JPH0432664B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Prior Art) Conventionally, in order to make it easier to insert a sanitary tampon into the vaginal cavity, an outer cylinder for storing the tampon and a mechanism for pushing out the tampon from a distal opening of the outer cylinder have been used. An inserter is known which is comprised of an inner cylinder slidably inserted into the outer cylinder.

Moreover, in order to shorten the bulky length of the insertion tool and increase its convenience in packaging and carrying, the inner cylinder is composed of a large-diameter member and a small-diameter member, and when not in use,
For example, the small-diameter member is inserted into the large-diameter member, and when in use, the latter is pulled out from the former and connected to each other to form a long member.
-9621, disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-27303.

In the insertion device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-9621, as shown in Figs. The small diameter member 4 is movably inserted. At the rear end of the large-diameter member 3, a partial projection 5 is formed by cutting and bending the large-diameter member 3 inward, and an annular projection 6 is formed in the radial direction of the inner surface thereof, while the small-diameter member 4 is pulled out rearward. An annular protrusion 7 is formed on the outer periphery of the tip of the small diameter member 4, which resists the elasticity of the partial protrusion 5, overcomes it, and is positioned between the annular protrusion 6 and the partial protrusion 5. Further, FIGS. 3 and 4 show another embodiment, and the insertion tool of this embodiment is basically the same as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the large diameter member 3 is It gradually becomes smaller in diameter toward the rear, and
An annular groove 8 is formed on the inner periphery of the rear end, while an annular protrusion 9 that fits into the annular groove 8 when the small diameter member 4 is pulled out rearward is formed on the outer periphery of the tip of the small diameter member 4. ing.

The insertion device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-27303 is
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, it is basically the same as the insertion device disclosed in FIGS. The partial protrusions 12 are formed at opposite positions on the outer surface and facing toward the protrusion 11, while when the small diameter member 4 is pulled out rearward, the protrusions 11 and the partial protrusions 12
A protrusion 13 located between the large-diameter member 3 and the rear end thereof is formed in the radial direction of the inner surface of the rear end portion of the large-diameter member 3.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In general, in this type of insertion tool, the outer tube 1 has a relatively small outer diameter that does not tear the hymen, for example, a diameter of 10 mm, since the outer tube 1 is inserted into the vaginal cavity. ~13
The tampon is made of highly absorbent material to absorb as much menstrual blood as possible, expand, and occlude the vaginal cavity. Since it is necessary to use a large number of absorbent materials, a relatively bulky absorbent material is compressed into a cylindrical body so that its outer periphery comes into close contact with the inner periphery of the outer cylinder 1 in the inserted state. Therefore, when the tampon housed in the outer tube 1 is pushed out by the inner tube 2, the inner tube 2 experiences some resistance. Furthermore, in order to facilitate insertion of the outer cylinder 1 into the vaginal opening, the tip of the outer cylinder 1 is provided with a split piece 14 that expands when pressed by a tampon, as seen in the known insertion tool. In a closed insertion tool, resistance is also applied due to the pressure applied to expand the insertion tool. Furthermore, depending on the user's posture when inserting the tampon into the vaginal cavity, resistance may also be caused by the tampon colliding with the vaginal wall.
In short, when a tampon is inserted into a predetermined part of the vaginal cavity by pressing the inner tube 2, a more or less large amount of resistance is applied to the inner tube 2 from the time of insertion until the end of the insertion.

Therefore, the engagement and connection state between the large diameter member 3 and the small diameter member 4 constituting the inner cylinder 2 needs to be sufficiently strong to withstand the above-mentioned resistance.

On the other hand, since the outer cylinder 1, which has a relatively small outer diameter, is to be inserted into the vaginal cavity, it needs to be made of a material that is as flexible as possible, has the required strength, and has a thick wall. , as a matter of course, the large diameter member 3 is inserted into the outer cylinder 1, and the small diameter member 4 is inserted into the large diameter member 3.
Furthermore, the small diameter member 4 needs to have an inner diameter through which a tampon withdrawal string can be inserted. Therefore, the large diameter member 3
The wall thickness of the small diameter member 4, the protrusions 5, 12, etc. must be relatively thin. By the way, large diameter member 3
When the small-diameter member 4 is molded from synthetic resin, it is practically difficult to make it thicker than about 1 mm due to the above-mentioned requirements.

However, in the insertion tool disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2, when inserting a tampon, the engaging connection portion between the large diameter member 3 and the small diameter member 4 that receives the resistance, especially the push of the annular protrusion 6, Partial protrusion 5 that receives pressure directly
Since it is difficult to make the tampon thicker than approximately 1 mm, there is a risk that the pressing force may cause the small diameter member 4 to bend or break in the direction in which it is pressed, making it impossible to extrude the tampon. Also, in the insertion tool disclosed in FIGS. 3 and 4, although the annular protrusion 9 is inserted into the annular groove 8 against the elasticity of the large diameter member 3, the insertion operation is difficult. Since the tampon is easily pushed out, its condition cannot be called strong, and there is a risk that the pushing force of the annular protrusion 8 may cause it to come out of the annular groove 8, making it impossible to push out the tampon.

On the other hand, the insertion tools shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 have the following problems in addition to the problems described above with respect to the insertion tools shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. That is, when not in use, when the small diameter member 4 is not pulled out from the large diameter member 3, the partial protrusion 12 is pressed down by the inner surface of the large diameter member 3 against its elasticity. Even if the small-diameter member 4 (including the partial protrusion 12) is molded from a synthetic resin with relatively good elasticity, if the pressed and laid-down state continues for a relatively long period of time, the partial protrusion 12 will fatigue and collapse. A quirk is given to it, making it impossible to return to its original form, and as a result,
There is a possibility that the partial projection 12 may not be able to engage with the projection 13. Incidentally, it often takes several months from the time the tampon inserted into the inserter is manufactured until it is delivered to the user's hands and used. Furthermore, even if the engagement is successfully performed, the partial projection 12 is raised in the opposite direction to the pressing direction of the small diameter member due to the pressing force of the partial projection 12 against the projection 13, and as a result, the tip of the partial projection 12 There is a possibility that the small diameter member 4 may not be able to be inserted into the outer cylinder 1 because the small diameter member 4 may protrude from the outer surface of the large diameter member 3.

In this way, the known insertion device ensures that the large diameter member 3 and the small diameter member 4 are engaged and connected, and
It cannot be said that it is strong enough to withstand said resistance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an insert that can solve the above problems by extremely simple means.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a tampon inserter made of synthetic resin, which includes an outer cylinder for storing a tampon, and a tampon inserter made of synthetic resin. and an inner cylinder slidably inserted into the outer cylinder so as to be pushed out from the tip opening of the outer cylinder, the outer cylinder at the rear end and the inner cylinder at the front end; In order to prevent the latter from slipping out backwards,
means for engaging each other, the inner cylinder is composed of a large diameter member and a small diameter member slidably inserted into the large diameter member, the large diameter member being at the rear end and the small diameter member being slidably inserted into the large diameter member. The members are provided at their distal ends with means for interlocking with each other in order to prevent rearward withdrawal of the latter from the former and to enable extrusion of the tampon.

The engaging means of the large diameter member is formed by a first protrusion in the inner radial direction, and the engaging means of the small diameter member is formed by a second protrusion and a third protrusion in the outer radial direction of the small diameter member. A concave groove is formed between the second protrusion and the third protrusion, into which the first protrusion engages, and when the small diameter member is pulled out from the large diameter member. Therefore, when the first protrusion crosses the third protrusion to engage in the groove, the portion of the small diameter member where the third protrusion is located is likely to be pressed in the inner radial direction against its elasticity. It is characterized in that a notch is provided at least in the portion or in the vicinity of the portion.

(Function) When the tampon is not in use, the small diameter member is housed in the large diameter member, but when the tampon is in use, in the process of pulling out the small diameter member backward from the large diameter member, the small diameter member The third protrusion of the member comes into pressure contact with the first protrusion of the large diameter member.
In this case, since a notch is provided at or near the portion of the small diameter member where the third protrusion is located, the portion or the vicinity thereof is pressed backward against the elasticity of the small diameter member and contracted. As a result, at the same time the first protrusion gets over the third protrusion, the third protrusion and the other second protrusion of the small diameter member
The small-diameter member is located in the groove between the small-diameter member and the second protrusion, and the small-diameter member is prevented from coming out of the large-diameter member in the rearward direction. Thus, the large diameter member and the small diameter member are connected to form the long inner cylinder. Therefore, the tampon housed in the outer tube by the inner tube is pushed out from the opening at the tip of the outer tube.

(Example) Further, the present invention will be explained based on the illustrated example as follows.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the insertion tool is composed of an outer cylinder 21 into which the tampon 20 is inserted, and an inner cylinder 22 into which the tampon 20 is slidably inserted, and
Molded from synthetic resin.

The outer cylinder 21 is closed by a petal-shaped divided piece 23 that expands when the tampon 20 is pushed out, and has an annular projection 24 extending in the radial direction of the outer surface near the rear end and an annular projection 24 extending in the radial direction of the outer surface at the rear end opening. A protrusion 25 and an annular protrusion 26 extending in the radial direction of the inner surface are formed. tampon 2
0, the user holds the outer cylinder 21 between the annular protrusion 24 and the annular projection 25 with their fingertips.
The annular projection 24 has a rib function and a function to prevent menstrual blood from flowing along the outer surface of the outer cylinder 26 from staining the user's fingertips when the tampon 20 is inserted into the vaginal cavity. . However, as the case may be, the outer cylinder 21 may be
A small diameter stepped portion may be provided at the rear end.

The inner cylinder 22 is composed of a large diameter member 27 and a small diameter member 28 slidably inserted into the large diameter member 27. The large-diameter member 27 has an annular projection 29 formed in the front end opening thereof in the radial direction of the outer surface, and is prevented from being removed from the outer cylinder 21 in the rearward direction by engaging the projection 29 with the projection 26 . Furthermore, the large-diameter member 27 has an annular projection 30 (hereinafter referred to as a first projection) formed in the rear end opening in the inner radial direction. Small diameter member 28
has an annular projection 31 in the outer surface radial direction at the tip opening.
(hereinafter referred to as the second protrusion), an annular protrusion 32 in the outer surface radial direction (hereinafter referred to as the third protrusion), and a groove 33 is formed between these, and the second protrusion 31 and the third protrusion 32 are formed at the same height in the radial direction of the small diameter member 28. The small diameter member 28 is also provided with a notch 34 on the opposite side of the opening.
As shown in FIG. 10A, this notch 34 is formed in a substantially V shape that gradually narrows in width toward the rear, but as shown in FIG. 10B, it is elongated on the opposite side where the third protrusion 32 is located. It may be formed into an oval shape.
Further, these notches 34 may be located near the portion where the third protrusion 32 is located. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10A and 10B, the third protrusion 32 is formed into a slope whose upper surface gradually becomes lower toward the rear, and as shown in FIG. 9, the portion where the notch 34 is located Even if it is formed continuously except for the second protrusion 31, or even if it is formed intermittently as shown in FIG. Even if α is formed slightly lower, each is good.

As shown in FIG. 13, the groove 30 is connected to the first projection 3.
The upper surface opening edge into which 0 engages is formed to have an Ω-shaped cross section narrower than the inside of the groove 30, and therefore, the first protrusion 30 is also formed to have a substantially Ω-shaped cross section that matches the cross-sectional shape of the groove 30. You can leave it there.

Furthermore, the outer cylinder 21 reduces the feeling of rigidity against the vaginal cavity, while the inner cylinder 22 has a large diameter member 2 constituting it.
7 and the small diameter member 28, it is preferable that the former be made of a relatively soft material and the latter made of a relatively hard material.

In the insertion tool of the present invention having the above configuration, when the tampon is not in use, the second protrusion 31 and the third protrusion
The small-diameter member 28 is housed in the large-diameter member 27 in a natural state in which the protrusion 32 lightly contacts the inner surface of the large-diameter member 27 or, in some cases, is slightly separated from the inner surface of the large-diameter member 27 . When using a tampon, in the process of pulling out the small diameter member 28 from the large diameter member 27 in the rear direction, the third protrusion 32
is in pressure contact with the first protrusion 30, but in this case, since the notch 34 is provided in the tip opening of the small diameter member 28, the tip opening is in contact with the first projection 30.
is compressed radially against the elasticity of 8, and as a result,
At the same time as the first protrusion 30 gets over the third protrusion 32, it engages in the groove 33 between the second protrusion 31 and the third protrusion 32, and the second protrusion 31 causes the small diameter member 28 to become larger diameter member. 27 is prevented from coming off in the rear direction. Thus, the large diameter member 27 and the small diameter member 28
and are engaged and connected to form an inner tube 22 having a length that allows the tampon 20 to be pushed out from the distal opening of the outer tube 21.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the insertion device according to the present invention, the third protrusion, which performs an important function of engaging and connecting the large diameter member and the small diameter member when using the tampon, is a member of the small diameter member. Since it is formed as a part of the peripheral wall of the small diameter member that does not change up and down with respect to the outer surface of the tampon, the engagement with the first protrusion formed on the large diameter member is strong, and the tampon is pushed out in the direction of extrusion. When the small diameter member is pressed, it will not be raised in the opposite direction to the extrusion direction by the first protrusion or otherwise deformed. Further, the third protrusion is connected to the first protrusion.
When engaging with the protrusion, the portion of the small diameter member where the third protrusion is formed is compressed in the radial direction through the notch provided therein, so that it is possible to easily climb over the first protrusion. It is. Then, at the same time that the third protrusion overcomes the first protrusion, the compressed portion of the small diameter member returns to its original shape due to its elasticity. It will surely engage in the groove between it and the other first protrusion that has been formed. In this case, the portion of the small diameter member compressed in the radial direction returns to its original shape by the elasticity that is generated for the first time when the third protrusion overcomes the first protrusion. , the tampon performs as designed, even if several months elapse between the time the tampon is manufactured in the insert and the time it reaches the user's hands. There is no deterioration due to

Therefore, the insertion device according to the present invention can be used even when there is considerable resistance when inserting a tampon into the vaginal cavity.
It is possible to perform the extrusion operation of the tampon reliably, and all the problems of the known insertion devices mentioned above are solved, and it is extremely useful for practical use.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 3 are partial cross-sectional views of a conventional tampon inserter in which the large diameter member and the small diameter member constituting the inner cylinder are not engaged and connected;
Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the same engaged and connected state as above;
The figure shows another embodiment of the above, and is a sectional view of the state in which the engagement connection is not made, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the engagement connection state of the same. FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the tampon inserter of the present invention in which the large diameter member and the small diameter member constituting the inner cylinder are not engaged and connected, and FIG. Partial cross section,
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the small diameter member, FIGS. 10A and B are sectional views of the tip of the small diameter member, FIG. 11 is an end view of another embodiment of the third protrusion formed on the small diameter member, and FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the tip of the small diameter member. FIG. 13 is a partial side view of another aspect of the height of the second protrusion and the third protrusion formed on the small diameter member as above, and FIG. It is a sectional view of another aspect of the cross-sectional shape with one protrusion. 21...Outer cylinder, 22...Inner cylinder, 26...Protrusion, 27...
Large diameter member, 28...Small diameter member, 29...Protrusion, 30...
First protrusion, 31...Second protrusion, 32...Third protrusion, 3
3...Concave groove, 34...Notch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A tampon inserter made of synthetic resin, which includes an outer cylinder for storing a tampon, and a tampon inserter for pushing out the tampon from a distal end opening of the outer cylinder. an inner cylinder slidably inserted into an outer cylinder, the outer cylinder at the rear end and the inner cylinder at the front end to prevent the latter from slipping out in the rear direction; means for engaging each other; the inner cylinder is composed of a large diameter member and a small diameter member slidably inserted into the large diameter member, the large diameter member being at the rear end and the small diameter member being slidably inserted into the large diameter member; The members are provided at their distal ends with means for engaging and connecting each other in order to prevent the latter from being withdrawn from the former in a rearward direction and to enable extrusion of the tampon; The engaging means is formed by a first protrusion extending in the radial direction of the inner surface, and the engaging means of the small diameter member is formed by a second protrusion and a third protrusion extending in the radial direction of the outer surface of the small diameter member. Second
A groove into which the first protrusion engages is formed between the protrusion and the third protrusion, and when the small diameter member is pulled out from the large diameter member, the first protrusion engages with the groove. When climbing over the third protrusion to insert the third protrusion, at least a notch is provided in the small diameter member in order to make it easier for the part of the small diameter member where the third protrusion is located to be pressed in the inner radial direction against its elasticity. The insertion tool is provided nearby. 2. The insertion tool according to claim 1, wherein the third protrusion is not formed higher than the second protrusion in the radial direction of the small diameter member. 3. The insertion tool according to claim 2, wherein the third projection is formed at the same height in the radial direction of the second projection and the small diameter member. 4. The insertion tool according to claim 2, wherein the third protrusion is formed lower than the second protrusion in the radial direction of the small diameter member. 5. The insertion tool according to claim 1, wherein the third protrusion is formed continuously in the outer circumferential direction of the small diameter member, except for a portion where the third protrusion is cut by the notch. 6. The insertion tool according to claim 1, wherein the third protrusion is formed intermittently in the outer circumferential direction of the small diameter member. 7. The insertion tool according to claim 1, wherein the cut is provided from the tip of the small diameter member to a portion where the third protrusion is located or near the portion. 8. The insertion tool according to claim 7, wherein the notch is provided in a substantially V-shape that gradually narrows from the tip of the small diameter member to a portion where the third protrusion is located or near the portion. 9. The groove has a top opening edge into which the first protrusion engages, and has a substantially Ω-shaped cross section that is narrower than the inside of the groove, and the first protrusion conforms to the cross-sectional shape of the groove. The insertion tool according to claim 1, which is formed to have a substantially Ω-shaped cross section. 10. The insertion device according to claim 1, wherein the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are formed of a relatively soft material and a relatively hard material.