Bidirectionally donnable generally tubular sheath articles, and apparatus and method for making and using same

A bidirectionally donnable unitary condom article comprising:

• a generally tubular main sheath portion, closed at a distal end thereof, and open at a proximal end thereof, including elongate panels continuously perimetrally heat-sealed to one another along side and distal margins thereof to form an interior volume of the sheath bounded by the panels, where the panels are formed of a flexible and/or elastic material;
• a first flange element formed of a flexible and elastic material, and having an aperture therein, said first flange element being integrally and permanently secured to the main sheath portion such that the aperture of the flange element is in substantial alignment with the main sheath portion proximal open end, and wherein the first flange element aperture has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the main sheath portion:
• and
• a second flange filament formed of flexible and elastic material and having an aperture therein with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the main sheath portion, said second flange element being integrally, directly and permanently secured to the first flange element around their respective outer peripheries to form an interior volume between facing surfaces of the first and second flange elements accommodating retention of the main sheath portion therein, in a compacted form, with said first flange element aperture diameter and said second flange element aperture diameter being sized to compressively bear against the outer circumference of a human penis when sheathed in the condom article wherein said open end of said sheath is encased between said apertures of said first and said second flange members.

A bidirectionally donnable unitary article for sheathing a member, comprising:

• (i) a main sheath having an elongate form when fully extended, with a closed distal end and an open proximal end, and
• (ii) a flange element integrally, directly and permanently secured to the open proximal end of the main sheath and having an aperture formed or pressure-formable therein, in substantial registration with the proximal open end of the sheath, and said flange element aperture having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the main sheath, a second flange element integrally, directly, and permanently secured at its outer peripheral portion to the first flange element, the second flange element having an aperture formed or pressure-formable therein, in substantial registration with the aperture of the first flange element, said second flange aperture having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the main sheath portion and wherein the main sheath is compactible to a compacted form reposable between the first and second flange element, wherein said open end of said sheath is encased between said aperture of said first and said second flange members,
• wherein the main sheath is in a center-compacted configuration against the flange element, with the distal end of the center-compacted main sheath in general registration with the aperture of the flange element, and
• wherein said flange element aperture diameter is sized to compressively bear outer circumference of the member when sheathed in the article.

A method of making a bidirectionally donnable unitary article for sheathing a member, said sheathing article including a generally tubular main sheath portion including an open proximal end and a closed distal end, comprising:

• integrally, directly and permanently securing a flange element of a flexible and elastic material to the open proximal end of the main sheath portion;
• providing a formed or pressure-formable aperture in the flange element having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the main sheath portion;
• and
• compacting the sheath into a center-compacted form with the distal end of the sheath in substantial registration with the formed or pressure-formable aperture positioning a second flange element of a flexible and elastic material over the first flange element having the sheath compacted thereagainst, and integrally, directly, and permanently securing the second flange element to the first flange element around their respective outer peripheries, providing a formed or pressure-formable aperture in the second flange element in substantial alignment with the formed or pressure-formable aperture in the first flange element, said second flange element aperture having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the main sheath portion,
• wherein the flange element aperture diameter is sized to compressively bear against the outer circumference of the member when sheathed in the sheathing article, wherein said open end of said sheath is encased between said aperture of said first and said second flange members.

A method of making a bidirectionally donnable unitary sheathing article including a generally tubular main sheath portion including an open proximal end and a closed distal end, comprising:

• integrally and permanently securing a first flange element of a flexible and elastic material to the open proximal end of the main sheath portion;
• providing a formed of pressure-formable aperture in the first flange element, said aperture having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the main sheath portion;
• compacting the sheath into a compacted form;
• positioning a second flange element of a flexible and elastic material over the first flange element having the sheath compacted thereagainst, and integrally and permanently securing the second flange element to the first flange element around their respective outer peripheries;
• and
• providing a formed or pressure-formable aperture in the second flange element in substantial alignment with the formed or pressure-formable aperture in the first flange element, said second flange element aperture having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the main sheath portion,
• wherein said first flange element aperture diameter and second flange element aperture diameter are sized to compressively bear against the circumference of the member when sheathed in the article.