Patent ID: 9339419
Filing Date: 2016-05-17
CPC Classification: A61F

Claim Text:
1. A tampon applicator comprising: an elongated barrel having an interior chamber for housing a tampon therein, an outer end and an inner end spaced longitudinally from the outer end; and a plunger extending into the barrel at the outer end thereof and moveable relative to the barrel to expel the tampon from the barrel at the inner end of the barrel; the barrel having at least two petals each having a base and extending longitudinally of the barrel to a tip of the petal wherein the petal tips define the longitudinal inner end of the barrel, the petals being configurable relative to each other and to the barrel from a closed configuration in which the petals generally close the inner end of the barrel and an opened position in which the petals are moved generally transversely outward to form an exit opening at the inner end of the barrel upon movement of the plunger to expel the tampon from the barrel at said inner end, each petal having a length from its base to its tip, the barrel having a cross-sectional dimension at the bases of said petals, a ratio of the length of said petal to the cross-sectional dimension of the barrel at the bases of said petals being in the range of about 1.0 to about 2.0.