Just when I thought (a) I'd seen it all and (b) we were making social progress, I happen upon a site showing the application for a patent for "Security Underwear Device for Sexual Organs." A new take on the old chastity belt, this is a "sexual armor" device that covers the female genitalia and anus (with openings just large enough to permit excretion) to prevent rape and the spread of AIDs and other STDs. The key or combination is not given to the wearer, so that she can't be coerced to give it to the rapist or opportunist. Oh, dear.
August 2009 update: I've discovered that X-ratedpatents.com is no longer a live link, so I've removed it.