LOS ANGELES — A man from Torrance, Calif. has invented a minimalistic condom that covers only the tip of the penis for potentially more powerful orgasms and reduced visibility.
Charlie Powell’s Galactic Cap is a two-piece affair that combines a U-shaped polyurethane adhesive film and a flexible cap that sticks to the film.
While Powell is primarily marketing the prophylactic as a means to achieve greater sensitivity during sexual intercourse — thereby encouraging barrier protection that will prevent pregnancy and HIV transmission — he conceded that the Galactic Cap could be a boon for adult film productions that are facing legal pressure to require condoms on set.
“If you use this you might overcome the problem of using a condom on camera,” Powell told LA Weekly. “A lot of people might not like the look of the thing going in and out. It's transparent, on the head, so it doesn't look so gross.”
L.A. County already requires barrier protection on porn sets. Now, a bill that would mandate statewide compliance is traveling through the California legislature. Many performers, directors, producers, business owners and more have protested the bill, arguing amongst other things that consumers will not buy porn with condoms.
Powell, who works in film and video production, is launching an Indiegogo campaign June 1 for the Galactic Cap to raise money for clinical trials. He will need to acquire FDA approval, a costly and lengthy process, to effectively market the product.
According to Powell, several players from the adult industry have expressed interest in investing.
An instructional YouTube video gives an in-depth description of the product and its uses, asking viewers to "help us launch the greatest condom in 400 years."