Integrated tampon and method for making
View Patent ↗A method of integrating a tampon includes providing an absorbent blank having a longitudinal centerline and compressing the absorbent blank in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline to form a pledget having a compressed diameter. The method also includes penetrating the pledget in the perpendicular direction to a compressed depth of at least 20% of the compressed diameter to form a discrete indentation.
1. A method of integrating a tampon comprising
providing an absorbent blank with a longitudinal centerline,
compressing the absorbent blank into a pledget having a compressed diameter and a plurality at longitudinal grooves,
penetrating the pledget in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline to form a plurality of longitudinal rows of indentations, wherein the longitudinal grooves and the longitudinal rows of indentations are circumferentially alternating and wherein a first row of indentations is staggered in a circumferential direction as compared with a second row of indentations.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method includes the step of at least partially wrapping the absorbent blank with a cover before compressing the absorbent blank and the cover to form the pledget and penetrating the pledget and the cover in the perpendicular direction to a compressed depth of at least 30% of the compressed diameter to form the rows of indentations.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein pledget defines a first half having an insertion end and a second half having a withdrawal end and the method further includes penetrating the pledget in the perpendicular direction to form 25% more indentations in the first half than the second half.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the method further includes the step of forming a first circumferentially raised ring around the pledget in the second half.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the method further includes the step of forming a second circumferentially raised ring around the pledget, wherein the first circumferentially raised ring and the second circumferentially raised ring are separated by a circumferential groove.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the pledget is penetrated to a compressed depth of at least 30% of the compressed diameter.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the rows of indentations and the longitudinal grooves are formed in a simile compression unit.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the pledget defines a first half and a second half and wherein the method further includes forming more indentations in the first half than in the second half.
9. The method or claim 1 wherein the pledget is penetrated to a compressed depth of at least 20% of the compressed diameter.