Expandable and retractable menstrual cup

Abstract

A menstrual cup is provided whose body can expand to reveal an interior cavity in an open position configured to receive menstrual fluids and that can retract to a closed position such that the interior cavity of the menstrual cup is contained by the sides and body of the menstrual cup and any contained fluids are prevented from leaking out. A hook is coupled to a bottom surface of the body of the menstrual cup and can be pulled upon to close the menstrual cup and pushed upwards to open the menstrual cup. The retractability of the menstrual cup facilitates insertion into the vaginal cavity and removal without spillage of menstrual fluids. The menstrual cup includes a body with retractable sides that can close inwardly. A user can grasp the hook to manipulate the body of the menstrual cup from either a closed position or an open position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a menstrual cup configured to collect menstrual fluid or other bodily fluids from a vaginal cavity of a human body, the menstrual cup comprising:
 a flexible body defining an interior cavity, wherein the flexible body is configured to open to an open position and to close and retract to a closed position; and 
 a hook attached to a bottom surface located on an underside of the flexible body, 
 wherein a downward force exerted onto and transferred from the hook to the flexible body causes the flexible body to contract and close inward such that a set of sides or a set of outer members of the flexible body are brought towards each other enclosing the interior cavity of the menstrual cup, and 
 wherein an upward force exerted onto and transferred from the hook to the flexible body causes the flexible body to gradually expand outward such that the set of sides or the set of outer members of the flexible body expand outwards to a fully open position and exposes the interior cavity of the menstrual cup such that the interior cavity is configured to receive and collect the menstrual fluids or other bodily fluids 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the set of outer members are connected to each other by a set of connecting walls of the flexible body, wherein the set of outer members and the set of connecting walls together define the interior cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each outer member of the set of outer members is connected to each connecting wall adjacent on each side of each outer member of the set of outer members. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the set of connecting walls are bendable and are configured to bend inwardly towards the interior cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the set of connecting walls are lower in height than the set of outer members. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the set of outer members have a same height. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the set of outer members are joined to the flexible body defining the interior cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein interior walls of the flexible body have a protective covering to cover any cracks or openings in the interior walls. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the set of sides or the set of outer members are visible from an exterior of the menstrual cup. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom edge of each outer member of the set of outer members is connected to a bottom surface of the menstrual cup. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein when the flexible body of the menstrual cup is in the closed position, one or more sides of the set of outer members are in contact or touching each other. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein when the flexible body of the menstrual cup is in the closed position, one or more top surfaces of each outer member are contacting each other and the interior cavity of the flexible body of the menstrual cup is not accessible through the one or more top surfaces of each outer member. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one or more interior pieces within the interior cavity are joined together and push upwards into the interior cavity of the flexible body of the menstrual cup when the flexible body of the menstrual cup is in the open position. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein a protective covering covers the one or more interior pieces within the interior cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hook includes a hook interior opening and a hook body encircling or surrounding the hook interior opening. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the menstrual cup is washable. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the menstrual cup is made from silicone. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible body and the hook are integrally formed.