US3042040A - Attachment for tampon applicator - Google Patents

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Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/20—Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor
  • A61F13/26—Means for inserting tampons, i.e. applicators

Definitions

• FIG. 2 ATTACHMENT FOR TAMPON APPLICATOR Filed June 30, 1959 FIG. I. FIG. 2.
• This invention relates to an attachment for a tampon applicator and particularly to a removable attachment for a tampon applicator to facilitate withdrawal thereof after application of a tampon.
• a common form of tampon applicator comprises telescoping inner and outer tubes, the outer tube having an internal diameter and length suflicient to house and frictionally retain a tampon in one end portion thereof and the inner tube having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the outer tube and being disposed in the other end portion thereof.
• the inner tube may be termed the ejector and when it is moved longitudinally inwardly of the outer tube it forces the tampon out of the outer tube to thus apply the tampon.
• the tampon and applicator are sold as a complete unit.
• the present invention is directed to a detachable means connectible to the conventional tampon applicator to pro- 9 vide it with a readily grippable portion for removing the applicator after application of the tampon, and this is the major object of the present invention.
• Another object of the present invention is the provision of an attachment for a tampon applicator which is readily attachable to and detachable from the applicator for providing a readily grippable part for removing the applicator after application of a tampon.
• FIG. 1 is a plan view of an attachment for a tampon applicator embodying the present invention
• FIG, 2 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 showing the attachment secured to a tampon applicator;
• FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the attachment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the attachment being connected to a conventional tampon applicator;
• FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.
• the conventional tampon applicator is designated by the reference character 10 and is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in combination with the detachable attachment 12.
• the tampon applicator comprises an outer rigid paper cylinder 14 having a telescoping inner cylinder 16 disposed in one end thereof. Filling substantially the entire remainder of the outer cylinder 14 is the tampon 18 having a string 20 connected thereto for subsequent removal of the tampon.
• the tampon of course, is made of a soft fibrous absorbent material such as cotton.
• the tampon 18 maybe ejected from the applicator 10 by holding the cylinder 14 stationary and telescoping the inner cylinder or ejector 16 into the outer cylinder 14 to thereby force the tampon 18 out of the outer cylinder. This force is transferred to the tampon due to the fact that a portion of the tampon is in abutting relation with the inner edge 22 of the ejector 16. Clearly, in order to completely eject the tampon 18 from the applicator 10 it is necessary for the edge 22 of the ejector 16 to be moved into registry with the forward edge 24 of the outer cylinder 14.
• the entire applicator is removed by the user by moving the now telescoped outer and inner cylinders 14 and 16, respectively, finally in a longitudinal direction. This is generally effected by gripping the outer cylinder.
• the outer cylinder must be first held in a fixed position in order to effect movement. of the ejector and thereafter the outer cylinder must be gripped to remove the inner and outer cylinders as a unit.
• Attachment 12 is made out of a rectangular sheet of relatively stifi flexible material such as, for instance, cardboard, plastic or metal.
• a central aperture 28 is provided in the sheet 26. Central aperture 28 is slightly smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the outer cylinder 14 of applicator 10.
• a flexible portion 30 of sheet 26 Surrounding a portion of the periphery of aperture 28 is a flexible portion 30 of sheet 26 which flexible portion may be flexed out of the plane of sheet 26 to thereby enlarge aperture 28 to permit the reception of the outer cylinder 14 into the aperture 28.
• sheet 26 is provided with two such flexible portions 30 and 32 which portions result from the provision of longitudinally extending slots 34, 35, 36 and 37, all of which are shown herein as substantially tangential to but in communication with the aperture 28.
• slots 34, 35, 36 and 37 are shown herein as substantially tangential to but in communication with the aperture 28.
• the tangential slots enlarge the diameter of aperture 28 in a direction perpendicular to the axis between the flexing portions to insure that the only obstructions to reception of the tampon applicator in aperture 28 are the flexing portions.
• each of the flexing portions 30 and 32 is connected to the remainder of the sheet only at its base and is free to move relative to the sheet out of the plane thereof due to its detachment from the sheet at the remainder of the periphery including that portion of the periphery of the flexing part that abuts the central aperture 28.
• the attachment To afiix attachment 12 to applicator 10 the attachment is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the applicator and is moved forward from the rear end of ejector 16 which readily fits within the aperture 28.
• the applicator When the applicator is moved forward sufiiciently to abut against the trailing edge 38 of the outer cylinder 14 movement will be hampered due to the abutment of the portions of flexing parts 30 and 32 surrounding aperture 28 with the trailing edge 38 of the outer cylinder 14.
• movement can be eflected by the application of a slight force which force will cause a flexing of the flexing parts 30 and 32 out of the plane of the rest of the sheet 26 to thereby enlarge aperture 28 to permit it to receive the outer cylinder 14.
• Movement of the applicator 12 is continued until it is certain that the arcuate peripheries of the flexing parts 30 and 32 overlie the circumference of outer cylinder 14 at which point the movement is stopped.
• the outer cylinder 14 may be inserted into the vagina of the user by grasping attachment 12 and moving it towards the users body to thereby move the outer cylinder into the users vagina. Thereafter, the ejector 16 is telescoped within the outer cylinder '14 to eject the tampon 18. With the applicator in this condition, heretofore, it has, in the past, been difficult to remove it. However, with the attachment 12 overlying the outer cylinder 14 the attachment 12 may readily be gripped by using one or both hands and then moved outwardly of the users vagina. During this movement, the
• the flexing means 30 and 32 will tend to dig into the outer cylinder and thus prevent movement of the applicator attachment relative to the outer cylinder. Hence, moving the attachment will move the outer cylinder with the enclosed inner cylinder along with it to thus remove the entire applicator. Thereafter, the attachment 12 may be detached from the outer cylinder of the applicator, the applicator may be disposed of, the attachment 12 may be washed and is ready for subsequent use. In lieu thereof the applicator 12 may be also disposable as it is an extremely inexpensive item.
• a tampon applicator of the type including inner and outer telescoping members, a sheet of relatively stiif flexible material having an aperture therewithin, said aperture being of slightly smaller diameter than the outer diameter of said outer telescoping member, said sheet having a portion thereof surrounding a portion of said aperture adapted to be flexed out of the plane of said sheet to enlarge said aperture, said outer telescoping member passing through said aperture to detachably connect said sheet to said outer telescoping member.
• a tampon applicator comprising inner and outer telescoping members, a sheet of relatively stitt' flexible material having an aperture therewithin, said aperture Ibeing of slightly smaller diameter than the outer diameter of said outer telescoping member, said sheet having a portion thereof surrounding a portion of said aperture adapted to be flexed out of the plane of said sheet to enlarge said aperture, said outer telescoping member passing through said aperture to detachably connect said sheet to said outer telescoping member.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)

Description

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=25240184

Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (10)

Citations (4)

• 1959
  • 1959-06-30 US US823940A patent/US3042040A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (4)

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