Tampon applicator

摘要

A tampon applicator is provided having a barrel and/or a plunger molded from a pulp-based material. The barrel can be molded such that it includes a molded fingergrip area having a textured surface, at least one gripping structure, or any combination thereof. Petals may be molded on the pledget ejection end of the barrel. In addition, the exterior surface of the barrel is molded such that it is textured, smooth, or any combinations thereof. The molded tampon applicator exhibits superior flushability and compostability characteristics, without compromising the strength of the barrel or plunger.

主权项

1. A method for forming a tampon applicator comprising the steps of:
providing a screened tool having a mold, said mold having a complementary shape to a barrel of the tampon applicator; agitating a pulp based material into a pulp based material slurry; dipping said screened tool into said slurry to place said pulp based material onto a surface of said screened tool by vacuum drawing said slurry onto said surface of said screened tool, wherein said pulp based material is selected from the group consisting of mechanical pulp, chemical pulp, thermo-mechanical pulp, chemi-thermo-mechanical pulp, and any combinations thereof, and wherein said screened tool forces said pulp based material into a shape complementary to said barrel; washing an excess of said pulp based material from said screened tool; after washing, solidifying said barrel on said screened tool, wherein the solidifying of said barrel results in said barrel having an outer surface that is suitable to facilitate vaginal insertion; and connecting said barrel to a second tampon applicator component to form the tampon applicator.