ZA200709182B - Tampon remover - Google Patents

Description

LIT

THIS INVENTION is for a tampon remover and for a method of removing a tampon from a vagina. : Co

Tampons, used by women during menstrual cycles, include a plug of absorbent material and a cord connected to the plug. The cord facilitates removal of the plug from the vagina. The inventors are aware that removal and disposal of soiled tampons, particularly in public bathrooms, is unhygienic. The inventors believe that it : would be desirable to provide a hygienic and efficient means to remove and dispose of soiled tampons.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a tampon remover which includes: a flexible container which is shaped and dimensioned to receive a cord and a plug of a tampon, the container having an operatively upper end which is provided with a mouth and an operatively lower end; and : sealing means for sealing the mouth.

The flexible container may include a recess at the operatively lower end of the container to receive the cord. The recess may be in the form of a teat.

The flexible container may be in the form of a sheath of a thin, pliable ] material. The sheath may be displaceable between a compacted or folded configuration and an extended or unfolded configuration. When extended, the container may have a length to match the length of the plug of the tampon. Alternatively, when extended, the container may have a length of about 1% - 2 times the length of the plug.

The sheath may have an internal surface which may be lubricated, at least in part, with an anti-bacterial substance to render the tampon remover more hygienic.

The sealing means for sealing the mouth may include parallel, elongate, elastically deformable members which are biased towards each other. The deformable members may be joined at one or both of their ends. Thus, an inwardly, or longitudinally, directed pressure will cause the members to be displaced laterally away from one another. :

The sheath may be of a synthetic polymeric material, such as a polyurethane or latex material. Alternatively, the sheath may be manufactured from a biodegradable material. :

The upper end may include a pair of slots or recesses.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the container may resemble a condom. : According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of removing a tampon from a vagina, the method including: providing a flexible container which is shaped and dimensioned to receive a cord and plug of a tampon, the container having an operatively upper end which is provided with a mouth, and an operatively lower end; inserting a cord of the tampon into the mouth of the flexible container; gripping the cord inside the flexible container; extending the flexible container and withdrawing the plug of the tampon until the tampon is fully removed from the vagina and received by the container; and sealing the mouth.

The invention extends to a pack which includes at least one tampon and at least one tampon remover as hereinbefore described.

The invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the following diagrammatic drawings.

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In the drawings: B7.2007/09 1892

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a tampon remover in a compacted : or folded configuration in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows the tampon remover of Figure 1 with a cord of a tampon being received by the tampon remover,

Figure 3 shows the tampon remover of Figure 1 and 2 in an extended configuration with a plug and a cord of the tampon received therein; and

Figure 4 shows the tampon remover of Figure 3 with its upper part twisted.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a tampon remover in accordance with the invention. The tampon remover 10 includes a flexible container in the form of a thin, pliable sheath 12 having an operatively upper end 14 and an operatively lower end 16 and a mouth 18 and sealing means generally indicated by reference numeral 20. The upper end 14 has a ring-like neck 17 which is provided with two diametrically positioned slots 15, as can be seen, in particular, in

Figure 2. In a preferred embodiment of the container, the sheath 12 is of latex. In

Figures 1 and 2, the tampon remover 10 is shown with its container in a compacted or folded configuration, and in Figure 3 it is shown in an extended or unfolded configuration.

The container 12 is shaped and dimensioned to receive a cord 22 and a plug 24 of a tampon 26. The container 12 includes a recess in the form of a teat 28 at the operatively lower end 16 to receive the cord 22 (See Figure 2).

The container 12 is flexible and can therefore be disposed between a folded or partially rolled up configuration, before use, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and “an extended or unfolded configuration, after use, as shown in Figure 3. When extended, the container 12 has a length which is about 12-2 times the length of the plug 24 of the tampon 26.

An internal surface (not shown) of the sheath 12 is coated with an antibacterial substance to ensure further hygiene.

: The sealing means 20 is in the form of two elastically deformable members 30, 32 in the neck 17. The sheath 12 is stretched and attached to the members 30, 32 as can be seen in the drawings. The deformable members 30, 32 are biased towards each other (as shown in Figure 1) so that by pushing inwardly in the 5 direction of the arrows 34 the members 30, 32 bend outwardly to an open configuration, : as shown in Figure 2, and by relaxing the pressure the members 30, 32 are elastically displaced back to the sealed configuration (as shown in Figure 1). In other embodiments of the invention the members 30, 32 are connected to one another at one or both of their ends. :

In use, in order to remove a soiled tampon 20 from a vagina, a user opens the mouth 18 of the tampon remover 10 by applying pressure inwardly as indicated by arrows 34 in Figure 1 to the open configuration shown in Figure 2. The user then inserts the cord 22 of the tampon into the teat 28 of the sheath 12. When the cord 22 is in place, the user pinches the teat 28 to grip the cord 22 and then pulls the teat 28 and "cord 22 operatively downwardly until the sheath 12 is fully extended so that the plug 24 and cord 22 are pulled into the container 12. : : The user can then release the inward pressure on the members 30, 32 so that the mouth 18 closes. The tampon is remover 10 is then disposed of in a sanitary waste bin. In a variation of this procedure, the user may twist the upper end of the sheath 12, as shown in Figure 4, and insert the twisted sheath 12 into the two diametrically arranged slots 15 thereby further to close off the upper end 14 of the 12.

The inventors believe that the tampon remover 10 as above described will be advantageous in that it provides a hygienic and efficient means to remove and dispose of a tampon. The tampon remover 10 can furthermore be cheaply manufactured and in addition to being sold in supermarkets, pharmacies and the like, it can be made available to users in public bathrooms to ensure hygienic disposal of the tampon 20.

Claims (16)

CLAIMS: IE.

1. A tampon remover which includes: a flexible container which is shaped and dimensioned to receive a cord and a plug of a tampon, the container having an operatively upper end which is provided with a mouth and an operatively lower end; and sealing means for sealing the mouth.

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2. A flexible container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container includes a recess at the operatively lower end of the container to receive the cord.

3. A flexible container as claimed in claim 2 wherein the recess is in the form of a teat.

4, A flexible container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the container is in the form of a sheath of a thin, pliable material.

5. A sheath as claimed in claim 4 wherein the sheath is displaceable between a compacted or folded configuration and an extended or unfolded “configuration. : :

6. A container as claimed in claim 5 wherein the container, when extended, has a length to match the length of the plug of the tampon or has a length of about 17% - 2 times the length of the plug.

7. A container as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the sheath has an internal surface which is lubricated, at least in part, with an anti-bacterial substance.

8. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the sealing means for sealing the mouth includes parallel, elongate, elastically deformable members which are biased towards each other.

9. A container as claimed in claim 8 wherein the deformable members are joined at one or both ends.

10. A container as claimed in any one of claims 8 or 9 wherein an inwardly directed pressure will cause the members to be displaced laterally away from one another.

11. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the sheath is of a synthetic polymeric material.

12. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the synthetic material is selected from a polyurethane material, a latex material and a biodegradable material.

13. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the upper end includes a pair of slots or recesses. B

14. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the container resembles a condom.

15. A method of removing a tampon from a vagina, the method including: providing a flexible container which is shaped and dimensioned to receive a cord and plug of a tampon, the container having an operatively upper end which is provided with a mouth, and an operatively lower end; inserting a cord of the tampon into the mouth of the flexible container; gripping the cord inside the flexible container; extending the flexible container and withdrawing the plug of the tampon until the tampon is fully removed from the vagina and received by the container; and sealing the mouth.

16. A pack which includes at least one tampon and at least one tampon remover as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14. :

DATED THIS 24™ DAY OF OCTOBER 2007 ~ ADAMS & ADAMS APPLICANT'S PATENT ATTORNEYS