's penisinserted through extension regionvia opening(from), ready for extension regionto be deployed or unrolledanteriorly and at least partially over the user's penisand towards the tipof the user's penis. According to certain examples, extension regionmay be unrolled up to 2 inches and may be constructed of a latex material with an open anterior end that may end along the shaft of the user's penis, and be configured for a condom or other barrier to be deployed or unrolled in the posterior direction (away from the tipof the user's penis) and go over the unrolled extension regionto form a secure seal with latex material on top of latex material at a region of overlap between the condom and the extension region. In certain examples, extension regionmay have a similar coefficient of friction as the condom that is worn over it.

It should be noted that the shape of protective undergarment-may in certain examples take other shapes and forms of underwear including boxer shorts, bikini-cut briefs, trunks, shorty briefs, jock straps, long underwear, briefs, and mini-briefs.is a flow chart illustrating a method for wearing a protective undergarment for prevention of sexually transmitted disease and infections in conjunction with a condom.

Methodbegins at blockwith wearing a protective undergarment made of an impermeable material over a pelvic area of a user, in which the protective undergarment includes a raised central and cylindrical-shaped extension region having an opening configured to receive a user's penis.

Methodcontinues at blockwith traversing the penis of the user through the opening of the extension region such that a base region of the user's penis rests within the extension region.

Methodcontinues at blockwith unrolling a condom over the user's penis from a distal end of the user's penis towards and over the extension region, in which an interface between the condom and the extension region creates a seal containing the user's penis.

Methodconcludes at blockwith the user engaging in sexual activity with the condom sealed via the extension region to the protective undergarment worn over the pelvic area of the user.

According to certain examples of method, the undergarment covers one more of: a scrotum, buttocks, anus, perineum, inguinal region, and upper thighs of the user.

According to certain examples of method, a diameter of the opening of the extension region is 1-2 inches in length.

According to certain examples of method, the opening of the extension region is radially extendible to accommodate variable sizes of the shaft of the user's penis.

According to certain examples of method, one or more of a length and a thickness of the extension region is increased to bolster girth of the shaft of the user's penis for improvement of one or more of: (i) sexual stimulation and (ii) the seal between the extension region and the condom placed over the user's penis and the extension region.

According to certain examples of method, the impermeable material is a breathable fabric material, wherein the breathable fabric material is configured for user comfort during wear.

According to certain examples of method, the impermeable material is a latex material.

According to certain examples of method, the extension region is comprised of an impermeable latex material and other regions of the undergarment are comprised of an impermeable breathable fabric material configured for user comfort during wear, further wherein the latex material of the extension region is affixed to the breathable fabric material of the other regions via one or more of: (i) adhesive material, (ii) electro-sealing, and (iii) stitching.

According to certain examples of method, the extension region is an impermeable breathable fabric material configured for user comfort during wear having added latex material including one or more of: (i) a latex coating, (ii) stitched latex, and (iii) threaded latex, wherein the added latex material is configured to enhance one or more of: (a) stretchability of the extension region, (b) impermeability of the extension region, and (c) the seal between the extension region and the condom placed over user's penis and the extension region.

According to certain examples of method, the added latex material forms a ridge around the circumference of the extension region.

is a flow chart illustrating another method for wearing a protective undergarment for prevention of sexually transmitted disease and infections in conjunction with a condom.