초록 ▼

An applicator for delivering an object, such as a menstrual tampon, to a cavity, such as the vaginal canal, which applicator is not much longer than the object when delivered to the user, is provided. The applicator is a unitary injection blow-molded device which includes a first tubular section hou

An applicator for delivering an object, such as a menstrual tampon, to a cavity, such as the vaginal canal, which applicator is not much longer than the object when delivered to the user, is provided. The applicator is a unitary injection blow-molded device which includes a first tubular section housing the object, a second collapsible and extensible corrugated tubular section abutting the first section, and a third tubular section abutting the second section and serving primarily as a handle. An integral pusher member is formed in the interior of the applicator attached to the inner wall of the third section, and is biased to assume a position along the centerline of the applicator. The applicator is delivered to the user in a collapsed state, with the pusher alongside the object in the first section. The user extends the object by pulling on the first and third sections, withdrawing the pusher from the first section so that it aligns itself behind the center of the object. The applicator is inserted in the cavity and the object is ejected by pushing the third section toward the firsts section, collapsing the second section and driving the pusher member forward.

대표청구항 ▼

A unitary device for delivering an object to a cavity, said device comprising: a substantially rigid first tubular section for containing said object to be inserted, said tubular section having an exit end through which said object is inserted into said cavity; a second tubular section abutting said

A unitary device for delivering an object to a cavity, said device comprising: a substantially rigid first tubular section for containing said object to be inserted, said tubular section having an exit end through which said object is inserted into said cavity; a second tubular section abutting said first tubular section, said second section being collapsible and extensible; and a pusher member mounted at a first end thereof to an inner wall of said device at an end remote from said exit end and extending through said second section into said first section, a second end of said pusher member being biased away from said inner wall, said pusher member having a length such that when said second section is collapsed, said second end reaches at least to said exit end, and when said second section is extended, said second end reaches at most to a point at which said first and second tubular sections abut one another; wherein: when said object is in said device prior to insertion into said cavity, said second section is collapsed and said pusher member lies in a first position relative to said inner wall, between said inner wall and said object, in said first section; and when said object is to be inserted, said second section is extended by grasping said first section and said remote end and moving them away from one another, whereby said pusher member is withdrawn from between said inner wall and said object and, as a result of said bias, said second end thereof assumes a second position further from said inner wall than said first position and adjacent said object, thereby arming said device; such that when said exit end of said armed device is inserted in said cavity and said second section is collapsed by grasping said first section and said remote end and moving them toward one another, said pusher member pushes said object out of said exit end into said cavity.