REINFORCED HYGIENIC MEDIUM APPLICATOR TUBES AND METHODS FOR FABRICATING SAME

1,276,182 Tampon introducer KIMBERLYCLARK CORP 12 May 1969 [10 May 1968] 24171/69 Heading A5R [Also in Divisions B5 and F2] A tampon or suppository introducer 10 comprises a tubular member 12 supporting a ring 14 that includes an external layer (28, Fig. 2) of two paper plies and an internal layer (30, Fig. 2) having an outer paper ply (36, Fig. 2) bonded to the external layer (28) and an electrically conductive ply (38, Fig. 2) with its interior surface coated with a thermoplastics resin (40, Fig. 2) bonding the ring 14 to the tubular member 12. The bonding between the various plies and the two layers comprises a water soluble adhesive. The external and internal layers are wound in a helical overlapping fashion. The tubular member in the embodiment shown contains a catamenial tampon 18 and is folded to form a tapered portion 16 that unfolds during the ejection of the tampon 18. The tampon introducer further comprises a second tubular member 24 slidably received within the first tubular member. The Specification further describes a method by which the ring 14 is attached to the tubular member 12, comprising the steps of putting the ring 14, followed by the tubular member 12 over a shaft (82, Fig. 3, 4 and 5) having a projecting shoulder (94) so that the ring is telescoped over the exterior of the tubular member, the electrically conductive ply in the ring is then heated by induction to melt the thermoplastics resin and so effect a thermal bond between the ring and tubular member. The ring may be bonded to the tubular member at a plurality of spots or continuously about the ring.