JPH11155902A - Menstrual tampon - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent fingertips from getting stained in trying to pull out a tampon from the vagina by covering the circumferential surface of at least the rear end portion of the main body of the tampon with a flexible plastic sheet cover having many holes through which a liquid permeates. SOLUTION: A menstrual tampon 1 is comprised of a cylindrical tampon body 2 formed by layering more than one body fluid absorbing sheet such as rayon and compressing them together and a cover 3. The cover 3 is formed of a smooth, hydrophobic plastic sheet and covers the circumferential surface of at least the rear end portion 7 of the main body 2, the circumferential surface of the rear end portion 7 and an intermediate portion 8, for example. The cover 3 is approximately 0.01 to 0.08 mm in thickness and is given liquid permeability by forming many holes 12 having a bore size of about 0.2 to 2 mm thereon. The minimum edge-to-edge distance of adjacent holes is about 0.1 to 2 mm. The percentage of the area occupied by the holes 12 is increased gradually from the rear end portion 7 to the front end portion 6, thereby reducing the amount of residual menstrual blood remaining on the tampon body 2 and preventing fingers from getting stained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sanitary tampon for closing a vaginal cavity and absorbing and retaining menstrual blood.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in this type of sanitary tampon,
The main body is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape from body fluid-absorbing fibers,
A drawer cord extends rearward from the rear end of the main body. In such a tampon, the fibers may be removed in the vaginal cavity and remain unsanitary, or when inserted into the vaginal cavity, absorb the menstrual blood in the vaginal cavity wall and hinder smooth insertion. In order to prevent this, a body in which a peripheral surface of a main body is covered with a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric having a large number of openings is known (for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-170026).

[0003]

In this known tampon, the wearer pulls it out of the vaginal cavity using a string, but if the drawer resistance is relatively large, the drawer string may be pulled out or cut. At the time of withdrawal, the tampon main body may be accompanied by a hand, but at that time, menstrual blood is held between the fibers of the nonwoven fabric forming the outer peripheral surface of the tampon main body and adheres to almost the entire area. , The fingertips of the wearer get dirty.

[0004] A main object of the present invention is to reduce dirt on a fingertip caused by menstrual blood when a tampon is withdrawn from a vaginal cavity.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a tampon body in which a tampon main body is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape from a body fluid absorbing material, and is located between a front end portion, a rear end portion, and these both end portions. In a sanitary tampon having an intermediate portion and a drawer cord extending from the rear end portion, at least the peripheral surface of the rear end portion of the peripheral surface of the tampon main body,
It is characterized by being covered with a cover made of a flexible plastic sheet having a large number of liquid-perforated holes.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the peripheral surface of the tampon main body other than the peripheral surface of the tip portion is covered with the cover.

In another preferred embodiment, the aperture has a diameter of about 0.2 to 2 mm, and a minimum distance between the perimeters of adjacent apertures is in a range of about 0.1 to 2 mm. is there.

In still another preferred embodiment, the cover has a peripheral wall extending from an inner surface of the cover toward the tampon main body along a periphery of the opening.

[0009] In still another preferred embodiment, the cover has an opening occupying a unit area of the cover so that the liquid permeability of the cover gradually increases from the rear end to the front end. The area ratio gradually increases from the rear end to the front end.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the sanitary tampon according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Sanitary tampon 1 shown in perspective view in FIG.
Is composed of a tampon body 2 obtained by laminating a plurality of body fluid-absorbing sheets made of rayon fiber, cotton fiber, sponge material, etc., and compression-molding them into a substantially cylindrical shape, and a plastic sheet having a smooth surface and a hydrophobic surface. And a cover 3 covering a part of the peripheral surface of the main body 2.

The main body 2 has a substantially hemispherical front end 6 and a rear end 7 opposite to the front end 6 in its longitudinal direction.
And an intermediate portion 8 located between both ends 6 and 7. The rear end portion 7 and the intermediate portion 8 are formed to have a substantially uniform thickness, and a drawer cord 11 extends rearward from an end wall 9 of the rear end portion 7.

The cover 3 covers the peripheral surfaces of the rear end portion 7 and the intermediate portion 8. The cover 3 has a thickness of 0.01 to 0.08.
mm, and an opening 1 for imparting liquid permeability to the cover 3.
2 are formed in large numbers. The opening 12 is about 0.2 to 2 m
The minimum distance L between adjacent peripheries of the apertures 12 (see FIG. 2) having a hole diameter of m is in the range of about 0.1 to 2 mm. The ratio of the area occupied by the openings 12 in the unit area of the cover 3 (opening area ratio) gradually increases from the rear end 7 to the front end 6 of the main body 2. For example, in the range of about 5 to 10 mm from the rear end of the main body 2 to the front end portion 6, the opening area ratio is set to 0% without forming the opening 12, and the opening area ratio is closer to the front end portion 6 than this range. Can be gradually increased from 20% to 60%.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the cover 3. In the cover 3, the shape of the opening 12 is not particularly limited,
It is generally preferred that it be substantially circular as in the illustrated example, or oval or polygonal. In the figure, the hole diameter of the opening 12 is indicated by D, and the minimum distance between the peripheral edges of adjacent openings 12 is indicated by L.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the cover 3 different from the embodiment of FIG. A peripheral wall 16 having a height H extending from the inner surface of the cover 3 toward the main body 2 is formed along the periphery of the opening 12 of the cover 3. Height H is 0.1 ~
It is set so as to be in the range of 1 mm and not to exceed 1/2 of the hole diameter D. A liquid guide tube extending toward the main body 2 is formed in the opening 12 by the peripheral wall 16. It is quickly transferred to the main body 2 by capillary action. When the peripheral wall 16 is pressed by the vaginal cavity wall and falls down, the area of the opening 12 may be reduced. However, since the height H does not exceed １ ／ of the hole diameter D, the opening 12
Is not completely obstructed, and the transfer of menstrual blood to the main body 2 is always possible. If the opening 12 is reduced in this way while the main body 2 is absorbing a large amount of menstrual blood, a favorable result is obtained in which the absorbed menstrual blood is prevented from flowing back to the outside of the tampon.

2 and 3, the cover 3 is applied with a hydrophilizing agent in the vicinity of the opening 12, collects menstrual blood in the vicinity thereof, and promotes the transfer of menstrual blood to the main body 2. be able to. It is needless to say that the cover 3 covers the main body 2 so as not to restrain the main body 2 which is trying to absorb menstrual blood and expand. Among them, one having extensibility at least in the circumferential direction may be used.

When the sanitary tampon 1 constructed as described above is worn, menstrual blood flows through the distal end 6 of the main body 2 not covered by the cover 3 and the opening 2 of the cover 3.
And does not remain on the surface of the cover 3.
Therefore, when it is necessary to hold the main body 2 by hand in order to pull out the tampon 1, holding at least the rear end portion 7 covered with the cover 3 does not stain the fingertip. In particular, by holding the rear end portion 7 where the opening 12 is not formed, there is no backflow of menstrual blood, so that the risk of soiling the fingertip is further reduced. FIG.
When the cover 3 is used as an example, menstrual blood is less likely to flow back from the opening 12 as compared with the cover 3 shown in FIG.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of a laminated body 21 of a bodily fluid absorbent sheet 22 used for molding the tampon main body 2 according to the present invention, and an intermediate portion 8 of the main body 2 obtained from the laminated body 21. FIG. 2 is a radial cross-sectional view in (see FIG. 1). The laminate 21 is formed by stacking a plurality of sheets of the same shape and size of the absorbent sheet 22 and covering them with the cover 3 except for their leading ends.
The laminate 21 covered with the cover 3 and the drawer string 1
1 are sewn with a thread 23. Such a laminate 21
Are molded together with the cover 3 by a known compression molding means. The cover 3 in the illustrated example differs from that in FIG. 1 in that the opening 12 is formed substantially uniformly throughout the cover.

Looking at the cross section of the tampon 1, the drawer string 11 is located at the center, and the laminate 21 is substantially M
It is bent so as to have a character shape, and forms a fold 26 and a fold 27. However, the cover 3 is folded into these folds 26 and 27. Since the cover 3 comes into close contact with the outer surface of the main body 2 during the molding process, menstrual blood is absorbed by the main body 2 through the opening 12 in addition to being absorbed by the distal end portion 6 of the main body 2. The body 2 tends to swell as it absorbs menstrual blood. At this time, in the pleats 26 and 27, the covers 3 that are relatively less entangled easily separate from each other, and act to promote swelling of the main body 2.

The cover 3 is held by the laminated body 21 after molding which is the main body 2 by being folded into the folds 26 and 27. If necessary, the cover 3 is intermittently welded or laminated to the laminated body 21 before molding. The laminated body 21 is bonded
May be held more firmly.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of a laminate 21a for forming the tampon main body 2 according to the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a radial cross-sectional view of a part of a middle part and a tip part of a main body 2 obtained from 1a. The laminate 21a is formed by laminating a plurality of absorbent fiber sheets 22a (fleece) on a spiral cylindrical body, covering the outer periphery with a cover 3 except for the leading end thereof, and hooking the string 11 inside thereof. A known compression molding means which extends outwardly and squeezes in the radial direction at a position where the laminated body 21a substantially divides into four parts in the circumferential direction to form a compressed groove 26a extending in the longitudinal direction. It is molded by. The cross section of the main body 2 has a so-called four-leaf shape, and the cover 3 forms a fold in the compressed groove 26a.

[0022]

The sanitary tampon according to the present invention has at least its rear end covered with a cover made of a plastic sheet. Therefore, unlike a cover made of a non-woven fabric, menstrual blood is not retained between fibers. . Therefore,
By holding at least the rear end, there is no direct contact with the tampon body absorbing the menstrual blood, and the fingertip is not contaminated with menstrual blood.

The cover does not impair the liquid absorbency of the tampon main body by forming the opening such that the area ratio of the opening increases from the rear end to the front end of the tampon main body.

In the sanitary tampon in which the peripheral wall extending toward the tampon main body is formed along the opening of the cover, the capillary action of the liquid guide tube formed by the peripheral wall causes
It promotes the transfer of menstrual blood to the tampon main body, and at the same time, prevents the backflow of menstrual blood after the transfer. Absent.

In the sanitary tampon in which the main part of the tampon is covered with a cover, the cover is made of a hydrophobic plastic sheet having a smooth surface. It has excellent slipperiness and is easy to insert into the vaginal cavity. Further, when the tampon main body is housed in a cylindrical applicator, it is easy to push out from the applicator when inserting the tampon into the vaginal cavity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sanitary tampon.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a plastic sheet.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plastic sheet in a mode different from that of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a laminated body of an absorbent sheet.

FIG. 5 is a radial cross-sectional view of a sanitary tampon obtained from the laminate of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a laminate of an absorbent sheet, showing another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a radial cross-sectional view of a sanitary tampon obtained from the laminate of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Tampon main body 3 Plastic sheet 6 Front end 7 Rear end 8 Intermediate part 11 String 12 Opening 16 Peripheral wall 21, 21a Laminated body 22, 22a Absorbent material 26, 27 Fold D Hole diameter L Minimum distance between peripheral edges

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A tampon main body is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape from a body fluid-absorbing material, and has a front end portion, a rear end portion, and an intermediate portion located between both end portions. In the extending sanitary tampon, at least the peripheral surface of the rear end portion of the peripheral surface of the tampon main body is covered with a cover made of a flexible plastic sheet having a number of liquid-permeable apertures. The tampon described above. 2. The tampon according to claim 1, wherein a remaining peripheral surface of the tampon main body other than a peripheral surface of the distal end portion is covered with the cover. 3. The cover according to claim 2, wherein the opening of the cover is about 0.2 to 2 mm.
A tampon according to claim 1 or 2, having a hole diameter of 1 mm and a minimum distance between the perimeters of adjacent apertures in the range of about 0.1 to 2 mm. 4. The tampon according to claim 1, wherein the cover has a peripheral wall extending from an inner surface of the cover toward the tampon main body along a peripheral edge of the opening. 5. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the area ratio of the opening to the unit area of the cover is higher than the rear end so that the liquid permeability gradually increases from the rear end toward the front end. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the amount gradually increases toward the tip.
The tampon according to any one of the above.