Method of forming a curved tampon

A method of forming a curved tampon comprising the steps of:

• a) forming an absorbent with a wedge-shaped, cross-sectional area of varying thickness, the thickest portion having a greater volume of fibers than the thinnest portion;
• b) enclosing said absorbent with a cover;
• c) forming an opening through both said cover and said absorbent;
• d) passing a withdrawal string through said opening and securing said withdrawal string to said absorbent;
• e) compressing said absorbent into a generally elongated, cylindrical pledget having a zone of high density fibers and a zone of low density fibers;
• and
• f) allowing said zone of low density fibers to expand relative to said zone of high density fibers whereby a curved tampon is formed with said curve extending along the length of said tampon.

A method of forming a curved tampon comprising the steps of:

• a) forming an absorbent with a wedge-shaped, cross-sectional area of varying thickness, the thickest portion having a greater volume of fibers than the thinnest portion;
• b) enclosing said absorbent with a nonwoven cover;
• c) forming an opening through the thickness of said absorbent and adjacent to an end thereof;
• d) passing a withdrawl string through said opening and securing said withdrawal string to said absorbent;
• e) forcing said absorbent through a funnel to obtain a generally elongated, cylindrical blank;
• f) compressing said cylindrical blank in a mold cavity to form a pledget having a zone of high density fibers and a zone of low density fibers;
• and
• g) removing said pledge from said mold cavity and allowing said zone of low density fibers to expand relative to said zone of high density fibers whereby a curved tampon is formed with said curve extending along the length of said tampon.

A method of forming a curved tampon comprising the steps of:

• a) forming an absorbent from a blend of cotton and rayon fibers, said absorbent having a cross-sectional area of varying thickness, the thickest portion having a greater volume of fibers than the thinnest portion;
• b) enclosing said absorbent with a nonwoven cover;
• c) piercing both said cover and said absorbent to form an opening through the thickness thereof, said opening being aligned adjacent to an end of said absorbent;
• d) forcing said absorbent through a funnel to obtain a generally elongated, cylindrical blank, said funnel having a minimum diameter which is less than the width of said absorbent;
• e) inserting said cylindrically shaped blank into a mold cavity and compressing said blank into a pledget having a zone of high density fibers and a zone of low density fibers;
• and
• f) removing said pledget from said mold cavity and allowing said zone of low density fibers to expand relative to said zone of high density fibers whereby a curved tampon is formed with said curve extending along the length of said tampon.

A method of forming a curved tampon comprising the steps of:

• a) forming an absorbent from fibers;
• b) securing a withdrawal string to said absorbent;
• c) compressing said absorbent into a pledget;
• and
• d) causing some of said fibers to expand relative to other fibers whereby a curved tampon is formed with said curve extending along the length of said tampon.