Menstrual cup

• US 5,827,248 A
• Filed: 11/18/1993
• Issued: 10/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keeper Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Keeper Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Crawford, Lou H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Polutta, Mark O.
• Application Number:
  US08/154,344
• Time in Patent Office: 1,804 Days
• Field of Search: 128/837-841, 604/327-330, 604/335, 251/4, 251/342
• US Class Current: 604/328
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/4553 placed in the vagina, e.g. for catamenial use pessaries A61F6/08; absorbent cups A61F13/2045

Abstract

A catamenial device in the form of a menstrual cup. The menstrual cup is an integral one-piece structure formed of soft, resilient, fluid-proof material. The menstrual cup comprises a hollow body having open upper and lower ends. The body is symmetrical about its long axis, is of circular transverse cross-section throughout its length, and is approximately parabolic in cross section taken along a plane in which its long axis lies. The body, adjacent its open upper end has an external, outwardly extending, annular, rim arrangement adapted to engage the vaginal wall to prevent by-pass leakage. The device has a plurality of small pressure equalizing perforations formed in and evenly spaced about the body adjacent the rim arrangement. A tubular withdrawal extension projects from the lower end of the body and is substantially coaxial therewith. The withdrawal extension has a closable drainage passage therethrough communicating with the open lower end of the body.

Claims

1. A menstrual cup, for use in the vagina comprising a body having a hollow interior, an open upper end and a lower end, said body being of circular transverse cross section throughout its length, an annular exterior rim means surrounding said body adjacent said open upper end for engaging the vagina wall to prevent bypass leakage, an elongated extension on said body projecting from said lower end thereof, said extension comprising a removal device for said menstrual cup, said extension being tubular and having a longitudinal passage therein, said lower body end having an opening providing communication between said hollow interior of said body and said extension passage, means for normally closing said extension passage, said closing means being manually manipulable to an open state for opening said extension passage, whereby said menstrual cup can be drained of fluid without removal from the vagina.

2. The menstrual cup claimed in claim 1 wherein said menstrual cup and said extension comprise an integral, one-piece structure of soft, resilient, fluid-proof material suitable for use within the body.

4. The menstrual cup claimed in claim 1 wherein said extension has an upper end at the juncture of said extension and said lower end of said body, said extension having a lower free end, said means for closing said extension passage comprising a plug removably insertable within said passage at said free end of said extension.

5. The menstrual cup claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for closing said extension passage comprises a resilient clamp means surrounding said extension, said clamp means having two sides configured to engage and pinch said extension closing said passage therein, said clamp having ends manually shiftable toward each other to bulge said clamp sides away from each other and open said extension passage.

6. The menstrual cup claimed in claim 1 wherein said extension has an upper end at the juncture of said extension and said lower end of said body, said extension having a lower free end, said longitudinal passage in said extension terminating short of said free end, said free end of said extension being closed, said closed free end having a normally closed slit formed therein and communicating with said passage, said free end of said extension being manually distortable to open said slit whereby to permit drainage of fluid from said menstrual cup through said extension passage and slit.

7. The menstrual cup claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for closing said extension passage comprises a planar closure member of resilient material and having top and bottom surfaces, longitudinal sides and ends, said top and bottom surfaces forming edges with said sides and ends, said edges being rounded, said closure member having a central perforation extending through its top and bottom surfaces, said perforation being elongated in a direction parallel to said sides;

said closure member being mounted on said menstrual cup extension, said extension passing through said perforation in said closure member, said closure member perforation having a length and a width such that said menstrual cup extension passing therethrough is flattened therein and said extension passage is closed, said ends of said resilient closure member being manually shiftable toward each other widening said closure member perforation and opening said extension passage.

8. The menstrual cup claimed in claim 2 wherein said menstrual cup and extension are molded of food grade gum rubber.

9. The menstrual cup claimed in claim 4 including a filament, said filament having a first end attached to said free end of said extension, said filament having a second end attached to said plug, said plug being captive with respect to said menstrual cup.

10. The menstrual cup claimed in claim 5 wherein said clamp is adhesively affixed to said extension.

11. The menstrual cup claimed in claim 6 wherein said closed free end of said extension is flattened.

12. The menstrual cup claimed in claim 6 wherein said closed free end of said extension is rounded.

13. The menstrual cup claimed in claim 7 wherein said closure member has a peripheral configuration from the class consisting of oval and obround.

14. The menstrual cup claimed in claim 7 wherein said closure member is adhesively affixed to said extension.

3. The menstrual cup claimed in clam 1 wherein said extension has an upper end at the juncture of said extension and said lower end of said body, said extension having a lower free end, a first piece of hook and loop-type tape being affixed to said extension at the upper end thereof, a second piece of hook and loop-type tape being affixed to said extension at said lower free end thereof and aligned with said first tape piece, one of said first and second tape pieces being of the hook-type and the other of said tape pieces being of the loop type, said extension being foldable upon itself to close said passage therein, and said first and second tape pieces being so located on said extension as to releasably maintain said extension in said folded condition.