Patent ID: 8444590

Claim:
A tampon applicator comprising a barrel, said barrel having a tapered insertion tip with a plurality of petals, wherein the insertion tip has a taper ratio greater than 1 to about 8, wherein the taper ratio is a length of a projection of the insertion tip taper along a longitudinal axis of the barrel to a length of a projection of the insertion tip taper along a radius of the barrel at a base region of the plurality of petals, wherein said plurality of petals each have a thickness of about 0.004 inches to about 0.022 inches, wherein said plurality of petals have a substantially uniform thickness, wherein said base region comprises at least one circumferential groove, wherein each adjacent pair of said plurality of petals is separated by a radial slit that extends below said at least one groove, and wherein a ratio of a width of said radial slit at said groove to a maximum outside diameter of said barrel is about 0.002 to about 0.25.