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EP0104039A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Tampons and applicators

Assignee: Smith and Nephew PLC
•
Filing: 1983-09-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-09-12
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Abstract

Abstract A tampon for insertion into a bodily cavity, which tampon comprises a flexible tube having a collapsible portion extending from one end and a main tampon body which is attached to the collapsible portion and which is capable of translational movement within the tube so that the collapsible portion when inverted will evert, when pressure is applied to it, to form a sleeve about the moving tampon body. tampon assemblies and applicators comprising these tampons are described.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ronald Lloyd

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 21:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/20; A61F13/2051; A61F13/26

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 68 words
A tampon for insertion into a bodily cavity, which tampon comprises a flexible tube having a collapsible portion extending from one end and a main tampon body which is attached to the collapsible portion and which is capable of translational movement within the tube so that the collapsible portion when inverted will evert, when pressure is applied to it, to form a sleeve about the moving tampon body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 68 words
A tampon for insertion into a bodily cavity, which tampon comprises a flexible tube having a collapsible portion extending from one end and a main tampon body which is attached to the collapsible portion and which is capable of translational movement within the tube so that the collapsible portion when inverted will evert, when pressure is applied to it, to form a sleeve about the moving tampon body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
A tampon as claimed in claim 1 in which the collapsible portion of the tube is attached at or about the nose of the main tampon body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
A tampon as claimed in claim 2 in which the . collapsible portion of the tube is in an axially compressed form at or about the nose of the main tampon body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 50 words
A tampon as claimed in claim 3 in which the nose portion of the main tampon body has diameter smaller than that of the remaining portion of the main tampon body to accommodate an axially compressed collapsible portion of the tube positioned about the nose of the main tampon body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 63 words
- A tampon as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 in which the main tampon body has a shroud which surrounds a portion thereof which is to the rear of the nose of the tampon body to reduce friction between the everting collapsible portion of the tube and the main tampon body when the tampon is inserted into the bodily cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
A tampon as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 in which the collapsible portion of the tube comprises a water permeable non-woven fabric.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 96 words
A tampon assembly for aiding the insertion of a tampon into a bodily cavity which assembly comprises a tampon which comprises a flexible tube having a collapsible portion extending from one end and-a main tampon body which is attached to the collapsible portion and which is capable of translational movement within the tube so that the collapsible portion when inverted will evert, when pressure is applied to it, to form a sleeve about the moving tampon body and a tampon guide receiving the tampon and having an opening to be placed over the bodily cavity opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 96 words
A tampon assembly for aiding the insertion of a tampon into a bodily cavity which assembly comprises a tampon which comprises a flexible tube having a collapsible portion extending from one end and-a main tampon body which is attached to the collapsible portion and which is capable of translational movement within the tube so that the collapsible portion when inverted will evert, when pressure is applied to it, to form a sleeve about the moving tampon body and a tampon guide receiving the tampon and having an opening to be placed over the bodily cavity opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 79 words
An applicator for aiding the insertion of a tampon into a bodily cavity, which tampon comprises a flexible tube having a collapsible portion extending from one end and a main tampon-body which is attached to the collapsible portion and which is capable translational movement within the tube and a piston capable of sweeping the tube, so that the collapsible portion when inverted will evert under the action of the piston to form a sleeve about the moving tampon body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 79 words
An applicator for aiding the insertion of a tampon into a bodily cavity, which tampon comprises a flexible tube having a collapsible portion extending from one end and a main tampon-body which is attached to the collapsible portion and which is capable translational movement within the tube and a piston capable of sweeping the tube, so that the collapsible portion when inverted will evert under the action of the piston to form a sleeve about the moving tampon body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 39 words
9 . Applicator as claimed in claim 8 in which the piston is tubiform and the main tampon body is within the piston and capable of translational motion therein so that the piston acts directly on the flexible tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 34 words
An applicator as claimed in either of claims 8 or 9 which comprises a piston guide receiving the piston and the tampon and having an opening to be placed over the body cavity opening.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3749093A Cited
US4211225A Cited
US4318404A Cited

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