Patent US4900299A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4900299A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Biodegradable tampon application comprising poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid)
Assignee: Personal Products Co
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Filing: 1987-05-11
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Granted: 1990-02-13
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Expires: 2007-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A biodegradable tampon applicator comprising a molded, flexible, polymeric hollow cylindrical body for enclosing a tampon therein and having a first open end through which said tampon is expelled and a second open end for receiving means for expelling said tampon, said body comprising a moldable poly 3-hydroxybutyric acid composition.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew Webb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/20; A61F13/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
A biodegradable tampon applicator comprising a molded, hollow cylindrical body of polymeric material enclosing a tampon therein and having a first flexible open end through which said tampon is expelled and a second open end for receiving means for expelling said tampon, said body comprising a moldable poly 3-hydroxybutyric acid composition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
A biodegradable tampon applicator comprising a molded, hollow cylindrical body of polymeric material enclosing a tampon therein and having a first flexible open end through which said tampon is expelled and a second open end for receiving means for expelling said tampon, said body comprising a moldable poly 3-hydroxybutyric acid composition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tampon applicator of claim 1 wherein said poly 3-hydroxybutyric acid is a copolymer comprising 3-hydroxybutyric acid and 3-hydroxyvaleric acid residues.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tampon applicator of claim 2 wherein said 3-hydroxyvaleric acid residues are present in the range of from about 5 to about 30 mol %, based on the total moles of 3-hydroxybutyric and 3-hydroxyvaleric acid residues present.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The tampon of claim 3 wherein said 3-hydroxyvaleric acid residues are present in the range of from about 10 to about 30 mol %, based on the total moles of 3-hydroxybutyric and 3-hydroxyvaleric acid residues present.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tampon applicator of claim 1 wherein said body further comprises a plasticizer in an amount sufficient to impart the material of said body with a modulus of elasticity of from about 0.2 to about 1.0 GPa.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tampon applicator of claim 5 wherein said plasticing is in an amount sufficient to impart the material of said body with a modulus of elasticity of from about 0.3 to about 0.6 GPa.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tampon applicator of claim 5 wherein said plasticizer is present in an amount of less than 40 parts per hundred parts (by weight) of polymer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The tampon applicator of claim 7 wherein said plasticizer is present in an amount of from 10 to about 30 parts per hundred parts by weight of polymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The tampon applicator of claim 5 wherein said plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of diacetin, dibenzoate, triethyl phosphate, alkylarylphosphate, iso-decyl diphenyl phosphate, butylbenzyl phthalate, neopentyl glycol, p-toluene sulphonamide, dialkylalkyleneoxide glutarate and mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tampon applicator of claim 9 wherein said plasticizer comprises a mixture of p-toluene sulphonamide and dialkylalkyleneoxide glutarate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
The tampon applicator of claim 1 including a nucleating agent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
10 words
The tampon applicator of claim 1 including a biodegradable filler.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for making a tampon applicator comprising employing a composition comprising a copolymer of 3-hydroxybutyric acid and 3-hydroxyvaleric acid residues and a plasticizer; the mol % of said 3-hydroxyvaleric acid residues and the quantity of plasticizer selected to result in said composition having a melt flow time of not more than 20 minutes and when molded to result in a material having a modulus of elasticity of 0.2 to 1.0 GPa molding said composition into a hollow cylindrical body, and inserting a tampon therein.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for making a tampon applicator comprising employing a composition comprising a copolymer of 3-hydroxybutyric acid and 3-hydroxyvaleric acid residues and a plasticizer; the mol % of said 3-hydroxyvaleric acid residues and the quantity of plasticizer selected to result in said composition having a melt flow time of not more than 20 minutes and when molded to result in a material having a modulus of elasticity of 0.2 to 1.0 GPa molding said composition into a hollow cylindrical body, and inserting a tampon therein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said material has a modulus of elasticity ranging from about 0.3 to about 0.6 GPa.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said 3-hydroxybutyric acid residues are present in the range of from about 5 to about 30 moles %, based on the total moles of 3-hydroxybutyric and 3-hydroxyvaleric acid residues present.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said 3-hydroxybutyric acid residues are present in the range of from about 10 to about 30 mol %, based on the total moles of 3-hydroxybutyric and 3-hydroxyvaleric acid residues present.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said plasticizer is present in an amount of less than 40 parts per hundred parts (by weight) of polymer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said plasticizer is present in an amount of from about 10 to about 30 parts per hundred parts by weight of polymer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of diacetin, dibenzoate, triethyl phosphate, alkylarylphosphate, iso-decyl diphenyl phosphate, butylbenzl phthalate, neopentyl glycol, p-toluene sulphonamide, dialkylalkyleneoxide glutarate, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the plasticizer comprises a mixture of p-toluene sulphonamide and dialkylalkyleneoxide glutarate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 13 including a nucleating agent.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 13 including a biodegradable filler.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-02-12 | 1993-08-14 | 1994-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-12 | 1997-08-14 | 1998-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-12 | 2001-08-14 | 2002-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |