US 12,357,510 B2Granted

Tubular tampon and method of manufacturing same

AssigneeAnne's Day Ltd

InventorValentina Milanova

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Abstract

A tubular shaped tampon can include an absorbent body defining a cylindrical shape having a hollow interior, a porous protective sleeve surrounding the absorbent body, and a string that holds the protective sleeve in place against the absorbent body and facilitates removal of the tampon after use. The absorbent body and protective sleeve can combine to define an overall tubular structure having an inner hollow region, providing increased surface area. Methods of manufacturing the tampon can include cutting a fluid absorbent material, rolling the cut material around elongated machine prongs to form an absorbent body, rolling a porous sheet around and extending beyond both distal ends of the absorbent body, pinching together distal ends of the porous sheet, pushing at least one distal end through the hollow interior of the absorbent body, stitching the distal ends of the porous sheet together, and punching a string through the protective sleeve and absorbent body.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of creating a tampon, the method comprising:

forming an absorbent body defining a cylindrical shape having an exterior surface, a hollow interior, an interior surface, and first and second opposing distal ends, the absorbent body having a fluid absorbent material;
enclosing the absorbent body within a protective sleeve at the exterior surface, interior surface, and both distal ends, the protective sleeve being porous to allow fluid to enter the absorbent body but prevent absorbent body material from passing through the protective sleeve, wherein the absorbent body and protective sleeve combine to define an overall tubular structure having an inner hollow region and a first diameter, wherein enclosing the absorbent body within a protective sleeve includes:
rolling a porous sheet around the absorbent body, wherein the porous sheet extends beyond both distal ends of the absorbent body at a length that exceeds the length of the absorbent body;
pinching together a first distal end of the porous sheet that extends beyond the first distal end of the absorbent body;
and
pushing the pinched together first distal end of the porous sheet through the hollow interior and past the second distal end of the absorbent body, wherein the first distal end of the porous sheet and a second distal end of the porous sheet both extend past the second distal end of the absorbent body;
and
coupling a string to the protective sleeve, wherein the string facilitates removal of the tampon after use.

5 more elements

A method of manufacturing a tubular shaped tampon, the method comprising:

cutting a fluid absorbent material to a specific length and width;
rolling the cut fluid absorbent material around a first set of elongated machine prongs or an elongated rod, wherein the rolling forms an absorbent body defining a cylindrical shape having an exterior surface, a hollow interior, an interior surface, and first and second opposing distal ends;
rolling a porous sheet around the absorbent body, wherein the porous sheet extends beyond both distal ends of the absorbent body;
pinching together using a second set of elongated machine prongs a first distal end of the porous sheet that extends beyond the first distal end of the absorbent body;
pushing using the second set of elongated machine prongs the pinched together first distal end of the porous sheet through the hollow interior and past the second distal end of the absorbent body, wherein the first distal end of the porous sheet and a second distal end of the porous sheet both extend past the second distal end of the absorbent body;
removing the first set of elongated machine prongs or elongated rod while pushing using the second set of elongated machine prongs;
pinching closed the second distal end of the absorbent body;
stitching together the first distal end and the second distal end of the porous sheet such that the porous sheet then forms a protective sleeve enclosing the absorbent body, wherein the absorbent body and protective sleeve combine to define an overall tubular structure having an inner hollow region and a first diameter;
punching an end of a string through a top outer surface of the protective sleeve;
pushing the string through the protective sleeve, a top portion of the absorbent body, an inner surface of the protective sleeve, the hollow region, another inner surface of the protective sleeve, a bottom portion of the absorbent body, and out from a bottom outer surface of the protective sleeve;
and
coupling the end of the string to a remaining portion of the string that has not passed through the protective sleeve.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/571,423Filed 7 Jan 2022 · us provisional application
Priority: 8 Jan 2021
Published: US 2022/0218535 A114 Jul 2022
Granted: 15 Jul 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

A61F 13/2028
Characterised by the shape: adapted to change of shape after absorption of liquid
A61F 13/2042
Characterised by the shape: having a central tubular opening
A61F 13/2051
Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor: characterised by the material or the structure of the inner absorbing core
A61F 13/206
Characterised by the material or the structure of the inner absorbing core: tampons made of rolled-up material