US2176114A - Vaginal tampon - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 17, 1939. R. 1-. WELLS VAGIN 'L TAMPON Filed Jan. 13, 1936 n Ruth Wells aux wwv L wwwwwmw Patented a. ,11, 1939- VAGINAL TAMPON Ruth T. Wells, Excelsior, Minn assignor to Tux Incorporated, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota ApplicationJanuary 13, 1936, Serial No. 58,906

6 Claims.

My invention relates to vaginal tampons and has for an object to provide a tampon particularly adapted for use during the catamenial period.

An object of the invention resides in providing a tampon which may be easily and conveniently inserted.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a tampon which will have "great ab- 10 sorptive powers and a large capacity.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a tampon which is normally of relatively small diametral dimensions and readily rigid to facilitate easy insertion and which will readily expand after insertion to proportions giving the desired capacity.

An object of the invention resides in providing the tampon with a body constructed of a loose fibrous material arranged inthe form of a cylinder and normally compressed to reduce the size 'of the same.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the body in the form of a cylinder and in gathering the peripheral portion of the cylinder to reduce the diameter thereof A still further object of the invention resides in providing a fold in the body for reducing the diameter of the tampon and for stiffening the same.

A feature of the invention resides in providing the outer surface of the body with a sizing for assisting in maintaining the form of the tampon, a portion of such surface being included in the fold and disposed within the confines of the body.

An object of the invention resides in providing a pull string for removing the tampon, said string having a. reach extending diametrally through the body nearone end, and having two reaches extending diagonally through the body in converging relation from the ends of the first named reach and emerging from the end of the body near the center thereof, said string having two other reaches extending freely from the body and issuing from the ends of the second named reaches.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawing:

Fig; 1 is a perspective view of a tampon in a container illustrating an embodiment of my ina vention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tampon with I the container removed and showing the manner of holding the tampon for the purpose of inserting the same.

Fig. 5 iS a perspective view of an expanded tampon. 1'10 Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 6-.-6 of Fig. 5.

7 is a crosslsectional view taken on line 7- 1 of Fig. 5.

In the use of tampons for absorption of men-T- ll strual discharges, considerable'dlfficulty has been encountered in procuring tampons of sumcient capacity to meet with the requirements. When the size of the tampon is increased, it becomes more difllcult to insert the same. When the fibers are more loosely arranged to give greater absorptive powers, rigidity is sacrificed which also augments the difficulty of inserting the tampen. I have found that when a tampon is constructed cylindrically of larger diameter than is Q! desirable for easy insertion, and the fibers arranged in a loose form and the tampon so constructed gathered at the periphery thereof as by providing a fold extending longitudinally of the tampon, that the diameter is greatly reduced and it also that greater stiifness and rigidity is procured so that the tamponmay be more easily inserted. The present invention overcomes the enumerated dii llculties in the manner stated.

My invention in the first stage of its manu!ac'- Slture is shown in Figs. 5, 6 and '7. The tampon which is indicated in its entirety by the reference character A is constructed of cotton or cellulose fibers arranged loosely to form an elastic. and readily compressible elongated cylindrical 0 body ID. This body has a peripheral. surface H and ends I! and I! which may be cut square or tapered as desired. By having the fibers arranged in a rather loose formation, greater absorbtive powers and greater capacity result. In' the construction of the body I0, sheets at thin cotton batten are wound-upon themselves to form an elongated roll of suitable diameter which I is subsequently cut off in suitable lengths to form n the body of the tampon. Due to the characteristics of cotton fibers, the fiber of the layers of the cotton batten intermingle and bind the layers together. Such action is augmented by rolling the formed roll between rollers so that a,

composite structure is formed which is substantially homogeneous in formation.

The body Ill of the tampon is of a diameter considerably greater than would be desirable were the tampon to'be inserted without being constructed in accordance with my invention. A diameter of from.three-fourths inch to one and one-half inches may be used. A tampon of such dimensions can onlybe inserted with the greatest dimculty and particularly when constructed of loosely disposed fibers. However, when in place such a tampon functions in.a most effective manner to absorb and retain within the vagina the maximum quantity of the discharge. The length of the tampon is not critical. A length between two and three inches is suitable.

To prevent sluifing of fibers at the surface of the body III, which fibers readily adhere to the mucous surfaces of the vagina, a coating I4 is applied to the surface I I. This coating is in the nature of a size which may be made with glyceride of starch as the principal ingredient. v Such a coating prevents the fibers at the surface from being pulled away from the body and at the same time help give form to the tampon preventing the body from expanding beyond a crosssectional area defined by the peripheral surface ll When the coating is constructed of such a composition, the porosity of the surface I I is not materially reduced, absorption through the coating ll being almost as free as without the same.

For the purpose of removing the tampon, a pull string I5 is employed. This string is attached to one end of the body In in the followin manner: The string I5 is first threaded on a needle and the needle then inserted into the end ll of the body ill near the center thereof and directed diagonally through the body, causing it to emerge from the body through the surface II and on one side l6 of the body. The needle is then directed diametrally through the body In, causing the string to emerge from the opposite side I! of the body. Thereafter the needle is directed back into the body through the surface II thereof diagonally toward the point of entry, causing the string to emerge from the end i3 of the body l near the center thereof and in close proximity to the other end of the string. By

means of this procedure the pull string i is formed with. a reach 20 extending substantially diametrally through the body i0 and inwardly of the end l3 thereof. Issuing from the ends of this reach are two diagonal reaches [8 and I9 which emerge from the end l3 of the body Ill. In continuation of these reaches are two reaches 2| and '22 which are free from the tampon and which are grasped by the user in removing the tampon. These reaches are preferably knotted together at their ends as indicated at 23 in the drawing.

The principal feature of my invention resides in gathering the material. of the tampon at the surface ll thereof. One method of producing this result resides in forming a fold 24 in the body l0 which extends longitudinally thereof. This is accomplished by doubling back upon itself a portion of the body I. In the construction of this fold a blade such as a dull knife blade is placed upon the surface H in a longitudinal direction, while the body lil rests upon a suitable support or is held in the hand. This blade is applied at a localitymidway between the two sides l6 and I1 and pressed inwardly in a radial direction. At the same time the parts of the body separated by such blade are urged together by applying pressure on the two sides l6 and ll of the body. This gives the body the desired shape permitting of removing the blade from the fold.

For the purpose. of holding the body of the tampon folded, said body is inserted into a Cellophane bag 21. This is accomplished by inserting the folded tampon into a metal tube. The bag is then slipped over the tube and the tampon ejected from the tube by means of a suitable plunger. As the tampon engages the bottom 28 of the bag, both bag and tampon are withdrawn from the tube, the tampon being within the bag. The open end 29 of the bag may then be sealed in the. customary manner. If desired, the pull string i5 may be laid along the fold 24 of the body l0 when the tampon is inserted in the bag and the free end 3! thereof caused to extend through the open end 29 of the bag as shown in Fig. 2. This permits of using the string to tear apart the bag when the tampon is desired for use.

The method of using the device is as follows: The sealed end 29 of the bag 21 is first opened. The tampon A may then be removed by pulling on the pull string l5. This will cause the tampon to he slid out of the bag. Or, if desired, the string l5 may be pulled toward the end 28 of the bag which rips the bag open. The tampon is then grasped as shown in Fig. 4 between the forefinger and thumb with the end 12 outermost, pressure being applied to the two sides I6 and ll of the body Hi to maintain the body folded. While so held the body I0 is then inserted into the vagina throughthe hymen and the exterior vaginal orifice. Due to the construction of the tampon insertion is rendered easy since the diameter of the tampon is appreciably reduced and since the body has greater rigidity and stiffness than would be the case were the tampon constructed in the ordinary manner. is inserted until the same is well above the hymen. This leaves the pull string extending through the vaginal orifice and the end 3i of such string exposed upon the exterior. Upon entry into the inner cavity of the vagina where the pressure is not so great as at the vaginal orifice, the body Iii expands, the fold 24 opening up until the body has substantially resumed its original shape, as shown in Fig. 5. In such form the body I0 is highly porous and has its greater capacity for absorption. After a prescribed length of time it becomes desirable to remove the tampon. This is accomplished by pulling the same out through the vaginal orifice by means of the pull string i5 which is readily accessible from the exterior.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. The device is extremely practical and convenient. The device has greatabsorbtive powers and is readily inserted. Due to the folding of the body of the tampon the same occupies but a limited space and can be conveniently carried about. The tampon can be constructed at prac tically no greater expense than ordinary tampons.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of constructing vaginal tampons which consists in rolling a sheet of fibrous material upon itself to form a cylindrical roll, in applying pressure to the outer surface of the roll along alongitudinal element thereof and toward The tampon the center of the roll to distort the contacted surface and move the same inwardly beyond theouter confines of the roll, in shifting the portions of the roll adjacent said element toward one another and in maintaining contact between said portions of the roll and releasing the pressure along said element.

2. A vaginal tampon comprising an elongated body consisting of a mass of loose fibrous material susceptible of expansion upon being compressed,

a surfacing on the lateral surfaces of said body resisting extension in the direction of its extent,

said surfacing andthe adjoining portion of the body being gathered along a longitudinal line to form a longitudinal bight extending withinthe body and compressing said body, and means for temporarily holding the surfacing gathered to maintain the body compressed.

'3. A vaginal tampon comprising an elongated body consisting of a mass of loose fibrous mate-- rial susceptible of expansion upon being compressed, a surfacing on the lateral surfaces of said body resisting extension in the direction of its extent, a portion of said surfacing extending substantially radially inwardly into the body, the portion of said surfacing adjacent said first named portion extending substantially radially outwardly from said first named portion and being arranged face to face with respect thereto to form a longitudinally extending bight within said body spaced from the opposite portion of the surfacing and compressing said body, and

means 'for temporarily holding said surfacing with the radially extending portions face to face to maintain the body compressed.

3 4. A vaginal tampon comprising an elongated body consisting of a mass of'loose fibrous material susceptible of expansion upon being compressed, a surfacing on the lateral surfaces of said body resistlngextension in the direction of its extent, said surfacing being gathered along a longitudinal line to form a longitudinal crease extending along the body and confined to a substantially radial plane, the gathering of said surfacing compressing said body, and means for pressing the body ofthe roll, and means for holding said lamina gathered to maintain the body compressed. i

6. A vaginal tampon comprising an elongated body of a mass of loose cellulosic absorbent material, an element on the surface of said body less expansible than said mass, said mass being radially compressed and having a section of the surface folded inwardly longitudinally of the body, and releasable means retaining the said mass in compressed condition.

RUTH T. WELLS.

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