CA1163752A - Tampon in particular for female hygiene - Google Patents
Tampon in particular for female hygieneInfo
- Publication number
- CA1163752A CA1163752A CA000354862A CA354862A CA1163752A CA 1163752 A CA1163752 A CA 1163752A CA 000354862 A CA000354862 A CA 000354862A CA 354862 A CA354862 A CA 354862A CA 1163752 A CA1163752 A CA 1163752A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tampon
- withdrawal
- strip
- nonwoven
- roll
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- 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
- A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
- A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
- A61F13/20—Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor
- A61F13/2051—Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor characterised by the material or the structure of the inner absorbing core
- A61F13/206—Tampons made of rolled-up material
Abstract
Abstract Tampon, In Particular For Female Hygiene An improvement is provided in a tampon of the kind suitable for feminine hygiene which has a withdrawal end and an insertion end and comprises a generally rectangular strip of nonwoven rolled longitudinally and then compressed into a final tampon shape. The improvement comprises having the nonwoven strip rolled into a single roll and arranging the withdrawal cord so as to extend from the withdrawal end of the tampon in at least two free ends separated from one another by a plurality of plies of said nonwoven strip.
Description
tt`6`~5~
TAMPON, IN PARTICULAR FOR FEMALE HYGIENE
The Background of the Invention The invention relates to a tampon, in particular for female hygiene, for which a strip of nonwoven, provided -with a withdrawal cord, is wound up into a single roll andis then compressed, essentially radially, to give the final shape of the tampon. As a rule, the strip of nonwoven consists of natural fibers or a fiber mixture of natural and synthetic fibers in a random position relative to one another, the individual ibers extending essentially in the longitudinal direction of the strip of nonwoven.
A tampon of this type is known and described, for example, in U.S. Patent Specification 3,359,981 or in German Patent Specifications 1,491,162 and 1,938,941, the last-mentioned printed publications also illustrating a device, by means of which the final shape of the tampon can be produced. The tampons described in the above reference incorporate a withdrawal cord for removing the tampon after use. Devices for looping and tying such withdrawal cords are known (compare German Patent Specification 1,234,924 and German Patent Specification 1,491,160). A machine in which a roll is essentially radially compressed in two stages is known from German Patent Specification 944,419.
It is characteristic of such tampons that initially, the insertion end of the tampon first absorbs the menstrual fluid and thus expands to a considerably greater degree than the remainder of the tampon. Since the withdrawal cord in tampons of the kind being considered herein is looped around the strip cf nonwoven which is then wound into a roll and compressed into the final tampon shape, the greatest force exerted upon the tampon by the withdrawal cord when removing the tampon is on this same expanded insertion end, i.e., the weakest part of the tampon. The situation is aggravated in prior art tampons in that the withdrawal cord is looped about the strip of nonwoven in such a manner that the forces exerted upon removal are not only greatest at the insertion end but are concentrated at the insertion end in the small central area adjacent to the longitudinal axis of the tampon.
When withdrawing the tampon, frictional forces resisting withdrawal are exerted on the outer plies of the tampon by the body walls and, in particular, by the sphincter.
These oppositely directed forces (imposed, on the one hand, on the central portion of the insertion end by the withdrawal cord and, on the other hand, on the outer plies of the tampon by friction) can result in having the plies of the strip of nonwoven, lo~ated in the area of the central longitudinal axis of the tampon, pulled out of the tampon to a greater extent than the plies which are closer to the exterior of the tampon. This undesirable result, termed telescoping or spiralizing, can proceed to such an extent that the rim of the outer nonwoven ply at the insertion end of the tampon can become detached from the tampon. Such fraying is undesirable for hygiene and medical reasons.
To overcome this problem, a tampon has been proposed in the past (compare ~erman Utility Model 1,754,096), in the manufacture of which a withdrawal cord is first inserted into the center of a roll wound in the longitudinal direction of the strip of nonwoven and this roll is then folded approximately about its center in such a way that the two ends of the withdrawal cord point in the same direction. Alternatively, the withdrawal cord can also be attached after rolling and folding by piercing the two ends of the folded roll and threading the withdrawal cord therethrough. Unfortunately, in these cases, the folded area of the roll which faces the body `; ` - ` ~ l 1 1 ~375Z
opening has, as compared with the end faces of the roll, only a slight absorption capacity for the fluid.
Accordingly, the functional properties of the tampon are disadvantageously affected.
In another tampon (compare German Patent Specifica-tion 2,240,753), the strip of nonwoven is wound up from both its ends to form a double roll, one end of the withdrawal cord being taken through each of the rolls.
The manufacture of this tampon is relatively expensive.
According to a further proposal for overcoming the spiralizing problem, a tampon is surrounded by a cover in the form of hose or net (compare, for example, German ~tility Model 1,602,531), wherein the end of the hose or net on the withdrawal side is divided to form a withdrawal loop. It is also possible to fix a withdrawal cord to the net at the withdrawal end of the tampon.
A11 these proposals have the common feature that, as compared with the tampon of the type initially stated, they must be manufactured in a very complicated manner from the point of view of production technology and, in particular, the very sensitive strip of nonwoven is subjected to several working steps.
There is a need therefore to provide a tampon, in particular for female hygiene, having a special arrangement of the withdrawal cord, by means of which spiralizing is largely avoided and economical mass production of the tampon is possible.
Summary of the Invention According to this invention, this object is achieved with a tampon of the type initially stated, consisting of - only one roll and having the free ends of at least one withdrawal cord separated from one another by several plies of nonwoven. The starting point for the invention is the basic concept of causing the withdrawal cord to act rather more on the outer plies of the roll while the central section which connects the two ends being arranged in such a way that essentially no radial forces but rather approximately axial forces act on the single roll.
According to a further broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a tampon suitable for female hygiene and having a withdrawal end and an insertion end. The tampon comprises a generally rectangular strip consisting of non-woven fibers. The strip has corresponding longitudinal withdrawal and insertion sides and is provided with a withdrawal cord. The strip is rolled longitudinally so that the longitudinal sides each describe a curve of a single spiral, and then compressed into a final tampon shape. The improvement resides wherein the withdrawal cord extends from the withdrawal end in at least two free ends separated from one another by a plurality of curve segments of the spiral.
According to a first embodiment, the central longitudinal section of a single withdrawal cord loops around a central longitudinal section of the strip of non-woven. With such a loop, the manufacture of the tampon can take place substantially continuously, at least while attaching the withdrawal cord, so that a marked saving of time results as compared with a stepwise manufacturing methodO When pulling the ends of the withdrawal cord, there are substantially no tension forces being exerted on the insertion end of the tampon between the two ends of the withdrawal cord. Even if the withdrawal cord is looped around the strip of non-woven in two or three turns, the strip of non-woven can be passed continuously through the device which effects the looping. Looping of the withdrawal cord in the manner of a single or double clove hitch also has this effect, in particular when the central longitudinal section of the withdrawal cord, which connects the two ends, is located on the side of the withdrawal end of the tampon, so that no tension forces at all can be exerted on one of the interposed plies.
According to a second embodiment, at least one end of a single withdrawal cord is inserted in a groove, formed on compressing, on the outer circumference of the roll and is taken back essentially parallel to the other end in such a way that both ends are on the side of the withdrawal end of the tampon.
In this embodiment, all the plies of the roll are thus surrounded since one end extends essentially through the center of the roll, while the second passes along outside the roll. Such a single-ply arrangement of the withdrawal cord makes extremely simple manufacture possible. For example, the rolls can be produced in a row at a mutual spacing on a ~: .
, ~, `1~6~'?S2 continuous belt, after which they are merely severed between the individual rolls. After severing, compressing takes place in two stages, as for example according to German Patent Specification 944,419, and after the first stage one end is inserted into the groove thus formed and taken back in parallel to the other end. This procedure is essentially also applied to rolls produced on a rotary table, since these are also severed between the individual rolls.
In tampons of the type initially stated, which are produced by means of a device according to German Patent Specification No. 1,491,162 and/or German Patent Specifi-cation No. 1,938,941, a symmetrical arrangement of the ends of the withdrawal cord in grooves is possible. In a tampon of this type, the ends are inserted, after the first stage and before the second stage of compressing, in an oriented position into the grooves which are thus formed in the pressed blank. The two ends of the with-drawal cord surround all the plies except a single one in the center of the insertion of the tampon end whilst the two ends are separated from one another, at the withdrawal end of the tampon, by the maximum number of plies of the strip of nonwoven. The manufacture of a tampon of this type is relatively simple since, in a device which manufactures tampons with single rolls of conventional structure, it is merely necessary to insert the ends, between the two stages of compressing, into the grooves thus formed.
According to a third embodiment of the invention, two withdrawal cords are attached, at a distance from one another, to the strip of nonwoven in the longitudinal direction of the latter in such a way that their ends project from the roll on the side of the withdrawal end of the tampon. The distance of the two withdrawal cords from one another can here be selected in such a way that, after the roll has been wound up, they will lie in an optimum position in a rim zone. Each withdrawal cord can here have a knot made in the conventional manner. However, each withdrawal cord can also be fixed to the strip of nonwoven in another manner, for example by sewing on, gluing on or the like.
All the embodiments of the tampon according to the invention are distinguished in that its manufacture requires only minor modifications or additions to the device used for manufacturing the known tampon with a single roll.
Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is explained in more detail by reference to the illustrative embodiments represented in the drawing in which Figure 1 shows a tampon roll according to a first embodiment of the invention, Figures 2 to 4 show three illustrative embodiments of looping the withdrawal cord around a strip of nonwoven, to produce the roll in Figure 1, Figure 5 shows a tampon roll after a first radial compression together with a second embodiment of the arrangement of a withdrawal cord, Figures 6 and 7 show further illustrative embodiments of the arrangement of the withdrawal cord in Figure 5, and Figures 8 and 9 show illustrative embodiments of a third embodiment of the arrangement of a withdrawal cord on a strip of nonwoven.
The starting point for the invention is the discovery that spiralizing of tampons consisting of a single roll can be prevented by providing in the roll, between the ends of a withdrawal cord, as many plies of the strip of nonwoven as possible.
Figure 1 shows a tampon roll or tampon blank 2 of this type, which is formed by winding up a strip 3 of nonwoven from one end, preferably approximately from its ` ` ` 1 t637~2 center, to give a single roll, consisting of natural fibers or of a fiber mixture of natural and synthetic fibers which are arranged in a random position relative to one another, the fibers being mainly oriented in the longitudinal direction of the strip 3 of nonwoven. A
tampon roll 2 of this type is compressed essentially radially to give its approximately cylindrical final shape by means of a press, such as is described in German Patent Specification 944,419. The tampon roll 2 contains a withdrawal cord 4, and the tampon can be withdrawn from the body cavity after use by means of the ends 5, 6 of the withdrawal cord. The two ends 5, 6, protruding from the roll 2, of the withdrawal cord 4 are separated from one another at a considerable diametrical distance by several plies of nonwoven. One end 5 passes through the roll 2 and loops around one ply of the strip 3 of nonwoven on the insertion end at the point 7. In a similar manner, the other end 6 passes through the roll 2 and likewise loops around a ply o~ the strip 3 of nonwoven on the insertion end at the point 8. In this tampon, at least one ply of the strip of nonwoven overlies the ends 5, 6 passing through the roll 2.
Such an arrangement of the withdrawal cord 4 in the roll 2 according to Figure 1 can be obtained according to Figures 2 to 4 when the central longitudinal section of the withdrawal cord 4, that is to say the longitudinal section of the withdrawal cord 4 between the two free ends 5, 6 protruding outwards from the roll 2, loops around a longitudinal section of the strip 3 of nonwoven in various ways. For the purpose herein the phrase "the withdrawal side of the strip~ is meant to describe that portion of strip 3 which ultimately forms the withdrawal end of the finished tampon. Likewise, the phrase "the insertion side of the strip" means that side of the strip which ultimately forms the insertion end of the finished tampon.
` - `` 1 t 63752 Figure 2 shows a loop with two turns, the central longitudinal section of the withdrawal cord 4 being laid around the withdrawal side of strip 3 at a point 9 which is approximately in the middle between the two free ends 5, 6. Figure 3 shows a loop with three turns, the central longitudinal section of the withdrawal cord 4 being laid.
around the withdrawal side of strip 3 close to the ends 5, 6 of the cord at points 10, 12, while this central longitudinal section is folded once more on the insertion side of strip 3, at a point 11. Compared with the illustrative embodiment according to Figure 2, this illustrative embodiment leads to more extensive enveloping of the strip 3 of nonwoven by the withdrawal cord 4. By suitably adjusting the pitch of the turns formed on loop-ing, the distance of the two exit points of the withdrawalcord ends 5, 6 from the roll 2 can be set in such a way that these will lie in the area of the outer periphery of the roll 2 of the tampon. This can be achieved, ~or example, by passing the strip 3 of nonwoven at a defined continuous speed through the looping device.
As shown in Figure 4, the central longitudinal section can also be arranged in such a way that the central longitudinal section extending between the two ends 5, 6 passes virtually completely along the withdrawal side of the strip 3 of nonwoven~ Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the loop in the manner of a simple Prusik knot or false clove hitch. In this case the withdrawal cord 4 can be thought of as being divided into three sections: a central section 13 between points 14 and 15 and first and second end sections between points 14 and 5 and points 1~ and 6, respectively. The central section 13 is extended parallel to the withdrawal side of strip 3.
The first end section is then looped around the nonwoven strip; first around the insertion side at point 7 and then around the withdrawal side and over the central section at point 14. Similarly, the second end section is looped 1 16375~ l around the strip 3; first around the insertion side of the strip at point 8 and then around the withdrawal side of the strip and under and over the central section at point 15.
In this embodiment, points 7 and 8 (i.e., the length of section 13) can be located very close to their respective longitudinal ends of strip 3 because the adhesion between strip 3 and the withdrawal cord is very strong.
The second embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 7 is distinguished in that the withdrawal cord completely surrounds at least one half of the roll, while manufacture is easy. The two illustrative embodiments according to Figures 5 and 6 of this embodiment have the common feature that, after a first stage of compressing the roll consisting of a wound-up strip of nonwoven, at least one end of the withdrawal cord is inserted into one of the grooves formed during this first compression stage and is taken back parallel to the other end of the cord to the withdrawal side of the roll. Subsequently, the second compression stage, in which the final shape of the tampon is produced, is effected.
Figure 5 shows a roll 22 of a tampon consisting of a single roll of a strip of nonwoven after the first stage of pressing, during which acute, wedge-shaped press jaws have symetrically compressed the roll parallel to its axis. This intermediate form of the roll 22 has a cruciform cross-section. A withdrawal cord 24 having two ends 25, 26 is here arranged in such a way that it passes right through the center of the roll 22. One end is folded over at a point 27 on the end face which, in the final tampon, faces the body opening, and is taken back in a groove 30 formed by the press jaws in the roll 22 in such a way that both ends 25, 26 are now on the withdrawal side of the tampon. Due to the folding-over at the point 27, the withdrawal cord 24 surrounds all the plies of the 1 ~ 63752 strip of nonwoven in the roll 22 between the center of the roll 22 and the groove 30. The tampon according to this illustrative embodiment can be manufactured very simply sir.ce it suffices to wind rolls 22 consisting of a strip of nonwoven in sections around a continuous cord and, at least before one end is inserted into the groove 30, to sever the cord approximately in the middle between two successive rolls 22. This also applies to rolls 22 produced on so-called rotary tables.
10The illustrative embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7 differs from that shown in Figure 5 in that both ends 35, 36 of a withdrawal cord 34 are inserted on the outside in diametrically opposite grooves 40, 41 of the respective rolls 32, 42. The two ends 35, 36 loop around all the 15plies of the rolls 32, 42 at each of the points 37, 38 on the end face of the rolls 32, 42, forming the insertion end of the tampon, while a single central ply 33 of the strip of nonwoven of the roll 32, 42 is looped by the withdrawal cord 34 at one point 39 on the withdrawal side of the tampon 32. After the second compression stage, in which the final shape of the tampon with a substantially circular cross-section is obtained, the grooves 40, 41 are rather inconspicuous.
According to Figure 7, the two ends 35, 36 of the withdrawal cord 34 can already be folded over on the outsides of the roll 42 and taken back before the compres-sion. During the subsequent compression, the ends 35, 36 are then pressed into the outer circumference of the roll 42, the grooves 40, 41 being formed. The points at which the grooves 40, 41 are formed during compression are already indicated in Figure 7. This type of arrangement of the withdrawal cord is also possible in a tampon according to Figure 5, that is to say the end 25 is folded over before compression, the groove 30 being formed on compression as a result of the ends 25 being pressed in.
1 ~ 637S2 ~ igures 8 and 9 show a strip of nonwoven 53 or 63 respectively, before it is wound up to a roll. According to Figure 8, two withdrawal cords 54a, 54b arranged at a distance from one another loop around the strip 53 of nonwoven at points 57, 58 which are located on the longitudinal side forming the insertion end. To ensure more effectively that the strip 53 of nonwoven is taken along, each withdrawal cord 54a, 54b forms, respectively, a loop 59a or 59b on the withdrawal side of the strip 53 of nonwoven, through which loop the particular ends 55a, 56a or 55b, 56b of each withdrawal cord 54a or 54b are drawn. In the illustrative embodiment shown in ~igure 9, two withdrawal cords 64a, 64b are each firmly jointed by sewing, gluing or welding to a transversely extending section 67 or 68 respectively of the strip 63 of nonwoven. In these two illustrative embodiments, there is no transverse connection in the wound-up roll between the two mutually independent free ends of the withdrawal cords protruding outwards from the roll. The point of attach-
TAMPON, IN PARTICULAR FOR FEMALE HYGIENE
The Background of the Invention The invention relates to a tampon, in particular for female hygiene, for which a strip of nonwoven, provided -with a withdrawal cord, is wound up into a single roll andis then compressed, essentially radially, to give the final shape of the tampon. As a rule, the strip of nonwoven consists of natural fibers or a fiber mixture of natural and synthetic fibers in a random position relative to one another, the individual ibers extending essentially in the longitudinal direction of the strip of nonwoven.
A tampon of this type is known and described, for example, in U.S. Patent Specification 3,359,981 or in German Patent Specifications 1,491,162 and 1,938,941, the last-mentioned printed publications also illustrating a device, by means of which the final shape of the tampon can be produced. The tampons described in the above reference incorporate a withdrawal cord for removing the tampon after use. Devices for looping and tying such withdrawal cords are known (compare German Patent Specification 1,234,924 and German Patent Specification 1,491,160). A machine in which a roll is essentially radially compressed in two stages is known from German Patent Specification 944,419.
It is characteristic of such tampons that initially, the insertion end of the tampon first absorbs the menstrual fluid and thus expands to a considerably greater degree than the remainder of the tampon. Since the withdrawal cord in tampons of the kind being considered herein is looped around the strip cf nonwoven which is then wound into a roll and compressed into the final tampon shape, the greatest force exerted upon the tampon by the withdrawal cord when removing the tampon is on this same expanded insertion end, i.e., the weakest part of the tampon. The situation is aggravated in prior art tampons in that the withdrawal cord is looped about the strip of nonwoven in such a manner that the forces exerted upon removal are not only greatest at the insertion end but are concentrated at the insertion end in the small central area adjacent to the longitudinal axis of the tampon.
When withdrawing the tampon, frictional forces resisting withdrawal are exerted on the outer plies of the tampon by the body walls and, in particular, by the sphincter.
These oppositely directed forces (imposed, on the one hand, on the central portion of the insertion end by the withdrawal cord and, on the other hand, on the outer plies of the tampon by friction) can result in having the plies of the strip of nonwoven, lo~ated in the area of the central longitudinal axis of the tampon, pulled out of the tampon to a greater extent than the plies which are closer to the exterior of the tampon. This undesirable result, termed telescoping or spiralizing, can proceed to such an extent that the rim of the outer nonwoven ply at the insertion end of the tampon can become detached from the tampon. Such fraying is undesirable for hygiene and medical reasons.
To overcome this problem, a tampon has been proposed in the past (compare ~erman Utility Model 1,754,096), in the manufacture of which a withdrawal cord is first inserted into the center of a roll wound in the longitudinal direction of the strip of nonwoven and this roll is then folded approximately about its center in such a way that the two ends of the withdrawal cord point in the same direction. Alternatively, the withdrawal cord can also be attached after rolling and folding by piercing the two ends of the folded roll and threading the withdrawal cord therethrough. Unfortunately, in these cases, the folded area of the roll which faces the body `; ` - ` ~ l 1 1 ~375Z
opening has, as compared with the end faces of the roll, only a slight absorption capacity for the fluid.
Accordingly, the functional properties of the tampon are disadvantageously affected.
In another tampon (compare German Patent Specifica-tion 2,240,753), the strip of nonwoven is wound up from both its ends to form a double roll, one end of the withdrawal cord being taken through each of the rolls.
The manufacture of this tampon is relatively expensive.
According to a further proposal for overcoming the spiralizing problem, a tampon is surrounded by a cover in the form of hose or net (compare, for example, German ~tility Model 1,602,531), wherein the end of the hose or net on the withdrawal side is divided to form a withdrawal loop. It is also possible to fix a withdrawal cord to the net at the withdrawal end of the tampon.
A11 these proposals have the common feature that, as compared with the tampon of the type initially stated, they must be manufactured in a very complicated manner from the point of view of production technology and, in particular, the very sensitive strip of nonwoven is subjected to several working steps.
There is a need therefore to provide a tampon, in particular for female hygiene, having a special arrangement of the withdrawal cord, by means of which spiralizing is largely avoided and economical mass production of the tampon is possible.
Summary of the Invention According to this invention, this object is achieved with a tampon of the type initially stated, consisting of - only one roll and having the free ends of at least one withdrawal cord separated from one another by several plies of nonwoven. The starting point for the invention is the basic concept of causing the withdrawal cord to act rather more on the outer plies of the roll while the central section which connects the two ends being arranged in such a way that essentially no radial forces but rather approximately axial forces act on the single roll.
According to a further broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a tampon suitable for female hygiene and having a withdrawal end and an insertion end. The tampon comprises a generally rectangular strip consisting of non-woven fibers. The strip has corresponding longitudinal withdrawal and insertion sides and is provided with a withdrawal cord. The strip is rolled longitudinally so that the longitudinal sides each describe a curve of a single spiral, and then compressed into a final tampon shape. The improvement resides wherein the withdrawal cord extends from the withdrawal end in at least two free ends separated from one another by a plurality of curve segments of the spiral.
According to a first embodiment, the central longitudinal section of a single withdrawal cord loops around a central longitudinal section of the strip of non-woven. With such a loop, the manufacture of the tampon can take place substantially continuously, at least while attaching the withdrawal cord, so that a marked saving of time results as compared with a stepwise manufacturing methodO When pulling the ends of the withdrawal cord, there are substantially no tension forces being exerted on the insertion end of the tampon between the two ends of the withdrawal cord. Even if the withdrawal cord is looped around the strip of non-woven in two or three turns, the strip of non-woven can be passed continuously through the device which effects the looping. Looping of the withdrawal cord in the manner of a single or double clove hitch also has this effect, in particular when the central longitudinal section of the withdrawal cord, which connects the two ends, is located on the side of the withdrawal end of the tampon, so that no tension forces at all can be exerted on one of the interposed plies.
According to a second embodiment, at least one end of a single withdrawal cord is inserted in a groove, formed on compressing, on the outer circumference of the roll and is taken back essentially parallel to the other end in such a way that both ends are on the side of the withdrawal end of the tampon.
In this embodiment, all the plies of the roll are thus surrounded since one end extends essentially through the center of the roll, while the second passes along outside the roll. Such a single-ply arrangement of the withdrawal cord makes extremely simple manufacture possible. For example, the rolls can be produced in a row at a mutual spacing on a ~: .
, ~, `1~6~'?S2 continuous belt, after which they are merely severed between the individual rolls. After severing, compressing takes place in two stages, as for example according to German Patent Specification 944,419, and after the first stage one end is inserted into the groove thus formed and taken back in parallel to the other end. This procedure is essentially also applied to rolls produced on a rotary table, since these are also severed between the individual rolls.
In tampons of the type initially stated, which are produced by means of a device according to German Patent Specification No. 1,491,162 and/or German Patent Specifi-cation No. 1,938,941, a symmetrical arrangement of the ends of the withdrawal cord in grooves is possible. In a tampon of this type, the ends are inserted, after the first stage and before the second stage of compressing, in an oriented position into the grooves which are thus formed in the pressed blank. The two ends of the with-drawal cord surround all the plies except a single one in the center of the insertion of the tampon end whilst the two ends are separated from one another, at the withdrawal end of the tampon, by the maximum number of plies of the strip of nonwoven. The manufacture of a tampon of this type is relatively simple since, in a device which manufactures tampons with single rolls of conventional structure, it is merely necessary to insert the ends, between the two stages of compressing, into the grooves thus formed.
According to a third embodiment of the invention, two withdrawal cords are attached, at a distance from one another, to the strip of nonwoven in the longitudinal direction of the latter in such a way that their ends project from the roll on the side of the withdrawal end of the tampon. The distance of the two withdrawal cords from one another can here be selected in such a way that, after the roll has been wound up, they will lie in an optimum position in a rim zone. Each withdrawal cord can here have a knot made in the conventional manner. However, each withdrawal cord can also be fixed to the strip of nonwoven in another manner, for example by sewing on, gluing on or the like.
All the embodiments of the tampon according to the invention are distinguished in that its manufacture requires only minor modifications or additions to the device used for manufacturing the known tampon with a single roll.
Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is explained in more detail by reference to the illustrative embodiments represented in the drawing in which Figure 1 shows a tampon roll according to a first embodiment of the invention, Figures 2 to 4 show three illustrative embodiments of looping the withdrawal cord around a strip of nonwoven, to produce the roll in Figure 1, Figure 5 shows a tampon roll after a first radial compression together with a second embodiment of the arrangement of a withdrawal cord, Figures 6 and 7 show further illustrative embodiments of the arrangement of the withdrawal cord in Figure 5, and Figures 8 and 9 show illustrative embodiments of a third embodiment of the arrangement of a withdrawal cord on a strip of nonwoven.
The starting point for the invention is the discovery that spiralizing of tampons consisting of a single roll can be prevented by providing in the roll, between the ends of a withdrawal cord, as many plies of the strip of nonwoven as possible.
Figure 1 shows a tampon roll or tampon blank 2 of this type, which is formed by winding up a strip 3 of nonwoven from one end, preferably approximately from its ` ` ` 1 t637~2 center, to give a single roll, consisting of natural fibers or of a fiber mixture of natural and synthetic fibers which are arranged in a random position relative to one another, the fibers being mainly oriented in the longitudinal direction of the strip 3 of nonwoven. A
tampon roll 2 of this type is compressed essentially radially to give its approximately cylindrical final shape by means of a press, such as is described in German Patent Specification 944,419. The tampon roll 2 contains a withdrawal cord 4, and the tampon can be withdrawn from the body cavity after use by means of the ends 5, 6 of the withdrawal cord. The two ends 5, 6, protruding from the roll 2, of the withdrawal cord 4 are separated from one another at a considerable diametrical distance by several plies of nonwoven. One end 5 passes through the roll 2 and loops around one ply of the strip 3 of nonwoven on the insertion end at the point 7. In a similar manner, the other end 6 passes through the roll 2 and likewise loops around a ply o~ the strip 3 of nonwoven on the insertion end at the point 8. In this tampon, at least one ply of the strip of nonwoven overlies the ends 5, 6 passing through the roll 2.
Such an arrangement of the withdrawal cord 4 in the roll 2 according to Figure 1 can be obtained according to Figures 2 to 4 when the central longitudinal section of the withdrawal cord 4, that is to say the longitudinal section of the withdrawal cord 4 between the two free ends 5, 6 protruding outwards from the roll 2, loops around a longitudinal section of the strip 3 of nonwoven in various ways. For the purpose herein the phrase "the withdrawal side of the strip~ is meant to describe that portion of strip 3 which ultimately forms the withdrawal end of the finished tampon. Likewise, the phrase "the insertion side of the strip" means that side of the strip which ultimately forms the insertion end of the finished tampon.
` - `` 1 t 63752 Figure 2 shows a loop with two turns, the central longitudinal section of the withdrawal cord 4 being laid around the withdrawal side of strip 3 at a point 9 which is approximately in the middle between the two free ends 5, 6. Figure 3 shows a loop with three turns, the central longitudinal section of the withdrawal cord 4 being laid.
around the withdrawal side of strip 3 close to the ends 5, 6 of the cord at points 10, 12, while this central longitudinal section is folded once more on the insertion side of strip 3, at a point 11. Compared with the illustrative embodiment according to Figure 2, this illustrative embodiment leads to more extensive enveloping of the strip 3 of nonwoven by the withdrawal cord 4. By suitably adjusting the pitch of the turns formed on loop-ing, the distance of the two exit points of the withdrawalcord ends 5, 6 from the roll 2 can be set in such a way that these will lie in the area of the outer periphery of the roll 2 of the tampon. This can be achieved, ~or example, by passing the strip 3 of nonwoven at a defined continuous speed through the looping device.
As shown in Figure 4, the central longitudinal section can also be arranged in such a way that the central longitudinal section extending between the two ends 5, 6 passes virtually completely along the withdrawal side of the strip 3 of nonwoven~ Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the loop in the manner of a simple Prusik knot or false clove hitch. In this case the withdrawal cord 4 can be thought of as being divided into three sections: a central section 13 between points 14 and 15 and first and second end sections between points 14 and 5 and points 1~ and 6, respectively. The central section 13 is extended parallel to the withdrawal side of strip 3.
The first end section is then looped around the nonwoven strip; first around the insertion side at point 7 and then around the withdrawal side and over the central section at point 14. Similarly, the second end section is looped 1 16375~ l around the strip 3; first around the insertion side of the strip at point 8 and then around the withdrawal side of the strip and under and over the central section at point 15.
In this embodiment, points 7 and 8 (i.e., the length of section 13) can be located very close to their respective longitudinal ends of strip 3 because the adhesion between strip 3 and the withdrawal cord is very strong.
The second embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 7 is distinguished in that the withdrawal cord completely surrounds at least one half of the roll, while manufacture is easy. The two illustrative embodiments according to Figures 5 and 6 of this embodiment have the common feature that, after a first stage of compressing the roll consisting of a wound-up strip of nonwoven, at least one end of the withdrawal cord is inserted into one of the grooves formed during this first compression stage and is taken back parallel to the other end of the cord to the withdrawal side of the roll. Subsequently, the second compression stage, in which the final shape of the tampon is produced, is effected.
Figure 5 shows a roll 22 of a tampon consisting of a single roll of a strip of nonwoven after the first stage of pressing, during which acute, wedge-shaped press jaws have symetrically compressed the roll parallel to its axis. This intermediate form of the roll 22 has a cruciform cross-section. A withdrawal cord 24 having two ends 25, 26 is here arranged in such a way that it passes right through the center of the roll 22. One end is folded over at a point 27 on the end face which, in the final tampon, faces the body opening, and is taken back in a groove 30 formed by the press jaws in the roll 22 in such a way that both ends 25, 26 are now on the withdrawal side of the tampon. Due to the folding-over at the point 27, the withdrawal cord 24 surrounds all the plies of the 1 ~ 63752 strip of nonwoven in the roll 22 between the center of the roll 22 and the groove 30. The tampon according to this illustrative embodiment can be manufactured very simply sir.ce it suffices to wind rolls 22 consisting of a strip of nonwoven in sections around a continuous cord and, at least before one end is inserted into the groove 30, to sever the cord approximately in the middle between two successive rolls 22. This also applies to rolls 22 produced on so-called rotary tables.
10The illustrative embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7 differs from that shown in Figure 5 in that both ends 35, 36 of a withdrawal cord 34 are inserted on the outside in diametrically opposite grooves 40, 41 of the respective rolls 32, 42. The two ends 35, 36 loop around all the 15plies of the rolls 32, 42 at each of the points 37, 38 on the end face of the rolls 32, 42, forming the insertion end of the tampon, while a single central ply 33 of the strip of nonwoven of the roll 32, 42 is looped by the withdrawal cord 34 at one point 39 on the withdrawal side of the tampon 32. After the second compression stage, in which the final shape of the tampon with a substantially circular cross-section is obtained, the grooves 40, 41 are rather inconspicuous.
According to Figure 7, the two ends 35, 36 of the withdrawal cord 34 can already be folded over on the outsides of the roll 42 and taken back before the compres-sion. During the subsequent compression, the ends 35, 36 are then pressed into the outer circumference of the roll 42, the grooves 40, 41 being formed. The points at which the grooves 40, 41 are formed during compression are already indicated in Figure 7. This type of arrangement of the withdrawal cord is also possible in a tampon according to Figure 5, that is to say the end 25 is folded over before compression, the groove 30 being formed on compression as a result of the ends 25 being pressed in.
1 ~ 637S2 ~ igures 8 and 9 show a strip of nonwoven 53 or 63 respectively, before it is wound up to a roll. According to Figure 8, two withdrawal cords 54a, 54b arranged at a distance from one another loop around the strip 53 of nonwoven at points 57, 58 which are located on the longitudinal side forming the insertion end. To ensure more effectively that the strip 53 of nonwoven is taken along, each withdrawal cord 54a, 54b forms, respectively, a loop 59a or 59b on the withdrawal side of the strip 53 of nonwoven, through which loop the particular ends 55a, 56a or 55b, 56b of each withdrawal cord 54a or 54b are drawn. In the illustrative embodiment shown in ~igure 9, two withdrawal cords 64a, 64b are each firmly jointed by sewing, gluing or welding to a transversely extending section 67 or 68 respectively of the strip 63 of nonwoven. In these two illustrative embodiments, there is no transverse connection in the wound-up roll between the two mutually independent free ends of the withdrawal cords protruding outwards from the roll. The point of attach-
2~ ment of the withdrawal cords 54a, 54b or 64a, 64b to the strip of nonwoven 53 or 63 respectively can therefore be determined in a simple manner. In conventional equipment for the manufacture of tampons from a single roll, it is merely necessary either to run the device which attaches the withdrawal cords to the strip of nonwoven at essentially twice the speed or to provide two of these devices.
All the embodiments of the tampon according to the invention have the common feature that the free ends of the withdrawal cord, which are taken out of the tampon, are separated from one another in the roll by several plies of the strip of nonwoven so that, when the tampon is removed from the body cavity, the tension force exerted on the free ends of the withdrawal cord acts substantially in the rim zone of the tampon. As a result, both spiralizing and blocking on withdrawal are avoided. Moreover, the ' 1 ~37$2 tampon according to the invention can be manufactured with only slight modifications to conventional equipment for the manufacture of tampons from a single roll, so that ec:onomical mass production of the tampon can be achieved.
All the embodiments of the tampon according to the invention have the common feature that the free ends of the withdrawal cord, which are taken out of the tampon, are separated from one another in the roll by several plies of the strip of nonwoven so that, when the tampon is removed from the body cavity, the tension force exerted on the free ends of the withdrawal cord acts substantially in the rim zone of the tampon. As a result, both spiralizing and blocking on withdrawal are avoided. Moreover, the ' 1 ~37$2 tampon according to the invention can be manufactured with only slight modifications to conventional equipment for the manufacture of tampons from a single roll, so that ec:onomical mass production of the tampon can be achieved.
Claims (10)
1. In a tampon suitable for female hygiene, having a withdrawal end and an insertion end and comprising a generally rectangular strip consisting of non-woven fibers, said strip having corresponding longitudinal withdrawal and insertion sides and provided with a withdrawal cord, said strip being rolled longitudinally so that said longitudinal sides each describe a curve of a single spiral, and then compressed into a final tampon shape; the improvement wherein said withdrawal cord extends from the withdrawal end in at least two free ends separated from one another by a plurality of curve segements of said spiral.
2. A tampon of claim 1 wherein the withdrawal cord comprises a central longitudinal section and first and second end sections and said central section i looped around the strip and longitudinally separate said two end sections.
3. The tampon of claim 2 wherein said central section is looped in two turns.
4. The tampon of claim 2 wherein said central section is looped in three turns.
5. The tampon of claim 2 wherein said withdrawal cord is looped in a simple Prusik knot in which said central section is extended parallel to the withdrawal side of the nonwoven and each of said end sections is looped around the nonwoven strip; first around the insertion side, then around the withdrawal side and then under and over the junction of the central section and the end section.
6. The tampon of claim 2 wherein said withdrawal cord is looped in the form of a clove hitch.
7. The tampon of claim 1 wherein said withdrawal cord comprises a central section and two end sections and is arranged transversely across said nonwoven strip prior to rolling the same with at least one end section extending above said insertion end of said strip, and having said one end section taken back and inserted into a groove formed during compression on the outer circumference of said roll with the free end of said one end section extending from the withdrawal end of said tampon.
8. The tampon of claim 7 wherein said central section is looped transversely across said nonwoven strip prior to rolling the same with both end sections extending above said insertion end of said strip and each being taken back and inserted into a groove formed during compression on the outer circumference of said roll, the free ends of said end sections extending from the withdrawal end of said tampon.
9. The tampon of claim 8 wherein said grooves are essentially diametrically opposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tampon.
10. The tampon of claim 1 wherein two withdrawal cords are attached at a longitudinal distance from one another to the nonwoven strip with their ends extending from the withdrawal side of said strip.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEP2926130.1 | 1979-06-28 | ||
| DE19792926130 DE2926130C2 (en) | 1979-06-28 | 1979-06-28 | Tampon, especially for feminine hygiene |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1163752A true CA1163752A (en) | 1984-03-20 |
Family
ID=6074402
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000354862A Expired CA1163752A (en) | 1979-06-28 | 1980-06-26 | Tampon in particular for female hygiene |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1163752A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2926130C2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5566435A (en) * | 1994-04-11 | 1996-10-22 | Tambrands Inc. | Method of attaching a tampon withdrawal cord with an overhand hitch knot |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT401610B (en) * | 1989-01-03 | 1996-10-25 | Johnson & Johnson Ges M B H | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING WRAPPED, IN ESSENTIAL CYLINDRICAL ITEMS, IN PARTICULAR TAMPONS |
| EP3400918B1 (en) * | 2017-05-10 | 2021-04-07 | Ontex BV | Improved tampon withdrawal system and method for the fabrication thereof |
Family Cites Families (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2612488C3 (en) * | 1976-03-24 | 1982-05-19 | Vereinigte Papierwerke Schickedanz & Co, 8500 Nürnberg | Wrap tampon for feminine hygiene |
-
1979
- 1979-06-28 DE DE19792926130 patent/DE2926130C2/en not_active Expired
-
1980
- 1980-06-26 CA CA000354862A patent/CA1163752A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5566435A (en) * | 1994-04-11 | 1996-10-22 | Tambrands Inc. | Method of attaching a tampon withdrawal cord with an overhand hitch knot |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE2926130A1 (en) | 1981-01-08 |
| DE2926130C2 (en) | 1983-03-17 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |