Tampon applicator

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention features an improved tampon applicator for insertion of a tampon into a body cavity, including a paper tampon holder tube having an expulsion end dimensioned for insertion into the body cavity and including a plurality of contiguous petal segments separated by slits, and a plunger, telescopically and slidably mounted in the holder distal to the expulsion end and adapted to expel the tampon from the holder when pushed manually into the holder.
As the tampon is expelled, the segments bend open at a hinge region.
The segments of the improved applicator bend outwardly during expulsion with significantly reduced applied force, improving user comfort.
The tampon holder includes a plurality of small cuts extending circumferentially from the petal slits in the vicinity of the hinge region.
The cuts may take a variety of forms, so long as they narrow the circumferential extent, i.
e.
, the width, of the petal segments.
The cuts reduce the bending moment and rigidity at the hinge region, both by shortening the width of the "beam" being bent, and by reducing the curvature of the "beam".
In preferred embodiments, the tampon holder is a paper laminate; there is a cut at or near the base of each petal slit; the cuts have a length that effectively narrows the width of the petal segments by anywhere from about 15 to 50 percent.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, and from the claims.