Ergonomic tampon applicator.

ERGONOMIC BUFFER APPLICATOR

Field of 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 having a reverse taper section that provides improved ease of use and user comfort.

Background of the Invention

Commercial tampon applicators typically consist of a cylinder and a plunger used to expel an absorbent pad or pad from the cylinder. Typically, the cylinder is subdivided into three sections, namely, a finger grip section, an insert tip section and a main body section, which is located between the finger grip section and the finger tip section. insertion.

Commonly, the finger clamp section is the same diameter as the main body section of the cylinder, although some designs (eg Playtex® Gentle Glide®) have a reduced diameter clamp which improves the degree of clamping. The main body section is normally linear, except in plastic molded cylinders where there is a slight taper which improves performance.

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manufacturing mold release characteristics. The insertion tip section in some types of cylinders have petals which curve over and enclose the pad (i.e., the rounded tip) that is housed in the barrel, although they easily flex outward as the pad it is expelled through the insertion tip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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

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

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

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a reverse taper section of the ergonomic tampon applicator barrel, wherein the reverse taper is toward the finger grip section.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a clamping section for the cylinder finger

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ergonomic tampon applicator having a finger acceptance region.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an ergonomic tampon applicator insert tip section formed with a plurality of petals.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a main body section of the ergonomic tampon applicator with a maximum diameter section that is sensually perceptible to a user in order to signal or indicate to the user about the proper depth of insertion of the tampon. applicator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide 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 of the present invention having a plunger and cylinder. The cylinder has four distinct sections, namely, a finger clamp section, a reverse taper section, a main body section, and an insert tip section. Section of

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Reverse taper decreases in diameter in the direction of the finger clamp section, and the main body section decreases in diameter, that is, it is tapered in an opposite direction toward the insert tip section. A maximum diameter is formed where the reverse taper section and the main body section meet at the cylinder. The maximum diameter provides a sensory indicator to the user to warn or alert the user when the applicator has been inserted to the proper depth in the vagina.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 is a plan view of a tampon applicator of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the tampon applicator of Figure 1 showing an absorbent pad that is housed in the cylinder; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the tampon applicator of Figure 2 after the pad has been expelled from the cylinder.

Detailed description of the invention

With reference to the figures and in particular to Figure 1, there is shown an ergonomically improved tampon applicator in accordance with the present invention, which is generally represented by reference numeral 10. The ergonomically improved applicator 10 is easier than

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use and more comfortable to insert and remove. The apiper 10 includes a plunger 12 and a cylinder 14.

The barrel 14 could be divided into four sections, which is opposite to the three sections that would normally be found in prior art tampon applicators. The four sections include a finger clamp section 16, a reverse taper section 18, a main body section 20, and an insert tip section 22.

The finger grip section 16 is attached by means of a leading edge shoulder 24 and a rear edge shoulder 26. The leading edge shoulder 24 provides a firm holding surface during insertion of applicator 10 into the cavity or dome. vaginal. The rear edge shoulder 26 provides a firm holding surface during the expulsion of the pad (not shown) and during removal of the applicator 10 from the body. The leading and trailing edge ridges 24, 26 are approximately 6 to 22 mm in diameter. Preferably, the leading and trailing edge shoulders 24, 26 are approximately 11 to 17mm in diameter, with approximately 14mm being the most preferred diameter.

A finger acceptance region 28 is formed between the leading edge shoulder 24 and the rear edge shoulder 26. In order to ensure a suitable area to accept

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On a wearer's finger (s), the leading edge shoulder 24 and the rear edge shoulder 26 are approximately 13 to 40 mm apart. More preferably, leading edge shoulder 24 and rear edge shoulder 26 are spaced approximately 17-21mm apart, with approximately 19mm being the most preferred spacing. Finger acceptance region 28 could be concave, convex, flat, or whatever. of their combinations. Preferably, region 28 is concave, which conforms to the contour of a wearer's finger. The maximum diameter of region 28 is preferred to be slightly less than the diameter of edge shoulders 24, 26. Preferably, region 28 has a maximum to minimum diameter ratio of about 1.10 to 1.75, with a more preferred ratio. approximately 1.25 to 1.35.

Finger acceptance region 28 could also include one or more clamping structures 46 in order to improve the degree of clamping of the applicator 10. Suitable clamping structures 46 include, for example, one or more, and preferably two or more. over, bumps, bumps, indentations, grooves, grids, perforations, lancets, abrasive media, high moisture coefficient of friction materials, pressure sensitive adhesives

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or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the fastening structures 46 could be configured in any shape, including, for example, arc, circle, concave, cone, convex, diamond, linear, oval, polygon, rectangle, edge, square, triangle, or any of the shapes. the combinations thereof.

The maximum diameter 34 of the application cylinder 14 occurs at the front end of the reverse taper section 18. The reverse taper section means that it includes a taper in the opposite direction, that is, it reduces its measurement in the outward direction of the insertion end of applicator 10, although it would not necessarily be the same dimensional taper as main body section 20. The diameter of the reverse taper section 18 reduces its measurement downward in the direction of the leading edge shoulder 24, where the diameter is equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the leading edge shoulder 24. This taper could be linear or curvilinear.

The maximum diameter 34 of cylinder 14 exerts a slightly greater pressure than the smaller diameter portions of the cylinder on the vaginal opening. This unique feature of cylinder 14 provides a sensually perceptible way of pointing or pointing to the user.

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that the applicator 10 has been inserted the correct depth into the vagina. Therefore, the location of the maximum diameter 34 along the extension of the cylinder 14 is a critical aspect of the present invention. The location of the maximum diameter 34 on the cylinder 14 is approximately 32 to 54 mm in the axial direction of the cylinder 14 from the forward end 36 of the insertion tip 22. Preferably, the maximum diameter 34 is located approximately 40 to 50 mm, and more preferably approximately 44 mm in the axial direction of cylinder 14 from forward end 36 of insertion tip 22.

Main body section 2 0 is joined with reverse taper section 18 where the maximum diameter 34 of cylinder 14 is located. Main body section 20 tapers toward insert tip section 22, either at a linear or curvilinear mode, such that its smallest diameter occurs where main body section 20 meets or joins insertion tip section 22. The ratio of the maximum diameter 34 to the diameter at the leading end 38 of the main body section 20 is approximately 1.1 to 1.5, and more preferably, it is approximately 1.2 to 1.3. This taper of the main body section 20 facilitates a comfortable insertion by gradually dividing the canal of the vulva

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^: k'Ú.XXX '' 'vaginal through a length greater than the length of insertion tip section only 22.

The insertion tip section 22 begins where there is a substantial change in the curvature of the front portion of the cylinder, that is, where the pad closure petals 40 are formed. In applicator designs where petals are not used, insertion tip 22 is the leading edge of main body section 20 of cylinder 14. Preferred insertion tip 22 is of the petal type with a curvature that approximates an elliptical or hyperbolic curve. Preferably, the insertion tip 22 has about 2 to 12 petals, and more preferably about 3 to 8 petals. The ratio of the maximum diameter of the insertion tip section 22, which occurs in the plane where its trailing edge meets the leading edge 38 of the main body section 20, to the full axial length of the tip section The insertion rate along a horizontal axis of the applicator 10 is approximately 0.9 to 1.8, and more preferably, it is approximately 1.1 to 1.3.

The less severe curvature of the insertion tip section 22 also facilitates comfortable insertion by gradually dividing the canal of the vaginal vulva along the

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its longest extension.

It should be understood that while the cylinder 14 of the tampon applicator of the present invention is shown to possess four sections, namely, a finger clamp section, a reverse taper section, a main body section, and an insert tip section. , the tampon applicator barrel may include a reverse taper section and at least one additional section selected from a finger grip section, a main body section, an insert tip section or any combination thereof. The inner wall of cylinder 14, which houses the pad, could have the same basic side wall shape as its outer wall. However, molding this complicated inner wall requires a complex manufacturing process. Alternatively, the outer wall can be practically straight-walled (a slight taper may be required for tooling release) while the outer wall has the cut shapes discussed above, thus simplifying the molding process.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, cylinder 14 has a finger grip end 42. Plunger 12 is telescopically positioned within finger grip end 42 of cylinder 14. Plunger 12 has a diameter slightly smaller than the smallest diameter.

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of finger receiving region 28, so that plunger 12 is telescopically positioned along the entire length of the interior of cylinder 14. Preferably, in one embodiment of the present invention, plunger 12 has a diameter of approximately from 4 to 18 mm. Most preferably, plunger 12 has a diameter of about 5 to 9mm with the most preferred diameter being about 7mm.

Plunger 12 has a first flare 32 at its distal end and a second flare or retention structure 48 at its opposite barrel end 52. Finger holding section 16 has a plunger receiving end 30. The finger receiving end Plunger 30 of finger holding section 16 has a bevel 44 which receives the first flare 32 of plunger 12 during ejection of the pad. This allows the length of the section of plunger 12 protruding from cylinder 14 to be shortened because the entire protruding length is available for telescopic action. This in turn results in a more ergonomic applicator. This ergonomic applicator is suitable or favorable for use with one hand, because the distance between the finger clamping section 16 and the first enlargement 32, where the fingertip is placed, is reduced by a quantity equal to the length of the first flare 32. The second flare or retaining structure at the end of

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Cylinder 52 from piston 12 prevents separation of cylinder 14.

The first flare has a maximum diameter of approximately 6 to 22 mm. Preferably, the maximum diameter is approximately 12 to 16mm, with approximately 13mm being the most preferred maximum diameter, in order to provide a safe area for the wearer's fingertip or pad during expulsion of the pad. . The rear end of the first flare 32 could be flat, concave, or convex. Preferably, the concave end provides a safe area for the fingertip or tip.

The second flare 48 has a maximum diameter of approximately 5 to 20 mm. Preferably, the maximum diameter is approximately 11 to 14 mm, with approximately 13 mm being the most preferred maximum diameter, in order to avoid separation of cylinder 14.

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

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finger, like an oval main body.

The pad accommodated by the application cylinder 14 is preferred to have a tapered front end that corresponds to the end of the insertion tip 22. The attachment or association taper supports the petals 40 during insertion of the applicator 10, so that the petals cannot flex out of shape, thus increasing comfort. Furthermore, during ejection of the applicator 10, the tapered tip of the pad will gradually separate the vaginal canal, further enhancing the comfort of the user.

Suitable materials for shaping the plunger 12 and / or cylinder 14 include, for example, biopolymer, cardboard, heat shrink plastic, paper slurry, plastic, plastic conduit, pulp slurry, pulp molded paper, or any of the combinations thereof.

In order to reduce friction and / or increase resistance, piston 12 and / or cylinder 14 could be coated with a coating material. Suitable coating materials include, for example, cellophane, cellulose, epoxy, shellac, nitrocellulose, nylon, plastic, polyester, polyactide, polyolefin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, silicone, wax, or any combination thereof.

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

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant for putting the aforementioned invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.