TUBULAR PLASTIC INSERTER FOR TAMPONS

• US 3,699,962 A
• Filed: 10/28/1970
• Issued: 10/24/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David E. Hanke
• Original Assignee: David E. Hanke
• Inventors: Hanke, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trapp, Lawrence W.
• Application Number:
  US05/084,580
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 128/260,263,264,270
• US Class Current: 604/18
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/26 Means for inserting tampons , i.e. applicators

Abstract

A plastic inserter for tampons consisting of inner and outer telescoping tubular members which are releasably interlocked against axial movement in both directions by mating configurations on the inner wall of the outer tube and the outer wall of the inner tube. One of the tubular members, preferably the outer member is made of a firm plastic, while the other member, is made of softer, less rigid plastic which more readily undergoes elastic deformation than the firm plastic whereby smooth disengagement of the interlocked tubes results when axial force is applied to the trailing end of the inner tube member by the user in order to release the interlock and eject the contents of the outer tube member.

Claims

1. In an applicator comprising an outer plastic tube adapted to contain a tampon device, and an inner plastic tube telescopically disposed within said outer tube for longitudinal movement therein and wherein said tubes are temporarily interlocked against bidirectional longitudinal movement by an annular channel portion on one tube mated with an annular rib portion on the other tube, the improvement wherein at least one of said tubes comprises a plastic which is firmer than the plastic utilized in the other of said tubes whereby the application of axial force permits the mated portion of the other of said tubes to undergo elastic deformation more readily than does the mated portion of the tube made from said firmer plastic.

2. The applicator of claim 1 wherein said more readily deformable tube is said inner tube.

3. The applicator of claim 2 wherein said outer tube has a segmented, tapered, leading end.

4. In an applicator comprising an outer plastic tube adapted to contain a tampon device, and an inner plastic tube telescopically disposed within said outer tube for longitudinal movement therein and wherein said tubes are temporarily interlocked against bidirectional longitudinal movement by an annular channel portion on one tube mated with an annular rib portion on the other tube, the improvement wherein at least one of said tubes comprises a firm flexible plastic selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, high density polyethylene, semi-rigid polyvinyl chloride, high impact polystyrene, hydroxypropyl cellulose, nylon, polyacetal, polymethyl methacrylate, ABS copolymers and polyethylene oxide, and the other of said tubes comprises a softer more easily deformable plastic selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene and plasticized polyvinyl chloride whereby the mated portion of said tube made from said softer plastic undergoes elastic deformation more readily upon application of axial force than does the mated portion of the tube made from said firm plastic.

5. The applicator of claim 4 wherein the tube comprised of said firm plastic is the outeR tube.

6. The applicator of claim 5 wherein said outer tube has a segmented, tapered, leading end.

7. The applicator of claim 1 wherein said ribs protrude from about 0.005 inch to about 0.050 inch.

8. The applicator of claim 1 wherein the axial force necessary to disengage said temporary interlock is from about 100 to 600 grams.

9. The applicator of claim 1 wherein the axial force necessary to disengage said temporary interlock is about 400 grams.