Method of providing side-to-side coverage with a tampon
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsKimberly Ann Buck, Lisa Ann MacKay, William Patton Peace, Chrissie Melinda Smits, Richard Tweddell, III, Eric Patton Weinberger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for providing side-to-side coverage of a tampon within a female user's vaginal cavity is provided. By use of a tampon applicator designed to provide directional expulsion and suitable tampons for use in the tampon applicator, a female user may achieve side-to-side coverage of a tampon within her vaginal cavity. Such directional expulsion causes a suitable tampon to expand against the sides and/or walls of a female user's vaginal cavity.
Claims13
A method of providing side-to-side coverage of a tampon within the vaginal cavity of a female user, comprising:
- a) placing a tampon within a tampon applicator, the tampon applicator having a tampon holder tube, the tampon holder tube having a hollow portion, interior and exterior surfaces, a longitudinal axis, an expulsion end dimensioned for insertion into the female user's vaginal cavity, and an insertion end positioned oppositely to the expulsion end, the tampon holder tube comprising a feature for expelling the tampon in a side-to-side coverage configuration, the feature comprising a pair of guides oppositely faced and positioned across from one-another, each said guide having an external surface facing away from the hollow of the tampon holder tube and an internal surface facing inwardly toward the hollow of the tampon holder tube, the guides being positioned at the expulsion end of the tampon holder tube;
- b) inserting the tampon applicator a distance within the vaginal cavity of a female user;
- and
- c) directionally expelling the tampon from the tampon applicator, the tampon being positioned within the vaginal cavity of a female user in a side-to-side configuration.
A method of providing side-to-side coverage of a tampon within the vaginal cavity of a female user, comprising:
- a) placing a tampon within a tampon applicator, the tampon applicator having a tampon holder tube, the tampon holder tube having a hollow, interior and exterior surfaces, a longitudinal axis, and an expulsion end dimensioned for insertion into a female's vaginal cavity, the tampon holder tube comprising a feature for directionally expelling a tampon, the feature comprising a pair of opposed guides extending from the expulsion end, each said guide having an external surface and an internal surface opposed thereto, wherein the external surface faces away from the hollow of the tampon holder tube and the opposing internal surface faces inwardly toward the hollow of the tampon holder tube, the internal surfaces each comprising at least one pair of guidance ridges, each said guidance ridge substantially extending throughout the expulsion end of the tampon applicator, the feature further comprising a pair of opposed free expulsion areas, the free expulsion areas being positioned adjacent to the guidance ridges on the tampon holder tube, the free expulsion areas and the guides operating together to provide directed expulsion of a tampon;
- b) inserting the tampon applicator a distance within the vaginal cavity of a female user;
- c) expelling the tampon from the tampon applicator, the tampon being positioned within the vaginal cavity of a female user in a side-to-side configuration;
- and
- d) removing the tampon applicator from the vaginal cavity of a female user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.