MXPA00006338A - Tampon applicator - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a tampon applicator. Comprising an integrally formed push lever (30) and an elongated pusher element (20). The tampon applicator comprises a push lever (30) being pivotally connected to a rearward end portion (32) of the elongated pusher element (20) and being pivotally connected to the outer cylinder in a position behind the opening (14) such that by pivoting the push lever (30) forward towards the outer cylinder the elongated pusher element (20) is advanced through the opening (14) to thereby push out the tampon (2) through the delivery opening (12).

Description

TAMPON APPLICATOR DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY The invention relates to an applicator-type tampon having an external cylinder which contains the buffer. The buffer can be pushed out through a front outlet opening of the external cylinder. A simple prior art applicator consists of an outer cylinder which holds a tampon therein near its forward end portion. An internal cylinder or plunger is inserted through a rear opening of the outer cylinder and slides therein. When the inner cylinder slides towards its front end, it rests on the rear end of the tampon, whereby the tampon, when advancing in the inner cylinder, is pushed through the outlet opening outwardly of the outer cylinder. An applicator of this type has a length of approximately 2.5 times the length of the tampon. DE 30 11 612 (corresponding to US Pat. No. 4,373,125) describes a tampon applicator comprising an external cylinder and a thrust cylinder. The thrust cylinder is open in cuts in its front portion so that two extended bars or legs are formed which, in cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the thrust cylinder, are in the form of segments of the original cylinder wall. In its rear portion, the external cylinder is provided with openings which are located behind the rear end of the tampon when it is in its initial position in the external cylinder. The openings are dimensioned so that through each opening one of the bars or legs of the push cylinder can slide towards the inside of the outer cylinder. Before use, the thrust cylinder is positioned with its extended rods that mesh with the outer wall of the outer cylinder and with its cylindrical end portion which is located behind the rear end of the outer cylinder. To use the applicator, the push cylinder is first pulled back until the forward ends of said extended rods are in correspondence with the openings in the outer cylinder. Then, the front ends of the bars are introduced into the openings and slide towards the inside of the outer cylinder by pushing the push cylinder forward. In order to facilitate the introduction of the prolonged rods into the openings, these can be oriented at an inclination against the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, that is, they can be located in a narrow portion of the external cylinder, so that the rods can be Insert easily by moving its front end portions through the openings towards the inside of the outer cylinder. If the thrust cylinder is pushed further forward, the extended rods slide forward inside the outer cylinder until it abuts the rear end of the tampon located at the forward end portion of the outer cylinder. By further advancing the thrust cylinder, the tampon is then pushed through the outlet opening outside the outer cylinder. The extended bars have a certain flexibility or ability to bend along their longitudinal direction so that before the use of the applicator, they can extend on the external surface of the external cylinder and can move forward abutting the inner wall of the external cylinder after the introduction of the tips in the openings. A similar tampon applicator having a push cylinder with extended rods which can be inserted through the openings in the wall of the outer cylinder into the outer cylinder and which are slidably movable therein to push a tampon outwardly of the outlet end of the external cylinder is described in DE 30 31 838 (corresponds to US patent 4 329 991). A disadvantage of these known applicators is that the external cylinder and the thrust cylinder can be disengaged. Due, the external cylinder and the thrust cylinder can be easily broken if they are not in close friction engagement with each other. On the other hand, if there is considerable friction between the outer cylinder and the thrust cylinder which, as mentioned, is necessary so that both parts do not break easily, it is very difficult to move the thrust cylinder against the strong friction in relation with the external cylinder. For this reason, comparatively strong forces are required to push the buffer out of the outer cylinder. These friction forces increase even with the further advancement of the thrust cylinder, since it increases the contact area on the inner wall of the cylinder. While moving the thrust cylinder forward against friction, it can also happen to get stuck inside the outer cylinder.

When environmental conditions change such as temperature, humidity, etc. problems arise with frictional forces between the thrust cylinder and the outer cylinder, which can result in a substantial increase in the force required to press the forward thrust cylinder into the outer cylinder to push the tampon out. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tampon applicator which can be easily handled and which allows the tampon to be pushed out in an easy and safe manner. According to the present invention, the external cylinder for holding the tampon is provided with an opening in its cylindrical wall, said opening being located behind the rear end of the tampon when the tampon is in its initial position in the external cylinder, with the end front of the tampon adjacent to the outlet opening. A prolonged pushing element can be inserted through the opening into the outer cylinder so that a forward end portion of the prolonged pushing member, after sliding the pushing member forward through the opening, is supported by the back end of the tampon. In turn, the rear end portion of the extended thrust element is pivotally connected to a thrust lever. The push lever is pivotally connected to the external cylinder, where the pivot connection is located behind the opening in the outer cylinder wall. In this way, the thrust lever forms a lever which, when rotated forward in relation to the external cylinder, advances the thrust element connected thereto. After the main end of the pushing element has been inserted into the opening, the rotation of the pushing lever results in the advance of the pushing element inside the cylinder and eventually the pushing out of the pad. With the arrangement of the tampon applicator according to the invention, the tampon can be released from the external cylinder of the applicator in a particularly simple and safe manner. Prior to the use of the applicator, the thrust lever and the extended thrust element can extend on the outer surface of the outer cylinder. To use the applicator, the thrust lever is then rotated away from the outer cylinder and the forward end of the thrust element is inserted into the opening in the cylinder wall and pushed forward until it rests on the rear end of the tampon inside the external cylinder. Then, the push lever rotates towards the outer cylinder, whereby the extended pushing element moves forward through the opening and advances towards the inside of the outer cylinder, thus pushing the tampon forward and finally through the opening output outside the external cylinder. Because the thrust element extends from a position on the outside and spaced from the outer cylinder to a position inside the outer cylinder, and extends inside the outer cylinder substantially coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, it must have a some bending capacity along its longitudinal axis so that it can follow a slightly bent trajectory. In one embodiment, the pushing element may simply be an extended bar made of plastic or cardboard, the diameter of the bar being selected so that the push bar has the desired bending flexibility. For example, the push lever may be in the form of a flat bar or may be more rigid than the push element. The thickness can be, for example, three times the thickness or diameter of the push element bar. Greater rigidity of the push lever makes it easier for the wearer to exert force on the push lever while rotating and effectively transferring the force to the pushing member to move it forward. According to the invention, the applicator is advantageous in that it eliminates any substantial frictional force between the outer cylinder and the pushing element, thus allowing the pushing element to advance easily and smoothly. In this way, the problems of substantial forces necessary to slide the thrust element forward or problems of stuck impellers in the external cylinder are completely eliminated. The applicator of the invention is also advantageous when using a lever, that is to say the push lever, to cause the forward movement of the pushing element. In this way, by using the pivoting movement of the push lever which is transmitted to the pushing element and subsequently to the tampon, the tampon can be pushed out in a very controlled and comfortable manner since the user can turn the lever of push by pressing it with your thumb while you take the outer cylinder between two fingers. In addition, a torque is applied with the thrust lever which, if the thrust lever extends beyond its connection to the thrust element, can facilitate the use of the applicator since less force is needed to push the tampon outward. The applicator of the invention is also advantageous since its parts are permanently connected to each other so that no part can be removed or lost inadvertently. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the external cylinder, the thrust lever and the thrust element are integrally formed as a single piece, for example as an injection molded plastic part. The pivot connections between the outer cylinder and the push lever and between the push lever and the push element may be formed of zones of thickness of weakened material that allow the connections to bend around their bridges or weakened joints. It is a further advantage of the invention that the outer cylinder may be rather short in the longitudinal direction, ie, the ratio of the overall length of the applicator to the tampon may be as small as 2: 1. In the applicator according to the invention, the external cylinder, the pushing lever and the pushing element can be made of plastic, biodegradable material or cardboard. In particular, plastic materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, polyesters, ethylene-vinyl acetate, polystyrene, can be used to form the applicator of the invention. Biodegradable materials that can be used to form the applicator of the invention are described, for example, in EP 0 606 923 Al. Suitable biodegradable materials are for example polyvinyl alcohol, polyoxyethylene and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the external cylinder is provided with a cut at its rear end, which leaves a slot in the wall which can be located, for example, on the opposite side to the connection of the push lever. This groove at the rear end of the outer cylinder wall is dimensioned to receive the tampon cord. This allows the tampon cord, which would otherwise be hanging loosely out of the rear opening of the outer cylinder, to be driven through the slot and thus not jam so that it does not become entangled between the finger. the user and the posterior end of the external cylinder or that otherwise interfere when the user is operating the applicator for insertion of the tampon. Preferably, the width of the groove is slightly smaller than the diameter of the bead, so that when the bead is inserted through the groove, it remains therein. In a further preferred embodiment, the push lever is provided with a hook which is adapted to be inserted through the opening in the wall of the external cylinder when the push lever is bent against the external cylinder wall. This hook, which is preferably made of elastic material and preferably integrally formed with the push lever, is arranged to be removably positioned in the opening of the outer cylinder wall and thus, allows the pushing lever to be held securely against the outer cylinder for transport and loading of the tampon. Next, the invention is further described in relation to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the tampon applicator and its initial position before use; Fig. 2 shows the tampon applicator of Fig. 1 in a position immediately before pushing the tampon out; and Figure 3 shows the tampon applicator of Figures 1 and 2 in an intermediate position in which the half of the tampon is already pushed outwards. Figure 4 shows a top view of a preferred embodiment of the applicator; Figure 5 shows a side view of the applicator of Figure 4. Figure 1 shows the tampon applicator in its initial position, before use, while the client removes it from its package. The tampon applicator comprises an external cylinder 10 having a hollow cylindrical interior into which the tampon 2 is inserted. The external cylinder 10 can have a uniform wall thickness; however, it is preferred that the wall thickness, as illustrated, be increased at a rear end portion. This end portion with increased wall thickness can extend for example, from an opening 14 to a rear end of the external cylinder 10. The increased wall thickness provides more strength or structural rigidity at the rear end portion where the user holds the applicator and exerts force when the buffer 2 is pushed outwardly. The ratio of the increased wall thickness to the wall thickness in the front portion of the outer cylinder should be in the range of 4: 1 to 1: 1, preferably between 3: 1 and 2 :1. The buffer 2 is placed inside the interior of the external cylinder 10, so that the front end portion of the tampon 2 is located adjacent an exit opening 12 at the forward end of the external cylinder 10. The stops 11 on the inner wall of the cylinder 10, prevent the tampon from moving back from its position adjacent to an outlet opening 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the stops 11 have in the section shown in Figures 1-3, a wedge shape with an inclined portion , which allows to slide the tampon beyond the stops when it is introduced in the external cylinder and with a vertical portion, which prevents the tampon from moving backwards once it is in its desired position with its front end in the exit opening 12. The external cylinder 10 is further provided with a thrust lever 30, which is with one of its ends 34 pivotally connected to the outside of the external cylinder 10. In its other or end 32, the push lever 30 is pivotally connected to an extended thrust element 20. An opening 14 is provided in the external wall of the external cylinder 10. Through this opening 14, the extended thrust element 20 can be , with its front end portion 22 protruding, slid inwardly of the external cylinder 10. The opening 14 is located in the longitudinal direction between the rear end 3 of the tampon 2 and the rear end 34 of the push lever 30 which is connected in pivot to the outer cylinder 10. Preferably, the opening 14 is located in the longitudinal direction between the rear end 3 of the tampon 2 and the forward end 32 of the push lever 30, in particular, the opening 14 can be, as in the embodiments illustrated, located in the position of the front end 32 of the push lever 30 when it is bent against the outer cylinder 10 as shown in Figure 1. In a preferred embodiment The outer cylinder 10, the push lever 30 and the pushing element 20 are integrally formed as a single piece, wherein the pivot connections between the outer cylinder 10 and the push lever 30 at its end 34 and between the push element 20 and push lever at its end 32, are made by zones of thickness of weakened material. The pushing lever 30 is, as illustrated, preferably thicker than the pushing element 20 in order to have more rigidity, so that the user can press it securely and the force is transmitted to the pushing element 20. essentially without bending the push lever 30. In order to use the buffer applicator of figure 1 which is shown in its initial position, the push lever 30 is rotated away from the outer surface of the outer cylinder 10 and the tip 22 of the pushing element 20 is inserted into the opening 14 in the wall of the cylinder. For this purpose, the position of the opening 14 in the outer cylinder 10, as well as the lengths of the thrust lever 30 and the thrust element 20, each have to be adjusted so that the front end portion 22 of the thrust element 20 can be placed in a position on the opening 14. As in the illustrated embodiment, this is achieved for example, if the length of the pushing lever 30 is almost half the length of the pushing element 20 and if the opening 14 it is located at a spaced distance from the pivotal joint of the push lever 30 by a distance corresponding to the length of the latter. In this case, by fully folding the push lever 30 from the initial position shown in FIG. 1 by approximately 180 °, the front end portion 22 of the push element 20 enters the area of the opening 14. However, by the dimensions and relative positions, many variations and modifications are possible from what is described in relation to the dimensions of the parts. For example, the opening 14 may also be spaced from the pivotal connection of the push lever 30 by a distance greater than the length of the latter, so that it does not have to be completely bent backwards in order to bring the portion front end 22 to the area of the opening 14. In case of modified dimensions and relative positions, the bending capacity of the pushing element 20 can also be used, in order to allow the insertion of a front end portion into the opening 14. In figure 4 a view of another applicator is shown. In this embodiment, the push lever 30 has an enlarged portion to present a support surface 36 against which the thumb of the wearer can press to rotate the push lever 30. The support surface 36 is provided with a not flat contour, so that the thumb has a good grip and can not slide easily against the support surface 36. In addition, the outer cylinder is provided with two circumferential rings or flanges 18, 19 which allow the user to hold the external cylinder between two fingers, without any danger of the cylinder sliding in the longitudinal direction. In order to use the applicator shown in Figure 1, the push lever 30 is bent backwards and the front end portion 22 of the push element 20 is inserted through the opening 14 inside the outer cylinder 10. Then , by rotating the push lever 30 towards the external surface of the external cylinder, the pushing element 20 slides towards the inside of the external cylinder 10 and eventually makes contact with the rear end 3 of the tampon 2. In FIG. 2, FIG. This position is illustrated when the front end portion 22 of the push element 20 rests on the rear end 3 of the tampon 2. In this position, the applicator is ready for use and can be inserted into the vagina. Subsequently, the push lever 30 is rotated towards the external surface of the external cylinder 10 with the thumb of the user pressing the support surface 36 of the push lever 30. By turning the push lever 30, the pushing element 20 it advances towards the inside of the outer cylinder 10, thus advancing the tampon 2 and pushing outwardly of the outlet opening 12, as shown in figure 3. When the push lever is pressed, thereby advancing the push 20, the buffer 2 is eventually pushed completely out and the applicator can be removed. In the position illustrated in Figure 2 and during further movement through the positions as indicated in Figure 3, the extended pushing element 20 does not extend along a straight line., but it is subjected to a certain bend along its longitudinal axis. After inserting the pushing element 30 through the opening 14 and advancing the pushing element, the latter finally contacts the inner wall of the outer cylinder 10 in an area opposite the opening 14, where the pushing element it bends slightly during its progressive movement in the general direction of the longitudinal axis of the external cylinder. Flexibility or bending ability is easily achieved if the pushing element, as the illustrated embodiment, is formed by a single bar, whose diameter can be sized to achieve the desired flexibility. Due to the bending of the thrust element 20, its length should be slightly greater than the distance of the opening 14 to the exit opening 12 of the external cylinder, so that the pushing element can extend completely over this distance and push the buffer 2 completely out of the exit opening.

Claims (13)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A tampon applicator comprising a hollow external cylinder (10) having an outlet opening (12) at the front end to allow a tampon (2) to push outwardly, said external cylinder having an opening (14) through it. its cylindrical wall, the opening (14) which is located in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder, behind the rear end (3) of the tampon (2) when it is in its initial position with its leading end adjacent to the outlet opening (12). ); a prolonged pushing element (20) adapted to be inserted and slidable through the opening (14) from the outside to the inside of the external cylinder (10) in order to support its front end portion at the rear end (3) of the tampon (2), the pushing element (2) being able to bend along its longitudinal direction; a thrust lever (30) which is pivotally connected to a rear end portion of the extended thrust element (2) and which is pivotally connected to the external cylinder in a position behind the opening (14) so that when the lever is rotated of thrust (30) forward in the direction of the outer cylinder, the extended thrust element (20) advances through the opening (14) to thereby push the tampon (2) out through the outlet opening (12). .

2. - The tampon applicator in accordance with the claim 1, further characterized in that the external cylinder (10), the extended pushing element (20) and the pushing lever (30) are integrally formed.

3.- The tampon applicator in accordance with the claim 2, further characterized in that the pivot connection between the thrust lever (30) and the external cylinder (10) is formed by a zone of thickness of weakened material.

4. The tampon applicator according to claim 2 or 3, further characterized in that the pivot connection between the push lever (30) and the push element (20) is formed by a zone of thickness of weakened material.

5. The tampon applicator according to any of claims 2 to 4, further characterized in that the external cylinder (10), the extended thrust element (20) and the push lever (30) are in the form of a Molded plastic element in one piece.

6. The tampon applicator according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the push lever (30) is provided with a support surface (36) adapted to allow the user's thumb to rest against the supporting surface while pressing and turning the push lever (30) against the outer cylinder (10).

7. - The tampon applicator according to claim 6, further characterized in that the support surface (36) is provided with a non-planar contour to prevent sliding movements of the thumb against the support surface.

8. The tampon applicator according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the sum of the lengths of the thrust lever (30) and the thrust element (20) is essentially equal to the length of the external cylinder ( 10).

9. The tampon applicator according to claim 8, further characterized in that the ratio of the length of the push lever (30) to the length of the push element (20) corresponds essentially to 1: 2.

10. The tampon applicator according to any preceding claim, further characterized in that the external surface of the external cylinder (10) is provided with at least one circumferential ring (18, 19) adapted to prevent longitudinal movement of the applicator when it is held between two fingers.

11. The tampon applicator according to any preceding claim, further characterized in that at least parts of the outer surface of the external cylinder (10) are provided with non-planar clamping contours (18) to facilitate a slide-free clamping.

12.- The tampon applicator in accordance with any previous claim, further characterized in that the external cylinder (10) is provided, at its rear end, with a cut in the form of a slot for receiving a cord of a tampon that is loaded in the applicator.

13. Method for applying a tampon with the tampon applicator according to any preceding claim, comprising the steps of: introducing the forward end of the pushing element (20) through the opening (14) and moving it inwardly until that rests on the back end (3) of the buffer (2); placing the outlet opening (12) of the external cylinder (10) in the desired location; press the push lever (30) to rotate it and thus advance the pushing element (20) to push the tampon (2) out of the outlet opening (12).