US3835856A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tampon applicator
Assignee: Hahn C dt GmbH
•
Filing: 1973-02-26
•
Granted: 1974-09-17
•
Expires: 1993-02-26
Abstract
Abstract An improvement in a tampon applicator comprising applicator sleeve, said sleeve comprising an insertion end adapted to carry a tampon and a rearward portion adapted to house the tampon ejector, a tampon ejector housed within said rearward portion and ridable in said sleeve, the improvement wherein said insertion end has at least one flat portion in the sleeve to define a tampon applicator with a cross-sectional area less than said rearward portion; an improvement in such tampon applicator wherein said tampon ejector has a radially, inwardly directed Vshaped indentation and is otherwise tubular, said ejector made from a resilient, yieldable material which tends to return said tampon ejector to one wherein its cross-section is circular.
Inventors
- 👤 N Warncke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/20; A61F13/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
In a tubular tampon applicator comprising applicator sleeve, said sleeve comprising an insertion end adapted to carry a tampon therein and a rearward portion adapted to partially house a tampon ejector, a tampon ejector housed within said rearward portion and ridable in said sleeve, the improvement wherein a portion of the circumferential surface proximal the insertion end of said sleeve has at least one flattened portion constituting a means for for providing frictional retaining contact with the side portions of the insertion end of the tampon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a tubular tampon applicator comprising applicator sleeve, said sleeve comprising an insertion end adapted to carry a tampon therein and a rearward portion adapted to partially house a tampon ejector, a tampon ejector housed within said rearward portion and ridable in said sleeve, the improvement wherein a portion of the circumferential surface proximal the insertion end of said sleeve has at least one flattened portion constituting a means for for providing frictional retaining contact with the side portions of the insertion end of the tampon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An improvement according to claim 1 wherein said flattened portion consists of two diametrically opposed portions on the circumferencE of the tubular sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An improvement according to claim 1 wherein the flat portion has a length between 6 and 15 mm and at its widest point the width is between 3 and 12 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An improvement according to claim 3 wherein the length of the flat longitudinal applicator sleeve amounts to between 4 and 8 mm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An improvement according to claim 1 wherein the at least one flattened portion forms, with the central longitudinal axis of the applicator sleeve, an acute angle tapering in the direction of the insertion end of the applicator sleeve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
An improvement according to claim 5 wherein the acute angle is between 2* and 15*.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An improvement according to claim 6 wherein the flat portion forms an angle with the longitudinal axis of the applicator sleeve of approximately 5*.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An improvement according to claim 1 wherein the flat portion in the applicator sleeve is adapted to the contour of the tampon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An improvement according to claim 1 wherein the applicator sleeve is provided at its insertion end with at least one indentation whose length is between 12 and 30 percent of the total length of the tampon carried therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An improvement according to claim 9 wherein said indentation is substantially planar shape and its length in the longitudinal direction of the applicator sleeve is greater than its width in the direction of the circumference of the applicator sleeve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An improvement according to claim 9 wherein the indentation in a longitudinal cross section has an obtuse V shape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
An improvement according to claim 1 wherein said tampon ejector is generally tubular, has a V-shaped groove-like indentation extending over its entire length and directed substantially radially inward, said tampon ejector made of a resilient, yieldable, deformable material which tends to return the tampon ejector to a form which has a circular cross section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
An improvement according to claim 12 wherein both the applicator''s sleeve and the tampon ejector are made from the same tubular starting material of the same diameter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-16 | 1978-03-18 | 1978-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-16 | 1982-03-18 | 1982-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-16 | 1986-03-18 | 1986-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |