Reusable Tampon Applicator with Snap-Fit Piston Guide

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tampon applicators are not reusable, leading to excessive plastic waste, are difficult to clean, and require multiple types for different tampon sizes, complicating user experience and increasing costs.

Innovation Solution

A reusable tampon applicator with a cylindrical inserting tube, a piston for ejecting the tampon, and a protective cartridge for storage, made of flexible thermoplastic material, allowing for easy cleaning and use with various tampon sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If a reusable applicator is designed to be stored for repeated use, then environmental waste is reduced, but the applicator becomes significantly longer (two or three times longer than the tampon), increasing storage volume and inconvenience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplastic wasteVSAvoidapplicator length

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The applicator is divided into two separate components: a reusable inserting tube and a disposable piston. The inserting tube stores the tampon, while the disposable piston is inserted to push the tampon out. This segmentation allows the reusable part to be shorter and more manageable, while the disposable part handles the ejection function, resolving the contradiction between reusability and excessive length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The disposable piston is inserted into the reusable inserting tube, with the piston fitting inside the tube. This nested configuration allows the applicator to be compact during storage, as the long piston can be contained within the shorter tube, reducing the overall storage volume and improving convenience while maintaining reusability of the tube.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Loss of substance

If a reusable applicator is designed for cleaning and repeated use, then environmental waste is reduced, but the assembly and disassembly process becomes complicated, making it suitable for single use only

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplastic wasteVSAvoidassembly and disassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The applicator is divided into two separate components: a reusable inserting tube and a disposable piston. The inserting tube stores the tampon, while the disposable piston is inserted to push the tampon out. This segmentation allows the reusable part to be shorter and more manageable, while the disposable part handles the ejection function, resolving the contradiction between reusability and excessive length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The complex cleaning and disassembly requirements are extracted by making the piston disposable. Instead of requiring the user to disassemble and clean the entire applicator, the user simply discards the piston after use and reuses only the inserting tube, significantly simplifying the operation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If a single applicator design is used for all tampon sizes, then device complexity is reduced, but the applicator must be extremely long to accommodate the largest tampons, increasing waste and inconvenience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of applicator typesVSAvoidapplicator length

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The applicator is divided into two separate components: a reusable inserting tube and a disposable piston. The inserting tube stores the tampon, while the disposable piston is inserted to push the tampon out. This segmentation allows the reusable part to be shorter and more manageable, while the disposable part handles the ejection function, resolving the contradiction between reusability and excessive length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reusable inserting tube is designed with universal dimensions that can accommodate different tampon sizes. The tube's internal diameter and length are optimized to fit various tampon types, while the disposable piston is adjusted to match specific tampon sizes. This universal design allows a single tube to work with multiple tampon sizes, reducing the need for multiple applicator types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4259056B1Reusable tampon inserting applicator

Publication Date: 2025.08.27 TOSAMA TOVARNA SANITETNEGA MATERIALA D O O

AI summary

A reusable applicator (1) is proposed for the purpose of safe and hygienic insertion of a tampon (8) into a body cavity. According to the invention, an inserting tube (2) of the applicator (1) is in the area around its inlet opening (220) in its terminal area (22) and at a sufficient distance from the ejecting opening (210) on its inserting terminal portion (21), which exceeds the length of the tampon (8), furnished with a suitably rigid flange (23), while at the same time in the area of said flange (23) a guide (25) of a piston rod (30) of a piston (3) is surrounded by a suitably solid and flexible housing (250), which is by means of snapping and in a removable manner attachable to the inserting tube (2) in a position, in which the piston rod (30) of the piston (3) and the insertion tube (2) are coaxial, namely in such a manner that the guide (25) is protected from undesired removal from the insertion tube (2) either by pushing of the piston (3) for the purpose of ejecting the tampon (8) from the insertion tube (2) when it is inserted into a body cavity, or also by removal of the inserting tube (2) from said body cavity.