Removal string for tampon pledget

• US 6,142,984 A
• Filed: 12/30/1997
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Playtex Products Incorporated (Edgewell Personal Care Company)
• Original Assignee: Playtex Products Incorporated (Edgewell Personal Care Company)
• Inventors: Brown, Jeffrey M., Pauley, Suzanne M., Jackson, Dane R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Talbot, Brian K.
• Application Number:
  US09/000,735
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 422/387, 422/389.9, 604/385.6, 604/387, 604/378, 604/381, 604/384, 604/904, 604/385.17, 604/385.18
• US Class Current: 604/385.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/34 Means for withdrawing tampons , e.g. withdrawal strings
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/26 Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/42 Use of materials characterised by their function or physical properties liquid bandages A61L26/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/04 Polysiloxanes
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/643 containing silicon in the main chain
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/904 Tampons

Abstract

A tampon including a pledget with a textured tampon string. The string is one or more of the following constructions: crocheted, cabled, braided or a combination of two or more thereof. The textured tampon string may have a siloxane solution applied thereto or included therein.

Claims

1. A tampon comprising:

a pledget;

a textured tampon string connected to said pledget, said string being selected from the group of constructions consisting of crotcheted, cabled, braided, and combinations of two or more thereof; and

a non-wicking coating on said textured tampon string, said coating comprising a siloxane which decreases wicking of a fluid along the string.

2. A tampon of claim 1, wherein the string is made of a material selected from the group consisting of:

polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, rayon, and combinations thereof.

3. A tampon of claim 1, wherein the siloxane comprises an organomodified polysiloxane.

4. A string for a tampon pledget, the string being coated with a solution comprising siloxane, wherein the string demonstrates a decreased wicking of a fluid along the string.

5. The string of claim 4, wherein the string comprises at least two strings.

6. The string of claim 4, wherein the string is a textured tampon string having a construction selected from the group consisting of crotcheted, cabled, braided, and combinations thereof.

7. The string of claim 4, wherein the string is made of a material selected from the group consisting of:

polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, rayon, and combinations thereof.

8. The string of claim 4, wherein the siloxane comprises an organomodified polysiloxane.

9. The string of claim 4, further comprising a coverstock about the tampon pledget, and wherein the string is connected to the coverstock.

10. A method of substantially improving the performance of a string of a tampon pledget comprising applying a solution comprising siloxane to the string, wherein the improved performance is decreased wicking of a fluid along the string.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of curing the siloxane solution.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the siloxane includes an organomodified polysiloxane.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the string comprises at least two strings.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming a textured tampon string from the at least two removal strings, the textured tampon string having a construction selected from the group consisting of:

crotcheted, cabled, braided, and combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein forming the textured tampon string is prior to applying the solution to the textured tampon string.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein applying the solution to the at least two strings is prior to the forming of the textured tampon string.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least two removal strings is four strings.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the substantial improvement in performance further comprises enhanced grippability of the removal string.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the string is made of a material selected from the group consisting of:

polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, rayon, and combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the textured tampon string is made of a material selected from the group consisting of:

polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, rayon, and combinations thereof.