<p>Tampon Insertion Finger Protector This invention relates to a
sterile/hygienic protective sheath which is worn on the finger when inserting a tampon and disposed after use.</p>
<p>Currently there are two types of tampon on the market which are internally inserted into the vagina. One comes with an insertion device which enables the tampon to be pushed into the vagina with minimal contact, whilst the other is inserted manually with the fingers. Many women through trial and error have discovered which sanitary product suits them best and some have found that the tampon that is manually inserted offers them the best protection.</p>
<p>Unfortunately using a manually inserted tampon means that there is unavoidable finger contact with the vagina in order to get the tampon into place. buring the menstrual cycle this can be an unpleasant, unhygienic and messy procedure. In this situation a woman is then required to wash her hands. In some cases this is not always possible, so without washing facilities she faces a dilemma.</p>
<p>This invention would solve this problem by providing a disposable finger-sheath. Once fitted onto the finger this will enable the user to have minimal or no contact with bodily fluids within the vagina and thus provide hygienic protection from soiling. After the tampon has been inserted the finger-sheath can be removed and then disposed of accordingly.</p>
<p>The finger-sheath could be made from a range of flexible type materials which will stretch to snugly' fit any size finger. The advantage of this is to prevent the finger-sheath from becoming detached from the finger and left within the vagina. It should also be hypo-allergenic and sterile thus preventing sensitivity and bacterial infection. The finger-sheath should ideally be produced using bio-degradable material which would offer the advantage that if sanitary bins are unavailable, it can be flushed down the lavatory. This invention will now be described by referring to the enclosed drawings. Fig 1</p>
<p>(a) Shows how the sheath could be wrapped singularly in a flat format and packaged within the box of tampons.</p>
<p>(b) Shows a cross section of a tampon box with the packaged sheath inside. Fig 2</p>
<p>Shows the sheath and the tampon packaged as one form.</p>
<p>The broken line represents the outer packaging. Fig 3</p>
<p>Shows how the tampon string is attached and then released from the tampon. Fig 4</p>
<p>How to fit the finger sheath. (a) and (b) It is important that the finger-sheath is packaged in such a way as to make it as small and discreet as possible so that it can be carried either on the user's person or in a purse or handbaQ. Fig 1 shows the finger-sheath rolled on its self in a durex'[type way thus reducing the overall surface area and size of the product.</p>
<p>This would then also make it possible for the invention to be packaged within a pack of tampons.</p>
<p>Fig 2 shows an alternative packaging idea. Here the invention is attached to the bottom a singular tampon, rolled back on itself to reduce bulk in a durex'e way. The tip of the finger-sheath is attached to the tampon string at the base of the tampon with a tacky substance. As the finger-sheath is pulled from the tampon base the tampon string is pulled out to full length before being released completely, as in Fig 3.</p>
<p>Fitting the finger-sheath is a simple procedure. In the first instance the recipient places their fingertip in the rolled up finger-sheath at the base of the tampon, as in Fig 4 (a). The sheath is then rolled down over the whole of the finger surface, as in Fig 4 (b) thus providing total hygienic protection.</p>