WO2001019310A1

WO2001019310A1 - Tampon insertion device

Info

Publication number: WO2001019310A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/024927
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tiffany April Stevens; Chrissie Melinda Smits; Gary Ross Styons
Original assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
Priority date: 1999-09-17
Filing date: 2000-09-12
Publication date: 2001-03-22
Also published as: TW487566B; AU7371500A; AR022658A1

Abstract

The invention provides a tampon insertion device. The tampon insertion device comprises a tampon applicator having a first end, a second end opposed to the first end, an inner surface and an outer surface opposed to the inner surface. Preferably, a tampon is positioned within the tampon applicator and adjacent to the inner surface of the tampon applicator. A sheath is removably attached to at least a portion of the outer surface of the tampon applicator. In practice, the sheath is removed by a user and placed through the second end of the tampon applicator. The sheath is then positioned adjacent to the second surface of the tampon to push the tampon out of the first end of the tampon applicator and into the vaginal cavity of a user at insertion of the tampon.

Description

TITLE

TAMPON INSERTION DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a compact tampon insertion device having a sheath removably attached to the tampon applicator prior to its use. The sheath, once removed, is inserted into the tampon applicator to propel a tampon within the vaginal cavity of a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most commercially available tampon applicators for introducing catamenial tampons intravaginally consist of a pair of telescoping tubes. The tampon applicator is designed to store a tampon therein at one end. Typically, the plunger is slightly smaller in diameter and is slidably positioned behind the tampon carried in the tampon applicator. In use, the tampon is ejected from the tampon applicator by pushing the plunger into the tampon applicator to expel the tampon.

Several drawbacks are associated with such applicators for certain uses. First, the tampon applicator must be of length sufficient to assure proper depth of insertion. For example, such tampon applicators are substantially longer than the tampons. Next, when the tampon and tampon applicator are assembled with the plunger, a major portion of the plunger necessarily extends out from the end of the tampon applicator. This results in the over-all length of the packaged ready- for-use tampon applicator being approximately two and one-half times the length of the tampon. As a result of such a relatively large size, the bulk and cost of the packaging for such applicators are often greatly increased.

Women commonly carry such packaged tampons (with applicators) in their purses. Because of the length of such applicators, they occupy a relatively large amount of space in the purse. It is therefore also desirable to produce a tampon applicator of smaller size which is less obtrusive. This is a particular problem for younger women who often prefer not to carry purses and with today's fashions often must use pockets in relatively tight-fitting clothing. One type of tampon applicator which has been proposed to solve the above problems utilizes a substantially flat, elongated plunger arm which is stored positioned along the outside of and in longitudinal alignment with the tampon applicator. For example, please see U.S. Patent Nos. 2,222,088; 3,059,641; 3,059,642; 3,103,929; 3,115,876; 3,424,159; 3,759,258; 3,831,605; and 4,269,187.

Another type of tampon applicator has been proposed to solve the foregoing problems of telescoping the plunger completely into the tampon applicator while storing the tampon completely in the tampon applicator while storing the tampon in the distal end of the plunger. This also shortens the tampon and applicator assembly by the length of a tampon. Operatively, the plunger is then drawn out most of the way from the proximal end of the tampon applicator leaving behind the tampon until the distal end of the plunger can engage the proximal end of the stored tampon. Each patentee discloses a different way of securing the stored tampon in the distal end of the tampon applicator to prevent proximal displacement end of the tampon while the plunger is withdrawn therefrom. See U.S. Patent No. 3,101,713; British Patent No. 2,033,754; U.S. Patent Nos. 2,832,342 (distal end of withdrawal string secured to slot in distal of tampon applicator); 3,090,385 (having an ejector arm, rather than an plunger); 4,276,881; 4,286,595; 4,411,647 and 4,479,791.

Apparently, none of the foregoing types of applicators has ever been commercially successful.

In the field of compact tampon applicator embodiments have been created which have attempted to accommodate consumer's needs for economy of space in packaging. For example, U.S. Patent Nos. 4,726,805; 4,846,802; and 4,960,417 provide compact tampons wherein the plunger is packaged in a substantially inserted position within the tampon applicator itself. Upon use, a user retrieves the embodiment from the package and then extends the plunger outwardly but not out of the tampon applicator. This approach does indeed save space and provides for discretion when carrying the embodiment herein. Nonetheless, these embodiments provide only for a plunger that must be pre-inserted into the tampon applicator. Thus, a need exists to provide embodiments, i.e., compact tampon insertion devices, in which a plunger is not substantially pre-inserted within a plunger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention provides a tampon insertion device. The tampon insertion device comprises a tampon applicator having a first end, a second end opposed to the first end, an inner surface and an outer surface opposed to the inner surface. Preferably, a tampon is positioned within the tampon applicator and adjacent to the inner surface of the tampon applicator prior to insertion of the tampon insertion device within a user's vaginal cavity. A sheath is removably attached to at least a portion of the outer surface of the tampon applicator.

In practice, the sheath is removed by a user and placed through the second end of the tampon applicator. The sheath is then positioned adjacent to the second surface of the tampon to push the tampon out of the first end of the tampon applicator and into the vaginal cavity of a user at insertion of the tampon.

In another embodiment herein, a tampon insertion device comprises a tampon applicator having a first end, a second end opposed to the first end, an inner surface and an outer surface opposed to the inner surface. Additionally, a tampon having a string is positioned within the tampon applicator and adjacent to the inner surface of the tampon applicator. Furthermore, a sheath is removably attached to the string of the tampon. The sheath is removably attached to at least a portion of the outer surface of the tampon applicator.

In practice, the sheath, while still being removably attached to the tampon string, is removed by a user and placed through the second end of the tampon applicator. The sheath is positioned adjacent to the second surface of the tampon to push the tampon out of the first end of the tampon applicator and into the vaginal cavity of a user at insertion of the tampon. Either before or after the sheath is inserted into the tampon applicator, the string is disconnected from the sheath to allow the tampon unfettered entry within a user's vaginal cavity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as forming the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following descriptions which are taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like designations are used to designate substantially identical elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plane view of one embodiment of the tampon insertion device;

FIG. 2 is a plane view showing the removal of the sheath from the tampon applicator of the tampon insertion device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plane view of the embodiment FIG. 2 showing the sheath prior to its insertion into the tampon applicator;

FIG. 4 is a plane view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 showing the inserted sheath within the tampon applicator;

FIG. 5 is a plane view of an alternative embodiment of the tampon insertion device;

FIG. 6 is a plane view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 showing the sheath being pulled away from the tampon applicator;

FIG. 7 is a plane view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 showing the sheath prior to its insertion into the tampon applicator; and

FIG. 8 is a plane view off the embodiment of FIG. 7 showing the inserted sheath in the tampon applicator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As is shown in FIG. 1, the invention provides a tampon insertion device 20. The tampon insertion device 20 comprises a tampon applicator 25 having a first end 27, a second end 26 opposed to the first end 27, an opening 28, an inner surface 29A (not shown) and an outer surface 29B opposed to the inner surface 29A. Preferably, as is seen in FIG. 4, a tampon 40 is positioned within the tampon applicator 25 and adjacent to the inner surface 29A of the tampon applicator 25. Also, a sheath 30 is removably attached to at least a portion of the outer surface 29B of the tampon applicator 25.

In practice, the sheath 30 is removed by a user and placed through the second end 26 of the tampon applicator 25. In some instances, depending upon the diameter of the sheath 30, a user may need or want to squeeze or compress the sheath 30 to ensure its easy insertion within the tampon applicator 25. FIG. 2 shows a user holding the tampon applicator 25 in one hand and with the other hand removing the sheath 30 from the tampon applicator 25. As shown, the sheath 30 may be pulled away from the tampon applicator 25 or alternatively, the sheath 30 may be pushed down the length of the tampon applicator 25 and removed thusly (FIG. 4). The sheath 30 is then positioned adjacent to a tampon 40 already inserted in the tampon applicator 25. The sheath 30 is then pushed by a user against the tampon 40 to expel the tampon 40 out of the first end 27 of the tampon applicator 25 and into the vaginal cavity of a user at insertion of the tampon 40 (FIGS. 3-4). In other words, the sheath 30 is transformed into a plunger 35 or plunger-like device once it is removed from the tampon applicator 25 and inserted therein.

The sheath 30, once it has been transformed into a plunger 35, may be slightly squeezed or compressed about its surface to shrink its diameter enough for its insertion into the tampon applicator 25. As such, the sheath 30/plunger 35 is preferably made from flexible but sturdy material; e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene and any other type of plastic, polymer or paper known in the art that is suitable to create a plunger like device.

The tampon applicator 25 can be constructed similarly to tubular holders of the type used in tampon applicators currently in use. Examples of such a tubular tampon applicator are described in U.S. Patent 5,346,468 issued to Campion, et al. on September 13, 1994, and U.S. Patent 5,558,631 issued to Campion, et al. on September 24, 1996. The tampon applicator 25 can be of any suitable cross-sectional shape. Suitable cross- sectional shapes include, but are not limited to circular, oval, flattened circular, and elliptical. Preferably, the tampon applicator 25 has a circular cross-sectional configuration.

In another embodiment herein, the tampon insertion device 120 comprises a tampon applicator 125 having a first end 127, a second end 126 opposed to the first end 126, an inner surface 129A (not shown), an outer surface 129B opposed to the inner surface 129 A and an opening 128 (FIG. 5). Additionally, a tampon 140 having a string 134 is positioned within the tampon applicator 125 and adjacent to the inner surface 129A of the tampon applicator 125. Furthermore, a sheath 130 is connected to the string 134 of the tampon 140 at a connection point 136 (FIGS. 5-7). The sheath 130 is removably attached to at least a portion of the outer surface 129B of the tampon applicator 125. By the term "string" it is meant herein a textile cord, polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers and/or any fibrous material known in the art suitable for use as a tampon chord herein attached to a tampon.

In practice, the sheath 130, while still being connected to the string 134, is removed by a user and placed through the second end 126 of the tampon applicator 125. The sheath 130 is then positioned adjacent to a tampon 140 already inserted in the tampon applicator 125. The sheath 130 is then pushed by a user against the tampon 140 to expel the tampon 140 out of the first end 127 of the tampon applicator 125 and into the vaginal cavity of a user at insertion of the tampon 140. Either before or after the sheath 130 is inserted into the tampon applicator 125, the string 134 is disconnected from the sheath 130.

The string 134 is connected to the sheath 130 at a connection point 136 (FIG. 6). The connection point 136 is preferably a groove or notch cut or molded into the sheath 130, specifically the top portion of the sheath 130. The connection point 136 is preferably so configured as to easily maintain a fixed hold on the string 134 until a user removes the string 134 from the connection point 136. FIG. 6 also shows the sheath 130 being pulled from, i.e., taken off of, the tampon applicator 125 with the string 134 still being attached to the tampon applicator 134.

Once the sheath 130 is pulled from the tampon applicator 125, the string 134 is preferably taken out of the connection point 136 (FIG. 7). The sheath 130, as in the previous embodiment, is then lined up to be inserted into the tampon applicator 125 at its second end 126. Once the sheath 130 is properly aligned, it is then inserted into the tampon applicator 125 and against the tampon 140 residing therein. The sheath 130, now transformed, is pushed through the tampon applicator 125 against the tampon 140 to expel the tampon 140 from the tampon applicator 125 and into a user's vaginal cavity.

The tampon insertion devices 20 and 120 herein are disposable. However, they may also be re-used if desired by a user. Of course, where re-use is desired, the tampon insertion devices are fully washable and/or cleanable by any of a number of washing solutions.

The disclosures of all patents, patent applications (and any patents which issue thereon, as well as any corresponding published foreign patent applications), and publications mentioned throughout this patent application are hereby incorporated by reference herein. It is expressly not admitted, however, that any of the documents incorporated by reference herein teach or disclose the present invention. It is also expressly not admitted that any of the commercially available materials or products described herein teach or disclose the present invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A tampon insertion device comprising a tampon applicator having a first end, a second end opposed to the first end, an inner surface and an outer surface opposed to the inner surface, a tampon positioned within the tampon applicator and adjacent to the inner surface of the tampon applicator, characterized in that: a sheath is removably attached to at least a portion of the outer surface of the tampon applicator, the sheath being removed by a user and placed through the second end of the tampon applicator and positioned adjacent to the second surface of the tampon to push the tampon out of the first end of the tampon applicator and into the vaginal cavity of a user at insertion of the tampon.

2. A tampon insertion device comprising a tampon applicator having a first end, a second end opposed to the first end, an inner surface and an outer surface opposed to the first end, a tampon, having a string, positioned within the tampon applicator and adjacent to the inner surface of the tampon applicator, characterized in that: a sheath is connected to the string of the tampon, the sheath being removably attached to the tampon applicator, the sheath being removed by a user, the string being removed from the sheath, and the sheath being placed through the second end of the tampon applicator and positioned adjacent to the second surface of the tampon to push the tampon out of the first end of the tampon applicator and into the vaginal cavity of a user at insertion of the tampon.