Tampon with offset grooves
A tampon for feminine hygiene that has an insertion end, a withdrawal end, a central portion between the insertion end and the withdrawal end, a length, a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and an outer surface. The tampon is made of compressed fibrous material. The outer surface of the insertion end has a plurality of longitudinal grooves which are offset from the plurality of longitudinal grooves located in the withdrawal end.
1. A tampon ( 20 ) for feminine hygiene comprising an insertion end ( 24 ), a withdrawal end ( 26 ), a central portion ( 28 ) between said insertion end and said withdrawal end, a length, a longitudinal axis (L), a radial axis (R), and an outer surface ( 22 );
said tampon being comprised of a compressed pledget;
said insertion end ( 24 ) comprising a plurality of longitudinal grooves ( 40 ) formed in the outer surface ( 22 ) of the compressed pledget, said withdrawal end ( 26 ) comprising a plurality of longitudinal grooves ( 42 ) formed in the outer surface ( 22 ) of the compressed pledget, characterized in that said longitudinal grooves ( 40 ) of said insertion end ( 24 ) and said longitudinal grooves ( 42 ) of said withdrawal end ( 26 ) extend in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (L) and
wherein said longitudinal grooves ( 40 ) of said insertion end ( 24 ) are offset and disconnected from said longitudinal grooves ( 42 ) of said withdrawal end ( 26 ).
2. The tampon according to claim 1 wherein said central portion further comprises surface aberrations.
3. The tampon according to claim 2 wherein said surface aberrations are selected from the group consisting of protuberances, depressions and mixtures thereof.
4. The tampon according to claim 2 wherein said surface aberrations are arranged in a pattern.
5. The tampon according to claim 4 wherein said pattern is selected from the group consisting of diagonal lines, straight lines, checkerboard and mixtures thereof.
6. The tampon according to claim 1 wherein said insertion end and said withdrawal end comprise the same number of longitudinal grooves.
7. The tampon according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinal grooves in said insertion end are evenly spaced.
8. The tampon according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinal grooves in said withdrawal end are evenly spaced.
9. The tampon according to claim 1 wherein the pledget of said tampon has an essentially uniform density over a cross-section of the tampon.
10. The tampon according to claim 1 wherein said tampon further comprises a core which is highly compressed.