초록 ▼

A shortened tampon applicator of the telescoping tube type employs an ejector tube to store a tampon in its distal end and an outer tube disposed by a slip fit thereover to thus shorten the overall length of the tampon and applicator assembly. Directionally-locking inward flaps fixed within the dist

A shortened tampon applicator of the telescoping tube type employs an ejector tube to store a tampon in its distal end and an outer tube disposed by a slip fit thereover to thus shorten the overall length of the tampon and applicator assembly. Directionally-locking inward flaps fixed within the distal end of said outer tube engage the distal end of the tampon stored in the ejector tube thus securing the latter relative to said outer tube while permitting only distal expulsion therefrom. The ejector tube preferably has inwardly biased flexible portions at its distal end which serve to catch behind the proximal end of the tampon. In the preferred version, the inwardly biased portions are unique undulations at the blunt distal end of the ejector tube which advantageously cooperatively functions with a tampon having an enlarged tail.

대표청구항 ▼

A catamenial tampon applicator comprising: an ejector tube adapted to store a tampon fitted therein with a small tip portion of said tampon extending from the distal end of said tube; an outer tube dimensioned to fit telescopically over said ejector tube and having a distal discharge end; and means

A catamenial tampon applicator comprising: an ejector tube adapted to store a tampon fitted therein with a small tip portion of said tampon extending from the distal end of said tube; an outer tube dimensioned to fit telescopically over said ejector tube and having a distal discharge end; and means fixed to the inside of the distal end of said outer tube and positioned at least closely adjacent a circumferentially continuous portion of said outer tube for gripping said extending portion of a tampon carried in said ejector tube so as to resist effectively proximal movement of such tampon relative to said outer tube during proximal withdrawal of the ejector tube over the tampon while permitting distal ejection of such tampon from the outer tube, said means being at least one flap dimensioned relative to said outer tube to extend substantially more in the circumferential direction than in the axial direction and to extend inwardly sufficiently to engage said extending distill tip portion of a tampon carried in said ejector tube, said flap being flexible in the axial direction and being canted in the distal direction.