Tampon applicator
US5389068A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 1, 1992 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 1, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2013/15235
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A tampon applicator is disclosed for inserting tampons into a woman's vagina. The tampon applicator is an elongated, tubular member made from an injection moldable or extrudable material. The tampon applicator comprises a water-dispersible thermoplastic polyester containing an ionic metal salt substituent. The tampon applicator is constructed from a water-dissipatable polymer having carbonyloxy-linking groups in a linear molecular structure. The polymer comprises a reaction product of at least one difunctional dicarboxylic acid, at least one diol, and at least one difunctional sulfomonomer containing at least one metal sulfonate group attached to an aromatic nucleus having the functional group carboxyl. The tampon applicator is water dispersible, compostable, dimensionally stable, and substantially nonsticky when contacted by mucous membranes or other moist human tissue. The injection moldable material of the tampon applicator is compounded from linear thermoplastic polyester blended with a thermoplastic polymer to form a mixture capable of providing the features described above.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.