# US 2009/0260205 A1 · Methods of Packaging Intravaginal Device

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- Number: US 2009/0260205 A1
- Document ID: US20090260205A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/663,137
- Filed: 2005-05-16
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2004-05-14
- Assignees: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.
- Inventors: Curt Binner; Samuel C. Carasso; David J. Chase; Erin Marsee (formerly Danyi); Tara Glasgow; David L. Kimball; Julia K. Iris (formerly Kozorovitsky); Tony C. Ng
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260205A1

## CPC

- B31F 1/0003: {Shaping by bending, folding, twisting, straightening, flattening or rim-rolling; Shaping by bending, folding or rim-rolling combined with joining; Apparatus therefor (shaping of tube ends B31F1/008)}
- A61F 13/206: {Tampons made of rolled-up material}
- A61F 13/2065: {Tampons folded from sheets of material (A61F13/206 takes precedence)}
- A61F 13/55175: {packaging of tampons}
- B31F: MECHANICAL WORKING OR DEFORMATION OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER (making layered products not composed wholly of paper or cardboard B32B)
- 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 method of folding a plurality of flexible elements about a central fluid storage element includes of urging an intravaginal device into a folding device; imparting relative rotation between at least a portion of the folding device and the intravaginal device; and contacting the plurality of flexible extensions with the folding device. Wherein the intravaginal device includes a fluid storage element and a plurality of flexible extensions extending therefrom, and the flexible extensions are folded about the fluid storage element in a uniform direction. Alternatively, in place of relative rotation, the flexible extensions are folded by means of guide rails of the folding device. Several apparatus may be employed in this and related methods.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of folding a plurality of flexible elements about a central fluid storage element comprising the steps of:
a. urging an intravaginal device comprising fluid storage element and a plurality of flexible extensions extending therefrom into a folding device;
b. imparting relative rotation between at least a portion of the folding device and the intravaginal device; and
c. contacting the plurality of flexible extensions with the folding device thereby folding the flexible extensions about the fluid storage element in a uniform direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the folding device comprises a rotating element having an inner bore defined along its axis of rotation.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the rotating element comprises cylinder centered on the axis of rotation.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein a feed aperture is enlarged with respect to the inner bore.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the inner bore is substantially smooth.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the inner bore has a plurality of roller bearings dispose thereabout.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the inner bore has a plurality of radial slots extending therefrom.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the number of slots corresponds to the number of flexible extensions on the intravaginal device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the rotating element rotates substantially continuously.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the rotating element rotates at about 600 to about 1,000 revolutions per minute (“rpm”).

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the rotating element rotates substantially intermittently.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the rotating element rotates in a reciprocating manner.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the rotating element rotates in a single rotational direction.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the folding device folds each flexible element through an angle of at least 180 degrees.

### Claim 15

A method of folding a plurality of flexible elements about a central fluid storage element comprising the steps of:
a. urging an intravaginal device comprising fluid storage element and a plurality of flexible extensions extending therefrom into a folding device;
b. engaging the flexible extensions with guide rails of the folding device, the guide rails folding the flexible extensions about the fluid storage element.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the folding device is substantially stationary.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the guide rails are a portion of a cylinder having an inner bore and a plurality of slots extending therefrom, each slot forming a helical path as it penetrates the cylinder.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the guide rails are formed as a plurality of individual rails formed into a device having a helical path as defined in a machine direction aligned with the intravaginal device.

### Claim 19

Apparatus for folding a plurality of flexible elements about a central fluid storage element, the apparatus comprising a rotating element and a control rod; wherein the rotating element has a smooth inner bore and is capable of rotating with respect to a workpiece located within the inner bore, while such workpiece is held by the control rod.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

Apparatus of claim 19, wherein the rotating element rotates at about 600 to about 1,000 rpm.

### Claim 21 (depends on 22)

Apparatus of claim 22, wherein the workpiece rotates within the inner bore and the rotating element remains substantially stationary.

### Claim 22

Apparatus for folding a plurality of flexible elements about a central fluid storage element, the apparatus comprising a roller assembly and a control rod; wherein the roller assembly has a smooth inner bore and is capable of rotating with respect to a workpiece located within the inner bore, while such workpiece is held by the control rod.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

Apparatus of claim 22, wherein a plurality of roller bearings are disposed about the inner bore.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

Apparatus of claim 22, wherein the roller assembly rotates at about 600 to about 1,000 rpm.

### Claim 25 (depends on 22)

Apparatus of claim 22, wherein the workpiece rotates within the inner bore and the roller assembly remains substantially stationary.

### Claim 26

Apparatus for folding a plurality of flexible elements about a central fluid storage element, the apparatus comprising a grooved tool and a control rod; wherein the grooved tool has a smooth inner bore and a plurality of radial slots extending from the inner bore, and the grooved tool is capable of rotating with respect to a workpiece located within the inner bore, while such workpiece is held by the control rod.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

Apparatus of claim 26, wherein the number of slots corresponds to the number of flexible extensions on the intravaginal device.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

Apparatus of claim 26, wherein the roller assembly rotates at about 600 to about 1,000 rpm.

### Claim 29 (depends on 26)

Apparatus of claim 26, wherein the workpiece rotates within the inner bore and the roller assembly remains substantially stationary.

### Claim 30 (depends on 26)

Apparatus of claim 26, wherein the relative rotation is substantially intermittent.

### Claim 31 (depends on 26)

Apparatus of claim 26, wherein the relative rotation is reciprocating.

### Claim 32 (depends on 11)

Apparatus of claim 11, wherein the relative rotation is in a single rotational direction.

### Claim 33

Apparatus for folding a plurality of flexible elements about a central fluid storage element, the apparatus comprising a folding tool having a feed aperture and a control rod; wherein the folding tool comprises a plurality of helical guide rails.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

Apparatus of claim 33, wherein the guide rails are a portion of a cylinder having an inner bore and a plurality of slots extending therefrom, each slot forming a helical path as it penetrates the cylinder.

### Claim 35 (depends on 33)

Apparatus of claim 33, wherein the guide rails are formed as a plurality of individual rails formed into a device having a helical path as defined in a machine direction aligned with the intravaginal device.

### Claim 36 (depends on 33)

Apparatus of claim 33, further comprising feed rails extending from the feed aperture to accept the flexible extensions of an incoming intravaginal device.