Patent ID: 8372027

Claim:
A tampon applicator assembly comprising: a barrel having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said barrel having a tubular shape and a longitudinal axis that is substantially straight, said barrel having an insertion tip at said first end, a fingergrip proximal to said second end, and a tapered main section adjacent said insertion tip and said finger grip, said tapered main section having a maximum outer diameter located directly adjacent to said finger grip and a first wall taper that decreases in diameter from said finger grip to said insertion tip, said first wall taper having a taper ratio of about 1.07 to about 1.15, said insertion tip having a second wall taper that decreases from said tapered main section to a distal end of the insertion tip, said finger grip having a shoulder region adjacent to said tapered main section, a gripping region adjacent to said shoulder region, and a flared region adjacent to said gripping region opposite said shoulder region, wherein said shoulder region decreases in diameter from said tapered main section to said gripping region, and wherein said flared region has an outer diameter that continuously increases from said gripping region to said second end of said barrel, and wherein said shoulder region and said flared region can mitigate slipping of a user's fingers from said gripping region; a plunger being slidably received in said barrel; and a pledget being disposed in said barrel so that a force applied on said plunger expels said pledget from said barrel at said insertion end, wherein said maximum outer diameter is located from said insertion tip about 55% to 85% of an overall length of said barrel.