Applicator for feminine care device
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsEva Grace NELLENBACH, Ayub Ibrahim KHAN
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Applicators for inserting feminine care devices into the body are provided. The applicators include an applicator barrel having unique insertion tip designs. The insertion tips employ a plurality of petals that can have an inflection or bending point above the bases of the petals.
Claims18
An applicator for inserting feminine care devices into the body, the applicator comprising:
- a. a barrel comprising an insertion tip proximal a first end;
- b. a plurality of spaced apart petals disposed about the insertion tip, each of the petals having a petal base defined by the lowest point of a slot between the spaced apart petals and a petal length extending from the petal base to a petal distal end;
- c. wherein the insertion tip has a tip length defined from a point 5 mm below the petal bases and extending to the petal distal ends;
- d. wherein the insertion tip along the tip length comprises a wall thickness angle of greater than or equal to 0.4 degrees.
An applicator for inserting feminine care devices into the body, the applicator comprising:
- a. a barrel comprising an insertion tip proximal a first end;
- b. a plurality of spaced apart petals disposed about the insertion tip, each of the petals having a petal base defined by the lowest point of a slot between the spaced apart petals and a petal length extending from the petal base to a petal distal end;
- c. wherein the insertion tip has a tip length defined from a point 5 mm below the petal bases and extending to the petal distal ends, and an insertion tip thickness;
- d. wherein the insertion tip thickness varies by at least 15% over a 3 mm section along the tip length to create a petal doming inflection point.
An applicator for inserting feminine care devices into the body, the applicator comprising:
- a. a barrel comprising an insertion tip proximal a first end;
- b. a plurality of spaced apart petals disposed about the insertion tip, each of the petals having a petal base defined by the lowest point of a slot between the spaced apart petals and a petal length extending from the petal base to a petal distal end;
- c. wherein the insertion tip has a tip length defined from a point 5 mm below the petal bases and extending to the petal distal ends, and an insertion tip thickness;
- and
- d. wherein the insertion tip thickness varies along the tip length via a first taper angle and a second taper angle that is greater than the first taper angle.
An applicator for inserting feminine care devices into the body, the applicator comprising:
- a. a barrel comprising an insertion tip proximal a first end;
- b. a plurality of spaced apart petals disposed about the insertion tip, each of the petals including a petal base, a petal distal end, a petal length between the petal base and the petal distal end, and a petal thickness;
- c. wherein the petal thickness varies in a non-uniform manner along the petal length.
An applicator for inserting feminine care devices into the body, the applicator comprising:
- a. a barrel comprising a vertical axis, and an insertion tip proximal a first end;
- b. a plurality of spaced apart petals disposed about the insertion tip, each of the petals having an opposing first and second edges, a petal width extending between the opposing first and second edges, an inner surface, and a petal thickness;
- c. wherein the petal thickness varies across the petal width at a single reference location along the barrel vertical axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.