At present the insertion of a condom onto the male member is carried out by leaning the brim of the same condom over the erected male member and subsequently unrolling the condom along the whole length of the organ.

A first drawback connected to said very common insertion method is the possibility, not at all remote, of breaking the condom with one's nails: very often, in fact, a correct insertion cannot be carried out by simply unrolling the condom, with the consequence of a prolonged handling of the same condom and higher probability of damaging the latter with one's nails.

A second drawback is the impossibility to know for certain whether the condom presents perforations that would make its use unadvisable. Very often, in fact, breaking of the condom during the sexual intercourse is not so much due to prolonged use or possible problems which may increase friction, as to pre-existing defects.

A further drawback is given by the fact that it is difficult to insert the condom in the absence of a complete erection.

The present invention overcomes such prior art drawbacks as it provides a device for the facilitated insertion of the male member into a condom, comprising: -a hollow element for containing the condom, provided with an access aperture; -means for fastening a brim of the condom to the access aperture of the hollow element, in order to form an air chamber between external walls of the condom and internal walls of the hollow element ; and -means, associated with said hollow element, for

creating a depression inside said air chamber forcing adhesion of the condom to the internal walls of the hollow element and allowing the subsequent facilitated insertion of the male member.

A method for the facilitated insertion of the male member into a condom is further provided, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: -inserting the condom into a hollow element so as to form an air chamber between external walls of the condom and internal walls of the hollow element; -creating a depression in said air chamber, forcing adhesion of the condom to the internal walls of the hollow element ; -inserting the male member inside the internal area of the condom ; and -removing the condom from the hollow element, in order for said condom to completely adhere to the male member.

Advantageous features of the present invention are claimed in the dependent claims thereof.

In this way, the above-mentioned problems are solved as not only the manipulation of the condom during the insertion onto the male member is almost completely reduced, but moreover the presence of possible perforations in the condom is immediately detected. In fact, the depression which is created would in such case cause the immediate breaking of the condom.

A further advantage of the present invention is given by the fact that it is moreover possible to insert the condom even in the absence of a full erection.

A still further advantage is given by the fact that the device and the method according to the present invention, given the easiness with which they can be used, are particularly helpful to invalid, handicapped and disabled people in general.

The present invention will be hereinafter disclosed by preferred embodiments thereof, shown as non-limiting

examples.

Reference will be made to the annexed drawings wherein: figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention; figure 2 is a section view of the embodiment of figure 1, with an inserted condom ; figure 3 is a partial perspective view of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention, with an inserted condom and in a state of minimum extension ; figure 4 is a section view of the embodiment of figure 3, in a state of maximum extension ; figure 5 shows a partial perspective and exploded view of a third embodiment of the device ; and figures 6 to 8 show how to use the device in the embodiment of figure 5.

Figure 1 shows a hollow element 1 for containing a condom provided with an access aperture, located on top in the figure, which shows means for fastening the condom to the hollow chamber such as a fastening ring 2 to which the brim of the condom has to be fastened. In this embodiment the ring 2 is integrally formed with the hollow element 1, being made up by the peripheral rim of the access aperture of the hollow element. For a different kind of ring, figures 5 to 8 are addressed. A suction duct 3, whose aim will be clarified by the detailed explanation of subsequent figure 2, is also shown in figure 1, which duct is in contact with the bottom of the hollow element 1.

Figure 2 shows a section view of the hollow element 1 of figure 1 with an inserted condom 4. The brim of the condom 4 is fastened to the fastening ring 2. When the condom 4 is inserted, an air chamber 5 is formed between the external walls of the condom 4 and the internal walls of the hollow element 1. The presence of the suction duct

3 is intended for creating a depression in the air chamber 5, as schematically illustrated by the dotted arrows in the figure; such depression will force the condom 4 to adhere to the internal walls of the hollow element 1 allowing the subsequent facilitated insertion of the male member.

Depression inside the hollow element 1 can be obtained according to various modes. A first mode involves providing the suction duct 3 with a non-return air valve, not shown in the figure. A second mode involves the suction duct being made up of flexible walls, so that it can be closed by throttling. It is to be intended that in this case the suction duct can be advantageously lengthened in order to facilitate the user in the air-sucking operation. It is to be understood that other means for creating depression inside the air chamber could be easily detected by the skilled person.

Subsequent figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein the hollow element 1 is such as to involve a plurality of mobile walls 6, articulated in a telescopic relation and shown in a condition of minimum extension. This kind of embodiment allows a considerable reduction of the space taken by the device. In this case, the depression will be obtained by increasing the volume of the hollow element 1, starting from a condition of minimum extension until reaching a condition of maximum extension, shown in subsequent figure 4, wherein the adherence of the external walls of the condom 4 to the internal side of the mobile walls 6 of the hollow element 1 caused by the depression is easily seen. Embodiments with mobile walls, not necessarily in a telescopic relation, could also be provided.

A simple way to carry out the fastening operation in all embodiments illustrated up to this point will be to widen the brim of the condom by hand until it will be wider than the diameter of the fastening ring, releasing

thereafter said brim so as to allow fastening of the brim of the condom to the external area adjacent to the fastening ring.

After the insertion of the male member, the brim of the condom will be easily removed from the fastening element, so as to eliminate the adherence of the condom to the hollow element and allow it to adhere completely to the male member.

In order to further facilitate the adherence of the condom to the male member it is moreover possible to provide means apt to re-establish, after the insertion, the internal pressure which existed previously to the above described depression. If, for example, the suction duct has been closed by throttling, it will be sufficient to reopen it. In this way the problems that may possibly arise during the removal of the device in case of male members of small size are solved.

Besides the above-mentioned advantages connected with checking the integrity of the condom and avoiding breaking the condom unintentionally with one's nails, further advantages are represented by a higher hygiene and a considerably facilitated insertion, in particular for users endowed with members of large size.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention involves moreover an additional protective sheath or equivalent means, disposed along the internal walls of the hollow element 1, which can be advantageously removed after the insertion of the condom. In this way the contact between the condom and the internal walls of the hollow element is avoided, in order to guarantee even higher hygienic conditions.

A further embodiment of the present invention provides for the facilitated insertion device to comprise fastening rings of the disposable type, with a pre- inserted condom. These rings are intended to be normally independent from the rest of the hollow body, and connectable therewith only during use. Therefore, a new

fastening ring with its respective condom will have to be inserted for each subsequent use.

Reference will now be made to figures 5 to 8, showing a further embodiment of the device according to the invention. This embodiment makes use of a fastening ring of the disposable type together with means apt to re-establish, after the insertion, the internal pressure which existed previously to the depression.

Figure 5 shows a partial perspective and exploded view of the device, having mobile walls 6, articulated in a telescopic relationship (represented in figure in a condition of maximum extension), together with a base <BR> <BR> <BR> element 7, having a diameter which is inferior to the minor of the diameters of the mobile walls 6. The base element comprises a hole 8 allowing air passage from the outside to the inside of the device and is internally connected to a screw 9, which is therefore placed internally to the hollow element 1. Also the screw 9 is hollow, in order to consent the air passage from the outside to the inside of the device and vice versa. The function of the screw 9 is that of allowing the screwing onto it of a cylindrical element 10, the function thereof being that of providing a bearing plane 11 for the base 12 of the condom 4, related to the receptacle region thereof.

In fact, it has been discovered by the applicants that the presence of such. a bearing element is advantageous, as thus a slight preliminary squashing of the receptacle prior to the depression phase can be obtained, and the possible risk of its inflating is in this way significantly reduced.

The bearing element 10 is screwed onto the screw 9, and it comprises holes 13 allowing the air passage between the mouth of the hollow screw 9 and the inside of the hollow element 1. The elevation of the bearing element 10 inside the hollow element 1 is adjustable, as it simply suffices to screw it more, or less, onto the

screw 9. Thus, a convenient bearing base 11 can be realized for condoms of any length.

In the embodiment of figure 5, the condom 4 is to be intended as inserted inside of a ring 14, disjointed from the hollow element 1 and apt to be inserted, for instance by fixing, onto the upper brim thereof.

The next figures 6 to 8 show how to use the device in the embodiment of figure 5.

Figure 6 shows how the initial insertion by fixing of the ring 14 onto the element 1 is carried out, therefore ensuring that the base/receptacle 12 of the condom 4 comes into contact with the bearing plane 11 of the element 10. The mobile walls 6 of the hollow element 1 are here shown in a condition of minimal extension.

Figure 7 shows the operation for creating a depression inside the inner air chamber. In particular the position of the user's thumb on the hole 8 has to be noted, to the end of succeeding in the depression operation at issue. The volume increase in order to cause the depression can be obtained either by pulling the hand 16 in the direction of the arrow Fi, or pulling the hand 17 in the direction of the arrow F2.

Figure 8 firstly shows how, as a consequence of the operation described above, the outer walls of the condom have adhered to the inner walls of the hollow element.

Then the condom shall be inserted onto the male member.

Once this insertion (not shown in figure) has been carried out, the thumb 15 is released in order to re- establish the internal pressure which existed previously to the depression, so as to allow a first tightening of the condom onto the male member, and then the brim of the condom shall be removed off the ring 14, to ensure the complete adhering thereof.

It is to be intended that various and different are the possible modifications to the embodiments illustrated up to this point, all of them, however, falling within the protective scope of the present invention. For

example, embodiments can be provided wherein the fastening ring 2 is not provided as an additional element, but is integrally formed with the hollow element 1, being in this case made up by the peripheral rim of the access aperture of the hollow element.