REUSABLE MENSTRUAL CUP FOR EASY REMOVAL WITHOUT PAIN

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a menstrual cup that can be reused by replacing only a container containing menstrual blood. The disclosure uses a cover body made of a silicon material and penetrating vertically, and inside the cover body, a receiving cup is mounted, wherein the receiving cup is manufactured inexpensively by using a thin plastic material and includes an inner space for receiving menstrual blood therein, an inlet is formed on the upper surface thereof such that menstrual blood may flow into the inner space, and a protruding handle portion is formed such that the menstrual cup worn at the bottom end thereof can be easily separated from the inside a vagina and the cover body, and the body of the receiving cup has a restoring force automatically when pressed together with the cover body for facilitating wearing, and the receiving cup comprises longitudinal corrugated portions having space portions formed therebetween by concave portions and convex portions such that removal can be facilitated by releasing the vacuum inside the vagina at the time of removal after use. As such, it is possible to reuse the menstrual cup by replacing only the receiving cup in the cover body after use.

Claims

1. A menstrual cup that is easily removed and reused without causing pain, the menstrual cup comprising: a cylindrical cover body (10) made of an elastic silicone material and penetrated vertically; and a receiving cup (20) made of a plastic material and installed inside the cover body (10) to contain menstrual blood, wherein the menstrual cup (1) is reused by replacing only the receiving cup (20) in the cover body (10) after use, wherein the receiving cup (20) includes an inner space (21) for containing menstrual blood therein, an inlet (23) formed on an upper surface (22) to allow menstrual blood to flow into the inner space (21), a handle (24) for separating the menstrual cup (1) worn at a bottom end from an inside of a vagina or from the cover body (10), and a body (25) is formed with a wrinkle portion (26) having a convex portion (26a) in close contact with the cover body (10) in a vertical direction and a concave groove portion (26b) that forms a gap between the cover body (10) and the convex portion (26a) so that external air flows through the gap, and wherein, when the menstrual cup (20) worn is taken out, the receiving cup (20) is contracted and restored by the wrinkle portion (26) to allow the menstrual cup to be easily taken out and an internal vacuum is released, thereby allowing the menstrual cup to be easily taken out without causing pain.

2. The menstrual cup of claim 1, wherein the cover body (10) is formed with reinforcement rims (11) in upper and lower end rims thereof to reinforce restoring force, wherein the receiving cup (20) is configured in a form of an egg having narrow upper and lower ends and a convex body, and is tightly closed to an inner wall surface of the cover body by an elastic force of the cover body (20), and wherein a support frame (27) is formed on a lower end of the receiving cup (20) and is recessed inward so as to be latched with the reinforcement rim (11) formed on an opened lower end rim of the cover body (10) such that the receiving cup (20) is prevented from being arbitrarily separated from the cover body (10).

3. The menstrual cup of claim 2, wherein a close contact surface (13) covering an upper surface (22) of the receiving cup (20) is further formed on the reinforcement rim (11) formed on the upper end rim of the cover body (10) such that the gap formed by the wrinkle portion (26) between the cover body (10) and the receiving cup (20) is blocked to prevent leakage of menstrual blood.

4. The menstrual cup of claim 3, wherein a space portion (12) is formed at an inner side of the reinforcement rim (11) formed in the opened upper end rim of the cover body (11) while being spaced apart from an outside surface of the receiving cup (20), and wherein, when the handle (24) of the receiving cup (20) is pulled, contraction is made by the wrinkle portion (26) to release a close contact of the close contact surface (13), and air is introduced into the space portion (12) through the gap formed by the concave groove portion (26b) of the wrinkle portion (26) to release vacuum inside the vagina, thereby allowing the receiving cup (20) to be easily taken out.

5. The menstrual cup of claim 1, wherein the handle (24) formed on the receiving cup (20) has a concave connection portion (24a) and a convex finger gripping portion (24b) formed on a front end of the connection portion (24a) to facilitate a pulling operation for taking out the receiving cup 20.

6. The menstrual cup of claim 1, wherein an auxiliary space (24) communicating with the inner space (21) of the receiving cup (20) is formed inside the handle (24) including the connection portion (24a) and the finger gripping portion (24b).

7. The menstrual cup of claim 1, wherein a latch rim (14) is formed in an inner surface of the opened lower end rim of the cover body (10), and wherein, when only the receiving cup (20) is separated from the cover body (10) while the menstrual cup (20) worn inside the vagina is taken out, the cover body (10) remaining inside the vagina is easily taken out by using the latch rim (14).

8. The menstrual cup of claim 1, wherein one or more ring portions (15) are formed on the opened lower end rim of the cover body 10, and wherein, when only the receiving cup (20) is separated from the cover body (10) while the menstrual cup (20) worn in the vagina is taken out, the cover body (10) remaining in the vagina is easily taken out by using the ring portion (15).

9. The menstrual cup of claim 1, further comprising: an absorbent (30) provided in the inner space (21) of the receiving cup (20) and compressed in a small bead shape, the absorbent (30) gradually swelling by absorption of menstrual blood.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a menstrual cup according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 2 is an assembled cross-sectional view of a menstrual cup according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which a receiving cup is mounted on a cover body according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the restoring force of a menstrual cup according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a vacuum release structure of the worn menstrual cup according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state of reuse by replacing a receiving cup containing menstrual blood according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state of taking out a cover body inside a vagina according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state of taking out a cover body inside a vagina according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 9 is a view showing a state in which menstrual blood is absorbed by an absorption unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and

[0034] FIG. 10 is a view showing a handle according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0035] Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the various embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0037] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the disclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0038] It is to be understood that the singular forms a, an, and the include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a component surface includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.

[0039] As the best mode according to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided a menstrual cup which includes a receiving cup made of a plastic material and installed inside the cover body to contain menstrual blood, wherein the menstrual cup is reused by replacing only the receiving cup in the cover body after use, wherein the receiving cup includes an inner space for containing menstrual blood therein, an inlet formed on an upper surface to allow menstrual blood to flow into the inner space, a handle for separating the menstrual cup worn at a bottom end from an inside of a vagina or from the cover body, and a body is formed with a wrinkle portion having a convex portion in close contact with the cover body in a vertical direction and a concave groove portion that forms a gap between the cover body and the convex portion so that external air flows through the gap, and wherein, when the menstrual cup worn is taken out, the receiving cup is contracted and restored by the wrinkle portion to allow the menstrual cup to be easily taken out and an internal vacuum is released, thereby allowing the menstrual cup to be easily taken out without causing pain.

[0040] Hereinafter, a menstrual cup according to an embodiment of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 1, a menstrual cup 1 includes a cover body 19 made of an elastic silicone material and a receiving cup 20 made of a plastic material to contain menstrual blood.

[0042] In this case, the cover body 10 is made of a cylindrical tube that penetrates vertically, and the receiving cup 20 is installed therein. Since the cover body 10 is made of a silicone material having a soft touch, the cover body 10 prevents a feeling of rejection when contacting the inside of the vagina made of sensitive skin to provide an easy fit and is harmless to the human body, providing safety at the same time.

[0043] In addition, the receiving cup 20 has an inner space 21 for containing menstrual blood therein, an inlet 23 formed in an upper surface 22 therein to allow menstrual blood to flow into the inner space 21, and a handle portion 24 having a predetermined length formed at a lower end to easily take out the inserted menstrual cup 1 from the vaginal or be separated from the cover body 10. The body 25 has a wrinkle portion 26 having convex and concave groove portions 26a and 26b in a vertical direction such that the receiving cup 20 made of the plastic material is contracted by pressing together with the cover body 10 for insertion into a vagina, and automatically restored in an inserted state. When the receiving cup 20 is contracted, a gap is formed by the concave groove portion 26b of the wrinkle portion 26 between the receiving cup 20 and the cover body 10, so that the vacuum state inside the vagina where the menstrual cup 1 is worn is released, thereby allowing the menstrual to be easily taken out.

[0044] That is, when the body 25 of the receiving cup 20 is pushed and pressed, the wrinkle portion 26 is tightly contracted by the concave groove portion 26b, and when the pressure is released in the contracted state, the body 25 is restored to the original state due to the restoration action so that the receiving cup 20 may be easily worn.

[0045] In addition, when the menstrual cup 1 worn inside a vagina is taken out, external air is introduced into the vagina by the concave groove portion 26a of the wrinkle portion 26 formed in the body 25 of the receiving cup 20 so that the vacuum state is released. Thus, the menstrual cup 1 worn inside the vagina may be easily taken out without causing pain.

[0046] Therefore, the menstrual cup 1 of the disclosure may be easily worn and taken out inside the vagina, and the cover body 10 made of a silicone material may be reused only by washing. In addition, after only the receiving cup 20 containing the menstrual blood is separated from the cover body 10, the new receiving cup 20 is exchanged for reuse, so that it is possible to reuse the menstrual cup 1.

[0047] In particular, the receiving cup 20 is made of a PE-based soft plastic material having a thin thickness, but has a certain strength so that the receiving cup 20 may be contracted and restored while maintaining its shape without being crushed, and the cost may be cheaper than that of a menstrual cup made of a silicon material of the related art. In addition, the post-treatment after use may be facilitated and the cover body 10 may be reusable after washing only by repeatedly replacing the receiving cup 20, thereby reducing the purchase burden on a consumer.

[0048] In this case, the upper surface 22 on which the inlet 23 of the receiving cup 20 is formed is preferably formed to be inclined downward so that menstrual blood flows naturally into the inner space 21 and is contained in the receiving cup 20. When the upper surface 22 of the receiving cup 20 is inclined so that the menstrual cup 1 is contracted by pressure to be inserted into the vagina, the upper surface 22, which is formed in a funnel shape together with the wrinkle portion 26 of the body 25, is easily restored to its original state by the restoration action.

[0049] However, the structure of the upper surface 22 does not limit the object of the disclosure.

[0050] In this case, circular band-shaped reinforcement rims 11 are formed on the upper and lower rims of the cover body 10 having a vertically-perforated cylindrical shape, each of which has a diameter smaller than that of the body and a thickness thicker than that of the body, and the reinforcement rims 11 provide the reinforcing force to the cover body 10, thereby improving the restoration force for restoring the cover body 10 to the original state.

[0051] In addition, the receiving cup 20 has the body 25 having curved surface upper and lower surfaces. The upper surface 22 is formed to have a narrow width for insertion of the cover body 10. The body 25 is manufactured by brow molding in an egg shape, which is gradually convex on the upper surface 22 and gradually narrowed to the curved surface of a lower end.

[0052] The narrow upper end portion of the receiving cup 20 is inserted toward the opened lower end rim of the cover body 10, so that the receiving cup 20 is easily fitted by the elasticity of the cover body 10 and the contraction and restoring force of the wrinkle portion 26 of the receiving cup 20.

[0053] In this case, the receiving cup 20 installed by the adhesion of the cover body 10 is not arbitrarily separated, and when separated, the friction area is minimized by the wrinkle portion 26 formed on the body of the receiving cup 20, so that the receiving cup 20 is separated only by pulling the handle 24.

[0054] In addition, in order to prevent the receiving cup 20 from being arbitrarily separated from the cover body 10 in a state in which the receiving cup 20 is installed into the cover body 10, a support frame 27 is formed on the lower end of the receiving cup 20 to be latched to the reinforcement rim 11 formed on the lower end rim of the cover body 10, so that a reinforced installation structure is formed in which the reinforcement rim 11 supports the support frame 27 of the receiving cup 20 or is supported by latching, thereby preventing the receiving cup from being arbitrarily separated.

[0055] Therefore, in a state in which the menstrual cup 1 is inserted into the vagina while the cover body 10 is in close contact with the body 25 of the receiving cup 20, only the receiving cup is prevented from being separated from the cover body 10.

[0056] In addition, a close contact surface 13, which extends inwardly to be in close contact with the upper end rim of the mounted receiving cup 20 or be overlapped with the upper surface 22, is further formed on the reinforcing rim 11 formed on the upper end rim of the cover body 10 to be in close contact, such that the gap formed by wrinkle portion 26 between the cover body 10 and the receiving cup 20 is blocked to prevent leakage of menstrual blood while reinforcing the mounting state of the cover body 10 and the receiving cup 20 more firmly, and menstrual blood is induced to flow only into the inner space 21 of the receiving cup 20. When the receiving cup 20 is pulled through the handle 24 to take out the menstrual cup, the contact surface 13 is separated and the gap of the wrinkle portion 26 is exposed, so that external air is introduced to release the vacuum.

[0057] In this case, by forming a space portion 12 on the inner side of the body and the bent upper surface of the reinforcing frame 11 formed on the opened upper end rim of the cover body 10, the upper outer wall surface of the receiving cup 20 installed inside the cover body 10 is not in close contact but is mounted in a spaced state by the space portion 12. In this state, when the handle 24 formed at the lower end of the receiving cup 20 is pulled, the receiving cup 20 is contracted by the wrinkle portion 26, and a gap due to the concave groove 26b is generated between the receiving cup 20 and the cover body 10 in close contact with the receiving cup 20 due to the concave groove portion 26b of the wrinkle portion 26, so that air is introduced into the space portion 12 to release the vacuum inside the vagina. Thus, the worn menstrual cup can be easily taken out without causing pain.

[0058] In addition, while the worn menstrual cup 1 is removed, when only the receiving cup 20 is separated from the cover body 10 and the cover body 10 remains inside the vagina, in order to easily remove the cover body 10, a locking rim 14 is formed on the inner side surface of the opened lower end rim of the cover body 10 so that the finger can be caught.

[0059] In addition, as another embodiment for taking out the cover body 10 remaining inside the vagina by separating only the receiving cup 20, one or more ring portions 15 are formed on the opened lower rim surface of the cover body 10, so that the cover body 10 can be easily taken out by using the ring portion 15 with a finger.

[0060] In addition, the handle 24 formed on the receiving cup 20 is formed to protrude outward from the lower end of the body 25, and in consideration that the receiving cup 20 is manufactured by brow molding, the auxiliary space 24c is formed inside so as to communicate with the received inner space 21 of the receiving cup 20 in which menstrual blood is contained such that the menstrual blood is partially contained in the auxiliary space 24c, thereby allowing the filled state to be checked and increasing the containing space.

[0061] As still another embodiment of the handle 24, the handle 24 is formed by crossing a thin plate or two plates in a cross shape. The handle 24 includes a concave connecting portion 24a for facilitating pulling and a finger gripping portion 24b formed to be convex on the front end of the connecting portion 24a.

[0062] An absorption unit 30, such as a compressed absorbent in the form of a small roll or bead, or cotton is rolled into a bead shape, in which menstrual blood is gradually swollen by absorption, is further provided in the inner space 21 of the receiving cup 20, such that the menstrual blood contained in the receiving cup 20 is solidified to prevent leakage, as well as facilitate the post-treatment of the receiving cup 20.

[0063] The absorption unit 30 is manufactured by compression molding in a roll or bead shape by inserting a nonwoven fabric made of 100% natural pulp material or rayon material into a mold of a certain shape.

[0064] Accordingly, the liquid menstrual blood is absorbed by the absorption unit 30 while being accommodated in the inner space 21 of the receiving cup 20, and the absorption unit 30 gradually swells to solidify the liquid menstrual blood, so that it is possible to prevent leakage when taking out from the vagina or separating the receiving cup 20 from the cover body 10. In particular, when the separated receiving cup 20 is discarded, menstrual blood does not leak to the outside of the receiving cup 20, thereby preventing environmental pollution.

[0065] FIG. 2 is an assembled cross-sectional view of a menstrual cup according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which a receiving cup is mounted on a cover body according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the restoring force of a menstrual cup according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a vacuum release structure of the worn menstrual cup according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0066] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state of reuse by replacing a receiving cup containing menstrual blood according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state of taking out a cover body inside a vagina according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state of taking out a cover body inside a vagina according to an embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 9 is a view showing a state in which menstrual blood is absorbed by an absorption unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and FIG. 10 is a view showing a handle according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0067] In the disclosure, the material of the absorbing unit 30 is described as a nonwoven fabric made of natural pulp or rayon, but the material is proposed as one embodiment and various materials may be used.

[0068] Although the disclosure has been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof and drawings, various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the technical spirit of the disclosure and the claims to be described below by those of ordinary skill in the art.