Applicator-type tampon with strand member having a hook unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9326897-B2
Application number	US-201214007286-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2012
Priority date	Mar 24, 2011
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

A sanitary tampon 10 includes an absorber 11 and a strand member 12 extending out from a tail end of the absorber 11 in a direction of insertion inside the vagina. A hook unit 20 is configured from a member different from the strand member 12 and distended outside from a circumferential surface 12 e of the strand member 12 is provided in the strand member 12.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An applicator-type tampon, comprising:
an outer tube;
an absorber contained in the outer tube;
a strand member extending out from a tail end of the absorber in a direction adapted to be oriented towards an outside of a vagina of a wearer in use;
a grip tube unit configured to be gripped by the wearer in use;
an inner tube insertable inside the outer tube; and
a hook unit extending outwardly from a circumferential surface of the strand member and disposed inside the inner tube while the absorber is contained in the outer tube,

wherein
one end of the outer tube is provided with a push-out aperture through which the absorber is configured to be pushed out, and the other end of the outer tube is provided with an insertion aperture in which the inner tube is inserted,
the inner tube is configured to push the absorber out of the outer tube from the push-out aperture due to a movement of the inner tube towards an inside of the outer tube,
the hook unit has first and second ends, the first end of the hook unit being closer to the absorber than the second end of the hook unit,
the grip tube unit is formed around the insertion aperture of the outer tube and has first and second ends, the first end of the grip tube unit being closer to the push-out aperture than the second end of the grip tube unit, and
a length of the strand member from the tail end of the absorber up to the first end of the hook unit when the hook unit is disposed inside the inner tube is longer than a length from the first end of the grip tube unit up to the push-out aperture.

2. The applicator-type tampon according to claim 1 , wherein the hook unit is configured to be hooked and pulled by a finger of the wearer to remove the absorber from the vagina of the wearer.

3. The applicator-type tampon according to claim 2 , wherein the hook unit is a plastic bead.

4. The applicator-type tampon according to claim 2 , wherein the hook unit is formed of hot melt adhesive.

5. The applicator-type tampon according to claim 2 , wherein the hook unit has a plurality of beads with different shapes.

6. An applicator-type tampon, comprising:
an outer tube;
an absorber contained in the outer tube;
a strand member extending out from a tail end of the absorber in a direction adapted to be oriented towards an outside of a vagina of a wearer in use;
an inner tube insertable inside the outer tube; and
a hook unit extending outwardly from a circumferential surface of the strand member and disposed inside the inner tube while the absorber is contained in the outer tube,

wherein
one end of the outer tube is provided with a push-out aperture by which the absorber is configured to be pushed out, and the other end of the outer tube is provided with an insertion aperture in which the inner tube is configured to be inserted,
the inner tube is configured to push the absorber out of the outer tube from the push-out aperture due to a movement of the inner tube towards an inside of the outer tube,
the hook unit has first and second ends, the first end being closer to the absorber than the second end, and
a length of the strand member from the tail end of the absorber up to the first end of the hook unit when the hook unit is disposed inside the inner tube is longer than a length of the outer tube.

7. An applicator-type tampon, comprising:
an outer tube;
an absorber contained in the outer tube;
a strand member extending out from a tail end of the absorber in a direction adapted to be oriented towards an outside of a vagina of a wearer in use;
a grip tube unit configured to be gripped by the wearer when in use; and
an inner tube insertable inside the outer tube;
wherein
one end of the outer tube is provided with a push-out aperture by which the absorber is configured to be pushed out, and the other end of the outer tube is provided with an insertion aperture in which the inner tube is configured to be inserted, and
the inner tube is configured to push the absorber out of the outer tube from the push-out aperture due to a movement of the inner tube towards an inside the outer tube,
the strand member has a knot defining a hook unit,
the hook unit is disposed inside the inner tube while the absorber is contained in the outer tube,
the hook unit has first and second ends, the first end being closer to the absorber than the second end,
the grip tube unit is formed around the insertion aperture of the outer tube and has first and second ends, the first end of the grip tube unit being closer to the push-out aperture than the second end of the grip tube unit, and
a length of the strand member from the tail end of the absorber up to the first end of the hook unit when the hook unit is disposed inside the inner tube is longer than a length from the first end of the grip tube unit up to the push-out aperture.

8. An applicator-type tampon, comprising:
an outer tube;
an absorber contained in the outer tube;
a strand member extending out from a tail end of the absorber in a direction adapted to be oriented towards an outside of a vagina of a wearer in use; and
an inner tube insertable inside the outer tube;
wherein
one end of the outer tube is provided with a push-out aperture by which the absorber is configured to be pushed out, and the other end of the outer tube is provided with an insertion aperture in which the inner tube is configured to be inserted, and
the inner tube is configured to push the absorber out of the outer tube from the push-out aperture due to a movement of the inner tube towards an inside the outer tube,
the strand member has a knot defining a hook unit,
the hook unit is disposed inside the inner tube while the absorber is contained in the outer tube,
the hook unit has first and second ends, the first end being closer to the absorber than the second end, and
a length of the strand member from the tail end of the absorber up to the first end of the hook unit when the hook unit is disposed inside the inner tube is longer than the length of the outer tube.

Assignees

• Ito Yukihiro
• Unicharm Corp

Inventors

• Ito Yukihiro

Classifications

• A61F13/266

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

• A61F13/26

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

• A61F13/34 Primary

  Means for withdrawing tampons {, e.g. withdrawal strings} · CPC title

• A61F13/20

  Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor · CPC title