Patent Publication Number: US-2003236499-A1

Title: Tampon applicator having a corrugated insertion tip

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention relates to a tampon applicator having a corrugated tip for facilitating insertion of a tampon into a body cavity.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Tampons and other types of absorptive media are routinely inserted into body cavities, such as a woman&#39;s vagina, to absorb menstrual fluid, blood and other kinds of body fluid. One convenient way to position such absorbent tampons into a body cavity is through the use of an applicator. Comfortable and clean insertion of the absorbent tampon is key to repeated sale of such applicators. In addition, the applicator should be capable of inserting the absorbent tampon into the body cavity using an acceptable amount of expulsion force.  
       [0003] Tampon applicators are available in a variety of shapes and sizes with the two-piece telescopically assembled design being the most prevalent. In the two-piece applicator, the tampon is housed in a hollow outer tube and is expelled into a woman&#39;s vagina by an inner member that is telescopically mounted in the outer tube and acts as a plunger. Some tampon applicators utilize a hollow tube having an open insertion end through which the tampon is always exposed while other applicators utilize a completely closed or partially closed design. A thin film membrane can cover the insertion end of an applicator to completely enclose the forward end of a tampon while folds can be used to partially enclose the forward end of a tampon and protect it from contamination. Still other applicators, especially plastic applicators, have a plurality of flexible petals formed on the forward end of the outer tube which can flex radially outward to allow the tampon to be expelled. It will be appreciated that the diameter of the applicator, the material from which it is formed, the basic configuration of the applicator, the size and shape of the tampon positioned in the applicator, as well as the ease of opening the forward end of the applicator will all influence the force required to expel the tampon therefrom. The expulsion force should be kept reasonably low to permit proper functioning of the applicator.  
       [0004] While many have tried to design and manufacture tampon applicators having these improved qualities, there still remains a need for a tampon applicator that is more comfortable to use. Those applicators having an open forward end tend to expose the dry absorbent fibers of the tampon to the interior walls of a woman&#39;s vagina and this can cause irritation during insertion. Commercially available plastic and cardboard applicators, using a plurality of petal tips separated by slots, can sometimes pinch or cut the vaginal tissue of a woman during insertion and cause discomfort.  
       [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,793 issued to Nielsen et al. discloses a tampon applicator having a semi-spherically shaped pleated tip. The pleats of Nielsen are formed by doubling the material upon itself and then pressing the material into place. As can be seen in FIG. 8 of Nielsen, the pleats  50  have a thickness dimension “t” defined by three layers of material  34 . The doubling of material upon itself to form the pleats leads to high expulsion forces which can cause the applicator to deform or cause the tampon to be inserted incorrectly.  
       [0006] Now a tampon applicator has been invented having a corrugated tip for facilitating comfortable insertion of an absorbent tampon into a woman&#39;s vagina while having a low expulsion force.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] Briefly, this invention relates to a tampon applicator having a corrugated tip for facilitating insertion of a tampon into a woman&#39;s vagina. The tampon applicator includes a first hollow member capable of housing an absorbent tampon. The first member has a central longitudinal axis and first and second ends. An insertion tip is located on the first end of the first member and extends outwardly therefrom. The insertion tip contains a central aperture having a small diameter that extends therethrough. The insertion tip contains a plurality of corrugations capable of expanding radially outward as the tampon is expelled from the first member.  
       [0008] The tampon applicator may include a second member telescopically mounted in the second end of the first member. The second member is adapted to expel the tampon through the insertion tip as it is pushed into the first member.  
       [0009] Alternatively, the first hollow member may have a string hole or opening near the insertion tip. The withdrawal string of the tampon is passed through this hole. By pulling the string through the hole the tampon can be expelled through the insertion tip without the need for a telescoping plunger. Other methods may also be used to expel the tampon from the first member without the need of a second member.  
       [0010] The insertion tip may be integrally formed on the first end of the first member. Alternatively, the insertion tip can be a separate member secured to the first end of the first member.  
       [0011] The tampon applicator is also disclosed in combination with a tampon having a shaped nose.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a two-piece, spirally wound paper tampon applicator.  
     [0013]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the tampon applicator shown in FIG. 1.  
     [0014]FIG. 3 is a left end view of the tampon applicator shown in FIG. 1 depicting the corrugations.  
     [0015]FIG. 3A is a left end view of a tampon applicator depicting spiral corrugations.  
     [0016]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the insertion tip taken along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 3 showing an aperture formed through the insertion tip and the aperture having a side wall aligned essentially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the first member.  
     [0017]FIG. 5 is a schematic view of some corrugations taken along line  5 - 5  of FIG. 3 depicting the shape and thickness of the corrugations.  
     [0018]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an insertion tip depicting one end of the corrugations extending into the first member.  
     [0019]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the insertion tip showing one end of the corrugations terminating at a point where the insertion tip integrally joins the first member.  
     [0020]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the insertion tip showing one end of the corrugations terminating at a point on the exterior surface of the insertion tip.  
     [0021]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the tampon applicator showing the corrugations in an open arrangement.  
     [0022]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a hollow first member having an opening near the insertion tip.  
     [0023]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a tampon applicator insertion tip having corrugations of differing lengths.  
     [0024]FIG. 12 is an end view of an alternative embodiment of an insertion tip having petals.  
     [0025] FIGS.  13 A- 13 B are cross-sectional views showing various tampon nose and insertion tip configurations. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0026] All documents cited are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention.  
     [0027] Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 , a tampon applicator  10  is shown which is designed to house a tampon  12  and provide a comfortable means of inserting the tampon  12  into a woman&#39;s vagina. A tampon is an absorbent member primarily designed to be worn by a woman during her menstrual period to absorb menses, blood and other body fluid. The tampon  12  can be made from natural or synthetic fibers including cellulose fibers such as cotton or rayon, or artificial fibers such as polyester, polypropylene, nylon or blends thereof. Other types of fibers may also be used, such as cellulose sponge or a sponge formed from elastomeric materials.  
     [0028] The tampon  12  is normally compressed into the form of a cylinder and has a forward end or nose  13 . The nose  13  can be configured in any number of shapes including but not limited to blunt, rounded, semi-spherical, ellipsoidal or conical. The nose  13  shown in FIG. 2 is configured to have a semi-spherical shape. The tampon  12  commonly has a withdrawal string  14  fastened to an end thereof that serves as a means for withdrawing the soiled tampon from the woman&#39;s vagina. The withdrawal string  14  can be looped through an aperture  16  formed transversely through the tampon  12 , or alternatively the string  14  can be attached to tampon  12  by known means, such as sewing. In addition, the withdrawal string  14  can have a knot  18  formed at its free end to assure that the string  14  will not separate from the tampon  12 .  
     [0029] The tampon applicator  10  includes a first hollow member  20  and a second member  22 . The first member  20  is preferably in the form of a spirally wound, convolutely wound or longitudinally seamed hollow tube which is formed from paper, paperboard, cardboard or a combination thereof. The first hollow member  20  may also be injection molded or formed from flexible plastic, such as thermoformed from plastic sheet or folded or wound from plastic film. The first hollow member  20  may also be formed from a combination of paper and plastic. The first member  20 , also commonly referred to as an outer tube, is fairly rigid and has a relatively small diameter of about 10 mm to about 20 mm. The first member  20  has a wall  24  with a predetermined thickness of about 0.1 mm to about 0.7 mm. The wall  24  can be constructed from a single ply of material or be formed from two or more plies that are bonded together to form a laminate. The use of two or more plies or layers is preferred for it enables the manufacturer to use certain materials in the various layers that can enhance the performance of the tampon applicator  10 . When two or more plies are utilized, all the plies can be spirally wound, convolutely wound or longitudinally seamed to form an elongated cylinder. The wall  24  can be constructed using a smooth thin ply of material on the outside or exterior surface  26  that surrounds a coarser and possibly thicker ply. When the wall  24  contains at least three plies, the middle ply can be the thicker ply and the interior and exterior plies can be smooth and/or slippery to facilitate expulsion of the tampon  12  and to facilitate insertion of the first member  20  into a woman&#39;s vagina, respectively. By sandwiching a thick, coarser ply of material between two thin, smooth plies, an inexpensive first member  20  can be provided which is very functional. The wall  24  should contain one to four plies, although more plies can be utilized if desired.  
     [0030] The plies forming the wall  24  can be held together by an adhesive, such as glue, or by heat, pressure, ultrasonics, etc. The adhesive can be either water-soluble or water-insoluble. A water-soluble adhesive is preferred for environmental reasons in that the wall  24  will quickly break apart when it is immersed in water.  
     [0031] Such immersion will occur should the first member  20  be disposed of by flushing it down a toilet. Exposure of the first member  20  to a municipal&#39;s waste treatment plant wherein soaking in water, interaction with chemicals and agitation all occur, will cause the wall  24  to break apart and evenly disperse in a relatively short period of time.  
     [0032] The inside diameter of the first member  20  is usually less than about 0.75 inches (about 19 mm) and preferably less than about 0.625 inches (about 16 mm). Although the exterior diameter of tampons do vary, most tampons utilized by women have an external diameter of less than about 0.75 inches (about 19 mm). However, if one desired to use this invention to administer medication to an animal, such as a farm animal or other mammal, larger size tampons  12  could be used.  
     [0033] It should be noted that the first member  20  can be spirally wound, convolutely wound or longitudinally seamed into a cylindrical tubular shape. Alternatively, the material can be overlapped into a tubular configuration. Spirally or convolutely winding the first member  20  into a cylindrical tube is especially advantageous when the first member  20  is formed from a laminate. The reason for this is that when a laminate is circumferentially wound into a tube and a butt seam or an overlap is formed, the butt seam or the overlap can interfere with the later formation of corrugations on the forward end thereof. A common problem with a rigid or stiff walled, tubular member having a relatively small diameter and a butt seam is that the seam has a tendency to come apart after formation if exposed to certain stress forces and/or high humidity. A problem with a tubular member having an overlap is that a small portion of the wall will be thicker than the remaining portion and this will cause problems when one tries to corrugate one end of the tube. Accordingly, the first member  20  should preferably be formed into a cylindrical configuration without the presence of a butt seam or an overlap. In the case of other tube construction methods such as fiber or plastic molding, or integral tube forming (e.g. thermoforming plastic) no seams will be present.  
     [0034] The first member  20  is sized and configured to house the absorbent tampon  12 . As stated above, the first member  20  should have a substantially smooth exterior surface  26  that will facilitate insertion of the first member  20  into a woman&#39;s vagina. When the exterior surface  26  is smooth and/or slippery, the first member  20  will easily slide into a woman&#39;s vagina without subjecting the internal tissues of the vagina to abrasion. The first member  20  can be coated to give it a high slip characteristic. Wax, polyethylene, a combination of wax and polyethylene, cellophane and clay are representative coatings that can be applied to the first member  20  to facilitate comfortable insertion.  
     [0035] The first member  20  can be a straight, elongated cylindrical tube formed on a central longitudinal axis X-X. It is also possible to form the first member  20  into an arcuate shape. The arcuate or curved shape can assist in providing comfort when inserting the first member  20  into a woman&#39;s vagina. With a curved tampon applicator, it is possible to employ a curved tampon which again may be more comfortable for some women to use since the shape of the tampon may better fit the curvature of a woman&#39;s vagina.  
     [0036] The first member  20  has first and second spaced apart ends  28  and  30 , respectively. The first member  20  can also have either a constant outer diameter or a stepped outer profile. Preferably, the first member  20  will have an essentially constant diameter over a major portion of its length. Located on the first end  28  of the first member  20  and extending outwardly therefrom is an insertion tip  32 . The insertion tip  32  is designed to facilitate insertion of the first member  20  into a woman&#39;s vagina in a comfortable manner. The insertion tip  32  may be integrally formed on the first end of the first member. Alternatively, the insertion tip can be a separate member secured to the first end of the first member. The insertion tip  32  can be configured in any number of shapes including but not limited to blunt, rounded, semi-spherical or conical. The insertion tip shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is configured to have a semi-spherical shape. The insertion tip  32  has a diameter that is approximately equal to the outside diameter of the first member  20 . The insertion tip  32  has a wall  34  with a thickness that is approximately equal to the thickness of the wall  24  that forms the first member  20 . However, it is possible to construct the wall  34  so that it has a thickness which is less than or greater than the thickness of the wall  24 , if desired.  
     [0037] Referring to FIG. 4, the insertion tip  32  is shown in cross-section with the semi-spherical configuration extending outward away from the first end  28  of the first member  20 . The cross-section of the semi-spherical configuration spans an arc (A) of approximately 180°. The semi-spherical configuration is formed on a diameter that is sized to be equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the first member  20 . For example, if the outside diameter of the first member  20  is 0.64 inches (16.2 mm), the insertion tip  32  can be formed on a radius of about 0.32 inches (about 8.1 mm).  
     [0038] A relatively small aperture  36  is formed in the center of the semi-spherical shaped insertion tip  32  and is coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis X-X. The aperture  36  can have a diameter of at least about 1.0 mm, preferably between about 1.0 mm to about 8.0 mm, and more preferably, between about 3.0 mm to about 4.0 mm. Another way of sizing the diameter of the aperture  36  is to make it less than about 50% of the outside diameter of the first member  20 , preferably, between about 10% to about 30% of the outside diameter of the first member  20 , and most preferably, less than about 20% of the outside diameter of the first member  20 . It should be noted that although the aperture  36  is described as a circle, it is possible to form the aperture  36  in other shapes such as a polygon, a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon, etc. The small aperture  36  should extend through the insertion tip  32  and has a side wall  38 . In addition, the edge of the side wall  38  abutting the aperture  36  can be rounded or contain a radius  40  on it&#39;s exterior surface to assure that no sharp edges are present which could pinch or cut the sensitive tissues of a woman&#39;s vagina.  
     [0039] Further, the edge of the side wall  38  abutting the aperture can be partially rolled inwards or folded. The purpose of the small aperture  36  in the end of the insertion tip  32  is to facilitate the subsequent unfolding of the corrugations during use, as will be described below. The aperture  36  also assures that the corrugations will symmetrically open about the longitudinal axis X-X of the first member  20 . A further benefit of the aperture  36  is that it provides a visual means for the user to inspect the tampon applicator  10  and assure herself that a tampon  12  is present in the first member  20 .  
     [0040] The configuration of a smaller aperture  36  is preferred over a larger aperture  36  as a smaller amount of the absorbent tampon  12  is exposed. Since a tampon is normally dry and consists of a plurality of absorbent fibers, it can cause abrasion against the walls of a woman&#39;s vagina as it is being inserted. By reducing the amount of surface area of the tampon  12  that is exposed to the vaginal tissue, one can decrease the level of discomfort during the insertion process. Furthermore, the small diameter of the aperture  36  also decreases the possibility of trapping or pinching vaginal tissue therein. With regard to the aperture, the exposed portion of the tampon may lie entirely below the aperture, or a portion of the tampon  12  lie within the aperture between the surrounding side wall  38 , or even protrude through the aperture, though this is generally less preferred.  
     [0041] Referring to FIG. 3, the insertion tip  32  is shown having a plurality of corrugations  50  that can radially open such that the insertion tip  32  has a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the first member  20 , though it can be less than or greater than the diameter of the first member dependent upon how much material is gathered in the corrugations or how much plastic deformation may have occurred during processing. Either an even or an odd number of corrugations  50  can be present and the corrugations  50  can be equally spaced apart or they can be non-uniformly arranged. Uniformly arranged corrugations  50  are preferred but randomly arranged corrugations  50  will work. For ease of manufacturing, it is preferred that the corrugations  50  be equally spaced relative to one another. The corrugations  50  may be unequally spaced relative to one another. As seen in FIG. 5, the corrugations  50  are formed by folding the material into a series of alternating ridges  70  and troughs  72  where the transition radius at the fold between two adjoining trough or ridge walls can be tight analogous to the bottom of the capital letter “V” in Arial typefont or more gentle or curved analogous to the bottom of the capital letter “U” in Arial type-font. Further, the corrugations can be tilted such that the cross-section appears like italicized capital letters “U” and “V” in Arial type-font  
     [0042] Any number of corrugations  50  may be utilized. The number of corrugations  50  can vary from between 2 to about 100, preferably between about 4 to about 30. In general, the force required to open the insertion tip  32  normally increases as the number of corrugation  50  decreases. If the force required to open becomes too large, the tampon applicator  10  could bend or deform during the insertion process and this may cause discomfort. Thus, the number of corrugations  50  can be chosen to provide the desired opening force.  
     [0043] Referring to FIG. 5, a schematic view of a corrugation  50  is shown. The corrugation  50  is obtained by folding the paper, paperboard, or cardboard material (or alternately plastic or polymer material) so that the folding decreases the overall perimeter or circumference due to the accumulation of material with each corrugation  50  and then when each corrugation  50  is opened or unfolded it will occupy a much larger perimeter/circumference or surface area than in the previous folded state. For molded or formed plastic or fiber applicators, the corrugations could be optionally formed during the molding of the applicator. The thickness of the material forming the insertion tip  32  can be equal to or slightly less than the thickness of the first member  20 , though a thickness larger than the first member  20  can also be employed. The first member  20  can have a thickness of about 0.1 mm to about 0.7 mm. The insertion tip  32  can have a thickness between about 0.1 mm to about 0.7 mm. In the folded condition, the corrugation  50  has a thickness, indicated by the letter “t”. The thickness “t” of each corrugation  50  in the folded condition will be greater than the thickness of the material from which the insertion tip  32  is constructed.  
     [0044] The material in the insertion tip  32  region can be optionally subjected to other process steps either before or after folding the material to obtain the corrugations. An example would be mechanical scoring or embossing of the material to soften the tip by working the fibers in a paper tube first member  20 .  
     [0045] Referring to FIGS.  6 - 8 , three different embodiments of a corrugation are depicted. In FIG. 6, the corrugation  50  is depicted as having a first end  52  that coincides with the side wall  38  of the aperture  36 . In other words, the first end  52  of the corrugation  50  forms a portion of the arc of the aperture  36 . The corrugation  50  also has a second end  54  that coincides with a point located on the exterior surface  26  of the first member  20 . This point is spaced a distance “a” from the location where the insertion tip  32  is integrally joined to the first member  20 . By forming the corrugation  50  with this particular length, one can control the amount of force needed to open the insertion tip  32  and push the tampon  12  therethrough.  
     [0046] In FIG. 6, the semi-spherical tip  32  spans a radial arc, identified as angle alpha (α), which extends from the first end  52  to the point where the semi-spherical shaped tip  32  is integrally joined to the first member  20 . The angle alpha (α) is generally between about 60° to about 90°, preferably between about 75° to about 90°, and most preferably, greater than 80°. The angle alpha (α) would be 90° if the aperture  36  were not present. The size of the aperture  36  will partially determine the exact angle of the insertion tip  32 . The angle alpha (α) should be as close to 90° as possible without completely enclosing the nose  13  of the tampon  12 .  
     [0047] In FIG. 7, an alternative embodiment of an insertion tip  132  is depicted wherein a corrugation  150  is shown having a first end  152  which coincides with the side wall  138  of the aperture  136 . In other words, the first end  152  of the corrugation  150  forms a portion of the arc of the aperture  136 . The corrugation  150  also has a second end  156  that coincides with the point where the insertion tip  132  is integrally joined to the first end  128  of the first member  120 . By forming the corrugation  150  with this particular length, one can control the amount of force needed to open the insertion tip  132  and push the tampon  12  therethrough. Although the force required to open the corrugations  150  may be slightly greater than the force required with the design shown in FIG. 6, the force is still within acceptable limits.  
     [0048] In FIG. 8, a third embodiment of an insertion tip  232  is depicted wherein a corrugation  250  is shown having a first end  252  which coincides with the side wall  238  of the aperture  236 . In other words, the first end  252  of the corrugation  250  forms a portion of the arc of the aperture  236 . The corrugation  250  also has a second end  258  that coincides with a point located on an exterior surface  260  of the insertion tip  232 . This point is spaced a distance “b” from the location where the insertion tip  232  is integrally joined to the first end  228  of the first member  220 . By forming the corrugation  250  with this particular length, one can control the amount of force needed to open the insertion tip  232  and push the tampon  12  therethrough. Although the force required to open the corrugations  250  may be greater than the force required with the designs shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the force is still within acceptable limits.  
     [0049] The corrugations for a given insertion tip may be formed to have essentially identical lengths. Alternatively, the corrugations may be of differing lengths. For example, the lengths of the corrugations may be selected to alternate between a first length dimension and a second length dimension which are different from one another. The differing lengths may be random or arranged in a pattern. The number of differing length dimensions may be more two or more.  
     [0050] Referring now to FIG. 11, a tampon applicator  410  is shown having a first hollow member  420  and a second member  422 . The first member  420  has an insertion tip  432 . The insertion tip  432  includes a plurality of corrugations  450  of differing length dimensions. The result is a higher concentration of corrugations  450  near the aperture  436 .  
     [0051] The corrugation shape and orientation can vary. For example the corrugations may form lines that parallel or lie within a given radial plane such as in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the corrugations may form curves or spirals that cross several radial planes. An example of corrugations forming spirals crossing several radial planes is shown in FIG. 3A.  
     [0052] The corrugations may also include cuts to improve the fold or unfolding of the insertion tip. The cuts can comprise scores on either the interior or exterior surface, small perforations or even longer cuts, which could create sidewall slits or even discrete petals. The cuts can be oriented and located in any direction or region of the insertion tip as desired.  
     [0053] Regarding the length of the corrugations, they could extend below the tip of the first member  20  toward the second end of the first member  20 , even to the point of corrugating the entire first member  20  and just close the insertion tip at the first end.  
     [0054] Referring now to FIG. 12, the insertion tip  532  may be separated into a plurality of triangular segments or petals  580 . The petals  580  converge around a central aperture  536 . The sides  582  of the petals  580  are separated from one another by narrow spaces  584 . Each petal  580  includes a plurality of corrugations  550 . Any number of petals may be selected.  
     [0055] It should be noted that both the length and diameter of commercially available tampons do vary and therefore the tampon applicator  10  can be manufactured in a variety of accommodating sizes. Tampons can vary in length from about 1 to about 3 inches (about 25.4 mm to about 76.2 mm) but preferably are about 2 inches (about 50.8 mm) in length. The tampon diameter will also vary from about 0.25 inches to about 0.75 inches (about 6.4 mm to about 19.0 mm). In addition, the material from which the tampon  12  is constructed, the smoothness of the internal surface of the first member  20 , the shape of the second member  22 , etc. all contribute to establish a needed expulsion force to open and expel the tampon  12 . This force should range from between about 250 grams to about 1,500 grams, preferably less than about 1,200 grams, and most preferably, less than about 1,000 grams. A lower force value is preferred for it assures that the tampon applicator  10  will be less susceptible to being bent or deformed as the tampon  12  is expelled. An unintentionally bent applicator could cause the tampon to be inserted incorrectly. A lower force value also makes the tampon applicator  10  easier to use.  
     [0056] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first member  20  can have a fingergrip area  62  located approximate the second end  30 . The fingergrip area  62  can be integrally formed from the material from which the first member  20  is constructed or it can be a separate member that is secured in place by an adhesive or some other type of attachment mechanism. The fingergrip area  62  functions to provide a means for the user to grip the first member  20  and hold it between her thumb and finger. The user can then position another finger on the free end of the second member  22  and orient the first member  20  relative to her vagina while she pushes the second member  22  into the first member  20 .  
     [0057] As stated above, the tampon applicator  10  includes a second member  22 , also commonly referred to as an inner tube. The second member  22 , like the first member  20 , can be a spirally wound, a convolutely wound or a longitudinally seamed hollow tube constructed from paper, paperboard, cardboard, or a combination thereof. The second member  22  can also be formed into a cylindrical tube by overlapping the material upon itself. The second member  22  may also be injection molded or thermoformed from flexible plastic. The second member  22  may also be formed from a combination of paper and plastic. The second member  22  can be constructed of the same material as the first member  20  or it can be made out of a different material. Furthermore, the second member  22  could be constructed as a laminate having two or more plies which are then spirally wound, convolutely wound or longitudinally seamed into a cylindrical tube. Either a wound tube or a longitudinally seamed tube is preferred because the finished tube will have a wall  64  with a constant thickness. However, some manufacturers may prefer to construct the second member  22  as a solid stick or use some other unique shape. It is also possible to form a fingergrip area  66  on the outer end of the second member  22  to provide a surface onto which the user&#39;s finger can rest.  
     [0058] Referring to FIG. 9, the second member  22  functions by being telescopically movable relative to the first member  20 . As the second member  22  is pushed into the first member  20 , the tampon  12  is forced forward against the corrugations  50 . The contact by the tampon nose  13  causes the corrugations  50  to radially open to a diameter that is sufficient to allow the tampon  12  to be expelled from the first member  20 . The open arrangement of the corrugations  50  is shown in FIG. 9 after the tampon  12  has been expelled. With the tampon  12  properly positioned in the woman&#39;s vaginal cavity, the tampon applicator  10  is withdrawn and properly discarded.  
     [0059] In a preferred configuration in order to reduce the expulsion force, the tampon nose  13  should have minimal contact with the corrugations  50 . By maintaining contact between the tampon nose  13  and the corrugations  50  to a minimum the expulsion force is distributed over a smaller surface area allowing the corrugations to be unfolded with a lower total force exerted by the user. One way to have minimal contact is to configure the tampon nose  13  and the insertion tip  32  of different geometries. A tampon applicator  10  having a semi-spherically shaped insertion tip  32  works well in combination with a tampon having an ellipsoidally shaped nose. This mismatch in geometry ensures minimal contact between the tampon nose  13  and the corrugations  50  of the insertion tip  32 . Other ways of minimizing the contact between the corrugations  50  and the tampon nose  32  may also be used. Also, for certain situations, a particularly advantageous principle for selecting the nose shape is such that the minimal contact area with the corrugations is located in the region surrounding the aperture. In this way, the applied force gains leverage in opening the corrugations.  
     [0060] Referring now to FIGS.  13 A- 13 B, there is shown several different tampon nose and insertion tip configurations. FIG. 13A shows a tampon nose  613  having an ellipsoidal configuration and an insertion tip  632  having a conical configuration. FIG. 13B shows a tampon nose  613  having a conical configuration and an insertion tip having a  632  having an ellipsoidal configuration. The insertion tips  632  shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B are separate members attached to the first member  620 .  
     [0061] Referring now to FIG. 10, a tampon applicator  310  is shown which is designed to house a tampon  12  and provide a comfortable means of inserting the tampon  12  into a woman&#39;s vagina. The tampon applicator  310  includes a first hollow member  320  having a wall  324  and first and second spaced apart ends  328  and  330 , respectively. Integrally formed on the first end  328  of the first member  320  and extending outwardly therefrom is an insertion tip  332 . A relatively small aperture  336  is formed in the center of the insertion tip  332  and is coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis X-X. The insertion tip  332  has a plurality of corrugations  350  which can radially open. A string hole  380  is located in the side wall  324  adjacent the first end  328 .  
     [0062] The tampon  12  has a nose  13  at one end and a withdrawal string  14  fastened to the opposite end. The withdrawal string  14  can be looped through an aperture  16  formed transversely through the tampon  12 . In addition, the withdrawal string  14  can have a knot  18  formed at its free end to assure that the string  14  will not separate from the tampon  12 . The withdrawal string  14  extends through the string hole  380  adjacent first end  328  and insertion tip  332 . By pulling on the string  14  through the string hole  380  the tampon  12  is expelled through the insertion tip  332 .  
     [0063] While the invention has been described in conjunction with several specific embodiments, it is to be understood that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.