US 12,274,603 B2
Tampons and methods for making tampons
Kevin Charles Strong, Loveland, OH (US)
Assigned to The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Filed by The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Filed on Mar. 8, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/599,355.
Application 18/599,355 is a continuation of application No. 16/716,556, filed on Dec. 17, 2019, granted, now 12,186,169.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/834,427, filed on Apr. 16, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/780,388, filed on Dec. 17, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0207104 A1, Jun. 27, 2024
Int. Cl. A61F 13/20 (2006.01); A61F 13/15 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 13/2088 (2013.01) [A61F 13/2054 (2013.01); A61F 13/2068 (2013.01); A61F 13/208 (2013.01); A61F 13/15707 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for making a tampon, the method comprising steps of:
providing a first primary absorbent pad comprising a first end region and a second end region separated from the first end region by a central region;
providing a second primary absorbent pad comprising a first end region and a second end region separated from the first end region by a central region;
overlaying the central region of the first primary absorbent pad on the central region of the second primary absorbent pad in a crossing configuration, wherein the first and second end regions of the first and second primary absorbent pads do not overlap each other;
positioning a flexible member on the central region of the first primary absorbent pad;
forcing a first portion of the flexible member through the central region of the first primary absorbent pad and the central region of the second primary absorbent pad, wherein the first portion of the flexible member extends outward from the second primary absorbent pad and a second portion of the flexible member extends outward from the first primary absorbent pad;
compressing the first primary absorbent pad and the second primary absorbent pad into a generally cylindrically shaped primary absorbent member that envelops the second portion of the flexible member; and
connecting a withdrawal cord with at least one of the first primary absorbent pad and the second primary absorbent pad.