IP Library Granted Patent US 7,387,622
Granted Patent B1
US 7,387,622 · App. 09/414,764 · Granted Jun 17, 2008

Rapid expansion tampon pledget

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,387,622
App. No.
09/414,764
Granted
Jun 17, 2008
Kind
B1
Abstract

There is provided a tampon pledget that expands without the aid of moisture or menses. The tampon pledget has a plurality of high resiliency, non-absorbent fibers and a plurality of absorbent fibers. The tampon pledget has improved comfort as compared to conventional fully compressed tampon pledgets.

Claims (28)

1. A dry expanding tampon pledget comprising:

a plurality of non-absorbent fibers; and

a plurality of absorbent fibers, wherein said plurality of absorbent fibers is a combination of rayon fiber and superabsorbent fiber, and wherein a ratio of rayon fiber to superabsorbent fiber is about 70/30,

wherein said plurality of non-absorbent fibers and said plurality of absorbent fibers are blended together to form the dry expanding tampon pledget, and

wherein immediately after complete ejection from an applicator, and prior to contact with menses, the dry expanding tampon pledget has a free diameter at a widest point from about 25% to about 300% larger than a diameter at said widest point of the dry expanding tampon pledget in the applicator.

2. The tampon pledget of claim 1 , wherein a percent ratio of said plurality of non-absorbent fibers to said plurality of absorbent fibers is about 25/75 to about 65/35.

3. The tampon pledget of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of non-absorbent fibers are selected from the group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, aramid, nylon, acrylic, bicomponent, and mixtures thereof.

4. The tampon pledget of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of non-absorbent fibers are polyester fibers.

5. The tampon pledget of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of non-absorbent fibers are about 0.75 to about 30 denier.

6. The tampon pledget of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of absorbent fibers are about 0.75 to about 30 denier.

7. The tampon pledget of claim 1 , further comprising a coverstock.

8. A dry expanding tampon pledget comprising:

a plurality of non-absorbent fibers; and

a plurality of absorbent fibers, wherein said plurality of absorbent fibers is a combination of rayon fiber and superabsorbent fiber,

wherein said plurality of non-absorbent fibers and said plurality of absorbent fibers are blended together to form the dry expanding tampon pledget,

wherein a percent ratio of said plurality of non-absorbent fibers to said plurality of absorbent fibers is about 25/75 to about 65/35, and

wherein immediately after complete ejection from an applicator, and prior to contact with menses, the dry expanding tampon pledget has a free diameter at a widest point from about 25% to about 300% larger than a diameter at said widest point of the dry expanding tampon pledget in the applicator.

9. A dry expanding tampon pledget comprising:

a plurality of non-absorbent fibers, wherein said plurality of non-absorbent fibers are selected from the group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, aramid, nylon, acrylic, bicomponent, and mixtures thereof; and

a plurality of absorbent fibers, wherein said plurality of absorbent fibers is a combination of rayon fiber and superabsorbent fiber present in a percent ratio of rayon fiber to superabsorbent fiber of about 70/30,

wherein said plurality of non-absorbent fibers and said plurality of absorbent fibers are blended together to form the dry expanding tampon pledget, and

wherein immediately after complete ejection from an applicator, and prior to contact with menses, the dry expanding tampon pledget has a free diameter at a widest point from about 25% to about 300% larger than a diameter at said widest point of the dry expanding tampon pledget in the applicator.

10. The tampon pledget of claim 9 , wherein a percent ratio of said plurality of non-absorbent fibers to said plurality of absorbent fibers is about 25/75 to about 65/35.

11. A dry expanding tampon pledget comprising:

a plurality of non-absorbent fibers, wherein said plurality of non-absorbent fibers are selected from the group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, aramid, nylon, acrylic, bicomponent, and any combinations thereof; and

a plurality of absorbent fibers made of a combination of rayon fibers and superabsorbent fibers,

wherein said plurality of non-absorbent fibers and said plurality of absorbent fibers are blended together to form the dry expanding tampon pledget, and

wherein immediately after complete ejection from an applicator, and prior to contact with menses, the dry expanding tampon pledget has a free diameter at a widest point from about 25% to about 300% larger than a diameter at said widest point of the dry expanding tampon pledget in the applicator.

Assignments (11)
PARTIAL RELEASE (REEL 052341 / FRAME 0735) Recorded Feb 2, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: EDGEWELL PERSONAL CARE BRANDS, LLC
Reel/Frame 074753/0581 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 8, 2020
From: EDGEWELL PERSONAL CARE BRANDS, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052341/0735 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 19, 2019
From: EVEREADY BATTERY COMPANY, INC
To: EVEREADY BATTERY COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 049518/0411 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 19, 2019
From: EVEREADY BATTERY COMPANY, LLC
To: EDGEWELL PERSONAL CARE BRANDS, LLC
Reel/Frame 049518/0491 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 19, 2019
From: PLAYTEX PRODUCTS, INC.; PLAYTEX PRODUCTS, LLC
To: EVEREADY BATTERY COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 049517/0203 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 19, 2019
From: GE CANADA FINANCE HOLDING COMPANY
To: PLAYTEX PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049517/0785 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2005
From: PLAYTEX PRODUCTS, INC.
To: GE CANADA FINANCE HOLDING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 016862/0334 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2004
From: PLAYTEX PRODUCTS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 014990/0309 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2004
From: PLAYTEX PRODUCTS, INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 014394/0685 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Feb 26, 2004
From: CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, ACTING THROUGH ITS CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: PLAYTEX PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 014373/0009 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 1999
From: PAULEY, SUZANNE M.; BROWN, JEFFREY M.; BUTENSKY, IRWIN; JACKSON, DANE R.
To: PLAYTEX PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 010434/0568 →