Tampon assembly providing proper bodily placement of a pledget

Abstract

Provided is a tampon applicator having one or more insertion indicators to gauge and/or control the insertion depth of a tampon. The one or more insertion indicators may be located on the tampon applicator barrel, plunger, tampon, removal string, or any combinations thereof. As a result of the one or more insertion indicators, a woman can adjust the insertion depth of the tampon to her body's requirements ensuring leakage protection, comfort, or both.

1 . A tampon applicator comprising:
 a barrel having an insertion end and a plunger receiving end, said barrel having dimensions to house a tampon pledget therein;   a plunger being slidably received in said barrel;   a calibration index on said barrel having a plurality of positions to gauge a depth of insertion of said tampon pledget, each of said plurality of positions corresponding to a different depth of insertion of said tampon pledget; and   a device for selecting, by a user, of one of the plurality of positions,   wherein said device comprises an insertion indicator located on an outer surface of said barrel that is movable along said outer surface of said barrel to any one of said plurality of positions, and   wherein said insertion indicator is a finger grip section that is sized and shaped to receive one or more fingers of a user of the tampon applicator in order for the user to hold the applicator during ejection of the tampon pledget from the barrel.   
     
     
         2 . The tampon applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said insertion indicator is of a diameter larger than an outer diameter of said barrel. 
     
     
         3 . The tampon applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said insertion indicator has a convex curve extending outward from said barrel. 
     
     
         4 . The tampon applicator of  claim 1 , where said insertion indicator is made of a medical grade foam. 
     
     
         5 . The tampon applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said insertion indicator is made of plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The tampon applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said calibration index is printed or molded on the tampon applicator. 
     
     
         7 . The tampon applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said calibration index is selected from the group consisting of one or more dots, line segments, numerals, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A tampon applicator comprising:
 a barrel having an insertion end and a plunger receiving end, said barrel having dimensions to house a tampon pledget therein; and   two or more finger indicators along an outer surface of said barrel each positioned along a different axial extant of the tampon applicator, wherein each of the two or more finger indicators provides a user with a different position for the pledget at a different location in a vaginal canal of the user,   wherein said two or more finger indicators are selected from the group consisting of concave depressions, concave scallops, and any combination thereof.   
     
     
         9 . A tampon applicator of  claim 8 , wherein said two or more finger indicators are concave depressions. 
     
     
         10 . A tampon applicator of  claim 8 , wherein said two or more finger indicators are concave scallops. 
     
     
         11 . The tampon applicator of  claim 8 , wherein said two or more finger indicators are three finger indicators that extend halfway along a length of said barrel. 
     
     
         12 . A tampon applicator for use by a user comprising:
 a barrel having an insertion end and a plunger receiving end, said barrel having dimensions to house a tampon pledget therein, and said barrel having at least a portion that is open so that an interior of said barrel is visible to gauge a depth of insertion of said tampon pledget; and   a plunger being slidably received in said barrel.   
     
     
         13 . A tampon applicator comprising:
 a barrel having an insertion end and a plunger receiving end, said barrel having dimensions to house a tampon pledget therein;   a plunger having a first plunger inserted into said barrel and a second plunger within said first plunger, wherein said second plunger extends out from said first plunger and is movable within said first plunger to a plurality of positions increasing or decreasing a total length of said plunger.   
     
     
         14 . The tampon applicator of  claim 13 , further comprising a calibration index having a plurality of positions on said second plunger. 
     
     
         15 . The tampon applicator of  claim 13 , wherein said first plunger and said second plunger are interlocking. 
     
     
         16 . The tampon applicator of  claim 13 , wherein said barrel has an insertion indicator thereon. 
     
     
         17 . A tampon pledget comprising:
 an absorbent material having a first end and a second end; and   a string connected to said first end of the absorbent material, said string having a plurality knots or beads along a length of said string, said plurality of knots or beads extend along said string spaced from a connection of said string with said absorbent material, said plurality of knots or beads each being an insertion indicator on said string to indicate a position of said absorbent pledget in a vaginal canal.   
     
     
         18 . The tampon applicator of  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of knots or beads are equally spaced along said length of said string. 
     
     
         19 . The tampon applicator of  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of knots or beads are two or more knots or beads equally spaced along said length of said string. 
     
     
         20 . The tampon applicator of  claim 12 , wherein said plunger has one or more plunger markings or stops between a first plunger end inserted into said barrel and a second plunger end that is opposite to said first plunger end.