U.S. patent number 3,559,646 [Application Number 04/763,046] was granted by the patent office on 1971-02-02 for tampon.
Invention is credited to Joseph Mullan.
United States Patent |
3,559,646 |
Mullan |
February 2, 1971 |
TAMPON
Abstract
A device in the nature of a tampon, particularly suited for
vaginal and rectal use, having a body of compressible spongy
adsorptive and/or absorbent material, the body being hollow, closed
at one end and tapered inwardly toward the closed end. The
compressible body is held in radially compressed condition in a
telescoping tubular applicator or inserting device. One method of
making the device comprises the forming of the hollow compressible
body by stamping the tampon from suitable stock and later closing
one end thereof. Another method is by molding a hollow tampon in
which the hollow body is closed and tapers inwardly at one end
thereof.
Inventors: |
Mullan; Joseph (Baltimore,
MD) |
Family
ID: |
25066742 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/763,046 |
Filed: |
August 16, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/15; 604/369;
604/904; 604/370 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
13/26 (20130101); A61F 13/8405 (20130101); A61F
13/2051 (20130101); A61F 13/2074 (20130101); A61F
2013/15821 (20130101); A61F 13/2088 (20130101); A61F
13/2005 (20130101); A61F 13/202 (20130101); Y10S
604/904 (20130101); A61F 13/2042 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
13/20 (20060101); A61F 13/15 (20060101); A61f
013/20 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/270,260,268,285,271,1,1.1,1.2,263,232 ;19/144.5 ;3/1,36 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Eager; Adele M.
Claims
I claim:
1. A tampon comprising:
a. a cylindrical body of highly compressible and absorptive
material;
b. said body having an opening extending thereinto from one end to
near the other end thereof, said other end being closed;
c. the cylindrical outer surface of said body tapering inwardly at
said closed end; and
d. a flexible cordlike with drawing means of substantial length
attached to said body at said closed end and extending without said
body from said closed end.
2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the cylindrical body
is compressed at said closed end with means provided to retain the
same in compressed condition to form the inward taper at said
closed end.
3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which said opening in said
body is provided with means for therapeutically treating a body
cavity into which the tampon is inserted.
4. The structure defined in claim 2 in which said cylindrical body
is composed of polyurethane sponge.
5. The structure defined in claim 2 in combination with an
applicator, said applicator comprising a tubular element having an
inner diameter substantially less than the uncompressed diameter of
the cylindrical body and accommodating the same in compressed
condition therein, and an ejector slidable in said tubular element
for ejecting the cylindrical body therefrom and into a body
cavity.
6. The method of making tampons which comprises the following
steps,
a. die-cutting an elongated tubular member of elastic compressible
and absorbtive material from a sheet of such material;
b. drawing together and compressing one end of said tubular said
tubular member to close the opening at said end and form a taper on
the exterior of said member at said end,
c. securing said drawn together and compressed end to retain the
same in said condition; and
d. attaching a withdrawal cord to said compressed end.
7. The steps of the method for main making tampons as defined in
claim 6 with the additional step of treating the tapered and
compressed end of said tubular member to render it impervious to
moisture.
8. The steps of the method of making tampons as defined in claim 6
in which the step of drawing together and compressing one end of
the tubular member comprises stitching through one end of the
tubular body in two directions at right angles to each other with
threads, forming loops in said threads, drawing said loops to
tighten the same and securing said thread loops in tightened
condition.
Description
This invention relates in general to a tampon device for use by
both humans and animals, and particularly to human vaginal and
rectal tampons and to a method of producing the same.
It is one object of my invention to product a self-aligning
nontoxic, nonirritating form fitting tampon which has high
adsorptive and/or absorbency characteristics and superior capacity
to retain moisture and which has all the qualities of easy
insertion and ready disposal.
It is another object of ma my invention to produce a tampon which
will reduce the possibility of leakage when in use and one which
may be readily impregnated with a medicant and/or adsorb or absorb
the same, or one that may carry a medicinal capsule which may
evenly distribute the medication through the walls of the tampon or
direct the medication from the capsule in a predetermined
direction.
A further object of the invention, because of the materials from
which the present tampon is fabricated, is that, they may be
cleaned, sterilized and re-used in emergencies.
There are numerous tampons now available but many have certain
disadvantages, for example, many are made of absorbent cottonlike
material which have limited capacity to absorb and to hold moisture
and which expand longitudinally but have very little transverse
expansion which, in some instances, have a disturbing effect upon
the user. Many of these tampons cause irritation and deposit lint
within the body cavity causing more irritation and possibly
creating an inflamed surface susceptible to disease. Another
characteristic of these tampons is the longitudinal expansion which
sometimes influences the function of the Sphincter muscle, which
plays an important part in bowel movement. Because of the
nonlongitudinal expansion of my tampon, the tampon is more
comfortable and may be made initially longer and therefore will be
capable of greater moisture adsorption and absorption when used in
this capacity.
The above are but a few samples of the advantages of my improved
tampon. Other advantages will become apparent as the description
proceeds and reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming
a part of this specification, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation partly sectionalized, of a die machine
for cutting the hollow compressible bodies for tampons according to
my invention.
FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detailed sectional view of one the die
members of the machine, shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows a modified form of a die member for forming a large
and small tampon in the same operation.
FIG. 4 is an inverted plan view of the modified die shown in FIG.
3.
FIG. 5 is an inverted plan view showing one arrangement of the die
head.
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through one of the
tampon bodies.
FIG. 7 is a view in elevation partly in section of a tampon body
having one end securely closed.
FIG. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 7 showing the
closed end secured by cross ties.
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing an area adjacent the
closed end moisture proofed.
FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 7 of a modified form of
tampon.
FIG. 12 is a sectional view of an applicator containing a
compressed tampon in position to be inserted into the cavity.
FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 show a tampon of smaller size formed from the
center of the removed portion of the material of the large size
tampon shown and described in FIGS. 6--10.
Referring to the drawing, the large tampon is shown particularly in
FIGS. 6--11 and consists of the main body portion 10 initially of
tubular form, as shown in FIG. 6, made of highly adsorptive and/or
absorbent compressible material such as foamed polyurethane or
other suitable natural or synthetic materials of spongy consistency
with one end portion of the tube closed. The closing and tapering
of the one end of the tampon may be accomplished in a number of
ways. One manner of forming the closed end is shown in FIGS. 7, 9
and 10 in which the end of the tampon is stitched diametrically
through one end of the tubular body in two directions at right
angles to each other, preferably with a plastic or silk cord, or
thread, drawing the end of the tampon together and securing the
same. Another method of closing the end of the tubular member may
be by wrapping circumferentially the end of the tampon with cord or
thread of suitable material as shown at 13 in FIG. 11. While two
specific ways of closing the end have been specifically shown,
other suitable means may be employed.
For withdrawing the tampon from the cavity there is provided a
withdrawal cord or thread of any suitable material secured to the
tapered closed end which extends outside the cavity and may be
engaged to remove the tampon.
To assure the tampon against leakage and control of the medicant,
portions of the tampon may be moisture proofed by a film of coating
14 as shown in FIG. 10, of impervious material applied either to
the surface of the outer wall or to the wall of the opening, by
spraying the same thereon or by dipping the area in a liquid bath
of suitable material. The moisture proofing may be also carried out
in various other ways, such as by closing the cells of the area by
heat sealing, whether the tampon is formed by stamping or by
molding, wherein the pores or voids in the material preferably
adjacent the outer surface are closed. If the tapered portion is
molded separately from the cylindrical portion, the tapered and
cylindrical portions would then be united in some suitable manner.
A further way for making the tapered end portion impervious to
fluids is, by placing thereover a polyvinyl chloride film and
attaching the same by a suitable nontoxic adhesive; or by covering
the tapered portion with a thermoplastic or thermosetting urethane
coating. Regardless of the method and manner used in moisture
proofing the area, it must remain flexible and readily
compressible.
The smaller tampons shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 are made particularly
for smaller cavities, such as for use in the nostrils, small vagina
channels and for treating rectal disorders, disease, etc. in which
a smaller cross section area is more desirable.
The tampon is made ready for use by radially compressing the same
and closing it in a two-part tubular telescoping container,
applicator 15 and 16, the tampon proper occupying the outer tubular
part 15 and part 16, forming a plunger for expelling the tampon in
the vaginal, rectal or other cavity.
The container applicator may be constructed of any suitable
material such as polyethelene, paper, cardboard, rubber and other
suitable nonirritating material and is provided with a rounded
inwardly curved portion 15' at one end of part 15 to facilitate
insertion into the vaginal or other cavity and a flared outwardly
diverging portion 17 at the opposite end thereof while part 16 has
a similarly outwardly flared portion 18 at its free end, the flared
ends forming finger grips to facilitate the use of the device. Both
flared ends 17 and 18 may be suitably provided with serrations 19
and 19' if desired to give a better grip on the device.
To hold the tubular members 15 and 16 together and yet provide for
easy assembly the inner circumference of one end of the member 15
is provided with a rib 20, while member 16 is provided with a ridge
of other suitable means 21 which will readily snap over the rib 20
when the members 15 and 16 are telescoped.
The tubular portion 15 of the applicator may have either or both
longitudinal and lateral markings of any convenient type or style,
a form of which is shown in FIG 12. The longitudinal markings are
designated by letters and the lateral markings are designated by
numerals. The lettered lines (as shown) are spaced longitudinally
around the tubular portion 15 and are for directionally positioning
a particular area of the applicator relative to a particular
location on the inner wall of the cavity area into which the
applicator is inserted. The laterally numbered markings are for
gauging the depth the applicator is inserted within the cavity,
which is generally predetermined prior to the insertion.
It can be readily seen that the main body portion 10 with its
opening 22 form a closed end pocket, which not only greatly
increases the adsorptive and/or absorbent surface area of the
device, but also forms a reservoir for collecting secretions, clots
or other foreign substances from the vaginal or other cavity into
which the tampon is placed. The pocket also provides a well into
which medication and/or medical instruments may be retained for
treatment.
The opening 22 may not necessarily be round in cross section but
may be formed with a plurality of sides or an oval cross-sectional
form is desired.
The tampon may be used for collecting bacteria to be tested for
disease and other body disorders. The smaller tampon, which may be
made of any size, may also be used in medicating deep wounds (such
as bullet wounds) and for insertions into openings purposely left
in the flesh after surgery. The medication may be of any desirable
substance, among which may be an antiseptic or blood clotting
compound which may be deposited within the opening 22, or the body
portion 10 of the tampon may be impregnated with suitable
medications and/or deodorizing compounds prior to being compressed
into the applicator.
In the modification shown in FIG. 11 the compressible body of the
device is provided with a plurality of openings 22' instead of the
single opening of the first described form, otherwise the device is
similar to the first form and like reference characters have been
employed.
In FIGS. 7 and 8 there is shown in the opening 22 of the tampon a
medicated capsule C which may be inserted within the opening 22
prior to placing the tampon into the applicator. In order to keep
the capsule in relative position with the main portion 10 of the
tampon prior to placing the tampon into the applicator and for
retaining the capsule in the same relative position within the main
portion 10 when released within the body cavity, there is provided
a positioning means P constructed preferably of a flexible spongy
material similar to the material used in the main body portion 10.
While a particular form of positioning means is shown in FIG. 7,
any suitable means may be employed. However, the main body 10 may
be constructed with an opening 22 of substantially the same
diameter as the capsule, in which case the capsule is made to fit
snugly into the opening to insure its relative position with the
portion 10 and therefore may be positioned relative to the body
cavity when injected therein. This particular feature is
illustrated in FIG. 14.
There may also be placed about the capsule either adjacent, or
between the capsule and the interior wall of the central opening a
shield S to direct the medication toward a certain area in the
cavity. For example, the capsule may contain a medication to be
applied to a certain area only and in this case the medication
could be directed toward this particular area. Another example
would be that the capsule may contain a certain degree of radiation
and that the shield may be of a certain character as to direct the
rays toward a specific area. Still another example may be that the
capsule may be in the form of a heating or X-ray tube with extended
wires to the outside to be connected to an outside source of supply
for carrying out treatments in the area without requiring the
removal and insertion of the apparatus every time the treatment is
made. These wires may also be utilized as withdrawal cords for the
tampon.
In order that a particular side of the capsule is to be placed
adjacent a particular side of the tampon opening 22 the capsule and
its positioning means are inserted into the opening 22 by the stem
C' attached to one end of the capsule C. The stem is provided with
a weakened area C". Extending outwardly above the opening 22 as
shown in FIG. 7 there is an angled handle portion C'". When the
capsule is located in the desired position within the opening 22
the tampon is compressed between the fingers to hold it in position
and from turning and the handle C" is rotated, whereby the rotation
of the handle portion will cause the stem C' to break at its
weakened portion C". The remainder of the stem left adjacent the
capsule will not interfere with the operation of the device.
However, the stem may be separated adjacent the end of the capsule
if desired.
The wall of the tampon being preferable of uniform thickness, an
applied medication is normally easily applied uniformly throughout
the cavity area, or the medication may be directed in any desired
direction by blocking off the pores of the tampon by any of the
methods mentioned herein.
FIGS. 1--5 of the drawings shown an apparatus for forming the
tubular tampon bodies. A die head 23 is attached to any suitable
supporting means 24 which may be either manually, or power actuated
forcibly presses the same toward the base plate 25. The die head 23
is preferably provided with a plurality of cutting dies 26. One
form of the die is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 for forming the large
size tampon and consists of two concentric tubular members 27 and
28 attached to each other by a screw thread or equivalent means 29.
The die 26 is secured to the die head 23 by a bolt 30 or other
suitable means. The members 27 and 28 are sharpened to form cutting
edges 31 and 32 at their lower ends. While the forming of the
tampon is illustrated and described as a stamping, the tampon may
be formed by molding as a single unit, or the tapered and
cylindrical portion may be molded separately and later united in
some suitable manner, such as, by a suitable adhesive or heat
sealed, or a molded tapered portion may be united with a stamped
portion or vice versa. It is also intended that the invention shall
include a tampon regardless of the manner in which it is made or
its form including being tapered throughout its entire length to a
small cross-sectional area adjacent one end thereof and that the
area adjacent the small cross-sectional area may be sealed to make
it impervious to fluids similarly to that described hereinbefore
for the tapered portion.
As may be seen, a sheet of sponge material 33 is placed on the base
plate 25 and the die plate depressed, which will result in cutting
a number of main tubular bodies 10 in a single operation after
which the bodies may be removed from the dies by any conventional
manner.
A modified form of die is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 for forming both
the large and small size tampon. In this die the outer section 27
and the interior section 28 are substantially the same as those
shown and described for FIG. 2. However, in this die there are
provided a small center cutter 30', which forms a second tampon
10", shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, from the center pieces taken from
the larger tampon body 10. This smaller size, as mentioned before,
is preferably for use in smaller cavities, particularly by young
females with small vaginal cavity and for small rectal channels for
treatment of hemorrhoids, etc. These smaller tampons may be used,
as mentioned before, for treatment and medication after nose
operations.
The length of the tampon may be readily shortened by snipping off
the open end if a shorter length would be required or desirable to
make the tampon function more properly.
Referring again to the molded type tampon, the tampon may be molded
in one piece or in sections which may be later united. Also the
opening may be molded to any predetermined depth at the time of the
molding of the tampon and may also include, if desirable, the
inwardly tapered end.
Both the large and smaller size tampons are inserted in
substantially the same type of apparatus as described for the
larger size, except the inserters for the smaller size are reduced
in size, preferably the diameter of these small size inserters are
substantially in the same proportions as the respective sizes of
tampons themselves.
Having thus described my invention I wish it understood that I do
not intend to be limited strictly to all the details set forth but
only to such extend as required by the prior art and as defined by
the appended claims.
* * * * *