Tampon assembly

• US 10,383,775 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2016
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kathleen Edmunds
• Original Assignee: Kathleen Edmunds
• Inventors: Edmunds, Kathleen
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephens, Jacqueline F
• Application Number:
  US14/998,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20160193089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 60438517, 60438518, 604904
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0291 for uterus A61B10/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0074 Vaginal or cervical secretions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/2031 having depressions or elevations, e.g. dots, lines
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/2045 Cup-shaped type tampons non-absorbent catamenial cups A61F5/4553
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/208 having means for avoiding leakage, e.g. liquid impermeable withdrawal end A61F13/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/34 Means for withdrawing tampons , e.g. withdrawal strings

Abstract

A tampon assembly includes a substantially inflexible and relatively thin impermeable portion having two opposite side faces and an outer edge which is oval in shape and markedly oval in form so that the oval shape of the impermeable portion has a largest dimension as measured through the center of the impermeable portion and a smallest dimension as measured through the center of the impermeable portion, and the largest dimension is at least about 1.5 times the size of the smallest dimension. The assembly further includes an absorbent pad portion which is secured to one side face of the impermeable portion so that when the assembly is positioned within a user, the absorbent pad portion is positioned in a condition for absorbing fluids and the outer edge of the impermeable portion sealingly engages the walls of the vaginal canal.

Claims

1. A tampon assembly configured to be inserted and positioned in place for use along the length of the vaginal canal of a user and to be removed following use, the assembly comprising:

a thin saucer-shaped impermeable portion configured to be inserted within and extend along the length of a vaginal canal, wherein the impermeable portion has two opposite concave and convex side faces and has an outer edge which is oval in shape and markedly elongate in form so that the oval shape of the impermeable portion has a largest dimension as measured across the center of the impermeable portion and a smallest dimension as measured across the center of the impermeable portion, and the largest dimension is at least about 1.5 times the smallest dimension so as to provide the impermeable portion with a length which corresponds to the largest dimension of the oval shape; and

an absorbent portion secured to the concave side face of the impermeable portion and so that when the impermeable portion is inserted lengthwise into place, the largest dimension of the oval shape of the impermeable portion extends along the length of the vaginal canal, and the smallest dimension of the oval shape of the impermeable portion, by virtue of the size of the smallest dimension, facilitates the lengthwise movement of the impermeable portion into place without requiring that the impermeable portion be compressed across the smallest dimension during insertion or during removal, and the impermeable portion, with the absorbent portion secured thereto, is configured to be positionable into place so that the absorbent portion is in position to absorb fluids which exit the cervix; and

the impermeable portion possesses a degree of rigidity so that when the assembly is positioned into place for use, the assembly resists deformation; and

the absorbent portion is sized to fill the concave side face of the impermeable portion and to thereby enhance the fluid-absorbing capacity of the assembly;

wherein the absorbent portion is platen in shape and has an outer edge, and wherein the absorbent portion is positioned against the concave side face of the impermeable portion in a concentric relationship with the outer edge of the impermeable portion and possesses no part which extends outboard of the outer edge of the impermeable portion; and

wherein the impermeable portion includes an inwardly-directed lip which extends along the outer edge of the impermeable portion, and the absorbent portion is captured by the inwardly-directed lip.

2. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the largest dimension is about 2.0 times the smallest dimension.

3. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the outer edge of the impermeable portion is elliptical in shape.

4. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the outer edge of the impermeable portion is sized and configured to surround the cervix when the assembly is positioned into place.

5. The assembly as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for releasably securing the absorbent portion to the concave side face of the impermeable portion.

6. The assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein the means for releasably securing includes a hook and loop fastener including a hook-providing portion and a loop-providing portion, and one of the hook-providing portion and the loop-providing portion is attached to the impermeable portion and the other of the hook-providing portion and the loop-providing portion is attached to the absorbent portion.

7. The assembly as defined in claim 1 further comprising an amount of lubricant which is coated about the impermeable and absorbent portions.

8. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the absorbent portion has a side surface which faces away from the concave side face of the impermeable portion, and the side surface defines a concave indentation therein which is centrally disposed therein.

9. A tampon assembly configured to be inserted and positioned in place for use along the length of a vaginal canal and to be removed following use and configured to be positioned adjacent the cervix of a user, said assembly comprising:

a thin, saucer-shaped impermeable portion configured to be inserted and positioned within and extend along the length of the vaginal canal, wherein the impermeable portion has two opposite side faces wherein one of the side faces is concave in form and has an outer edge which is oval in shape and markedly elongate in form so that the oval shape of the impermeable portion has a largest dimension as measured across the center of the impermeable portion and a smallest dimension as measured through the center of the impermeable portion, and the largest dimension is at least about 1.5 times the size of the smallest dimension so as to provide the impermeable portion with a length which corresponds to the largest dimension of the oval shape; and

an absorbent pad portion which is secured to the one concave side face of the impermeable portion and so that when the impermeable portion is inserted lengthwise into place, the largest dimension of the oval shape of the impermeable portion extends along the length of the vaginal canal and the smallest dimension of the oval shape of the impermeable portion, by virtue of the size of the smallest dimension, facilitates the lengthwise movement of the impermeable portion into place without requiring that the impermeable portion be compressed across the smallest dimension during insertion or removal, and so that when the assembly is positioned into place for use, the absorbent pad portion is disposed between the cervix and the impermeable portion for absorbing fluids which exit the cervix; and

the impermeable portion is constructed of a material which provides the assembly with a degree of rigidity to resist deformation; and

the absorbent pad portion is sized to a fill the concave side face of the impermeable portion and to thereby enhance the fluid-absorbing capacity of the assembly;

wherein the absorbent pad portion is platen in shape and has an outer edge, and wherein the absorbent pad portion is positioned against the concave side face of the impermeable portion in a concentric relationship with the outer edge of the impermeable portion and possesses no part which extends outboard of the outer edge of the impermeable portion; and

wherein the impermeable portion includes an inwardly-directed lip which extends along the outer edge of the impermeable portion, and the absorbent portion is captured by the inwardly-directed lip.

10. The assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein the largest dimension is about 2.0 times the smallest dimension.

11. The assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein the outer edge of the impermeable portion is elliptical in shape.

12. The assembly as defined in claim 9 further comprising means for releasably securing the absorbent pad portion to the concave side face of the impermeable portion.

13. The assembly as defined in claim 9 further comprising an amount of lubricant which is coated about the impermeable and absorbent portions.

14. The assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein the impermeable portion includes a leading end which is configured to first enter the vaginal canal when the impermeable portion is inserted into place and an opposite trailing end, and the assembly further includes a cord which is securely attached to the impermeable portion adjacent the trailing end thereof for facilitating the removal of the assembly following use.

15. The assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein the absorbent pad portion has a side surface which faces away from the one side face of the impermeable portion, and the side surface defines a concave indentation therein which is centrally disposed therein.

16. A tampon assembly configured to be inserted and positioned into place for use along the length of a user'"'"'s vaginal canal having walls and to be removed following use and configured to be positioned adjacent the cervix to resist deformation of the vaginal canal walls or for collecting cervical cells for laboratory testing purposes the assembly comprising:

a thin, saucer-shaped impermeable portion configured to be inserted within and extend along the length of the vaginal canal and to engage the walls of the vaginal canal when inserted therein, wherein the impermeable portion has two opposite side faces wherein one of the side faces is concave in form and has an outer edge which is oval in shape and markedly elongate in form so that the oval shape of the impermeable portion has a largest dimension as measured across the center of the impermeable portion and a smallest dimension as measured across the center of the impermeable portion, and the largest dimension is at least about 1.5 times the size of the smallest dimension so as to provide the impermeable portion with a length which corresponds to the largest dimension of the oval shape; and

an absorbent pad portion which is secured to the one concave side face of the impermeable portion and so that when the impermeable portion is positioned into place for use, the absorbent pad portion is disposed between the cervix and the impermeable portion;

wherein the absorbent portion has a side surface which faces away from the one concave side face of the impermeable portion, and the side surface defines a concave indentation therein which is centrally disposed therein; and

wherein the impermeable portion includes a leading end which is configured to first enter the vaginal canal when the impermeable portion is inserted into place and an opposite trailing end so that when the impermeable portion is inserted lengthwise into place for use, the smallest dimension of the oval shape of the impermeable portion, by virtue of the size of the smallest dimension, facilitates the lengthwise movement of the impermeable portion without requiring that the impermeable portion be compressed across the smallest dimension during insertion or during removal and so that when the impermeable portion is positioned into place for use, the largest dimension of the oval shape of the impermeable portion extends along the length of the vaginal canal, and the assembly further includes a cord which is securely attached to the impermeable portion adjacent the trailing end thereof for facilitating the removal of the assembly following use; and

the impermeable portion provides the assembly with a degree of rigidity so that when the assembly is inserted into place for use, the assembly resists deformation; and

the absorbent pad portion is sized to fill the concave side face of the impermeable portion;

wherein the absorbent pad is platen in shape and has an outer edge, and wherein the absorbent pad portion is positioned against the concave side face of the impermeable portion in a concentric relationship with the outer edge of the impermeable portion and possesses no part which extends outboard of the outer edge of the impermeable portion; and

wherein the impermeable portion includes an inwardly-directed lip which extends along the outer edge of the impermeable portion, and the absorbent portion is captured by the inwardly-directed lip.

17. The assembly as defined in claim 16 further comprising means for releasably securing the absorbent pad portion to the concave side face of the impermeable portion.

18. A tampon assembly comprising:

a thin saucer-shaped impermeable portion having two opposite concave and convex side faces and having an outer edge which is oval in shape and markedly elongate in form so that the oval shape of the impermeable portion has a largest dimension as measured across the center of the impermeable portion and a smallest dimension as measured across the center of the impermeable portion, and the largest dimension is at least about 1.5 times the smallest dimension so as to provide the impermeable portion with a length which corresponds to the largest dimension of the oval shape; and

an absorbent portion secured to the concave side face of the impermeable portion; and

the impermeable portion being insertable lengthwise into place, and the smallest dimension of the oval shape of the impermeable portion, by virtue of the size of the smallest dimension, facilitates the lengthwise movement of the impermeable portion into place without requiring that the impermeable portion be compressed across the smallest dimension during insertion or during removal; and

the impermeable portion possesses a degree of rigidity so that when the assembly is positioned into place for use, the assembly resists deformation; and

the absorbent portion is sized to fill the concave side face of the impermeable portion and to thereby enhance the fluid-absorbing capacity of the assembly;

wherein the absorbent pad portion is platen in shape and has an outer edge, and wherein the absorbent portion is positioned against the concave side face of the impermeable portion in a concentric relationship with the outer edge of the impermeable portion and possesses no part which extends outboard of the outer edge of the impermeable portion; and

wherein the impermeable portion includes an inwardly-directed lip which extends along the outer edge of the impermeable portion, and the absorbent portion is captured by the inwardly-directed lip.