Tampon

Abstract

A tampon, particularly for feminine hygiene, comprises a substantially cylindrical absorbent body that is peripherally compressed and contained in a wrapper or in an applicator device. The absorbent body is formed by a rolled rectangular strip of absorbent material and comprises: a front end in the direction of insertion of the tampon, a rear end from which extends a removal string, and a lateral surface. The entirety of the outer surface of the absorbent body, corresponding to the front end, rear end and lateral surface is formed by a first layer of non-woven absorbent fabric.

Claims

1. A tampon for feminine hygiene, comprising: a substantially cylindrical absorbent body (1) that is peripherally compressed and contained in one of a wrapper or in an applicator device (2), said absorbent body (1) having an outer surface and is formed by a rolled rectangular strip of absorbent material, wherein said absorbent body (1) comprises: a front end (1a) in the direction of insertion of the tampon; a rear end (1b) from which extends a removal string (3); and a lateral surface (1c); characterised in that the entirety of the outer surface of the absorbent body (1) corresponding to the front end (1a), rear end (1b) and lateral surface (1c) thereof is formed by a first layer (11) of non-woven absorbent fabric.

2. The tampon according to claim 1, characterised in that the rolled rectangular strip of absorbent material comprises a first layer (11) of non-woven absorbent fabric that comprises a central longitudinal portion (11a) with a width equal to the length of the absorbent body (11) of the tampon, with an outer side and an inner side in relation to the direction in which it is rolled up, and two lateral longitudinal wings (11b) folded over the inner side of the central portion (11a).

3. The tampon according to claim 2, characterised in that the strip of absorbent material comprises an absorbent core (12) having a variable thickness depending on the desired absorption capacity of the tampon, wherein said absorbent core (12) is formed by absorbent fibers, and wherein said absorbent core (12) is arranged between the central portion (11a) and the folded wings (11b) of the first layer (11) of the non-woven fabric with the outer side and longitudinal edges thereof being completely covered by said first layer (11) of non-woven fabric, and at least two lateral strips of the inner side thereof being covered by the wings (11b) of the first layer of non-woven fabric.

4. The tampon as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the absorbent body (1) includes, on the outer surface thereof a supporting strip (4) configured for holding in place the rolled strip of absorbent material, said support strip including punching carried out in the supporting strip (4) creating a plurality of small opening.

5. The tampon as claimed in claim 4 wherein said supporting strip (4) is secured on said lateral surface (1c) of said absorbent body (1).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0017] To complement the description being made, and to make it easier to understand the characteristics of the invention, this descriptive report is accompanied by a set of drawings in which, for illustrative purposes only, and without limitation, the following has been represented wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the tampon that is the object of the invention contained in an applicator device;

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a first example embodiment of the substantially cylindrical absorbent body of the tampon, formed by a rolled rectangular strip of absorbent material and comprising a first layer of non-woven absorbent fabric;

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the development of the absorbent strip comprising the body of the tampon in FIG. 2, which is provided on one of the ends thereof with a supporting strip, which is secured by means of heat; and

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a variation of the embodiment of the absorbent body intended to be rolled up in order to form the body of the tampon, comprising in this case an absorbent core of absorbent fibers and also provided on one of the ends thereof with a supporting strip.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The example shown in FIG. 1 shows the tampon according to the invention, which comprises a substantially cylindrical absorbent body (1) intended to be peripherally compressed, and in this particular case to be contained in an applicator device (2).

[0023] The absorbent body (1) is formed by a rolled rectangular strip of absorbent material, and said absorbent body comprises: a front end (la) in the direction of insertion of the tampon, a rear end (1b) from which extends a removal string (3), and a lateral surface (1c).

[0024] In the example shown in FIG. 3, the strip of absorbent material intended to be rolled up in order to form the absorbent body (1) comprises a first layer (11) of non-woven fabric comprising: a central longitudinal portion (11a) of a width equal to the length of the absorbent body (1) of the tampon, with an outer side and an inner side in relation to the direction in which it is rolled up; and two lateral longitudinal wings (11b) folded over the inner side of the central portion (11a).

[0025] In this way, in the rolled position shown in FIG. 2, the entirety of the outer surface of the absorbent body (1) is formed by the aforementioned first layer (11) of non-woven fabric.

[0026] In the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the strip of absorbent material comprises on one of the ends thereof a supporting strip (4), which is made of polypropylene in this case and including punching creating a number of small holes or openings in the supporting strip (4), which supporting strip (4) is secured by means of heat on the outer surface of the absorbent body (1), after it has been rolled up, preventing it from accidentally unrolling and also limiting the lateral expansion capacity thereof when the tampon is being used.

[0027] In this embodiment the absorbent body (1) is only comprised of a first layer (11) of non-woven fabric that can have a variable thickness depending on the desired absorption capacity.

[0028] In the variation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the strip of absorbent material intended to form the absorbent body (1) comprises, in addition to the aforementioned first layer (11) of non-woven fabric, an absorbent core (12) that can be thicker or thinner depending on the absorption capacity of the desired tampon.

[0029] This absorbent core (12), which is formed by absorbent fibers of cotton, viscose or similar; is arranged between the central portion (11a) and the folded wings (11b) of the first layer (11) of non-woven fabric. This arrangement of the absorbent core (12) causes the outer side and longitudinal edges thereof to be entirely covered by the first layer of non-woven fabric; and also causes at least two lateral strips of the inner side thereof to be covered by the wings (11b) of the first layer (11) of non-woven fabric.

[0030] In this way, when the first layer (11) is rolled up with the absorbent core (12) in order to form a cylindrical absorbent body (1), the entirety of the outer surface of said absorbent body (1) is formed by the first layer (11) of non-woven fabric, completely hiding the fibers of the absorbent core (12), which prevents said absorbent fibers from coming into direct contact with the user, solving the problems described above.

[0031] Having described sufficiently the nature of the invention, and the examples of a preferred embodiment, it can be stated for the relevant effects that the materials, shape, size and arrangement of the elements described may be modified, provided this does not mean an alteration in the essential characteristics of the invention for which the claims are set out below as they may be amended to provide allowed claims.