Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Donald George Fox

Steven James Nielsen

Tammy Jo Balzar

Tammy Jo Rentmeester

Amy Michele Achter

Daniel James Heuer

Frederick Myron Guenther

Laurie Couture-Dorschner

Tammy J Rentmeester

Lisa White

Mary S Semanek

A packaging system for any manner of personal care products includes a package member configured for receipt of the personal care products therein. The external surface of the package member has a nondescript configuration that is generally not indicative of the types of products carried in the package. A flap member is connected to and repositionable on the external surface of the package member. A first side of the flap member may have product identifying indicia thereon, and a second opposite side of the flap member has a nondescript surface configuration that is not indicative of the personal care products within the package. Attaching devices are disposed to removeably secure the flap member in a first position on the external surface of the package such that the first side having the product identifying indicia thereon is outwardly facing, and in a second position wherein the flap member is flipped over and the second side having the nondescript configuration is outwardly facing.

Packaging for personal care products

A method of forming a catamenial tampon is disclosed wherein the tampon is useful in preventing premature leakage of body fluid from a woman's vagina and in providing better utilization of the absorbent during use. The method includes the steps of assembling a resilient member and an absorbent to form a structure having a central longitudinal axis X&mdash;X. The resilient member can be either aligned with or offset from the central longitudinal axis X&mdash;X. The absorbent and the resilient member are rolled or folded up into an elongated softwind which has a first end and a second end. The softwind is folded upon itself such that the first and second ends are aligned adjacent to one another and the softwind contains at least two folds therebetween. The softwind is then compressed into a pledget having an insertion end and a trailing end. A withdrawal string is secured to the pledget to form a tampon. The withdrawal string facilitates removal of the tampon from the woman's vagina.

Method of forming a tampon having a resilient member

A method of forming a catamenial tampon is disclosed wherein the tampon is useful in preventing premature leakage of body fluid from a woman's vagina and in providing better utilization of the absorbent during use. The method includes the steps of assembling a resilient member and an absorbent to form a structure having a central longitudinal axis X--X. The resilient member can be either aligned with or offset from the central longitudinal axis X--X. The absorbent and the resilient member are rolled or folded up into an elongated softwind which has a first end and a second end. The softwind is folded upon itself such that the first and second ends are aligned adjacent to one another and the softwind contains at least two folds therebetween. The softwind is then compressed into a pledget having an insertion end and a trailing end. A withdrawal string is secured to the pledget to form a tampon. The withdrawal string facilitates removal of the tampon from the woman's vagina.

A tampon applicator is disclosed which includes first and second telescopically assembled members. The first member is designed to house an absorbent tampon. The first member has first and second spaced apart ends and is formed from at least two separate and distinct layers. An insertion tip is integrally formed on the first end of the first member and extends outwardly therefrom. The insertion tip is constructed from at least one of the two distinct layers and has a thickness which is less than that of the first member. The second member is telescopically mounted in the second end of the first member and is adapted to expel the tampon through the insertion tip as it is pushed into the first member.

Tampon applicator with multi-layered tips

Tampon applicator

A tampon is disclosed which is useful in preventing premature leakage of body fluid from a woman's vagina especially during her menstrual period. The tampon includes an absorbent and a resilient member. The resilient member is positioned on or within the absorbent and both members are rolled or formed into an elongated softwind having a first end and a second end. The softwind is folded upon itself such that the first and second ends are aligned adjacent to one another and the softwind contains at least two folds therebetween. The softwind is compressed into an elongated pledget having an insertion end and a trailing end. The resilient member is capable of expanding at least a portion of the pledget so as to prevent premature leakage of body fluid when inserted into a woman's vagina. The tampon further includes a withdrawal string for removing the tampon from a woman's vagina. The withdrawal string is attached to the first and second ends of the softwind.

Tampon having a resilient member

A thermoplastic applicator is disclosed which exhibits accelerated breakup when immersed in water. The applicator includes a hollow, cylindrically shaped member which holds a pledget. This cylindrically shaped member is constructed of a water-soluble or water-dispersible material and has a wall with a thickness of less than about 0.05 inches (about 12.7 mm). A plurality of grooves are formed in the wall in a predetermined pattern to accelerate breakup of the applicator into small unrecognizable pieces. The grooves have a depth of between about 5 percent to 75 percent of the thickness of the wall. The deeper the grooves, the shorter the time period needed to breakup the applicator.

Thermoplastic applicator exhibiting accelerated breakup when immersed in

Tampon applicator with multilayered tip

A curved tampon applicator is disclosed having an improved fingergrip for preventing rotation of the applicator during insertion of a catamenial tampon into a woman's vagina. The applicator includes a tubular member having an arcuate shape with a centerline formed on an arc having a predetermined radius of curvature. The tubular member has a stepped outer profile with an enlarged portion designed to house a tampon joined to a smaller fingergrip portion. The tubular member has a forward end through which the tampon is ejected and a rearward end through which a plunger is slidable. The fingergrip portion has a passageway formed therethrough which is sized and configured to receive the plunger and an exterior periphery. Formed on the exterior periphery of the fingergrip portion are first and second pairs of flat surfaces. The first pair of the flat surfaces is aligned parallel to a plane coincident with a radius forming the arcuate centerline of the tubular member and the second pair of flat surfaces is aligned perpendicular to the first pair of flat surfaces. The fingergrip portion also contains a plurality of spaced apart ribs, each of which completely surrounds the exterior periphery. The ribs cooperate with the first and second pairs of flat surfaces to prevent rotation of the curved tampon applicator during insertion of a tampon into a woman's vagina.

Curved tampon applicator having an improved fingergrip

A thermoplastic applicator is disclosed which exhibits accelerated breakup when immersed in water. The applicator includes a hollow, cylindrically shaped member which holds a pledget. This cylindrically shaped member is constructed of a water-soluble or water-dispersible material and has a wall with a thickness of less than about 0.05 inches (about 12.7 mm). A plurality of grooves are formed in the wail in a predetermined pattern to accelerate breakup of the applicator into small unrecognizable pieces, The grooves have a depth of between about 5 percent to 75 percent of the thickness of the wall. The deeper the grooves, the shorter the time period needed to breakup the applicator.

Growing community of inventors

Neenah, WI, United States of America

Donald George Fox