TAMPON APPLICATORSThe invention relates to tampon applicators, tampon applicator assemblies and methods of use.
Conventional tampon applicators commonly comprise a first element, such as a tubular member, for containing a catamenial tampon and a second element adapted to fit slidably within the first element to act as a piston to eject the tampon through one end thereof. Tampon applicators which comprise a tubular member are often marketed in assembled form ready for use in which the tampon is provided towards one end of the tubular member and the piston element is partially inserted within the other end of the tubular member.
It has been found, however, in general that the length of such assembled tampon applicators is inconvenient and awkward for storage in ladies handbags. For this reason, tampon applicators of compact form have been proposed in which the piston element is stored alongside the tubular member prior to its use as a piston. British Patent No. 726606 discloses a tampon applicator of compact form which comprises a tubular member for containing the tampon and a deformable member comprising a slit tube which slidably fits around the exterior of the tube and which, when deformed, can fit slidably within the tubular member. Such a tampon applicator, therefore, can readily be assembled for use by removing the deformable member from the tubular member and inserting it within one end of the tubular member to act as a piston.The assembled tampon applicator can then be used in a normal fashion to place a tampon within the vagina by inserting the other end of the tubular member within the vagina and ejecting the tampon therethrough by means of the piston. The tubular member of the applicator disclosed in British Patent No. 726,606, however, has a flat end which would render such a member difficult and uncomfortable to insert within the vagina.
United States Patent No. 4498899 discloses a tampon applicator of compact for~ in which the tubular member has a hemispherical or domed shaped end to facilitate insertion of the member into the -vagina.
The deformable member of the applicator disclosed in this patent, however, is of tubular shape with an accordion pleated wall. Such a tubular member thus uses more material and has a more complex structure than a slit tubular member and, therefore, may render the applicator less economic to manufacture. A tampon applicator of compact form has now been found which has a deformable member which is relatively economic to manufacture and a tubular member which is relatively comfortable to insert within the vagina.
Accordingly the present invention provides a tampon applicator comprising a pair of cooperating elements wherein a first element for containing a catamenial tampon consists of a tubular member having a segmented domed end and wherein a second element comprises a deformable member adapted to fit both slidably around a part of the exterior of said first element and, when deformed, slidably within the tubular member at the end remote from said domed end thereby to act as a piston to eject a catamenial tampon through said domed end of said tubular member.
The applicator of the invention thus has the advantage over the prior art applicators hereinbefore described of having as a first element a tubular member with a domed end which facilitates its insertion into the vagina and also as a second element a deformable member which fits around only part of the tubular member and which therefore uses less material than a second element which is a tubular member.
In the applicator of the invention the second element comprising the deformable member will normally be positioned around a part of the exterior of the first element consisting of the tubular member with the end thereof which is to be inserted into tubular member, that is the insertion end, adjacent or near to the domed end of the tubular member and the other end thereof adjacent or near to the open end of the tubular member.
In an applicator for use, the catamenial tampon will be contained within the tubular member.
In another aspect therefore, the present invention provides a tampon applicator assembly which comprises a tampon applicator of the invention and a catamenial tampon contained within the tubular member thereof.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method of using a tampon applicator assembly of the invention which comprises inserting the deformable member within the tubular member at the end thereof which is remote from the domed end and using the deformable member as a piston to eject the catamenial tampon through the domed end of the tubular member.
The applicator can be assembled for use by removing deformable member from the exterior of the tubular member, for example by sliding or pulling it off the tubular member, deforming the insertion end thereof to reduce its diameter and inserting it into the open end of the tubular member.
The assembled tampon applicator can then be used in a conventional manner to insert a tampon into the vagina.
In the applicator of the invention the first and second cooperating elements that is the tubular and deformable members will normally have a similar length to provide the applicator with a compact form. The deformable member, however, is desirably longer than the tubular member to ensure that the deformable member when acting as piston can eject a catamenial tampon through the domed end of the tubular member. The longer deformable member preferably overlaps the open end of the tubular member to provide the deformable member with a handle portion to facilitate its removal from and insertion into the tubular member.
However, in order to maintain the compact form of the applicator the ratio of the length of the deformable member to that of the tubular element should be less than 1.3:1 desirably less than 1.2:1 and should preferably be less than 1.1:1.
In favoured applicators of the invention the tubular member is cylindrical and the deformable member is a radially deformable arcuate member.
The arcuate member will have a portion which subtends an angle of 1800 or more. Such a portion can be uniform in cross section and extend along substantially the length of the arcuate member.
However, it is preferred that arcuate member has a portion which subtends an angle of more than 1800 to ensure that the arcuate member grips the tubular member to hold it in place thereon. The portion desirably subtends an angle of more than 2200 and preferably an angle of more than 2700 to ensure that the arcuate member is securely held to the tubular member. Such a portion can favourably be in the region of one or both ends of the arcuate member. A favoured applicator of the invention comprises an arcuate member which has a portion which subtends an angle of sore than 2200 in the regions at both ends of the member.
The arcuate member can have a portion which is cylindrical. Such a cylindrical portion, however, may not be easily deformable, and therefore should preferably not be in the region of the end of the arcuate member which is to be inserted into the tubular member. The cylindrical portion, however, can advantageously be at the other end of the arcuate member.
Another favoured applicator of the invention thus comprises an arcuate member which has a cylindrical portion in the region of the end thereof which is opposite to the insertion end of the arcuate member.
Such a cylindrical portion can securely hold the arcuate member onto the tubular member and also provide the arcuate member with a handle portion to facilitate its removal and insertion into tubular member.
Furthermore, the cylindrical portion so positioned can act as a stop to prevent the arcuate member being accidently pushed or pulled into the vagina when the member is used as a piston to eject the tampon or when the tubular member is removed from the vagina after ejection of the tampon.
The arcuate member of the applicator of the invention, can have a portion which subtends an angle of less than 1800. This portion can favourably be in the region of the insertion end of the arcuate member to provide a narrow leading portion to facilitate insertion of the arcuate member into the tubular member. Such a portion can also be advantageously positioned intermediate of the end regions of the arcuate member for example intermediate of portions which subtend an angle of 1800 or more than 180 located at these end regions. The portions so positioned exposes the tubular member to enable it to be gripped during removal of the arcuate member from the tubular member.Furthermore the presence of a portion which subtends an angle of less than 1800 in the arcuate member can reduce the amount of material in the member thereby rendering the member more economic to manufacture, can reduce the force necessary to pull off the arcuate member from the tubular member and can also make the arcuate member more easily to deform.
The cylindrical tubular member has a segmented domed end to facilitate its insertion into the vagina.
The domed end can aptly be segmented into petal shaped segments which converge to a small central aperture at a front portion of the domed end. The segments or petals, however, can be within, coextensive with or extend beyond the domed end portion into the cylindrical portion of the tubular member.
Suitable cylindrical tubular members with a segmented domed end for use in applicators of the invention are disclosed European Patent ApplicationNos. 115193 and 0066213.
When the applicator of the invention is assembled for use the arcuate member is removed from the tubular member and inserted within the tubular member. It is possible however, during its removal that the arcuate member can be permanently separated or lost by the user thus rendering the applicator inoperable. The arcuate member of the applicator of the invention thus can advantageously comprise a means which inhibits permanent separation of the arcuate member from the tubular member during assembly of the applicator. The arcuate member preferably has a means which can cooperate with the tampon withdrawal string to inhibit separation. Suitable means include an opening such as triangular opening or slit towards the "handle" end of the arcuate member.A suitable triangular opening will provide a narrow portion which will prevent the passage of a knot in the string and a wide portion which will allow the passage of such a knot. The triangular opening can aptly be positioned in the arcuate member with the narrow portion facing the insertion end thereof. In the applicator, the withdrawal string provided with a knot towards its free end can be positioned within the narrow portion of the opening.
When the arcuate member is removed from the tubular member during assembly of the applicator for use, tension on the string will cause the knot to become lodged in the narrow portion and prevent separation of the members.
However during insertion of the arcuate member into the tubular member the knot will abute with the edge of the open end thereof and be displaced towards the wide portion to release the string and allow the tampon to be ejected into the vagina.
The slit opening in the arcuate member will be adapted to allow a loop of the withdrawal string to be wedged therein. Such an arrangement will inhibit permanent separation of the arcuate and tubular members during assembly of the applicator but will allow the string to withdraw from the slit for example when the tubular member is removed from the vagina after insertion of the tampon.
The tubular member of the applicator can have ridges or grooves on its outer surface to facilitate handling of the tubular member. Such ridges or grooves can aptly be in the region of the open end of the tubular member to aid the gripping of the member at that end.
The arcuate member of the applicator can also have one or more grooves or ridges on its surface which contacts the surface of the tubular member. Such grooves or ridges are preferably complimentary with ridges and grooves on the other surface of the tubular member to inhibit movement between the two members. A ridge or ridges on the surface of the arcuate member which contacts the surface of the tubular member can also provide the member with extra "grip" to hold it onto the tubular member.
The insertion end of arcua#e member can advantageously be provided with an abutment to contact the tampon and thereby inhibit the member slipping passed the outside surface of the tanpon when it is used as piston to eject the tampon. Such an abutment can conveniently be a curved or turned up portion of the insertion end of the arcuate member which preferably conforms to the surface of the domed end of the tubular member.
The applicator of the invention can be made of any of the materials such as plastics or paper used to make conventional tampon applicators. Preferred applicators of the invention, however, comprise paper such as cardboard.
The tubular member is preferably made of a stiff cardboard material which will not collapse when inserted into the vagina. The arcuate member is preferably made of thinner cardboard material which is readily deformed but is sufficiently resilient to allow the arcuate member to grip the tubular member.
The catamenial tampon used in the applicator can be any of the conventional catamenial tampons known in the art. Such tampons however, preferably have a rounded insertion end and comprise an absorbent cellulosic fibrous material which will expand laterally when exposed to menses. Such tampons are well known in the art.
Tampon applicators of the invention in compact form can be packaged within a bacteria proof pouch and rendered sterile by a conventional sterilising method such as electron or gamma irradiation.
The invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following drawings in which Fig 1 is a side view of an applicator of the inventionFig 2 is a side view of the applicator of Fig 1assembled for use.
Fig 3 is a cross section of an assembled applicatorsimilar to that of Fig 2 with a separationprevention means.
Fig 4 is a bottom view of the tubular member of Fig 3.
Fig 5 is a side view of an assembled applicatorsimilar to that of Fig 2 with another separationprevention means.
Fig 6 a side view of another applicator of theinventionFig 6a and 6bare cross sections of the applicator of Fig 6 atA - A and B - B.
Fig 7 is a side view of a further applicator of theinvention Fig 7a and 7bare cross sections of the applicator of Fig 7 atC - C and D - D.
Fig 8 is a side view of a tampon applicator similar tothat of Fig 1 with a modified arcuate member.
Fig 1 shows a tampon applicator 1 of the invention in compact form which comprises a tubular member 2 containing a catamenial tampon and an arcuate member 3 which subtends an angle of approximately 216 along its length and which slidably fits around a part of the exterior of tubular member 2. The tubular member 2 has a segmented domed end 4 and an open end 5.
The outer surface of tubular member 2 is provided with grooves 6 in the region of end 5 to facilitate gripping tubular member 2. The arcuate member 3 is shown in fig 1 with its insertion end 7 adjacent to domed end 4 and its other end 8 adjacent to the open end 5 of tubular member 2. The insertion end 7 of arcuate member 3 has curved portion 9 which subtends an angle of less than 1800 to provide a lead-in portion to facilitate insertion of member 3 into tubular member 2. The other end 8 of the arcuate member 3 overlaps the open end 5 of the tubular member 2 to provide a 'handle' 10 for -gripping the arcuate member 3. Arcuate member has a groove 11 in the region of end 8 which provides a ridge on its inner surface to cooperate with one of complimentary grooves 6 on tubular member 2 to inhibit movement between members 2 and 3.Arcuate member 3 also has grooves 12 which provide ridges on its inner surface to aid arcuate member 3 gripping tubular member 2.
The catamenial tampon (not shown) has a withdrawal string 13 which extends from the open end 5 of the tubular member 2. Tampon applicator 1 can be assembled ready for use as shown in Fig 2 by sliding or pulling arcuate member 3 off tubular member 2 using handle 10 of the arcuate member 3 and inserting arcuate member 3 within tubular member 2 by deforming the insertion end portion 9 of arcuate member 3 to decrease its diameter.
Fig 3 shows a silimar tampon applicator 14 to that of Fig 2 in which the arcuate member 3 towards end 8 has been provided with a triangular opening 15 (SeeFig 4) which cooperates with knot 16 in withdrawal string 13 of tampon 17 to prevent separation of arcuate and tubular member 3 and 2. Knot 16 became wedged in the narrow portion of opening 15 as shown in Fig 4 during removal of and insertion of arcuate member 2 in tubular member 3. When arcuate member 2 is used as a piston to eject tampon 17, knot 16 will contact edge 18 of end 5 of the tubular member 3 and be displaced towards the wide portion of opening 15 through which it can pass to allow string 13 to be released.
Fig 5 shows a similar applicator 19 to that ofFig 3 in which arcuate member 3 is provided with a slit 20 towards end 8 which cooperates with a loop 21 in withdrawal string 13 to inhibit permanent separation of the tubular and arcuate member 2 and 3 during assembly of the applicator. Loop 21 passes through slit 20 to release withdrawal string 13 when tampon 17 is ejected into the vagina.
Figs 6, 6a and 6b show a tampon applicator 22 similar to that of Fig 1 in which the arcuate meiber 23 is provided with portions 24 and 25 which subtend angle of more 1800 towards the ends 26 and 27 respectively and a portion 28 intermediate of portions 26 and 27 which subtends an angle of less than 1800. Portions 26 and 27 provide good grip to hold arcuate member 22 on tubular member 2 and portion 28 exposes the tubular member 2 at portion 29 for gripping during assembly of the applicator.
Figs 7, 7a and 7b show an applicator 20 similar to that of Fig 1 in which the arcuate member 31 is provided with a portion 32 towards end 33 which subtends an angle of more than 180 , a portion 34 towards end 35 which is cylindrical and a portion 36 which subtends an angle of less than 1800 to expose portion 37 of tubular member 2 for gripping. Portion 34 of arcuate member 31 which is not deformable and which also has a radius which is greater than that of the tubular member 2, can advantageously act a stop, when arcuate member 31 is used as a piston, to prevent the member 31 being inserted within the vagina.
Fig 8 shows a tampon applicator 38 which is similar to that of Fig 1 in which the arcuate member 3 at end 7 is provided with a abutment 39 to contact the tampon when arcuate member 3 is used as a piston to eject the tampon from tubular member 2.
Tampon applicators of the invention can be used in the normal fashion to place a tampon within the vagina by partially inserting the tubular member at its domed end within the vaginal opening, ejecting the tampon through the segmented domed end thereof by means of the deformed arcuate member which acts as a piston and withdrawing the tubular member from the vagina.