Patent · US Expired

Applicator for tampons

US6432075B1 · kind B1 · utility

34Cited by
6References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 8, 2000
Grant dateAug 13, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 8, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61F13/26
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Provided is an applicator for a tampon including an outer cylinder having a large diameter portion for fitting a tampon therein, a small diameter portion provided on the side of a rear end of the outer cylinder and having a smaller diameter than that of the large diameter portion; and a plurality of valves provided on the side of a leading end of the outer cylinder. The valves are converged to have a curved face portion to be diametrically gradually reduced toward the leading end of the outer cylinder, and a push-out member is movably inserted into the small diameter portion of the outer cylinder. A ratio A/B is at most 0.8, when an inflection point for the boundary between the maximum diameter portion of the large diameter portion and the curved face portion is designated by Z, a radius of the outer face at the inflection point Z is designated by A, and the axial length from the inflection point Z to the leading end of the curved face portion is designated by B. A ratio L/W is within a range of 1.0 to 2.0, when the width size of root ends of the valves is designated by W and the length of the valves is designated by L.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.