Method of forming a tampon which can be comfortably withdrawn from a body cavity

A method of forming a tampon, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) cutting an individual absorbent member from an absorbent strip;
• b) shaping said absorbent member by rolling or folding into an elongated absorbent having an outer periphery;
• c) securing a liquid-permeable cover to said outer periphery of said elongated absorbent to form a softwind, said softwind having a first end and a second end;
• d) providing an M-shaped profile by folding said softwind on itself such that said first and second ends are aligned adjacent to one another and said softwind contains three folds between said first and second ends, said folds dividing said softwind into first, second and third portions to form an M-shaped profile having a first lobe, a second lobe, and a second portion cleft between said first lobe and said second lobe;
• e) forming an aperture through said second portion cleft between said first lobe and said second lobe of said softwind;
• f) passing a withdrawal string through said aperture and looping said withdrawal string upon itself to hold it secure to said softwind;
• and
• g) compressing said softwind into a cylindrically shaped pledget having an insertion end formed by said first lobe and said second lobe and a trailing end, said insertion end located forward to said second portion cleft between said first lobe and said second lobe, said compressed pledget and attached withdrawal string forming a tampon wherein said insertion end is capable of collapsing upon itself during end use as pressure is exerted on said withdrawal string to provide a comfortable removal from a body cavity.

A method of forming a tampon, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) cutting an individual absorbent member from an absorbent strip;
• b) shaping said absorbent member by rolling or folding into an elongated absorbent having an outer periphery;
• c) securing a liquid-permeable cover to said outer periphery of said elongated absorbent to form a softwind, said softwind having a first end and a second end;
• d) providing an M-shaped profile by folding said softwind on itself such that said first and second ends are aligned adjacent to one another and said softwind contains three folds between said first and second ends, said folds dividing said softwind into first, second and third portions to form an M-shaped profile having a first lobe, a second lobe, and a second portion cleft between said first lobe and said second lobe, wherein said second portion cleft has a depth of 5% to 80% of the length of said M-shaped profile;
• e) securing a withdrawal string to said second portion cleft between said first lobe and said second lobe;
• f) forming a knot in said withdrawal string at a position along the length of said withdrawal string to control the amount said second portion can expand within a user's vagina to prevent the second portion from losing a trough shape within a user's vagina;
• and
• g) compressing said softwind into a cylindrically shaped pledget having an insertion end formed by said first lobe and said second lobe and a trailing end, said insertion end located forward to said second portion cleft between said first lobe and said second lobe, said compressed pledget and attached withdrawal string forming a tampon wherein said insertion end is capable of collapsing upon itself during end use as pressure is exerted on said withdrawal string to provide a comfortable removal from a body cavity.