A HYGIENE PRODUCT AND A METHOD FOR ITS MANUFACTURE

Abstract: A hygiene product, e.g. a tampon or a sanitary towel, includes liquid-absorbing fibres in the form of a non-woven material. In addition to the liquid-absorbing fibres, the non-woven material incorporates, in at least one outer layer thereof, meltable fibres, which are fused together to form a net-like structure. In a method for producing hygiene products, such as a tampon or a sanitary towel, the liquid-absorbing fibres are formed into a non-woven material, which is then formed into the hygiene product. The meltable fibres are supplied to the liquid-absorbing fibres in a manner such that the meltable fibres are incorporated in at least one outer layer of the non-woven material, whereafter heat is applied to this outer layer in a manner to cause the meltable fibres therein to fuse together, to form a net-like structure.

Description: A hygiene product and a method for its manufacture The present invention relates to a hygiene product, for example a tampon or sanitary towel, which comprises i liquid-absorbing fibres in the form of a non-woven material, ^ and to a method for producing such a hygiene product, in whic 5 method the liquid-absorbing fibres are formed into a non- woven material, which -is then formed into said product. Present day tampons are produced from a non-woven material containing liquid-absorbing cotton fibres or viscose-rayon fibres, or a mixture thereof. 10 One problem with the use of known tampons is that fibres tend to loosen from the tampon and remain in the vaginal passage of the wearer, when the tampon is removed. This can ~ lead to irritation in the vagina, and to other problems_ of a medical nature. 15 The object of the present invention is to provide a method of counteracting the tendency of fibres to loosen from such hygiene products. This object is achieved with a hygiene product according to the invention, and with a method for the manufacture of 20 such a product in accordance with the invention, the charac¬ teristic features of which are set forth in the following claims. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to a working example relating to the manufacture 25 of a tampon. . It will be understood, however, that the invention can also be applied to other hygiene products, such as sanitary towels, with which fibres are liable to f loosen and therewith cause discomfort. The concept of the invention is to bond the fibres in * 30 the outer layer of the tampon, so as to reduce the possibility of said fibres becoming free therefrom. This concept is ful¬ filled by supplying meltable fibres to the liquid-absorbing fibres, such that said meltable fibres are located in at least the outer layer of the non-woven material comprising 35 said liquid-absorbing fibres and said meltable fibres; and by applying heat to said outer layer in a manner to cause the meltable fibres to fuse together to form a network which binds the liquid-absorbing fibres, such as to counteract the release of fibres therefrom. This heat treatment of the non- woven material can be effected before the tampon is formed or subsequent thereto, said tampon being formed by rolling or dragging the non-woven material to tampon form. The meltable fibres suitably constitute 5-50% by weight, preferably 20-40% by weight, of the total fibre weight of the tampon. The meltable fibres may comprise synthetic polymers or co-polymers, such as polyethylene, polypropene, polyamide, or polyester. The meltable fibres may also be heterophyllous, i.e. comprise a core of one polymer and an outer sheath of another polymer of lower melting point than the former, or two mutually adjacent layers of mutually different polymers or co-polymers of mutually different melting points. Subsequent to heat-treating and pre-forming the non- woven material, the preformed tampon can be pressed to its final form. The non-woven material can also be needled in a conventional manner, so as to improve binding of the liquid- absorbing fibres. The method of manufacturing a tampon in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to three working examples. Examp —le I 80 % by weight of viscose rayon fibres having a fineness 3 deniers and a length of 40 mm was mixed with 20% by weight heterophyllous fibres (polypropene in the core and poly¬ ethylene in the sheath) of the same fineness and the same length as the rayon fibres. The mixture was formed into a non-woven fabric in a conventional manner, needled and pre- shaped to tampon form. The outer surface of the pre-form was brought into contact with a tool lieated to 145°C, for a short period of time sufficient to cause the heterophyllous fibres to fuse together, to form an integrated , continuous fibre net. The pre-formed tampon was then allowed to cool, where¬ after it wa-s pressed to its final form. Example II 70% by weight viscose rayoή fibre having a fineness of 3 denier and a fibre length of 38 mm was mixed with 30% by weight polypropene fibre of the same fineness as the rayon fibres and a fibre length of 50 mm. The fibre mixture was processed in accordance with Example I, with the exception that the pre-formed tampon was heated to 180°C. Example III 80% by weight viscose rayon fibres having a fineness of 3 denier and a fibre length of 38 mm was mixed with 20% by weight polypropene fibres having a length-weight of 1.5 denier and a fibre length of 50 mm. The fibre mixture was treated in. accordance with-Example II. The tampons produced in accordance with Examples II and III were compared with a conventional tampon, which gave the following result. Fibre release Relative water Relative absorption in water absor a free state tion under pressure Conventional tampon variable 7.2 3.5 Example II none 6.0 3.2 Example II none 7.3 3.7 The comparison shows that the tampon produced in accordance with the invention is completely free of loose fibres and that the water absorption properties of said tampon are approxi¬ mately the same as those of the conventional tampon. With respect to water absorption, the tampon produced in Example III provides even better results. This is most surprising, in view of the fact that the ability of the polypropene fibres to absorb water is negligible. Without being bound. to any particular theory, it is thought that this surprising effect is due to the ability of the net- O PI like structure to prevent the liquid absorbent fibres from being compacted, or to counteract such tendencies, thereby holding passages to the interior of the tampon open. OMPI

Claims: The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1. A hygiene product, e.g. a tampon or a sanitary towel, comprising liquid-absorbing fibres in the form of non-woven material, characterized in that in addition to the liquid- absorbing fibres, the non-woven material also incorporates, at least in one outer layer of the hygiene product, meltable fibres which have been fused together to form a net-like structure. 2. A hygiene product according to Claim 1, characterized in that the non-woven material is needled. 3. A hygiene product according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the meltable fibres comprise synthetic polymers or co-polymers. 4. A hygiene product according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the meltable fibres constitute 5-50% of the total fibre-weight of the hygiene product. 5. A hygiene product according to Claim 4, characterized in that the meltable fibres constitute 20-40% by weight of the total fibre-weight of the product. 6. A method for producing a hygiene product, e.g. a tampon or a sanitary towel, of the kind which includes liquid-absorbing fibres, in which method the liquid-absorbing fibres are formed into a non-woven material, which is then formed into said hygiene product, characterized by supplying meltable fibres to the liquid-absorbing fibres in a manner such that said meltable fibres are located in at least one outer layer of the non-woven material, and by applying heat to said at least one outer layer, so as to cause said meltable fibres to fuse together, to form a net-like structur 7, A method according to Claim 6, characterized by supplying the liquid-absorbing fibres with said meltable fibr and combining said fibres to form a non-woven material by needling. OMFI

Inventors: EKLAONGE BO, FEIKES DE GROOT HANS, EKLAONGE, BO, FEIKES DE GROOT, HANS
Applicants: SANETTA TEXTIL AB, TEXTIL AKTIEBOLAGET SANETTA
Application year: 1984
Main classification: A61F13
IPC codes: A61F13, A61L15