Patent ID: 8402809

Claim:
A method for determining the work required to expel a tampon from a tampon applicator having a barrel containing the tampon and a plunger for expelling the tampon from the barrel, comprising the steps of: selecting a tampon expulsion test rate to be used to expel the tampon from the barrel of the tampon applicator; applying a force in the range of 400 to 1200 grams to the grip zone on the barrel of the tampon applicator; applying a force to the plunger sufficient to expel the tampon from the barrel of the tampon applicator at the selected tampon expulsion test rate; and calculating the force on the plunger required to expel the tampon from the barrel at the selected tampon expulsion test rate as a function of the distance the tampon travels during expulsion to determine the work required to expel the tampon from the tampon applicator.