Compact tampon applicator with improved interlock

A catamenial tampon applicator comprising:

• a molded plastic ejector tube adapted to store a tampon fitted therein with a small portion of said tampon extending from the distal end of said tube;
• a molded plastic outer tube dimensioned to fit closely and telescopically over said ejector tube and having a distal discharge end;
• means fixed to the inside of the distal end of said outer tube and positioned at least closely adjacent a circumferentially continuous portion of said outer tube for gripping said extending portion of a tampon carried in said ejector tube so as to prevent proximal movement of such tampon relative to said outer tube during proximal withdrawal of the ejector tube over the tampon and yet also to permit distal ejection of such tampon from the outer tube, said means being at least one flap dimensioned relative to said outer tube to extend substantially more in the circumferential direction than in the axial direction and to extend inwardly sufficiently to engage said extending portion of a tampon carried in said ejector tube, said flap being flexible in the axial direction and being canted so as to have a circumferentially-aligned linear tip portion that is distally disposed relative to a respective base portion,
• restraining means between said tubes for preventing the disassembly of said ejector tube from said outer tube in the proximal direction, comprising
• a circumferentially-extending raised rib structure,
• a pair of circumferentially-extending raised rings, respectively being an outer stopping ring and an adjacent relatively-shorter inner stabilizing ring, the respective facing slopes of which at least partially define a valley therebetween,
• one of said rib structure or said pair being formed on the outer distal surface of said ejector tube and the other being formed on the inner proximal surface of said outer tube,
• said rib structure and said rings each being radially spaced from the tube other than the tube on which it is formed,
• said rib structure radially partially overlapping said pair by an amount such that the shorter stabilizing ring is aligned to make an interference fit with said rib structure and the taller stopping ring is aligned effectively to obstruct said rib structure from passing axially beyond said stopping ring in the proximal direction in normal use,
• said valley and said rib structure being compatibly shaped such that the latter is adapted to seat in said valley, to be captured between and to engage each of the facing slopes of said rings when seated therebetween, and to ride up the respective one of such slopes if axially displaced from the seated position in the direction of such one slope, whereby the restraining means stabilizes the tubes against relative wobble when said rib structure is seated in said valley.