U.S. patent application number 11/895126 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-20 for applicator having an indented fingergrip with raised portions.
Invention is credited to Nancy Karapasha.
Application Number | 20070293809 11/895126 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34063042 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070293809 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Karapasha; Nancy |
December 20, 2007 |
Applicator having an indented fingergrip with raised portions
Abstract
A tampon applicator is disclosed which includes an insertion
member adapted to house an absorbent tampon and receive a plunger.
The insertion member has an insertion end and a second end opposite
the insertion end, an outer surface and a fingergrip region
disposed about the outer surface. The insertion end and/or the
second end of the insertion member comprise a lip. The fingergrip
region includes an indention region having a depth dimension X. The
indention region includes raised portions with a height dimension
Y, the height dimension Y being less than or equal to the depth
dimension X.
Inventors: |
Karapasha; Nancy; (Monfort
Heights, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DIVISION - WEST BLDG.
WINTON HILL BUSINESS CENTER - BOX 412
6250 CENTER HILL AVENUE
CINCINNATI
OH
45224
US
|
Family ID: |
34063042 |
Appl. No.: |
11/895126 |
Filed: |
August 23, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11472738 |
Jun 22, 2006 |
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11895126 |
Aug 23, 2007 |
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10621709 |
Jul 17, 2003 |
7081110 |
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11472738 |
Jun 22, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 13/26 20130101;
Y10S 604/904 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
604/011 |
International
Class: |
A61F 13/26 20060101
A61F013/26 |
Claims
1. A tampon applicator comprising: an insertion member, the
insertion member having an insertion end, a second end opposite to
the insertion end, and a center portion disposed between the
insertion end and the second end; the center portion having a first
height and the second end having a second height; the insertion
member having a fingergrip region, the fingergrip region comprising
an indentation region, the indentation region having a third
height; the insertion member having a first slope from the first
height to the third height, the third height being less than the
first height; the insertion member having a second slope from the
third height to a second height, the second height being greater
than the third height; and the insertion member having one or more
raised portions positioned within the indentation region.
2. The tampon applicator of claim 1, wherein the one or more raised
portions have a height dimension Y that is measured from a lowest
point of the indentation region to a highest point of the one or
more raised portions.
3. The tampon applicator of claim 1, wherein the insertion member
has between about 2 and about 4 raised portions.
4. The tampon applicator of claim 1, wherein the one or more raised
portions are formed to have essentially identical size.
5. The tampon applicator of claim 1, wherein the one or more raised
portions are formed to have essentially identical shape.
6. The tampon applicator of claim 1, wherein the third height is
disposed substantially centrally within the indentation region.
7. The tampon applicator of claim 1, wherein the third height is
measured from the outer surface of the insertion member to the
lowest point of the indentation region.
8. The tampon applicator of claim 1, wherein the one or more raised
portions have a shape selected from the group consisting of ovals,
circles, rectangles, trapezoids, triangles, cones, alphabet
letters, and mixtures thereof.
9. A tampon applicator comprising: an insertion member, the
insertion member having an insertion end and a fingergrip region
opposite the insertion end; the fingergrip region having an
indentation region disposed between a first region and a second
region; the indentation region having a depth dimension X, wherein
the depth dimension X is measured from the outer surface of the
insertion member to a lowest point of the indentation region; the
indentation region comprising one or more raised portions that are
positioned within the indentation region and that have a height
dimension Y, wherein the height dimension Y is measured from the
lowest point of the indentation region to the highest point of the
one or more raised portions, wherein the height dimension Y is less
than the depth dimension X; and wherein a height from the first
region to the lowest point of the indentation region and from the
second region to the lowest point of the indention region is
greater than Y and less than or equal to X, and wherein the second
region is disposed at the portion of the insertion member most
distal from the insertion end.
10. The tampon applicator of claim 9, wherein the depth dimension X
is from about 1 mm to about 10 mm.
11. The tampon applicator of claim 9, wherein the insertion member
has between about 2 and about 4 raised portions.
12. The tampon applicator of claim 9, wherein the one or more
raised portions are formed to have essentially identical size.
13. The tampon applicator of claim 9, wherein the one or more
raised portions are formed to have essentially identical shape.
14. The tampon applicator of claim 9, wherein the one or more
raised portions have a shape selected from the group consisting of
ovals, circles, rectangles, trapezoids, triangles, cones, alphabet
letters, and mixtures thereof.
15. A tampon applicator comprising: an insertion member, the
insertion member having an insertion end, a second end opposite to
the insertion end, and a fingergrip portion; the fingergrip portion
comprising an indentation region having a depth dimension X,
wherein the depth dimension X is measured from the outer surface of
the insertion member to the lowest point of the indentation region;
the indentation region comprising one or more raised portions that
are positioned within the indentation region and that have a height
dimension Y, wherein the height dimension Y is measured from the
lowest point of the indentation region to the highest point of the
one or more raised portions, wherein the height dimension Y is less
than the depth dimension X; the second end having a height less
than or equal to X and greater than Y at the portion of the
insertion member most distal from the insertion end.
16. The tampon applicator of claim 15, wherein the depth dimension
X is from about 1 mm to about 10 mm.
17. The tampon applicator of claim 15, wherein the insertion member
has between about 2 and about 4 raised portions.
18. The tampon applicator of claim 15, wherein the one or more
raised portions are formed to have essentially identical size.
19. The tampon applicator of claim 15, wherein the one or more
raised portions are formed to have essentially identical shape.
20. The tampon applicator of claim 15, wherein the one or more
raised portions have a shape selected from the group consisting of
ovals, circles, rectangles, trapezoids, triangles, cones, alphabet
letters, and mixtures thereof.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 11/472,738, filed on Jun. 22, 2006, which is a continuation of
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/621,709, filed on Jul. 17, 2003, now
U.S. Pat. No. 7,081,110.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an insertion device capable
of housing an insertable element having an improved fingergrip
region to improve the consumer's ability to securely hold the
applicator during insertion of an insertable element.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] As known in the art, applicators are used to both house
materials intended to be inserted in a body cavity, such as a
tampon or medicaments and to expel the material into the intended
orifice. Typically applicators comprise an insertion member and a
plunger. The material to be expelled from the applicator, such as
an absorbent tampon, is positioned within the insertion member. The
insertion member has a first end for insertion of the tampon and a
second end for receipt of the plunger. To use the applicator, the
consumer will position the first end appropriately, grasp the
insertion member, and move the plunger in the insertion member
towards the first end to insert the tampon. Some applicators also
include a fingergrip configuration that is located on the insertion
member, which allows the consumer to more securely hold the
applicator during insertion of a material into the body cavity.
[0004] Various fingergrip configurations have been proposed to
facilitate the handling of the applicator and to improve the
insertion experience. One approach is a tampon applicator having an
integral fingergrip that is formed by embossing the outside surface
of the insertion member of the tampon applicator. The embossed
portion of the applicator may take the form of a series of
circumferential rings or a series of discrete raised dots. Examples
of such fingergrips can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,526 issued
to Jackson; U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,308 issued to Fox, et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,290,501 issued to Klesius; U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,964
issued to Huffman; U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,963 issued to Sheldon; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,891,042 issued to Nelvin, et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
4,412,833 issued to Weigner, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,634 issued
to Berger; U.S. Pat. No. 3,628,533 issued to Berger; U.S. Pat. No.
3,628,533 issued to Leyer; U.S. Pat. No. 2,922,423 issued to
Rickard; U.S. Pat. No. 2,587,717 issued to Fourness; and U.S. Pat.
No. 2,489,502 issued to Ruth.
[0005] Another approach to the gripping problem is found in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,575,169 issued to Voss, et al., which provides separate
raised elements that are applied to an outer tube of a tampon
applicator to provide a fingergrip. The elements can be formed of
plastic, rubber, ceramic, or other materials, and can be affixed to
the outer tube by interference fit or by bonding.
[0006] While many have tried to design and manufacture tampon
applicators having these improved qualities, there still remains a
need for a tampon applicator that has gripping features that
provide limited resistance to finger slip during the insertion and
the expulsion of the tampon applicator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A tampon applicator is provided which comprises an insertion
member adapted to house an absorbent tampon and receive a plunger,
said insertion member having an outer surface and a fingergrip
region extending inwardly from said outer surface and disposed
between an insertion end and a second end opposite said insertion
end of said insertion member, said fingergrip region comprising an
indention region having a depth dimension X, wherein said depth
dimension X is measured from the outer surface of said insertion
member to lowest point of said indentation region, said indention
region comprising protruding, three-dimensional raised portions
that are positioned within said indentation region and having a
height dimension Y, wherein said height dimension Y is measured
from base to highest point of an individual three-dimensional
raised portion, said height dimension Y being less than or equal to
said depth dimension X, and wherein at least one of said insertion
end or said second end of said insertion member comprises a
lip.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side view of an applicator of the present
invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of an applicator of the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an applicator of the present
invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is an end view of an applicator of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is an end view of an applicator of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] As used herein "applicator" refers to a device or implement
that facilitates the insertion of a tampon, medicament, treatment
device, visualization aid, or other into an external orifice of a
mammal, such as the vagina, rectum, ear canal, nasal canal, or
throat. Non-limiting specific examples of such include any known
hygienically designed applicator that is capable of receiving a
tampon may be used for insertion of a tampon, including the
so-called telescoping, tube and plunger, and the compact
applicators, an applicator for providing medicament to an area for
prophylaxis or treatment of disease, a spectroscope containing a
microcamera in the tip connected via fiber optics, a speculum of
any design, a tongue depressor, a tube for examining the ear canal,
a narrow hollow pipe for guiding surgical instruments, and the
like.
[0014] The term "joined" or "attached," as used herein, encompasses
configurations in which a first element is directly secured to a
second element by affixing the first element directly to the second
element; configurations in which the first element is indirectly
secured to the second element by affixing the first element to
intermediate member(s) which in turn are affixed to the second
element; and configurations in which the first element is integral
with the second element; i.e., the first element is essentially
part of the second element.
[0015] As used herein the term "tampon," refers to any type of
absorbent structure that is inserted into the vaginal canal or
other body cavities for the absorption of fluid and/or gas
therefrom, to aid in wound healing, or for the delivery of active
materials, such as medicaments, or moisture. The tampon may be
compressed into a generally cylindrical configuration in the radial
direction, axially along the longitudinal axis or in both the
radial and axial directions. While the tampon may be compressed
into a substantially cylindrical configuration, other shapes are
possible. These may include shapes having a cross section that may
be described as rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal,
semi-circular, hourglass, serpentine, or other suitable shapes.
Tampons have an insertion end, withdrawal end, a length, a width, a
longitudinal axis and a radial axis. The tampon's length can be
measured from the insertion end to the withdrawal end along the
longitudinal axis. A typical compressed tampon for human use is
30-60 mm in length. A tampon may be straight or non-linear in
shape, such as curved along the longitudinal axis. A typical
compressed tampon is 8-20 mm wide. The width of a tampon, unless
otherwise stated in the specification, corresponds to the length
across the largest cylindrical cross-section, along the length of
the tampon.
[0016] The term "vaginal cavity," "within the vagina," and "vaginal
interior," as used herein, are intended to be synonymous and refer
to the internal genitalia of the mammalian female in the pudendal
region of the body. The term "vaginal cavity" as used herein is
intended to refer to the space located between the introitus of the
vagina (sometimes referred to as the sphincter of the vagina or
hymeneal ring,) and the cervix. The terms "vaginal cavity," "within
the vagina" and "vaginal interior," do not include the interlabial
space, the floor of vestibule or the externally visible
genitalia.
[0017] As used herein, "cm" is centimeters, and "mm" is
millimeters.
[0018] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show the tampon applicator of the present
invention. The tampon applicator 10 includes an insertion member 20
adapted to house an absorbent tampon and a plunger 22. The
insertion member has an outer surface 24 and a fingergrip region 26
disposed about the outer surface 24. The fingergrip region 26
comprises an indention region 28 having a depth dimension X. The
indention region 28 comprises raised portions 30 having a height
dimension Y, the height dimension Y being less than or equal to the
depth dimension X. When a consumer inserts the insertion member 20
into her vaginal cavity, her fingers and/or thumb are urged towards
the insertion end 32 due to frictional forces between the insertion
member 20 and the walls of the body cavity. The combination of the
indention region 28 and the raised portions 30 and their respective
dimensions in relation to each other provides a secure hold and
improved handling of the applicator during insertion.
[0019] The insertion member 20 is in the form of a spirally wound,
convolutely wound or longitudinally seamed hollow tube, which is
formed from paper, paperboard, cardboard or a combination thereof.
The insertion member 20 may also be injection molded or formed from
flexible plastic, such as thermoformed from plastic sheet or folded
or wound from plastic film. The insertion member 20 may also be
formed from a combination of paper and plastic. The insertion
member 20, also commonly referred to as an outer tube, is fairly
rigid and has a relatively small diameter of about 10 millimeters
to about 20 millimeters. The insertion member 20 has a wall with a
predetermined thickness of about 0.1 millimeters to about 0.7
millimeter. The wall can be constructed from a single ply of
material or be formed from two or more plies that are bonded
together to form a laminate.
[0020] The use of two or more plies or layers is preferred for it
enables the manufacturer to use certain materials in the various
layers that can enhance the performance of the tampon applicator
10. When two or more plies are utilized, all the plies can be
spirally wound, convolutely wound or longitudinally seamed to form
an elongated cylinder. For example, in some embodiments the wall
can be constructed using a smooth thin ply of material on the
outside or exterior surface that surrounds a coarser and possibly
thicker ply. In embodiments where the wall contains at least three
plies, the middle ply can be the thicker ply and the interior and
exterior plies can be smooth and/or slippery to facilitate
expulsion of the tampon and to facilitate insertion of the
insertion member 20 into a woman's vagina, respectively. By
sandwiching a thick, coarser ply of material between two thin,
smooth plies, an inexpensive insertion member 20 can be provided
which is very functional. The wall may contain one to four plies,
although more plies can be utilized if desired. As well, the ends
of the insertion member 20 can be lipped. In such embodiments the
insertion end 32 and/or a second end opposite the insertion end 32
of the insertion member 20 may include a lip 38, as shown in FIGS.
3, 4 and 5.
[0021] An adhesive, such as glue, or by heat, pressure,
ultrasonics, etc, can hold the plies forming the wall together. The
adhesive can be either water-soluble or water-insoluble. A
water-soluble adhesive is typically used for environmental reasons
in that the wall will quickly break apart when it is immersed in
water. Such immersion will occur should the insertion member 20 be
disposed of by flushing it down a toilet. Exposure of the insertion
member 20 to a municipal's waste treatment plant wherein soaking in
water, interaction with chemicals and agitation all occur, will
cause the wall to break apart and evenly disperse in a relatively
short period of time.
[0022] The inside diameter of the insertion member 20 is usually
less than about 0.75 inches (about 19 mm) and may be about 0.394
inches (about 10 mm). Although the exterior diameter, of tampons
does vary, most tampons utilized by women have an external of less
than about 0.75 inches (about 19 mm). The measure of external
diameter excludes the indention region 32 of the fingergrip region
26. However, if one desires to use this invention to administer
medication to an animal, such as a farm animal or other mammal,
larger size tampons, which would require insertion members with a
larger diameter, could be used.
[0023] Alternatively, the material can be overlapped into a tubular
configuration. Spirally or convolutely winding the insertion member
20 into a cylindrical tube is especially advantageous when the
insertion member 20 is formed from a laminate. In the case of other
tube construction methods such as fiber or plastic molding, or
integral tube forming (e.g. thermoforming plastic) no seams will be
present and the corrugations could optionally be formed as part of
the tube molding or forming process.
[0024] The insertion member 20 is sized and configured to house an
absorbent tampon. As stated above, the insertion member 20 should
have a substantially smooth exterior surface that will facilitate
insertion of the insertion member 20 into a woman's vagina. When
the exterior surface is smooth and/or slippery, the insertion
member 20 will easily slide into a woman's vagina without
subjecting the internal tissues of the vagina to abrasion. The
insertion member 20 can be coated to give it a high slip
characteristic. Wax, polyethylene, a combination of wax and
polyethylene, cellophane, clay, mica, and other lubricants are
representative coatings that can be applied to the insertion member
20 to facilitate comfortable insertion.
[0025] The insertion member 20 has an outer surface 24 and a
fingergrip region 26 disposed about the outer surface 24. The
insertion member 20 has an insertion end 32 opposed to a fingergrip
region 26. The fingergrip region 26 comprises an indention region
28 having a depth dimension X. The indention region 28 may be any
geometric shape known including but not limited to oval, circular,
rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, hemispherical and mixtures
thereof. In some embodiments, the depth dimension X may range from
about 1 mm to about 10 mm as measured from the outer surface of the
insertion member 20 to the lowest point of the indention region 28.
In some embodiments, the depth dimension X may range from about 2
mm to about 5 mm as measured from the outer surface of the
insertion member 20 to the lowest point of the indention region 28.
In other embodiments, the depth dimension X may range from about
2.5 mm to about 3.5 mm as measured from the outer surface of the
insertion member 20 to the lowest point of the indention region
28.
[0026] The indention region 28 comprises raised portions 30 having
a height dimension Y, the height dimension Y being less than or
equal to the depth dimension X. The raised portions 30 may be any
three-dimensional geometric shape known including but not limited
to ovals, circles, rectangles, trapezoids, triangles, cones,
alphabet letters, and mixtures thereof. In all embodiments, the
height dimension Y is less than or equal to the depth dimension X.
In some embodiments, the height dimension Y is less than the depth
dimension X. In some embodiments, the depth dimension Y ranges from
about to about 0.1 mm to about 10 mm as measured from the base 34
to highest point 36 of the individual raised portion that is
adjacent to the outer surface 24 of the insertion member 20. In
some embodiments, the depth dimension Y ranges from about 0.2 mm to
about 5 mm as from the base 34 to highest point 36 of the
individual raised portion. In other embodiments, the depth
dimension Y ranges from about to about 0.5 mm to about 2.5 mm from
the base 34 to highest point 36 of the individual raised
portion.
[0027] The number of the raised portions 30 may range from 1 to 200
depending on the size of both the indention region 28 and the
raised portions 30. The individual raised portions 30 may be formed
to have essentially identical size and shape as compared to other
individual raised portions 30. Alternatively, the individual raised
portions 30 may be formed to have to various sizes and shapes as
compared to other individual raised portions 30. The raised
portions 30 may be arranged randomly or in a pattern. For example,
the raised portions 30 can be arranged to form any
three-dimensional geometric pattern known including but not limited
to flowers, ovals, circles, rectangles, trapezoids, triangles,
cones, alphabet letters, and mixtures thereof. Alternatively, these
raised portions 30 may be randomly arranged so that the
multiplicity of the molded or attached dimples may comprise merely
a surface roughness in no apparent pattern. In addition, raised
portions 30 may be arranged such that the areas between the raised
portions 30 may form any geometric pattern known including but not
limited to flowers, ovals, circles, rectangles, trapezoids,
triangles, cones, alphabet letters, and mixtures thereof.
[0028] All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the
Invention are, are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by
reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as
an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present
invention.
[0029] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those
skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims
all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of
this invention.
[0030] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be
understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values
recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension
is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension
disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".
[0031] All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the
Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference;
the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission
that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the
extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written
document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a
document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition
assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.
[0032] It will be understood that the embodiment(s) described
herein is/are merely exemplary, and that one skilled in the art may
make variations and modifications without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention. All such variations and modifications
are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as
described hereinabove. Further, all embodiments disclosed are not
necessarily in the alternative, as various embodiments of the
invention may be combined to provide the desired result.
* * * * *