# US 11,154,416 B2 · Menstrual cup

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- Number: US 11,154,416 B2
- Document ID: US11154416B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/090,796
- Filed: 2020-11-05
- Published: 2021-05-06
- Granted: 2021-10-26
- Earliest claimed: 2019-11-05
- Assignees: Flex Ltd.
- Applicants: The Flex Company
- Inventors: Andrew Ross Miller; Jane Hartman Adamé; Brittney Seel; Lauren Schulte Wang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11154416B2

## CPC

- A61F 5/4553: {placed in the vagina, e.g. for catamenial use (pessaries A61F6/08; absorbent cups A61F13/2045)}
- A61F 5/455: for collecting urine or discharge from female member
- A61F 5/451: Genital {or anal} receptacles (A61F5/441, A61F5/442, A61F5/443 take precedence {; other body securing means A61F5/4408; devices for taking faeces samples A61B10/0038; devices for taking urine samples A61B10/007})
- 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 (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

A menstrual device with a reservoir portion attached to a rim portion where the rim of the device is configured to improve use and comfort. The edge of the reservoir portion may be molded into the defined geometry of the rim portions. Additionally, the rim may have one or more channels and/or elements positioned within the defined geometry of the rim.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A menstrual disc comprising:
a body portion having an exterior surface and an interior surface wherein the interior surface defines a reservoir and wherein the body portion has an outer edge with a first diameter;
a rim being resiliently foldable and having a height extending from a lower edge to an upper edge, wherein the rim is chamfered from a chamfer top at the upper edge to a chamfer base located between the lower edge and the upper edge so that a substantial portion of the rim extends from the chamfer base towards the lower edge, the substantial portion of the rim having a diameter that is greater than the first diameter, the chamfer top having a diameter that is less than the first diameter.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The menstrual disc of claim 1, further comprising at least one protrusion extending outward from the chamfer base of the r rim and circumferentially disposed around the rim wherein the protrusion is configured to be resiliently foldable and compliant so as to comply with the rim and wherein the at least one protrusion is configured to contact a portion of the user's body and form a seal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The menstrual disc of claim 2, wherein the at least one protrusion extends outward at a downward angle away from the rim.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The menstrual disc of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of channels disposed in the rim wherein each of the plurality of channels extend through at least a portion of the resiliently foldable rim.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The menstrual disc of claim 4, wherein the plurality of channels extend horizontally from an interior surface of the rim to an exterior surface of the rim.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The menstrual disc of claim 4, wherein the plurality of channels extend at an angle that is off axis from a vertical axis of the rim and wherein the angle extends from an inner surface towards an outer surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The menstrual disc of claim 4, wherein the plurality of channels extend at an angle that is off axis from a vertical axis of the rim and wherein the angle extends from an outer surface towards an inner surface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The menstrual disc of claim 4, wherein the cross section of the channel is a “C” cross section.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The menstrual disc of claim 4, wherein the plurality of channels are disposed near an outer edge of the rim and form a cutout of the rim.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

The menstrual disc of claim 4, wherein the plurality of channels are disposed near an inner edge of the rim and form a cutout of the rim.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The menstrual disc of claim 1, wherein the body portion of the cup has a volume ranging from 25 ml to 75 ml.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The menstrual disc of claim 1, wherein the rim is molded onto the body portion of the cup such that the rim encloses the outer edge of the body portion.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The menstrual disc of claim 1, wherein the rim and the body portion are made of materials of different durometers.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The menstrual disc of claim 1, wherein the rim is curvably chamfered from the chamfer top to the chamfer base.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The menstrual disc of claim 1, wherein the rim is linearly chamfered from the chamfer top to the chamfer base.