The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 11, 1992
Filed:
Dec. 21, 1990
Alan L Beastall, Havant, GB;
Malcolm G Guest, Drayton, GB;
Tampax Limited, , GB;
Abstract
The ease of vaginal insertion experienced with round-edged petal-format tampon applicators can be achieved without the user comfort problems experienced in existing such application by a tampon applicator which has an expulsion end portion of unique structure. Thus, the invention provides an elongate hollow tampon holder shaped for vaginal insertion and having a tampon expulsion end portion and a plunger mounted in the holder and adapted to expel a tampon through the expulsion end portion from the holder interior. The expulsion end portion comprises a dome-shaped portion having an appreciable substantially central aperture therein and comprising a plurality of contiguous segments defined by a plurality of radial slits extending from said aperture through said dome-shaped portion to the base of the dome but no farther. In some embodiments, the expulsion end portion comprises a weakened region around the periphery of the tampon holder functioning as a preformed hinge.