초록 ▼

Disclosed is a tampon applicator package assembly having a tampon applicator and a cap having a closed end and an open end. The tampon applicator has a barrel for housing a pledget and a plunger. The plunger has an end portion that is a cap cover that connects to a remainder of the plunger and mates

Disclosed is a tampon applicator package assembly having a tampon applicator and a cap having a closed end and an open end. The tampon applicator has a barrel for housing a pledget and a plunger. The plunger has an end portion that is a cap cover that connects to a remainder of the plunger and mates with the cap at the open end to provide a seal with the cap that completely encloses the tampon applicator in the cap. Also disclosed is an assembly having a tampon applicator, a cap having both a closed end and open end, and a cap cover for covering the open end of the cap. When the cap cover is placed on the open end, the open end is sealed and the tampon applicator is completely enclosed in the cap.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A tampon applicator package assembly comprising: a tampon applicator, the tampon applicator having a barrel for housing a pledget having a string attached thereto and a hollow plunger, the plunger having an end portion, the end portion having a cap cover that directly connects to a remainder of t

1. A tampon applicator package assembly comprising: a tampon applicator, the tampon applicator having a barrel for housing a pledget having a string attached thereto and a hollow plunger, the plunger having an end portion, the end portion having a cap cover that directly connects to a remainder of the plunger;a cap having a closed end and an open end, wherein the tampon applicator is disposed in the cap,wherein the string extends from the pledget to the end portion of the plunger and is retained by either a notch on the end portion or by one or more grooves around the end portion,wherein the cap cover matingly engages the cap at the open end to provide an at least partial seal that completely encloses the tampon applicator and the string in the tampon applicator package assembly. 2. The tampon package assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap is used to dispose of the tampon applicator after use. 3. The tampon package assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap has a decorative appearance. 4. The tampon package assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap has the shape and aesthetic appearance similar to a personal item found in a carrying vessel. 5. The tampon package assembly of claim 4, further being configured so that, to about 40% to about 90% of the tampon applicator users being surveyed, the tampon package assembly assembly does not appear to be a tampon product. 6. The tampon package assembly of claim 4, further being configured such that to about 40% to about 70% of tampon applicator users being surveyed, it does not appear to be a tampon product. 7. The tampon package assembly of claim 1, wherein the tampon package assembly remained substantially intact after a purse test. 8. The tampon package assembly of claim 7, wherein at least about 50% of tested tampon package assemblies remained undamaged after the purse test. 9. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 1, wherein the plunger has a telescoping portion. 10. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of one of the barrel, plunger, cap and/or cap cover are translucent. 11. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of one of the barrel, plunger, cap and/or cap cover are different colors and/or different materials. 12. A tampon applicator package assembly comprising: a tampon applicator, a cap having a closed end and an open end, and a cap cover for covering the open end,the tampon applicator having a barrel for housing a pledget having a string attached thereto and a hollow plunger such that the string extends through the hollow plunger, the plunger having an end portion, the end portion having a grippable area disposed proximal the open end, the end portion having an opening at the end portion;the cap cover having an inner end and an outer end, the inner end disposed proximal the end portion of the plunger when the cap cover is placed on the open end,wherein when the cap cover is placed on the open end, an at least partial seal is provided that completely encloses the barrel, the string and the plunger in the tampon applicator package assembly;wherein the string is exposed at the opening of the end portion of the plunger when the cap cover is removed from the open end of the cap. 13. The tampon package assembly of claim 12, wherein the grippable area is exposed when the cap cover is removed from the cap. 14. The tampon package assembly of claim 12, wherein when the cap cover is removed from the cap, the string is pulled from the hollow body. 15. The tampon package assembly of claim 12, wherein the cap has a decorative appearance. 16. The tampon package assembly of claim 15, further being configured such that, to about 40% to about 90% of the tampon applicator users being surveyed, the tampon applicator package assembly does not appear to be a tampon product. 17. The tampon package assembly of claim 15, further being configured such that, to about 40% to about 70% of tampon applicator users being surveyed, it does not appear to be a tampon product. 18. The tampon package assembly of claim 12, wherein the cap has the shape and aesthetic appearance similar to an ordinary object normally found in a carrying vessel. 19. The tampon package assembly of claim 12, wherein the tampon package assembly remained substantially intact after a purse test. 20. The tampon package assembly of claim 19, wherein at least about 50% of tested tampon package assemblies remained undamaged after the purse test. 21. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 12, wherein the plunger has a telescoping portion. 22. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 12, wherein the cap cover matingly engages the cap by a hinge. 23. The tampon package assembly of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of one of the barrel, plunger, cap and/or cap cover are translucent. 24. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of one of the barrel, plunger and/or cap are different colors and/or different materials. 25. A tampon applicator package assembly comprising; a tampon applicator, the tampon applicator having a barrel for housing a pledget having a string and a hollow plunger, such that the string extends through the hollow plunger, the plunger having an end portion, the end portion having a cap cover that directly connects to a remainder of the plunger;a cap having a closed end and an open end, wherein the tampon applicator is disposed in the cap,wherein the cap cover matingly engages the cap at the open end to provide an at least partial seal that completely encloses the tampon applicator and the string in the tampon applicator package assembly, and wherein the sealed tampon applicator package provides an ergonomic shape that fits in a closed hand of a user,wherein the string is exposed at the opening of the end portion of the plunger when the cap cover is removed from the open end of the cap. 26. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 25, wherein the plunger has a telescoping portion. 27. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of one of the barrel, plunger, cap and/or cap cover are translucent. 28. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of one of the barrel, plunger, cap and/or cap cover are different colors and/or different materials. 29. A tampon applicator package assembly comprising; a tampon applicator, a cap having a closed end and an open end, and a cap cover for covering the open end,the tampon applicator having a barrel for housing a pledget having a string and a hollow plunger such that the string extends through the hollow plunger, the plunger having an end portion, the end portion having a grippable area disposed proximal the open end;the cap cover having an inner end and an outer end, the inner end disposed proximal the end portion of the plunger when the cap cover is placed on the open end,wherein when the cap cover is placed on the open end, an at least partial seal is provided that completely encloses the barrel, the string, and the plunger in the tampon applicator package assembly, wherein the string is exposed at the opening of the end portion of the plunger when the cap cover is removed from the open end of the cap, and wherein the at least partially sealed tampon applicator package provides an ergonomic shape that fits in a closed hand of the user. 30. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 29, wherein the plunger has a telescoping portion. 31. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 29, wherein the cap cover matingly engages the cap by a hinge. 32. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 29, wherein at least a portion of one of the barrel, plunger, cap and/or cap cover are translucent. 33. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 29, wherein at least a portion of one of the barrel, plunger, cap and/or cap cover are different colors and/or different materials. 34. A tampon applicator package assembly comprising; a tampon applicator, the tampon applicator having a barrel for housing a pledget having a string and a hollow plunger such that the string extends through the hollow plunger, the plunger having an end portion, the end portion having a cap cover that directly connects to a remainder of the plunger;a cap having a closed end and an open end, wherein the tampon applicator is disposed in the cap,wherein the cap cover matingly engages the cap at the open end to provide an at least partial seal that completely encloses the tampon applicator and the string in the tampon applicator package assembly, and wherein the tampon applicator package assembly has a discretion index of less than 3 in a discretion survey wherein a discretion index of 5 represents an object that completely recognizable as a tampon applicator package and a discretion index of 1 represents an object that is completely unrecognizable as a tampon applicator package,wherein the string is exposed at the opening of the end portion of the plunger when the cap cover is removed from the open end of the cap. 35. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 34, wherein the plunger has a telescoping portion. 36. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 34, wherein at least a portion of one of the barrel, plunger, cap and/or cap cover are translucent. 37. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 34, wherein at least a portion of one of the barrel, plunger, cap and/or cap cover are different colors and/or different materials. 38. A tampon applicator package assembly comprising: a tampon applicator, a cap having a closed end and an open end, and a cap cover for covering the open end;the tampon applicator having a barrel for housing a pledget having a string and a hollow plunger such that the string extends through the hollow plunger, the plunger having an end portion, the end portion having a grippable area disposed proximal the open end;the cap cover having an inner end and an outer end, the inner end disposed proximal the end portion of the plunger when the cap cover is placed on the open end;wherein when the cap cover is placed on the open end, an at least partial seal is provided that completely encloses the barrel, the string, and the plunger in the tampon applicator package assembly, wherein the string is exposed at the opening of the end portion of the plunger when the cap cover is removed from the open end of the cap, wherein the tampon applicator package assembly has a discretion index of less than 3 in a discretion survey wherein a discretion index of 5 represents an object that completely recognizable as a tampon applicator package and a discretion index of 1 represents an object that is completely unrecognizable as a tampon applicator package. 39. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 38, wherein the plunger has a telescoping portion. 40. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 38, wherein the cap cover matingly engages the cap by a hinge. 41. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 38, wherein at least a portion of one of the barrel, plunger, cap and/or cap cover are translucent. 42. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 38, wherein at least a portion of one of the barrel, plunger, cap and /or cap cover are different colors and/or different materials. 43. A tampon applicator package assembly, comprising: a tampon applicator, a first cap having a closed end and an open end, and a second cap having a closed end and an open end,the tampon applicator having a barrel for housing a pledget and a having a string and a hollow plunger such that the string extends through the hollow plunger, the plunger having an end portion, the end portion having a grippable area disposed proximal to the open end of the first cap;wherein when the open end of the second cap is placed adjacent the open end of the first cap, at least a partial seal is provided that completely encloses the barrel, the string, and the plunger in the tampon applicator package assembly, andwherein the string is exposed at the opening of the end portion of the plunger when the second cap is removed from the open end of the first cap. 44. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 43, wherein one of the first cap and second cap encloses a second feminine hygiene product. 45. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 43, further comprising a ring that has a first end and a second end, wherein when the first end of the ring is placed adjacent the open end of the first cap and the second end of the ring is placed adjacent the open end of the second cap, that at least partial seal is provided to completely enclose the tampon applicator. 46. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 43, wherein the plunger has a telescoping portion. 47. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 43, wherein the open end of the first cap attaches to the open end of the second cap by a hinge. 48. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 43, wherein at least a portion of one of the barrel, plunger, first cap and/or second cap are translucent. 49. The tampon applicator package assembly of claim 43, wherein at least a portion of one of the barrel, plunger first cap and/or second cap are different colors and/or different materials.