Flushable tampon applicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9339580-B2
Application number	US-201314092050-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2013
Priority date	Nov 27, 2013
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

A tampon applicator that is water-sensitive (e.g., water-soluble, water-dispersible, etc.) in that it loses its integrity over time in the presence of water is provided. The tampon applicator can be discreetly disposed of in a toilet without the risk of clogging sewer pipes. The tampon applicator includes a molded thermoplastic composition containing a cellulose derivative, a synthetic water-soluble polymer, and a plasticizer. The desired water-sensitive characteristics of the tampon applicator may be achieved in the present invention by selectively controlling a variety of aspects of the thermoplastic composition from which the applicator is formed, such as the nature of the components employed, the relative amount of each component, the manner in which the composition is formed, and so forth.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flushable tampon applicator, the tampon applicator comprising an outer tube for housing a tampon and an inner tube, at least a portion of which extends into the outer tube, wherein the outer tube includes an outer, body-contacting surface, wherein the inner tube is moveable relative to the outer tube and configured to expel a tampon from the outer tube, further wherein at least one of the outer tube and the inner tube comprises a thermoplastic composition, the thermoplastic composition comprising:
a cellulose derivative, wherein the cellulose derivative constitutes from about 7 wt. % to about 70 wt. % of the composition based on the total weight of the composition, wherein the cellulose derivative is a nonionic cellulosic ether;
a synthetic water-soluble polymer; and
a plasticizer; wherein at least one of the outer tube and the inner tube is a molded part.

2. The tampon applicator of claim 1 , wherein the synthetic water-soluble polymer constitutes from about 7 wt. % to about 70 wt. % of the composition based on the total weight of the composition.

3. The tampon applicator of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer constitutes from about 2 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of the composition based on the total weight of the composition.

4. The tampon applicator of claim 1 , wherein the weight percentage ratio of the synthetic water-soluble polymer to the cellulose derivative ranges from about 0.1 to about 10.

5. The tampon applicator of claim 1 , wherein the nonionic cellulosic ether is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

6. The tampon applicator of claim 5 , wherein the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose has a methoxyl content of from about 10% to about 40%.

7. The tampon applicator of claim 6 , wherein the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose has a hydroxypropyl content of from about 1% to about 15%.

8. The tampon applicator of claim 1 , wherein the synthetic water-soluble polymer is a vinyl alcohol polymer.

9. The tampon applicator of claim 8 , wherein the vinyl alcohol polymer is partially hydrolyzed.

10. The tampon applicator of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is a polyhydric alcohol.

11. The tampon applicator of claim 10 , wherein the plasticizer is a polyol.

12. The tampon applicator of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic composition further comprises from about 0.5 wt. % to about 35 wt. % of an inorganic particulate filler based on the total weight of the composition.

13. The tampon applicator of claim 12 , wherein the inorganic particulate filler comprises calcium carbonate, kaolin clay, silica, alumina, barium carbonate, sodium carbonate, titanium dioxide, zeolites, magnesium carbonate, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, aluminum hydroxide, talc, or a combination thereof.

14. The tampon applicator of claim 1 , wherein the body-contacting surface of the outer tube includes a water-insoluble material.

15. The tampon applicator of claim 14 , wherein the ratio of the weight percentage of the water-insoluble material to the thermoplastic composition ranges from about 0.005 to about 1.

16. The tampon applicator of claim 14 , wherein the water-insoluble material is a coating.

17. The tampon applicator of claim 14 , wherein the water-insoluble material comprises a wax, silicon, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, a polyester, polyamide, a thermoplastic elastomer, or a combination thereof.

18. The tampon applicator of claim 1 , wherein both the outer tube and the inner tube comprise the thermoplastic composition.

19. The tampon applicator of claim 1 , wherein the tampon applicator is injection molded.

20. The tampon applicator of claim 1 , wherein the tampon applicator disintegrates in tap water in less than about 18 hours.

21. A flushable tampon applicator system, the system comprising:
an outer tube;
a tampon, wherein the tampon is housed within the outer tube; and
an inner tube, wherein at least a portion of the inner tube extends into the outer tube, further wherein the inner tube is moveable relative to the outer tube and configured to expel the tampon from the outer tube;
wherein at least one of the outer tube and the inner tube comprises a thermoplastic composition, the thermoplastic composition comprising:
a cellulose derivative, wherein the cellulose derivative constitutes from about 7 wt. % to about 70 wt. % of the composition based on the total weight of the composition, wherein the cellulose derivative is a nonionic cellulosic ether;
a synthetic water-soluble polymer; and
a plasticizer; wherein at least one of the outer tube and the inner tube is a molded part.

Assignees

• Kimberly Clark Co

Inventors

• Wang James H
• Wideman Gregory J
• Mleziva Mark M

Classifications

• A61L15/225 Primary

  Mixtures of macromolecular compounds · CPC title

• A61F13/266 Primary

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

• A61F13/34

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

• A61F13/2051

  characterised by the material or the structure of the inner absorbing core · CPC title

• A61F13/2071

  characterised by the material or the structure of the outer layer · CPC title