Ergonomic tampon applicator

The present invention is directed to an ergonomically improved tampon applicator having a plunger and a barrel. The barrel has four distinct sections, namely a finger grip section, a reverse taper section, a main body section, and an insertion tip section. The reverse taper section is tapered towards the fingergrip section and the main body section is tapered in an opposite direction towards the insertion tip section. A maximum diameter is formed where the reverse taper section and main body section meet on the barrel. The maximum diameter provides a sensory means to the user to alert the user when the applicator has been inserted at the proper depth in the vagina.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an improved tampon or tampon applicator. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tampon applicator with a barrel that has a reverse taper section for improved ease of use and user comfort.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Commercial tampon applicators typically consist of a barrel and a plunger used to expel an absorbent pledget housed in the barrel. The barrel is typically sub-divided into three sections, namely a finger grip, an insertion tip, and a main body section, which is located between the finger grip and insertion tip sections.

The finger grip section is typically the same diameter as the main body section of the barrel, but some designs (e.g., Playtex® Gentle Glide®) have a reduced diameter grip for improve grippability. The main body section is typically linear, except on plastic molded barrels where there is a slight taper to improve release characteristics from the manufacturing mold. The insertion tip section on some types of barrels have “petals” which curve over and enclose the pledget (i.e., rounded tip) housed in the barrel, but readily flex outwardly as the pledget is expelled through the insertion tip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tampon applicator that is ergonomic.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such an ergonomic tampon applicator with a plunger and a barrel.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide such an ergonomic tampon applicator barrel having a finger grip section, a reverse taper section, a main body section and an insertion tip section.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such an ergonomic tampon applicator barrel reverse taper section where the reverse taper is towards the finger grip section.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an ergonomic tampon applicator barrel finger grip section having a finger accepting region.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide such an ergonomic tampon applicator insertion tip section formed with a plurality of petals.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide such an ergonomic tampon applicator main body section with a maximum diameter section that is sensually perceivable to a user to alert the user to the proper insertion depth of the applicator.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such an ergonomic tampon applicator having a plunger with at least one flared end.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated from an ergonomically improved tampon applicator having a plunger and a barrel, of the present invention. The barrel has four distinct sections, namely a finger grip section, a reverse taper section, a main body section, and an insertion tip section. The reverse taper section is tapered towards the fingergrip section, and the main body section is tapered in an opposite direction towards the insertion tip section. A maximum diameter is formed where the reverse taper section and main body section meet on the barrel. The maximum diameter provides a sensory indicator to the user to alert the user when the applicator has been inserted to the proper depth in the vagina.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to drawings and, in particular,FIG. 1, there is shown an ergonomically improved tampon applicator according to the present invention generally represented by reference numeral10. The ergonomically improved applicator10is easier to use and more comfortable to insert and remove. Applicator10includes a plunger12and a barrel14.

Barrel14may be divided into four sections, as opposed to three sections typically found in prior art tampon applicators. The four sections include a finger grip section16, a reverse taper section18, a main body section20, and an insertion tip section22.

Finger grip section16is bound by a forward edge ridge24and a rearward edge ridge26. Forward edge ridge24provides a firm grip surface during insertion of applicator10into the vaginal vault. Rearward edge ridge26provides a firm grip surface during expulsion of the pledget (not shown) and during removal of applicator10from the body. Forward and rearward edge ridges24,26are about 6 mm to about 22 mm in diameter. Preferably, the forward and rearward edges24,26are about 11 mm to about 17 mm in diameter, with about 14 mm being the most preferred diameter.

A finger accepting region28is formed between forward edge ridge24and rearward edge ridge26. To ensure an adequate area to accept a user's finger or fingers, forward edge ridge24and rearward edge ridge26are spaced about 13 mm to about 40 mm apart. More preferably, forward edge ridge24and rearward edge ridge26are spaced about 17 mm to about 21 mm apart, with about 19 mm being the most preferred spacing. Finger accepting region28may be concave, convex, flat, or any combinations thereof. Preferably, region28is concave, which conforms to the contour of a user's finger. The maximum diameter of region28is preferably slightly less than the diameter of edge ridges24,26. Preferably, region28has a maximum to minimum diameter ratio of about 1.10 to about 1.75, with a more preferred ratio of about 1.25 to about 1.35.

The maximum diameter34of applicator barrel14occurs at the forward end of reverse taper section18. Reverse taper is meant to include a taper in the reverse direction, i.e. in a direction away from the insertion end of applicator10, but not necessarily the same dimensional taper as main body section20. The diameter of reverse taper section18tapers down toward forward edge ridge24, where the diameter is equal to or slightly less than the diameter of forward edge ridge24. This taper may be linear or curvilinear.

Maximum diameter34of barrel14exerts a slightly greater pressure than the smaller diameter portions of the barrel on the vaginal opening. This unique feature of barrel14provides a sensually perceivable way of signaling or indicating to a user that applicator10has been inserted to the correct depth in the vagina. Thus, the location of maximum diameter34along the length of barrel14is a critical aspect of the present invention. The location of maximum diameter34on barrel14is about 32 mm to about 54 mm in the axial direction of barrel14from forward end36of insertion tip22. Preferably maximum diameter34is located about 40 mm to about 50 mm, and more preferably about 44 mm in the axial direction of barrel14from forward end36of insertion tip22.

Main body section20is joined to reverse taper section18where maximum diameter34of barrel14is located. Main body section20tapers toward insertion tip section22in either a linear or curvilinear fashion so that its smallest diameter occurs where main body section20meets insertion tip section22. The ratio of maximum diameter34to the diameter at the forward end38of main body section20is about 1.1 to about 1.5, and more preferably about 1.2 to about 1.3. This tapering of main body section20facilitates insertion comfort by gradually parting the vulva-vaginal channel over a longer length than that of only insertion tip section22.

Insertion tip section22begins where there is a substantial change in the curvature of the forward portion of the barrel that is where the pledget-enclosing petals40are formed. In applicator designs where no petals are used, insertion tip22is the forward edge of the main body section20of barrel14. The preferred insertion tip22is the petal type with a curvature that approximates an elliptical or hyperbolic curve. Preferably, insertion tip22has about 2 to about 12 petals, and more preferably about 3 to about 8 petals. The ratio of the maximum diameter of insertion tip section22, which occurs at the plane where its rearward edge meets forward end38of main body section20, to the total axial length of the insertion tip section along a horizontal axis of applicator10, is about 0.9 to about 1.8, and more preferably about 1.1 to about 1.3.

The less severe curvature of insertion tip section22also facilitates insertion comfort by gradually parting the vulva-vaginal channel along its longer length.

It should be understood that while tampon applicator barrel14of the present invention is depicted as having four sections, namely a finger grip section, a reverse taper section, a main body section, and an insertion tip section, the tampon applicator barrel can include a reverse taper section and at least one additional section selected from a finger grip section, a main body section, an insertion tip section, or any combinations thereof.

The interior wall of barrel14that houses the pledget may have the same basic sidewall shape as its exterior wall. However, molding such a complicated interior wall requires a complex manufacturing process. Alternately, the interior wall can be practically straight walled (a slight taper may be required for tooling release) while the exterior wall has the sectional shapes discussed before, thus simplifying the molding process.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, barrel14has a finger grip end42. Plunger12telescopically fits into the finger grip end42of barrel14. Plunger12has a diameter slightly smaller than the smallest diameter of finger receiving region28so that plunger12telescopically fits throughout the interior of barrel14. Preferably, in one embodiment of the present invention, plunger12has a diameter about 4 mm to about 18 mm. More preferably, plunger12has a diameter about 5 mm to about 9 mm with the most preferred diameter being about 7 mm.

Plunger12has a first flare32at its distal end and a second flare or retaining structure48at its opposite barrel end52. Finger grip section16has a plunger receiving end30. Plunger receiving end30of finger grip section16has a chamfer44to receive first flare32of plunger12during pledget expulsion. This permits shortening the length of the section of plunger12that protrudes from barrel14since all of the protruded length is available for the telescopic action. This in turns results in a more ergonomic applicator. Such an ergonomic applicator is conducive to one handed use, since the distance between finger grip section16and first flare32, where the fingertip is placed, is reduced by an amount equal to the length of first flare32. Second flare or retaining feature48on barrel end52of plunger12prevents separation from barrel14.

First flare32has a maximum diameter about 6 mm to about 22 mm. Preferably the maximum diameter is about 12 mm to about 16 mm, with about 13 mm being the most preferred maximum diameter, in order to provide a secure area for a user's fingertip during pledget expulsion. The rearward end of first flare32may be flat, concave, or convex. Preferably, it is concave to provide a secure area for the fingertip.

Second flare48has a maximum diameter about 5 mm to about 20 mm. Preferably the maximum diameter is about 11 mm to about 14 mm, with about 13 mm being the most preferred maximum diameter, in order to prevent separation from barrel14.

Although it might be implied that the cross-sectional shape of plunger12and barrel14is circular, due to the use of the term ‘diameter’, it should be understood that the cross-sectional shape can be non-circular, such as oval or polygonal. Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape can vary along the length of both plunger12and barrel14. For example, a circular plunger with a polygonal finger grip and an oval main body may be formed.

The pledget housed by applicator barrel14preferably has a tapered forward end that corresponds to that of insertion tip22. The matching taper supports petals40during insertion of applicator10so that the petals cannot flex out of shape, thus enhancing comfort. Additionally, during expulsion from applicator10, the pledget's tapered tip will gradually part the vaginal channel, further enhancing user comfort.

The foregoing specification and drawings are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention to the disclosed embodiments. Variations and changes, which are obvious to one skilled in the art, are intended to be within the scope and nature of the present invention, which is defined in the appended claims.