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US 4,730,607 AGranted
Stiffener cylinder for an inflatable penile erection device
OwnerRobert E. Fischellinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is an improved stiffener cylinder for use as part of a penile erection device. The cylinder is constructed with one or more bellows-like folds that permit significant elongation and also eliminate localized cylinder buckling. Further, the cylinder is constructed with greater vertical expansion capability than horizontal expansion capability so that, when two of the cylinders are utilized in the penis in side-by-side relationship, the penis achieves a generally circular cross section in the erect state.
Claims36
A stiffener cylinder for a penile erection device, comprising:
- an elongated flexible pendulous portion having a wall with an outer surface and an inner surface defining an interior, said pendulous portion having an erect state when said interior is at a first pressure and having a flaccid state when said interior is at a second pressure lower than said first pressure;
- and
- elongation means defining a portion of the wall of said pendulous portion, including portions of the inner and outer surfaces of the wall, for increasing the length of said pendulous portion when in said erect state and for decreasing the length of said pendulous portion when in said flaccid state, said elongation means being capable of elongation to increase the length of said pendulous portion without being placed in any significant tension.
A stiffener cylinder for a penile erection device, comprising:
- an elongated flexible pendulous portion having a wall defining an interior, said pendulous portion having an erect state when said interior is at a first pressure and having a flaccid state when said interior is at a second pressure lower than said first pressure;
- and
- stress relief means in said pendulous portion for preventing buckling of localized areas of said pendulous portion when in said flaccid state, said stress relief means being capable of contraction in a lower portion of said pendulous portion and expansion in an upper portion of said pendulous portion, when said pendulous portion is moved into said flaccid state, and said stress relief means also serving to lengthen said pendulous portion.
A stiffener cylinder for a penile erection device, comprising:
- an elongated flexible pendulous portion having a wall defining an interior, said pendulous portion having an erect state when said interior is at a first pressure and having a flaccid state when said interior is at a second pressure lower than said first pressure;
- elongation means in said pendulous portion for increasing the length of said pendulous portion when in said erect state and for decreasing the length of said pendulous portion when in said flaccid state, said elongation means being capable of elongation to increase the length of said pendulous portion without being placed in any significant tension;
- and
- stress relief means in said pendulous portion for preventing buckling of localized areas of said pendulous portion when in said flaccid state, said stress relief means being capable of contraction in a lower portion of said pendulous portion and expansion in an upper portion of said pendulous portion, when said pendulous portion is moved into said flaccid state.
1 more element
A stiffener cylinder for a penile erection device, of a type to be mounted in the corpora cavernosa of a penis in side-by-side relationship with a stiffener cylinder of the same construction, comprising:
- an elongated flexible pendulous portion having a wall defining an interior, said pendulous portion having an erect state when said interior is at a first pressure and having a flaccid state when said interior is at a second and lower pressure;
- said wall having extendable side portions and extendable top and bottom portions, the side portions and the top and bottom portions being essentially symmetrical in cross-section about perpendicular axes of the pendulous portion;
- and
- said wall extending more in one direction corresponding to one of the perpendicular axes of said pendulous portion than in a second direction corresponding to a second one of the perpendicular axes of said pendulous portion, when said pendulous portion goes from said flaccid state to said erect state, such that said pendulous portion has an elliptical configuration in said eret state.
1 more element
A stiffener cylinder for a penile erection device, comprising:
- an elongated flexible pendulous portion having a wall defining an interior, said pendulous portion having an erect state when said interior is at a first pressure and having a flaccid state when said interior is at a second and lower pressure;
- said wall having extenable side portions and extendable top and bottom portions, the side portions and the top and bottom portions being esentially symmerical in cross section about perpendicular axes of the pendulous portion;
- said wall extending more in one direction corresponding to one of the perpendicular axes of said pendulous portion than in a second direction corresponding to a second one of the perpendicular axes of said pendulous portion, when said pendulous portion goes from said flaccid state to said erect state, such that said pendulous portion has an elliptical configuration in said erect state;
- and
- said top, bottom and side portions being of essentially uniform thickness, and a planar septum joining said side portions to limit outward expansion of the side portions in the plane of the septum.
2 more elements
A stiffener cylinder for a penile erection device, comprising:
- an elongated flexible pendulous portion having a wall defining an interior, said pendulous portion having an erect state when said interior is at a first pressure and having a flaccid state when said interior is at a second pressure lower than said first pressure;
- elongation means in said pendulous portion for increasing the length of said pendulous portion when in said erect state and for decreasing the length of said pendulous portion when in said flaccid state;
- and
- stress relief means in said pendulous portion for preventing buckling of localized areas of said pendulous portion when in said flaccid state, said elongation means and said stress relief means comprising a single structure including a bellows.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.