Applicator having an indented fingergrip with raised portions

Abstract

A tampon applicator is disclosed which includes an insertion member adapted to house an absorbent tampon and receive a plunger. The insertion member has an insertion end and a second end opposite the insertion end, an outer surface and a fingergrip region disposed about the outer surface. The insertion end and/or the second end of the insertion member comprise a lip. The fingergrip region includes an indention region having a depth dimension X. The indention region includes raised portions with a height dimension Y, the height dimension Y being less than or equal to the depth dimension X.

1 . A tampon applicator comprising: 
 an insertion member adapted to house an absorbent tampon and receive a plunger;    said insertion member having an outer surface and a fingergrip region extending inwardly from said outer surface and disposed between an insertion end and a second end opposite said insertion end of said insertion member;    said fingergrip region comprising an indention region having a depth dimension X, wherein said depth dimension X is measured from the outer surface of said insertion member to lowest point of said indentation region;    said indention region comprising protruding, three-dimensional raised portions that are positioned within said indentation region and having a height dimension Y, wherein said height dimension Y is measured from base to highest point of an individual three-dimensional raised portion; said height dimension Y being less than or equal to said depth dimension X; and    wherein at least one of said insertion end or said second end of said insertion member comprises a lip.    
   
   
       2 . The tampon applicator according to  claim 1  wherein said insertion end of said insertion member comprises a lip.  
   
   
       3 . The tampon applicator according to  claim 1  wherein said second end of said insertion member comprises a lip.  
   
   
       4 . The tampon applicator according to  claim 1  wherein said depth dimension X is from about 1 mm to about 10 mm.  
   
   
       5 . The tampon applicator according to  claim 1  wherein said height dimension Y is from about 0.1 mm to about 10 mm.  
   
   
       6 . The tampon applicator according to  claim 1  wherein the indention region has a shape selected from the group consisting of oval, circular, rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, hemispherical and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The tampon applicator according to  claim 1  wherein the three-dimensional raised portions have a shape selected from the group consisting of ovals, circles, rectangles, trapezoids, triangles, cones, alphabet letters, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The tampon applicator according to  claim 1  wherein the three-dimensional raised portions are arranged in a pattern.  
   
   
       9 . A tampon applicator comprising: 
 an insertion member adapted to house an absorbent tampon and receive a plunger;    said insertion member having an outer surface and a fingergrip region extending inwardly from said outer surface and disposed between an insertion end and a second end opposite said insertion end of said insertion member;    said fingergrip region comprising an indention region having a depth dimension X, wherein said depth dimension X is measured from the outer surface of said insertion member to lowest point of said indentation region;    said indention region comprising protruding, three-dimensional raised portions that are positioned within said indentation region and having a height dimension Y, wherein said height dimension Y is measured from base to highest point of an individual three-dimensional raised portion; said height dimension Y being less than said depth dimension X; and    wherein at least one of said insertion end or said second end of said insertion member comprises a lip.    
   
   
       10 . The tampon applicator according to  claim 9  wherein said second end of said insertion member comprises a lip.  
   
   
       11 . The tampon applicator according to  claim 9  wherein said depth dimension X is from about 2 mm to about 5 mm.  
   
   
       12 . The tampon applicator according to  claim 9  wherein said height dimension Y is from about 0.2 mm to about 5.0 mm.  
   
   
       13 . The tampon applicator according to  claim 9  wherein the three-dimensional raised portions are arranged in a pattern.  
   
   
       14 . The tampon applicator according to  claim 13  wherein the pattern is selected from the group consisting of flowers, ovals, circles, rectangles, trapezoids, triangles, cones, alphabet letters, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       15 . A tampon applicator comprising: 
 an insertion member adapted to house an absorbent tampon and receive a plunger;    said insertion member having an outer surface and a fingergrip region extending inwardly from said outer surface and disposed between an insertion end and a second end opposite said insertion end of said insertion member;    said fingergrip region comprising an indention region having a depth dimension X, wherein said depth dimension X is measured from the outer surface of said insertion member to lowest point of said indentation region;    said indention region comprising protruding, three-dimensional raised portions that are positioned within said indentation region and having a height dimension Y, wherein said height dimension Y is measured from base to highest point of an individual three-dimensional raised portion; said height dimension Y being less than or equal to said depth dimension X;    wherein said tampon applicator is comprised of paper; and    wherein at least one of said insertion end or said second end of said insertion member comprises a lip.    
   
   
       16 . The tampon applicator according to  claim 15  wherein said depth dimension X is from about 2.5 mm to about 3.5 mm.  
   
   
       17 . The tampon applicator according to  claim 15  wherein said height dimension Y is from about 0.5 mm to about 2.5 mm.  
   
   
       18 . The tampon applicator according to  claim 15  wherein the indention region has a shape selected from the group consisting of oval, circular, rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, hemispherical and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       19 . The tampon applicator according to  claim 15  wherein the three-dimensional raised portions have a shape selected from the group consisting of ovals, circles, rectangles, trapezoids, triangles, cones, alphabet letters, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       20 . The tampon applicator according to  claim 15  wherein the raised three-dimensional portions are arranged in a pattern selected from the group consisting of flowers, ovals, circles, rectangles, trapezoids, triangles, cones, alphabet letters, and mixtures thereof.