# US 11,998,710 B2 · Applicator for delivery of a product therethrough > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,710 B2 - Document ID: US11998710B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/218,464 - Filed: 2021-03-31 - Published: 2021-10-07 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-01 - Assignees: Church & Dwight Co., Inc. - Applicants: Church & Dwight Co., Inc. - Inventors: Sujata Sundara Rajan; Ming Zeng; Jonathan Andrew Wharton; Timothy Snowden; Pamela Dozier; Brian Orme; Meredith Ingrassia - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998710B2 ## CPC - A61M 31/00: Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body (A61M25/00 takes precedence {; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008}) - A61M 2202/04: Liquids - A61M 2210/1475: Vagina - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract The present disclosure provides applicators adapted to or configured to deliver a product therefrom. The applicators can be particularly designed for delivery to certain body parts of the human body, such as to the vaginal area. The applicator can comprise a housing formed of a substantially continuous wall extending along a longitudinal housing axis between a base end and an application end, the substantially continuous wall defining: a base segment extending from the base end toward the applicator end; a delivery segment extending from the applicator end toward the base end; and a compression segment interconnecting the base segment and the delivery segment. The housing can define a substantially hollow interior configured for retaining a product for delivery through the delivery segment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An applicator for delivery of a product therefrom, the applicator comprising: a housing formed of a substantially continuous wall extending along a longitudinal housing axis between a base end having a first cross-wise dimension and an application end having a second cross-wise dimension that is less than the first cross-wise dimension, the substantially continuous wall defining: a base segment extending from the base end toward the applicator end; a delivery segment extending from the applicator end toward the base end; and a compression segment interconnecting the base segment and the delivery segment; wherein the housing defines a substantially hollow interior configured for retaining a product for delivery through the delivery segment, wherein the substantially continuous wall has a thickness in the compression segment that is less than a thickness of the substantially continuous wall in at least the base segment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the substantially continuous wall comprises an exterior surface, and wherein at least a portion of the exterior surface of the base segment includes raised texturing thereon. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The applicator of claim 2, wherein the raised texturing is aligned substantially orthogonally to the longitudinal housing axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the substantially continuous wall has a thickness that varies along a length of the longitudinal housing axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The applicator of claim 4, wherein the substantially continuous wall has the thickness in the compression segment that is less than the thickness of the substantially continuous wall in both of the base segment and the delivery segment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the substantially continuous wall in the compression segment is substantially curvilinear along the longitudinal housing axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the substantially continuous wall in one or both of the base segment and the delivery segment is substantially linear along the longitudinal housing axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the housing has a total length, and wherein the delivery segment forms about 50% or greater of the total length of the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The applicator of claim 8, wherein the base segment comprises about 40% or less of the total length of the housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The applicator of claim 8, wherein the compression segment comprises about 5% to about 30% of the total length of the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the base segment is configured to have an internal volume of about 5 cm3 to about 100 cm3. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the applicator is configured for delivery of a liquid product having a viscosity of about 100 cP to about 300,000 cP. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the applicator further comprises a removable closure positioned at the application end of the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The applicator of claim 13, wherein the removable closure is configured as a twist-off tab. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The applicator of claim 14, wherein the twist-off tab has a height that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal housing axis and a width that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal housing axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The applicator of claim 15, wherein the width of the twist-off tab is greater than the second cross-wise dimension of the housing at the application end of the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The applicator of claim 15, wherein the width of the twist-off tab is about 5% to about 100% of the first cross-wise dimension of the housing at the base end of the housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the housing has a substantially round cross-section along at least a portion thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the base end comprises a substantially linear seal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the housing is pre-filled with a liquid product. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the liquid product is a vaginal lubricant.