US 5,740,554 AGranted

Device for sanitary tampon removal and disposal

OwnerB. Bernetiae Reedinventor

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Abstract

This invention comprises a mitten device for sanitarily removing a tampon from a body cavity of an individual and thereafter disposing of the tampon through the solid waste system as opposed to the plumbing system. The mitten is adapted to fit over a hand and wrist and has a front side and a back side. The mitten has an unitary finger portion, a partially detached index finger portion, a thumb portion, a mid-section, a cuff portion, an absorbent pad affixed to the mid-section on the front side of the mitten, and an adhesive tab. The unitary finger portion includes a grasping portion on the front side of the middle finger near the fingertip. In use the mitten is utilized to remove the tampon for disposal from an individual's body. The individual then makes a fist around the tampon. The mitten is then inverted and rolled, and secured with the adhesive tab, thereby encasing the tampon within the mitten for sanitary, compact disposal.

An invertible mitten serviceable prior to inversion as a device for removing a tampon of the type having a string attached thereto and after inversion being serviceable as a device for encasing the removed tampon and any string attached thereto within the mitten for sanitary disposal, comprising:

a. a mitten formed of a relatively thin, highly flexible, impermeable, opaque material and adapted to fit over a selected hand and wrist of the wearer, said mitten having:
(i) a front side;
(ii) a back side;
(iii) a unitary finger portion adapted to substantially enclose all but the thumb and a selected outer portion of the index finger of the wearer;
(iv) a thumb portion integrally formed with said unitary finger portion and adapted to enclose the thumb of the wearer;
(v) an index finger portion integrally formed with said unitary finger portion and adapted to enclose only a selected outer portion substantially equal to half the length of the index finger of the wearer, thereby enabling the enclosed said selected outer portion to move independently of said unitary finger portion;
(vi) a mid-section located outwardly of said unitary finger portion;
and
(vii) a cuff portion surrounding an opening into said mitten;
b. an absorbent pad affixed to said mid-section, on the front side of said mitten and inwardly of said index finger portion;
c. string grasping means secured to an outer extremity of said unitary finger portion on the said front side of said unitary finger portion and proximate said index finger portion and adapted to receive an outer end portion of the string attached to said tampon and effectively grasp said string such that when said mitten is worn by said wearer, and prior to its inversion, said tampon can be removed from a body cavity of the wearer by pulling on said string grasped by said means;
d. an adhesive tab mounted on said cuff portion, and having a peel-off protector which when removed exposes a pressure sensitive adhesive;
and
e. said mitten being further formed to permit said tampon after being removed from said body cavity to be grasped within said mitten adjacent said absorbent pad and held by the enclosed fingers of said wearer and the thinness and flexibility of the material forming said mitten permitting the entire said mitten including said unitary finger, thumb and index finger portion to be inverted and after inversion to permit said mitten to be rolled and said removed tampon and any string attached thereto encased within said inverted mitten and to be secured as a roll by attachment of said adhesive to a selected outer surface of said inverted mitten preparatory for disposal.

11 more elements

Abstract

Claims4