US 5,047,024 A · Tampon construction

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved tampon construction for more efficient absorption of menstrual fluids. The tampon originates as a rectangularly-shaped wad of absorptive material which is twice folded over onto itself in different planes so as to provide twice as much absorptive material in the upper half as compared to the lower half thereof. The twice-folded material is then subjected to pressure which forms the same into a cylindrical shape. Thereafter, a plurality of slits emanating radially from the center thereof is provided at the top of the cylindrical shape while a plurality of axial grooves are provided along the cylindrical body thereof. The folded construction, in addition to the slits and grooves, provides for efficient menstrual fluid absorption by the tampon even in the event that it is misplaced within the vaginal canal. The inventive tampon readily absorbs menstrual fluids and expands by flowering of the upper end so as to adapt its shape to that of the vaginal canal and thereby prevent leakage of menstrual fluids past the tampon.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of manufacturing a tampon adapted for absorbing menstrual fluids and being placed within a vaginal canal comprising the steps of

folding a top portion of a rectangularly-shaped piece of absorbing material over a horizontal line and down along a side thereof
folding said once-folded rectangularly-shaped piece of material along a vertical line such that the resulting shape comprises a twice-folded piece of material having double the thickness at the top thereof compared to the bottom thereof
applying pressure to said twice-folded piece of material to form said piece of material into a solid, cylindrical shape.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tampon construction

Life of this patent

Tampon construction

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16