U.S. patent number RE28,674 [Application Number 05/405,766] was granted by the patent office on 1976-01-06 for catamenial device.
Invention is credited to Linda S. Guyette.
United States Patent |
RE28,674 |
Guyette |
January 6, 1976 |
Catamenial device
Abstract
An improvement in a tampon for absorbing menstrual fluids in
which a capillary wick of non-absorbing material extends into the
interior body of the tampon. The wick acts as a capillary transport
to carry fluids to the core of the tampon body, thus using the
absorptive capacity of the unexposed cotton.
Inventors: |
Guyette; Linda S. (Rutland,
VT) |
Family
ID: |
26814338 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/405,766 |
Filed: |
October 12, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
116531 |
Feb 18, 1971 |
03732866 |
May 15, 1973 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/379; 604/371;
604/377; 604/904 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
13/2051 (20130101); A61F 13/34 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
13/20 (20060101); A61f 013/20 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/270,285,296,263 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Medbery; Aldrich F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kenway & Jenney
Claims
I claim:
1. A rolled cylindrical tampon .Iadd.having means for conducting
body fluid to the interior thereof, said tampon .Iaddend.comprising
a first sheet of absorbent material, .Iadd.and .Iaddend.a second
sheet of .[.non-absorbtive.]. .Iadd.relatively non-absorbent
wick-like .Iaddend.synthetic woven material superimposed on one
face of said first sheet and extending beyond at least one edge of
said first sheet.Iadd., said first and second sheets being rolled
into a cylinder having its outer cylindrical surface formed by a
portion of said first sheet and having the non-extending portion of
said second sheet disposed entirely within said outer surface,
.Iaddend. .[.whereby.]. .Iadd.so that .Iaddend.upon rolling said
.[.sheet.]. .Iadd.sheets .Iaddend.into a cylinder said second sheet
.[.will act as.]. .Iadd.forms .Iaddend.a spiral wick to the
interior of said cylinder. .Iadd. 2. In an intravaginal tampon, the
combination of first means for absorbing menstrual fluid and having
an outer body of material absorbent to such fluid and with top and
bottom ends, and second means for transporting menstrual fluid from
said top end of said tampon body directly into the interior of said
body, said second means comprising a relatively non-absorptive wick
element disposed within and in contact with the interior of said
outer body and extending from said top end thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd.
3. In a tampon as defined in claim 2, the further improvement
wherein said wick element is constructed of a material
substantially nonabsorbent to such menstrual fluid. .Iaddend..Iadd.
4. In a tampon as defined in claim 3, the further improvement
wherein said wick element is structured to pass menstrual fluid
therethrough by capillary action. .Iaddend..Iadd. 5. In a tampon as
defined in claim 4, the further improvement in which said wick
element is a woven synthetic material having interstices which form
capillary avenues for transportation of such menstrual fluid.
.Iaddend. .Iadd. 6. In a tampon as defined in claim 2, the further
improvement wherein said wick element protrudes beyond said body of
absorbent material at said top end thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd. 7. In a
tampon as defined in claim 6, the further improvement wherein said
wick element is constructed of a material substantially
nonabsorbent to such menstrual fluid. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. In a
tampon as defined in claim 7, the further improvement wherein said
wick element is structured to pass menstrual fluid therethrough by
capillary action. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. In a tampon as defined in
claim 8, the further improvement in which said wick element is a
woven synthetic material having interstices which form capillary
avenues for transportation of such menstrual fluid. .Iaddend..Iadd.
10. In a tampon as defined in claim 2, the further improvement
wherein said wick element extends within the interior of said body
from the top end thereof in the direction toward, but only part of
the distance to, the bottom end thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 11. An
intravaginal catamenial tampon comprising
A. an outer member including a body of material absorbent to
menstrual fluids, and having opposed top and bottom ends and
outside surfaces therebetween, and
B. an inner member including a relatively nonabsorbent
fluid-transporting element for carrying menstrual fluids to the
interior of said body from said top end thereof, said transporting
element being in contact with said body and disposed within the
interior of said body from said outside surfaces and extending from
only the top end thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. A tampon as defined
in claim 11 further characterized in that said transporting element
is of a material substantially nonabsorbent to such menstrual
fluids and is structured for transporting such fluid therethrough
by capillary action. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. A tampon according to
claim 12 further characterized in that said transporting element is
woven of synthetic material and has interstices which form
capillary menstrual fluid-transporting avenues. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
14. A tampon according to claim 11 further characterized in that
said transporting element protrudes beyond said body of absorbent
material at said top end thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. A tampon as
defined in claim 14, further characterized in that said
transporting element is of a material substantially nonabsorbent to
such menstrual fluids and is structured for transporting such fluid
therethrough by capillary action. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. A tampon
according to claim 15 further characterized in that said
transporting element is woven of synthetic material and has
interstices which form capillary menstrual fluid-transporting
avenues. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. A tampon according to claim 11 further
characterized in that said transporting element extends within the
interior of said body from the top end thereof in the direction
toward, but only part of the distance to, the bottom thereof.
.Iaddend.
Description
My invention relates to intravaginal catamenial devices and relates
more particularly to an improvement in such devices whereby they
are made much more effective as absorbing mediums for menstrual
fluids.
Devices in common use today come in a number of variants. However,
they all essentially comprise a compressed cylinder of cotton. The
cotton is preferably highly absorbent, but must be densely packed
for efficient use. The cotton cylinder is usually contained in a
rigid plastic applicator tube, although the structural integrity of
the cylindrical shape is dependent on the compressing process, and
not upon said tube.
When inserted in the vaginal cavity, a cord (stitched to the
cotton) extends therefrom, and provides the means for removal after
use. Appearance of menstrual blood on the cord is an indication to
the user that no further effective absorption can be expected from
the device. The need for its removal and replacement is thus
indicated.
I have found that a significant portion of the absorptive capacity
of the cotton is never used. After the top end of the dense cotton
cylinder has been wetted, the fluids run down along the outside
surface of the cylinder. The cotton, of course, absorbs the fluids,
but it is only the surface cotton (and then only to a limited
depth) that is actually effective. A significant portion of the
cotton at the core of the cylinder (as much as 40 percent to 60
percent) remains dry. This is for two basic reasons: the cotton is
densely packed; also once the surface is wet, the cotton is a poor
conducting medium for any further transfer of fluid to the center.
At this point, the indication for removal appears and the device,
only partially used, must be discarded.
I solve this problem by adding a transporting element to carry
menstrual fluids to the interior of the cotton cylinder whereby 90
percent or more of the cotton is effectively used, thus
significantly extending the life of each replacement.
For a complete understanding of my invention, refer to the
accompanying drawing in which
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the tampon as it appears before
compression, with the element of the invention added; and
FIG. 2 is the tampon after compression and ready for use.
Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a block of cotton
is provided in accordance with present practice. A removal cord 6
is stitched to the cotton mass on the back side (as shown). The
front side may be called the thread side. The thread side is the
surface which becomes the interior portion of the cylinder of FIG.
2.
To the thread side of the cotton I affix by stitching a capillary
wick 7. It will be appreciated that this device is mass produced;
the thread stitching, the cord 6 and the wick 7 are all affixed to
the cotton mass by suitable machinery in one pass. The wick 7 is
preferably made of a non-absorbing synthetic material which is
porous; the interstices form capillary avenues through which fluids
are transported. The wick 7 is flexible (as a fabric) and I have
found a wide variety of substances in the nylon or rayon class to
be effective. Certain fiber glass woven materials may also be used.
The important point is that the wick itself does not become
saturated by absorption, but continues to act as a capillary
transport delivering fluid to the interior cotton, where it is
absorbed and retained.
The wick 7 is positioned to extend beyond what will be the top end
of the tampon, while the bottom end stops before the lower edge of
the cotton block as shown.
When compressed, the completed tampon 8 is shown in FIG. 2. The
wick 7 extends in the order of one-fourth of an inch or so from the
top end of the tampon 8 and leads into the interior of the cotton
cylinder.
In use, the menstrual fluids are not only absorbed by the surface
cotton as is now the case, but they migrate from the top by
capillary action through the wick 7 into those interior portions of
the cotton that heretofore have remained dry. Thus the effective
capacity of the tampons now in general use is greatly
increased.
While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention for
purposes of illustration, it will be appreciated that the inventive
concept can easily be applied to any of a variety of tampons now on
the market. For example, the cotton block 5 may be in a wide range
of dimensions. In some cases the mass is rolled to form the final
cylindrical shape, in which case alternate layers of wick and
cotton are formed along a radial line of the cylinder. I have shown
a method of construction easily adapted to present production
techniques. However, the wick material could be introduced between
two layers of cotton, to make a "sandwich" which could then be
either rolled or crushed into final form. The particular method of
assembly may be chosen to suit the machinery which it is desired to
use. I therefore include all variations as will occur to persons
skilled in the art which are within the spirit and scope of the
following claims:
* * * * *