U.S. patent application number 10/084528 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-28 for alarm clock prophylactic dispensing system.
Invention is credited to Burke, Malcolm Anton McManus.
Application Number | 20030160058 10/084528 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27753488 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030160058 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Burke, Malcolm Anton
McManus |
August 28, 2003 |
Alarm clock prophylactic dispensing system
Abstract
The present invention provides a system for the storage and
activation of a dispensing mechanism for a condom, or consdoms,
within the housing of an alarm clock. The invention will comprise a
storage area within the alarm clock; a dispensing mechanism within
the alarm clock powered by the clock's electric power source, or by
stored kinetic energy; and a button, switch or other means of
manual or sensate activation, whereby the dispensing of a condom
may be caused without the operator arising from his or her bed or
sleeping area.
Inventors: |
Burke, Malcolm Anton McManus;
(Washington, DC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MALCOLM A. BURKE
1613 30TH ST. NW
APARTMENT 1N
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Family ID: |
27753488 |
Appl. No.: |
10/084528 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/33 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G04G 15/00 20130101;
G04G 13/021 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/33 |
International
Class: |
B65H 001/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A storage area within an alarm clock comprising: a void within
the housing of the alarm clock of sufficient volume to store a
ceratin number of condoms. (Three may be the optimal number of
condoms as this is the number of condoms within the typical package
sold, and will allow for a smaller and more discrete storage area
than a greater number would.) This storage area should ideally be
located away from any heat producing elements of the alarm clock so
as to provide the optimal storage temperature for the condoms, as
indicated by the condom manufacturer. Additionally, this storage
area should be free of any sharp edges or moving parts which might
puncture or otherwise mutilate the condom packages or the condoms
themselves. Finally, the design of the storage area should allow
for sufficient ventilation to provide the optimal storage humidity
for the condoms as indicated by the condom manufacturers.
2. A condom dispensing system wherby the condoms stored in the
storage area described in claim 1 above could be ejected from that
storage area. This dispensing system will ideally be comprised of a
an undetermined number of rolling wheels or rollers which when
activated would contact the surface of the condom wrapper and
therby eject the wrapped condom from the storage area.
3. The condom storage area as in claim 1 above, where the
dispensing system would comprise an arm or other device which would
contact the edge of the condom wrapper and push the condom from the
storage area.
4. The condom storage area as in claim 1 above, where the
dispensing system would comprise any other means suitable to
ejecting the condom from the storage area.
5. A switching or activation system on an alarm clock comprising: a
means for activating the condom dispensing mechanism described in
claim 2, 3 or 4 above, wherein the switching system includes a
means for activating the dispensing system by means of a button or
switch or other means of sensate activation.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, ETC.
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates to an improvement to the
various forms and types of alarm clocks and alarm clock radios
presently used. More particularly, the present invention relates to
the addition of a storage area within said alarm clock or alarm
clock radio for storage of prophylactic devices, commonly referred
to as condoms; and a dispensing system, whereby the operator may
easily obtain those condoms from within the storage area of the
alarm clock.
[0005] Whereas it is common for alarm clocks, alarm clock radios,
and similar devices (herenafter referred to collectively as "alarm
clocks") to be placed nearby a sleeping area to allow the
manipulation and engagement of the alarm clock's features from
within easy reach from the bed or other sleeping area (An example
of such a feature is that feature of an alarm clock that allows for
the deactivation of an engaged alarm for a period of time, commonly
referred to as a "snooze alarm". This snooze alarm feature is
valuable because it is a ready and easily accessible means of
deactivating the alarm clock's alarm while remaining in the bed or
other sleeping area); and, whereas, the ability to easily reach a
prophylactic device, or condom, from ones bed or sleeping area is
advantageous; and, whereas present alarm clocks do not include a
storage area for prohylactic devices; this invention improves upon
the prior art by placing within said alarm clock a storage feature
and a dispensing feature, that allow for condoms to be easily
obtained when needed.
[0006] There are inherent disadvantages to the current, various,
means of access to condoms from ones bed, e.g.: condoms stored in
the drawers of bedside tables are discretely hidden yet can become
difficult to locate when needed, condoms stored under a mattress,
while within easy reach of the sleeping area, can become misplaced
or dislodged easily, particulary when changing sheets. Conversely,
condoms left within easy reach of a sleeping area on a bedside
table or other surface are open to viewing and therefore do not
provide adequate privacy to the putative condom user. Specifically,
the prior art creates a situation in which the putative user of a
condom or condoms must store said condom(s) in an inconvenirent
place, or leave those articles in open view. It is to this failure
of the prior art to which the present invention is drawn.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention improves upon existing alarm clocks by
providing a storage area and dispensing system built within the
casing of the clock radio or alarm clock. The invention will
comprise a storage space sufficient in volume to store, at an
acceptable temperature and humidity, individually packaged condoms
of uncertain number; a switch, button or other means of manual or
sensate activation, whereby the manipulation of that switch or
button, causes a single condom to be dispensed from the storage
area within the alarm clock. This storage area and accompanying
dispening system would ideally be discretely designed so as to make
detection of said feature difficult.
[0008] The obvious advantage to this improvement is that it allows
the occupant of a bed or sleeping area who wishes to obtain a
condom, to do so without needlessly fooling with the drawers of a
bedside table or otherwise being required to alight from the bed.
Previously, the occupant would have to find said condom in a drawer
or in a predetermined hidding place.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0009] Not Applicable
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present means of storing a condom for use in or near a
bed is complicated and impractical. This invention will consist of
a stroage area, and a dispensing mechanism comprising a button,
switch, or other means of sensate activation, that will allow the
dispensing of a condom or condoms from the storage area, as needed.
Developed as a switch or button this invention would be placed
ideally on the alarm clock housing, within easy reach of the bed's
occupant.
[0011] The button or switch, when manipulated into the on, or
active position, will cause a single prepackaged condom to be fed
through an opening on the surface of the alarm closck housing. When
a number of prepackaged condoms is loaded into the alram clock, the
user would wind up a spring within the alarm clock, and thereby
store up the needed kinetic energy to eject the desired condoms. In
the alternative, this kinetic energy could also be supplied via the
electric power source for the alarm clock, be that battery power or
electric current from a wall socket, or otherwise. When the
operator of the alarm clock wishes to dispense a condom he or she
would manipulate the button or switch. The kinetic energy stored in
the spring, or provided by the alarm clock's energy source, would
power the dispensing of a single prepackaged condom. The dispensing
of the condom could best be achieved through the rotation of small,
soft rollers or wheels which would concact the edges of the condom
wrapper and so cause the condom to be ejected from the storage area
within the alarm clock, through an opening in the alarm clock
housing. This improvement allows for the easy acquisition of a
condom, from a location near the bed (in fact within arms reach of
the bed in most cases).
[0012] The best mode of carrying out this invention is by the
placement on the housing of the alarm clock, of a switch or button
that allows the operator of that alarm clock to engage the alarm
clock's condom dispensing mechanism. The best mode of storing the
condoms is by means of a void within the housing of the alarm clock
of sufficient volume to store a ceratin number of condoms. This
storage area should ideally be located away from any heat producing
elements of the alarm clock so as to provide the optimal storage
temperature for the condoms, as those specifications are indicated
by the condom manufacturer. Additionally, this storage area should
be free of any sharp edges or moving parts which might puncture or
otherwise mutilate the condom packages or condoms themselves.
Finally, the design of the storage area should allow for sufficient
ventalation to provide the optimal storage humidity for the condoms
as indicated by the condom manufacturer.
* * * * *