Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1.037ZO~
The invention relates to an applicator made of a
resilient plastically deformable material, such as paper or
the like, for a substantially cylindrical menstruation tam- -
pon, comprising an applicator casing and a tampon-ejecting
element slidable therein, the rear end of the ejecting
element extending out of the rear end of the applicator i-
casing by a length substantially corresponding to that of
the tampon, and the ejecting end disposed inside the casing
bearing against that end of the tampon having a withdrawal
string substantially enclosed by the applicator casing.
In applicators of the kind specified the inside
; cross-section of the applicator casing is somewhat larger
than the outside diameter of the tampon, comprising as a ;
rule a fleece of cotton wool coiled on itself and then press- ~-~
ed radially into a substantially cylindrical final shape, so
that the user can readily introduce the tampon, even if it
should have expanded to some extent due to climatic factors.
.
l~owever, in certain climatic conditions the tampon does not
expand in this way so that after the removal of the packing
and possibly before the tampon has been used it may drop out
of the applicator casing, due to the clearance between the
tampon and the applicator casing inner wall.
The invention seeks to prevent this from happening
and provides an applicator for menstruation tampons which,
while maintaining the clearance between the tampon and the
applicator casing inner wall, makes the position of the tam-
pon in the axial direction secure even if the tampon does
not bear completely, due to after-expansion following its
manufacture, against the applicator casing inner wall, but
bears slightly displaceable there-against.
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~03720s
In a tubular tampon applicator with a clearance between itself and
a tampon comprising an applicator sleeve with an insertion end adapted to -:
carry a tampon therein and a rearward portion adapted to partially house a
tampon ejector, a tampon ejector housed within said rearward portion and
movable in said sleeve, the sleeve being provided with at least one flattened
radially inwardly directed dent portion at the insertion end and extending
between 4 and 8 mm in length in the direction towards the opposite end of
. the applicator sleeve and forming an angle of approximately 5 with the
longitudinal axis of the applicator sleeve, whereby the dent portion is
adapted to prevent the tampon from accidentally slipping out of the
applicator.
As a rule it is not to be expected that the tampon will slip out
towards the end opposite the introduction end, since it could do so only if
the ejecting element had already dropped out of the applicator casing.
. However,
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this would presuppose that the user holds the applicator exclusively by its
casing and at the ejection element is not secured in relation thereto. However,
as a further precaution against even this happening, the applicator according
to the invention has in known manner an ejecting element which bears against
the applicator casing inner wall with resilient, radially directed prestress-
ing, the sleeve-like ejecting element being preferably formed with a radially
inwardly directed recess extending over its length, The effect of the recess
; i9 that the wall of the sleeve-like ejecting element tends to expand substant-
ially radially and in this way bears against the applicator casing inner wall
with a prestressing high enough to fix the ejecting element axially in its
starting position, so that the tampon also is axially fixed on its side oppos-
ite the applicator casing introduction end. On the other hand, the prestress-
ing of the ejecting element is such that when using the applicator the user
~ can readily overcome the frictional forces caused by the prestressing,
: Preferably the overall cross-section of the introduction end of the
applicator casing is reduced. The cross_sectional reduction of the introduction
end of the applicator casing is formed by at least one flattened portion of
- the applicator casing wall in the zone of the introduction end of the applicator
casing. Conveniently the flattened portion of the applicator casing extends
from the introduction end in the direction of the opposite end of the applic-
ator casing over a portion which is short in relation to the length of the
applicator casing,
Very advantageously the flattened portion of the applicator casing
forms with its central longitudinal axis an acute angle tapering in the direct_
ion of the introduction end of the applicator casing. This construction in-
creases the resilience of the flattened portion.
The satisfactory moving out of the tampon is further assisted by the
feature that the flattened portion of the applicator casing is adapted to the
outline of the tampon.
One advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that
two flattened portions are disposed diagrammatically opposite one another at
the introduction end of the applicator casing.
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1~3720~
Independently of the aforementioned steps, or in combination there-
with, the tampon can be secured inside the applicator casing by the feature
that over its length enclosing the tampon, the applicator casing has at least
one indentation which is relatively short in relation to the length of the
tampon. The indentation can be of substantially plane shape or take the form
of an obtuse_angled V, viewed in longitudinal section.
Another advantage for manufacture is that both the applicator casing
and the ejecting element can be made from the identical tubular starting mat-
erial of identical diameter.
Embodiments of the invetion are show~ by way of example, in the
drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 shows an applicator containing a menstruation tampon.
; Figures 2 and 3 show in perspective the applicator casing and the
ejecting element of the applicator illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 4 shows part of an applicator casing formed with an indent-
ation,
Figure 5 is a section, taken along the line V in Figure 4, through
the applicator casing wall.
Figure 6 shows a variant of an indentation in part of an applicator
casing and
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section, taken along the line VII in Fig-
ure 6, through the indentation in the applicator casing shown in Figure 6.
~eferring to Figure 1, an applicator A, made of a resilient plastic-
ally deformable material, such as paper, is adapted to receive a substantially
cylindrical menstruation tampon 1, The applicator comprises an applicator
casing and a tampon-ejecting element 3 slidable therein. The ejecting element
3 extends by its rear end out of the rear end of the applicator casing by a
length substantiall~ corresponding to that of the tampon, while by its eject-
ing end, disposed inside the applicator casing, the ejecting element 3 bears
against that end of the tampon which has a withdrawal string la extending
through the sleeve-shaped ejecting element 3 and hanging down from its rear
end. The tampon 1 is substantially enclosed by applicator casing _ i.e., more
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~037Z(~S
particularly when the tampon has a rounded front end, the latter may project
slightly out of the applicator casing 2.
Referring to Figures 1 - 3, the internal cross-section of the appli-
cator casing introduction end is slightly smaller, in relation to the internal
cross-section of the length of the applicator casing which encloses the eject- ;
ing element 3. In the embodiment illustrated the reduction in cross-section
of the applicator casing introduction end is obtained by two flattened portions,
advantageously adapted to the outline of the tampon, in the wall of the applic-
-ator casing in the zone of its introduction end, only one flattened portion 2b
being shown in Figure 2, two flattened portions 2a, 2b being shown in Figure 2.
The drawings show that the flattened portions 2a, 2b of the applica- ~
tor casing extend from the introduction end in the direction of the opposite
end of the applicator casing only over a small length in relation to the leng- -
th of the casing. Nevertheless, the flattened portions fulfil their purpose,
since they bridge the clearance between the outer periphery of the tampon and
the applicator casing inner wall to prevent accidental axial movement of the
tamponJ which may lead to its completely sliding out of the casing, by the sub-
stantially point-like bearing of the flattened portions 2a, 2b either in the
transition zone between the front end face and the cyclindrical generated sur-
face of the tampon, or only on the latter surface.
.~ore particularly Figure 2 shows how the flattened portions 2a, 2b
of the applicator casing form with its central longitudinal axis an acute
angleJ for example between 2 and 15, preferably 5, tapering in the
direction of the introduction end.
This can also be seen in the widening of the flattened portions in
the direction of the introduction end. This ensures that the tampons of dif-
ferent diameter can be secured against axial movement by the flattened portions
2a, 2b. Furthermore, the gradual transition of the cylindric~l applicator cas-
ing wall into the diametrically opposite flattened portions enables the tam-
pon to slide unimpeded therealong, so that the fibrous structure remains sat-
isfactorily preserved on the periphery of the tampon, even though it is secur-
ed against axial displacement by the flattened portion.
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1037ZOS
The sleeve-shaped ejecting element 3 is formed with a longitud-
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inally extending groove or channel-shaped recess 3a. The recess is so shaped
that it tends to be flattened when the internal cross-section of the applicator
- casing increases, so that in this way the ejecting element always bears with
resilient, radially directed prestressing, against the applicator casing inner
wall The resulting frictional force operative between the ejecting element
and -the applicator casing is enough to fix the ejecting element axially in the
position illustrated in Figure 1, so that the ejecting element cannot slide
or drop out of the applicator casing even if it is held with the ejecting
element downwaras. As a result the ta~pon 1 is also axially fixed in its
position towaras the siae opposite the introduction end. On the other hand,
the frictional forces bet~reen the ejecting element ana the applicator casing
2 are such that the user can readily eject tne tampon by pressing her finger
on the ejecting element.
Of course the ejecting element can also if necessary be formea
~fith a number of recesses or ribs, but on condition that in any case the
e~ecting element bears with radial prestressing against the applicator casing
inner wall to fix both the ejecting element and the tampon.
Figures 4 and 5 sho~r an applicator casing 4 formea with an
indentation 4a disposed at a distance from the applicator casing ejection
end on the longitudinal zone enclosing the tampon (not shown). ~he indentation
4a extends further in the longitudinal direction of the applicator casing than
in the peripheral direction. Of course, other similar indentations might be
providea in the longitudinal direction distributed over the casing periphery.
As shown in Figure 5, the indentation is substantially plane thus ensuring
that the applicator casing bears gently against the tampon.
Figure 6 shows an applicator casing 5 formed with an indentation
6 which~ as shown in Figure 7, corresponds in longitudinal section to an
obtuse-angled V, thus ensuring that in this case also the indentation bears
gently against the tampon.
0~` course, the flatten~d portion of the applicator casing
introduction end can be combinea with the indentations in the appiicatOr
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~03qZO~ :
casing. Moreover, while retaining the shape of the applicator casing, one
or more thin resilient strip elements or similar elements, for instance,
made of paper and acting after the fashion of wedges can be provided on the
- inside of the applicator casing in the zone of the introduction end. In any
case it is essential for the tampon to be fixed axially by means which are
associated with the applicator casing and substantially make it impossible
for the tampon to get damaged, for instance, by the roughening of its fibrous
structure, with the consequent risk of fibres becoming detached ~hen the
tampon is introduced.
10The applicator also has the advantage that both tne ejecting
element and the applicator casing can be made from an identical tubular
- starting material of identical diameter, thus substantially reducing the
manufacturing costs of the applicator.
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