Surgery – Means for inserting fibrous or foraminous resident packing,... – With slidable ejector inside tubular inserting means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-17
2001-04-17
Ruhl, Dennis (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Means for inserting fibrous or foraminous resident packing,...
With slidable ejector inside tubular inserting means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217542
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides miniature tampon insertion devices, generally a tampon applicator and a plunger in a folded configuration prior its use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Most commercially available tampon applicators for introducing catamenial tampons intravaginally consist of a pair of telescoping tubes. The tampon applicator is designed to store a tampon therein at one end. Typically, the plunger is slightly smaller in diameter and is slidably positioned behind the tampon carried in the tampon applicator. In use, the tampon is ejected from the tampon applicator by pushing the plunger into the tampon applicator to expel the tampon.
Several drawbacks are associated with such applicators for certain uses. First, the tampon applicator must be of length sufficient to assure proper depth of insertion. For example, such tampon applicators are substantially longer than the tampons. Next, when the tampon and tampon applicator are assembled with the plunger, a major portion of the plunger necessarily extends out from the end of the tampon applicator. This results in the over-all length of the packaged ready-for-use tampon applicator being approximately two and one-half times the length of the tampon. As a result of such a relatively large size, the bulk and cost of the packaging for such applicators are often greatly increased.
Women commonly carry such packaged tampons (with applicators) in their purses. Because of the length of such applicators, they occupy a relatively large amount of space in the purse. It is therefore also desirable to produce a tampon applicator of smaller or compact size which is less obtrusive. This is a particular problem for younger women who often prefer not to carry purses and with today's fashions often must use pockets in relatively tight-fitting clothing.
One type of tampon applicator which has been proposed to solve the above problems utilizes a substantially flat, elongated plunger arm which is stored positioned along the outside of and in longitudinal alignment with the tampon applicator. For example, please see U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,222,088; 3,059,641; 3,059,642; 3,103,929; 3,115,876; 3,424,159; 3,759,258; 3,831,605; and 4,269,187.
Another type of tampon applicator has been proposed to solve the foregoing problems of telescoping the plunger completely into the tampon applicator while storing the tampon completely in the tampon applicator while storing the tampon in the distal end of the plunger. This also shortens the tampon and applicator assembly by the length of a tampon. Operatively, the plunger is then drawn out most of the way from the proximal end of the tampon applicator leaving behind the tampon until the distal end of the plunger can engage the proximal end of the stored tampon. Each patentee discloses a different way of securing the stored tampon in the distal end of the tampon applicator to prevent proximal displacement end of the tampon while the plunger is withdrawn therefrom. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,101,713; British Patent No. 2,033,754; U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,832,342 (distal end of withdrawal string secured to slot in distal of tampon applicator); U.S. Pat. No. 3,090,385 (having an ejector arm, rather than an plunger); U.S. Pat. No. 4,276,881; 4,286,595; 4,411,647 and 4,479,791.
Apparently, none of the foregoing types of applicators has ever been commercially successful.
In the field of compact tampon applicator embodiments have been created which have attempted to accommodate consumer's needs for economy of space in packaging. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,726,805, 4,846,802; and 4,960,417 provide compact tampons wherein the plunger is packaged in a substantially inserted position within the tampon applicator itself Upon use, a user retrieves the embodiment from the package and then extends the plunger outwardly but not out of the tampon applicator. This approach does indeed save space and provides for discretion when carrying the embodiment herein. Nonetheless, these embodiments provide only for a plunger that must be pre-inserted into the tampon applicator. Thus, a need exists to provide embodiments, i.e., compact tampon insertion devices, in which a plunger is not substantially pre-inserted within a plunger.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the invention provides a tampon insertion device comprising a tampon applicator having a first end, a second end opposed to the first end, and a tampon inserted within the tampon applicator having a string attached thereto. The tampon is positioned within the tampon applicator and a plunger is attached to the tampon applicator by the tampon string. The string is attached to the plunger at at least one connection point on the plunger. Preferably, the string is substantially threaded through the plunger. The tampon applicator with the tampon therein and the plunger are preferably positioned adjacent to one-another in a substantially parallel orientation prior to the use of the tampon insertion device. Such parallel orientation between the tampon applicator and the plunger is maintained by the tampon string connected to the plunger.
In one preferred embodiment herein, the string of the tampon is already threaded through the plunger prior to use of the tampon insertion device. More specifically, the string is pre-threaded by the manufacturer. In another highly preferred embodiment, the tampon insertion device is combined with a package that encompasses the tampon insertion device such that the tampon applicator and the plunger of the tampon insertion device are positioned adjacent to one-another in a substantially parallel orientation.
In another embodiment herein, the tampon insertion device comprises a tampon applicator having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end and a second end. The tampon insertion device further comprises a tampon having a string, a first side and a second side opposed to the first side thereof The tampon is positioned within the tampon applicator such that the first side of the tampon is adjacently oriented toward the first end of the tampon applicator and the second side of the tampon is adjacently oriented toward the second end of the tampon applicator.
Lastly, the tampon insertion device comprises a plunger having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first part and a second part. The plunger first part is positioned at least partially within the tampon applicator and adjacent to the second side of the tampon. The plunger first part is connected to the plunger second part by a flexible hinge. The hinge enables the tampon applicator with the tampon therein and the plunger to be positioned adjacent to one-another in a substantially parallel orientation prior to the use of the tampon insertion device without using the tampon's string.
In a preferred embodiment herein, the plunger first part is securely fixed within the tampon applicator such that the plunger first part cannot be easily removed from the normal forces associated with carrying, packing or holding the tampon insertion device. More specifically, the plunger first part is securely fixed within the tampon applicator by a locking device. The locking device herein comprises a pair of nibs positioned on the inner surface of the tampon applicator and adjacent to the second end of the tampon applicator and a pair of nibs positioned on the plunger outer surface and adjacent to the first part of the plunger such that the nibs of the tampon applicator and the nibs of the plunger first part prevent the plunger first part from unintentionally exiting the second end of the tampon applicator. Such unintentional exiting might result from gravity, awkward carrying of the tampon insertion device, dropping the tampon insertion device, etc. Also, preferably, this tampon insertion device may be packaged.
More specifically, the plunger first part is at least partially and preferably inserted within the tampon applicator. The plunger second part is the main body of the plunger and resides on the outside of the plunger. Furthermore, in this configuration, the hinge attaches the plunger first p
Smits Chrissie Melinda
Stevens Tiffany April
Szmuriga Adrienne Michelle
Wilson, Jr. Melvin Cecil
Cummings Theodore P.
Fitzpatrick Matthew P.
Johnson Kevin C.
Ruhl Dennis
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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