Patent ID: 6511451
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
Process for producing a tampon applicator comprising the steps of:a) providing an applicator blank formed of a rectangular section of a sheet of material having two oppositely disposed ends and two oppositely disposed sides; b) cutting out a plurality of mutually separate, longitudinally extending segments of at least one end of the applicator blank that have a base where they extend from the applicator blank; c) joining the oppositely disposed sides of the applicator blank to form a cylindrical applicator barrel having an inner surface; d) shaping the segments to form a dome with a central opening bounded by tips of the segments; e) forming a hinge line, directed in the circumferential direction of the applicator barrel, offset from the base of the segments towards the tips; and f) forming lines of weakness in an inner surface of the segments, corresponding to the inner surface of the barrel, offset from the hinge line, towards the segment tips, the lines of weakness consisting essentially of lines extending substantially in a direction generally corresponding to the longitudinal axis over a portion of the length of each segment.