Portable tampon applicator
US4891042A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 6, 1988 |
| Grant date | Jan 2, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 6, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F13/263
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A compact and short tampon applicator is formed of an outer barrel which surrounds a tampon-holding inner tubular plunger. The barrel has a pair of opposed tongues formed from portions of the wall of the outer barrel which are partially cut and deflected inwardly. The openings in the wall of the barrel provide effective means for holding the barrel during the insertion process. The tongues project into the interior of the plunger, through a pair of elongate slots in the wall of the plunger, so that the tongues are in position behind the tampon. The applicator is readied for being used by retraction of the plunger rearwardly to cause the tampon, which is restrained by the tongues, to be ejected from the plunger into the barrel. The tongues also serve to prevent the plunger from separating from the barrel. The front of the plunger collapses inwardly to form an effective tampon contacting surface for engaging the rear of the tampon in a manner which permits the plunger to push the tampon out of the barrel. Subsequent forward actuation of the plunger expels the tampon through the front of the barrel into the catamenial canal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.