Ergonomic tampon applicator

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an improved tampon or tampon applicator. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tampon applicator with a barrel that has a reverse taper section for improved ease of use and user comfort.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Commercial tampon applicators typically consist of a barrel and a plunger used to expel an absorbent pledget housed in the barrel. The barrel is typically subdivided into three sections, namely a finger grip, an insertion tip, and a main body section, which is located between the finger grip and insertion tip sections.

The finger grip section is typically the same diameter as the main body section of the barrel, but some designs (e. g., Playtex@ Gentle Glide@) have a reduced diameter grip for improve grippability. The main body section is typically linear, except on plastic molded barrels where there is a slight taper to improve release characteristics from the manufacturing mold.

The insertion tip section on some types of barrels have"petals"which curve over and enclose the pledget (i. e. , rounded tip) housed in the barrel, but readily flex outwardly as the pledget is expelled through the insertion tip.

Diverse tampon applicators are described in <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP1040808A"><text>EP-A-1 040 808</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="EP1101472A2A"><text>EP-A-1 101 472 A2</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="EP1101473A"><text>EP-A-1 101 473</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="USD250663S"><text>US-D-250 663</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="US6248089B"><text>US-B-6 248 089</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="US3628533A"><text>US-A-3 628 533</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="US4536178A"><text>US-A-4 536 178</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0008" dnum="US4428370A"><text>US-A-4 428 370</text></patcit> and <patcit id="pcit0009" dnum="US4676773A"><text>US-A-4 676 773</text></patcit>.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tampon applicator that is ergonomic.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such an ergonomic tampon applicator with a plunger and a barrel.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide such an ergonomic tampon applicator barrel having a finger grip section, a reverse taper section, a main body section and an insertion tip section.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such an ergonomic tampon applicator barrel reverse taper section where the reverse taper is towards the finger grip section.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an ergonomic tampon applicator barrel finger grip section having a finger accepting region.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide such an ergonomic tampon applicator insertion tip section formed with a plurality of petals.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide such an ergonomic tampon applicator main body section with a maximum diameter section that is sensually perceivable to a user to alert the user to the proper insertion depth of the applicator.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such an ergonomic tampon applicator having a plunger with at least one flared end.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated from an ergonomically improved tampon applicator assembly as defined in claim 1. The dependent claims relate to individual embodiments of the invention. The tampon applicator has a plunger and a barrel. The barrel has four distinct sections, namely a finger grip section, a reverse taper section, a main body section, and an insertion tip section. The reverse taper section is tapered towards the fingergrip section, and the main body section is tapered in an opposite direction towards the insertion tip section. A maximum diameter is formed where the reverse taper section and main body section meet on the barrel. The maximum diameter provides a sensory indicator to the user to alert the user when the applicator has been inserted to the proper depth in the vagina.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is a plan view of a tampon applicator of the present invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> is a cut away view of the tampon applicator of <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> depicting an absorbent pledget housed in the barrel ; and</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 3</figref> is a cut away view of the tampon applicator of <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> after the pledget has been expelled from the barrel.</li></ul>

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to drawings and, in particular, <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>, there is shown an ergonomically improved tampon applicator according to the present invention generally represented by reference numeral 10. The ergonomically improved applicator 10 is easier to use and more comfortable to insert and remove. Applicator 10 includes a plunger 12 and a barrel 14.

Barrel 14 is divided into four sections, as opposed to three sections typically found in prior art tampon applicators. The four sections include a finger grip section 16, a reverse taper section 18, a main body section 20, and an insertion tip section 22.

Finger grip section 16 is bound by a forward edge ridge 24 and a rearward edge ridge 26. Forward edge ridge 24 provides a firm grip surface during insertion of applicator 10 into the vaginal vault. Rearward edge ridge 26 provides a firm grip surface during expulsion of the pledget (not shown) and during removal of applicator 10 from the body. Forward and rearward edge ridges 24,26 are about 6 mm to about 22 mm in diameter. Preferably, the forward and rearward edges 24,26 are about 11 mm to about 17 mm in diameter, with about 14 mm being the most preferred diameter.

A finger accepting region 28 is formed between forward edge ridge 24 and rearward edge ridge 26. To ensure an adequate area to accept a user's finger or fingers, forward edge ridge 24 and rearward edge ridge 26 are spaced about 13 mm to about 40 mm apart. More preferably, forward edge ridge 24 and rearward edge ridge 26 are spaced about 17 mm to about 21 mm apart, with about 19 mm being the most preferred spacing.

Finger accepting region 28 is concave, which conforms to the contour of a user's finger. The maximum diameter of finger accepting region 28 is preferably slightly less than the diameter of edge ridges 24,26. Preferably, region 28 has a maximum to minimum diameter ratio of about 1.10 to about 1.75, with a more preferred ratio of about 1.25 to about 1.35.

Finger accepting region 28 includes one or more gripping structures 46 to improve grippability of applicator 10. Suitable gripping structures 46 include, for example, one or more and preferably two or more, embossments, protuberances, slits, grooves, louvers, perforations, lances, abrasive medias, high wet coefficient of friction materials, pressure sensitive adhesives, or any combinations thereof. In addition, gripping structures 46 may be formed in any shape, including, for example, arc, circle, concave, cone, convex, diamond, line, oval, polygon, rectangle, rib, square, triangle, or any combinations thereof.

The maximum diameter 34 of applicator barrel 14 occurs at the forward end of reverse taper section 18. Reverse taper is meant to include a taper in the reverse direction, i. e. in a direction away from the insertion end of applicator 10, but not necessarily the same dimensional taper as main body section 20. The diameter of reverse taper section 18 tapers down toward forward edge ridge 24, where the diameter is equal to or slightly less than the diameter of forward edge ridge 24. This taper may be linear or curvilinear.

Maximum diameter 34 of barrel 14 exerts a slightly greater pressure than the smaller diameter portions of the barrel on the vaginal opening.

This unique feature of barrel 14 provides a sensually perceivable way of signaling or indicating to a user that applicator 10 has been inserted to the correct depth in the vagina. Thus, the location of maximum diameter 34 along the length of barrel 14 is a critical aspect of the present invention.

The location of maximum diameter 34 on barrel 14 is about 32 mm to about 54 mm in the axial direction of barrel 14 from forward end 36 of insertion tip 22. Preferably maximum diameter 34 is located about 40 mm to about 50 mm, and more preferably about 44 mm in the axial direction of barrel 14 from forward end 36 of insertion tip 22.

Main body section 20 is joined to reverse taper section 18 where maximum diameter 34 of barrel 14 is located. Main body section 20 tapers toward insertion tip section 22 in either a linear or curvilinear fashion so that its smallest diameter occurs where main body section 20 meets insertion tip section 22. The ratio of maximum diameter 34 to the diameter at the forward end 38 of main body section 20 is about 1.1 to about 1.5, and more preferably about 1.2 to about 1.3. This tapering of main body section 20 facilitates insertion comfort by gradually parting the vulva-vaginal channel over a longer length than that of only insertion tip section 22.

Insertion tip section 22 begins where there is a substantial change in the curvature of the forward portion of the barrel that is where the pledget-enclosing petals 40 are formed. In applicator designs where no petals are used, insertion tip 22 is the forward edge of the main body section 20 of barrel 14. The preferred insertion tip 22 is the petal type with a curvature that approximates an elliptical or hyperbolic curve. The insertion tip 22 has about 2 to about 12 petals, preferably about 3 to about 8 petals. The ratio of the maximum diameter of insertion tip section 22, which occurs at the plane where its rearward edge meets forward end 38 of main body section 20, to the total axial length of the insertion tip section along a horizontal axis of applicator 10, is about 0.9 to about 1.8, and more preferably about 1.1 to about 1.3.

The less severe curvature of insertion tip section 22 also facilitates insertion comfort by gradually parting the vulva-vaginal channel along its longer length.

It should be understood that while tampon applicator barrel 14 of the present invention is depicted as having four sections, namely a finger grip section, a reverse taper section, a main body section, and an insertion tip section, the tampon applicator barrel can include a reverse taper section and at least one additional section selected from a finger grip section, a main body section, an insertion tip section, or any combinations thereof.

The interior wall of barrel 14 that houses the pledget may have the same basic sidewall shape as its exterior wall. However, molding such a complicated interior wall requires a complex manufacturing process. Alternately, the interior wall can be practically straight walled (a slight taper may be required for tooling release) while the exterior wall has the sectional shapes discussed before, thus simplifying the molding process.

Referring to <figref idref="f0002">Figs. 2 and 3</figref>, barrel 14 has a finger grip end 42. Plunger 12 telescopically fits into the finger grip end 42 of barrel 14. Plunger 12 has a diameter slightly smaller than the smallest diameter of finger receiving region 28 so that plunger 12 telescopically fits throughout the interior of barrel 14. Preferably, in one embodiment of the present invention, plunger 12 has a diameter about 4 mm to about 18 mm. More preferably, plunger 12 has a diameter about 5 mm to about 9 mm with the most preferred diameter being about 7 mm.

Plunger 12 has a first flare 32 at its distal end and a second flare or retaining structure 48 at its opposite barrel end 52. Finger grip section 16 has a plunger receiving end 30. Plunger receiving end 30 of finger grip section 16 has a chamfer 44 to receive first flare 32 of plunger 12 during pledget expulsion. This permits shortening the length of the section of plunger 12 that protrudes from barrel 14 since all of the protruded length is available for the telescopic action. This in turns results in a more ergonomic applicator. Such an ergonomic applicator is conducive to one handed use, since the distance between finger grip section 16 and first flare 32, where the fingertip is placed, is reduced by an amount equal to the length of first flare 32. Second flare or retaining feature 48 on barrel end 52 of plunger 12 prevents separation from barrel 14.

First flare 32 has a maximum diameter about 6 mm to about 22 mm. Preferably the maximum diameter is about 12 mm to about 16 mm, with about 13 mm being the most preferred maximum diameter, in order to provide a secure area for a user's fingertip during pledget expulsion. The rearward end of first flare 32 may be flat, concave, or convex. Preferably, it is concave to provide a secure area for the fingertip.

Second flare 48 has a maximum diameter about 5 mm to about 20 mm. Preferably the maximum diameter is about 11 mm to about 14 mm, with about 13 mm being the most preferred maximum diameter, in order to prevent separation from barrel 14.

Although it might be implied that the cross-sectional shape of plunger 12 and barrel 14 is circular, due to the use of the term 'diameter', it should be understood that the cross-sectional shape can be non-circular, such as oval or polygonal. Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape can vary along the length of both plunger 12 and barrel 14. For example, a circular plunger with a polygonal finger grip and an oval main body may be formed.

The pledget housed by applicator barrel 14 preferably has a tapered forward end that corresponds to that of insertion tip 22. The matching taper supports petals 40 during insertion of applicator 10 so that the petals cannot flex out of shape, thus enhancing comfort. Additionally, during expulsion from applicator 10, the pledget's tapered tip will gradually part the vaginal channel, further enhancing user comfort.

Suitable materials for forming plunger 12 and/or barrel 14 include, for example, biopolymer, cardboard, heat shrink plastic, paper slurry, plastic, plastic tubing, pulp slurry, pulp-molded paper, or any combinations thereof.

To reduce friction and/or increase strength, plunger 12 and/or barrel 14 may be coated with a coating material. Suitable coating materials include, for example, cellophane, cellulose, epoxy, lacquer, nitrocellulose, nylon, plastic, polyester, polylactide, polyolefin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, silicone, wax, or any combinations thereof.

The foregoing specification and drawings are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention to the disclosed embodiments. Variations and changes, which are obvious to one skilled in the art, are intended to be within the scope and nature of the present invention, which is defined in the appended claims.