U.S. patent application number 17/165138 was filed with the patent office on 2021-05-27 for method for producing a tampon.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ruggli Projects AG. The applicant listed for this patent is Ruggli Projects AG. Invention is credited to Harald LENHERR.
Application Number | 20210154054 17/165138 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005374445 |
Filed Date | 2021-05-27 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210154054 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LENHERR; Harald |
May 27, 2021 |
METHOD FOR PRODUCING A TAMPON
Abstract
A tampon (1) has at least one absorbent body made from an
absorbent material (6), the tampon (1) having a proximal end (2)
and a distal end (3) and a middle part extending between the distal
end and the proximal end, as well as an extraction device (5)
connected to the absorbent body and situated at the distal end (3).
The tampon has a covering made from a nonwoven material (4), which,
with the exception of a pass-through opening (13) for the
extraction device (5), completely covers at least the distal end
(3), by which the escaping of fibers at the distal end (3) is
prevented, and the covering additionally forming a protection
against the fluid leakage.
Inventors: |
LENHERR; Harald; (Beringen,
CH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ruggli Projects AG |
Hagendorn |
|
CH |
|
|
Assignee: |
Ruggli Projects AG
Hagendorn
CH
|
Family ID: |
1000005374445 |
Appl. No.: |
17/165138 |
Filed: |
February 2, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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15739201 |
Mar 6, 2018 |
10940052 |
|
|
PCT/EP2016/064462 |
Jun 22, 2016 |
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17165138 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 13/2094 20130101;
A61F 13/206 20130101; A61F 13/2071 20130101; A61F 13/34
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61F 13/20 20060101
A61F013/20; A61F 13/34 20060101 A61F013/34 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 25, 2015 |
AT |
A50554/2015 |
Claims
1. A tampon (1) comprising at least one absorbent body made from an
absorbent material, wherein the tampon has a proximal end and a
distal end and a middle part extending between the distal end and
the proximal end, as well as an extraction means connected to the
absorbent body and situated at the distal end, wherein the tampon
has a covering in the form of a closed sleeve or made from a fluid
pervious foil, made from a strip of a nonwoven material having a
weight per unit area of at least 6 g/m.sup.2, in particular between
12 and 30 g/m.sup.2, or made from a fluid pervious foil, which,
with the exception of a pass-through opening for the extraction
means, completely covers at least the distal end, which strip or
foil prevents the escaping of fibers at the distal end, wherein the
covering additionally forms a protection against fluid leakage.
2. The tampon as recited in claim 1, wherein the distal end of the
tampon comprises a watertight or hydrophobic coating.
3. The tampon as recited in claim 1, wherein the distal end of the
tampon comprises a covering made from watertight or hydrophobic
material.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of and Applicant claims
priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn..sctn. 120 and 121 of U.S.
application Ser. No. 15/739,201 filed on Mar. 6, 2018, which
application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
371 of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2016/064462 filed on Jun. 22,
2016, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 from
Austrian Patent Application No. A50554/2015 filed on Jun. 25, 2015,
the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by
reference. A certified copy of priority Austrian Patent Application
No. A50554/2015 is contained in parent U.S. application Ser. No.
15/739,201. The International Application under PCT article 21 (2)
was not published in English.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a method for the
manufacture of a tampon, including the following steps: [0003] i)
positioning of a strip made from a nonwoven material on a strip
made from an absorbent material so that a part of the strip made
from nonwoven material protrudes over the narrow side of the strip
made from absorbent material, [0004] ii) connecting the strip made
from nonwoven material to the strip made from absorbent material,
[0005] iii) situating an extraction means at the strip made from
absorbent material, [0006] iv) rolling up the strip made from
absorbent material and the strip made from nonwoven material into a
roll, in which the strip made from nonwoven material covers a
section of the surface shell of the roll, [0007] v) connecting the
protruding part of the strip made from nonwoven material to a
section of the strip made from nonwoven material connected to the
strip made from absorbent material.
[0008] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a tampon
having at least one absorbent body made from an absorbent material,
the tampon having a proximal end and a distal end and a middle part
extending between the distal end and the proximal end, and having
an extraction means connected to the absorbent body and situated at
the distal end.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0009] In known tampons manufactured from a rolled strip made from
absorbent material, an undesired detaching of fibers of the
absorbent material at an extraction end may result during use
despite the compaction of the material; this is in particular the
case, when detaching the extraction means from the distal end by
fingers. Since the tampon is wound up during the manufacture, there
is also the danger that conventional tampons after their use or
during removal (pulling at the string) "telescope" out of the body,
as it is illustrated in FIG. 1, and in many cases parts of the
strip made from absorbent material, for example cotton, may remain
in the body.
[0010] From EP1677722B1 a tampon is known, in which a greater part
of the tampon is provided with a sleeve made from a hydrophobic or
watertight material. This, however, has the disadvantage of a
reduced fluid intake. In other tampons, it is additionally
disadvantageous that they have a smaller pass-through time for
fluid, meaning the time until a drop of the fluid discharges at the
distal end when saturating a tampon with a fluid. This pass-through
time, for example, may be determined with the aid of a measuring
procedure according to the EDANA Standard Test WSP 350.1.R3
(12).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] For this reason, it is the object of the present invention,
to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above and
to increase the pass-through time for fluid through a tampon.
[0012] According to the present invention, this object is achieved
by a method of the type mentioned at the outset in that, in step
i), the strip made from nonwoven material is positioned in such a
manner that it also protrudes over a longitudinal edge of the strip
made from absorbent material, a section of the strip made from
nonwoven material protruding over the longitudinal edge of the
strip made from absorbent material being selected to be of such
size that an end face of the roll is completely coverable by the
protruding part, and, in a step following step iv), a distal end of
the roll, from which the extraction means projects, is, with the
exception of one pass-through opening for the extraction means,
completely covered by the protruding section of the nonwoven
material, and the protruding section of the nonwoven material is
connected to form a closed sleeve completely covering, with the
exception of the pass-through opening, the distal end, the nonwoven
material having a weight per unit area of at least 6 g/m.sup.2, in
particular between 12 and 30 g/m.sup.2, or that, instead of the
nonwoven material, a fluid pervious foil made from plastic material
is used.
[0013] At this point, it shall be noted that, after producing the
roll and the sleeve, further steps known per se, for example
compressing and pressing with the aid of a press, may follow for
the manufacture of the tampon.
[0014] The solution according to the present invention allows to
completely cover the end at which the extraction means is situated
by a nonwoven material. In so doing, it is efficiently inhibited
that the wound-up tampon telescopes or pulls apart or that the
tampon loses fibers. Furthermore, a protection against fluid
leakage is implemented at the distal end. The leakage protection
enables to retain the fluid much longer in the tampon than not
having a leakage protection. In this way, for example when
saturating the tampon by a fluid, the time until the fluid
discharges at the distal end is increased by at least 3% vis-a-vis
a similar tampon not having a covering. In this instance, EDANA
Standard Test WSP 350.1.R3 (12) is here preferably used as a
measuring method.
[0015] Within the present context, a nonwoven material, also
referred to as a nonwoven, is understood as a planar textile
material, which is produced by applying at least one adhesive onto
a fiber mixture or onto a fiber nonwoven made from synthetic and/or
natural fibers and by subsequent drying. It is however
characterizing for a nonwoven material that the adhesive binds the
fibers in the nonwoven material. The nonwoven material is
impervious to fibers of the material, from which the absorbent body
of the tampon is produced, and it may furthermore be configured in
a fluid pervious manner but also in a watertight manner. For
example, the nonwoven material may also have the shape of a net or
a perforated foil. It shall also be noted at this point that the
term nonwoven material is used as a synonym for the term
nonwoven.
[0016] It is advantageous if the absorbent (fibrous) material is
formed by one or a plurality of materials, for example, rayon,
cotton, cellulose wadding, tissue laminates, sphagnum, bamboo or
chemically enhanced, modified or cross-linked cellulose fibers.
This fibrous material has a high hygroscopicity and enables the
adhesion of large quantities of fluids to the outside of the fibers
and is biologically neutral. It is however also possible to use
absorbent (fibrous) materials, which are formed from one or a
plurality of the subsequent, synthetic materials, for example,
polyester fibers, polyolefin fibers, foamed materials, absorbent
sponges, absorbent polymers, capillary channel fibers, synthetic
fibers, predominately open-celled flexible polyurethane foam or
fibers, or threads made from rayon or formed from a structure type
of crystalline modification of cellulose II.
[0017] The length of the tampon, for example, may be between 40 mm
to 70 mm and have a diameter greater than 11 mm. However, the
tampon may also be configured, in particular for the days between
the menstrual periods, to have a volume of the absorbent material
for the intake of a fluid quantity between 0.5 g and 4 g,
preferably 3.5 g, and the absorbent body may have a length of less
than 40 mm, preferably have a length between 40 and 10mm or between
38 and 30 mm.
[0018] It is also advantageous if at least the middle part of the
absorbent body or an enveloping body enveloping the middle part is
cylindrically configured, as a result of which a uniform abutment
of the mucous membranes of the vagina may be achieved.
[0019] However, it may also be advantageous if at least the middle
part of the absorbent body or an enveloping body enveloping the
middle part is configured cylindrically or frustoconically because,
in so doing, the insertion of the everyday tampon or tampons may be
facilitated.
[0020] According to another further refinement, it is provided that
the cone or the frustum continuously extends from the proximal end
to the distal end, and, as a result of which the extraction of the
everyday tampon or tampon may be facilitated.
[0021] Furthermore, it is however also possible that a core region
made from fibrous material is situated at least within the middle
part of the absorbent body, which is configured to absorb a smaller
fluid quantity for the same volume than the material of the
absorbent body. In so doing, the absorption effect or the extent of
the fluid intake may, despite the desired greater diameter of the
tampon necessary regarding different anatomical features, be more
easily adapted, in particular in the absorbent body, to the needed
dimensions.
[0022] Furthermore, it is however also possible that a core region
made from fibrous material is situated at least within the middle
part of the absorbent body, which is configured to absorb a smaller
fluid quantity for the same volume than the material of the
absorbent body, or which is water-repellent. For this reason, the
quantity of fluid to subsequently be absorbed may be specified by
the design and the volume of the absorbent body.
[0023] The tampon, which may be manufactured in different colors,
may have markings at its surface. Also, the tampon may be
manufactured using a chemical indicator, which changes color for
specific illnesses, for example, anemia, diabetes, hepatitis A, B
or C and HIV.
[0024] An additional improvement may be achieved in that the tampon
and/or the absorbent body has a length of less than 40 mm,
preferably a length between 40 and 10 mm or between 38 and 30 mm,
as a result of which the expansion and the pressure of the tampon
against the uterus is also reduced and, for this reason, a sealing
and damming of the outlet orifice of the uterus, which can be
significantly discomforting, is prevented.
[0025] Furthermore, an embodiment is also possible, in which the
absorbent body over its total volume is formed from an absorbent
material, as a result of which the measurements of the diameter and
the quantity of the absorbable fluid may be optimized.
[0026] According to a further, advantageous further refinement, it
is provided that the absorbent material is formed from a fibrous
material, as a result of which the droplets of the fluid may adhere
to the individual fibers and a high absorbability of the absorbent
body of an everyday tampon or a tampon is achieved.
[0027] Advantageous is however also if the absorbent material is
formed from a compressed, fibrous material, because the handling of
the tampon, in particular inserting and removing the tampon, is
thereby facilitated.
[0028] A further advantageous further refinement provides that the
absorbent body is provided with recesses or grooves extending in
the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body, and/or that the
recesses or grooves extend in the direction of the longitudinal
center axis of the absorbent body in a wave-shaped manner,
preferably extending at a consistent height of the amplitude, as a
result of which the surface of the tampon is enlarged. For example,
an increased absorption of bodily fluid is thereby possible,
because the body may discharge different quantities of bodily fluid
between successive menstrual periods. Also, these grooves are
advantageous for the use of insertion aids for the everyday tampon
or tampon.
[0029] An even greater surface for the absorption of fluids may be
achieved in that the grooves or recesses extend in a spiral-shaped
or helical manner.
[0030] A further advantage is achieved in that a plurality of
grooves or recesses are disposed in the circumferential direction
distributed over the absorbent body. In so doing, the surface of
the tampon is also enlarged, which results in an increased
absorption of bodily fluid, because the body may discharge
different quantities of bodily fluid between successive menstrual
periods. Women who have an increased discharge are provided with an
increased hygiene than is provided by a pantyliner. Also, these
grooves are advantageous for the use of insertion aids for an
everyday tampon or tampon. The grooves may be produced by pressing
the roll in a tampon press.
[0031] According to one advantageous embodiment of the present
invention, it may be provided that the distal end of the roll, from
which the extraction means projects, is covered by the protruding
section of the nonwoven material when the extraction means is
elongated. This embodiment ensures that the extraction means is
positioned outside of the sleeve made from nonwoven material and
that it does not impede the production of the sleeve while covering
the distal end by the protruding section.
[0032] An advantageous further refinement of the present invention
is provided in that a circumferential edge region of the protruding
section of the strip made from nonwoven material is bent in the
direction towards the extraction means for generating the closed
sleeve, and sections of the protruding section touching one another
are connected to one another.
[0033] According to a further variation of the present invention,
it may also be provided that the protruding section of the strip
made from nonwoven material is, for generating the closed sleeve,
connected to a section of the strip made from nonwoven material,
which covers the surface shell.
[0034] According to a preferred embodiment, the protruding section
of the strip made from nonwoven material is connected to the sleeve
by welding. Alternatively to welding, other connection methods, for
example, adhesive bonding, sewing, etc., may also be used.
[0035] Advantageously, the strip made from absorbent material may
have a length, the size of which stemming from a value range in
which the lower limit is 150 mm and the upper limit is 400 mm, the
strip made from nonwoven material having a length, the size of
which stemming from a value range in which the lower limit is 50 mm
and the upper limit is 250 mm, and the strip made from nonwoven
material in step i) is positioned in such a way that it protrudes
over the longitudinal edge of the strip made from absorbent
material by a length which is substantially equal to a radius or
diameter of the roll produced in step iv).
[0036] Moreover, it may be provided that the width of the strip
made from nonwoven material is greater than the width of the strip
made from absorbent material, the strip made from nonwoven material
in step i) being positioned on the strip made from absorbent
material in such a manner that the strip made from nonwoven
material covers at least three quarters of the width of the strip
made from absorbent material. In this embodiment of the present
invention, the nonwoven material extends over a large portion of
the surface shell of the roll. In this manner, it can be ensured
that a friction between the mucous membranes of the vagina and the
outer surface of the tampon is reduced and a loss of fibers at
least in the middle part of the tampon may also be efficiently
prevented. Of course, the strip made from nonwoven material may
also extend over the total width of the strip made from absorbent
material, so that the tampon is completely enclosed by the nonwoven
material.
[0037] According to an advantageous variation of the present
invention, it may be provided that the distal end of the tampon may
be coated by a watertight or hydrophobic coating.
[0038] A further advantageous embodiment of the present invention
is provided in that the distal end of the tampon is provided with a
covering made from a watertight or hydrophobic material.
[0039] According to the present invention, the aforementioned
object may however also be achieved by a tampon of the type
mentioned at the outset in that the tampon has a covering in the
form of a closed sleeve, made from nonwoven material having a
weight per unit area of at least 6 g/m.sup.2, in particular between
12 and 30 g/m.sup.2, or made from a fluid pervious foil, which,
strip or foil, with the exception of a pass-through opening for the
extraction means, completely covers at least the distal end, which
prevents the escaping of fibers at the distal end, and the covering
additionally forming a protection against fluid leakage.
[0040] The distal end of the tampon may be protected against
undesired fluid entry in that the distal end of the tampon has a
watertight or hydrophobic coating.
[0041] Moreover, the distal end of the tampon may have a covering
made from a watertight or hydrophobic material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] Other objects and features of the invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description considered in
connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood,
however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and
not as a definition of the limits of the invention.
[0043] In the drawings, in respectively greatly simplified
illustrations,
[0044] FIG. 1 shows a conventional, rolled tampon telescoping when
pulling at the extraction means;
[0045] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a tampon according to the
present invention;
[0046] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an assembly of an
absorbent material and a nonwoven material according to the
manufacturing steps for the manufacture of the tampon from FIG.
2;
[0047] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the assembly from FIG. 3;
[0048] FIG. 5 shows the assembly from FIG. 3 in a rolled state;
[0049] FIG. 6 shows the assembly from FIG. 5 having a distal end
closed by the nonwoven material;
[0050] FIGS. 7 through 10 show embodiments of a tampon according to
the present invention having the distal end coated or covered by a
watertight or hydrophobic material.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0051] First, it is to be noted that in the differently described
embodiments, same parts are provided by the same reference
characters or the same component designation, and the disclosures
included in the total description may analogously be applied to the
same parts having the same reference characters or the same
component denotations. The positional information selected in the
description, such as top, bottom, lateral, etc. are in reference to
the directly described and illustrated figure and this positional
information is to be appropriately transferred to the new position
when the position is changed.
[0052] The exemplary embodiments show possible variant embodiments
of the tampon according to the present invention, at this point it
being noted that the present invention is not limited to the
specifically illustrated variant embodiments of the present
invention, but that rather a diverse combination of the individual
variant embodiments among one another is also possible and that
these possible variations, owing to the technical teachings by the
present invention, are part of the technical skill set of those
skilled in the arts in this field.
[0053] Furthermore, individual features or combinations of features
from the shown and described different exemplary embodiments may
also illustrate independent, inventive solutions or solutions
according to the present invention.
[0054] The object underlying the individual inventive solutions may
be concluded from the description.
[0055] All information regarding value ranges in the present
description are to be understood in such a way that these value
ranges include any and all subranges, for example, the
specification 1 through 10 is to be understood in such a way that
all subranges, starting from the lower limit 1 to the upper limit
10 are included, that is, all subranges starting at a lower limit 1
or greater and ending at an upper limit 10 or less, for example, 1
through 1.7, or 3.2 through 8.1, or 5.5 through 10.
[0056] According to FIG. 2, a tampon 1 according to the present
invention includes an absorbent body made from an absorbent
material 6, for example absorbent cotton. Tampon 1 has a proximal
end 2 and a distal end 3 and a middle part extending between
proximal end 2 and distal end 3. It is advantageous if tampon 1 at
proximal end 2 is configured in a rounded or beveled manner.
[0057] An extraction means 5 connected to the absorbent body is
situated at distal end 3. A covering made from a strip 4 of a
nonwoven material completely covering, with the exception of a
pass-through opening for extraction means 5, denoted by reference
character 13 in FIG. 6, distal end 3 is disposed at its distal end
3. Preferably, pass-through opening 13 has a diameter which is
substantially equal to a diameter of extraction means 5. The
covering prevents a telescoping of the tampon and that fibers
escape at distal end 3. In this way, FIG. 1 in an exemplary manner
illustrates how a conventional tampon may be drawn apart
(telescoped) when pulling at extraction means 5. In this instance,
a winding of a strip 6 made from an absorbent material, which is
connected to extraction means 5, is drawn apart in the longitudinal
direction, as a result of which conventional tampons may
unravel.
[0058] The middle part of tampon 1 may be cylindrically configured.
It is however also possible that at least the middle part is
frustoconically configured. The cylinder or cone or frustum may
however also extend continuously from the proximal end to the
distal end. For all mentioned spatial shapes of tampon 1, any
cross-sectional changes over the length of tampon 1 are possible,
for example, a wave-shaped contour or recesses extending at least
over a portion of the circumference and/or in the longitudinal
direction.
[0059] A further advantageous embodiment provides that at least the
middle part of tampon 1 is provided with recesses or grooves
extending in the longitudinal direction of the middle part, and/or
that the recesses or grooves extend in the direction of the
longitudinal center axis of tampon 1 in a wave-shaped manner,
preferably extending at a consistent height of the amplitude, as a
result of which the surface of tampon 1 is enlarged, making an
increased absorption of bodily fluid possible. An even greater
surface for the absorption of fluid may be achieved in that the
grooves or recesses extend in a spiral-shaped or helical
manner.
[0060] In a method according to the present invention for the
manufacture of tampon 1 shown in FIG. 2, according to FIGS. 3 and
4, strip 4 made from nonwoven material is positioned on a strip 6
made from an absorbent material, a part 8 of strip 4 protruding
over a narrow side 7 of strip 6 made from absorbent material.
Furthermore, strip 4 is positioned on strip 6 in such a way that it
also protrudes over a longitudinal edge 10 of strip 6. A section 11
of strip 4 protruding over longitudinal edge 10 of strip 6, in this
instance, is selected to be of such size that, after rolling up
strips 4 and 6 into a roll 9, an end face 12 of this roll 9 may be
completely covered by protruding section 11, as it is shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6. In this instance, the used nonwoven material has a
weight per unit area of at least 6 g/m.sup.2, in particular however
between 12 and 30 g/m.sup.2. Instead of the nonwoven material, a
fluid pervious foil made from plastic material may be used. The
foil may be rendered fluid pervious, for example, by inserting
perforations.
[0061] The absorbent construction of strip 6 may be produced in a
plurality of sizes and shapes and from a plurality of
fluid-absorbent materials.
[0062] Of course, it is desirable that absorbent materials are
used, which include a minimum content of soluble foreign materials
because the product remains in the body for a certain amount of
time. Retained soluble foreign materials could pose a safety risk
if toxic, irritant or cause sensitivity.
[0063] A list of useable materials includes materials including
cellulose, for example, rayon, cotton, cellulose, cellulose
wadding, tissue laminates, sphagnum, bamboo and chemically
reinforced, modified or cross-linked cellulose fibers; synthetic
materials, for example, polyester fibers, polyolefin fibers,
absorbent foams, for example an elastically resilient polyurethane
foam, absorbent sponges, extremely absorbent polymers, absorbent
gel-forming materials, processed fibers, such as capillary channel
fibers and fibers having several members, for example; and
synthetic fibers or an equivalent material or combinations of
materials or mixtures thereof.
[0064] If using such synthetic foams, it is also possible, for
example by setting a specific temperature for the manufacture of
the absorbent body, to partially close the outer skin, that is, to
achieve a closed skin in the external region owing to a partial
temperature effect. In so doing, an escaping of fluid absorbed in
the foam structure is additionally made more difficult or is
prevented. Such a configuration may be advantageous, in particular
in the proximal end region 4 of tampon 1.
[0065] Within the scope of the present invention, the manufacture
of tampon 1 may be carried out by a broad range of materials which
maintain, under the conditions prevailing in the region of the
vagina and the uterus, that is, at body temperatures a pH value of
approximately 4, their condition over a longer period of time, and
which do not give off toxic substances or solutions damaging to the
mucous membranes or the like. Advantageously, materials such as
flexible polyurethane foams having a very low volumetric weight and
a predominantly open-celled structure may be used for strip 6.
Using a more absorbent material further reduces the risk of leaking
fluid. Another advantage of such foamed structures is that the open
cells in the delivered state or before being introduced into the
vagina can be filled with medicaments or lubricants which can be
discharged to the mucous membranes of the vagina and uterus when
inserted.
[0066] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the materials used for
the nonwoven material are bio-degradable and, for example, are made
from PLA or other bio-degradable plastic materials or plastic
compounds and/or from filaments or fibers made from or recycled
from plastic materials, such as R-PP, R-PET or the like, and
optionally are formed from these materials in different mixtures or
as multi-layered parts.
[0067] Preferably, strip 6 has a length l, the size of which
stemming from a value range, which has a lower limit of 150 mm and
an upper limit of 400 mm. Strip 4 has a length c, the size of which
stemming from a value range, which has a lower limit of 50 mm and
an upper limit of 250 mm. Preferably, strip 4 is positioned in such
a way that it protrudes over longitudinal edge 10 of strip 6 at
least by a width b, which substantially equates to the radius of
roll 9.
[0068] According to a preferred embodiment, strip 6 has a length l
of 255 mm, part 8 having a length a of 30 mm and strip 4 having a
total length c of 127 mm. In this instance, section 11 has a width
b of 30 mm.
[0069] Moreover, a total width of strip 4 may be greater than a
total width of strip 6. Particularly preferably, strip 4 is
positioned on strip 6 in such a manner that strip 4 extends over at
least three quarters of the width of strip 6, as it is shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0070] After positioning strip 4 on strip 6, strip 4 is connected
to strip 6. The connection of strips 4 and 6 may be carried out,
for example, by welding, adhesive bonding, sewing or any other form
suitable for connecting.
[0071] In a further step, an extraction means 5, for example a
filament or a string, is attached to strip 6 made from absorbent
material. Preferably, strip 6 is looped by extraction means 5, as
it is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Then, strips 4 and 6 are wound onto
roll 9. In this instance, the direction of winding is selected in
such a manner that strip 4 covers a section of a surface shell of
roll 9, such as it is, for example, shown in FIG. 5.
[0072] Protruding part 8 of strip 4 is, by a section 15 of strip 4
connected to a strip 6, connected into a closed ring, for example,
by welding and/or adhesive bonding and/or sewing.
[0073] A distal end of roll 9, from which extraction means 5
projects, is, with the exception of pass-through opening 13 for
extraction means 5, completely covered by protruding section 11 of
strip 4. Subsequently, protruding section 11 of strip 4 is
connected to form a closed sleeve completely covering the distal
end, except for pass-through opening 13.
[0074] Particularly preferably, covering the distal end of roll 9
by protruding section 11 of strip 4 occurs while the extraction
means 5 is elongated. Covering the distal end of roll 9 may be
carried out by bending or folding a circumferential edge region 14
of protruding section 11 in the direction towards the elongated
extraction means 5, and pass-through opening 13 is left
unobstructed or the extraction means, before being folded on the
end face of the roll, is passed through protruding section 11.
This, for example, may be carried out with the aid of a needle, to
which the extraction means is fastened. Sections of protruding
section 11 touching one another then may be connected to one
another, for example by welding, sewing or adhesive bonding so that
a closed covering results. In this embodiment, it is advantageous
if section 11 is at least approximately equal to a radius of roll
9.
[0075] Alternatively or additionally to the variation mentioned in
the last paragraph, section 11 of strip 4 for generating the closed
sleeve could also be connected to section 15 made from nonwoven
material, which is situated at the surface shell of the roll. If
width b of section 11 is slightly greater than the diameter of roll
9, an area of section 11 may be folded over entire distal end face
12 of roll 9 and be connected to section 15. In so doing, it has
been proven to be advantageous if the part of section 11 folded
over the end face of roll 9 has an opening, for example in the form
of a slot, for passing through extraction means 5.
[0076] Roll 9 shown in FIG. 6, which has the covering of the distal
end in the form of a closed sleeve made from a nonwoven or from
nonwoven material 4 represents a preform, which subsequently is, in
the manufacturing steps known per se, for example pressing and
compacting in a press, further processed into tampon 1, as shown in
FIG. 2. Alternatively or additionally to covering the distal end by
a nonwoven material, the distal end may also be covered by a fluid
pervious foil made from plastic material. Covering the distal end
implements a leakage protection.
[0077] In this way, a tampon according to the present invention has
a significantly greater pass-through time for a fluid than a
conventional tampon has. In Table 1, results for the tampon,
determined according to the EDANA Standard Test WSP 350.1.R3 (12),
are compared to one another having or not having a covering at the
distal end. The same test requirements were selected for all
tampons to produce comparable findings. In this test, the time
until the first drop of the test fluid, the so-called Syngina
fluid, reaches the ground, was measured.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Nonwoven 14 g/m.sup.2 Nonwoven 12 g/m.sup.2
With covering Means: 14 min. 59 sec. Means: 15 min. 48 sec. Without
covering Means: 13 min. 46 sec. Means: 15 min. 02 sec. Improvement
of the 8.84% 5.1% leakage protection as a percentage
[0078] According to FIG. 7, tampon 1 at its distal end may be
provided with a watertight or hydrophobic coating 16. Coating 16
may be implemented by dampening or soaking the distal end of tampon
1 using an impregnation liquid, for example, a lacquer, wax, resin,
etc.
[0079] As shown in FIG. 7, coating 16 may completely cover the
distal end, or, as shown in FIG. 8, partially cover the distal end.
In FIG. 8, the coating is denoted by reference character 17. The
coating of tampon 1 by watertight or hydrophobic coating 16, 17 may
be carried out independently from the other manufacturing steps of
tampon 1 and individually constitute the subject of an
invention.
[0080] According to FIG. 9, the distal end may also be formed using
a covering 18 made from a water impervious or hydrophobic material.
As shown in FIG. 9, covering 18 may be manufactured as a sleeve,
which also includes the side areas of tampon 1; however, the
greater part of the side areas of the tampon are not covered.
[0081] According to FIG. 10, covering 19 made from water impervious
or hydrophobic material may also only cover the distal end without
including the side areas of tampon 1. In this case, covering 19 is
implemented as a disk.
[0082] It is advantageous if the materials used for coverings 18,
19 are bio-degradable and, for example, are formed from PLA or
other bio-degradable plastic materials or plastic compounds and/or
from filaments or fibers made from or recycled from plastic
materials, such as R-PP, R-PET or the like, and optionally are
formed from these materials in different mixtures or as
multi-layered parts.
[0083] Providing tampon 1 with watertight or hydrophobic coverings
18 and 19 also may be carried out independently from the other
manufacturing steps of tampon 1 and individually constitute the
subject of an invention.
[0084] Coverings 18, 19 may be directly applied to strip 4 (for
example by welding, adhesive bonding or sewing). Strip 4 may be
applied before or after step i).
[0085] For the record, in conclusion it is to be noted that, for a
better understanding of the composition of the tampon, the tampon
or its components are in part illustrated in a manner not to scale
and/or in an enlarged and/or reduced manner.
[0086] Although only a few embodiments of the present invention
have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many
changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0087] 1 tampon [0088] 2 proximal end [0089] 3 distal end [0090] 4
strip made from nonwoven material [0091] 5 extraction means [0092]
6 strip made from absorbent material [0093] 7 narrow side [0094] 8
part of the strip made from nonwoven material [0095] 9 roll [0096]
10 longitudinal edge [0097] 11 protruding section [0098] 12 end
face of the roll [0099] 13 pass-through opening [0100] 14 edge
region [0101] 15 section of the strip made from nonwoven material
[0102] 16 coating [0103] 17 coating [0104] 18 covering [0105] 19
covering [0106] a length [0107] b width [0108] c total length
[0109] l length
* * * * *