Tampon assembly providing proper bodily placement of a pledget

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11564850-B2
Application number	US-202016750099-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2020
Priority date	Jun 12, 2006
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

Provided is a tampon applicator having one or more insertion indicators to gauge and/or control the insertion depth of a tampon. The one or more insertion indicators may be located on the tampon applicator barrel, plunger, tampon, removal string, or any combinations thereof. As a result of the one or more insertion indicators, a woman can adjust the insertion depth of the tampon to her body's requirements ensuring leakage protection, comfort, or both.

First claim

We claim:

1. A tampon applicator assembly, comprising:
a tampon pledget having a longitudinal axis and comprising multiple fibrous pads or webs that are adjacent and connected thereby forming said tampon pledget and enabling said tampon pledget to catch and/or absorb fluid, said tampon pledget having a knotted removal string attached thereto; and
a tampon applicator, comprising:
a lubricious barrel region comprising low density polyethylene or a biopolymer having an insertion tip and a second end, said barrel region having dimensions to house said tampon pledget therein;
a grip region having a barrel end adjacent said second end of said barrel region, said grip region having a plunger receiving end opposite said barrel end, said grip region sized and shaped to receive one or more of a user's fingers, said grip region comprising at least three ribs; and
a plunger having a forward plunger end inserted into said grip region and a flared rearward plunger end;

wherein said pledget has a first portion and a second portion, said second portion configured to catch or absorb fluid likely to bypass said first portion;
wherein said string is threaded through said plunger;
wherein said plunger forward end pushes said pledget through the barrel and out said insertion tip to a selected insertion depth;
wherein said grip region comprises a biopolymer or an otherwise soft and resilient material such as a thermoplastic elastomer and/or a medical-grade foam; and
wherein said barrel region and said grip region are formed in a two-part process.

2. The tampon applicator assembly of claim 1 , wherein said at least three ribs on said grip region comprises a front-most ring and a rear-most ring, and one or more intermediate rings, wherein said user may position said user's one or more fingers on said front-most ring to provide a shallower insertion depth, wherein said user may place said user's one or more fingers on said rear-most ring to provide a deeper insertion depth.

3. The tampon applicator assembly of claim 1 , wherein said grip region is raised with respect to the barrel region.

4. The tampon applicator assembly of claim 1 , wherein said grip region has at least one of a different color or a different aesthetic than the rest of the barrel region.

5. The tampon applicator assembly of claim 1 , wherein said grip region is attached to said barrel region in said two-part process by overmolding or co-injection molding.

6. The tampon applicator assembly of claim 1 , wherein said grip region is attached to said barrel region in said two-part process by ultrasonically welding said grip region to said barrel region.

7. The tampon applicator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plunger comprises a biopolymer, a cardboard, a cardboard laminate, or a paper material.

8. A tampon applicator assembly, comprising:
a tampon pledget having a longitudinal axis and comprising multiple fibrous pads or webs that are adjacent and connected thereby forming said tampon pledget and enabling said tampon pledget to conform to a slight curvature along said longitudinal axis such that said tampon pledget is configured to catch and/or absorb fluid, said tampon pledget having a removal string attached thereto; and
a tampon applicator, comprising:
a lubricious barrel region comprising low density polyethylene or a biopolymer having an insertion tip and a second end, said barrel region having dimensions to house said tampon pledget therein;
a grip region having a barrel end adjacent said second end of said barrel region, said grip region having a plunger receiving end opposite said barrel end, said grip region sized and shaped to receive one or more of a user's fingers, said grip region comprising one or more ribs; and
a plunger having a forward plunger end inserted into said grip region and a rearward plunger end;

wherein said pledget has a first portion and a second portion, said second portion configured to catch or absorb fluid likely to bypass said first portion;
wherein said string is threaded through said plunger;
wherein said plunger forward end pushes said pledget through the barrel and out said insertion tip to a selected insertion depth;
wherein said grip region comprises a biopolymer or an otherwise soft and resilient material such as a thermoplastic elastomer and/or a medical-grade foam; and
wherein said barrel region and said grip region are formed in a two-part process.

9. The tampon applicator assembly of claim 8 , wherein said grip region is raised with respect to the barrel region.

10. The tampon applicator assembly of claim 8 , wherein said grip region has at least one of a different color or a different aesthetic than the rest of the barrel region.

11. The tampon applicator assembly of claim 8 , wherein said grip region is attached to said barrel region in said two-part process by overmolding or co-injection molding.

12. The tampon applicator assembly of claim 8 , wherein said grip region is attached to said barrel region in said two-part process by ultrasonically welding said grip region to said barrel region.

13. The tampon applicator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the plunger comprises a biopolymer, a cardboard, a cardboard laminate, or a paper material.

Assignees

• Edgewell Personal Care Brands Llc

Inventors

• Dougherty Eugene P
• Ebert Phillip
• Edgett Keith

Classifications

• A61F13/263

  with reduced length before use, e.g. with folding rod · CPC title

• A61F13/26

  Means for inserting tampons {, i.e. applicators} · CPC title

• A61F2013/8497

  having decorations or indicia means · CPC title

• A61F13/84

  Accessories, not otherwise provided for, for absorbent pads · CPC title

• A61F13/266 Primary

  Insertion devices, e.g. rods or plungers, separate from the tampon · CPC title