Patent ID: 8162872

Claim:
A tampon applicator comprising: a. a first member capable of holding a tampon and having a shape suitable for insertion into a body cavity of a user, the first member comprising an outer surface, a longitudinal axis, a caliper measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, an expulsion end which is adapted to expel a tampon held in the first member from the first member and a second end which is distal to the expulsion end of the first member, the first member further comprises a grip region located on the outer surface near the second end, said grip region comprising a first ridge and a second ridge extending from the outer surface of the first member, wherein the first and second ridges each essentially encircle the first member in a direction essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first member, and the second ridge is located at a distance from the first ridge such that a tip of a user's finger can fit between the first ridge and the second ridge, the distance between the first ridge and the second ridge defines a grip area for the tampon applicator, the grip area has a caliper which is equal to or greater than the caliper of the first member outside the grip area and first and second ridges each have a caliper measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first member which is greater than the caliper of each of the first member and grip area, and wherein the grip area comprises a first surface and a raised pattern; b. a second member telescopically and slidably mounted in the first member in the second end of the first member, said second member adapted to expel a tampon held in the first member from the first member through the expulsion end of the first member.