a condom according to an embodiment of the invention has a thickness in the range of at least 0 . 007 ″ ( 175 micron ) to 0 . 010 ″ ( 250 micron ), which is approximately 2 - 3 times thicker than thin rolled condoms , which typically range from 0 . 0025 ″ ( 60 micron ) up to 0 . 0050 ″ ( 125 micron ). due to its thickness , the condom of the present invention is shape - retaining , not flaccid like thin rolled condoms . further , given its distinctive and unique thickness , the condom does not suffer from the common limitations and failures inherent in thin condoms . most importantly , it is widely known in the art and independent testing has shown that thin condoms do not provide 100 % protection against sexually communicable diseases , such as hiv . under laboratory testing , thin condoms have proven to have deficient strength ( e . g . tensile strength and tear resistance properties ) and durability , resulting in an average 20 % failure rate for viral permeability . because the condom of the present invention is 2 - 3 times thicker than ordinary thin condoms , it has superior strength and durability , providing greater protection against the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases as well as protection against unintentional pregnancies . in particular , the thickness of the present condom makes it especially effective protection for anal sex , which is considered a more rigorous activity for which thin rolled condoms are less effective . in an embodiment of a male condom of the present invention , the condom is not only thicker but also much longer than a standard condom proportionate to penis length . unlike the standard one - size - fits - all condom , the condom according to the present invention comes in different sizes , being at least approximately 20 % longer than a standard condom and can be as long as 12 ″ in length . the user is to select the size of the condom according to the user &# 39 ; s anatomical requirements . more particularly , the user is to select the condom having a length that is approximately 20 % longer than the user &# 39 ; s erect penis . as shown in fig1 - 5 , a male condom 1 of the present invention has a sheath body 10 with a proximal end 20 that is open and a distal end 30 that is closed . in an embodiment of the invention shown in fig2 , condom 1 has a plurality of flutes 40 on sheath body 10 extending along a longitudinal axis x - x between open end 20 and closed end 30 . each flute 40 is characterized by a curved ridge 42 extending along longitudinal axis x - x of sheath body 10 . the curved ridge 42 is highest at the midsection of body 10 relative to longitudinal axis x - x , and gradually tapers towards the respective ends 20 , 30 , such that the sheath body 10 has an elliptical shape characterized by a midsection that is wider than the respective ends as shown in fig3 . the elliptical shape of the sheath body 10 is in contrast to the straight , tubular shape of a conventional thin condom when it is unrolled . as shown in fig4 , the plurality of flutes 40 is thus defined by curved ridges 42 and furrows 44 that form a corrugated shape , having a serpentine or undulating profile . across - section of the condom 1 would look similar to an asterisk , with the flutes 40 extending radially from the center core of the condom 1 as shown in fig4 . in the embodiment of the male condom shown in fig1 - 5 , condom 1 has a first ring 50 located at the open end 20 . the condom 1 can be donned by pulling first ring 50 so that the sheath body 10 slides onto the penis like a sock . the condom 1 is not like a traditional thin condom that must be unrolled down the shaft of the penis , which can be difficult for the user to do efficiently . rather , the condom 1 can be easily donned without unrolling by pulling the first ring 50 to slide the condom 1 onto the penis like a sock . the open end 20 with first ring 50 is sized to fit tightly around the base of the penis to prevent slippage and spillage of semen . because the open end 20 fits snuggly around the base of the penis , the condom 1 will billow or swell when the penis is inserted into the condom 1 because some air is trapped in the condom 1 due to its extended length . the flutes 40 function as air channels to evacuate the air when the condom 1 is donned to prevent the formation of an air pocket . in another embodiment , condom 1 also has a second ring 60 that is integrally connected to the first ring 50 as shown in fig2 - 3 . the second ring 60 can also be pulled to don the condom 1 like a sock . the second ring 60 can be looped over a user &# 39 ; s scrotum to anchor the condom to prevent slippage . for this purpose , the second ring 60 is typically larger in diameter than the first ring 50 . during intercourse , as the penis is thrust forward into the receiving partner , it is pushed into the elongated condom 1 , which causes the condom 1 to billow . as the penis is pushed farther forward into the billowed condom , the condom 1 buckles cross - current to the flutes , folding over on itself due to its extended length as shown in fig5 . the condom 1 buckles at its midsection where the elliptical sheath body is widest . the top portion of the condom 1 near the closed end 30 folds back towards the base of the condom near the open end 20 as the penis is pushed towards the extended tip of the closed end 30 . conversely , when the penis is pulled on the withdrawal stroke , the condom 1 unfolds . in this way , the elongated length helps prevent the condom 1 from sliding off because the normal ‘ tug ’ action created by the withdrawal stroke of the penis is absorbed by the extra length of the condom 1 , and this motion is repeated consistently with each thrust and withdrawal movement . the flutes 40 allow the condom 1 to fold over on itself and unfold without becoming tangled or bunched , providing a consistent slide - over effect that creates a reciprocating motion that is in fluid concert with bodily motion . unlike a conventional male condom that is designed to be tight - fitting in order to cling to the penis and to move along with the penis , thereby restricting sensation , the fluting 40 allows the penis to move inside the sheath body 10 as the condom 1 folds and unfolds with consistent regularity . as the extended length of the condom 1 glides back and forth over the penis during intercourse , the movement of the condom , facilitated by the convolutions of the fluted shape , functions to create and enhance sensation to the penis . further , the condom 1 can function with internal lubrication to facilitate consistent fluid movement of the sheath body 10 gliding over the penis . the fluid movement of the sheath body 10 gliding over the penis simulates the feeling of wet , slippery sexual contact that normally occurs in the wet , slippery , warm , environment of the vagina to stimulate orgasmic response . since the penis glides inside the condom 1 , direct fluid sensation is created from inside rather than from outside as with typical thin rolled condoms . thus , unlike conventional thin condoms that are designed as thin as possible to facilitate ‘ transferred sensation ’ filtered through the barrier material , the condom 1 of the present invention mechanically creates sensation internally rather than transfer it through the material . further , since the lubricant is viscous , the inner walls cling to the penis and reduce the amount of air that could otherwise be trapped prior to donning . trapped air could cause the condom 1 to have an undesirable air pocket that would cause the condom 1 to balloon up after donning . not only does the condom 1 improve sensation , it is also safer than typical thin condoms . because the condom 1 is thicker than thin condoms , the condom 1 has greater tensile strength , thereby reducing the risk of the condom tearing or bursting . in particular , the elongated length of the condom 1 prevents breakage at the tip that commonly occurs in thin condoms . thin condoms are typically snug fitting with one established generic size that is intended to fit to the tip of the penis , which creates concentrated stress at the tip , the primary site for condom breakage according to clinical studies . the condom 1 reduces the risk of breakage at the tip because the condom designed to be longer than the erect penis on which it is donned . because condom 1 is to be approximately 20 % longer than the user &# 39 ; s erect penis , this prevents stress concentration at the tip , thereby eliminating the risk of breakage at the tip . additionally , the condom 1 can be manufactured by double - dipping the tip for reinforcement to further prevent the most common incidents of breakage at the tip . in summary , the condom 1 provides a more comfortable fit for the active partner as it loosely accommodates the penis so that tactile fluid movement of the penis is possible during coitus . the condom 1 also provides increased stimulation for the passive partner because the flutes rub against the vaginal or rectal wall during intercourse . fig6 - 10 shows a female condom 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention . as shown in fig6 - 10 , the female condom 100 has a sheath body 110 with a proximal end 120 that is open and a distal end 130 that is closed . the condom 100 has a plurality of flutes 140 on sheath body 110 extending along a longitudinal axis y - y between open end 120 and closed end 130 . each flute 140 is characterized by a curved ridge 142 extending along longitudinal axis y - y of sheath body 10 . the ridge 142 gradually tapers towards the respective ends 20 , 30 as best shown in fig8 . the plurality of flutes 140 form curved ridges 142 and furrows 144 having a corrugated shape as best shown in fig1 . the condom 100 has an enlarged tubular ring 150 at open end 120 , wherein the tubular ring 150 is sufficiently sized to remain outside of the vaginal opening to maintain the opening of the condom 100 after insertion .
this invention relates to condoms , prophylactics and contraceptive devices having a thick shape - retaining sheath body with an open end and a closed end , and a plurality of longitudinal flutes on the sheath body .