Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US6217542?oq=flatulence
Timestamp: 2018-02-23 06:08:16
Document Index: 364397293

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 35', 'art 35', 'art 35', 'art 35', 'art 35', 'art 35', 'art 35', 'art 35', 'art 35', 'art 35', 'art 235', 'art 235']

US6217542B1 - Tampon insertion device - Google Patents
US6217542B1
US6217542B1 US09398270 US39827099A US6217542B1 US 6217542 B1 US6217542 B1 US 6217542B1 US 09398270 US09398270 US 09398270 US 39827099 A US39827099 A US 39827099A US 6217542 B1 US6217542 B1 US 6217542B1
US09398270
Tiffany April Stevens
Melvin Cecil Wilson, Jr.
Adrienne Michelle Szmuriga
The invention provides a tampon insertion device comprising a tampon applicator having a first end and a second end, a tampon having a string, the tampon being positioned within the tampon applicator, and a plunger attached to the tampon applicator by the tampon string. The string is attached to the plunger at at least one connection point on the plunger. The tampon applicator with the tampon therein and the plunger are preferably positioned adjacent to one-another in a substantially parallel orientation prior to the use of the tampon insertion device. Such parallel orientation between the tampon applicator and the plunger is maintained by the tampon string connected to the plunger.
The invention provides miniature tampon insertion devices, generally a tampon applicator and a plunger in a folded configuration prior its use.
Most commercially available tampon applicators for introducing catamenial tampons intravaginally consist of a pair of telescoping tubes. The tampon applicator is designed to store a tampon therein at one end. Typically, the plunger is slightly smaller in diameter and is slidably positioned behind the tampon carried in the tampon applicator. In use, the tampon is ejected from the tampon applicator by pushing the plunger into the tampon applicator to expel the tampon.
Accordingly, the invention provides a tampon insertion device comprising a tampon applicator having a first end, a second end opposed to the first end, and a tampon inserted within the tampon applicator having a string attached thereto. The tampon is positioned within the tampon applicator and a plunger is attached to the tampon applicator by the tampon string. The string is attached to the plunger at at least one connection point on the plunger. Preferably, the string is substantially threaded through the plunger. The tampon applicator with the tampon therein and the plunger are preferably positioned adjacent to one-another in a substantially parallel orientation prior to the use of the tampon insertion device. Such parallel orientation between the tampon applicator and the plunger is maintained by the tampon string connected to the plunger.
Essentially, the first lock detachably locks with the second lock such that the first lock and the second lock will preferably not detach during normal handling, carrying or storing of the tampon insertion device and the plunger will not unintentionally exit from the tampon applicator. By the term “detachably locks” it is meant herein that first lock and second lock will be so locked together that preferably only one, e.g., a user, directly acting upon the tampon insertion device will be able to detach the first lock from the second lock.
In another preferred embodiment herein, a tampon insertion device comprises a tampon applicator having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end and a second end. Also, a tampon is positioned within the tampon applicator, the tampon having a first part and a second part. Lastly, a plunger is partially inserted within the tampon applicator having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first part, a second part opposed to the first part, and a flexible portion positioned between the first part and the second part, the flexible portion operating to preferably bend the plunger into a substantially parallel orientation prior to the use of the tampon insertion device; such bending being in the range from about 0° to about 180° and preferably from about 90° to about 180° and more preferably from about 120° to about 180°. The flexible portion of this plunger herein operates to affect such parallel orientation similarly to the hinge in the previous tampon insertion device.
FIG. 1 provides a tampon insertion device 20 that comprises a tampon applicator 25 having an inner surface 25A (not shown), an outer surface 25B, a first end 27 and a second end 26. The tampon insertion device 20 further comprises a tampon 40 (FIG. 6) having a string 42, a first side 40A and a second side 40B. The tampon 40 is positioned within the tampon applicator 25 such that the first side 40A of the tampon 40 is adjacently oriented toward the first end 27 of the tampon applicator 25 and the second side 40B (not shown) of the tampon 40 is adjacently oriented toward the second end 26 of the tampon applicator 25. Lastly, the tampon insertion device 20 comprises a plunger 35 having an inner surface 35 A (not shown), an outer surface 35B, a first end 36 and a second end 37. The first end 36 of the plunger 35 is connected to the second end 26 of the tampon applicator 25 by a flexible hinge 30. The hinge 30 enables the tampon applicator 25 with a tampon 40 therein and the plunger 35 to be positioned adjacent to one-another in a substantially parallel orientation prior to the use of the tampon insertion device 20 without using the tampon's string 42.
FIG. 3 provides a view showing the orientation about which the plunger 35 will be moved with respect to the tampon applicator 25. More specifically, the flex hinge or hinge 30 allows the plunger 35 to be both connected to the tampon applicator 25 and also causes the plunger 35 to line up in linear orientation, i.e., the expulsion position, with the tampon applicator 25. By the term “linear orientation” or “expulsion position” it is meant herein that once activated by a user or by the natural movement of the hinge 30, the plunger 35 will be positioned linearly, i.e., in a straight line, with the tampon applicator 25 in a ready position to expel the tampon 40—please see FIG. 4.
In an alternative embodiment herein, the tampon insertion device 20 of FIG. 1 provides a plunger 35 that comprises a first part 35′ and a second part 35″. The plunger first part 35′ is at least partially and preferably inserted within the tampon applicator 25. The plunger second part 35″ is the main body of the plunger 35 and resides on the outside of the plunger 35 (FIG. 1). Furthermore, in this configuration, the hinge 30 attaches the plunger first part 35′ to the plunger second part 35″; i.e., herein, the plunger 35 is not itself connected to the tampon applicator 25 by the hinge 30. In addition, the plunger first part 35′ is preferably detachably connected to the tampon applicator 25 by nibs located within the tampon applicator 25 that inter-lock with the plunger first part 35′ to keep it from falling out of the tampon applicator 25; i.e., such inter-locking providing the plunger first part 35′ to be securely fixed within the tampon applicator 25. By the term “securely fixed” it is meant herein that the plunger first part 35′, once inter-locked within the tampon applicator 25, will not be easily removed therefrom by normal forces exerted on the tampon insertion device such as carrying, holding, packing, etc.
Preferably, the plunger first part 235′ is detachably connected to the tampon applicator 220 by an inter-locking mechanism 260. In short, the inter-locking mechanism 260 comprises two parts: a first lock 262 positioned within the inner surface 225A of the tampon applicator 225 and oriented toward the second end 226 of the tampon applicator 225 and a second lock 264 positioned on the outer surface 235B of the plunger first part 235′. Essentially, the first lock 262 detachably locks with the second lock 264 such that the first lock 262 and the second lock 264 will preferably not detach during normal handling, carrying or storing of the tampon insertion device 220. By the term “detachably locks” it is meant herein that first lock 262 and second lock 264 will be so locked together that preferably only one, e.g., a user, directly acting upon the tampon insertion device 220 will be able to detach the first lock 262 from the second lock 264.
1. A tampon insertion device in combination with a tampon, comprising:
A) a tampon applicator having a first end and a second end;
B) a tampon having a string, the tampon being positioned within the tampon applicator; and
C) a plunger attached to the tampon applicator by the tampon string, the string being attached to the plunger at at least one connection point, wherein the string of the tampon is already threaded through the plunger prior to use of the tampon insertion device, the tampon applicator with the tampon therein and the plunger being positioned adjacent to one-another in a substantially parallel orientation prior to the use of the tampon insertion device.
2. The tampon insertion device of claim 1 wherein the plunger is hollow.
B) a tampon having a string, the tampon being positioned within the tampon applicator;
C) a plunger attached to the tampon applicator by the tampon string, the string being attached to the plunger at at least one connection point, wherein the string of the tampon is already threaded through the plunger prior to use of the tampon insertion device; and
D) a package encompassing the tampon insertion device such that the tampon applicator and the plunger of the tampon insertion device are positioned adjacent to one-another in a substantially parallel orientation.
4. The tampon insertion device of claim 3 wherein the plunger is hollow.
US09398270 1999-09-17 1999-09-17 Tampon insertion device Expired - Fee Related US6217542B1 (en)
US09398270 US6217542B1 (en) 1999-09-17 1999-09-17 Tampon insertion device
DE2000625251 DE60025251D1 (en) 1999-09-17 2000-09-12 tampon
EP20000961810 EP1225864B1 (en) 1999-09-17 2000-09-12 Tampon insertion device
CA 2381816 CA2381816A1 (en) 1999-09-17 2000-09-12 Tampon insertion device
DE2000625251 DE60025251T2 (en) 1999-09-17 2000-09-12 tampon
PCT/US2000/024923 WO2001019309A1 (en) 1999-09-17 2000-09-12 Tampon insertion device
JP2001522948A JP2003509122A (en) 1999-09-17 2000-09-12 Tampon insertion device
ES00961810T ES2254221T3 (en) 1999-09-17 2000-09-12 Device for introducing a tampon.
US6217542B1 true US6217542B1 (en) 2001-04-17
ID=23574718
US09398270 Expired - Fee Related US6217542B1 (en) 1999-09-17 1999-09-17 Tampon insertion device
US (1) US6217542B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2003509122A (en)
CA (1) CA2381816A1 (en)
DE (2) DE60025251T2 (en)
EP (1) EP1225864B1 (en)
ES (1) ES2254221T3 (en)
WO (1) WO2001019309A1 (en)
DE1948979A1 (en) * 1969-09-27 1971-04-15 Bruno Krause Tampon Snip
JPS6118894Y2 (en) * 1983-09-06 1986-06-07
JPS6110727U (en) * 1984-06-27 1986-01-22
JPS6362125U (en) * 1986-10-09 1988-04-25
DE60025251D1 (en) 2006-02-02 grant
JP2003509122A (en) 2003-03-11 application
EP1225864B1 (en) 2005-12-28 grant
WO2001019309A1 (en) 2001-03-22 application
EP1225864A1 (en) 2002-07-31 application
DE60025251T2 (en) 2006-07-13 grant
ES2254221T3 (en) 2006-06-16 grant
CA2381816A1 (en) 2001-03-22 application
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:STEVENS, TIFFANY APRIL;SMITS, CHRISSIE MELINDA;WILSON, MELVIN CECIL JR.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:010694/0163;SIGNING DATES FROM 19991101 TO 19991229