Menstrual cup
AssigneeFlex Ltd.
InventorsAndrew Ross Miller, Jane Hartman Adamé
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A menstrual cup and applicator for use in the vagina. The menstrual cup having a receptacle for holding fluid and having a stem device connected to the top of the cup and extending through the open cavity through the bottom of the cup. The stem is configured to actuate the side and rim of the cup to allow for easier insertion and removal of the cup. The applicator may have several components and is configured to grasp a folded cup and position the cup in a deployed position within the vagina. Additionally, the applicator is designed to aid in the removal of the menstrual cup.
Claims20
A menstrual cup comprising:
- a receptacle having a resiliently foldable rim defining a generally circular perimeter in an unfolded state, a sidewall having an inner wall surface defining a cavity therein, the cavity having a top portion proximal to the foldable rim with a first opening and a bottom portion with a second opening, wherein the cavity is configured to collect a fluid;
- and
- an elongated stem having a proximal end and a distal end and an elongated middle portion therebetween wherein the proximal end is attached to the sidewall,
- wherein the stem seats within the second opening to form a fluid seal therewith;
- wherein the manipulation of the distal end of the elongated stem applies a pulling force to the inner wall surface whereby a fold in the sidewall is created;
- and
- wherein the receptacle may have at least two positions:
- a folded position wherein the fold in the sidewall extends inward towards the center of the cavity;
- and
- a deployed position wherein the foldable rim is unfolded such that the first opening of the top portion conforms to the generally circular perimeter of the unfolded resiliently foldable rim.
A method of manufacture of a menstrual cup comprising:
- Designing an inverted menstrual cup having a receptacle having a resiliently foldable rim defining a generally circular perimeter in an unfolded state, a sidewall having an inner wall surface defining a cavity therein, the cavity having a top portion proximal to the foldable rim with a first opening and a bottom portion with a second opening, wherein the cavity is configured to collect a fluid;
- and
- an elongated stem having a proximal end and a distal end and an elongated middle portion therebetween wherein the proximal end is attached to the sidewall,
- wherein the stem seats within the second opening to form a fluid seal therewith;
- wherein the manipulation of the distal end of the elongated stem applies a pulling force to the inner wall surface whereby a fold in the sidewall is created;
- and
- wherein the receptacle may have at least two positions:
- a folded position wherein the fold in the sidewall extends inward towards the center of the cavity;
- and
- a deployed position wherein the foldable rim is unfolded such that the first opening of the top portion conforms to the generally circular perimeter of the unfolded resiliently foldable rim;
- Obtaining mold tooling configured to align with the inverted menstrual cup design;
- Molding the inverted menstrual cup with the mold tooling;
- Extracting the inverted menstrual cup from the molding;
- Reverting the menstrual cup to a desired final shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.