Fleshlight
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Fleshlight (also marketed as the Fleshjack) is a sex toy designed and marketed by Interactive Life Forms (ILF).[1] The Fleshlight is named for the flesh-like material used in its inner sleeve, as well as the plastic case that houses the sleeve, which is fashioned to look like an oversized flashlight. The inner sleeve is available with vulva, anus, mouth and a more discreet slot-shaped orifice. All of which also come in a choice of various colors and internal textures - one of the newest textures is called the STU (stamina training unit).
The Fleshlight was designed by former police officer Steve Shubin who was suffering a period of forced abstinence while his wife was in a high-risk pregnancy.[2] He was granted a patent in 1998 for his invention, as a "device for discreet sperm collection".[3]
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[edit] Material
The Fleshlight is stated to be made of medical and food grade, phthalate-free polymers.[4] According to the Fleshlight website, the insert is not made from latex, plastic or silicone. The Fleshlight FAQ [5] claims the material is "a company secret covered by a series of US patents" but according to the patent itself (which is public), the material is an elastomeric gel being formed from a mixture of 90-94% by weight of plasticizing oil and of 5-9% by weight of a block copolymer comprising an admixture of a styrene ethylene butylene styrene block copolymer and a styrene ethylene propylene styrene block copolymer combined in a ratio of 1:5 to 5:1. Due to the chemical composition of this material, it is only suitable for use with water-based lubricants, as oil-based lubricants or soaps will damage the material permanently. The clear or "ice" colored insert is significantly "stickier" than the normal colorations due to the lack of pigment.
[edit] Recent products
The Fleshjack brand was launched in April 2007. Fleshjack is essentially the same as a Fleshlight, but specifically targeted toward the homosexual male demographic.[3]
ILF most recently created the Fleshlight Girls brand due to the growing response to introduce actual molds of women's vulvas. Currently, ILF features seven models which include: Kat Young, Lia19, Sandee Westgate, Brooke Skye, Raven Riley, Vanilla Deville and Puma Swede.
[edit] Reviews and criticism
The Fleshlight is described in "Sex Toys that Changed the World," an article published by About.com, as having "raised the bar exponentially" for sex toys made for men.[6]
The Toronto Star called it a "top pick" which was "both versatile and fun"[7].
In a humorous 2002 essay describing a Fleshlight "test drive", on-line sex journal Nerve.com reviewer Joe Maynard called the Fleshlight the "ultimate faux vagina." He noted problems with lubricant leakage, but admitted that the Fleshlight "feels like getting a blow job — only no teeth."[8]
Anne Semans' 2004 book The Many Joys of Sex Toys includes a guide to using the Fleshlight. Semans suggests a number of techniques, including clamping the Fleshlight to a desk in order to free the hands, or adding extra stimulation by simultaneously using a butt plug, cock ring or nipple clamps. According to Semans, "it takes a few sessions with the Fleshlight to appreciate it."[9]
Other writers have pointed to shortcomings with the product. In their Sex Toy book, writers Em & Lo include an entry for Fleshlight but indicate that some may find the casing "heavy, unwieldy and too wide", noting that "you can't squeeze the casing to increase the pressure around your dick," but noting that one could remove the flesh-like insert from the case and apply pressure manually.[10] Another review called the Fleshlight the "king of boy toys," but also stated that it took a while to get used to cleaning it. [11]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Bussel, Rachel Kramer (September 21, 2006). "Boys' Toys". The Village Voice.
- ^ Lynn, Regina (February 15, 2008). Unexpected Sources Drive Progress of Sex Tech. Wired.
- ^ U.S. Patent 5,782,818 and U.S. Patent 5,807,360
- ^ Fleshlight patent referring to elastomeric polymers;[1] Elastomers listed by Greenpeace as a safe alternative to toxic polymers.[2]
- ^ Fleshlight Product Questions
- ^ Silverberg, Cory (2007). "Sex Toys that Changed the World". About.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
- ^ "Sex toys you can ho, ho, hold on to" (8 December 2006), The Toronto Star
- ^ Maynard, Joe (1999). "My date with the Fleshlight". Nerve.com.
- ^ Semans (2004), p.63–64
- ^ Em & Lo (2006). Em & Lo's Sex Toy: An A–Z Guide to Bedside Accessories. Chronicle Books, 84.
- ^ "The Fleshlight Review at Clitical.com". Clitical.com.
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