Applicator and tampon
OwnerThomas W. Cunninghaminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An applicator for a member having a surface, such as a tampon, includes a flexible applicator along the surface with the applicator having a convolution so as to double the applicator upon itself to form parallel walls with the convolution therebetween. The surface of the member may be exposed by relative movement of one of the walls of the applicator with respect to the member. In one embodiment, the applicator sleeve is provided with a slit extending to one end permitting the sleeve to be rolled along a direction substantially parallel with the central axis of the member, and may include an opposing second slit at the other end facilitating a pushing movement of the member through the sleeve.
Claims14
An applicator and member comprising:
- (a) an oblong member having a longitudinal central axis;
- (b) a flexible applicator sleeve surrounding said member and having a longitudinal slit along a portion thereof and substantially parallel with said central axis of said member;
- and
- (c) a convolution along said portion of said sleeve, said portion having a sufficient length to extend rearward from said convolution to the end of said member opposite said convolution, permitting said portion of said sleeve to be grasped and to be rolled at said convolution along a direction substantially parallel with said central axis.
A tampon and applicator therefor, comprising:
- (a) a tampon formed of an oblong absorbent member having a central axis and a forward end adapted to be inserted first into the vagina;
- (b) a flexible applicator sleeve around and substantially longer than said tampon, and having a slit along at least a portion of said sleeve and being substantially parallel with said central axis, said slit extending away from said forward end of said tampon to the extremity of said sleeve;
- and wherein
- (c) said portion of said sleeve beyond said forward end is adapted to be folded back along the remainder of said sleeve to thereby form a convolution along said sleeve, permitting said sleeve to be removed from said tampon by relatively low-friction motion between said tampon and sleeve during insertion of said tampon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.