US2234046A

US2234046A - Catamenial appliance

Info

Publication number: US2234046A
Application number: US252013A
Authority: US
Inventors: Freud Ignace Nathan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-01-20
Filing date: 1939-01-20
Publication date: 1941-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 1958-03-04

Description

March 4, 1s41. N F EU 2,234,046

CATAMENIAL APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 20, 1959 1 won for Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CATAMENIAL APPLIANCE Ignace Nathan Freud, J ohnstown, Pa.

Application January 20, 1939, Serial No. 252,013

2 Claims. (Cl, 128-285) This invention relates to a new, sanitary and economical catamenial appliance, It comprises a device made of thin, flexible, waterproof material adapted to'be supported between the legs of the wearer adjacent the vagina, designed to carry and support disposable absorbent material in a novel and more eflicient manner during the menstrual period.

The invention may be better understood by reference to the annexed drawing and read in conjunction with the following specification. In the drawing Figure l is a side elevation of the appliance;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof, and

Figure 3 is a cross section of the appliance taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The appliance comprises a pouch or bag of thin, flexible, waterproof material such as rubber, with sides I and 2 having inwardly extending rims ,or

flanges 3 and 4, respectively, along the upper open end of the pouch. The bottom of the pouch is reinforced at 5 for a substantial portion of its length. This reinforced portion is a substantially soft and flexible material such as rubber and is securely fastened to the bottom by cement or other suitable means, or it may be made intergral therewith, as the exigencies of practical requirements may direct. Projecting substantially vertically from said reinforced bottom, substantially forward of the longitudinal center thereof, is a stem 6 of solid, but flexible, material such as' rubber. This stem extends from the bottom of the appliance, upwardly for a considerable length 5 above the rims 3 and 4, the extent of the length of the stem to be determined by individual requirements. cross section, although this may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. The stem is surmounted by an enlarged cap member 8, shown as a ball, designed for a purpose which will hereinafter be described. The cap member is preferably made integral with the stem 6. The pouch is provided with a loop or.ear member 1 at each end, by means of which the unit is supported upon a belt worn on the body of the wearer.

The pouch is lined on its outer surfaces with a suitable soft material such as velvet or suede to prevent undue friction or annoyance where it contacts the body of the wearer. pouch is filled with suitable; disposable absorbent material, which fills the interior 9 thereof, ex-

tending aroimd and closely contacting the stem 6, as best shown in Figure 3. Additional disposable material is wrapped or otherwise disposed around the stem 6 and. restson the absorbent material in the pouch. The vertical stem 8, with its layer of disposable material is inserted into the vagina and the rims 3 and 4 are arranged The stem 6 is preferably round in i In use, the

to lie against the lips of the vulvas The marginal rims 3 and 4 tend to keep the disposable material confined within the pouch, and also prevent possible leakage or overflow-seepage of the menstrual discharge.

During menstruation, the menstrual flow is quickly absorbed by the vertical layer of material around the stem, and when this layer becomes saturated, the flow passes down its length to the material in the pouch with which it is in close contact, and where the flow is further absorbed.

vWhen it is desired to replace the absorbent material, the unit is detached from the body and the stem 6, with its layer of absorbent material, is removed from the vagina. The presence of the cap member 8 on the stem 6 ensures the removal of the material disposed around the stem and prevents it from slipping. off during removal from the-female organ.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A catamenial appliance comprising a pouch for supporting a mass of absorbent material externally adjacent the vulva of the vagina, a solid, slender, flexible stem member extending vertically upward from said pouch for removably supporting a pad of absorbent material on its external surface and adapted to extend into the vagina, and means on said stem to retain'absorbent material thereon against displacement when the stem is removed from the vagina.

2. A eatamenial appliance comprising a thin, flexible, elongated waterproof pouch for supporting amass of absorbent material externally adjacent the vulva of the vagina, said pouch having a portion of its bottom reinforced to a thickness substantially greater than the remaining portions thereof, a solid but flexible stem secured to said reinforced portion and projecting substantially vertically therefrom for removably supporting a pad of absorbent material, and adapted to extend into the vagina, said stem being tapered from its lower to its upper free end to removably support a pad of absorbent material and having an enlarged portion at its free end of a diameter greater than'the adjacent end of the stem, said enlarged portion retaining absorbent material on the stem against accidental displacement with respect thereto in the vagina when the stem is removed from. the vagina, whereby the menstrual flow from the vagina is conducted along said stem by said absorbent material to the mass of such material supported by said pouch.