The invention relates to a tampon. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a tampon.

Tampons are used worldwide as a sanitary product for absorbing body fluids, for example during female menstruation. A tampon usually comprises a cylindrical body that consists of a quantity of compressed moisture-absorbent material, such as absorbent cotton. The tampon is configured for internal use in the body and will need to be replaced after several hours of use.

A result of the good moisture-absorbent nature of the tampon is that it expands to a great extent when it comes into contact with liquid. As a result, flushing a tampon down the toilet can lead to blockage of both the toilet and the drains. Therefore, a tampon must be disposed of with the (general) waste after use. For this purpose, the user generally wraps the tampon in toilet paper or, if available, in a plastic or paper disposal bag and disposes of the entirety in a waste bin. However, if no waste bin is present, this leads to an unpleasant situation for the user, with the user being required to take the used tampon with them in order to throw it away somewhere else. It should be understood that separate (plastic) disposal bags are not always available, meaning that in such a situation the user will have to take the tampon, optionally wrapped in toilet paper, with them. In order to always have a wrapper available for the used tampon, it has already been proposed that the tampon can be provided with an attached wrapper. An example of such a tampon is described in WO 03/015676, wherein a tampon is provided with a wrapper folded up in a harmonica structure. However, this variant embodiment of the tampon is associated with several drawbacks. For instance, wrapping the tampon in the attached wrapper requires several relatively complex actions from the user, with there being a high risk that the user comes into contact with soiled material. There is also a high risk that the attached wrapper itself becomes soiled on the outside.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved tampon that at least partly eliminates the abovementioned drawbacks.

To this end, the invention provides a tampon, comprising a substantially cylindrical moisture-absorbent tampon body, having a casing that extends between a first and a second end; and a substantially tubular cover that is closed on one side, wherein the closed end of the cover encloses the first end of the tampon body and a part of the tubular cover that adjoins the first end of the tampon body is attached to the casing of the tampon body, wherein a non-attached part of the tubular cover is freely movable between a position in which the cover fully encloses the tampon body, and a position in which the part of the tampon body to which the cover is not attached is fully uncovered.

A tampon according to the invention offers several advantages compared to tampons known from the prior art.

As already stated, the tampon body comprises a first end and a second end.

Below, the first end is understood to mean the side where the tampon body is usually provided with a string. The second end of the tampon body is the front, wherein the front comprises a blunt, substantially truncated end. The front is the side which is first inserted into the body during use of the tampon. It is obvious that the moisture-absorbent tampon body can expand in size and/or swell if it comes into contact with moisture. In this case, the tampon body will expand in particular in the radial direction, although it is also possible for the tampon body to expand in the longitudinal direction. The degree of expansion and/or swelling is obviously dependent on the degree to which moisture is absorbed by the tampon body. The moisture-absorbent tampon body is, for example, made from absorbent cotton. As the substantially tubular cover comprises a closed end, it is possible that the first end of the tampon body is substantially fully enclosed by this closed end of the cover. Furthermore, the part of the tubular cover that adjoins the first end of the tampon body is attached to the casing of the tampon body. In this case, the cover is preferably attached to a peripheral wall of the tampon body near the first end of the tampon body. Attaching the cover to the casing of the tampon body has the advantage that the non-attached part of the cover can be moved without breaking the connection between the cover and the tampon body. The connection between the cover and the tampon body present on the peripheral wall of the tampon body ensures that the cover can easily be moved into the position in which the cover fully encloses the tampon body after the tampon has been used by virtue of the fact that the enclosing of the first end no longer needs to be realized but is already present. As a result, the user can allow the cover to enclose the tampon body after use with a single action. This is an advantage compared to the known tampons provided with an integrated wrapper. In the case of the tampons that are already known, the user has to perform several actions in succession, including enclosing the first end with the wrapper, wherein there is a risk that the user comes into contact with soiled material, such as the tampon body and/or a part of the wrapper.

Since the first end of the tampon body is substantially fully enclosed by the closed end of the cover and in that case a part of the tubular cover that adjoins the first end of the tampon body is attached to the casing of the tampon body, the closed end of the tubular cover forms a barrier to moisture. The tubular cover is preferably impermeable to liquid in all variant embodiments. The presence of the moisture barrier ensures that the risk of liquids leaking is minimized. In conventional tampons, the leakage of liquid via the back of the tampon body is a common problem. This problem is not solved by the tampons known in the prior art that are provided with a cover or wrapper. It is therefore advantageous that, thanks to the positioning and attachment of the cover, liquid is prevented from leaking via the back of the tampon body.

The closed end of the cover forms a receiving space into which the first end of the tampon body can be placed. The presence of this receiving space ensures that the cover can be attached to the tampon body in a simple manner without this requiring connecting means. The use of connecting means such as glue, thread, etc. is undesirable since the body may react sensitively, and possibly even allergically, to these. It is also the case that such fastening means or methods require an extra manufacturing step.

The tubular cover is preferably substantially flexible in all possible variant embodiments. If the cover comprises a certain degree of flexibility, this will have a positive influence on the movability of the cover. In this case, moving the cover into a position in which the cover substantially fully encloses the tampon body is simplified, in particular. This feature also simplifies the possibility of moving the cover at least partially into a rolled up and/or unrolled position.

In a preferred embodiment of the tampon according to the invention, the cover is substantially flexible and the part of the tubular cover that is attached to the casing has a diameter before it is attached that is smaller than the diameter of the part of the tubular cover that is not attached.

The diameter of the part of the tubular cover that is attached to the casing preferably has a diameter that is smaller than or equal to the diameter of the tampon body in a non-swollen state. If the diameter of the part of the tubular cover that is attached to the casing has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the tampon body in a non-swollen state, a clamping connection can be achieved between the cover and the tampon body. An example of such a clamping connection is that a sufficiently strong attachment can be created in a simple way without the addition of connecting means.

The clamping connection also ensures that the moisture-absorbent material of the tampon body is at least partly compressed at the location of the connection. As a result, an internal moisture barrier can also be formed at the location of the first end of the tampon body. Although an external moisture barrier is already present due to the enclosure of the first end of the tampon body by the closed end of the cover, the internal moisture barrier provides additional protection.

The diameter of the non-attached part of the tubular cover is preferably at least equal to or greater than the diameter of the tampon body in a non-swollen state. In a possible variant embodiment, the diameter of the non-attached part of the tubular cover is equal to the diameter of the tampon body in a swollen state.

The cover preferably comprises a tapering cover part between the part of the tubular cover that is attached to the casing and the part of the tubular cover that is not attached. In other words, there is a tapering cover part between the transition from the part of the cover with the relatively large diameter to the part of the cover with the relatively small diameter. The tapering cover part is preformed in the cover. The tapering cover part can serve as a protective wall for the user during insertion of the tampon. During use of the tampon according to the invention, the tapering cover part can be released by the user before the tampon is inserted. This method is explained in more detail in the figures.

The tubular cover preferably has an internal surface and an external surface. The internal surface is understood to mean the surface that, seen initially, is located on the inside of the tubular cover. The external surface is understood to mean the surface that is on the outside, in other words facing the outside world, of the tubular cover.

In a preferred embodiment, the open end of the tubular cover is at least partially rolled up, wherein the internal surface is rolled over the external surface in such a way that the internal surface faces the tampon body when the cover is unrolled over the tampon body. In this case, the rolled up part of the cover forms a projecting ring.

Before use, the cover is preferably in an at least partially rolled up position, in which no contact can be made from outside with the external surface of the cover. In this way, the risk that the external surface of the cover becomes soiled is minimized. It is desirable for the external surface of the cover not to become soiled because it serves as a wrapper after use, when the cover encloses the tampon body.

Understandably, this wrapper needs to be free of soiling so that the user can take it with them in a hygienic way after use.

The external surface of the cover is enclosed in the internal surface of the cover in the rolled up position. Before use, the cover is preferably moved into a position of use, with the cover being at least partially rolled up to form a projecting ring and with this ring being positioned at a distance from the first end of the tampon body.

In particular, the projecting ring is situated in the position of use in line with the casing of the tampon body. An advantage of this position of use is also that the outwardly facing part of the cover offers protection to the user's finger if the tampon is inserted by hand. A further advantage is that this means that the external surface of the cover cannot be soiled during use of the tampon.

During removal of the tampon, for example by means of a string, the part of the cover that is situated in line with the casing will fold back and already guide and/or commence the unrolling of the cover. These steps are explained in more detail in the figures.

In a possible variant embodiment of the tampon, the part of the tubular cover that adjoins the first end of the tampon body is attached to the casing of the tampon body under prestress. Attaching the cover to the casing under prestress has the advantage that it is possible to create a sufficiently strong connection between the tampon body and the cover. The length of the non-attached part of the tubular cover is preferably greater than the length of the tampon body. If the length of the non-attached part of the tubular cover is greater than the length of the tampon body, it is possible for the cover to substantially fully enclose the tampon body. It is an object to keep the cover as compact as possible without this impairing the functionality.

In a possible embodiment of the tampon according to the invention, the length of the non-attached part of the tubular body is at least 1 .5 times greater than the length of the tampon body. If the cover still has some excess in a position in which it encloses the tampon body, it is possible for the user to close the cover by inserting a knot here, for example. If the tampon is provided with a string, it is also possible, for example, to seal the cover using the string. It is also conceivable for there to be a variant embodiment in which the cover can be closed by twisting and/or rotating. The length of the cover is preferably no more than 2 times greater than the length of the tampon body.

In a preferred embodiment of the tampon according to the invention, the tampon body comprises a string for removing the tampon, wherein the string penetrates through the closed end of the tubular cover that adjoins the rear side of the tampon part. The presence of a string facilitates, inter alia, the removal of the tampon after use. Although the string penetrates through the closed end of the tubular cover, this will not have an adverse effect on the moisture barrier formed by the closed end of the cover. It is conceivable for the cover to enclose the cord in a dimensionally stable manner. In a preferred embodiment, the tubular cover is at least partially elastic so that it can be stretched in at least the radial direction. As already stated above, and as is generally known in the specialist field, the moisture-absorbent tampon body is configured to expand and/or to swell. If the moisture-absorbent tampon body expands and/or swells after it has absorbed moisture, for example during use, it is advantageous for the tubular cover to be configured to be able to at least partially follow this change in dimensions.

The tubular cover is, for example, made from a rubber, for example natural rubber, latex or polyisoprene. As already stated, the cover should have a certain degree of flexibility. The cover should also be suitable for being inserted into the body. This means that the cover must be free of materials that could be harmful to the human body. A material that is suitable for manufacturing a cover according to the invention is, for example, rubber. The rubber may, for example, be a natural rubber. Other non-limiting examples are, for example, latex or polyisoprene.

In a possible variant embodiment, the tubular cover is opaque. Providing an opaque tubular cover for enclosing the tampon body has the advantage that the cover thus provides a screen, as a result of which it is not visible from the outside what is in the cover. This also means that, after use, wherein the cover fully encloses the tampon body, no soiling, such as from blood, is visible from the outside.

It is also possible for the tubular cover to be configured in an opaque color, so that discolorations of the tampon body are not visible from the outside while it is screened by the cover.

The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a tampon. When reference is made to tampon, this is understood to mean a tampon according to the invention having the advantages already described above. A method according to the invention comprises the steps of providing a substantially cylindrical mold, immersing the mold in a liquid, hardening the liquid so that a substantially tubular cover that is closed on one side is formed, providing a substantially cylindrical moisture-absorbent tampon body, having a casing that extends between a first and a second end, enclosing the first end of the tampon body with the closed end of the cover, and attaching the part of the tubular cover that adjoins the first end of the tampon body to the casing of the tampon body. Using this method, it is possible to manufacture a tampon as referred to in the present invention. The method according to the invention is relatively simple and is to be implemented in a conventional tampon production process. Conventional tampon bodies that are optionally provided with a string can be used in combination with a cover in order to obtain a tampon according to the present invention.

The liquid that is used during the method can, for example, be a rubber, such as a natural rubber. The hardening of the liquid may possibly occur through the drying and/or heating of the liquid. In a possible embodiment, the method comprises the step of attaching the part of the tubular cover that adjoins the first end of the tampon body to the casing of the tampon body under prestress. It is further possible for the method to comprise the step of at least partially rolling up the open end of the tubular cover, wherein an internal surface of the tubular cover is rolled over an external surface of the tubular cover.

In a further possible method, this comprises the steps of successively folding the closed end of the tubular cover inwards twice, wherein a cup is formed, and placing the tampon body in the cup.

To realize a preferred embodiment of the tampon, the method comprises providing a passage opening for a string in the closed end of the tubular cover. This is possible, for example, by penetrating the closed end of the tubular cover that adjoins the rear side of the tampon body. However, it is also possible for a passage opening to already be provided in the closed end of the tubular cover before it is penetrated by the string. This can be done, for example, by means of cutting and/or perforating.

It is conceivable that the part of the cylindrical mold where the closed end of the tubular cover is formed has a diameter which is smaller than a further part of the mold. In this way, it is possible to obtain a tubular cover according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the part of the tubular cover that is attached to the casing has a diameter before it is attached that is smaller than the diameter of the part of the tubular cover that is not attached.

The invention will be explained by means of non-limiting illustrative embodiments illustrated in the figures below, in which:

figure 1 a shows a cross section of a possible variant embodiment of a tampon according to the invention;

figure 1 b shows a diagrammatic side view of the tampon as illustrated in figure 1 a; figure 1 c shows a diagrammatic plan view of the tampon as illustrated in figures 1 a and 1 b; figures 2a-d show diagrammatic representations of the tampon as shown in figures 1 a-c, wherein the cover is in different positions;

figures 3a-h show the successive steps of a possible method for the use of the tampon as shown in figures 2a-d;

figure 4a shows a mold for manufacturing a cover for a tampon according to the invention; and

figures 4b-e show the steps of a method for manufacturing a cover according to the invention.

Corresponding reference numerals in these figures correspond to corresponding parts.

Figures 1 a-c show different views of a cross section of a possible variant embodiment of a tampon (1 ) according to the invention. Figure 1 a shows a cross section of a possible variant embodiment of a tampon (1 ) according to the invention. The tampon (1 ) comprises a cylindrical moisture- absorbent tampon body (2) having a casing (3) that extends between a first end (4) and a second end (5). The tampon (1 ) further comprises a substantially tubular cover (6) that is closed on one side. The closed end (7) of the cover (6) is configured to enclose the first end (4) of the tampon body (2). The cover (6) is also configured to be attached to the casing (3) of the tampon body (1 ), in particular to a part adjoining the first end (4) of the tampon body (2). In the cross sections shown, this enclosure and attachment are not shown. The cover (6) comprises a non- attached part (8) that is freely movable between a position in which the cover fully encloses the tampon body (2), and a position in which the part of the tampon body (2) to which the cover (6) is not attached is fully uncovered. These positions are shown in figures 2 and 3.

The diameter (d1 ) of the part of the tubular cover (6) that is configured to be attached to the casing (3) of the tampon body is smaller than the diameter (d2) of the part (8) of the tubular cover (6) that is not attached. The non-attached part (8) of the tubular cover (6) further comprises a tapering cover part (9) that serves as a protective wall (9). The tubular cover (6) comprises an internal surface (Ai) and an external surface (Au). The open end of the tubular cover (6) is partially rolled up, wherein the internal surface (Ai) is rolled over the external surface (Au) in such a way that the internal surface (Ai) faces the tampon body (2) when the cover (6) is unrolled over the tampon body. In this case, the rolled up part of the cover (6) forms a projecting ring (1 1 ).

The tampon body (2) also comprises a string (10) for removal of the tampon (1 ). The string (10) penetrates the closed end (7) of the tubular cover (6) that adjoins the rear side (4) of the tampon body (2). In the variant embodiment shown, the tampon body (2) is provided with grooves to promote the absorption of moisture. However, it is also possible for the tampon body to be free of grooves. It is also possible for the tampon body to be provided with wings for extra protection that are known in the specialist field.

Figure 1 b shows a diagrammatic side view of the tampon (1 ) as illustrated in figure 1 a. The figure shows that the closed end (7) forms a receiving space for receiving the tampon body (6). The tampon body (3) is in a non-swollen state in the figure shown. Dashed lines indicate how the tampon body (3) will possibly expand after absorbing moisture. It can be seen here that the diameter (d2) of the non-attached part (8) of the cover (6) is substantially equal to the diameter of the tampon body

(3) in the expanded state.

Figure 1 c shows a diagrammatic plan view of the tampon (1 ) as illustrated in figures 1 a and 1 b.

Figures 2a-d show diagrammatic representations of the tampon (1 ) as shown in figures 1 a-c, wherein the cover (6) is in different positions. Figure 2a shows that the closed end (7) of the cover (6) encloses the first end (4) of the tampon body (2) and that a part of the tubular cover (6) that adjoins the first end

(4) of the tampon body (2) is attached to the casing (3) of the tampon body (2), wherein the part of the tampon body (2) to which the cover (6) is not attached is left fully clear. The rolled up part of the cover (6) that forms a projecting ring (1 1 ) is in this case situated on the attached part of the cover (6). It is conceivable for the tampon (1 ) to be supplied to the user in the state shown in this figure.

Figure 2b clearly shows that the cover (6) has a tapering cover part (9). The tapering cover part (9) extends between the part of the cover (6) that is attached to the casing (3) and the part of the cover (6) that is not attached. In this case, the projecting ring (1 1 ) is positioned at a distance from the tampon body (2). The internal surface (Ai) faces outward. The user can move the cover (6) into this position herself before inserting the tampon (1 ). Figure 2c shows a similar position to that illustrated in figure 2b. Here, however, it is illustrated how the tampon body (2) has already expanded. The cover (6) at the location of the attachment is slightly stretched in the radial direction. The

connection between the cover (6) and the tampon body (2) continues to remain in place.

Figure 2d shows that the process of enclosing the tampon body (2) with the non- attached part (8) of the cover (6) has already commenced. The external surface (Au) of the cover (6) that was already protected by the internal surface (Ai) of the cover in figure 2c now faces away from the tampon body (2).

Figures 3a-h show the successive steps of a possible method for the use of a tampon (1 ) according to the invention.

Figure 3a shows how the user inserts the tampon (1 ) inside a body cavity in the body (12). The arrows indicate the direction of insertion of the tampon (1 ). In this case, the user's finger is surrounded by the tapering cover part (9). The tampon body (2) and the cover (6) are both configured to be fully accommodated in the body (12). Figures 3b and 3c show how the tampon (1 ) can be removed after use. The arrows indicate the direction of removal of the tampon (1 ). The user removes the tampon (1 ) from the body (12) by pulling on the string (10). As the tampon (1 ) is being pulled out, the cover part (9) folds back and the cover (6) already begins to unroll. In this case, the internal surface (Ai) of the cover (6) turns toward the tampon body (2). The rolling direction of the cover (6) is likewise indicated with arrows.

Figure 3d shows the tampon (1 ) that has been removed from the body (12). The user holds the tampon (1 ) by the string (10) and can continue to unroll the cover (6) with a simple movement. This is further shown in figures 3e and 3f. Figure 3g shows that the cover (6) substantially fully encloses the tampon body (2). In this case, the external surface (Au) of the cover (6) faces outward. Due to the fact that the external surface (Au) was substantially not able to come into contact with the inside of the body, the external surface (Au) is substantially free of soiling. The cover (6) can subsequently be closed as shown in figure 3h. A further advantage achieved thereby is that the cover also prevents undesired odors from being able to spread.

Figure 4a shows a mold (13) for manufacturing a cover for a tampon according to the invention. The mold (13) is substantially cylindrical. The part of the cylindrical mold (13) where the closed end of the tubular cover is formed has a diameter (dm 1 ) which is smaller than the diameter (dm2) of a further part of the mold (13). The mold (13) further comprises a bottle-shaped neck (14) for forming a tapering cover part in the cover.

Figures 4b-e show the steps required for manufacturing a cover according to the invention. The mold (13) is immersed in a liquid, for example according to precision dip molding techniques. This results in a liquid layer (15) on the mold (13), see figure 4b. After the liquid has hardened, a substantially tubular cover (6) that is closed on one side is formed. Figure 4c shows, using arrows, the direction in which the internal surface (Ai) of the cover (6) must be rolled over the external surface (Au). Figure 4c also shows that a passage opening can be provided for the string in the closed end of the tubular cover.

Figure 4d indicates how the closed end of the tubular cover can be successively folded inwards twice so that a cup (16) is formed in which the tampon body (not shown) can be placed.

Figure 4e shows the preformed tapering cover part (9) that is formed by a part of the cover that is not attached to the tampon body. Figure 4f illustrates the same configuration of the cover (6) once again diagrammatically, wherein arrows illustrate the directions of movement of the cover (6).

The providing of the tampon body and the attachment of the cover to the tampon body is not shown in figures 4a-f. It is, however, obvious that these steps can take place after the step of figure 4c, figure 4d or figure 4e. It will be clear that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments illustrated and described here, but that countless variants are possible within the framework of the attached claims which will be obvious to the person skilled in the art.