{{short description|Brand of sex toys}} {{pp-pc1|small=yes}} {{Distinguish|Flashlight|Bioluminescence}} {{padlock}} {{Infobox brand | name = Fleshlight | logo = 250px | logo_caption = Logo of Fleshlight | image = 200px | caption = Fleshlights in different sleeves | producttype = Sex toys | currentowner = Steve Shubin | producedby = Interactive Life Forms, LLC | country = United States | introduced = {{start date and age|1998}} | related = Fleshlight Girls, Fleshjack, Fleshjack Boys | markets = Worldwide | trademarkregistrations = {{US patent|5782818}} and {{US patent|5807360}} | tagline = | website = [https://www.fleshlight.com/ fleshlight.com] | footnotes = }}
The '''Fleshlight''' is a brand of artificial vagina, oral, or anal sex toy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fleshlight.com |url=http://www.fleshlight.com/ |access-date=March 18, 2017 |website=Fleshlight.com |publisher= |archive-date=May 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517201930/https://www.fleshlight.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is a masturbatory aid, which is used by inserting the penis into its opening.
== Product history == thumb|Side profile with cap open The Fleshlight was designed by Steve Shubin,<ref name=":0" /> whose 1997 patent filing for a "device for discreet sperm collection" was granted in July 1998.<ref name="wired">{{cite magazine|author=Regina Lynn|url=https://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/commentary/sexdrive/2008/02/sexdrive_0215|title=Unexpected Sources Drive Progress of Sex Tech|magazine=Wired|date=February 15, 2008|access-date=March 18, 2017|archive-date=December 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204004809/http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/commentary/sexdrive/2008/02/sexdrive_0215|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="patent">{{US patent|5782818}} and {{US patent|5807360}}</ref> Shubin was a linebacker on his college football team, then went to the police academy and worked on the SWAT team in Los Angeles County for about six years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Riggs |first=Mike |date=2012-06-06 |title=LAPD Cop-Turned-Sex Toy Mogul Reminisces About Choking Suspects Until They Defecated |url=https://reason.com/2012/06/06/lapd-cop-turned-sex-toy-mogul-reminisces/ |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=Reason.com |language=en-US |archive-date=2025-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251116194011/https://reason.com/2012/06/06/lapd-cop-turned-sex-toy-mogul-reminisces/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Dissatisfied with the pay, he then ran his own power washing company in Los Angeles. In 1995, he filed a patent for a sex doll torso and eventually pivoted to the Fleshlight.<ref name=":0" />
The Fleshlight is marketed by Interactive Life Forms, LLC, headquartered in Austin, Texas.<ref name="vv">{{cite news|author=Rachel Kramer Bussel|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/people/0639,bussel,74537,24.html|title=Boys' Toys|newspaper=The Village Voice|date=September 21, 2006|access-date=March 18, 2017|archive-date=June 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615134810/http://www1.villagevoice.com/people/0639,bussel,74537,24.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Solomon |first=Dan |date=2012-05-11 |title=Pressing the Flesh |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/pressing-the-flesh-11754551/ |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=The Austin Chronicle |language=en-US |archive-date=2025-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251219051024/https://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/pressing-the-flesh-11754551/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Mens Health |date=2021-05-01 |title=We Took a Tour Of The Fleshlight Factory And It Was Terrifying |url=https://menshealth.com.au/we-took-a-tour-of-the-fleshlight-factory-and-it-was-terrifying/ |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=Men's Health Magazine Australia |language=en-AU |archive-date=2025-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250814193829/https://menshealth.com.au/we-took-a-tour-of-the-fleshlight-factory-and-it-was-terrifying/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 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 a vulva, anus or mouth orifice, in colors representing a variety of skin tones as well as see-through, and 48 different internal textures.<ref>{{cite web |title=Product Builder |url=http://www.fleshlight.com/fleshlight-toys/sleeves/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419131120/http://www.fleshlight.com/fleshlight-toys/sleeves/ |archive-date=April 19, 2012 |access-date=March 18, 2017 |website=Fleshlight.com |publisher=}}</ref> The exact material used is kept a secret.<ref name=":0" />
In 2008, ''Wired'' reported that more than one million Fleshlights had been sold.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lynn |first=Regina |title=Unexpected Sources Drive Progress of Sex Tech |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/02/sexdrive-0215/ |access-date=2025-11-13 |work=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=2019-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607003152/https://www.wired.com/2008/02/sexdrive-0215/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Alongside their classic collection, Fleshlight also introduced the 'Freak' and 'Alien' collections, which modelled Fleshlights on fantasy or sci-fi style designs that shied away from the conventional pornographic models traditionally used.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tracy |first=Liz |date=2011-10-04 |title=Fleshlight Freaks' Zombie Dicks and Vampire Vaginas: Sex Toys for Halloween (PHOTOS) |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/arts/fleshlight-freaks-zombie-dicks-and-vampire-vaginas-sex-toys-for-halloween-photos-6498688 |access-date=2020-10-13 |website=Miami New Times |archive-date=2020-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112040204/https://www.miaminewtimes.com/arts/fleshlight-freaks-zombie-dicks-and-vampire-vaginas-sex-toys-for-halloween-photos-6498688 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The Fleshlight Girls brand consists of masturbation sleeves molded from the bodies of pornographic actresses. A device called the Fleshjack is a spinoff marketed to gay men.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Fleshjack Wins Cybersocket Award|url=http://business.avn.com/articles/novelty/Fleshjack-Wins-Cybersocket-Award-23809.html|magazine=AVN|access-date=March 18, 2017|archive-date=March 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316032732/http://business.avn.com/articles/novelty/Fleshjack-Wins-Cybersocket-Award-23809.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Fleshjack Boys and Fleshjack Guys brands consist of masturbation sleeves of anal mold and dildos molded from the bodies of gay pornographic actors.<ref name=":0" />
In 2017, Fleshlight collaborated with Dutch sex-tech manufacturer KIIROO to develop Fleshlight Launch, an interactive device that was able to move a Fleshlight sleeve, whilst also syncing with adult entertainment or corresponding female toys.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balsam |first=Joel |title=Behold, The Rolls Royce Of Male Sex Toys Has Just Been Released |url=https://www.askmen.com/news/entertainment/kiiroo-launches-interactive-fleshlight.html |access-date=2020-10-29 |website=AskMen |language=en |archive-date=2020-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105124410/https://www.askmen.com/news/entertainment/kiiroo-launches-interactive-fleshlight.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Samantha |date=4 September 2019 |title=How the Fleshlight Predicted the Future |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/history-of-the-fleshlight-future-of-sex/ |access-date=12 March 2025 |website=Vice |language=en}}</ref>
In 2019 the Quickshot Launch was released.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lindner |first=Emmett |date=2019-03-29 |title=Fleshlight Just Unveiled the Most Elaborate Male Sex Toy We've Ever Seen |url=https://www.menshealth.com/sex-women/a26988476/fleshlight-quickshot-launch/ |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=Men's Health |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323141035/https://www.menshealth.com/sex-women/a26988476/fleshlight-quickshot-launch/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|2}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Fleshlight}} * {{Official website|https://www.fleshlight.com}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/19980529085837/http://fleshlight.com/ Archived] website from 1998
{{masturbation}} {{sex}}
Category:Sex toy manufacturers Category:Products introduced in 1998 Category:American inventions Category:Brands that became generic Category:Male sex toys