A tampon including a body having a longitudinal axis, a front end, a rear end and an outer surface. The body including a liquid-absorbing material operable to absorb and/or retain bodily fluid. A bore extending through the body along the longitudinal axis from the front end to the rear end, said bore defining an inner surface. The tampon also including a liquid-impermeable layer, which includes a liquid-impermeable elastic material and a liquid-permeable layer. The liquid-absorbing material is a fluid. One of the liquid-impermeable layer or the liquid-permeable layer is on at least a portion of the outer surface of the body of the tampon. The other of the liquid-impermeable layer or the liquid-permeable layer is on at least a portion of the inner surface of the body. In use, the liquid-impermeable layer and the liquid-permeable layers are operable to move between a first configuration and a second configuration.

An absorbent article includes a body portion extending along a first axis and having a proximal end and a distal end spaced from the proximal end along the first axis. The absorbent article also includes a plurality of layers radially disposed about the body portion. Each layer includes one or more absorbent petals each extending along a petal axis. The petal axis of one of the petals of one of the layers is angularly offset to the petal axis of an adjacent petal of an adjacent layer. The one or more absorbent petals are movable between a compacted configuration and an expanded configuration. The one or more absorbent petals, when introduced to a fluid, is configured to absorb the fluid and transition from the compacted configuration to the expanded configuration. The absorbent article includes a string coupled to the body portion. The body portion and/or string includes hemp.

A tampon pledget is made by assembling one or more pads in a pad compression configuration, radially compressing the pad compression configuration in a traverse direction into a cylindrical form, and axially compressing the cylindrical form in a direction along a vertical axis to form the tampon pledget. In one embodiment, the axial compression is performed as a pressure is applied to at least one of a first and a second end of the cylindrical form. In one aspect of the present invention, the formed tampon pledget has an absorbent capacity as measured by the syngyna test of between about 6.0 grams to 9.0 grams and a density of about 0.4603 grams/cubic centimeter. In another aspect of the invention, the formed tampon pledget has an absorbent capacity as measured by the syngyna test of between about 9.0 grams to 12.0 grams and a density of about 0.4755 grams/cubic centimeter.

The present disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods for making tampons including primary and secondary absorbent members. During assembly, primary absorbent members, a continuous length of secondary absorbent members, and a continuous cord are advanced in a machine direction. Leading edges of the primary absorbent members are separated from each other in the machine direction by a pitch distance. Discrete secondary absorbent members are cut from the continuous length of secondary absorbent members. Leading edges of the discrete secondary absorbent members are also separated from each other in the machine direction by the pitch distance. The continuous cord is positioned on the secondary absorbent members. And a secondary absorbent member is positioned in contact with a primary absorbent member. A thread is combined with the continuous cord, the secondary absorbent member, and the primary absorbent member.

A menstrual device having a storage volume. The menstrual device has a frame and a fluid barrier seal layer attached to the exterior surface of the frame. The menstrual device has an expanded configuration that includes an at rest configuration and a deployed configuration. The menstrual device has a compact configuration where the menstrual device is confined to a size, shape and/or geometry smaller than an expanded configuration such that it can be more easily inserted into the body. The menstrual device in a compact configuration is contained within an applicator, where the applicator assists in ejecting the menstrual device into the body.

A tampon pledget having a unique forming process enables a reduction in material (by weight) without reducing gram per gram absorbency and optionally improving absorbency. The tampon pledget is formed by a unique carding, cross-lapping, and needle-punching process. A tampon applicator is formed having one or more components from at least one of a sustainable material and a compostable material. A tampon applicator plunger has at least one deformed end. A tampon applicator plunger has improved strength. A tampon assembly has an improved retention force.

There is provided a tampon pledget that includes one or more enhanced features that result in the pledget exhibiting increased bypass leakage prevention. These enhanced features may include, but are not limited to, geometry, absorption, and any combinations thereof. There is also provided one or more methods for constructing a tampon pledget having increased bypass leakage protection.

A menstrual device having a storage volume. The menstrual device has a frame and a fluid barrier seal layer attached to the exterior surface of the frame. The menstrual device has an expanded configuration that includes an at rest configuration and a deployed configuration. The menstrual device has a compact configuration where the menstrual device is confined to a size, shape and/or geometry smaller than an expanded configuration such that it can be more easily inserted into the body. The menstrual device in a compact configuration is contained within an applicator, where the applicator assists in ejecting the menstrual device into the body.

A tampon pledget is made by assembling one or more pads in a pad compression configuration, radially compressing the pad compression configuration in a traverse direction into a cylindrical form, and axially compressing the cylindrical form in a direction along a vertical axis to form the tampon pledget. In one embodiment, the axial compression is performed as a pressure is applied to at least one of a first and a second end of the cylindrical form. In one aspect of the present invention, the formed tampon pledget has an absorbent capacity as measured by the syngyna test of between about 6.0 grams to 9.0 grams and a density of about 0.4603 grams/cubic centimeter. In another aspect of the invention, the formed tampon pledget has an absorbent capacity as measured by the syngyna test of between about 9.0 grams to 12.0 grams and a density of about 0.4755 grams/cubic centimeter.

The present invention provides a tampon pledget with one or more of the following properties: increased absorbency rate; high absorbent capacity and fluid retention; rapid expansion potential; and ease of ejection of the pledget from the applicator. Surprisingly, the one or more properties are achieved by using a modified dual cross-pad, folded, compressed tampon pledget design.