Tampon Pledget With Improved By-pass Leakage Protection

Abstract

A tampon has two pledgets or one pledget with an absorbent layer and a leak shield located therebetween. The pledgets or pledget with the absorbent layer and the leak shield are folded such that the leak shield covers a portion of the surface of at least one of the pledgets. Both pledgets or the one pledget with the absorbent layer have absorbencies that are each greater than an absorbency of the leak shield. In another embodiment of the tampon, the leak shield comprises a fluid impervious or fluid repellent material(s). In another embodiment of the tampon, the leak shield comprises of an absorbent or hydrophilic material. Yet in another embodiment, the leak shield comprises of multiple layers of materials that are hydrophilic, hydrophobic, or a combination thereof. A method of fabricating a tampon includes forming a pledget, combining a fluid-impervious polymer material with an absorbent material to define a polymer laminate, ramming the pledget and the laminate into an oven tube, and stitching the laminate to the pledget.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A tampon assembly, comprising:
 an applicator having an insertion end adjacent a forward end of a barrel region, and a grip region adjacent a rearward end of said barrel region, wherein said insertion end has a plurality of petals having a petal length, wherein said forward end of said barrel region is opposite said rearward end of said barrel region, wherein said grip region comprising a plurality of protrusions extending outward from said grip region; and   a tampon pledget comprising an outer layer and an inner layer, said outer layer and said inner layer are adjacent each other and folded to form a generally cylindrical shape having a dry width of about 0.54 inches, said tampon pledget including rayon, said tampon pledget having a removal string;   wherein said tampon pledget is housed within said applicator,   wherein said tampon pledget, when introduced to fluid, blooms to a width of between about 1.1 inches and about 1.5 inches;   wherein said tampon applicator insertion end and said barrel region are about 2 inches in length such that said pledget is ejected from said tampon applicator with a bottom end of said pledget being retained in said plurality of petals;   wherein a length of said bottom end of said pledget retained in said petals is less than said petal length of said plurality of petals.   
     
     
         21 . The tampon assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said tampon pledget blooms to a width of greater than 178%. 
     
     
         22 . The tampon assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said tampon pledget blooms to a width of greater than 200%. 
     
     
         23 . The tampon assembly of  claim 20 , wherein during formation, said outer layer is positioned under said inner layer. 
     
     
         24 . The tampon assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said pledget further comprises a third layer. 
     
     
         25 . The tampon assembly of  claim 24 , wherein said third layer has a width of about 1.5″ and a length of about 1.5″. 
     
     
         26 . The tampon assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said tampon assembly further comprises a second lower pledget. 
     
     
         27 . The tampon assembly of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of said outer layer and said inner layer has an angular shape. 
     
     
         28 . The tampon assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said tampon pledget further comprises a leak shield. 
     
     
         29 . The tampon assembly of  claim 28 , wherein said leak shield is hydrophilic when in intimate contact with said tampon pledget. 
     
     
         30 . The tampon assembly of  claim 28 , wherein said leak shield is hydrophobic when it is free from said tampon pledget. 
     
     
         31 . The tampon assembly of  claim 28 , wherein said leak shield is adjacent said outer layer. 
     
     
         32 . The tampon assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said tampon pledget comprises a hydrophilic material. 
     
     
         33 . The tampon assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said plurality of protrusions are angled or curved. 
     
     
         34 . The tampon assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said barrel length of about two inches corresponds to a high insertion position two inches beyond the introitus.