JPH0584263A - Applicator of sanitary tampon - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely engage and connect each detaining part by forming an outer cylinder by a softer material than that of a first inter cylindrical member and a second inner cylindrical member, and also, forming a first inner cylindrical member by a softer material than that of a second inner cylindrical member. CONSTITUTION:When a tampon is not used, a second inner cylindrical member 8 is in the inside of a first inner cylindrical member 7, and a sixth detaining part 10 is positioned between a fourth and a fifth detaining parts 13, 14 and its movement in the axial direction is obstructed, but when a second inner cylindrical member 8 is drawn in the backward direction, a fourth detaining part 13 gets over a sixth detaining part 10 in the backward direction. In such a way, when a second inner cylindrical member 8 which becomes slidable in the axial direction is furthermore drawn in the backward direction, a fifth detaining part 14 deforms elastically a third detaining part 11 in the backward direction and gets over in the peripheral direction, and simultaneously, a third detaining part 11 is positioned and engaged between a fourth and a fifth detaining parts 13, 14 and a first and a second inner cylindrical members 7, 8 are connected. Accordingly, by pressing an expanded/opened part 15 of the rear end of a second inner cylindrical member 8, a tampon can be extruded from the tip opening part of an outer cylinder 2 through a first inner cylindrical member 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an applicator for use in introducing a sanitary tampon which closes the vaginal cavity and absorbs and holds menstrual blood into the vaginal cavity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The applicant of the present invention has disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-94156.
In the gazette, as an applicator of a sanitary tampon, in order to make the form compact and convenient for packaging and carrying, the outer cylinder for housing the tampon and the tampon are pushed out from the tip opening of the outer cylinder and placed inside the outer cylinder. The inner cylinder is slidably inserted, and the inner cylinder is
An inner tubular member and a second inner tubular member slidably inserted therein, and by pulling the second inner tubular member rearward from the first inner tubular member, a rear end of the first inner tubular member is formed. The one in which the front end of the second inner cylinder member is connected is disclosed and has already been implemented.

[0003]

However, after the development of the applicator, continuous experiments and studies have been conducted, and as a result, the inventors have found problems to be further improved, which are as follows.

When the tampon and the applicator are used by inexperienced people and inexperienced people, they may not take proper postures or may not insert the applicator into the vaginal cavity at a natural and proper angle. Therefore, when the tampon is pushed out by the applicator, the tip of the tampon may hit the vaginal wall, causing considerable resistance. Then, a considerable load is applied to the engaging (connecting) portion between the first inner cylinder member and the second inner cylinder member, so that the engagement is released and the second inner cylinder member advances in the first inner cylinder member. Since it slides, the second inner cylinder member cannot press the first inner cylinder member. Therefore, the tampon cannot be pushed out by the first inner cylinder member and introduced into the vaginal cavity. In order to eliminate such a problem, the strength of each locking projection that engages the first inner cylinder member and the second inner cylinder member may be increased. The pulling force applied when the inner tubular member is pulled out from the first inner tubular member and engaged with each other becomes strong, and the engagement is not easy.

Since the cord for pulling out the tampon stored in the applicator is pulled outward from the rear end of the second inner cylinder member protruding from the rear end of the applicator via the first inner cylinder member, the cord is usually present. And you can see that it connects to the tampon. However, inexperienced persons such as the tampon and the applicator can see only the rear end of the cord because the rear end of the cord slightly extends from the rear end of the second inner tubular member.
I'm sometimes worried that the code is really connected to the tampon.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems without substantially changing the structure of the known tampon because of its excellent structure.

[0007]

According to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, an outer cylinder for accommodating a tampon and a slide inside the outer cylinder for pushing the tampon out of a front end opening portion of the outer cylinder. It is composed of an inner cylinder that can be inserted,
The outer cylinder has a first locking portion at a rear end thereof, and the inner cylinder is composed of a first inner cylinder member and a second inner cylinder member slidably inserted into the first inner cylinder member. The member has a second locking portion that engages with the first locking portion at its tip opening and a third locking portion at its rear end opening, and the second inner cylinder member has the above-mentioned at its tip opening. The second inner cylinder member has a fourth locking portion and a fifth locking portion that engage with the third locking portion when pulled out rearward, and the fifth locking portion includes the fourth locking portion. The applicator of the sanitary tampon is provided on the rear side that is close to and facing the section, and is provided at a distance such that the third locking section can intervene.

The third locking portion is more easily elastically deformable than the fourth locking portion and the fifth locking portion, and the third locking portion includes the fourth locking portion and the fifth locking portion. The withstand load of the engagement state when the pressing force in the axial direction is applied to the first inner cylinder member and the second inner cylinder member in the state of being engaged with the locking portion is 600 g or more. Is.

In a preferred embodiment, the first inner cylinder member has a first opening for preventing the second inner cylinder member from moving toward the front end opening of the first inner cylinder member. 6 locking portions, the 5th locking portion does not project higher than the 4th locking portion, and is inclined and immovably provided so as to gradually lower toward the rear of the second inner cylinder member. A rear end opening of the second inner cylinder member has at least a widening portion formed to be larger in diameter than a rear end opening of the first inner cylinder member,
And the outer cylinder is made of a material softer than the first inner cylinder member and the second inner cylinder member, and the first inner cylinder member is softer than the second inner cylinder member. It includes that the second inner cylinder member is opaque and the first inner cylinder member is transparent.

[0010]

In the applicator according to the present invention, when the tampon is not used, the second inner cylinder member is inside the first inner cylinder member, and the sixth engaging portion is the fourth and fifth engaging portions. Although it is located between them and is prevented from moving in the axial direction, when the second inner cylinder member is pulled rearward, the fourth locking portion crosses over the sixth locking portion in the rearward direction. When the second inner cylinder member that is slidable in the axial direction is further pulled backward,
At the same time that the locking portion elastically deforms the third locking portion in the rearward direction and overcomes the same method, at the same time, the third locking portion is positioned between the fourth and fifth locking portions and engages with the first locking portion. And the 2nd inner cylinder member is connected. Therefore, by pressing the expanded portion at the rear end of the second inner cylinder member, the tampon can be pushed out from the front end opening of the outer cylinder via the first inner cylinder member.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the applicator comprises an outer cylinder 2 into which the tampon 1 is inserted and an inner cylinder 3 slidably inserted into the outer cylinder 2.
Is molded from an opaque synthetic resin such as polyethylene that is softer than the inner cylinder 3.

The outer cylinder 2 is closed by a petal-shaped split piece 4 that expands when the tampon 1 is pushed out, and a ring-stepped locking projection 5 formed by forming a rear end with a small diameter and a rear end. An annular rib 6 is provided on the outer circumference of the opening. When the tampon 1 is used, the user holds the small diameter portion between the locking projection 5 and the rib 6 of the outer cylinder 2 with a fingertip. However, the outer cylinder 2
In some cases, the small diameter portion may not be provided at the rear end portion.

The inner cylinder 3 is composed of a first inner cylinder member 7 and a second inner cylinder member 8 slidably inserted therein. The first inner cylinder member 7 is formed of a transparent synthetic resin such as polypropylene, and has an annular locking protrusion 9 on the outer periphery of the tip opening, and by engaging the locking protrusion 5 with the outer cylinder 2, It is prevented from pulling out backwards. Furthermore, the first
The inner cylinder member 7 has an annular locking protrusion 10 on the inner circumference of the tip opening.
And an annular locking protrusion 11 on the inner circumference of the rear end opening. The second inner cylinder member 8 is formed of an opaque synthetic resin such as polypropylene that is harder than the first inner cylinder member 7, and the portion except the recessed portion 12 located outside the tip opening is continuous in an arc shape. A stop projection 13 and a stationary (fixed) locking projection 1 which is spaced apart from the stop projection 13 at the rear side thereof and has an unequal triangular cross-section at the opposing position and the inner side surface is vertically or slightly concave.
4 and 4 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The formation of the recessed portion 12 and the formation of the locking projections 14 at the opposing positions thereof not only facilitates the removal of the second inner cylindrical member 8 from the mold after molding, but also Second inner cylinder member 8
Facilitates elastic deformation in the radial direction of the tip of the.

As shown in FIG. 4, the locking projection 13 has substantially the same height as the locking projection 11, and the locking projection 14 has a second height.
In order to be able to get over the locking projection 11 when the inner cylinder member 8 is pulled rearward, the locking projection 13
It is lower than the above and tilts backward gradually.
The distance between the locking protrusions 13 and 14 is equal to the distance between the locking protrusions 10 or 1.
1 is formed in such a size that 1 can be interposed. Further, the second inner cylinder member 8 has a flared portion 15 formed in a rear end opening portion and having a large diameter like a trumpet or a hopper. The expansion part 15 is
The diameter is at least larger than the diameter of the rear end opening of the first inner cylinder member 7, and is preferably equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the rear end opening of the outer cylinder 2. In addition, the expanding portion 15 is the second
The inner cylinder member 8 is formed by inserting the inner cylinder member 8 into the first inner cylinder member 7 through its front end opening and then pressing the rear end opening of the second inner cylinder member 8 against the thermoforming machine. However, as shown in FIG. 7, a rear end portion of the second inner tubular member 8 may be thickened to form an annular portion 15 ′ that protrudes inward.

It should be particularly noted that the locking projection 11 is elastically deformable more easily than the locking projections 13 and 14, and the locking projection 11 has the locking projections 13 and 14.
In the state of being engaged with (see FIGS. 2 to 4), the first
The load resistance of the engagement state when the pressing force in the axial direction is applied to the inner cylinder member 7 and the second inner cylinder member 8, that is, the locking projection 11 is pressed against the tip end surface of the locking projection 14. By doing so, the withstand load until elastically deforming, overcoming this in the backward direction and releasing the engaged state is 600 g or more, preferably 800 g, more preferably 900 g or more.

There are various means for doing this. For example, when the first and second inner cylinder members 7 and 8 are molded from polypropylene and the locking projections 11, 13 and 14 have the illustrated shapes. , The thickness of the cylinder wall of the first inner cylinder member 7 is 0.5 to 1
mm, the height of the locking projection 11 is 0.5 to 1.5 mm, the thickness thereof is 0.5 to 1.5 mm, and the thickness of the cylinder wall of the second inner cylinder member 8 is 0.7 to 1. 2 mm, the height of the locking projection 13 is 0.5 to 1.5 mm, and the thickness thereof is 0.5 to 1.5 mm,
The height of the tip of the locking projection 14 is 0.4 to 1.3 mm,
The distance between the rear end surface of the locking projection 13 and the front end surface of the locking projection 14 may be 0.6 to 1.7 mm. Of course, the present invention is not limited to these numerical values. This is because the numerical values depend on the constituent materials of the first and second inner cylindrical members 7 and 8 and the additive thereof in order to achieve the withstand load of 600 g or more, but it will be sufficiently referred to those skilled in the art. I can say.

As described above, when the tampon and applicator are used by inexperienced people and inexperienced people, they rarely take proper postures and do not insert the applicator into the vaginal cavity at a natural and proper angle. Since there is no applicator, the tip of the tampon may hit the vaginal cavity and cause considerable resistance when the tampon is pushed out by the applicator. Then, a considerable load is applied to the engaging (connecting) portion between the first inner cylinder member 7 and the second inner cylinder member 8, so that the engagement is released and the second inner cylinder member 8 becomes the first inner cylinder member. Since the second inner cylinder member 8 cannot press the first inner cylinder member 7 because the second inner cylinder member 8 has slid forward, the tampon 1 is pushed out by the first inner cylinder member 7 and introduced into the vaginal cavity. Can not be. However, in the present invention, since the elastic deformability and the load resistance are as described above, when the second inner cylinder member 8 is pulled rearward, the engagement can be performed and the tampon can be formed. When pushing out, the engagement is released and the second inner cylinder member 8 slides forward in the first inner cylinder member 7, and the second inner cylinder member 8 presses the first inner cylinder member 7. There is no problem such as being unable to. The applicator according to the present invention accommodating the tampon 1 is used for a monitor which is a beginner and an expert, and the various known applicators described above from the time of application (October 1985) to the present are various. According to the experimental examination results and findings of No. 6, if the withstand load is less than 600 g, the second inner cylinder member 8 can be engaged by the weak rearward pulling, but statistically the problem is It turns out that it happens a lot. It cannot be concluded that 600 g is a critical value, because the use operation and vaginal cavity condition of the tampon with an applicator according to the present invention vary depending on the user. However, even if so, the numerical value is a practically indispensable and extremely important requirement because it is based on the above-mentioned results and knowledge.

As described above, the outer cylinder 2 and the second inner cylinder member 8 are opaque, and the first inner cylinder member 7 is transparent, for the reason described above. That is, the first
Even if only the inner cylinder member 7 is transparent, it is sufficient to visually recognize the vicinity of the base from the central portion of the drawer cord 16 connected to the tampon 1, and it is possible to give the user a sense of security. When the outer cylinder 2 is made transparent, the surface of the tampon 1 is difficult to be formed beautifully, and thus the transparent appearance from the outer cylinder 2 is deteriorated. Even if the second inner cylinder member 8 is transparent, the vicinity of the rear end portion Can only be confirmed, which is not enough to give the user a sense of security. According to the knowledge of the inventors, it is a psychologically preferable effect for the user to make the first inner cylinder member 7 transparent so that the vicinity of the base of the cord 16 can be visually recognized, that is, the cord 16 is a tampon. It gives a sense of security that is certainly connected to 1.

The tampon with an applicator as described above can be manufactured and assembled through the steps shown in FIG. That is, the tampon 1 having the pull-out cord 16 is made of hydrophilic fiber, and the outer cylinder 2 and the first inner cylinder member 7 are provided.
And the second inner cylinder member 8 is made of the above-mentioned thermoplastic synthetic resin,
It is molded into a shape and structure as described above by a known method. Then, after inserting the first inner cylinder member 7 into the outer cylinder 2, the second inner cylinder member 8 is inserted into the first inner cylinder member 7, or the second inner cylinder member 8 is inserted into the first inner cylinder member 7. Then, these are inserted into the outer cylinder 2. At this time, the locking projection 10 is locked by the locking projections 13, 1
4 and the second inner cylinder member 8 does not inadvertently slide back and forth in the first inner cylinder member 7. Then, the tampon 1 is inserted into the outer cylinder 2 and the cord 16 is pulled out from the rear end opening through the inside of the second inner cylinder member 8, and the divided piece 4 is curved under heating by a known molding direction to form the outer cylinder 2.
Close the tip opening. The rear end opening of the second inner cylinder member 8 is moved outward from the rear end opening of the first inner cylinder member 7 at the same time as or before or after closing the front end opening of the outer cylinder 2. The expanded portion 15 is formed by bending it outward with a thermoforming device in the projected state. In the applicator thus assembled, the vicinity of the base of the cord 16 is seen through from the first inner cylinder member 7.

In the applicator according to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, when the tampon 1 is not used, the second inner cylinder member 8 is inside the first inner cylinder member 7 as shown in FIG. Thus, the locking projection 10 is located between the locking projections 13 and 14 and is prevented from moving in the axial direction. But,
When the tampon 1 is used and the second inner cylinder member 8 is pulled rearward, the locking projection 13 easily crosses the locking projection 10 rearward. In this way, the locking projection 10 is formed at the minimum height required for the above-mentioned prevention, preferably in an arc shape, and the first inner cylinder member 7 can be overcome.
This is because the second inner cylinder member 8 and the second inner cylinder member 8 are synthetic resin cylinders and have elastic deformation. When the second inner cylinder member 8 that is slidable in the axial direction is further pulled rearward, the locking projections 14 move as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4.
At the same time as 1 is elastically deformed in the rearward direction and gets over in the same direction, the locking projection 11 is positioned between the locking projections 13 and 14 and engages.

[0022]

According to the tampon of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure and operation, the inexperienced person and the inexperienced person of the tampon and the applicator do not take proper postures, and the tampon is natural and proper to the vaginal cavity. Even if the tip of the tampon hits the vaginal cavity when the tampon is pushed out by the applicator and the resistance is considerably generated by not inserting the applicator at an angle, the first inner tubular member and the second inner tubular member are When a considerable load is applied to the engaging (connecting) part of the
Since the inner cylinder member does not slide forward in the first inner cylinder member and the second inner cylinder member cannot press the first inner cylinder member, The tampon can be pushed out and reliably introduced into the vaginal cavity. Further, in connection between the first inner cylinder member and the second inner cylinder member, the fifth locking portion elastically deforms and rides over the third locking portion, and the third locking portion moves to the fourth locking portion.
Since the engagement is performed by engaging between the locking portion and the fifth locking portion, the connection is reliable (claims 1 and 2).

In the cord for pulling out the tampon housed in the applicator, since the vicinity of the root is seen through from the first inner cylinder member and can be directly confirmed with the eyes, the cord is surely connected to the tampon. It is possible to give a sense of security that there is (claim 3).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of an applicator according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state in which a first inner cylinder member and a second inner cylinder member that form an inner cylinder are not engaged and coupled.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the above-described engagement and connection state.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the above-described engaged and connected state.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the engagement connection portion of the above.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the tampon stored in the applicator of the above.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an assembling process of components of the applicator same as the tampon.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing another example of the rear end opening of the second inner cylinder member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tampon 2 Outer Cylinder 3 Inner Cylinder 5 First Locking Part (Protrusion) 9 Second Locking Part (Protrusion) 10 Sixth Locking Part (Projection) 11 Third Locking Part (Protrusion) 12 Recessed Notch 13th 4 Locking Part (Protrusion) 14 Fifth Locking Part (Protrusion) 15 Expanding Part 16 Cord

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An outer cylinder for accommodating a tampon, and an inner cylinder slidably inserted into the outer cylinder for pushing the tampon out of a front end opening of the outer cylinder. A rear end portion has a first locking portion, and the inner cylinder is composed of a first inner cylinder member and a second inner cylinder member slidably inserted therein, and the first inner cylinder member has a tip thereof. The opening has a second locking part that engages with the first locking part and a third locking part at the rear end opening, and the second inner cylinder member has the second inner cylinder at its tip opening. It has a fourth locking part and a fifth locking part that engage with the third locking part when the member is pulled out rearward, and the fifth locking part closely opposes the fourth locking part. In the applicator of the sanitary tampon, which is provided at a rear side of the sanitary tampon at a distance such that the third engaging portion can intervene, the third engaging portion is the Elastic deformation is easier than the fourth locking portion and the fifth locking portion, and the third locking portion is the fourth locking portion.
The engagement when the pressing force in the axial direction is applied to the first inner cylinder member and the second inner cylinder member in the state of being engaged between the engagement portion and the fifth engagement portion. The applicator having a withstand load of 600 g or more in a state. 2. A sixth locking portion for preventing the second inner cylinder member from moving toward the front end opening portion of the first inner cylinder member at the front end opening portion of the first inner cylinder member. The fifth locking portion does not project higher than the fourth locking portion, and is fixedly provided so as to be inclined so that the fifth locking portion gradually lowers in the rearward direction of the second inner cylinder member. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the rear end opening of the inner tubular member has an expanding portion formed to have a diameter larger than at least the rear end opening of the first inner tubular member. 3. The outer cylinder is the first inner cylinder member and the second cylinder.
The first inner cylinder member is made of a material softer than the inner cylinder member, and the first inner cylinder member is softer than the second inner cylinder member, and the outer cylinder and the second inner cylinder member are opaque and the first inner cylinder member is transparent. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein