US2652056A - Catamenial device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 15, 1953 w. v. LAY

CATAMENIAL DEVICE Filed Sept. 8. 1952 (Ittorneg Patented Sept. 15, 1953 CATAMENIAL DEVICE Willard V. Lay, Denver, 0010., assignor to Earle C. Haas, Denver, 0010.

Application September 8, 1952, Serial No. 308,355

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a catamenial device and has for its principal object the provision of an economical and highly efficient catamenial device of the insertion type which will eliminate the usual stitching employed in such devices and which when moistened will expand in a transverse eccentric manner in order to completely fill the irregular voids and contours of a body cavity.

The usual catamenial device of the insertion type, when subjected to moisture, expands both concentrically about its axis and longitudinally of its axis. The result is that the increase in length of the pad often acts to partially force the pad from the body cavity.

Another object of this invention is to provide a catamenial device of the insertion type which will coil when subjected to moisture in a body cavity so as to prevent longitudinal elongation which would tend to force it from the cavity.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the improved catamenial device in place in an insertion member ready for use;

Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof partially extruded from the insertion member;

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the device, taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a magnified view of a portion of the cross section of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 illustrates a typical position assumed by the device when unconfined and subjected to moisture; and

Fig. 6 illustrates a preliminary step in the production of the improved catamenial device.

The improved catamenial device comprises a preferably cylindrical compressed core ID formed from highly compressed cotton or other absorbent fibrous or cellulose material provided with a withdrawing cord H. The core I!) is designed to be inserted in the vaginal cavity in any desired manner. One means for inserting the core employs an outer tube l2 into one extremity of which the core I0 is slidably fitted. An inner tube I3 is telescopically fitted into the outer tube 12 to act as a plunger for forcing the core from the outer tube. An enlarged head It on the core limits its insertion into the outer tube 42. The inner tube I3 is provided with an end slot l5 into which the withdrawing cord ll may be drawn and gripped, as shown in Fig. 1, to retain the core ID in place in the outer tube and to retain the inner tube in the outer tube.

The core 10 is formed from an elongated cotton bat, as shown at H5 in Fig. 6, cut from a layer of cotton or similar cellulose material so that the fiber structure extends lengthwise of the hat. The cord H is knotted about one extremity of the bat, as shown at IT, preferably with a draw type of knot which will increase its gripping action when the tension on the cord II is increased. The bat with the cord is then placed in a compressing die and is highly compressed to form the cylindrical core H).

For the purposes of this invention, the core 10 is provided with a longitudinally extending, indented groove l8 extending its entire length. The groove [8 may be indented into the core at the time of compressing and forming the latter or it may be indented or cut into the core after the latter is formed. The groove I8 is designed to receive an elongated layer of suitable waterproof adhesive I9 of any suitable variety such as air-cured plastic or liquid latex. The adhesive forms an elongated tie strip in the groove l8 which is permanently attached to the adjacent fibers of the pad at both sides of the groove and throughout the length of the core. The result is to permanently tie the core together along one side of its exterior surface through the entire length of the core.

The fibers of a conventional, insertion-type catamenial device are tied together along its aXis and before compression by a stitched seam. The result is that the core is free to elongate uniformly throughout its entire length and width when subjected to moisture absorption. This longitudinal elongation is exceedingly objectionable since it acts to force the extremity of th device from the body cavity.

In this improved device, the fibers of the core are attached only along one side of the latter and this attachment is not made until the fibers are in the compressed condition. The result is that when subjected to moisture the entire core expands in every direction except along the tied side. This causes the expanded core to curl substantially into a circle when unconfined, as shown in Fig. 5, and into a tight compact spiral when confined by the walls of a body cavity. There is little or no elongation of the tied side of the core, and the result is to cause the maximum expansion of the core to occur in a lateral direction in the cavity and the minimum expansion to occur in a longitudinal direction. This provides a tight seal in the body cavity and prevents protrusion of any part of the expanded core.

The principal feature of the invention is the securing of the convoluted fibers, after compression, along one longitudinal external side of the compressed core. The method of attaining the securement described herein appears to be a very efficient one, since the groove assists in the application of the adhesive and serves also to prevent projection of the adhesive. However, similar results could be attained by placing the adhesive longitudinally of the external surface and eliminating the groove, if preferred, or other means for tying the compressed, convoluted fibers at one side of the core could be employed.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A catamenial device comprising: a highly compressed, cylindrical core of cellulose material and tying means extending longitudinally of the exterior surface of said cylindrical core and attached to the fibers of one side of said compressed core throughout the length; of the latter to resist expansion of that side of the core.

2. A catamenial device as described in claim 1 having a flexible Withdrawing member secured to the material of said core and extending therefrom.

3. A catamenial device as described in claim 2 in which the tying means is imbedded in a longitudinally extending groove in the said exterior surface.

4. A catamenial device as described in claim 3 in which the tying means comprise a solidified strip of normally fluid adhesive material.

5. A catamenial device as described in claim 4, in which said strip is imbedded in a longitudinally extending groove in said core.

6. A method of forming a catamenial core of the insertion-type comprising: forming an elongated bat of fibrous absorbent material; compressing said bat into a substantially cylindrical core and applying a strip of adhesive material longitudinally of one side of said core to resist longitudinal expansion of the latter side.

'7. A method of forming a catamenial core of the insertion-type as described in claim 6 in which a groove is formed longitudinally of said one side of the compressed core into which said adhesive material is placed.

8. A method of forming a catamenial core of the insertion-type as described in claim 7 in which a withdrawing cord is positioned around and tied about one extremity of said bat before the latter is compressed.

WILLARD V. LAY.

No references cited.

Images