Patent ID: 7857800

Claim:
Tampon comprising: an absorbent structure an apertured film cover thermally bonded to the absorbent structure through a plurality of discrete spots arranged about the surface of the absorbent structure to provide a cumulative cover-to-absorbent bond wherein: (a) the plurality of discrete thermally-bonded spots define a bonded area and wherein said bonded spots and the unbonded portions between said spots define a bond region, and said bonded area covers about 5% to about 30% of said bond region: (b) the apertured film cover comprises fluid-impervious plastic material in the form of a resilient three-dimensional web exhibiting a fiber-like appearance and tactile impression, wherein the web has first and second surfaces, the first surface having a multiplicity of apertures therein, each of the apertures being defined by a multiplicity of intersecting fiber-like elements interconnected to one another substantially in the plane of the first surface, each of the fiber-like elements exhibiting a cross-section comprising a base portion in the plane of the first surface and a sidewall portion joined to each edge of the base portion, the sidewall portions extending generally in the direction of the second surface of the web, the intersecting sidewall portions being interconnected to one another intermediate the first and the second surfaces of the web, the interconnected sidewall portions terminating substantially concurrently with one another in the plane of the second surface; and (c) the cumulative cover-to-absorbent bond has a shear strength of at least about 2N.