Tampon Applicator Inner Tube Friction Gradient
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tampon applicators require a large pressing force for latching, leading users to mistakenly believe the tampon is fully inserted, causing incomplete ejection and potential misalignment during use.
Innovation Solution
A tampon applicator design featuring an inner tube with a raised portion on its exterior surface, configured to increase frictional resistance as it slides into the outer tube, providing a sensory cue for complete insertion by gradually increasing contact area and resistance, ensuring the tampon is fully ejected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protrusion and latching portion arrangement is used to prevent inner tube dropout, then reliability of tampon insertion is improved, but large pressing force is required which misleads users into stopping the operation before complete ejection
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the friction parameter along the sliding path by creating a raised portion with varying cross-sectional area. The frictional resistance gradually increases as the inner tube moves forward, providing a progressive sensory feedback rather than a sudden large force, thus maintaining operation continuity while ensuring reliable insertion
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces tactile feedback through gradually increasing frictional resistance that users can sense during the ejection process. This continuous feedback mechanism guides users to continue pushing until complete insertion is achieved, preventing premature stopping that occurs with conventional latching mechanisms
2Reliability
If a protrusion is latched by the latching portion to prevent inner tube dropout, then the inner tube is secured, but the large pressing force generated creates misleading sensory feedback for users
Solution Approach 1:
The raised portion's cross-sectional area varies along the sliding direction, creating a gradient of frictional resistance. This parameter change provides progressive tactile information to users, allowing them to sense the insertion progress and understand when complete insertion has been achieved, eliminating the information loss caused by sudden large forces
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design ensures reliable insertion of the tampon by providing a gradual increase in frictional resistance, allowing users to continue the ejection process until the tampon is fully inserted, reducing the likelihood of incomplete insertion and misalignment.
Implementation Method 1
the raised portion has a front end, a front zone having a nearly V-shape with a width dimension gradually increasing from the apex of the front end rearward and a rear zone located behind the front zone having a width dimension gradually decreasing rearward... an area over which the raised portion and the outer tube are put in slidable contact increases in the direction in which the inner tube is inserted and the frictional resistance due to such contact gradually increases
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an applicator improved so that the entirety of the tampon may be reliably inserted into vagina.A raised portion is located on an exterior surface of an inner tube in the vicinity of a rear end thereof and put in a slidable contact with a part of an interior surface of an outer tube. The raised portion has an outer shape having a width dimension gradually increasing rearward from an apex located on a front end.