US 7,727,210 B2Granted

Multiple-component tampon applicator

AssigneePlaytex Products, Inc.

InventorsJessica E. LeMay, Dane R. Jackson, Michael L. Miller, Wayne D. Melvin

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Abstract

A method of making a tampon applicator having four separable components includes forming a barrel having a forward end and a rearward end opposite the forward end, forming a fingergrip having a barrel end and a plunger end, where the fingergrip has an axially extending channel between the barrel end and the plunger end and the plunger end has a cross-sectional area that is less than a cross-sectional area of the barrel end, forming an insertion tip having a first end and a second end, forming a plunger having a forward end, connecting the barrel end of the fingergrip with the rearward end of the barrel, where the barrel end of the fingergrip and the rearward end of the barrel create a continuous surface flush with the barrel when connected, connecting the second end of the insertion tip to the forward end of the barrel, and inserting the forward end of the plunger into the channel of the fingergrip.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method of making an applicator having four separate components comprising the steps of

(a) forming separately in any order:
(1) a barrel having a tubular shape and having a forward end and a rearward end opposite said forward end, said forward end having an innermost surface and an outermost surface with an outermost diameter, said innermost surface and said outermost surface forming a forward end surface therebetween;
(2) a fingergrip having a barrel end and a plunger end, said plunger end having a cross-sectional area that is less than a cross-sectional area of said barrel end;
(3) an insertion tip having a first end and a second end, said insertion tip having a plurality of petals that taper toward said first end to form a conical shape, said plurality of petals being connected at said second end, said second end having an inner surface and an outer surface, and said inner surface and said outer surface forming an end surface therebetween;
(4) a plunger having a forward end;
and
then (b) inserting a tampon pledget into said barrel;
(c) connecting said barrel end of said fingergrip to said rearward end of said barrel;
(d) connecting said end surface of said insertion tip to said forward end surface of said barrel;
and
(e) inserting said forward end of said plunger into said plunger end.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/810,233Filed 5 Jun 2007 · division
Priority: 22 Feb 2002
Published: US 2008/0004563 A13 Jan 2008
Granted: 1 Jun 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

A61F 13/26
Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor: means for inserting tampons , i.e. applicators
Y10S 604/904
Surgery: tampons
Y10T 156/10
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture: methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Y10T 156/1038
Bending of one piece blank and joining edges to form article: hollow cylinder article

Family

Application10/081,528Parent of this division · filed 22 Feb 2002
Application11/137,809Parent of this division · filed 25 May 2005
US 2008/0004563 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Jan 2008
US 2009/0131853 A9Pre-grant publication · published 21 May 2009
US 6,923,789 B2Parent of this division
US 2003/0163080 A1Published application
US 2005/0215940 A1Published application
US 7,862,533 B2Related patent
US 7,727,210 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.