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, the insertion member having an insertion end, a second end opposite to the insertion end, and a center portion disposed between the insertion end and the second end;    the center portion having a first height and the second end having a second height;    the insertion member having a fingergrip region, the fingergrip region comprising an indentation region, the indentation region having a third height;    the insertion member having a first slope from the first height to the third height, the third height being less than the first height;    the insertion member having a second slope from the third height to a second height, the second height being greater than the third height; and    the insertion member having one or more raised portions positioned within the indentation region.    
   
   
       2 . The tampon applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more raised portions have a height dimension Y that is measured from a lowest point of the indentation region to a highest point of the one or more raised portions.  
   
   
       3 . The tampon applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the insertion member has between about 2 and about 4 raised portions.  
   
   
       4 . The tampon applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more raised portions are formed to have essentially identical size.  
   
   
       5 . The tampon applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more raised portions are formed to have essentially identical shape.  
   
   
       6 . The tampon applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the third height is disposed substantially centrally within the indentation region.  
   
   
       7 . The tampon applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the third height is measured from the outer surface of the insertion member to the lowest point of the indentation region.  
   
   
       8 . The tampon applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more raised portions have a shape selected from the group consisting of ovals, circles, rectangles, trapezoids, triangles, cones, alphabet letters, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       9 . A tampon applicator comprising: 
 an insertion member, the insertion member having an insertion end and a fingergrip region opposite the insertion end;    the fingergrip region having an indentation region disposed between a first region and a second region;    the indentation region having a depth dimension X, wherein the depth dimension X is measured from the outer surface of the insertion member to a lowest point of the indentation region;    the indentation region comprising one or more raised portions that are positioned within the indentation region and that have a height dimension Y, wherein the height dimension Y is measured from the lowest point of the indentation region to the highest point of the one or more raised portions, wherein the height dimension Y is less than the depth dimension X; and    wherein a height from the first region to the lowest point of the indentation region and from the second region to the lowest point of the indention region is greater than Y and less than or equal to X, and    wherein the second region is disposed at the portion of the insertion member most distal from the insertion end.    
   
   
       10 . The tampon applicator of  claim 9 , wherein the depth dimension X is from about 1 mm to about 10 mm.  
   
   
       11 . The tampon applicator of  claim 9 , wherein the insertion member has between about 2 and about 4 raised portions.  
   
   
       12 . The tampon applicator of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more raised portions are formed to have essentially identical size.  
   
   
       13 . The tampon applicator of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more raised portions are formed to have essentially identical shape.  
   
   
       14 . The tampon applicator of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more raised portions have a shape selected from the group consisting of ovals, circles, rectangles, trapezoids, triangles, cones, alphabet letters, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       15 . A tampon applicator comprising: 
 an insertion member, the insertion member having an insertion end, a second end opposite to the insertion end, and a fingergrip portion;    the fingergrip portion comprising an indentation region having a depth dimension X, wherein the depth dimension X is measured from the outer surface of the insertion member to the lowest point of the indentation region;    the indentation region comprising one or more raised portions that are positioned within the indentation region and that have a height dimension Y, wherein the height dimension Y is measured from the lowest point of the indentation region to the highest point of the one or more raised portions, wherein the height dimension Y is less than the depth dimension X;    the second end having a height less than or equal to X and greater than Y at the portion of the insertion member most distal from the insertion end.    
   
   
       16 . The tampon applicator of  claim 15 , wherein the depth dimension X is from about 1 mm to about 10 mm.  
   
   
       17 . The tampon applicator of  claim 15 , wherein the insertion member has between about 2 and about 4 raised portions.  
   
   
       18 . The tampon applicator of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more raised portions are formed to have essentially identical size.  
   
   
       19 . The tampon applicator of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more raised portions are formed to have essentially identical shape.  
   
   
       20 . The tampon applicator of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more raised portions have a shape selected from the group consisting of ovals, circles, rectangles, trapezoids, triangles, cones, alphabet letters, and mixtures thereof.