Tampon for directional placement and applicator therefor

Claim 2

An improved catamenial tampon and applicator tube thereof, said tampon comprising an oblong pledget of absorbent material compressed into a thin self-sustaining resilient sheet form, said self-sustaining sheet being folded longitudinally on itself a plurality of times into adjoining segments to provide a folded tampon body of a size suitable for insertion into the vaginal tract, said folds forming at least one longitudinally extending exterioR groove in said body, said folded body being slidably disposed within said applicator tube whereby said folds provide a springlike transversely biased force against the interior sidewalls of said tube, said applicator tube having raised interior guide means for slidable association with the groove in said tampon body to prevent radial shifting of said folded body out of its transversely biased position within said tube, indicia means on the outer surface of said applicator tube for indicating the radial disposition of said folded body within said tube, said indicia means being disposed at a point on the surface of said tube whereby when an imaginary line is dropped from said point to intercept said folded body said line will be normal to a plane which defines the transverse expansion direction of said folded body, and means to eject said tampon body from said tube.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 in which said absorbent material comprises absorbent sponge.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 in which said absorbent material comprises 3 to 20 percent by weight of nonabsorbent, synthetic, resilient fibers having lengths in the range of about 3/4 to about 2 1/2 and a denier within the range of about 3 to 20, and a major portion of the remainder comprising absorbent fibers having lengths generally less than 3/16 inch.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 in which said guide means comprises a raised longitudinally extending rib.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1 in which said ejector means comprises a tube slidably fitted in the lower end of said applicator tube and having a longitudinal slot in its surface to cooperate with said guide means.

Claim 7

A compressed absorbent catamenial tampon disposed in a tubular applicator device and adapted for directional placement and expansion in the vaginal cavity, said tampon being comprised of an oblong pledget of absorbent material in the form of a thin, compressed self-sustaining resilient sheet with a withdrawal string attached to one end thereof, said sheet being longitudinally folded on itself a plurality of times into substantially symmetrical segments on each side of the longitudinal centerline to form an elongate body of a length and width suitable for insertion into the vaginal tract, said folds being adapted to provide at least one longitudinally extending exterior groove in said body, said tubular applicator device being comprised of an outer tube and an inner tube in telescopic association with said outer tube and slidably engaged therewith, said folded tampon body being disposed in said outer tube whereby said folds cause a springlike transversely biased force to be exerted against the sidewalls of said outer tube, said outer tube having a raised longitudinally extending rib disposed on its inner wall, said folded tampon body being disposed in said outer tube with said groove being mated with and slidably associated with the rib in said tampon body, and indicia on the outer surface of said outer tube at a point located directly above said longitudinal centerline whereby when an imaginary line is dropped from said point to intercept said folded tampon body said line is normal to the planar unfolded dimension of said sheet indicating the radial disposition of said folded tampon body in said tube.

Claim 8

A compressed absorbent catamenial tampon disposed in a tubular applicator device and adapted for directional placement and expansion in the vaginal cavity, said tampon being comprised of an oblong pledget of absorbent material in the form of a thin, compressed self-sustaining resilient sheet with a withdrawal string attached to one end thereof, said sheet being longitudinally folded on itself a plurality of times into substantially symmetrical segments on each side of the longitudinal centerline to form an elongate body of a length and width suitable for insertion into the vaginal tract, said folds being adapted to provide at least one longitudinally extending exterior groove in said body, said tubular applicator device being comprised of an outer tube and an inner tube in telescopic association with said outer tube and slidably engaged therewith, said folded tampon body being disposed in said outer tube whereby said folds cause a springlike transversely biased force to be exerted against the sidewalls of said outer tube, said outer tube having a raised longitudinally extending rib disposed on its inner wall, said folded tampon body being disposed in said outer tube with said groove being mated with and slidably associated with the rib in said tampon body, and indicia on the outer surface of said outer tube at a point located directly above said longitudinal centerline whereby when an imaginary line is dropped from said point to intercept said folded tampon body said line is normal to the planar unfolded dimension of said sheet indicating the radial disposition of said folded tampon body in said tube.

Claim 9

The device of claim 6 in which said absorbent material comprises absorbent sponge.

Claim 10

The device of claim 6 in which said absorbent material comprises 3 to 20 percent by weight of nonabsorbent, synthetic, resilient fibers having lengths in the range of about 3/4 to about 2/ 1/2 inches and a denier within the range of about 3 to 20, and a major portion of the remainder comprising absorbent fibers having lengths generally less than 3/16 inch.

Claim 11

The device of claim 6 in which said groove is disposed above a centrally disposed fold.

Claim 12

The device of claim 6 in which said indicia is disposed directly above said groove.

Claim 13

The device of claim 6 in which said inner tube has a longitudinally extending exterior groove slidably associated with the rib in said outer tube.

Claim 14

The device of claim 6 in which the cross section of said folded body is in the form of a U with the legs of said U further folded inwardly with the faces of said folded leg portions in juxtaposition.

Claim 15

The device of claim 6 in which the cross section of said folded body is in the form of an M.

Claim 16

The device of claim 6 in which the folds comprise a plurality of vertical pleats and said groove is disposed above the V formed by the central pleat.

Claim 17

The device of claim 14 in which the width of the centrally disposed pleats is approximately equal to the diameter of said outer tube and the adjacent pleats on each side thereof are gradually narrower.