Tampon applicator

Abstract

A tampon applicator, including: a vaginal insertion tube intended to house the tampon to be used, and a plunger which is mounted coaxially in one end of the tube and which is used to push and release the tampon through a second end of the tube. According to tan embodiment, the applicator can be re-used and the insertion tube includes a side window through which a tampon can be inserted into the tube, before each use of the applicator by the user.

Claims

1. A tampon applicator, comprising: a vaginal insertion tube configured to contain a tampon to be used, and a plunger coaxially mounted in a first end of said tube and is used to push and release the tampon through an opening at a second end of the tube; wherein said applicator is reusable and the insertion tube comprises a side window spaced from both the first end and the second end of the tube, the side window being configured for the insertion of a tampon into the tube while the plunger remains mounted in the first end of the tube, prior to each use of the applicator by the user.

2. The tampon applicator according to claim 1, further comprising a protective case for housing the applicator in an inoperative or transport position, in which the applicator does not contain any tampon and the plunger is housed in the vaginal insertion tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) To complement the description that is being made and in order to facilitate the understanding of the characteristics of the invention, the present specification is accompanied by a set of drawings in which, by way of illustration and not limitation, the following has been represented:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an elevation view of an embodiment of the tampon applicator, according to the invention, with the plunger moved towards the outside of the insertion tube.

(3) FIG. 2 shows an elevation view of the applicator of the previous figure in an inoperative or transport position.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a view of the tampon applicator of the invention during the insertion of a tampon, through the side window of the insertion tube.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a view of the tampon applicator of the invention during the insertion of a tampon with the tampon housed in the applicator tube ready for use.

(6) FIG. 5 shows an elevation view of the tampon applicator, in the same inoperative or transport position of FIG. 2, housed in a protective case that has been sectioned along a longitudinal plane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(7) As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, this tampon applicator, referenced as a whole as (1), comprises a vaginal insertion tube (11) and a plunger (12) mounted in a first end of said tube, with the possibility of axial displacement between the two positions represented in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(8) This tampon applicator is reusable and, for this effect, the insertion tube (11) comprises a side window (13) suitable for the insertion of a tampon into the tube (11) prior to its use, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

(9) Once a tampon (T) has been inserted into the tube (11), this applicator is used in a conventional way, moving the plunger towards the inside of the tube to push the tampon and release it through the opposite end of the tube (11).

(10) Later, when the user needs to apply a new tampon, it is enough to move the plunger (12) to the initial position, represented in FIG. 1, to leave the side window (13) free and allow the insertion of the new tampon to be used into the tube (11).

(11) As shown in FIG. 5, this tampon applicator has a protective case (2) suitable for housing the applicator (1) in the inoperative or transport position, also represented in FIG. 2.

(12) In this position, the applicator occupies a minimum space, which allows the protective case to have dimensions and even a structure and shape similar to a lipstick, allowing it to be transported discreetly.

(13) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the protective case comprises a body (21) and a cover (22) coupled to each other in an axial direction, although said protective case (2) could have any other shape since this does not affect the essence of the invention.

(14) Finally, it should be mentioned that both the applicator (1) and the case (2) are made of a waterproof material, for example, plastic material or another material that can be easily cleaned without deteriorating to guarantee adequate hygienic conditions.

(15) Once the nature of the invention has been sufficiently described, as well as a preferred embodiment, it is stated for the appropriate purposes that the materials, shape, size and arrangement of the elements described may be modified, as long as this does not imply an alteration of the essential features of the invention claimed below.