Tampon Applicator with Three-Petal Tapered Tip and Shaped Pledget

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tampon assemblies face discomfort issues during insertion and expulsion due to the number and shape of petals, with too many petals causing pinching and too few leading to increased resistance, and blunt pledgets can result in premature opening and scratching.

Innovation Solution

A tampon assembly with a maximum of three petals on the insertion tip and a tapered design, featuring a shaped pledget that supports the petals and gradually opens them for comfortable insertion and expulsion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If the applicator has too many petals, then the petal resistance during expulsion is reduced, but the petals can pinch the vaginal vault during insertion causing discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepetal resistanceVSAvoidpinching discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of petal count from the conventional multiple petals to specifically three petals. This parameter change optimizes the balance between maintaining sufficient petal resistance for effective pledget expulsion and reducing the harmful pinching effect on the vaginal vault during insertion, thereby resolving the technical contradiction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the applicator has too few petals, then the pinching discomfort is reduced, but the petal resistance during expulsion increases causing insertion difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepinching discomfortVSAvoidpetal resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes the optimal parameter of three petals for the applicator tip, which maintains sufficient petal resistance to facilitate effective pledget expulsion while minimizing the pinching discomfort during insertion, thus resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If the pledget is blunt or unshaped, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the petals can open prematurely before insertion causing scratching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepledget manufacturingVSAvoidscratching

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-shaping the pledget tip to a tapered or rounded configuration before insertion. This pre-shaping ensures that the petals remain closed during insertion and only open after proper placement, preventing the harmful scratching effect while maintaining manufacturing feasibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs spheroidality by giving the pledget tip a rounded or tapered curved shape rather than a blunt edge. This curved geometry prevents premature petal opening and eliminates the scratching hazard, while still being compatible with standard manufacturing processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS9192522B2Tampon assembly having shaped pledget

Publication Date: 2015.11.24 ESSITY HYGIENE & HEALTH AB

AI summary

The present invention provides a tampon applicator assembly having an applicator barrel with an insertion tip with a maximum of three petals. Additionally, the tampon applicator assembly can be provided with a tapered insertion tip. A shaped pledget can be housed in the applicator barrel, which provides support to the petals.