Soft, flexible composition and method for making same
First Claim
1. A method for making a tampon applicator barrel having a soft, flexible supporting structure comprising the steps of:
- providing an elastomeric composition with at least two styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers;
melting said elastomeric composition thereby forming a melted resin;
extruding said melted resin into a plurality of soft pellets;
dry blending said plurality of soft pellets with a plurality of pellets comprising low density polyethylene to form a pellet mixture;
melting said pellet mixture to form a polymeric compound; and
molding said polymeric compound to a desired shape to form the tampon applicator barrel.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided a composition comprising a unique polymeric compound that provides a soft, flexible product. There is also provided a unique polymeric tampon applicator that is soft and flexible. When used as a tampon applicator barrel, the barrel is more comfortable and has improved ease of insertion. The polymeric compound primarily comprises a thermoplastic resin and a block copolymer that exhibit unique load, energy and modulus of elasticity properties. The polymeric compound should also include a plasticizer and a compatibilizer/flow modifier, and may include a slip/mold release agent, an antioxidant, and even a pigment. There is also provided a method for making the polymeric compound that will be formed into a product, such as an applicator or applicator barrel in which all of the above ingredients, except for the thermoplastic resin, are combined and formed into soft pellets. The soft resin pellets are then dry blended with pellets of the thermoplastic resin. The mixture of the thermoplastic resin pellets and the soft resin pellets are then melted and injection molded into the desired shape. There is thus provided a method of making a soft, polymeric tampon applicator or tampon applicator barrel.
32 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for making a tampon applicator barrel having a soft, flexible supporting structure comprising the steps of:
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providing an elastomeric composition with at least two styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers; melting said elastomeric composition thereby forming a melted resin; extruding said melted resin into a plurality of soft pellets; dry blending said plurality of soft pellets with a plurality of pellets comprising low density polyethylene to form a pellet mixture; melting said pellet mixture to form a polymeric compound; and molding said polymeric compound to a desired shape to form the tampon applicator barrel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification