CA2488849A1 - Tampon applicator with improved fingergrip and method of making same - Google Patents

Tampon applicator with improved fingergrip and method of making same Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2488849A1
CA2488849A1 CA002488849A CA2488849A CA2488849A1 CA 2488849 A1 CA2488849 A1 CA 2488849A1 CA 002488849 A CA002488849 A CA 002488849A CA 2488849 A CA2488849 A CA 2488849A CA 2488849 A1 CA2488849 A1 CA 2488849A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
barrel
embossed
tampon applicator
gripping structure
gripping
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
CA002488849A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2488849C (en
Inventor
Michael L. Miller
Wayne D. Melvin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Playtex Products LLC
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2488849A1 publication Critical patent/CA2488849A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2488849C publication Critical patent/CA2488849C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/20—Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/20—Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor
    • A61F13/26—Means for inserting tampons, i.e. applicators
    • A61F13/266—Insertion devices, e.g. rods or plungers, separate from the tampon
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S604/00—Surgery
    • Y10S604/904—Tampons

Abstract

A tampon applicator barrel (12) having a fingergrip with one or more grippin g structures (18) that have an acute edge (32) for improved gripping. Preferably, the one or more gripping structures are one or more embossed rin g- like structures. Also provided is a method for forming the one or more gripping structures (8) on the applicator barrel (12). The method preferably includes forming at least one embossed ring-like structure (18) on the barre l (12) such that the radial compressive strength of the applicator barrel is n ot compromised.

Claims (20)

1. A tampon applicator barrel comprising a body having at least one embossed gripping structure with at least one acute edge.
2. The tampon applicator barrel of claim 1, wherein the at least one acute edge is formed between a substantially planar top portion and a substantially vertical sidewall depending from the substantially planar top portion.
3. The tampon applicator of claim 2, wherein the substantially vertical side wall is tapered toward the substantially planar top portion from about 0° to about 20°.
4. The tampon applicator barrel of claim 1, wherein the at least one embossed gripping structure has a height about 0.01 inches to about 0.1 inches.
5. The tampon applicator barrel of claim 1, wherein the at least one embossed gripping structure has a width about 0.03 inches to about 0.1 inches.
6. The tampon applicator barrel of claim 1, wherein the body comprises at least two embossed gripping structures.
7. The tampon applicator barrel of claim 6, wherein the at least two embossed gripping structures are spaced such that at least one finger-accepting gripping surface is formed between the at least two embossed gripping structures.
8. The tampon applicator barrel of claim 7, wherein the at least one finger-accepting gripping surface comprises at least one additional gripping structure.
9 9. The tampon applicator barrel of claim 7, wherein the at least one additional gripping structure is selected from the group consisting of one or more abrasive materials, embossments, grooves, high wet coefficient of friction materials, lances, pressure sensitive adhesives, protuberances, slits, treads, and any combinations thereof.
10. The tampon applicator barrel of claim 7, wherein the at least one additional gripping structure is formed in one or more shapes selected from the group consisting of arc, circle, concave, cone, convex, diamond, line, oval, polygon, rectangle, rib, square, triangle, and any combinations thereof.
11. The tampon applicator barrel of claim 1, wherein the barrel is coated with a material selected from the group consisting of cellophane, cellulose, epoxy, lacquer, nitrocellulose, nylon, plastic, polyester, polyolefin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, silicone, wax, and any combinations thereof.
12. The tampon applicator barrel of claim 1, wherein the barrel is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of biopolymer, cardboard, heat shrink, paper, paper laminate, cardboard laminate, paper slurry, plastic, plastic tubing, pulp-molded paper, and any combinations thereof.
13. A process for forming at least one embossed gripping structure on a tampon applicator barrel comprising the steps of:
(a) forming at least one embossment above an external surface of the barrel, wherein a weakened region is formed on the barrel; and (b) applying an axial force to a plunger-receiving end of the barrel, wherein the at least one embossment folds back upon itself at the weakened region forming at least one raised gripping structure.
14. The process of claim 13, wherein the at least one embossment in step (a) is a plurality of individual embossments aligned circumferentially in substantially a row.
15. The process of claim 13, further comprising prior to step (a), the steps of loading a mandrel in the barrel, and contacting the barrel loaded with the mandrel with a pressure wheel, wherein the pressure wheel applies a downward force on the barrel surface.
16. The process of claim 13, wherein the at least one embossed gripping structure is at least one ring-like gripping structure.
17. The process of claim 13, wherein the barrel has an increased radial compressive strength at the one or more embossed raised gripping structures.
18. A process for forming at least one embossed gripping structure and a tapered petal tip on a tampon applicator barrel comprising the steps of:
(a) forming at least one embossment above an external surface of the barrel, wherein a weakened region is formed on the barrel;
(b) loading the embossed barrel at a plunger-receiving end of the barrel with a mandrel;
(c) loading a petal tip of the embossed barrel into a petal former;
and (d) applying an axial pressure to a plunger-receiving end of the barrel, wherein a substantially closed petal tip and at least one embossed gripping structure are formed on the barrel.
19. The process of claim 18, wherein the at least one embossed gripping structure is at least one embossed ring-like gripping structure.
20. The process of claim 18, wherein the substantially closed petal tip and the at least one embossed gripping structure are formed substantially simultaneously.
CA2488849A 2002-06-21 2003-06-19 Tampon applicator with improved fingergrip and method of making same Expired - Fee Related CA2488849C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US39030902P 2002-06-21 2002-06-21
US60/390,309 2002-06-21
US10/463,202 US20040010220A1 (en) 2002-06-21 2003-06-17 Tampon applicator with improved fingergrip and method of making same
US10/463,202 2003-06-17
PCT/US2003/021032 WO2004000165A2 (en) 2002-06-21 2003-06-19 Tampon applicator with improved fingergrip and method of making same

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2488849A1 true CA2488849A1 (en) 2003-12-31
CA2488849C CA2488849C (en) 2010-04-06

Family

ID=30003152

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2488849A Expired - Fee Related CA2488849C (en) 2002-06-21 2003-06-19 Tampon applicator with improved fingergrip and method of making same

Country Status (12)

Country Link
US (2) US20040010220A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1551347B1 (en)
JP (2) JP4308757B2 (en)
KR (1) KR101030607B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE380008T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2003247796A1 (en)
CA (1) CA2488849C (en)
DE (1) DE60317916D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2298573T3 (en)
MX (1) MXPA04012736A (en)
PT (1) PT1551347E (en)
WO (1) WO2004000165A2 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2298573T3 (en) 2008-05-16
AU2003247796A8 (en) 2004-01-06
WO2004000165A2 (en) 2003-12-31
PT1551347E (en) 2008-03-17
AU2003247796A1 (en) 2004-01-06
EP1551347A2 (en) 2005-07-13
EP1551347B1 (en) 2007-12-05
KR20050012810A (en) 2005-02-02
KR101030607B1 (en) 2011-04-20
WO2004000165A3 (en) 2004-04-22
US7780892B2 (en) 2010-08-24
JP2009090144A (en) 2009-04-30
JP2005530568A (en) 2005-10-13
JP4308757B2 (en) 2009-08-05
US20040010220A1 (en) 2004-01-15
CA2488849C (en) 2010-04-06
DE60317916D1 (en) 2008-01-17
MXPA04012736A (en) 2005-03-23
ATE380008T1 (en) 2007-12-15
US20060135905A1 (en) 2006-06-22
EP1551347A4 (en) 2005-08-31

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MKLA Lapsed

Effective date: 20180619