Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
MENSTRUAL CUP
FIELD
The present technology is directed to an easy to use menstrual cup. More
specifically, it
is a menstrual cup that includes a bridge extending between a foldable
sidewall and a
collapsible lower cavity.
BACKGROUND
There are many designs for menstrual cups. For example, Canadian Patent
Application
No. 3075980 discloses a menstrual cup and applicator for use in the vagina.
The
menstrual cup having a receptacle for holding fluid and having a stem device
connected
to the top of the cup and extending through the open cavity through the bottom
of the cup.
The stem is configured to actuate the side and rim of the cup to allow for
easier insertion
and removal of the cup. The applicator may have several components and is
configured
to grasp a folded cup and position the cup in a deployed position within the
vagina.
Additionally, the applicator is designed to aid in the removal of the
menstrual cup. This
menstrual cup suffers the deficiencies of being difficult to remove and
including a stem
that extends below the cup.
GB2425260 discloses an intra-vaginal catamenial device 10 comprises an inlet
16, an
outlet 26 and a collection chamber 12, in which the outlet is moveable in
relation to the
inlet to outside the vagina for the expression of menstrual fluid. A method of
expressing
menstrual fluid is also disclosed, comprising pooling fluid within the vagina,
moving a fluid
outlet 26 from a position within the vagina (Fig. 2a) to a position outside
the vagina (Fig.
2b), and actuating flow of the fluid from inside to outside. This menstrual
cup suffers the
deficiencies of being difficult to remove and including a stem that extends
below the cup.
United States Patent 5,342,331 discloses a flow-controlling tampon, comprising
a
generally upright elongated sheath structure having an open upper end and a
closed
lower end, the upper end sized to fit about the cervix an inner, elongated,
flow-control
tube extending generally upright within the sheath, the tube having an upper
open end to
receive flow via the upper open end of the sheath, and the flow-control tube
having lower
opening structure to pass flow from the tube into the lower interior of the
sheath to
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-29
gradually collect upwardly from the lower interior of the sheath, and about
the control
tube. This menstrual cup suffers the deficiencies of being difficult to remove
and including
a string that extends below the cup.
EP3620137 discloses a menstrual cup in a first package and a second article in
a second
package. The first package is marketed for menstrual use. The first and the
second
package made by, made for, distributed by, and/or distributed for a feminine
article
manufacturer. The cup includes apertures proximate the upper rim. This
menstrual cup
suffers the deficiency of a stem extends below the cup.
KR20170008187 discloses a storage unit having one side opened and
accommodating
menstrual blood in at least one space therein; A measurement unit for
measuring menses
stored in the storage unit; And a control unit for generating a signal based
on the
measurement information by the measurement unit or the processing information
obtained based on the measurement information. This menstrual cup suffers the
deficiencies of being difficult to remove and including a stem that extends
below the cup.
CN107049587 discloses an intelligent menstrual cup, including cup,
intellectual
monitoring module, and the power module being electrically connected with
intellectual
monitoring module, the inside of cup has cup chamber, cup has circular open at
the top
of cup chamber, the bottom of cup is provided with support handle in the
offside of circular
open, hold in the palm the runner for being provided with and being turned on
cup
chamber inside handle, valve of the runner provided with control runner
conducting,
intellectual monitoring module includes that the blood examination chip of
menses can be
detected, a glass sensor for chamber internal environment can be monitored,
the data
acquisition module being electrically connected with respectively with blood
examination
chip and sensor, and the wireless communication module for transmitting
gathered data
to intelligent terminal. The present invention can effectively monitor the
physiological
health data of women physiological period, while setting blood examination
chip in
menstrual cup, can provide menses testing result within several minutes even
several
seconds so as to allow women to know the health status of oneself in time, the
daily
trouble taken a blood sample to hospital is eliminated. This menstrual cup
suffers the
deficiency of a stem extends below the cup.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-29
CN105147457 discloses collapsible menstrual cups, including outer cup,
diversion pipe
and folding part, the inside of outer cup forms top vessel, the top of outer
cup has circular
opening, the bottom of outer cup is connect by folding part with diversion
pipe in the
offside of opening, and there is diversion pipe the pore be connected with the
top vessel
of outer cup, diversion pipe to be equipped with the valve of controllable
pore conducting,
folding part can raise up, and the top of diversion pipe is made to stretch
into the top
vessel of outer cup with folding par; Folding part can stretch downwards, and
form bottom
vessel in the inside of folding part. When use, the top vessel merging that
outer cup goes
deep into folding part is internal, certain pressure is generated in vivo when
women
menses are discharged, the drops down that folding part can be slowly under
pressure,
eventually form bottom vessel, bottom vessel and top vessel are combined the
menstrual
cup to form a vessel bigger so that the menses being discharged in vivo can be
packed
into menstrual cup, and women will not be allowed to generate the feeling of
abdominal
distension. A lower portion of the cup folds into the upper portion of the
cup, however, a
stem extends below the cup. Another deficiency is that the menstrual cup is
difficult to
remove.
W02019020958 discloses a menstrual cup (1) including an upper opening (2) and
a
receptacle (3) comprising a body (4) having a curved longitudinal shape and a
base (5),
the cup extending longitudinally from the opening (2) to the base (5) and
having an inner
surface (6) corresponding to the concave portion of the receptacle (3), and an
outer
surface (7) corresponding to the convex portion of the receptacle (3),
characterized in
that the body (4) comprises at least one hollow longitudinal groove (8) on the
inner surface
(6) of the body (4) and at least one solid longitudinal groove (9) on the
outer surface (7)
of the body (4), aligned with the hollow longitudinal groove (8) on the inner
surface (6).
The invention also relates to an associated kit and a method for disinfecting
the menstrual
cup (1). This menstrual cup suffers the deficiencies of a stem that extends
below the cup
and not being collapsible.
https://saaltco.com/ discloses a menstrual cup that is collapsible and
includes apertures
proximate the lip. This menstrual cup suffers the deficiency of a stem that
extends below
the cup.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-29
CN108882988 discloses a menstrual cup that includes head (2), inner cup
portion (3) and
grips (4).Head (2), inner cup portion (3) and grips (4) are formed by
identical silicone
resin. The silicone resin has the elasticity of appropriateness, becomes the
construction
that can be deformed under the action of the power of the degree with finger
grip, restore
when releasing external force. In addition, having the heat resistance being
able to bear
using the scalding of hot water etc. Head (2) and inner cup portion (3) are
integrally
formed, and have been formed in the interior thereof storage space with the
end
(5).Storage space (5) has opening portion (6) in upside, and menses can be
flowed into
and be stored from the part of opening portion (6). This menstrual cup suffers
the
deficiencies of a stem that extends below the cup and not being collapsible.
United States Publication No. 20200060865 discloses an easily inserted
menstrual cup.
The menstrual cup according to an embodiment of the present invention
includes: a main
body having an opening formed at one side and a storage part for accommodating
menstrual blood therein formed at an inner side; a rim formed at the opening
of the main
body and configured to prevent leakage of the menstrual blood by closely
contacting with
the wall of the vagina when the menstrual cup is inserted into the vagina; and
a frame
formed inside a wall of the main body, wherein the frame is formed of a shape
memory
material. This menstrual cup suffers the deficiencies of being difficult to
remove and
including a stem that extends below the cup.
AU2016299891 discloses a menstrual cup (10) having a bell-shaped lower part
(20),
comprising a plurality of non-convex grip surfaces (22, 24) which are
distributed in a
substantially axisymmetric manner at least over said bell-shaped lower part
(20), and
designed so as to be able to be pinched by the user's fingers in order to
facilitate the
removal of the cup. This menstrual cup suffers the deficiencies of a stem that
extends
below the cup and not being collapsible.
W02015012776 discloses a menstrual cup; composed of at least one tubular body
(2),
at least one propulsive stick (3) moving inside the body (2) and a funnel
shaped
component (5) opening up with the actions of the propulsive stick (3) and the
string (7);
that women will use during menstruation by placing it into the vagina for the
purpose of
collecting the menstrual flow (menstrual blood) and having a physical freedom.
This
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-29
menstrual cup suffers the deficiencies of a stem that extends below the cup
and not being
collapsible.
United States Publication No. 20100312204 discloses a menstrual cup device and
a
method of us thereof includes a menstrual cup made of expandable material so
as to be
compressed, the menstrual cup having resilience for restoring to its original
shape after
being compressed, the menstrual cup comprising a pulling stem at a lower end
thereof,
a circular lip at an open upper end thereof, and a circular groove below the
circular lip;
and a collection bag having a resilient restraining ring at an open upper end
thereof;
thereby, the resilient restraining ring being expanded to be constricted in
the circular
groove of the menstrual cup, the circular lip being adapted to prevent the
resilient
restraining ring from disengagement, the menstrual cup with the collection bag
being
compressed and inserted into the vagina for collecting menstrual blood, the
collection bag
being disposable and replaceable. This menstrual cup suffers the deficiencies
of a stem
that extends below the cup and not being collapsible.
United States Publication No 20180140458 discloses menstrual cups that
comprise a
resilient body having an open top and a closed bottom and defining an internal
volume
sized to hold menstrual fluid. The resilient body comprises a wall structure
that extends
from the open top to the closed bottom. The wall structure has an outer
surface opposite
the internal volume and an inner surface facing the internal volume. The
resilient body is
biased to an open conformation, and the resilient body has a longitudinal axis
that extends
through a center of the internal volume when in the open conformation. This
menstrual
cup suffers the deficiencies of a stem that extends below the cup and not
being
collapsible.
W02019055855A discloses a menstrual cup and applicator for use in the vagina.
The
menstrual cup having a receptacle for holding fluid and having a stem device
connected
to the top of the cup and extending through the open cavity through the bottom
of the cup.
The stem is configured to actuate the side and rim of the cup to allow for
easier insertion
and removal of the cup. The applicator may have several components and is
configured
to grasp a folded cup and position the cup in a deployed position within the
vagina.
Additionally, the applicator is designed to aid in the removal of the
menstrual cup. This
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-29
menstrual cup suffers the deficiencies of a stem that extends below the cup
and not being
collapsible.
What is needed is a menstrual cup that overcomes the deficiencies in the prior
art.
Specifically, it would be preferable if it included a bridge that extended
from the sidewall
to the distal end of the cup. It would be further preferable if the sidewall
included grooves
that acted as fold lines proximate the bridge connection. It would be further
preferable if
the distal end of the cup was configured as a collapsible lower cavity. It
would be further
preferable if a stem and ring pull were housed within the collapsible lower
cavity when the
cup was in the deployed position and extended outward from the collapsible
lower cavity
for removal of the cup.
SUMMARY
The menstrual cup of the present technology includes a bridge that extended
from the
sidewall to the distal end of the cup. The sidewall includes grooves that
function as fold
lines proximate the bridge connection. The distal end of the cup is configured
as a
collapsible lower cavity, which when in the collapsed position, extends inward
into the
inner space of the distal end of the cup. A stem and ring pull are housed
within the
collapsible lower cavity when the cup is in the deployed position. This
substantially
separates the ring pull from vaginal fluids, allowing for better grip. The
stem, ring pull and
collapsible lower cavity extend outward from the cup and the stem and ring
pull further
extend outward from the collapsible lower cavity for removal of the cup.
In one embodiment, a menstrual cup is provided for releasably retaining a
liquid, the
menstrual cup comprising a resilient, flexible material formed into: an upper
cup, which
includes a rim to define an opening, and a sidewall, the sidewall including an
inner surface
and an outer surface, the inner surface including a V-shaped groove extending
from the
rim downward to an apex, and an upper cup distal end; a lower cup which is
continuous
with the upper cup at the upper cup distal end and includes a sidewall
including an inner
surface and at least a first step and crease and a second step and crease to
define a
series of steps and creases of decreasing diameter and terminating in a lower
cup distal
end; a stem which is continuous with the lower cup distal end and terminates
in a pull;
and a bridge, the bridge attached to the inner surface of the upper cup above
the apex of
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-29
the V-shaped groove and proximate the rim at a first end or attached to the
rim, and
attached to the inner surface of the lower cup at the first step at a second
end.
In the menstrual cup, the series of steps may be configured to nest and to
form an
invagination in the upper cup that defines an outer cavity when the menstrual
cup is in a
deployed position.
In the menstrual cup, the stem and pull may be configured to be housed
entirely in the
outer cavity when the menstrual cup is in the deployed position.
In the menstrual cup, the resilient, flexible material may be a silicone
material or a
thermoplastic material.
The menstrual cup may further comprise at least one aperture proximate the
rim.
In the menstrual cup, the first end of the bridge may be attached to the rim.
In the menstrual cup, the first end of the bridge may be attached to the inner
surface of
the upper cup above the apex of the V-groove and proximate the rim.
In the menstrual cup, the first end of the bridge may be vertically aligned
with the apex of
the V-groove.
In the menstrual cup, the V-groove may define a foldable portion of the
sidewall.
In the menstrual cup, the V-groove may be a half astroid.
In the menstrual cup, the lower cup may be configured to be flush with the
upper cup
distal end in the deployed position.
In the menstrual cup, the pull may be a ring pull.
FIGURES
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the menstrual cup of the present technology.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the menstrual cup of Figure 1 in
the deployed
position.
Figure 3 is a cutaway view of the upper cup of the menstrual cup of Figure 1.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-29
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the menstrual cup in the folded or removal
position.
DESCRIPTION
Except as otherwise expressly provided, the following rules of interpretation
apply to this
specification (written description and claims): (a) all words used herein
shall be construed
to be of such gender or number (singular or plural) as the circumstances
require; (b) the
singular terms "a", "an", and "the", as used in the specification and the
appended claims
include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise; (c)
the antecedent
term "about" applied to a recited range or value denotes an approximation
within the
deviation in the range or value known or expected in the art from the
measurements
method; (d) the words "herein", "hereby", "hereof", "hereto", "hereinbefore",
and
"hereinafter", and words of similar import, refer to this specification in its
entirety and not
to any particular paragraph, claim or other subdivision, unless otherwise
specified; (e)
descriptive headings are for convenience only and shall not control or affect
the meaning
or construction of any part of the specification; and (f) "or" and "any" are
not exclusive
and "include" and "including" are not limiting. Further, the terms
"comprising," "having,"
"including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e.,
meaning
"including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted.
Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a
shorthand method
of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range,
unless otherwise
indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the
specification as if it
were individually recited herein. Where a specific range of values is
provided, it is
understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower
limit unless
the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of
that range
and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is included
therein. All
smaller sub ranges are also included. The upper and lower limits of these
smaller ranges
are also included therein, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the
stated range.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have
the same
meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art.
Although
any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can
also be
used, the acceptable methods and materials are now described.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-29
A menstrual cup, generally referred to as 10 is shown in Figure 1. The cup 10
is in the
pre-removal position. A circular lip 12 is located at the proximal end 14 of
an upper cup
16 and forms a rim around a circular opening 18. At least one small aperture
20 is located
proximate the lip 12 that extend through the sidewall 22 from an inner surface
24 to an
outer surface 26. In one embodiment there are four apertures 20. A lower cup
28 is
continuous with the upper cup 16 at the upper cup distal end 30. The lower cup
28
includes a series of creases 32 and steps 34 and has a thinner wall than the
upper cup
16.
As shown in Figure 2, the steps 34 have a decreasing diameter from the upper
cup distal
end 30 to the lower cup distal end 36. A stem 40 is continuous with the lower
cup 28 at
the lower cup distal end 36 and terminates in a ring pull 42.
A bridge 44 extends from the inner surface 24 of the sidewall 22, proximate
the lip 12 at
a first end 45, through the cavity 46 defined by the upper cup 16 to an inner
surface 48 of
the lower cup 28 at a second end 49. The cup 10 is in the deployed position.
In this
position, the lower cup 28 is collapsed and the steps 34 are nested. The first
step 50
defines an outer cavity 52 in which the stem 40 and ring pull 42 are housed.
The inner
surface of the first step 50 is now an invagination 54 in the upper cup distal
end 30 and
extends into the cavity 46. In the deployed position, the second and third
steps 56, 58 of
the lower cup 28 are now flush with the upper cup distal end 30. In the
deployed position,
the outer surface 26 of the sidewall 22 of the upper cup 16 forms a seal with
a user's
vagina. The shape of the cup 10 in this position is rounded, with very little
outward curve
at the lip 12. This shape provides the best fit with the internal shape of the
vagina and
provides the maximum possible capacity of the cup 10 without increasing the
size.
In an alternative embodiment, the bridge 44 extends from the lip 12 through
the cavity 46
defined by the upper cup 16 to the inner surface 48 of the lower cup 28.
In another embodiment, the pull ring is replaced with a different pull, which
may be for
example, but not limited to a paddle, a T-end, an oval, a knob and the like,
essentially, a
component that can easily be grasped by a user and which, with the stem, fits
in the cavity
52. It is preferable if the user can use a single digit to hook the pull,
however, a pinching
action is also acceptable.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-29
The upper cup 16, the lower cup 28, the stem 40 and the ring pull 42 are a
unit body
which is molded and consists of a resilient, flexible, bendable material. In a
preferred
embodiment the material is silicone or a thermoplastic material.
As shown in Figure 3, the inner surface 24 of the upper cup 16 has a groove 60
that
defines a V-shape, more specifically, a half astroid. The apex 62 of the
groove 60 is
vertically aligned with the attachment point (first end 45) of the bridge 44
to the inner
surface 24 of the sidewall 22. Note that the bridge has been cutaway to show
the apex
62 of the groove 60. The V-shaped groove 60 defines a fold line and a foldable
portion
64 of the sidewall 22.
Figure 4 shows the shape of the cup 10 as a user removes it. As noted above,
the lower
cup 28 has a thin wall, allowing it to be easily urged from the deployed
position to the
removal position. The user has pulled the ring pull 42, releasing the ring
pull 42 and the
stem 40 from the cavity 52. As the user pulls on the ring pull 42, the steps
50, 56, 58
unnest and extend downward from the distal end 30 of the upper cup 16. The
force is
then transmitted to the bridge 44 which pulls the foldable portion 64 of the
sidewall 22
inward. The sidewall 22 folds along the groove 60, releasing the seal between
the outer
surface 26 of the upper cup 16 and the user's vagina. The bridge 44, the
groove 60 and
the apertures 20 allow a user to easily break the seal and remove the cup 10.
The menses
is then removed and the cup 10 is cleaned. The cup 10 is easily cleaned as
there are no
parts that need to be disassembled and reassembled.
While example embodiments have been described in connection with what is
presently
considered to be an example of a possible most practical and/or suitable
embodiment, it
is to be understood that the descriptions are not to be limited to the
disclosed
embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications
and
equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the example
embodiment.
Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more
than routine
experimentation, many equivalents to the specific example embodiments
specifically
described herein.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-29
