Tampon and method of making

Abstract

A tampon has a pair of longitudinally extending side edges and an absorbent member. The absorbent member has an insertion area, a withdrawal area, and an intermediate area between the insertion area and the withdrawal area and an attachment area. The absorbent material has a plurality of fiber integrated nonwoven layers but are without fiber integration adjacent layers outboard of the attachment area. A withdrawal line extends from the withdrawal area and is attached to the absorbent member in the attachment area such that each of the plurality of absorbent layers is attached to an adjacent nonwoven layer in the attachment area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tampon comprising an absorbent member, comprising:
 an insertion area, a withdrawal area, an intermediate area between the insertion area and the withdrawal area, and an attachment area;   the absorbent member comprising a plurality of discrete nonwoven layers in a stacked and layered configuration;   wherein each of the stacked nonwoven layers extends along a plane along a longitudinal direction parallel with a longitudinal axis of the absorbent member, and a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and wherein the nonwoven layers are stacked along a z-direction perpendicular to the plane, and   wherein the stacked nonwoven layers are attached together in the attachment area to form a unitary stack including all of the layers, such that two or more of the nonwoven layers are attached within an adjacent nonwoven layer via a withdrawal line joining to the absorbent member in the attachment area, and not fiber integrated to an adjacent nonwoven layer in areas outboard of the attachment area; and   wherein the withdrawal line extends from the withdrawal area and comprises a string, ribbon, loop, or tab.   
     
     
         2 . The tampon of  claim 1 , wherein the withdrawal line is discrete and non-integral with each of the nonwoven layers. 
     
     
         3 . The tampon of  claim 1 , wherein each of the nonwoven layers comprises a hydroentangled spunlace nonwoven. 
     
     
         4 . The tampon of  claim 1 , wherein each of the nonwoven layers comprises a hydroentangled nonwoven having a basis weight of greater than 75 grams per square meter. 
     
     
         5 . The tampon of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent member comprises from between 2 nonwoven layers and 20 nonwoven layers, and wherein each of the nonwoven layers has a basis weight of 30 between about 20 grams per square meter to about 600 grams per square meter. 
     
     
         6 . The tampon of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent member comprises from between 4 nonwoven layers and 8 nonwoven layers, and wherein each of the nonwoven layers have a basis weight of between about 30 grams per square meter to about 250 grams per square meter. 
     
     
         7 . The tampon of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent member comprises at least 7 nonwoven layers and wherein each of the nonwoven layers comprise a basis weight of between about 75 grams per square meter to about 120 grams per square meter. 
     
     
         8 . The tampon of  claim 1 , wherein each of the nonwoven layers is needlepunched and has a basis weight of greater than 75 grams per square meter. 
     
     
         9 . The tampon of  claim 1 , wherein each of the nonwoven layers comprises a blend of cotton and rayon fibers. 
     
     
         10 . The tampon of  claim 1 , wherein each of the nonwoven layers comprises plastic fibers. 
     
     
         11 . The tampon of  claim 1 , wherein each of the nonwoven layers comprises plastic fibers selected from the group consisting of polypropylene fibers, polyethylene fibers, polyethylene terephthalate fibers, polylactic acid fibers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The tampon of  claim 1 , wherein each of the nonwoven layers has a basis weight of between about 75 grams per square meter to about 120 grams per square meter. 
     
     
         13 . The tampon of  claim 1 , further comprising an overwrap which surrounds at least the intermediate area. 
     
     
         14 . The tampon of  claim 1 , wherein at least two or more of the nonwoven layers are fiber integrated in the attachment area.