Patent ID: 8887368

Claim:
A method of assembling a tampon applicator comprising, providing a barrel, wherein the barrel has an insertion end, a plunger end, a grip region adjacent the plunger end, a central region longitudinally adjacent the grip region, and a plurality of internal ridges located in the grip region, wherein the plurality of internal ridges define a guide channel haying an effective diameter, and wherein the plurality of internal ridges have a leading end and a trailing end; providing a plunger, wherein the plunger has a finger-contacting end, a tampon contacting end, and a flare on at least one of the finger-contacting end or the tampon-contacting end and wherein the flare has an effective flare diameter that is greater than the effective diameter of the guide channel; and assembling the plunger and the barrel by pushing the flare into the guide channel, deforming the flare while moving the flare through the guide channel, and reestablishing the flare after the flare exits the guide channel.