# US 5,403,300 A · Tampons > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,403,300 A - Document ID: US5403300A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/227,561 - Filed: 1994-04-14 - Granted: 1995-04-04 - Earliest claimed: 1989-03-31 - Assignees: Smith & Nephew, Inc. - Inventors: George Howarth - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5403300A ## CPC - A61F 13/2051: {characterised by the material or the structure of the inner absorbing core} - A61F 13/51108: {the top sheet having corrugations or embossments having one axis relatively longer than the other axis, e.g. forming channels or grooves in a longitudinal direction} - A61F 13/539: characterised by the connection of the absorbent layers with each other or with the outer layers - A61L 15/225: {Mixtures of macromolecular compounds} - A61F 13/202: {Catamenial tampons (A61F13/2022-A61F13/34 take precedence)} - A61F 2013/51126: {being nets} - Y10S 604/904: Tampons - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A tampon for hygienic use comprising a generally cylindrical absorbent core having a liquid pervious cover layer on the outer surface thereof wherein the cover layer is a polymer net comprising two intersecting sets of parallel ribs and wherein each set of ribs are aligned obliquely with respect to both the main axis of the tampon and to each other. A strip of net may be bonded to one end of a strip of absorbent material and the composite spirally wound such that the net forms the outer layer. The free end of the net may overlap an underlying layer of net and be bonded thereto by heat sealing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tampon for hygienic use comprising a generally cylindrical absorbent core having a central longitudinal axis and an outer surface with a liquid pervious cover layer thereon wherein the cover layer is a polymer net comprising two intersecting sets of parallel ribs and wherein each set of ribs are aligned obliquely with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the tampon and to each other, and also comprising a set of parallel ribs aligned parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the tampon and excluding ribs which lie in a direction perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the tampon. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A tampon according to claim 1 wherein each set of ribs are of equal thickness. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A tampon according to claim 1 wherein each set of obliquely aligned ribs are aligned at an angle of from 30.degree. to 60.degree. with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the tampon. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A tampon according to claim 1 wherein the aligned ribs are aligned at an angle of from 60.degree. to 120.degree. with respect to each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A tampon according to claim 1 wherein the net contains from 4 to 20 ribs/cm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A tampon according to claim 1 wherein the polymer comprises a thermoplastic polymer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A tampon according to claim 1 wherein the polymer comprises an elastomer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A tampon according to claim 1 wherein the polymer comprises a blend of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a linear low density polyethylene and a high impact polystyrene. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A tampon according to claim 1 wherein core and cover layer are radially compressed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A tampon according to claim 1 wherein the polymer comprises a blend of an elastomer and an incompatible polymer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A tampon according to claim 10 wherein the incompatible polymer is a polyolefine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A tampon as claimed in claim 1 wherein the net comprises a composite material comprising two layers one of which is of a polymer having a melting point which is lower than that of the polymer forming the other layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A tampon according to claim 12 wherein the free end of the cover layer overlaps the other end of the cover layer and is sealed to an underlying portion of the cover layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A tampon according to claim 12 wherein the free end of the cover layer is sealed to the absorbent core. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A tampon according to claim 12 wherein the free end of the cover layer is heat sealed. ### Claim 16 A tampon comprising a strip of absorbent material having a strip of liquid pervious polymer not attached to one end and being spirally wound to form a generally cylindrical absorbent core having an outer cover layer of polymer net, wherein the net comprises two intersecting sets of parallel ribs, each of said sets being obliquely aligned with respect to each other and to the central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical core, and a set of parallel ribs aligned parallel to the main axis of the tampon and wherein the net excludes ribs which lie in a direction perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the tampon. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A tampon according to claim 16 wherein the length of the cover layer is not less than that of the circumference of the core. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A tampon according to claim 17 wherein the free end of the cover layer is sealed over the length of the absorbent core.