Tampons

Details Tampons Tampons

1990-06-15

1994-12-20

Green, Randall L.

Surgery

Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material

Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...

604904, 604363, A61F 1315

Patent

active

053742583

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to tampons for hygienic use and to processes for their preparation.
Conventional tampons for hygienic use normally comprise an absorbent core containing hydrophilic material such as hydrophilic foam or fibres which has been formed into general cylindrical shape by for example compressing or moulding. Conventional tampons, however, have been found to be relatively uncomfortable to insert into the vagina due to the "dry feel" and abrasiveness of the absorbent fibre or foam surface of the absorbent core of these tampons. Furthermore conventional tampons which comprise an absorbent core containing hydrophobic cellulose fibres such as wood pulp fibres tend to shed these fibres when the absorbent core becomes moist in use, and in particular during insertion or removal of the tampon from the vagina. It is known from the disclosure of European Patent No. 149155 and United Kingdom Patent NOs. 1218641 and 2010680 that the absorbent core of tampons of this type can be provided with a liquid pervious non-woven fabric cover layer to inhibit in use shedding of fibres from the absorbent core. It is further disclosed in the aforementioned European Patent No. 149155 that such a non-woven fabric cover layer can also render the tampon more comfortable to insert into the vagina because the smoother nature of the non-woven fabric reduces the surface drag or resistance of the tampon during insertion. It has now been found that similar advantages can be obtained using an alternative cover layer material over the absorbent core of a tampon.
Accordingly the present invention provides a tampon for hygienic use which comprises an absorbent core of general cylindrical shape having a liquid pervious cover layer wherein the cover layer is a plastics material which comprises parallel ribs in one direction interconnected by a plurality of fibrillated strands in the transverse direction and wherein the ribs of the cover layer lie in a direction parallel to the main axis of the tampon.
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a tampon, in accordance with the present invention.
Suitable plastics materials for use in the invention include those plastics materials disclosed in United Kingdom Patent No. 1548865 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by cross reference. These plastics materials have thicker relatively smooth ribs interconnected by thinner fibrillated strands which provide the plastics materials with a smooth or soft feel in the direction of the ribs. A cover layer of such plastics material will therefore advantageously provide the absorbent core of a tampon of the invention with a smooth feel in the longitudinal direction thereof thereby rendering the tampon more comfortable to insert or withdraw from the vagina.
The plastics material has holes defined by the interconnected ribs and strands of the material. The size of the holes will therefore depend on density of ribs and strands in the material.
The plastics material can suitably have 4 to 20 ribs/cm and can preferably have 5 to 15 ribs/cm. Similarly the plastics material can suitably have 8 to 50 fibrillated strands/cm and can preferably have 10 to 40 fibrillated strands/cm.
It has been found that densities of ribs and fibrillated strands within the hereinabove ranges can provide a plastics material with holes which are sufficiently small to inhibit penetration of the material by moist fibres. Such a plastics material when used as a cover layer over the absorbent core of a tampon of the invention will therefore advantageously inhibit shedding of fibres from the absorbent core during use.
Suitably the plastics materials for use in the invention can have a weight per unit area of 2 to 30 g/m.sup.2, desirably a weight per unit area of 2 to 20 g/m.sup.2 and can preferably have a weight per unit area of 4 to 12 g/m.sup.2.
Suitably plastics materials for use in the invention can have thickness of 0.03 mm to 0.15 mm and preferably have a thickness of 0.04 mm to 0.10 mm.
The plastics materials used in the invention will normally comprise a polymer which i

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