US5437628A — Curved tampon applicator having an improved finge…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 173 words

A curved tampon applicator comprising: a) a tubular member having an arcuate shape with a centerline formed on an arc having a predetermined radius of curvature, said tubular member having a stepped outer profile with an enlarged portion designed to house a tampon joined to a smaller fingergrip portion, said member having a forward end through which said tampon can be ejected and a rearward end through which a plunger is slidable, said fingergrip portion having a passageway formed therethrough which is sized and configured to receive said plunger and having an exterior periphery; b) a first pair of flat surfaces formed on said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion which are aligned parallel to a plane coincident with a radius forming said arcuate centerline of said member; and c) a second pair of flat surfaces formed on said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion which are aligned perpendicular to said first pair of flat surfaces, said second pair of flat surfaces being shorter in length than said first pair of flat surfaces.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 173 words

A curved tampon applicator comprising: a) a tubular member having an arcuate shape with a centerline formed on an arc having a predetermined radius of curvature, said tubular member having a stepped outer profile with an enlarged portion designed to house a tampon joined to a smaller fingergrip portion, said member having a forward end through which said tampon can be ejected and a rearward end through which a plunger is slidable, said fingergrip portion having a passageway formed therethrough which is sized and configured to receive said plunger and having an exterior periphery; b) a first pair of flat surfaces formed on said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion which are aligned parallel to a plane coincident with a radius forming said arcuate centerline of said member; and c) a second pair of flat surfaces formed on said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion which are aligned perpendicular to said first pair of flat surfaces, said second pair of flat surfaces being shorter in length than said first pair of flat surfaces.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 225 words

A curved tampon applicator comprising: a) a tubular member having an arcuate shape with a centerline formed on an arc having a predetermined radius of curvature, said tubular member having a stepped outer profile with an enlarged portion designed to house a tampon joined to a smaller fingergrip portion, said member having a forward end through which said tampon can be ejected and a rearward end through which a plunger is slidable, said fingergrip portion having a passageway formed therethrough which is sized and configured to receive said plunger and having an exterior periphery; b) a first pair of flat surfaces formed on said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion which are aligned parallel to a plane coincident with a radius forming said arcuate centerline of said member; c) a second pair of flat surfaces formed on said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion which are aligned perpendicular to said first pair of flat surfaces, said second pair of flat surfaces being shorter in length than said first pair of flat surfaces; and d) a plurality of spaced apart ribs each completely surrounding said exterior surface of said fingergrip portion, at least one of said ribs cooperating with said first and second pairs of flat surfaces to prevent rotation and slippage of said curved tampon applicator during insertion of said tampon into a woman's vagina.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 225 words

A curved tampon applicator comprising: a) a tubular member having an arcuate shape with a centerline formed on an arc having a predetermined radius of curvature, said tubular member having a stepped outer profile with an enlarged portion designed to house a tampon joined to a smaller fingergrip portion, said member having a forward end through which said tampon can be ejected and a rearward end through which a plunger is slidable, said fingergrip portion having a passageway formed therethrough which is sized and configured to receive said plunger and having an exterior periphery; b) a first pair of flat surfaces formed on said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion which are aligned parallel to a plane coincident with a radius forming said arcuate centerline of said member; c) a second pair of flat surfaces formed on said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion which are aligned perpendicular to said first pair of flat surfaces, said second pair of flat surfaces being shorter in length than said first pair of flat surfaces; and d) a plurality of spaced apart ribs each completely surrounding said exterior surface of said fingergrip portion, at least one of said ribs cooperating with said first and second pairs of flat surfaces to prevent rotation and slippage of said curved tampon applicator during insertion of said tampon into a woman's vagina.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The curved tampon applicator of claim 2 wherein said ribs are aligned parallel to one another.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

The curved tampon applicator of claim 2 wherein said fingergrip portion has a wall which varies in thickness.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 37 words

The curved tampon applicator of claim 4 wherein said wall thickness of said fingergrip portion adjacent to said second pair of flat surfaces is equal to said wall thickness adjacent to said first pair of flat surfaces.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 30 words

The curved tampon applicator of claim 5 wherein said wall adjacent to said first and second pairs of flat surfaces has a thickness of between about 0.6 to 0.7 millimeters.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The curved tampon applicator of claim 2 wherein a portion of said fingergrip portion has a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 16 words

The curved tampon applicator of claim 7 wherein said generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration has rounded corners.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

The curved tampon applicator of claim 8 wherein said rounded corners have a greater thickness than other portions of said wall.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

The curved tampon applicator of claim 8 wherein said rounded corners have a wall thickness of between about 0.5 to 1.2 millimeters.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 252 words

A curved tampon applicator comprising: a) a tubular member having an arcuate shape with a centerline formed on an arc having a predetermined radius of curvature, said tubular member having a stepped outer profile with an enlarged portion designed to house a tampon joined to a smaller fingergrip portion, said member having a forward end through which said tampon can be ejected and a rearward end through which a plunger is slidable, said plunger designed to engage one end of said tampon and push said tampon out said forward end when said plunger is inserted into said enlarged portion, said fingergrip portion having an oval-shaped passageway formed therethrough which is sized and configured to receive said plunger and having an exterior periphery; b) a first pair of flat surfaces formed on said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion which are aligned parallel to a plane coincident with a radius forming said arcuate centerline of said member; c) a second pair of flat surface formed on said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion which are aligned perpendicular to said first pair of flat surfaces, said second pair of flat surfaces being shorter in length than said first pair of flat surfaces; and d) a plurality of spaced apart ribs each completely surrounding said exterior surface of said fingergrip portion, a majority of said ribs cooperating with said first and second pairs of flat surfaces to prevent rotation and slippage of said curved tampon applicator during insertion of said tampon into a woman's vagina.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 252 words

A curved tampon applicator comprising: a) a tubular member having an arcuate shape with a centerline formed on an arc having a predetermined radius of curvature, said tubular member having a stepped outer profile with an enlarged portion designed to house a tampon joined to a smaller fingergrip portion, said member having a forward end through which said tampon can be ejected and a rearward end through which a plunger is slidable, said plunger designed to engage one end of said tampon and push said tampon out said forward end when said plunger is inserted into said enlarged portion, said fingergrip portion having an oval-shaped passageway formed therethrough which is sized and configured to receive said plunger and having an exterior periphery; b) a first pair of flat surfaces formed on said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion which are aligned parallel to a plane coincident with a radius forming said arcuate centerline of said member; c) a second pair of flat surface formed on said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion which are aligned perpendicular to said first pair of flat surfaces, said second pair of flat surfaces being shorter in length than said first pair of flat surfaces; and d) a plurality of spaced apart ribs each completely surrounding said exterior surface of said fingergrip portion, a majority of said ribs cooperating with said first and second pairs of flat surfaces to prevent rotation and slippage of said curved tampon applicator during insertion of said tampon into a woman's vagina.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 33 words

The curved tampon applicator of claim 11 wherein said ribs form a closed loop having a cross-sectional configuration which matches the profile of a portion of said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

The curved tampon applicator of claim 11 wherein said fingergrip portion contains five ribs, two of said ribs having a circular cross-sectional configuration.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 32 words

The curved tampon applicator of claim 11 wherein said first and second pairs of flat surfaces extend more than half of the length of said fingergrip portion starting from said rearward end.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 33 words

The curved tampon applicator of claim 11 wherein said first and second pairs of flat surfaces extend a distance along the centerline of said fingergrip portion of between about 8 to 15 millimeters.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 282 words

A curved tampon applicator comprising: a) a plunger having an arcuate shape with a centerline formed on an arc having a predetermined radius of curvature, said plunger having an oval-shaped outer configuration; b) a tubular member having an arcuate shape with a centerline formed on an arc having a predetermined radius of curvature, said tubular member having a stepped outer profile with an enlarged portion designed to house a catamenial tampon joined to a smaller fingergrip portion, said member having a forward end through which said tampon can be ejected and a rearward end through which said plunger is slidable, said fingergrip portion having an oval-shaped passageway formed therethrough which is sized to receive said plunger and having an exterior periphery, said plunger and tubular member being telescopically engageable and operable to push said tampon out said forward end of said tubular member when said plunger is moved into said member; c) a first pair of flat surfaces formed on said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion which are aligned parallel to a plane coincident with a radius forming said arcuate centerline of said member; d) a second pair of flat surface formed on said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion which are aligned perpendicular to said first pair of flat surfaces, said second pair of flat surfaces being shorter in length than said first pair of flat surfaces; and e) a plurality of spaced apart ribs, each completely surrounding said exterior surface of said fingergrip portion, at least one of said ribs cooperating with said first and second pairs of flat surfaces to prevent rotation and slippage of said curved tampon applicator during insertion of said tampon into a woman's vagina.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 282 words

A curved tampon applicator comprising: a) a plunger having an arcuate shape with a centerline formed on an arc having a predetermined radius of curvature, said plunger having an oval-shaped outer configuration; b) a tubular member having an arcuate shape with a centerline formed on an arc having a predetermined radius of curvature, said tubular member having a stepped outer profile with an enlarged portion designed to house a catamenial tampon joined to a smaller fingergrip portion, said member having a forward end through which said tampon can be ejected and a rearward end through which said plunger is slidable, said fingergrip portion having an oval-shaped passageway formed therethrough which is sized to receive said plunger and having an exterior periphery, said plunger and tubular member being telescopically engageable and operable to push said tampon out said forward end of said tubular member when said plunger is moved into said member; c) a first pair of flat surfaces formed on said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion which are aligned parallel to a plane coincident with a radius forming said arcuate centerline of said member; d) a second pair of flat surface formed on said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion which are aligned perpendicular to said first pair of flat surfaces, said second pair of flat surfaces being shorter in length than said first pair of flat surfaces; and e) a plurality of spaced apart ribs, each completely surrounding said exterior surface of said fingergrip portion, at least one of said ribs cooperating with said first and second pairs of flat surfaces to prevent rotation and slippage of said curved tampon applicator during insertion of said tampon into a woman's vagina.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 31 words

The curved tampon applicator of claim 16 wherein said first pair of flat surfaces extend a distance along the centerline of said fingergrip portion of between about 8 to 15 millimeters.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 31 words

The curved tampon applicator of claim 16 wherein said second pair of flat surfaces extend a distance along the centerline of said fingergrip portion of between about 8 to 15 millimeters.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 21 words

The curved tampon applicator of claim 16 wherein said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion has a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 31 words

The curved tampon applicator of claim 16 wherein said exterior periphery of said fingergrip portion has rounded corners, and said rounded corners have a wall thickness greater than adjacent wall portions.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 18 words

The curved tampon applicator of claim 16 wherein said fingergrip portion has a wall which varies in thickness.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-07-31	1999-01-30	1999-08-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-07-31	2003-01-30	2003-08-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-07-31	2007-01-30	2007-08-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Curved tampon applicator having an improved fingergrip

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