Abstract:
A tampon system comprising a tampon and an outer package is disclosed. The tampon consists of an absorbent member, a gripping member, a non-absorbent tether connected to the absorbent member and the gripping member, and a substantially sealable pouch. The substantially sealable pouch and the tampon are contained within the outer package. The outer package may be sealed and biodegradable.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/307,410, filed on Mar. 11, 2016 and entitled “Tampon System with Dry Wick String and Disposable Pouches”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a tampon system designed to facilitate the easy usage and disposal of the same as well as to extend product service duration. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    (Not applicable) 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Even though feminine hygiene tampons have been around for over eighty years, their design has not significantly changed. Moreover, tampons that are currently available for purchase have several design flaws. 
         [0005]    One such design flaw relates to the length of the string. Tampons that are available on the market are designed with short length strings. One end of the string is attached to the tampon itself and, during use, the other end of the string extends from the vaginal area. However, because these tampon strings are short, they may easily get misplaced inside the vaginal area of the user. This misplacement of the string may lead to the user forgetting about the tampon, which in turn may lead to the user inserting a new one and pushing the old one in further. Even if the user does not forget about the tampon, searching for the misplaced string is not hygienic and many users do not feel comfortable using their fingers to probe the vaginal area to locate said string. 
         [0006]    Another design flaw relates to the material that is used for both the tampon and the string. Oftentimes, the tampon string will get wet while urinating, leaving a cold wet string in the outer vaginal area, making the user feel unclean and dampening the user&#39;s undergarments. This may cause the user to remove and replace a newly inserted tampon to be more hygienic. However, removing a dry tampon from a dry vagina may create painful abrasions. Further, because the string is short and wet, the user has a hard time grasping the string such that it will not slip out of the grip when the user pulls on it to try and remove the tampon. 
         [0007]    Yet another design flaw relates to the disposal of both the soiled tampon and the soiled tampon applicator. Inserting a tampon with an applicator during active bleeding leaves the applicator itself covered in blood. Further, many tampon applicators are made of materials which cannot be disposed of by flushing them down the toilet. In addition, disposal of a soiled tampon is often messy. In situations when the soiled tampon cannot be flushed down the toilet, the user is unable to dispose of it appropriately. Current commercially available tampons do not provide a way of disposing of either the soiled tampon applicator or the soiled tampon itself. 
         [0008]    Based on these design flaws, it is apparent that there is a need for a new tampon system which will solve these problems and provide the user with a better experience when removing or replacing soiled tampons. 
         [0009]    The present invention relates to a biodegradable tampon system comprising a dry wick tampon with an extra long dry wick tampon string constructed with a grasping feature and disposable pouches for convenient disposal of the soiled applicator and the soiled tampon. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The inventive tampon system comprises an outer package and a tampon. The tampon contains an absorbent member, a gripping member and an absorbent tether connected to a non-absorbent tether and a substantially sealable pouch. The tampon and the substantially sealable pouch are contained within the outer package. 
         [0011]    The non-absorbent tether is at least the same length as the absorbent tether. Further, the non-absorbent tether may form a loop that is connected to the absorbent tether. 
         [0012]    The tampon may also contain a non-absorbent grasping feature, which is attached to the non-absorbent tether. The grasping feature may be a bead. 
         [0013]    The outer package of the tampon system is sealed and biodegradable. 
         [0014]    Alternatively, the tampon system may comprise an outer package and a tampon, wherein the tampon is made of an absorbent member, a gripping member, a non-absorbent tether connected to said absorbent member and said griping member, and a substantially sealable pouch, all contained within the outer package. The non-absorbent tether may form a loop that is connected to the absorbent member. 
         [0015]    The tampon may also contain a non-absorbent grasping feature, which is attached to the non-absorbent tether. The grasping feature may be a bead. 
         [0016]    The outer package of the tampon system is sealed and biodegradable. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The operation of the inventive system will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is an exploded schematic prospective view of the invention, in the form of a tampon system. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a grasping structure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of a disposable pouch. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of an alternate embodiment of disposable pouch. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of tampon system  10  made in accordance with the present invention comprising tampon  12 , disposable pouches  14  (optionally serving as a consumer package) and  16 , applicator  18 , biodegradable string  19 , and dry wick string  20 . Applicator  18  comprises front portion  22  and a rear portion  24 , where rear portion  24  is smaller in diameter than front portion  22  such that when force is exerted on rear portion  24 , rear portion  24  is pushed into front portion  22 , displacing and ejecting tampon  12  from front portion  22  into the vaginal cavity of the user. 
         [0023]    String  19  comprises two ends  26  and  28 . String  20  comprises two ends  27  and  29 . End  26  is attached to the bottom portion of tampon  12  and end  28  is attached to ends  27  and  29 . Ends  27  and  29 , when attached to end  28 , form a loop which comprises a grasping feature  30 . 
         [0024]    In accordance with the invention, tampon  12  and string  19  may be made from dry wick biodegradable material, such as a material of a conventional nature, whereas string  20  and grasping feature  30  may be made from non-absorbent, preferably biodegradable material, such as nylon, or plastic coated or waxed cotton string. Further, grasping feature  30  may take on many configurations that are small enough not to irritate the vaginal area of a user but are big enough to aid in grasping of string  20  by the user. 
         [0025]    In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , grasping feature  30  takes the form of a loop with a bead attached. In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 2 , grasping feature  30  takes the form of a bead.  FIGS. 1 and 2  only represent two of many embodiments of the inventive grasping feature  30 . Such embodiments should not be construed as limiting but rather as illustrative. 
         [0026]    Further referring to  FIG. 1 , disposable pouch  16  is used for the disposal of applicator  18  and tampon  12 , respectively. Disposable pouch  14  may be dimensioned and configured to house the constituents of the tampon system, namely the tampon ejector and pouch  16 , thus serving as a consumer package. 
         [0027]    Optionally, Pouch  14  may be made resealable to provide a backup disposal bag, or if pouch  14  is slightly larger than pouch  16 , pouch  14  may serve as a backup pouch for disposal, or as a second pouch to contain pouch  16 , thus providing a double barrier. 
         [0028]    Pouches  14  and  16  may optionally take a form similar to conventional ziplock kitchen bags. 
         [0029]    Optionally, a further disposable pouch may be used to dispose of applicator  18  only. Pouches  14  and  16  are optionally and desirably printed with an attractive pattern or have a native texture with an attractive appearance, for example, unbleached paper. 
         [0030]    In the same manner, disposable pouch  16  may be dimensioned and configured to the specifications of tampon  12  such that disposable pouch  16  may be used to dispose of tampon  12  only. However, since used applicator  18 , where bottom portion  24  is pushed into top portion  22 , takes on roughly the same dimensions as used tampon  12 , disposable pouch  16  may be used to dispose of applicator  18  and a used tampon. 
         [0031]    Disposable pouches  14  and  16  may be formed from plastic coated paper, for example with the plastic or wax coating, for example only on the inside of pouch  14 , or be made of plastic film, for example biodegradable plastic film, in an assembly procedure using suitable biodegradable and water resistant material. Alternatively, pouches  14  and  16  may be formed in multiple parts and the individual parts may be joined together to form the finished disposable pouches  14  and  16 . 
         [0032]    Pouches  14  and  16  may also be formed using a biodegradable, non-water resistant material. In such a case, to prevent disposable pouches  14  and  16  from leaking through once the soiled applicator  18  or soiled tampon  12  are placed inside, internal lining of pouches  14  and  16  may be fitted with water resistant barrier  32 . Barrier  32  may be made of any suitable water resistant material. Further, outer lining of pouches  14  and  16  have a simple, elegant design that does not draw attention as to what is contained therein. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a schematic perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a grasping structure is illustrated. End  28  of string  19  is tethered to string  20  at end  27 , leaving end  29  a free end. Free end  29  comprises a grasping feature  30 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of an unsealed disposable pouch  16  is illustrated. A compartment is formed in pouch  16  between front face  17  and rear face  19 . Front face  17  and rear face  19  may be formed from a single layer folded over at end  21 . Disposable pouch  16  comprises a top side  31 , a bottom side  33 , peripheral sides  35  and  37  (where front face  17  and rear face  19  are joined to each other to form a pouch compartment for receiving a soiled tampon), an opening  34  and an adhesive layer  36 . Opening  34  is configured and dimensioned to allow for easy disposal of soiled tampon into disposable pouch  16 . 
         [0035]    Adhesive layer  36  is dimensioned to cover at least the flap portion  35  of disposable pouch  16 , and, optionally, continuing over and past opening  34 . Adhesive layer  36  may be protected from unwanted exposure with a thin protective layer  38 , for example, of paper coated with a release agent  39 . Optionally, protective layer  38  may be provided in two parts, one on one side of a folding line  42 , and the other on the other side of folding line  42 . The release layer contacts adhesive layer  36 . After, for example, tampon  12  is placed inside pouch  16 , through opening  34 , protective layer  38  (or both portions of protective layer  38 ) may be peeled, optionally, in the direction of arrow  40 . Once protective layer  38  is removed, exposing adhesive layer  36 , disposable pouch  16  may be folded along line  42  in the direction of arrow  44 . This results in adhesive on both sides opening  34 , very effectively sealing it. 
         [0036]    Adhesive layer  36  may be configured and dimensioned to extend beyond folding line  42  such that when disposable pouch  16  is folded along folding line  42 , opening  34  is sealed when adhesive layer  36  touches at least a portion of disposable pouch  16 . 
         [0037]    It should be noted that disposable pouch  14 , optionally designated for disposal of a soiled applicator  18  (for example together with the last used tampon) or for use as a second pouch to for a pouch within a pouch and thus well sealed enclosure, may have the same characteristics of disposable pouch  16  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0038]    Optionally, two pouches, having an adhesive structure like pouch  16  may be included in an optionally non-reusable consumer package. 
         [0039]    An alternate embodiment of the inventive disposable pouch  116  is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Generally, similar parts or parts performing analogous, corresponding or identical functions to those of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , are numbered herein with numbers which differ from those of the earlier described embodiment or embodiments by multiples of one hundred. 
         [0040]    Disposable pouch  116  comprises flap side  131 , compartment side  133 , and peripheral sides  135  and  137 . Flap side  131  of disposable pouch  116  comprises designated compartments  146  for, for example, for the thumb and index finger. Compartments  146  and the large compartment to which they extend are formed by front and rear flexible planar layers  117  and  119 , which may be made of vinyl, plastic or coated paper, or any suitable material. This allows for facile gripping and removal of a soiled tampon. Front flexible planar layer  117  is shown pulled away from rear flexible planar layer  119  to show the formation of compartments  146 . Compartments  146  may be made in a single procedure of same material as disposable pouch  116 . Alternatively, compartments  146  may be made in multiple parts and the individual parts may be joined together to form disposable pouch  116 . For clarity of illustration, the adhesive protecting member and its release layer are not included in this view as if the adhesive protecting member has been removed. 
         [0041]    Inside portion of flap  133  of disposable pouch  116  is covered with an adhesive layer  136  which may be covered by protective layer similar to layer  38 , but not illustrated. Further, outside layer of compartments  146  may contain a rubber layer  148  or layer of any kind of material suitable to aid in the gripping process and prevent slipping of the tampon which the user is trying to grip and remove the tampon. After removal, the tampon may be enclosed by turning the flap upon itself and sealing the pouch. 
         [0042]    Alternatively, after removal the tampon may be enclosed by turning compartment  134  inside out and by then turning the flap upon itself and sealing the pouch. However in such an embodiment, adhesive layer  136  would be deposited on the opposite side of the flap. 
         [0043]    Further referring to  FIG. 4 , when a user decides to remove tampon  112  from the vaginal cavity, the user inserts her fingers into designated compartments  146 . With the covered fingers, the user grips either string  120  or grasping feature  130 . The user, utilizing designated compartments  146  fitted with rubber layer  148 , will have a secure hold of either string  120  or grasping feature  130  (or even the tampon) such that when the user pulls string  120  or grasping feature  130 , tampon  112  will be dislodged from vaginal cavity and will be removed without the user soiling her hand. 
         [0044]    Once tampon  112  is removed from body, bottom side  133  is pulled upward, toward top side  131 , closing compartments  146 , effectively covering tampon  112 . Once tampon  112  is covered by bottom side  133 , protective layer  138  is removed, exposing adhesive layer  136 . Disposable pouch  116  is sealed when exposed adhesive layer  136  overlies at least a portion of top side  131 . 
         [0045]    While illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, it is noted that various modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the above description and drawings. Such modifications are within the scope of the invention which is limited and defined only by the following claims.