Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1040352
. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known that absorbent tampons made of soft,
low density, relatively uncompressed and deformable
I materials, and especially of resiliently deformable
J materials such as hydrophilic or mensesphilic polyurethane
foams provide high absorbent capacity for menstrual exudate
and tend to minimize early leakage. This is attributed to
the fact that low density materials are in their most
effective absorbent state from the start and do not have
to be acted upon, or depend on expansion activating agents,
to expand to useful size. In addition., low density
materials have surface areas which more readily accept
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104Q352
exudate than do the hardened surface areas of conventional
compressed tampons. Further when low density materials
which additionally have an inherent springy resiliency
are employed they conform readily to the multiple irregular
folds, ridges and valleys of the vaginal walls when the
walls are in their normal collapsed state. In so conform-
ing, the deformable material forms obstructions to the flow
of fluid, thus reducing the possibilities for bypass leakage
through unobstructed channels. While high pressures
exerted by the walls on any particular portion of the
resilient material will tend to compress the material in
that particular area, immediately adjacent wall areas which
exert lesser pressure compre~s the deformable and resilient
material correspondlngly less, and the tendency of the
material to expand to its normal uncompressed condition,
helps the material fill any voids which exist.
This inventlon i~ directed to tampons made from
such deformable material~, ln partlcular to reslllently
teformable materials, and to the combination of such
tampon~ with an inserter designed to hold the tampons in
temporary deformed condition for delivery into the vagina
in a form which permits the tampon to re-expand from its
! temporarily deformed condition after delivery.
SUMMARY OP THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to resiliently
deformable tampon~ made from thin flexible and absorbent
~heet material and a cooperating inserter which maintains
the tampon in a resiliently deformed condition and of a
size suitable for insertion and delivery into the vagina
in a form which permit~ the tampon to re-expand within
the vaglna after delivery. By resiliently deformahle is
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~040352
mean a material which in its dry condition readily
deforms under relatively light loads and when such loads
are removed returns to its uncompressed condition without
the need for mechanical or chemical assistance. Particularly
~uitable materials for this purpose are hydrophilic poly-
urethane foams.
In general, suitable tampons are made from
resiliently deformable sheet material in the form of either
a single thin sheet or multiple thin strips assembled in a
manner which permits the tampon to be draped or downwardly
folded over an elongate supporting and delivery member.
While thus supported, the draped or downwardly folded
tampon is resiliently compressed radially, by virtue of
the fact that the internally supported tampon i9 glid
lnto a tubular member of restricted diameter and of a size
i ~uitable for vaginal insertion. ln use, the tubular member
containing the resiliently deformed anA temporarily com-
pros~ed tampon i~ inserted into the vagina to the desired
depth and the elongate ~upporting member i8 ~litably
advanced in the tubular member to e~ect the tampon out
of the restricting tubular member and into the vaginal
cavity. When the resiliently deformed tampon is slid
free of the restricting tubular member it is free to
expand within the cavity to the extent that its own
resilience and the dimensions of the cavity permit.
The tampon a~sembly may ~e comprised of a pla$n
sh-et, a plurality of centrally crossed strips with the
ond~ radiating outward in ~paced array from the central
cro~sover area, a flat strip formed in the shape of a loop
which is flattened and folded into a W-configuration, or a
rectangular ~heet first folded longitudinally on itself
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d then transversely into an inverted V-shape. ~any other shapes are
poss~ble.
The important consideration is that the assembled tampon be capable
of being resiliently deformed inside a restricting tubular memher in an
inverted U-shape or cup-like shape which provides an internal vertex inside
the head of the thus deformed tampon to receive and be positively supported
at said vertex by the leading end of an elongate inner support member. The
support member serves to push the head portion of the tampon out of the
tubular member into the vagina while drawing the remaining downwardly folded
trailing portion of the tampon out of the tubular restraining member for
resilient deposition within the vagina in relatively uncompressed condition.
~ hus, the present invention is directed to the combination of a
catamenlal tampon and an inserter therefor in which the tampon is comprised
of resilient absorbent material which easily compresses under light loads
and tends to return to an uncompressed state when such loads are removed, the
ma~erial further being of such nature that once the material i9 compresged
a reatraining means is required to maintain the material in such compressed
; state, the improvement wherein the tampon is made from thin sheets of
resiliently deformable material which material in flat or multifolded form
20 i8 draped over and downwardly folded around an elongate support member positioned
at the approximate geometric center of the material to form a downwardly folded
tampon body; the geometric center providing an internal vertex within the
downwardly folded tampon against which the leading end of the support member
is disposed; the tampon comprised of the downwardly folded materia] and
associated with the centrally disposed support member being compressively
enclosed by and in slidable association with an encircling restraining member;
the restraining member comprising an elongated tubular element adapted for
insertion into the vaginal cavity and the support member being adapted to push
against the internal vertex of the tampon while drawing the downwardly folded
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7 ~!ling portion of the tampon free of the restraining member and into the
cavity after such insertion, enabling the tampon when free of the restraining
member to expand in the cavity wherever the internal dimension of the cavity
permits such expansion.
Other embodiments and advantages of the invention will become
apparent by reference to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a tampon in accordance
with thls invention.
FIG. 2 i8 a section taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a section similar to FIG. 2 but showing another strip
construction.
FIG. 4 is a side view partially cut away of the FIG. 1 tampon ln
a~sociation with sultable inserter members and illustrating the fir~t step
ln a~sembling the tampon and inserter device.
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PIG. 5 i8 a side view similar to PIG. 4 showing
the tampon partially introduced into the outer tubular
member of the inserter device.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the tampon fulIy disposed
WJ thin the inserter device.
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section of FIG. 6.
FIGS: 8-10 are several views of another embodLment
of a tampon made in accordance with this invention.
FIGS. 11-13 are several views of still another
tampon in accordance with this lnvention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
_ _
The plan view of FIG. 1 illustrates a tampon 10
made of a multiplicity of thLn strips 12, 13 and 14 of
absorbent resilient material crossing each other at their
geometric center 15 with the free ends of the strips
radlating from the center at substantially equally spaced
intervals. The strips 12, 13 and 14 are secured together
at the crossover area by a suitable withdrawal strin~ 17.
The strips are preferably made of hydrophilic polyurethane
foam as illustrated in the sectional view of FIG. 2. The
strlps 12-14 may be a single thickness as shown at 12 in
FIG. 2 or multiple thicknessas 12a as shown in PIG. 3.
The strips may be used without a strengthening cover as
shown in FIG. 2 or may be enclosed in a loose-fitting,
non-restricting fluid pervious wrap 16 as shown in FIG. 3.
Such wrap may be woven or non-woven, and may also be
hydrophilic or hydrophobic. In addition to reinforcing
the foam the wrapper reduces the potent~al frlctional
contact between the resiliently deformed tampon and the
outer tubular member, as compared to uncovered foam, and
thus permit~ easier e~ection from the tampon delivery system.
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~he foam may also be internally reinforced with
a light scrim fabric if desired.
FIG. 4 illustrates a preliminary step which may
be used in the assembly of tampon and inserter device.
~8 ~hown therein, an elongate outer tube member 18 which
will restrictively contain the tampon is positioned over
the geometric center 15 of the unrestrained tampon 10.
The leading end 19 of an elongate support member 20,
comprised of a lower portion 22 dimensioned for slidable
association with outer tube element 18 and an upper rod-
like portion 21 comprised of smaller diameter frontal
extension, is centrally positioned under center 15 of
tampon 10, with withdrawal string 17 threaded through
the hollow center of support member 20.
When support member 20 ls advanced in the
dlrection indicated by the arrow, tampon 10 is stuffed
into the restricted confines of outer tube 18 and belng
of a resilient nature i8 maintained therein in resiliently
deformed condition, particularly in the radial dlrectlon,
FIG. 5 ~hows the tampon 10 partially pushed into
outer tube 18.
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the tampon and inserter
in fully assqmbled condition. As shown therein, outer
tube 18 is open-ended at its forward end 25. Since tampon
10 is of resiliently deformable material, the head portion
of tampon 10 which extends beyond forward end 25 of tube
18 trys to expand to ~ts uncompressed condition and forms
a bulbous tip somewhat as shown. Full expansion of the
head portion is not obtained because the remaining
trailing portion of the tampon is still restricted and
compres~ed inside of tube 18. However, the head portion
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or leading end of the tampon is partially successful in
expand$ng, and in so doing forms a soft bulbous nose which
i8 comfortable to insert and also performs the additionally
useful function of swabhing any residual menstrual fluid
from the vagina as it is inserted. This swabbing action
removes one of the causes of early tampon failure often
ascribed to leaka~e.
It i8 understood that alternatively, the outer
tube 18 may be made long enough to contain the entire length
of the folded tampon in which case none of the tampon would
protrude. Such an arrangement is considered more hygienic
by some users. In any event, outer tube 18 must be of such
length that when the tampon-inserter combination i8 assembled,
at least some part of the tampon remains resiliently deformed
within the tube before delivery.
When the tampon 10 is resiliently deformed within
outer tube member 18 it i9 in the form of an inverted cup-
; like, or test tube-like, shape having an internal vertex 28
at its geometric center. When introduced into the vagina,
the t~mpon will substantially retaln an inverted cup-llke
configuration even though it is trying to return to its
orlginal unrestrained flat form, because the re~tricted
dimension and internal pressure of the vagina will confine
the tampon and prevent complete expansion. As the free
ends of the strips try to expand becau~e of the inherent
resilience of the strip structure they press against the
vaglnal walls and substantially conform to the contours
thereof, whereby side channel leakage is minimized. In
addltion, the central strip-crossing area which forms
the head of the tampon will be disposedclo3e or ad~acent
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to the cervix thus placing the maximum thic~ness of the
tampon in an area where the initial menstrual discharge
takes place and where optimum absorbent capacity is most
needed. Because the individual strips are thin, soft and
easily deformable, no difficulties have been found in
removing this style tampon even though the uncompressed
tampon has considerable bulk.
In FIGS; 8-10 there is shown another embodiment
of a suitable tampon made in accordance with this invention.
This tampon is comprised of a single thin strip 30 of
resiliently deformable material. The strip 30 is made
into a tampon by first forming it into a loop with over-
lapped ends 31 and fastening the overlapped ends together
with withdrawal string 37. The thus-formed loop is then
flattened, and the flattened loop further formed into a
W-configuration as shown in FIG. 10. The inner vertex
of the central point in the W forms the support area which
is in contact with the leading end 15 of the frontal
extension of elongate support member 20. The inner vertex
20 i8 the polnt at which internal pushlng force is applied
for the purpose of assembllng the tampon-inserter combina-
tion, and also for ejecting the tampon during use.
Whlle withdrawal string 37 is shown as penetrating
the upper portion of the tampon loop and securing both top
and bottom portions together, the withdrawal string may be
u~ed to secure the overlap area only in which case the
inner layer of the W is capable of everting during with-
drawal to make withdrawal relatively easier.
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In FIGS. 11 - 13 ~tlll another embod~ment of
a suitable tampon made in accordance with this invention.
This tampon is comprised of a flat rectangular sheet 40
of resiliently deformable material with a withdrawal
string 47 attached at one corner. In forming the tampon,
sheet 40 is folded twice in a longitudinal direction as
shown in FIG. ~2 and then once transversely into an
inverted U-shape as shown in PIG. 13. The interior of
the inverted U at 45 thus forms the internal vertex
where it will be supported by leading end l5a of elongate
support member 20a. As shown in this embodiment, elongate
support member 20a is comprised of a solid frontal exten-
sion 21a and a hollow lower portion 22a, rather than being
hollow through its entire length. In this version of the
support member an aperture 46 is provided at the base of
frontal extension 20a to accommodate withdrawal string 47.
While the drawlngs show several preferred
emboaiments of the tampon-inserter comblnation o~ thls
lnventlon, it will be readily seen that other sultAble
tampon configuratlons may be used. An important consldera-
tlGn 18 that the tampon be made of thin sheet material
whlch ls reslliently deformable, and that the deformable
sheet material be capable of being formed into an inverted
cup-shape or U shape provided wlth an inverted vertex
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suitable to recelve an lnner support member a~ descrlbed
hereln.
The insertion dev~ce may be made of any sultable
flexlble material wlth sufficient rigidity to perform the
neces~ary functions of containment and ejection. A
preferred materlal is a thermoplastic synthetic material
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1~4~)352
such a~ polypropylene or polyethylene. Other plastics such
as nylon, polyesters and polyvinyls may also be used but
generally are not as economically acceptable because of
higher fabricating and material costs. Paperboard
elements may also be employed.
While in the preferred embodiments described
in the specification and shown in the drawings, the outer
tube element 18 of the inserter device is shown as an
open-ended tube, it is understood that the outer tube
element may have a substantially closed end of the type
now being marketed in which the forward end of the tube
comprises a plurality of juxtaposed petal-like flexible
segments which open outward when the tampon is ejected
therefrom. This type of inserter will not provide the
~wabbing action which the open-ended tube structure
permlts but is considered by some users to be more
hygienlc. In any event, when comblned with an inner
~upport element as herein descrlbed, thls closed end
type of outer tube 18 al80 sultable for use ln the
lnventlon.
This application is a division of co-pending
Canadlan Patent Application Serial No. 254,034, filed on
June 3, 1976.
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