Patent ID: 9456931
Filing Date: 2016-10-04
CPC Classification: A61F,B29C,B29K,B29L,C08K,C08L

Claim Text:
1. A flushable tampon applicator, the tampon applicator comprising an outer tube for housing a tampon and comprising an inner tube, at least a portion of which extends into the outer tube, wherein the outer tube includes an outer, body-contacting surface, wherein the inner tube is moveable relative to the outer tube and configured to expel a tampon from the outer tube, further wherein at least one of the outer tube and the inner tube comprises a thermoplastic composition, the thermoplastic composition comprising: from about 50 wt. % to about 98 wt. % of partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohols, the partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohols comprising a first polyvinyl alcohol, a second polyvinyl alcohol, and a third polyvinyl alcohol, wherein the viscosity of the first polyvinyl alcohol is less than the viscosity of the second polyvinyl alcohol, wherein the weight percentage ratio of the first polyvinyl alcohol to the second polyvinyl alcohol ranges from about 1 to about 20, wherein the first polyvinyl alcohol and the second polyvinyl alcohol each have a degree of hydrolysis ranging from about 80 mole % to about 90 mole %, and wherein the third polyvinyl alcohol has a viscosity that is greater than the viscosity of the first polyvinyl alcohol and the second polyviny alcohol; and from about 2 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of a plasticizer; wherein at least one of the outer tube and the inner tube is a molded part.