Patent ID: 9662249
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: A61F,Y10S

Claim:
1. A tampon assembly, comprising: an applicator barrel having an internal cavity and a substantially straight central axis, the applicator barrel including: an insertion tip section having a forward end, the insertion tip section having a curved tapered shape along the central axis in which a ratio of a maximum diameter of the insertion tip to a length of the insertion tip is in a range from about 0.9 to about 1.8, the insertion tip having between three and eight petals; a main body section adjacent to the insertion tip section and opposite of the forward end of the insertion tip section, the main body section having a maximum diameter of the applicator barrel; a reverse taper section adjacent to the main body section, the reverse taper section tapering downwardly in a direction away from the insertion tip section; a finger grip section adjacent to the reverse taper section and being bound by a forward edge and a rearward edge, the reverse taper section tapering downwardly to a diameter that is slightly less than a diameter of the forward edge, the finger grip section having a concave shape between the forward edge and the rearward edge and including a plurality of protruding ribs extending away from a surface of the finger grip section between the forward edge and the rearward edge, the plurality of protruding ribs having a height that is less than the height of the forward edge, the rearward edge and the maximum diameter of the applicator barrel, the finger grip section including an opening leading into the internal cavity, the internal cavity within the finger grip section being defined by a wall adjacent to the opening, wherein the insertion tip section, the main body section, the reverse taper section and the finger grip section are unitary and are all coaxially positioned around the central axis of the applicator barrel; and a pledget within the internal cavity of the applicator barrel, the pledget including a tapered forward end for supporting the petals during the insertion of the applicator barrel into a vagina; and a plunger that telescopically extends into the internal cavity of the applicator barrel through the opening at the finger grip section, the plunger including a distal end to be pushed forwardly toward the internal cavity along the central axis, the distal end including a flared region that is received within the wall of the internal cavity while a proximal end of the plunger is located in the insertion tip region expelling the pledget through the petals.