US 5,476,455 AGranted

Toxicity resistant tampon structure

OwnerArthur L. Silberinventor

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Abstract

A flow-controlling tampon, comprising, in combination a generally upright insertion tube having upper and lower ends, and a plunger within said tube and manipulable proximate the tube lower end; flow receiving structure positioned within the tube to be bodily displaced and to protrude from the upper end of the tube in response to the manipulation of the plunger, the flow receiving structure having an upper end portion configured to expand to extend about the cervix in response to upward bodily displacement of the flow receiving structure effected by the plunger; and removal structure associated with the upper end portion of the receiving structure to effect contraction thereof when the receiving structure is withdrawn away from the cervix. The flow receiving structure typically includes flow absorbent material contained within a thin moisture resistant sheath having an expansible upper end that is contracted by pulling on strand structure.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A flow-controlling tampon, for vaginal use comprising, in combination:

a) a generally upright insertion tube having upper and lower ends, and a plunger within said tube and manipulable proximate the tube lower end,
b) flow receiving means positioned within the tube to be bodily displaced and to protrude from said upper end of the tube in response to said manipulation of the plunger,
c) said flow receiving means having an upper end portion configured to open to collector cup shape, conforming to the vestibule of the vagina, in response to upward bodily displacement of the entire flow receiving means as effected by the plunger,
d) and removal means associated with said upper end portion of said receiving means to effect closure thereof as said flow receiving means is withdrawn from the vagina,
e) said flow receiving means upper end portion being non-absorbent to the flow and having retained memory causing it to self-open outwardly into said cup-shape in response to its displacement upwardly from said tube, said upper end portion being free of connection to any auxiliary restraining means otherwise acting to pull it or form it into said cup-shape.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/228,503Filed 15 Apr 1994 · continuation in part
Priority: 11 Jan 1993
Granted: 19 Dec 1995
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

A61F 5/4553
For collecting urine or discharge from female member: placed in the vagina, e.g. for catamenial use
A61F 13/2051
Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor: characterised by the material or the structure of the inner absorbing core
A61F 13/34
Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor: means for withdrawing tampons , e.g. withdrawal strings
A61F 13/202
Characterised by the use: catamenial tampons