Handling aid for a tampon for feminine hygiene

Abstract

Handling aid for a tampon for feminine hygiene having at least two separate finger coverings for the user. At least one finger covering of the handling aid is joined to the finger covering by a line of weakness in such a way that it is at least partially detachable from the remaining part of the handling aid. The handling aid can be produced from two essentially planar portions of film corresponding to the outline of the handling aid, the outline of the aid being thermally or mechanically joined with an edge unjoined to provide a reaching-in opening. The handling aid can also be produced by dipping.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A handling aid suitable for use with a tampon for feminine hygiene, having at least two separate finger coverings for a user, wherein at least one finger covering of the handling aid is joined to the finger covering by a line of weakness in such a way that the said finger covering is at least partially detachable from a remaining part of the handling aid.  
     
     
         2 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the line of weakness is disposed between two finger coverings.  
     
     
         3 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the line of weakness is continuous and the at least one finger covering of the handling aid can be detached completely from the remaining part of the handling aid.  
     
     
         4 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the line of weakness is interrupted at least in a subregion.  
     
     
         5 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the line of weakness is a line with reduced material thickness.  
     
     
         6 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the line of weakness is a perforated line.  
     
     
         7 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least two finger coverings is arranged and configured to cover the thumb and another of the at least two finger coverings is arranged and configured to cover the index finger of a user's hand.  
     
     
         8 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least two finger coverings is arranged and configured to cover the thumb, another of the at least two finger coverings is arranged and configured to cover the index finger, and a third of the at least two finger coverings is arranged and configured to cover the middle finger of a user's hand.  
     
     
         9 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least two finger coverings is arranged and configured to cover the thumb and another of the at least two finger coverings is arranged and configured to cover both the index and middle fingers of a user's hand.  
     
     
         10 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least two finger coverings is arranged and configured to cover the thumb, another of the at least two finger coverings is arranged and configured to cover both the index and middle fingers, and a third of the at least two finger coverings is arranged and configured to cover both the ring and little finger of a user's hand.  
     
     
         11 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least two finger coverings is arranged and configured to cover the thumb and another of the at least two finger coverings is arranged and configured to cover the remaining fingers of a user's hand.  
     
     
         12 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least two finger coverings is provided with a closure.  
     
     
         13 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the closure is an adhesive closure.  
     
     
         14 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the adhesive closure comprises a physically setting adhesive.  
     
     
         15 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the adhesive closure comprises a chemically setting adhesive.  
     
     
         16 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the closure comprises a thread in the finger covering material.  
     
     
         17 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a tampon packaged in one of the at least two finger coverings.  
     
     
         18 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the tampon is contained within the one of the at least two finger coverings by a sealing closure which is capable of being opened by hand for to remove the tampon.  
     
     
         19 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 1 , which further comprises an absorbent material at least on part of an outer side of the handling aid.  
     
     
         20 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein a tip region of the finger covering arranged and configured to cover the thumb and a tip region of a further finger covering are provided at least partially with the absorbent material.  
     
     
         21 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least two finger coverings comprise a plastic film.  
     
     
         22 . The handling aid as claimed as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least two finger coverings comprise a biodegradable material.  
     
     
         23 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the plastic film comprises a thermoplastic material which has at least one polyester from the group consisting of poly-α-hydroxyl acids, such as polytrimethylene carbonate, polydioxanone, polyglycolide, polyactide, poly (L-lactide-coglycolide) along with their copolymers with one another, polyorthoester and/or polycaprolactone, polyhydroxybutyrate or polyhydroxybutyrate-co hydroxyvalerate.  
     
     
         24 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a copolymer of polyhydroxybutyrate-cohydroxyvalerate which has a valerate content of between 5 and 25%  
     
     
         25 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the thermoplastic material comprises EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) or EMA (ethylene-maleic anhydride) copolymers or PP (polypropylene) or PE (polyethylene).  
     
     
         26 . The handling aid as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein it at least partially consists of essentially opaque material.  
     
     
         27 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a substrate on which the at least two finger coverings are removably disposed.  
     
     
         28 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the substrate comprises paper.  
     
     
         29 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the substrate comprises polymeric material.  
     
     
         30 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the polymeric material has a lower melting point than the material of the handling aid.  
     
     
         31 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the substrate comprises paper coated with a polymeric material.  
     
     
         32 . The handling aid as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the polymeric material has a lower melting point than the material of the handling aid.  
     
     
         33 . A method of producing a handling aid suitable for use with a tampon for feminine hygiene comprising the steps of: 
 a) dipping a former having at least two separate lobes corresponding to finger coverings into a liquid, film-forming material to form a handling aid having at least two separate finger coverings for a user; and    b) forming a line of weakness wherein one of said finger coverings is at least partially detachable from a remaining part of the handling aid.    
     
     
         34 . The method as claimed in  claim 33 , further comprising the step of drying the handling aid and dipping the former and dried handling aid an additional time into the liquid, film-forming material.  
     
     
         35 . The method as claimed in  claim 33 , further comprising the step of drying the handling aid and dipping the former and dried handling aid an additional time into a second liquid, film-forming material.  
     
     
         36 . A method of producing a handling aid suitable for use with a tampon for feminine hygiene comprising the steps of: 
 a) thermally bonding together a first essentially planar film and a second essentially planar film in a pattern corresponding to an outline of the shape of the handling aid;    b) protecting an edge region of the films from thermal bonding to form an opening in the handling aid.    
     
     
         37 . The method as claimed in  claim 36 , further comprising the step of laminating the first essentially planar film to a substrate by applying pressure and temperature.  
     
     
         38 . The method of producing a handling aid as claimed in  claim 36 , further comprising the step of forming a line of weakness wherein one of said finger coverings is at least partially detachable from a remaining part of the handling aid.  
     
     
         39 . The method of producing a handling aid as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the step of forming the line of weakness comprises applying pressure to the film.  
     
     
         40 . The method of producing a handling aid as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the step of forming the line of weakness comprises reducing the film thickness.  
     
     
         41 . The method of producing a handling aid as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the step of forming the line of weakness comprises perforating the film along the line of weakness.  
     
     
         42 . A method of disposing of a tampon comprising the steps of: 
 a) removing a soiled tampon;    b) at least partially detaching one finger covering from a handling aid comprising at least two separate finger coverings for a user, wherein at least one finger covering of the handling aid is joined to the finger covering by a line of weakness in such a way that the said finger covering is at least partially detachable from a remaining part of the handling aid;    c) enclosing the soiled tampon in the detached finger covering by turning this finger covering inside out, for hygienic disposal; and    d) disposing of the soiled tampon.