Tampon applicator having a force controller

Abstract

A tampon and a tampon applicator in combination for expulsion of the tampon. The tampon applicator has a tampon holder tube and optionally a plunger. The tampon holder tube has a hollow interior portion, an interior surface, an exterior surface, a longitudinal axis, an outer perimeter, a first end dimensioned for insertion into a vaginal cavity, a second end positioned oppositely to the first end, a force controller, and at least one side expulsion member. The side expulsion member has a weakened region located at its base. The tampon is a fluid permeable bag and absorbent material loosely dispersed within the fluid permeable bag. The tampon is housed within the hollow interior portion of the tampon holder tube in a pre-expelled position. A plunger may also be slidably mounted in the hollow interior portion of the tampon holder tube and adapted to expel the tampon through the force controller.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 792,351 filed on Mar. 3, 2004, pending.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a novel tampon applicator having an expulsion force controller providing expulsion of a tampon. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] It is known that the internal vaginal cavity in its normal state has a shape of a flattened bag with its minimum width near the introitus and its maximum width near the cervix. It is desirable, therefore, when considering a tampon for catamenial use, to provide a structure which, in its initial state, is of a size small enough to pass through the vaginal orifice without discomfort, and once delivered and placed inside the vaginal cavity beyond the restrictions of the orifice, can increase its dimension, particularly in the lateral direction, to cover substantially large portions of the vaginal surface from one side to the other to pre...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a tampon and applicator combination for use in females. The tampon has a bag structure and is designed to be expelled into the vaginal cavity. The applicator has a tampon holder tube with a force controller and a side expulsion member. The tampon is made of a fluid permeable bag and absorbent material. The technical effect of this invention is to provide a more comfortable and easy-to-use tampon and applicator combination for female users."

Problems solved by technology

While it has been found that these compressed tampons perform their intended function tolerably well, even the best of them do not re-expand sufficiently, or fast enough, to provide good transverse coverage against leakage even though the vertical blockage may be satisfactory.

Further, most of these tampons often use only a small portion of their absorptive capacity before leakage.

Since these tampons rely on some fluid absorption to re-expand, it is clear that fluid bypass and leakage can occur prematurely, particularly, immediately or soon after the time of insertion.

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